"Derivatives Algorithms" provides a unique expert overview of the abstractions and coding methods which support real-world derivatives trading. Written by an industry professional with extensive experience in large-scale trading operations, it describes the fundamentals of library code structure, and innovative advanced solutions to thorny issues in implementation. For the reader already familiar with C++ and arbitrage-free pricing, the book offers an invaluable glimpse of how they combine on an industrial scale. Topics range from interface design through code generation to the protocols that support ever more complex trades and models.


Named entity recognition (NER) has been studied largely in the Infor- mation Extraction community as it is one step in the construction of an Information Extraction System. However, to extract only names without contextual information is not sufficient if we want to be able to describe facts encountered in documents, in particular, academic documents. Then, there is a need for extracting relations be- tween entities. This task is accomplished using relational learning algorithms embedded in an Information Extraction framework. In particular, we have extended two rela- tional learning frameworks RAPIER and FOIL. Our proposed extended frameworks are equipped with DSSim (short for Dempster-Shafer Similarity) our similarity ser- vice. Both extended frameworks were tested using an electronic newsletter consisting of news articles describing activities or events happening in an academic institution as our main application is on education.


We review the incidence and severity of pADEs resulting from medication errors identified by chart review or observation in pediatric inpatient settings. BrightcoveDefaultPlayer10.1542/6138654333001PEDS-VA_2018-0805 Video Abstract CONTEXT: Patient harm resulting from medication errors drives prevention efforts, yet harm associated with medication errors in children has not been systematically reviewed. OBJECTIVE: To review the incidence and severity of preventable adverse drug events (pADEs) resulting from medication errors in pediatric inpatient settings. DATA SOURCES: Data sources included Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Embase. STUDY SELECTION: Selected studies were published between January 2000 and December 2017, written in the English language, and measured pADEs among pediatric hospital inpatients by chart review or direct observation. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extracted were medication error and harm definitions, pADE incidence and severity rates, items required for quality assessment, and sample details. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included. For children in general pediatric wards, incidence was at 0 to 17 pADEs per 1000 patient days or 1.3% of medication errors (of any type) compared with 0 to 29 pADEs per 1000 patient days or 1.5% of medication errors in ICUs. Hospital-wide studies contained reports of up to 74 pADEs per 1000 patient days or 2.6% of medication errors. The severity of pADEs was mainly minor. LIMITATIONS: Limited literature on the severity of pADEs is available. Additional study will better illuminate differences among hospital wards and among those with or without health information technology. CONCLUSIONS: Medication errors in pediatric settings seldom result in patient harm, and if they do, harm is predominantly of minor severity. Implementing health information technologies was associated with reduced incidence of harm.


This study examined the role of a joyful phonetic method to improve reading skills of pre-school children in Indonesia.

 Forty-seven pre-school children of age 4-5 years are involved in the study. Two criteria were used to select the participants of the study. Criteria included "they could not read" and "had never read". The Solomon three groups design was used to test the effectiveness of the treatment. There were one intervention group and two control groups. One of the control groups received the treatment and another one did not. Treatment included joyful learning so that participants did not realise that they were actually learning.

 According to data analysis, (1) joyful phonetic improved the reading skills of the experimental group more than the control group 1 and (2) the joyful phonetic improved the reading skills of the control group 2 more than the control group 1. Moreover, it was found that the phonetic, which had been given in the joyful condition, affects the improvement of the reading skills of pre-school children.

 The implication of the study is that the pre-school children would be more focused on the learning if the method has been conducted in a playing nature. Furthermore, pre-school children should be taught to read as they tend to begin their schooling.


The composition and structure of the upper atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets (EGPs) are affected by the high-energy spectrum of their host stars from soft X-rays to EUV. This emission depends on the activity level of the star, which is primarily determined by its age. We focus upon EGPs orbiting K- and M-dwarf stars of different ages. XUV spectra for these stars are constructed using a coronal model. These spectra are used to drive both a thermospheric model and an ionospheric model, providing densities of neutral and ion species. Ionisation is included through photo-ionisation and electron-impact processes. We find that EGP ionospheres at all orbital distances considered and around all stars selected are dominated by the long-lived H$^+$ ion. In addition, planets with upper atmospheres where H$_2$ is not substantially dissociated have a layer in which H$_3^+$ is the major ion at the base of the ionosphere. For fast-rotating planets, densities of short-lived H$_3^+$ undergo significant diurnal variations, with the maximum value being driven by the stellar X-ray flux. In contrast, densities of longer-lived H$^+$ show very little day/night variability and the magnitude is driven by the level of stellar EUV flux. The H$_3^+$ peak in EGPs with upper atmospheres where H$_2$ is dissociated under strong stellar illumination is pushed to altitudes below the homopause, where this ion is likely to be destroyed through reactions with heavy species. The inclusion of secondary ionisation processes produces significantly enhanced ion and electron densities at altitudes below the main EUV ionisation peak, as compared to models that do not include electron-impact ionisation. We estimate infrared emissions from H$_3^+$, and while, in an H/H$_2$/He atmosphere, these are larger from planets orbiting close to more active stars, they still appear too low to be detected with current observatories.


French based Bonduelle had become the world's leading processed vegetables business, and now sold to customers in the retail food, food service and food-manufacturing industries, using traditional distribution channels. In order to encourage customers to develop and enhance their relationships with the brand, Bonduelle had decided to follow the recent trend observed with other brand manufacturers of opening experience stores, sometimes described as "concept stores" or "flagship stores". In 2010 Bonduelle had thus opened its first concept store The All-Vegetable Showcase Store near the Group headquarters in Villeneuve d'Ascq (North of France). Branded "Bonduelle Bienvenue", the store stocked 250 products within the four Bonduelle product categories, the biggest ever range of prepared vegetables. This multifaceted commercial space was unique in the world (as it was entirely dedicated to processed vegetables) and was positioned by Bonduelle as a response to changes in the consumer society. However, could the success of "Bonduelle Bienvenue" be replicated throughout the country by opening such stores near each of the 13 plants Bonduelle was running in France? Was this branded retail strategy appropriate for food producers? Did it announce what food retail would be in the future? If Bonduelle had reached a brand status, could it become a retail brand?


As the debate over the ratio of human versus natural influence on climate change continues, proponents of the theory of catastrophic human-caused global warming often cite various extreme events as alleged evidence of human-caused climate change. This was the immediate reaction by anti-oil activists such as Naomi Klein to Alberta's Fort McMurray wildfire of 2016, particularly as Fort McMurray is the epi-centre of demonized oil sands activity. Most recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a report claiming that 2016 was the hottest year on record, linking to a map of "evidence" of extreme events wherein the Fort McMurray fire is noted as one such example. Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada made similar claims on March 2, 2017. In fact, the archived status report of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Association (CIFFA) for that period shows that all Alberta fires were categorized by as being 'human-caused' and thus preventable ("human-caused" can mean any form of human-related interaction, from a power line sparking a tree branch, to negligent campers, to intentional acts, etc.). This paper reviews relevant fire risk information related to the events of May 2016 in the Fort McMurray fire, demonstrating that a combination of human-caused interaction or negligence, human-caused lack of governmental attention to recommendations from previous reports on similarly catastrophic wildfires in the same region, in conjunction with the natural warming climate anomalies of El Nino Southern Oscillation and cyclical effects of Pacific Decadal Oscillation and natural biological aging of conifers were drivers of the Fort McMurray wildfires, not human-caused global warming. The author gratefully acknowledges Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada and the Minister of Natural Resources for permission to reproduce relevant archival fire weather maps.


Objective Conventional smear (CS) using fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been established as the test of choice for diagnosing thyroid lesions, despite low sample adequacy and inter-individual variations. Although a liquid-based preparation (LBP) technique has been recently applied to overcome these limitations, its clinical utility and its accuracy over CS are controversial. This study aimed to determine the true sensitivity and specificity of LBP in thyroid FNAC by meta-analysis. Design Systematic review with meta-analysis. Methods We searched major electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Google Scholar) with queries of 'thyroid', 'LBP' and 'liquid-based cytology'. Original articles including cytohistologic correlation data comparing the accuracy of any LBP technique, such as ThinPrep, SurePath and Liqui-Prep, with CS were included for qualitative meta-analysis and preparation of synthesized reporter-operating curves (sROC). Results A total of 372 studies were screened and 51 original articles were eligible for full-text review; finally, 24 studies were chosen for the meta-analysis. Average sample inadequacy was significantly lower in two mainstream LBP methods (ThinPrep and SurePath) than CS. Specificity and sensitivity by sROC were similar or slightly superior for LBP vs CS. Various cytomorphologic changes by each method have been reported. Conclusions Although a learning curve is essential for adapting to the cytomorphologic features of the LBP technique, our results support the use of two mainstream LBPs alone in thyroid FNAC that LBP will increase the sample adequacy and reduce the workload with similar accuracy. More data and further evaluation are needed for the other LBP methods.


Abstract Background and Objectives The global aging workforce necessitates new approaches in designing work environments to cater to the needs of increasingly age-diverse work groups. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has in reaction outlined that organizations need to provide age-inclusive work environments that support the needs of their multigenerational workforce, to ensure their sustainability and profitability. To capture the age inclusiveness of the work environment, the present study proposes and validates an age-inclusive "environment check" for organizations referred to as the Age-Inclusive Work Environment Instrument (AIWEI), which covers discrimination, inclusion, and development opportunities. Research Design and Methods We validate the 9-item AIWEI using cross-sectional and multilevel data from 2,892 Swedish workers across 101 workplaces who completed an online survey, using confirmatory factor analyses across young, middle-age, and older workers. Using a nomological approach, we also evaluate the concurrent validity of the AIWEI with a 2-1-1 path analysis. Results The factor analyses supported a 3-factor model comprising of inclusion, discrimination, and development opportunities, across 3 age groups (i.e., young, middle-age, and older workers). These 3 factors had high Intraclass Coefficient (ICC) scores showing consistency in responding in the workplace. In accordance with the nomological approach, the factors of the AIWEI were linked with Psychosocial Safety Climate, burnout, and engagement, demonstrating concurrent validity for the AIWEI. Discussion and Implications This new "environment check" provides a way to capture age-inclusive work environments for both younger and older workers, in an age-diverse workforce. In the validation process, age-inclusive work environments were found to exist as a group phenomenon, through shared perceptions within an organization, as well as an individual phenomenon, as experiences specific to an individual. This is important for the development and implementation of policies and strategies designed to benefit workers and organizations.


We study the effect of mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Europe in 2005 on conditional conservatism. We capture conditional conservatism with a modified version of the Khan and Watts measure (C_Score) that also controls for potential shifts in unconditional conservatism and cost of capital. From a sample of 13,711 firm-year observations drawn from 16 European countries spanning the 2000–2010 period, we document an overall decline in the degree of conditional conservatism after the adoption of IFRS. We show that the decline in conditional conservatism is less pronounced for countries with high quality audit environments and strong enforcement of compliance with accounting standards using the Brown et al. audit and enforcement index. As asset impairment tests are a key mechanism ensuring conditional conservatism in the IFRS framework, we further examine these. We show that firms booking an asset impairment present a smaller decline in the degree of conditional conservatism relative to firms that do not. We also demonstrate that firms that do not book an asset impairment when evidence suggests the probable need to do so experience a more pronounced reduction in conditional conservatism. We argue that IFRS are conceptually conditionally conservative but that inappropriate application of conditional conservatism principles is likely to prevent financial reporting from reaching the level of conservatism targeted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).


SUMMARY. White pine blister rust (WPBR) (Cronartium ribicola J. C. Fischer) has been present in Vermont and other northeastern states since the early 1900s. The fungus is commonly observed on currants and gooseberries (Ribes L.) every year, but incidence varies on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). Our general impression has been that Vermont has had a relatively low level of infection on eastern white pines; however, we recently found rust incidence in Christmas tree plantings in northern Vermont to range from 10 to 42% (average 20%) based on 721 trees surveyed. Also, in pole-sized stands in southern Vermont, incidence ranged from 12 to 46% (average 32%) and 76% of these trees had main stem infections. In the southern survey, 98% of wild ribes plants had varied amounts of both urediniospores and teliospores. These preliminary survey data suggest that inci- dence of WPBR may be more significant than previously thought and therefore, additional survey work is needed. We screened cultivars of Ribes for susceptibility to WPBR. Eighteen cultivars were inoculated in the field with a mass collection of aeciospores of C. ribicola. The percentages of leaf area infected ranged from 0 to 49 for the urediniospore stage and from 0 to 55 for teliospores. The gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L.) 'Wel- come' had the highest percentage of leaf area with urediniospores, while black currants (R. nigrum L.) 'Coro- net,' 'Consort,' and 'Crusader' had no visible infection. Presently, Vermont has no WPBR regulations. How- ever, previous federal laws did restrict black currant cultivation. Little is known about the genetic diversity of WPBR or its potential for change. Caution must be used when considering any cultivation of Ribes for the purpose of producing fruit because our valued white pine resources could be negatively impacted.


Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin or ethereum are gaining ground not only as alternative modes of payment, but also as platforms for financial innovation, particularly through token sales (ICOs). All of these ventures are based on decentralized, permissionless blockchain technology whose distinguishing characteristics are their openness to, and the formal equality of, participants. However, recent cryptocurrency crises have shown that these architectures lack robust governance frameworks and are therefore prone to patterns of re-centralization: they are informally dominated by coalitions of powerful players within the cryptocurrency ecosystem who may violate basic rules of the blockchain community without accountability or sanction.

Against this background, this paper makes two novel contributions. First, it suggests that cryptocurrency and token-based ecosystems can be fruitfully analyzed as complex systems that have been studied for decades in complexity theory and that have recently gained prominence in financial regulation, too. It applies these insights to three key case studies: the Bitcoin Hard Fork of 2013; the Ethereum hard fork of 2016, following the DAO hack; and the ongoing Bitcoin scaling debate. Second, the paper argues that complexity-induced uncertainty can be reduced, and elements of stability and order strengthened, by adapting a corporate governance framework to blockchain-based organizations: cryptocurrencies, and decentralized applications built on top of them via token sales. Most importantly, the resulting "comply or explain" approach combines transparency and accountability with the necessary flexibility that allows cryptocurrency developers to continue to experiment for the sake of innovation. Eventually, however, the coordination of these activities may necessitate the establishment of an "ICANN for blockchains".


Requirements Engineering (RE) has been classed as a 'wicked' problem that is not well addressed by traditional formal education: studies show that the knowledge taught does not match the knowledge needed to be applied in daily work. Further studies suggest that the prescribed syllabus of formal courses is a major factor in the mismatch. This is the impetus for the review of the unit offered through the School of Engineering. It involves the development of a series of partnerships leading to a course that provides a solid foundation in subject matter while at the same time exposing students to inherent characteristics associated with real RE problems and the knowledge needed to solve them:

 * Industry/university partnership: Our discussions with employers show that course content and graduate grades are no longer a major issue in graduate employment scenarios. The focus is on how students make the transition to being professionals within industry. The aim is to provide a more authentic learning environment, one that more closely simulates the real world, through a problem based learning (PBL) experience. PBL encourages students to practise and develop the skills they will use as professional Software Engineers.

 * Expert/novice partnership: Feedback from our students suggests they want increased exposure to real world problems. One impetus for the restructure of this unit is that students wish to engage with the material on offer: 'you need more practical application of the theory you teach.' When the nature of the learning experience models work experiences, students perceive themselves as apprentice professionals, and learning results from undertaking activities guided by an expert.

 * Teaching/learning/discipline (engineering) partnership: Providing a well-balanced learning experience requires expertise both in the domain and in the theory of learning. This restructure provides an opportunity for reflection on teaching practice.

This paper looks at the characteristics of these partnerships in the context of the redevelopment of the Requirements Engineering unit, and the issues raised by implementing PBL for learning basic disciplinary knowledge.


Purpose: To investigate whether sonic hedgehog (Shh) plays a role in postnatal eye development and the development of experimentally induced myopia. Methods: Expression of Shh, Patched-1 (Ptc-1), and Gli3 was evaluated in the eyes of 13- to 14-day-old C57B/L6 mice with form-deprivation myopia (FDM) (n = 100) and controls (n = 100) using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. In a second experiment, 336 mice were divided into two groups: the first wore a unilateral translucent diffuser to induce myopia and the second served as a control. Both groups received four intravitreal injections of either Shh-N (Sonic hedgehog amino-terminal peptide) or cyclopamine (a specific inhibitor of the Shh pathway) every other day. Retinoscopic refraction and axial length measurements were performed on the 11th day of form deprivation. Sections of the eyes were observed using a light microscope. Results: Inducing myopia caused a significant increase in expression of Shh mRNA (7 days: t = 6.09, p = 0.004; 14 days: t = 3.48, p = 0.025) and protein (7 days: t = 4.06, p = 0.015; 14 days: t = 4.25, p = 0.013). Expression of both Gli3 mRNA (t = 7.61, p = 0.002) and protein (t = 2.89, p = 0.045) increased after 7 days of occlusion. Administration of Shh-N stimulated the development of myopia and axial growth in both occluded (refraction: F = 7.49, p = 0.001; axial length: F = 9.89, p < 0.001) and non-occluded eyes (refraction: F = 14.20, p < 0.001; axial length: F = 20.37, p < 0.001). Cyclopamine reduced myopic refractive error and axial elongation in occluded eyes (refraction: F = 27.91, p < 0.001; axial length: F = 15.18, p < 0.001). It also influenced non-occluded eyes, reducing axial growth and shifting the refraction toward hyperopia (refraction: F = 14.81, p < 0.001; axial length: F = 3.99, p = 0.024). No difference in retinal thickness was found between experimental and control eyes. Conclusions: The Shh signaling pathway may influence both form-deprivation myopia and the postnatal growth of eyes with normal visual input.


Puertecito quadrangle embraces a segment of the Colorado Plateau physiographic province adjacent to the northern and western margins of the Basin and Range province. The center of the area is approximately 21 mi north-northwest of Magdalena, NM. Mapped units include the Abo, Yeso, and San Andres Formations, of Permian age; the Triassic Chinle Formation; Cretaceous Dakota Sandstone, Mancos Shale, and Mesaverde Group; the Tertiary Baca Formation; Tertiary Datil volcanics, minor intrusives, and Santa Fe Group; and Quaternary pediment-veneer gravels, spring deposits, landslides, and alluvium.The late Miocene (?) Datil volcanics, exposed in the Bear Mountains and the eastern foothills of the Gallinas Mountains, are subdivided into three members: the lower, Spears Member, consists of quartz latite tuff, agglomerate, breccia, and volcanic sandstone and conglomerate; the middle, Hells Mesa Member, consists of semiwelded to welded rhyolite tuff; the upper, La Jara Peak Member, consists of flows and flow breccias of basalt in the lower portions, and basaltic andesite in the upper part. The composition range in the La Jara Peak Member is explained readily by fractionation in the magma chamber. For the most part, dikes and sills of syenodiorite are intrusive only into Permian strata, whereas basaltic dikes, sills, and plugs are largely intrusive into post-Permian strata, including the upper portion of the late Miocene (?) volcanic sequence.At least two periods of deformation took place in this quadrangle. The first orogeny, which occurred in late-Cretaceous or early-Tertiary time, consisted essentially of eastward directed compressional forces that resulted in the formation of the La Cruz anticline and the Sierra Lucero uplift. The basal portions of the Baca Formation are interpreted as synorogenic, for they were folded with older beds during this deformation. The second orogeny took place in late-Miocene (?) time before the cessation of volcanism. Normal faulting, with a large horizontal component of movement, resulted from this deformation, which apparently was a product of a force couple directed in an east-southeast and west-northwest direction. Dike swarms trend about N. 10 W., parallel to the major trend of the faults, and were intruded during the early stages of faulting. The Santa Fe Group, which overlies the Datil volcanics, has not been faulted or intruded in this area.Detailed petrographic work is correlated with six chemical analyses that were made of the igneous rocks. The refractive indices of fused samples were plotted against the percentage of silica in the chemical analyses. These data indicate that the syenodiorite intrusions are not consanguineous with the extrusions and basaltic dikes. Application of this silica-refractive-index curve to the volcanic rocks of the Gallinas Mountains suggests that they are chemically similar to those of the Bear Mountains. Several stratigraphic sections were measured and are shown in the appendix.


Recieved: Nov 5, 2014 Accepted: Jan 10, 2015 Abstract Introdouction: Infection control procedures are essential for dentists. Oral and dental impressions can act as carriers of contaminants that can increase the risk of infections while being transferred from the laboratory to the dental office. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practice of dentists regarding disinfection of impressions sent to the laboratory. Materials and methods: In this sectional descriptive study, 166 dentists in Rasht were randomly surveyed using a questionnaire that included routine demographic questions, including 10 on knowledge and 15 on practice. Each correct answer was scored +1 in the two-choice questions, and each choice was graded as weak, moderate, or good in the multiple-choice questions. Chi-square and Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney tests were performed using SPSS 19.0 software to analyze the data. Results: The total mean and standard deviation values for dentists' knowledge were found to be 2.11 ± 0.562, and 18 (10.8%), 112 (67.5%), and 36 (21.7%) of the 166 dentists demonstrated good, moderate, and weak knowledge, respectively. The total mean and standard deviation values for dentists' practice were 1.67 ± 0.663, and 72 (43.4%), 76 (45.8%), and 18 (10.8%) dentists demonstrated good, moderate, and weak practice, respectively. Conclusion:Most dentists demonstrated moderate knowledge and practice of disinfection of dental impressions, and in many cases, the knowledge was not commensurate with the practice. Thus, despite the moderate and upward knowledge, the practice was weak. Furthermore, the dentists' knowledge and practice were not sufficient to ensure disinfection of impressions. Better training and careful monitoring is needed in this regard.


To assess the hemodynamic changes during acute renal artery stenosis (RSt) and their dependence on alterations in the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems, we studied conscious rats chronically instrumented with miniaturized pulsed-Doppler flow probes. Probes were implanted on the superior mesenteric and both renal arteries, and on the lower abdominal aorta for measurement of mesenteric (MR), renal (RR), and hindquarters (HQR) vascular resistance. Unilater-al RSt, with a pneumatic cuff occluder that reduced flow by approximately 50°, increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 32°, reduced heart rate, and increased MR, nonstenotic (contralateral) RR and HQR. The hypertension was renin-dependent since plasma renin activity increased 6-fold and the angiotensin II (All) antagonist, saralasin, significantly reduced MAP and regional resistances. The acute hypertension was also associated with increased neurogenic vasoconstrictor tone since hexamethonium markedly reduced MAP, MR, HQR and non-stenotic RR. Hexamethonium similarly decreased MAP during hypertension induced by AH infusion, whereas hypertension produced by the "pure" peripheral vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine, was unaffected by ganglionic blockade. In animals with peripheral sympathectomy produced by 6-hydroxydopamine, acute RSt produced hemodynamic changes similar in magnitude to intact animals; however, PRA increased 3-fold more than in intact rats. We conclude that hypertension induced by acute RSt in conscious rats is not only renin-dependent, but is also associated with inappropriately high neurogenic vasoconstrictor tone, presum-ably activated by indirect neural actions of AH.


Introduction: A major challenge with current systems of CME is the inability to translate the explosive growth in health care knowledge into daily practice. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a telementoring network designed for continuing professional development (CPD) and improving patient outcomes. The purpose of this article was to describe how the model has complied with recommendations from several authoritative reports about redesigning and enhancing CPD. Methods: This model links primary care clinicians through a knowledge network with an interprofessional team of specialists from an academic medical center who provide telementoring and ongoing education enabling community clinicians to treat patients with a variety of complex conditions. Knowledge and skills are shared during weekly condition-specific videoconferences. Results: The model exemplifies learning as described in the seven levels of CPD by Moore (participation, satisfaction, learning, competence, performance, patient, and community health). The model is also aligned with recommendations from four national reports intended to redesign knowledge transfer in improving health care. Efforts in learning sessions focus on information that is relevant to practice, focus on evidence, education methodology, tailoring of recommendations to individual needs and community resources, and interprofessionalism. Discussion: Project ECHO serves as a telementoring network model of CPD that aligns with current best practice recommendations for CME. This transformative initiative has the potential to serve as a leading model for larger scale CPD, nationally and globally, to enhance access to care, improve quality, and reduce cost.


Foundations of Algorithms Using Java Pseudocode offers a well-balanced presentation on designing algorithms, complexity analysis of algorithms, and computational complexity that is accessible to mainstream computer science students who have a background in college algebra and discrete structures. To support their approach, the authors present mathematical concepts using standard English and a simpler notation than is found in most texts. A review of essential mathematical concepts is presented in three appendices. In addition, they reinforce the explanations with numerous concrete examples to help students grasp theoretical concepts.


In 2009, President Barack Obama announced from Prague's Hradcany square that "the most immediate and extreme threat to global security" was nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists, and world leaders listened. A year later, 47 of these leaders responded to Obama's call "to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years" when they gathered in Washington, DC, for the first Nuclear Security Summit. Since then, nearly 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU) have been removed from 10 countries. And both Russia and the United States have worked hard on HEU destruction efforts—48 metric tons and 7 metric tons, respectively. In March, 50 nations are taking part in the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. But how can these countries ensure that the momentum toward a global nuclear security culture isn't lost, and the Seoul summit does not devolve into just another gathering? Three authors explore this question: from the United States, Sharon Squassoni; from Turkey, Mustafa Kibaroglu (2012); and from India, Rajiv Nayan (2012). The authors are nuclear security experts and members of the Fissile Materials Working Group, which publishes a monthly column at www.thebulletin.org.


BACKGROUND
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) remains the most common opportunistic infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Among patients with HIV infection and PCP the mortality rate is 10 to 20% during the initial infection and increases substantially with the need for mechanical ventilation. It was suggested that in these patients corticosteroids adjunctive to standard treatment for PCP could prevent the need for mechanical ventilation and decrease mortality.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of adjunctive corticosteroids on overall mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation in HIV-infected patients with PCP and substantial hypoxemia (arterial oxygen partial pressure <70 mmHg or alveolar-arterial gradient >35 mmHg on room air).

SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched Medline (January 1980-December 2004), EMBASE (January 1985-December 2004) and The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2004) without language restrictions to identify randomised controlled trials that compared adjunctive corticosteroids to control in HIV-infected patients with PCP. We further reviewed the reference lists from previously published overviews, we searched UptoDate version 2005 and Clinical Evidence Concise (Issue 12, 2004), contacted experts of the field, and searched reference lists of identified publications for citations of additional relevant articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Trials were considered eligible for this review if they compared corticosteroids to placebo or usual care in HIV-infected patients with PCP in addition to baseline treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, pentamidine or dapsone-trimethoprim, used random allocation, and reported mortality data. We excluded trials in patients with no or mild hypoxemia (arterial oxygen partial pressure >70 mmHg or an alveolar-arterial gradient <35 mmHg on room air) and trials with a follow-up of less than 30 days.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two teams of reviewers independently evaluated the methodology and extracted data from each primary study. We pooled treatment effects across studies and calculated a weighted average risk ratio of overall mortality in the treatment and control groups by using a random effects model.

MAIN RESULTS
Six studies were included in the review and meta-analysis. Risk ratios for overall mortality for adjunctive corticosteroids were 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.98) at 1 month and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.50-0.94) at 3-4 months of follow-up. To prevent 1 death, numbers needed to treat are 9 patients in a setting without highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) available, and 23 patients with HAART available. Only the 3 largest trials provided data on the need for mechanical ventilation with a risk ratio of 0.38 (95% CI, 0.20-0.73) in favour of adjunctive corticosteroids.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The number and size of trials investigating adjunctive corticosteroids for HIV-infected patients with PCP is small, but evidence from this review suggests a beneficial effect for patients with substantial hypoxemia.


Stable carbon–, nitrogen–, and oxygen–isotope analyses of animal bones and teeth from 28 archaeological sites are used to reconstruct human subsistence behaviour, i.e., increased maize horticulturalism, during the Late Woodland period (A.D. 1000–1650) in southwestern Ontario. The isotopic data provided dietary, seasonal, and geographic information, which was analysed within archaeological, symbolic, and ecological contexts and used to reconstruct the diets, hunting patterns, and animal processing practices of two neighbouring groups, the Ontario Iroquoian and Western Basin peoples.
Paleodietary and seasonality analyses focused on the following species: canids (domestic dogs, foxes, and wolves), wild turkeys and white-tailed deer, though additional fauna (including black bears, raccoons, and squirrels) were also analysed. Bone (n=324) and dentine (n=11) collagen provided dietary information, specifically concerning access to maize and trophic position. The carbon– and nitrogen–isotope composition of modern plants (n= 8) and animals (n=87) was used to expand the local food web and understand abilities of modern animals to access crops. Structural carbonate isotopic analyses for archaeological (n=126) and modern (n=28) individuals provided additional information about trophic position, post–mortem alteration, and geographic affiliation. Serially sampled enamel was analysed for several deer and a dog, and was successfully paired with x–radiographs to create an enamel formation sequence, which enables reconstruction of short term (seasonal) diets.
The domestic dog isotopic data expanded our understanding of human dietary change over the Late Woodland period for both Ontario Iroquoian and Western Basin peoples, including different emphases on protein sources (i.e., fish). Wild fauna, particularly foxes, wild turkeys, raccoons and squirrels, were able to access maize. The turkey isotopic data suggest a unique hunting strategy at some Ontario Iroquoian sites, i.e., the purposeful discard of maize to create a predictable field hunting zone. An unexpected relationship between the δ13Ccol and δ13Csc values of deer appears to reflect a post–mortem processing (i.e., boiling) practice. This thesis has expanded our understanding of Late Woodland diets, horticultural and hunting practices. It has also demonstrated that fauna may be used to reconstruct human behaviour and ideology in lieu of the destructive analysis of human remains.


Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into multiline age cells. Thus, many efforts have been focused on finding effective ways to selectively differentiate the pluripotent cells into defined lineagecommitted progenitor cells for their suitable use in regenerative medicine. Some studies showed that the lineage of MSCs was influenced by the surface topography where the cells were attached, while other studies showed that its lineage was decided by the rigidity of the matrix where the cells interfaced. Our study showed that both the surface topography and rigidity of the matrix simultaneously affected the shapes of MSCs through the alignment and organization of actin cytoskeletons when MSCs were grown on either soft (1 M Pa) or hard (2 ~ 5 GPa) polymers with groove patterns in various dimensions ranging from 500 nm to 50 μm. Cells were mostly aligned and elongated along all the patterns irrespective of the rigidity of the substrate. However, the degree of the elongation was affected by both the matrix rigidity and dimension of the patterns. This is further supported by the results showing that the orientation of alignment of actin cytoskeletons and their organization were affected by both the rigidity and the topography of the substrate.


The imitation paradigm [1] has shown that subjects shift their production in the direction of the targ et, indicating the use of episodic traces in speech perception. By using this paradigm, two experiments were carried out to test: 1) if/how thi s implicit phonetic imitation interacts with linguist ic representations when the change might impair linguistic contrast; 2) whether phonetic imitation can be generalized , and 3) whether word-level specificity can be obtained through physical measurements of a phonetic feature. The results revealed a significant effect of implicit phonetic imitation for extended VOTs, although there was no imitation observed for reduced VOTs. Furthermore, the imitated feature (extended VOT) was generalized to new instances of the target phoneme /p/ as well as to the new segment /k/. These result s indicate that 1) knowledge of phonemic contrast modulates the implicit phonetic imitation, and 2) speakers possess sub-phonemic representations. Expected word specificity was not observed in the data.


Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in humans, affecting all ages and both genders. The purpose of this study (approved by NHS Research Ethics Committee, Reference 14/NW/0332) was to evaluate the potential of diffusion tensor and kurtosis imaging for detecting differences in measures of regional white matter integrity in adult patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy (NDE) in comparison with healthy controls. Diffusion Kurtosis imaging (DKI) is an extension of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that can evaluate the abnormalities in white matter integrity, assuming a non-Gaussian distribution (Jensen at al. 2005). To our knowledge there are few studies reported using DKI in patients with Epilepsy (Zhang et al, 2013). Data were collected from patients attending Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust and 15 NDE patients and 13 sex and age-matched healthy controls were recruited. All subjects were scanned using a Siemens 3T Trio whole-body scanner (Siemens, Germany) with eight-channel radiofrequency (RF) coil head coil and immobilization to comfortably restrict head motion. DKI sequence consisted of 3 B-values and 60 Directions with the following parameters; TR/TE 5700/104 ms, acquisition matrix 72*72 mm, and a scan time of 12 minutes. Pre-processing and extraction of DKI/DTI measurements such as fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK) was done using ExploreDTI. (http://www.exploredti.com). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis (FMRIB, Oxford, UK, http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl) was performed to investigate the differences between patient and control groups. NDE patients exhibited significantly reduced FA in Forceps Major (P


Aim of the study to determine whether and to what extent the reattachment of fractured incisor tooth fragments is weakening the teeth and which adhesive material and technique offers the strongest bond to the tooth structure. Materials and methods 48 extracted mandibular incisors divided into 4 groups were used. After fracturing the incisal third of each tooth, the fragments were reattached with different materials and techniques and the force necessary to fracture the teeth was measured. Results Statistically significant differences were found between the group of teeth restored with composite resin in association with a prepared bevel and the other three groups. The first one showed significantly higher fracture strength. Conclusion The materials and techniques used in this study affected the bond strength of the reattached teeth.


Origami-inspired manufacturing can produce complex structures and machines by folding two-dimensional composites into three-dimensional structures. This fabrication technique is potentially less expensive, faster, and easier to transport than more traditional machining methods, including 3-D printing. Self-folding enhances this method by minimizing the manual labor involved in folding, allowing for complex geometries and enabling remote or automated assembly. This paper demonstrates a novel method of self-folding hinges using shape memory polymers (SMPs), paper, and resistive circuits to achieve localized and individually addressable folding at low cost. A model for the torque exerted by these composites was developed and validated against experimental data, in order to determine design rules for selecting materials and designing hinges. Torque was shown to increase with SMP thickness, resistive circuit width, and supplied electrical current. This technique was shown to be capable of complex geometries, as well as locking assemblies with sequential folds. Its functionality and low cost make it an ideal basis for a new type of printable manufacturing based on two-dimensional fabrication techniques.


We present a difference-in-differences analysis of the road safety effects of introducing tolls on SCUT highways in Portugal, a policy motivated purely by financial considerations, as congestion was never an issue. Using negative binomial count models and a comprehensive dataset on all mainland municipalities covering 2008 to 2014, we find that introducing tolls led to an increase in the total numbers of accidents and of road injuries in municipalities where SCUT highways are located. Additionally, we register a change in the composition thereof, with fewer occurrences on highways (including on SCUT highways) and an increase on national and other roads. Finally, we find that most effects pertain to light injuries. No statistically significant effects were identified for fatal or serious injuries. Furthermore, as a result of introducing tolls on SCUT highways, we estimate that around 20% of the toll revenue collected is lost on the costs linked to road accidents. This questions the rationale of introducing such tolls, even on a revenue-raising standpoint.


In this paper I use the National Supported Work (NSW) data to examine the finite-sample performance of the Oaxaca–Blinder unexplained component as an estimator of the population average treatment effect on the treated (PATT). Precisely, I follow sample and variable selections from Dehejia and Wahba (1999), and conclude that Oaxaca–Blinder performs better than any of the estimators in this influential paper, provided that overlap is imposed. As a robustness check, I consider alternative sample (Smith and Todd 2005) and variable (Abadie and Imbens 2011) selections, and present a simulation study which is also based on the NSW data.


This paper briefly reviews the current knowledge of the epidemiology and modes of transmission of nosocomial fungal infections and some of the therapeutic options for treating these diseases. In the mid-1980s, many institutions reported that fungi were common pathogens in nosocomial infections. Most, if not all, hospitals care for patients at risk for nosocomial fungal infections. The proportion in all nosocomial infections reportedly caused by Candida spp. increased from 2% in 1980 to 5% in 1986 to 1989. Numerous studies have identified common risk factors for acquiring these infections, most of which are very common among hospitalized patients; some factors act primarily by inducing immunosuppression (e.g., corticosteroids, chemotherapy, malnutrition, malignancy, and neutropenia), while others primarily provide a route of infection (e.g., extensive burns, indwelling catheter), and some act in combination. Non-albicans Candida spp., including fluconazole-resistant C. krusei and Torulopsis (C.) glabrata, have become more common pathogens. Newer molecular typing techniques can assist in the determination of a common source of infection caused by several fungal pathogens. Continued epidemiologic and laboratory research is needed to better characterize these pathogens and allow for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.


Concern over the loss of sea ice has renewed discussions over the legal status of the Arctic and subarctic transcontinental maritime route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, referred to as the "Northwest Passage." Over the past thirty years, Canada has maintained that the waters of the Passage are some combination of internal waters or territorial seas. Applying the rules of international law, as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention, suggests that the Passage is a strait used for international navigation.Expressing concerns over maritime safety and security, recognition of northern sovereignty, and protection of the fragile Arctic environment, Ottawa has sought to exercise greater authority over the Passage. This Article suggests that Canada can best achieve widespread global support for managing its maritime Arctic by acknowledging that the Passage constitutes an international strait and working through the International Maritime Organization to develop a comprehensive package of internationally accepted regulations.


We have determined the tumor-initiating activity of (+/-)syn- and (+/-)anti-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide (syn- and anti-DMBADE), the two metabolically formed bay-region diol epoxides of DMBA, and we have also analyzed mutations in the H-ras gene from tumors induced by these compounds. Using a two-stage, initiation-promotion protocol for tumorigenesis in mouse skin, we have found that both syn- and anti-DMBADE are active tumor initiators, and that the occurrence of papillomas is carcinogen dose dependent. All of the papillomas induced by syn-DMBADE (a total of 40 mice), 96% of those induced by anti-DMBADE (a total of 25 mice), and 94% of those induced by DMBA (a total of 16 mice) possessed a -CAA- to -CTA- mutation at codon 61 of H-ras. No mutations in codons 12 or 13 were detected in any tumor. Topical application of syn- and anti-DMBADE produced stable adducts in mouse epidermal DNA, most of which comigrated with stable DNA adducts formed after topical application of DMBA. Further analysis of the data showed that levels of the major syn- and anti-DMBADE-deoxyadenosine adducts formed after topical application of DMBA are sufficient to account for the tumor-initiating activity of this carcinogen on mouse skin. Previously, we showed that both the syn- and anti-DMBADE bind to the adenine (A182) at codon 61 of H-ras. Collectively, these results indicate that the adenine adducts induced by both bay-region diol epoxides of DMBA lead to the mutation at codon 61 of H-ras and, consequently, initiate tumorigenesis in mouse skin.


The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, continues to spread from its native range in Eurasia to Europe and North America, causing billions of dollars in damage and dramatically altering invaded aquatic ecosystems. Despite these impacts, there are few genomic resources for Dreissena or related bivalves, with nearly 450 million years of divergence between zebra mussels and its closest sequenced relative. Although the D. polymorpha genome is highly repetitive, we have used a combination of long-read sequencing and Hi-C-based scaffolding to generate the highest quality molluscan assembly to date. Through comparative analysis and transcriptomics experiments we have gained insights into processes that likely control the invasive success of zebra mussels, including shell formation, synthesis of byssal threads, and thermal tolerance. We identified multiple intact Steamer-Like Elements, a retrotransposon that has been linked to transmissible cancer in marine clams. We also found that D. polymorpha have an unusual 67 kb mitochondrial genome containing numerous tandem repeats, making it the largest observed in Eumetazoa. Together these findings create a rich resource for invasive species research and control efforts.


Although ongoing research has revealed some of the main drivers behind global spatial patterns of microbial communities, spatio-temporal dynamics of these communities still remain largely unexplored. Here we investigate spatio-temporal variability of both bacterial and eukaryotic soil microbial communities at local and intercontinental scales. We compare how temporal variation in community composition scales with spatial variation in community composition, and explore the extent to which bacteria, protists, fungi and metazoa have similar patterns of temporal community dynamics. All soil microbial groups displayed a strong correlation between spatial distance and community dissimilarity, which was related to the ratio of organism to sample size. Temporal changes were variable, ranging from equal to local between-sample variation, to as large as that between communities several thousand kilometres apart. Moreover, significant correlations were found between bacterial and protist communities, as well as between protist and fungal communities, indicating that these microbial groups change in tandem, potentially driven by interactions between them. We conclude that temporal variation can be considerable in soil microbial communities, and that future studies need to consider temporal variation in order to reliably capture all drivers of soil microbiome changes.


This article reports a method for regulating the internal forces during in-hand manipulation of an unknown shaped object with soft robotic fingers. The internal forces ensure that the object does not move between the robotic fingers, thus improving the grip. It is shown that if soft fingers show bounded conformity and the finger–object interface have bounded relative slip, then the relative angular velocity between the object and the fingertip coordinate frame in contact is bounded. Detailed derivation of the proof is presented. The proof is later used to define a new metric of relative slip. The metric is used to design a sliding mode control algorithm that results in an efficient grip, which is robust toward uncertainty in object shape. The robotic fingers are assumed to be under virtual rigidity constraint, that is, the distance between the fingertips do not change. The control algorithm is attractive as it skirts requirement of information of the shape of the object or to solve optimization problems. The grip with the robust control algorithm is shown to be finite-time stable through Lyapunov's method. The methodology is demonstrated using simulations.


BACKGROUND
While caring for critically ill and terminal patients can elicit grief symptoms in health care professionals, few studies have examined oncologists' grief over patient loss using a qualitative approach to inquiry.

OBJECTIVES
To explore what makes patient loss difficult for oncologists and to explore the context in which these losses were occurring.

METHOD
Twenty oncologists were interviewed at three oncology centers in Canada about their experiences of grief over patient loss. Exclusion criteria included never having lost a patient in their care and being unable to speak English. Data was analyzed using the grounded theory method.

RESULTS
Oncologists found patient loss particularly difficult for relational reasons including instances where they felt close to patients and their families, when they had a transference to the patient, when patients died young, when they had long-term patients, and when deaths were unexpected. Contextual reasons included when patients and their families were unprepared for death, had unrealistic expectations about cure, when excessive treatments were perceived to be used, when physicians were blamed for the loss, or when families were chaotic or had high needs. Findings further revealed that these losses were occurring within a physician culture that had a stigma around death and dying, viewed emotion as weakness, was focused on cure, and was gendered.

CONCLUSIONS
Effective interventions to help oncologists cope with grief must identify the expectation gaps between physicians and patients when it comes to end-of-life care.


Although orbital forcing is commonly proposed as the driver of ancient sedimentary rhythms, the lack of adequate independent time control (radio isotopic data) to calibrate these cycles has stood as a major challenge to evaluation of the hypothesis. Here I apply a new statistical approach to evaluate cyclicity in two historically important rhythmic units for which orbital forcing has been proposed: the Triassic Latemar Limestone (Dolomites, Italy) and the Eocene Green River Formation (Wyoming, USA). A major advance of the new method is its explicit evaluation of the null hypothesis of no orbital signal. The null hypothesis can be rejected with a high degree of confi dence in the Latemar Limestone (probability <0.30%) and Green River Formation (probability <0.07%). The analyses also resolve controversies about the specifi c orbital calibrations at each site. Both data series reveal the expected precession, obliquity, and eccentricity orbital components, and yield astrochronologies that are consistent with proposed radio isotopic based time scales.


Recent statistics suggest an increased number of natural disasters around the world with climate change and global warming believed to be the main cause, thus resulting in more floods, gales, droughts and infectious diseases. Although the number of fatalities has reduced since the start of the twentieth century, the number of affected people requiring an immediate and efficient healthcare service, which was not always available, has remarkably increased. The frequent discontinuity of medical services during major disasters encouraged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to appeal not to let hospitals be victims of emergencies and it launched a global campaign, Hospitals Safe from Disasters. Literature reveals that the resilience of healthcare facilities depends on many internal and external factors. The problem does not only relate to developing countries and the events of recent years have demonstrated the fragility of the United Kingdom (UK) healthcare infrastructure. For example: the 2005 Carlisle floods affected all emergency authorities (i.e. fire, police and health establishments); the 2007 Summer Flooding resulted in hospitals being isolated and even evacuated; and the long periods of snow at the start of 2010 added another type of problem that needs more effective emergency planning. This paper aims to: explore UK healthcare resilience strategies, define gaps and provide suggestions based on international best practice. The results show that despite the "robust" emergency planning in the UK, many issues could be avoided if international experience was reviewed carefully.


The thesis contains five chapters (including three empirical chapters), which attempt
to further our knowledge of the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and
performance. The thesis attempts to answer questions related to the possible negative effects
that self-efficacy can have on subsequent performance by considering the limitations of
previous research (e.g., Bandura & Lock, 2003; Vancouver, Thompson, Tischner, & Putka,
2002; Vancouver, Thompson, & Williams, 2001).
Chapter 1 provides a general conceptual overview of the self-confidence and selfefficacy
literature, the majority of which has typically supported the positive relationship
between efficacy beliefs and performance in a range of settings. The chapter then provides a
detailed review of how and when self-efficacy may be negatively related to subsequent
performance. Finally, the limitations and future directions that are offered form the basis of
the ensuing three empirical chapters.
Chapter 2 addresses the limitation that previous tests of the reciprocal relationship
between self-efficacy and performance tend to be of short duration (i.e., approx. 8–10 trials).
This short duration may limit the mastery experiences that are an important source of selfefficacy
beliefs. This chapter explores the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and
performance in a longitudinal golf putting study where participants complete 40 trials of 20
putts each (800 putts in total). The results supported the positive effects of self-efficacy on
performance in only one of the four putting sessions, where self-efficacy had a significant
albeit weak positive reciprocal relationship with putting performance.
Chapter 3 explores the criticism that mundane tasks (or tasks that remain static
throughout testing) generally do not vary or intrude on attentional focus (Bandura & Locke,
2003). Two studies were conducted to examine the reciprocal relationship between selfefficacy
and performance using a complex task (car racing simulation). Participants were required to learn to race on a difficult computer racing track across trials where performance
was assessed in relation to improvement on the preceding lap time (Study 1) and in relation to
a baseline time (Study 2). The results supported the positive reciprocal effects of self-efficacy
on performance over time (Bandura, 1997).
Chapter 4 reports a golf putting study which examined the effects of feedback on the
reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and performance. Previous tests of the
reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and performance tend to ignore previous
performances in the measurement of self-efficacy. Consequently, important information
regarding previous performances may be ignored. The current test provides a performance
diary where participants have access to all previous performance results, upon which they can
base their subsequent self-efficacy beliefs. Again, support was shown for the positive
reciprocal effects of self-efficacy on performance (Bandura, 1997).
Chapter 5 provides a summary and integrated discussion of these findings.
Furthermore, methodological and conceptual limitations, implications, and future research
directions for the study of the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and performance
are discussed.


Until now, mortality and spreading mechanisms of influenza pandemics have been studied only for the 1918, 1957, and 1968 pandemics; none have concerned the 19th century. Herein, we examined the 1889 "Russian" pandemic. Clinical attack rates were retrieved for 408 geographic entities in 14 European countries and in the United States. Case fatality ratios were estimated from datasets in the French, British and German armies, and morbidity and mortality records of Swiss cities. Weekly all-cause mortality was analyzed in 96 European and American cities. The pandemic spread rapidly, taking only 4 months to circumnavigate the planet, peaking in the United States 70 days after the original peak in St. Petersburg. The median and interquartile range of clinical attack rates was 60% (45–70%). The case fatality ratios ranged from 0.1% to 0.28%, which is comparable to those of 1957 and 1968, and 10-fold lower than in 1918. The median basic reproduction number (R0 ) was 2.1, which is comparable to the values found for the other pandemics, despite the different viruses and contact networks. R0 values varied widely from one city to another, and only a small minority of those values was within the range in which modelers' mitigation scenarios predicted effectiveness. The 1889 and 1918 R0 correlated for the subset of cities for which both values were available. Social and geographic factors probably shape the local R0 , and they could be identified to design optimal mitigation scenarios tailored to each city.


Recently, as never before, intelligence operations have come under international humanitarian law. The Supreme Court has handed down the Hamdan and Boumediene decisions; President Obama has required the CIA and other interrogators to abide by Geneva Conventions Common Article 3 standards for all interrogations; district courts have declared stringent law of war criteria for overseas detentions; the Executive has applied the laws of war to terrorist targeting; and the private groups which have initiated this litigation, and pressed for these changes, continue to work for even more reform. This paper addresses the roots and effects of such changes. It begins by defining its key term - legal cosmopolitanism - with reference to a wide variety of legal materials, from Eric Posner, the European Court of Human Rights, and others. The paper attempts to illuminate that term's core parts: a belief in an expanded United States demos, and preference for judicial over political power. The paper then continues with a survey of intelligence law. It illuminates the assumptions of a limited demos and unfettered executive that have until recently underlay intelligence law domestically, and goes on to establish that, in the long history of intelligence, no international law standard has heretofore been successfully applied to these operations. Thus legal cosmopolitanism and intelligence seem opposed, one attempting to expand the demos, with the other depending to some extent on limiting the demos. Nevertheless, recent executive and judicial actions affecting intelligence law have displayed strong and recognizable cosmopolitan underpinnings. The aforementioned executive orders, district court decisions, and policy positions reinforce this point, as a thorough survey of them reveals. Moreover, the history of similar legal initiatives in the uniformed military and elsewhere indicates that United States intelligence agencies will likely instantiate changes beyond even what the executive and courts require. Finally, the paper will conclude by suggesting that we view these changes - and the legal revolution they promise - skeptically. Intelligence has always operated apart from the law. If we bring intelligence operations within the law, they may no longer be able to protect us from what lurks without.


TIP48 and TIP49 are two closely related proteins, which are highly conserved in all eukaryotes. They are crucial components of various nuclear complexes involved in transcription activation, DNA repair, and snoRNP accumulation and trafficking, but the function of TIP48 and TIP49 within these complexes is not understood. They are part of the AAA+ family of ATPases and show homology to the bacterial branch migration motor RuvB. However, reports about their enzymatic activities, such as DNA helicase activities, are contradictory and subject to speculations. In this study the enzymatic activities of recombinant TIP48, TIP49 and catalytically inactive mutants were examined. The proteins displayed very low ATPase activities, which were not stimulated in the presence of DNA, and no DNA helicase activities. Both TIP48 and TIP49 bound adenine nucleotides. However, whilst TIP48 formed oligomers, upon incubation with adenine nucleotides, TIP49 did not. An equimolar TIP48/TIP49 complex was assembled in solution and purified. The ATPase activity of the complex was significantly higher than the activities of the constituent proteins. Within this complex, both proteins bound and hydrolyzed ATP, as shown by using catalytically inactive mutant. The ATPase activity of the complex was not stimulated in the presence of DNA and no DNA helicase or branch migration activities were detected. The TIP48/TIP49 complex consists of two stacked hexameric rings with C6 symmetry as shown by electron microscopy. Structural differences between the top and bottom rings indicate that the complex may consist of two homohexamers. The localizations of TIP48 and TIP49 in cells were examined by immunofluoresence microscopy. Both proteins showed specific localisation to the mitotic spindle, which strongly suggests a novel role in mitosis. Surprisingly, a dramatic accumulation of TIP48 at the midbody was observed in the late stages of mitosis, which differed from that of TIP49. The observations suggest that TIP48 may have a separate function at this stage of the cell cycle.


Scholars and researchers, who investigate the extent to which spatial form and livability are mutually interconnected, stress that the built environment provides the space for the enhancement of social interactions, which in turn have a deep impact on the level of livability of cities. Namely, in relation to this relationship, to which extent the built environment of (1) the contemporary business district of 'West Bay' and (2) of the heritage site of the 'Souq Waqif' in Doha contributes to the enhancement of social interactions and/or livability has not been comparatively investigated yet. This study aims at investigating how the spatial form of the two selected precincts contributes to create a livable environment. The analysis indicates that while West Bay's contemporary built environment contributes to the image of Doha as a modern city, the traditional settlement of the Souq Waqif contributes to the formation of a sense of community, increase occasions for social interactions, enhance livability and finally consolidate cultural identity


The small commercial office market experiences a number of unique barriers to achieving substantial energy reductions. Those barriers include: 1) a lack of awareness of and access to centralized, comprehensive, cost-evaluative information about how to achieve energy targets, and 2) affordable access to energy reduction services such as engineering and auditing services. Energy efficiency tools and services currently involve higher costs on a per-square-foot or kilowatt-hour (kWh)-saved basis. Small commercial buildings are consequently underserved by the energy services market and disadvantaged in accessing the same detailed retrofit information that larger buildings realize. Meeting national and state energy goals requires whole-building integrated solutions that enable this sector to realize deep energy savings successfully and affordably. This project developed cost-effective retrofit packages of commercial, whole-building integrated systems to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) performance for California multi-story small commercial offices. The energy efficiency measure (EEM) packages target 50% energy savings over existing energy use, with costs within 10% of conventional-performance construction costs, and internal rates of return (IRR) of 5% or more. The developed packages of EEMs are validated for energy performance, as well as visual and thermal comfort, under both controlled laboratory test conditions for emerging technologies and demonstrated in an occupied small commercial building. Validated EEMs were built into an online public software platform that enables small commercial facilities to conduct whole-building retrofit assessments, relevant to their building, providing cost-evaluative feedback on EEMs and packages of measures.


Zinc is present in presynaptic nerve terminals throughout the mammalian central nervous system and likely serves as an endogenous signaling substance. However, excessive exposure to extracellular zinc can damage central neurons. After transient forebrain ischemia in rats, chelatable zinc accumulated specifically in degenerating neurons in the hippocampal hilus and CA1, as well as in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, striatum, and amygdala. This accumulation preceded neurodegeneration, which could be prevented by the intraventricular injection of a zinc chelating agent. The toxic influx of zinc may be a key mechanism underlying selective neuronal death after transient global ischemic insults.


We are developing a framework for multiscale computation which enables models at a ``microscopic'' level of description, for example Lattice Boltzmann, Monte--Carlo or Molecular Dynamics simulators, to perform modelling tasks at the ``macroscopic'' length scales of interest. The plan is to use the microscopic rules restricted to small patches of the domain, the ``teeth'', followed by interpolation to estimate macroscopic fields in the ``gaps''. The challenge begun here is to find general boundary conditions for the patches of microscopic simulators that appropriately connect the widely separated ``teeth'' to achieve high order accuracy over the macroscale. Here we start exploring the issues in the simplest case when the microscopic simulator is the quintessential example of a partial differential equation. In this case analytic solutions provide comparisons. We argue that classic high-order interpolation provides patch boundary conditions which achieve arbitrarily high-order consistency in the gap-tooth scheme, and with care are numerically stable. The high-order consistency is demonstrated on a class of linear partial differential equations in two ways: firstly, using the dynamical systems approach of holistic discretisation; and secondly, through the eigenvalues of selected numerical problems. When applied to patches of microscopic simulations these patch boundary conditions should achieve efficient macroscale simulation.


Created as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is entitled to substantial credit for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, among many other achievements in advancing civil rights. In its heyday, its commissioners were distinguished Americans, former governors, cabinet members and university presidents, and though it had no power other than the ability to issue subpoenas and publish reports, its prestige and investigative authority gave it a unique ability to document social conditions in a variety of areas over time. This five volume anthology collects the hearing transcripts and reports of the Commission dealing with voting rights, probably the Commission's signature issue. It includes transcripts of hearings in Montgomery, Alabama in 1958 and 1959, in Louisiana in 1961, and in Jackson, Mississippi in 1965, and the reports they led to, as well as the 1968 report Political Participation, and the 1981 report, The Voting Rights Act: Unfulfilled Goals. The anthology ends with reports on Florida 2000. The downloadable document is the table of contents and introduction.


Perhaps more so than in any other situation, coaching allows practitioners to quickly forge collaborative relationships with their clients and help them maximize their performance in work and in life. Brief Coaching for Lasting Solutions teaches coaches how to conduct conversations that are most useful to clients in achieving their goals within a brief period of time. The authors, two of the leading practitioners of the brief coaching method, masterfully guide readers through the steps of this process-from the initial meeting to follow-up sessions to troubleshooting setbacks-while illustrating essential skills with ample case examples.This book is written for coaches who want to reduce the time it takes to provide effective coaching while making the best use possible of resources the client brings to the table. At the same time it is written for the benefit of today's clients, so many of whom want to avoid coaching that is time-intensive and costly, and instead seek coaching that is organized, efficient, and affordable.Whether your clients seek a solution to a specific problem or strive toward a more general life goal, this invaluable resource will put you on the path to brief coaching success.


A series of functional variables, including biomass and hymenial area, were obtained for more than 4800 individual macrofungal sporocarps and correlated with a set of ecological parameters characterizing soil, climate and forest structure in four different forest types of Costa Rica. The idea behind this project was to document macrofungi over a three-year period with the objective of generating a dataset intended to document sporocarp variability and association with forest characteristics. In the context of climate change, habitat degradation and tropical forest fragmentation, studying fungi from an ecological perspective can provide crucial elements of analysis to weigh their relevance in tropical systems and to understand the potential threats to fungal populations. Our results showed high variability in the functional variables over the period of study, but suggest that such variability is partially induced by macroclimatic events in which forests with a higher percentage of mycorrhizal fungi seemed to be more sensitive. Overall, the ratio of hymenial area/biomass and pileus diameter were found to be significantly correlated with several ecological parameters in the studied forest types. However, the association of the former with ecological reproductive strategies makes such variable a good parameter to use for the monitoring of fungal dynamics in the studied tropical forests. The potential application of the latter in the framework of climate change and forest degradation studies is relevant since fungi are essential organisms in tropical ecosystems.


The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between family support and self-esteem of adolescent in prison. This research used descriptive correlative method with cross-sectional approach. Samples of this research were taken using purposive sampling. This research's sample consists of 57 adolescents in Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Kelas II B Pekanbaru. Data was collected using Ronsenberg self esteem (1995) by Ronsenberg and a questionnaire modified from Khalid (2011). And then it was analyzed using fisher's exact test. The results showed that the numbers of adolescent who have high social support and have high self esteem are 29 respondents (100%). While, the numbers of adolescent who have low social support and have high self-esteem are 27 respondents (96.4%). From the result, it can be concluded that there was no relationship between family support and self-esteem of adolescent in prison (p value = 0.491> α 0.05). Based on this study, it is suggested to the families to provide high social support to adolescents in prison, so that they can survive or adapt to the needs and experience during their training in prison, rediscover their confidence, and could be a part of community members when they are free. Keywords: Adolescent, family support, prison, self-esteem References: 79 (2003-2013)


– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors of m-learning approaches which can be used for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system training and to propose a theoretical framework for m-learning of ERP systems. , – A literature review of several theories relating to success factors for mobile learning (m-learning) and electronic learning (e-learning) are analysed and a theoretical framework of success factors for m-learning of ERP systems is proposed. Two field studies are undertaken to identify the features of e-learning and m-learning systems which users enjoyed and which related to the factors identified in the theoretical framework. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used to evaluate the acceptance, usefulness and perceived ease of use (PEOU) of the two systems evaluated in the field study, the openSAP e-learning application and the SAP Learn Now m-learning application. , – The results confirmed several of the theoretical elements identified in the framework and the m-learning system was rated positively for PEOU and perceived usefulness (PU). The findings confirmed other studies showing the importance of the quality of course content in e-learning and m-learning projects. , – The empirical study was limited to a small number of participants in higher education. However, a deeper understanding of the factors influencing m-learning for ERP systems was obtained. , – The study provides a valuable practical contribution because the framework can be used in the improved design of an ERP m-learning approach, which in turn can lead to an improvement in ERP training and education programmes and ultimately ERP project success. , – Several studies propose the use of m-learning systems. However, research related to the factors impacting on m-learning projects for ERP system training is limited. The paper presents original work and the results provide a valuable contribution to several theories of m-learning.


This paper critically reflects on the intersection of an area of global social change, namely the growth in international surrogacy, with changes in personal life that have led to the increasing visibility of male same-sex parenting. In doing this the paper will consider how global inequalities in terms of socio-economic status, gender, sexuality and power dynamics between the (predominantly western) male couples and the birth mothers, who are often from the global south, should impact the way law intervenes in these arrangements.

The number of male couples making use of surrogacy arrangements that cross national borders has been on the rise in recent years in a number of countries, which has created complex transnational legal issues. The UK's restrictive legal framework in relation to surrogacy has meant that couples are travelling to countries such as India or California where the legal frameworks facilitate their desires to have a family.

At the same time, recent legislative changes in the UK have facilitated the creation of male-led families. As a result, the courts in England & Wales, in particular, have been called upon to recognise the legal parenthood of male couples for children born as a result of surrogacy arrangements conducted abroad. This has led to a number of intractable difficulties, which the courts have had to resolve, surrounding the issue of whether valid consent has been obtained from the birth mother and whether the payment that has been made, much of which may not go to the birth mother, has been excessive in terms of UK law.

This paper will examine not only the way these difficult issues have been resolved by the courts in England & Wales but will also discuss, the relatively scant, empirical research from a number of countries on gay men who become parents through surrogacy. Through doing this, the paper aims to provoke discussion about how the law can facilitate the procreative desires and autonomy of gay men whilst also recognising the vulnerability of those involved, including the birth mother, children and male couple themselves.


Abstract Colonial tax systems have shaped state–economy relationships in the formative stages of many present-day nation-states. This article surveys the variety in colonial tax systems across thirty-four dominions, colonies, and protectorates during the heyday of British imperialism (1870–1940), focusing on a comparison of colonial tax levels. The results are assessed on the basis of different views in the literature regarding the function and impact of colonial fiscal regimes: are there clear differences between 'settler' and 'non-settler' colonies? I show that there is little evidence for the view that 'excessive taxation' has been a crucial characteristic of 'extractive institutions' in non-settler colonies because local conditions (geographic or institutional) often prevented the establishment of revenue-maximizing tax machineries. This nuances the 'extractive institutions' hypothesis and calls for a decomposition of the term 'extractive institutions' as such.


The European fracture toughness dataset was developed by ten European laboratories in order to provide an experimental data base sufficiently large to study specimen size and temperature effects on cleavage fracture toughness in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime. The initial Master Curve analysis of this data set was presented by Wallin [Eng. Fract. Mech., Vol. 69, 2002, pp. 451–481. showing a range of T0 reference values ranging from −80°C to −110°C, with −90°C as an average and a standard deviation of 6.7°C. The initial round robin data set included all scaled C(T) specimens ranging from 1/2T to 4T in scale, but more recently additional specimens have been tested using this material including deep and shallow crack bend specimens (SE(B)) [Link, R. E., unpublished], precracked Charpy size specimens [Wallin, K., Fracture, Fatigue, and Residual stress—PVP, Vol. 393, J. Pan, Ed., ASME, New York (1999)], and even some biaxially loaded cruciform specimens [Lidbury, D. P. G., Fatigue Fract. Eng. Mater. Struct., Vol. 29, 2006, pp. 829–849]. These specimens are being analyzed to develop and test constraint analysis tools essential in the application of the Master Curve method to structural applications in the commercial nuclear power industry. The present authors have also developed fracture toughness data on this material over a range of loading rates to investigate the sensitivity of the calibrated Weibull coefficients used in the constraint correction models of Gao and Dodds [Eng. Fract. Mech., Vol., 68, 2001, pp. 263–284] to material loading rates in typical nuclear pressure vessel steels. Clear material inhomogeneity characteristics have developed in this data, and it was felt that a more complete investigation of the inhomogenity in the Euro forging data set should be conducted. Following the proposal of Wallin [Eng. Fract. Mech., Vol. 71, No. 16, 2004, pp. 2392–2346], software was written to investigate whether the subject data set could best be expressed as a bimodal distribution of two combined Master Curve distributions, and this software was then applied to the various individual data sets in the European round robin data. The output of each analysis (e.g., the 2T data set) was two Tx values and a probability value pa, where Ta and Tb are the T0 values for the two constituents and pa is the probability of Ta. Using a procedure being developed as an annex to ASTM E1921 which is based on suggestions of Wallin, standard deviations of each of these quantities are estimated and used to judge if the dataset represents inhomogeneous material. The results show that several of the data sets obtained in the original round robin test program are better described by bimodal probability distributions than by the single Weibull distribution of ASTM E1921. Both single specimen datasets, and multi-temperature analysis of the various size specimens appear to show a preference for bimodal probability distributions. Additional sets of precracked Charpy size specimens were then machined from slices of the cross section and the results of testing these specimens shows that some cross sections of the Euro forging demonstrate a clear pattern of toughness variation across the forging cross section, while other cross sections show nearly constant fracture toughness with crack position. A major conclusion of this work is that making "mechanics based" conclusions comparing constraint effects using the Euro forging material is going to be more difficult given the apparent presence of material inhomogeneity in this material as demonstrated very convincingly by the data and analysis presented in this paper.


The Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) is one of the most valuable shellfish resources in the north east Atlantic ocean and considerable knowledge exists with regard to its biology and life history. During the late 1980s, populations of N. norvegicus were shown to harbour an infection by a parasite of the genus Hematodinium (Dinoflagellata: Syndinidae). Although studies on the pathology, progression and prevalence of infection have since been carried out, considerable gaps exist in our knowledge of the effects of parasitism on host life history and cycling of the parasite in the field. This study aims to develop techniques for monitoring Hematodinium infection in natural populations of N. norvegicus and to study the interactions between parasite-induced pathological changes and the life history of host animals.

This study has greatly increased our understanding of the complex relationship between Hematodinium parasites and their hosts. By linking biochemical and physiological data to effects observed in the field, it has been shown that Hematodinium infection may provide an excellent model system for studying stress responses in aquatic invertebrate hosts. The study has described in much greater detail than before the effect of parasitism on host lobsters, and has related these effects to the moult cycle and to host condition. Furthermore, it has shown how changes in host behaviour and locomotion during infection may be directly or indirectly linked to biochemical and physiological changes brought about by infection. The implications of these changes in the life history N. norvegicus for the availability of infected lobsters to be captured by trawlers and predators is discussed.


Submarine mass failures triggered by energetic forcing events such as hurricanes and earthquakes
are relatively well studied due to the potential for infrastructure damage and tsunami
generation; such failures are common on heavily sedimented margins where underconsolidated
deposits are preconditioned to fail. However, studies of seafloor sediment movement between
large events remain scarce. Using repeat bathymetric surveys of the Mississippi River Delta
Front (MRDF), we document substantial seafloor movement in absence of major hurricanes.
About 1 m/yr of deepening was observed within preexisting failures, with downslope sediment
transport on the order of 10 5 m 3 /yr. Outside failure features, seafloor depths remained stable
or showed minor (<20 cm/yr) accretion. MRDF volumetric sediment flux during hurricane-driven
mass failures is an order of magnitude greater than the annual flux during a quiescent
interval. When normalized by time, however, sediment flux during the quiescent interval (5.5 ×
10 5 m 3 /yr) was half that of hurricane-driven mass failures (1.1 × 10 6 m 3 /yr). These observations
corroborate our wave modeling results, which infer that even waves of 1 yr recurrence interval
can generate differential seafloor pressures sufficient to trigger submarine landslides; this does
not exclude the possibility of river floods also being agents of failure. These findings indicate
that sub-decadal submarine landslides are important to MRDF dynamics, comparable to the
role of major hurricanes, and observation during seemingly quiescent periods is necessary
to holistically assess sediment flux. The periodicity and prevalence of moderate-scale mass
transport documented here corroborates similar recent studies offshore other deltas globally,
indicating that highstand mass and time budgets of shelf to deep-sea sediment flux, in addition
to organic carbon and bioreactive particles, may need to be revised.


The mixed economy of the welfare state armed with the new science of public administration was going to eradicate poverty. But it hasn't and the policy influence of the idea of poverty has fallen away. I explain this by looking at the conditions under which good ideas are likely to make it to policy status. Good ideas tend to be simple to understand; resonate with people's experiences of life; have leadership and a policy community around them; fit into program and resource structures of governments and seem capable of solving immediate problems. The idea of eradicating poverty has lost these features. For example, for the past 20 years poverty ideas have been knocked off their perch by economic reform ideas. Not only are there these competing economic ideas (which are claimed to be a solution to poverty), there is also a raft of new social capital ideas making claims on policy resources. The idea of poverty has been obfuscated such that we can't agree what it means any more or how to measure it or who is responsible for tackling it. Which, of course, means no one can be held accountable. Out of the muddle I suggest a way forward to make the idea influential again. For example, having some national goals and agreeing some basic language and targets would be a good start.


This paper describes a method for detecting stress in the surface of magnetic materials, such as steels, based on the measurement of magnetic Barkhausen emissions. The paper presents a simple practical linear calibration curve that can be used to determine stress, and also provides a theoretical explanation of the reason for such a relationship. The influence of elastic tensile and compressive stresses of various magnitudes on the magnetic Barkhausen emissions was studied, with the objective of developing a technique for quantitative measurements of surface stress in machined steels. The peak amplitude of the Barkhausen emissions was found to correlate with both residual and applied stress, showing a clear rising trend for transition from compressive to tensile stress. The relationship between stress dependence of the maximum differential anhysteretic susceptibility and Barkhausen peak amplitude was observed. Plots of reciprocal values 1/χmax' and 1/VMBN max against stress showed a linear relationship providing a convenient method for detecting stress levels in near-surface regions from Barkhausen measurements.


Sixteen previously occupied temporary housing units (THUs) were studied to assess emissions of volatile organic compounds. The whole trailer emission factors were evaluated for 36 VOCs including formaldehyde. Indoor sampling was carried out in the THUs located in Purvis staging yard in Mississippi, USA. Indoor temperature and relative humidity (RH) were also measured in all the trailers during sampling. Indoor temperatures were varied (increased or decreased) in a selection of THUs using the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Indoor temperatures during sampling ranged from 14o C to 33o C, and relative humidity (RH) varied between 35percent and 74percent. Ventilation rates were increased in some trailers using bathroom fans and vents during some of the sampling events. Ventilation rates measured during some a selection of sampling events varied from 0.14 to 4.3 h-1. Steady state indoor formaldehyde concentrations ranged from 10 mu g-m-3 to 1000 mu g-m-3. The formaldehyde concentrations in the trailers were of toxicological significance. The effects of temperature, humidity and ventilation rates were also studied. A linear regression model was built using log of percentage relative humidity, inverse of temperature (in K-1), and inverse log ACH as continuous independent variables, trailer manufacturer as a categorical independent variable, and log of the chemical emission factors as the dependent variable. The coefficients of inverse temperature, log relative humidity, log inverse ACH with log emission factor were found to be statistically significant for all the samples at the 95percent confidence level. The regression model was found to explain about 84percent of the variation in the dependent variable. Most VOC concentrations measured indoors in the Purvis THUs were mostly found to be below values reported in earlier studies by Maddalena et al.,1,2 Hodgson et al.,3 and Hippelein4. Emissions of TMPB-DIB (a plasticizer found in vinyl products) were found to be higher than values reported in comparable housing by Hodgson et al.,3. Emissions of phenol were also found to be slightly higher than values reported in earlier studies1,2,3. This study can assist in retrospective formaldehyde exposure assessments of THUs where estimates of the occupants indoor formaldehyde exposures are needed.


Abstract Questionnaire surveys were conducted from July 1st • to August 15th, 2012 in forests near Gołdap, Białowieża, Pisz, Kraśnik, Warsaw and Zakopane with 335 respondents - 146 residents (43.6%) and 189 tourists (56.4%). The respondents declared that they visit forests throughout the year for various purposes, most often with family or friends and most frequently for the recreational activity of walking. They typically spend about three hours in the forest during a single visit. Respondents perceived the most important functions of the forest as a place where plants and animals live, as well as a place for recreation. In their view, the state budget should be a source of co-financing the recreational management of the forest. On1y a small number of respondents (27.5%) would be willing to allocate a portion of their income for recreational forest management. According to the respondents, the most important elements needed in the forest to improve its quality for tourism are information signs and litter bins. Respondents perceive the greatest threats to the forest from tourism to be vandalism, automobiles driving into the forest and wildlife disturbance, whereas the greatest threats to tourists were reported to be biting and stinging animals (snakes, ticks and mosquitoes) and the possibility of getting lost. Respondents indicated clean air, peace and quiet, as well as the ability to harvest wild fruits, plants and mushrooms as the greatest advantages of using the forest for recreation. A large proportion of respondents admitted that they would like to use the services of professional foresters, especially for nature walks and health related purposes, as well as to educate children and youth about nature and the forest.


In high-speed switches the input queued (IQ) architecture is very popular due to its low memory-bandwidth requirement compared to the output queued (OQ) switch architecture, which is extremely desirable in terms of performance but requires very high memory-bandwidth. In the past decade researchers and industry people have been trying hard to find good scheduling algorithm for IQ switches. The two main performance criteria for a scheduling algorithm are: (i) throughput, and (ii) delay. There has been a lot of research done to find throughput of scheduling algorithms, but a little has been known about delay performance of algorithms. This paper mainly studies the delay properties of a class of scheduling algorithms known as maximal matching algorithms. It has been known that maximum weight matching (MWM) scheduling algorithm provides the maximum possible throughput, also denoted as 100% throughput [Tassiulas, L., et al., Dec. 1993], [McKneown, N., et al., March 1996], [Dai, J., et al., March 2000]. The delay bounds for MWM algorithm, and a suite of approximations of MWM algorithm, are known under Bernoulli i.i.d. traffic. Unfortunately there are two problems: (i) MWM and its approximations are not implementable, and (ii) delay bounds are very weak compared to the known theoretical lower bounds that can be obtained in terms of performance of an OQ switch. On the other end of spectrum lies simple maximal matching algorithm like iSLIP [McKeown, N., April 1999], which is implemented in commercially available routers. In [Dai, J., et al., March 2000] it was shown that all maximal matching scheduling algorithms are stable at speedup of 2. But nothing is known about their delay performance. In this paper, we obtain bounds on all maximal matching scheduling algorithm running at speedup 2 when traffic is Bernoulli i.i.d. Interestingly, these bounds match the theoretical lower bound very closely and much better than the bounds on MWM. In particular, we show that any CIOQ switch running at speedup 2 with maximal matching schedule as at most 5 times longer queue-sizes on average compared to the OQ switch under Bernolli i.i.d. traffic. This suggests that under assumption of traffic being independent enough, no switch can do better than a simple maximal matching algorithm running at speedup 2. This provides the first theoretical support to "iSLIP can provide QoS". We would like to note that any IQ switch architecture that needs to sup- port OQ switch must have speedup 2 as shown in [Chuang, S.-T., et al., 1999], [Prabhakar, P., et al., 1999]. The algorithms proposed in [Chuang, S.-T., et al., 1999], [Prabhakar, P., et al., 1999] are very complex compared to algorithms like !SLIP.