The Wayana, who belong to the group of Caribbean speaking peoples, live dispersed over three countries: Brazil, French Guyana and Suriname. 'Wayana' is in fact a generic name for several ethnic groups which, probably in order to increase their chances of survival, have joined forces under one autonym since the end of the eighteenth century. For a long time outsiders have stood in wonderment and in awe at the spectacular rituals of the Wayana. Gradually they grew to be represented as the 'exotic other' and made into a curiosity. This way of thinking created a static picture of the Wayana. For a long time it was thought that changes among Indigenous peoples, like the Wayana, could only be brought about by outside influences. If that outside influence could be contained, such was the reasoning, Indigenous peoples could be 'preserved' and kept safe for the future. Present-day Wayana however, appear to be quite emancipated and self-confident people who manage to a certain extent, to shape things as they wish. They are not passive objects, but rather actors of social change, even if they might not always be able to foresee the consequences of their actions. Present-day anthropological studies of Amazonia indicate that the changes which the Indigenous communities are undergoing, should be ascribed to both local as well as global processes. Indigenous communities are not so much - and not only - determined by their natural surroundings, but even more by regional and historical dynamics as well as social interaction, and by political decision making. One of the main themes of this book is that this also applies to the Wayana. The key questions of this book are: Which local, regional, global, as well as ecological, historical and/or social factors in the past and in the present have influenced the ethnogenesis of the Wayana and which factors have been or are still responsible for changes within and around the Wayana group? Which actors have played and still play a role and why? What have been the interests, motives and considerations of the Wayana in this? How have they managed to safeguard their existence up till now? And then as regards the future: what are the present options for the Wayana to guarantee their continuance as an ethnic group? To answer these key questions this book describes the various local, regional, global as well as ecological, historical and social factors that have influenced the ethnogenesis of the Wayana and still do. The meeting of different cultures is not always benevolent or beneficial, it can also be devastating. The Wayana know that; they have learned from experience. Yet the present-day Wayana will continue to seek contacts with others, as well as innovation and change. They are convinced that the intermingling with other peoples and the joining of national, regional and international (interest) groups will enable them - as in the past – to forge alliances and to acquire skills and knowledge with which they can safeguard their future.


A study was undertaken to characterise seminal heparin binding proteins (HBP) of Sahiwal-Friesian bulls and rabbits and to investigate the influence of HBP on the reproductive performance of Sahiwal-Friesian bulls and rabbits. Using one dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide (SDS-PAGE) gel electrophoresis, the major classes of HBP identified and isolated from Sahiwal-Friesian bulls and rabbits were with molecular weights of 15, 25, 30, 38 and 42, 15, 25, 38, 42 and 101 kDa, respectively. Bulls of varying fertility were found to have similar classes of HBP in their seminal fluids in the present study. This may show that the presence of the different classes of HBP in seminal fluid may not be an indicative of bull fertility. Heparin and lyophilised HBP were found to have no effect on the percentage of spermatozoa motility in Sahiwal-Friesian buIIs and rabbits. However, the addition of heparin or Iyophilised HBP to epididymal spermatozoa and ejaculated spermatozoa has significantly increased the rate of acrosome reaction in both the species. The present study also showed that rabbits inseminated with epididymal spermatozoa without the addition of HBP produced significantly higher mean Jittered rates and mean litter born per doe as compared to those animals inseminated with epididymal spermatozoa treated with d ifferent levels of HBP. These results showed that epididymal spermatozoa of rabbit could fertilise oocytes without prior exposure to HBP or seminal fluid whose HBP were believed to be necessary for capacitation of spermatozoa in cattle and rabbit. The group of rabbits inseminated with epididymal spermatozoa treated with HBP at the rate of 4 mg/ml, recorded significantly lower mean litter born per doe as compared to those female rabbits inseminated with epididymal spermatozoa treated with HBP at the lower rates. These results may show that a higher concentration of lyophilized HBP causes more damage to the epididymal spermatozoa instead of further improving their fertilising ability. Among the four groups of rabbits inseminated with epididymal spermatozoa (ES), epididymal spennatozoa with HBP (ESII), ejaculated spennatozoa (ESM)
and ejaculated spennatozoa with HBP (ESMH), there was no significant difference found for the litter rate between the groups inseminated at 0 hour. However, for animals inseminated at 6 hours after induction of ovulation, the
litter rate was significantly lower in the group inseminated with ES as compared to the other three groups which were inseminated with spennatozoa which had either natural HBP or added lyophilised HBP. In the present study, it was also found that none of the female rabbits inseminated at 12 and 24 hours after the vaginal stimulation littered. It was also observed that epididymal spennatozoa samples added with Iyophilised HBP bound significantly higher concentration of tritiated (3H) heparin to their membrane as compared to samples that were devoid of HBP. The present study also showed that higher fertile bulls bound significantly higher concentrations of (3H) heparin to their spennatozoa membrane than the lower fertile bulls. From this study, it can be concluded that (i) epididymal spennatozoa of rabbits could fertilise oocytes without prior exposure to HBP or seminal fluid in the rabbit and (ii) Sahiwal-Friesian bulls could be selected based on their ability to hind (3H) heparin to their spemmtozoa.


Raptors are popular and iconic birds, and are important ecologically, with some species listed as threatened. Yet they are among the most difficult birds to identify. This fully updated Third Edition of the popular and award-winning field guide Birds of Prey of Australia contains two sections: a field guide with distribution maps, detailed illustrations and information on identification; and a handbook which includes an overview of the current knowledge about raptors, including their biology, ecology and behaviour. An illustrated section on difficult-to-distinguish species pairs is also included, along with new photographs.
Birds of Prey of Australia will appeal to a wide range of readers, including ornithologists, raptor biologists, birdwatchers, wildlife rescuers/carers, raptor rehabilitators, zookeepers, naturalists, bushwalkers, ecological consultants, fauna authorities, park rangers, state forestry personnel and students.


In this research paper the study depicts the status of library automation in Marathwada Shikshan Prasarak Mandal Aurangabad College libraries spread in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state, with a comprehensive analysis. The article discusses the newly emerging trends and developments in the field of library science, the areas covered in this, are available library services and resources, status of library automation, digital library infrastructure, and means and ways for their improvement. The present study evaluates the library automation and services available in the M.S. P. Mandal's college library. Data collected through distribution of questionnaire to 21 colleges but 17 college libraries responded to the questionnaire. The results of the survey are presented and discussed in this paper.


Retailers may enjoy stable cartel rents in their output market through the formation of a buyer group in their input market. A buyer group allows retailers to credibly commit to increased input prices, which serve to reduce combined final output to the monopoly level; increased input costs are then refunded from suppliers to retailers through slotting allowances or rebates. The stability of such an "implied cartel" depends on the retailers' incentives to secretly source from a supplier outside of the buyer group arrangement at lower input prices. Cheating is limited if retailers sign exclusive dealing or minimum purchase provisions. We discuss the relevancy of our findings for antitrust policy.


Watts, Irene N., Touched by Fire. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2013. Print. In the first decade of the 20 th century, Miriam Markovitz and her family have fled their small town in the country to live in Kiev. She and her family are Jewish and the Tsar does not favor Jews. After narrowly escaping the pogroms, Miriam's father Sam dreams of taking the whole family to America. Known as the "Golden Land", in America Jews are free of persecution. Over the next few years the family relocates to Berlin where Miriam's parents and grandparents work hard to save enough money. The plan is for Sam to travel to New York ahead of the family. Miriam is fourteen years old when the first set of tickets to America arrives in the mail from her father. Leaving on the adventure of their lives, the Markovitz family must endure illnesses, family quarrels, and filth. For Miriam it seems crossing the ocean is the hardest thing she has very done, but she is destined to witness an even worse tragedy in her new country. Touched By Fire is an enlightening story that brings to light many of the injustices Jews were forced to face, long before the anti-Semitism of the Nazis' era. It is easy to form an attachment to the characters, and I found myself hoping and worrying for the Markovitz family. Miriam is especially vivid and comes out clearly as a strong and self-sacrificing heroine. These positive points aside, there were some peculiarities about this book that stood out in my mind. Firstly, Miriam's journey is relatively tame, especially when you consider how graphic young adult literature has become. While there is a fair share of danger and hardship in the journey, Watts has left the harsher struggles to be faced by minor characters, leaving Miriam as merely a witness. I would also have liked more development of the characters Miriam met along the way. Leaving these characters underdeveloped reduced the impact of their struggles and made Miriam's feelings about them somewhat flat. Finally, I must admit to some puzzlement as to why Watts chose to give the book the title Touched By Fire , as it refers strictly to the tragedy detailed in the conclusion, when most of the book's focus is on Miriam's journey and her maturation. In considering these criticisms alongside the overall story, I found myself divided as to how I felt about the book. I have to conclude that younger readers may not be drawn to these inconsistences and nuances, but would rather enjoy the story for the picture it paints of the time period. I have therefore given the book three out four stars. Touched by Fire is most suitable for children ages 9-13 and would be enjoyed by young readers that enjoy historical fiction. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Hanne Pearce Hanne Pearce has worked at the University of Alberta Libraries in various support staff positions since 2004 and is currently a Public Service Assistant at the Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences Library. In 2010 she completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta. Aside from being an avid reader she has continuing interests in writing, photography, graphic design and knitting.


This paper outlines an approach, called the optical border gateway protocol (OBGP) of extending the BGP routing protocol to support light path setup and management across an optical network. OBGP is a distributed approach, which gives more control to the edge customer and allows customers to better manage their optical wavelengths. It provides an interdomain routing/signaling solution that integrates heterogeneous domains into an end-to-end optical network and can coexist with most of the existing intradomain solutions. OBGP has the capability of setting up light paths in both networks with wavelength converters as well as in networks without wavelength converters. By combining routing with signaling in OBGP, signaling functions can leverage some features of existing routing functions and thus provide a lightweight solution. The development of OBGP has been discussed by reviewing current BGP behavior and design requirements for OBGP. An implementation of OBGP using simulation tools has been presented, along with initial test results, which have shown that a seamless migration from BGP to OBGP is possible.


The Hellenistic period was a time of unprecedented cultural exchange. In the wake of Alexander's conquests, Greeks and Macedonians began to encounter new peoples, new ideas, and new ways of life; consequently, this era is generally considered to have been one of unmatched cosmopolitanism. For many individuals, however, the broadening of horizons brought with it an identity crisis and a sense of being adrift in a world that had undergone a radical structural change. Belonging and Isolation in the Hellenistic World presents essays by leading international scholars who consider how the cosmopolitanism of the Hellenistic age also brought about tensions between individuals and communities, and between the small local community and the mega-community of oikoumene, or 'the inhabited earth.' With a range of social, artistic, economic, political, and literary perspectives, the contributors provide a lively exploration of the tensions and opportunities of life in the Hellenistic Mediterranean.


© 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, London. Tool wear in machining processes can have a detrimental impact upon the surface finish of a machined part, increase the energy consumption during manufacture and potentially, if the tool fails completely, damage incurred may require the part to be scrapped. Monitoring of the tools condition can therefore lead to preventative steps being taken to avoid excessively worn tools being used during machining, which could cause a part becoming damaged. Several studies have been devoted to condition monitoring of the machining process, including the evaluation of cutting tool condition. However, these methods are either impractical for a production environment due to lengthy monitoring time, or require knowledge of cutting parameters (e.g. spindle speed, feed rate, material, tool) which can be difficult to obtain. In this study, we aim to investigate if tool wear can be directly identified using features extracted from the electrical power signal of the entire Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine (three phase voltage and current) captured at 50 KHz, for different cutting parameters. Wavelet packet transform is applied to extract the feature from the raw measurement under different conditions. By analyzing the energy and entropy of reconstructed signals at different frequency sub-bands, the tool wear level can be evaluated. Results demonstrate that with the selected features, the effects due to cutting parameter variation and tool wear level change can be discriminated with good quality, which paves the way for using this technique to monitor the machining process in practical applications.


Objectives: Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon) seeds have been known to have some biological properties. One of them is ant hypercholesterolemia. The present study investigated in vitro and in silico methods to predict potential antihypercholesterolemic of the Melinjo seed extracts of through HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity. Methods: Melinjo seed powders were successively extracted by reflux method using five solvents with gradient polarity including: n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. All extracts were evaluated in vitro using HMG-CoA Reductase assay kit, to analyze the inhibitory activity. Molecular docking of the phytochemical content of the seeds were carried out using Auto Dock Vina, and also Ligand Scout to analyses interaction between ligand and receptor. Results: Dichloromethane extract demonstrated the highest inhibitory activity against HMG-CoA reductase with IC50 value is 0.40 μg/mL, followed by that of ethyl acetate extract. UPLC-MS analyses showed that dichloromethane extract contained trans-resveratrol, piceid, gnetin C, gnetol, isorhapontigenin, ɛ-viniferin, gnemonol L, and gnemonol M. Molecular docking studies demonstrated that dimer of resveratrol such as gnemonol L, gnemosida, and ɛ-viniferin have better free binding energy than that of monomer. piceid, gnetin C, gnemonol L, and gnemonol M could be considered as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Conclusion: Gnetum gnemon seed extract showed strong HMG-CoA reductase activity. Resveratrol dimer promises as a potential lead compound to design/synthesize anti-cholesterol. Key words: Gnetum gnemon, Melinjo, HMG-CoA Reductase, Resveratrol, Stilbene, Molecular Docking.


A mathematical treatment of data is described for comparing the fractional rates of Sr and Ca movement in gastrointestinal absorption. This is done by assuming that the ratio of various rate constants of absorption for the two elements is a constant which we have called the instantaneous intestinal strontium-calcium discrimination factor and designated as K . It was observed that this K value averaged 0.72 in studies on strontium and calcium absorption by the entire gastrointestinal tract of rats under in vivo conditions. This was in good agreement with a similar value for the reabsorption of these alkaline earths by mammalian kidney, reported by others as 0.7. The comparative absorption of barium could not be characterized by this mathematical model. Any treatment that alters the over-all comparative absorption of strontium and calcium can do so in two ways: by changing the absorption of both alkaline earths proportionally, and by changing the comparative rate constants of strontium and calcium transport. These two effects can be experimentally delineated. In the present study both lactose and lysine, which are known to alter Sr-Ca discrimination, were found to do so by increasing absorption and not by changing the rate constants.


Using Pierre Bourdieu ' s theoretical ideas, this article analyses the practices of expat- riate finance managers in choosing residences in Singapore. The focus is on the rel- evance of specific images of urban quarters and of managers ' experiences in urban locations. Both images and experiences are considered to be related to a manager ' s position in a social field. Managers have a specific social capital that is expressed by their inclusion into local expatriate networks and their performing practices of dis- tinction. The article is based on empirical data collected in interviews and on obser- vations. Abstract Using Pierre Bourdieu ' s theoretical ideas, this article analyses the practices of expat- riate finance managers in choosing residences in Singapore. The focus is on the rel-evance of specific images of urban quarters and of managers ' experiences in urban locations. Both images and experiences are considered to be related to a manager ' s position in a social field. Managers have a specific social capital that is expressed by their inclusion into local expatriate networks and their performing practices of distinction. The article is based on empirical data collected in interviews and on obser- vations.


adoption of "Smart Energy Behaviour". Within this term we include different levels of: i) shift in electricity consumption towards less costly-less polluting and congestioning hours; ii) the reduction of mainly wasteful electricity consumption, that maintains similar levels of comfort; iii) the enrolment in demand response programs; iv) electricity generation via residential micro-photovoltaic (PV) systems. These behavioural changes are triggered by the installation of advanced metering systems and a tariff policy that prices electricity according to time-of-use. The context analysed is that of Italy, where the largest diffusion of smart meters has taken place. We perform a set of 2500 simulations of our model with stochastic parameters to take into account the uncertainty in their estimation, to find that on average consumer involvement may induce on aggregate a shift in residential electricity consumption of 13.0% by 2020 and of 29.6% by 2030; and reduction in residential electricity consumption (just by reducing wasteful consumption) of 2.5% by 2020 and 9.2% by 2030. These consumption changes may have strong impacts on the system operating costs (in the order of 380 M€/y by 2020, 1203 M€/y by 2030), on the CO2 emissions (in the order of 1.56 MtonCO2/y by 2020, 5.01 Mton CO2/y by 2030), confirming the value of consumer participation.


In this series different Isoxazoline were prepared i.e., 4,6-diethoxy-N-(4-(4,5-dihydro-5-phenylisoxazol-3yl)phenyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine 7(a-h) via cyclisation of chalcone intermediate. The structures of prepared compounds were confirmed by spectral analysis. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the final products against various bacteria and fungi have also been reported. Most of the compound showed good to moderate activity.


One of the great challenges to compiling better dictionaries for the African languages is to develop sound strategies and procedures for planning the structure of the dictionaries. In this regard all the structural components of a dictionary, including the macrostructure, microstructure, mediostructure and access structure, come into play. Most dictionaries for African languages, including Sepedi dictionaries, fail even at this level. In this article the planning of especially the macrostructure in respect of one lexical category which has been unsatisfactorily treated in Sepedi dictionaries, namely the adjective, will be attempted. Secondly the lemmatisation of adjectives in six Sepedi dictionaries will be critically evaluated. This will be done with the emphasis on various metalexicographical aspects.


Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) is an important and versatile material in modern construction. Many architects, engineers, and contractors recognize the inherent economies and advantages offered by this material, as evidenced by the many impressive lightweight concrete (LWC) structures found throughout the world. Use of mineral admixture in conventional concrete and light weight concrete mix has made a remarkable achievement in development and design of high strength in conventional concrete (HSC) and light weight concrete (HSLWAC). The use of high strength concrete (HSC) has many advantages such as a reduction in beam and column sizes, increased building height, greater span-depth ratio for beams in pre-stressed concrete construction and improved durability of marine concrete structures.It can be said that HSLWACs have a significant advantage over normal weight HSC because of the reduction of dead load and construction cost. Among many mineral admixtures available, Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), Silica fume (SF) andAlccofine(AF) are added to gain the high strength properties. Mineral Admixtures are added to Portland cement concrete to improve its properties, in particular its compressive strength, bond strength, and abrasion resistance. GGBS 50% and Silica fume or Alccofine 15% are added additive to cement and find the Mechanical properties such as compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength and impact resistance can be studied.


When Franklin Roosevelt decided his administration needed a large executive staff, he instituted dramatic and lasting changes in the federal bureaucracy and in the very nature of the presidency. Today, no president can govern without an enormous White House staff. Yet analysts have disagreed about whether the key to a president's success lies in his ability to understand and adapt to the constraints of this bureaucracy or in his ability to control and even transform it to suit his needs. In The Institutional Presidency John Burke argues that both skills are crucial. Burke examines how the White House staff system-larger and more powerful than ever-interacts with a particular president's management ability and style. Beginning with the institutional presidency that emerged during the Roosevelt administration, this new edition includes a revised chapter on the Bush administration and a new chapter on Bill Clinton.


On the basis of the International Atomic Energy Agency/World Meteorological Organization (IAEA/WMO) data set of the monthly tritium concentration in precipitation, the temporal and spatial pattern of the tritium concentration in marine precipitation of the southern hemisphere has been reconstructed. A numerical model that couples the tritium concentrations in the atmosphere and in the Weddell Sea's surface layer by parameterizing the relevant flux and exchange mechanisms, as well as the surface layer dynamics, has been used to calculate the time history of tritium in near-surface waters of the Weddell Sea. The model also simulates the gas transfer of the chlorofluorocarbons CFC 11 and CFC 12 and of helium across the ocean-atmosphere interface. The model accounts for the pronounced seasonality of the climatological and oceanographic conditions of the Weddell Sea. The calculated input functions of tritium, CFC 11 and CFC 12 provide the surface boundary conditions for numerical studies of the distributions of these transient tracers in the sub-surface water masses of the Weddell Sea.


A study was conducted to evaluate the predictive diagnostic value of different copper (Cu) parameters as indicators of average daily gain (ADG) in growing calves. The effects in calves of cow Cu supplementation in the last one-third gestation period were also evaluated. Five supplementation trials, with a total of 300 calves, were carried out. Two groups of 30 calves were randomly assigned to each trial, one group was parenterally supplemented (SG) and the other was not supplemented (NSG). Trials began when calves were three-month-old and ended at weaning time. At each sampling calves were weighed and blood was taken to determine Cu concentrations in plasma, Whole Blood (WB), Red Cells (RC) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV). Liver samples from six animals of each group were taken both at the beginning and at the end of the trial. In two trials the mothers of the SG received Cu supplementation at the last one- third gestation period. Four of the five trials exhibited low ADG in the NSGs. In these groups, plasma Cu concentration decreased rapidly before low ADG was detected, which occurred with values remaining below 25µg/dl. The decrease of RC Cu concentration was considerably slow. WB showed an intermediate position. PCV in the SGs was higher than in the NSGs in all trials. Cow supplementation was insufficient to generate a liver storage able to last after calves reached the 3 months of age. These data could be useful to predict the risk of low ADG in grazing calves.


The demand for bio-jet fuels to reduce carbon emissions is increasing substantially in the aviation sector, while the scarcity of high-density jet fuel components limits the use of bio-jet fuels in high-performance aircrafts compared with conventional jet fuels. Herein, we report a novel biphasic tandem catalytic process (biTCP) for synthesizing cycloalkanes from renewable terpenoid biomass, such as 1,8-cineole. Multistep tandem reactions, including C–O ring opening by hydrolysis, dehydration, and hydrogenation, were carried out in the "one-pot" biTCP. 1,8-Cineole was efficiently converted to p-menthane at high yields (>99%) in the biTCP under mild reaction conditions. The catalytic reaction mechanism is discussed.


The four viruses herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7), discussed in this chapter, are all members of the family Herpesviridae. Each organism is discussed separately in order to better describe the specific details of the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and diagnostic testing. The majority of cases of HSV reactivation occur in the initial few weeks after transplantation, at the time of maximum pharmacologic immunosuppression. As the majority of immunocompromised patients have recurrent infections with HSV, the role of serology in these patients is of limited diagnostic value. Detection of HSV DNA does not require live virus; therefore, specimen quality is not jeopardized by delays in transport time or fluctuations in transport temperature like it would be for viral culture. Tyrosine kinase-negative VZV strains have been identified, and infections caused by the strains should be treated with foscarnet. The immunocompromised states covered in the chapter include patients who have undergone bone marrow and solid organ transplantation. The majority of the literature surrounding the role of HHV-6 in the transplant population regards patients with bone marrow transplantation. A study compared staining for HHV-6 by using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of tonsillar epithelia of nonimmunosuppressed individuals undergoing tonsillectomy in an attempt to determine if lymphoid tissue was a site of latency in the immunocompetent population. Molecular methods of detection for each of these viruses are sensitive, specific, and available with a relatively short turnaround time.


Abstract Over the last two decades, corpus analysis has been used as the basis for several important reference grammars and dictionaries of English. While these reference works have made major contributions to our understanding of English lexis and grammar, most of them share a major limitation: the failure to consider register differences. Instead, most reference works describe lexico-grammatical patterns as if they applied generally to English. The main goal of the present paper is to challenge this practice and the underlying assumption that the patterns of lexical-grammatical use in English can be described in general/global terms. Specifically, I argue that descriptions of the average patterns of use in a general corpus do not accurately describe any register. Rather, the patterns of use in speech are dramatically different from the patterns in writing (especially academic writing), and so minimally an adequate description must recognize the two major poles in this continuum (i.e., conversation versus informational written prose). The paper begins by comparing two general corpus approaches to the study of language use: variationist and text-linguistic. Although both approaches can be used to investigate the use of words, grammatical features, and registers, the two approaches differ in their bases: the first gives primacy to each linguistic token, while the second gives primacy to each text. This difference has important consequences for the overall research design, the kinds of variables that can be measured, the statistical techniques that can be applied, and the particular research questions that can be asked. As a result, the importance of register has been more apparent in text-linguistic studies than in studies of linguistic variation. The bulk of the paper, then, argues for the importance of register at all linguistic levels: lexical, grammatical, and lexico-grammatical. Analyses comparing conversation and academic writing are discussed for each level, showing how a general 'average' description includes some characteristics that are not applicable to one or the other register, while also omitting other important patterns of use found in particular registers.


Abstract. Secondary bacterial infections are a major complication and cause of death in children with visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). Thus, early diagnosis of bacterial infections is an important step in the treatment of patients with VL. The goal of this study was to determine if serum procalcitonin (PCT) could be used as a diagnostic marker of secondary bacterial infections in VL patients. Serum PCT was measured in 35 hospitalized patients with VL before treatment and after defervescence. The level was higher than normal (> 0.5 ng/mL) in 72% (25) of the patients. Twelve (34%) of 35 patients had secondary bacterial infections with PCT levels ranging from 0.1 to 12.29 ng/mL, and those without secondary bacterial infections (23) had PCT levels ranging from 0.1 to 14.58 ng/mL. The results suggest that PCT levels increase significantly in most VL patients but are not correlated with the presence of secondary bacterial infections.


Between Debt and the Devil challenges the belief that we need credit growth to fuel economic growth, and that rising debt is okay as long as inflation remains low. In fact, most credit is not needed for economic growth—but it drives real estate booms and busts and leads to financial crisis and depression. Turner explains why public policy needs to manage the growth and allocation of credit creation, and why debt needs to be taxed as a form of economic pollution. Banks need far more capital, real estate lending must be restricted, and we need to tackle inequality and mitigate the relentless rise of real estate prices. Turner also debunks the big myth about fiat money—the erroneous notion that printing money will lead to harmful inflation. To escape the mess created by past policy errors, we sometimes need to monetize government debt and finance fiscal deficits with central-bank money. Between Debt and the Devil shows why we need to reject the assumption that private credit is essential to growth and fiat money is inevitably dangerous. Each has its advantages, and each creates risks that public policy must consciously balance.


Spotlight summary: One characteristic of the coherent light generated from lasers is that it is polarized, that is, all the emitted photons have the same state of polarization. Polarization relates to the spatial orientation of the oscillation of electromagnetic waves. The capability to manipulate the polarization of light has enabled numerous applications, in fields ranging from microscopy through high-speed optical communications to liquid-crystal display technology and even 3D video. Laser engineers usually concern themselves with linear polarization (where the orientation of the oscillations remains constant) or elliptical polarization (where the orientation rotates as the wave propagates in space). However, more obscure and difficult to harness forms of polarization are also possible. These include radial and azimuthal polarization, which are usually met in hollow (doughnut-shaped) beams, and imply that the orientation of the wave either is aligned or is perpendicular to the radial direction of the propagating beam, respectively. Generation and control of these particular modes of polarization is actually of technological importance, since cylindrically polarized beams can focus on tighter spots as compared with the more conventional linear or elliptical polarizations. This has significant implications for such fields as optical trapping, nonlinear optics, or material processing. The paper by Euser et al. studies an optical fiber that not only supports and maintains the state of polarization of cylindrically polarized beams but also exhibits distinctly different refractive index and group-velocity dispersion for the radial and the azimuthal modes. These properties are achieved by introducing a nanometer-scale hole (a "nanobore") in the otherwise solid core of a photonic crystal fiber, which is responsible for a high concentration of energy in its vicinity. In experiments that are supported both by quasi-analytical and numerical calculations, it is shown that the nanobore is also responsible for the distinct waveguiding properties of the radial and the azimuthal modes in the fiber. Properties, such as the cylindrical birefringence and the dispersion of the two modes, can be controlled by adjusting the structural parameters of the fiber. Moreover, the dispersion of the two polarization modes is affected differently by the exact size of the nanobore, thereby allowing great flexibility in the control that can be achieved. The paper comes from an authoring group that is likely to make a strong impact on the field and that combines an established track record in photonic crystal fiber technology and a long experience in the investigation of cylindrically polarized light. Indicative of this is that the reported fiber has already been investigated for its applications in quantum optics from the same group of researchers. Developments in fiber technology like those reported in this paper will become of fundamental significance for the implementation of practical fiber devices that will enable exploitation of these new modes of propagation of optical fields.


Economics studies how humans make decisions and interact with one another to achieve individual or common goals when resources are not freely available to all. Our discipline is based on a simple set of principles that can be widely applied to model decision-making in nearly every form of human endeavor. Economic principles are used to guide individuals, businesses, governments, non-profit organizations, charities, foundations and churches. Ultimately, Economics is useful because of its focus on how to evaluate and predict the intended and unintended consequences of human action.


Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortalities in the world. The precise diagnosis of the disease helps the patients to select the appropriate modality of the treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The physics of X-radiation and the advanced imaging technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in the efficient diagnosis and therapeutic treatments in cancer. However, the accuracy of the measurements of the metabolic target volumes (MTVs) in the PET/CT dual-imaging modality is always limited. Similarly the external beam radiation therapy (XRT) such as 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is the most common modality in the radiotherapy treatment. These treatments are simulated and evaluated using the XRT plans and the standard methodologies in the commercial planning system. However, the normal organs are always susceptible to the radiation toxicity in these treatments due to lack of knowledge of the appropriate radiobiological models to estimate the clinical outcomes.
We explored several methodologies to estimate MTVs by reviewing various techniques of the target volume delineation using the static phantoms in the PET scans. The review suggests that the more precise and practical method of delineating PET MTV should be an intermediate volume between the volume coverage for the standardized uptake value (SUV; 2.5) of glucose and the 50% (40%) threshold of the maximum SUV for the smaller (larger) volume delineations in the radiotherapy applications. Similarly various types of optimal XRT plans were designed using the CT and PET/CT scans for the treatment of various types of cancer patients. The qualities of these plans were assessed using the universal plan-indices. The dose-volume criteria were also examined in the targets and organs by analyzing the conventional dose-volume histograms (DVHs). The biological models such as tumor control probability based on Poisson statistics model, and normal tissue complication probabilities based on Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model, were efficient to estimate the radiobiological outcomes of the treatments by taking into account of the dose-volume effects in the organs. Furthermore, a novel technique of spatial DVH analysis was also found to be useful to determine the primary cause of the complications in the critical organs in the treatments.
The study also showed that the 3DCRT and IMRT techniques offer the promising results in the XRT treatment of the left-breast and the prostate cancer patients respectively. Unfortunately, several organs such as salivary glands and larynx, and esophagus, were found to be significantly vulnerable to the radiation toxicity in the treatment of the head and neck (HN), and left-lung cancer patients respectively. The radiobiological outcomes were also found to be consistent with the clinical results of the IMRT based treatments of a significant number of the HN cancer patients.


security is a fast growing research field which includes numerous problems in it. Partial image encryption is one of the important problems in the field of image information security. This paper describes the partial image encryption in two ways using hill cipher technique. First encryption technique uses two slightly different keys to construct two self-invertible matrices, which are used in two different stages to get partially encrypted image. Second encryption technique useone key to construct one self- invertible matrix and it is used in first stage. In second stage same key matrix along with few modification in diagonal values are used to construct another self-invertible matrix which leads to partial image encryption. Reverse process is employed to reconstruct the original image. Experiment is conducted for different images with different combinations of passwords to obtain partially encrypted image.


The problem of dermatological emergencies arises mainly in the management of patients with serious dermatological problems in hospital or more frequently as outpatients. Emergencies in neonatologic and pediatric dermatology may occur at birth or later in other stages of childhood. The early identification of emergencies in pediatric dermatology is of great importance, because these afflictions affect not only the skin, but the entire body, putting the patient's life in jeopardy. The early identification leads to early treatment, which may be an extra chance for the patient. Due to the young age of patients, there is a greater risk of associated complications and they are more difficult to treat.


A new type of optical solitary wave is shown to exist in W-type single-mode fibers. These solitary waves consist of localized structures separating two uniform fields of different frequencies. Their application to optical communications is considered. We show that their topology is adapted to the nonreturn-to-zero modulation format and that their fundamental features offer important advantages with respect to the usual soliton transmission scheme.


Abstract The orchestration of ever larger conformational changes is made possible by the development of increasingly complex foldamers. Aromatic sheets, a rare motif in synthetic foldamer structures, have been designed so as to form discrete stacks of intercalated aromatic strands through the self‐assembly of two identical subunits. Ion‐mobility ESI‐MS confirms the formation of compact dimers. X‐ray crystallography reveals the existence of two distinct conformational dimeric states that require large changes to interconvert. Molecular dynamics simulation validates the stability of the two conformations and the possibility of their interconversion.


We studied the effect of endothelium on the flow-induced response of conductance arteries and the resistance arteriolar network in an in situ model of perfused mesenteric artery in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats. The mesenteric network was perfused with a Tyrode's albumin solution. The diameter of a conductance mesenteric artery was measured using a video camera system, and mesenteric pressure was recorded in a collateral artery. The preparation was perfused at 0.2, 2, and 4 mL/min, and flow-diameter-pressure relations were established (1) under control conditions, (2) during local inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by topical application of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (1 mmol/L), and (3) after endothelium removal (CO2 drying). In normotensive rats, L-NAME decreased conductance artery diameter by 12 +/- 2% (P < .01) at 0.2 mL/min and 3.3 +/- 1.9% (P < .05) at 2 mL/min. In hypertensive rats, L-NAME did not modify mesenteric diameter. Endothelium removal markedly increased arterial resistance in both strains and decreased conductance artery diameter in normotensive rats (10.3 +/- 3%, P < .05 at 0.2 mL/min and 4.2 +/- 2%, P < .05 at 2 mL/min) but not in hypertensive rats. The present study suggests that the endothelium plays a similar role in the control of mesenteric resistance in both strains and that there is a significant diameter-flow dependency affected by both endothelium removal and inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in conductance mesenteric arteries from normotensive but not from hypertensive rats.


This study investigated the usefulness of acid-detergent fiber-bound (15)N [acid detergent insoluble (ADI)-(15)N] as a solid digesta passage marker in dairy cows compared with chromium (Cr) and ytterbium (Yb) (as labeled fiber or forage, respectively). Intrinsically (ADI-(15)N) or extrinsically (Cr, Yb) labeled alfalfa hay was pulse-dosed intraruminally to 7 lactating dairy cows. Following marker administration, spot fecal samples were collected for up to 72 h for marker analyses. Urine and milk samples were also collected and analyzed for Yb and Cr. Fecal marker excretion data were processed using 2-compartment mathematical age-dependent/age-independent (Gn→G1) models. The rate of passage of the marker in the first, age-dependent compartment tended to be slower for Yb compared with Cr and ADI-(15)N, which resulted in a trend for longer mean retention time (MRT) in this compartment when Yb was used as a marker (19.0 h) compared with Cr and ADI-(15)N (14.5 and 13.9h, respectively). The rate constant of marker disappearance for the second or age-independent compartment tended to be greater for Yb compared with Cr and ADI-(15)N, which led to a shorter MRT of Yb in this compartment (15.6) versus ADI-(15)N (32.1) and Cr (24.8h). The cumulative MRT was greater for ADI-(15)N versus Cr and Yb (46.0, 39.3, and 34.4h, respectively). Total MRT of marker tended to be greater for ADI-(15)N than for Yb (46.6 vs. 36.6h, respectively). Urine and milk analyses data suggested no measurable losses of Yb along the digestive tract, but about 0.79% of Cr dosed intraruminally was secreted or excreted in milk and urine in the 48-h period following marker administration. Collectively, this study confirmed previous observations that ADI-(15)N can be used reliably as a solid digesta passage marker for ruminants, producing pre-duodenal and total-tract retention times similar to that of Cr-labeled fiber. Retention time in the age-independent compartment was underestimated when Yb was used as a marker, emphasizing the need to process forages to isolate fiber before labeling with Yb.


Whether shrinking body size is a universal response to climate change remains controversial. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying body size shifts are poorly understood. Here, assuming that life history traits evolve to maximize fitness according to life history plasticity theory, we hypothesized that under global warming temperate multivoltine insects should emerge earlier with a smaller body mass in the early growing season, but emerge later with a larger body mass in the late season. We tested this hypothesis by conducting two field artificial warming experiments in an alpine meadow: 1) with one pre-dispersal seed predator species (tephritid flies, Tephritis femoralis) and its two host-plant species flowering in early and late growing seasons, respectively, and 2) with the tephritid flies and one host species with a flowering season that occupies parts of both the early and late growing seasons. These experiments were complemented by a microcosm chamber warming experiment, in which increasing and decreasing temperature trends were set to simulate temperature variation pattern in early and late growing seasons, respectively, but photoperiod was held constant. Warming generally advanced the adult emergence and decreased the body size (adult body mass) in the early season but delayed the emergence and increased the size in the late season in both field experiments, indicating that the seasonally different effects of warming on the fly body size was constant regardless of host-plant identity. The chamber warming resulted in consistent responses of emerging timing and body size to the simulated seasonal warming, demonstrating that the temperature increase per se and its interaction with direction of temperature change, but not other correlated effects, should be primarily responsible for the observed contrasting shifts of body size at different times of the season. Our results indicate that taking into account temperate seasonal patterns of temperature variation could be of general importance for predicting animal body size changes in the warmed future.


Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most common process for extracting pure water from saline water. RO is more popular than thermal processes such as multi-effect distillation and multi-stage flash due to its lower energy consumption and cost. RO is currently limited to treating streams with total dissolved solids (TDS) values of less than 50 000 ppm. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) processes involving pretreatment, RO, and thermal steps can concentrate and dispose of high-salinity waste brines with greater thermodynamic efficiency than purely thermal processes; however, ZLD processes are not yet widely practiced. Waste streams requiring ZLD typically have TDS values as high as 300 000 ppm and include seawater RO (SWRO) brines, flowback and produced water from unconventional shale gas development, formation water from CO2 sequestration, and flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater. The TDS levels of these streams can exceed those of seawater by nearly an order of magnitude, and even concentrating a stream with TDS levels similar to those of seawater requires a high-pressure RO process to achieve high water recovery. In this review, we consider a high-pressure RO (HPRO) process with applied pressures of 2400–5000 psi (compared to 800–1000 psi for SWRO) to reduce the volume of high-salinity brine wastes. We discuss the challenges amplified by the elevated pressure requirements and feed salinities, such as ion precipitation and scaling, biofouling, and RO module mechanical stability. We also propose solutions to address these limitations of HPRO.


Although marketers have described 'ambush' marketing as a parasitic activity that encroaches on legitimate sponsorship, their claims often provide no basis for legal action. This article examines instances of alleged ambushes and how these fit within a wider legal framework. Ambushing appears to encompass legitimate competitive behaviour through to passing off and misuse of trademarks. Marketers concerned about ambushing should remove loopholes from contracts to minimise the opportunities open to competitors. They would also do well to learn more about the legal status of their claims and to separate these from any feelings of irritation evoked by their competitors' behaviour.


We present an algorithm that decomposes a Mueller matrix into a sequence of three matrix factors: a diattenuator, followed by a retarder, then followed by a depolarizer. Those factors are unique except for singular Mueller matrices. Based on this decomposition, the diattenuation and the retardance of a Mueller matrix can be defined and computed. Thus this algorithm is useful for performing data reduction upon experimentally determined Mueller matrices.


In geodetic applications variety, one of the main current focuses is recently to determine the heights of ground stations with high accuracy. Specially the possibility of acquiring 3D information of the point positioning with high accuracy is opening up new strategies of investigating the heighting. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for 3D positioning is undergoing rapid developments and GNSS heighting can be an alternative to terrestrial techniques of height measurements. This paper presents a research study on the use of GNSS heighting in the case of steep slopes and multipath issue. Short baseline solution strategies were performed by using Bernese Software v. 5.0. The analysis results are also compared to the results of techniques of the terrestrial levelling. The results show that GNSS can be used as an practical surveying method to the terrestrial levelling with comparable accuracies. Furthermore, one can save up to 1 hour using GNSS instead of geometric levelling over a steep slope of a 100 m. On the other hand, as usual multipath is the primary error source decreasing the efficiency of GNSS, and it has been studied experimentally in this paper.


ABSTRACT A general view is that Schizosaccharomyces pombe undergoes symmetric cell division with two daughter cells inheriting equal shares of the content from the mother cell. Here we show that CTP synthase, a metabolic enzyme responsible for the de novo synthesis of the nucleotide CTP, can form filamentous cytoophidia in the cytoplasm and nucleus of S. pombe cells. Surprisingly, we observe that both cytoplasmic and nuclear cytoophidia are asymmetrically inherited during cell division. Our time-lapse studies suggest that cytoophidia are dynamic. Once the mother cell divides, the cytoplasmic and nuclear cytoophidia independently partition into one of the two daughter cells. Although the two daughter cells differ from one another morphologically, they possess similar chances of inheriting the cytoplasmic cytoophidium from the mother cell, suggesting that the partition of cytoophidium is a stochastic process. Our findings on asymmetric inheritance of cytoophidia in S. pombe offer an exciting opportunity to study the inheritance of metabolic enzymes in a well-studied model system.


"Voys Lessons: Whirling Words in Chaucer's 'House of Rumour'" examines the lability of sound and its use in the dissemination, transposition, and authorship of stories within The House of Fame , a text exemplifying the mobility and flexibility of misused or unhinged words, as expressed through sound as opposed to text. By engaging the use and interpretation of sound in contrast to words, this new reading concentrates on the idea of narrative as material artifact with limited stasis. Geffrey's pseudo-authorship, through his voyeuristic stance, engages the textuality of sounds and shows the related subtlety, elasticity, and democratic sociohistorical aspect of narrative construction. Chaucer's dreamscape and use of authorial characters allows this argument to reposition the mobility and nature of sound, emphasizing its critical importance in the formation and corruption of stories, both written and oral.


The emerging field of network science represents a new style of research that can unify such traditionally-diverse fields as sociology, economics, physics, biology, and computer science. It is a powerful tool in analyzing both natural and man-made systems, using the relationships between players within these networks and between the networks themselves to gain insight into the nature of each field. Until now, studies in network science have been focused on particular relationships that require varied and sometimes-incompatible datasets, which has kept it from being a truly universal discipline. Computational Network Science seeks to unify the methods used to analyze these diverse fields. This book provides an introduction to the field of Network Science and provides the groundwork for a computational, algorithm-based approach to network and system analysis in a new and important way. This new approach would remove the need for tedious human-based analysis of different datasets and help researchers spend more time on the qualitative aspects of network science research.Demystifies media hype regarding Network Science and serves as a fast-paced introduction to state-of-the-art concepts and systems related to network scienceComprehensive coverage of Network Science algorithms, methodologies, and common problemsIncludes references to formative and updated developments in the fieldCoverage spans mathematical sociology, economics, political science, and biological networks


We describe and characterize a straightforward test setup for characterizing temporal and spectral dynamics of photochromic spectacle materials. Three measurement examples of contemporary silicate and organic photochromic spectacles are provided. The setup showed a good absolute accuracy of ≤5% of the luminous transmittance (τ(v)) and repeatability of better than 3%. The samples showed different fading times. The sample with the highest dynamic range was the slowest and showed a noticeable change in the transmission spectra during deactivation. The silicate had the lowest dynamic range but also the most homogeneous transmission spectra throughout activation and deactivation. The proposed test device provided accurate results for spectral and temporal dynamics of photochromic materials under realistic conditions.


Sandmeyer Titanium Grade 2/2H (UNS R50400) is an unalloyed commercially pure titanium. It is the most widely used commercially pure titanium grade. It offers a combination of moderate strength and good ductility, with outstanding corrosion resistance in many challenging service environments. Titanium Grade 2/2H can operate in continuous service up to 425 °C (800 °F) and in intermittent service up to 540 °C (1000 °F). This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, and elasticity. It also includes information on corrosion resistance as well as forming, machining, and joining. Filing Code: Ti-164. Producer or source: Sandmeyer Steel Company.


This article introduces a case study on the use of selfies as a means to support embodied reflexivity in phenomenological research. There is a recognized need to make reflexive practice in qualitative health research more transparent. There is also a move towards an embodied type of reflexivity whereby researchers pay attention to their physical reactions as part of the research process. Being reflexive is especially challenging when researchers work in teams rather than as individuals, and when researchers and participants do not meet because data collection and analysis are separate from one another. We used FINLAY's (2005) model of reflexive embodied empathy to explain how taking selfies allowed an international team of researchers to engage reflexively with a participant when their primary access to her lifeworld was an interview transcript. Key concepts from FOUCAULT's (1988) theory of technologies of self, critical self-awareness and self-stylization, shed light on this phenomenon. URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1702124


Adaptive control approaches are effective system-theoretical methods for guaranteeing both the stability and the performance of physical systems subject to uncertainties. However, the stability and performance of these approaches can be severely degraded by the presence of unmodeled dynamics. Motivated by this standpoint, the previous work of the authors introduced a model reference adaptive control architecture based on the direct uncertainty minimization method for systems with additive input uncertainties and unmodeled dynamics. In particular, the proposed approach not only guaranteed the closed-loop stability predicated on a sufficient stability condition but also improved the closed-loop performance. The purpose of this paper is to generalize this previous work of the authors. Specifically, a model reference adaptive control architecture is given and it is system-theoretically analyzed for systems with unmodeled dynamics, and both additive input and control effectiveness uncertainties (we refer to Theorems 1 and 2 of this paper). The sufficient stability condition of the resulting architecture relies on linear matrix inequalities and this architecture can be effective in achieving not only stability but also a desired level of closed-loop system performance. Finally, we also provide an illustrative numerical example, which demonstrates the given theoretical results. (This research was supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directorate under the Universal Technology Corporation Grant 162642-20-25-C1.)


Among the myriad ways that the interests of underprivileged persons and groups can be protected and promoted, and other causes of public interest can be served, is through the participation by amicus curiae in litigation adjudicating relevant issues. Amici must "identify every person or entity, other than the amicus curiae, its members, or its counsel, who made a monetary contribution to the preparation or submission of the brief." An amicus who has been adversely affected as an individual by enforcement of a law that a corporate litigant is contesting may be able to poignantly present the law's ramifications through personal perspective and in eidetic detail. The benefits of such participation also may be apparent in public interest litigation, where an indigent or poorly-resourced litigant lacks adequate representation and amicus support advocates for a more promising disposition. Although the submission of briefs by amici can promote a greater understanding by the court of the potential impact and policy implications of its ruling, a number of issues have been raised about the advisability and utility of amicus participation. Pro bono representation of public interest amici is especially important in light of the increasingly common practice of filing amicus briefs, support for which typically is easier to marshal by the government and the private sector. THE UTILITY OF PRO BONO REPRESENTATION OF U.S.-BASED AMICUS CURIAE IN NON-U.S. AND MULTI-NATIONAL COURTS AS A MEANS OF ADVANCING THE PUBLIC INTEREST Madeleine Schachter*


Background: Thyroid dysfunction has been considered as one of the most common endocrine disorder in clinical practice throughout the world. Its increasing prevalence had led to the screening of general population in different parts of the world in order to investigate causes for rising incidence. A nationwide survey on epidemiology of thyroid dysfunction in selected cities of India suggested the need for further studies in order to have a more comprehensive analysis of epidemiological aspect for better awareness and control of this endocrine disorder. Aim: The major objective of the present study was to identify the prevalence and early age at onset of hypo and hyperthyroidism in post-iodization era based on a hospital based study. Materials and Methods: A total of 516 subjects visiting department of Medicine, Princess ESRA Hospital, Hyderabad, in age group of 10 to 75 years were included in the study from June 2013 to January 2014. Serum TSH, T3, and T4 assays were assessed by chemiluminescence method. Based on thyroid dysfunction test results, subjects were classified into Hypothyroidism, Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism. Results: The prevalence of hypothyroidism was highest in the females 33.52 % (n=173) as compared to males 2.32% (n=12) and hyperthyroidism in females 4.06% (n=21) and 0.19% (n=1) in males. Subclinical hypothyroidism in females was 7.55% (n=39). Conclusions: An inordinately high increase in the prevalence rate in women was observed particularly in the age group 21- 30years. Monitoring of thyroid profile is necessary to prevent adverse outcome at clinical and subclinical levels related to infertility, pregnancies and other complications.


William Moraley's autobiography, originally published in 1743, provides a rare view of life among the lower classes in England and the American middle colonies during the early eighteenth century. In 1729, Moraley ventured as an indentured servant from England to the "American Plantations," where he worked in various jobs, rambled about the countryside, and mingled with white and black bonds people, laborers, artisans, Indians, and other common folk. His account brims over with observations about the geography and climate, the flora and fauna, and the customs, politics, religions, superstitions, material conditions, and daily lives of the inhabitants of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Of special interest are his comments about servants, slaves, and Native Americans--groups frequently ignored by early travelers. Moraley's experiences were similar to those of many other eighteenth-century European immigrants who sold themselves into servitude, but he is among only a handful of people at the bottom of society who left memoirs of their lives. Smart, sassy, and articulate, Moraley narrates a take of adventure designed primarily to entertain. At times a rogue, a drunkard, a liar, a vagabond, and a petty thief, he boasts that he could "rake with the best of them." But the autobiography has considerable historical value as well. It depicts the life of a down-and-out artisan whose fortunes, like so many other bound laborers, did not substantially improve. The reasons for the different career paths of such working people have been the subject of much scholarly debate, and these memoirs can more firmly ground that controversy in actual human experience. The substantial introduction by Klepp and Smith reconstructs Moraley's life, relates the autobiography to the literary developments of the era, compares the careers of Moraley and Franklin, and discusses the author's social, political, and religious worlds. It also identifies and leaves open to differing interpretations a host of issues and paradoxes about eighteenth-century life raised by Moraley's account.


The symposium 'Ideas Before Their Time: Connecting the Past and Present in Computer Art' examines the ideas and technologies of computer-based art. Many intriguing concepts have emerged in computer art over the past 50 years. Some have been brought to light in the archives examined by the Computer Art and Technocultures Project at Birkbeck and the Victoria & Albert Museum. With the current exhibitions of computer art, 'Decode' and 'Digital Pioneers' ongoing at the V&A, this is a timely look at the area. Speakers from all areas of computer art, including practitioners, curators and historians, discuss the past, present and future of this area. This conference is sponsored by:


The aims of this paper is to demonstrate the effect of warp tension on fabric colour for several types of weaves structures, and found a relationship between them. The image analyse technique used to determine the proportion of yarns colour appearance, the advantage of this techniques is the rapidity and reliability. The woven fabric samples are consisting of a polyester warp yarn with continuous filaments and density of 33 end/cm, a polypropylene weft yarn with a density of 24 pick/cm, and the warp tension ranged between 12-22 cN/tex. The experimental results demonstrated the effect of the warp tension on the colour of fabric, and this effect is related to several factors, where the large proportion of warp appearance leads to larger effect on fabric colour. The difference in the value of colour differences ΔEcmc is larger is in the range 16 to 20 cN/tex of warp tension. Using statistical methods, a mathematical model to calculate the amount of the colour difference ΔEcmc caused by the change in warp tension had been proposed.


Abstract. We present results of a detailed study of drip rate variations at 12 drip discharge sites in Glory Hole Cave, New South Wales, Australia. Our novel time series analysis, using the wavelet synchrosqueezed transform, reveals pronounced oscillations at daily and sub-daily frequencies occurring in 8 out of the 12 monitored sites. These oscillations were not spatially or temporally homogenous, with different drip sites exhibiting such behaviour at different times of year in different parts of the cave. We test several hypotheses for the cause of the oscillations, including variations in pressure gradients between karst and cave due to cave breathing effects or atmospheric and earth tides, variations in hydraulic conductivity due to changes in viscosity of water with daily temperature oscillations, and solar-driven daily cycles of vegetative (phreatophytic) transpiration. We conclude that the only hypothesis consistent with the data and hydrologic theory is that daily oscillations are caused by solar-driven pumping by phreatophytic trees which are abundant at the site. The daily oscillations are not continuous and occur sporadically in short bursts (2–14 days) throughout the year due to non-linear modification of the solar signal via complex karst architecture. This is the first indirect observation leading to the hypothesis of tree water use in cave drip water. It has important implications for karst hydrology in regards to developing a new protocol to determine the relative importance of trends in drip rate, such as diurnal oscillations, and how these trends change over timescales of weeks to years. This information can also be used to infer karst architecture. This study demonstrates the importance of vegetation on recharge dynamics, information that will inform both process-based karst models and empirical estimation approaches. Our findings support a growing body of research exploring the impact of trees on speleothem paleoclimate proxies.


The research, in collaboration with Neosidea Group, is about the proposal of an instrument for analysis based on the concept of an open system that would allow the configuration and realization of networks of connections among different companies in geographic proximity, to achieve zero emission by implementing a sustainable management of their wastes. The goal is to design a system for processing information, that can organize data relative to output (waste), input (resources) and local companies. The processing system was also supplemented with the function of geo-locating businesses and materials This provides a solution and that gives not only information regarding new areas of application of the outputs but also determines with precision and localizes by territory the flows of material within a local network whose nodes are represented by the companies present on that territory; this promotes the local businesses and evaluates market opportunities of areas currently not yet exploited according to the systemic approach. Until now the area of application was the territory of the Piedmont Region. The advantages of such an approach are environmental and economic; it is possible to reduce the cost of eliminating waste, increase the profits from selling the company's outputs, while reducing environmental costs (air-pollution caused by the transportation of materials); the use of already existing materials in loco removes the need to exploit virgin raw materials. The functions of the software are: 1. producers of waste can determine which local companies could use its output as input, or find out which companies produce the outputs that it needs as resources; 2. it is an effective instrument for evaluating the entire production process, and also becomes a means for obtaining feedback: if the software doesn't give any results, it means that there are some problems in the process or in the input used.


Abstract. In March 2009 the NOAA/ESRL/GMD Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Group collaborated with the US Coast Guard (USCG) to establish the Alaska Coast Guard (ACG) sampling site, a unique addition to NOAA's atmospheric monitoring network. This collaboration takes advantage of USCG bi-weekly Arctic Domain Awareness (ADA) flights, conducted with Hercules C-130 aircraft from March to November each year. Flights typically last 8 h and cover a large area, traveling from Kodiak up to Barrow, Alaska, with altitude profiles near the coast and in the interior. NOAA instrumentation on each flight includes a flask sampling system, a continuous cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) carbon dioxide (CO2)/methane (CH4)/carbon monoxide (CO)/water vapor (H2O) analyzer, a continuous ozone analyzer, and an ambient temperature and humidity sensor. Air samples collected in flight are analyzed at NOAA/ESRL for the major greenhouse gases and a variety of halocarbons and hydrocarbons that influence climate, stratospheric ozone, and air quality. We describe the overall system for making accurate greenhouse gas measurements using a CRDS analyzer on an aircraft with minimal operator interaction and present an assessment of analyzer performance over a three-year period. Overall analytical uncertainty of CRDS measurements in 2011 is estimated to be 0.15 ppm, 1.4 ppb, and 5 ppb for CO2, CH4, and CO, respectively, considering short-term precision, calibration uncertainties, and water vapor correction uncertainty. The stability of the CRDS analyzer over a seven-month deployment period is better than 0.15 ppm, 2 ppb, and 4 ppb for CO2, CH4, and CO, respectively, based on differences of on-board reference tank measurements from a laboratory calibration performed prior to deployment. This stability is not affected by variation in pressure or temperature during flight. We conclude that the uncertainty reported for our measurements would not be significantly affected if the measurements were made without in-flight calibrations, provided ground calibrations and testing were performed regularly. Comparisons between in situ CRDS measurements and flask measurements are consistent with expected measurement uncertainties for CH4 and CO, but differences are larger than expected for CO2. Biases and standard deviations of comparisons with flask samples suggest that atmospheric variability, flask-to-flask variability, and possible flask sampling biases may be driving the observed flask versus in situ CO2 differences rather than the CRDS measurements.


Objective To investigate potential violations of patient confidentiality or other breaches of medical ethics committed by physicians and medical students active on the social networking site Twitter. Design Population-based cross-sectional observational study. Setting The social networking site Twitter (Swedish-speaking users, n=298819). Population Physicians and medical students (Swedish-speaking users, n=237) active on the social networking site Twitter between July 2007 and March 2012. Main outcome measure Postings that reflect unprofessional behaviour and ethical breaches among physicians and medical students. Results In all, 237 Twitter accounts were established as held by physicians and medical students and a total of 13 780 tweets were analysed by content. In all, 276 (1.9%) tweets were labelled as 'unprofessional'. Among these, 26 (0.2%) tweets written by 15 (6.3%) physicians and medical students included information that could violate patient privacy. No information on the personal ID number or names was disclosed, but parts of the patient documentation or otherwise specific indicatory information on patients were found. Unprofessional tweets were more common among users writing under a pseudonym and among medical students. Conclusions In this study of physicians and medical students on Twitter, we observed potential violations of patient privacy and other breaches of medical ethics. Our findings underline that every physician and medical student has to consider his or her presence on social networking sites. It remains to be investigated if the introduction of social networking site guidelines for medical professionals will improve awareness.


"The world of Shirley Jackson is eerie and unforgettable," writes A. M. Homes. "It is a place where things are not what they seem; even on a morning that is sunny and clear there is always the threat of darkness looming, of things taking a turn for the worse." Jackson's characters-mostly unloved daughters in search of a home, a career, a family of their own-chase what appears to be a harmless dream until, without warning, it turns on its heel to seize them by the throat. We are moved by these characters' dreams, for they are the dreams of love and acceptance shared by us all. We are shocked when their dreams become nightmares, and terrified by Jackson's suggestion that there are unseen powers-"demons" both subconscious and supernatural-malevolently conspiring against human happiness. In this volume Joyce Carol Oates, our leading practitioner of the contemporary Gothic, presents the essential works of Shirley Jackson, the novels and stories that, from the early 1940s through the mid-1960s, wittily remade the genre of psychological horror for an alienated, postwar America. She opens with "The Lottery" (1949), Jackson's only collection of short fiction, whose disquieting title story-one of the most widely anthologized tales of the 20th century-has entered American folklore. Also among these early works are "The Daemon Lover," a story Oates praises as "deeper, more mysterious, and more disturbing than 'The Lottery, ' " and "Charles," the hilarious sketch that launched Jackson's secondary career as a domestic humorist. Here too are Jackson's masterly short novels: "The Haunting of Hill House" (1959), the tale of an achingly empathetic young woman chosen by a haunted house to be its new tenant, and "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" (1962), the unrepentant confessions of Miss Merricat Blackwood, a cunning adolescent who has gone to quite unusual lengths to preserve her ideal of family happiness. Rounding out the volume are 21 other stories and sketches that showcase Jackson in all her many modes, and the essay "Biography of a Story," Jackson's acidly funny account of the public reception of "The Lottery," which provoked more mail from readers of "The New Yorker" than any contribution before or since.


A remote cross-border search takes place when persons in one nation use computer networks to explore data on computers in another nation. It is increasingly clear, especially after the September attack, that remote-cross border searches by public officials will be an important tool in the fight against cybercrime and cyberterrorism. Many commentators argue that cross-border searches violate the territorial sovereignty of the country where the data is located. This essay argues that such searches are consistent with international law principles of enforcement jurisdiction. It does not argue that there will be no limits on such searches, but rather that such limits are not deducible from norms of territorialism. The limits on remote cross-border searches will emerge from a messy process of cross-border search and retaliation, as nations adjust themselves to the changed circumstances of the Internet. In addition to arguing in support of these conclusions, the essay tries to shed light on the relationship between technological change and the evolution of jurisdictional concepts.


An indirect solar dryer was tested for drying sheanut kernels. The influence of tray distance from heat source, airspeed and particle size on drying kinetics was investigated. Optimum drying air parameters obtained in the dryer were airspeeds of 1 and 1.4 m/s and a temperature of 40°C–45°C. Sheanut kernel slices dried entirely in the falling rate period. Drying rate decreased with increase in particle size. The effect of particle size on the drying rate suggested that, the drying process was controlled by internal mass transfer mechanisms. Drying kinetics was modelled with characteristic drying curve and diffusive models. Effective moisture diffusivities of sheanut kernel slices calculated without shrinkage were greater than those calculated with the incorporation of shrinkage by a value of about 50%. Acid and peroxide values indicated that butter from the dryer could be classified either as Category 1 or 2 irrespective of the drying conditions to which the kernels were subjected.


Caste-based reservations (quotas) in government jobs and admissions to educational institutions in India have been associated with bouts of sometimes intense social conflict. The debate about this conflict has focused primarily on the case for and against reservations per se. Even when variations have been noticed in the degree of conflict generated by reservations across regions, the tendency has been to attribute the differences to local social conditions. Very little attention has been paid to the question of whether the type of reservations implemented in each region influences the nature and extent of conflict. This article attempts to answer this question by comparing the Mandal Commission Report with the experience of princely Mysore, and later Karnataka. Abstracting from these experiences, the article develops two concepts: reservations with exclusion and reservations without exclusion. It goes on to argue that reservations with exclusion create greater conflict.


Introduction: Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) may potentially lead to serious harm to recipients of blood transfusion. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be transmitted through blood transfusion, and its impact is the most severe among immunocompromised recipients. Its transmission can be reduced through screening of blood donors, blood and blood products for CMV antibodies, leuco-depletion or pathogen inactivation. Objective: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 250 blood donors between October and December 2012 in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. To determine the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) I and II antibodies, HBsAg, hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, syphilis and anti-CMV IgM and IgG antibodies. In addition, the type of donation and donation patterns were also assessed. Materials and Methods: Five milliliters were collected from the participants. One milliliter was dispensed into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) container and mixed gently, the remaining 4 ml were dispensed into a plain bottle and was centrifuged; serum obtained was divided into two one was stored at − 20°C which was later used to test for the anti-CMV IgG/IgM antibodies, whereas the other portion was used for routine screening of TTIs. The EDTA sample was used to assess haemoglobin concentration. An interviewer administered simplified questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic and other variables related to donation habits. Association between the socio-demographic characteristics of the blood donors and the anti-CMV antibodies was analysed. Similarly, association between the anti-CMV antibodies and the other routinely screened TTIs was assessed. Results were tested for evidence of statistical association. Results: Majority of the blood donors were males 242 (96.8%). One hundred and seven (42.6%) of the blood donors were within the age group of 25–34 years. Only 10.8% of the donors were voluntary donors whereas the remaining were family replacement donors. Prevalence rates of 100% and 4.4% were found for anti-CMV IgG and anti-CMV IgM antibodies, respectively. HBsAg, HIV I/II, anti-HCV antibodies and syphilis were prevalent in 6.8%, 1.2%, 0.8% and 0% of the donors, respectively. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of anti-CMV IgG and anti-CMV IgM antibodies among blood donors in this study was found to be 100% and 4.4%, respectively. Therefore, routine predonation screening for anti-CMV antibodies may not be cost effective. Leucocyte depletion and pathogen inactivation methods are better options. However, these can better be achieved when centralized system of blood transfusion is adopted. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the functional capacity of our national blood transfusion service.


The Øygarden Complex and the Bergen Arc System are intriguing large-scale structures in the SW Norwegian Caledonides, but their formation is still incompletely understood. So far, the lack of published U-Pb zircon ages has limited clear interpretations of the geologic evolution of the Øygarden Complex. The Lyderhorn Gneiss is located in the poorly studied eastern part of the Øygarden Complex and forms the core of the Bergen Arc. Detailed field mapping was conducted and seven samples were dated by SIMS U-Pb zircon geochronology, to study the magmatic and structural formation of the Lyderhorn Gneiss. Igneous protoliths formed during the Mesoproterozoic Gothian-Telemarkian (1504 Ma) and Sveconorwegian (1041 Ma and 1026 1022 Ma) orogenic periods. They do not record Sveconorwegian high-grade regional metamorphism. Early Ordovician (483 Ma) thermal resetting of metamict zircons was followed by sustained residence at elevated temperatures that annealed previous radiation damage. The U-Pb zircon system was not affected by Caledonian amphibolite facies metamorphism. The structure of the Lyderhorn Gneiss formed in one single deformation event, recorded in ENE-directed exhumational deformation from amphibolite facies to the brittle-plastic transition. Fluid-assisted strain weakening formed phyllonitic E-dipping detachment shear zones that became finally overprinted by (semi-)brittle deformation. Based on the Mesoproterozoic protolith ages, the Lyderhorn Gneiss and thereby the Øygarden Complex are correlated with the Telemarkia domain of the Baltican basement. The age of magmatism relates the Øygarden Complex with the Sirdal Magmatic Belt of southern Norway. The correlation suggests a continuous NNW-trend of Sveconorwegian domain boundaries and supports the assertion that Sveconorwegian high-T metamorphism in the Baltican basement was rather local than regional. A rapid temperature increase in the Early Ordovician is interpreted to mark the onset of Caledonian convergence. The structure of the Lyderhorn Gneiss is constrained to have formed by Early Devonian extensional deformation. Bidirectional Devonian extension in the Øygarden Complex is explained by exhumation as a Devonian extensional gneiss dome. The proposed, symmetrical core complex style of exhumation, resembles previously identified core complexes in central Norway and allows for a more consistent interpretation of basement culminations along the Norwegian margin. Possible onshore-offshore correlations are suggested for the Utsira High in the northern North Sea. Detailed structural and thermochronological studies will be needed to test the proposed model.


Remote sensing is becoming an important and useful tool in mapping large, remote areas and has many applications in geosciences such as geologic and geo-structural mapping, mineral and water exploration, hydrocarbon exploration, natural hazards analysis, and geomorphology. The recent advances in remote-sensing imaging acquisition and availability of images can help geoscientists to explore and prepare maps quickly and evaluate the geo-potential of any specific area on the globe. Advances in remote-sensing data analysis techniques have improved the capacity to map the geological structures and regional characteristics and can serve in mineral exploration in complex and poorly understood regions. In this chapter, geophysical remotely sensed data (airborne geophysics) are integrated with other sources of remotely sensed data to analyze three separate areas, one each for geological structure, lineament presence and orientation, and geothermal potential. Three case studies are discussed in this chapter from three countries—Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, and Algeria—to show the effectiveness of remote sensing in mapping and detecting geo-structural, geomorphological, and geothermal characteristics of ground surfaces.


The purpose of the present study is to compare the efficacy of imipramine in the treatment of psychotic versus nonpsychotic depression. Previous studies report varying results of monotherapy with antidepressants in psychotic depression. Because psychotic depression is seriously underinvestigated, performing a post hoc analysis of randomized clinical trials consisting of both psychotic and nonpsychotic depressed patients may contribute to the discussion on the optimal treatment of depressed patients with mood-congruent psychotic features. A total of 112 patients diagnosed with major depression (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) (40 with psychotic depression and 82 without psychotic features) received treatment with imipramine for 6 weeks after a washout period of 7 days. Imipramine doses were adjusted to attain a predefined fixed plasma level. Treatment response was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). A logistic regression analysis showed a significantly larger reduction in HAM-D score in the sample with psychotic features compared with the nonpsychotic sample (regression coefficient, −3.47; SE, 1.7; P = 0.04). According to the primary outcome criterion, that is, the change in HAM-D score, imipramine was significantly more effective in the sample with psychotic depression compared with the nonpsychotic depressed patients. The contradiction between our results and those of several previous studies may be due to the fixed plasma level dosing of imipramine refraining from concurrent psychotropic medication or limiting our patient sample to patients with mood-congruent psychotic features.


eleed, Iss. 11 - Under the brand name "sciebo – the Campuscloud" (derived from "science box") a consortium of more than 20 research and applied science universities started a large scale cloud service for about 500,000 students and researchers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state. Starting with the much anticipated data privacy compliant sync & share functionality, sciebo offers the potential to become a more general cloud platform for collaboration and research data management which will be actively pursued in upcoming scientific and infrastructural projects. This project report describes the formation of the venture, its targets and the technical and the legal solution as well as the current status and the next steps.


The propagation of spaceborne radar signals operating at L-band frequency or below can be seriously affected by the ionosphere. At high states of solar activity, Faraday rotation (FR) and signal path delays disturb radar polarimetry and reduce resolution in range and azimuth. While these effects are negligible at X-band, FR and the frequency-dependent path delays can become seriously problematic starting at L-band. For quality assurance and calibration purposes, existing L-band or potential spaceborne P-band missions require the estimation of the ionospheric state before or during the data take. This paper introduces two approaches for measuring the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) from single-polarized spaceborne SAR data. The two methods are demonstrated using simulations. Both methods leverage knowledge of the frequency-dependent path delay through the ionosphere: The first estimates TEC from the phase error of the filter mismatch, while the second gauges path-delay differences between up and down chirps. FR, mean (direct current) offsets, and noise contributions are also considered in the simulations. Finally, possibilities for further methodological improvements are discussed.


"This book covers well the issues and problems of the U.S. academic profession in the second half of the twentieth century." -- Contemporary Science The tale of the American academic profession-that large company of men and women, unprecedented in its size and diversity-needs to be written. A large historical literature on America's colleges and universities exists, but much of it is unashamedly hagiographic. On the other hand, more critical works see American universities as being in dire need of massive reform. This charge is not sustained by the contributors to The American Academic Profession, who hope to shatter the code of silence that passes for discretion, by focusing on the forces that have conspired to create the American academic profession. Graubard includes contributions from important scholars around the world: "How the Academic Profession is Changing" by Arthur Levine; "Small Worlds, Different Worlds: The Uniqueness and Troubles of American Academic Professions" by Burton R. Clark; "The Elusive Academic Profession: Complexity and Change" by Francis Oakley; "Uncertainties in the Changing Academic Profession" by Walter E. Massey; "Stewards of Opportunity: America's Public Community Colleges" by Patrick M. Callan; "Public Universities as Academic Workplaces" by Patricia J. Gumport; "Survival of the Fittest? Postgraduate Education and the Professoriate at the Fin de Sicle" by R. M. Douglas; "Reflections on the Culture Wars" by Eugene Goodheart; "A Blow Is Like an Instrument" by Charles Bernstein; "The Science Wars and the Future of the American Academic Profession" by Jay A. Labinger; "The Scientist as Academic" by Cheryl B. Leggon; "The 'Place' of Knowledge in the American Academic Profession" by Sheldon Rothblatt; "Border Crossings: Organizational Boundaries and Challenges to the American Professoriate" by Theodore R. Mitchell; "The Development of Information Technology in American Higher Education" by Martin Trow; and "An International Academic Crisis? The American Professoriate in Comparative Perspective" by Philip G. Altbach. The American Academic Profession is not sanguine about what is currently happening in higher education, or what it imagines the future portends. It simply asks the question: Can a society truly understand its universities and colleges when it has moved too quickly from uncritical admiration to uniformed and ungenerous complaint? This volume intends to dispel some long-persistent myths in favor of objective truth. It is a must for anyone interested in academic problems, for those who work in higher education, and for everyone interested in American ideas, traditions, and social and intellectual history. Stephen R. Graubard is editor of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and its journal, Daedalus, and professor of history emeritus at Brown University.


Throughout history, new military technologies have had profound ramifications: The rise of gunpowder and cannon created economies of scale that encouraged the emergence of nation-states, and Prussia used railroads to surprise the Austrians at Königgräz, beginning the end of the Austrian Empire. Today, emerging military technologies—including unmanned aerial vehicles, directed-energy weapons, lethal autonomous robots, and cyber weapons—raise the prospect of upheavals in military practice so fundamental that they challenge assumptions underlying long-established international laws of war, particularly those relating to the primacy of the state and the geographic bounds of warfare. But the laws of war have been developed over a long period, with commentary and input from many cultures. What would seem appropriate in this age of extraordinary technological change, the author concludes, is a reconsideration of the laws of war in a deliberate and focused international dialogue that includes a range of cultural and institutional perspectives.


Recently, Japanese banks reported their financial results for the fiscal year ending in March 1999. The 17 largest banks suffered a net combined aftertax loss of ¥3.6 trillion ($29.51 billion at $1 = ¥122). Moreover, even after spending ¥10.4 trillion to dispose of nonperforming loans in the 12 months previously, the total nonperforming loans at these banks stood at over ¥20.9 trillion, representing a little over 3% of total loans of the banks. These reports were the latest installment of bleak news for a banking system that has been in the grip of a deep and prolonged crisis. Since the collapse of stock and land prices in 1990, the Japanese economy has exhibited tepid performance, with continued declines in asset prices and sharp increases in business bankruptcies. Consequently, the quality of assets at Japanese banks has deteriorated significantly, culminating in the failure of several large institutions in 1997 and 1998. Currently, it is estimated that the bad loans of major banks alone total about 7% of gross domestic product (GDP).1 This figure far exceeds the amount of government resources spent, 2.5% to 3% of GDP, to resolve the savings and loan crisis in the U.S.


Photoshop Elements is geared for business users, students, educators, and home users who want professional-looking images for their print and Web projects, but don't want or need the advanced power of Adobe Photoshop. With Photoshop Elements 5 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide, readers can start reading from the beginning of the book to get a tour of the interface and start with image-editing basics, or they can look up specific tasks to learn just what they need to know. This task-based, visual reference guide uses step-by-step instructions and plenty of screenshots to show readers how to capture photos from traditional or digital cameras, reduce red eye, correct color, work with layers, erase backgrounds, create photo-illustrations and Web graphics, simulate painting and drawing techniques, apply artistic effects, and more. Newly updated to cover Photoshop Elements 5, it details the hottest new features: new advanced color and lighting controls, new customizable layouts, Flash-based web photo galleries, the new Flipbook feature, which lets you string together a series of still photos to create an eye-catching and fun flipbook, and the ability to download and edit photos directly from your mobile phone or handheld device. Both beginning and advanced users will find what they need here--in straightforward language and with readily accessible examples.