The increasing miniaturization of electric and mechanical components makes the synthesis and assembly of nanoscale structures an important step in modern technology. Functional materials, such as the ferroelectric perovskites, are vital to the integration and utility value of nanotechnology in the future. In the present work, chemical methods to synthesize one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of ferroelectric perovskites have been studied. To successfully and controllably make 1D nanostructures by chemical methods it is very important to understand the growth mechanism of these nanostructures, in order to design the structures for use in various applications. For the integration of 1D nanostructures into devices it is also very important to be able to make arrays and large-area designed structures from the building blocks that single nanostructures constitute. As functional materials, it is of course also vital to study the properties of the nanostructures. The characterization of properties of single nanostructures is challenging, but essential to the use of such structures. The aim of this work has been to synthesize high quality single-crystalline 1D nanostructures of ferroelectric perovskites with emphasis on PbTiO3 , to make arrays or hierarchical nanostructures of 1D nanostructures on substrates, to understand the growth mechanisms of the 1D nanostructures, and to investigate the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the 1D nanostructures. In Paper I, a molten salt synthesis route, previously reported to yield BaTiO3 , PbTiO3 and Na2Ti6O13 nanorods, was re-examined in order to elucidate the role of volatile chlorides. A precursor mixture containing barium (or lead) and titaniumwas annealed in the presence of NaCl at 760 °C or 820 °C. The main products were respectively isometric nanocrystalline BaTiO3 and PbTiO3. Nanorods were also detected, but electron diffraction revealed that the composition of the nanorods was respectively BaTi2O5/BaTi5O11 and Na2Ti6O13 for the two different systems, in contradiction to the previous studies. It was shown that NaCl reacted with BaO(PbO) resulting in loss of volatile BaCl2 (PbCl2 ) and formation and preferential growth of titanium oxide-rich nanorods instead of the target phase BaTiO3 (or PbTiO3 ). The molten salt synthesis route may therefore not necessarily yield nanorods of the target ternary oxide as reported previously. In addition, the importance of NaCl(g) for the growth of nanorods below the melting point of NaCl was demonstrated in a special experimental setup, where NaCl and the precursors were physically separated. In Paper II and III, a hydrothermal synthesis method to grow arrays and hierarchical nanostructures of PbTiO3 nanorods and platelets on substrates is presented. Hydrothermal treatment of an amorphous PbTiO3 precursor in the presence of a surfactant and PbTiO3 or SrTiO3 substrates resulted in the growth of PbTiO3 nanorods and platelets aligned in the crystallographic orientations of the SrTiO3 substrates. PbTiO3 nanorods oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface could also be grown directly on the substrate by a modified synthesis method. The hydrothermal method described in Paper II and III was developed on the basis of the method described in Appendices I and II. In Paper IV, a template-assisted method to make PbTiO3 nanotubes is presented. An equimolar Pb-Ti sol was dropped onto porous alumina membranes and penetrated into the channels of the template. Single-phase PbTiO3 perovskite nanotubes were obtained by annealing at 700 °C for 6 h. The nanotubes haddiameters of 200 - 400 nm with a wall thickness of approximately 20 nm. Excess PbO or annealing in a Pb-containing atmosphere was not necessary in order to achieve single phase PbTiO3 nanotubes. The influence of the heating procedure and the sol concentration is discussed. In Paper V, a piezoresponse force microscopy study of single PbTiO3 nanorods is presented. The piezoelectric properties were studied in both vertical and lateral mode. Piezoelectric activity and polarization switching was observed in the vertical mode, demonstrating the ferroelectric nature of the nanorods. The nanorods decomposed after repeated cycling of the dc bias at one spot on the nanorod, which resulted in parts of the nanorod disappearing and/or accumulation of particles on the surface of the nanorod. In Paper VI, a method to contact single nanorods by electron beam induced deposition of platinum is presented. An organometallic compound, (trimethyl)-methylcyclopentadienylplatinum(IV), was used as precursor. A home-made apparatus was constructed for the purpose and was mounted onto a scanning electron microscope. Calculations based on apparatus geometry and molecular flow were used to estimate the deposition time and the height of the deposits. The location and height of the deposits were controlled so that single nanorods could be successfully contacted at the ends of the nanorods. Fabrication of a sample device for piezoresponse force microscopy studies of single nanorods using an axial dc bias setup is described in Appendix IV. A proposed experimental setup for such studies is also presented.


Capybaras are territorial animals that live in groups social occurring even in anthropized areas. In some regions of Brazil, these animals have shown high rates of tick infestation from the genus  Amblyomma , which can be considered as a main biological vector and natural reservoir of the bacteria  Rickettsia rickettsii , an agent that causes Brazilian Spotted Fever. At Federal University of Sao Carlos, Araras campus, the interaction between capybaras, ticks and the community is frequent, occurring especially during the dry season. This study aimed to carry out a population census of capybaras that occurred on campus, identifying their home-range and verifying if these rodents were infested by ticks. The Applied methods included direct observation of capybara, capture-mark-recapture technique using a trap and also collection of ticks from the capybaras and the environment. The census recorded a maximum number of 56 capybaras, with density of 1.50 individuals/ha. The trap captures accounted for 24 animals, 25% males and 75% females, in which 25% were adult animals, 45.8% juveniles and 29.2% infants. The tick species most found both infesting animals and environment was  A. sculptum . In conclusion, the group of capybaras studied showed a high number of individuals of resources and due to the presence the absence of predators, and given the high ticks infestation.  Keywords:  capybaras; census; academic community; management; public health.


The image of the family farm as storehouse of the traditional values that built this nation -- self-reliance, resourcefulness, civic pride, family strength, concern for neighbors and community, honesty, and friendliness -- persists, as many recent surveys show. But the reality of this rich tradition is rapidly changing, eroding the security once represented by these nostalgic images of rural America.Although the United States is still by far the world's leading overall producer of agricultural products, the number of American families making their livelihood through farming is much diminished, and if our demographers are correct, the number of family-operated farms is destined to fall still further in the coming decades as consolidation, cycles of boom and bust, and corporate invasions redefine who will farm the land. "Harvest of Hope" is a story of farm family life through the words of those who live it. The saga of the generations who have lived and worked on Basin Spring farm in western Kentucky is the thread that binds together the stories of eighty other farm families. They talk about their family businesses, their way of life, and the forces reshaping their lives.The challenges of making a living in farming either strengthen families or break them. Technology, government programs, and community changes that are supposed to be the hope for their future often come with unexpected drawbacks. The stories in this book -- tales of growing up in farming, working in a multifamily business, juggling jobs on and off the farm, and struggling to maintain financial security and comfortable working relationships -- reveal what American farming families know about hope and survival in a changing world.The authors offer a multifaceted view of the present situation, as well as suggestions for ways of enhancing the positive elements that have enriched and inspired Americans in the past. It is an analysis that highlights the myths and realities of a business and way of life that has a powerful hold on the American imagination. The reader comes away from this work with a clear idea of the tribulations farming families endure and the delicate balance between the spiritual and other rewards of farm life.


New forms of work organisation such as telework, and more recently virtual teams and network organisations, suggest that distance work relationships will become increasingly widespread in the future. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to theory development in this relatively new area of study. The focus of this thesis is on the exploration of teleworker – manager work relationships in telework settings. A framework for exploring work relationships in telework settings was developed from the organisational behaviour and telework literature. This framework guided the design of the study and the analysis of the interview data. Interviews were conducted with six teleworker – manager sets in four different organisations in Australia. Unique stories from each of the cases have been compiled from the perspective of the teleworker and the perspective of the manager. An analysis of each of the teleworker – manager work relationships was undertaken using the concepts from the framework. The findings from the analysis have been used to develop grounded theory on teleworker – manager work relationships in telework settings.
The grounded theory proposes that when an employee commences telework that their work relationship with their manager shifts from an emphasis on performing and control behaviours (stage 1), to an emphasis on authority and autonomy behaviours (stage 2), and finally to an emphasis on commitment and support behaviours (stage 3). Of particular interest in this study is the notion of dual work systems; the newly established telework system and the existing work system of the employer organisation. In contrast to the existing domain of the employing organisation, the telework domain is established by the teleworker in a way that fits with their particular life circumstances. As a result, the teleworker and their manager operate two synchronous work relationships – the work relationship in the telework setting and the work relationship in the co-located setting. The dynamics found in the telework relationships in this study are related to the teleworker and their manager learning how to relate to each other within these dual work relationships.


Purposes : The object of present study is to detect the Effects of Snail Secretion Filtrate and Hyaluronic acid on the skin barrier's recovery of the Atopic dermatitis. Methods : A total of 20 patients who visited Semyung Hanny Oriental Medical Center from september 1st, 2009 to August 31th, 2010 were included in this study. In this study, they were treated with Snail Secretion Filtrate(experimental group) and Hyaluronic acid(control group). For 4 weeks gross examination, hematological examination and instrumentation through skin-ANBT equipment were made before and after the experiments to see how well the products for experimental group act against those for control group in recovering the damaged skin barriers by Atopic dermatitis. Results : 1. In the primary endpoint, SCORAD Index showed a statistically significant decline in both the control group and the experimental group. However, the experimental group showed greater statistical significance than the control group. 2. In the secondary endpoint index of skin hydration, both the control group and the experimental group did not show a statistically significant increase. However, the degree of skin hydration in the experimental group is greater than in the control group. 3. In global assessment of efficacy, it was higher in the experimental group than in the control group for both the subjects and the researchers. 4. To evaluate the safety of the products for the human body, hematological examination and hematological biochemical examination were conducted; both the control group and the experimental group showed no abnormal level. Therefore, the safety of the products, if used for so long a time, proved to be safe for the human body. 5. Product satisfaction was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusions : According to above experiments, Snail Secretion Filtrate was effective on the Atopic dermatitis.


\We consider the impact of international peacekeeping forces on micro-foundations for positive peace after violence. Our approach uses novel experimental methods to illustrate how third-party monitoring and enforcement mechanisms could enhance intergroup trust and deter the rise of would-be spoilers. Our experiment shows that while third-party intervention can have short-term positive effects on trust, spoiler activity increases once monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are removed, undermining most gains. At the same time, we also find that interventions with clear enforcement mechanisms perform better to enhance trust and deter spoiler behavior than monitoring alone. We then consider whether our experimental results have real-world extensions to different peacekeeping intervention strategies for building positive peace after violence. By exploiting heterogeneity in NATO peacekeeping strategies in different regions of post-war Kosovo, our experimental inferences about monitoring and enforcement appear robust to ecological conditions in the field.


We present two-dimensional multigroup flux-limited diffusion magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of the accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of a rapidly rotating white dwarf. We focus on determining the dynamical role of MHD processes after the formation of a millisecond-period proto-neutron star. We find that magnetic stresses lead to a powerful explosion with an energy of a few Bethe, rather than a weak one of at most 0.1 B, with an ejecta mass of ~0.1 M☉, instead of a few 0.001 M☉. The core is spun down by ~30% within 500 ms after bounce, and the rotational energy extracted is channeled into magnetic energy that generates a strong magnetically driven wind, rather than a weak neutrino-driven wind. Baryon loading of the ejecta, while this wind prevails, precludes it from becoming relativistic. This suggests that a γ-ray burst (GRB) is not expected to emerge from such AICs during the early proto-neutron star phase, except in the unlikely event that the massive white dwarf in this AIC context has sufficient mass to lead to black hole formation. In addition, we predict both negligible 56Ni production (that should result in an optically dark, adiabatically cooled explosion), and the ejection of 0.1 M☉ of material with an electron fraction of 0.1-0.2. Such pollution by neutron-rich nuclei puts strong constraints on the possible rate of such AICs. Moreover, being free from "fallback," such highly magnetized millisecond-period proto-neutron stars may, as they cool and contract, become magnetars, and the magnetically driven winds may later transition into Poynting-flux-dominated and relativistic winds, eventually detectable as GRBs at cosmological distances. The likely low event rate of AICs, however, will constrain them to be, at best, a small subset of GRB and/or magnetar progenitors.


Stable carbon isotope ratios of bacterial biomarkers were determined to infer sources of organic carbon used by bacteria in the sediments of three salt marshes. Biomarkers studied were polar lipid‐derived fatty acids (PLFA), mainly bacteria‐specific, methyl‐branched i15:0 and a15:0. Experiments showed that isotopic fractionation between substrate and biomarkers was relatively constant (–4 to –6‰, on average) compared to the wide range in 13C/12C ratios of carbon sources found in the studied marshes. At the Spartina site of the Waarde Marsh (The Netherlands), biomarker 13C/12C ratios were depleted by approximately 6‰ more than expected for bacteria growing on Spartina litter and were similar to an unvegetated control sediment. This pattern suggested that local macrophyte production was of little importance and that other material (probably of algal origin) was the dominant carbon source for bacterial growth. Spartina contributed about half of the carbon in bacterial PLFA at the Kattendijke Marsh (The Netherlands) and dominated at the Great Marshes (U.S.). The variation in bacterial carbon sources in these marshes was probably related to estimated inputs of nonmacrophyte organic matter to the sediment. At the Waarde Marsh, a clear plant species effect was found as coupling between plant and bacteria was more important in Scirpus maritimus than in Spartina anglica. The contribution of local plant production to bacterial biomass in salt‐marsh sediments is highly variable between marshes and depends on the input of nonmacrophyte material by sedimentation in comparison to local plant input, which in turn may differ among plant species.


This paper presents the proposed criteria for measuring the quality and completeness of field spectroscopy metadata in a spectral archive. Definitions for metadata quality and completeness for field spectroscopy datasets are introduced. Unique methods for measuring quality and completeness of metadata to meet the requirements of field spectroscopy datasets are presented. Field spectroscopy metadata quality can be defined in terms of (but is not limited to) logical consistency, lineage, semantic and syntactic error rates, compliance with a quality standard, quality assurance by a recognized authority, and reputational authority of the data owners/data creators. Two spectral libraries are examined as case studies of operationalized metadata policies, and the degree to which they are aligned with the needs of field spectroscopy scientists. The case studies reveal that the metadata in publicly available spectral datasets are underperforming on the quality and completeness measures. This paper is part two in a series examining the issues central to a metadata standard for field spectroscopy datasets.


ABSTRACT Carbonate platform margins are sensitive recorders of changes in sea level and climate and can reveal the relative importance of global and regional controls on platform evolution. This paper focuses on the Barremian to Aptian interval (mid Cretaceous), which is known for climatic and environmental changes towards more intensified greenhouse conditions. The study area in the northern Oman mountains offers one of the very few locations where the Cretaceous carbonate margin of the Arabian Plate can be studied along continuous outcrops. Our detailed sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic model of the platform margin demonstrates how major environmental and ecological changes controlled the stratigraphic architecture. The Early Cretaceous platform margin shows high rates of progradation in Berriasian to Hauterivian times followed by lower rates and some aggradation in the Late Hauterivian to Barremian. High-energy bioclastic and oolitic sands were the dominant deposits at the margin. Turbidites were deposited at the slope and in the basin. The Early Aptian platform margin shows a marked change to purely aggradational geometries and a welldeveloped platform barrier that was formed mainly by microbial buildups. The sudden dominance in microbial activity led to cementation and stabilization of the margin and slope and, therefore, a decrease of downslope sediment transport by turbidites. In the Late Aptian, large parts of the Arabian craton were subaerially exposed and a fringing carbonate platform formed. Seven Barremian to Early Albian large-scale depositional sequences reflecting relative sea-level changes are identified on the basis of time lines constrained by physical correlation and biostratigraphy. The reconstruction of the margin geometries suggests that tectonic activity played an important role in the Early Aptian. This was most likely related to global plate reorganization that was accompanied by increased volcanic activity in many parts of the world. Along the northeastern Arabian platform the associated global changes in atmospheric and oceanic circulation are recorded with a change in platform-margin ecology from an ooid-bioclast dominated to a microbial dominated margin. Time-equivalent argillaceous deposits suggest an increase in rainfall and elevated input of nutrients onto the platform. This process contributed to the strongly diminished carbonate production by other organisms and favored microbial activity. The platform margin may thus represent a shallow-marine response to the Early Aptian global changes, commonly associated with an oceanic anoxic event in basinal environments.


An investor trades a safe and several risky assets with linear price impact to maximize expected utility from terminal wealth. In the limit for small impact costs, we explicitly determine the optimal policy and welfare, in a general Markovian setting allowing for stochastic market, cost, and preference parameters. These results shed light on the general structure of the problem at hand, and also unveil close connections to optimal execution problems and to other market frictions such as proportional and fixed transaction costs.


The authors consider whether global claims are permissible in the Middle East. Global claims permit a construction contractor to claim for damages without demonstrating the precise causal link between its contractual counterparty's conduct and the contractor's claimed damages. The topic of global claims has been thrust into the spotlight as a result of the English High Court's decision in 'Walter Lilly & Company Ltd v. Mackay & Anor', which reaffirmed and expanded the permissibility of global claims in England. However, despite 'Walter Lilly', the scope of global claims in England appears limited. This is similar to the position of US law, which permits total loss claims (the US equivalent of global claims) in rare circumstances and prefers the use of other methodologies to calculate damages. While acknowledging that the position in the Middle East is largely uncertain, the authors argue that the obstacles faced by contractors in raising global claims in England and total loss claims in the United States are not as significant in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. As a consequence, the authors predict that courts and arbitral tribunals applying Middle Eastern laws should be more receptive to global claims than they otherwise would be when applying English and US law.


Abstract Aim: Over a 10-year period from 2003, around 1.7 million arrests in England and Wales resulted in the suspect being exposed to mandatory drug testing and assessment processes. These provisions formed part of a wider drug interventions programme costing £1.3 billion. This study sought to assess the impact of compliance with these measures on treatment uptake and reoffending. Recidivism risk factors were also investigated. Methods: The use of linked administrative data relating to matched samples of recent heroin and/or cocaine (H/C) users identified in one English police force area over a 12-month period (N = 1630). Findings: There was no association between compliance with a compulsory model of drug diversion and subsequent engagement with structured treatment services, rates of treatment retention and successful discharge. Compliance was also not found to be associated with reductions in the rate and volume of reoffending after 12 months. The factor with the largest effect on risk of recidivism was poly use of H/C. Main offence, engagement with structured treatment, number of prior convictions and (younger) age were also identified as recidivism risk factors. Conclusions: These results are discussed in the context of subsequent legislation and policy which further expands the reach of mandatory testing and assessment measures as a form of constraints-based drug diversion.


This paper explores the implications of climate change and urban development on the design of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) using the example of ponds and raingardens in Auckland, New Zealand. Many of Auckland's coastal and freshwater receiving environments have been degraded due to stormwater inflows and are potentially at further risk due to continued urbanisation and climate change. SUDS have been suggested as a possible means of adapting to those risks. However, there is little guidance available on how they should be designed for future conditions. Response-curves which relate changes in SUDS sizing to both climate change and imperviousness are presented as a means of displaying a range of possible future design needs. It is suggested that they could aid in the selection of adaptation strategies. The methodology followed is based on publicly available guidance material to provide a real world example of the design issues facing stormwater managers. An incremental adaptation strategy, whereby construction is staggered over time, is recommended for ponds which vary greatly in size depending on the projected climate and imperviousness. In contrast, adapting raingardens at the time of construction is pragmatic as the change in size, with even the maximum projected climate change, is modest.


The uses of social media can be seen as driven by a search for affective intensity translating as moments of paying attention, no matter how brief these instances may be. In the framework of attention economy, attention has been discussed as a valuable commodity whereas distraction, involving both pleasurable entertainment and dissatisfactory disorientation, has been associated with cognitive overload and the erosive lack of focus. By discussing clickbait sites and Facebook in particular, this paper inquires after the value of distractions in and for social media. Understanding distraction, like attention, as both affective and cognitive, this article explores its role in the affective capitalism of clicks, likes, and shares. Rather than conceptualizing attention and distraction as mutually opposing, I argue for conceptualizing them as the two sides of the same coin, namely as rhythmic patterns in the affective fabric particular to the contemporary landscape of ubiquitous networked connectivity.


This article presents the results of an experimental and analytical study on the behavior of concrete cylinders externally wrapped with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites and internally reinforced with steel spirals. The experimental work was carried out by testing twenty-four 150 × 300 mm 2 concrete cylinders subjected to pure compression with various confinement ratios and types of confining material. The test results show that the compressive response of concrete confined with both FRP and steel spirals cannot be predicted by summing the individual confinement effects obtained from FRP and steel spirals. This is largely attributable to differences in the inherent material properties of FRP and steel. A new empirical model to predict the axial stress-strain behavior of concrete confined with FRP and steel spirals is proposed. Comparisons between experimental results and theoretic predictions show agreement.


Seasonal wildlife observations were made along transects on 2 pastures conservatively grazed (36% use of perennial grasses) and 2 pastures moderately grazed (47% use of perennial grasses) in south central New Mexico in non-drought (1997) and drought years (1998). Experimental pastures were similar in soils, terrain, spacing of watering points, and brush cover. Average ecological condition score for the conservatively grazed pastures was 60% compared with 64% for moderately grazed pastures. Throughout the study total standing vegetation understory herbage levels were higher ( P P > 0.05) between conservatively and moderately grazed pastures. Black-tailed jackrabbit ( Lepus californicus ) sightings were higher ( P Antilocapra americana ), scaled quail ( Callipepla squamata ), mourning doves ( Zenaida macroura ), and desert cottontails ( Sylvilagus auduboni ) showed no differences ( P > 0.05) between conservatively and moderately grazed pastures. Dry conditions in 1998 depressed total wildlife sightings by > 50% compared to 1997. Both songbird and gamebird (particularly mourning dove) sightings were severely reduced in the dry compared to wet year ( P < 0.05). Our results are consistent with Nelson et al. (1997) that livestock grazing at intermediate levels had no effect on most Chihuahuan Desert upland wildlife species, and that drought years severely depress wildlife sightings.


According to a basic theory of sociology conflict belongs to life so it belongs to business life as well. If we face this view logically the next step is how companies avoid the unnecessary conflicts and how they handle inevitable conflicts. Our empirical paper suggests several successful conflict management methods which were identified through qualitative methodology. In depth interviews managers from the metal industry and machinery supply chains explain their experiences and failures regarding conflict management. We found that business actors do their best to avoid legal procedure as conflict resolution. They prefer different informal tactics for managing conflict such as better communication or personal discussion. However formal solutions are becoming increasingly important. For example nowadays a used complex enterprise resource planning (ERP) software heavily determines actions and timing of actions upon deviation from normal or agreed business processes which leaves little room for human words and reflection. We suggest some proven methods for successful conflict management. Based on our results and experiences a larger scale, quantitative survey could give more general results.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the latest research of BIM adoption in construction engineering and management (CEM) and propose research directions for future scholarly work. During the recent decade, building information modeling (BIM) has gained increasing applications and research interest in the construction industry. Although there have been review-based studies that summarized BIM-based research in the overall architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) area, there is limited review that evaluates the current stage of BIM-based research specifically in the CEM sub-area.

Design/methodology/approach
CEM falls into the scope of AEC. It involves construction-related tasks, activities and processes (e.g. scheduling and cost estimates), issues (e.g. constructability), as well as human factors (e.g. collaboration). This study adopted a holistic literature review approach that incorporates bibliometric search and scientometric analysis. A total of 276 articles related to BIM applied in CEM were selected from Scopus as the literature sample for the scientometric analysis.

Findings
Some key CEM research areas (e.g. CEM pedagogy, integrated project delivery, lean and off-site construction) were identified and evaluated. Research trends in these areas were identified, and analyses were carried out with regard to how they could be integrated with BIM. For example, BIM, as a data repository for ACE facilities, has substantial potential to be integrated with a variety of other digital technologies, project delivery methods and innovative construction techniques throughout the whole process of CEM.

Practical implications
As BIM is one of the key technologies and digital platforms to improve the construction productivity and collaboration, it is important for industry practitioners to be updated of the latest movement and progress of the academic research. The industry, academics and governmental authorities should work with joint effort to fill the gap by first recognizing the current needs, limitations and trends of applying BIM in the construction industry. For example, it needs more understanding about how to address technical interoperability issues and how to introduce the integrated design and construction delivery approach for BIM implementation under the UK BIM Level 2/3 framework.

Originality/value
This study contributed to the body of knowledge in BIM by proposing a framework leading to research directions including the differences of BIM effects between design-bid-build and other fast-track project delivery methods; the integration of BIM with off-site construction; and BIM pedagogy in CEM. It also addressed the need to investigate the similarities and differences between academia and industry toward perceiving the movement of BIM in construction field work.


Despite low annual precipitation rates, major cities located in deserts are prone to flash flooding events, which incur important economic costs and in some cases loss of human life. The northern Chihuahua desert metroplex of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua-El Paso, Texas, is a region where seasonal summer rains result in flash flooding. One of the most important flooding zones in Ciudad Juarez occurs at the Arroyo Las Viboras. Detailed light detection and ranging (LIDAR) terrain models were incorporated during two-dimensional modeling to understand flow conditions for two specific ordinary rain events. In addition, electrical resistivity tomography and seismic geophysical studies were conducted to examine if the hydraulic infrastructure was properly emplaced from a geological and geotechnical perspective. The results showed that Las Viboras watershed is almost hydrologically unprotected since the major dam is not regulating water flow volumes. The Camino Real transmountain road is improperly acting as a retention wall and geotechnical and geophysical findings indicate that Puerto La Paz dam has to be moved to a new location since it is currently located on top of plastic clays. El Filtro dam poses a higher risk because.Finally, three more dams are required to be constructed upstream in order to ensure hydrological resilience of the watershed.


Loopy belief propagation (LBP) is a probability inference algorithm on Graphical Models. It has been successfully applied in
low-density parity-check codes, turbo codes, computer vision
problems such as stereo matching, image segmentation and image
impainting. Belief propagation was first proposed by Judea Pearl in 1982 for tree-structured graphs, and was extended to poly-trees in 1983, and later applied to general graphs with empirical success. Since LBP ignores the loopy structure of graphs and blindly propagates messages, many
researchers have focused in analyzing its performance of
convergence and accuracy, and presented variations of message
passing algorithm. In this thesis, we focus on the performance
analysis of LBP with respect to error bound and convergence. We
present novel results that show the relationship between the
performance of LBP and the strength of potential functions as well
as topology structure of graphical models. Specifically, we first
present lower-bound and upper-bound on multiplicative message
errors. Then we present uniform and non-uniform distance bound on
beliefs, which can improve an existing accuracy bound between
beliefs and true marginals. Thereafter, we present our non-uniform sufficient convergence condition for LBP, which is shown to be better than existing conditions. We also show our error bound is related with the rate of convergence of LBP. Furthermore, we analyze fixed points of completely uniform binary graph, and present tight distance bound between beliefs. Finally, we
implement LBP algorithm for an image segmentation application, and
show how the segmentation performance is affected by some
parameters in potential functions.


This paper studies nonparametric estimation of conditional moment restrictions in which the generalized residual functions can be nonsmooth in the unknown functions of endogenous variables. This is a nonparametric nonlinear instrumental variables (IV) problem. We propose a class of penalized sieve minimum distance (PSMD) estimators, which are minimizers of a penalized empirical minimum distance criterion over a collection of sieve spaces that are dense in the infinite dimensional function parameter space. Some of the PSMD procedures use slowly growing finite dimensional sieves with flexible penalties or without any penalty; others use large dimensional sieves with lower semicompact and/or convex penalties. We establish their consistency and the convergence rates in Banach space norms (such as a sup-norm or a root mean squared norm), allowing for possibly non-compact infinite dimensional parameter spaces. For both mildly and severely ill-posed nonlinear inverse problems, our convergence rates in Hilbert space norms (such as a root mean squared norm) achieve the known minimax optimal rate for the nonparametric mean IV regression. We illustrate the theory with a nonparametric additive quantile IV regression. We present a simulation study and an empirical application of estimating nonparametric quantile IV Engel curves.


We show that the control of the false discovery rate (FDR) for a multiple testing procedure is implied by two coupled simple sufficient con- ditions. The first one, which we call "self-consistency condition", concerns the algorithm itself, and the second, called "dependency control condition" is related to the dependency assumptions on the p-value family. Many stan- dard multiple testing procedures are self-consistent (e.g. step-up, step-down or step-up-down procedures), and we prove that the dependency control condition can be fulfilled when choosing correspondingly appropriate rejec- tion functions, in three classical types of dependency: independence, pos- itive dependency (PRDS) and unspecified dependency. As a consequence, we recover earlier results through simple and unifying proofs while extend- ing their scope to several regards: weighted FDR, p-value reweighting, new family of step-up procedures under unspecified p-value dependency and adaptive step-up procedures. We give additional examples of other possi- ble applications. This framework also allows for defining and studying FDR control for multiple testing procedures over a continuous, uncountable space of hypotheses. AMS 2000 subject classifications: Primary 62J15; secondary 62G10.


This exploratory study of the incidence of physical spouse abuse in Nigeria reveals that women are the primary victims. The study further reveals that early marriages, length of marriage, number and ages of children, size of household, amount of household income and the reluctance of the police to intervene in familial affairs affect the incidence of spouse abuse in Nigeria. Based on these findings, the author suggests that laws making all forms of domestic violence a crime be passed, victims be encouraged to take legal actions against perpetrators, and that the criminal justice system arrests, prosecutes, and punishes violators.
(Institute of African Studies Research Review: 2002 18(2): 39-52)


Sunflower seeds hull are by-products of the sunflower industry that has low economic value despite its high content of antioxidants such as phenolic compounds and recently natural antioxidants have gained increased interest because natural food ingredients are safer than synthetic ones. Thus, the aim of investigation to evaluate the antioxidant efficacy of ethanolic extract of irradiated sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) seeds hull (Sakha- 153 variety) at dose levels of 0, 3, 6 and 9 kGy on total phenolic compounds and total antioxidant activity were studied, and the composition of phenolic compounds of ethanolic extract of non-irradiated and irradiated samples was determined by HPLC. The results exhibited that the all extract of samples under investigation possesses high stronger antioxidant activity, especially samples ethanolic extracts of irradiated at dose level of 6 kGy. For further confirmation, the ethanolic extract of irradiated samples at dose level of 6 kGy was investigated on beef minced meat model system. Different concentrations of ethanolic extract of irradiated samples at dose level of 6 kGy and Tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) were added to beef minced meat and cooked at 100±2oC for 30 min. after cooling at room temperature, the cooked samples were stored at cold storage 4±1oC for 7 days. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values proved that ethanol extract of Sakha- 153 sunflower hulls had a power of inhibiting lipid oxidation comparable to TBHQ and exhibit antioxidant activity superior to TBHQ in the beef minced meat model system. Furthermore, the results showed that the ethanolic extract of irradiated sunflower seeds hull samples at dose level of 6 kGy were effective in inhibiting lipid oxidation of sunflower oil. Thus, these results are very beneficial for using the ethanolic extract of irradiated sunflower seeds hull samples at dose level of 6 kGy as natural stronger antioxidant and cheap price in food industry field. Keywords: Antioxidant/ Ethanolic extract/ Sunflower  seeds hull.


When Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory became a part of Canada as the Northwest Territories in 1870, the islands of James Bay were included within the new territorial boundaries. These same islands became a part of Nunavut in 1999, when the new territory was created from the eastern region of the Northwest Territories. Although the James Bay islands remain part of Nunavut, the western James Bay Cree assert that the western James Bay islands, including Akimiski Island, were part of the Cree traditional territory and that these islands have never been surrendered through treaty. This land-claim issue is further complicated by the fact that glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) is occurring in the James Bay region and that the islands of James Bay may one day become part of mainland Ontario or Quebec. We used numerical models of the GIA process to predict how shorelines in James Bay will migrate over the next 1000 years as a result of post-glacial sea-level changes. These predictions, which were augmented by an additional contribution associated with sea-level rise due to global warming, were used to determine whether the islands in James Bay will ever become part of the mainland. The predictions for the islands are sensitive to the two primary inputs into the GIA predictions, namely the models for the geometry of the ancient Laurentide ice sheet and the viscoelastic structure adopted for the solid earth, as well as to the amplitude of the projected global warming signal. Nevertheless, it was found that many of the smaller and larger islands of James Bay will likely join the mainland of either Ontario or Quebec. For example, using a global warming scenario of 1.8 mm sea-level rise per year, a plausible range of GIA models suggests that the Strutton Islands and Cape Hope Islands will join mainland Quebec in ~400 years or more, while Akimiski Island will take at least ~700 years to join mainland Ontario. Using the same GIA models, but incorporating the upper boundary of global warming scenarios of 5.9 mm sea-level rise per year, the Strutton Islands and Cape Hope Islands are predicted to join mainland Quebec in ~600 years or more, and Akimiski Island is predicted not to join mainland Ontario. Since Akimiski Island is already being prospected for diamonds and the future ownership of emergent land remains an issue, these findings have great economic importance.


Pfu DNA Polymerase exhibits the lowest error rate of any thermostable DNA polymerase studied (1-3). For routine PCR, where simple detection of an amplification product or estimation of the product's size is important, Taq DNA polymerase is the obvious enzyme to choose. However, when the amplified product is to be cloned, expressed or used in mutagenesis studies, Pfu DNA Polymerase is a much better enzyme of choice for PCR. Pfu DNA Polymerase is also used in blends with Taq DNA polymerase, or amino-terminally truncated versions of Taq DNA polymerase, to amplify longer stretches of DNA in PCR with greater accuracy than Taq DNA polymerase alone (1).


This article draws a distinction between "decisional negligence", which concerns the negligence exhibited by a professional advising his client in a decision to pursue a course of action, and "operational" negligence which concerns the manner in which a professional acts upon his client's instructions to pursue a course of action. With the advent of Montgomery, the distinction between the two kinds of negligence has been thrown into focus in the context of medical negligence. The distinction is an important one for two reasons:

1) the "standard of care" test to be applied; and

2) the measure of damages.

With respect to the applicable test, it is submitted that while the Montgomery principle is applied in "decisional negligence" cases in the medical negligence context, the fundamental basis of the Montgomery principle is very much confined to medical law and the Bolam test should continue to be applied in "decisional negligence" cases in the non-medical professional negligence context. As for the measure of damages, this article cautions against the blind application of the "loss of a chance" measure of damages and proposes a framework laying out the kinds of damages that should be available in "decisional negligence" and "operational negligence" situations.


Aim: This study evaluated the use of wearable technology to support a series of simulated learning events in General Practice (GP) to explore the potential new ways to improve educational practice1. The use of 'connected' glasses with a camera allows the trainee and patient actor to be observed by the trainer from a distant site in real time. Recordings can be used for discussion and reflection. Objectives: To explore whether the use of 'connected' glasses is useful to all those involved in a simulated consultation, (the wearer of the device, the patient actor being managed and the person observing). To ascertain whether real–time supervision and support is made possible using the 'connected' glasses and whether they are perceived as being helpful for the learner and supervisor. To determine whether a two–way dialogue and video link is possible using the 'connected' glasses and to explore their associated benefits and limitations. Summary of work undertaken: Ethical approval was granted by Health Education England North West Research & Innovation Committee and the Faculty of Health & Social Care Research Ethics Committee, Edge Hill University. Simulated scenarios took place on 3 occasions at 2 GP Practices in the North West. A pair of Optinvent ORA-1 glasses were used on one occasion and a pair of 'Google Glasses' were used on the 2 other occasions. The simulated scenario saw the GP Trainee (wearing the 'connected' glasses) taking a clinical history from the simulated patient, the actor, and being observed by the senior trainer from a distance. 9 semi-structured interviews were undertaken after the simulated scenarios: 2 GP Trainers, 4 GP Trainees and one patient actor. Interview questions focused on participant perceptions on the use of 'connected' glasses and their potential to enhance the learning and supervisory experience. Interview data analysis identified 2 key themes: the limitations of the technology; the potential enhancement of the teaching and learning experience by using 'connected glasses'2 The limitations of the technology The reliance on a reliable Wi-Fi connection proved to be a drawback as this led to undue delay while the 'connected' glasses were set up for the simulated scenarios. In a busy GP surgery these delays were viewed as a major disadvantage. The 'connected' glasses, despite significant advances in design, were still perceived to be a distraction for the wearer. The potential enhancement of the teaching and learning experience by using 'connected glasses' All interviewees saw the potential benefit of 'connected' glasses as an enhancement to the educational experience. This is highly dependent though on the reliability of the technology and internet connection and further developments on minimalizing the relative bulkiness of the glasses for the wearer. Impact on practice: All interviewees perceived the 'connected' glasses as having the potential to enhance educational practice. However, the physical structure of the glasses and reliance on a reliable internet connection was a distraction. With improvements as suggested above the use of wearable technology in the form of 'connected eye wear' warrants further exploration in the GP setting. References Department of Health A Framework for Technology Enhanced Learning. (2011). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/215316/dh_131061.pdf. Bryman A. (2012). Social Research Methods. 4th edition. Oxford University Press. Oxford.


Heat shock genes encode proteins (hsp's) that play important structural roles under normal circumstances and are essential to the cells' ability to survive environmental insults. Evidence is presented herein that transcriptional regulation of hsp gene expression is linked with the regulation of overall protein synthesis as well as with the accumulation of proteins denatured by stressful events. The factor that connects the three processes appears to be one of the hsp's, presumably a member(s) of the hsp70 family. Biochemical experiments demonstrate that complexes containing hsp70 and heat shock transcription factor, the specific regulator of hsp gene activity, are formed in the cells.


The fire-dependent shortleaf pine-bluestem ecological community, once common in the Ouachita Mountains, had all but disappeared by 1970. This absence was due to the cutting of the original forests in the early part of the 20th century followed by effective fire suppression since the late 1930s. With the adoption of Forest Plan amendments in 1994, 1996, and 2002, and a Forest Plan revision in 2005, the Ouachita National Forest committed to restore the shortleaf pine-bluestem ecosystem on some 250,000 acres. Restoration treatments include thinning pine stands to a residual basal area of about 60 ft2 per acre, felling most of the woody midstory stems, and prescribed burning at 3- to 4-year intervals. Achieving conditions similar to those depicted in historic photographs normally requires a thinning, a midstory reduction treatment, and three prescribed fires over about 10 years. Since 1994 some 52,992 acres have been thinned, 42,948 acres have received midstory reduction, and 143,233 acres have received one or more prescribed burns. Managers estimate that 18,653 acres are presently in a substantially restored condition. During this time the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis Vieillot) population has more than doubled, and populations of several other previously declining species of conservation concern have increased markedly.


It will be argued that Quotative Inversion (QI) in Hungarian, i.e., inversion of the finite verb and a verbal modifier within a reporting clause, requires incorporation of an abstract operator, OpQ, into Pred°. This accounts among other things for the fact that Hungarian QI is incompatible with unbounded dependency formation, i.e., incompatible with OpQ placement in Spec,FocP. The overall head initiality of clauses undergoing QI will be derived in two steps. First, a PF-linearization mechanism in the spirit of Fox and Pesetsky (2005) guarantees strictly Pred°-initial PredP. Second, information structural impoverishment "shuts down" TopP and FocP, the phrases dominating PredP. The latter idea will be grounded in particular assumptions about the narrative force of QI constructions. OpQ will be argued to be a covert counterpart of overt demonstratives incorporated into the Hungarian verb mondja (ʽsay'). A semantics of demonstrative incorporation is shown to shed interesting light on exhaustive interpretation in the presence of communication predicates having undergone QI. Considerable efforts are made to weigh the language-specific choices for the analysis of Hungarian against the options available for deriving varieties of QI in languages like English, French, Spanish, and Dutch, as our analysis is developed against the backdrop of the approaches by Collins and Branigan (1997), Collins (1997), Suner (2000), and de Vries (2006).


In much the same way that XP and agile development radically changed the software
development landscape, Open Innovation is transforming how organizations manage their
innovation processes. In a traditional 'closed innovation' model all new business development
processes and marketing and development of new products takes place within the boundaries
of the organization. This approach is characterized by firms that invest in their own R&D,
employing smart and talented people to surpass their competitors in new product and service
development. Additionally, after producing a stream of new ideas and inventions, firms must
thoroughly defend their intellectual property against the competition. Open innovation, on the
other hand, fundamentally challenges how organizations innovate new product development
ideas by extending the pool from which ideas are drawn. This model is concerned with
combining internal and external ideas, as well as internal and external paths to market, to
stimulate and advance the development of new products and technologies. This approach
suggests that firms develop processes to ensure a flow of ideas across its boundaries because
not all smart people work for the organization and there is an increasing geographical
dispersion of knowledge. Although firms may not exclusively develop all the research they
use, they can still profit from it. In addition, firms may acquire relevant IP and integrate it
into their internal processes.
Consequently, open innovation has implications for how we view 'the customer' in agile
projects, but also presents many opportunities for agile organizations to benefit from a
different type of customer engagement. However, getting innovative ideas into your
organization is just one part of the problem. Many organizations still struggle with what to do
with all those innovative ideas once exposed to them, and how to incorporate them into their
products. Through our experience and research, however, we have found that Agile and Lean
principles and practices create the right environment for Open Innovation to thrive.
The workshop is open to all XP2010 attendees and workshop attendees are invited to submit
topics for discussion in advance if they desire. This can take the form of questions, position
statements outlining experience with Open Innovation or innovation processes in general,
problems encountered, or challenges currently faced.


This essay looks at the hearing held by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in April 1922 on the subject of a Jewish National Home in Palestine, as well as the broader congressional debate over the Balfour Declaration at that crucial time. The landmark hearing, which took place against the backdrop of growing unrest in Palestine and just prior to the League of Nations9 formal approval of Britain9s Mandate over Palestine, offers a glimpse into the cultural and political mindset underpinning U.S. support for the Zionist project at the time as well as the ways in which the political discourse in the United States has, or has not, changed since then. Despite the overwhelming support for the Zionist project in Congress, which unanimously endorsed Balfour in September 1922, the hearing examined all aspects of the issue and included a remarkably diverse array of viewpoints, including both anti-Zionist Jewish and Palestinian Arab voices.


Abstract Old English uses personal pronouns, demonstratives, and limited null subject for reference to previously mentioned nouns. It uses personal pronouns reflexively and pronouns modified by 'self' identical in form with an intensive. This use of a pronoun modified by self has been attributed to British Celtic influence. Other changes in the pronominal system have been attributed to Scandinavian influence, e.g. the introduction of the third person plural pronoun they. This paper looks at the use of the specially marked reflexives in the glosses to the Lindisfarne Gospels, a northern text where both British Celtic and Scandinavian influence may be relevant. It provides lists of all of the self-marked forms and shows, for instance, that Matthew and Mark have reflexives based on an accusative/dative pronoun followed by self and they don't have this form as an intensifier. British Celtic of this period has an intensifier but has no special reflexives and has lost case endings, so the Lindisfarne language is unlike British Celtic. Luke and John have intensives and reflexives, with 'self' modifying case-marked pronouns, again unlike British Celtic. In addition to contributing to the debate on external origins, the paper adds to the authorship debate by comparing the use of reflexives in the different gospels.


Is a State free to adopt measures to protect the public health of its citizens? If so, what are the limits, if any, to such regulatory powers? This book addresses these questions by focusing on the clash between the regulatory autonomy of the state and international investment governance. As a wide variety of state regulations allegedly aimed at protecting public health may interfere with foreign investments, a tension exists between the public health policies of the host state and investment treaty provisions. Under most investment treaties, States have waived their sovereign immunity, and have agreed to give arbitrators a comprehensive jurisdiction over what are essentially regulatory disputes. Some scholars and practitioners have expressed concern regarding the magnitude of decision-making power allocated to investment treaty tribunals.This book contributes to the current understanding of international investment law and arbitration, addressing the fundamental question of whether public health has and/or should have any relevance in contemporary international investment law and policy. With a focus on the 'clash of cultures' between international investment law and public health, the author critically analyses the emerging case law of investment treaty arbitration and considers the theoretical interplay between public health and investor rights in international investment law. The book also explores the interplay between investment law and public health in practice, focusing on specific sectors such as pharmaceutical patents, tobacco regulation and environmental health. It then goes on to analyze the available means for promoting consideration of public health in international investment law and suggests new methods and approaches to better reconcile public health and investor rights.


In the well-entrenched critical view of the Jacobean period, James I is credited with the flowering of culture in the early years of the seventeenth century. His queen, Anna of Denmark, is seen as a shadowy figure at best, a capricious and shallow one at worst. But Leeds Barroll makes a well-documented case that it was Anna who, for her own purposes, developed an alternative court and sponsored many of the other artistic ventures in one of the most productive and innovative periods of English cultural history. Married at seventeen, Anna soon became a shrewd and powerful player in the court politics of Scotland and, later, England. Her influence can be seen in James's choices for advisors and beneficiaries of royal attention. In fact, James's and Anna's longstanding dispute over the raising of the heir, Henry, caused a major scandal of the time and was suspected as a plot against the king's safety. In order to assert her own power, Anna actually forced a miscarriage upon herself, an extraordinary event that is referred to in much unnoticed contemporary diplomatic correspondence. An important feature of court entertainment and literary production at this time was the development of the extravagant drama known as the masque, which reached its literary peak in the works of Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones. Barroll argues that it was in fact Anna and not James who encouraged and staged the masques, as a way of defining both a social and political identity for the royal consort, a role that had been nonexistent under Elizabeth. Barroll's work on Anna's patronage also sets Shakespeare's company in a broader context. By writing the cultural biography of Anna of Denmark, queen of England, Leeds Barroll reestablishes the influential and distinctive role of the queen consort in early modern Europe.


In Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, the Supreme Court held that when Congress creates a legal interest to see that the law is followed, the deprivation of that interest, without more is insufficient to allow a plaintiff to meet Article III's standing requirements. Lujan created significant uncertainty about Congress's ability to influence judicial standing inquiries by creating statutory rights, especially in light of Justice Kennedy's concurrence and the majority's footnote seven. This Article argues that Kennedy's concurrence and footnote seven are best explained by recognizing that Congress is institutionally superior to courts in evaluating the gravity of likely harms and the causal chains between statutory violations and those harms – evaluations that may bear on whether a plaintiff in a particular case has met the injury in fact and traceability elements of Article III standing. The Article takes this explanation further, contending that the structure of statutory provisions that do not create causes of action nonetheless reveal legislators' likely understanding of the significance of certain harms and the closeness of the causal connections between harms and statutory violations, and thus should also influence judges' standing inquiries. Finally, the Article suggests that courts should rely on the purpose of statutory provisions to determine legislators' understanding, which could guide a judge in evaluating injury in fact and traceability, given that the alternative is the subjective evaluation of the judge without meaningful constraint by relevant legal standards.


BACKGROUND
Recent evidence supports the protective effects of n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids (n-3 FAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on vascular function.

OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effects of EPA and DHA on postprandial vascular function in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

DESIGN
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover manner, 34 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus received daily either 2 g purified EPA/DHA (termed n-3 FAs) or olive oil (placebo) for 6 wk. At the end of this period, we measured macrovascular (brachial ultrasound of flow-mediated dilatation; FMD) and microvascular [laser-Doppler measurements of reactive hyperemia (RH) of the hand] function at fasting and 2, 4, and 6 h after a high-fat meal (600 kcal, 21 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 40 g fat).

RESULTS
Fasting vascular function remained unchanged after n-3 FAs and placebo. Postprandial FMD decreased from fasting after placebo, with a maximum decrease (38%) at 4 h-an effect that was significantly reduced (P = 0.03 for time x treatment interaction) by n-3 FA supplementation (maximum decrease in FMD was at 4 h: 13%). RH remained unchanged after placebo, whereas it improved significantly (P = 0.04 for time x treatment interaction) after n-3 FA supplementation (maximum increase was at 2 h: 27%).

CONCLUSIONS
In subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 6 wk of supplementation with n-3 FAs reduced the postprandial decrease in macrovascular function relative to placebo. Moreover, n-3 FA supplementation improved postprandial microvascular function. These observations suggest a protective vascular effect of n-3 FAs.


Simulation tools for understanding logistics and create explanations for logistics operations are often developed under a state of stability, equilibrium and linearity whereas logistics are considered non-linear and complex. Agent based modelling provides the opportunity to build rigorous computer simulations of non-equilibrium systems and unlike other simulation methods, no agent has full knowledge about the system it operates in and the agents act on heuristics rather than on rationality, much like customers and firms in the real world. In the last twenty years the development in knitting technology has made it possible to produce entire garments in one piece with no need for time-consuming cutting and sewing processes afterwards. This gives new opportunities to produce knitted garments closer to the customer and hence being able to respond faster to shifts in demand for knitwear. Agent Based Modelling will provide an excellent opportunity to simulate a demand chain of the kind where the customer designs the garment and the garment is produced instantly. The aim is to create and present an agent-based model for the logistics operations in the Knit On Demand research project. The simulation will not only help to gain insight about the dynamics and emergent behaviours in a textile demand chain but also in demand chain management as a whole, as well as providing a base to test theoretical frameworks.


A novel calibration method has been developed for the bulk analysis of solid samples through laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This method has been called dried droplet calibration approach (DDCA). This procedure is thus based on the deposition of a small aqueous standard volume (ca., 1 μL) on the flat surface of a solid sample. Then, the solvent is allowed to completely evaporate at room temperature and the solid residue is finally ablated. The implicit assumptions of the DDCA are that: (i) a single raster is enough to fully ablate the solid layer originating from the evaporation of the standard; and, (ii) the solid residue does not affect the sample ablation yield. Both hypothesis have been verified in the present work. Therefore, several rasters have been performed on the solid residues and the generated signals have been obtained by using an ICP-MS spectrometer. The calibration lines are obtained by plotting the sum of intensities for a given residue (corresponding to a given analyte concentration) versus the analyte ablated mass per laser shot. This method is similar to a standard addition procedure and, hence, the analyte mass ablated from the sample per laser shot has been obtained by extrapolating the obtained straight line to the y-axis zero value. The method has provided accurate concentration results for a glass CRM and three different catalysts employed for petroleum refining purposes, prepared as fused beads. The obtained results have demonstrated that it is possible to overcome significant matrix effects by applying the DDCA.


Generative models have grown into the workhorse of many state-of-the-art machine learning methods. However, their vulnerability under poisoning attacks has been largely understudied. In this work, we investigate this issue in the context of continual learning, where generative replayers are utilized to tackle catastrophic forgetting. By developing a novel customization of dirty-label input-aware backdoors to the online setting, our attacker manages to stealthily promote forgetting while retaining high accuracy at the current task and sustaining strong defenders. Our approach taps into an intriguing property of generative models, namely that they cannot well capture input-dependent triggers. Experiments on four standard datasets corroborate the poisoner's effectiveness.


The anchoring and adjustment heuristic has been shown to be a pervasive technique that people use in judgment, decision making, and problem solving tasks to reduce cognitive burden. However, reliance on the anchoring heuristic often leads to a systematic adjustment bias, in which people fail to make sufficient adjustments for a particular task. In a study involving 157 subjects from six universities, we examined the effect of this bias on SQL query formulation under varying levels of domain familiarity. Subjects were asked to formulate SQL queries to respond to six information requests in a familiar domain and six information requests in an unfamiliar domain. For some, subjects were also provided with sample queries that answered similar information requests. To adequately adjust a sample query, a subject needed to make both surface-structure modifications that required little cognitive effort and deep-structure modifications that required substantially more cognitive effort. We found that reuse can lead to poorer quality query results and greater overconfidence in the correctness of results. We also show that the strength of the adjustment bias depends on domain familiarity. This study demonstrates that anchoring and adjustment extends to an important area in information systems use that has not been previously studied. We also expand the notion of anchoring and adjustment to include the role of domain familiarity.


To simultaneously address the challenges of chemical/physical short circuits and electrode volume variation, we demonstrate a three-dimensional (3D) bilayer garnet solid-state electrolyte framework for advanced Li metal batteries. The dense layer is reduced in thickness to a few microns and still retains good mechanical stability, thereby enabling the safe use of Li metal anodes. The thick porous layer acts as a mechanical support for the thin dense layer which serves as a host for high loading of cathode materials and provides pathways for continuous ion transport. Results show that the integrated sulfur cathode loading can reach >7 mg cm−2 while the proposed hybrid Li–S battery exhibits a high initial coulombic efficiency (>99.8%) and high average coulombic efficiency (>99%) during the subsequent cycles. This electrolyte framework represents a promising strategy to revolutionize Li-metal batteries by transitioning to all-solid-state batteries and can be extended to other cathode materials.


Summary Glutenin is a group of polymeric gluten proteins. Glutenin molecules consist of glutenin subunits linked together with disulphide bonds and having higher (HMM-GS) and lower (LMM-GS) molecular mass. The main objective of this study is the evaluation of the influence of HMM-GS on flour processing properties. Seven bread wheat genotypes with contrasting quality attributes and different HMM-GS composition were analyzed during three years. The composition and quantity of HMM-GS were determined by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC, respectively. The quality diversity among genotypes was estimated by the analysis of wheat grain, and flour and bread quality parameters. The presence of HMM glutenin subunits 1 and 2* at Glu-A1 and the subunits 5+10 at Glu-D1 loci, as well as a higher proportion of total HMM-GS, had a positive effect on wheat quality. Cluster analysis of the three groups of data (genotype and HMM-GS, flour and bread quality, and dough rheology) yielded the same hierarchical structure for the first top three levels, and similarity of the corresponding dendrograms was proved by the principal eigenvalues of the corresponding Euclidian distance matrices. The obtained similarity in classification based on essentially different types of measurements reflects strong natural association between genetic data, product quality and physical properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to effectively reduce large data set into lower dimensions of latent variables amenable for the analysis. PCA analysis of the total set of data (15 variables) revealed a very strong interrelationship between the variables. The first three PCA components accounted for 96 % of the total variance, which was significant to the level of 0.05 and was considered as the level of experimental error. These data imply that the quality of wheat cultivars can be contributed to HMM-GS data and should be taken into account in breeding programs assisted by computer models with the aim to improve flour technological quality.


During conceptual design the most salient characteristics of a design artefact are defined. A team of specialists is usually required to carry out this process. For buildings, the architect is the lead designer and his/her work is supported by engineers and other specialists. The distribution of work among specialists with different backgrounds and priorities and the lack of a shared understanding of each participant's view usually result in inefficiencies, redundancies, omissions and errors in the design. This translates in cost overruns, poor quality and lack of competitiveness of the building industry. Computer programs for performing structural analysis and detail design calculations have been in the market and used by practitioners for many years. However, there is still a lack of computer support to assist properly engineers in the conceptual design of building structures. One explanation for this lack of support lies in the fact that during conceptual design the engineer's work flow is highly dependent on the amount, quality and type of information that is exchanged with the architect. To address this problem, the interactions between architects and structural engineers during early design are studied and formalized in a model of conceptual design of building structures. In this model, two stages of structural support are identified which are differentiated by the type and refinement of the architectural design representations. The first stage corresponds to the earliest phases of the architectural design process in which the architectural representations are tentative, ambiguous and imprecise, whereas in the second stage an unambiguous but still imprecise three-dimensional computer model of the building architecture is made available to the engineer. This research project concentrates on the second stage of computer support. A methodology for architecture/structure integration is devised for this stage. For the implementation of this methodology a computer representation integrating the building architecture and the structural system is developed. Synthesis algorithms are also proposed that rely mostly on geometry and topology of the architecture and the structure to help identify structural opportunities, detect potential structural problems and respect constraints coming from the building architecture. A proof-of-concept software prototype is developed and implemented, and two test cases demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach for supporting conceptual structural design. It is expected that the results from this research project will lead to more integrated and efficient conceptual structural design practice for improved building performance.


The bentonite barrier of underground repositories for high-level radioactive waste will be hydrated by the groundwater while it is subjected to high temperatures due to the radioactive decay of the wastes. These changes of temperature affect the hydraulic and mechanical responses of bentonite, which has important effects on design and performance of repositories. The temperature influence on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of bentonite was studied in this paper by experiments, which were carried out with the Spanish FEBEX bentonite compacted at dry densities expected in the repository (from 1.5 to 1.8 Mg/m3). The dependence of the swelling strains of bentonite on the temperature has been measured from 30 °C to 90 °C. At high temperatures the swelling capacity of clay slightly decreases. Also, a clear decrease of swelling pressure as a function of temperature was observed for the same dry densities. Nevertheless, the deformation of bentonite is more dependent on the stress than the temperature. An increase in the permeability of water saturated bentonite with temperature has also been detected. The water retention curves of bentonite compacted at different dry densities were determined under isochoric conditions and in the range of temperatures from 20 °C to 120 °C. For a given density and water content, the suction decreases as the temperature increases at a rate, which is larger than the one predicted on the basis of water surface tension changing with temperature. Mechanisms related to the physico-chemical interactions that take place at microscopic level, in particular the transfer of interlayer water to the macropores triggered by temperature, seem to explain qualitatively the experimental observations.


The rapid growth on the adoption of smart grids technologies is enabling the improvement of efficiency, reliability and security on energy distribution and consumption. The efficiency increase comes from the overall monitoring of the electricity network, and from the capability of acting upon loads in order to better adapt to overall and local energy production from traditional sources and renewable. To guarantee that these energy sources can be effectively used, smart grid systems must be able to react quickly and predictably, adapting to changing supply, by controlling loads and energy storage. Many applications have been identified and developed to optimize power grid systems, and these applications rely on a solid communications network that is secure, highly scalable, and always available. Thus, any communication infrastructure for smart grids should support its potential of producing high quantities of real-time data, with the goal of reacting to state changes by actuating on devices in real-time, while providing Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees to the communications. These functionalities can be supported by a Message-Oriented Middleware, which allows interconnecting houses and controlling applications in a distributed environment. Therefore, in this paper we survey and analyze existing middleware solutions for the support of distributed scalable large-scale applications with QoS requirements that are structured on top of a Message oriented Middleware.


Changes in the large scale stratification resulting from non-adiabatic processes within convective clouds are investigated. The changes are considered as a result of net entrainment, a factor which appears highly sensitive to the presence and dynamics of precipitation. It is shown that Cumulus or Cumulonimbus convection can be a selfamplifying process, under certain circumstances, producing an upper, cold-core low pressure center. This process may be a factor in tropical cyclogenesis. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1969.tb00416.x


A great deal of research has focused on algorithms for learning features from unlabeled data. Indeed, much progress has been made on benchmark datasets like NORB and CIFAR by employing increasingly complex unsupervised learning algorithms and deep models. In this paper, however, we show that several simple factors, such as the number of hidden nodes in the model, may be more important to achieving high performance than the learning algorithm or the depth of the model. Specifically, we will apply several othe-shelf feature learning algorithms (sparse auto-encoders, sparse RBMs, K-means clustering, and Gaussian mixtures) to CIFAR, NORB, and STL datasets using only singlelayer networks. We then present a detailed analysis of the eect of changes in the model setup: the receptive field size, number of hidden nodes (features), the step-size ("stride") between extracted features, and the eect of whitening. Our results show that large numbers of hidden nodes and dense feature extraction are critical to achieving high performance—so critical, in fact, that when these parameters are pushed to their limits, we achieve state-of-the-art performance on both CIFAR-10 and NORB using only a single layer of features. More surprisingly, our best performance is based on K-means clustering, which is extremely fast, has no hyperparameters to tune beyond the model structure itself, and is very easy to implement. Despite the simplicity of our system, we achieve accuracy beyond all previously published results on the CIFAR-10 and NORB datasets (79.6% and 97.2% respectively).


Carbonate reservoirs often exhibit complex pore networks and various scales of petrophysical heterogeneity associated with stratigraphic cyclicity, facies distribution and diagenesis. In addition, petrophysical variability also exists within distinct rock fabrics at the interwell scale. Data from lateral transects through dolomitized carbonates of the Mississippian Madison Formation in north and central Wyoming exhibit three scales of lateral petrophysical variability. These include a near-random component (nugget effect), short-range variability and a long-range periodic trend (hole effect) that is observed in both dolowackestone (Sheep Canyon) and dolograinstone (Lysite Mountain) facies. The dolowackestone represents outer and middle ramp mud-supported fabrics, while the dolograinstone represents amalgamated skeletal and oolitic shoals. Detailed 3D petrophysical models of the dolomite facies and 2D multiphase waterflood simulations explore the effects of this heterogeneity on reservoir performance through several model scenarios. Fingering of the injected fluid front, sweep-efficiency, breakthrough time and bottom-hole well pressures are sensitive to lateral reservoir heterogeneity and rock fabric. Models with greater short-scale continuity of petrophysical properties have higher degrees of large-scale fingering, higher sweep efficiency and shorter breakthrough times. The reservoir performance of the dolowackestone differs from the dolograinstone for those models that exhibit a specific range of short-scale heterogeneity. In general, the dolowackestone has a higher degree of both small- and large-scale fingering, lower sweep efficiency and longer breakthrough time compared with the dolograinstone. Intra-facies scale variability is significant in regard to reservoir performance and is often difficult or impossible to determine from typical subsurface datasets. Information from outcrop analogues is necessary to create conceptual 3D geological models and to begin to quantify interwell heterogeneity within dolomite reservoirs.


Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus sp. infections occur in hospital and, increasingly, in community settings, with the potential of having different susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of antimicrobial agents against community acquired S.aureus and investigate antibiotic characteristics, biofilm formation and gene expression following exposure to an antimicrobial agent. The susceptibility of S. aureus isolates and a vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium isolate to antibiotics, essential oils and disinfectants were investigated under planktonic conditions using standardised antimicrobial susceptibility tests and the Quantitative suspension and surface tests (EN 1276 and EN 13697) for the disinfectants. Biofilm formation, inhibition and eradication was investigated using the crystal violet (CV) assay while the viability of treated biofilms were investigated using the 2, 3-bis [2-methyloxy-4-nitro-5- sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay and CFU/ml assay. Multiplex PCR was used to determine the presence of PVL, icaA and IcaD genes as well as SCCmec typing while RT-PCR used to investigate changes in gene expression in five target genes following treatment of PVL CA MSSA and CA MRSA MW2 biofilms with grapefruit EO. The S. aureus isolates all formed biofilms and had similar molecular characteristics however one isolate (CA MRSA SR) was multidrug resistant and PVL negative. The VRE isolate was negative for biofilm formation. In suspension, household bleach and NaDCC caused >5 log reduction in viable counts and on stainless steel surfaces, there was <3.5 log reduction. Against biofilms, Household bleach at 5000ppm caused 100% biofilm eradication within 10 minutes while NaDCC eradicated <50% of the biofilm within one hour at 10,000ppm.The eco-friendly product did not demonstrate any antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells or biofilms. Antimicrobial activity of six essential oils (EO) (lime, lemon, lemongrass, geranium, grapefruit, bergamot), and two components (limonene and citral) was investigated for the S. aureus isolates. Following exposure to lemongrass EO extensive disruption to S. aureus biofilms was shown under scanning electron microscopy. The most notable changes in gene expression following exposure to grapefruit EO were the /caD, luxS and sodA genes when the PVL CA MSSA biofilms was compared to the prototype community acquired strain, CA MRSA MW2. The S. aureus isolates were susceptible to the essential oils with the exception of limonene and lemon EO. Lemongrass EO inhibited biofilm formation, metabolic activity and viability. No anti-biofilm activity was observed for Grapefruit EO against S. aureus except for one isolate (PVL positive CA MSSA), where an increase in metabolic activity was observed following treatment. Lemongrass EO was effective as an antibacterial and antibiofilm agent and could be a potential alternative to chemical based antimicrobial agents in both healthcare and non-healthcare environments.


The closest relatives of Balto-Slavic are Albanian and Indo-Iranian. Together with Armenian and Thracian, these are the satǝm languages, which together with Greek and Phrygian constitute the eastern part of Classic Indo-European. The obvious common development in this area is the satǝm palatalization, which did not affect Greek and Phrygian. Indo-Iranian was separated from the other satǝm languages by the depalatalization of palatovelars before resonants in the latter. Proto-Indo-European had a threefold distinction between fortis, glottalic lenis, and plain lenis obstruents, all of them voiceless, e.g. *t [t:], *d [ť], *dh [t]. In the Classic Indo-European languages (after their separation from Anatolian and Tocharian), the lenis obstruents became voiced [ʔd], [d], while the fortis remained voiceless [t]. This system was best preserved in Indo-Iranian, Balto-Slavic and Albanian. Another development that seems to be dialectal Indo-European is the retraction of *s to *ṣ after *i, *u, *r, *k in Indo-Iranian, Balto-Slavic, Albanian and Armenian. However, this retraction cannot be dated and may have affected any part of the IndoEuropean dialects. This may also explain the Hittite reflex s of PIE *s. The large majority of special correspondences between Balto-Slavic and IndoIranian are archaisms, not innovations. This is important because it implies that a comparison of Balto-Slavic with Indo-Iranian leads to a reconstruction of an early stage of Indo-European.


In recent years Canada has achieved international recognition not only for its prize-winning writers (Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Yann Martel, Carol Shields), but also for innovation and leadership in Translation Studies, which has emerged as a relatively new but increasingly vibrant field of scholarly research and publication in our country. In order to facilitate the dissemination and exchange of information about Canadian Literary Translation Studies and foster an increasingly collaborative and international research process, researchers at the Universite de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, have established an online bibliographic database of theoretical and critical writing on literary translation in Canada as part of the larger Bibliography of Comparative Studies in Canadian, Quebec and Foreign Literatures/Bibliographie d'etudes comparees des litteratures canadienne, quebecoise et etrangeres. This paper outlines the background of this web-based project and the procedures set in place, as well as the inevitable challenges that may well resonate with other translation bibliographies.


This work deals with the subject of the participation of the european regions, and generally, of the
territorial governments at the european decision making (ascendent and descendant phase).
The dissertation is developed in three parts: the first part describes the communitary context (the
origins and the development) through two different approaches: a theoretic (founded on the
comparison between functionalism, intergovernativism and federalism) and a juridical approach
(founded on the contribution of the jurisprudence elaborated by European Justice Court about the
connections between european and national systems).Successively the role of the regions in the
communitary context is analysed from the origins of the European Communities to the present
situation displaying his evolution.
The second part describes the italian context referring to the issue legislation in the matter of
relations between regions and European Union. On this subject I described the evolution of the
legislation that beginning from 1970 to constitutional reform happened in 2001, have represented
the reference legislative frame about the participation of regions at European Union.The description
carries on with the following context. In conclusion, the third part contemplate the autonomous
regions with special statute, referring to the applicability of some instruments provided by the
constitutional reform of 2001.


These days, technology is considered as a national source to make growth sustainable. In this sense, many countries support enterprises to innovate and upgrade their technological capabilities. However, for SME(small and medium-sized enterprise), it is difficult to achieve the desired outcome from the government support. We understand that one of main reason is the problem of human resources of SMEs. Comparing to large scaled enterprises, SMEs have relative weakness not only in the recruiting of talented new personnel but also in the retraining of existing workers. In this study, we propose a technological human resource management (HRM) model in conjunction with a technology strategy model as well as some strategic guidelines for HRM for the technology innovation of SMEs. This proposed model focuses on motivation of existing workers for technology innovation, with the findings through case studies of some SMEs that are successful in the HRM for technology innovation. The proposed guideline will be useful to managers who are responsible for technology innovation in SMEs and also will be helpful to SME-policy makers of government.


Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) applied to soil in sludge have been assumed to disappear quickly and completely. The VOC behavior in sludge-amended soils has been studied previously only in laboratory systems where the sludged soil has been spiked with compounds of interest. Behavior in these systems may not necessarily represent compound behavior in field soils to which contaminated sludge is added. A series of laboratory microcosm experiments were designed therefore to investigate the behavior of toluene, ethyl benzene, o-, m-, and p-xylene applied to soil in contaminated sludge, and factors influencing loss processes. The VOC loss from sludge-amended soil was well described by a simple one step pseudo-first-order model but in certain soils was better described by a two step first-order model. Volatilization was the predominant loss process. Rates of loss depended on sludge application rate, method of sludge application, soil properties, and on compound characteristics. Experiments indicated that spiking sludge-amended soils gave a reasonable indication of VOC loss rates from systems amended with contaminated sludge at least over a period of 23 d. The majority of VOCs applied to soils in sludge volatilizes quickly to the atmosphere over a few to 10s of days with a small fraction lost more slowly. Potential for VOC crop uptake, livestock ingestion, and contamination of ground water (the transfer routes of most concern) is low under routine, managed applications of sewage sludge to agricultural land.


Antibiotic susceptibility, plasmid profiles and random amplification of
polymorphic DNA were used to study strains of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio
parahaemolyticus isolated from cockles (Anadara granosa). 36 strains of V vuln(ficus
isolates were examined. The prevalent biotype was biotype 1 (72.2% of the isolates) and 2
(27.8%). Twenty one strains of biotypes 1 and 2 harboured plasmid DNA ranging in size
from 1.4 to 9.7 megaDalton. No particular plasmid profile was predictive of a particular
pattern of antibiotic susceptibility. Two primers demonstrated polymorphisms in all
strains tested, producing bands ranging from 0.25 to 2.7 kb, indicating a high variability
among both biotypes 1 and 2 of the V vulnificus strains investigated. RAPD identity
across biotypes was also observed among the V vulnificus strains. 35 Vibrio
parahaemolyticus Kanagawa-negative strains were isolated.· Twenty six strains of V
parahaemolyticus were carried small plasmid(s) of 1.3 to 9.7 MegaDalton that enabled the V. parahaemolyticus to be grouped into eight plasmid patterns. The RAPD
fingerprinting using three primers demonstrated polymorphisms in all thirty-five strains
of V. parahaemolyticus tested, producing bands ranging from 0.25 to 3.9 kb. The RAPD
profiles revealed a high level of DNA sequence diversity within the V. parahaemolyticus
strains tested, and that cockles in the study area are populated by genetically polymorphic
strains of V. parahaemolyticus.


Patent law strives to promote the progress of technology by encouraging invention. Traditionally, scholars contend that patent law achieves this goal by creating financial incentives to invent in the form of exclusive rights to new technology. This traditional view of invention, however, fails to recognize that inventors are motivated by more than money. Like most people, inventors are also motivated by social norms, that is, shared normative beliefs favoring certain actions while disfavoring others. This Article argues that many Americans embrace social norms that favor and encourage successful invention. Because of these "inventing norms�? inventors enjoy enhanced personal satisfaction and are esteemed by their friends, family, and peers. Importantly, patent law can strengthen and shape inventing norms by, for example, identifying and validating successful inventions. Patent scholars, however, have largely ignored social norms that motivate people to invent and the effect of patent law on these norms. This Article remedies this oversight by developing a framework for incorporating inventing norms into traditional patent law analysis.


The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that determine intention of the accounting student to adopt internal software My Quick Accounting System (My QAS) in Economic Faculty of Islamic University "45" Bekasi. To identify the factors that affect intention to adopt internal software using a research model based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The respondent in this study that only the accounting students who have participated in accounting computer course. This study using the survey method for data collection (personally administrated questionnaires). The results indicate that the accounting student's intention to adopt My QAS determine by factors: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use. Keywords: Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Intention.


Cerebral ischemia is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, which results in cognitive and motor dysfunction, neurodegenerative diseases, and death. Evodiamine (Evo) is extracted from Evodia rutaecarpa Bentham, a plant widely used in Chinese herbal medicine, which possesses variable biological abilities, such as anticancer, anti-inflammation, antiobesity, anti-Alzheimer's disease, antimetastatic, antianoxic, and antinociceptive functions. But the effect of Evo on ischemic stroke is unclear. Increasing data suggest that activation of autophagy, an adaptive response to environmental stresses, could protect neurons from ischemia-induced cell death. In this study, we found that Evo induced autophagy in U87-MG astrocytes. A scavenger of extracellular calcium and an antagonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV-1) decreased the percentage of autophagy accompanied by an increase in apoptosis, suggesting that Evo may induce calcium-mediated protective autophagy resulting from an influx of extracellular calcium. The same phenomena were also confirmed by a small interfering RNA technique to knock down the expression of TRPV1. Finally, Evo-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) activation was reduced by a TRPV1 antagonist, indicating that Evo-induced autophagy may occur through a calcium/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Collectively, Evo induced an influx of extracellular calcium, which led to JNK-mediated protective autophagy, and this provides a new option for ischemic stroke treatment.


Islam in the Scandinavian countries—Denmark, Norway, and Sweden—has a long history. There are evidences of contacts between Scandinavia and the Muslim world at least since the Middle Ages. The presence of Muslims in Scandinavia is however of a later date and more established from the 1950s, when immigrants arrived, mainly due to the needs in the labor markets; they successively established congregations and mosques, as they realized that they were to stay in their new countries. Following this period, Muslim migrants have arrived due to geopolitical factors, such as war, which have increased the number of Muslims and their presence and visibility in public space and public debate, which in turn has affected the media image of Islam and Muslims and influenced research. The research on Islam and Muslims has a long history in Scandinavia as well. With the increase of Muslim inhabitants in Scandinavian countries, scholarly interests have also related more to the present and to the study of their own Muslim populations, as well as case studies related to Islamophobia, media images, Muslims in the school systems and labor market, and specific incidents, such as the cartoon crisis and its aftermath.


Patching your computer is one of the most important ways to protect yourself online. Windows users should turn on Windows Update [2] and set it to download and install patches automatically Additionally make sure Microsoft Updates [3] has been activated so that Office and other Microsoft updates are being applied. For Mac OS X, patches are installed via the App Store [4], and the settings can be checked under System Preferences>App Store.