Objectives: To determine increased hospital stay and direct costs attributable to hospital-acquired, laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (BSI), and to evaluate the matching variable length of stay (LOS). Design: Retrospective (historical) cohort study with 1:2 matching in intensive care units and surgical wards. Setting: A 2,000-bed university hospital in Rome, Italy. Patients: All patients admitted between January 1994 and June 1995 who had hospital-acquired, laboratory-confirmed BSI were considered cases; all others were eligible as controls. Methods: Two controls (A and B) were selected per case in a stepwise fashion. Controls in group A were selected according to the following six criteria: ward, gender, age, diagnosis, central venous catheter, and LOS equal to the interval from admission to infection in a matched case ± 20% (LOS ± 20%). Controls in group B were selected according to the first five criteria, but excluded LOS ± 20%. Results: One hundred five of 108 patients were each matched with two controls. The matching appropriateness score was greater than 90%. With the use of controls in groups A and B, the case-fatality rates attributable to hospital-acquired, laboratory-confirmed BSI were 35.2% and 40.9%, respectively; the estimated risk ratios for death were 2.60 and 3.52 (P = .0001), respectively. The increased hospital stay per case attributable to hospital-acquired, laboratory-confirmed BSI was 19.1 (mean) and 13.0 (median) days for matched pairs in control group A and 19.9 (mean) and 15.0 (median) days for matched pairs in control group B. With controls in group A, the cost of increased hospital stay per patient attributable to hospital-acquired, laboratory-confirmed BSI was Euro 15,413. The additional cost per patient due to treatment was Euro 943, making the overall direct cost Euro 16,356 per case. Conclusions: This study should make it possible to estimate the cost of hospital-acquired, laboratory-confirmed BSI in most hospitals after adjusting for incidence rate. It also confirmed the use of LOS ± 20% as a matching variable to limit overestimation of increased hospital stay. To our knowledge, this is among the first such studies in Europe.


A novel ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor for visual sensing of Fe3+ has been developed by integrating yellow-emissive rhodamine derivatives (RhB) onto the surface of silica nanospheres embedded with red CdTe QDs. Such a nanohybrid fluorescent sensor, RhB–CdTe@SiO2 QDs, displays two distinct emission peaks 556 nm and 651 nm under a single excitation wavelength in the presence of Fe3+. The yellow fluorescence of RhB could be selectively increased by Fe3+ due to the strong chelating ability of RhB toward Fe3+, while the red fluorescence of CdTe QDs is almost constant, resulting in a distinct fluorescence color transformation from red to yellow, which can be applied for the visual detection of Fe3+. This approach shows high sensitivity and selectivity toward Fe3+, and the detection limit is determined to be 20.5 nM, which is lower than the maximum level (0.3 mg L−1, equivalent to 5.4 μM) of Fe3+ ions permitted in drinking water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For practical application, we dope the mixture of RhB–CdTe@SiO2 QDs and PVA onto the filter paper and fabricate test strips for direct visual inspection of Fe3+ in water. The paper based sensor has a visual detection limit of 1 μM by the naked eye, showing its promising application for onsite visual quantification of ferric ions without the need for elaborate equipment.


This paper reports on the theory, design, and calibration of an instrument for measuring gender difference in motivation for learning technology. The content of the instrument was developed based upon the motivational theories of Eccles and others. More specifically, the learners' self-concept of ability, perception of technology, perception of parental beliefs, causal attributions (success and failure), value factors, and gender issues in using technology were investigated. The function of the instrument was evaluated according to the principles of Measurement theory, using a Rasch rating scale measurement model. ********** The Global society is increasingly technological. Consequently, keeping pace with other industrialized nations requires educators to ensure that students who are future entrants into the workforce have the necessary knowledge and skill in learning and using technology (Gore, 1999). Unfortunately, the number of American students pursuing degrees in the sciences or technology is smaller than those in the poorest developing nations (Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering, 2000). Within the American population, it is apparent that there is a significant gender gap in pursuing scientific and technical careers. According to Fountain's report (1999), from 1984 to 1999 the percentage of undergraduate computer science degrees awarded to women has decreased from 37% to less than 20%. The rate of female and male high school students completing the advanced levels of mathematics and science courses is almost same. More than half of female students took Advanced Placement tests. However, only 10% of computer science test takers in 1999 were female. Why are women choosing not to pursue technology careers? Although many factors contribute to the gender gap in pursuing careers in technology, one is of particular interest to educators and researchers: motivation. In the past decade a number of mathematics and science researchers have identified the important role of motivational factors related to students' career choices. According to expectancy-value theories (Eccles, 1983,1987, 1994; Eccles & Wigfield, 1995; Wigfield 1994; Wigfield & Eccles, 2000), motivation to perform a certain task is strongly influenced by one's expectation of success or failure and the value or appreciation the individual places on the task. For example, those who believe that using technology/computer is important or easy are more likely to desire a career in a technology/computer field and outperform those who do not hold such beliefs. The expectancy-value model has been shown to predict students' career choices and their academic performances in different subject matters (Eccles, 1994; Pintrich & Schunk, 1996). However, compared to the numerous studies on the academic subjects of mathematics and reading, there has been little research on gender differences in motivation of using technology. Therefore, our understanding of gender imbalance in technology career choices is still largely based upon research concerning motivation in mathematics and reading. As a first step toward understanding what women's technology related motivations may be, the present study investigates the function of an instrument for measuring motivational factors in learning technology. The content of the instrument was developed based upon the motivational theories of Eccles and others (Eccles, 1983,1987,1994; Eccles & Wigfield, 1995; Pintrich & Schunk, 1996; Weiner, 1985, 1992, 1995; Wigfield 1994;Wigfield & Eccles, 2000).The function of the instrument was evaluated according to the principles of Measurement theory, using a Rasch rating scale measurement model. Achievement expectations and value theories can be conceptualized in terms of five components: tasks values, students' perceptions of their own ability, perceptions of parental beliefs, perceptions of technology, and causal attribution patterns for success and failure. …


Electrodeposition was used to deposit thin film semiconductor materials for use in solar cell devices. Copper indium diselenide (CuInSe[2]) was deposited from ethylene glycol at 150°C with the aim of improved material properties due to the elevated temperature. The broad nature of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks before and after annealing indicated the layers were comprised of multiple phases identified as CuInSe2 and Cu-Se binaries. Insufficient indium inclusion for device quality materials was incorporated into the layers over the explored growth range of -0.800 to -1.000 V vs Se reference electrode. The layers deposited at more positive deposition voltages were metallic and contained mainly Cu-Se binary phases. At more negative deposition voltages the formation of CuInSe2 was confirmed although above -1.000 V vs Se the layers were often powdery and disintegrated on removal from the electrolyte. There were no noticeable improvements in the CuInSe[2] layers deposited from ethylene glycol compared to reports from aqueous media, which is less toxic and lower cost, therefore electrodeposition from aqueous solution is preferable.Undoped zinc oxide (ZnO) and aluminium doped ZnO (ZnO:Al) were deposited from zinc nitrate solutions with the aim of using electrodeposition for the ZnO bilayer in CuInSe2 devices to unify the production process. ZnO was deposited at a range of deposition voltages from -0.900 to -1.050 V vs silver/silver chloride reference electrode as identified using XRD. Various morphologies were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the electrical resistivity was determined at 6.9x10[6]] O cm and decreased to 3.4x10[5] O cm after A1 doping. To make this method suitable for commercialisation more work would need to be carried out to address consistency issues mainly regarding the electrolyte conditions, including pH and oxygen concentration as a function of growth time.A comparison was made between electrodeposited and sputtered ZnO and ZnO:Al. Some differences in the material properties were found; all layers were identified as hexagonal wurtzite ZnO. A considerable change in morphology was observed by SEM between the electrodeposited and sputtered materials. Little change in the electrical resistivity was observed between electrodeposited and sputtered undoped ZnO, having 6.9x10[6] and 6.2x10[7] cm. The electrical resistivity of ZnO:Al was 3.4x10[5] and 2.3x10[5] O cm for electrodeposited and sputtered materials respectively. Further work would need to be carried out to quantify the concentration of Al dopant in the electrodeposition solution as a function of growth time if this method were to be used for commercialisation. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) was electrodeposited from aqueous solution onto glass/fluorine doped tin oxide/cadmium sulphide substrates. Little improvement in XRD spectra was observed for annealed layers compared to the as-deposited material and the CdTe was identified exhibited cubic phase having (111) preferential orientation. Working solar cell devices were fabricated over a range of growth voltages with superior performance being observed for materials deposited between -0.620 to -0.650 V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Furthermore high uniformity over a 2 cm[2] area completed with an array of 2 mm diameter contacts was observed for devices deposited in this growth voltage range. All devices fabricated using CdTe grown at -0.610 to -0.690 V vs SCE indicated photovoltaic activity although layers deposited between -0.630 and -0.650 V vs SCE indicated the highest performance, with device parameters of open circuit voltage = 420-540 mV, short circuit current density = 3.2-19.1 mA cm[-2] and fill factor = 0.48.


Single layer kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) core particleboards bonded with urea formaldehyde (UF), phenol formaldehyde (PF) and polymeric 4,4-methyl phenylmethane di-isocyanate (PMDI) resins were manufactured. The boards were fabricated with three different densities i.e 350 kg/m3, 450 kg/m3 and 550 kg/m3. Each type of the resin used was sprayed at three different resin loadings on the kenaf core particles. The boards produced was evaluated for its modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond (IB), screw withdrawal (SWD), water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) in accordance with the British Standards. The study revealed that boards with higher resin contents gave higher MOR, MOE, internal bond and screw withdrawal and also improved the water absorption and thickness swelling. Similar trend was also observed from boards with higher densities. It is concluded that the boards with the density of 550 kg/m3 were able to fulfill the British Standard specifications.


Objectives
Meeting most of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) will require a strong focus on tackling all forms of malnutrition─ addressing maternal and child health (MCH) as well as diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Yet, the optimal metrics to define a healthy diet remain unclear. Our aim was to comprehensively review diet metrics and assess the evidence on each metric's association with MCH and NCDs.

Methods
Using comprehensive searches and expert discussions, we identified metrics that i) are used in ≥3 countries to link diet to health, ii) quantify the number of foods/food groups consumed and/or iii) quantify recommended nutrient intakes. We reviewed and summarized each metric's development, components and scoring. For each identified metric, we systematically searched PubMed to identify meta-analyses or narrative reviews evaluating these metrics with nutrient adequacy and health outcomes. We assessed validity by grading the number of studies included and the consistency of the diet metric-disease relationship.

Results
We identified 6 MCH, 13 NCD and 0 MCH/NCD metrics. Most were developed for describing adherence to dietary guidelines or patterns, and others were developed for predicting micronutrient adequacy. On average, the metrics included 14 food groups/nutrients (range 4-45), with 10 food-group only metrics and 0 nutrient-only metrics. The most frequent metric components were grains/roots/tubers, fruits and vegetables. We identified 16 meta-analyses and 14 narrative reviews representing 102 metric-disease relationships (98 metric-NCD and 4 metric-MCH relationships, respectively). We found 5 metrics that have been consistently validated in meta-analyses and narrative reviews for NCDs, 1 metric with limited evidence for MCH, but 0 metrics for both. Of the metrics, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (aHEI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Healthy Eating Index (HEI), and Mediterranean Diet Score (MED) were most commonly validated, especially for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (Figure 1).

Conclusions
Few diet metrics have been used in multiple countries to define a healthy diet. This suggests a serious gap in global analyses of diet quality relating to malnutrition in all its forms, which hinders effective policy action.

Funding Sources
Gates Foundation.

Supporting Tables Images and/or Graphs


Abstract. Knowledge about real-life user behaviour is an important factor for the design of navigation systems. Prompted by the observation that users tend to use our campus navigation app in unexpected ways, we present a naturalistic study of navigation logs. The data set consists of sensor and interaction data from over 4600 sessions, collected over a span of several months from hundreds of users. In our analysis, we demonstrate how the core concepts from navigation literature, i. e. wayfinding and locomotion, can be observed, but also point out differences to previous studies and assumptions. One of our main findings is that the application is mostly used to plan routes in advance, and not to navigate along them. Furthermore, detailed case-studies of actual navigation sessions provide a unique insight into user behaviour and show that persons are often not focused on their navigation task but engaged otherwise. Based on these results, we formulate design implications that do not only apply to future iterations of our application, but can be seen as best practices for pedestrian navigation apps in general.


Many distributed systems provide a "single-system image" to their users, so the user has the illusion that they are using a single system when in fact they are using many distributed resources. It is a powerful abstraction that helps users to manage the complexity of using distributed resources. The goal of the Snowflake project is to discover how single-system images can be made to span administrative domains. Our current prototype organizes resources in namespaces and distributes them using Java Remote Method Invocation. Challenging issues include how much flexibility should be built into the namespace interface, and how transparent the network and persistent storage should be. We outline future work on making Snowflake administrator-friendly.


In this paper, we discuss the development of a new mass transfer model to simulate the thermal and phase change characteristics encountered by binary mixtures during a flow boiling process. The constructed boiling mass transfer model, based on detailed empirical analysis of the heat transfer coefficients pertinent to binary systems and fully implemented within the commercial computational fluid dynamics code AVL FIRE®, is exercised within a multi-fluid framework along with an interfacial area transport modeling procedure to study the heat and mass transfer characteristics of boiling flows inside a rectangular duct. Turbulence in the fluidic system and those generated by the bubbly flow are treated using an advanced k-ζ-f model. The simulation results, comprising of flow variables such as volume fraction, fluidic velocities, temperature and the resultant heat flux generated on the heated wall section, clearly monitors the suppression in heat transfer coefficients with enhancement in flow convection. Competing mechanisms such as phase change process and turbulent convection are identified to influence the heat transfer characteristics. In particular, the varying influence of the mass transfer effects on the heat flux characteristics with alteration in wall temperature is well demonstrated. For example, under low convection velocities, phase change dominates the heat removal from the wall with distinct bubbly flow activity in the boiling regions, while a considerable reduction in bubble dynamics and the phase change contribution towards heat removal with an increase in convection velocities can be clearly extracted. Comparisons of the predicted heat transfer coefficients for varying wall superheat and varying fluidic velocity indicate a very good agreement with experimental data wherever available. A description of the flow field inclusive of interfacial area and number density distribution is provided. The current model can be easily extended to simulate multi-phase flow in complex systems such as a cooling water jacket for automotive applications.


Seminars in Neurology provides a broad, informed perspective on pivotal topics in contemporary neurology with practical tips for managing diagnostic and therapeutic problems and a complete reference database. Guest edited by prominent clinicians and packed with original, high-quality material, each issue covers a new and emerging area. Upcoming issues will feature in-depth discussions of vasculitis and how it affects the peripheral and central nervous systems, new developments in neurorehabilitation, including the use of ventilators for symptomatic treatment of neuromuscular disorders, epileptic phenomena and paroxysmal disorders that may mimic epilepsy, electrical and lightning injuries, and more. All articles help solve everyday problems. Plus, the journal benefits from the unique vantage point of guest editors in neurosurgery, neuroopthalmology, neuroendocrinology, neurotoxicology, and many other subspecialties. Each issue of Seminars in Neurology is also enhanced by vivid photographs, charts, tables, and hundreds of detailed references.


The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Arctic cirrus clouds. In this work, data from the ground-based lidar system at ALOMAR, Andøya Space Center. and the spaceborne lidar onboard the CALIPSO satellite is used. Cirrus clouds are an important factor in modeling climate changes, which is one of the major research fields of this time. Most of the cirrus cloud research concentrates on investigating the phenomenon in the tropical regions as some of the generating mechanisms of cirrus clouds are more common there. The study of cirrus clouds in the Arctic has been sparse due to lack of instrumentation. The ALOMAR facility offers instrumentation and database suitable for such research. Two lidar systems with similar properties are used in the thesis. The stationary system at Ramnan, Norway (379 meter above sea-level) has been in operation since 2005, and gives access to long-term data. The system measures the troposphere with good quality up to 15-20 km, and can also detect major events in the stratosphere up to 61 km. The CALIPSO satellite was launched in 2006 and has been operating steadily since 2007. The satellite orbits sun-synchronously, with two daily overpasses near Andøya. The onboard lidar has the same capabilities as the stationary system in Northern Norway, and the two datasets can be compared. Analysis of the data indicate that there is around 50% cirrus clouds in the Arctic region, with CALIPSO registering 48% and the ALOMAR Troposphere lidar finding 56%. Mean base height is found to be between 6600-7000 meters above sea-level for the two systems and clouds are relatively thin with a mean thickness of 1166 and 1464 meters for ALOMAR and CALIPSO, respectively. In tropical regions, base heights of 8-10 km and thickness of 2-3 km are common. Several interesting cases of cirrus clouds near the stratosphere are detected over ALOMAR. These cases require special attention, and indicate that cirrus clouds reside at higher altitudes than expected in the Arctic region.


The chapter focuses on a collection of animal paintings commissioned by the last two Medici Grand Dukes - Cosimo III and his son, Gian Gastone. The series, totalling approximately a hundred pictures, were painted by Bartolomeo Bimbi and Pietro Neri Scacciati during the first four decades of the eighteenth century and were destined to be displayed in the princely setting of the Medici Villa Ambrogiana. The two artists drew their inspiration both from living and from stuffed creatures in the Medici's zoological collection, to create pictures that portray very vividly and diversely, the relationship between animal collecting and the use of rare fauna as a subject in art within the context of the Florentine grand-ducal court. The animal 'portraits' Bimbi painted for Cosimo III are very precise and analytical in their anatomical naturalism, and these pictorial characteristics will be linked to Cosimo III's interests in natural history, his promotion of zoological research and his desire to catalogue and to classify the living fauna and flora in his domain according to his unique sense of the macrocosmic order. The zoological paintings Scacciati created for Gian Gastone display a move away from the traditions of mimetic naturalism; instead their creation reveal an intriguing connection with scientific advances in taxidermy, which made it possible to preserved rare specimens from the princely menagerie for the longer-term. This development, while anticipating the conception of natural history museums during the latter half of the eighteenth century, in the context of the Medici court, Scacciati's paintings signalled not only an end in zoological collecting, but also the decline of the Medici dynasty.


The mismatch repair (MMR) pathway serves to maintain the integrity of the genome by removing mispaired bases from the newly synthesized strand. In E. coli, MutS, MutL and MutH coordinate to discriminate the daughter strand through a mechanism involving lack of methylation on the new strand. This facilitates the creation of a nick by MutH in the daughter strand to initiate mismatch repair. Many bacteria and eukaryotes, including humans, do not possess a homolog of MutH. Although the exact strategy for strand discrimination in these organisms is yet to be ascertained, the required nicking endonuclease activity is resident in the C-terminal domain of MutL. This activity is dependent on the integrity of a conserved metal binding motif. Unlike their eukaryotic counterparts, MutL in bacteria like Neisseria exist in the form of a homodimer. Even though this homodimer would possess two active sites, it still acts a nicking endonuclease. Here, we present the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the MutL homolog of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NgoL) determined to a resolution of 2.4 Å. The structure shows that the metal binding motif exists in a helical configuration and that four of the six conserved motifs in the MutL family, including the metal binding site, localize together to form a composite active site. NgoL-CTD exists in the form of an elongated inverted homodimer stabilized by a hydrophobic interface rich in leucines. The inverted arrangement places the two composite active sites in each subunit on opposite lateral sides of the homodimer. Such an arrangement raises the possibility that one of the active sites is occluded due to interaction of NgoL with other protein factors involved in MMR. The presentation of only one active site to substrate DNA will ensure that nicking of only one strand occurs to prevent inadvertent and deleterious double stranded cleavage.


The impact of cloud and cloud shadows on clear-sky Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation index (VI) composite images of the Korean Peninsula was evaluated using four different composite schemes, including weekly, 10 day, biweekly, and monthly maximum value composites. Daily MODIS surface reflectance data were acquired and processed to compute normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) data sets with the four compositing periods. On average, 65% of the year was cloudy, and biweekly and monthly compositing periods were required to produce spatially continuous images. The means of composite VI maximums from cloud-shadowed pixels were slightly higher than those of clear-day composite data. It seems that the unusual VI highs from cloud-shadowed areas are often influenced by the data acquisition time of the year and viewing geometry of MODIS data products. Although biweekly composites have been frequently used for various applications, their regularity of pixel sampling intervals was lowest among the four data compositing schemes. This data sampling issue should be carefully examined for analyses of VI time-series composite data sets because leaf phenology studies often assume regular sampling intervals between composite periods to estimate the timing of green-up, maturity, senescence, and dormancy.


The implementation of a new non-disturbance policy on Schiermonnikoog (Dutch Wadden Sea islands) provided an experiment to test ideas concerning the switch between habitats by spring-staging Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla and Barnacle Geese B. leucopsis. In the experimental years (2000 and 2001) the farmers desisted from all scaring activities in the enclosed pasture area (290 ha) with grasslands intensively managed for dairy farms. The adjoining salt marsh (1635 ha) already was afforded complete protection, and traditionally provided the main goose feeding area in spring. A traditional habitat switch to the marsh coincides with the spring increase of forage production in the marsh habitat, suggesting that forage availability on the marsh is limiting in early spring. Compared to three control years (1997, 98 and 99 with scaring in the pastures) both species of geese extended their usage of the agricultural habitat in the two non-scaring years, where they remained until migratory departure (Apr for the Barnacle Geese, late May for the Dark-bellied Brent). Numbers of geese on the salt marsh did not change, hence non-disturbance triggered an increase of capacity for spring feeding geese at this staging site. The change was most dramatic for the Dark-bellied Brent Goose with a doubling of numbers on the island in the years without scaring, and identification of ringed individuals showed that the birds recruiting to this new spring tradition had in previous seasons utilised other sites in the Dutch Wadden Sea.


The research about biodegradable polymers has grown so quickly during last
decades. One of the main reasons is their application in the field of biomedicine.
These polymers are nontoxic for the organism and could be metabolized by the
human body after a controlled degradation. Gene therapy success depends on
safety and effective of the gene carriers. For that reason the creation of new
synthetic vectors is necessary. The temporary scaffolds are one of the most
important applications of biodegradable polymers. Temporary scaffolds are used
to replace a tissue of the human body that has been broken or weakened by an
illness, injury or surgery.
In this project new synthetized biodegradable polymers based on arginine are
employed and characterized through FTIR, RMN, DSC, X-rays and GPC.
Electrospun PLA scaffolds containing either this new family of polymers or pure
arginine are prepared. To obtain the optimal quality of the scaffold it is necessary
to tune the electrospinning operational parameters (e.g. flow rate, voltage,
needle-collector distance, collector type). Furthermore, both the conditions of the
solution (e.g. polymer type and concentration, viscosity, conductivity) as well as
the ambient parameters play an important role to get the optimal electrospinning
conditions.
The scaffolds are characterized with different techniques, SEM for the
morphologic study and fiber diameter measurement, contact angle to evaluate
the hydrophobicity of the surface, infrared analysis to assess the addition of the
different arginine compounds, and thermal analysis to determine variations on
thermal stability and characteristic transition temperatures.
The use of bacteriophages is an interesting alternative for drug-resistant
infections that has shown many good results in recent studies. The
bacteriophages are a type of virus that only infects bacteria.
Once characterized, the new prepared electrospun mats are loaded by adsorption
with bacteriophages, which are specific for the Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria.
The antibacterial ability of the loaded scaffolds is tested. PHMB is a well-known
antibacterial compound that is used as positive control. Biocompatibility of new
samples is also tested through cell adhesion and proliferation studies. Finally, the
potential use in biomedicine for tissue engineering and infection control is
evaluated.


This volume brings together studies of Ephesos - a major city in the Greco-Roman period and a primary centre for the spread of Christianity into the Western world - by an international array of scholars from the fields of classics, fine arts, history of religion, New Testament, ancient Christianity, and archaeology. The studies were presented at a spring 1994 Harvard Divinity School symposium on Ephesos, focusing on the results of one hundred years of archaeological work at Ephesos by members of the Austrian Archaeological Institute. The contributors to this volume discuss some of the most interesting and controversial results of recent investigations: the Processional Way of Artemis, the Hadrianic Olympieion and the Church of Mary, the so-called Temple of Domitian, and the heroa of Androkolos and Arsinoe. Since very little about the Austrian excavations at Ephesos has been published in English, this volume should prove useful in introducing the archaeology of this metropolis to a wider readership.


Miniaturized and mobile liquid handling devices are essential elements to biological or clinical applications. This will innovate the conventional liquid handling methods such as manual or automated pipetting systems. Here, we propose the micro fractal pipette as the candidate device for this objective. It is made of epoxy polymer and printed by innovative 3D nanoprinting technology based on two-photon absorption polymerization with sub-micrometer resolution. We demonstrated the efficient liquid handling performance by using the micro fractal pipette between the source droplet and the target hydrogel substrate. This is due to the high porosity (78%) and the 8.5 times larger cavity surface area compared to the full pyramid. The biomimetic inner cavity microchannel networks contribute to the low pressure drop. The proposed micro fractal pipette could also innovate the versatile and miniaturized liquid handling system, promising to various biological or clinical applications.


Youssouf Amine Elalamy's travel-inspired-narrative Un Marocain a New York (A Moroccan in New York) chronicles Elalamy's physical and epistemological journeys to the United States of America to receive an "American education." It is replete with powerful situations and recollections that offer illuminating and problematic critique of the modern empire; furthermore, it foregrounds a counter-consciousness that is meant to oppose and contest Western inscriptions of "Otherness" It also shows how the previously silenced voices have managed to express agency and resistance within the ambiguities of the Orientalist tradition as it voices the subversive postcolonial attitude of the author who emerges as a "dissenting voice" that contests Western hegemonic discourse. Elalamy's subversive attitude remains intensely self-conscious and it is meant to disturb the Western mode of representation of Otherness through a systematic reversal of the "order of things." As will be argued, Elalamy manages to break away from the totalising ideologies and acquires agency that grants him more visibility within the American community. His autobiographical narrative explores discursive instances that demonstrate how inventively the Other can answer back and react against the West's disfigured rendition of the Oriental; as he manages to symbolically "wrestle the power to self-represent" and "take history into [his] own hands."


ABSTRACT On the continental shelf off the Cilento peninsula (eastern Tyrrhenian Sea) the occurrence of more than 13 km2 of maerl beds was documented through acoustic surveys. Swath bathymetric data along with a dense grid of chirp-sonar profiles were acquired over more than 180 km2. The maerl facies was characterized on the basis of the components analysis of 32 grab samples collected at selected sites. Mapped maerl-beds are predominant on submerged terraces located at variable water depth (wd) between 42 and 52 m. This preferred distribution on submerged terraces is probably associated with relatively vigorous bottom currents generated by local circulation that hinders the deposition of terrigenous sediments. Calcareous red algae result to be the most important producers of carbonates from 40 down to 60 m wd. We calculated the coralline carbonate accumulation from the percentage cover of coralline algae (thin section mapping) × 1 cm-thick layer of sediment × measured coralline density. The total coralline cover (living plus dead) in the Cilento area is 13.96 km2, with a total 316800 tons of algal carbonate in the surface 1 cm layer, that correspond to 20430 g m-2. Living maerl is recorded at a depth of 47 m, with a live coralline cover of about 40% over a minimum area of about 1.2 km2. This live maerl has a thickness of about 1 cm and is composed mainly of unattached branches of Lithothamnion corallioides (P.L.Crouan & H.M.Crouan) P.L.Crouan & H.M.Crouan, 1867. The molluscan association of the maerl bed is dominated by characteristic species of the Coastal Detritic Biocoenosis. The production of carbonate by living coralline algae has been calculated as weight of live corallines in 1 cm-thick layer × 100 y-1 × total area-1 and corresponds to 90.8 g m-2 y-1.


In the era of globalization, sharing of knowledge, information, and practices across cultural and national boundaries has been recognized as a key for handling the most critical problems. Consequently, the number of Transnational Knowledge Networks (TKNs) that aim to address critical global issues and problems continue to increase. As exchanging knowledge and information represent core components of these networks, this paper provides the foundations to study knowledge and information sharing in these emerging organizations. The paper starts by describing the structures, goals, and objectives of TKNs and presents a simplified conceptual model to demonstrate the main characteristics of these networks. Then, we review the pertinent e-government literature and argue the need to include findings from two additional research areas, cross-boundary information sharing and knowledge transfer. The paper discusses the ways in which contributions from these areas can enhance our understanding of the complexity surrounding the exchange process in these networks. The paper concludes with a summary of the elements of complexity and an overview of future research to empirically test these concepts.


Campylobacteriosis is the most frequently occurring food and waterborne gastroenteritis in Norway and 90% of cases are caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacteriosis is epidemiologically associated with use of non-disinfected water and consumption of contaminated poultry. In order to provide molecular epidemiological support for this association isolates from local poultry and water were compared with human isolates from domestic and import infections using ribotyping. Automatic riboprints were performed with the PstI restriction enzyme and RiboPrinter® and compared with a library of recognised patterns (DUP-IDs). Patterns were further compared with each other using GelCompar software. The isolates from human clinical cases showed high heterogeneity. DUP-IDs found among human isolates were also found in 2 isolates from poultry, DUP-PSTI-1146 and DUP-PSTI2061. Two human isolates were like isolates from water, DUP-PSTI-2073 and DUP-PSTI-1122, but these were from patients infected abroad. This study provides limited support for the importance of poultry as a source of infection and illustrates the need for studies of much larger scope to encompass the huge diversity of strains and sources of C. jejuni.


The paper focuses on and takes the shape of an approach meant to mediate the interaction between the Geospatial and the Grid infrastructures by introducing a new component referred to as Mediator. The component shall diminish the gap between the two infrastructures and create an interoperable communication. The solution thereinafter advanced aims at adapting the Geospatial services so as to follow different execution flows, either on the Web or on the Grid, by considering the input conditions and the running platforms as factors required to maximize the execution performances.


We propose a localized surface plasmon microscope that provides simultaneous imaging of refractive index and fluorescent intensity distributions. We show experimental images of fluorescent and transparent particles under circular pupil illumination to confirm simultaneous high-resolution imaging. Furthermore, we investigate applicability of annular pupil illumination employing two axicons to improve energy efficiency in the fluorescent imaging and find that a brighter image is obtainable by maintaining high spatial resolution for both imaging modes.


In this critical study of the influence of W. B. Yeats (1865-1939) on the poetry and drama of Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), Deborah Fleming examines similarities in imagery, landscape, belief in eternal recurrence, use of myth, distrust of rationalism, and dedication to tradition. Although Yeats's and Jeffers's styles differed widely, Towers of Myth and Stone examines how the two men shared a vision of modernity, rejected contemporary values in favour of traditions (some of their own making), and created poetry that sought to change those values. Jeffers's well-known opposition to modernist poetry forced him for decades to the margins of critical appraisal, where he was seen as an eccentric without aesthetic content. Yet both Yeats and Jeffers formulated social and poetic philosophies that continue to find relevance in critical and cultural theory. Engaging Yeats's work enabled Jeffers to develop a related, though distinct, sense of what themes and subject matter were best suited for poetic endeavour. His connection to Yeats helps to explain the nature of Jeffers's poetry even as it helps to clarify Yeats's influence on those who followed him. Moreover, Fleming argues, Jeffers's interest in Yeats suggests that critics misunderstand Jeffers if they take his rejection of modernism (as exemplified by Wallace Stevens, William Carlos Williams, and Ezra Pound) as a rejection of contemporary poetry or the process by which modern poetry came into being.


This paper focuses on the posture the oil company BP adopted when faced with a legitimacy crisis during one of the worst environmental disasters in history. Against a backdrop of a discussion of the rhetorical aspects of image repair discourse and organisational legitimacy, Hearit's strategy of corporate apologia was employed to determine the posture BP adopted in relation to the crisis. This paper adds to the literature on image repair strategies by heeding a call by Hearit for the context within which corporate apologia takes place to be taken account of, an approach that warrants a distinct line of research. The literature was further extended by complementing Hearit's strategy with semiotics and analysing its use in both the annual and sustainability reports. The additional focus on the sustainability reports is important, due to the high premium placed on sustainability in the changing business environment. On a practical level this paper contributes to an understanding of how organisations use sustainability reports to respond to legitimacy challenges.


One of the most pervasive signals of global climate change is altered patterns of distribution with trends towards poleward shifts of species. While habitat loss and destruction has severed connections between people and salmon in many locales, salmon fisheries in the high Arctic are just beginning to develop. To explore these emergent connections, we gathered local knowledge about Pacific salmon and emerging subsistence salmon fisheries in the Beaufort Sea region through ethnographic research in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) and Nuiqsut, Alaska. Between 2010 and 2013, we interviewed 41 active fishermen and Elders who generally agreed that harvests of Pacific salmon species have been increasing in recent years, beginning in the 1990s and early 2000s. About 46% of active fishermen and Elders who discussed salmon abundance perceived an increasing trend over time. Another 43% characterized salmon abundance as cyclical or perceived no directional trend over time. The remaining fishermen (all from Nuiqsut) expressed their perception of decreasing salmon and fish abundance overall related to oil and gas development impacts to their local lands and waters. Given these mixed perceptions and harvests being an imperfect proxy for abundance, it remains unclear whether salmon populations are expanding in Arctic river systems. However, research participants have identified new stream systems not currently documented in the scientific literature where salmon are present and thought to be spawning. In both communities, we found that many fishermen and Elders often do not differentiate Pacific salmon species. Fishermen in both communities are developing new knowledge of salmon and increasing their use of salmon as a subsistence resource, yet uncertainties in the current data and local knowledge combine to generate equivocal evidence that salmon abundance is increasing. This lack of a clear increase in salmon abundance provides nuance to a simple story that warming has led to the increases of salmon in the Arctic. Despite the uncertainty regarding abundance, it is clear we are witnessing an emergence of new salmon fisheries in the high Arctic, perceived to be one among a suite of environmental and social changes currently being experienced in this region.


Background: The gold standard of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is anatomic pulmonary resection. Wider resection methods may be preferred due to the size or anatomic location of the tumor. One method of choice is bilobectomy due of the anatomy of the right lung. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 93 patients who were diagnosed with NSCLC and had bilobectomy, complete resection, and mediastinal lymph node dissection at our center between January 2005 and April 2013. Results: Forty-seven patients underwent superior bilobectomy (sBL), and 46 patients underwent inferior bilobectomy (iBL). Bilobectomy was performed due to fissure invasion in 51 (58.1%) patients, internal or external bronchial tumor invasion in 31 (33.3%) patients, external bronchial lymph node invasion in six (6.4%) patients, and vascular invasion in two (2.2%) patients. The bronchial invasion-based indications were significantly higher in the iBL group compared to the fissure invasion-based indications in the sBL group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Bilobectomy leads to a substantial amount of parenchymal loss in the right lung, but it is a procedure that should be performed under the necessary conditions. It is obvious that performing bilobectomy under proper indications would result in good outcomes for lung cancer patients.


This study examined athletic status and adult attachment as risk factors for high-risk drinking in 249 freshmen. Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated attachment avoidance was related positively to high-risk drinking for former high school and collegiate athletes, but related inversely to high-risk drinking for nonathletes. Further, athletes with high attachment avoidance reported the highest levels of heavy drinking and associated consequences. Findings suggest athletes with high attachment avoidance may use drinking as a coping strategy to manage discomfort associated with social situations and this strategy is likely an extension of patterns established in high school. Clinical implications include providing prevention programs for both high school and collegiate athletes, with an emphasis on targeting interpersonal avoidance and discomfort with relationships.


The promotion of epidural and spinal blocks as preferred and safe techniques for Caesarean section and the use of lumbar puncture for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes place patients at risk of developing postdural puncture headache (PDPH). This article reviews the literature for evidence that provides an approach to diagnosis and management of this condition for the primary care physician. A dull and throbbing, bilateral headache associated with changes in posture (worsened by sitting and standing, and better lying down), that develops within seven days of a lumbar puncture or an inadvertent dural puncture must raise the suspicion of PDPH. The exact causative mechanism is unclear but symptoms of PDPH are generally attributed to excessive loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The risk of PDPH is increased with the use of cutting and large-bore needles, and with horizontal orientation of the needle bevel. Given that symptoms overlap, other organic causes of headache such as intracerebral/subdural haemorrhage, pneumocephalus, central nervous system infections, adverse effects of anticoagulants and functional headaches such as migraine must be excluded. Although the initial management of PDPH comprises several conservative interventions, evidence is only available for the effectiveness of the usage of caffeine, analgesics, gabapectin, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone and cosyntropin. Epidural blood patch (EDBP) offers the most favourable outcomes for patients who fail to respond to conservative management. However, given the lack of skills for performing EDBP in primary care, such patients should be referred to secondary or tertiary level of care.


Studying the behavior of high-status corporate lawyers is challenging. Much writing (including some of my own) addresses the risk of lawyer enabling of client misconduct by drawing from work in behavioral ethics suggesting that at least some apparent complicity is without full awareness of the impropriety. Is this naive? The first part of this essay pushes harder on consciousness by looking more closely at the lengthy continuum — not a binary yes/no — in the awareness of wrongdoing risk as heavily influenced by the "slippery slope." Looking at corporate lawyers' professional responsibility through this lens has some interesting, and as far as I can tell, under-explored implications that help us understand ethical apathy as a distinctive state of mind. The essay's second part is more hopeful: that such ethical apathy among private practitioners might be offset by greater embrace of the possibility by in-house lawyers. There has emerged in recent years a different lens for the empirical examination of corporate general counsel, using the tools of financial economics to seek correlations (and maybe causation) between identifiable lawyer characteristics and outcomes for the company in terms of (for example) its legal exposure. There is some hopeful news in this research, albeit heavily contingent on the company's governance structure. The essay ends by suggesting that, while the effort in normative legal ethics to enlist corporate lawyers in more than a legalistic conception of gate-keeping has failed, corporate governance and corporate ethics — surprisingly, perhaps — have some potential to enable gate-keeping general counsels in a way that filters down to the demand for more ethically-sensitive outside counsel as well.


This paper presents the design of a highly available distributed call processing system and its implementation on a local area network of commercial, off-the-shelf workstations. A major challenge of using off-the-shelf components is meeting the strict performance and availability requirements in place for existing public telecommunications systems in a cost-effective manner. Traditional checkpointing and message logging schemes for general distributed applications are not directly applicable since call processing applications built using these schemes suffer from high failure-free overhead and long recovery delays. We propose an application-level fault-tolerance scheme that takes advantage of general properties of distributed call processing systems to avoid message logging and to limit checkpointing overhead. The proposed scheme, applied to a call processing system for wireless networks, shows average call setup latencies of 180 ms, failover times of less than three seconds, and recovery times of less than seventeen seconds. System availability is estimated to be 0.99995. The results indicate that using our proposed scheme meets the above challenge.


The photo‐induced formation of cis‐syn‐cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) is a highly mutagenic and cancerogenic DNA lesion. In bacteria photolyases can efficiently reverse the dimer formation employing a light‐driven reaction after looping out the CPD damaged bases into the enzyme active site. The exact mechanism how the repair enzyme identifies a damaged site within a large surplus of undamaged DNA is not fully understood. The CPD damage may alter the DNA structure and dynamics already in the absence of the repair enzyme which can facilitate the initial binding of a photolyase repair enzyme. To characterize the effect of a CPD damage, extensive comparative molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on duplex DNA with central regular or CPD damaged nucleotides were performed supplemented with simulations of the DNA‐photolyase complex. Although no spontaneous flipping out transitions of the damaged bases were observed, the simulations showed significant differences in the conformational states of regular and CPD damage DNA. The isolated damaged DNA adopted transient conformations which resembled the global shape of the repair enzyme bound conformation more closely compared to regular B‐DNA. In particular, these conformational changes were observed in most of helical and structural parameters where the protein bound DNA differs drastically from regular B‐DNA. It is likely that the transient overlap of isolated DNA with the enzyme bound DNA conformation plays a decisive role for the specific and rapid initial recognition by the repair enzyme prior to the looping out process of the damaged DNA. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 103: 215–222, 2015.


Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted by the Indian Parliament on 25 th August, 2005 with an aim of enhancing the livelihood security of rural households by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to every household in a year whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual works. The Act was implemented on 2 nd February, 2006. The study area is Longjap Gram Panchayat (GP) located in Kathiatoli Development Block of Nagaon district, Assam. The objective of this paper is to examine the awareness of tribal womenfolk regarding different provisions of MGNREGA in the GP. Based on primary data, collected from 100 nos. of sample tribal women, it is found that although tribal womenfolk in the study area have substantial awareness on some provisions of MGNREGA, their awareness on several important provisions is not encouraging.  There is, thus, a need to adopt new techniques to spread awareness among the villagers regarding different provisions of MGNREGA in the study area.


Over recent years, cities have been growing rapidly and motorization is expanding at a very quick pace in China. As a result, many problems relevant to traffic, transport systems and services have occurred in urban areas. In view of this situation and the social conditions, the central government has set forth a system called Action Program for Smooth Traffic and Transport. All cities/provinces/autonomous regions have been requested to apply this action program to improve the cities by evaluating progress of the situation. Before the problem deteriorates further, all Chinese cities have been acting positively in tackling the problems of urban traffic and transport by utilizing this program since its start in 2000. One characteristic of this action program is that 75 indicators including all respects of the urban traffic, the transport system and services have been used for evaluating and ranking the cities. Another characteristic is that the indicators changed year by year from 59 indicators proposed in 2000. In this paper, we try to clarify the feature of the indicators used in the evaluation system of urban traffic and transport after summarizing the Action Program for Smooth Traffic and Transport. Through the analysis, we will make it clear what stage the urban traffic and transport system are at, how the Action Program for Smooth Traffic and Transport is functioning for the change of the urban traffic and transport system and finally, what are the effects the evaluation system to the improvement the traffic and transport environment. To compare with Japan, a local version of the Performance Plan and Achievement Degree Report in Japan is also taken into consideration.


In the first part of the paper it is shown, that in the case of specific initial conditions, solutions of the Cauchy problem for linearized Boltzmann equation have exponential damping when time tends to infinity. In the second part of the paper exact analytic solution of spatially homogeneous linearized Boltzmann equation is built by the use of discrete Laplace transform. The result may be useful in research tasks inside the area of applied rarefied gas dynamics.


Classical counterinsurgency theory – written before the 19th century – has generally strongly opposed atrocities, as have theoreticians writing on how to conduct insurgencies. For a variety of reasons – ranging from pragmatic to religious or humanitarian – theoreticians of both groups have urged the lenient treatment of civilians associated with the enemy camp, although there is a marked pattern of exceptions, for example, where heretics or populations of cities refusing to surrender to besieging armies are concerned. And yet atrocities – defined here as acts of violence against the unarmed (non-combatants, or wounded or imprisoned enemy soldiers), or needlessly painful and/or humiliating treatment of enemy combatants, beyond any action needed to incapacitate or disarm them – occur frequently in small wars. Examples abound where these exhortations have been ignored, both by forces engaged in an insurgency and by forces trying to put down a rebellion. Why have so many atrocities been committed in war if so many arguments have been put forward against them? This is the basic puzzle for which the individual contributions to this special issue are seeking to find tentative answers, drawing on case studies.


Three shortcomings in existing information technology (IT) governance research are identified: an overemphasis on implementation rather than principles, a focus on the individual organisation rather than the relationships between organisations and a tendency to divorce the technology from the activities that rely on it. A governance framework comprised of the overarching principles of direction and control is proposed and it is suggested that these principles can be delivered through a focus on performance, conformance, openness and transparency, responsibility and accountability, and evaluation and monitoring. The importance of outsourcing as a form of inter-organisational relationship is highlighted and three case studies of different types of outsourcing arrangement conducted to test the usefulness of the framework. The results suggest that organisations recognise the importance of effective governance to the success of their relationships, that designing appropriate governance for relationships is complicated by factors such as the need to accommodate the disparate requirements of the parties involved and that the framework proposed appears to capture the essential areas.


A growing number of studies have reported that teachers face many challenges in conceptualizing and enacting inquiry–based teaching and learning. Even though teacher designed approaches are considered an important pathway that could assist teachers in dealing with important aspects of inquiry based-teaching, the development of relevant tools that can scaffold teachers in this process has not received appropriate attention. The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers designed web-based inquiry learning environments on a specific platform that allows them to structure content, and provide technology-realized scaffolding in a variety of ways. Participants in the study were ten graduate students enrolled in a science teacher preparation course. Data were collected using multiple methods and analyzed qualitatively. Our analyses show that the process of design provided a valuable vehicle for teachers' challenges and approaches to surface and be realized. Teachers' designs shared common characteristics, as a result of the scaffolding they received through the course; nevertheless varied in the way pedagogical and epistemological characteristics of inquiry-based learning were weaved together in inquiry sequences and tasks. The results of the study provide implications for the design of tools that will address the diverse needs of teachers and provide them with scaffolding in designing technologically enhanced inquiry-based learning environments.


This paper uses information from rural household surveys in 24 districts in Kenya to inform current debate on maize pricing policy. Specifically, it sheds light on how rural farm households are being affected by governmental efforts to support maize price levels. Using information on landed import costs of white maize from South Africa with and without the import tariff, it simulates the effects of eliminating the tariff on rural smallholder farmers, large-scale farmers, and urban consumers. It then examines the implications of these findings for the design of strategies to promote agricultural productivity and rural income growth.


Remote sensing applied in the digital transformation of agriculture and, more particularly, in precision viticulture offers methods to map field spatial variability to support site-specific management strategies; these can be based on crop canopy characteristics such as the row height or vegetation cover fraction, requiring accurate three-dimensional (3D) information. To derive canopy information, a set of dense 3D point clouds was generated using photogrammetric techniques on images acquired by an RGB sensor onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in two testing vineyards on two different dates. In addition to the geometry, each point also stores information from the RGB color model, which was used to discriminate between vegetation and bare soil. To the best of our knowledge, the new methodology herein presented consisting of linking point clouds with their spectral information had not previously been applied to automatically estimate vine height. Therefore, the novelty of this work is based on the application of color vegetation indices in point clouds for the automatic detection and classification of points representing vegetation and the later ability to determine the height of vines using as a reference the heights of the points classified as soil. Results from on-ground measurements of the heights of individual grapevines were compared with the estimated heights from the UAV point cloud, showing high determination coefficients (R² > 0.87) and low root-mean-square error (0.070 m). This methodology offers new capabilities for the use of RGB sensors onboard UAV platforms as a tool for precision viticulture and digitizing applications.


Market thickness is a key parameter that can make or break a platform's business model. Thicker markets can offer more opportunities for participants to meet and higher chances that a potential match exists. However, they can also be vulnerable to potential search frictions. In this paper, using data from an online peer-to-peer holiday property-rental platform, we aim to identify and measure the causal impact of market thickness on matching rates. In particular, we exploit an exogenous shock to market size caused by a one-time migration of listings from other platforms, which gives rise to a quasi-experimental design. We find that increased market thickness actually leads to lower matching rates. Keeping search technology and other factors constant, doubling market size leads to a 15.4% reduction in traveler confirmation rate and 15.9% reduction in host occupancy rate. As a result, the platform lost 5.6% of potential matches because of the increased market size. We attribute the effect to increased search friction: travelers' search intensity increases by 18.3% when market size doubles. This effect is especially prominent when the matching needs to take place within a limited time. Our results offer insights for future empirical and theoretical research on matching markets. They also highlight the importance for platform owners to watch out for increased search frictions as markets grow and to invest in search technologies to facilitate more efficient search.


Low-frequency (LF) dispersive phenomena due to device self-heating and/or the presence of "traps" (i.e., surface state densities and bulk spurious energy levels) must be taken into account in the large-signal dynamic modeling of III-V field-effect transistors when accurate performance predictions are pursued, since these effects cause important deviations between direct current (dc) and dynamic drain current characteristics. In this paper, a new model for the accurate characterization of these phenomena above their cutoff frequencies is presented, which is able to fully exploit, in the identification phase, large-signal current-voltage (I-V) measurements carried out under quasi-sinusoidal regime using a recently proposed setup. Detailed experimental results for model validation under LF small- and large-signal operating conditions are provided. Furthermore, the I-V model proposed has been embedded into a microwave large-signal pseudomorphic high electron-mobility transistor (pHEMT) model in order to point out the strong influence of LF modeling on the degree of accuracy achievable under millimeter-wave nonlinear operation. Large-signal experimental validation at microwave frequencies is provided for the model proposed, by showing the excellent intermodulation distortion (IMD) predictions obtained with different loads despite the very low power level of IMD products involved. Details on the millimeter-wave IMD measurement setup are also provided. Finally, IMD measurements and simulations on a Ka-band highly linear power amplifier, designed by Ericsson using the Triquint GaAs 0.25-/spl mu/m pHEMT process, are shown for further model validation.


The authors present a game theory approach to the problem of pricing electricity in deregulated marketplaces. They assume that an independent operator receives bids by pool participants and defines transactions among participants by looking for the minimum price that satisfies the demand in the pool. The competition among pool participants is modeled as a noncooperative game with incomplete information. They assume that each pool participant knows its own operation costs but does not know his opponents' operation costs. The game, with incomplete information, is transformed into a game with complete, but imperfect, information and solved using the Nash equilibrium idea. The approach presented in this paper is geared towards providing support for pricing electricity in deregulated pools.


The central focus of this project is a survey of programs and organizations serving youth labelled at-risk. This program study is to see how positive behavioral intervention and support (PBIS) systems versus consequence based behavioral management systems are used in programs for youth labelled at risk. It also surveys if PBIS systems are beneficial for working with this population. The methods used in this study were to generate a survey asking questions about the behavioral management systems used in the facilities and the effectiveness of the systems used. Results indicated that of the facilities surveyed, all of them worked with youth labelled at risk, and youth involved with the juvenile justice system. 80% of facilities surveyed used a positive behavioral intervention and support system, and all that used this system stated that it had been effective as a behavioral management system with this population. Further research is needed into how a PBIS system can benefit organizations serving youth labelled at risk, however, preliminary research indicates that a PBIS system is useful in working with at risk youth.


This article presents the results of a research recently collected in a PNCDI III project, named Multiplatform interactive information technologies with applications in Romanian language for speech therapy. TIMLOGORO project demonstrates that technology is an effective tool for learning and, in particular, in improving speech at any age stage. This research aims to investigate the degree of parental openness on the use of technological platforms in children's speech therapy. The method used in this study was a survey based on a questionnaire, the tool comprising a total of 16 items with the Lickert scale response from 1 to 5. The questionnaire contains items that aim to investigate the general and particular opinion of working with the technological resource. The participants in this study are represented by a number of 40 children's parents who presents language disorders. The study aims to obtain relevant information about the importance of using digital platforms in speech therapy at parents. Research provides answers to key themes of interest, such as access to digital platforms, the use of technology, the qualities and features of efficient digital platforms. The open and supportive attitude of parents to the use of digital resources in speech therapy is one of the essential elements for the efficiency of the therapeutic act and the solving of speech problems. The results obtained in this research will be introduced into the SPSS statistics program and will be carried out statistical tests and graphs that will strengthen the scientific and pedagogical argument of the mentioned project, an argument necessary for evaluating the Timlogoro digital platform.


Encapsulation, specifically microencapsulation is an old technology with increasing applications in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, environmental, food, and cosmetic spaces. In the past two decades, the advancements in the field of nanotechnology opened the door for applying the encapsulation technology at the nanoscale level. Nanoencapsulation is highly utilized in designing effective drug delivery systems (DDSs) due to the fact that delivery of the encapsulated therapeutic/diagnostic agents to various sites in the human body depends on the size of the nanoparticles. Compared to microencapsulation, nanoencapsulation has superior performance which can improve bioavailability, increase drug solubility, delay or control drug release and enhance active/passive targeting of bioactive agents to the sites of action. Encapsulation, either micro- or nanoencapsulation is employed for the conventional pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, biologics, or bioactive drugs from natural sources as well as for diagnostics such as biomarkers. The outcome of any encapsulation process depends on the technique employed and the encapsulating material. This chapter discusses in details (1) various physical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and physicochemical encapsulation techniques, (2) types and classifications of natural polymers (polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids) as safer, biocompatible and biodegradable encapsulating materials, and (3) the recent advances in using lipids for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Polysaccharides and proteins are covered in the second part of this chapter.


Government programs increasingly depend on volunteers to compensate for lagging fiscal support while engaging the citizenry in public service. However, the use of volunteers may raise important questions of accountability in the delivery of public services. We consider accountability in the use of volunteers in the special case of reserve police officers. Reserve officer management provides an especially valuable prism for understanding the larger issues of accountability in public organizations' use of volunteers. The mission of policing agencies requires special attention to citizen rights, the proper use of discretion, and agency accountability. Using Romzek and Dubnick's model of accountability relationships, we examine reserve officer use in selected jurisdictions in the western United States. We find that police departments vary greatly in the methods employed to ensure accountability for reserve officers and that existing legal standards offer a great deal of latitude to departments in the use of reserves. We argue that the inconsistent application of mechanisms to ensure accountability in public-sector volunteer venues such as reserve office programs offers no guarantee about whether these programs enhance the capacity of public organizations to deliver services.


A positive working environment is fundamental for reducing employee turnover, and increasing engagement and productivity. Technologies such as wearable sensors and video analysis of facial expressions can be used to objectively measure the emotional responses of employees in real-time in the workplace. The study aims were to perform a preliminary investigation into the validities of a wearable galvanic skin response (GSR) device to detect emotional arousal responses and video-based facial expression analysis (FEA) to measure emotional valence in desk-based healthcare employees in response to their own self-chosen personal pictures. Six office employees were presented with their own pictures (two positive, two negative) in a randomized order at one time point during their regular work shifts while wearing GSR sensors on the middle and index fingers of their non-dominant hand with their face in view of a webcam. The number of peaks per minute was estimated from the GSR data and used as the arousal metric. FEA was performed on the video data to determine the emotional valence for each stimulus. Russell's circumplex model of affect was used to determine participant's emotional responses to the personal pictures. The GSR device detected arousal responses to the stimuli, with agreement, precision, and recall values all $\gt96$%. Video-based FEA classified emotional valence with agreement, precision, and recall values $\lt57$%. Similarly, the circumplex model determined emotional affect with poor validity due to the poor validity of the FEA-derived valence metric. The study results suggest that the GSR device is capable of detecting emotional arousal for both positive and negative emotions in real-time in the workplace.


Abstract This study reports twin and triplet forms of Recent benthic foraminifera from the eastern Aegean Sea. We discuss new insights into the causes of abnormal morphologies, including possible anthropogenic influences. The twin and triplet forms, their morphologies and environmental characteristics are described with a view to aiding interpretation of the Recent and ancient palaeoenvironmental record.


The transitional years of college that a traditional student faces are full of change and adaptation; these years of emerging adulthood require learning how to balance new responsibilities. Although this new independence can be liberating, this transitional time has been found to be a stressful period of life (Kaddison & DiGeronimo, 2004). The purpose of this study is to examine longitudinal changes in percent body fat and experience of depressive symptomology throughout emerging adulthood. Research indicates that mental health can directly affect physical health (Faith, Butryn, Wadden, Fabricatore, Nguyen, & Heymsfield, 2011). The participants for this study consisted of 535(n=190 males, and n=345 females). The data indicated that although emerging adults in this sample showed symptoms of depression throughout college, their level of depression symptomology was more in line with sub-threshold depression rather than being diagnosed with depression. In regards to body fat, an average of 3.39 percent body fat was gained over the four years of college. When depression symptomology was used to predict changes in body fat significant results were not found. However, females' depression symptomology was a significant predictor of initial (freshman year) percent body fat. Therefore, with mental and physical health being so important in emerging adulthood research needs to continue to focus on these variables.


Virtual reality is increasingly used in rehabilitation and can provide additional motivation when working toward therapeutic goals. However, a particular problem for patients regards their ability to plan routes in unfamiliar environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore how visual cues, namely embedded context-sensitive attractors, can guide attention and walking direction in VR, for clinical walking interventions. This study was designed using a butterfly as the embedded context-sensitive attractor, to guide participant locomotion around the clinical figure of eight walk test, to limit the use of verbal instructions. We investigated the effect of varying the number of attractors for figure of eight path following, and whether there are any negative impacts on perceived autonomy or workload. A total of 24 participants took part in the study and completed six attractor conditions in a counterbalanced order. They also experienced a control VE (no attractors) at the beginning and end of the protocol. Each VE condition lasted a duration of 1 min and manipulated the number of attractors to either singular or multiple alongside, the placement of turning markers (virtual trees) used to represent the cones used in clinical settings for the figure of eight walk test. Results suggested that embedded context-sensitive attractors can be used to guide walking direction, following a figure of eight in VR without impacting perceived autonomy, and workload. However, there appears to be a saturation point, with regards to effectiveness of attractors. Too few objects in a VE may reduce feelings of intrinsic motivation, and too many objects in a VE may reduce the effectiveness of attractors for guiding individuals along a figure of eight path. We conclude by indicating future research directions, for attractors and their use as a guide for walking direction.


Qatar is experiencing rapid economic and population growth, which has resulted in new challenges. According to Qatar's national vision, sustainable development is one of the key factors to bridge the gap between current and future generations and includes a variety of development routes, including the development of both innovative technologies as well as cultural institutions. The deterioration of cultural heritage objects is one of the most critical problems for fields in the humanities and social sciences. Preserving cultural artifacts is crucial to understand the past of a nation as it provides us a unique window into the history and culture of that nation. The preservation and restoration of cultural heritage objects which are in danger of being lost from a variety of factors including environmental degradation adds to the overall value of the global human culture and keeps it alive for future generations. Our research focuses developing materials that can be used to support cultural institutions in Qatar while also supporting the development of innovative technologies. In addition to supporting the preservation and conservation of cultural institutions and their collections in Qatar, this research also opened doors to the development of cutting edge technology in Qatar with applications. Nanotechnology offers a cost-effective and nondestructive method to treat cultural heritage artifacts. We present the microwave-assisted synthesis and characterization of alkaline nanomaterials for the preservation of cultural heritage. Calcium and barium hydroxide nanomaterials suspended in aqueous as well as alcoholic medium were applied on different samples to check their effectiveness. The effect of treatment was measured using pH value and alkaline reserve test. The alkaline reserve test results indicate improvement in the alkaline buffer with significant reduction in acidity of the papers and improvement in pH value of the surfaces. Ethanol was found as best solvent on the basis of suspension of nanoparticles, pH value and ease of application through spray gun. Accelerated ageing test revealed that the reinforcement effect of these nanomaterials persisted throughout the ageing. All the results converged in individuating these nanometric particles as an innovative, completely compatible, and efficient material for the consolidation of old and new paper surfaces.


Down-looking ground-penetrating radar (DLGPR) has been used extensively for buried target detection. For operational implementations, the sensor is used in direct-detection mode, where algorithms process data while the system moves down roadways. Decisions are made before a system passes over the target. Change detection works by passing over an area before and after targets are buried. By comparing before-and-after data, change detection can improve DLGPR performance, but it also has inherent operational limitations. Performance enhancements include mitigating the effects of anomalies not associated with targets and increasing the detection probabilities of deeper targets through indirect means. In the latter case, deeply buried targets that do not appear in the GPR data can be indirectly detected using change detection methods if the patch of ground where the target is buried has been significantly modified from its original undisturbed state. In this paper, we explore decision-based change-detection approaches for enhancing the performance of a DLGPR system and enumerate the limitations of the approach.


Liquid crystalline materials with 5,5′-bis-(alkylpyridinyl)-2,2′-bithiophene structures with different positions of the nitrogen atoms in the aromatic core were synthesized, characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and, in some cases, by synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis and single crystal X-ray analysis. The molecular planarity and liquid crystalline (LC) behaviour of these materials are strongly influenced by the location of the nitrogens in the aromatic core, and LC behaviour is more complex than the mesomorphic behaviour of the known structurally related 5,5′-bis-(alkylphenyl)-2,2′-bithiophene LCs. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis of 5,5′-bis-(5-alkylpyridin-2-yl)-2,2′-bithiophenes 2 reveals that the aromatic core is nearly planar with s-cis conformation of the thiophene and pyridine rings and s-trans conformation of the thiophene rings of the central 2,2′-bithiophene unit. The length of the alkyl chains has a pronounced effect on the molecular planarity and the packing motifs. A preliminary study of the charge-transporting properties of 5,5′-bis-(5-alkylpyridin-2-yl)-2,2′-bithiophenes 2d and 2e with n-nonyl and n-decyl alkyl chains, respectively, by the time-of-flight technique shows that the hole mobility is temperature independent, electric field dependent and with a magnitude of ∼1.5 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 in the unidentified S2/Cr2 phase.


Microsensors are used in monitoring functions in several hazardous and non reachable places. At such places human intervention is impossible so battery replacement is impossible and hence nodes do not have access to unlimited energy. Thus, designing fault-tolerant wireless microsensor networks with long system lifetimes can be challenging. In order to prolong system lifetimes, energy-efficient algorithms and protocols should be used. So, in this paper we study the techniques which are used for low power consumption as these are necessary for system to achieve both flexibility and energy efficiency and maximize the lifetime. Energy is minimized through the use of highly dedicated computational fabrics and through careful conditioning of logic based on signal statistics and by using techniques like DVS, CIMS, and multihop communication.


Extracted from text ... EDITORIAL S Afr Psychiatry Rev 2005;8:41
South African Psychiatry Review - May 2005 41
Public deaths and the right to die
Terri Schiavo a former bulimia nervosa sufferer who languished
in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years is dead, so
too Pope John Paul II. Coverage of, and reaction to, the two
scenarios was prominent in the world media and watching either
one unfold both moving and fascinating. The anguished
family, outspoken politicians and clergymen who opposed
Terris Schiavo's death versus the husband and legal system
who supported it. The adoring, respectful masses who accepted
the death of ..


In 1965 the authors conducted an experiment in a public elementary school, telling teachers that certain children could be expected to be "growth spurters," based on the students' results on the Harvard Test of Inflected Acquisition. In point of fact, the test was nonexistent and those children designated as "spurters" were chosen at random. What Rosenthal and Jacobson hoped to determine by this experiment was the degree (if any) to which changes in teacher expectation produce changes in student achievement.


It is likely that looting by treasure hunters and grave robbers has destroyed thousands of sites in East Texas. In the last 5 to 10 years, the vandalism and looting of archeological sites by commercial looters on private, state, and federal property has reached epidemic proportions. Undisturbed Caddoan Indian habitation sites and cemeteries, thought to date from about 1200 to 200 years B.P., are very vulnerable to disturbance and destruction by commercial collectors and looters. These folks are. destroying forever irreplaceable evidence about Texas' cultural heritage. The looting and vandalism of Caddoan sites has been a persistent Texas problem since the early 1900s. In an illuminating October 1931 letter regarding the looting problems in Northeast Texas, Professor John R. Swanton of the Bureau of American Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, commented that "there seems to be no way to handle [the looters] except to salvage as much of the material as possible before they get to it.'t Professor J.E. Pearce of the University of Texas also noted in 1931 that unemployed geologists ...and farmers are digging up camp sites and burial places allover and selling the returns for whatever they can get...It is exceedingly discouraging. I am working as hard as I can with the funds at my disposal to salvage what I can of the situation.


Genome sequencing is one of the latest technologies to be introduced for use in clinical trials. It is often used in the practice of genomic medicine, with the objective of processing information about genes and markers to treat disease. Specifically, genomic medicine uses DNA and RNA platform sequencing technologies to analyze the human genome to detect diseases caused by gene mutations. In 2003, these genomic sequencing platforms (first- and secondgeneration sequencing technologies) made it possible to complete the Human Genome Sequencing Project, which identified approximatively 35,000 genes in sequences of more than 3 billion human DNA and RNA chemical bases. This paved the way for genomic medical practice, enabling researchers to carry out translational genomic clinical studies that have begun advancing the clinical trial process in multiple ways.


Abstract: Palaeoproterozoic (ca. 1.8 Ga) mafic and ultramafic dykes are widely distributed within the whole Sarmatian segment of the East-European craton. This paper focuses on new geochronological, geochemical and isotope data obtained for mafic and ultramafic dykes of the Ingul terrain. Geochronological data available for these dykes indicate ages around 1800 Ma. We provide a new U–Pb zircon age of 1810 ± 15 Ma obtained for a dolerite dyke in the Kirovograd area. Geochemical and petrographical data allow identification of three groups of dykes: (1) kimberlites, (2) high-Mg# subalkaline rocks (picrite, camptonite, subalkaline dolerite etc.) and (3) tholeiite dolerite. Rocks of these groups were probably derived from different sources. εNd1800 values of studied rocks vary from 0.7 to 2.8. The highest values were obtained for mantle xenoliths and their kimberlite host (εNd1800 = 2.5–2.8). Rb–Sr data yield a regression age of 1729 ± 20 Ma with an initial 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70366 ± 41 (MSWD = 10.8). The whole-rock lead isotope data scatter, but data for sub-groups of samples can tentatively be fitted to parallel 1.8 Ga isochrons. The geochemical data indicate rocks to have formed by partial melting and the degree of melting is thought to be a function of formation depth, the latter ranging from sub-lithospheric to lower-crustal levels; we assume that melting was caused by a mantle plume. Dyking in the Ingul terrain was closely associated in time and space with metasomatic albitites that host numerous economic U deposits.


Starting from the quantum statistical master equation derived in [1] we show how the connection to the semi-classical Boltzmann equation (SCBE) can be established and how irreversibility is is related to the problem of separability of quantum mechanics. Our principle goal is to find a sound theoretical basis for the description of the evolution of an electron gas in the intermediate regime between pure classical behavior and pure quantum behavior. We investigate the evolution of one-particle properties in a weakly interacting N-electron system confined to a finite spatial region in a near-equilibrium situation that is weakly coupled to a statistical environment. The equations for the reduced n-particle density matrices, with n < N are hierarchically coupled through two-particle interactions. In order to elucidate the role of this type of coupling and of the inter-particle correlations generated by the interaction, we examine first the particular situation where energy transfer between the N -electron system and the statistical environment is negligible, but where the system has a finite memory. We then formulate the general master equation that describes the evolution of the coarse grained one-particle density matrix of an interacting confined electron gas including energy transfer with one or more bath subsystems, which is called the quantum Boltzmann equation (QBE). The connection with phase space is established by expressing the oneparticle states in terms of the overcomplete basis of coherent states, which are localized in phase space. In this way we obtain the QBE in phase space. After performing an additional coarse-graining procedure in phase space, and assuming that the interaction of the electron gas and the bath subsystems is local in real space, we obtain the semi-classical Boltzmann equation. The validity range of the classical description, which introduces local dynamics in phase space is discussed.


Fluorescence diffuse optical tomography is a powerful tool for the investigation of molecular events in studies for new therapeutic developments. Here, the stress is put on the mathematical problem of tomography, which can be formulated in terms of an estimation of physical parameters appearing as a set of partial differential equations and solved by the finite element method. This method is well known to be time consuming, and our principal objective is to reduce the model in order to speed up computation. A method based on a wavelet multiresolution technique is presented in detail. A validation study was conducted on synthetic data and experiments.


Bentonite and illite were interacted with nonyland dodecylammonium salt solutions to see how the alkylammonium ions became attached and oriented within the interlamellar space of the clays. X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out to obtain information on the interlamellar organization and orientation of the adsorbed alkylammonium compounds. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG, DTG) and Fourier Transform Infrared Analyses (FTIR) were performed to characterize the samples and to determine the amounts adsorbed by the clay samples. The modification process was effective in nonyland dodecylammonium bentonites. Alkylammonium ions were adsorbed in the interlamellar space of the clays. Regarding the orientation of the alkylammonium ions between the silicate sheets, it was found that the organic cation alkylchains were parallel to the silicate layer. Intercalation was generally greater with DA ions.


Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most abundant environmental pharmaceutical contaminants. In this study, a proteomic analysis was conducted to identify proteins differentially expressed in gill tissue of zebrafish (Danio rerio) after a 14-day exposure to the NSAIDs ibuprofen or naproxen. A total of 104 proteins with altered expression as indicated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis were analyzed by liquid chromatography with ion trap mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A total of 14 proteins fulfilled our requirements for identification which included consistency among replicate gels as well as successful MS/MS ion searches with the MASCOT database. The most prominent feature of the differential protein expression observed after NSAID exposure was an up-regulation of proteins belonging to the globin family which are involved in the transport of oxygen from gills and availability of heme molecules required for synthesis of cyclooxygenase. Differential expression was observed at exposure concentrations as low as 1-10 µg/L indicating that altered gene expression may occur in fish subjected to environmentally realistic levels of NSAID exposure.


Copy number variants (CNVs) are submicroscopic deletions and duplications of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) segments, which can have a high impact on gene expression. Methods to explore CNVs include array comparative genomic hybridisation, single-nucleotide polymorphism microarrays and whole genome sequencing. Rare CNVs are strongly associated with neuropsychiatric diseases including autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and disruptions to some specific loci have been related to more than one disorder. The chromosome 22q11.21 deletion is so far the locus identified with the highest risk, 82% for any psychiatric disorder. De novo copy number events, those present in cases but not in their parents, also have a significant risk for any of these disorders, with an overall risk of 13% to develop a neuropsychiatric disorder if present anywhere in the genome.

Key Concepts:

Copy number variants are so far the most potent sources of genetic risk for neuropsychiatric disease.

Rare and de novo events are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Keywords:

copy number variants;
CNV;
mental disorders;
bipolar disorder;
schizophrenia;
autism


PACS already enjoys success in the healthcare marketplace and provides numerous benefits to institutions where it has been implemented. Now the focus is shifting from departmental to enterprise-wide systems. The enterprise is a different place, more intimidating than the safe confines of a radiology department. An enterprise network makes its way to many more locations; in some cases, to every location. Users are everywhere. Some have valid reasons to access imaging information, and others do not.


Counseling from a client-centered, person-first perspective involves walking with and experiencing relationship with another person. One person in this relationship happens to be in the counselor role, while the other is in the client role, but both are engaged in this relationship. An informed understanding of neuroscience principles can illuminate this approach to counseling and help counselors facilitate this experience with clients. Neuroscience can both complement and augment mental health counseling when used appropriately. Yet, as a result of tensions between biological and phenomenological perspectives, counselors may feel pulled into an all-or-nothing, either/or dichotomy. We believe this dichotomy is unnecessary. Although much of contemporary neuroscience research is grounded in a materialist worldview that, on the surface, can seem fundamentally at odds with the more humanistic elements of counseling, we offer a conciliatory perspective on incorporating neuroscience into mental health counseling that preserves both a human and a scientific ethos.


Based on morphological evidence, the systematic position of the genus Petro-spongium and its relationship with the genera Leathesia and Corynophlaea have long been disputed. In the present study, the position within the order Ectocarpales of the type species, Petrospongium berkeleyi (Grev. in Berk.) Nageli ex Kutz., has been investigated using molecular phylogenetic analysis based on rbcL and psaA sequences. Petrospongium berkeleyi and its Pacific vicariant P. rugosum appeared closely related and did not cluster with other members of the Chordariaceae, particularly the genera Leathesia and Corynophlaea, nor with any other currently recognised ectocarpalean family. The genus Petrospongium formed an independent monophyletic group which was a sister clade of the family Ectocarpaceae. The genera Ectocarpus and Petrospongium differ in their mode of thallus construction (filamentous thallus and pseudoparenchymatous cushion-like thallus, respectively), and in the type of plastids (ribbon-shape and discoid, respectively). These morphological differences agree with our phylogenetic analyses and lead us to propose the family Petrospongiaceae fam. nov. to accommodate the genus Petrospongium.


The history of universal jurisdiction over core international crimes has often been framed as story of rise and fall. NGO activism was regarded as a cause for both the rise and the fall; the rise culminated with the arrest of General Pinochet in 1998 and the fall came with the 'amputation' of the universal jurisdiction laws in Belgium in 2003 and Spain in 2009 and 2014. In this article the author offers an alternative view of this history. He argues that universal jurisdiction is not on the decline since the number of universal jurisdiction statutes and trials has increased and the number of universal jurisdiction complaints has not substantially decreased in recent years. Rather, the trajectory of universal jurisdiction can be understood as an ongoing competition between two conceptions of the role states in the universal jurisdiction regime. In the 'global enforcer' conception, states have a role in preventing and punishing core international crimes committed anywhere in the world, while in the 'no safe haven' conception, states should not be a refuge for participants in core international crimes. In recent years, the 'no safe haven' conception has made important inroads in legislation and prosecution of international crimes, but the 'global enforcer' conception is still present in the universal jurisdiction regime. Though NGOs prefer the 'global enforcer' conception, with its strong anti-impunity rationale, these organizations have (involuntarily) contributed to the advancement of the 'no safe haven' approach through their legalistic position and ambiguous rhetoric about universal jurisdiction.


Abstract The effects of steam sterilization (SS), methyl bromide (MeBr) fumigation and chloropicrin (CP) fumigation on soil N dynamics and microbial properties were evaluated in a pot experiment. All disinfection treatments increased the NH+ 4-N level and inhibited nitrification. The additional NH+ 4-N in the CP treatment probably originated from the decomposition of microbial debris by surviving microbes, while that in the SS treatment was attributable to deamination processes of soil organic N occurring in a less labile fraction in addition to the decomposition of microbial debris. The MeBr fumigation increased the level of NH+ 4-N without changing the soil microbial biomass. Based on the determinations of soil microbial biomass, substrate utilization activity (Biolog method) and microbial community structure (phospholipid fatty acid method), the effects of the MeBr, CP and SS treatments on the microbial community were compared. The MeBr fumigation had relatively mild and short-term effects on microbial biomass and activity, but altered the community structure drastically by promoting the growth of gram-positive bacteria. The CP fumigation had large and long-term impacts on microbial biomass and activity; the community structure remained unaffected except for the gram-negative bacteria. Steam sterilization had severe and persistent effects on all parameters. The severity of the effects decreased in the order SS ≥ CP > MeBr.