EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES TEACHERS USE IN THE URBAN MIDDLE GRADES MATHEMATICS CLASSROOM by Tammie R. Cravens The 21 st century mathematics classroom looks and operates differently than it did half a century ago. Not only are teachers expected to facilitate activities rather than lecture, they are also expected to utilize technology. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics established the technology principle to guide teachers into this practice in 2000. Today there are middle school mathematics teachers who use technology effectively in the classroom. However, there is a dearth of literature in this area on how they select and use technology. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand the process by which these teachers select and use technology in their classroom. Activity theory and teacher thinking process model provided a conceptual framework for this study. The guiding research questions are: (1) How do successful urban middle grades mathematics teachers, who use technology effectively, describe their teaching practices? (2) What are the strategies teachers use when integrating technology effectively in the classroom? Using a case study approach, the researcher collected data over 4 months from 3 urban middle school teachers – one on each grade level 6 th , 7 th , and 8 th . Data sources included lesson plans, semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations. Findings revealed that teachers consider the types of learners when deciding what technology is appropriate to use. Teachers also preview technology prior to using it in the classroom. Emerging themes were grouped in five categories to describe how teachers plan and implement technology effectively. They are preparation, engagement, assessment, communication, and evaluation. The research findings give strategies to support teacher's decisions about using technology for all types of learners and how to be effective in every phase of learning – whether it is introducing a lesson, remediating skills, or assessing knowledge. These findings also enable stakeholders to make informed decisions about technology in their school so that teachers will be able to elevate the quality of instruction with appropriate technology resources. Extended research should measure the impact that technology has on student learning. The likelihood of teachers using technology and using it more often would increase at a faster rate if there is evidence that the growth of student achievement occurs more rapidly when using technology. EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES TEACHERS USE IN THE URBAN MIDDLE GRADES MATHEMATICS CLASSROOM by Tammie R. Cravens


This thesis explores how Syl Cheney Coker's The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dunbar (1990), Ama Ata Aidoo's The Dilemma of a Ghost (1964), Ayi Kwei Armah's Fragments (1970), and Buchi Emecheta's The Slave Girl (1979) respond to the need to revisit and re-think the history of transatlantic slavery. The texts of these four contemporary West African authors provide symptomatic instantiations of the problematic of writing silence, and narrating a history whose archives are impossible to fully retrieve. By attending to the violence and silencing committed on the history of slavery, as well as the difficulty of writing, and narrating, history from the perspective of silence all the texts considered in this study perform acts of resistance against the forgetting enacted in and among their communities, and the silencing of colonial modernity, which has turned the history of transatlantic trade into a footnote. Although, all four authors come from different historical specificities and localities, and, thus, the ways they stage slavery in their narratives are informed by the local/historical urgencies they encounter in each contemporary political context, each, within their respective domain, provides powerful and influential examples of undoing historical silences and absences, not by imposing voices or presences, but by tracing the voids/gaps in the historical representation of slavery. The silent, but not silenced stories of the slave trade that these authors narrate in their attempts to speak to the history of slavery bring dis/order to the national and communal milieu, by unsettling a number of myths such as this of ethnic purity (Coker); of ideal "homes" for the diaspora (Aidoo); of national revolutions that putatively disrupt the colonial past (Armah); and of communal/national discourses that include the gendered racialised subaltern (Emecheta). These authors reveal the exclusionary practices of these myths, bearing witness to the fact that they proliferate at the expense of what they exclude. By bringing forth the excluded, the marginal, the "the othered" in place of the dominant, the central and "the same" they raise the impossible, and yet imperative, question of justice towards the "others". The study intends to introduce the work of these authors to the current resurgence of interest on the literary trajectories of the Black Atlantic that tend to focus on the narratives of diasporic writers dwarfing the voices that speak form within the African continent. As I argue, close, symptomatic, readings of their texts through the lens of slavery attest to the fact that its spectral presence is intertwined in the cultural and communal fabric, and is used to comment and rethink issues such as questions of belonging and ethnicity, the quandaries associated with the neo-colonial condition, the role of the intellectual, violence and gender issues. Following the complexities raised by each text, my chapters explore a number of concepts such as "diaspora", "ethnicity", "trauma", "memory", "violence", "the city", "subaltern agency" and "the body" that invite cross-disciplinary links between post-colonial studies and a number of fields such as history, geography, feminism, psychoanalysis, philosophy and political theory. One of the ambitions of this study is that these initial forays into a largely unexplored field will lead to further research in African representations of the history of slavery; at the same time, its larger goal is to provide the stepping stone for trans-Atlantic dialogues between African and diasporic writers, who will re-think the history of the Atlantic from the perspective of its spectres, from the perspective of the footnoted. "I have been to the dungeons to feed the ghosts; Was I scared? I fear more the silence of the living" Kwadwo Opoku Agyemang, Cape Coast Castle


How did business interests succeed in influencing the post-crisis financial sector reform agenda? The present article draws on a remarkable instance of lobbying success in the process of reforming the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD4-CRR), which regulates banking within the European Union. Business lobbyists from Germany, supported by representatives from other countries, obtained a more favourable regulatory treatment of bank lending to small- and medium-sized corporations (SMEs) compared to the stipulations of the internationally agreed upon Basel III framework. An in-depth study of the formation of this new so-called SME compromise shows that existing approaches, which either highlight the special role of business in shaping public policies or the constraining effects of increased political salience and the politicisation of an issue cannot account for the dynamics of business influence in the case in question. Whereas an inside evidence-based strategy of influence failed, lobbying was successful because business representatives actively increased the salience of the issue through an outside lobbying strategy.


This easy-to-use, fast-moving tutorial introduces you to functional programming with Haskell. You'll learn how to use Haskell in a variety of practical ways, from short scripts to large and demanding applications. Real World Haskell takes you through the basics of functional programming at a brisk pace, and then helps you increase your understanding of Haskell in real-world issues like I/O, performance, dealing with data, concurrency, and more as you move through each chapter. With this book, you will: Understand the differences between procedural and functional programming Learn the features of Haskell, and how to use it to develop useful programs Interact with filesystems, databases, and network services Write solid code with automated tests, code coverage, and error handling Harness the power of multicore systems via concurrent and parallel programming You'll find plenty of hands-on exercises, along with examples of real Haskell programs that you can modify, compile, and run. Whether or not you've used a functional language before, if you want to understand why Haskell is coming into its own as a practical language in so many major organizations, Real World Haskell is the best place to start.


Abstract Following an application from H.J. Heinz Supply Chain Europe B.V. submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of the Netherlands, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Nutrimune and immune defence against pathogens in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and upper respiratory tract (URT). The food Nutrimune (a pasteurised cow's skim milk fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74) which is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised. The Panel considers that immune defence against pathogens in GI tract and URT is a beneficial physiological effect. Two human intervention studies were submitted as being pertinent to the claim, which were evaluated by the Panel in the previous application. One human intervention study from which conclusions could be drawn showed an effect of Nutrimune on immune defence against pathogens in the GI tract and the URT. The post hoc re‐analysis of the two human studies combined does not address the methodological limitations of the second study raised in the previous opinion, i.e. that the study was not planned, designed, randomised and analysed as a multicentre study, and that the large disparity of subjects in the three centres was not duly justified. The results from one animal study could support an effect of Nutrimune on defence against pathogens in the GI tract. No evidence was provided for a plausible mechanism by which Nutrimune could exert the claimed effect in vivo in humans. The Panel concludes that the evidence provided is insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between the consumption of Nutrimune and immune defence against pathogens in the GI tract and URT.


The essay shows how De Andre, from the very beginning, bases his career as a singer-songwriter on the opposition to the alleged 'Italian song' model. Compared to the latter, lighter and more consumeristic, De Andre presents himself as a minstrel engaged in the choice of themes and attentive to the message. To distinguish himself, De Andre 'invents' his own personal medieval tradition, partly drawn from the French chansonniers , and partly founded on literary sources. At the same time, he succeeds in distinguishing himself from the nascent author song, above all, for its apparently more traditional use of the language, for the sought-after vocabulary, which is often far from being colloquial, and for the recourse to closed metric forms.


It has been hypothesized that effects of uncontrollable stress on serotonin receptor expression contribute to the etiology of stress‐related disorders like depression. While the serotonin‐2A receptors (5‐HT2AR) are thought to be important in this context, only few studies examined effects of stress on this receptor subtype. In this study, we therefore assessed acute and long‐term changes in 5HT2AR binding after social defeat stress in rats. Male Wistar rats were subjected to social defeat by placing them in the home cage of an aggressive, dominant Long Evans rat. Acute social defeat suppressed growth, but did not affect anxiety‐like behavior in an open field test. A positron emission tomography scan with the 5‐HT2AR tracer [11C]MDL 100907 1 day and 3 weeks after defeat did not show significant changes in receptor binding. To verify these results, [3H]MDL 100907 binding assays were performed in homogenates of prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which also did not indicate any changes in Bmax or Kd. These findings do not support the hypothesis that changes in 5‐HT2AR function are a vital mechanism through which uncontrollable stress contributes to stress‐related pathologies such as depression. It remains to be determined whether effects of stress on 5HT2AR binding depend on the nature of the stressor or on the characteristics of the rat strain. Synapse, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Doxorubicin–loaded polyethylene glycol (PEG)–modified lipoparticles with high doxorubicin entrapment has been developed. The preparation technique, characteristics, release profile, cell cytotoxicity, and cellular internalisation of the lipoparticles were evaluated. The PEG–modified lipoparticles prepared by ethanol injection extrusion (100 nm pore size) achieve a population of blank liposomes with a mean size of 125 ± 2.3 nm and a zeta potential of −12.4 ± 1.5 mV. The optimum doxorubicin–loaded lipoparticles system used doxorubicin nanoparticles as core interactions with a 20 : 1 ratio of core and lipid formula consisting of distearoyl phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/distearoyl phosphoethanolamine–PEG2000)/docosahexaenoic acid at a ratio of 44/36/5/15 and lipid (mg)/ethanol (ml)/water (ml) at a ratio of 25/1/9. The average particle size of the doxorubicin–loaded lipoparticles was 157.7 ± 5.6 nm with a zeta potential of +13.3 mV. Lipoparticle conformation was determined using transmission electron microscopy and field–emission scanning electron microscopy. The doxorubicin encapsulation efficiency was 75.6% for lipoparticles. In vitro release tests indicated that the 50% release time for the doxorubicin–loaded lipoparticles was 7.9 h. A Caco–2 cell model used for evaluating the cytotoxicity and cell uptake efficiency of the doxorubicin–loaded lipoparticles caused significantly less cellular cytotoxicity than doxorubicin solution (p <0.01) and was significantly taken up into cells within 60 min (p < 0.01).


Abstract From leaching experiments with metallic uranium-aluminium material test reactor fuel elements in repository-relevant MgCl2-rich salt brines, a Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide with chloride as interlayer anion was identified as a crystalline secondary phase component. In the present study, this Mg-Al-Cl-layered double hydroxide (Mg-Al-Cl-LDH) was synthesized and its ability to adsorb iodine was evaluated. The adsorption of I- was rapid, and equilibrium for an initial concentration of 4.25 × 10-5 mole/l was obtained within 48 h. Further results indicated that the adsorption isotherm for I- retention could be fitted to Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations. The values obtained indicate that iodine is adsorbed on Mg-Al-Cl-LDH by an anion- exchange process. The adsorption of I- was also studied as a function of pH. In the pH range between 3.5 and 8.5, the adsorption was independent of the pH. The effects of competiting anions were investigated using an MgCl2-solution instead of water, and indicate that chloride anions have a greater affinity towards the Mg-Al-Cl-layered double hydroxide than iodine.


Introduction. Most studies have described how the weight loss is when different treatments are compared (1-3), while others have also compared the weight loss by sex (4), or have taken into account psychosocial (5) and lifestyle (6, 7) variables. However, no studies have examined the interaction of different variables and the importance of them in the weight loss. Objective. Create a model to discriminate the range of weight loss, determining the importance of each variable. Methods. 89 overweight people (BMI: 25-29.9 kg?m-2), aged from 18 to 50 years, participated in the study. Four types of treatments were randomly assigned: strength training (S), endurance training (E), strength and endurance training (SE), and control group (C). All participants followed a 25% calorie restriction diet. Two multivariate discriminant models including the variables age, sex, height, daily energy expenditure (EE), type of treatment (T), caloric restriction (CR), initial body weight (BW), initial fat mass (FM), initial muscle mass (MM) and initial bone mineral density (BMD) were performed having into account two groups: the first and fourth quartile of the % of weight loss in the first model; the groups above and below the mean of the % of weight loss in the second model. The discriminant models were built using the inclusion method in SPSS allowing us to find a function that could predict the body weight loss range that an overweight person could achieve in a 6 months weight loss intervention.Results. The first discriminant analysis predicted that a combination of the studied variables would discriminate between the two ranges of body weight loss with 81.4% of correct classification. The discriminant function obtained was (Wilks? Lambda=0.475, p=0.003): Discriminant score=-18.266-(0.060xage)- (1.282xsex[0=female;1=male])+(14.701xheight)+(0.002xEE)- (0.006xT[1=S;2=E;3=SE;4=C])-(0.047xCR)- (0.558xBW)+(0.475xFM)+(0.398xMM)+(3.499xBMD) The second discriminant model obtained would discriminate between the two groups of body weight loss with 74.4% of correct classification. The discriminant function obtained was (Wilks? Lambda=0.725, p=0.005): Discriminant score=-5.021-(0.052xage)- (0.543xsex[0=female;1=male])+(3.530xheight)+(0.001xEE)- (0.493xT[1=S;2=E;3=SE;4=C])+(0.003xCR)- (0.365xBW)+(0.368xFM)+(0.296xMM)+(4.034xBMD) Conclusion. The first developed model could predict the percentage of weight loss in the following way: if the discriminant score is close to 1.051, the range of weight loss will be from 7.44 to -4.64% and if it is close to - 1.003, the range will be from -11.03 to -25,00% of the initial body weight. With the second model if the discriminant score is close to 0.623 the body weight loss will be above -7.93% and if it is close to -0.595 will be below - 7.93% of the initial body weight. References. 1. Brochu M, et al. Resistance training does not contribute to improving the metabolic profile after a 6-month weight loss program in overweight and obese postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Sep;94(9):3226-33. 2. Del Corral P, et al. Effect of dietary adherence with or without exercise on weight loss: a mechanistic approach to a global problem. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 May;94(5):1602-7. 3. Larson-Meyer DE, et al. Caloric Restriction with or without Exercise: The Fitness vs. Fatness Debate. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42(1):152-9. 4. Hagan RD, et al. The effects of aerobic conditioning and/or caloric restriction in overweight men and women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 1986;18(1):87-94. 5. Teixeira PJ, et al. Mediators of weight loss and weight loss maintenance in middle-aged women. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Apr;18(4):725-35. 6. Bautista-Castano I, et al. Variables predictive of adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations in the treatment of obesity and overweight, in a group of Spanish subjects. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 May;28(5):697-705.


On 4 October 2002, women who were moderate drinkers received good news: their risk of breast cancer was not raised, according to a report in the Lancet that was widely covered by the British media.1 The bad news was that smoking at an early age was now implicated as a risk factor for breast cancer. However, after they had enjoyed guilt-free drinks (without cigarettes) for only a few days, on 13 November the message was reversed: alcohol did increase the risk of breast cancer after all, but smoking was declared innocent.2 The press release proclaimed "Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer: the definitive answer." A reader was driven to complain in the letters page of the Guardian (14 November 2002): "So let me get this right—alcohol's no good anymore, and if you smoked within five years of getting your periods, that's bad news too. Oh no, that was a couple of weeks ago; smoking's okay now … Do things stop being bad for us if we just forget about them for a bit, do you think?"

This is a familiar story—so much so that in Bristol we set our medical students the exercise of examining the "health scare of the week" that appears each Friday, generally from a study reported in the BMJ or Lancet .w1

The widespread perception that epidemiological studies generate conflicting and often meaningless findingsw2 has received support from recent randomised controlled trials, which have failed to confirm even apparently robust findings from observational epidemiological studies. The most topical of these relates to hormone replacement therapy. In 1991 a meta-analysis of epidemiological results relating the use of hormone replacement therapy to the risk of coronary heart disease concluded that it halved the risk, and that the evidence was statistically robust (relative risk 0.50; 95% …


This study, based upon 528 laboratory examinations and 16 complete autopsies of NZB/Bl mice, deals with autoimmune manifestations (as shown by hypergammaglobulinemia, Coombs positive hemolytic anemia, and the occasional presence of lupus- and rheumatoid-like factors) and mainly with the pathology and the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis in these mice, a model system of membranous glomerulonephritis with spontaneous and insidious onset, progression through chronic stages, and almost certainly induced by immunological, and autoimmune, mechanisms. The earliest and lasting histological change was hyaline thickening of the capillary walls and adjacent intercapillary regions of the glomerular tufts, corresponding in location to polysaccharide-rich capillary basement membrane and mesangial materials. Distributed focally and diffusely in the glomerular tuft and eventually sparing no glomerulus, hyaline, granular, and fibrillar ("spongy fiber") materials produced narrowing of capillary lumens by concentric or eccentric encroachment upon them. In the later stages hyaline lobulation and sclerosis of the glomerular tufts occurred. Thus the lesions corresponded to those seen in human focal and diffuse membranous, chronic lobular, and lastly (intracapillary) sclerosing glomerulonephritis. In all instances of glomerulonephritis the glomerular tufts contained selective localizations of mouse immunoglobulins corresponding in distribution to that of the hyaline and (PAS-positive) polysaccharide-rich materials in the focal and diffuse membranous and lobular lesions and in amounts increasing with the severity of glomerular disease. The mouse immunoglobulins were extracted from frozen sections of glomerulonephritic kidneys and were then capable of recombination with glomerular tufts in sections of autologous or isologous glomerulonephritic kidneys from which in vivo localized immunoglobulins had been extracted. The pattern of recombination with glomerular tufts was similar to that of in invo localized immunoglobulins. The extracted immunoglobulins did not show affinity for mouse red cells (in the indirect Coombs test) nor for autologous or isologous cell nuclei (in the immunofluorescence test). The serum of mice with severe glomerulonephritis contained immunoglobulins with in vitro affinity for extracted autologous or isologous glomerular tufts. Thus circulating as well as localized antibodies were demonstrated. The immunogenic materials (autoantigens) may have been formed in the glomerular tufts or accumulated in them from some other source, such as the circulating plasma; however they corresponded in location to polysaccharide-rich capillary basement membrane and mesangial materials. The spleen was identified at the cellular level as the main site of formation of autoantibodies to red cells, as well as the main site of red cell destruction. Some evidence was brought forth suggesting that these autoantibodies were "heavy" or γM-globulins. More studies are in progress.


Editor's Note: Many years ago I attended a meeting at Stanford University where Steve Jobs did his first public demonstration of the NEXT computer. He amazed his audience by selecting a series of visual objects, each of which functioned like a part in a machine. By drawing lines between them on the screen, he made them function together as one machine where the functions integrated seamlessly. These were reusable objects designed to function in any context. The same principles are applied in Object Oriented (computer) Programming, which combines modules to create larger programs. Similar principles build custom learning experiences using Learning Objects. An alliance of Canadian Universities and government agencies pooled their resources to establish a network to share and combine Learning Objects from a variety of sources and further develop this technology. In the process, they resolved many learning, logistical, and legal problems and moved this technology forward by an order of magnitude. Principal goals include: nationwide interoperability, network of repositories, linked servers, repository software programs, national and international standards, digital rights management, business and management models, evaluation and feedback, dissemination of results, and bilingual access to all Canadians, particularly learners with disabilities. The defined tasks were sub-divided into nine work packages, each with a lead institution as package manager.


Today, organizations are beginning to realize the importance of using as much data as possible for decision-making in their strategy. The finding of relevant patterns in enormous amount of data requires automatic machine learning algorithms, among them, a popular option is the mixture-of-experts that allows to model data using a set of local experts. The problem of using typical learning algorithms over Big Data is the handling of these large datasets in primary memory. In this paper, we propose a methodology to learn a mixture-of-experts in a distributed way using PETUUM platform. Particularly, we propose to learn the parameters of mixture-of-experts by adapting the standard stochastic gradient descent in a distributed way. This methodology is applied to people detection with standard real datasets considering accuracy and precision metrics among other. The results show a consistent performance of mixture-of-experts models where the best number of experts varies according to the particular dataset. We also evidence the advantages of the distributed approach by showing the almost linear decreasing of average training time according to the number of processors. In a future work, we expect to apply this methodology to mixture-of-experts with embedded variable selection.


Introduction: Dysgraphia (disorder in dictation, disorder of written expression) is considered as one of common disorders among students, where there are different methods on how to cope with and treat it. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Neurofeedback (NFB) Training Method and Fernald's multi-sensory approach on students' dictation disorder in Rafsanjan city in 2015.Methods: Twenty six students (age 7-11 years), suffering from dysgraphia, were selected using convenience sampling method from those who referred to Rafsanjan's Javaneh Consultation Center and randomly divided into two groups, neurofeedback and Fernald. Initially, we conducted a dictation test (pretest) and Raven′s Progressive Matrices. The students that their dictations score were 50/100 or lower enrolled to study. In the NFB group, we applied 15 sessions of neurofeedback training in areas C3 and C4 to strengthen the SMR waves, whereas the second group received 15 sessions of training using Fernald's multi-sensory approach. Then, both groups were participated in a dictation test at the end of their training processes. Finally, data analyzed by using independent and paired t-test and Cohen′s effect size.Results: The mean score of dictation in NFB and Fernald groups were 34.2 ± 3.87 and 32.9 ± 4.66 respectively. The difference was not significance (P = 0.043). The mean scores of dictation in posttest in NFB and Fernald groups were higher than pretest. The difference was significance (P < 0.001). However, neurofeedback method showed a much more significant influence in mitigating this disorder as compared to Fernald approach.Conclusions: The results of our study indicated that each of both Fernald and neurofeedback training methods can be used to improve dictation performance among students suffered from dictation disorder, where depending upon students' circumstances and parents' choice, the process of selecting an appropriate method out of these methods can be proceeded.


This paper presents a system for facial animation retargeting that al- lows learning a high-quality mapping between motion capture data and arbitrary target characters. We address one of the main chal- lenges of existing example-based retargeting methods, the need for a large number of accurate training examples to define the corre- spondence between source and target expression spaces. We show that this number can be significantly reduced by leveraging the in- formation contained in unlabeled data, i.e. facial expressions in the source or target space without corresponding poses. In contrast to labeled samples that require time-consuming and error-prone manual character posing, unlabeled samples are easily obtained as frames of motion capture recordings or existing animations of the target character. Our system exploits this information by learning a shared latent space between motion capture and character param- eters in a semi-supervised manner. We show that this approach is resilient to noisy input and missing data and significantly improves retargeting accuracy. To demonstrate its applicability, we integrate our algorithm in a performance-driven facial animation system.


We consider a stochastic system where the communication between the controller and the actuator is triggered by a threshold-based rule. The communication is performed across an unreliable link that stochastically erases transmitted packets. To decrease the communication burden, and as a partial protection against dropped packets, the controller sends a sequence of control commands to the actuator in each packet. These commands are stored in a buffer and applied sequentially until the next control packet arrives. In this context, we study dead-beat control laws and compute the expected linear-quadratic loss of the closed-loop system for any given event-threshold. Furthermore, we provide analytical expressions that quantify the trade-off between the communication cost and the control performance of event-triggered control systems. Numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.


Shaken Baby Syndrome refers to the violent and repetitive shaking of an infant, and is a form of abusive head trauma. It was first described in 1974, and has since been the topic of intensive study and discussion. The syndrome has classically been diagnosed with a triad of injuries, namely subdural haemorrhage, retinal haemorrhage and encephalopathy (brain abnormalities). However, recent publications have led to some doubt regarding the causation and diagnostic significance of the triad. It is now generally accepted that other conditions, even natural diseases, may cause the findings listed in the so-called "triad". To date, no reported case law is available on Shaken Baby Syndrome in South Africa; therefore this article focuses on cases in the United States and United Kingdom to delineate some of the issues associated with litigating the condition. This includes the obligation of expert witnesses to give independent, factual evidence about their areas of expertise. It is recommended that medical and legal professionals involved in cases of alleged child abuse should collect as much information as possible about the context of the case. Confessions by parents or caregivers should be treated with circumspection. Awareness campaigns should be aimed at informing the public of the dangers of shaking an infant. And with regards to Shaken Baby Syndrome an increased focus on evidence-based medicine is necessary to dissipate the uncertainty around the condition.


Background Female pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition that often leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and may require surgical intervention to alleviate those symptoms. However, tThe relationship between LUTS and pelvic organ descent however, remains unclear. The aim of this paper is to determine the correlation between LUTS and POP and changes after POP repair. Methods We retrospectively review female patients who attended our tertiary high- volume centre center for LUTS and POP, and underwent integral pelvic floor reconstruction. Results An overall of 256 patients presented with POP and LUTS and underwent POP repair. Most of 50% of patients reported two or more symptoms and only 4.2% were asymptomatic for LUTS. 189/256 (73.8%) patients had voiding symptoms and 39 a urodynamic detrusor overactivity. Thirteen suffered from hydronephrosis. 148/256 (57.8%) showed a stress urinary incontinence. All the patients underwent POP repair with or without contemporary anti- incontinence procedure. Conclusions Urologists and gynaecologists should recognisebe aware of the high frequency of the POP and LUTS association of POP and LUTS. POP repair my restore a normal situation but symptoms may last after the surgery or develop "de novo."


This study was designed to measure the O2 uptake (VO2) of cyclists while they rode outdoors at speeds from 32 to 40 km/h. Regression analyses of data from 92 trials using the same wheels, tires, and tire pressure with the cyclists riding in their preferred gear and in an aerodynamic position indicated the best equation (r = 0.84) to estimate VO2 in liters per minute VO2 = -4.50 + 0.17 rider speed + 0.052 wind speed + 0.022 rider weight where rider and wind speed are expressed in kilometers per hour and rider weight in kilograms. Following another rider closely, i.e., drafting, at 32 km/h reduced VO2 by 18 +/- 11%; the benefit of drafting a single rider at 37 and 40 km/h was greater (27 +/- 8%) than that at 32 km/h. Drafting one, two, or four riders in a line at 40 km/h resulted in the same reduction in VO2 (27 +/- 7%). Riding at 40 km/h at the back of a group of eight riders reduced VO2 by significantly more (39 +/- 6%) than drafting one, two, or four riders in a line; drafting a vehicle at 40 km/h resulted in the greatest decrease in VO2 (62 +/- 6%). VO2 was also 7 +/- 4% lower when the cyclists were riding an aerodynamic bicycle. An aerodynamic set of wheels with a reduced number of spokes and one set of disk wheels were the only wheels to reduce VO2 significantly while the cyclists were riding a conventional racing bicycle at 40 km/h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Crown dimensions are correlated to growth of other parts of a tree and often used as predictors in growth models. The crown-to-bole diameter ratio (CDBDR), which is a ratio of maximum crown width to diameter at breast height (DBH), was modelled using data from permanent sample plots located on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands in different parts of the Czech Republic. Among various tree and stand-level measures evaluated, DBH, height to crown base (HCB), dominant height (HDOM), basal area of trees larger in diameter than a subject tree (BAL), basal area proportion of the species of interest (BAPOR), and Hegyi's competition index (CI) were found to be significant predictors in the CDBDR model. Random effects were included using the mixed-effects modelling to describe sample plot-level variation. For each species, the mixed-effects model described a larger part of the variation of the CDBDR than nonlinear ordinary least squares model with no trend in the residuals. The spatially explicit mixed-effects model showed more attractive fit statistics [conditional R2 ≈ 0.73 (spruce), 0.78 (beech)] than its spatially inexplicit counterpart [conditional R2 ≈ 0.71 (spruce), 0.76 (beech)]. The model showed that CDBDR increased with increasing HDOM – a measure that combines the stand development stage and site quality – but decreased with increasing HCB and competition (increasing BAL and CI), and decreasing proportions of the species of interest (increasing BAPOR). For both species, the spatially explicit mixed-effects model should be a preferred choice for a precise prediction of the CDBDR. The CDBDR model will have various management implications such as determination of spacing, stand basal area, stocking, and planning of appropriate species mixture.


Picasso Black and White examines the artist's lifelong exploration of a black and white leitmotiv through some 110 paintings and a selection of sculptures and works on paper. Picasso continued the tradition of engaging the color black that had been employed throughout a centuries-long history of Spanish painting by fellow artists Jose de Ribera, Diego Velazquez, Francisco de Zurbaran, and Francisco de Goya. Moreover, he made highly effective use of isolated black, white, and gray hues in a nod to monochromatic grisaille painting and to drawing, line, and form. As this volume attests, the recurrent motif of black and white appears throughout Picasso's oeuvre, including his blue and rose periods, his investigations into Cubism and Surrealism, his interpretations of historical subject studies for his celebrated painting Guernica, World War II, and an homage to old masters, as well as the powerful paintings of his last years. Featuring reproductions of more than 150 works, this book examines the extraordinary complexity and power of these expressive artworks, which purge color in order to highlight their formal structure. Including essays by leading Picasso scholars, this book is a unique and coherent perspective on one of the world's most innovative and influential artists.


We demonstrate that a synchronously pumped In0.53Ga0.47As/InP multiple-quantum-well surface-emitting laser in an external cavity can produce 36-ps pulses with a high average power of 260 mW and a broad spectral width of 18 nm. The output pulses are strongly upchirped and could be shortened to 153 fs with peak powers exceeding 1 kW by chirp compensation with a diffraction grating pair.


Human monitoring as a supplement to or replacement for environmental monitoring of toxic substances in the workplace has become an increasingly important issue within the last decade, leading to Congressional hearings, governmental studies, and scientific conferences around the world. Just as the purposes for undertaking human monitoring are diverse and sometimes conflicting, so too are the concerns-- medical, legal, and ethical-- such testing has generated. The authors begin by providing precise characterizations of the types of monitoring now in use and a clear account of the legal basis for OSHA monitoring requirements. They then turn to scientific and technical concerns that have evolved around monitoring, including the frequency and timing of examinations, human variability, and the distinctions that exist between high-risk and sensitive groups. Specific legal and ethical problems of conducting monitoring tests on workers are then covered in full, including the consequences for the worker of medical removal from the workplace, the conflict between human monitoring and personal privacy, access to medical records, and the use and possible misuse of test results. The volume concludes with policy recommendations for the use of human monitoring, recommendations for the use of human monitoring, recommendations that would achieve the goal of reducing occupational disease and injury while remaining within the bounds of a supportable ethical framework.


Offspring size determines offspring survival rates; thus, understanding factors influencing offspring size variability could elucidate variation in population dynamics. Offspring size variation is influenced through multigenerational adaptation to local environments and within-lifetime plastic responses to environmental variability and maternal effects among individuals. Moreover, offspring size variation may represent trade-offs in energy allocation within individuals that influence lifetime reproductive success. However, the mechanisms whereby environmental conditions influence offspring size, e.g., via inducing adaptive and plastic variation in population-scale maternal effects, remain poorly understood. We evaluated intra-specific variation in maternal effects, egg size, and intra-individual egg size variation in six populations of walleye (Sander vitreus) and related among- and within-population patterns to thermal conditions. Egg size was conserved within populations and negatively related to long-term thermal conditions among populations, while maternal effect strengths were positively related to thermal conditions, suggesting that populations inhabiting warmer environments adapted to produce smaller eggs but stronger maternal effects. Within a population, egg size was positively related to colder winters, suggesting cold winters may alter egg size through effects on maternal condition or as an adaptive maternal effect to improve offspring survival. Intra-individual egg size variation varied little among populations or with female size, but declined with increasing summer and decreasing winter temperatures. Our result suggests that environmental conditions could impact not only short-term offspring production but also spur adaptive changes in offspring phenotypes. Thus, it is necessary to account for adaptive responses to predict population dynamics under environmental changes.


A signed graph is a graph whose edges are given $\pm 1$ weights. In such a graph, the sign of a cycle is the product of the signs of its edges. A signed graph is called balanced if its adjacency matrix is similar to the adjacency matrix of an unsigned graph via conjugation by a diagonal $\pm 1$ matrix. For a signed graph $\Sigma$ on $n$ vertices, its exterior $k$th power, where $k=1,\ldots,n-1$, is a graph $\bigwedge^{k} \Sigma$ whose adjacency matrix is given by \[ A(\mbox{$\bigwedge^{k} \Sigma$}) = P_{\wedge}^{\dagger} A(\Sigma^{\Box k}) P_{\wedge}, \] where $P_{\wedge}$ is the projector onto the anti-symmetric subspace of the $k$-fold tensor product space $(\mathbb{C}^{n})^{\otimes k}$ and $\Sigma^{\Box k}$ is the $k$-fold Cartesian product of $\Sigma$ with itself. The exterior power creates a signed graph from any graph, even unsigned. We prove sufficient and necessary conditions so that $\bigwedge^{k} \Sigma$ is balanced. For $k=1,\ldots,n-2$, the condition is that either $\Sigma$ is a signed path or $\Sigma$ is a signed cycle that is balanced for odd $k$ or is unbalanced for even $k$; for $k=n-1$, the condition is that each even cycle in $\Sigma$ is positive and each odd cycle in $\Sigma$ is negative.


The essential need to maintain roadway structures makes encountering work zones an inevitable part of today's driving. The corresponding changes in traffic dynamics directly affect the drivers' mobility and safety. Accordingly, a closer look into driver's interaction with work zones' geometrics and activity features may be helpful. The overall objective of this study is to examine the longitudinal characteristics of driver behavior in different work zone conditions. Based on existing literature, the variables defining these work zone conditions were specified as the work zone length, the barrier type and the level of activity. Eight different scenarios were designed by changing these three variables in a driving simulator and 40 trajectory data sets were recorded. Using a genetic algorithm, these data sets were used to calibrate a prospect theory-based acceleration model. The calibrated parameter values helped quantify the driver's perception of the surrounding environment, his/her risk-attitudes and the corresponding judgment process.


Ternary Ni-W-P films were produced by electroless deposition using baths with different tungsten concentrations. After deposition, the coated surfaces were annealed at 400°C for 1h. Surface morphology and film composition in the as-plated condition were assessed by SEM and EDS analyses, respectively. The crystalline phases after annealing were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Nanoindentation tests were performed to assess the mechanical properties of the deposited films. Surface roughness was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Friction coefficient was evaluated by reciprocating were tests in a nanotribometer. The corrosion behavior was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization curves. The results showed that the surface morphology, crystallization behavior and corrosion resistance were affected by the tungsten content in the film. The best corrosion performance was obtained for the ternary films after annealing. Hardness, surface roughness and friction coefficient were dependent of the tungsten concentration in the film.


There is a small but important deviation in sheet metal bending between the component angle and tool angle after unloading because of springback, i.e. elastic deformation. Since springback is unavoidable, the precision and reliability of products and subsequent assembly operations are severely affected. As a result of this lack of robustness intelligent technologies have received much attention in a wide range of metalforming applications. Developments in faster computation techniques have made artificial neural networks (ANNs) and genetic algorithms (GA), very popular choices in modelling of sophisticated phenomenon. The present work, in order to construct the estimation model of springback, intends to integrate ANN with a hybrid genetic algorithm-back propagation (GA-BP) training method to determine appropriately the weights of neural network, making up for the defects of back propagation (BP) algorithm. In this paper, based on the available Experiments, three automotive body alloys using a range of die radius, friction coefficients and controlled tensile forces in a draw-bend process are considered. By using the developed estimation model further study on the relation of springback and various process parameters are carried


Java generic types allow a programmer to create parameterized data structures and methods. For instance, a generic Stack type may be used for integers in one instance and for strings in another. Java compiler guarantees in this case that integers and strings are not mixed in the same stack. We study runtime efficiency of a certain inheritance pattern related to Java generic types: narrowing of a type bound. This pattern takes place when a generic type allows a more restricted type of elements than its supertype. We examine a slowdown caused by this pattern for some method calls and study the reasons for it. Knowing cases when the slowdown takes place and the reasons for it would allow software developers to make informed choices when using generic types in their programs.


The graph isomorphism problem has received a great deal of attention on both theoretical and practical fronts. However, a polynomial algorithm for the problem has yet to be found. Even so, the best of the existing algorithms perform well in practice; so well that it is challenging to find hard instances for them.
The most efficient algorithms, for determining if a pair of graphs are isomorphic, are based on the individualization-refinement paradigm, pioneered by Brendan McKay in 1981 with his algorithm nauty. Nauty and various improved descendants of nauty, such as bliss and saucy, solve the graph isomorphism problem by determining a canonical representative for each of the graphs. The graphs are isomorphic if and only if their canonical representatives are identical. These algorithms also detect the symmetries in a graph which are used to speed up the search for the canonical representative—an approach that performs well in practice. Yet, several families of graphs have been shown to exist which are hard for nauty-like algorithms. This dissertation investigates why these graph families pose difficulty for individualization-refinement algorithms and proposes several techniques for circumventing these limitations.
The first technique we propose addresses a fundamental problem pointed out by Miyazaki in 1993. He constructed a family of colored graphs which require exponential time for nauty (and nauty's improved descendants). We analyze Miyazaki's construction to determine the source of difficulty and identify a solution. We modify the base individualization-refinement algorithm by exploiting the symmetries discovered in a graph to guide the search for its canonical representative. This is accomplished with the help of a novel data structure called a guide tree. As a consequence, colored Miyazaki graphs are processed in polynomial time—thus obviating the only known exponential upper-bound on individualization-refinement algorithms (which has stood for the last 16 years).
The preceding technique can only help if a graph has enough symmetry to exploit. It cannot be used for another family of hard graphs that have a high degree of regularity, but possess few actual symmetries. To handle these instances, we introduce an adaptive refinement method which utilizes the guide-tree data structure of the preceding technique to use a stronger vertex-invariant, but only when needed. We show that adaptive refinement is very effective, and it can result in dramatic speedups.
We then present a third technique ideally suited for large graphs with a preponderance of sparse symmetries. A method was devised by Darga et al. for dealing with these large and highly symmetric graphs, which can reduce runtime by an order of magnitude. We explain the method and show how to incorporate it into our algorithm.
Finally, we develop and implement a parallel algorithm for detecting the symmetries in, and finding a canonical representative of a graph. Our novel parallel algorithm divides the search for the symmetries and canonical representative among each processor, allowing for a high degree of scalability. The parallel algorithm is benchmarked on the hardest problem instances, and shown to be effective in subdividing the search space.


As the first education and training organisation to be recognised with an Australian Business Excellence Award in the Award's 16 year history, the University of Wollongong (UOW) Library has demonstrated how the principles of quality and excellence can readily be translated to the library and information sector. The Australian Quality Council's (AQC) Framework was selected in 1994 as the Library's change management framework. Now known as the Australian Business Excellence Framework (ABEF), it provides a structured and integrated management system describing the essential features, characteristics and approaches of organisational systems essential to sustainable and excellent performance. The ABEF criteria provide organisations with a comprehensive list of inter-connected criteria and descriptors against which to evaluate their strategies, processes and systems. These include the quality and continuous improvement of services and resources and provide the basis for both internal and external review and assessment as well as benchmarking of processes and outcomes. Results from such evaluations can be a powerful catalyst for a change agenda, as the assessment process provides evidence of what needs to be improved at all levels of the organisation. Addressing the opportunities for improvement can introduce new vitality and innovation in the development, management and delivery of quality services and resources to clients. The quality of provided services, therefore, is dependent on continuous learning, implementation of performance measures and a readiness to adopt a range of evaluation strategies. Over the past decade the approaches implemented by UOW Library have been recognised by accrediting and evaluation bodies as good, and in some instances, best practice. Examples include: developing client feedback systems, promoting commitment to excellence through a Client Service Charter and Service Standards, implementing comprehensive staff training and development programs, formulation of Service Level Agreements with suppliers, evaluating services through a 'Mystery Shopper' program. The adoption of the ABEF and other standards has been critical in achieving Library goals including future sustainability and recognition on the quality of Library services. This is evidenced by a range of performance indicators as well as improved clarity of goals and purpose; active involvement and participation of staff at all levels in achieving the mission of the organisation; devolved problem-solving; innovative services and programs; increased client and stakeholder satisfaction with Library services; and a collective responsibility and passion for ongoing success. Publication Details This conference paper was originally published as Jantti, MH, Quality, Service, Excellence: a decade of quality, in European Association for Health Information Libraries Workshop, Implementation of Quality Systems and Certification of Biomedical Libraries, Palermo, Sicily, 23-25 June 2005. This conference paper is available at Research Online: http://ro.uow.edu.au/asdpapers/20


Background: Edifenphos, a kind of organophosphate toxins, is used as agricultural fungicides in rice fields. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of temperature on lethal concentration of exposure to edifenphos on Rutilus frisii kutum (Caspian kutum). Methods: The experiment was carried out in static condition and based on instructions of OECD within 10 d under controlled water physicochemical factors. Dissolved oxygen was fixed on 7-7.5 ppm, pH: 7 to 7.5 and hardness: 200 ppm. Fish were acclimatized in 70*40*30 cm aquarium for 10 d before the test. Treated aquariums with concentrations of 0.01, 0.05, 2, 4, 8, 16 ppm of edifenphos with one control group (no toxic concentration), were performed. In order to test the effect of temperature on acute toxicity, three ranges of 15±1, 20±1 and 25±1 oC were treated and LC1, LC10, LC30, LC50, LC70, LC90 and LC99 were calculated for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The study was carried out in Laboratory of Aquaculture and Fisheries, University of Tehran in 2016. Results: LC50 value in 25 oC was lower than 20 and 15 oC. LC50 96h edifenphos for Caspian kutum in 15±1, 20±1 and 25±1 oC was 3.70, 3.61 and 3.26, respectively. Conclusion: Higher temperature increase toxicity rate of edifenphos and the toxin had a positive temperature coefficient on Caspian kutum.


Total mouse testis RNA directs the synthesis of the sperm-specific C subunit of lactate dehydrogenase-X (LDH-X) when translated in a cell- free system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. The newly synthesized C subunits were isolated by immunoprecipitation with antibody specific for this isozyme, and quantitated by electrophoresis on SDS polyacrylamide gels. The amount of radioactivity incorporated into the enzyme subunit was directly proportional to the amount of testis RNA added to the translational system, thereby providing a sensitive and reliable method for assessing relative LDH-X mRNA activity. A combination of sucrose gradient centrifugation and oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography resulted in a 23-fold purification of LDH-X mRNA over total cytoplasmic testis RNA. Analysis of LDH-X mRNA activity in the developing testis indicated that the appearance of functional LDH-X mRNA activity coincides with the appearance of LDH-X catalytic activity at 14 d postpartum. Measurement of LDH-X mRNA levels in separated testis cell populations prepared by centrifugal elutriation demonstrated that LDH-X mRNA represents 0.17-0.18% of the total functional mRNA activity in fractions enriched in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, but only 0.09-0.10% of the translation products of elongated spermatids.


Background. The high risk of suicide in bipolar disorder is well recognized, but may have been overestimated. There is conflicting evidence about deaths from other causes and little known about risk factors for suicide. We aimed to estimate suicide and mortality rates in a cohort of bipolar patients and to identify risk factors for suicide. Method. All patients who presented for the first time with a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I disorder in a defined area of southeast London over a 35-year period (1965–1999) were identified. Mortality rates were compared with those of the 1991 England and Wales population, indirectly standardized for age and gender. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test potential risk factors for suicide. Results. Of the 239 patients in the cohort, 235 (98·3%) were traced. Forty-two died during the 4422 person-years of follow-up, eight from suicide. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for suicide was 9·77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4·22–19·24], which, although significantly elevated compared to the general population, represented a lower case fatality than expected from previous literature. Deaths from all other causes were not excessive for the age groups studied in this cohort. Alcohol abuse [hazard ratio (HR) 6·81, 95% CI 1·69–27·36, p=0·007] and deterioration from pre-morbid level of functioning up to a year after onset (HR 5·20, 95% CI 1·24–21·89, p=0·024) were associated with increased risk of suicide. Conclusions. Suicide is significantly increased in unselected bipolar patients but actual case fatality is not as high as previously claimed. A history of alcohol abuse and deterioration in function predict suicide in bipolar disorder.


This thesis critically explores how changing work and employment institutions have brought about challenges for workers, companies and Education and Training institutions in Mauritius. The study uses a historical institutionalist approach as well as additional concepts to examine how Work and Employment as well as Education and Training institutions of Mauritius, have adjusted to contemporary economic conditions. Recently, Mauritius, a former French and British colony, has diversified its economy and launched its Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. The sector has developed in parallel with the government's endeavour to turn Mauritius into a knowledge economy over time. In order to facilitate the setting up of numerous multinational companies, the country has adopted more flexible employment legislation. As a result, companies have been able to take advantage of the island-nation's cheap, multi-lingual and youthful labour market. The thesis identifies challenges that have been triggered by the requirement for new skill capacities, and further challenges in the form of risks experienced by young Mauritian workers in their employment relationships. Through a qualitative empirical approach, 75 semi-structured interviews were undertaken with workers, managers, educationists and experts in Mauritius. The study argues that current and forthcoming Education and Training (E&T) Policies face several tensions that the Mauritian government did not anticipate and cannot adequately deal with. Findings show disparities between employers' expectations of workers' level of employability and skill capacities on the one hand and actual skill capacities on the other. Tensions also lie between the government and private employers in regard to who is to provide which form of training. Further contradictions are found in the government's one-sided efforts towards building a 'high-skill' workforce while new pillars of the economy, here illustrated by the BPO sector, can be comparatively lowskill. Considering the absence of union organisation and the generally low level of agency among workers, these tensions can have damaging impact upon young Mauritian workers at work and beyond. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of considering context-specificity in the formulation of E& T policies. It suggests that there is much scope for institutional change in which education systems and policies can be more carefully designed to address new economic and social needs in Mauritius.


Coupled visualizations and interactions in 2D and 3D represent a large part of the work in many visualization projects. By using the ELM architecture, these interactions are approachable, structured, composable and easy to test. ELM-style web applications are currently gaining importance and have already established themselves in web-development. In this paper, we implement a ranking view using this architecture. Aardvark.Media is a functional programming interface to synchronize data and its visual representations while providing high-performance rendering. Based on the ranking view we demonstrate the power of an incremental rendering system. The incremental rendering system enables us to achieve drastic reductions in the creation of the complex 2D user interface.


The photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris is an extremely adaptable bug that can survive by producing energy through photosynthesis, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, or fermentation. Now studies of bacteriophytochrome photoreceptor proteins (BphPs) by Vuillet et al. appear to show an example of evolution in action in which different strains of Rps. palustris use a nearly identical protein for either light or redox sensing. The BphPs get their light-sensing ability from a chromophore that is covalently linked to the protein through a Cys residue. Indeed, the product of the RpBphP4 protein can sense light and activates histidine kinase activity of the protein, which is coupled to a two-component regulatory system. However, most strains of Rps. palustris express a RpBphP4 protein that lacks the critical Cys where the chromophore would be linked. Instead, the authors show that the achromo-RpBphP4 protein is sensitive to changes in redox state. The strains that express achromo-RpBphP4 can respond to low oxygen tension, through the two-component system, to regulate synthesis of a set of light-harvesting complexes. This is the same response produced when specific wavelengths of light are detected in strains expressing the chromo-RpBphP4 protein. Thus, the authors propose that the system appears to display an example of evolution of the nature of signal perception by a histidine kinase sensor protein that may enhance the adaptability of the species to rapid changes in its environment. L. Vuillet, M. Kojadinovic, S. Zappa, M. Jaubert, J.-M. Adriano, J. Fardoux, L. Hannibal, D. Pignol, A. Verméglio, E. Giraud, Evolution of a bacteriophytochrome from light to redox sensor. EMBO J. 26, 3322-3331 (2007). [PubMed]


Equivalence was a key word in the linguistics-based translation theories of the 1960s and 1970s, although its basic mode of thought may be traced back to Cicero and later to the Renaissance theories that began to presuppose languages of equal status. Close inspection reveals that some theories assume pre-existing equivalents and are thus concerned with a search for "natural" equivalence. Other theories allow that translators actively create equivalents, and are thus concerned with "directional" equivalence. The first kind of equivalence is concerned with what languages ideally do prior to translation; the other deals with what they can do. These two approaches are often intertwined, giving rise to many misunderstandings and unfair criticisms of the underlying concept. The historical undoing of the equivalence paradigm came when the directional use of the term allowed that equivalence need be no more a belief or expectation at the moment of reception, which need not be substantiated on the level of linguistic forms. At the same time, source texts became less stable and languages have been returning to more visibly hierarchical relations, further undermining the concept. Contemporary localization projects may nevertheless fruitfully be interrogated from the perspective of natural and directional equivalence, since the presumptions are being used by contemporary technology precisely at the moment when the terms themselves have been dropped from critical and exploratory metalanguage.


Solar and radio frequency harvesters serve as a viable alternative energy source to batteries in many cases where the battery cannot be easily replaced. However, energy harvesters do not consistently produce enough energy to sustain an energy consumer; thus, both the energy availability and execution of the energy-consuming process are intermittent. By simulating intermittent systems with large-scale energy demands using specifically-designed circuit models, the harvested voltage and other parameters such as the voltages across the capacitor and the load were determined. We plotted these data, for both harvested solar and harvested radio frequency energy, to make probability plots depicting the likelihood that energy will be available now given that N number of energy events have occurred. Additionally, we designated a metric as the η-factor, which was calculated from these probability plots for the solar and radio frequency data to quantify the reliability of the power source. The η-factor for harvested solar energy was statistically significantly higher than the η-factor for harvested radio frequency energy, meaning harvested solar energy was more consistently available than harvested radio frequency energy. Finally, we collected data to determine the effects on the output voltage of various obstacles between the radio frequency transmitter and receiver. We found that obstacles like metal and people caused a more pronounced drop in the amount of energy harvested when compared to other obstacles like foam or wood. Quantifying the reliability of different harvested sources would help in identifying the most practical and efficient forms of renewable energy; determining which obstacles cause the most obstruction to a signal can aid in the strategic placement of harvesters for maximum energy efficiency.


In this paper we discuss the use of Photostories, a participatory visual research method to explore information practices of marginalized and vulnerable communities. Photostories is a method at the intersection of participatory and non-participatory visual methods, drawing from both Photovoice and Photo Elicitation. Photovoice uses participatory photography to empower participants as part of a research process, and Photo Elicitation inserts images into the process of conducting interviews. Though sometimes used interchangeably, Photovoice and Photo Elicitation are different: Photovoice draws from the power of participatory methods to empower participants and their communities through participatory creation of images. Photo Elicitation draws from the power of using images to elicit conversation and meaning as part of the interview process. Our proposed method, Photostories, builds on the power of participatory photography with participant-generated images as part of the research process and the power of Photo Elicitation techniques that introduce images into the research interview for added insight, perspective and depth. By combining these methods, Photostories offers novel insight and meaning that is hard to obtain using only images or only interviews. We describe our uses of Photostories in Library and Information Science (LIS), where visual methods are not widely used, and invite other researchers to use Photostories and other visual research methods in LIS.


This essay examines three African-American feminist texts—Elizabeth Alexander's "The Venus Hottentot," Barbara Chase-Riboud's Hottentot Venus, and Suzan-Lori Parks's Venus. In their nuanced critiques of the sovereign power of neoliberalism as both a sociopolitical and a discursive condition, that is, as what Foucault calls a biopolitics, these texts represent a feminist cultural activism that challenges the hegemonic forms of neoliberalism and transnational market relations. Despite their apparent focus on African-American women's bodies and their exploitation and instrumentalization, what is additionally meaningful in these texts is that the more recent history of globalization to which women are subjected under late capitalism—a history within and on which these texts and their writers work—is shown to be coextensive (although not homologous) with the history of imperialism that made it possible in the first place to mark out a place for a Sara Baartman (the so-called Hottentot Venus) in nascent capitalist relations and forces of production and in the early colonization of southern Africa. In their nonreferential literary representations of twentieth-century neoliberalism, Alexander, Parks, and Chase-Riboud give readers a marginal subject, "Sara Baartman," who serves not simply as an icon of sexual difference between white and black, as some critics have argued, but as an economic placeholder for these interrelated nineteenth- and twentieth-century economic and social histories.


RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is a powerful technology for identification of novel transcripts (coding, non-coding and splice variants), understanding of transcript structures and estimation of gene and/or allelic expression. There are specific challenges that biologists face in determining the number of replicates to use, total number of sequencing reads to generate for detecting marginally differentially expressed transcripts and the number of lanes in a sequencing flow cell to use for the production of right amount of information. Although past studies attempted answering some of these questions, there is a lack of accessible and biologist-friendly mobile applications to answer these questions. Keeping this in mind, we have developed RNAtor, a mobile application for Android platforms, to aid biologists in correctly designing their RNA-seq experiments. The recommendations from RNAtor are based on simulations and real data. Availability and Implementation The Android version of RNAtor is available on Google Play Store and the code from GitHub (https://github.com/binaypanda/RNAtor).


A study of the well-known Dexileos stele, set above a cenotaph or heroon built for a young horseman killed in the Corinthian War in 394/3 B.C.E., leads to an examination of the meaning and function of nudity in archaic and classical Greek art. Dexileos' clothing and his fallen enemy's nakedness defy traditional expectations and so undermine the notion of "heroic nudity," a familiar but flawed explanation for the naked state of ideal males in Greek art. Rather than dispense with the concept of heroic nudity completely, we should recognize that it is just one among a number of different nudities in Greek art with a number of different roles, some of them contradictory. These include a nudity of differentiation, a nudity of youth, "democratic nudity," a nudity of status or class, and a nudity of vulnerability and defeat (pathetic nudity). As in the art of other ancient cultures, nudity is a costume whose significance is determined by context and subject rather than by abstract principle.


Bluetooth technology is how mobile phones, computers, and personal digital assistants
(PDA), not to mention a broad selection of other devices, can be easily organized using a
short-range wireless connection. Using this technology, users can have all mobile and
fixed computer devices be totally coordinated. Nowadays, Bluetooth technology has
become popular and grows up with variety of usage to the users. This thesis concentrates
on the study about the Bluetooth concept generally and the capability of the Bluetooth in
communication. Therefore, through this thesis we developed the prototype that makes
the Bluetooth technology to start a motorcycle using Bluetooth with PIC devices and
Palm Operating System application. The application has been developed using C
programming and assembly language. Through this thesis also, the development process
follows the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). In the end of the development, the
prototype of this device is come out and readily to be tested. The prototype generally
involved in discovers the Bluetooth signal and send a character to the PIC circuit board.
When the PIC circuit board receives the signal, it will activate the motorcycle starter.
Only specified character can activate the motorcycle starter by PIC circuit board. This
thesis actually is just the beginning where more resource, energy and time are needed in
order to make this device perfect. Hopefully, this thesis can create an opportunity to go
further and deeper in the world of wireless technology within Bluetooth environment.


We show that FeFe hydrogenases inactivate at low potential, in a complex process that is mostly reversible. A form of the enzyme that is produced slowly and reversibly under reductive conditions has no proton activity under reductive conditions, although it can still oxidize H2 under oxidative conditions. This suggests that the so-called "super-reduced" state of the active site H-cluster is not part of the normal catalytic cycle. We also discuss our findings in relation to the optimization of H2-photoproduction devices based on FeFe hydrogenases that receive electrons from low potential photosensitizers.


This article examines glottalization and lenition in Nuu-chah-nulth. These processes involve features introduced via affixation, features that are sometimes compatible with the final segment of the stem and sometimes incompatible. An understanding of the intricacies of these patterns requires a focus on featural representations, with lexical representations involving floating features and variable specifications for features. Both of these properties follow from the postulation of a rich base, with features freely combining in inputs. The analysis argues for covert features, for constraints holding more strongly in small domains than large domains, and for the importance of a markedness scale on glottalizability.


Teacher quality has a significant impact on both student learning gains and later life outcomes. With this is mind, policymakers implement reforms to attract and retain more effective educators. A major obstacle for designing these policies is that the ingredients for training, as well as initially identifying, effective teachers remain largely a mystery. However, there are strong theoretical arguments for certain education policy reforms producing improvements in the quality of the teacher workforce. One increasingly popular example is performance-based pay. Performance pay has the potential to better align teachers' incentives to produce increases in student achievement. Paying teachers based on students' learning gains, rather than years of experience, increases lifetime earnings for effective teachers which could attract and retain higher-caliber educators. However, since performance-based pay programs rarely last longer than a few years and tend to be small in scale, researchers have not been able to evaluate how changing the compensation structure affects the composition of the teacher workforce. I provide preliminary evidence for how implementing a performance-based pay program could impact the teacher workforce. Based on analyses from three studies, I conclude that individuals who enter the teaching profession are significantly more risk averse than individuals entering other professions. This finding supports a common stereotype about teachers and possibly provides an explanation for their resistances to education reforms such as merit pay, even when such policies are fairly popular with the rest of the general public. In a follow-up study, the preferences of teachers with a preference for performance-based pay are compared to those of other teachers. The hypothesis of this study is that changing a central component of teacher compensation, the step and lane pay scale, is likely to attract less risk-averse employees. The evidence from this study is inconclusive but suggests that performance pay might alter the composition of the teacher workforce by either attracting more risk-loving teachers to the classroom or deterring relatively risk-averse individuals from entering the profession. Finally, I link teachers' risk and performance pay preferences to measures of teacher quality. I find that teachers who are the least supportive of performance pay are actually more effective in the classroom. This result contradicts the argument that a compositional shift from performancebased pay will necessarily improve teacher quality. This finding is somewhat counterintuitive but is possibly explained by prior research on the negative relationship between intrinsic or missiondriven motivations and the introduction of performance-based financial incentives.


Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in patients with cancer and increases morbidity and mortality. VTE prevention and treatment are more complex in patients with cancer. The NCCN Guidelines for Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease outline strategies for treatment and prevention of VTE in adult patients diagnosed with cancer or in whom cancer is clinically suspected. These NCCN Guidelines Insights explain recent changes in anticoagulants recommended for the treatment of cancer-associated VTE.


In 2008 two researchers completed a 2-year study in collaboration with nurse anesthetists and operating room nurses from three operating theaters in western Sweden. In this paper, with focus on methodology and the ethical approach to research, the aim was to describe a hermeneutical design with an element of application used in a perioperative clinical study. The element of application was chosen to involve clinical nurses to participate as coresearchers. This research was inspired by Lindholm's (2006) method for application research developed to bring new knowledge, to create change as well as to unite theory in dialogues with clinical nurses. Through the perioperative dialogue, the coreseacher not only became one who collected data but also the older patients' nurse, who cared for them. A hermeneutical text interpretation with five readings was used to gain new understanding. Perioperative care becomes evident and is dedicated to the patient in perioperative.


Doctoral research considered whether healthcare students were able to develop characteristics of Communities of Practice when engaged in an interprofessional online module. Using a case study approach the research included two phases. Within phase one a questionnaire was administered to the group of 109 healthcare students. These were analysed to gain information on which to base sampling for the subsequent phase. Phase two employed three strands of data collection; five students completed an online diary, the online interaction of seven students was captured on a discussion board and three students were interviewed. Data were analysed using a form of pattern matching. The results suggested students were able to develop the essential elements of Communities of Practice. This was not uniformly seen however, and particular issues emerged for the online community. This paper focuses on discussing the contribution of the research to the development of the Communities of Practice framework for online learning. The discussion will review the main findings of the research, showing how these have led to the development of the theory. It offers an augmented framework, in which the elements of mutual engagement, joint enterprise and shared repertoire are enhanced to include those facets necessary to support an online learning community. Finally, it is suggested that the augmented framework may have applicability to other professional groups engaging in online learning and working, with consideration given to how it might support e-based communities.


An independent dominating set D of a graph G = (V,E) is a subset of vertices such that every vertex in V \ D has at least one neighbor in D and D is an independent set, i.e. no two vertices of D are adjacent in G. Finding a minimum independent dominating set in a graph is an NP-hard problem. Whereas it is hard to cope with this problem using parameterized and approximation algorithms, there is a simple exact O(1.4423^n)-time algorithm solving the problem by enumerating all maximal independent sets. In this paper we improve the latter result, providing the first non trivial algorithm computing a minimum independent dominating set of a graph in time O(1.3569^n). Furthermore, we give a lower bound of \Omega(1.3247^n) on the worst-case running time of this algorithm, showing that the running time analysis is almost tight.


In this work it is described how a partitioning of a graph into components can be used to calculate PageRank in a large network and how such a partitioning can be used to re-calculate PageRank as the network changes. Although considered problem is that of calculating PageRank, it is worth to note that the same partitioning method could be used when working with Markov chains in general or solving linear systems as long as the method used for solving a single component is chosen appropriately. An algorithm for calculating PageRank using a modified partitioning of the graph into strongly connected components is described. Moreover, the paper focuses also on the calculation of PageRank in a changing graph from two different perspectives, by considering specific types of changes in the graph and calculating the difference in rank before and after certain types of edge additions or removals between components. Moreover, some common specific types of graphs for which it is possible to find analytic expressions for PageRank are considered, and in particular the complete bipartite graph and how PageRank can be calculated for such a graph. Finally, several open directions and problems are described.


In the design of artefacts that interact with people, the spatial dimensions of the user population are often used to size and engineer the artefact. The variability in anthropometry indicates the fixed allocation of space, adjustability requirements, or how many sizes are needed to accommodate the intended user population. Various tools are used to achieve this goal, including boundary manikins, digital human models, prototypes and population models, and hybrid methods that combine the approaches. The present work explores each of these and their relative strengths and weaknesses. This is done in the context of a univariate case study involving the adjustability requirements of a stationary bicycle. An experiment involving 51 individuals was conducted to obtain the data necessary for utilising and evaluating the methods.


The current Saudi Arabia (SA) procurement system leads to many losses in money and benefits in projects. The estimated percentage of delayed projects in SA during the past decades is more than 70% of the total projects. A questionnaire has been developed and carefully designed to improve the current SA procurement system. The questionnaire was sent out to 1,396 participants, the SA Council for professional engineers, who work in both private and public sectors. The participants are interested in the SA procurement and contracts system with experience ranging from one to more than twenty-five years in common construction sectors. Most of the participants from both private and public sectors agreed with the survey statements regarding zone price proposals, contractors' evaluation, risks, planning, projects' scope, owners concern and weekly risks reports (WRR). Based on the survey, a model, called SVIE procurement system, has been developed in which the most expert contractor is chosen through four phases: submittals & education, vendor selection, illustration, and execution. The resulting model is easy to implement by SA government and does not require special skills or a background.


This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of live food ( Artemia urmiana) and commercial diet in rearing of Oncorhynchus mykiss larvae. Experiment started when larvae were 0.12g in weight. Triplicate groups of fish were offered one of four treatments: (1) a commercial starter food; (2) live Artemia urmiana nauplii (for 3 days); (3) live Artemia urmiana nauplii (for 7 days); and (4) combination of live Artemia nauplii (5% of food) and the commercial starter food. They were fed four times daily starting at the onset of exogenous feeding, for 1 week. After 1 week, the fish of all groups were shifted to the commercial diet for an additional 3-weeks period to determine the impact of any differences in weight of fish. The result of the present study showed that those larvae fed with combination of Artemia nauplli and a commercial starter food grew significantly faster than other groups for 4 weeks. Larvae fed with other composition were similar in length and weight (P>0.05). Survival rates of the trout larvae ranged 86-96% after 1 week and 67-84% after 4 weeks. Larvae survival after 1 and 4 weeks were significantly higher (P<0.05) in trout larvae fed only on Artemia nauplii (treatments 2 and 3) than other treatments. The body chemical composition analysis of trout larvae showed only small differences, with the exception of the crude protein and lipid at 4 weeks. The data were analyzed to determine significant differences among treatments by one-way ANOVA. (Statistica v.9, StatSoft Inc.).


INTRODUCTION. The purpose of this paper is to explore ways that online learning might support the full spectrum of learners (those with specific social and emotional difficulties or mobility or physical disabilities, for example). METHOD. The paper draws out theoretical conceptions of inclusive practices for teaching and learning when activities deploy online technologies, using evidence from current literature. The scope of the paper is limited in two ways: to online learning and inclusive practices for the adult age group (those in higher, further, vocational education and training); and to practices concerned with subject and topic learning (rather than interventions addressing specific educational needs). Some existing taxonomies are used to explore initial dimensions and features, and a new theoretical framework is drawn through an inductive process of analysis. RESULTS. The theoretical framework defines key factors for online tutors to consider: possible spatial and physical barriers — access to learning, spatially within work or home environments; implications of tutor or learning focus — accommodating the demands of learning activities adopted; social focus — accommodating the social concerns and engagement of others; emotional focus — accommodating the demands and engagement of others; and cognitive focus — accommodating specific cognitive needs. DISCUSSION. The theoretical framework factors are related to specific individual characteristics that might be presented within a wide inclusive group online. These highlight key concerns that online tutors should consider in these cases. Although new tools are being developed that could allow us to monitor social and emotional shifts in individuals and groups working online, allowing for more timely tutor intervention, taking cognisance of findings from previous studies, as in the theoretical framework offered here, can nevertheless provide us with ways to at least ensure we consider the challenges already recognised when we support wide inclusive participation.


From its beginnings in hip hop culture, the dense rhythms and aggressive lyrics of rap music have made it a provocative fixture on the American cultural landscape. In Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America, Tricia Rose, described by the New York Times as a "hip hop theorist," takes a comprehensive look at the lyrics, music, cultures, themes, and styles of this highly rhythmic, rhymed storytelling and grapples with the most salient issues and debates that surround it. Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and History at New York University, Tricia Rose sorts through rap's multiple voices by exploring its underlying urban cultural politics, particularly the influential New York City rap scene, and discusses rap as a unique musical form in which traditional African-based oral traditions fuse with cutting-edge music technologies. Next she takes up rap's racial politics, its sharp criticisms of the police and the government, and the responses of those institutions. Finally, she explores the complex sexual politics of rap, including questions of misogyny, sexual domination, and female rappers' critiques of men. But these debates do not overshadow rappers' own words and thoughts. Rose also closely examines the lyrics and videos for songs by artists such as Public Enemy, KRS-One, Salt N' Pepa, MC Lyte, and L. L. Cool J. and draws on candid interviews with Queen Latifah, music producer Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, dancer Crazy Legs, and others to paint the full range of rap's political and aesthetic spectrum. In the end, Rose observes, rap music remains a vibrant force with its own aesthetic, "a noisy and powerful element of contemporary American popular culture which continues to draw a great deal of attention to itself."


Current state-of-the-art static analysis tools for binary software operate on ad-hoc intermediate representations (IR) of the machine code. Therefore, even though IRs facilitate program analysis by abstracting away the source language, it is hard to reuse existing implementations of analysis tools in new endeavors. Recently, a new compiler framework — LLVM — has emerged, together with many analysis tools that use its IR. However, these tools rely on a compiler to generate the IR from source code. We propose RevGen, a tool that automatically converts existing binary programs to the standard LLVM IR, making an increasingly large number of static and dynamic analysis frameworks, as well as run-time instrumentation tools, applicable to legacy software. We show the potential of RevGen by converting several programs and device drivers to LLVM and checking the resulting code with off-the-shelf analysis tools.


Neutrophil migration inhibition factor from T lymphocytes (NIF-T) is a lymphokine that acts to localize granulocytes. Medium conditioned by the Mo human T-lymphoblast cell line was used to purify NIF-T, a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 22,000. The NIF-T was found to potently stimulate the growth of granulocyte and macrophage colonies from human bone marrow and colony formation by the KG-1 myeloid leukemia cell line. Thus a human lymphokine (NIF-T) that modulates the activities of mature neutrophilic granulocytes is also a colony-stimulating factor acting on precursors to induce growth and differentiation of new effector cells.


The term "medicinal" as applied to a plant indicates that it contains a substance or substances which modulate beneficially the physiology of sick mammals. Thousands of species of higher plants have been used by man for that purpose. Modern techniques have revealed the enormous variety and complexity of so-called secondary plant chemicals, i.e., those which do not occur in all species, but which are restricted in distribution to certain plant groups. Thousands of new structures have been isolated, most beyond the imagination of the most inventive chemist. Advances in evaluating biological activities enabled to explain the rationale of using many plants in traditional systems of medicine. Nowadays, many evidence-based bioactive phytochemicals are ingredients of many pharmaceutical preparations intended for curing a wide range of diseases. Examples of plant-derived drugs with evidenced biological activities will be presented. In addition, the lecture sheds light upon the significance of phytochemicals in disease prevention and their value as "Nutraceuticals" or "Functional Foods".


The Grand Falls basalt lava flow in northern Arizona was emplaced in late Pleistocene time. It flowed 10 km from its vent area to the Little Colorado River, where it cascaded into and filled a 65-m-deep canyon to form the Grand Falls lava dam. Lava continued ∼25 km downstream and ∼1 km onto the far rim beyond where the canyon was filled. Subsequent fluvial sedimentation filled the reservoir behind the dam, and eventually the river established a channel along the margin of the lava flow to the site where water falls back into the preeruption canyon.

The ca. 150 ka age of the Grand Falls flow provided by whole-rock K-Ar analysis in the 1970s is inconsistent with the preservation of centimeter-scale flow-top features on the surface of the flow and the near absence of physical and chemical weathering on the flow downstream of the falls. The buried Little Colorado River channel and the present-day channel are at nearly the same elevation, indicating that very little, if any, regional downcutting has occurred since emplacement of the flow.

Newly applied dating techniques better define the age of the lava dam. Infrared- stimulated luminescence dating of silty mudstone baked by the lava yielded an age of 19.6 ± 1.2 ka. Samples from three noneroded or slightly eroded outcrops at the top of the lava flow yielded 3He cosmogenic ages of 16 ± 1 ka, 17 ± 1 ka, and 20 ± 1 ka. A mean age of 8 ± 19 ka was obtained from averaging four samples using the 40Ar/39Ar step-heating method. Finally, paleomagnetic directions in lava samples from two sites at Grand Falls and one at the vent area are nearly identical and match the curve of magnetic secular variation at ca. 15 ka, 19 ka, 23 ka, and 28 ka. We conclude that the Grand Falls flow was emplaced at ca. 20 ka.


A novel autonomous personal transporter is introduced. When the autonomous personal transporter is in self-driving conditions, there is various disturbance acceleration for the person riding on it. This disturbance acceleration should be compensated for a safe drive. Motion planning methods using LQR and discrete model predictive control are suggested for a cart inverted pendulum model. When the cart inverted pendulum model is controlled using LQR, there is non-minimum phase behavior causing undesired undershoot response. For minimizing the non-minimum phase behavior, we suggest discrete model predictive control using pre-planned motion trajectory. For experiments, we developed an autonomous driving robot called a ball-plate mecanum robot. On the ball-plate mecanum robot, we put an iron ball with which it is possible to measure position using a resistive touch sensor. The ball is basically stabilized by PID control. However, the ball position is out of center when there is a disturbance. By measuring the position of the ball, we investigate how much the disturbance acceleration can be compensated for using motion planning methods. LQR motion planning and MPC motion planning are compared through simulations and experiments, and we consider which motion planning method is more suitable for the autonomous personal transporter.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, caused by the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Mutations in PARK7 (DJ-1) result in early onset autosomal recessive PD, and oxidative modification of DJ-1 has been reported to regulate the protective activity of DJ-1 in vitro. Glutathionylation is a prevalent redox modification of proteins resulting from the disulfide adduction of the glutathione moiety to a reactive cysteine-SH, and glutathionylation of specific proteins has been implicated in regulation of cell viability. Glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) is the principal deglutathionylating enzyme within cells, and it has been reported to mediate protection of dopaminergic neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans; however many of the functional downstream targets of Grx1 in vivo remain unknown. Previously, DJ-1 protein content was shown to decrease concomitantly with diminution of Grx1 protein content in cell culture of model neurons (SH-SY5Y and Neuro-2A lines). In the current study we aimed to investigate the regulation of DJ-1 by Grx1 in vivo and characterize its glutathionylation in vitro. Here, with Grx(-/-) mice we provide show that Grx1 regulates protein levels of DJ-1 in vivo. Furthermore, with model neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y) we observed decreased DJ-1 protein content in response to treatment with known glutathionylating agents, and with isolated DJ-1 we identified two distinct sites of glutathionylation. Finally, we found that overexpression of DJ-1 in the dopaminergic neurons partly compensates for the loss of the Grx1 homologue in a C. elegans in vivo model of PD. Therefore, our results reveal a novel redox modification of DJ-1 and suggest a novel regulatory mechanism for DJ-1 content in vivo.


This study examines processes fundamental to the development of South Asian monsoon depressions using an array of integrations of an idealized convection-permitting numerical model. In each integration, a wave of initially small amplitude is subjected to a different amount of vertical and meridional wind shear, with temperature and moisture fields constructed according to realistic constraints. Based on the evolution of this disturbance into monsoon depression–like vortices, two features of the background environment emerge as important: the low-level gradient of moist static energy (MSE) and the low-level meridional shear. As the low-level MSE gradient steepens, the disturbance becomes stronger and produces more rain. This strengthening results from the interaction of the vortex with latent heat release by convection that is in turn organized by positive MSE advection in the northerly flow west of the vortex. In this region of advection, moister air from the north ascends along upward-sloping isentropes, driving moist convection. The disturbance also becomes stronger with increasing meridional shear, which makes the environment more barotropically unstable. The absence of either of these two features of the background environment prevents substantial growth of the disturbance. Our results suggest that monsoon depression growth in South Asia is fostered by the coexistence of a strong low-level MSE gradient with strong meridional wind shear associated with the monsoon trough.


The inevitable progress of health monitoring technologies leads to continuous improvement of the monitoring sensors. They become smaller and compact, with lower power consumption and higher accuracy. These devices are then integrated into wireless body area networks (WBANs) which promise real-time healthcare monitoring during daily activities. WBANs or body sensor network is a wireless network of computing devices that can be carried over BAN devices. Sensors can be implanted in the body, worn on the body and their position can be fixed. There might be accompanying devices that people are free to carry in a pocket as a garment or in a handbag. The position of the device does not influence the person's comfort.