BACKGROUND
The primary hurdle for the eradication of HIV-1 is the establishment of a latent viral reservoir early after primary infection. Here, we investigated the potential influence of human genetic variation on the HIV-1 reservoir size and its decay rate during suppressive antiretroviral treatment.

SETTING
Genome-wide association study and exome sequencing study to look for host genetic determinants of HIV-1 reservoir measurements in patients enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, a nation-wide prospective observational study.

METHODS
We measured total HIV-1 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from study participants, as a proxy for the reservoir size at 3 time points over a median of 5.4 years, and searched for associations between human genetic variation and 2 phenotypic readouts: the reservoir size at the first time point and its decay rate over the study period. We assessed the contribution of common genetic variants using genome-wide genotyping data from 797 patients with European ancestry enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and searched for a potential impact of rare variants and exonic copy number variants using exome sequencing data generated in a subset of 194 study participants.

RESULTS
Genome-wide and exome-wide analyses did not reveal any significant association with the size of the HIV-1 reservoir or its decay rate on suppressive antiretroviral treatment.

CONCLUSIONS
Our results point to a limited influence of human genetics on the size of the HIV-1 reservoir and its long-term dynamics in successfully treated individuals.


Since the introduction of the Creole Prototype hypothesis in 1998, much of the controversy it has occasioned has centered on a question as to whether it is scientifically appropriate to reconstruct creoles as born as pidgins, rather than as results of only moderately transformational second-language acquisition or as simply mixtures of 'features' from assorted languages coming together. This paper first outlines traits in creoles that reveal their origin in pidgins. Then, the paper refines the characterization of the Creole Prototype's three features, regarding inflectional morphology, tone, and compositionality of derivation-root combinations. The inflectional component is refined to incorporate Booij's (1993) distinction between contextual and inherent inflection and Kihm's (2003) proposal that inflectional morphology can be either bound or free. The tonal stipulation is refined in view of traits of Mon-Khmer phonology that distinguish these languages from creoles despite their analyticity, and the grammatical uses of tone in some creoles such as Papiamentu and Principense. Finally, for the derivational component, an account is proposed for the noncompositionality of reduplicated forms that have been observed in many creoles. The conclusion is that there remains a synchronic characterization possible only in languages recently born from pidgins, and impossible of older (i.e. most) languages.


Based on the data from the years 2000-2009 in West Java, therewere 980 people suffering from filariasis, and spread over several counties and cities. In Bandung, estimed around 2.7 million till of the 3.1 million are high risk of filariasis.The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship support of the family with family participation in the filariasis elimination program (taking medicine). The design of the study is a quantitative study using cross-sectional approach. The experiment was conducted from March to April using a questionnaire-shaped instrument. The sample determined by proportional random sampling technique with sample size were 139 respondents. Analysisof data through twostages of the univariate and bivariate with Chi-Square (2) with95% significance level. Research result revealed the head of a family that supports elimination program (taking medicine) filariasis, was 61.20%, and that did not support the filariasis elimination program (taking medicine) was 38.80%, 57.60% participating in the filariasiselimination program (taking medicine), and42.40% did not participate. There was correlation between the head of the family with families participation in the filariasis elimination program (taking medicine), (p-value: 0.000; α). Based on this researchit is suggest to the community nursesto improve thehealth promotion, counseling on filariasis elimination program, and motivation so that family can understand and aware the imporbuce of filariasis elimination program (taking medicine) that will impact on treatment success.


In this study, we report our initial results on in situ biosynthesis of S-allyl-l-homocysteine (Sahc) by simple metabolic conversion of allyl mercaptan in Escherichia coli, which served as the host organism endowed with a direct sulfhydration pathway. The intracellular synthesis we describe in this study is coupled with the direct incorporation of Sahc into proteins in response to methionine codons. Together with O-acetyl-homoserine, allyl mercaptan was added to the growth medium, followed by uptake and intracellular reaction to give Sahc. Our protocol efficiently combined the in vivo synthesis of Sahc via metabolic engineering with reprogrammed translation, without the need for a major change in the protein biosynthesis machinery. Although the system needs further optimisation to achieve greater intracellular Sahc production for complete protein labelling, we demonstrated its functional versatility for photo-induced thiol-ene coupling and the recently developed phosphonamidate conjugation reaction. Importantly, deprotection of Sahc leads to homocysteine-containing proteins—a potentially useful approach for the selective labelling of thiols with high relevance in various medical settings.


Many low and middle income countries have inherited publicly funded and provided health services, often operating at relatively low levels of technical efficiency. Changing ideas about the management of the public sector, in particular stemming from new public management theory, are spreading to these countries, whether directly or via the recommendations of multilateral and bilateral aid agencies. Pronouncements of agencies such as the World Bank imply that competitive contracting with the private sector is likely to improve the efficiency of services provision. However, very little evidence is available on whether this is likely to be the case, and in what circumstances delivery of services through contracts with the private sector is likely to be preferable to direct provision by the public sector. This paper draws on evidence from five country case-studies of contractual arrangements, in Bombay, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Thailand and Zimbabwe, done through collaborative research between the LSHTM Health Economics and Financing Programme and local researchers in each country. A common evaluative framework was applied in each country to selected, existing contractual arrangements. Services provided under contract and evaluated included catering, cleaning, security, diagnostic services and whole hospitals. Information is presented on the design of contracts, the process of agreeing contracts including the extent of competition, and the monitoring of contract performance. A variety of evidence, including information on the relative cost and quality of contracted out versus directly provided services in the case of South Africa, Thailand, and Bombay, is used to explore whether or not contracting out to the private sector represented a preferable means of service provision. This analysis, together with information on the capacity of the agency letting the contract, and on the wider environment including the level of development of the private sector, is used to identify which aspects of the contracting process and the context in which it takes place are important in influencing whether or not contracting with the private sector is a desirable means of service provision.


Every quarter, senior loan officers at selected large banks around the United States are asked by Fed economists how their standards for approving business loans changed compared with the quarter before. Of all the questions in the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS), responses to that question about standards usually attract the most attention from the financial press and researchers. Relatively ignored by comparison are loan officers? reports on how they changed interest spreads, collateral requirements, and other terms on loans they are willing to approve. Lenders can clearly expand or contract credit by altering those terms even without changing their standards for approving loans, so we investigate whether the reports on loan terms collected in the SLOOS are also informative.


Growth rates and patterns of vibrissae (whiskers) in captive harbor seals Phoca vitulina were examined by intravenous infusion of 15 N-labeled amino acid tracers to mark their keratinous tis- sues. The use of vibrissa segmental isotopic analysis as diet indicators was evaluated during con- trolled feeding trials. Harbor seals shed their vibrissae annually. Replacement of new vibrissae started in May or June, depending on individual seals. Growth rates of new vibrissae were very fast at up to 0.78 mm d -1 during summer and fall, and then changed to a much slower growth rate throughout winter and early spring. An average growth rate of 0.075 mm d -1 was obtained from 1 vib- rissa from December to May. δ 13 C and δ 15 N values in vibrissae co-varied and reflected temporal vari- ations of diet or habitat changes of seals, particularly over a rapid growth period from late spring to fall. Compared with other tissues such as blood components, vibrissae can be sampled less invasively and archive ecological records over a longer period. Vibrissa segmental isotopic analysis provides a more flexible tool for studying foraging ecology of wild seals, despite the varying seasonal growth rates and annual replacements.


The last few years have been an awakening time for the people, communities and governments of the global village. Escalating problems in the Middle East, global economic uncertainty and an increase in asylum seekers, refugees and migration worldwide have reignited tensions involving boundaries and borders, both geographical and cognitive. One event which highlighted these tensions in Australia, and which was given much media coverage, was the 'children overboard' event in October 2001. Utilising a selection of print news coverage of the event, this paper explores how the 'children overboard' event demarcated national identities and spaces through the construction and representation of 'good' Australian citizens and 'bad' asylum seeker 'others'. Specifically referring to 'children overboard' as an 'event', I seek to highlight the constructed and representational nature of 'children overboard' as a media story and political tool, one which promoted a continuing threat of 'others' to the nation in order to gain support for government policy and legitimize national security, and in so doing creating a model of Australian citizenship and identity based upon fear.


Twenty-six samples known to contain infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were examined by virus-isolation attempts on ovine kidney (OK) cell line, Vero cell line, and chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cultures. Virus was isolated from two of 26 samples, three of 26 samples, and three of 25 samples on OK, Vero, and CEF cultures, respectively. However, in contrast to IBDV replication in Vero and CEF cultures, isolated virus was unable to induce serially sustained cytopathic effects (CPE) during successive passages in the OK cell line, unless cell lysates were treated with chloroform between every other passage. The cytopathogenicity of the untreated virus passaged in OK cells was revived and maintained upon passage in Vero cells. An initial single passage of laboratory or field material in OK cells followed by further passages in Vero cells resulted in virus isolation from six of 26 samples, which was better virus recovery than when either cell line was used alone or when CEF cultures were used. Twenty of the 26 test samples were originally positive when examined by nucleic acid hybridization with radiolabeled IBDV cDNA, indicating that some of the samples that were negative upon virus isolation using OK and Vero cells may have contained inactivated virus.


ABSTRACT Since the mid-1990s German technology policy has experienced a paradigmatic shift from standard grant schemes towards a region-oriented and competition-based R&D policy. Currently, a new policy experiment, the InterClust contest, is under way, trying to simultaneously foster place-based innovation, R&D internationalization and the internationalization of innovative places. The current paper analyses the new policy, relating it to the recent literatures on heterogeneous firms and on cluster-life cycles, and presents results from a firm survey performed in 21 winner regions of InterClust. Findings show that the new funding scheme takes insights from recent theoretical developments into account and addresses important impediments to firm and cluster internationalization. Although it is too early for an overall assessment, it is argued that the long-term impact will critically depend on the inflow of heterogeneous knowledge and the strength of intra-regional mobilization effects.


Securing enterprise networks has so far been considered under two broad topics (i. e. intrusion detection systems - IDS and intrusion prevention systems - IPS). So far, there is no algorithm, which guarantees absolute protection for a given network from intruders. Most existing IDS and IPS techniques introduce high false positive and false negative rates, which need to be eliminated or reduced considerably. This paper will concentrate on network packets behavior leading to network-based intrusion detection. It will employ anomaly detection as its analysis strategy. In the field of signal analysis, the methods of wavelet transform have gotten wide application because of its unique merit. That idea will be tapped in this paper. The self-similarity property of real network traffic will be used together with the signal detection abilities of wavelets in detecting attacks. The technique used here will also try to reduce the effectiveness of distributed attacks, which deny authorized users access to system resources. Securing of all network security data, which is an important limitation to existing IDS and IPS is ensured by this technique.


Objective: We have shown previously that exercise training enhances endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vascular relaxation in rabbit kidney. This study aimed to investigate protein expression changes in the rabbit renal cortex induced by chronic dynamic exercise. Design: Kidneys were obtained from New Zealand rabbits either confined to pens (n = 8) or trained on a treadmill (0% grade) for 5 days/week at a speed of 18 m/min for 60-min periods over 12 weeks (n = 8). Expression of proteins in the renal cortex was determined by colloidal Coomassie blue staining after two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Differential protein spots were excised and digested with trypsin, and peptides were sequenced by electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry. Results: Two pairs of matching differentially stained spots displayed an approximate threefold increase in trained compared with sedentary animals. These four spots presented a molecular mass of 23 kDa but different pI values. Mass spectrometric analyses revealed the pairs of matching spots as being rabbit apolipoprotein A-I. Conclusion: Chronic dynamic exercise increases apolipoprotein A-I expression in the rabbit renal cortex. This fact could be involved in the alterations observed in the renal circulation after exercise training.


In a draft budget released on 5 March at the opening session of the annual National People9s Congress, China has earmarked 32.45 billion yuan ($5.14 billion) for basic research in 2012—up 26% from last year9s appropriation. Overall, central government spending on science and technology is slated to rise 12.4%, to 228.54 billion yuan ($36.23 billion). Scientists will also benefit from a 24% jump in funding for Project 985 and Project 211, which funnel money to elite universities.


Phlyctema vagabunda (syn: Neofabraea alba) is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes bull's eye rot on apples and pears. Phlyctema vagabunda fruit infections occur in orchards predominantly pre-harvest, and eventually express as a fruit rot after 4—5 months of cool storage. Twelve fungicides (captan, carbendazim, copper hydroxide, cyprodinil, difenoconazole, dithianon, dodine, isopyrazam, metiram, lime sulphur, sulphur and trifloxystrobin) were tested in vitro for their effects on spore germination and mycelial growth of P. vagabunda. Spore germination was inhibited by metiram, captan, dodine, dithianon, lime sulphur, carbendazim and isopyrazam, in order of effectiveness. Carbendazim, isopyrazam, difenoconazole and cyprodinil, in order of effectiveness, inhibited mycelial growth when used at label rates. Wettable sulphur was ineffective in both assays. On detached apple fruit, carbendazim, cyprodinil, trifloxystrobin and isopyrazam (in order of effectiveness) inhibited lesion development.


This study aims to contribute to the literature through the theoretical development and empirical investigation of the role of information technology use in organizational learning. We develop a theoretical framework that unpacks organizational learning into mechanisms and outcomes. The outcomes of organizational learning are distinguished at two levels: first-order and second-order. Based on the framework, we propose a research model set in the franchising context. We conceptualize franchisee use of IT provided by the franchisor as an important learning mechanism that impacts knowledge transfer effectiveness (first-order outcome) and absorptive capacity (second-order outcome). Further, the influence of IT use on financial performance is mediated through absorptive capacity. The model was tested on a sample of 783 independently owned real-estate franchisees using a comprehensive dataset comprised of primary and secondary data. The results indicate that IT use is an important learning mechanism for franchisees by impacting knowledge transfer effectiveness and absorptive capacity. In turn, absorptive capacity mediates the relationship between IT use and financial performance. The empirical support for the research model serves to affirm the underlying learning mechanisms--outcomes framework. The results are stable across the choice of statistical method and the operationalization of financial performance. Theoretical contributions, implications for practice, and limitations of the study are discussed.


We consider the problem of computing the Fourier transform of high-dimensional vectors, distributedly over a cluster of machines consisting of a master node and multiple worker nodes, where the worker nodes can only store and process a fraction of the inputs. We show that by exploiting the algebraic structure of the Fourier transform operation and leveraging concepts from coding theory, one can efficiently deal with the straggler effects. In particular, we propose a computation strategy, named as coded FFT, which achieves the optimal recovery threshold, defined as the minimum number of workers that the master node needs to wait for in order to compute the output. This is the first code that achieves the optimum robustness in terms of tolerating stragglers or failures for computing Fourier transforms. Furthermore, the reconstruction process for coded FFT can be mapped to MDS decoding, which can be solved efficiently. Moreover, we extend coded FFT to settings including computing general n-dimensional Fourier transforms, and provide the optimal computing strategy for those settings.


The hydrogeology and ground-water quality in the vicinity of five landfills in southern Franklin County, Ohio, were investigated by use of data obtained from 46 existing wells, 1 seep, 1 surface-water site, and 1 leachate-collection site. Interpretation was based on data from the wells, a potentiometric-surface map, and chemical analyses. Four of the five landfills are in abandoned sand and gravel pits. Pumping of water from a quarry near the landfills has modified the local ground-water flow pattern, increased the hydraulic gradient, and lowered the water table. Ground water unaffected by the landfills is a hard, calcium bicarbonate type with concentrations of dissolved iron and dissolved sulfate as great as 3.0 milligrams per liter and 200 milligrams per liter, respectively. Water sampled from wells downgradient from two landfills shows an increase in sodium, chloride, and other constituents. The change in water quality cannot be traced directly to the landfills, however, because of well location and the presence of other potential sources of contamination. Chemical analysis of leachate from a collection unit at one landfill shows significant amounts of zinc, chromium, copper, and nickel, in addition to high total organic carbon, biochemical oxygen demand, and organic nitrogen. Concentrations of chloride, iron,more » lead, manganese and phenolic compounds exceed Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Standards for drinking water. Water from unaffected wells within the study area have relatively small amounts of these constituents. 7 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.« less


This article aims to further understand conflict resolution in Colombia by analysing a topic that has thus far been largely neglected in scholarly analysis: international mediation. It explains that third parties have been involved for three decades, given different roles, and have been more or less accepted by both non-state armed groups and the government. The paper focuses on peace processes between the Colombian government and the oldest and largest guerrilla groups: the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army (FARC-EP, hereafter FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN). Understanding past initiatives is necessary in order to comprehend and support the current peace talks between the government and the FARC, in which third states are involved. Employing Carl von Clausewitz's conception of the relationship between the "aim", the "ultimate objective" and the "means" helps to assess the international contribution to peace negotiations. On the one hand, the article examines the interests of the parties to the conflict, as these are the factors that define foreign intervention. On the other hand, it studies the approach and methods of mediators to assess their strengths and weaknesses. It concludes that the interest of the parties to the conflict was often to have an international presence and ongoing negotiations for the sake of legitimacy, rather than to reach a final peace agreement. This resulted in serious limitations to the third parties' mandate.


BACKGROUND
Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) can interfere with rehabilitation processes and lead to poor functional outcome.

AIM
To investigate the influence of left and right USN on rehabilitation outcomes using Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) in stroke patients and the relationships among improvement of USN, improvement of motor autonomy (measured by FIM gain), length of stay and discharge destination.

DESIGN
Observational study.

SETTING
Rehabilitation hospital in Japan.

POPULATION
We investigated 60 first-ever stroke patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation hospital within 3 months after stroke onset (27 patients with neglect and 33 without neglect).

METHODS
Multiple regression analyses were used to explain functional independence measure (FIM) gain, FIM effectiveness and length of stay. Independent variables were motor and cognitive FIM, CBS, Stroke Impairment Assessment Set Motor score (SIAS-M) and time after stroke onset at admission.

RESULTS
The incidences of USN in patients with right and left hemisphere damage were 55.6% and 37.1%, respectively. CBS predicted motor FIM, motor FIM gain, motor FIM effectiveness and length of stay. On the other hand, SIAS-M did not predict either FIM nor length of stay. CBS score decreased significantly in patients with USN who retuned their home, while it did not change in patients who did not. Cognitive FIM score at admission was significantly lower in patients who did not return home than in patients who returned home.

CONCLUSIONS
CBS is more useful than SIAS-M for prediction of functional outcomes in patients with both left and right hemisphere damages. Improvement of USN is important for returning home. Cognitive impairment may interfere with recovery of USN.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT
Improvements of USN are important for planning the rehabilitation goal and determination of discharge destination.


This perspective is aimed at presenting some issues that, in our opinion, have still to be better addressed in the field of graphenes as catalysts. After an introductory section, the article comments on how the number of layers present on the catalyst, termed frequently as graphene, could be in some cases in contradiction with good practices about what should be or not considered as graphene. It will also be commented that some of the characterization tools that are employed in some cases for graphenes as catalysts, like specific surface area measurements based on isothermal gas adsorption on powders or XRD patterns are not well suited to characterizing graphenes. The potential role of impurities and structural defects in graphene catalysis has been highlighted showing the importance of providing exhaustive analysis of the materials. This perspective includes a final section with our view on future progress and wider consensus in the use of graphene in catalysis.


Research conducted with the communities of Arctic Bay and Igloolik in Nunavut identified key areas where policy can help Inuit reduce their vulnerability to climate change, focusing on the renewable resource harvesting sector. The policy responses are based on an understanding of policy development and decision making and on an understanding of the processes that shape vulnerability, which in Nunavut comprise the erosion of traditional Inuit knowledge and land-based skills, the weakening of social networks, and a reduction in harvesting flexibility. Policies relating to cultural preservation, wildlife comanagement, and harvester support can serve as entry points for influencing these processes. Our recommendations fall within the mandates of the Government of Nunavut and the institutions created under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and they have been identified as policy priorities by communities and Inuit organizations.


This essay examines the architectural, visual, and imagined therapeutic landscapes of puériculture, a science of infant rearing developed by French obstetrician Adolphe Pinard in 1895 amid fears of depopulation, infant mortality, and racial degeneration in France. Puériculture, a French neologism establishing a rough linguistic equivalence between agricultural cultivation of the land and the scientific cultivation of human nurslings was, by the early twentieth century, widely diffused across France, parts of Western Europe, and South America. Comprised primarily of an uncontroversial program of prenatal and well-baby care, it had two principal domains of action. One was spatial, as the examination and rehabilitation of bodies of infants and childbearing women required the development of an architectural infrastructure of prenatal clinics, sterilized milk depots, centers for infant hygiene, crèches, and well-baby consults. One was educative, as pedagogical tracts instructed women on breastfeeding, proper methods of infant care, and other hygienic matters. It also, however, in its focus on human fecundity, and matters of "soil and seed" fueled eugenic and pronatalist fantasies that engaged not only with the rational clinic, but with broader imaginative geographies of colonial empires, docile female bodies, and aseptic factories for French babies.


The overarching goal of this study was to better understand relationships between health habits, stress, and mindfulness. In doing so, this research examined the interaction of mindfulness with responses to stress as it affects negative health habits. There was also a psychometric development study conducted, using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to test the applicability of the two-factor model of the PHLMS to a primary care population. Data were collected from 198 adult patients in a primary care medical practice. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 89 years old, were 51% female, and 92% Caucasian. For CFA analyses, three fit indexes were examined, and fit indexes marginally supported a two-factor model ( 2 /df = 2.26, CFI = .871, TLI = .851, RMSEA = .08). Despite differences in goodness of fit between this researcher's data and the original model, it was found that the two-factor structure of the PHLMS demonstrated acceptable reliability and consistency when administered to a primary care population. Multiple linear regression analyses were then conducted to test the moderator hypothesis of Mindfulness; these regressions approached significance but did not achieve statistical significance. Although mindfulness was not found to moderate the relationship between stress and health behaviors, a further suggestion is to investigate the relationships between mindfulness, particularly mindful or nonjudgmental acceptance, and stress, as well as relationships between stress and health habits. This research demonstrated a clear relationship between acceptance as a factor of mindfulness, and stress. Based on these results, it is suggested that further investigation be carried out into the usefulness of acceptance-based interventions with chronically stressed primary care populations.


Colonsay and the western part of Islay, southern Hebridean islands of Scotland, consist of unfossiliferous, deformed, low-grade metasedimentary rocks, which rest with sheared unconformity upon gneissic basement. The area has a long history of investigation, but its stratigraphic affinities have been a persistent problem.

The speculative assignment of the basement rocks to the Lewisian has never been substantiated. The age of the cover sequence remains unclear. Its deformation differs from that of nearby Caledonian successions. Small igneous bodies have yielded a tentative intrusion age of ca. 600 Ma, which is abnormal for the region. Because the area is bounded by major strike-slip faults, it is suggested that the Colonsay-western Islay terrane is allochthonous, probably emplaced between 620 and ca. 540 Ma.

The terrane concept explains the long-standing difficulties of correlation. Recognition of suspect terranes, even of this small size, within orogens such as the orthotectonic Caledonides can help resolve some long-standing problems.


Background Wine and beer are the most consumed alcoholic beverages worldwide and are known by the sensory pleasure and short terms effects such as relaxation and mood enhancement. However, it remains unclear what are the specific emotions evoked by wine or beer consumption. Non-alcoholic beer is considered a healthier beverage, as it does not contain alcohol, but it does not seem to be appealing to consumers since patterns of consumption are marginal compared to wine and beer consumption. One of the challenges in food research is to encourage consumers to adopt healthier choices to reduce life-style problems. Given the importance of moderate alcohol consumption in diet it seems important, from the nutritional perspective, to understand consumers´ perceptions of alcoholic versus non-alcoholic beverages. Aim The aim of this thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of consumption experience of wine, beer and non-alcoholic beer, and hence beverage choice, by using beverage-evoked emotions, in addition to their sensory perceptions. Methods After a literature review to know the determinants of wine, beer and non-alcoholic beer consumption, we performed a qualitatitve study (n=56) to explore the conceptualisations of the beverages in terms of functional and emotional associations. Following, we studied how the product name "BEER" or "NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER" influenced liking and the emotions elicited, before and after drinking either a beer or a non-alcoholic beer, when the beverages were given to 155 consumers in a bar, named correctly and incorrectly with respect to their composition. In the further studies, we used a dynamic approach, the temporal dominance of sensations and emotions and temporal liking. In one study, two similar tasting commercial wines, were compared by 80 consumers in a bar. In the last study 71 consumers compared three commercial beers that differed only in the intensity of added hop aroma. Results Beer and wine are rich in both functional and emotional conceptualisations. Beer mainly evokes high arousal positive emotions, such as energetic and adventurous. Wine mainly evokes low arousal emotions such as calm and loving. Non-alcoholic beer is a substitute and has negative and neutral emotional associations, such as disappointed and conscious. Therefore, we concluded that wine, beer and non-alcoholic beer have different conceptualisations in consumer´s mind. Drinking a non-alcoholic beer named as "non-alcoholic beer" made consumers feel less excited after drinking. When the same beverage was named "beer", consumers liked it more and felt more fulfilled. Drinking a beer named as "beer" changed emotional profile towards to a more positive direction since after drinking consumers felt more: fulfilled, exuberant, comforted, amused, joyful, happy and good, and less grumpy. When the same beverage was named "non-alcoholic beer", the liking did not change but six positive emotions decreased, namely consumers felt less comforted, exuberant, good, happy, joyful and loving. Based on this study we concluded that the product name is at least as important as the flavour, as it influenced emotions and liking. Measuring emotions during consumption, we found that equally liked similar tasting wines evoked the same three dominant emotions in all stages of consumption: pleased, comforted and relaxed. However, these emotions evolved with different trajectories while drinking each wine, allowing a differentiation between wines. Lastly, when the sensory characteristics of a commercial beer were manipulated by adding hop aroma, different sensory profiles were dominant but liking did not change. The temporal dominance of emotions allowed to see that in beginning of consumption of the most aromatic beer there was a shift from negative to positive emotions. In the most aromatic beer only positive emotions were dominant: relaxed, pleased and happy, whereas in the control and in the less aromatic beers besides relaxed or pleased, disappointed was also dominant. Based on this outcome it seems possible to induce different emotion profiles by manipulating the sensory characteristics. Conclusions Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beer have an elaborated conceptualisation map in consumer´s minds and they evoke positive and negative emotions, that evolve during consumption. A balance between functional and emotional conceptualisations seems to be important for product success as well as the product name. During consumption sensations and emotions can evolve differently in similar tasting beverages that consumers equally liked. The relationship between sensory specific characteristics and emotions is still limited but we believe that these practical implications may help industries to create healthier versions of products to be experienced as the happier choices.


Creativity is essential for the holistic development of the learner, fostering an individual who espouses confidence in learning, who values close collaboration with peers and significant others, and who is inspired to engage in life-long learning. Such an individual is well-equipped for the challenges of the 21st Century. This dissertation explores the potential of ICT to spark this creativity and enthusiasm in Irish Primary School Pupils. Despite the existence of common ICT standards as defined by NCCA and NCTE, there is no consistency in the way ICT is configured in schools and integrated into the Irish primary school curriculum. A comparative study was employed involving two schools at opposite ends of the ICT spectrum (determined by the provision and usage of ICT and priority given to ICT). The study used multi-method triangulation (students, their teachers and parents) involving several research methods to capture the multi- faceted aspect of this thesis. It focused on the creative impact of ICT on the Arts. The findings indicate that higher spectrum pupils demonstrate greater creativity and collaborative engagement through ICT activities which in itself leads to more effective learning. Furthermore, ICT facilitated active engagement by the child in his/her learning experience. This contributed to fun and enjoyment in the learning process fostering greater enthusiasm for learning. This thesis concludes that the role of the teacher as a collaborative partner is key to achieving the potential of ICT to spark creativity and enthusiasm and, furthermore, that he/she needs support in achieving the desired benefits.


Introduction Botswana's AIDS response included free antiretroviral treatment (ART) since 2002, achieving 80% coverage of persons with CD4<350 cells/µl by 2009–10. We explored impact on mortality and HIV prevalence, analyzing surveillance and civil registration data. Methods Hospital natural cause admissions and deaths from the Health Statistics Unit (HSU) over 1990–2009, all-cause deaths from Midnight Bed Census (MNC) over 1990–2011, institutional and non-institutional deaths recorded in the Registry of Birth and Deaths (RBD) over 2003–2010, and antenatal sentinel surveillance (ANC) over 1992–2011 were compared to numbers of persons receiving ART. Mortality was adjusted for differential coverage and completeness of institutional and non-institutional deaths, and compared to WHO and UNAIDS Spectrum projections. Results HSU deaths per 1000 admissions declined 49% in adults 15–64 years over 2003–2009. RBD mortality declined 44% (807 to 452/100,000 population in adults 15–64 years) over 2003–2010, similarly in males and females. Generally, death rates were higher in males; declines were greater and earlier in younger adults, and in females. In contrast, death rates in adults 65+, particularly females increased over 2003–2006. MNC all-age post-neonatal mortality declined 46% and 63% in primary and secondary level hospitals, over 2003–2011. We estimated RBD captured 80% of adult deaths over 2006–2011. Comparing empirical, completeness-adjusted deaths to Spectrum estimates, declines over 2003–2009 were similar overall (47% vs. 54%); however, Spectrum projected larger and earlier declines particularly in women. Following stabilization and modest decreases over 1998–2002, HIV prevalence in pregnant women 15–24 and 25–29-years declined by >50% and >30% through 2011, while continuing to increase in older women. Conclusions Adult mortality in Botswana fell markedly as ART coverage increased. HIV prevalence declines may reflect ART-associated reductions in sexual transmission. Triangulation of surveillance system data offers a reasonable approach to evaluate impact of HIV/AIDS interventions, complementing cohort approaches that monitor individual-level health outcomes.


Abstract The dominant part in the mental calculation of the day of the week for any given date is to determine the year share, that is, the contribution of the two-digit year part of the date. This paper describes a number of year share computation methods, some well-known and some new. The "Parity Minus 3" method, in particular, is a new alternative to the popular "Odd+11" method. The paper categorizes the methods of year share computation, and presents simpler proofs of their correctness than usually provided.


Development of clusters has been one of the critical factors in the success of many countries in the field of biotechnology. Most of the literature has been focused on the biotechnology clusters in developed countries and much less attention has been paid to the development of biotechnology clusters in developing countries. The aim of this research is to exploit the successful bio-clusters in selected developing countries such as Brazil, Cuba, India and China and to learn some lessons for South African bio-clusters. Research found that government played a critical role in creating successful bio-clusters in these developing countries. In South Africa there is evidence of emerging clusters in the Gauteng and Western Cape regions, based on the number of companies concentrated within the regions. With strong government support, these regions could be an important biotechnology hub in Africa continent.


'Other' Spanish Theatres challenges established opinions on modern Iberian theatre in considering the roles of contrasting figures and companies who have impacted upon both the practice and the perception of Spanish, and European, stages. In examining the work of six carefully chosen case studies - Margarita Xirgu, Enrique Rambal, Maria Casares, Nuria Espert, Lluis Pasqual and La Cubana - Delgado offers a new interpretation of a nation's theatrical culture which has been viewed primarily through the prisms of a select number of revered playwrights. Offering a compelling case for the influence of Spanish practitioners on theatre in Europe and the Americas, the study focuses on the doing of performance, asking provocative questions around how performances are tested against the texts that remain.


Mobile cloud learning, a combination of mobile learning and cloud computing, is a relatively new concept that holds considerable promise for future development and delivery in the education sectors. Cloud computing helps mobile learning overcome obstacles related to mobile computing. The main focus of this paper is to explore how cloud computing changes traditional mobile learning. A case study of the usage of Moodle in the cloud via mobile learning in Khalifa University was conducted.


Increasing renewable penetration has given rise to a series of challenges as regards the ability of electricity systems to balance supply and demand, particularly with high levels of intermittent renewable generation. This new scenario requires a detailed quantitative assessment of the way in which the electricity system might both deliver and accommodate higher levels of RES-E generation and of the associated economic costs for the consumer. The estimations reported in this paper for the Spanish electricity system stress the importance of demand imbalance when accounting for the cost of balancing services, in contrast with previous studies that have focused their attention more specifically on supply effects.


Hydrogen is considered as a sustainable fuel, especially for transport applications, if it is generated using renewable energy sources. Currently, most of the hydrogen is generated from fossil fuels for use in ammonia and fertilizer production, and petrochemical and metallurgical industries with very little use as an energy carrier. In future, the use of hydrogen as a transport fuel in fuel cell or internal combustion engine vehicles is likely to increase stemming from concern over potential oil shortage and greenhouse gas and other pollutant emissions. Electrolysis of water is one of the key technologies to generate hydrogen both at small (distributed productions at end‐use sites) and large scale. Solid electrolytic routes have been under consideration for many years with low‐temperature systems mainly based around polymer electrolyte membranes now reaching commercialization status. High‐temperature solid electrolyte systems can take advantage of utilizing the waste heat from nuclear or coal‐fired power plants or other chemical processes to reduce the electrical energy required, thus boosting the overall system efficiency for steam electrolysis. An overview of various solid electrolytic routes for hydrogen production, materials used, performance, and technology status is given.


The contributing role of vascular endothelium in the development of hypertension-related vascular damage is well accepted. Salt-sensitive hypertension is characterized by a cluster of renal, hormonal, and metabolic derangements that might favor the development of cardiovascular and renal damage. To evaluate endothelial involvement in salt-sensitive essential hypertension, plasma levels of several markers of endothelial damage such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), von Willebrand factor (vWf), and soluble (S-) adhesion molecules E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and 24-hour urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured in 39 nondiabetic, nonobese, never-treated essential hypertensive patients after intermediate (120 mmol/d), high (220 mmol/d), and low (20 mmol/d) NaCl diets. Patients were classified as salt sensitive (n=18) or salt resistant (n=21) according to their blood pressure responses to changes in dietary NaCl intake. Salt-sensitive hypertensives showed higher plasma ET-1 (P<0.05), vWf (P<0.005), and S-E-selectin levels (P<0.04) and increased UAE (P<0.05) than salt-resistant hypertensives. By contrast, circulating S-ICAM-1 and S-VCAM-1 concentrations were not significantly higher in salt-sensitive (596. 56+/-177.05 ng/mL and 541.06+/-157.84 ng/mL, respectively) than salt-resistant patients (516.86+/-147.99 ng/mL and 449.48+/-158.91 ng/mL, respectively). During the intermediate NaCl diet, plasma ET-1 responses to oral glucose load were greater in salt-sensitive (P<0. 05) than in salt-resistant patients. A marked (P<0.05) hyperinsulinemic response to oral glucose load was evident in salt-sensitive but not salt-resistant patients after each diet. This study shows increased plasma levels of the endothelium-derived substances E-selectin, vWf, and ET-1 in salt-sensitive hypertensives. Our findings support the hypothesis that salt sensitivity is correlated with an increased risk for developing hypertension-related cardiovascular damage.


This work considers optimal control of quantum-mechanical systems within the framework of perturbation theory with respect to the controlling optical electric field. The control problem is expressed in terms of a cost functional including the physical objective, the penalties, and constraints. The resultant nonlinear variational equations are linearized by considering the lowest-order term in an expansion in powers of the optical-field strength. The optical field is found to satisfy a linear integral equation, and the solution may be expressed in terms of a generalized eigenvalue problem associated with the corresponding kernel. A full determination of the field is specified through the solution to the integral equation and the roots of an accompanying linearized spectral equation for a characteristic multiplier parameter. Each discrete value of the latter parameter corresponds to a particular solution to the variational equations. As a result, it is argued that under very general conditions there will be a denumerably infinite number of solutions to well-posed quantum-mechanical optimal-control problems.


Invariant Natural killer T cell (iNKT cells) are a subset of T cells, which are narrowly defined as a T cell lineage expressing a semi-invariant CD1d-restricted T cell Receptors (TCRs) composed by Vα24-Jα18/Vβ11 in human, and Vα14-Jα18/Vβ8,Vβ7, and Vβ2 in mouse. Unlike conventional T cells which recognize peptides bound to highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules, iNKT cells recognize lipid antigens, such as glycolipids, presented by CD1d, a non-polymorphic non-classical MHC class I molecule. Lipids derived from microbes, tumors, and allergens, as well as self lipids have been shown to be able to activate iNKT cells. Early on, in an immune response, ligation of the iNKT cell TCR leads to rapid and copious secretion of prototypical Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Moreover, like NK cells, iNKT cells express cytotoxic granules, such as perforin and granzyme that polarize upon activation of TCR and are able to kill target cells. Therefore iNKT cells are a very interesting subset of T cells that may bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems. Indeed, iNKT cells can mount specific responses to antigen with cytokine production and cytotoxic activity, however, their TCR evolved to recognize different glycolipid antigens in a conserved manner and to perform innate-like rather than adaptive functions. iNKT cells are now recognized as important players in atopic, autoimmune, infectious diseases, and cancer.


This article explores the labour market dynamics of three groups of highly skilled foreign nationals in the UK: non-European Union (EU), Old EU (i.e. nationals of the other 14 countries that were members of the EU before 2004), and A8 (i.e. countries that joined the EU in 2004 with the exception of Malta and Cyprus). In particular, the article explores the impact of the UK business cycle on the labour market outcomes of these three groups and compares that impact with the one for highly skilled British nationals. Key findings include the following: (1) there is more evidence about the business cycle having an impact on employment and unemployment outcomes for those highly skilled workers who have greater access to the UK labour market and welfare system (i.e. British, Old EU, and A8 nationals); and (2) better economic conditions relate to a higher probability of self-employment for British nationals and to a lower probability of self-employment for A8 nationals. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Summary 1. The success of lianas in tropical rain forests has been linked to their wide xylem vessels that confer much higher hydraulic conductivity than tropical trees. In contrast, the poorer representation of lianas in temperate forests and high elevations might reflect lower competitiveness there, because of the vulnerability of high-performance xylem to freeze–thaw embolism. Nevertheless, the empirical evidence that support this idea is surprisingly scarce. 2. We assessed this hypothesis comparing the hydraulic performance of five lianas and nine trees coexisting in cold weather, by measuring wood traits, hydraulic conductivity, xylem embolism and root pressures. 3. Vessel diameters of lianas were on average twice those of trees (51� 3 vs. 23� 2 lm), resulting in an 18-fold difference in mean specific hydraulic conductivity (15� 5 vs. 1� 05 kg s � 1 m � 1 MPa � 1 ). Lianas on average suffered higher levels of freeze–thaw embolism than trees (29� 9 vs. 12� 8%), reducing their potential hydraulically supported competitive advantage; however, partially embolized lianas still had greater water transport capacity than trees. 4. Specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was well correlated with vessel size in lianas but not in trees; however, plants with big vessels were more vulnerable to freeze embolism. Although all species of lianas developed root pressures and these tended to be higher than trees, root pressure were insufficient to repair embolism in plants > c. 7 m tall. The magnitudes of root pressure were well correlated with vessel size in lianas, but this relationship was not observed in trees. 5. Synthesis: Our results show empirical evidence that hydraulic performance of temperate lianas exceed the performance of coexisting trees, in similar magnitude than its tropical counterparts. Nevertheless, this hydraulic advantage is reduced as a consequence of freeze embolism. Temperate lianas appear to employ a bet-hedging strategy entailing significant embolism in winter, but likely enabling rapid carbon gain during frost-free periods. Loss of winter carbon gain opportunities because of embolism may explain the low success of lianas in temperate rain forest. However, predicted future climatic scenarios could are likely to increase liana abundance in mid-latitudes and allow lianas to expand their ranges towards higher latitudes and elevations.


The recent emergence of the Euro, combined with the completion of a decade of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has sparked interest in adopting a common currency for North America. This study examines the likelihood that Canada, Mexico, and the United States will adopt a common currency under fixed exchange rate regimes. The benefits and costs of a common currency are explored using the theory of optimum currency areas (OCA). Empirical research focuses on several variables including intra-regional and intra-industry trade, trade openness, gross domestic product, inflation rates, interest rates, economic growth rates, business cycle synchronization, factor mobility, fiscal policy and monetary policy coordination. The analysis also presents a comparative analysis of NAFTA with Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) nations on different economic criteria. Finally, correlation and regression analysis further explores the likelihood that members of NAFTA will economically integrate. Though this research concludes that it is economically feasible for NAFTA members to move towards a common currency, this venture depends on the political readiness of the nations.


Food insecurity and hunger are closely associated with extreme poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean, but they should not be confused with it. A diet which is insufficient for leading a normal life and is also inadequate from a nutritional point of view affects not only those living in conditions of extreme poverty but also broader sectors and groups living in particular areas or regions of each country. Among the forms of deprivation affecting those living in a state of extreme poverty, however, the lack of access to food is the most serious problem and that which it is most urgent to eradicate. The importance of doing away with the most extreme hunger situations is reflected in the fact that the first development goal of the Millennium Declaration is the eradication of hunger from our planet, which is made the subject of specific targets and is given the same priority as the alleviation of poverty. Child undernutrition is the most serious manifestation of the ongoing lack of foodstuffs of sufficient quantity and quality to meet the energy needs of the whole population. Of the two forms which this undernutrition takes -low weight and low height for age- the retardation of growth is particularly serious in the countries of the region, both because of its high level of incidence and its irreversible ill-effects on the development of individuals and society. Since the International Conference on Nutrition (Rome, 1992); and the World Food Summit (Rome, 1996);, concern over food security and hunger has been displayed more and more clearly in the formulation of national food and nutritional security policies. In the Central American countries, various types of action have been taken in support of these initiatives, including in particular the establishment in 1991 of the Council of Central American Ministers of Health (COMISCA); and the Regional Commission on Social Affairs (CRAS);; the Social Integration Subsystem of the Central American Integration System (SISCA/SICA);, which was set up in 1993; the Fourteenth Summit Meeting of Central American Presidents (Guatemala, 1993);, which ratified the Regional Food and Nutritional Security Initiative (SAN); promoted by the Central American and Panamanian Nutritional Institute (INCAP/PAHO);; the 1996 World Food Summit, at which the countries of the region pledged "... our political will and our common and national commitment to achieving food security for all and to an ongoing effort to eradicate hunger in all countries, with an immediate view to reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present level no later than 2015."; and the mandates of the Twenty-second Iberoamerican Presidential Summit in December 2002, which include the adoption of a Strategic Framework prepared by the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC); to cope with the situation of food and nutritional insecurity associated with the prevailing conditions of drought and climate change. The main challenge has been to secure the assignment of high priority to food security on national policy agendas. The questions that this document seeks to address are to what extent the objectives aimed at relieving hunger are being attained and the causes and particular consequences of this phenomenon in the Central American countries. In order to find the answers to these questions, in early 2003 the Regional Office of the World Food Programme (WFP); and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); signed a three-year cooperation agreement which includes the preparation of a special chapter on hunger, undernutrition and poverty for the Social Panorama of Latin America, 2002-2003, as well as three annual reports analyzing this matter for groups of countries. Because of the seriousness of the problem, the first country group dealt with consists of the Central American countries and Panama.


In many regions, naturally occurring organic acid anions can effectively buffer mineral acid inputs from atmospheric deposition, moderating their effect on surface water pH. We studied the effect of chronically high inputs of acid rain on the chemistry of three brown-water streams in the western Czech Republic. The dissolved organic acids in the streams were similar in character to those of other systems in Europe and North America. The site densities (the carboxyl group content per mass of C) were similar to values reported from Fenno-Scandia, and the relationship between the apparent pKa and pH conformed to those from two North American studies. Sulfate and organic acid anions (OA−) were the dominant anions in all three streams, yet despite high dissolved organic carbon and total organic acid concentrations, OA − comprised only 21–32% of total anion charge. This pattern was due to very high sulfate concentrations and, in two of the streams, a low degree of dissociation of the organic acids, probably the results of high long-term inputs of strong acids. Stream water pH was highly correlated to sulfate concentration, but uncorrelated with OA−, suggesting that free acidity is controlled by strong mineral acids rather than organic acids. Thus future reductions in strong acid inputs should result in increased pH and a return to organic control over acid-base chemistry.


Turkish businessmen, politicians and most academicians tend to see foreign direct investment (FDI) as a remedy for the chronic lack of capital accumulation in Turkey. The meagre FDI inflows which followed the Customs Union Agreement with the European Union, in 1995, created a deep disappointment among these people. Efforts to attract foreign capital have intensified since 2005 and inflows have soared. However, the greater part of the increase is the result of the Turkish government's privatization programme of publicly owned companies, and the acquisition of private firms by large multinational companies, rather than greenfield investments. This research investigates FDI inflows to Turkey and tries to estimate the transfer of profits.


This report presents the development of a Stochastic Knock Detection (SKD) method for combustion knock detection in a spark-ignition engine using a model based design approach. Knock Signal Simulator (KSS) was developed as the plant model for the engine. The KSS as the plant model for the engine generates cycle-to-cycle accelerometer knock intensities following a stochastic approach with intensities that are generated using a Monte Carlo method from a lognormal distribution whose parameters have been predetermined from engine tests and dependent upon spark-timing, engine speed and load. The lognormal distribution has been shown to be a good approximation to the distribution of measured knock intensities over a range of engine conditions and spark-timings for multiple engines in previous studies. The SKD method is implemented in Knock Detection Module (KDM) which processes the knock intensities generated by KSS with a stochastic distribution estimation algorithm and outputs estimates of high and low knock intensity levels which characterize knock and reference level respectively. These estimates are then used to determine a knock factor which provides quantitative measure of knock level and can be used as a feedback signal to control engine knock. The knock factor is analyzed and compared with a traditional knock detection method to detect engine knock under various engine operating conditions. To verify the effectiveness of the SKD method, a knock controller was also developed and tested in a model-in-loop (MIL) system. The objective of the knock controller is to allow the engine to operate as close as possible to its borderline spark-timing without significant engine knock. The controller parameters were tuned to minimize the cycle-to-cycle variation in spark timing and the settling time of the controller in responding to step increase in spark advance resulting in the onset of engine knock. The simulation results showed that the combined system can be used adequately to model engine knock and evaluated knock control strategies for a wide range of engine operating conditions.


This fascinating new book dissects, from a Competition law perspective, how Research and Development collaborations operate under both US and EU antitrust law. Analyzing the evolution of this innovation landscape from the 1970s to the present day, Lundqvist details the modifications and amendments made over this time to the relevant legal acts and guidelines. In doing to, the author picks up on the slow shift that has taken place in both the antitrust laws of the USA and the Competition Rules of the EU. The book concludes by discussing the necessity for a stringent attitude towards the antitrust establishment, and how this can be developed by reviving the concept of the 'innovation market'.


ABSTRACT Awareness of risk factors for loneliness is a prerequisite for preventive action. Many risk factors for loneliness have been identified. This paper focuses on two: poor health and widowhood. Preventive action by developing a satisfying social network requires time and effort and thus seems appropriate for people unexposed to risk factors, i.e. third agers and non-lonely persons. The third age is the period in old age after retirement, before people's social relationships deteriorate. This paper addresses three questions: Are older adults aware of poor health and widowhood as risk factors for loneliness? Are there differences in awareness between third and fourth agers? Are there differences in awareness between lonely and non-lonely older adults? After being introduced to four vignette persons, 920 respondents from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were asked whether they expected these persons to be lonely. Older adults, especially third agers, expected peers exposed to the risk factors to be lonely more often than peers who were unexposed. The results indicate that awareness of loneliness-provoking factors is high among third agers, which is a first step towards taking actions to avoid loneliness. Compared to lonely older adults, non-lonely ones expected peers to be lonely less often, suggesting the latter's lower awareness of the risk factors. The results provide evidence for policy makers and practitioners that combating loneliness might require early action.


The work presented as follows is the final project of my five years Industrial Engineering degree. It tries to make good use of the skills acquired along the degree as well as to learn new ones. The project is focused in the characterisation, modelling and calibration of an electrothermal MEMS mirror with 3 degrees of freedom. This mirrors are used in applications based on optical microsystems such as confocal microscopes for sample analysis, microspectrometers, optical coherence tomographies for in-vivo cancer detection and laser microsurgery among others. All this applications make the study of MEMS mirrors a great and interesting opportunity. Hence, to achieve a complete characterisation and developing a good model are basic to succeed in the control of the device in a near future. The work is divided in 4 main chapters, the first one where an introduction of the topic is done, the second one presents the device used as well as introduces to the reader to electrothermal actuation. The third chapter demonstrates an electrothermal model which is validated later in chapter 4 where all the experimentation is presented. Finally some conclusions about the work and the training period are done.


There is intense debate as to whether glyphosate can interfere with aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, which could potentially lead to negative health outcomes. We have addressed this major gap in glyphosate toxicology by using a multi-omics strategy combining shotgun metagenomics and metabolomics. We tested whether glyphosate (0.5, 50, 175 mg/kg bw/day), or its representative EU commercial herbicide formulation MON 52276 at the same glyphosate equivalent doses, has an effect on the rat gut microbiome in a 90-day subchronic toxicity test. Clinical biochemistry measurements in blood and histopathological evaluations showed that MON 52276 but not glyphosate was associated with statistically significant increase in hepatic steatosis and necrosis. Similar lesions were also present in the liver of glyphosate-treated groups but not in the control group. Caecum metabolomics revealed that glyphosate inhibits the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase in the shikimate pathway as evidenced by an accumulation of shikimic acid and 3-dehydroshikimic acid. Levels of caecal microbiome dipeptides involved in the regulation of redox balance (γ-glutamylglutamine, cysteinylglycine, valylglycine) had their levels significantly increased. Shotgun metagenomics showed that glyphosate affected caecum microbial community structure and increased levels of Eggerthella spp. and Homeothermacea spp.. MON 52276, but not glyphosate, increased the relative abundance of Shinella zoogleoides. Since Shinella spp. are known to degrade alkaloids, its increased abundance may explain the decrease in solanidine levels measured with MON 52776 but not glyphosate. Other glyphosate formulations may have different effects since Roundup® GT Plus inhibited bacterial growth in vitro at concentrations at which MON 52276 did not present any visible effect. Our study highlights the power of a multiomics approach to investigate effects of pesticides on the gut microbiome. This revealed the first biomarker of glyphosate effects on rat gut microbiome. Although more studies will be needed to ascertain if there are health implications arising from glyphosate inhibition of the shikimate pathway in the gut microbiome, our findings can be used in environmental epidemiological studies to understand if glyphosate can have biological effects in human populations. Graphical Abstract


Leadership or activities lead an effort by someone with all the ability they have to influence, encourage, direct and mobilize the people who led them to set to work with enthusiasm and confidence in achieving its goals. Educational leadership is a readiness, the ability of a person in the process of influencing, encouraging, guiding, directing and mobilizing others to do with the implementation and development of education and teaching so that all activities can be run effectively and efficiently in achieving educational goals.


Apoptosis can be distinguished from necrosis, the classical form of cell death, by several morphological and biochemical criteria. Apoptotic cells, but not necrotic cells, show early condensation of chromatin as well as endonuclease activation resulting in cleavage of the nuclear DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments. Both physiological and low level cytotoxic stimuli have been shown to induce apoptosis, which in some cell models can be suppressed by inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis. The concept of the cell being actively involved in its own death, combined with the demonstration that factors which alter the rate of cell death, such as the proto-oncogene bcl-2, can directly affect the number of cells within a population, has resulted in the identification of cell death alongside proliferation and differentiation as a means for controlling celi population growth. The purpose of this study was to determine if bcl-2 and the Epstein-Barr virus gene BHRF1, which share 25% primary amino acid sequence homology, could suppress apoptosis in response to a variety of anti-cancer treatments. After demonstrating apoptotic cell death on treatment with chemotherapeutic agents in an IL-3 dependent cell line (FDCP-1) and three different EBV genome-positive Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, the survival of EBV-BL cell lines expressing either exogenous bcl-2 or BHRF1 was examined. Suppression of apoptosis in response to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs or y radiation was clearly shown in EBVBL cells expressing bcl-2 or BHRF1 when compared to control transfectants. This study has further confirmed that BHRF1 is functionally homologous to bcl-2, suggesting that BHRF1 may act to prevent apoptosis during EBV infection. Suppression of chemotherapeutic drug induced cell death by either bcl-2 or BHRF1 also represents a novel form of drug resistance and may form an alternative mechanism by which multidrug resistance may arise during chemotherapy. The identification and investigation of other genes which produce suppression of apoptosis is also important in order to determine the extent of involvement of apoptotic suppression in the transformation to the malignant state and in the acquisition of multidrug resistance. A protocol to screen for 'apoptosis-suppressed cells' in the FDCP-1 E -3 dependent cell line was developed to identify new genes involved in the pathway(s) of apoptosis.


John Knowles Paine. The Complete Organ Works. Edited by Wayne Leupold and Murray Forbes Somerville. (American Classic and Romantic Organ Music, 1-2.) Boston: Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc.; sole USA and Canadian selling agent: ECS Publishing, c1996. [Vol. 1 (ed. W. Leupold): Previously Published Compositions. Pref., p. 2-6; 2 plates; score, p. 9-74. WL 600038. $20. Vol. 2 (ed. M. F. Somerville): Previously Unpublished Compositions. Pref. (W. Leupold), p. 2-6; essay "The Unpublished Organ Works" (M. F. Somerville), p. 7-9; i plate; score, p. 11-83. WL 60078. $25.] Arthur Foote. The Complete Organ Works. Edited by Wayne Leupold. 2d ed. (American Classic and Romantic Organ Music, 3-4.) Boston: Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc.; sole USA and Canadian selling agent: ECS Publishing, c1996. [Vol. 1. 1 plate; pref. p. 3- 6; score, p. 7-73. WL 600036. $20. Vol. 2. 1 plate; pref. p. 3-6; score, p. 8-71. WL 60080. $20.] Horatio Parker. The Complete Organ Works. Vol. 1, Sonata in Eb. Edited by Wayne Leupold. (American Classic and Romantic Organ Music, 5.) Boston: Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc.; sole USA and Canadian selling agent: ECS Publishing, c1996. [2 plates; pref. p. 4-9; 2 plates; essay "Contemporary Music" (Horatio Parker), p. 12-16; score, p. 17-56. WL 600079. $22.75] Horatio Parker. Sonata es-moll, op. 65. Herausgegeben von Martin Weyer. (Sinfonische Orgel, 3.) Kassel: Barenreiter, c1999. [Pref. in Ger., Eng. And 1 plate, p. ii-viii; score, 40 p.; Krit. Bericht, p. 41-43. ISMN M-006-502509; BA 8247. DM 34.] Wayne Leupold Editions provides organists with a wide offering of publications, including original compositions for organ, transcriptions, and teaching materials. Since its founding in 1989, this publishing firm has given special attention to late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century organ music that has previously been difficult to obtain. The organ works of American composers John Knowles Paine (1839-1906), Arthur Foote (1853-1937), and Horatio Parker (1863-1919) represent some of the most important compositions from this neglected repertory. Paine was the first of these three Americans to compose for the organ. His musical studies in Berlin from 1858 to 1861 coincided with a major revival in Germany of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The influence of the great baroque master can be seen in Paine's youthful compositions from the 1860s. After returning to the United States, Paine became widely acclaimed as a brilliant recitalist, performing throughout the Boston area and serving as organist at Harvard University's Appleton Chapel for several decades. While in the latter position, he also taught music courses at the university and, in 1875, became a full professor at Harvard, one of the first professorships of music at an American university. Following this major advancement in his career, Paine ceased to compose works for keyboard instruments, devoting his time instead to choral, vocal, and chamber music as well as works for the stage. All of his extant music for organ dates from the 1860s, the earliest period of his composing career. Only six of these compositions were published during his lifetime, and other works known to have been composed are lost. As a student at Harvard during the early 1870s, Foote studied counterpoint and fugue with Paine. In 1875, Foote received an M.A. degree in music from Harvard, the first one to be awarded by an American university. Foote served as a church organist in the Boston area from 1876 until 1910. A prolific composer for over forty years, he wrote most of his organ works during the years 1900 to 1915--the mature phase of his career, and a period during which he was one of the best-known and admired composers in the United States. Although Paine, his teacher, composed organ works in larger forms more suitable for the recital repertory, Foote wrote, for the most part, in shorter forms intended primarily for church services. All of his organ music was published during his lifetime. …


Under normal growth conditions, the tumor suppressor protein p53 is ubiquitinated and degraded, and cells proliferate. However, when cells are under stress, p53 accumulates and induces the expression of the gene encoding p21, which triggers cell cycle arrest. Signals from integrins, transmembrane receptors involved in cell adhesion, can counteract the activation of p53, but the mechanism involved is unclear. Lim et al. investigated whether focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase stimulated by integrin activation, might regulate p53 activity. They generated fak–/– mice, which were embryonic lethal due to a block in mesodermal cell proliferation. Western blotting analyses showed that the abundance of p53 was higher in fak–/– embryos than in wild-type embryos. Whereas cells taken from fak–/– embryos did not proliferate in culture, those taken from fak–/–p53–/– or fak–/–p21–/– embryos did. Expression of FAK, a kinase-inactive FAK, or the FAK FERM domain (which regulates kinase activity) in fak–/–p21–/– fibroblasts reduced the abundance of p53 compared to that in control fak–/–p21–/– fibroblasts. The effects of FAK and FAK FERM were blocked by a proteasomal inhibitor. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting studies demonstrated that FAK was localized to the nucleus (an effect dependent on FERM) and that it mediated the ubiquitination and degradation of p53. Coimmunoprecipitation studies showed the formation of a complex between FAK, p53, and the E3 ubiquitin ligase Mdm2, which was also FERM-dependent. Depletion of FAK from human fibroblasts resulted in increased abundance of p53 and p21 and an increased susceptibility to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Together, these data suggest a kinase-independent, FERM-dependent role for FAK as a nuclear scaffold protein that targets p53 for degradation and enhances cell proliferation. S.-T. Lim, X. L. Chen, Y. Lim, D. A. Hanson, T.-T. Vo, K. Howerton, N. Larocque, S. J. Fisher, D. D. Schlaepfer, D. Ilic, Nuclear FAK promotes cell proliferation and survival through FERM-enhanced p53 degradation. Mol. Cell 29, 9-22 (2008). [PubMed]


The advancement of cancer treatment depends on understanding the biological processes that contribute to disease progression. The spread of tumor cells from the primary site to distant organs is the biggest obstacle to efficacious treatment. The insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins IRS1 and IRS2 are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that organize signaling events downstream of the Insulin receptor (IR) and the Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF1R). Both of these receptors have been implicated in cancer progression. The IRS proteins share a significant level of homology and are both capable of recruiting and activating phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K). Despite these similarities, signaling through IRS1 and IRS2 leads to distinct tumor cell outcomes in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, IRS1 regulates cell proliferation and growth and IRS2 regulates metabolism, survival and invasion. In vivo, Irs2 is a positive regulator of tumor metastasis, whereas Irs1 does not promote metastasis. The major objective of this thesis work was to further the understanding of the mechanism by which IRS2 signaling regulates tumor progression. To investigate how IRS-1 and IRS-2 regulate distinct tumor cell outcomes, I examined the involvement of the microtubule cytoskeleton in IRS-dependent signaling. I determined that IRS2-mediated AKT activation is dependent upon an intact microtubule cytoskeleton, whereas IRS1-mediated AKT signaling occurs independently of microtubules. As a result, drugs that disrupt microtubules promote apoptosis in cells that signal through IRS2, but cells that signal through IRS1 are resistant to the effects of microtubule disruption. However, AKT inhibition sensitizes IRS1-dependent cells to apoptotic cell death upon microtubule disruption. From a clinical perspective, my studies identify IRS2 as a potential biomarker for the response of breast cancer patients to anti-microtubule drug therapy. To investigate further the mechanism of IRS2 contributions to tumor progression, I employed a mutagenesis approach to identify structural requirements of IRS2 for its function. I established that the ability of IRS2 to activate PI3K is necessary for its regulation of both invasion and tumor initiating cell (TIC) self-renewal. I also identified two independent regions within the IRS2 C-terminus that are required for invasion and self-renewal, respectively. Characterization of the invasion-promoting region identified BMP2-induced protein kinase (BMP2K) as an interacting protein. Suppression of BMP2K expression in mammary tumor cells disrupts IRS2-mediated tumor cell invasion. Taken together, my work advances the understanding of how IRS2 contributes to breast cancer progression and provides a molecular understanding for the development of novel approaches for the treatment of breast cancer and other malignancies that rely upon IRS2.


The poor often save through informal methods outside of the financial systems of developing countries, restricting the extent to which their savings can help fuel growth. Moreover, a growing number of studies show large positive effects on outcomes among the poor from possessing a savings account. However, the vast majority of adults in the developing world do not have even a basic account. This paper uses a randomized field experiment in Malawi with over 2,000 households to examine an innovative approach to spur financial inclusion. The results show that periodic informational visits to a village can sharply increase take-up and use of savings accounts. The impact on adoption probability depends on a few key household characteristics, its effect the strongest for households in middle wealth categories, with educated heads, living outside the immediate vicinity of the bank. Results show account usage is robust among induced adopters. The randomly assigned information intervention is then used to identify sharp causal impacts of savings adoption on agricultural production inputs, crop income, and food consumption among farming households in poor rural areas. These results help extend a fast-growing literature on formal savings by examining a novel and effective method to encourage uptake and better understand the impact of savings accounts among poor farmers – the largest occupational group among the poor.


This paper develops a network approach to lobbying. We posit that the building blocks of the lobbying game are relationships, with lobbyists and legislators benefitting from bonds based on familiarity and mutual interest. Using data on contributions from lobbyists to legislators in the 2006 electoral cycle, we identify key dimensions of this network. We find that legislators are more likely to receive donations from the same lobbyists if they are from the same party (in the Senate), state, or committee; if they are both vulnerable in the next election; and the number of common donors increases the more agreement there is in the voting record of a pair of legislators.


OF THESIS INVESTMENT FOR TRADE? IMPACT OF INVESTMENT FROM GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COUNTRIES ON TRADE The world has made great progress over the centuries through the massive increase in the interconnectedness of nations around the globe. Today, the world is connected through various ways, including the movement of goods, people, and money. The amount of goods traded across countries borders has drastically increased as the result of technological progress and the removal of barriers to trade. Not only has the world become more interconnected with the physical flows of goods and services, but also countries of the world have become more integrated financially. This study proposes to analyze how increase in financial flows, as measured by Foreign Direct Investment, impact physical flows of goods, as measured by trade. The study focuses on Gulf countries. These countries represent an interesting case study given the structure of their economies, their massive natural resource endowments and heavy reliance on oil and natural gas revenue, and their large sovereign funds. Using panel data for the years 2001-2012 and reliable econometric techniques, the study assesses the impacts of increased investment from Gulf countries on the imports from and exports to partner countries. The results show that both FDI inflows and outflows significantly increase imports to and exports from the Gulf countries. The results are robust to various estimations methods and remain valid for both agricultural and nonagricultural products. The findings of the study provide a better understanding of the trade-investment nexus and shed light on the underlying motives of investment by Gulf countries. Inflows and outflows of investment serve as a strategic option for Gulf countries to both promote their exports while securing their supply in consumer and capital goods.


Gathercole & Thomas (2009) concluded that Welsh children easily gained proficiency in the majority language (English) whereas the acquisition of the minority language (Welsh) lagged behind due to reduced input. Does this trend also occur in other minority language contexts, e.g. for Frisian in a context where Dutch is the majority language? In this longitudinal study, 98 toddlers were tested every six months for 1.5 years with respect to their receptive and productive vocabulary in Frisian and Dutch. Our research question was: what is the influence of the home language on the acquisition of Frisian and Dutch? Results from the first round of measurements indicate that an effect of the home language is present with respect to Frisian receptive and productive vocabulary and Dutch productive vocabulary. Interestingly, no effect of the home language is found on Dutch receptive vocabulary: for Dutch receptive vocabulary, it does not seem to matter whether a child has Frisian or Dutch as their home language.


The growth of urbanization in Malaysia has led to a greater demand of construction projects especially for building development. The demand has created pressure on the sustainability issues especially in urban area of the country. There are many efforts relating to sustainability integration in building projects have been implemented in Malaysia. Unfortunately, till now the issues of unsustainable building projects in the county are likely to persist. This denotes that there is a gap between the field of sustainability and the integration practices within Malaysian building projects. In the absent of a proper sustainability integration framework, thus, this research aims to develop an appropriate framework to integrate sustainability into the buildings' project planning process towards delivering successful sustainable buildings in the country. Several research methodologies were used to achieve a thorough study for this research which are quantitative, qualitative and case study approach (mixed-methods).
The findings of literature review were synthesized to formulate a preliminary framework of Integrating Sustainability into the Project Planning Process. The framework consists of the lists of sustainability principles of building (29 factors) and the strategies to integrate the principles into the project planning process (21 factors). The fifty (50) factors have gone through refining processes by involving 188 Malaysian project stakeholders. Quantitative survey was employed to elicit this knowledge. The framework was then brought into the case study and qualitative phase for further refining process and the external validation. The framework was also applied to the chosen three case study projects to identify the practicality. The final proposal devised at the end of this thesis comes in the form of a 'Framework of Integrating Sustainability into the Project Planning Process' with the remaining of 42 validated factors. The proposed framework will provide a better understanding to the project stakeholders on the sustainability principles of buildings and to expose them to the strategies to integrate the principles into the project planning process. Findings suggest significant connections exist between the level of project performances and the practices of the sustainability integration factors as proposed in the framework. It is remarkable that excellent performance of a sustainable building project is achieved when the sustainability principles are integrated efficiently into the project planning process. The thesis outcomes could provide an essential guide during the planning process towards delivering a successful sustainable building project in Malaysia in the future.


The idea of "promoting democracy" is one that goes in and out of favor. With the advent of the so-called "Arab Spring", the idea of promoting democracy abroad has come up for discussion once again. Yet an important recent line of thinking about human rights, starting with John Rawls's book The Law of Peoples, has held that there is no human right to democracy, and that nondemocratic states that respect human rights should be "beyond reproach" in the realm of international relations. This is, for obvious reasons, a controversial view, especially given the powerful and important arguments purporting to show that democracies do significantly better than nondemocracies in promoting internal peace and equality, and in engaging in peaceful international cooperation. Both proponents and opponents of the Rawlsian view of human rights have argued that the view implies that democracies may not "promote democracy" in nondemocratic societies. But, given that all parties to this dispute agree that democracy is necessary for justice, and given the important instrumental goods provided by democracy, the Rawlsian view has seemed deeply implausible to many. In this paper I blunt this challenge to the Rawlsian view by showing how, even if there is no human right to democracy, we may still rightfully promote democracy in a number of ways and cases. Showing this requires investigation of what it means to "promote democracy", and a more careful inspection of when various methods of promoting democracy are appropriate than has been done by most political theorists working on human rights. When we look carefully, we can see that in some instances acceptable forms of promoting democracy are compatible with the Rawlsian view of human rights, and that this view is therefore not vulnerable to the "instrumentalist" challenge. We also see how, if political philosophy is to be useful, it must be less abstract and look closely at actual cases.This paper posted by permission of the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. For information visit the Stanford University website.


Beyond the general impact of shocks on economic growth there are specific effects of shocks on revenue systems that shape the capacity of governments to react to adverse external events and sustain development expenditure. These effects vary not only with the kinds of shock affecting the economies, but also with the characteristics of these economies (welfare levels, dependence on natural resources, etc.), the political and administrative capacity of states to react to changing situations, and the structure of the tax systems. Shocks do not only affect the level of tax collection, but also the stability and predictability of revenue. The latter is critical with regard to the adaptation to exogenous changes as well as the financial ability of states to recover from adverse external events. This study presents an approach to empirically assess the impact of several kinds of shocks on revenue systems in a broad set of countries, and in developing countries in particular. The study thus contributes to an evidence-based policy of the European Commission aimed at strengthening the capacity of developing countries to absorb external shocks and thereby stabilising development expenditures. In particular, it provides evidence on the vulnerability to external shocks of tax revenues in developing countries and presents policy options to strengthen the resilience of tax systems.


BACKGROUND
Traditional Botanical Supplement-101 (TBS-101) is a newly developed proprietary botanical agent containing seven standardized botanical extracts, including: Panax ginseng, cranberry, green tea, grape skin, grape seed, Ganoderma lucidum and chamomile. Each of the components has been consumed either in the regular diet or as natural supplement. When used as a single agent, each of these seven botanicals has been implicated in chemoprevention and therapy in various types of cancer. The anticancer effect of TBS-101, with the specific combination of these anti-cancer botanicals for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), has not been tested.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The IC(50) and the effect of TBS-101 on the proliferation and apoptosis of PC-3 cells were determined. Tumor xenograft mice were generated by subcutaneously implanting PC-3 cells into mice and tumors were allowed to grow to different sizes before starting the treatment. The effects of TBS-101 on tumor growth were assessed by measuring tumor size and by histological, pathological and immunohistochemical analyses. A basic toxicity study was performed to test the tolerance of the mice to high doses of TBS-101.

RESULTS
Treatment of the PC-3 cells with TBS-101 resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, with an IC(50) of 1.4 microg/ml. A concomitant induction of apoptosis in PC-3 cells treated with TBS-101 was also observed. Upon the treatment with TBS-101, all three groups of mice bearing moderate or large tumors showed significant inhibition of tumor growth and invasion. In contrast, control mice treated with vehicle alone had significant tumor growth and lymph node metastasis. In the basic toxicity studies, high doses of TBS-101 exerted no toxicity in healthy or tumor-bearing mice.

CONCLUSION
The natural botanical agent TBS-101 has a good safety profile and significant anticancer activities in hormone-refractory PC-3 cells and large aggressive PC-3 tumors in a xenograft mouse model and has great potential for the treatment of aggressive prostate cancer.


India is the largest groundwater user in the world, with an estimated usage of around 230 km 3 per year. Agricultural demand for irrigation is already the single largest draw on India9s water, yet estimates by the Ministry of Water Resources indicate that by the year 2050 irrigation needs will rise by 56%. From the climate change viewpoint, India9s groundwater hotspots are concentrated in the seven states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The state of Punjab, with only 1.57% of the total geographical area, is contributing 27–40% rice, 55–65% wheat and 18–25% cotton to the central pool since the last three decades. The dropping water levels in these regions are largely attributed to unsustainable consumption of groundwater for irrigation and other uses along with increased runoff and/or evapotranspiration, which climate change may further exacerbate. This paper presents an overview of current groundwater issues and examines the potential and negative effects of climate change on the groundwater resources in Punjab. Therefore, in this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the problem of declining groundwater resources and possible factors responsible for this and suggest suitable strategies for arresting over-exploitation and for sustainable agriculture in Punjab.


Nowadays, many P2P applications proliferate in the Internet. The attractiveness of many of these systems relies on the collaborative approach used to exchange large resources without the dependence and associated constraints of centralized approaches where a single server is responsible to handle all the requests from the clients. As consequence, some P2P systems are also interesting and cost-effective approaches to be adopted by content providers and other Internet players. However, there are several coexistence problems between P2P applications and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) due to the unforeseeable behavior of P2P traffic aggregates in ISP infrastructures. In this context, this work proposes a collaborative P2P/ISP system able to underpin the development of novel Traffic Engineering (TE) mechanisms contributing for a better coexistence between P2P applications and ISPs. Using the devised system, two TE methods are described being able to estimate and control the impact of P2P traffic aggregates on the ISP network links. One of the TE methods allows that ISP administrators are able to foresee the expected impact that a given P2P swarm will have in the underlying network infrastructure. The other TE method enables the definition of ISP friendly P2P topologies, where specific network links are protected from P2P traffic. As result, the proposed system and associated mechanisms will contribute for improved ISP resource management tasks and to foster the deployment of innovative ISP-friendly systems.


Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius) do not habitually use tools, yet they can be trained to solve object-dropping tasks, i.e. to insert a tool into an apparatus to release a food reward. Previous research suggests the these jays can learn a preference toward functional tools – objects allowing to obtain a food reward placed inside an apparatus – according to their density (Cheke et al., 2011). However, it is not yet known whether they can also select functional tools (tool selectivity) according to other physical properties such as size and shape, and use different kinds of tools to solve a similar task. Here we conducted three object-dropping experiments aimed at exploring these abilities in Eurasian jays. In Experiment 1, jays tended to select large stones as tools irrespective of the diameter of the apparatus. However, jays progressively developed a preference for the small tool, which was functional with both the wide and the narrow apparatuses. In Experiment 2, only vertically-oriented long stones could fit into the narrow apparatus, whereas both long and round stones were functional with the wide apparatus. Jays showed a preference for the long stone and, with the narrow apparatus, tended to achieve the correct manipulation after one or more unsuccessful attempts. In Experiment 3, jays were able to use sticks and adopt a novel technique on the same object-dropping apparatus, thus providing the first evidence that Eurasian jays can use sticks as tools. Taken together, these results indicate that Eurasian jays may have limited tool selectivity abilities but nonetheless can use different kinds of tools to solve similar tasks.


Based on physical laws of similarity, an analytic solution of the soil water potential form of the Richards equation was derived for water infiltration into a homogeneous sand. The derivation assumes a similarity between the soil water retention function and that of the soil water content profiles taken at fixed times. The new solution successfully described soil water content profiles experimentally measured for water infiltrating downward, upward, and horizontally into a homogeneous sand and agrees with that presented by Philip in 1957. The utility of this analysis is still to be verified, but it is expected to hold for soils that have a narrow pore‐size distribution before wetting and that manifest a sharp increase of water content at the wetting front during infiltration. The effect of van Genuchten's parameters α and n on the application of the solution to other porous media was investigated. The solution also improves and provides a more realistic description of the infiltration process than that pioneered by Green and Ampt in 1911.