Objectives: To determine long-term outcomes and costs of Ilizarov bone transport and flap coverage for lower limb salvage. Design: Case series with retrospective review of outcomes with at least 6-year follow-up. Setting: Academic tertiary care medical center. Patients: Thirty-four consecutive patients with traumatic lower extremity wounds and tibial defects who were recommended amputation but instead underwent complex limb salvage from 1993 to 2005. Intervention: Flap reconstruction and Ilizarov bone transport. Main Outcome Measurements: Outcomes assessed were flap complications, infection, union, malunion, need for chronic narcotics, ambulation status, employment status, and need for reoperations. A cost analysis was performed comparing this treatment modality to amputation. Results: Thirty-four patients (mean age: 40 years) were included with 14 acute Gustilo IIIB/C defects and 20 chronic tibial defects (nonunion with osteomyelitis). Thirty-five muscle flaps were performed with 1 flap loss (2.9%). The mean tibial bone defect was 8.7 cm, mean duration of bone transport was 10.8 months, and mean follow-up was 11 years. Primary nonunion rate at the docking site was 8.8% and malunion rate was 5.9%. All patients achieved final union with no cases of recurrent osteomyelitis. No patients underwent future amputations, 29% required reoperations, 97% were ambulating without assistance, 85% were working full time, and only 5.9% required chronic narcotics. Mean lifetime cost per patient per year after limb salvage was significantly less than the published cost for amputation. Conclusions: The long-term results and costs of bone transport and flap coverage strongly support complex limb salvage in this patient population. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.


The IOHanalyzer is a web-based framework that enables an easy visualization and comparison of the quality of stochastic optimization algorithms. IOHanalyzer offers several graphical and statistical tools analyze the results of such algorithms. In this work, we implement the cumulative difference plot in the IOHanalyzer. The cumulative difference plot [1] is a graphical approach that compares two samples through the first-order stochastic dominance. It improves upon other graphical approaches with the ability to distinguish between a small magnitude of difference and high uncertainty.


This presentation was intended as a basic introduction to the simple, pedagogical applications for: 1. the reading & writing of hypertext (WWW & HTML) 2. the use of synchronous & asynchronous conferencing technologies (IRC & E-Mail) 3. English language drill software Topics included: different methodologies, the kinds and amount of preperation involved for the teacher and students, the dangers of over-use and misuse, and finally the potential benefits for both student and teacher. The target audience was teachers at gymnasium level.


Estimates of the expected present value of lifetime out-of-pocket medical costs from age 65 onward are of limited value to households managing wealth decumulation in retirement. Their risk characteristics may differ from the average. They will also care about the whole probability distribution of health cost outcomes, and will want to update that probability distribution during the course of retirement. Using Health and Retirement Study data, we simulate health, mortality, and health cost histories of retired households. We show that the life expectancy and average health costs of our simulated households closely match published life tables and the findings of previous research. Using our simulated data, assuming a 3-percent real interest rate and including Medicare and private insurance premiums, we estimate that a typical household age 65 has a 5-percent risk of the present value of its lifetime health care costs exceeding $311,000, or $570,000 including the cost of long-term care. We find that relatively little resolution of uncertainty occurs with age, even for those who remain free of chronic disease.


Building on the concept of 'multicultural middle class', this paper explores social inclusion of professionally educated and employed non-Anglophone immigrants in Australia. We focus specifically on the perceptions and implications of 'foreign accent' in the interaction between two groups of middle-class Australians: non-Anglophone immigrants and Anglo-Australians. 'Non-Anglophone immigrants' are defined as those who arrived in Australia as adults, grew up speaking a language other than English, and therefore usually speak English with a 'foreign accent'. 'Anglo-Australians' are defined as people born in Australia who grew up in families/households where only English was spoken, therefore speaking with a 'native Australian' accent. Through a survey of a targeted sample of respondents, the two groups were asked about their intergroup communication, wider interaction (e.g., intermarriage, friendships and working together) and mutual perceptions. Our findings indicate high levels of agreement between the two groups that Anglophone/non-Anglophone communication is minimally hindered by comprehension problems due to foreign-accented speech and cultural differences. Although the positive picture that emerges may reflect specific experiences and attitudes of middle-class professionals and may not be generalisable, increased contact of the 'multicultural middle class' with its Anglo-Australian counterpart is likely to be a factor in dissociating foreign accent and negative stereotyping.


Metastasis to the brain is a clinical problem in patients with breast cancer (1-3). We mined published microarray data (4, 5) to compare primary and metastatic tumor transcriptomes to discover genes associated with brain metastasis in patients with metastatic breast cancer. We found that histone cluster 1, H2bl, encoded by HIST1H2BL, was among the genes whose expression was most different in the brain metastases of patients with metastatic breast cancer as compared to normal breast tissues and primary tumors of the breast. HIST1H2BL mRNA was present at increased quantities in brain metastatic tissues as compared to primary tumors of the breast and to normal breast tissues. Up-regulation of HIST1H2BL expression may be relevant to the biology by which tumor cells metastasize from the breast to the brain in humans with metastatic breast cancer.


This paper aims to examine three issues: how bad the productivity performance in Japan's service sector has been; why it is important to accelerate TFP growth in the service sector; and why TFP has stagnated in Japan's service sector. The main findings of the paper are as follows. First, TFP growth in the manufacturing sector is much higher than that in other sectors, although the manufacturing sector's share is declining rapidly. For Japan, whose population is in decline, productivity growth in the service sector is key for economic growth. Second, TFP growth in ICT-using sectors declined substantially after 1995. Third, accumulation of ICT assets in Japan was very slow in comparison with other developed countries. Forth, the low level of intangible investment is probably one important cause of the stagnation of TFP; another is that Japan's service sector has fallen behind with regard to investment in ICT. Fifth, it seems that Japan's low metabolism also impedes productivity growth. Sixth, firms invest little in on-the-job training and off-the-job training for part-time workers, and the increase in part-time workers may have slowed down human-capital accumulation. Seventh, it appears that Japanese firms have fallen behind in terms of internationalization and economies of scale.


As digital cameras and powerful computers have become wide-spread, the number of applications using vision techniques has increased significantly. One such application that has received significant attention from the computer vision community is traffic surveillance. We propose a new traffic surveillance system that works without prior, explicit camera calibration, and has the ability to perform surveillance tasks in real time. Camera intrinsic parameters and its position with respect to the ground plane were derived using geometric primitives common to any traffic scene. We use optical flow and knowledge of camera parameters to detect the pose of a vehicle in the 3D world. This information is used in a model-based vehicle detection and classification technique employed by our traffic surveillance application. The object (vehicle) classification uses two new techniques − color contour based matching and gradient based matching. Our experiments on several real traffic video sequences demonstrate good results for our foreground object detection, tracking, vehicle detection and vehicle speed estimation approaches.


Thirty-two freshwater rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms, two rainbow trout marine cages, and one research station in the Black Sea region of Turkey were surveyed for bacterial pathogens and diseases in 20062008. Forty bacterial isolates were phenotypically identified in 558 fish. Yersiniosis, furunculosis, vibriosis, motile Aeromonas septicemia, bacterial cold water disease, and Pseudomonas infection were recorded. Infections caused by Yersinia ruckeri, A. hydrophila, and A. salmonicida occurred most frequently, but one or two outbreaks of P. putida, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, and P. luteola infection were also recorded. Most of the bacteria were isolated in spring and summer rather than fall and winter. Susceptibility to antibiotics was fairly consistent regardless of geographic area or year of isolation. Fifty percent or more of the bacteria were resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin, erythromycin, neomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and O/129. The most effective antibiotics were oxolinic acid and florefenicol.


The problem of diffusion control on networks has been extensively studied, with applications ranging from marketing to controlling infectious disease. However, in many applications, such as cybersecurity, an attacker may want to attack a targeted subgraph of a network, while limiting the impact on the rest of the network in order to remain undetected. We present a model POTION in which the principal aim is to optimize graph structure to achieve such targeted attacks. We propose an algorithm POTION-ALG for solving the model at scale, using a gradient-based approach that leverages Rayleigh quotients and pseudospectrum theory. In addition, we present a condition for certifying that a targeted subgraph is immune to such attacks. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through experiments on real and synthetic networks.


This important Handbook presents an indispensable overview of the range of new methods and of the conceptual advances in Social Impact Assessment (SIA). Recent increased attention to social considerations has led to substantial development in the techniques useful to, and the thinking in, SIA. A distinguished group of contributors provides an up-to-date and comprehensive account of the cutting-edge in SIA development.


Our objective was to estimate the burden of fungal disease on the island of Ireland, as part of a coordinated project estimating the global burden. Published epidemiology data describing fungal infection in Ireland were identified. Population and underlying disease data were collected for 2010 and a structured set of assumptions were applied to estimate burden of fungal disease based on immunosuppression, chronic disease, and other demographic information indicating predisposition to fungal infection. From Ireland's population of 6.4 million, we estimate 117, 000 patients develop significant fungal disease each year. By far the most common fungal disease is recurrent Candida vaginitis, with an estimated 95, 000 episodes annually (3000 per 100 000 women). Other fungal diseases which may be less well recognized are severe asthma with fungal sensitization and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, with estimated episodes per year of 11, 700 and 9000, respectively (182 and 140 per 100, 000 population, respectively). The model also estimates 450 episodes of invasive aspergillosis, 200 of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, 600 of oesophageal candidiasis and 450 of candidaemia per year (7, 3, 9 and 6 episodes per 100, 000 population, respectively). This is, we believe, the first attempt to estimate the burden of fungal disease in our population and provides a basis for estimating its impact on human health and resource use.


Many retail stores, as well as other organizations that employ a multitude of part-time employees, rely on developing schedules frequently, since the availabilities of the employees as well as the needs of the business change often. This process is often performed on a weekly basis, and is complex and time-consuming. The schedule must typically satisfy numerous requirements, including business needs, legal restrictions, and employee availability constraints. As a result, errors are common, and employee time that could have been spent on improving sales or operations is instead consumed by the scheduling task. This project explores two solution methods for this problem. One method is the use of linear programming (LP) to develop an optimal schedule weekly. The other is the design and implementation of a scheduling system that uses a heuristic method. After developing both methods it was determined that while the LP approach may lead to optimal solutions, it was impractical due to high costs and complexity. The heuristic approach resulted in an automatic scheduling system that is easy to use, low cost, and flexible. The new scheduling system was evaluated and approved by future users.


Abstract An assessment of nonequilibrium rangeland dynamics was conducted in the Aru basin, a semiarid site located in the very dry northwest part of the Chang Tang Nature Reserve, Tibet, China. A grazing gradient approach was used to examine the effects of different livestock grazing intensities on vegetation, providing data to determine if plant–herbivore interaction has been a major structuring force of the plant community and thus to indicate what type of dynamic might apply in the study area. No significant differences were found between a highly grazed site and a lightly grazed site in vegetation cover, standing biomass, and Shannon–Wiener species diversity index of total, graminoid, forb, and tomtza (Oxytropis glacialis Benth. ex Bunge) functional groups, with the exception that tomtza coverage was significantly higher at the highly grazed (1.04%) than at the lightly grazed site (0.02%). Grazing intensity alone did not explain a significant amount of variation in the plant species data. These results indicate that a dominance of nonequilibrium dynamics appears to be the case in the basin, probably one of the least-arid sites in the northwest Chang Tang region of the Tibetan Plateau. Thus, opportunistic livestock management strategies adapted to variable vegetation production from year to year, rather than the setting of a rigid stocking rate that assumes a stable carrying capacity, is probably the most plausible approach for managing livestock and its relationship to biodiversity values in this region.


Having paramount importance in any ESP classroom, textbooks are known as one of the most visible parts of any ESP teaching program. Playing a crucial role, especially in societies where English is used as a foreign language, such textbooks should have some features on which the needs and objectives of an ESP teaching program are met. Concerning such an importance, making use of McDonough and Shaw's (2003) model, this research intends to critically evaluate the current status of the Iranian ESP textbooks developed and published by Payam Nour University (PNU), as the second ESP textbooks developer in Iranian academic setting. Obtaining such an end, it tries: (1) to present the importance of ESP materials development as well as evaluation; (2) to introduce the essential drawbacks which PNU textbooks suffer from; and (3) to present some practical suggestions and solutions to tackle the significant problems and drawbacks of such ESP textbooks.


Labor and skill premiums and their relationships with trade measures are simultaneously estimated within the framework of an individual level labor supply model for Jamaica using truncated regression models. Increased imports from the US were found to reduce the return to unskilled labor, and increase the skill premium in Jamaica. Increased exports to the US had the opposite effects on returns to Jamaican skilled and unskilled labor.


[1] Plant productivity in upland tundra and boreal forest is demonstrably limited by nitrogen (N) and indirect evidence from field studies suggests that decomposition by soil microbes may be similarly limited. As climate warms at high latitudes, understanding the response of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition to increased soil temperature may be crucial for determining the net effect of warming on ecosystem carbon (C) balance because temperature directly affects decomposition but also because it has an indirect effect on C balance via nutrient mineralization. We incubated northern Alaskan soils at two temperatures (5°C and 15°C) and two levels of N addition (with and without) to directly test for N limitation of SOM decomposition and to explore the interaction between temperature and N limitation. Over the entire 924 day incubation of organic and mineral soils from two ecosystem types, we measured microbial respiration; over the initial 90 days of the incubation, we measured microbial biomass N, net N mineralization, and the isotopic signatures (δ13C and Δ14C) of microbial respiration. Across soil layers and ecosystem types, temperature always had a strong positive effect on SOM decomposition rates, whereas N addition had positive, negative, and neutral effects. When C respiration rates were high, the positive N response was generally most strongly expressed, for example, in the organic soils, in the warmer incubation, and at the outset of the experiment. Negative N responses often occurred when C respiration rates were lower, predominantly in mineral soils and at the middle or end of the experiment. In the subset of soil types where we measured the radiocarbon age of respired CO2, increased decomposition was related to increased use of older C. Net N mineralization and nitrification were not affected by temperature, but N addition increased net N immobilization in all soil layers and microbial biomass N in organic layers. Our data support the general idea that at least in these high-latitude organic soils, decomposition of labile carbon can be positively stimulated by added N, whereas decomposition of recalcitrant C is suppressed.


A high-speed laser-based profilometer has been designed and developed at the laboratory to measure surface profiles of roads and airfield runways. This report describes the theoretical and experimental studies carried out to identify and to evaluate the factors that influence the accuracy of measurement of the profilometer. Detailed comparisons between test profiles measured by survey techniques and by the profilometer are presented and discussed. The factors that are of most importance in determining the profilometer's accuracy of measurement are the imprecision in the determination of the non-colinearity of the laser transducers and in the transducers' calibration coefficients, together with the magnitude of the vertical temperature gradient across the profilometer beam and the effect of surface texture. Phase and amplitude comparisons show good agreement between profilometer and survey-measured profiles over the range of wavelengths that are of interest in studies of riding quality. In operation, the profilometer can measure road and runway profiles at speeds between 5 and 80 kilometres per hour but with an error that increases with speed. Facilities permit on-site analysis of the measured profiles and the measurement of surface texture if required.(a) (TRRL)


Geoscientific measurements often provide time series with irregular time sampling, requiring either data reconstruction (interpolation) or sophisticated methods to handle irregular sampling. We compare the linear interpolation technique and different approaches for analyzing the correlation functions and persistence of irregularly sampled time series, as Lomb-Scargle Fourier transformation and kernelbased methods. In a thorough benchmark test we investigate the performance of these techniques. All methods have comparable root mean square errors (RMSEs) for low skewness of the inter-observation time distribution. For high skewness, very irregular data, interpolation bias and RMSE increase strongly. We find a 40 % lower RMSE for the lag-1 autocorrelation function (ACF) for the Gaussian kernel method vs. the linear interpolation scheme,in the analysis of highly irregular time series. For the cross correlation function (CCF) the RMSE is then lower by 60 %. The application of the Lomb-Scargle technique gave results comparable to the kernel methods for the univariate, but poorer results in the bivariate case. Especially the highfrequency components of the signal, where classical methods show a strong bias in ACF and CCF magnitude, are preserved when using the kernel methods. We illustrate the performances of interpolation vs. Gaussian kernel method by applying both to paleo-data from four locations, reflecting late Holocene Asian monsoon variability as derived from speleothemδ18O measurements. Cross correlation results are similar for both methods, which we Correspondence to: K. Rehfeld (email@example.com) attribute to the long time scales of the common variability. The persistence time (memory) is strongly overestimated when using the standard, interpolation-based, approach. Hence, the Gaussian kernel is a reliable and more robust estimator with significant advantages compared to other techniques and suitable for large scale application to paleodata.


Purpose: The purpose of this article is to characterize the process of knowledge management in business clusters in terms of the benefi ts for the cluster members. The paper examines which mechanisms within the clusters promote knowledge creation between companies and other institutions. Methodology: The literature review is based on databases of books and scientifi c articles, such as EBSCO, Elsevier, JSTOR, Springer, and the Oxford Library and Kingston University London Library. The analysis of the literature is focused around the concepts of business clusters, knowledge management in organizations, knowledge management in clusters. Findings: The literature presented in this paper shows that network forms of organization such as clusters are conducive to inter-fi rm knowledge and skill development. Clusters as a type of network turn out to be a highly structured model of knowledge development, transfer and diffusion, produced by the interaction of social and economic relations within cluster institutions. Research implications: The article constitutes a combination of two theoretical aspects – knowledge management and business clusters. The theoretical conclusions of the literature review, mostly foreign literature, provide a basis for research in that area. Practical implications: In the Polish literature on the subject the aspect of knowledge management in business clusters has not yet been discussed. The conclusions of the presented literature analysis provide a basis for research and the development of practical recommendations for cluster managers. Knowledge-based clusters can serve as an example for developing clusters in the world. They are often clustered around research centers, making it possible to improve the exchange of knowledge between the cluster members and also providing the opportunity to better connect the world of science and business. Originality: The author has presented a unique mix of theory, knowledge management and business clusters and has demonstrated that one of the benefi ts of business clusters is their ability to generate knowledge by combining existing information and data from internal databases of businesses within clusters with the infl ux of new information. Formal contacts between the employees of the cooperating institutions provide general knowledge and best practices based on collective knowledge. While informal contacts are important channels for the transfer of tacit knowledge, the so-called operational know-how.


Objectives Quantification of work disability in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving conventional DMARDs according to a treat-to-target strategy. Methods This is a retrospective cohort analysis of RA patients who received combination conventional DMARDs, escalated to achieve DAS28(ESR) remission and completed an annual work and arthritis questionnaire. Random effect mixed modeling was used to assess associations between average hours worked per week (HWPW), and baseline prognostic factors. HWPW were compared with matched population averages. Cox proportional hazards modeling was employed to evaluate associations between permanent loss of employment and treatment response, disease and demographic factors. Results Work data from 135 patients working at baseline and 137 working at any point followed for up to 14 years (range 1–14) were available for analysis. The mean age was 45 years, 70% were female, and 70% and 68% were seropositive for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), respectively. Men worked more hours than women; there was a highly significant association between working hours lost and increasing age (0.28 hours, P = 0.04) and female gender (11.92 hours, P < 0.001). HWPW were maintained over the study time comparable to the general population (loss of 0.78 vs. 0.24 HWPW). EULAR good responders at 6 months were more likely to be working at 10 years compared to those with moderate/no response. Permanent loss of employment and baseline age were strongly associated for anti-CCP positive participants (P = 0.04). Conclusions Treat-to-target combination conventional DMARD therapy maintains work capacity, particularly in good responders, comparable to the general population. Improving treatment response in moderate/no responders early in disease may increase work retention.


Many observed giant planets lie on eccentric orbits. Such orbits could be the result of strong scatterings with other giant planets. The same dynamical instability that produces giant planet scatterings can also alter the orbits of terrestrial planets. For example, a habitable rocky planet in the system can be ejected or transported to an orbit outside the habitable zone. Therefore, there is a link between observed giant planets and the habitability of smaller planets in the system. We say that a habitable planet has resilient habitability if it is able to avoid ejections and collisions and its orbit remains inside the habitable zone. Here we model the orbital evolution of rocky planets in planetary systems where giant planets become dynamically unstable. We measure the resilience of habitable planets as a function of the observed, present-day masses and orbits of the giant planets. We find that the survival rate of habitable planets depends strongly on the giant planet architecture. Systems with three Jupiters (3J) are far more destructive than systems with four giant planets of unequal masses (4G), akin to the architecture of the solar system. In terms of observables, we find that giant planets with eccentricity above 0.4 originate only in 3J systems and very rarely have habitable interior planets. For a giant planet with an present-day eccentricity of 0.2 and semimajor axis of 5 AU orbiting a Sun-like star, 50% of the orbits in the habitable zone are resilient to the instability. As semimajor axis increases and eccentricity decreases, a higher fraction of habitable planets survive and remain habitable. However, if the habitable planet has rocky siblings, there is a significant risk of rocky planet collisions that would sterilize the planet.


Apical dendrites and somata of layer V pyramidal neurons were recorded with tight-seal patch electrodes in a slice preparation of rat somatosensory cortex. Recording sites were confirmed by measurements of the electrode location and by staining with biocytin. Dendritic recordings were made along the main trunk of the apical dendrite, usually within layer IV, at distances from 100 to 500 microns from the soma. Most cells recorded through the dendrite had a distinct enlargement of the apical trunk around the presumed recording site. The electrical properties of apical dendrites were readily distinguishable from those of somata. Dendrites generated two types of response when injected with depolarizing current. Group I responses were relatively small and broad Na(+)-dependent action potentials whose amplitude and rate-of-rise were negatively correlated with recording distance from the soma. Group II responses were complex, clustered firing patterns of Na(+)-dependent spikes together with higher-threshold slow spikes or plateaus; in these dendrites spike parameters were not correlated with distance from the soma. These two response groups were correlated with dendritic morphology: group I had significantly fewer oblique branches on the apical dendrite (5.5 vs 12.0) and a thinner apical trunk (2.0 vs 2.5 microns) than group II. TTX (1–2 microM) selectively blocked fast dendritic spikes, but not slow spikes and plateaus. Blocking Ca2+ currents reduced complex firing patterns and suppressed high-threshold slow spikes. Physiological and pharmacological studies imply that slow spikes and plateau potentials were primarily generated by high- threshold Ca2+ channels in the apical dendrite. Stimulating axons of layer I elicited EPSPs on distal apical dendrites of layer V cells. Recordings from both groups of apical dendrites revealed that EPSPs triggered a variety of distally generated, all-or-nothing depolarizations. The results show that voltage-dependent Na+ and Ca2+ currents are present in distal apical dendrites, in variable densities. These currents significantly modify distal synaptic events. The prevalence and character of active dendritic spiking (and presumably of Na+ and Ca2+ channel densities) correlate with the morphology of the apical dendritic tree.


This article claims that there are major problems with existing classifications of Latin loanwords into Old English. These deficiencies spring not so much from the paucity of the Old English linguistic record, as a comparison with several much better documented Finnish loans into Modern English shows, but rather from methodological imprecision, which results in many lexical items being too hastily labelled with the umbrella term "lexical loan". Alternative terms are suggested for the twelve Finnish and six Old English words investigated in the article, based on their frequency, integration, the registers that they belong to, and the historical and cultural developments that they document.


Computational narrative is a complex and interesting domain for exploring AI techniques that algorithmically analyze, understand, and most importantly, generate stories. This paper studies the importance of domain knowledge in story generation, and particularly in analogy-based story generation (ASG). Based on the construct of knowledge container in case-based reasoning, we present a theoretical framework for incorporating domain knowledge in ASG. We complement the framework with empirical results in our existing system Riu.


Islands have been disproportionately affected by the current biodiversity crisis. In island biotas, one of the most recurrent anthropic alterations is species introduction. Invasion of exotic species may represent a major threat for island biotas, because invasive species may change species composition and simplify community dynamics. We investigated diversity patterns of native and introduced species in native and exotic forests of Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal) by using diversity profiles based on Hill numbers. Use of diversity profiles allows for a complete characterization of the community diversity because they combine information on species richness, rarity, and dominance. We found that native forest remnants are crucial for the maintenance of endemic Azorean arthropod diversity. However, we also found that some lowland patches of exotic forests can sustain populations of rare endemic species. Our findings reinforce the importance of the few and small remnants of native forests, which are a pillar to the conservation of Azorean endemic arthropods. However, areas occupied by exotic forests, whether they are large and contiguous or small and isolated, close to native forests, or embedded in a matrix of agriculture activities, can also play a role in the conservation of native species, including endemics.


The author aimed to evaluate the risk factors for pressure injuries in those receiving home care units. This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in 786 patients who were served from home care unit between 1st March 2016 and 31st April 2016. Patients' pressure injury was evaluated with Braden risk assessment scale. The mean age of seven hundred eighty six patients was 71.22 ± 16.23 y; 51.3% of them were female. In home care unit patients, the pressure injury prevalence is 29.8%. It was observed that in patients who had 11.9 ± 3.0 point averages from the Braden risk assessment scale. It was seen the pressure injury evaluation and in patients who had 21.1 ± 3.4 point averages it was not seen any evaluation of the pressure injury (t=14.6, p=0.000). In home care patients, the pressure injury prevalence is found in 29.8% age, having chronic illness, nutrition status are risk factors to pressure injury in home care patients. Patients who were served in home care unit had high risk for pressure injuries. In this respect, in home care patients should be evaluated for pressure injuries.


Environmental context Queensland fruit fly is a major pest of fruits and vegetables in eastern Australia, sometimes causing complete loss of unprotected crops. Odours that attract fruit flies can help control these pests and this study investigated how six fruit fly species smell these chemicals. The strength of fly responses to tested odours gives insight into the way flies smell and provides information for making better attractants, potentially reducing insecticide use. Abstract The Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni, Q-fly) is a major horticultural pest in eastern Australia. The deployment of male lures comprises an important component of several detection and control strategies for this pest. A novel fluorinated analogue of raspberry ketone (RK), raspberry ketone trifluoroacetate (RKTA), has been developed with the aim of further improving Q-fly control. RKTA elicited strong electroantennogram (EAG) responses from Q-flies whereas cuelure (CL) and melolure (ML) responses were not significantly greater than a negative control. Further experimentation showed that RKTA also elicited EAG response from five other fruit fly species, included flies known to be strongly attracted to CL (B. neohumeralis, B. kraussi and B. frauenfeldi), weakly attracted to CL (B. jarvisi), or non-responsive to CL (Zeugodacus cucumis), whereas seven other compounds, RK, CL, ML, raspberry ketone difluoroacetate, raspberry ketone monofluoroacetate, anisyl acetone and trimethylsilyl raspberry ketone, elicited only weak responses comparable with a negative control. However, fly EAG responses to RKTA are likely due at least in part to trifluoroethanoic acid, which is a hydrolysis product of RKTA and elicited strong EAG responses from all six species when tested alone. Furthermore, whereas ethanoic acid, methanoic acid and trifluoroethanoic acid all elicited strong EAG responses in Q-flies, the only corresponding RK ester to elicit an EAG response was RKTA, suggesting that RKTA hydrolyses quickly, whereas CL and ML do not. This is in contrast to the idea that CL readily hydrolyses on contact with atmospheric moisture, an assertion that has been made in the literature repeatedly.


This article presents the results in investigations of the load-carrying ability of reinforced-concrete non-pressure pipes with the inner lining intended to protect concrete against corrosion. The lining (covers) are mounted as a stay-in-place formwork when manufacturing the pipes. To manufacture the covers, polyethylene sheets with the thickness of 3-5 mm are used. To be fastened in the pipe wall concrete, the linings are provided with special anchoring elements. Two lining types are considered: 1 – with anchoring elements in the form of solid longitudinal ribs; 2 – with anchoring elements distributed equidistantly over the shell surface. The investigations have been performed by the numerical simulation method using a volumetric finite-element model. The load was applied according to a trilinear pattern which is used to test the pipes for strength (including that specified in ЕN 1916). The calculation was performed by the iteration method taking into account the physical non-linearity of concrete. It has been determined that the load-carrying ability of the pipes with the first-type protective linings is lower than that of the pipes with the second-type linings. The maximum (up to 25%) reduction of the load-carrying ability is observed in the pipes reinforced with a single cylindrical cage. To protect the interior faces of reinforced-concrete non-pressure pipes, it is recommended to use the lining covers with the V-type discrete anchoring members ensuring the reliable mechanical fastening of the linings in the pipe wall concrete. This type of the anchoring elements causes practically no effect upon the load-carrying ability of the pipes.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.15.2.15218


Objectives Perceived time pressure at work has increased in most European countries during recent decades. Time pressure may be harmful for employees' health and well-being. The aim of this register-based follow-up study is to investigate whether the effects of time pressure on long sickness absence vary by the level of working time control. Methods The data are taken from the Finnish Quality of Work Life Survey 2003 (n=3400), a representative sample of Finnish employees, combined with a register-based follow-up from Statistics Finland covering the years 2002–2006. In the 2003 survey, employees were asked about their perceived time pressure and to what extent they had control over working time. The register data included information on long-term (more than 10 days) sickness absence. A negative binomial model was used in the analysis of long-term sickness absence days during 2004–2006. The results are adjusted for several background and work-related factors and controlled for baseline absenteeism in 2002. Results High working time control decreased and high time pressure increased long-term sickness absence. The highest incidence of long-term sickness absence was found in time strain situations (high time pressure, low time control). However, there was no statistical interaction between working time control and time pressure. Conclusions Establishments that use working time control as a human resource instrument may benefit from reduced absenteeism. However, following the 'strain' hypothesis it is insufficient to focus solely on working time control as high time pressure maintains its detrimental effect on employees' health.


Future High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems will likely be composed of accelerator-dense heterogeneous computers because accelerators are able to deliver higher performance at lower costs, socket counts and energy consumption. Such accelerator-dense nodes pose a reliability challenge because preserving a large amount of state within accelerators for checkpointing incurs significant overhead. Checkpointing multiple accelerators at the same time, which is necessary to obtain a consistent coordinated checkpoint, overwhelms the host interconnect, memory and IO band-widths. We propose GPU Snapshot to mitigate this issue by: (1) enabling a fast logical snapshot to be taken, while actual check-pointed state is transferred asynchronously to alleviate bandwidth hot spots; (2) using incremental checkpoints that reduce the volume of data transferred; and (3) checkpoint offloading to limit accelerator complexity and effectively utilize the host. As a concrete example, we describe and evaluate the design tradeoffs of GPU Snapshot in the context of a GPU-dense multi-exascale HPC system. We demonstrate 4--40X checkpoint overhead reductions at the node level, which enables a system with GPU Snapshot to approach the performance of a system with idealized GPU checkpointing.


Background Previous epidemiologic studies have suggested that exposure to pesticides in utero and during early childhood may increase the risk for development of childhood cancer, including Wilms tumor, a childhood kidney tumor. Objectives In this analysis we evaluated the role of residential pesticide exposure in relation to the risk of Wilms tumor in children using data from a North American case–control study. Methods The National Wilms Tumor Study Group (NWTSG) collected information on exposure to residential pesticides from the month before pregnancy through the diagnosis reference date using detailed phone interviews from 523 case mothers and 517 controls frequency matched on child's age and geographic region and identified by list-assisted random digit dialing. Pesticides were grouped according to type of pesticide and where they were used. Results A slightly increased risk of Wilms tumor was found among children of mothers who reported insecticide use [odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0–1.8; adjusted for education, income, and the matching variables]. Results from all other categories of pesticides were generally close to the null. Conclusions This study is the largest case–control study of Wilms tumor to date. We were unable to confirm earlier reports of an increased risk for Wilms tumor among those exposed to residential pesticides during pregnancy through early childhood.


The touchstone of antitrust compliance is competition. To be legally permissible, any industrial restraint on trade must have sufficient countervailing procompetitive justifications. Usually, anticompetitive horizontal agreements like boycotts (including a refusal to produce certain products) are per se illegal. The "learned professions," including engineers, frequently engage in somewhat anticompetitive self-regulation through professional standards. These standards are not exempt from antitrust scrutiny. However, some Supreme Court opinions have nevertheless held that some forms of professional self-regulation that would otherwise receive per se condemnation could receive more preferential antitrust analysis under the "Rule of Reason." This Rule weighs procompetitive and anticompetitive impacts to determine legality. To receive the rule-of-reason review, such professional self-regulation would need to: 1. Be promulgated by a professional body; 2. Not directly affect price or output level; and 3. Seek to correct some market failure, such as information asymmetry between professionals and their clients. Professional ethical standards promulgated by a professional body (i.e., comparable to the American Medical Association or American Bar Association) that prohibit members from building unsafe AI could plausibly meet all of these requirements. This paper does not argue that this would clearly win in court, or that such an agreement would be legal. Nor does it argue that it would survive rule-of-reason review.† It merely says that there exists a colorable argument for analyzing such an agreement under the Rule of Reason, rather than a per se rule. Thus, this could be a plausible route to an antitrust-compliant horizontal agreement to not engineer AI unsafely.


In a biomechanics course, the students often have diverse backgrounds from across the various STEM disciplines. For example, in the course studied at Clarkson University, the average enrollment was 32 students per year (over four years), including an average of 5% graduate students. This population of students included 40% Mechanical Engineering students; 44% Chemical Engineering students; and 15% other engineering/science majors.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


In vapor cell atomic clocks the atom-field interaction is typically obtained inside a microwave cavity resonator in which the microwave driving field together with a static magnetic field and an optical field are applied to excite the atoms. These fields are generally well-controlled, mutually aligned to a common quantization axis. Since the exploited atomic transition is sensitive to any potential axis misalignment, the performance of the clock can also be affected. We study the effect of such misalignment for the case of a cylindrical cavity used in vapor-cell atomic clocks, taking into account the misalignments of the optical detection field and the static magnetic field required for the atomic transition. Both the geometry of the cavity and the factors contributing to losses can play role in the degradation of the signal and are taken into account in the misalignment problem discussed.


Search over encrypted data is a critically important enabling technique in Cloud computing, where encryptionbefore outsourcing is a fundamental solution to protecting user data privacy in the untrusted cloud server environment. Many secure search schemes have been focusing on the single-contributor scenario, where the outsourced dataset or the secure searchable index of the dataset are encrypted and managed by a single owner, typically based on symmetric cryptography. In this paper, we focus on a different yet more challenging scenario where the outsourced dataset can be contributed from multiple owners and are searchable by multiple users, i.e. multi-user multi-contributor case. Inspired by verifiable attribute-based encryption (VABE), we present the first verifiable attribute-based keyword search scheme with efficient user revocation (VABKS-UR) that enables scalable fine-grained (i.e. File-level) search authorization. Our scheme allows multiple owners to encrypt and outsource their data to the cloud server independently. Users can generate their own search capabilities without relying on an always online trusted authority. Fine-grained search authorization is also implemented by the owner-enforced access policy on the index of each file. Further, by incorporating proxy re-encryption and lazy re-encryption techniques, we are able to delegate heavy system update workload during user revocation to the resourceful semi-trusted cloud server. We formalize the security definition and prove the proposed VABKS-UR scheme selectively secure against chosen-keyword attack.


Abstract As part of the sustainable energy transition in Germany, substantial investments in power grid infrastructure are planned. They are intended to provide flexibility to an electricity system increasingly relying on variable renewable energy sources, and on European interconnection. While much research has been done on the benefits of renewables, the economic impact of the necessary grid investments so far remains widely unclear. This paper presents a macroeconomic assessment of the planned investments in power grid infrastructure in Germany. By performing a static input-output analysis, the investigation reveals how multiplier effects of the grid investments impact macroeconomic outcomes – in terms of output, value added, employment and fiscal income. Net multiplier effects on outputs are found to be positive, ranging between €47.3 bn and €55.8 bn, while other effects turn out to be negative. A net decrease in value added of between €10.1 bn and €12.7 bn, in fiscal income between €962 million and €1354 million, and reductions in employment of between 130,170 and 158,940 jobs are found to be attributable to the grid investments. Hence, from a national perspective, the planned investments are found to have mixed macroeconomic effects and are not necessarily 100% 'no-regret'. Flexibility investments for the energy transition provided by power grids should therefore be realized with caution, and at least cost, if negative effects on national value added, tax revenues and employment are to be minimized. For policy guidance, more research is needed on the relative merits of the flexibility options available for accomodating high shares of renewables, and on the overall economic net benefits of sustainable energy transitions.


Background Many youth victims of violence report for treatment at the health care facilities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It was unclear what the youth expected regarding how they could be led towards wellness by health care professionals following an incident of violence (R1.1). Objectives This study sought to explore and describe the expectations of the youth victims of violence with regards to health care professionals (R1.2) leading them to wellness in a selected rural community. Method A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used. Nine focus group discussions were conducted with 58 (23 males, 35 females) purposefully selected youth victims of violence between the ages of 15 and 19. Data analysis was done through open coding. Ethics clearance was received from the University Ethics Committee prior to the study being conducted. Results Findings indicated that the youth victims of violence expect the health care professionals (professional nurses, doctors and social workers) working in their community to act as role models, demonstrate a professional attitude, provide health education, provide confidential counselling services, and establish school and community outreach programmes. Conclusion This study provides evidence that youth victims of violence have important expectations from health care professionals concerning their wellness. Hence, health care professionals should focus on designing and implementing interventions targeting these expectations.


In May 1998 a big and deep open ocean anticyclonic eddy (AE 98-1) was sampled in the Algerian basin (western Mediterranean sea) in a region south of the Balearic islands. Fifteen surface Lagrangian buoys, tracked by satellite, were released across the eddy and were used for a few months to observe the continuity of the anticyclonic motion and the westward drift of the eddy. This kind of big and intense eddies in the Mediterranean can be detected by satellite altimeter radars. Using a new method, based on the Okubo-Weiss criterion, to identify mesoscale eddies in Sea Level Anomaly maps derived from measurements of the ERS and TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeters, an independent tracking of the same eddy was performed. There is a remarkable agreement between the two results despite the different nature of the information, mainly due to the fact that SLA maps contain interpolated and smoothed measurements while the drifter? trajectories are in situ data obtained from individual drifter fixes. The location of the eddy centre during two months with the two methods agrees within an average distance lower than the spatial resolution of the altimetric maps (0.2o). The size of the eddy, when it is possible to determine it, is also highly coincident in both cases (96.5% in diameter), and its average westwards translation speed is reasonably similar (24% lower from drifters). These results can be considered a good validation of the new tracking method in SLA maps in this specific case.


This study evaluated the effect of bioslurry from on-farm biogas production units and other sources of nitrogen fertilizer on Irish potato yield and yield components in northern Rwanda. To achieve this, an on-farm experiment was undertaken in the Andisols of Musanze District and the Oxisols of Gicumbi District in 2012. Three farms were selected to host the study in each District. Six treatments were randomly tested in unreplicated field strips by farm, one treatment by strip. The treatments comprised of i1) a control with no fertilizer (CTL000); i2) a control supplying 100% of recommended N rate from chemical fertilizers (MIN100); i3) a treatment supplying 100% of recommended N rate from farm yard manure (FYM100); i4) a treatment supplying 40% of recommended N amount from bioslurry and 60% from mineral N fertilizer (BIO040); i5) a treatment supplying 60% of recommended N amount from bioslurry and 40% from mineral N fertilizer (BIO060); and i6) a treatement supplying 100% of recommended N amount from bioslurry (BIO100). The results indicated that locally produced bioslurry appeared very low-nitrogen concentrated and for some farms, more than 100 m3 /ha of bioslurry was needed to meet potato nitrogen requirements. Bioslurry appeared as effective as or better than conventional nitrogen sources to improve soil properties such as soil pH and organic matter content, and to sustain potato growth and tuber yield and quality. This was particularly true when bioslurry was combined with mineral fertilizer. In that regard, bioslurry can contribute between 40 and 60% reduction of mineral fertilizers with no subsequent reduction of market or total potato tuber yields.

 Key words: Bioslurry, organic fertilizer, mineral fertilizer, organic sources, soil quality, potato yield.


Currently a fundamental gap exists on how persistent organic pollutants affect humans especially those who consume high levels of seafood from contaminated coastal waters. There is an urgent need to better understand effects of these contaminants on human health in coastal communities. Elevated contaminant levels in coastal seafood will give rise to increased contaminant burdens in humans who consume coastal seafood and given the toxicity of these contaminants increase risk for immune system disorders. In this paper we describe how we assessed the effects of contaminant exposures using high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from two species, dolphins and humans. This paper presents an integrated systems biology approach to understand the adverse effects of one of these CECs PFAS on both species.


Representing and summarizing human behaviors with rich contexts facilitates behavioral sciences and user-oriented services. Traditional behavioral modeling represents a behavior as a tuple in which each element is one contextual factor of one type, and the tensor-based summaries look for high-order dense blocks by clustering the values (including timestamps) in each dimension. However, the human behaviors are multicontextual and dynamic: (1) each behavior takes place within multiple contexts in a few dimensions, which requires the representation to enable non-value and set-values for each dimension; (2) many behavior collections, such as tweets or papers, evolve over time. In this paper, we represent the behavioral data as a two-level matrix (temporal-behaviors by dimensional-values) and propose a novel representation for behavioral summary called Tartan that includes a set of dimensions, the values in each dimension, a list of consecutive time slices and the behaviors in each slice. We further develop a propagation method CatchTartan to catch the dynamic multicontextual patterns from the temporal multidimensional data in a principled and scalable way: it determines the meaningfulness of updating every element in the Tartan by minimizing the encoding cost in a compression manner. CatchTartan outperforms the baselines on both the accuracy and speed. We apply CatchTartan to four Twitter datasets up to 10 million tweets and the DBLP data, providing comprehensive summaries for the events, human life and scientific development.


This book presents a comprehensive insight into the design techniques for different types of CP antenna elements and arraysIn this book, the authors address a broad range of topics on circularly polarized (CP) antennas. Firstly, it introduces to the reader basic principles, design techniques and characteristics of various types of CP antennas, such as CP patch antennas, CP helix antennas, quadrifilar helix antennas (QHA), printed quadrifilar helix antennas (PQHA), spiral antenna, CP slot antennas, CP dielectric resonator antennas, loop antennas, crossed dipoles, monopoles and CP horns. Advanced designs such as small-size CP antennas, broadband, wideband and ultra-wideband CP antennas are also discussed, as well as multi-band CP antennas and dual CP antennas. The design and analysis of different types of CP array antennas such as broadband CP patch arrays, dual-band CP arrays, CP printed slot arrays, single-band and multi-band CP reflectarrays, high-gain CP waveguide slot antennas, CP dielectric resonator antenna arrays, CP active arrays, millimetre-waveband CP arrays in LTCC, and CP arrays with electronically beam-switching or beam-steering capabilities are described in detail. Case studies are provided to illustrate the design and implementation of CP antennas in practical scenarios such as dual-band Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers, satellite communication mobile terminals at the S-band, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers at 2.4 GHz, and Ka-band high-speed satellite communication applications. It also includes the detailed designs for a wideband Logarithmic spiral antenna that can operate from 3.4-7.7 GHz. In addition, the book offers a detailed review of the recent developments of different types of CP antennas and arrays.Presents comprehensive discussions of design techniques for different types of CP antennas: small-size CP antennas, broadband CP antennas, multi-band CP antennas and CP arrays.Covers a wide range of antenna technologies such as microstrip antennas, helix, quadrifilar helix antenna, printed quadrifilar helix antenna, dielectric resonator antennas, printed slots, spiral antennas, monopoles, waveguide slot arrays, reflectarrays, active arrays, millimetre-wave arrays in LTCC, electronically beam-switching arrays and electronically beam-steerable arrays.Reviews recent developments in different types of CP antennas and arrays, reported by industries, researchers and academics worldwide.Includes numerous case studies to demonstrate how to design and implement different CP antennas in practical scenarios.Provides both an introduction for students in the field and an in-depth reference for antenna/RF engineers who work on the development of CP antennas.Circularly Polarized Antennas will be an invaluable guide for researchers in RD system engineers (antenna, telecom, space and satellite); postgraduates studying the subjects of antenna and propagation, electromagnetics, RF/microwave/millimetre-wave systems, satellite communications and so on; technical managers and professionals in the areas of antennas and propagation.


We describe the preparation of monoiodinated neuropeptide Y (Tyr1-125I-NPY) and monoiodinated peptide YY (Tyr36-125I-PYY). Using these ligands, we detected high, moderate, and low affinity receptor populations in rat brain. Only high and moderate affinity binding sites were suggested by saturation binding studies. Tyr1-125I-NPY bound to 8 +/- 3% of the sites with a Kd of 54 pM (Bmax = 19.4 fmol/mg of protein) and to 92 +/- 3% of the sites with a Kd of 0.92 nM (Bmax = 220.0 fmol/mg of protein). Tyr36-125I-PYY bound to 14 +/- 3% of the sites with a Kd of 23.5 pM (Bmax = 36.4 fmol/mg of protein) and to 86 +/- 3% of the sites with a Kd of 1.9 nM (Bmax = 220.1 fmol/mg of protein). The fragments NPY 13-36 and PYY 13-36 were able to compete with 10 pM Tyr1-125I-NPY for essentially all the binding sites. The fragments were 1 to 2 orders of magnitude less potent than the native peptides. Approximately 50% of the moderate affinity sites, but not the high affinity sites, were reversibly "lost" in the presence of 5'-guanylyl imidophosphate [Gpp(NH)p], a nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP. Kinetic studies revealed that Tyr1-125I-NPY dissociation could be best described by three dissociation rates. The proportions of slow and intermediate dissociation matched the proportions of moderate and high affinity binding sites, respectively, as suggested by equilibrium studies. There also existed a phase of fast dissociation. When Gpp(NH)p was added during dissociation, the proportion of slow dissociation decreased to the same extent that the fast dissociation was increased. However, the proportion of intermediate dissociation did not change. We propose that rat brain contains a minor population of high affinity NPY binding sites with an intermediate dissociation rate and no sensitivity to Gpp(NH)p. There is also a major population of moderate affinity binding sites with a slow dissociation rate. A component of these sites can convert to a low affinity state with a fast dissociation rate. Gpp(NH)p enhances conversion by stabilizing the low affinity state, thereby producing a "loss" of moderate affinity binding.


This paper introduces a high-gain, low-noise band-pass filter system for detection/amplification of small signals. In addition, related theory and methodology are described for a specific design implementation. Simulation and experimental results are presented and discussed. The purpose of the implemented design was to construct a band-pass filter system with 102 dB gain and with an output noise level of less than 0.8V.The design of the high-gain band-pass filter system was achieved mainly with the help of Filter Pro, LTSpice IV, and Multisim 12.The thesis provides important support for the project Marker Locator and constitutes a valuable reference for future active filter system design and small signal detection/amplification.


Cognitive psychology studies phenomena that cannot be directly observed. Scientific knowledge about the brain is extensive, but there is still a lot to be understood about its functions. Cognitive functions are weakened in dyslexic children; this is reflected in highly individual problems regarding the reading skills. Reading is a process which consists of decrypting graphic characters (perceptual level) and understanding the meaning of words (cognitive level). These levels cannot be separated. An approach –fuzzy logic – is used in order to address this issue and create a model of the dyslexic user, based on which technologies can be individually tailored to a particular dyslexic. The presentation discusses the possibilities of the use of the mathematical apparatus for the categorisation of users with regard to their "black box". The presentation further focuses on the development of new assistive technologies targeted at specific attention disorders, reading disorders, as well as information processing disorders.


There remains deep uncertainty regarding the growing transnational nature and scope of law. This uncertainty is in part answered by, but also fuelled by, current cosmopolitan theories. Such theories -- including Jeremy Waldron's conception of a 'ius gentium' as a body of principles shared by the legal world, and Neil Walker's articulation of 'global law' -- are decidedly cosmopolitan in nature by articulating legal orders and systems that see the individual as part of a shared human community. While these theories make valuable contributions to legal studies, they have overreached by asserting an extensive level of transnational consensus, consensus which is not fully represented in current transnational dialogue. What is needed is a framework that balances the cosmopolitan impulse with awareness of the current experience of transnational law, and the historical and cultural limitations on transnational dialogue. With this contextual background in mind, I propose the idea of 'bounded cosmopolitanism', which harnesses the power of cosmopolitanism but restrains the cosmopolitan impulse through awareness of the interplay between convergence and divergence that is central to the experience of transnational law. As an instance of bounded cosmopolitanism, the article advances a cosmopolitan common law constitution, which embodies the convergent influence of common law methods and principles with the divergent elements of specific constitutional design in individual common law jurisdictions.


The main ambition of this paper is to analyse agricultural developments in selected new EU member states with particular emphasis on government expenditures in agriculture. The main objective is to identify the relationship between government expenditures development on one side, and agrarian sector performance (the value of production) in selected member states on the other. The conclusions drawn from this analysis are that the agricultural sector has changed its structure and position within the national economy of selected new EU member states significantly in the 20 years since the early 1990s. Member states included in the analysis reduced both the size of their agricultural sector (number of people working in agriculture, total arable areas, number of animals, etc.), and the value of agricultural output. Despite the significant reduction of the agricultural output, member states became more efficient – and in particular their productivity per farmer increased significantly. Selected country's agricultural sector, its structure and production value development are closely related to government expenditures. Significant correlation is apparent between agricultural government expenditures and the change in the number of economically active persons in agriculture, development of agricultural production, agricultural area, agricultural GDP and agricultural capital stock. Regarding the elasticity of new EU member states' agricultural sector in relation to changes in government expenditures, significant elasticity is apparent in the case of the number of economically active persons in agriculture, agricultural production (especially livestock production), area of arable land, agricultural GDP and capital stock.


The objective of this study is to show a methodical product development process that is infused with innovative elements in strategic locations, which facilitates product quality, technical breakthroughs, speed to market, and how this method can create a system of development involving all stakeholder groups. This process fosters an understanding of advantageous times for ideation activities and reiteration activities to occur. Due to a lack of industry knowledge and practice regarding design, the sub-categorization of steps in this process will lead to understanding of the tasks, costs and timeframes involved in the design phases. The intention of this process definition is also to build an understanding of which functional groups should be involved in research, ideation and design, and develop an understanding of how these groups should collaborate, and which should be responsible for certain product decisions. Although many similarities exist among current development methods, common misconceptions and process deficiencies are prevalent. Innovative aspects of the process are commonly misunderstood, and are often completely lacking or applied at an inefficient juncture of the process. Other times evaluation and research phases are left incomplete, leaping directly to the mechanical development process phase. This causes earlier steps to be done after engineering work is underway, which creates inefficiencies in the process. There is also evidence of a large gap of misunderstanding about what the nature of the design phase really is, which causes it to be left out of the process altogether or ill-applied during the process. We conducted an examination of current studies and process information from medical device companies and evaluated them for the exclusion or placement of key innovative elements. Common similarities were discovered, and a modified development process description was created with the inclusion of elements useful for optimizing innovation and reducing redundancy. Some of the detrimental commonalities include a lack of detail in the research and ideation phases of the process, the tendency for companies to skip around in the process and impeding the ability to hit critical dates, and involving groups and disciplines in the process at incorrect times which stifles innovation and causes bottlenecks. The revised process involves designers in evaluation, research, marketing, engineering, validation and production, finding that it pulls all groups together, linking them to a single process. We found that this model of product development can provide results that will improve performance and acceptance of new medical devices, while increasing innovation and help to uncover breakthrough concepts. Key factors in this process include the practice of planning innovation into the process in the proper places; having a design team involved in all phases to increase product quality; and expending sufficient effort in the highly misunderstood areas of the process. It is also shown that success is achieved if product decisions are made around design criteria derived from the process, with a design team involved in making these decisions. Continued iterations must occur during the appropriate phases, and when the process is followed, bottlenecks are removed, streamlining takes place, innovation can occur, and customer needs are more fully met in the product, increasing overall product quality and launch success.


In Global Imbalances and the Lessons of Bretton Woods, Barry Eichengreen takes issue with the argument that today's international financial system is largely analogous to the Bretton Woods System of the period 1958 to 1973. Then, as now, it has been argued, the United States ran balance of payment deficits, provided international reserves to other countries, and acted as export market of last resort for the rest of the world. Then, as now, the story continues, other countries were reluctant to revalue their currencies for fear of seeing their export-led growth slow and suffering capital losses on their foreign reserves. Eichengreen argues in response that the power of historical analogy lies not just in finding parallels but in highlighting differences, and he finds important differences in the structure of the world economy today. Such differences, he concludes, mean that the current constellation of exchange rates and payments imbalances is unlikely to last as long as the original Bretton Woods System. Two of the most salient differences are the twin deficits and low savings rate of the United States, which do not augur well for the sustainability of the country's international position. Such differences, he concludes, mean that the current constellation of exchange rates and payments imbalances is unlikely to last as long as the original Bretton Woods System. After identifying these differences, Eichengreen looks in detail at the Gold Pool, the mechanism through which European central banks sought to support the dollar in the 1960s. He shows that the Pool was fragile and short lived, which does not bode well for collective efforts on the part of Asian central banks to restrain reserve diversification and support the dollar today. He studies Japan's exit from its dollar peg in 1971, drawing lessons for China's transition to greater exchange rate flexibility. And he considers the history of reserve currency competition, asking if it has lessons for whether the dollar is destined to lose its standing as preeminent international currency to the euro or even the Chinese renminbi.


Using U.S. manufacturing data, Griliches (1969) found evidence suggesting that capital equipment was more substitutable for unskilled than skilled labor. Griliches formulated this finding as the capital-skill complementarity hypothesis. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the capital-skill complementarity framework holds for Ghana manufacturing plants in industry and aggregate level. We use an unbalanced panel of plant-level data for manufacturing firms in Ghana during the 1991 and 1997 in four industries (food-bakery, textiles-garments, wood-furniture and metal-machinery). Our findings suggest that capital-skill complementarity holds in aggregate level and wood-furniture sector in Ghana. However, we reject the capital-skill complementarity hypothesis for food-bakery, textile-garment and metal-machinery sectors.


The fourteen Pacific island countries, under the auspices of their regional organization known as the Pacific Forum, launched two major initiatives in 2002 to introduce unhindered trade amongst themselves by 2010 and usher in an enlarged free trade area with Australia and New Zealand by 2015. Thus, trade integration efforts are expected to lead to greater economic integration of the region. In the meanwhile, in 2003 Australia mooted the idea of a single currency for the region as a whole. Although the Pacific Forum, which also includes Australia and New Zealand, has not formally discussed the proposal so far, there is considerable debate ongoing on the subject of common currency. This paper examines the patterns of shocks, which have affected the region during the last two decades; seeks to investigate whether these shocks have been of similar nature; and evaluates whether these countries are presently suitable candidates for a currency union so that union-wide policies in the event of a currency union can be successfully pursued.


We discuss the observation of primary crack patterns on the surface of heated medium density fiberboard (MDF) round samples in inert atmosphere. A constant heat flux irradiates the wood surface, and the primary cracks seem to appear instantaneously at a temperature below the pyrolysis point, \textit{before} any actual charring. Such fissures were originally believed to form mainly by the action of physicochemical processes; on the contrary, we show here that below the pyrolysis temperatures this occurs by means of thermomechanical surface instability. The crack patterns can indeed be explained qualitatively by the simultaneous thermal expansion and softening of the hot surface layer, which is restrained by the colder wood beneath. This generates membrane compressive stresses leading to surface instability. Physically, this is a consequence of the thermomechanical properties of wood, which is a natural thermoplastic. In this paper, the macro-crack topology is reproduced by a full 3D thermomechanical instability model. We obtain the patterns by solving the according eigenvalue problem numerically, by Finite Element Method (FEM). We also formulate the model in 2D, assuming a circular soft thin plate bonded to an elastic foundation, and solve it both analytically and numerically. Finally, we compare our results with analogous crack patterns appearing on the surface of square samples, which we discussed in a previous study. We conclude that very different pattern symmetries (orthotropic, isotropic and circular) might be explained by the same model of thermomechanical surface instability.


Conjugated polymers based on poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT) backbones are widely studied for electrochromics, due to their favourable redox properties including enhanced optical contrast and fast switching kinetics in nonaqueous electrolytes. The usual hydrophobic nature of these polymers renders them redox-inactive when interfaced with aqueous salt solutions. This work illustrates an effective side chain modification approach where polar amide functional groups are incorporated into the polymer side chains to attain redox switching in aqueous electrolytes while maintaining a high contrast. The impact of substitutional modifications (in terms of primary and secondary amide groups) on the interaction with hydrated and non-hydrated ions is studied using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques to elucidate the underlying mechanisms leading to redox activity in aqueous electrolytes. The presence of amide groups is beneficial in terms of reducing the oxidation onset potential, making them attractive candidates for electrochromics in both nonaqueous and aqueous electrolytes.


Li-doped TiO2/SO42− nanoparticles was successfully synthesized via a simple calcinination process in a vacuum environment using Ti(SO4)2 and LiBr as precursors, and were characterized by TEM, XRD, IR, DLS, XPS and UV-vis (DRS). Li doping can reduce the diameters of TiO2 nanoparticles and affect the surface chemical forms and structures. The as-prepared photocatalysts with different LiBr contents exhibited a notably enhanced degradation efficiency for methylene blue, and exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity under UV light when the molar doping ratio of Li was 0.0125. Moreover, the most photocatalytically efficient sample also showed much higher activity for eliminating methylene blue under visible light (380 < λ < 700 nm) by applying a negative bias than P25 and the control samples without applying a negative bias. The introduced negative bias electrostatic fields could not only render TiO2 responsive to visible light, but was also able to increase the lifetime of the photo-excited charges in the doped semiconductor. This provides a facile, fast and universal method to rapidly degrade organic materials based on the Franz–Keldysh effect and the synergetic effects of the electrostatic force.


Background Prior epidemiologic studies on the association between diabetes and gastric cancer risk provided inconclusive findings, while traditional, aggregate data meta-analyses were characterized by high between-study heterogeneity. Objective To investigate the association between type 2 diabetes and gastric cancer using data from the 'Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project', an international consortium of more than 30 case–control and nested case–control studies, which is large and provides harmonized definition of participants' characteristics across individual studies. The data have the potential to minimize between-study heterogeneity and provide greater statistical power for subgroup analysis. Methods We included 5592 gastric cancer cases and 12 477 controls from 14 studies from Europe, Asia, North America, and South America in a two-stage individual-participant data meta-analysis. Random-effect models were used to estimate summary odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by pooling study-specific ORs. Results We did not find an overall association between diabetes and gastric cancer (pooled OR = 1.01, 95% CI, 0.94–1.07). However, the risk of cardia gastric cancer was significantly higher among individuals with type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.16, 95% CI, 1.02–1.33). There was no association between diabetes and gastric cancer risk in strata of Helicobacter pylori infection serostatus, age, sex, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, fruit/vegetable intake, gastric cancer histologic type, and source of controls. Conclusion This study provides additional evidence that diabetes is unrelated to gastric cancer overall but may be associated with excess cardia gastric cancer risk.


In a large scale sensor network, it is infeasible to assign a unique Transport Layer Key (TLK) for each pair of nodes to provide the end-to-end security due to the huge memory cost per node. Thus, conventional key establishment schemes follow a key predistribution approach to establish a Link Layer Key (LLK) infrastructure between neighboring nodes and rely on multihop paths to provide the end-to-end security. Their drawbacks include vulnerability to the node compromise attack, large memory cost, and energy inefficiency in the key establishment between neighboring nodes. In this paper, we propose a novel key establishment scheme, called LAKE, for sensor networks. LAKE uses a t-degree trivariate symmetric polynomial to facilitate the establishment of both TLKs and LLKs between sensor nodes in a two-dimensional space, where each node can calculate direct TLKs and LLKs with some logically neighboring nodes and rely on those nodes to negotiate indirect TLKs and LLKs with other nodes. Any two end nodes can negotiate a TLK on demand directly or with the help of only one intermediate node, which can be determined in advance. As for the LLK establishment, LAKE is more secure under the node compromise attack with much less memory cost than conventional solutions. Due to the location-based deployment, LAKE is also energy efficient in that each node has direct LLKs with most neighbors without spending too much energy on the establishment of indirect LLKs with neighbors through multihop routing.


In this article, we set out to understand and interpret the meaning of Japanese lenders perspective on non-financial, or soft, information of technology based small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and look for its implications for the IR agenda. To our surprise, the initial findings showed a focus on network relations, at the cost of just about any other item of soft information about corporate strategy, organizational structure, human resources, technologies and intellectual properties. However, a deeper factor-analysis found a strong correlation between the different factors, revealing a holistic thinking among lenders with regard to the companies' soft information. In other words, lenders have difficulties in measuring detailed soft items. In consequence, the details did not matter as much as the broader picture, in which detailed measures of different items were interpreted through the firms' credibility, revealed by their network relations. We further conceptually generalized this insight as an expression of the concrete character of the business reality of the companies, as interpreted through the lender-borrower relationship.


Introduction: this article reflects on data that emanated from a programme evaluation and focuses on a concept we label 'distributed-efficacy'. We argue that the process of developing and sustaining 'distributed-efficacy' is complex and indeterminate, thus difficult to manage or predict. We situate the discussion within the context of UNAIDS' recent strategy — Vision 95:95:95 — to 'end AIDS' by 2030 which the South African National Department of Health is currently rolling out across the country. Method: A qualitative method was applied. It included a Value Network Analysis, the Most Significant Change technique and a thematic content analysis of factors associated with a 'competent community' model. During the analysis it was noticed that there were unexpected references to a shift in social relations. This prompted a re-analysis of the narrative findings using a second thematic content analysis that focused on factors associated with complexity science, the environmental sciences and shifts is social relations. Findings: the efficacy associated with new social practices relating to HIV risk-reduction was distributed amongst networks that included mother—son networks and participant—facilitator networks and included a shift in social relations within these networks. Discussion: it is suggested that for new social practices to emerge requires the establishment of 'distributed-efficacy' which facilitates localised social sanctioning, sometimes including shifts in social relations, and this process is a 'complex', dialectical interplay between 'agency' and 'structure'. Conclusion: the ambition of 'ending AIDS' by 2030 represents a compressed timeframe that will require the uptake of multiple new bio-social practises. This will involve many nonlinear, complex challenges and the process of developing 'distributed-efficacy' could play a role in this process. Further research into the factors we identified as being associated with 'distributed-efficacy' — relationships, modes of agency and shifts in social relations — could add value to achieving Vision 95:95:95.


Supported ionic liquids (SILs), which refer to ionic liquids (ILs) immobilized on supports, are among the most important derivatives of ILs. The immobilization process of ILs can transfer their desired properties to substrates. Combination of the advantages of ILs with those of support materials will derive novel performances while retaining properties of both moieties. SILs have been widely applied in almost all of fields involving ILs, and have brought about drastic expansion of the ionic liquid area. As green media in organic catalytic reactions, based on utilizing the ability of ILs to stabilize the catalysts, they have many advantages over free ILs, including avoiding the leaching of ILs, reducing their amount, and improving the recoverability and reusability of both themselves and catalysts. This has critical significance from both environmental and economical points of view. As novel functional materials in surface science and material chemistry, SILs are ideal surface modifying agents. They can modify and improve the properties of solids, such as wettability, lubricating property, separation efficiency and electrochemical response. With the achievements in the field of ILs, using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to SILs has drawn increasing attention in catalytic reactions and separation technologies, and achieved substantial progress. The combination of MNPs and ILs renders magnetic SILs, which exhibit the unique properties of ILs as well as facile separation by an external magnetic field. In this article, we focus on imidazolium-based ILs covalently grafted to non-porous and porous inorganic materials. The excellent stability and durability of this kind of SILs offer a great advantage compared with free ILs and IL films physically adsorbed on substrates without covalent bonds. Including examples from our own research, we overview mainly the applications and achievements of covalent-linked SILs in catalytic reactions, surface modification, separation technologies and electrochemistry.


Quantum systems with discrete symmetries can usually be desymmetrized, but this strategy fails when considering transport in open systems with a symmetry that maps different openings onto each other. We investigate the joint probability density of transmission eigenvalues for such systems in random-matrix theory. In the orthogonal symmetry class we show that the eigenvalue statistics manifests level repulsion only between every second transmission eigenvalue. This finds its natural statistical interpretation as a staggered superposition of two eigenvalue sequences. For a large number of channels, the statistics for a system with a lead-transposing symmetry approaches that of a superposition of two uncorrelated sets of eigenvalues as in systems with a lead-preserving symmetry (which can be desymmetrized). These predictions are confirmed by numerical computations of the transmission-eigenvalue spacing distribution for quantum billiards and for the open kicked rotator.


Wildlife populations in urban environments face increasingly diverse pressures. Varying environmental conditions and human behaviours influence the persistence of populations. This study investigates the advantages and limitations of using ecological, social research and citizen science concurrently to develop a holistic understanding of declining populations of the freshwater turtle Chelodina colliei in the urban environment of Perth, Western Australia.

Ecological methods assessed population size and demographics using mark-recapture over three trap seasons and environmental conditions in five natural and seven anthropogenic wetlands, and their upland environments. Less than 27 C. colliei individuals were captured in 80% of wetlands; the combined function of depauperate populations, human impacts on turtle behaviour and trapping efficacy. Environmental conditions significantly differed between natural and anthropogenic wetlands, with reduced resource provision leading to a significantly smaller population size, particularly of juveniles, females and older sexually mature turtles in anthropogenic wetlands. However, the heterogeneity of wetlands confounded identification of ecological drivers of turtle demography.

Social research, using a survey of local residents (n=1842, response rate 21.2%), found that people around wetlands had positive attitudes towards C. colliei and wetlands, but their knowledge regarding C. colliei was poor, increasing the likelihood of negative interactions. Citizen science and community data identified that human/C. colliei encounters were with adult and female turtles and occurred within 500m of a wetland. Citizen science/community data and ecological research concurred that C. colliei movements reflected seasonal temperature and rainfall patterns.

The benefits of a multi-disciplinary approach to urban ecological research and the value of concurrently using citizen science and social research to understand the effect of human-wildlife interactions in urban areas was demonstrated. When populations are at the brink of extinction, insufficient data and prohibitive cost (time/money) may constrain ecological research. Citizen science, social research and community data can offset this by increasing availability of both temporal and spatial data, providing greater breadth of understanding and a more complete picture of wildlife populations in urban environments.


This thesis aims to develop and implement an algorithm for collaboration, such that two LEGO-robots can collaborate on mapping an unknown area using infrared sensors, a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm and controlled from MATLAB. In order to have a testing platform during development of the algorithms, the simulator was updated to allow for parallel operations and communication. Further, the communication protocol between the robots were implemented such that data could be exchanged in a reliable fashion, which was the key for allowing collaboration. The robots exchanged their local SLAM-generated maps such that they could operate in one common map. The map was merged by removing the initial distance between the robots. For the NXT-robot, positioning and feedback on the sensor tower was implemented, which improved the sensor data significantly. The main objective was to develop and implement a navigation algorithm for choosing target points, a path planner for ensuring collision free driving and coordination of the robots in order to exploit the use of multiple robots. The navigation algorithm was implemented with a Frontier-based approach and a cost function, which was minimized in order to find the next target point. The path planner was implemented by a Breadth-first search (BFS) algorithm and the coordination was achieved by a CLIENT/SERVER- structure. Finally, the algorithm was tested in the simulator and on the physical system. It was shown that the robots were able to collaborate on the mapping task, as was intended in the problem description.


Abstract We investigated variation of fish assemblages in response to environmental factors using Long Term Resource Monitoring Program data. Data were collected from 1993 to 2000 from five physical habitats in the unimpounded upper Mississippi River. We captured 89 species composing 18 families. Of these, 26% were fluvial specialists, 25% were fluvial dependent and 49% were generalists. The numerically dominant component of the adult fish assemblage (species accounting for >10% of total catch) accounted for 50% of the assemblage and was comprised of only three species: gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum; 25%), common carp (Cyprinus carpio; 15%) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus; 10%). The dominant component of the YOY fish assemblage was comprised of only two species, which accounted for 76% of the total catch: freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens; 39%) and gizzard shad (37%). We used a cross-validation multivariate approach to explore how adult and young-of-the-year (YOY) assemblages varied with respect to physical habitat and environmental gradients. Furthermore, we were interested how the fish assemblages changed over time. Partial canonical correspondence analyses (pCCA) demonstrated significant effects of physical habitats. Such effects differed between young-of-the-year and adult fishes. The four main environmental gradients influencing overall assemblage structure for both age groups were river elevation, water velocity, conductivity and depth of gear deployment. Morisita's index revealed similar adult assemblage structure over time. However, the YOY assemblage present in 1995 was dissimilar from assemblages present during the other years. We speculate this is a lag effect from the backwater spawning episodes (floodpulse) that occurred with the 500-y flood in 1993. Shannon-Weiner diversity and Camargo's evenness indices were low, but stable across years for the adult assemblage, but varied across years for the YOY assemblage.


Concrete is basic construction material used for almost all kind of structure. However, in the majority essential structures such as nuclear plants, Power plants, Weapon Industries, weapons storage places, water retaining structures like dams, highways barriers, bridges, & etc., concrete structures have to be designed as self-protective structure which can afford any disaster or consciously engendered unpleasant incidents such as incident occurs in nuclear plants, incident in any essential industry, terrorist attack, Natural disasters like tsunami and etc missile attack, and local impact damage generated by kinetic missiles dynamic loading (steel rods, steel pipes, turbine blades, etc.). This paper inquisitively is paying attention on verdict of the recent development in formulating analytical behavior of concrete and reinforced concrete structures against local impact effect generated by hard missile with and without the influence of dimensional analysis based on dominant non-dimensional parameters, various nose shape factors at normal and certain inclined oblique angles. The paper comprises the analytical models and methods for predicting penetration, and perforation of concrete and reinforced concrete. The fallout conquer from this study can be used for making design counsel and design procedures for seminal the dynamic retort of the concrete targets to foil local impact damage.


Simple physical mechanisms are behind the flow of energy in all forms of life. Energy comes to living systems through electrons occupying high-energy states, either from food (respiratory chains) or from light (photosynthesis). This energy is transformed into the cross-membrane proton-motive force that eventually drives all biochemistry of the cell. Life's ability to transfer electrons over large distances with nearly zero loss of free energy is puzzling and has not been accomplished in synthetic systems. The focus of this review is on how this energetic efficiency is realized. General physical mechanisms and interactions that allow proteins to fold into compact water-soluble structures are also responsible for a rugged landscape of energy states and a broad distribution of relaxation times. Specific to a protein as a fluctuating thermal bath is the protein-water interface, which is heterogeneous both dynamically and structurally. The spectrum of interfacial fluctuations is a consequence of protein's elastic flexibility combined with a high density of surface charges polarizing water dipoles into surface nanodomains. Electrostatics is critical to the protein function and the relevant questions are: (i) What is the spectrum of interfacial electrostatic fluctuations? (ii) Does the interfacial biological water produce electrostatic signatures specific to proteins? (iii) How is protein-mediated chemistry affected by electrostatics? These questions connect the fluctuation spectrum to the dynamical control of chemical reactivity, i.e. the dependence of the activation free energy of the reaction on the dynamics of the bath. Ergodicity is often broken in protein-driven reactions and thermodynamic free energies become irrelevant. Continuous ergodicity breaking in a dense spectrum of relaxation times requires using dynamically restricted ensembles to calculate statistical averages. When applied to the calculation of the rates, this formalism leads to the nonergodic activated kinetics, which extends the transition-state theory to dynamically dispersive media. Releasing the grip of thermodynamics in kinetic calculations through nonergodicity provides the mechanism for an efficient optimization between reaction rates and the spectrum of relaxation times of the protein-water thermal bath. Bath dynamics, it appears, play as important role as the free energy in optimizing biology's performance.


We compare multi-GPU performance of the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) on two different systems: A shared-memory IBM S822LC workstation with four NVIDIA P100 GPUs, and 16 XK nodes (each is employed with a single NVIDIA K20X GPU) of the Blue Waters supercomputer. MLFMA is implemented for solving scattering problems involving two-dimensional inhomogeneous bodies. Results show that the multi-GPU implementation provides 794 and 969 times speedups on the IBM and Blue Waters systems over their corresponding sequential CPU executions, respectively, where the sequential execution on the IBM system is 1.17 times faster than on the Blue Waters System.


Abstract:This essay assumes that the design and use of surveys is a fundamentally rhetorical act. It provides suggestions for employing and designing health-related surveys intended for research participants who might be characterized as inhabiting one or more precarious positionalities. We use "precarious positionality" to signal when research participants self-identify as one or more of the following: a racial and/or linguistic minority, economically disadvantaged, disabled, former or current drug user, undocumented, un(der)educated, oppressed, sexualized, disenfranchised, criminalized, and/or colonized. Drawing on the research team's experiences with piloting what we hope will eventually become a nationwide survey, the essay describes how to avoid several survey-design pitfalls; it also makes recommendations for how to improve survey-based health research that enrolls participants who inhabit one or more precarious positionalities. Our recommendations attend to rhetorical complexities related to survey ethics, inclusion criteria, privacy, stigmatized and misleading language, variations in discursive repertoires, accessibility, and liability.