Addictive drugs usurp neural plasticity mechanisms that normally serve reward-related learning and memory, primarily by evoking changes in glutamatergic synaptic strength in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine circuitry. Here, we show that repeated cocaine exposure in vivo does not alter synaptic strength in the mouse prefrontal cortex during an early period of withdrawal, but instead modifies a Hebbian quantitative synaptic learning rule by broadening the temporal window and lowers the induction threshold for spike-timing-dependent LTP (t-LTP). After repeated, but not single, daily cocaine injections, t-LTP in layer V pyramidal neurons is induced at +30 ms, a normally ineffective timing interval for t-LTP induction in saline-exposed mice. This cocaine-induced, extended-timing t-LTP lasts for ∼1 week after terminating cocaine and is accompanied by an increased susceptibility to potentiation by fewer pre–post spike pairs, indicating a reduced t-LTP induction threshold. Basal synaptic strength and the maximal attainable t-LTP magnitude remain unchanged after cocaine exposure. We further show that the cocaine facilitation of t-LTP induction is caused by sensitized D1-cAMP/protein kinase A dopamine signaling in pyramidal neurons, which then pathologically recruits voltage-gated l-type Ca2+ channels that synergize with GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors to drive t-LTP at extended timing. Our results illustrate a mechanism by which cocaine, acting on a key neuromodulation pathway, modifies the coincidence detection window during Hebbian plasticity to facilitate associative synaptic potentiation in prefrontal excitatory circuits. By modifying rules that govern activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, addictive drugs can derail the experience-driven neural circuit remodeling process important for executive control of reward and addiction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is believed that addictive drugs often render an addict's brain reward system hypersensitive, leaving the individual more susceptible to relapse. We found that repeated cocaine exposure alters a Hebbian associative synaptic learning rule that governs activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in the mouse prefrontal cortex, characterized by a broader temporal window and a lower threshold for spike-timing-dependent LTP (t-LTP), a cellular form of learning and memory. This rule change is caused by cocaine-exacerbated D1-cAMP/protein kinase A dopamine signaling in pyramidal neurons that in turn pathologically recruits l-type Ca2+ channels to facilitate coincidence detection during t-LTP induction. Our study provides novel insights on how cocaine, even with only brief exposure, may prime neural circuits for subsequent experience-dependent remodeling that may underlie certain addictive behavior.


Break the manufacturing mold--and make new paths to phenomenal growth In a world of emerging markets, changing work forces, and accelerating innovation, manufacturing is once again a key corporate issue. Manufacturing expertise is a strategic competitive advantage, distinguishing winning companies (like Procter & Gamble, Lego, Toyota, Zara, and Tata) from those that have let their capabilities languish. It may not be easy to take back control of production, target sources for scarce (and environmentally sustainable) materials, and cultivate a motivated, talented labor force. But there are ways to do it; and successful companies will need to learn how. The thought leaders at Booz & Company and strategy+business magazine have collaborated to create an up-to-the-minute exploration of a new era in manufacturing and the requisite strategies for success. Chock full of profiles of the best manufacturing innovations in every business sector from pharmaceuticals to autos to consumer products, and revealing the most effective manufacturing innovations and strategies, Make or Break introduces you to the forces reshaping the industry. The secrets are in this book, including how to meet such interrelated challenges as: Labor relationships and modernization Material shortages Career development of your workforce Expansion of variety Competition on a global scale Complexity solution Environmental issues Integration of resilience into your strategy Based on leading-edge research, Make or Break is a book for leaders of the manufacturing function, but it is also for any corporate executive who wants to lead his or her industry-and for students and researchers seeking to understand why making products will, once again, be seen as the most vital skill set for a vibrant economy.


Legal practitioners in Australia who draft financial agreements before (s90B; 90UB) or during a marriage or relationship (s90C; 90UC) have a high risk of exposure to professional negligence. Vigilance, protocols and expertise only reduce the risk; it is never eliminated. That is why a number of experienced and smart family lawyers in Australia will never draft pre-nuptial (s90B; 90UB) or 'during relationship' agreements. They send their clients to more naive or risk-taking lawyers. In each case, the ineffective agreements and the potential for professional negligence lie dormant and hidden like land mines. Such agreements may explode at any time over, say, the 30 years which follow signing - either upon the separation of the signatory spouses or the death of one, or a dramatic change of circumstances for better or worse of one of the parties.


'I have lost interest … in all that I have written prior to The Philosophy of Money. This one is really my book, the others appear to me colourless and seem as if they could have been written by anyone else.' - Georg Simmel to Heinrich Rickert (1904) In The Philosophy of Money, Simmel provides us with a remarkably wide-ranging discussion of the social, psychological and philosophical aspects of the money economy, full of brilliant insights into the forms that social relationships take. He analyzes the relationships of money to exchange, the human personality, the position of women, individual freedom and many other areas of human existence. Later he provides us with an account of the consequences of the modern money economy and the division of labour, which examines the processes of alienation and reification in work, urban life and elsewhere. Perhaps, more than any of his other sociological works, The Philosophy of Money gives us an example of his comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships between the most diverse and seemingly connected social phenomena. This revised edition of the translation by Tom Bottomore and David Frisby, includes a new Preface by David Frisby.


France and the Second World War is a concise introduction to a crucial and controversial period of French history - world war and occupation. During World War Two, France had the dramatic experience of occupation by the Germans and the legacy of this traumatic time has lived on until today, to the enduring fascination of historians and students. France and the Second World War provides a fresh and balanced insight into the events of this era of conflict, exploring the key themes of: * Occupation as a social, economic and political phenomenon * the Vichy regime and the politics of collaboration * the 'resistance', resistors and its ideology * the liberation * the legacy of the wartime period.


Investigation of a 3T3 cell variant (3T3x) that forms clusters on solid substrates led Albrecht-Buehler to make the intriguing proposal that mammalian cells are able to detect each other through light scattering. Noting that cells in the center of 3T3x aggregates had large numbers of lysosomes--which, along with other perinuclear organelles, are the main light-scattering regions of mammalian cells--Albrecht-Buehler allowed cells to ingest small latex and diamond particles, which markedly enhanced their light-scattering ability. In aggregates formed by these hyperscattering cells, the center cells were those that scattered the most light. When hyperscattering cells were mixed with particle-free 3T3x cells, dispersed into dishes, and observed with time-lapse photography, the hyperscattering cells--which initially settled randomly--moved toward each other and aggregated. When cells were cultured on adhesive strips surrounded by nonadhesive substrate (to constrain movement to a single dimension) so that the distance over which cells could be influenced to move together could be estimated, cells appeared to detect each other at distances substantially greater than one cell diameter. Moreover, the distance over which cells could influence each other's movement (Ra) increased in parallel with their ability to scatter near-infrared light. Irradiation at 600 nm (visible light) decreased Ra, whereas irradiation at 800 nm (near-infrared) increased it. The ability of cells to aggregate inside unlighted incubators suggested that aggregation signals involved light in the near-infrared range. Thus, the author proposed that cells are able to detect each other through scattered near-infrared light and to use this information to direct their movements. G. Albrecht-Buehler, A long-range attraction between aggregating 3T3 cells mediated by near-infrared light scattering. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102, 5050-5055 (2005). [Abstract] [Full Text]


Background and Aim: Osteoporosis is a complex disease characterized by loss of bone mass, resulting in bone weakness and an increase in susceptibility to fractures. The aim of the current study was to determine skeletal changes induced by two progressive loading training programs on the bone properties of osteoporotic male rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was done on 30 Wistar male rats having mean weight of 180-200 g. They were divided into .5 equal groups. In the experimental group, osteoporosis was induced through intraperitoneal injection of 20% ethanol solution (3g/kg/day) for four consecutive days for 3 weeks. The rest of the groups were baseline group (pre test), resistance training, endurance training, and the control. The two training groups completed 12 five-day weeks of training program. according to resistance or endurance protocols. The other 6 rats were considered as the healthy group without any intervention . At the end of the intervention, the animals were killed and their bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur and L4, L5 were measured. Tensile max load of the left tibia and compression of the L5 vertebra were measured using mechanical tests. Results: The endurance (P= 0.035) and resistance (P= 0.001) groups femur BMD had significantly increased compared to that of the control . L4, L5 BMD in resistance training and control was significantly greater than that of endurance group (P= 0.001,P= 0.001). The tensile maximum load of the tibia and compression of the L5 in the resistance group was significantly greater than the control (P=0.01,P=0.03). Conclusion: Resistance training, compared to endurance training, can induce more effective favourable changes in bone mineral status and bone strength.


Summary The Rough Gas Field was discovered in 1968. It lies in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf blocks 47/3d and 47/8b and produces from the Permian Rotliegendes sandstone in a faulted anticlinal structure. Initial reserves were 384 BCF. The field was on production until 1980 when the British Gas Corporation began developing Rough as a gas storage facility to meet peak season demand in the mid to late 1980's. Three main facies associations are recognised from core studies of the Rotliegendes reservoir; aeolian sands, proximal fluvial sands and conglomerates, and distal sheet flood sands. The vertical arrangement of these associations within the Rotliegendes sequence define three sedimentary units which represent semi-arid alluvial fan progradation and abandonment. These units can also be recognised on electric-logs and can be correlated across the field. Reservoir porosity and permeability is largely controlled by the texture and mineralogy of the sedimentary facies, with a concomitant diagenetic influence. The geological model of facies distribution and trends in reservoir quality, together with well test data, has been used to optimise future development locations and update reservoir simulation of field behaviour in the storage mode.


The extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential to provide mechanical support to tissues but is also a bioactive edifice which controls cell behavior. Cell signaling generated by ECM components through integrin‐mediated contacts, modulates cell biological activity. In addition, by sequestrating or releasing growth factors, the ECM is an active player of physiological and pathological processes such as vascular development. EGFL7 is mainly expressed during blood vessel development and is deposited in the ECM after secretion by endothelial cells. While EGFL7 is known to control various endothelial cell molecular mechanisms [i.e., the repression of endothelial‐derived lysyl oxidase (LOX) enzyme, the regulation of the Notch pathway, and the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and of RHOA by endothelial cells], it is not established whether EGFL7 functions when bound to the ECM. Here, we show that microfibrillar‐associated glycoprotein‐1 (MAGP‐1) and fibronectin drive the deposition of EGFL7 into both fibers and individual aggregates in endothelial ECM. Although EGFL7 does not need to be docked into the ECM to control endothelial adhesion molecule expression, the ECM accumulation of EGFL7 is required for its regulation of LOX activity and of HEY2 expression along the Notch pathway. The interaction of EGFL7 with MAGP‐1 is necessary for LOX activity repression by EGFL7 while it does not participate in the control of the Notch pathway by this protein. Altogether, this study highlights the roles played by EGFL7 in controlling various endothelial molecular mechanisms upon its localization and shows how the ECM can modulate its functions.


In this article we address the question whether in word learning the effects of a bimodal (reading and pronouncing) condition are superior to the effects obtained in a monomodal (written only) condition. Research in the domains of psychology, psycholinguistics and foreign language learning lends support to the hypothesis that the effects of bimodal presentation and learning of words will be superior.In our experiment, pupils of intermediate classes from three different schools had to learn twelve French words in a bimodal condition: the words were presented in a text in a listening + reading condition; then the pupils learned the words by reading and pronouncing them. Pupils of three other (parallel) classes from the same three schools only read the same text and learned the words in a writing condition.The results of our investigation provide modest evidence for better retention in the bimodal condition: overall scores of the imodal' classes proved superior to scores of the monomodal classes. But this result is almost exclusively due to the results of only one school; in the two other schools test results did not differ significantly. This may be due to the small number of words.In subsequent research, the number of words to be learned will have to be larger than the modest number of twelve, in order to provide more convincing results.


In this paper we give some useful combinatorial properties of polynomial paths. We also introduce generalized majorization between three sequences of integers and explore its combinatorics. In addition, we give a new, simple, purely polynomial proof of the convexity lemma of E. M. de Sa and R. C. Thompson. All these results have applications in matrix completion theory.


The tumor suppressor protein p53 functions to promote cell death or apoptosis in response to stress. It acts both by modulating gene expression in the nucleus and by interacting with regulatory proteins in the cytoplasm that control apoptosis. Chipuk et al. (see the Perspective by Vousden) provide evidence for a mechanism by which these actions of p53 may be coordinated. The product of one p53 target gene is a protein known as PUMA (p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis). In cells exposed to DNA-damaging agents, interaction of PUMA with the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL appears to cause release of p53 that was previously bound to Bcl-xL. The released p53 may then be free to activate the cytoplasmic events that lead to apoptosis. J. E. Chipuk, L. Bouchier-Hayes, T. Kuwana, D. D. Newmeyer, D. R. Green, PUMA couples the nuclear and cytoplasmic proapoptotic function of p53. Science 309, 1732-1735 (2005). [Abstract] [Full Text] K. H. Vousden, p53 and PUMA: A deadly duo. Science 309, 1685-1686 (2005). [Summary] [Full Text]


An arch-based spherical near-field measurement system has been commissioned at Lockheed Martin's facility in Syracuse, New York. This system is designed for highfidelity testing of large, low-frequency, phased-array radars. The near-field scanner system consists of a 9.5meter-radius arch with an active probe-position-error correction, and a large azimuth axis capable of carrying large arrays. The shielded anechoic chamber designed to house the measurement system includes full treatment with curvilinear absorber to achieve low levels of stray signal at UHF band frequencies, FM-200 / VESDA fire protection, and a glycol based system for removing heat loads generated by the radars. The overall measurement system details are presented, along with mechanical accuracies achieved for the scanner system. Details of the chamber and host facility are described. Finally, the paper concludes with measurements of a UHF-band Standard Gain Horn using the system. The challenges and benefits of such a system will be highlighted.


ABSTRACT This paper provides a case study regarding an innovative model of grass-roots democracy, called democratic confederalism, which is currently being implemented in Northern Syria. The difference between democratic confederalism and previous experiments with grass-roots democracy is that its evolutionary pattern aims to include heterogeneous local communities living in the same territories, with the objective of becoming an administrative model for the whole Syrian country, without shattering its national constitution. In fact, the evolution of the political and administrative system and the introduction of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria were specifically aimed at including all ethnicities and not focusing on the Kurdish population only. Following a literature review aimed at defining the theoretical background of democratic confederalism, the case study is presented. Data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews and informal talks with key stakeholders in the Kurdish movement; the findings and main implications of the model are described and analysed.


This article examines the evolution of the programme Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) since 1996. In 1996, the transformation of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) marked a watershed in American social policy. AFDC was the main US public assistance programme for single parents. By the mid-1990s, it was also the most unpopular social programme in the United States, which explained why Bill Clinton promised to 'end welfare as we know it' during his presidential campaign in 1996. TANF ended automatic individual entitlement to public assistance, established a five-year time limit for receiving cash assistance, and promoted a punitive approach towards welfare recipients, who were in theory increasingly required to work in exchange for benefits. This approach is known as the Work First Approach. Cash assistance was temporary, and granted as a favour to low-income mothers, who were required to comply with various behavioural requirements. TANF was hailed as a tremendous success on both sides of the political spectrum. This bipartisan consensus explains why the new Republican administration (G. W. Bush became President in January 2001) wanted to build upon the existing programme.


Probus 22 (2010), 149 0921–4771/10/022-0149 DOI 10.1515/prbs.2010.005 ©Walter de Gruyter The present collection of papers aims to illustrate the contribution of Romance linguistics to the study of event and argument structure in a diverse set of core syntactic constructions, such as the dative and locative alternations, the directed motion and resultative forms, as well as the causative, anti-causative/inchoative, and conative constructions. With their rich clitic systems and their principled and systematic differences with Germanic, the Romance languages provide a unique window into the complex interaction between the meaning of verbal stems and the syntactic form (as encoded in the (semi) closed class vocabulary of the grammar), and sheds light on their respective contributions to the propositional content of the sentence. Research into the lexicon-syntax interface in the last decade has shifted its explanatory power from the lexicon to the syntax, thus clarifying the role of functional categories while constraining the form of syntactic mechanisms. The articles in this volume provide further support for this new perspective. Yet, the import of the lexical meaning of open class items (even in its most minimal sense) and its relation to the meaning contributed by the construction itself to the overall interpretation of the sentence continue to be ongoing topics of debate. This volume also partakes of this debate.


An experimental investigation utilizing nonbreaking waves and one bottom topography with parallel circular contours symmetric about the center of the basin was performed to assess the limits of applicability of linear wave refraction theory in a convergence zone. Analytical computations of reflections from underwater topographic variations and of viscous dissipation of energy at the bottom agreed with experimental measurements. It was vividly illustrated that a significant amount of energy was involved in diffraction along the wave crest, thus the necessity of developing a theory to include the stepwise computation of diffraction processes simultaneously with the computation .of wave refraction is now evident. Nonlinear transfer of energy from lower to higher frequency components was investigated by performing a harmonic analysis over one wave period. As expected, nonlinear effects increased with both wave period and wave height (for a given wave period). Only 20 percent of the energy remained in the fundamental component for the longest period largest amplitude wave tested. Higher frequency components ranged from being completely coupled to the fundamental frequency to almost completely uncoupled. It was clearly demonstrated that in some circumstances the consideration of nonlinear effects becomes extremely important.


In this paper, we explore the security dimension of development in fragile situations, and address how the EU can better focus on the security dimension of its policies to-wards countries facing fragility. We stress development sequences in which economic, political and security factors interact, pointing to the linkages, and, at times, the trade-offs, between these problem-solving activities. Our guiding hypothesis throughout this paper is that societies facing fragile situations can begin to change in the security and development domains as they are, in spite of what they are, and because of what they are (Hirschman), and that the EU, both as it is, and in spite of what it is, can help them to do so. We draw two implications from this starting point. First, the EU should be guided by possibilism in its policy choices regarding the potential reforms and changes in the security-development nexus. Second, policy-makers and analysts should remain attentive to the possibilities of linkages and transversality, meaning that, instead of assessing only the possible effect of one single reform measure in the security-development nexus, it is more fruitful to seek out the inter-connections and external effects that are likely to emerge when several reforms are implemented either simultaneously or sequentially. It is both the combination and the process by which one thing leads to another that matters. First, we identify the security dimension of fragility situations and emphasise the wide range of instruments that the EU, as a global civilian power, has at its disposal to address these situations. Second, we present and discuss the four major ways to approach the security-development nexus from a policy stand-point: state-building, peace-building, human security, and the responsibility to protect. We argue that these frameworks should not be seen as competing with each other, but as making valuable points to be considered in any development strategy. Third, focusing upon problem-solving dynamics from a qualitative perspective, we explore the twists and turns of the relationship between security and development, highlighting, along the way, some of the unsuspected and unorthodox opportunities for change and reform in dire circumstances.


Judicial selection is on the national radar screen. This Essay argues that merit selection judicial appointment is more likely than judicial elections to ensure a judiciary that is qualified, inclusive and independent. The Essay discusses the purported goals of judicial elections, and highlights the negative consequences that have resulted, including expensive and polarizing campaigns and the influence of special interest groups. Empirical data demonstrates that voters in New York City rarely vote for judges, undermining the civic participation and judicial accountability rationales that elections aim to promote. Lack of voter participation has the further negative consequence of giving political party leaders significant power over the judicial election process. The Essay promotes the implementation of the judicial appointment system, specifically the merit selection system where a diverse nominating commission solicits and interviews applicants and produces a list of approved candidates from which the Executive must select. In both process and yield measures, merit selection is a superior method than judicial elections for yielding a qualified, inclusive and independent judiciary. The merit selection process is less political and therefore more independent than elections. Over the past twenty five years in New York City, the appointive system has produced a more diverse judiciary, and one with far fewer instances of judicial misconduct than a comparable group of elected judges.


This paper studies an economy where the labour market does not necessarily clear because real wages are sticky. Wages are fully indexed to prices, and are optimally adjusted over time in response to steady state deviations of output and of inflation. Inflation deviations will arise if wage setters make contracts that take into account long term forces, fulfilling a "social contract". When fiscal policy drives a wedge between long run and current inflation, it can have supply-side effects. If goods markets always clear and future inflation is perfectly foreseen, fiscal policy can have real supply-side effects. With only money finance, such effectiveness exists only if the economy has sufferred from an exogenous supply shock. If debt shares in the finance of fiscal deficits, real effects can be created even if the system is in steady state. The direction of the effects depend upon the extent to which fiscal policy is endogenised on account of the implied debt service. A fiscally cautious government will create net output gains after an expansion. If goods markets do not clear, and the price level (but not inflation) is sticky, supply-side fiscal policy can only operate in a Classical Unemployment region. In this region, fiscal expansion only affects inflation, and output is perpetually stuck.


Fiscal policy instruments such as royalty, tax, subsidy and market systems are core components of forest policy and have significant consequences on the management of the forest resources and their benefits to local communities. In this paper, we have examined the legal provisions of the fiscal instruments employed in Community Forestry of Nepal mainly based on the review of current policy documents. In addition, interviews and group discussions were also conducted with government units, traders and forest user groups in Parbat, Baglung and Dolakha districts. Inconsistencies and contradictions are seen mainly in handing over of community forest to local people, controlling taxation system, ban to export NTFPs and sharing revenues between government units and forest user groups. Consequently, such inconsistent provisions have affected the promotion of sustainable and market-oriented management of forest resources, coordination between local and central government authorities, and the overall financial situation of forest user groups. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v4i0.5539 The Initiation Vol.4 2011 82-91


Objective According to DSM-5, bipolar disorder is a condition in which the patient experiences one or several manic episodes and sometimes major depressive episodes too. The signs and symptoms of the disorders in DSM are generally influenced by cultural and ethnic factors. Therefore, the present study was aimed at identifying the clinical manifestations of mania in bipolar I disorder in Iranian population.Methods The present work is a cross-sectional study. The participants included 64 patients in the manic phase of bipolar I disorder who were selected from the Razi psychiatric hospital and the Taleghani Hospital, using a convenience sampling method. The study data were gathered using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).Results According to the findings, the most common signs and symptoms of mania in hospitalized patients with bipolar I disorder included reduced need for sleep (89.1), poor insight (87.5), elevated mood (85.9), talkativeness (79.7), and psychotic features (68.8). The major symptoms of the patients according to DSM-5 criteria included reduced need for sleep (89.1), talkativeness (79.7), and psychomotor agitation (40.6). According to t-test analysis, patients with and without a history of mental disorders did not have significantly different mania scores. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis indicated no significant difference in mania scores based on the age of onset of the disorder, marital status (single, married, divorced, or widow), education level, and number of hospitalizations. The chi-squared test revealed that patients with a lower education level showed more aggressive behaviors.Conclusion According to our results, since the response of a patient to a particular treatment is largely influenced by the symptoms of the disorder, clinicians should pay critical attention to the most common signs and symptoms of any mania.


Eighty years ago, Justice Brandeis warned us to "be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent," as great dangers to liberty often lurk in the "insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." Although Congress meant well five years ago, when it enacted the Adam Walsh Act Amendments to the Bail Reform Act of 1984, it failed to understand the consequences of its actions. The Amendments were added without a stated purpose, a single substantive debate or a shred of congressional findings. A particular, undesignated provision of the Amendments requires that every defendant charged with one of an enumerated list of offenses be subject to a prescribed set of pretrial release conditions, even if the district court would find those conditions unwarranted during a bail hearing. This provision, which is unrivaled in American law, strips away any independent judicial evaluation by mandating that every arrestee be treated the same, regardless of the particular circumstances surrounding the arrestee and the charged offense.Has Congress, in its zeal to protect children, violated fundamental constitutional safeguards routinely afforded criminal defendants at the pretrial stage? I believe it has and that the mandatory pretrial release provision of the Amendments is facially unconstitutional or, at the very least, unconstitutional as applied to the majority of defendants charged with an AWA-enumerated offense. Using two hypothetical cases coupled with the lessons drawn from the few reported decisions on this topic, this Article first considers whether the "mandatory" pretrial release provision is actually inapplicable in certain circumstances. Next, assuming arguendo that the provision applies, this Article addresses whether it is constitutional under the Excessive Bail Clause of the Eighth Amendment, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and the separation of powers doctrine. Recognizing the lack of political room for any meaningful legislative reform on the war against sex crimes, this Article instead calls for Congress to repeal or redraft the aforementioned provision of the Adam Walsh Act Amendments or, in the alternative, bolster its legislative record, in order to avoid meritorious constitutional attacks and to preserve the Bail Reform Act's longstanding deference to the judiciary's independent, case-by-case determination of the least restrictive pretrial release conditions necessary to reasonably assure the reappearance of the arrestee and the safety of the community.


The customary picture of the World War II era in California has been dominated by accounts of the Japanese American concentration camps, African Americans, and women on the home front. "The Way We Really Were" substantially enlivens this view, addressing topics that have been neglected or incompletely treated in the past to create a more rounded picture of the wartime situation at home. Exploring the developments brought to fruition by the war and linking them to their roots in earlier decades, contributors address the diversity of the musical scene, which arose from a cross-pollination of styles brought by Okies, blacks, and Mexican migrants. They examine increased political involvement by women, Hollywood's response to the war, and the merging of business and labor interests in the Bay Area Council. They also reveal how wartime dynamics led to substantial environmental damage and lasting economic gains by industry. "The Way We Really Were" examines significant wartime changes in the circumstances of immigrant groups that have been largely overlooked by historians. Among these are Italian Americans, heavily insular and pro-Fascist before the war and very pro-American and assimilationist after, and Chinese American men, who achieved new legitimacy and entitlement through military service. Also included is a look at cultural negotiation among multiple ethnic groups in the Golden State. A valuable addition to the literature on California history, "The Way We Really Were" provides an entree into new areas of scholarship and a fresh look at familiar ones.


"The incidence and prevalence of diabetes is increasing globally, and most health professionals are likely to care for people with diabetes. In such cases they may often find that they have to make clinical decisions without expert support, which can be difficult for both patient and carer." "Managing Clinical Problems in Diabetes provides this support by exploring common clinical problems in diabetes care, and providing practical solutions based on evidence and the clinical experience of diabetes educators, endocrinologists, general practitioners, and other health professionals who encounter such problems on a daily basis. Each chapter begins with an introductory section presenting an overview of the management of diabetes, including short- and long- tern complications and management targets across the lifespan. The authors then pose commonly encountered diabetes management problems, developing comprehensive responses from a range of relevant health professionals who each provide management suggestions from their area of practice." "Managing Clinical Problems in Diabetes is a vital resource for health professionals involved in the provision of care for people with diabetes."--BOOK JACKET.


The contents of Education for Sustainable Development should be included in teachers' initial and advanced training programs. A sustainable consciousness is one of the main foundations for determining the key competences for sustainability. However, there are not many empirical studies that deal with consciousness from education. In this context, the e-portfolio appears as a tool that promotes reflection and critical thinking, which are key competences for consciousness development. This work intends to propose a categorization system to extract types of consciousness and identify the levels of consciousness of teachers in training. For this research work, which is of an eminently qualitative nature, we have selected 25 e-portfolios of students (teachers in pre-service training) in the last year of the School of Education at the University of Macerata (Italy). The qualitative methodological procedure that was followed enabled deducing three bases that shape the consciousness of teachers in training: thinking, representation of reality, and type of consciousness. We concluded that the attainment of a sustainable consciousness in teachers requires activating and developing higher levels of thinking, as well as a projective and macrostructural representation of reality.


Decision making around discontinuation of life-sustaining medical devices (LSMDs) at the end of life, is likely to become an increasingly common scenario within hospitals and hospices, as medical advances continue within an ageing population. Optimal end of life care planning should include practical considerations with regard to the device itself, as well as the emotional and legal decisions common to such situations. Within a cardiothoracic tertiary centre, our hospital specialist palliative care team was involved in the withdrawal of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), in a complex patient who developed concomitant metastatic rectal cancer, while awaiting cardiac transplantation. The lack of a clear plan resulted in a rushed and unsatisfactory withdrawal, but prompted discussions with the cardiothoracic team and other teams using LSMDs.

LVADs and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) are an example of the challenges created by prolonged …


The first author is a former fellow of his co-author, Dr Rhoton, at the Microneuroanatomy Laboratory of the University of Florida. When I then also read that he is Board-certified as both a plastic surgeon and a neurosurgeon, I did feel that a part-time ENT surgeon, in sunny Middlesbrough, was hardly qualified to criticise or comment on his work! He specialises in facial reanimation surgery, hence this book. Dr Rhoton's laboratory, plus the techniques developed there, allowed him to perfect the dissections and colourful silicon injections which characterise this atlas. The content is very much more the 'and Related Structures' of the title than just illustrating the complexities of facial nerve anatomy. There is osteology of the skull, with facial, orbital, temporal, neck and skull base dissections. Image quality is reproduced to the standard we would expect from this publisher, in full colour, and with clear labelling and appropriately brief text descriptions. This is basic science, pure anatomy, so do not expect guidance on finding that nerve in parotidectomy or revision mastoid surgery. That does not detract from its value. The book seemed much thicker than the approximately 100 pages of text suggested. Sure enough, half of its depth is taken up with a box, containing a set of stereoscopic goggles, a cardboard effort that folds into a box shape, which may yet prove fragile. The idea is to view online reproductions of the images in three dimensions (3D). As with any new technology post 1980, I did struggle with those at first. I am used to the red and blue lens system, which turns the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's fuzzy pictures of the surface of Mars into a scene one could walk through (incredible). No, instead this is the idea that goes back to the earliest days of photography. Two subtly different images are presented to each eye, to become 3D on gazing through the stereoscopic viewer. This is different however. The viewer actually sees three images and only the centre one is in 3D. That took my aged brain quite some time to fathom. Once I did work it out and use what neuroplasticity still remains to me, I found the effect dramatic. Even on the biggest monitor I could find, the pictures are still small however (although something tells me that my three sons could have instantly fixed that; indeed, my granddaughters could have done better than me, I would bet). In the end, the result is remarkably effective, though, in transforming perception of the anatomical relationships. Truly, this VIIth cranial nerve is far more than just the stringy thing that makes one smile and makes constant bleeping noises, on the odd occasions when I do give in and use a monitor. It is worth considering the value for money, for a book of this quality, if you do see this on the bookshelves. Probably this is more for those interested in the basic science, the trainees and scientists, rather than the busy clinician who spends more time avoiding the VIIth cranial nerve than picking out its many branches. This book is excellent value.


This research is aimed to 1) develop theme based instructional materials containing characteristics values which are appropriate to be used as supporting learning materials and to improve students' comprehension; 2) find the effectiveness from the development of integrative theme based instructional materials containing characteristics values. The developed instructional materials are in the form of student books. The research method employed here was research and development which was arranged in three stages, namely experts' validation, limited try out, and wide tryout. Data analysis using quantitative descriptive analysis. Meanwhile, the subjects of the research are expert validators and elementary school students in grade V SD in the city of Surakarta. The research was carried out at the fifth grade of elementary schools which have implemented theme based learning of Curriculum 2013 in Surakarta. Limited try out was carried in SD Negeri Kleco, while wide try out was carried out in 2 school in SD Negeri Kratonan and SD Negeri Bulukantil. The instruments of the research were the instructional materials' properness assessment, questionnaire, and questions sheet. The result of the experts validation for the instructional materials is 91,6%. The result of the limited try out of instructional materials gets the average of 88,7%. The result of the instructional materials wide material' test has the average of 96,36%. the value of Sig The computation of simple paired t-test acquire. = 0,000 in each sample, where the value of α=0.05, since the value of Sig.< α, it can be concluded that the data of pretest and post-test are really significantly different and there is significance influence of the use of integrative theme based instructional materials towards students' comprehension. The result of the research are (1) the instructional material contains developed characteristics values which are appropriate to be used; (2) the developed the instructional material are effective to be used in the learning process.


Advances in mobile and ubiquitous computing increased the number of user centric applications that comes into all aspects of our lives. This situation has started to threaten our privacy and created a huge demand for development of privacy-aware applications. Comprehensive privacy protection mechanisms have to take all phases of data processing into considerations including data collection from users, storage of data in central servers, and sharing them with third parties. However, privacy studies in the literature generally bring solutions for sharing of collected information with third parties. In this thesis, a privacy preserving data collection framework is proposed for user centric network applications. Framework provides privacy of data en route to data collector(s). We propose a generic bottom-up clustering method that utilizes k-anonymity or l-diversity concepts during anonymization. Entropy based metrics for information loss and anonymity level are defined and used in performance evaluations. Framework is adapted for networks having different data collector parties with different privacy levels. Our framework is applied for two types of data collection applications: (i) privacy preserving data collection in wireless sensor networks, (ii) preservation of organiza- tional privacy during collection of intrusion detection logs from different organiza- tions. Traditional data utility vs. privacy trade-off has one more dimension in wireless sensor networks. This dimension is minimization of bandwidth or energy consump- tion due to the limitations of tiny sensor nodes. Our analyses show that the proposed framework presents a suitable trade-off mechanism among energy consumption minimization, data utility and privacy preservation in wireless sensor network applications with one or multiple sinks. It is also demonstrated that our framework brings effective solution for preserving organizational privacy during sharing of intrusion detection logs among organizations and central security monitoring entity.


We describe the theoretical modeling of the external-cavity operation of a phase-locked array of diode lasers in two configurations, the self-imaging cavity based on the Talbot effect and the angular-filtering cavity. Complex filtering functions, such as the transmission or reflection of a volume Bragg grating (VBG), may be introduced in the external-cavity description. Experiments with high-brightness diode laser arrays were also conducted. The experimental results are carefully analyzed with regard to the numerical simulations, and the beneficial effect of the spectral selectivity of VBGs is demonstrated.


Lactation plays a vital role in reproductive success, evolving with ecological adaptations of mammalian life histories. Knowledge of the lactation process in odontocetes is scarce and limited to a handful of species. We investigated the changes in milk composition across different lactation stages, including prepartum mammary secretion and early, mid- and late lactation of narrow-ridged finless porpoises. Prepartum mammary secretion was greenish and characterized by high protein, low sugar, and negligible fat contents. In contrast, milk fat became predominant over protein and sugar contents throughout all lactation stages. At the early lactation stage, the contents of all milk constituents except water varied greatly. At the mid-late lactation stage, the gross milk composition was relatively stable and was composed of, on average, 67.34% ± 4.13% water, 9.96% ± 0.75% protein, 21.40% ± 3.24% fat, and 1.72% ± 0.73% sugar. Our findings provide new insight into milk composition at different lactation stages in the narrow-ridged finless porpoise.


R B Haynes

Professor R B Haynes, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; email@example.com

Are interventions to improve patient adherence to self- administered prescribed medications effective?

Studies selected evaluated interventions to improve adherence to medications prescribed for medical disorders (including mental but not addiction disorders), had ⩾80% follow-up in each study group, reported both medication adherence and treatment outcomes, and had ⩾6 month follow-up in trials of long-term treatments that had positive initial results.

Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Cochrane Library , International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, PsycINFO, and Sociological Abstracts (all to Jan 2007); and reference lists were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Authors of relevant trials and reviews were contacted. 78 RCTs ({93}* unconfounded interventions, 10 with short-term treatment and {83}* with long-term treatment; n = 32–1113) met the selection criteria; 20 reported concealment of allocation. Conditions studied included asthma or chronic …


During the last years we assisted to an exponential growth of scientific discoveries for catalysis by gold and many applications have been found for Au-based catalysts.
In the literature there are several studies concerning the use of gold-based catalysts for environmental applications and good results are reported for the catalytic combustion of different volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Recently it has also been established that gold-based catalysts are potentially capable of being effectively employed in fuel cells in order to remove CO traces by preferential CO oxidation in H2-rich streams.
Bi-metallic catalysts have attracted increasing attention because of their markedly different properties from either of the costituent metals, and above all their enhanced catalytic activity, selectivity and stability.
In the literature there are several studies demostrating the beneficial effect due to the addition of an iron component to gold supported catalysts in terms of enhanced activity, selectivity, resistence to deactivation and prolonged lifetime of the catalyst.
In this work we tried to develop a methodology for the preparation of iron stabilized gold nanoparticles with controlled size and composition, particularly in terms of obtaining an intimate contact between different phases, since it is well known that the catalytic behaviour of multi-component supported catalysts is strongly influenced by the size of the metal particles and by their reciprocal interaction.
Ligand stabilized metal clusters, with nanometric dimensions, are possible precursors for the preparation of catalytically active nanoparticles with controlled dimensions and compositions. Among these, metal carbonyl clusters are quite attractive, since they can be prepared with several different sizes and compositions and, moreover, they are decomposed under very mild conditions.
A novel preparation method was developed during this thesis for the preparation of iron and gold/iron supported catalysts using bi-metallic carbonyl clusters as precursors of highly dispersed nanoparticles over TiO2 and CeO2, which are widely considered two of the most suitable supports for gold nanoparticles.
Au/FeOx catalysts were prepared by employing the bi-metallic carbonyl cluster salts [NEt4]4[Au4Fe4(CO)16] (Fe/Au=1) and [NEt4][AuFe4(CO)16] (Fe/Au=4), and for comparison FeOx samples were prepared by employing the homometallic [NEt4][HFe3(CO)11] cluster. These clusters were prepared by Prof. Longoni research group (Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry- University of Bologna).
Particular attention was dedicated to the optimization of a suitable thermal treatment in order to achieve, apart from a good Au and Fe metal dispersion, also the formation of appropriate species with good catalytic properties.
A deep IR study was carried out in order to understand the physical interaction between clusters and different supports and detect the occurrence of chemical reactions between them at any stage of the preparation. The characterization by BET, XRD, TEM, H2-TPR, ICP-AES and XPS was performed in order to investigate the catalysts properties, whit particular attention to the interaction between Au and Fe and its influence on the catalytic activity.
This novel preparation method resulted in small gold metallic nanoparticles surrounded by highly dispersed iron oxide species, essentially in an amorphous phase, on both TiO2 and CeO2. The results presented in this thesis confirmed that FeOx species can stabilize small Au particles, since keeping costant the gold content but introducing a higher iron amount a higher metal dispersion was achieved.
Partial encapsulation of gold atoms by iron species was observed since the Au/Fe surface ratio was found much lower than bulk ratio and a strong interaction between gold and oxide species, both of iron oxide and supports, was achieved.
The prepared catalysts were tested in the total oxidation of VOCs, using toluene and methanol as probe molecules for aromatics and alchols, respectively, and in the PROX reaction.
Different performances were observed on titania and ceria catalysts, on both toluene and methanol combustion.
Toluene combustion on titania catalyst was found to be enhanced increasing iron loading while a moderate effect on FeOx-Ti activity was achieved by Au addition. In this case toluene combustion was improved due to a higher oxygen mobility depending on enhanced oxygen activation by FeOx and Au/FeOx dispersed on titania.
On the contrary ceria activity was strongly decreased in the presence of FeOx, while the introduction of gold was found to moderate the detrimental effect of iron species. In fact, excellent ceria performances are due to its ability to adsorb toluene and O2. Since toluene activation is the determining factor for its oxidation, the partial coverage of ceria sites, responsible of toluene adsorption, by FeOx species finely dispersed on the surface resulted in worse efficiency in toluene combustion.
Better results were obtained for both ceria and titania catalysts on methanol total oxidation.
In this case, the performances achieved on differently supported catalysts indicate that the oxygen mobility is the determining factor in this reaction.
The introduction of gold on both TiO2 and CeO2 catalysts, lead to a higher oxygen mobility due to the weakening of both Fe-O and Ce-O bonds and consequently to enhanced methanol combustion. The catalytic activity was found to strongly depend on oxygen mobility and followed the same trend observed for catalysts reducibility.
Regarding CO PROX reaction, it was observed that Au/FeOx titania catalysts are less active than ceria ones, due to the lower reducibility of titania compared to ceria. In fact the availability of lattice oxygen involved in PROX reaction is much higher in the latter catalysts.
However, the CO PROX performances observed for ceria catalysts are not really high compared to data reported in literature, probably due to the very low Au/Fe surface ratio achieved with this preparation method.
CO preferential oxidation was found to strongly depend on Au particle size but also on surface oxygen reducibility, depending on the different oxide species which can be formed using different thermal treatment conditions or varying the iron loading over the support.


Pyrolysis, fire behaviour and mechanical properties of a blend of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with a phosphorus polyester (PET-P-DOPO) are investigated and compared with PBT/aluminium diethylphosphinate (AlPi-Et) composites. The PBT/PET-P-DOPO is immiscible and exhibits gas-phase and condensed-phase activity, whereas AlPi-Et in PBT results mainly in flame inhibition. Only higher loadings of AlPi-Et yield significant condensed-phase activity. Using the same phosphorus content, PBT/PET-P-DOPO and PBT/AlPi-Et exhibit similar reductions in fire load (22%) and flame spread (17% assessed by fire growth rate, FIGRA), compared with PBT. In contrast to AlPi-Et, the addition of PET-P-DOPO does not decrease the tensile strength of PBT. Thus, PET-P-DOPO is an interesting alternative to low-molecular-weight flame retardants.


As a result of global warming, natural hazards are a growing threat with many countries being been affected by severe weather. The UK endured floods in summer 2007, causing an estimated £3bn in damages; it has been suggested that future events could cause £20bn of damages by 2080. Such events have highlighted the vulnerability of the UK but also the value of the measures that reduce the impact of natural hazards. The majority of structures in the UK are old with masonry being the main method of construction; these structures support critical services such as healthcare and emergency response facilities. This paper investigate how hazard mitigation activities have been embedded into the construction decision making processes of nations that are threatened by seismic hazards (such as Japan) and determine what lessons (if any) can be learnt to improve hazard mitigation activities the UK. This paper focuses on the possible transferability of seismic hazard mitigation processes in relation to the protection of hospital facilities from flooding events in the UK.


The CD will be in a plastic envelope inside the back cover of the storybook. The story will be read once through for expression and enjoyment and then read again for children to read along at the same time. A sound would signal page turns. There sill be a short introduction to the story to think about the cover and what the story will be about and the puzzle activity will be pointed out. The Think About questions will be read at the end. BLRead at Home is closely linked to Oxford Reading Tree, the most successful reading scheme in the UK, used to teach reading in well over 75 per cent of primary schools BLEach story provides a wide range of fun activities to support reading skills: - a Puzzle activity in every book to make reading fun and practise looking at detail - a game or fun activity like a Maze or Spot the difference - a treat for children to enjoy at the end of the story BLProvides clear parental support within and beyond the book: - a "Tips for Reading Together" page, giving parents practical ideas for helping with their child's reading - a "Think about the Story" page providing stimulating ideas for parents to use with children when they are discussing the story - a "Useful common words" panel to highlight high frequency words used in the story which have a close correlation with the requirements of the National Literacy Strategy. BLHighly successful, high profile author and illustrator team: - Roderick Hunt, author of the original Oxford Reading Tree stories, and Cynthia Rider are superb storytellers with over 50 years educational experience between them. - Alex Brychta's humorous and detailed illustrations bring the stories alive and are known to and loved by millions of Oxford Reading Tree readers BLAll titles the perfect format for sharing a book with beginner readers - slightly wider than Ladybird to allow for all the humour and detail of the illustrations! BLRead at Home fully supports government initiatives to encourage parents to support their child's reading.


This article examines British-born Sikh men's identification to Sikhism. In particular, it focuses on the appropriation and use of Sikh symbols amongst men who define themselves as Sikh. This article suggests that whilst there are multiple ways of 'being' a Sikh man in contemporary post-colonial Britain, and marking belonging to the Sikh faith, there is also a collectively understood idea of what an 'ideal' Sikh man should be. Drawing upon Connell and Messerschmidt's discussion of locally specific hegemonic masculinities (2005. "Hegemonic Masculinity: Rethinking the Concept." Gender and Society 19 (6): 829–859), it is suggested that an ideal Sikh masculine identity is partly informed by a Khalsa discourse, which informs a particular performance of Sikh male identity, whilst also encouraging the surveillance of young men's activities both by themselves and by others. These Sikh masculinities are complex and multiple, rotating to reaffirm, challenge and redefine contextualised notions of hegemonic masculinity within the Sikh diaspora in post-colonial Britain. Such localised Sikh masculinities may both assert male privilege and reap patriarchal dividends (Connell, W. 1995. Masculinities. Cambridge: Polity Press), resulting in particular British Sikh hegemonic masculinities which seek to shape the performance of masculinity, yet in another context these very same performances of masculinity may also signify a more marginalised masculinity vis-à-vis other dominant hegemonic forms.


Introduction Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) operators are exposed to significant levels of electromagnetic fields (EMF). In these workers an elevated prevalence of variuos subjective symptoms has been reported. Even if most symptoms are non-specific, in some recent studies a group of 5 more specific symptoms, defined 'core symptoms', was proposed: vertigo, nausea, head ringing, magnetophosphenes and metallic taste. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of subiective symptoms, including 'core symptoms', in Italian MRI operators, in order to evaluate the association with exposure. Methods A sample of 152 MRI operators working in 6 different hospitals in Italy was collected. No measurments were available, so for each participant exposure was estimated based on scanner type (<1T, 1.5T –<3T and ≥3T respectively) and on the total number of MRI procedures followed. In all operators an ad hoc questionnaire including relevant sociodemographic and occupational data, and the occurrence of subjective symptoms based our previous experience, was collected. The influence of stress was also evaluated. The relation between occupational exposure and symptoms was studied using multivariate analysis. Result The multivariate analysis shows a significant correlation between exposure level and the total number of investigated symptoms. The results were confirmed considering the specific subset of 'core symptoms' based on previous literature data. In the multivariate model, the weight of the other covariate factors was not significant. The overall results were substantially confirmed considering the effect of work stress. Discussion and conclusions In the observed group of MRI operators the total number of subjective symptoms was associated with EMF exposure; the subset of 'core symptoms' also proved significantly dose-related with exposure. The symptoms prevalence was not significantly influenced by work stress. The results support the association between subjective symptoms and EMF exposure in MRI operators. Another conclusion is that the appearance of the specific group of 'core symptoms' may be usefully investigated in health surveillance of MRI operators.


Jewel Cave (118 km of mapped passages beneath an area of 2.7 km 2 ) and Wind Cave (70 km beneath 1.8 km 2 ) are, respectively, the fourth and tenth longest known cave systems and the world9s foremost examples of three-dimensional, rectilinear networks of solutional passages. Other caves in the Black Hills are similar. They occur in 90–140 m of well-bedded Mississippian limestone and dolomite. Walls throughout Jewel Cave are lined with euhedral calcite spar as much as 15 cm thick. Wind Cave displays lesser encrustations and remarkable calcite boxwork. Since 1938, opinion has favored cave excavation by slowly circulating meteoric waters in artesian confinement similar to that surrounding the Black Hills. We believe that the caves were developed by regional thermal waters focusing on paleospring outlets in outlying sandstones. Four sets of criteria are evaluated: (1) morphological—the three-dimensional, one-phase maze form having convectional features is similar to known and supposed thermal caves in Europe; (2) petrographic and mineralogical study of the chief precipitates shows a record of carbonate solution → calcite precipitation consonant with a model of cooling, then degassing, waters; (3) a thermal anomaly at regional hot springs is shown to extend beneath Wind Cave, where basal lake-water samples show chemical and isotopic affinities with the thermal waters; and (4) δ 13 C and δ 18 O measurements place all suspected paleothermal water precipitates in the domain of thermal calcites reported by others and being deposited at the modern hot springs. Finally, U-series dates show that the Wind Cave deposits are Quaternary and that the cave is still draining. Jewel Cave is truly relict and divorced from the modern thermal ground-water system; its great calcite spar sheets are probably older than 1.25–1.50 Ma.


Introduction
Glaciers and ice sheets entrain large quantities of sediment and processes by which they do so continue to be debated. Knowledge of glacial sediment entrainment processes is crucial to understanding past and present sediment fluxes and the sedimentary record. Glaciohydraulic supercooling has been identified as an active sediment entrainment mechanism at glaciers in Alaska(e.g. Lawson et al., 1998; Evenson et al., 1999) and was subsequently documented at several temperate Icelandic glaciers (e.g. Roberts et al., 2002; Tweed et al., 2005; Cook et al., 2007, 2010;Larson et al., 2010). It has also been suggested that that rapid discharge of supercooled meltwaterfrom the base of over-deepened ice sheet basins during the Quaternary constitutes a plausible mechanism for entraining extensive amounts of sediment in the Laurentide Ice Sheet (Alley et al.,1998, 1999; Roberts et al., 2002; Larson et al., 2006). There has been a tendency for the process tobe uncritically accepted and the controls on the spatial and temporal variability of glaciohydraulic supercooling have yet to be thoroughly investigated; even at sites that fulfil the physical requirements to enable the process to occur, researchers report inconsistency in the presence offield evidence and the supercooled signature in meltwater temperature measurements (e.g. Tweed et al., 2005). Over the last fifteen years there has been robust debate regarding i) the link between glaciohydraulic supercooling and the formation of thick sequences of basal ice (e.g. Cook et al.,2007; Larson et al., 2010; Cook et al., 2010, 2011), iii) the potential for silt dominance in basal ice sequences to be used as a diagnostic indicator of the process (e.g. Evenson et al., 1999; Larson etal., 2006; Cook et al., 2011, 2012) and iii) the degree to which landform-sediment assemblages can be attributed to super cooling (e.g. Larson et al., 2006; Evans, 2009). Some of these issues are considered elsewhere in this volume. Here we summarise evidence of super cooling from Skeiðararjokull and Skaftafellsjokull during a range of hydrological conditions and present evidence of associated glacial sediment entrainment.


Erenumab is a safe option for migraine prophylaxis in adults. However, it is expensive and should be reserved for patients who have experienced intolerable adverse effects while taking oral migraine prophylaxis medication or who have poor adherence to daily preventive treatment.


Learner discipline is a major school problem in the state secondary schools of Mauritius. This study examines the current disciplinary strategies that principals are implementing and attempts to determine the extent to which they are effective. Qualitative data were collected from principals, educators, learners, parents and superintendents in four selected state secondary schools by using focus-group interviews, individual interviews and non-participant observation. By using content analysis, it was found that principals are implementing reactive and punitive strategies that are ineffective. Discipline is viewed from the custodial perspective. There should be a shift to the humanistic perspective and punishment-based disciplinary approaches are not recommended.


The Makart PeriodA" of the late nineteenth century is known as an era of sumptuous beauty and opulence in Vienna. Hans Makart, after whom the period was named, became a national icon in Austria-a rock star of the art world whose paintings, interior design, theatrical sets and costumes were celebrated as much for their style as for the status they exemplified. This catalogue to an exhibit of Makart's works includes his legendary room in the Palais Dumba, his monumental paintings, and his controversial and subversive erotic works. The large-scale theatric quality of Makart's work is evident in the stunning reproductions featured in the book, which allow viewers to appreciate the brilliant palette of his oeuvre.


One of the great scientists of colonial Mexico, Martin de Sesse y Lacasta arrived in Mexico City from his native Aragon in 1780. A founder of the Botanical Garden in Mexico City, Sesse was also co-leader of the sixteen year long Royal Botanical Expedition, which surveyed the flora and fauna of the Spanish colonies from California to Costa Rica. Sesse returned to Spain in 1803 to write up the results of his expedition, but died before completing the project. The results were finally published in 1887, when they appeared as Plantae Novae Hispaniae and Flora Mexicana. The Catalogo de animales y plantas Mexicanas by Martin de Sesse y Lacasta represents a catalog of plant and animal specimens collected by the Royal Botanical Expedition in Mexico as of 1794. The manuscript is arranged in three parts: a brief letter of introduction to the Conde Revillagigedo (11p.), an inventory of animal specimens (52p.), and an inventory of the plants (163p.). The plant and animal sections are organized by Linnaean class, with a code indicating whether they were drawn from life, whether a specimen was collected, and whether the species was new to science.


SARS-CoV-2 may cause acute respiratory disease, but the infection can also initiate neurological symptoms. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes brain inflammation in the macaque model. An increased metabolic activity in the pituitary gland of two macaques was observed by longitudinal positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). Post-mortem analysis demonstrated infiltration of T-cells and activated microglia in the brain, and viral RNA was detected in brain tissues from one animal. We observed Lewy bodies in brains of all rhesus macaques. These data emphasize the virus' capability to induce neuropathology in this nonhuman primate model for SARS-CoV-2 infection. As in humans, Lewy body formation is an indication for the development of Parkinson's disease, this data represents a warning for potential long-term neurological effects after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Teaser SARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and Lewy bodies, a hallmark for Parkinson, after an asymptomatic infection in macaques.


For a spatially heterogeneous environment with patches in which
travel rates between patches depend on disease status, a disease
transmission model is formulated as a system of ordinary
differential equations. An expression for the basic reproduction
number $R_0$ is derived, and the disease free equilibrium is
shown to be globally asymptotically stable for $R_0<1$. Easily
computable bounds on $R_0$ are derived. For a disease with very
short exposed and immune periods in an environment with two
patches, the model is analyzed in more detail. In particular, it
is proved that if susceptible and infectious individuals travel at
the same rate, then $R_0$ gives a sharp threshold with the
endemic equilibrium being globally asymptotically stable for
$R_0>1$. If parameters are such that for isolated patches the
disease is endemic in one patch but dies out in the other, then
travel of infectious individuals from the patch with endemic
disease may lead to the disease becoming endemic in both patches.
However, if this rate of travel is increased, then the disease may
die out in both patches. Thus travel of infectious individuals in
a patchy environment can have an important influence on the spread
of disease.


In 2005, draft guidelines were published for reporting studies of quality improvement as the initial step in a consensus process for development of a more definitive version. The current article contains the revised version, which we refer to as Standards for QUality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE). This narrative progress report summarizes the special features of improvement that are reflected in SQUIRE and describes major differences between SQUIRE and the initial draft guidelines. It also explains the development process, which included formulation of responses to informal feedback, written commentaries, and input from publication guideline developers; ongoing review of the literature on the epistemology of improvement and methods for evaluating complex social programs; and a meeting of stakeholders for critical review of the guidelines' content and wording, followed by commentary on sequential versions from an expert consultant group. Finally, the report discusses limitations of and unresolved questions about SQUIRE; ancillary supporting documents and alternative versions under development; and plans for dissemination, testing, and further development of SQUIRE.


Technological solutions for obstacle-detection systems have been proposed to prevent accidents in safety-transport applications. In order to avoid the limits of these proposed technologies, an obstacle-detection system utilizing stereo cameras is proposed to detect and localize multiple objects at level crossings. Background subtraction is first performed using the color independent component analysis technique, which has proved its performance against other well-known object-detection methods. The main contribution is the development of a robust stereo-matching algorithm which reliably localizes in 3D each segmented object. A standard stereo dataset and real-world images are used to test and evaluate the performances of the proposed algorithm to prove the efficiency and the robustness of the proposed video-surveillance system.


This research investigated the perception of self-motion in driving simulation, focussing on the dynamic cues produced by a motion platform. The study was undertaken in three stages, evaluating various motion cueing techniques based on both subjective ratings of realism and objective measures of driver performance.

Using a Just Noticeable Difference methodology, Stage 1 determined the maximum perceptible motion scaling for platform movement in both translation and tilt. Motion cues scaled by 90% or more could not be perceptibly differentiated from unscaled motion.

This result was used in Stage 2"s examination of the most appropriate point in space at which the platform translations and rotations should be centred (Motion Reference Point, MRP). Participants undertook two tracking tasks requiring both longitudinal (braking) and lateral (steering) vehicle control. Whilst drivers appeared unable to perceive a change in MRP from head level to a point 1.1m lower, the higher position (closer to the vestibular organs) did result in marginally smoother braking, corresponding to the given requirements of the longitudinal driving task.

Stage 3 explored the perceptual trade-off between the specific force error and tilt rate error generated by the platform. Three independent experimental factors were manipulated: motion scale-factor, platform tilt rate and additional platform displacement afforded by a XY-table. For the longitudinal task, slow tilt that remained sub-threshold was perceived as the most realistic, especially when supplemented by the extra surge of the XY-table. However, braking task performance was superior when a more rapid tilt was experienced. For the lateral task, perceived realism was enhanced when motion cues were scaled by 50%, particularly with added XY-sway. This preference was also supported by improvements in task accuracy. Participants ratings were unmoved by changing tilt rate, although rapid tilt did result in more precise lane control.

Several interactions were also observed, most notably between platform tilt rate and XY-table availability. When the XY-table was operational, driving task performance varied little between sub-threshold and more rapid tilt. However, while the XY-table was inactive, both driving tasks were better achieved in conditions of high tilt rate.

An interpretation of these results suggests that without the benefit of significant extra translational capability, priority should be given to the minimisation of specific force error through motion cues presented at a perceptibly high tilt rate. However, XY-table availability affords the simulator engineer the luxury of attaining a slower tilt that provides both accurate driving task performance and accomplishes maximum perceived realism.


Unifying first-order logic and probability is a long-standing goal of AI, and in recent years many representations combining aspects of the two have been proposed. However, inference in them is generally still at the level of propositional logic, creating all ground atoms and formulas and applying standard probabilistic inference methods to the resulting network. Ideally, inference should be lifted as in first-order logic, handling whole sets of indistinguishable objects together, in time independent of their cardinality. Poole (2003) and Braz et al. (2005, 2006) developed a lifted version of the variable elimination algorithm, but it is extremely complex, generally does not scale to realistic domains, and has only been applied to very small artificial problems. In this paper we propose the first lifted version of a scalable probabilistic inference algorithm, belief propagation (loopy or not). Our approach is based on first constructing a lifted network, where each node represents a set of ground atoms that all pass the same messages during belief propagation. We then run belief propagation on this network. We prove the correctness and optimality of our algorithm. Experiments show that it can greatly reduce the cost of inference.


Various countries seek to establish an energy transition, a structural change towards a more sustainable energy system. Countries implement a combination of energy policies aimed at establishing an energy transition, but these policies frequently result in unintended negative consequences. This study provides an attempt to unravel the complexity of the Dutch energy transition. We present a model of the Dutch energy transition, showing its various components and their interrelations. The model is based on eight group model building workshops in which a total of 96 stakeholders in the Dutch energy transition participated. In each workshop, a variety of stakeholders engaged in the collaborative construction of a model that explains the current progress of the energy transition. In this paper, we aggregate these eight models into one overarching model, which we lay out step by step. The model shows how technological, ecological, social, economic, and political aspects of the energy transition influence each other either directly or indirectly. We discuss several policy implications, with a focus on reducing unintended negative consequences.


Is historical linguistics different in principle from other linguistic research? This book addresses problems encountered in gathering and analysing data from early English, including the incomplete nature of the evidence and the dangers of misinterpretation or over-interpretation. Even so, gaps in the data can sometimes be filled. The volume brings together a team of leading English historical linguists who have encountered such issues first-hand, to discuss and suggest solutions to a range of problems in the phonology, syntax, dialectology and onomastics of older English. The topics extend widely over the history of English, chronologically and linguistically, and include Anglo-Saxon naming practices, the phonology of the alliterative line, computational measurement of dialect similarity, dialect levelling and enregisterment in late Modern English, stress-timing in English phonology and the syntax of Old and early Modern English. The book will be of particular interest to researchers and students in English historical linguistics.


This essay looks at "horror" both as a narrative (literary and especially cinematic) genre and as a trans-genre, postmodern social and cultural milieu, one in which horror has become entangled with excessive, pathological fantasy and enjoyment. First, the traditional, 19th-century literary-Gothic motifs (excess, monstrosity, transgression, and uncanny doubling) will be explored in the light of such psychoanalytic concepts as the uncanny, extimacy, and the "subject-beyond-subjectivization." Then the reworking or transformation of these motifs, especially the monster motif, in contemporary "postmodern" horror films like Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) and Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs (1991) will be discussed. This "new Monster" will be described in terms of the superego, aggression, and perversion in our contemporary "culture of enjoyment"; a key notion here is the move from Freudian superego as the collective moral voice of society (moral conscience) to Lacanian superego as perverse command to "enjoy ourselves." The essay's final section offers some psychoanalytical-ethical reflections on reading contemporary, horror-immersed culture.


Standard renderings of the eighth beatitude, Matthew 5:10, such as the NIV's 'Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven', fail to convey the subtlety of Jesus's point adequately. In Aramaic, that saying contains a pun based on the fact that the Hebrew / Aramaic word for 'persecute' also means 'pursue'. The article begins by attempting to reconstruct the beatitude in Aramaic, and then draws on evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Targums to support the contention that Matthew 5:10 contains allusions to Deuteronomy 16:20 and Isaiah 51:1. The key to understanding and translating the beatitute lies in appreciating the double meaning of the Hebrew verb נבף, which helps us to appreciate that being persecuted for righteousness' sake is the result of pursuing righteousness. The idea can best be captured in translation by paraphrasing the verse, such as 'Blessed are those whose pursuit of what God requires causes them to become persecuted, for they receive the kingdom of heaven.'


This paper introduces a greedy parser based on neural networks, which leverages a new compositional sub-tree representation. The greedy parser and the compositional procedure are jointly trained, and tightly depends on each-other. The composition procedure outputs a vector representation which summarizes syntactically (parsing tags) and semantically (words) sub-trees. Composition and tagging is achieved over continuous (word or tag) representations, and recurrent neural networks. We reach F1 performance on par with well-known existing parsers, while having the advantage of speed, thanks to the greedy nature of the parser. We provide a fully functional implementation of the method described in this paper.


On May 25, 2011, in Therasense, Inc. v. Becton, Dickinson & Co., the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit fundamentally restructured the patent law doctrine of inequitable conduct. The court did so by holding that both intent and materiality are required for successfully claiming the defense, and that materiality must be proven by a but-for test, thereby limiting the scope of conduct covered by the doctrine. Although in making this change the court may have helped to curb the over usage of inequitable conduct, it did so by contradicting Supreme Court precedent. Thus, this Comment argues that the Therasense court overstepped its bounds and, in its attempt to limit the doctrine, may have unduly narrowed this equitable defense.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the linear earthquake behavior of the frame structures including subsoil with different stiffening members and to compare the results of each frame considered. These comparisons are made separately for displacement, bending moments and axial forces for frames with different storey and bay numbers for the time history and the modal analyses. The results of both methods are also compared. The results of the frames with subsoil are also compared with the results of the frames without subsoil. It is concluded that all stiffening members considered in this study decrease the lateral displacement of the frame and the bending moment of the columns and increase the axial force in the columns and that configuration of the bracing members come out to be an important parameter in braced frames since the frames with the same type of bracing give different results depending on configuration. It is also concluded that, in general, the absolute maximum displacements of the frames modeled with subsoil are larger than those of the frames modeled without subsoil.


Abstract. Mapping tree species is essential for sustainable planning as well as to improve our understanding of the role of different trees as different ecological service. However, crown-level tree species automatic classification is a challenging task due to the spectral similarity among diversified tree species, fine-scale spatial variation, shadow, and underlying objects within a crown. Advanced remote sensing data such as airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and hyperspectral imagery offer a great potential opportunity to derive crown spectral, structure and canopy physiological information at the individual crown scale, which can be useful for mapping tree species. In this paper, an innovative approach was developed for tree species classification at the crown level. The method utilized LiDAR data for individual tree crown delineation and morphological structure extraction, and Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) hyperspectral imagery for pure crown-scale spectral extraction. Specifically, four steps were include: 1) A weighted mean filtering method was developed to improve the accuracy of the smoothed Canopy Height Model (CHM) derived from LiDAR data; 2) The marker-controlled watershed segmentation algorithm was, therefore, also employed to delineate the tree-level canopy from the CHM image in this study, and then individual tree height and tree crown were calculated according to the delineated crown; 3) Spectral features within 3 × 3 neighborhood regions centered on the treetops detected by the treetop detection algorithm were derived from the spectrally normalized CASI imagery; 4) The shape characteristics related to their crown diameters and heights were established, and different crown-level tree species were classified using the combination of spectral and shape characteristics. Analysis of results suggests that the developed classification strategy in this paper (OA = 85.12 %, Kc = 0.90) performed better than LiDAR-metrics method (OA = 79.86 %, Kc = 0.81) and spectral-metircs method (OA = 71.26, Kc = 0.69) in terms of classification accuracy, which indicated that the advanced method of data processing and sensitive feature selection are critical for improving the accuracy of crown-level tree species classification.


A Brief Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, 5th Edition is designed to cover the standard topics in a basic fluid mechanics course in a streamlined manner that meets the learning needs of today?s student better than the dense, encyclopedic manner of traditional texts. This approach helps students connect the math and theory to the physical world and practical applications and apply these connections to solving problems. The text lucidly presents basic analysis techniques and addresses practical concerns and applications, such as pipe flow, open-channel flow, flow measurement, and drag and lift. It offers a strong visual approach with photos, illustrations, and videos included in the text, examples and homework problems to emphasize the practical application of fluid mechanics principles


Abstract In this paper, we analyse the patterns and trends of horizontal inequality and ethnic diversity in Brazil in the past 30 years and their effect on the quality of the country's institutions. Using data from the last four demographic censuses (1980, 1991, 2000, and 2010), we estimate numerous measures to analyse inequalities between different 'ethnic' groups. Our results show that, in Brazil between 1980 and 2010, the trend toward greater equality shown in other analyses of vertical inequality, is also found in terms of horizontal inequalities along racial, gender, and regional lines. Nevertheless, horizontal inequalities in terms of race and gender, in particular, remain pronounced. Ethnic diversity regarding race and religion has increased since 1980. Through our regression analysis, we note that both horizontal inequality and ethnic diversity negatively affect the institutional quality of Brazilian municipalities.


Abstract Arthropod-borne viral diseases, better known as arbovirus diseases, are more common than we think and are often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. More than 100 arboviruses causing human disease have been recognised worldwide. This presentation will provide a review of some of the arboviruses occurring in Southern Africa, and also some of the common diseases seen in travellers returning home from other African and overseas destinations. The clinical syndromes vary extensively, with signs and symptoms ranging from acute benign fevers of short duration to the very dramatic viral haemorrhagic fevers. The reservoirs and vectors of most viruses are well described, but even after years of extensive research there are still a few that remain elusive and pose great challenges for future study.


Background Spine pedicle screw insertion is technically demanding, with potentially serious risks if screws are misplaced, and an established learning curve of approximately 70 screws placed before there is a significant reduction in screw misplacement. Despite this most units continue to teach screw insertion for the first time in live surgery, both in the UK and worldwide. This study was a single blinded comparison of cadaver types to simulate screw insertion. Methodology Three cadaver types – Thiel, Crosado and Formaldehyde were positioned prone and a posterior approach to the spine performed. The spines were all exposed by a single surgeon. Experienced spinal surgeons placed screws in each cadaver type sequentially and gave feedback on the tissue quality and feel using a modified Likert scale. Results Thiel cadavers rated most highly for soft tissue feel and appearance with a median score of 6. Crosado cadavers rated most highly for bony properties, with a median score of 6. Formaldehyde cadavers rated poorly for soft tissue feel, appearance and bony qualities with median scores of 2, 2.5 and 3.5 respectively. Conclusions There is a strong argument that pedicle screw insertion should be taught away from the operating theatre but this will have significant cost implications. Cadaveric screw simulation offers the most realistic simulation, with Thiel and Crosado cadavers both rating highly for their properties. Further work is now needed on a larger scale to further explore this valuable resource in surgical training. References Bergeson RK, Schwend RM, DeLucia T, Silva SR, Smith JE, Avilucea FR. How accurately do novice surgeons place thoracic pedicle screws with the free hand technique? Spine 2008;33(15):E501–7 Gonzalvo A, Fitt G, Liew S, et al. The learning curve of pedicle screw placement: how many screws are enough? Spine 2009;34(21):E761–5 Gautschi OP, Schatlo B, Schaller K, Tessitore E. Clinically relevant complications related to pedicle screw placement in thoracolumbar surgery and their management: a literature review of 35,630 pedicle screws. Neurosurg Focus 2011;31(4):E8


Imitation represents a powerful approach for programming and autonomous learning in robot and computer systems. An important aspect of imitation is the mapping of observations to an executable control strategy. This is particularly important if the behavioral capabilities of the observed and imitating agent differ significantly. This paper presents an approach that addresses this problem by locally optimizing a cost function representing the deviation from the observed state sequence and the cost of the actions required to perform the imitation. The result are imitation strategies that can be performed by the imitating agent and that as closely as possible resemble the observations of the demonstrating agent. The performance of this approach is illustrated within the context of a simulated multi-agent environment.


Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Prevention is therefore an important clinical entity. The maintenance of optimal oral health is likely to play the most important role in protecting those at risk for IE. Both patients and health care practitioners must be educated in this regard. Guidelines have recommended that antibiotic prophylaxis should be limited to individuals (undergoing certain high-risk dental procedures) with underlying cardiac conditions that are associated with the greatest risk of an adverse outcome from IE. These conditions include prosthetic valves, congenital heart disease and previous IE. In South Africa, and other developing countries, IE is often a disease of young patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and carries a very poor prognosis. In contrast, IE in Europe/North America, where guidelines and indications for antibiotic prophylaxis have been reduced, has a different spectrum of factors. These patients are older with degenerative valve disease. IE may also occur as a result of invasive health care associated procedures or in the setting of prosthetic valves and implantable cardiac devices. Recently published international guidelines cannot be automatically applied to countries where RHD is common and oral hygiene is poor. We therefore recommend that patients with RHD should also receive antibiotic prophylaxis prior to the listed dental procedures. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be prescribed after stressing the role of good oral health and why the approach differs in South Africa. There should be close cooperation between the dental practitioner and clinician as to who should receive prophylaxis and who should not.


Generalised epileptic seizures and syncope are two syndromes with similar clinical manifestation and their differentiation can be quite challenging. The aim of this review is to use an evidence-based approach in differentiating these two syndromes through the comprehension of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved and their clinical signs. Both syndromes affect regions of the forebrain and consciousness level, although, different mechanisms are involved. Syncope is a paroxysmal event secondary to a short-term decrease in cerebral perfusion, oxygenation or essential nutrients delivery. Generalised epileptic seizure activity is defined as the clinical manifestation of transient paroxysmal disturbances in brain function secondary to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Clinical criteria, including precipitating events, clinical signs preceding, during and following the episodes and event duration, can be used to differentiate the two syndromes. Although these criteria might be useful for the practitioner, definite conclusions should be precluded due to the lack of original research articles and weak evidence on this specific field. Application:  The review might be a useful tool for the general practitioner and clinical scientist as it will aid towards the differentiation of two syndromes, i.e. generalised epileptic seizures and syncope, with similar clinical presentation.


A key problem in using the output of an auditory model as the input to a machine-learning system in a machine-hearing application is to find a good feature-extraction layer. For systems such as PAMIR (passive-aggressive model for image retrieval) that work well with a large sparse feature vector, a conversion from auditory images to sparse features is needed. For audio-file ranking and retrieval from text queries, based on stabilized auditory images, we took a multi-scale approach, using vector quantization to choose one sparse feature in each of many overlapping regions of different scales, with the hope that in some regions the features for a sound would be stable even when other interfering sounds were present and affecting other regions. We recently extended our testing of this approach using sound mixtures, and found that the sparse-coded auditory-image features degrade less in interference than vector-quantized MFCC sparse features do. This initial success suggests that our hope of robustness in interference may indeed be realizable, via the general idea of sparse features that are localized in a domain where signal components tend to be localized or stable.


We present a system for visualizing food ingredients with a glyph-based approach aimed at children between the ages of four and eight, approximately. The intention is to visually explain and to visually argue that a certain food a child is eager to eat is healthy or, more often, is not healthy. Therefore, we introduced two comic-like characters whose shape and features depend on the main ingredients of food products. These characters can be directly displayed on a parent's smartphone by scanning the barcode of a food product. Our study showed that children are able to recognize several ingredient manifestations encoded as visual attributes and thus to consider a food product as being healthy or not.


Financial regulation practices in the management of MFIs leads to customer losing confidence in the ability of a microfinance to properly manage its assets and liabilities, including deposits, which could in turn trigger liquidity crisis. Therefore, customer credit protection may lead credit controlling being controlled improper where loan awarding procedure may be compromised and embezzlement of fund by MFIs management can be facilitated by poor financial regulatory practices put in place. Therefore, this study is meant to find out the effect of customer credit protection on growth of microfinance institutions in Bungoma County. The study targeted 13 micro-finance institutions in Bungoma with a total population of 143 employees. Census method was employed because of the small number of respondents. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Descriptive and inferential techniques were adopted. Qualitative and Quantitative analysis techniques were employed. Inferential statistic was adopted where regression and correlation analysis were used to test research hypothesis. Frequencies and percentages were adopted. Graphs and charts were used to present data. Correlation results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between customer credit protections on growth of MFIs. Regression results depicted that customer credit protection contributes significantly to growth of MFIs, that is, an increase in growth of MFIs by 1 units leads to an increase of 0.620 units of use of customer credit protection. The results can be interpreted that, use of customer credit protection leads to growth in MFIs in terms of market shares, shareholders wealth and increase in business value. The study concluded that there is a positive and significant relationship between customer credit protections on growth of MFIs. The study thus recommends that, to increase the growth of MFIs, they should invest heavily on customer credit protection mechanisms which entails; having integrated financial management systems, having customer care desks, periodic auditing, benchmarking with successful firms, staff motivations and having accountable and transparent staff.