The goal of more efficiently and more reliably realizing energy conversion in the power electronics industry is pushing the limits of current wire bonding packaging technology. Emerging threedimensional power packaging techniques have shown their potential to replace wire bonding technology down the road. However, these innovative technologies have not yet been fully understood in terms of thermal and thermo-mechanical performance. Therefore, a comparative evaluation between the thermally induced response in conventional wire bonding (a 2-Dimensional technology) and 3Dimensional packaging technologies is essential. Thermal and thermo-mechanical analysis using the Finite Element Method (FEM) has been performed to evaluate a three-dimensional power module packaged in a Metal Post InterconnectedParallel Plate Structure (the MPIPPS), and the result is compared with that of a wire bond module. Under the same single-sided cooling conditions, thermal modeling results show a significantly lower junction temperature of 17C in the MPIPPS module than that in the wire bond module, due to the more uniform heat flow distribution in the MPIPPS module. The top DBC (direct bonded copper) substrate in the MPIPPS module helps direct the excessive heat generated from IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) chips to diode chips (which dissipates less heat). The maximum junction temperature is reduced to 108 C in the MPIPPS module by the implementation of double-sided cooling, which the wire bonding technique can not achieve. Subsequent thermo-mechanical analysis reveals the weak points in both modules during temperature cycling and power cycling. In the wire bond module, temperature cycle results have shown more severe stress and strain than that those of the power cycling conditions in the regions where the wires attach the device emitter pads. In the MPIPPS module, the solder joints exhibit high plastic and creep deformation. Power cycling produces more inelastic deformation at the solder joints between the posts and device, due to local over-heating, which causes more severe high-temperature creep deformation. Using a deformation-based thermal fatigue theory, the solder joint fatigue lives are predicted. Compared with the commercial wire bond module temperature cycle test, the fatigue life of MPIPPS is limited. We conclude that the MPIPPS module is better in thermal managementb but is thermomechanically less reliable than the wire bond module.


BACKGROUND: Endocrine disruptors are hormone-like -usually lipid-soluble- natural or man-made molecules, which can be bound by human hormone receptors, simulating, stimulating or inhibiting the action of physiological hormones. They are harmful in adults however, more harmful perinatally, when faulty hormonal imprinting is provoked by them, with lifelong consequences (functional teratogenicity). By this effect alterations in hormone binding, hormone synthesis, sexual behavior, immune response, bone development, inclination to, or manifestation of diseases, etc in adult age, occur.
REVIEW: Breastmilk is the main transporter of endocrine disruptors to the infant, as the mentioned molecules are concentrated in it. The perinatal faulty hormonal imprinting is epigenetically inherited to the progeny generations however, it is not known in man how many generations will be touched (experiments on unicellulars show at least 1000 generations, in rats two generations).
CONCLUSION: Acknowledging the advances of breastfeeding in general, its disruptortransmissing faulty imprinting-effect must be known in our chemically "infected" environment, in the light of developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD).


Histone Deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) Is Critical for Tumor Cell Survival and Promotes the Pro-Survival Activity of 14-3-3ζ via Deacetylation of Lysines Within the 14-3-3ζ Binding Pocket Jeffrey Benjamin Mortenson Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, BYU Master of Science Our understanding of non-histone acetylation as a means of cellular regulation is in its infancy. Using a mass spectrometry approach we identified acetylated lysine residues and monitored acetylation changes across the proteome as a consequence of metabolic stress (hypoxia). We observed changes in acetylation status of non-histone lysines in tumor cells. Through the use of small molecule inhibitors of histone deacetylase enzymes (HDACs) and siRNA screening identified HDAC6 as a pro-survival regulator of lysine acetylation during hypoxia. The phospho-binding protein 14-3-3ζ acts as a signaling hub controlling a network of interacting partners and oncogenic pathways. We show here that lysines within the 14-3-3ζ binding pocket and protein-protein interface can be modified by acetylation. The positive charge on two of these lysines, K49 and K120, is critical for coordinating 14-3-3ζ-phosphoprotein interactions. Through screening, we identified HDAC6 as the K49/K120 deacetylase. Inhibition of HDAC6 blocks 14-3-3ζ interactions with two well-described interacting partners, Bad and AS160, which triggers their dephosphorylation at S112 and T642, respectively. Expression of an acetylationrefractory K49R/K120R mutant of 14-3-3ζ rescues both the HDAC6 inhibitor-induced loss of interaction and S112/T642 phosphorylation. Furthermore, expression of the K49R/K120R mutant of 14-3-3ζ inhibits the cytotoxicity of HDAC6 inhibition. These data demonstrate a novel role for HDAC6 in controlling 14-3-3ζ binding activity.


Our study documents the shortage of intimate partner violence (IPV) content exposure within one dental school curriculum, with an eye toward utilizing this information to revise an existing comprehensive family violence curriculum that will be fully integrated into required university coursework to improve competence and help overcome knowledge gaps. IPV is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as physical and sexual violence, threats of physical and sexual violence, or psychological/emotional abuse including coercive tactics that adults or adolescents use against current or former intimate partners. We report on the results of a four-part (background, IPV knowledge, opinions, and personal experience), sixty-seven-item validated survey instrument used to measure knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and self-reported behaviors among dental students preparing to become health care professionals working in the field. Survey responses from the nearly 80 percent of fourth-year dental students who completed the survey were examined within the context of students' actual IPV knowledge, as well as opinions and attitudes that could directly or indirectly influence patients. Our findings indicate that a sizeable number of students received no IPV training prior to or during dental school, leading to perceptions that they lack knowledge about IPV and are not well prepared to address IPV with patients. A notable percentage of students (20 percent) also reported personal experience with IPV.


This paper aims at presenting an analytical reference that allows understanding pluriactivity as a strategy for social and economic reproduction for rural families. In the introduction, we present the context in which the study of family farming and pluriactivity emerges in Brazil. In the first section, we discuss the origin and evolution of the debate about pluriactivity, a situation mainly related to the reality in developed countries. In the second section, we try to position the analysis of pluriactivity in the context of the theoretical traditions that are classical in agrarian studies, showing how this phenomenon has already been object of concern for others authors. In the third section, we aim to position pluriactivity in the main contemporaneous analytical approaches of the social theory and indicate which one seems to be adequate for the study. In the fourth section, we discuss the central theme of this paper, which is the relationship between family farming and pluriactivity from a theoretical and conceptual point of view. In the fifth section, we indicate a methodological perspective to study pluriactivity in family units.


Digital video has become affordable and attractive to home users, but skill and manual labour are still required to transform amateur footage into aesthetically pleasing movies. We present a novel algorithm for transforming raw home video footage into concise, temporally salient clips. We interpret the sequence of editing operations applied to footage as a 'program' comprising cutting, panning and zooming constructs. We develop a Genetic Programming (GP) framework for representing and evolving such programs. Under this framework, the search for an aesthetically pleasing video edit becomes a search for the optimal genetic program. Our aesthetic criterion promotes the inclusion of people in shots, whilst penalising rapid shot changes or shot changes in the presence of camera motion. We present results on some representative home videos.


Focusing on the client-consultant relationship, well honed, but perhaps overly so, this paper aims to shed light on the conditions that at once streamline and challenge our collaborations. To do so, we borrow a page from the visual arts; namely an experimental method of representation called negative space drawing. In both its aim (to create a picture from a new perspective) and challenge (to shake off the preconceived notions that limit us) drawing from negative space reflects a similar dynamic to our own. By way of a case study commissioned by one author and conducted by the other, we sketch a framework of negative space which examines our respective biases and agendas and our endeavors to resolve them.


Abstract : SDN transforms a network from a calcified collection of hardware into a logically centralized and programmable method of interconnectivity. Changing the networking paradigm shifts a networks security posture. Changes visible to a host connected to the network include small latency differences between a traditional network environment and an SDN environment. This thesis aims to reliably distinguish SDN environments from traditional environments by observing latency behavior. Additionally, this thesis determines whether latency information contributes to the unique fingerprint of SDN controllers. Identifying the controller software gives an adversary information contributing to a network attack. An SDN and traditional network environment consisting of two hosts, one switch, and one controller are created. Within both environments, packet RTT values are compared between SDN and traditional environments to determine if both sets differ. Latency analysis is used to observe features of an SDN controller. Collected features contribute to a table of information used to uniquely fingerprint an SDN controller. Results show that packet RTTs within a traditional network environment significantly (p-value less than 1:0 10(-15)) differ from SDN environments. The predicted controller inactivity timeout within the simulated environment differs from the true timeout by a mean value of 0.44956 seconds. The emulated environment shows that the observed inactivity timeout depends on the network switch implementation of the controllers set value, leading to incorrect observed timeouts. Within the SDN environment, the host is not able to directly communicate with the SDN controller, leading to an inability to collect the number of features needed to uniquely identify the SDN controller.


A multidimensional chemistry coordinate mapping (CCM) approach is presented for efficient integration of chemical kinetics in numerical simulations of turbulent reactive flows. In CCM the flow transport is integrated in the computational cells in physical space, whereas the integration chemical reactions are carried out in a phase space made up of a few principal variables. Each cell in the phase space corresponds to several computational cells in the physical space, resulting in a speedup of the numerical integration. In reactive flows with small hydrocarbon fuels two principal variables have been shown to be satisfactory to construct the phase space. The two principal variables are the temperature (T) and the specific element mass ratio of the H atom (J H). A third principal variable, σ=∇J H·∇J H, which is related to the dissipation rate of J H, is required to construct the phase space for combustion processes with an initially non-premixed mixture. For complex higher hydrocarbon fuels, e.g. n-heptane, care has to be taken in selecting the phase space in order to model the low-temperature chemistry and ignition process. In this article, a multidimensional CCM algorithm is described for a systematic selection of the principal variables. The method is evaluated by simulating a laminar partially remixed pre-vaporised n-heptane jet ignition process. The CCM approach is then extended to simulate n-heptane spray combustion by coupling the CCM and Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) code. It is shown that the computational time for the integration of chemical reactions can be reduced to only 3–7%, while the result from the CCM method is identical to that of direct integration of the chemistry in the computational cells.


Modern society cannot evolve and operate without critical infrastructures, most of which have become dependent of internet connectivity for a variety of information management, communications, and control functions. In many cases, information and communications technology has become all-embracing, connecting other infrastructures referred to as critical information infrastructure. The increased interdependency has made critical infrastructure particularly vulnerable to natural hazards, technical problems, cyber-attacks, and terrorism. The topic of critical information infrastructure protection thus is attracting increasing attention and is progressively considered to be an integral part of national sustainability strategies. This publication delivers best practices on this topic derived from case studies and the status quo in the region and proposes recommendations for the further development of a delineated framework.


To the Editor,

Secondary amyloidosis is an important complication of several chronic inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and ankylosing spondylitis [1]. It has been demonstrated biochemically that amyloidosis results from abnormal binding of proteins, which are deposited as insoluble fibrils in tissue, leading to disruption of their normal function. An underlying disease of long duration and high activity is the most important factor associated with development of secondary amyloidosis [1]. Treatment of secondary amyloidosis involves suppression of the underlying inflammatory condition. Cytotoxic agents such as cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, and azathioprine have been shown to have activity against secondary amyloidosis. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitor is reportedly effective in controlling the progression of renal amyloids in patients with RA and JIA [2]. Recent biochemical research revealed that synthesis of serum amyloid A (SAA) is controlled by proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), TNF-α, and IL-1. Control of SAA synthesis could be beneficial to the treatment of amyloidosis, and anti-cytokine therapies are effective in this regard. In particular, inhibition of IL-6 is critical to suppression of SAA production [3]. Recently, the use of biologic agents instead of cytotoxic agents has increased due to their enhanced tolerability and effectiveness [3]. In this paper, we report the use of cyclophosphamide therapy for secondary amyloidosis in a patient with JIA unresponsive to TNF-α inhibitor therapy.

A 32-year-old woman was hospitalized for generalized edema and chronic diarrhea. At 12 years of age, she had been diagnosed, based on the International League of Associations for Rheumatology classification criteria, with JIA of the polyarticular, rheumatoid factor-negative type. She had been treated with several disease-modifying RA drugs, including the TNF-α inhibitor adalimumab, 6 months prior. These failed to achieve complete suppression of disease activity. She presented with clinical symptoms of gradually increasing generalized edema and continuous diarrhea of several weeks' duration. Her medical history was negative for hypertension and renal disease other than JIA. She did not smoke or drink alcohol. Upon physical examination, the patient was normotensive with a regular pulse rate, her lung sounds were clear, her heart sounds were regular, and her abdomen was soft; however, her bowel sounds were mildly increased. She had grade 3 pitting edema on a pretibial lesion. Neurologic examination was normal, and an electrocardiogram showed a normal sinus rhythm.

Laboratory test results revealed the following: proteinuria (+++), blood (trace), erythrocytes in the urine (1 to 4/high power field), and a 24-hour quantitative protein level of 3,782 mg/day. Her serum creatinine level was elevated to 2.70 mg/dL, and her fractional excretion of sodium was 2.34. Her hemoglobin level was 11.5 g/dL, hematocrit concentration was 37.8%, white blood cell count was 9,590/mm3 (neutrophils, 79.6%), platelet count was 537,000/mm3, sodium level was 138 mEq/L, potassium level was 4.0 mEq/L, total protein level was 5.2 mg/dL, albumin level was 1.7 mg/dL, and procalcitonin level was 0.264 ng/mL (reference range, 0 to 0.5). No white blood cells were evident upon microscopic examination of the patient's stool. The results of other tests were as follows: antinuclear antibody (−), rheumatoid factor 10.4 IU/mL (reference range, 0 to 15), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (−), free kappa light chain 67 mg/L, free lambda light chain 229 mg/dL, hepatitis B surface antigen (−), hepatitis B surface antibody (+), anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (−), and human immunodeficiency virus test (−).

The patient had nephritic-range proteinuria and an elevated serum creatinine; therefore, she underwent a renal biopsy. Light microscopy showed homogenous amorphous material in the glomerular mesangium and interstitium. Congo red staining was positive with birefringence in the arteries, arterioles, interstitial areas, and mesangium of the glomeruli (Fig. 1). Duodenal endoscopy and colonoscopy were performed to identify involvement of other organs. Amorphous material was seen in the mucosa and submucosa of the duodenum and in the muscular layer of the wall of the rectum (Fig. 2). Neither cardiac wall thickness nor a granular sparkling appearance was identified by echocardiogram.

Figure 1.

Pathologic findings of renal biopsy. Deposition of amyloid in glomerular mesangium and interstitium (arrows) (A, HE B, Congo Red staining, ×400).

Figure 2.

Pathologic findings of endoscopic biopsy. (A) Deposition of amyloid in mucosa and submucosa of duodenum and (B) in muscular layer of rectum (arrows; H&E, ×40).

Based on the results of renal, duodenal, and rectal biopsies, we diagnosed secondary systemic amyloidosis as a result of long-standing JIA. Due to the resistance to previous TNF-α inhibitor therapy and elevation of the serum creatinine level, treatment with cyclophosphamide and a glucocorticoid was started. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy at a dose of 500 mg/m2 was administered intravenously at 1-month intervals for a 6-month period. After 6 months of treatment, the serum creatinine had normalized, proteinuria had been reduced (1,119 mg/day), the C-reactive protein level was 0.1 mg/dL, and the edema had disappeared. Additionally, the patient's disease activity was improved after 6 months of cyclophosphamide treatment. Based on the European League Against Rheumatism response criteria, the patient showed a good response range. Her laboratory findings on admission and at the 6-month follow-up from the nephrology clinic are presented in Table 1. At the time of this writing, the patient was undergoing treatment with an oral steroid at 30 mg/day and hydroxychloroquine at 400 mg/day.

Table 1.

Laboratory findings from baseline to 6 months after cyclophosphamide plus glucocorticoid treatment in secondary amyloidosis patient

Secondary systemic amyloidosis is a serious complication of chronic inflammatory disease and results in the deposition of amyloid fibrils in various organs [4]. These fibrils are derived from circulating acute-phase reactant SAA protein. Currently, the most common cause of amyloidosis is inflammatory arthritis; e.g., RA and JIA. It is estimated that 5% of adults with RA will develop secondary amyloidosis. The main feature of amyloidosis at diagnosis is renal dysfunction, and the most common finding is proteinuria, which is not necessarily present at disease onset. Traditional management of secondary amyloid has been to target the disease underlying the inflammation [4].

Several case studies have shown benefits with the use of methotrexate and azathioprine or prednisolone in patients with rheumatoid-associated amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis, but the response is often slow. Cytotoxic agents, such as chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide, have been shown to be beneficial in clinical trials, but these drugs are associated with myelotoxicity, leukemia, and sterility. Moreover, several trials have reported that the TNF-α inhibitor etanercept is more effective than cyclophosphamide [3]. In recent years, the use of biologics with activities against proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 for diseases such as RA, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis has increased. This class of drugs has become more clinically available. TNF-α may be involved in the deposition of amyloid and the development of nephrotic syndrome. TNF-α stimulates hepatocytes to produce SAA and has also been shown to have a direct inflammatory effect on the glomerular basement membrane. Elevated levels of SAA in RA are known to predispose to amyloidosis. Anti-TNF-α therapy suppresses SAA, and maintaining an SAA level of < 10 mg/L is associated with potential recovery of amyloidotic organs in AA amyloidosis. IL-6 blockade using the humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab may be more effective than TNF blockade in terms of normalizing SAA levels in patients with rheumatic disease, suggesting it to be a more effective strategy for treating AA amyloidosis in these disorders [5].

Our patient exhibited marked resistance to treatment with a steroid and TNF-α inhibitor, and she had nephrotic-range proteinuria and reduced renal function. We administered cyclophosphamide plus a glucocorticoid instead of other biologic agents and achieved a good outcome. Use of biological modifiers represents an important therapeutic strategy for secondary amyloidosis, but cases unresponsive to TNF-α treatment are frequently reported. In such cases, cyclophosphamide should be considered as a second-line therapy.


Schnall, Benton, and Harvey (2008) hypothesized that physical cleanliness reduces the severity of moral judgments. In support of this idea, they found that individuals make less severe judgments when they are primed with the concept of cleanliness (Exp. 1) and when they wash their hands after experiencing disgust (Exp. 2). We conducted direct replications of both studies using materials supplied by the original authors. We did not find evidence that physical cleanliness reduced the severity of moral judgments using samples sizes that provided over .99 power to detect the original effect sizes. Our estimates of the overall effect size were much smaller than estimates from Experiment 1 (original d = 0.60, 95% CI [ 1.23, 0.04], N = 40; replication d = 0.01, 95% CI [ 0.28, 0.26], N = 208) and Experiment 2 (original d = 0.85, 95% CI [ 1.47, 0.22], N = 43; replication d = 0.01, 95% CI [ .34, 0.36], N = 126). These findings suggest that the population effect sizes are probably substantially smaller than the original estimates. Researchers investigating the connections between cleanliness and morality should therefore use large sample sizes to have the necessary power to detect subtle effects.


The work of Karl Barth has been quite influential in South Africa, but what about the value of his sermons and their influence on Barth's reading and mainline preaching in South Africa nowadays? After a short introduction, I discern, in four sections, the value and worth of reading Barth's early sermons in South Africa at present. I first hear anew the value of reading Barth in South Africa nowadays. Thereafter, I discern the current state of homiletics. Against this background, I pay attention critically to some of Barth's early sermons (1917-1920) while he was still a minister in Safenwil. Finally, I discern some of the value this project may currently have for theology and preaching in South Africa.


Many jurisdictions have created external oversight bodies for police following problems of recurring misconduct and the failure of internal control mechanisms. Questions inevitably follow about the effectiveness of the new bodies to detect and prevent abuses of power. One potential source of ineffectiveness is undue influence or'capture' by police. This paper reviews developments in external oversight internationally and examines the issue of capture in detail using an Australian case study of the Queensland Police Service and the Queensland Criminal Justice Commission (CJC). The question of capture was assessed by analysing reports on significant issues involving the CJC and police. Cases of zealous enforcement of rules were apparent, but the study identified a generally weak approach on the part of the Commission to enforcement and direction. Crucial elements of the CJC's structure and functions have exposed it to capture; including a role in facilitating police management, joint operations against organized crime, and reliance on seconded police investigators. The available evidence did not confirm a case of direct capture, but there was evidence from audits of investigations that police involvement in investigations and discipline contributed to a marked attrition of complaints. Weakness in oversight could also be related to the combined effects of an appeasement strategy, an overly legalistic organizational culture, and inadequate quality control. Practical measures are recommended to improve accountability that have general application to police oversight bodies. These include a clearer separation between police and the regulator, quality assessment measures, and exclusion of a facilitation role to allow the regulator to focus on police conduct.


Author(s): Thiemann, Johannes J; DeForest, Nicholas; Stadler, Michael; Lai, Judy; Feng, Wei; LaCommare, Kristina; Huang, Joe; Marnay, Chris | Abstract: As renewable energy production increases and the electricity market paradigm changes Demand Response (DR) programs are at the forefront of the effort to reduce peak loads. Another emerging trend is microgrids, which allow for the integration of renewable distributed energy resources (DER) into power systems controlled at the local level. Therefore, the potential of microgrids to participate in DR simultaneously lowering electricity costs and supporting reliable macrogrid operation should be analyzed. Santa Rita "Green" Jail (SRJ), run by the local County government, is a microgrid demonstration project integrating 1MW fuel cell, 1.2MW PV and 2MW 4MWh of electrical storage. The interaction of these DER can save electricity costs and lower demand peaks. As the markets and tariffs for DR are not straightforward an analysis is needed to tap the full potential of the installed infrastructure. As a public sector demonstration project SRJ can encourage broader adaption of DER and electric storage. This report evaluates the potential for DR for SRJ focusing on the value of electric storage under different utility DR programs. Key operating characteristics are determined to ensure viable operation in different use cases. Also, load shed and shift capabilities are evaluated to identify their economic value under DR programs compared to electrical storage. The Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM) is able to find the optimal battery operation schedule. DER-CAM was enhanced by DR capabilities and load shed and shift modules to optimize operational behavior based on DER generation, load and DR events. This report demonstrates how much the microgrid can save by participating in DR. It is identified which DR program is most viable and which barriers and success factors must be considered. Finally, the amount of peak load mitigation that can be delivered to the macrogrid by SRJ to help meet national and federal policy targets for DR is presented. Keywords:


Coronary artery disease (CAD) presents an ever-growing burden on health systems espe- cially in the Western world. While percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is feasible in increasingly complex CAD, certain patient groups possess a high risk for major cardiac adverse events (MACE) during PCI. Poor outcome is associated with significantly depressed left ventricular function, complexity of relevant lesions, and increasing incidence of pre-existing cerebrovascular comorbidities and poor pre-interventional status. However, these risk factors also translate into a high peri-operative risk for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rendering some of these patients inoperable. Peripheral ventricular assist devices (pVADs) are temporarily inserted axial or centrifugal pumps that support ventricular output during PCI. The Impella® micro-axial device (Abiomed, Danvers, Massachusetts, USA) is an easily implantable pVAD that may improve patient outcome during PCI in high-risk patients (termed "protected PCI") and in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). pVADs in general and the Impella® system in particular play important roles in interventional cardiology and its indications and use will likely expand in the future. This chapter outlines in detail the indications, applications, and future trends concerning the Impella® system. Practical advice is given on the correct implantation of the device.


Title of dissertation: OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR MAPPING ALGORITHMS AND APPLICATIONS ONTO CUDA GPU PLATFORMS AND CPU-GPU HETEROGENEOUS PLATFORMS Jing Wu, Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Joseph F JaJa, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering An emerging trend in processor architecture seems to indicate the doubling of the number of cores per chip every two years with same or decreased clock speed. Of particular interest to this thesis is the class of many-core processors, which are becoming more attractive due to their high performance, low cost, and low power consumption. The main goal of this dissertation is to develop optimization techniques for mapping algorithms and applications onto CUDA GPUs and CPU-GPU heterogeneous platforms. The Fast Fourier transform (FFT) constitutes a fundamental tool in computational science and engineering, and hence a GPU-optimized implementation is of paramount importance. We first study the mapping of the 3D FFT onto the recent, CUDA GPUs and develop a new approach that minimizes the number of global memory accesses and overlaps the computations along the different dimensions. We obtain some of the fastest known implementations for the computation of multi-dimensional FFT. We then present a highly multithreaded FFT-based direct Poisson solver that is optimized for the recent NVIDIA GPUs. In addition to the massive multithreading, our algorithm carefully manages the multiple layers of the memory hierarchy so that all global memory accesses are coalesced into 128-bytes device memory transactions. As a result, we have achieved up to 375GFLOPS with a bandwidth of 120GB/s on the GTX 480. We further extend our methodology to deal with CPU-GPU based heterogeneous platforms for the case when the input is too large to fit on the GPU global memory. We develop optimization techniques for memory-bound, and computation-bound application. The main challenge here is to minimize data transfer between the CPU memory and the device memory and to overlap as much as possible these transfers with kernel execution. For memory-bounded applications, we achieve a near-peak effective PCIe bus bandwidth, 9-10GB/s and performance as high as 145 GFLOPS for multi-dimensional FFT computations and for solving the Poisson equation. We extend our CPU-GPU based software pipeline to a computation-bound application-DGEMM, and achieve the illusion of a memory of the CPU memory size and a computation throughput similar to a pure GPU. OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR MAPPING ALGORITHMS AND APPLICATIONS ONTO CUDA GPU PLATFORMS AND CPU-GPU HETEROGENEOUS PLATFORMS


The use of genomic nucleotide sequences as biochemical signals in machine learning methods is possible by converting these sequences into numerical codes. This conversion results in an unrealistic increase in the dimension of the data and encounters some data analysis operations such as visualization and feature extraction with constraints. Therefore, one should use the dimensionality reduction technics in order to return the data to its real dimension. In this study, a deep autoencoder neural network has been used to reduce the dimension of binding site sequence data on the human genome. In order to determine whether the information of real data is preserved in compressed data, we perform a two-class classification using a support vector machine. The results show that information is almost entirely preserved in compression. Then, compressed data is used for visualization as well as feature selection by analysis of variance. The results show that the first, the tenth and eighth positions in the sequences are the most informative positions. While the majority of the previous works deal with gene expression data of microarrays and compare a few dimension reduction algorithms, this paper for the first time uses an autoencoder on nucleotide sequence data and provides a comprehensive comparison between the performance of the dimension reduction technics and machine learning algorithms.


GSEs (grape seed extracts) which contain polyphenolic compounds cause an endothelium-dependent relaxation of blood vessels. The aim of the present study was to examine the mechanisms involved in this response. A well-characterized GSE was applied to rabbit aortic rings suspended in organ baths containing Krebs-Henseleit buffer maintained at 37 degrees C. In aortic rings pre-contacted with noradrenaline (norepinephrine), the extract produced a dose-dependent relaxation. The maximum relaxations elicited by the extract (71.9+/-1.0%) were similar to those elicited by acetylcholine (64.2+/-1.5%) (n=12 for each). As expected, the relaxations were abolished by removal of the endothelium and by prior incubation with L-NAME (N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester), confirming the essential role of eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) in the response. The responses to the GSE were also abolished by incubation with wortmannin and LY294002, which are inhibitors of PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase). These compounds had no effect on the responses to acetylcholine. Using immunoblotting, we also demonstrated that the GSE induced the phosphorylation of both Akt and eNOS in HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). Finally, the extract was modified by methylation of the hydroxy groups in the polyphenolic groups and was applied to the aortic rings. The modified extract failed to cause a relaxation. Taken together, these findings suggest that the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by the GSE was mediated by activation of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway through a redox-sensitive mechanism, resulting in phosphorylation of eNOS.


The focus of this study is on the potential causes of skill mismatch, the extent of skill mismatch, the sociodemographic make-up of skill mismatch, and the consequences of skill mismatch in terms of earnings as well as employer sponsored adult education/training. A distinction is made between skill mismatch and education mismatch. The analysis is based on the 2003-2007 Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey (ALLS) – a dataset similar to the one that is forthcoming from the Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) in 2013. These studies contain direct measures of key foundation skills as well as measures of the use of certain generic skills at work which allow for a direct measure of skill mismatch. The analysis points to the complex ways in which mismatch is generated and the need for an accurate and up to date measure of mismatch, one that reflects the possibilities for skill gain and skill loss over the lifespan, and reflects differences in the quality of qualifications. Two key findings stand out. First, including supply and demand characteristics in an earnings function reveals that labour demand characteristics are more important than labour supply characteristics in explaining earnings differentials. In other words, skills matter for earnings but only if they are required by the job. This has direct implications for understanding better the causes of mismatch on earnings. Second, the skill content of jobs seems to be an even stronger determinant of participation in employer supported adult education/training than educational attainment or literacy proficiency. The influence of demand characteristics thus tends to outweigh the influence of supply characteristics when employers make the decision to support adult education/training. Addressing mismatch thus requires a careful consideration of both the demand and supply sides of the labour market, so as to understand better the variety of factors which may have a negative impact on the effectiveness of skill formation, skill maintenance, and also skill use.


Moving human-computer interaction off the desktop and into our cities requires new approaches to understanding people and technologies in the built environment. We approach the city as a system, with human, physical and digital components and behaviours. In creating effective and usable urban pervasive computing systems, we need to take into account the patterns of movement and encounter amongst people, locations, and mobile and fixed devices in the city. Advances in mobile and wireless communications have enabled us to detect and record the presence and movement of devices through cities. This paper makes a number of methodological and empirical contributions. We present a toolkit of algorithms and visualisation techniques that we have developed to model and make sense of spatial and temporal patterns of mobility, presence and encounter. Applying this toolkit, we provide an analysis of urban Bluetooth data based on a longitudinal dataset containing millions of records associated with more than 70000 unique devices in the city of Bath, UK. Through a novel application of established complex network analysis techniques, we demonstrate a significant finding on the relationship between temporal factors and network structure. Finally, we suggest how our understanding and exploitation of these data may begin to inform the design and use of urban pervasive systems.


Premature birth and the early exposure to environmental sensory information influence the cascade of histogenetic events that occur during the development of human telencephalon. The prenatal establishment of the genetically driven number and size of the elements that constitute the neuronal architecture of the telencephalon (e.g. number of axonal fibres and neurons) is the basis for the lifelong neuronal reorganisation (e.g. synapse pruning, dendrite growth, axonal retraction and myelinisation). Our hypothesis was driven by the experimental data and data from literature according to which the results of early alteration of histogenetic prenatal events can be seen in childhood too. Thus, we have tested the effect of the premature birth and birth weight on the regional size of cerebral cortex (cortical thickness and cortical surface) at school age.


We present an analytical model describing solute transport subject to nonlinear solute adsorption and demonstrate the exact correspondence of the model with water infiltration. The model is applied to experimental data from a laboratory Ca-K exchange experiment in which a solution containing Ca is passed through a column filled with K- saturated soil. The model, which is based on the assumption of local equilibrium of the solute between the adsorbed and liquid phases, fails to predict the spreading of the experimental breakthrough curve. Further analysis, however, suggests that chemical kinetic non- equilibrium exchange is occuring, thus violating the model assumption of local equilibrium.


This paper considers how optimal copyright enforcement is affected by the development of those media industries promoting musicians. Accounting for situations in both developing and developed countries, we point out two cases, a strictly convex and a strictly concave profit function with respect to the level of copyright enforcement. In the first case a copyright holder prefers a minimal level of enforcement under immature media industries, and a maximal level of enforcement under mature ones. This means that optimal copyright enforcement switches from minimum to maximum along with the development of media industries. In the second case, optimal copyright enforcement gradually increases concomitant with the development of media industries. If there are various levels of singers, a conflict regarding optimal copyright enforcement among them is more sever in a convex case than in a concave one.


The antioxidant activity of three types of pumpkin seed oil or oil mixtures (cold- -pressed, produced from roasted seed paste and salad) produced in the northern part of Croatia and the kinetics of their behaviour as free radical scavengers were investigated using DPPH˙. In addition, the involvement of oil tocopherol isomers (α-, γ- and δ-) in different steps of DPPH˙ disappearance and their impact on the rate of reaction were analysed. The kinetics of DPPH˙ disappearance is a two-step process. In the first step, rapid disappearance of DPPH˙ occurs during the first 11 min of the reaction, depending on the oil type, followed by a slower decline in the second step. To describe DPPH˙ disappearance kinetics, six mathematical models (mono- and biphasic) were tested. Our findings showed that γ- and δ-tocopherols affected DPPH˙ disappearance during the first step, and α-tocopherol in the second step of the reaction. Moreover, α-tocopherol demonstrated 30 times higher antioxidant activity than γ- and δ-tocopherols. The results indicated the biphasic double-exponential behaviour of DPPH˙ disappearance in oil samples, due to the complexity of reactions that involve different tocopherol isomers and proceed through different chemical pathways.


In order to establish a link between the properties of the fibre surface and the paper performance under stress, the properties of single fibres and the properties of the joints between fibres were linked to the acoustic emission behaviour of paper of surface treated regenerated cellulose fibres under stress. Results show that the strength of the single fibre joint was influenced by the surfaces properties of the fibres and the interactions in the contact zone during joint formation, which in turn were dependent on both chemical and mechanical properties of the fibres surface. As the paper properties in this case were independent of the mechanical properties of the fibres, there was a strong link between the properties of the fibre-surface and joint properties and the behaviour of the paper under stress.


The authors present a four-step model of debriefing as formative assessment that blends evidence and theory from education research, the social and cognitive sciences, experience drawn from conducting over 3,000 debriefings, and teaching debriefing to approximately 1,000 clinicians worldwide. The steps are to: 1) note salient performance gaps related to predetermined objectives, 2) provide feedback describing the gap, 3) investigate the basis for the gap by exploring the frames and emotions contributing to the current performance level, and 4) help close the performance gap through discussion or targeted instruction about principles and skills relevant to performance. The authors propose that the model, designed for postsimulation debriefings, can also be applied to bedside teaching in the emergency department (ED) and other clinical settings.


The advent of social media has changed the information environment drastically over the past 10 years. The new Internet is characterized by the vital participation of its users and comprises a variety of tools and sites for shared information creation and updating as well as social networking and communication (Bawden, 2008). The ongoing digitalization which affects all aspects of life makes media competency even more important to successfully participate in society. In order to do so, people must not only adapt their existing skills to the new context, but also develop new ones (Correira & Teixeira, 2002, p. 3). In short, social media call for a broadened view of literacy - one that includes competencies to locate, classify and process information with communication technologies, and to constantly redevelop these skills as technology progresses (Correira & Teixeira, 2002; Kellner, 2002; Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2003; Rainie & Horrigan, 2005; Senn-Breivik, 2005). However, many individuals hardly have the time and means to adapt their skills accordingly (OECD, 2010), and, as Hargittai (2010) adds, the development of new skills as well as the adjustment to new conditions are dependent on the socio-economic status, the personality traits and the social and technological context of the individual.
As more and more people are using the Web to communicate, retrieve information, and contribute with content, the discourse of the frequently discussed topic of the digital divide is shifting from a digital divide seen as a gap between those who do and those who do not have access to digital technologies (e.g.,Hoffman & Novak, 1998; Katz & Aspden, 1997; van Dijk, 2006) to a digital divide describing a gap between those who fail to make effective and purposeful use of the digital opportunities and those who use the Internet productively. In other words, the focus is shifting from a simplistic and binary conceptualization of Internet access to a more advanced and complex approach that involves width and depth of Internet usage (Dholakia, Dholakia, & Kshetri, 2004; Livingstone & Helsper, 2007; van Dijk, 2006). Beside the diverse types of Internet usages, the social and strategic competencies to make full use of the participatory potentials of social media differ among the socially disadvantaged, the "bottom of the digital pyramid", and the more "elite' users. The digital pyramid spans different types of web users. Thereby, only a relatively small group of individuals, namely the top of the pyramid, make up the active and literate elite of users. And primarily this elite is addressed by companies, new developments and the literature. And it is this relatively small percentage of the society that can enjoy the potentials of social media to the fullest extent. The majority of people, which you may label the 'bottom of the digital pyramid' is unable to do so. Passivity, inability and/ or uncertainty in using social media are for them a hindering factor in realizing the economic and social benefits of these new applications.
This paper addresses the shift in focus of the digital divide discourse as well as the potentials of social media for the socially disadvantaged in particular by exploring the factors that shape participation in the Web, primarily among the "bottom of the digital pyramid'. We will discuss how social media changes and possibly facilitates the way of coping with societal exclusion, and possible means of organizing and action to empower this specific group for participation. In particular, the paper will address the concerns of one particular marginalized group, those of the unemployed, and will examine the potential of social media for coping with unemployment and facilitating the reentry into the job market. The authors are aware that the "group" of unemployed persons is as heterogeneous as society itself, having different socio-demographic characteristics, affinities, and competences which are necessary to be taken into account when identifying and classifying social media usage and literacy patterns. However, as we are interested in analyzing the media competencies of unemployed persons especially those belonging to the socially disadvantaged, we will refer especially to this specific group when referring to the unemployed or unemployed persons for the sake of simplicity.
Recent evidence suggests that it is important to consider inequality in social media usage (Hargittai, 2010, Hargittai & Walejko, 2008). Our contribution is one step to address this gap in social media research that has a natural tendency to focus on the more articulate users. We also point out to the relevance for society in general, for which the lack of permeability in social systems might query their essential civil principles if these issues are not addressed. In the increasingly user generated Web, a divide in the breadth and frequency of participation may lead to the emergence of a system that is dominated by elite contributors while the rest will remain mere consumers of content (Hargittai & Walejko, 2008).
The new information and communication technologies are a chance to counteract those devel-opments. The disadvantaged might build more strategic social relationships and use better suited forms of information reception and production to catch up with society. Therefore, the new possibilities and opportunities enabled by the new generation of social media technologies are of high relevance for the unemployed. Furthermore, new digital media opens up additional possibilities to overcome exclusionary processes and structures, and influence the subjective perception of precarity by disadvantaged persons and therefore their feeling of societal exclusion. Finally, chances for governmental and corporate actors to act on their responsibility to foster societal cohesion are addressed, which may ultimately lead to the development of new digital product offerings tailored to the needs of the disadvantaged and business opportunities. The people at the "bottom of the digital pyramid' could for instance benefit from a more sophisticated Internet usage, by gaining enhanced autonomy and by improving their capacity to accomplish more productive tasks for and by themselves.
Our paper will both address theoretical and practical issues. From a theoretical point of view, the context and the implications of social media are applied to the context of the marginalized and the unemployed, thus widening the scope of social media research. From a practical point of view, the article presents a novel perspective on the question of social participation in a more and more digital environment, as well as engagement opportunities for the corporate sector with the "bottom of the digital pyramid'. Being a review contribution at the current, all the limitations that apply for theoretical research apply to our contribution.
The paper is divided into four parts. After this introduction, this paper continues with an over-view of recent literature addressing the digital divide, followed by a discussion of the implication of digital divide research for the unemployed. Finally, we propose a model of a digital inequality pyramid that compromises four dimensions of skills, which will be explained and discussed last.


Abstract Public power has been justified by resorting to two different kinds of legitimation: one coming from above, the other emerging from the governed. While legitimation "from above" implies that those who are vested with executive power are qualified in their function because of their allegedly higher competences, "bottom-up" legitimacy always presupposes that only citizens can properly decide on their destiny. After giving a brief account of how both legitimation strategies have developed in the history of political ideas, attention is focused on the theories regarding the legitimacy of public power in the European Union. Indeed, both strands of legitimation of public power are represented here with original proposals, according to the specificity of the supranational condition. But even more interesting is that the research into the characteristics of supranational integration has been one of the most significant fields in which the legitimation "from above" has reappeared in Western thought after a rather long period of marginality, now taking the shape of a technocratic justification. In the main section of the article, the reasons in favour of a democratic "bottom-up" legitimation of the European public power are analyzed first, then those which recur to the so-called "output legitimacy" – in other words to technocratic arguments. The last section of the contribution is dedicated to an overall assessment of the different positions.


Extracted from text ... THE QUALITY EDGE July 2005 33
quality improvement
The need to drive out fear to
improve quality
The 14 management points of W E Deming are fairly well known particularly
in the quality profession. However, the importance is often underestimated.
In order to ensure consistent quality and improved productivity,
more attention needs to be given to the 'real' shop floor situation
from the various levels of management. Paul Harding of Tri Q Cooperation
Business Development, examines this issue.
Deming's eighth point
Very often short term campaigns or restructuring programmes
designed to increase productivity have the opposite
negative effect leading to ..


It is mostly agreed that in order to identify a visually presented word, both the identity and the position of it's constitute letters must be encoded. However, currently most models of word recognition only start after the processes involved in letter encoding has been completed: the so called "visual word form" level. These models concentrate on the process involved in the encoding of the letter position, giving several different solutions to the encoding problem. The problem here is not necessarily that there are different solutions but that each solution is as good at modelling the current data as the next. Thus the solution to disambiguating between them may lie in a better understanding of the sublexical processes involved. Although this seems a logical step it is surprising that very little research has been carried out regarding these processes. The aim of this current PhD project is to address some of the issues involved with investigating sublexical processes, and to start a systematic investigation of several early perceptual processes that may modulate visual word recognition.


Between 1947 and into the mid 1950s, the foreign assistance agencies of the United States developed an ambitious information program intended to support its foreign policy mission by shaping the every day behavior of average European citizens. This dissertation argues that the rationale behind this program was based on a corporatist vision of a productive political economy driven by consumption that became popular in American leadership circles as the means to combat global communism and support US foreign policy goals in Western Europe. Behind this world view lay a rhetoric of economic abundance its proponents advanced as a non-divisive, universally appealing language they believed would cut across class boundaries to neutralize the draw of socialist arrangements without alienating left-leaning groups whose support the US needed to secure stable European governments. This rhetoric thus dominated the American information efforts that accompanied US assistance to Europe in an effort to encourage the foreign audiences to restructure certain aspects of their economies to secure the abundance US diplomats felt was needed to maintain social peace and political stability. This work also argues that European response to this American project was complicated and was determined not by communist sympathies or level of support for the US as the American diplomats anticipated, but instead by native European issues. In focusing on advertising the merits of increasing productivity and consumption to secure abundance in Europe, American officials, rather than smoothing potential social divisions, inadvertently stirred deep-seated concerns among certain segments of the European public who feared US suggestions might marginalize their traditional roles and instigate disruptive social and economic change. For example, US efforts to encourage consumption by promoting selfservice shopping arrangements to European housewives raised the ire of more traditional male retailers who felt threatened by such US supported market reform. These European responses help reveal the inherent contradictions in US policy and propaganda efforts and contribute to a better understanding of the complex European view of the US in the post WWII era. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group History First Advisor Bruce Kuklick


ABSTRACT Nucleoside analog-resistant variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) that displayed higher in vitro polymerase fidelity were previously identified via nucleotide insertion and mispair extension assays. To evaluate the contribution of increased nucleotide insertion and primer extension fidelities on the overall error rate of HIV-1 RT, we have measured the impact of two such mutations, E89G and M184V, on DNA copying fidelity in an M13 phage-based forward mutation assay. Using this assay, we observed mutation frequencies of 8.60 × 10−3, 6.26 × 10−3, 5.53 × 10−3, and 12.30 × 10−3 for wild-type, E89G, M184V, and double-mutant E89G/M184V HIV-1 RTs, respectively. Therefore, the overall polymerase fidelities of wild-type, E89G, M184V, and E89G/M184V HIV-1 RTs are similar (less than twofold differences) for DNA-dependent DNA synthesis. Thus, rather large increases in fidelity of deoxynucleoside triphosphate insertion and mispair extension observed previously appear not to influence the overall error rate of these mutants. However, a qualitative analysis of the mutations induced revealed significant differences in the mutational spectra between the wild-type and mutant enzymes.


The sharks, rays and skates form one of the important commercial fisheries of India, the average annual
landings for 10 years (1958-67) being 33,442 m. tons. Of this, 15,537 m. tons are landed along the east coast
and 17,605 m.tons along the west coast and the rest at Andaman and Nicobar and Laccadive groups of islands.
Reports indicate that the Indian Ocean offers valuable fishing grounds for these fishes, especially for the larger
varieties which can substantially augment the supplies of food, liver-oils, fins and shagreen.
Along the east coast, good fishery for elasmobranchs exists along the coasts of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh,
Madras State and in Andaman Islands. These fishes are caught almost round the year, the sharks on hook
and line and in drift gill nets at depths varying from 16 to 100 metres and majority of rays and skates in trawl
nets, drift and bottom set gill nets and shore seines at depths ranging from 4 to 100 metres.
The common species of sharks include the blacktip-finned sharks of the genus Carcharhinus, species of
Scoliodon, the hammer-head sharks, Sphyrna spp., the tiger-shark, Galeocerdo cuvieri and the zebra shark,
Stegostoma fasciatum. The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is occasionally landed. Rays of commercial
importance are the cownose ray, Rhinoptera javanica shoals of which make frequent incursions into coastal
waters of Gulf of Mannar, the butterfly ray, Gymmura poecilura, Himantura spp., Amphotistius zugei, Pastinachus
sephen and the devil ray, Mobula diabolus. The common skates include Rhynchobatus djiddensis and
Rhinobatus granulatiis and the saw-fishes of the genus Pristis.
From the present trend, it would appear that the catches of elasmobranchs off the east coast could be
substantially increased by extending fishing operations to deeper waters especially in the Gulf of Mannar
and by the use of stronger nets from mechanised vessels. Fruitful results may also be expected along the east
coast, including Andaman Islands by exploratory surveys to chart potentially rich grounds for these fishes.


We present a novel distributed localization algorithm, called Swarm-Intelligent Localization (SIL), for computing the physical locations of nodes in wireless sensor networks. The algorithm assumes that only a small fraction of the nodes have a priori knowledge of their positions, and that noisy distance measurements are available between all neighboring nodes. The algorithm has no explicit global state and it can handle nodes that are both mobile and that can arrive in the network at any time. SIL works in two different phases, a coarse phase where nodes compute rough positions for themselves based on information about remote anchors, and a fine phase where nodes iteratively refine their positions from the coarse phase by collaborating with their neighbors. The average computational complexity per node running SIL is very low, namely constant in the network size and linear in the connectivity of the network. We evaluate the algorithm through extensive simulations. The results indicate that SIL is able to compute accurate positions for the majority of nodes in a wide range of network topologies and settings, and that it can handle difficulties such as large distance measurement errors and low network connectivity.


Context: The guideline recommended dose of intravenous (i.v) recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute ischemic stroke is 0.9 mg/kg in the European and American populations. In Asiatic population, some studies have shown that a lower dose of i.v rt-PA is equally efficacious. Aims: To assess if there is a need for a dose optimization for i.v rt-PA study among Indians. Setting and Design: A prospective, observational database of acute stroke cases that presented to a tertiary care institute over a period of 1 year was made. Methods: The data procured using a prestructured elaborate pro forma. Based on the dose of rt-PA received, the individuals were divided into three groups; Group 1 (0.6–0.7 mg/kg), Group 2 (0.7–0.8 mg/kg), and Group 3 (0.8–0.9 mg/kg). Improvement was assessed in each group and between the thrombolysed and nonthrombolysed individuals. Statistical Analysis Used: The nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-test (Wilcoxon rank-sum test) was applied for assessing improvement of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score with significance level of α < 0.05 (P < 0.012) and compliance level at 95%. Results: Between the thrombolysed (n = 46) and nonthrombolysed (n = 113) group, there was a statistically significant neurological improvement in the thrombolysed group. Clinical improvement was noted in 75%, 85.7%, and 66.7% of individuals receiving rt-PA in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Four out of the five who developed a clinically significant intracranial hemorrhage were thrombolysed at a dose of 0.8–0.9 mg/kg rt-PA (Group 3). Conclusion: There is a need for a properly randomized, dose optimization study of i.v rt-PA in the Indian subcontinent.


Almost from the moment, some five centuries ago, that their religion was founded in the Punjab by Guru Nanak, Sikhs have enjoyed a distinctive identity. This sense of difference, forged during Sikhism's fierce struggles with the Mughal Empire, is still symbolised by the 'Five Ks' ('panj kakar', in Punjabi), those articles of faith to which all baptised Sikhs subscribe: uncut hair bound in a turban; comb; special undergarment; iron bracelet and dagger (or kirpan) - the unique marks of the Sikh military fraternity (the word Sikh means 'disciple' in Punjabi). Yet for all its ongoing attachment to the religious symbols that have helped set it apart from neighbouring faiths in South Asia, Sikhism amounts to far more than just signs or externals. Now the world's fifth largest religion, with a significant diaspora especially in Britain and North America, this remarkable monotheistic tradition commands the allegiance of 25 million people, and is a global phenomenon. In her balanced appraisal, Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh reviews the history, theology and worship of a community poised between reconciling its hereditary creeds and certainties with the fast-paced pressures of modernity. She outlines and explains the core Sikh beliefs, and explores the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus in Sikhism's Holy Scriptures, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (more usually called just the 'Granth'). Further chapters explore Sikh ethics, art and architecture, and matters of gender and the place of women in the tradition. The book attractively combines the warm empathy of a Sikh with the objective insights and acute perspectives of a prominent scholar of religion.


The operational range of electrostatic MEMS parallel plate actuators can be extended beyond pull-in in the presence of an intermediate dielectric layer, which has a significant effect on the behavior of such actuators. Here, we study the behavior of cantilever beam electrostatic actuators beyond pull-in using a beam model along with a dielectric layer. The results from the simple beam model are validated with 3D simulations performed in CoventorWare™. Three possible static configurations of the beam are identified over the operational voltage range. We call them floating, pinned and flat; the latter two are also called arc-type and S-type in the literature. We compute the voltage ranges over which the three configurations can exist and the points where transitions occur between these configurations. Voltage ranges are identified where bi-stable and tri-stable states exist. A classification of all possible transitions (pull-in and pull-out as well as transitions we term pull-down and pull-up) is presented based on the dielectric layer parameters. Dynamic stability analyses are presented for the floating and pinned configurations. For high dielectric layer thickness, discontinuous transitions between configurations disappear and the actuator has smooth predictable behavior, but at the expense of lower overall tunability.


Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the results of open reduction and internal fixation of intra-articular fractures of the hand. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: Patients were treated at 2 university hospital settings by 2 hand surgeons. Patients/Participants: Twenty-eight patients with displaced intra-articular fractures of the hand treated with mini-screw/plate fixation were identified from databases maintained by two hand surgeons. There were 23 men and 5 women, with an average age of 35 (range, 18-68) years. Intervention: Titanium mini-plate and screw set was used in all cases. Main Outcome Measurements: Total active motion of the digit scored according to the Belsky and Gingrass systems. Results: Twenty-two patients (79%) had excellent or good results, and 6 patients (21%) had poor results. All 5 thumb fractures healed without complication and had excellent results. For the lesser digits, 9 had excellent, 8 had good, and 6 had poor clinical outcomes. Poor outcomes were identified in patients with comminuted (P = 0.01) or open (P < 0.001) fractures. Other complications included superficial infection and hardware prominence, both of which occurred in patients with distal phalanx dorsal lip fractures (P = 0.01). Conclusions: Open reduction and internal fixation of articular fractures of the joints of the hand seems to be an effective treatment method for these difficult fracture patterns. We identified excellent or good outcomes in 79% of our patient group. Patients with open or comminuted fractures were found to have poor results.


Background: Eyelash extensions involve the attachment of synthetic eyelashes made of chemical fibers or other materials onto natural eyelashes. It has become common practice among Nigerian women for various reasons. Aim/Objectives: The aim is to assess eyelash extension use among students of a higher institution in Nigeria, the reasons for its use and related eye complications. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study using structured self-administered questionnaire. Stratified sampling technique was used. The key items in the questionnaire were sociodemographic variables, knowledge and use of eyelashes extension, reasons for the use of eyelashes extension and eye symptoms/complications experienced during such use. A total of 310questionnaires were completely and correctly filled. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 statistical package. Results: There were 310 respondents; the age range was 16–52 with a mean of 23.0 years ± 4.8. The prevalence of eyelash use was 38.7%. Beauty was the most common reason for lash extension 56.1% (n = 174). Others were curiosity, peer pressure, and replacement therapy. The most common complication was itching 45.8% (n = 142). Others were redness, pain, heavy eyelids, loss of lashes, casting of shadow in vision, tearing, burning sensation, foreign body sensation, and boils (stye) on the eyelid. Conclusion: Eyelash extension use is popular among young female students of higher institutions commonly for esthetic reasons (often because they desire to become more beautiful). Majority of them experience one ocular symptom or the other. Attention should, therefore, be paid to the potential health risk of the procedure and its use should be made much safer for our women.


This paper makes an attempt to assess the water sector under scarcity conditions in the State of Rajasthan. It adopts the criteria of physical, economic, financial and equity performance across sub-sectors. The assessment brought out clearly that no indicator has shown satisfactory performance in any of the sub-sectors. Though the urban drinking water sector is relatively better in performance, a lot more needs to be done in order to bring it to the threshold level of economic and financial performance. The huge expenditures incurred in this sector are not going towards real investments that would improve the performance of the sector. Despite the fact that the water sector (except groundwater) is in the hands of the government, equity goals are not achieved. An urban and rich bias is prevalent as far as access to water and public distribution of water. Apart from suggesting some short-term measures to meet the immediate demands, this paper argues that institutional reforms are critical for sustainable water resource management under scarcity conditions.


This study evaluated the quantitation of synthetic phenolic antioxidants and trace elements in virgin palm oil. A Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Ultra Violet Visible detection spectrophotometry was employed for the analysis of synthetic antioxidants. The synthetic antioxidants studied were Butylatedhydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT), 2-ethylhexyl 4 methoxycinnamate (EEMC) and Propyl gallate (PG). A proposed ICP-OES using oilwater micro emulsion as sample preparation method was used for metallic element analysis because it is not only reproducible, accurate and reliable but also convenient because it provided a sample extraction capable of breaking down the complex matrix in virgin palm oil. The limits of detection for BHA, BHT, EEMC and PG were found to be 0.041, 0.057, 0.06 and 0.03 mg/L respectively while the limits of quantification values were 0.56, 0.49, 0.05 and 0.04 mg/L respectively. None of the synthetic antioxidants was detected in the samples studied. This was an indication that local farmers probably preserved the oil samples prior to storage by traditional methods. The elemental analysis of virgin palm oil is necessary to decide if the oil is suitable for food, fuel or raw materials for the chemical industry. The concentrations of metallic elements found in the oil samples analysed in this study ranged between 0.006 mg/kg in Ubiaja plantation and 161.576 mg/kg in Benin City plantation respectively. Tin recorded high concentration in Benin City plantation and Pb a low concentration in Ubiaja plantation. The concentrations of metallic elements were rather high in most samples hence the oil is best suitable for use as raw material for the chemical industry. It can therefore be concluded that the level of environmental pollution on the plantation be eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum to improve the quality of the virgin palm oil for human consumption.


Many scholars and practitioners believe there are too many "weak" patents — those that should not have issued but somehow get approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). To the extent they exist, such patents unnecessarily tax real innovation and generate welfare losses for society.Some commentators have focused on the PTO's failure to exclude weak patents, or the damage caused by these patents in litigation, often by patent trolls. But this scholarly discussion misses the point. The present Article argues that weak patents largely stem from a pricing problem: namely, a patent applicant pays higher patent fees when she succeeds (i.e., receives PTO approval) than when she fails (i.e., is rejected by the PTO).The Article explains why such pricing is precisely backwards, penalizing good patent applications instead of bad ones. It then proposes a novel remedy: import "loser pays" concepts from litigation into patent examination. By forcing unsuccessful patent applicants to pay more, a loser pays system disincentivizes weak applications and improves application quality.The Article also describes how a loser pays system could lower patent examiners' burden and discourage continuation applications, both of which slow down patent examination. In doing so, the Article sketches out a new patent system that is at once more efficient and more effective in weeding out weak patents.


NASA's Kepler Space Telescope has successfully discovered thousands of exoplanet candidates using the transit method, including hundreds of stars with multiple transiting planets. In order to estimate the frequency of these valuable systems, it is essential to account for the unique geometric probabilities of detecting multiple transiting extrasolar planets around the same parent star. In order to improve on previous studies that used numerical methods, we have constructed an efficient, semi-analytical algorithm called the Computed Occurrence of Revolving Bodies for the Investigation of Transiting Systems (CORBITS), which, given a collection of conjectured exoplanets orbiting a star, computes the probability that any particular group of exoplanets can be observed to transit. The algorithm applies theorems of elementary differential geometry to compute the areas bounded by circular curves on the surface of a sphere. The implemented algorithm is more accurate and orders of magnitude faster than previous algorithms, based on comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations. We use CORBITS to show that the present solar system would only show a maximum of three transiting planets, but that this varies over time due to dynamical evolution. We also used CORBITS to geometrically debias the period ratio and mutual Hill sphere distributions of Kepler's multi-transiting planet candidates, which results in shifting these distributions toward slightly larger values. In an , we present additional semi-analytical methods for determining the frequency of exoplanet mutual events, i.e., the geometric probability that two planets will transit each other (planet–planet occultation, relevant to transiting circumbinary planets) and the probability that this transit occurs simultaneously as they transit their star. The CORBITS algorithms and several worked examples are publicly available.


Work hours has become a 'hot topic'. This volume examines the effects of work hours on individual, family and organizational health. It considers why some people work long hours and the potential costs and benefits of this investment. Some work long hours out of necessity, others willingly. Interestingly, most people, however, want to work fewer hours than they now do. One's motives for working long hours (the why) and one's attitudes and behaviours while working (the how) emerge as critical factors in the link between work hours and well-being.Contributions from experts from six countries address workaholism, the distinction between passion and addiction to work, 'loving one's job', the role of technology as an enabler of long work hours, consequences of fatigue from over-work, strategies for short-term recovery from long hours, and initiatives for enriching one's quality of life. Coming to grips with work hours requires difficult choices by individuals, families, organizations and society at large. This collection will be of value to managers and professionals concerned about people, and academics, students, researchers and policy makers interested in ways work can be meaningful, decent rather than debilitating.


The serological prevalence of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo
(hereafter referred to serovar hardjo) infection in cattle in this present study was
30%. Water samples from stagnant water, pond water, tank water and drain
water collected from the farms were positive to Leptospira biflexa (40%) . Twentyfour
per cent of soil samples obtained from three different types of soil namely
clay, loam and sand in the farms were also positive to Leptospira biflexa.
However, serovar hardjo or other pathogenic leptospires were not isolated in the
urine, soil and water samples collected in the farms. Clinical sign of leptospiral
infection was not observed in the cattle on the farms. The leptospiral isolates
were further characterized using bacterial restriction endonuclease DNA
analysis (BRENDA), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western
blotting. It was confirmed that the leptospiral isolates did not belong to serovar
hardjo.Under experimental condition it was demonstrated that cattle are able to
maintain serovar hardjo. Six female 8-months-old Kedah-Kelantan calves were
used in this trial. Leptospiremia occurred as early as 7 days post-inoculation and
lasted for 13 days following intra-conjunctival inoculation. Antibody against
serovar lzardjo was first detected at day 7 post inoculation, then raised to a high
level at day 14 post-inoculation and maintained at the same level up to 365 days
post inoculation. Leptospiruria was first detected on day 49 post inoculation and
maintained up to day 147 post-inoculation. Histologically serovar hardjo was
detected in the renal tubule at the end of the trial using immunoperoxidase
staining. No clinical signs of leptospiral infection was observed in the same
animals throughout the trial. Identification of the leptospiral isolates obtained
from the inoculum and urine samples of the experimental animals using
bacterial restriction endonuclease DNA analysis (BRENDA) and polymerase
chain reaction (peR) showed that both isolates were serovar hardjo.
The study showed that serovar hardjo can survive in rain water up to 264
hours (11 days) under experimental condition. Leptospira interrogans serovar
hardjo can survive up to 72 hours (3days) in diluted urine in Malaysian field
condition and up to 984 hours (41 days) at 4°C. Leptospira interrogans serovar
hardjo can survive in chlorinated drinking water up to 120 hours (5 days) but
was killed immediately in seawater. The organism can survive in soil samples up to 144 hours (6 days) . The contaminated environment with serovar 11l1rdjo can
transmit infection of the organism to susceptible animals.
It is evident that serovar hardjo infection is present in cattle farms in
Malaysia. Cattle in Malaysia have a potential of maintaining serovar hardjo.
Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo has been shown to survive in water and soil
for a long time in Malaysian field condition and the organisms can be
transmitted to susceptible animals.


CONTEXT
A common polymorphism in the gene encoding the activating deiodinase (Thr92Ala-D2) is known to be associated with quality of life in millions of patients with hypothyroidism and with several organ-specific conditions. This polymorphism results in a single amino acid change within the D2 molecule where its susceptibility to ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation is regulated.

OBJECTIVE
To define the molecular mechanisms underlying associated conditions in carriers of the Thr92Ala-D2 polymorphism.

DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS
Microarray analyses of 19 postmortem human cerebral cortex samples were performed to establish a foundation for molecular studies via a cell model of HEK-293 cells stably expressing Thr92 or Ala92 D2.

RESULTS
The cerebral cortex of Thr92Ala-D2 carriers exhibits a transcriptional fingerprint that includes sets of genes involved in CNS diseases, ubiquitin, mitochondrial dysfunction (chromosomal genes encoding mitochondrial proteins), inflammation, apoptosis, DNA repair, and growth factor signaling. Similar findings were made in Ala92-D2-expressing HEK-293 cells and in both cases there was no evidence that thyroid hormone signaling was affected ie, the expression level of T3-responsive genes was unchanged, but that several other genes were differentially regulated. The combined microarray analyses (brain/cells) led to the development of an 81-gene classifier that correctly predicts the genotype of homozygous brain samples. In contrast to Thr92-D2, Ala92-D2 exhibits longer half-life and was consistently found in the Golgi. A number of Golgi-related genes were down-regulated in Ala92-D2-expressing cells, but were normalized after 24-h-treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylecysteine.

CONCLUSIONS
Ala92-D2 accumulates in the Golgi, where its presence and/or ensuing oxidative stress disrupts basic cellular functions and increases pre-apoptosis. These findings are reminiscent to disease mechanisms observed in other neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's disease, and could contribute to the unresolved neurocognitive symptoms of affected carriers.


More voters than ever get political news from their friends on social media platforms. Is this bad for democracy? Using context-neutral laboratory experiments, we find that biased (mis)information shared on social networks affects the quality of collective decisions relatively more than does segregation by political preferences on social media. Two features of subject behavior underlie this finding: 1) they share news signals selectively, revealing signals favorable to their candidates more often than unfavorable signals; 2) they na¨ively take signals at face value and account for neither the selection in the selection in the shared signals nor the differential informativeness of news signals across different sources.


The purpose of this paper is to provide a social construction of remission in relation to schizophrenia by the people affected most. The qualitative perspective utilised is a contrast to the majority of papers around, which have been quantitative when addressing the concept of remission for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This paper acknowledges and demonstrates evidence of listening to the stakeholder groups affected by the issues associated with remission and recovery, and delivers clarity around the phenomena of remission in relation to recovery.,A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed, exploring participants' interpretation of the concept of remission in schizophrenia. A purposive sample, of nine professionals, ten service users and seven carers, was recruited from two community mental health teams in the UK. Semi-structured interviews were employed to yield the data and all interview transcripts were analysed utilising "qualitative codes" thereby defining what is seen in the data. Diagramming and concept mapping was employed. Theoretical sensitivity was applied to demonstrate remission in abstract terms and to illustrate the openness, transparency and intention of the study.,The findings resulted in a conceptual map of the themes generated from the data. From this map four possible trajectories were developed, each highlighting a route which could be taken and the issues faced along the way. Positive and negative aspects of the trajectories offer discussion points for service users and practitioners alike to consider in their professional relationship. In addition a representation of the current interplay between recovery and remission is highlighted to offer clarity in relation to present service provision.,The perspective and opinion from practitioners in Primary Care services was not proposed or included within this study. To gain an improved and realistic insight into this perspective a range of practitioners from primary care could provide valuable data for any future study as this would prove to be a valuable enhancement. This study offered a broad overview of professional groups with the ability to discuss mental health services, although it did not allow for a concentration from specific professional groups and therefore they were not able to fully represent their professional group.,This paper has illuminated the area of remission for people with schizophrenia and will therefore have practical implications in respect of on-going service development. In particular the interface between primary and secondary services which have struggled to employ consistent terminology serving only to confuse service users and service providers alike. The trajectories illustrated in this study offer clarity and understanding and direction for improved practice to facilitate recovery for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Shared understanding of concepts between service users and providers could be a large move in a positive direction.,The movement of people formerly diagnosed with schizophrenia from secondary mental health services back to primary care may have huge social implications. Resistance, stigma and ignorance play a large part in services "having to" retain people within secondary mental health services. Misunderstandings around diagnosis, and terms such as remission and recovery fuel such confusion resulting in a risk averse position for most. This study clarifies some of the issues in relation to the transition back to society and citizenship for people and offers scope for further research of a qualitative nature too.,Previous studies around the concept of remission for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia have centred on medication efficacy, utilising remission criteria to determine changes in symptomolotolgy. These quantitative papers have not addressed service users, carers or practitioners in healthcare in relation to their understanding of the term remission, in relation to recovery; or whether they feel it would be of use in clinical practice. This study addressed those issues gaining valuable in-depth data from participants, deriving the social construction of remission and the impact it may have in clinical practice in a non-pathologising perspective.


Although the Dirichlet distribution is widely used, the independence structure of its components limits its accuracy as a model. The proposed shadow Dirichlet distribution manipulates the support in order to model probability mass functions (pmfs) with dependencies or constraints that often arise in real world problems, such as regularized pmfs, monotonic pmfs, and pmfs with bounded variation. We describe some properties of this new class of distributions, provide maximum entropy constructions, give an expectation-maximization method for estimating the mean parameter, and illustrate with real data.


The authors present a novel, low cost laser transmitter for telecommunication systems. This device, called discrete mode (DM) laser, is basically a ridge waveguide Fabry-Perot (FP) laser, whose wavelength spectra has been modified to obtain a single mode operation. This is achieved by perturbing the effective refractive index of the guided mode along very small sections of the laser cavity, by etching features into the ridge waveguide. Suitable positioning of these interfaces allows the mirror loss spectrum of an FP laser to be manipulated in order to achieve single longitudinal mode emission. The waveguide structure requires only a single growth stage and uses optical lithography to realise the ridge. In addition, the fabrication process is re-growth free. Despite this simple and low cost fabrication process, the DM lasers portray many advantages over the distributed feedback and distributed Bragg reflector lasers, such as very high side mode suppression ratio, stable operation over a large temperature range, narrow linewidth and low sensitivity to optical feedback.


Seeking children's assent has been put forward as a way to foster children's involvement in the healthcare decision-making process. However, the functions of the concept of assent within clinical care are manifold, and methods used to recognize children's capacities and promote their involvement in their care remain debated. We performed an instrumentalist concept analysis of assent, with 58 included articles. Final themes were jointly identified through a deliberative process. Two distinct perspectives of assent were predominant: as an affirmative agreement for a specific decision and as part of a continuous, interactive process of care. Differing standards were provided as to how and when to apply the concept of assent. The concept of dissent was largely omitted from conceptions of assent, especially in situations for which children's refusal would lead to severe health consequences. Ethical implications included fostering autonomy, reducing physical/psychological harm to the child, respecting the child as a human being, and fulfilling the universal rights of the child. There remain important gaps in the theory of assent and its desirable and possible practical implications. Practical standards are largely missing, and evidence supporting the claims made in the literature requires further investigation.


Through a case study approach, via interviews and data gathered from publicly available sources, two major Pittsburgh-based global companies were examined in order to arrive at a better understanding of its socially responsibility initiatives to their stakeholders as they attempt to provide positive financial results and to uphold their corporate long-term sustainability efforts. It was assumed that intelligent business strategies would perceive CSR-based initiatives would not just find threats in a recession but also opportunities, which was found to be true through the companies' global initiatives of healthcare, economic, and sustainability efforts. Both companies have similar goals in regards to conservation of natural, renewable resources, and protection of the physical environment; since both companies consume enormous amounts of natural resources and have the need to soften their image within the communities that they conduct business. As managements must adapt to business changes that are driven by legislative and governmental actions that may be self-serving and issues driven without a true long-range strategic focus, any CSR-based initiative does not guarantee secure and profitable outcomes; hence, there will always be an element of risk involved in such ventures.


Abstract The performance of a single-screw extruder for the processing of cross-linkable low-density polyethylene in cable coating applications is examined. In particular, the aim is to demonstrate that the melt quality is markedly dependent on the melting efficiency. An instrumented 120 mm, 24:1 L/D extruder is used to perform the study. So-called pull-out tests are carried out for investigating the melting behavior inside an extruder. At the beginning of the melting zone, a typical Maddock melting mechanism is observed. Thereafter, as melting proceeds, the solid polymer becomes totally surrounded by melt according to the Lindt-Decker melting mechanism, and finally a solid-bed break-up occurs in many circumstances. This undesirable phenomenon can be avoided by screw cooling which, however, has its own drawbacks. In addition to the experimental work, numerical simulations of the melting behavior are conducted. The results provided by the simulation are in accord with the experimental findings.


Roughly 1 in 3 people around the world are affected by cognitive or mental disabilities at some point in their lives, yet people often face a variety of barriers when seeking support and receiving diagnosis from healthcare professionals. While prior work found that people with such disabilities assess themselves using online tests and assessments, it remains unknown whether and how effectively these tests fill gaps in healthcare and general support systems. To find out, we interviewed 17 adults with cognitive or mental disabilities about their motivation for and experience using online tests. We learned that online tests act as an important resource that address the shortcomings in support systems for people with professionally diagnosed or suspected cognitive or mental disabilities. In particular, online tests can lower barriers to a professional diagnosis, provide valuable information about the nuances of a disability, and support people in forming a disability identity – an invaluable step towards a positive acceptance of oneself. Our results also uncovered challenges and risks that prevent people with known or suspected health conditions from fully taking advantage of online tests. Based on these findings, we discuss how online tests can be better leveraged to support people with cognitive or mental disabilities before and after professional diagnosis.


Although crop residue management is known to affect near‐surface soil physical quality, little is known about the temporal variability of these indicators over short time intervals. This study evaluates the temporal changes of nine indicators of soil physical quality. These are organic carbon content, structural stability index, bulk density, macroporosity, air capacity, relative field capacity, plant available water capacity, Dexter's S‐index and saturated hydraulic conductivity. A second set of soil physical indicators, based on the distribution of soil pore volume, was also evaluated. The indicators were determined in three different times during the growing cycle of winter durum wheat cultivated within a long‐term field research carrying out in Southern Italy and comparing two types of crop residue management, that is, burning (B) and soil incorporation (I). Only the bulk density changed over time for both treatments, although the air capacity also changed for the incorporation of wheat residues. Residual effects of the autumnal soil tillage and soil compaction were a common source of variability, irrespective of which treatment was used. Based on the existing guidelines for evaluating the physical quality of these agricultural soils, optimal or near‐optimal values were detected in about half of the cases under consideration. This suggests that both B and I create sufficiently good conditions for crop growth during the crop cycle. The comparison between observed and optimal soil pore distribution function was always poor. The pore volume distributions showed lower densities of small pores and relatively higher densities of large pores than the proposed optimal distribution. This study also suggests that the considered optimal or references curves probably cannot be applied successfully to a wide range of agricultural soils.


This study analyzes the symbiotic relationship between rhetoric and homiletics. The proposed interface between the two disciplines is metaphor. Contemporary research on metaphor in philosophy, rhetoric, sociology, and theology is employed to produce a rhetorical/metaphorical homiletics. This work attempts to return rhetoric to its traditional position as a conversation partner with homiletics. The author argues that a metaphorical, rhetorical approach to preaching is more faithful to the scriptures than the classical dependence on the canons of formal logic. The use of metaphor allows the preacher to choose the imagination over the rational paradigm as he/she creates new worlds of meaning for congregations.


Over 25 years, we have developed many sales-force and modeling insights through over 2,000 projects with several hundred selling organizations in over 50 countries. Content insights are useful in making sales-force decisions. Examples are that profitability is flat for a wide range of sales-force sizes; phased sales-force growth is rarely optimal; focused strategies dominate scattered strategies; most sales territories (55 percent) are too large or too small; and no compensation plan satisfies everyone. Implementation insights concern model building, use, and implementation, for example, a model's economic value can come from such sources as reduced uncertainty, accuracy, increased speed, objectivity, and stakeholder involvement; theory and practice have different and complementary perspectives; experience and wisdom are sometimes better than models; and models provide insights, while people make decisions.