[Abridged] Whether technological societies remain small and planet-bound like our own, or ultimately span across galaxies is an open question in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Societies that engineer on a galactic scale are classified as Type III on Kardashev's scale. I argue that Type III societies can take the form of blackboxes, entire galaxies veiled in an opaque screen. A blackbox has a temperature that is just above that of the cosmic microwave background. The screen can be made from artificial dust pervading the galaxy. I show that there is enough material in galaxies to build blackboxes if the dust is fashioned into dipole antennas. The thermal emission of a blackbox makes it a bright microwave source. I examine the Planck Catalog of Compact Sources to constrain the abundance of blackboxes. None of the 100 GHz sources has the spectrum expected of a blackbox. The null result rules out shrouded galaxy clusters out to z ~ 1 and shrouded Milky Ways out to (comoving) 700 Mpc. The reach of the results includes 3 million galaxies containing an estimated 300 quadrillion terrestrial planets, as well as tens of thousands of galaxy clusters. Combined with the null results from other searches for Type III societies, I conclude that they are so rare that they basically do not exist within the observable Universe. A hypothesis of "Cosmic Pessimism" is discussed, in which we are alone, our long-term chances for survival are slim, and if we do survive, our future history will be checkered. Our loneliness is suggested by the lack of Type III societies. I discuss the remaining forms of Type III societies not yet well constrained by observation. I argue that the ease of building blackboxes on planetary and Solar System scales may lead, within a few centuries, to environmental catastrophes vastly more devastating than anything we are doing now, boding ill for us.


The findings of an exploratory survey related to students' perceptions of factors, including accent and pronunciation, influencing their learning were presented. Data were collected from students through a self-administered questionnaire at one Southeastern University. A big majority (82.4%) of the respondents indicated that instructors' "knowledge of subject" is very important and extremely important in classroom learning. "Accent" and "pronunciation of the instructor", however, were rated by 42.9% and 48% of the respondents, respectively, as very important and extremely important. Furthermore, 29.7% of the respondents agreed with the statement "Foreign accent of a faculty does not affect my ability to learn". The limitations of this exploratory research and strategies for faculty and students were discussed. Introduction Every human who speaks a language has an accent, and every human who listens to others talk perceives an accent. This is true for both regional accents within the same language group, and for foreign accents. Regional accent problem could exist when, for example, an instructor from Northeast teaches at a university in the South and vice versa. However, this is not likely to be recognized as a problem by students, because the type of accent differences does not obscure meaning as they do with mother tongue interference (Marvasti, 2005). Researchers generally agree that the vast majority of adults who learn a second language will speak with an accent (Scovel, 1988, and 2000). In a comprehensive review of the critical period literature, Long (1990) suggested that nearly all individuals who start learning after the age of 12 have a detectable accent. Munro (2005) defines Foreign-accented speech as "a non-pathological speech produced by second language users that sound noticeably different than the speech of native speakers". During the 1992-1993 school year "Open Doors" recorded that over 440,000 international students attended programs on American college and university campuses (Mathai, 1994). These students generally represent the best and brightest from their countries. In fact, as many as 25% will return to national leadership positions in education, business, science, the military or government (Mathai, 1994; Lau, 1984). Foreign students receive a disproportionately higher shares of doctorates awarded in many fields. In 1996, non-resident aliens received 23.8 percent of the doctorates in the social sciences; 26.9 percent in the life sciences; 35 percent in the physical sciences; and 48.9 percent in engineering. While numbers of internationals continue to increase each year on our campuses, fewer and fewer American students are taking classes in mathematics and sciences especially at the graduate level (Varis, 1997). This means more graduate teaching assistant positions will become available for these international students and many Ph.D.s will stay in the States and become academicians. In fact, during the 2001-2002 period, the share of foreign born faculty in colleges and universities was 24% of the total and is projected to increase (Marvasti, 2005). This paper has four objectives. First, we will try to develop a simple conceptual framework to explain the factors influencing student learning in the classroom. Second, we will examine advantages and disadvantages of having foreign-accented faculty. Thirdly, we will present the findings of an exploratory survey related to students' perceptions of factors influencing their learning, their attitudes toward learning from foreign-accented instructors, and their behaviors to deal with foreign-accented faculty's teaching to maximize their learning. Finally, strategies for faculty and students will be provided. It is, however, not our intention in this paper to evaluate the whole job performance of foreign-accented faculty in the U.S academic institutions. Background Information and A Conceptual Framework The existing literature mainly dealt with the performance of foreign teaching assistants from linguistic, presentational and cultural deficiencies perspectives. …


Polyphosphate is an inorganic polymer that can potentiate several interactions in the blood coagulation system. Blood platelets contain polyphosphate, and the secretion of platelet-derived polyphosphate has been associated with increased thrombus formation and activation of coagulation factor XII. However, the small polymer size of secreted platelet polyphosphate limits its capacity to activate factor XII in vitro. Thus, the mechanism by which platelet polyphosphate contributes to thrombus formation remains unclear. Using live-cell imaging, confocal and electron microscopy, we show that activated platelets retain polyphosphate on their cell surface. The apparent polymer size of membrane-associated polyphosphate largely exceeds that of secreted polyphosphate. Ultracentrifugation fractionation experiments revealed that membrane-associated platelet polyphosphate is condensed into insoluble spherical nanoparticles with divalent metal ions. In contrast to soluble polyphosphate, membrane-associated polyphosphate nanoparticles potently activate factor XII. Our findings identify membrane-associated polyphosphate in a nanoparticle state on the surface of activated platelets. We propose that these polyphosphate nanoparticles mechanistically link the procoagulant activity of platelets with the activation of coagulation factor XII.


Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), an attractive DNA amplification method, was developed as a valuable tool for the rapid detection of Toxoplasma gondii. In this study, species-specific LAMP primers were designed by targeting the AF146527 sequence, which was a conserved sequence of 200- to 300-fold repetitive 529 bp fragment of T.gondii. LAMP reaction system was optimized so that it could detect the minimal DNA sample such as a single tachyzoite or 10 copies of recombinant plasmid. No cross-reactivity was found when using DNA from other parasites as templates. Subsequently, a total of 200 human blood samples were directly investigated by two diagnostic methods, LAMP and conventional PCR. Fourteen of 200 (7%) samples were positive for Toxoplasma by LAMP (the primers developed in this study), whereas only 5 of 200 (2.5%) were proved positive by conventional PCR. The procedure of the LAMP assay was very simple, as the reaction would be carried out in a single tube under isothermal conditions at 64°C and the result would be read out with 1 h (as early as 35 min with loop primers). Thus, this method has the advantages of rapid amplification, simple operation, and easy detection and would be useful for rapid and reliable clinical diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis, especially in developing countries.


Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing contemporary Japanese business environment mainly in the field of strategic management and, therefore, having influence on corporate performance and its measurement in selected manufacturing companies located in Japan in respect to their key business perspectives focused on people, processes and systems, innovations, finance, social responsibility and ecology, and that in relation to ongoing economic crises and a fundamental transformation of mature societies (in particular in USA, Japan and Western Europe). Design/methodology/approach - – The research involved assembling key academic and other literature on the subject of trends in strategic management and performance measurement in Japan as well as semi-structured interviews with managers within manufacturing companies located in Japan that deal with performance measurement, finance, strategic management, etc. and a review of various internal management reports. Findings - – The research has been useful in identifying companies that respond to current changes and trends the fastest and the most effective. Research limitations/implications - – Among the limitations of the conclusions belongs rather a small sample of companies involved in the research. Moreover, the respondents may have seen their own company more favourably than an objective outsider would have done. Originality/value - – This paper shares insights on current trends influencing Japanese business environment and how these trends are implemented, used and updated in a selected sample of companies located in Japan.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the axial movement and the angle of curve (in degrees) on fatigue of nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) ProFile rotary endodontic instruments. Ni-Ti ProFile rotary instruments (Maillefer SA, Ballaigues, Switzerland), 25 mm long in the range of ISO size 15 to 40 with two tapers (0.4 and 0.6) were evaluated. They are divided in two groups: the instruments with axial movement and those without axial movement. The system used to test the fatigue is maintained in mechanical conditions as close as possible to the clinical situation. The axial movement is in the order of 2 mm in corono-apical direction with a frequency of 1 Hz. The concave radii incorporating a notched V-form for guiding the instruments were: 5; 7,5 and 10 mm. The rotary system is mounted on an electric handpiece and rotated at 350 rpm speed as recommended by the manufacturers. The instruments are rotated until their separation, and the time, in seconds, is recorded. Statistical evaluation is undertaken using a two-way t-test to identify significant differences between variables in the study (p <0.05). We found significant statistical difference (p<0.05) between Ni-Ti engine drive ProFile instruments incorporating an axial movement and the instruments without axial movement with the same radius of curvature, size and taper.The incorporation of the axial movement increases significantly the life-span of the ProFile rotary instruments. This should reduce the risk of the instrument separation during the endodontic treatment.


This paper presents the first rigorous impact evaluation of a shoreline stabilization program in Barbados and attempts to assess whether shoreline stabilization investments indeed have beneficial effects on medium-term economic growth in Small Island Developing States through stimulating tourism demand and real estate development. The analysis relies on a carefully designed geographic information systems (GIS) dataset, which comprises extensive panel data from Barbados' touristic West and South Coasts on key infrastructure, beach characteristics, and real estate activity, as well as remotely-sensed luminosity data as a proxy of economic growth. The synthetic control method is employed to construct a counterfactual from a combination of all control beach sites and subsequently estimate program impact on per capita luminosity as a proxy for GDP p.c.. Results indicate that even in the first three years after treatment, economic effects are positive and indicate a strong positive trend. This suggests that shoreline stabilization works may not only help preserve fragile ecological conditions, but further lead to sustainable growth in the local economy.


One of the greatest environmental issues related to the development of the mining activity is the generation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). This e�uent generated by active and abandoned mines in Peru produces multiple discussions about the role of the industry for a sustainable development. Many methods have been developed for AMD treatment, being wetlands a good option for heavy metal removal. In this sense, removal of heavy metal by using laboratory constructed wetlands with Phragmites Australis was studied. During a 9-day period the variation of different physicochemical parameters and heavy metals concentrations was recorded. The pH decreased to a constant value of 8.24 after the sixth day. The electrical conductivity presented a slight variation from 1 to 1.33 µS cm-1 on the ninth day. Moreover, �uctuating values of Dissolved Oxygen and Turbidity were observed. A reduction between 69% and 93% of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) was registered. Cu concentration was reduced in 68% and 87%; Zn concentrations dropped in 53% and 95%; and Pb was reduced in 20% and 55%. It was concluded that Phragmites Australis can be an alternative in the treatment of the contaminants produced by AMD.


AIMS
Theoretically, bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs) may provide superior long-term results compared with permanent metallic drug-eluting stents (DESs). However, whether BVSs are as safe and effective as metallic DESs prior to complete bioresorption is unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS
ABSORB Japan was a single-blind, multicentre, active-controlled, randomized trial designed to support regulatory approval of the Absorb BVS in Japan. Eligible patients with one or two de novo lesions in different epicardial vessels were randomized at 38 Japanese sites in a 2:1 ratio to Absorb BVS vs. cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-EESs). The primary endpoint was target lesion failure [TLF: a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction attributable to target vessel, or ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR)] at 12 months, powered for non-inferiority. The major secondary endpoint was angiographic in-segment late lumen loss (LLL) at 13 months. A total of 400 patients were randomized to BVSs (266 patients and 275 lesions) or CoCr-EESs (134 patients and 137 lesions). TLF through 12 months was 4.2% with BVSs and 3.8% with CoCr-EESs [difference (upper one-sided 95% confidence limit) = 0.39% (3.95%); Pnon-inferiority < 0.0001]. Definite/probable stent/scaffold thrombosis at 12 months occurred in 1.5% of the patients with both devices (P = 1.0), and ID-TLR for restenosis was infrequent (1.1% with BVSs and 1.5% with CoCr-EESs, P = 1.0). With 96.0% angiographic follow-up, in-segment LLL at 13 months was 0.13 ± 0.30 mm with BVSs and 0.12 ± 0.32 mm with CoCr-EESs [difference (upper one-sided 95% confidence limit) = 0.01 (0.07); Pnon-inferiority < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION
In the ABSORB Japan randomized trial, 12-month clinical and 13-month angiographic outcomes of BVSs were comparable to CoCr-EESs.

CLINICAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01844284.


An account is presented of work undertaken relating to a cyanobacterial bloom which occurs during the late Spring and Summer months in the Albert Dock at Preston in Lancashire. The causal organism has been identified as P1anktothrix (Oscillatoria) agardhii. Attempts at the purification of the causal organism from dock samples were only partially successful due to the lack of time available.
However, the maintenance of crude cultures and axenic cultures acquired from culture collections was successfully achieved using Jaworski's Medium. MALDI TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption I tonisation Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry) was used to obtain characteristic mass spectral fingerprints of the strains analysed, which were fed into databases. The results show that it is possible to discriminate between strains of the same species and to show the relationship between the causal organism and the other available axenic cultures of Planktothrix species. A dendrogram, produced by comparing of mass spectral fingerprints of the strains is presented, which shows that two groups could be discriminated using MALDI TOF MS with the Preston Dock isolate being the most distantly related strain. Strains PCC 7805 and PCC 7811 are shown to be
more closely related to the CEll Windermere strain CCAP 1459/23.
A growth measuring technique is described in which a computer programme is used to measure the total filament length of this microorganism in a known volume of sample (rn/cm). The technique, which uses photographic images of filaments taken in a Neubauer haemocytometer, provides a method for measuring straight and curved filaments. The results show that the technique is a suitable and reliable assay method.
A method for estimation chlorophyll a is described. It is used to quantify the presence of cyanobacteria in samples. The results of this technique when compared to those for measuring of filament length show that there was no direct relationship between filament length and chlorophyll a content
The results of visualisation studies using fluorochromes, demonstrate the use of acridine orange (AO) and 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) to visualise cells, and the use of propidium iodide (P1) to identify viable cells. It is
suggested that AO may be used to provide information on the physiological state of filaments at the time of sampling.
These techniques were applied to assess the efficacy of a biocide preparation. A consensus of re-growth and viability experiments of biocide treated samples show that the concentration at which the stabilised biocide inhibited the growth
of Planktothrix (Osdilatoria) agardhi4 was in the range of 50-100 ppm, whilst the non-stabilised form was effective only in the 150-200 ppm range.


Supply chain analysis is the study of quantitative models that characterize various economic tradeoffs in the supply chain. The field has made significant strides in both theoretical and practical fronts. On the theoretical front, supply chain analysis inspires new research ventures that blend operations research, game theory, and microeconomics. These ventures result in an unprecedented amalgamation of prescriptive, descriptive, and predictive models characteristic of each subfield. On the practical front, supply chain analysis offers solid foundations for strategic positioning, policy setting, and decision making. Over the past two decades, not only has supply chain analysis become a strategic fo-


ABSTRACT Aim: We have recently reported that Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)-signaling pathway activiation by modified self-DNA depends on the structural characteristics of DNA sequences. However, no concrete data exists on how the characteristics of TLR9 activating self-DNA fragments influence the viability, proliferation, death, and differentiation of cancer cells, which all may have important immunobiologic consequences in inflammatory and tumorous colonic disorders. To understand the biologic role of modified self-DNA bound to TLR9, we assayed its effect on cell viability, proliferation, death and differentiation in HT29 colon cancer cells. Methods: Self-DNA from HT29 cells was extracted and artificially fragmented (with ultrasonic fragmentation) and/or hypermethylated (using CpG methyltransferase M.SssI). HT29 cells were then incubated separately with type-1 (normally methylated/non-fragmented), type-2 (normally methylated/fragmented), type-3 (hypermethylated/non-fragmented), or type-4 (hypermethylated/fragmented) self-DNAs for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell viability was examined by MTT-assay, cell proliferation by TUNEL method, cell proliferation by Ki-67 assay, while cell differentiation by pancytokeratin (CK) immunohistochemistry. Results: Treatments with type-1, -3 and -4 DNA sequences resulted in remarkable decrease of cell viability and proliferation, and increase of apoptosis after 72h. The effects of type-3 DNA incubation were the most significant. Type-2 DNA treatment resulted in a slight decrease of cell viability after 48h, but at 72h all parameter of cell kinetics were similar to that of control cells. Regarding cell differentiation, CK expression was only increased after type-3 DNA treatment. Conclusions: Activation of TLR9-signaling pathways by modified self-DNA sequences may display significant effects on cell kinetic parameters like viability, proliferation or death, moreover may influence cell differentiation, which may have clinical importance in the future. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


Information Systems (IS) programs in Higher Education (HE) institutions have a long tradition of enabling graduates to develop the appropriate skills needed for their future careers. Nevertheless, previous studies suggest that IS curricula are not always wellaligned with industry/business needs. At the same time, universities increasingly have to deal with issues concerning the quality of their degrees and whether students earning the degrees obtain high-quality employment with good employers. This study thus sets out to achieve two objectives: 1) to better re-align the IS programs with business needs/standard work practice and 2) to provide students with an opportunity to earn a professional practitioner certification prior to their graduation. We present an approach to, and an example of, aligning a Master's Business Analysis curriculum with practitioner certification of a key professional body for the IS industry. The approach to alignment was grounded by theory in teaching and learning in HE. We provide a detailed description of the process of embedding and aligning the business analysis certification objectives within the course curriculum, which can be replicated by IS educators in other universities. Our results show a positive outcome for the HE institution and professional body partnership. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the wider implications for IS curricula design.


ABSTRACT Developing interpretive breakpoints for any given organism-drug combination requires integration of the MIC distribution, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, and the relationship between the in vitro activity and outcome from both in vivo and clinical studies. Using data generated by standardized broth microdilution and disk diffusion test methods, the Antifungal Susceptibility Subcommittee of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute has now proposed interpretive breakpoints for voriconazole and Candida species. The MIC distribution for voriconazole was determined using a collection of 8,702 clinical isolates. The overall MIC90 was 0.25 μg/ml and 99% of the isolates were inhibited at ≤1 μg/ml of voriconazole. Similar results were obtained for 1,681 Candida isolates (16 species) from the phase III clinical trials. Analysis of the available data for 249 patients from six phase III voriconazole clinical trials demonstrated a statistically significant correlation (P = 0.021) between MIC and investigator end-of-treatment assessment of outcome. Consistent with parallel pharmacodynamic analyses, these data support the following MIC breakpoints for voriconazole and Candida species: susceptible (S), ≤1 μg/ml; susceptible dose dependent (SDD), 2 μg/ml; and resistant (R), ≥4 μg/ml. The corresponding disk test breakpoints are as follows: S, ≥17 mm; SDD, 14 to 16 mm; and R, ≤13 mm.


The paper aims to design an assessment system to monitor and evaluate safety parameters and administrative efforts with the purpose to increase safety in municipalities. The safety monitoring system considered is to be the most important tool for creation and development of safe communities in Lithuania. Several methods were applied to achieve this purpose. In order to determine the role of local government in ensuring the safety of people, property and environment at the local level of a meta-analysis of research reports, the Lithuanian national legislation, strategic planning documents of the state and local government were carried out. Analysis of statistical data, structural analysis, comparative analysis and synthesis methods were used while investigating the areas of safety uncertainty, risk groups, identifying safety risk factors, determining their relationship, and creating a safe community assessment system. A safe community assessment system, which consists of two types of criteria, has been elaborated. The assessment system is based on the multi-level criteria for safety monitoring and the multi-level criteria for the evaluation of municipal activities in the field of building safety. Links between the criteria, peculiarities of their application and advantages in the process of safe community creation and development are analyzed. Design and implementation of the safe community assessment system is one of the most important stages to implement the idea of safe communities. The proposed system integrates a variety of risk areas, the safety achievement criteria are linked to the criteria used in the strategic planning. Periodic assessment of the safety situation using the proposed system ensures possibility to monitor current local safety conditions and assess the changes and the trends. A safe community assessment system is proposed to be used as a tool to unified municipalities safety comprehensiveness and compare safety level in different municipalities thus increasing motivation to enhance efforts to create a safer environment for the public and to exchange good practices in this field. The proposed safety assessment system can help local authorities identify priorities for strengthening local safety; to warn about the critical factors of insecurity; can be useful to identify the highest risk groups and places, evaluate the administrative efforts taken by local government to influence the safety situation in a municipality; considered to be convenient to monitor and analyze changes in the field of ensuring safety of people, property and environment. The community safety assessment system is created taking into account the existing practice of statistical information monitoring. Since municipalities are not the owner of statistical information they have no impact on statistical practice. This practice fixes freedom of creating multi-criteria assessment system.


Abstract: Given that nouns rarely appear in isolation in French, infants acquiring the language must often retrieve the underlying representation of vowel-initial lexical forms from liaison contexts that provide conflicting information about the initial phoneme. Given this ambiguity, how do learners represent these nouns in their lexicons, and how do these representations change as learners' knowledge of liaison and the lexicon become more adult-like? To explore this question, we analyze the types of errors children make, in both naturalistic and elicited speech, and how these are affected by input frequency. In doing so, we evaluate two major proposals for how children's early representations of liaison develop. The first model, couched in a constructionist framework, predicts relatively late mastery of liaison (age five or older) and heavy dependence on the contexts in which a particular noun appears in the input. The second model takes an approach to liaison development that integrates it more closely with general phonological development and predicts relatively early mastery (by age three). The results of a corpus study reveal that by age three children are correctly producing liaison in the nominal domain and that their production errors are consistent with a phonological model of liaison acquisition. An elicitation task demonstrates that three-year-olds succeed at learning and correctly apply their knowledge of liaison to new nouns following brief exposure, though their productions continue to be influenced by nouns' input distributions. Taken together, our findings suggest that by age three children are well on their way to adult-like representations of liaison. A phonologically based model, incorporating the effect of distributional context on early errors, provides a better overall fit to the data we present.*


The objective of this investigation is to study the effect of methods of preparation and concentration of gum on the compressional and mechanical properties of Okra gum matrix. The compressional behavior of Okra gum matrices prepared by direct compression and wet granulations is analyzed using density measurements, Heckel and Kawakita analysis while the mechanical properties of the formulations were assessed using crushing strength (CS) and friability (FR) as well as CSFR ratio. Formulations prepared by direct compression had lower Pk values than those prepared by wet granulation while there was no significant difference between Py values of formulations prepared by direct compression and wet granulations. Therefore, formulations prepared by direct compression underwent plastic deformation more easily and rapidly than those prepared by wet granulation. The results show that DB values increased with decrease in concentration of the gum and granules undergo higher degree of fragmentation than powders. Formulations containing 90% w/w Okra gum exhibited the highest amount of total plastic deformation and gave the best packing. Tablets prepared by direct compression showed lower bond strength and higher friability values than those prepared by wet granulations. The crushing strength generally decreases with a decrease in the concentration of the gum while there was an inverse relationship between friability and gum concentration. CSFR decreases with a decrease in gum concentration and tablets prepared by wet granulations showed significantly higher values of CSFR (p < 0.001) than those prepared by direct compression. The results suggest that the concentration of gum and the method of preparation of materials for compression are critical factors in the formulation of Okra gum matrices with acceptable compressional and mechanical properties.


We report a facile technique of blending a conjugated polymer thieno[3,4-b]thiophene/benzodithiophene (PTB7):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM[70]) active materials with a conjugated interfacial modification polymer poly[(9,9-bis(3′-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) to simplify the coating process and improve the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cell (PSC) performance. The reason for and result of PFN self-organization via a spontaneous vertical delamination onto the ITO surface were investigated by charge transfer state, optical modelling based on transfer matrix formalism, surface energy measurement, scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy and impedance spectroscopy analysis in conjunction with atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The relaxed charge transfer state demonstrates that PFN doping has a negligible impact on the donor:acceptor heterojunction interface. The optical simulation of device structures indicates that doping PFN into a BHJ has nearly no influence on the photon absorption profile of the active layer. Very encouraging device performance was achieved in the one-step coating PFN:BHJ PSC with ITO as the cathode, which is comparable to that of the two-step coating PSC. Moreover, for ITO-free inverted PSCs with PEDOT:PSS as the incident light top-electrode, decent device performance can also be obtained, demonstrating the remarkable universality through this facile strategy.


Background: Atherosclerosis has been considered as the disease of intima with the role of tunica adventitia so far neglected. Current evidence shows that adventitia, and particularly the vasa vasora (VV) reacts to the process of atherogenesis. Objective: The study was aimed to calculate the VV density in adventitia and to correlate it with intimamedia thickness in aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted in Army Medical College Rawalpindi. Samples of vessels were obtained from twenty adult NZW rabbits fed normal (group A) or 2% high-cholesterol (group B) diet for 6 weeks (n=10/group). Aortic sections were taken from each part (ascending, arch, descending thoracic and abdominal) of every aorta. Light microscopic cross sectional analysis was performed in H&E stained slides. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and adventitial VV density were calculated and their correlation was investigated in each part of aorta. Results: A total of 80 cross sections were analyzed. Mean±SE IMT and adventitial VV density was significantly increased in ascending, arch, and descending thoracic parts of group B versus their equivalent aortic parts in group A. But, there was an insignificant difference of means regarding VV density of abdominal aorta between both groups, despite a significant increase of IMT in group B. A very strong positive correlation was observed between the adventitial VV density and IMT in each aortic part of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Conclusion: The present study showed that increased IMT is strongly associated with enhanced adventitial VV density in each aortic part of cholesterol-fed rabbits.


This article summarizes a case history of imaging under a GOM salt mass. Our common-reflection-angle migration (CRAM) algorithm is a multipath ray-based imaging method that generates either common-offset or common-reflection-angle volumes. Results from common-reflection-angle volumes imaged with CRAM are compared with full-stack results for Kirchhoff (single path ray-based imaging) and wave-equation migration (WEM). The main conclusion is that, for shallow dip reflectors under steeply dipping salt, signal/noise is significantly improved by splitting the output data into common-reflection-angle volumes. This is efficiently accomplished using CRAM.


Suit/ensemble of maize-yellow linen(?) (Possibly blend), consisting of:

A) Vest/Sleeveless jacket. Waist-length or slightly lower. Front opening, slightly off-center to left side, with three faux thick, circular, "nobbly", chunky buttons in false buttonholes on plaquet, secured with 6 hidden cloth-covered snaps. Princess seams. Spread collar. Fully lined in yellow silk(?).

Designer's label at inside right front flap: "Geoffrey Beene".

B) Skirt. Knee-length or slightly below. Narrow, slightly A-line due to darts and fitting at narrow waistband. Two hooks and snap on waistband at left, above zipper. Front with small gathers. Slit pockets at hips. Fully lined in yellow silk(?).

Retailer's label at inside seam near hem: "Neiman-Marcus"

C) Dickey of gray to black and dark ivory silk. Triangular shape, with collar, attaches with four hidden snaps, with dress weights sewn into lower point and to space slightly below throat. Printed in a pattern of patches of grey/black hatching on the dark ivory ground.

No labels on garment.


Purpose: To evaluate the ability of macular and multifocal (mf) pattern electroretinogram (PERG) to differentiate preperimetric glaucoma (PG) and glaucoma with hemifield loss (GHL) from controls, to compare the discrimination ability of PERG and fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), and to assess the relationship between measurements. Patients and Methods: Standard automated perimetry, steady-state and transient PERG and mfPERG measurements were obtained from PG (n=14, 24 eyes), GHL (n=5, 7 eyes), and controls (n=19, 22 eyes). Circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL), full-thickness macula, and segmented macular layer thicknesses on FD-OCT were investigated. Measurements were compared using mixed effects linear models. The relationships between measurements and the diagnostic performance of each technology were assessed. Results: Compared with controls, average P50 peak time transient PERG responses were reduced in PG and GHL, whereas average latency and amplitude steady-state and mfPERG responses were abnormal only in GHL. cpRNFL and macular thickness measurements in PG and GHL differed significantly from controls. A significant relationship was found between PERG and most FD-OCT or SAP parameters. Partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed that OCT parameters, along with mfPERG and transient PERG parameters had similar ability to discriminate PG and GHL from healthy controls. Conclusions: PERG and OCT parameters may be abnormal, with significant correlations between measurements, in PG eyes. Both technologies may be useful for detection of early glaucoma.


The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope was founded in 1820, and 150 years later became the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). The author, Ian Glass, professional astronomer and science historian, has been intimately involved with the SAAO for the past 40 years and has now written a delightful and accessible book about this venerable institution. Delightful because it is generously illustrated with many photographs and drawings of the buildings, equipment and people involved. Accessible because the history is presented in a straightforward way, and the science is well explained and easy to grasp.


Isothermal frontal polymerization (IFP) is a directional polymerization that uses the Trommsdorff, or gel, effect to produce gradient materials for optical applications. When a solution of methyl methacrylate and a thermal initiator contacts a polymer seed (a small piece of polymer), a viscous region is formed in which the polymerization rate is faster because of the Trommsdorff effect. Using the optical techniques of laser line deflection (Weiner's method) and shadowgraphy along with controls, we obtained definitive experimental evidence of IFP. Moreover, we were able to measure accurately and precisely the front position and front concentration profile as a function of time by monitoring IFP systems and controls of various initiator concentrations and cure temperatures. The experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions from a model using mass-diffusion and radical polymerization kinetics. The model reproduced the decrease of the propagation time and showed an increase in the propagation velocity for an increase in the initiator concentration and/or cure temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5774–5786, 2005


UWB (ultra-wideband) is an emerging technology for short-range wireless communications, such as WPAN (wireless personal area networks). In the context of UWB (ultra-wideband) impulse radio, one of the crucial challenges remains the acquisition of synchronization in terms of time, precision and number of operations. In this paper, we present a study on the acquisition time, for different code acquisition strategies, when considering the channel model adopted by IEEE 802.15.3a. Finally, we propose a simplified implementation of the acquisition algorithm based upon a coarser time frame quantization.


This bachelor thesis describes the development of vapour deposition processes for the creation
of a warm white OLED. An OLED is a layer or a stack of organic materials situated
between two electrodes, which emits light when an electric current is injected into the
device.
The thesis starts with a short introduction about the history of the OLED, its main uses
today (lightning and displays) and the disadvantages of the technology, such as lifetime,
manufacturing costs and encapsulation.
Right after the introduction, a set of basic concepts are introduced with the purpose of
facilitating the understanding of the thesis's contents. A short explanation about how a
basic OLED stack emits light after an electron and hole recombine, is followed by a list
of layers that are common to a modern OLED stack. A list of processes used during the
experiments is also provided with a description for each one of them. This part ends with
the introduction of some basic concepts about color and photometric quantities used during
the thesis to better describe the OLEDs.
Once the basic concepts have been introduced, the thesis follows by explaining the setup
of the experimental environment. To operate the evaporation machine, a couple of recipes
(sets of routines) have been developed for different purposes prior to the experiments. One
such purpose is the calculation of the tooling factor for each of the sources, a parameter
critical to the whole process to ensure that the thickness of the deposited material is the
desired one.
The main part of the thesis follows right after that. It describes the development of the
OLED stack starting with a simple, basic stack. The first OLEDs created can be greatly
improved upon by doping some of the layers to achieve better probability for electron-hole
recombination. Doping the layers led to noticeable improvements in lifetime, brightness
and efficiency. The next step in further improving the efficiency and changing the color
of the OLED to the desired one, is to dope the emitting layer. This decision again led
to many improvements related to brightness and efficiency and the discovery of possible
current drain near the edges of the OLED. By creating a mask to achieve an insulation layer
on the edges, this problem not only has been avoided but some efficiency and brightness
improvements have been noticed again.
The thesis closes with a short discussion about the results, problems encountered during
the development of the thesis and a list of suggestions on how to improve the OLED's
capabilities even further.


University students' smartphone use has recently been shown to negatively affect their academic performance. Surprisingly, research testing the empirical validity of potential mechanisms underlying this relationship is very limited. In particular, indirect effects of negative health consequences due to heavy smartphone use have never been investigated. To fill this gap, we investigate, for the first time, whether deteriorated sleep quality drives the negative impact on academic performance. To this end, we examine longitudinal data on 1,635 students at two major Belgian universities. Based on a combination of a random effects approach and seemingly unrelated regression, we find no statistically significant mediating effect of sleep quality in the relationship between smartphone use and academic performance.


The ceremonial kindling of lights each night during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah commemorates an ancient victory for religious freedom--the liberation and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE. As their diversity and beauty attest, Hanukkah lamps are singularly important as a form of ceremonial art and are among Judaism's best-loved traditional objects. This superbly illustrated book showcases more than 100 Hanukkah lamps selected from the extensive collection of The Jewish Museum in New York. The featured lamps date from the Renaissance to our own time, and were created from a wide variety of materials in virtually every part of the world, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Susan L. Braunstein provides an engaging overview of the Hanukkah lamp and discusses its origins in Jewish tradition, its many innovative forms, its enduring ritual uses, and its social context. She also includes a short informative essay about each of the wonderfully varied lamps pictured in the book.


As part of the U.S. FHWA-sponsored Detection Technology for IVHS program, ultrasonic, microwave radar, infrared laser radar, nonimaging passive infrared, video image processing with visible and infrared spectrum imagery, acoustic array, high sampling rate inductive loop, conventional inductive loop, microloop, and magnetometer detector technologies were evaluated at freeway and surface street arterial sites in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona. These states were chosen because they exhibited a wide range of climatic conditions. The criteria for selecting the detector evaluation sites included searching for roadways with high traffic density and suitable structures for mounting the overhead detectors. Approximately 5.9 Gbytes of digital and analog vehicle detection and signature data and more than 300 video tapes of the corresponding traffic flow were recorded. The detector outputs were time tagged and recorded on 88 Mbyte magnetic cartridges by using a data logger specifically designed and built for this project. Detectors with serial RS-232 outputs required interface software to be written for each unique data structure. Data analysis software was also written to convert the raw data into an easily accessible Paradox database format compatible with a Windows personal computer operating system. Traffic volume ground truth data, obtained by counting vehicles from the recorded video imagery, were compared with the counts from the detector outputs. Speed ground truth data, obtained by driving probe vehicles through the field of view of the detectors and noting their speed as measured by the vehicle's speedometer, were compared with the speed measurement from the detectors. Several types of detectors were found to satisfy current traffic management requirements. However, improved accuracies and new types of information, such as queue length and vehicle turning or erratic movements, may be required from detectors for future traffic management applications.


Extended high altitude cirrus were observed during a cruise of the German research vessel POLARSTERN by a Mobile Aerosol Raman Lidar (MARL). The clouds occurred between 8°S and 12°N along 22°W during 34 h of observations from May 30th to June 3rd 2000. The altitude, vertical and optical depth at 532 nm and 355 nm of the cloud are determined from the Lidar data, as well as depolarisation characteristics at both this wavelength. The clouds appear in an altitude around 16 km and are between 0.5 and 2 km thick. The optical depth at 532 nm lies between 0.01 an 0.1. The data of radiosondes launched aboard POLARSTERN on a daily basis allow the determination of the temperatures, humidity and airmass of the clouds. Obviously the high-altitude cirrus appear at very low temperature (<195K) in two distinct layers of purely tropospheric air separeted by wind direction and speed. This stratified character of the tropopause region makes it unlikely, that large scale upward motion is responible for the cloud formation and maintenance (Boehm, 1999, Peter, 2000, Jensen, 1999). This suggest that ice formation is unlikeley to happen and that other cloud forming mechanisms should be taken into account, like those known for polar stratospheric clouds (PSC). This is also supported by the optical properties of the particles measured by the lidar, which are distinct from those of midlatitudinal cirrus (Omar 2001).


Are the microtubule-organising centers of the different cell types of a metazoan interchangeable? If not, what are the differences between them? Do they play any role in the differentiation processes to which these cells are subjected? Nearly one hundred years of centrosome research has established the essential role of this organelle as the main microtubule-organising center of animal cells. But only now are we starting to unveil the answers to the challenging questions which are raised when the centrosome is studied within the context of a pluricellular organism. In this review we present some of the many examples which illustrate how centrosomes and microtubule organisation changes through development in Drosophila and discuss some of its implications.


A wide variety of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) detected in the environment around the world emphasize that it is imperative to develop new technologies for effective and efficient removal of PPCPs. In this article, recent advances in PPCP removal are reviewed. The objective of this work is to illuminate the ongoing development of PPCP removal technologies by adsorption, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), biological technologies, separation processes, and multiple-treatment processes. Among the current treatment options, adsorption and AOPs are two of the most promising methods for efficient removal of PPCPs. The synthesis of highly efficient absorbents and catalysts is expected to remain a focal point for future development of more effective and efficient technologies for PPCP removal.


Problems that exhibit multiple time scales arise frequently in many scientific and engineering fields. The modeling and simulation of such systems leads naturally to singular perturbation models. For systems of partial differential-algebraic equations (PDAEs) in time and one spatial dimension, the corresponding quasi-steady-state models yields a reduced set of PDAEs (slow variables), subject to a set of differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) in the spatial dimension (fast variables). In this presentation, we shall consider a particular class of one-dimensional, quasi-linear PDAEs with a separation of time scales such that (i) the slow variables are lumped (i.e., do not depend on the spatial dimension), and (ii) the hyperbolic variables in the fast subsystem have all their characteristics pointing in the same direction. Under these conditions, the quasi-steady-state model yields two decoupled subsystems, a set of DAEs in time, subject to a set of DAEs in the spatial dimension; hence the name `DAEs embedded DAEs'. There are several advantages in using the DAEs embedded DAEs approach over the conventional method of lines (MOL) for such problems. First and foremost, this approach guarantees the accuracy of the solution, in the limit of the slow model approximation validity, since rigorous error control can b e performed by numerical solvers regarding the time and space steps used in either set of differential equations. This removes the need of choosing a somewhat arbitrary discretization as it is the case with the MOL. Furthermore, the DAEs embedded DAEs approach requires solution of much smaller sets of differential equations than with the MOL approach. Therefore, not only does the proposed appr oach improve the reliability of the simulations by removing the need of initializing large sets of DAEs, but it also typically outperforms the conventional MOL in terms of computational time whenever the use of fine meshes becomes necessary. This also makes the DAEs embedded DAEs simulation approach particularly well suited for embedding within a mathematical programming formulation for optimi zation purposes. The developed approach shall be demonstrated on an application related to the start-up simulation a nd optimizaton of micro-scale chemical processes for portable power generation.


In this paper we introduce the notion of minimum-weight edge-discriminators in hypergraphs, and study their various properties. For a hypergraph $\mathcal H=(\mathcal V, \mathscr E)$, a function $\lambda: \mathcal V\rightarrow \mathbb Z^{+}\cup\{0\}$ is said to be an edge-discriminator on $\mathcal H$ if $\sum_{v\in E_i}{\lambda(v)}>0$, for all hyperedges $E_i\in \mathscr E$, and $\sum_{v\in E_i}{\lambda(v)}\ne \sum_{v\in E_j}{\lambda(v)}$, for every two distinct hyperedges $E_i, E_j \in \mathscr E$. An optimal edge-discriminator on $\mathcal H$, to be denoted by $\lambda_\mathcal H$, is an edge-discriminator on $\mathcal H$ satisfying $\sum_{v\in \mathcal V}\lambda_\mathcal H (v)=\min_\lambda\sum_{v\in \mathcal V}{\lambda(v)}$, where the minimum is taken over all edge-discriminators on $\mathcal H$.  We prove that any hypergraph $\mathcal H=(\mathcal V, \mathscr E)$,  with $|\mathscr E|=m$, satisfies $\sum_{v\in \mathcal V} \lambda_\mathcal H(v)\leq m(m+1)/2$, and the equality holds if and only if the elements of $\mathscr E$ are mutually disjoint. For $r$-uniform hypergraphs $\mathcal H=(\mathcal V, \mathscr E)$, it follows from earlier results on Sidon sequences that $\sum_{v\in \mathcal V}\lambda_{\mathcal H}(v)\leq |\mathcal V|^{r+1}+o(|\mathcal V|^{r+1})$, and the bound is attained up to a constant factor by the complete $r$-uniform hypergraph. Finally, we show that no optimal edge-discriminator on any hypergraph $\mathcal H=(\mathcal V, \mathscr E)$, with $|\mathscr E|=m~(\geq 3)$, satisfies $\sum_{v\in \mathcal V} \lambda_\mathcal H (v)=m(m+1)/2-1$. This shows that all integer values between $m$ and $m(m+1)/2$ cannot be the weight of an optimal edge-discriminator of a hypergraph, and this raises many other interesting combinatorial questions.


A Cyber-Physical System (CPS) involves a tight coupling between the physical and computational elements. Security is a key challenge for the deployment of CPS. Therefore, it is highly desirable to extract correct information from a large volume of noisy data and properly evaluate the reputation of reporting devices in CPS. In this paper, we propose a Context-Aware tRust Evaluation scheme for wireless networks in CPS (CARE-CPS), and a set of policy rules are declared to accurately describe how we determine the reputation of each reporting device based on these factors. To validate the CARE-CPS scheme, we have conducted experiments in terms of both simulation and real deployment on smart phones. Experimental results show that the CARE-CPS scheme can properly evaluate the trustworthiness of the report devices in CPS.


This NBER series presents current academic research findings in the areas of taxation and government spending. The papers included provide important background information for policy analysts in government and the private sector without making specific policy recommendations. This twentieth anniversary volume addresses issues relevant to current policy debates as well as questions that are of longer-term interest. Topics include: the distribution of the corporate income tax burden; tax incentives for entrepreneurship; the effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit on labor supply; refund-splitting as a way to encourage saving by low-income households; the concentration of variable annuity ownership households in high tax brackets; and new evidence on the fiscal health of the federal government that takes the Medicare prescription drug benefit into account.


Introduction Phenol and its derivatives are the most common poisonous compounds which are stable in aqueous media and lead to many health issues. In this study, application of the carbon resulted from pomegranate peel is investigated in removal of phenol by adsorption method. Methods to perform this cross-sectional study, first, samples of phenol with concentrations of 10 to 100 mg/L were prepared for six months in 2016. Then, the impacts of parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial concentration of phenol in adsorption process were investigated independently in Gonabad Chemistry Lab using a spectrophotometer at 505 nm as the wavelength. Furthermore, adherence of the samples to the isotherm models of Langmuir and Freundlich was determined by Excel 2016 and descriptive statistical methods were then reported. Results The obtained results demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity (ash) of 148.38 mgg-1 at pH 7, initial concentration of 100 mg L−1, and temperature of 23 ± 2 °C. The phenol removal rate was found to correlate directly to the adsorbent dosage and contact time, and inversely to the initial concentration of phenol. In addition, the investigations showed that the adsorption of phenol on the pomegranate peel ash follows the Freundlich model well with a correlation coefficient of R2 0.9056. Conclusion Pomegranate peel ash could be used as an efficient and low-cost adsorbent for phenol removal from aqueous media.


I submit that over the last two or three years, we may observe troubling signs that Article 82 of the EC Treaty is being used more as an adjunct to industrial policy than as a pure competition law tool. This is especially evident in refusal to deal cases. The intervention of antitrust in a situation of refusal to deal is a critical pointer of how an antitrust enforcer perceives itself and of what kind of competition law is in force. At a time when ten new agencies have joined the family, it is especially desirable to approach controversies in a sober manner. It would be unfortunate if EC law as applied in Brussels appeared to be presenting a misleading example. It is difficult to deny the existence of a clear divergence in this area between the more liberal or minimalist approach which prevails in the United States and has recently been celebrated by the Supreme Court in Verizon Communications, Inc. v. Law Offices of Curtis Trinko, and the more formalistic or maximalist approach of the Commission. The Commission attributes comparatively lower weight to a dominant player's freedom to run its own business, and comparatively more weight to the protection of competitors than U.S. courts. It may also reflect a longstanding transatlantic difference as to the risk of the negative consequences for the economy of unsound intervention. The Trinko judgment was the counterpart of Bronner, standing for the principle that only in the rarest circumstances should a dominant player be obliged to do business against its will. I will center my analysis and criticism of the Commision's controversial new thinking by referring to these two very revent cases, in both of which I am involved.


X-ray micro computed tomography (µCT) is increasingly applied in plant biology as an imaging system that is valuable for the study of root development in soil, since it allows the three-dimensional and non-destructive visualisation of plant root systems. Variations in the X-ray attenuation values of root material and the overlap in measured intensity values between roots and soil caused by water and organic matter represent major challenges to the extraction of root system architecture. We propose a novel technique to recover root system information from X-ray CT data, using a strategy based on a visual tracking framework embedding a modiffed level set method that is evolved using the Jensen-Shannon divergence. The model-guided search arising from the visual tracking approach makes the method less sensitive to the natural ambiguity of X-ray attenuation values in the image data and thus allows a better extraction of the root system. The method is extended by mechanisms that account for plagiatropic response in roots as well as collision between root objects originating from different plants that are grown and interact within the same soil environment. Experimental results on monocot and dicot plants, grown in different soil textural types, show the ability of successfully extracting root system information. Various global root system traits are measured from the extracted data and compared to results obtained with alternative methods.


As is known the breaking of oblique waves generates currents roughly parallel to the shore line usually designated by long shore currents. The intensity of these currents which are present almost exclusively between the breaking line and the shore depends on the characteristics of the waves (angle of approach, height and period) and on the characteristics of the shore (slope and roughness). A certain amount of energy E is transmitted by the breaking wave along its direction of propagation. As this is a transmitted energy, it is possible to speak about its component parallel to the shoreline which would be indicated by E sen a , being the angle of approach of waves, i.e. the angle that crests make with the shoreline .


The collaborative and low-cost nature of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) brings significant advantages over traditional communication technologies used in today's electric power systems. Recently, WSNs have been widely recognized as a promising technology that can enhance various aspects of today's electric power systems, including generation, delivery, and utilization, making them a vital component of the next-generation electric power system, the smart grid. However, harsh and complex electric-power-system environments pose great challenges in the reliability of WSN communications in smart-grid applications. This paper starts with an overview of the application of WSNs for electric power systems along with their opportunities and challenges and opens up future work in many unexploited research areas in diverse smart-grid applications. Then, it presents a comprehensive experimental study on the statistical characterization of the wireless channel in different electric-power-system environments, including a 500-kV substation, an industrial power control room, and an underground network transformer vault. Field tests have been performed on IEEE 802.15.4-compliant wireless sensor nodes in real-world power delivery and distribution systems to measure background noise, channel characteristics, and attenuation in the 2.4-GHz frequency band. Overall, the empirical measurements and experimental results provide valuable insights about IEEE 802.15.4-compliant sensor network platforms and guide design decisions and tradeoffs for WSN-based smart-grid applications.


Multi-player online esports games are designed for extended durations of play, requiring substantial experience to master. Furthermore, esports game revenues are increasingly driven by in-game purchases. For esports companies, the trends in players leaving their games therefore not only provide information about potential problems in the user experience, but also impacts revenue. Being able to predict when players are about to leave the game - churn prediction - is therefore an important solution for companies in the rapidly growing esports sector, as this allows them to take action to remedy churn problems. The objective of the work presented here is to understand the impact of specific behavioral characteristics on the likelihood of a player continuing to play the esports title League of Legends. Here, a solution to the problem is presented based on the application of survival analysis, using Mixed Effects Cox Regression, to predict player churn. Survival Analysis forms a useful approach for the churn prediction problem as it provides rates as well as an assessment of the characteristics of players who are at risk of leaving the game. Hazard rates are also presented for the leading indicators, with results showing that duration between matches played is a strong indicator of potential churn.


Abstract. The kinetic temperature and line of sight elevation information are retrieved from the MIPAS Middle Atmosphere (MA), Upper Atmosphere (UA) and NoctiLucent-Cloud (NLC) modes of high spectral resolution limb observations of the CO2 15 μm emission using the dedicated IMK/IAA retrieval algorithm, which considers non-local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. These variables are accurately derived from about 20 km (MA) and 40 km (UA and NLC) to 105 km globally and both at daytime and nighttime. Typical temperature random errors are smaller than 0.5 K below 50 km, 0.5–2 K at 50–70 km, and 2–7 K above. The systematic error is typically 1 K below 70 km, 1–3 K from 70 to 85 km and 3–11 K from 85 to 100 km. The average vertical resolution is typically 4 km below 35 km, 3 km at 35–50 km, 4–6 km at 50–90 km, and 6–10 km above. We compared our MIPAS temperature retrievals from 2005 to 2009 with co-located ground-based measurements from the lidars located at the Table Mountain Facility and Mauna Loa Observatory, the SATI spectrograph in Granada (Spain) and the Davis station spectrometer, and satellite observations from ACE-FTS, Aura-MLS and TIMED-SABER from 20 km to 100 km. We also compared MIPAS temperatures with the high latitudes climatology from falling sphere measurements. The comparisons show very good agreement, with differences smaller than 3 K below 85–90 km in mid-latitudes. Differences over the poles in this altitude range are larger but can be generally explained in terms of known biases of the other instruments. The comparisons above 90 km worsen and MIPAS retrieved temperatures are always larger than other instrument measurements.


This paper aims at investigating the presence and the main features of business groups in Emilia Romagna. The research is based on a sample comprising about 48 thousand firms and about 540 thousand employees from Emilia Romagna, the latter representing more than 42 per cent of the total regional employment. First, we find that the presence of corporate grouping in Emilia Romagna is comparable to that documented at national level. Moreover, and surprisingly enough, we show that the extension of the group organizational form is significant also in industrial districts, suggesting that ownership linkages among firms do play a role and should not be neglected in the analysis of these production systems. Although the analysis requires some further investigation, these results support the view that also in Emilia Romagna the actual size of firms is larger and the number of owners is lower than official statistics reveal. This result has important economic policy implications, as the industrial policy of Emilia Romagna has traditionally been oriented to supporting small and very small firms.


In Irrational Modernism, Amelia Jones gives us a history of New York Dada, reinterpreted in relation to the life and works of Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven. Jones enlarges our conception of New York Dada beyond the male avant-garde heroics of Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, and Francis Picabia to include the rebellious body of the Baroness. If they practiced Dada, she lived it, with her unorthodox personal life, wild assemblage objects, radical poetry and prose, and the flamboyant self-displays by which she became her own work of art. Through this reinterpretation, Jones not only provides a revisionist history of an art movement but also suggests a new method of art history.Jones argues that the accepted idea of New York Dada as epitomized by Duchamp's readymades and their implicit cultural critique does not take into consideration the contradictions within the movement -- its misogyny, for example -- or the social turmoil of the period caused by industrialization, urbanization, and the upheaval of World War I and its aftermath, which coincided with the Baroness's time in New York (1913-1923). Baroness Elsa, whose appearances in Jones's narrative of New York Dada mirror her volcanic intrusions into the artistic circles of the time, can be seen to embody a new way to understand the history of avant-gardism -- one that embraces the irrational and marginal rather than promoting the canonical.Acknowledging her identification with the Baroness (as a "fellow neurasthenic"), and interrupting her own objective passages of art historical argument with what she describes in her introduction as "bursts of irrationality," Jones explores the interestedness of all art history, and proposes a new "immersive" understanding of history (reflecting the historian's own history) that parallels the irrational immersive trajectory of avant- gardism as practiced by Baroness Elsa.


This study examines the impact of tourism receipts, exports and foreign direct investment on economic growth on four ASIAN countries namely India, China, Pakistan and Russia. By employing Panel ordinary least squares estimation technique in log linear model, study finds that the tourism has positive impact and FDI has negative impact on economic growth in four ASIAN while impact of exports of goods and services on economic growth is inconclusive. In addition to that, we find that human capital and physical capital have positive impact on economic growth of these countries.


The paper analyzes some of the economic and geographical factors of rural settlements northeastern Montenegro. Isolated traffic and geographical position adversely affects their economic and social development. Natural characteristics of space indicate that rural economy is not in compliance with all the natural conditions. Incompatibility between the available natural and current conditions of the rural economy is determined by the overall socio-economic factors of development. The percentage decrease in rural population in the municipality of Berane period 1948-2003 amounted to 0.22%. However, the municipalities of Andrijevica and Plav, show significant deviations from these population dynamics. Thus the percentage decrease in population rural the same period was in the municipality Andrijevica 49.44%, and the municipality of Plav 26.8%.The main characteristic of the modern development of rural settlements give industrialization and urbanization processes. Age groups, due to migration and the reduction of fertility change and take on unfavorable characteristics, reduces the proportion of younger and older increases the proportion of the population.. In both cases, the disturbed age structure has a reverse effect on the movement of the population (the size of reproductive contingent), but also to all other structures of the population (the size of contingent employment, population, compulsory school contingent, contingent dependent population ratio). Rating natural conditions aimed at separation of homogenous territorial units with some degree of benefits and limitations for certain types of economic development.


The article reflects on the therapeutic and ethical potential of literature, the theme which is often marginalized and overlooked by literary critics, in the novel Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones. Matilda, the main character of the analyzed novel, finds salvation in the times of war and oppression thanks to Charles Dickens's masterpiece, Great Expectations, and the only white man on the island−her teacher, Mr. Watts. Matilda's strong identification with Dickensian Pip (their similarities and differences) and imagination make her escape to another world, become a self-conscious person and reunite with her father. The paper also discusses relationships between Matilda, Mr. Watts (her spiritual guide and creator of her story, who presents the girl with expectations for a better future) and her mother, Dolores. I attempt to show the emotional development of the characters, their interactions, changes, sense of identity (significant for both Jones and Dickens), and, having analyzed their actions, I compare them to protagonists created by Charles Dickens (Pip, Miss Havisham, Estella). Needless to say, drawing the reader's attention to British culture and traditions, Lloyd Jones avoids focusing on the negative aspects of the postcolonial views, pointing out that "the white man" can be an example of a Dickensian gentleman.


14 patients with transional-cell bladder cancer in stage T1N0M0G2 after transurethral bladder resection were offered adjuvant treatment with PDT. Adjuvant PDT was performed 1-1.5 months after transurethral bladder resection for superficial bladder cancer. Prior to PDT conventional and fluorescent cystoscopy were performed. In the absence of inflammation and after full epitalisation of postoperative wound a session of therapy was performed. 24 hours prior to PDT-session photosensitizer Photosens was injected intravenously in the dose of 0.8 mg per kg of body weight. Prior to PDT local anesthesia of urethra with lidocain-gel was performed. Cystoscopy was carried out. PDT was performed with diode laser "Biospec" (675 nm). During the session the place of standing diffuser and the volume of a bladder were controlled. After 7 months of observation no tumor recidivists were observed. Registered side effects were not life-threatened. 5 patients had pain or discomfort in suprapubic area, ceasing spontaneously or requiring administration of analgetics. No systemic side-effects or allergic reactions were observed. The method can be used in out-patient practice. Absence of early recidivists shows efficiency of PDT in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer. Further study is necessary to estimate optimal regimen of PDT. The further controlling of condition on the patients in this group is required. At the laboratory animals' experiment, we conducted the explorations devoted to the influence of the photodynamic effect at the prostate's tissues.


Real and perceived risks of deportation may compromise the effective right of irregular migrants to report to the police if they have been a victim of crime. Some localities have therefore introduced so-called 'firewall protection', providing a clear separation between the provision of public services and immigration enforcement. This article explores one such policy in the Netherlands: 'free in, free out'. While the policy began as a local pilot project, in 2015 it was introduced at the national-level alongside implementation of EU Victim's Rights Directive, and currently represents the only national-level example of 'firewall protection' for victims of crime in Europe. This article is based on a socio-legal study that included interviews with informants from governmental and non-governmental organisations. It documents the legal and social reasons for instituting the policy, while critically assessing the challenges in implementation. Finally, it discusses the lessons and opportunities for expanding firewall protection more broadly in a European context.


A valuable asset in sustainable regeneration is the 'community' with their developed networks, bonds and ties or in other words its social capital which is a useful resource. Braunstone in Leicester is typical of many disadvantaged areas in the UK, with persistent socio-economic problems exacerbated by a poor physical setting. With a large regeneration programme funded by the New Deal for Communities coming to a close, we conducted a case study to explore the impact of improved local facilities and the effect of walkability on social capital. The lessons learnt suggests that responding to needs at a finer grain is vital in developing neighbourhoods for social capital such as responding to the needs of different user groups, responding to local patterns of use and needs of micro localities, and improving the perceptions of neighbourhoods. Local facilities and neighbourhood walkablity provides incentives for longer term residency, and facilitates interaction which helps social capital to grow. Accessing services by walking and using public transport proves vital to engage in social activities, while a poor physical environment, lack of accessible services and public transport negatively affects participation in social and leisure activities. Facilities and buildings provide a mediating role in developing social capital in a community, providing opportunity for social interaction which encourages people to reside in an area for longer. Improving connections beyond the neighbourhood is important to help retain people for longer term residency to develop social capital.


Dante: Contemporary Perspectives gathers recent and newly commissioned articles on Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), whose epic the Divine Comedy, is one of the landmarks of world literature. The essays in this volume probe current critical assumptions about the celebrated Italian poet, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political theorist. Dante's attitude towards poetic authority and language comes under scrutiny in several essays, while others examine his political thought and his views on women and gender. Several articles focus exclusively on the Divine Comedy, and, in particular, on its distinctive textual characteristics. There are new readings of two of the Divine Comedy's most important episodes - those of Paolo and Francesca, the Earthly Paradise, and Ulysses - whose significance extends far beyond their immediate contexts. These essays bring into focus Dante's bold narrative innovations and reflections on literature and history.


Variations in constituent properties, phase morphology, and phase distribution cause deformation and failure at the microstructural level to be inherently stochastic. This paper focuses on the stochasticity of fracture processes that arises as a result of measurement uncertainties in the properties of the constituents in the heterogeneous microstructures of an Al2O3/TiB2 ceramic composite system. A micromechanical cohesive finite element framework with explicit resolution of arbitrary fracture patterns and arbitrary microstructural morphologies is used. A deterministic analysis and a stochastic analysis are carried out simultaneously. The combination of determinism and stochasticity is achieved by integrating a perturbation analysis of the influence of stochastic property variations around their mean values and a deterministic analysis for the microstructure with the mean values of the constituent properties. Calculations are carried out for actual and idealized microstructures of the Al2O3/TiB2 material system. It is found that for the system analyzed the variations in the crack surface area generated and the variations in the energy release rate are of the same order as the variations in constituent properties.


The blending of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer matrices leads to intrinsically nonequilibrium materials whose properties can depend strongly on flow history. We have constructed a rheodielectric spectrometer that allows for the simultaneous in situ measurement of both the electrical conductivity $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ and dielectric constant $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ as a function of frequency $\ensuremath{\omega}$, as well as basic rheological properties (viscosity, normal stresses), as part of an effort to better characterize how flow alters the properties of these complex fluids. Measurements of $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ indicate a conductor-insulator transition in melt-mixed dispersions of multiwall CNTs in polypropylene over a narrow range of CNT concentrations that is reasonably described by the generalized effective medium theory. A conductor-insulator transition in $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ can also be induced by shearing the fluid at a fixed CNT concentration $\ensuremath{\phi}$ near, but above, the zero shear CNT conductivity percolation threshold ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{c}$. We find that the shear-induced conductor-insulator transition has its origin in the shear-rate dependence of ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{c}$, which conforms well to a model introduced to describe this effect. Surprisingly, $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ of these nonequilibrium materials fully recovers at these elevated temperatures upon cessation of flow. We also find that the frequency dependence of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ follows a ``universal'' scaling relation observed for many other disordered materials.


Three novel colorimetric methods of detecting urinary nicotine metabolites called the barbituric acid, diethylthiobarbituric acid (DETB), and DETB extraction methods were evaluated for use as a simple, cheap, objective test of smoking. Urine samples were collected from 103 male smokers and 78 male non-smokers working at two London factories. The smokers recorded the number of cigarettes smoked over the previous 36 hours. All three methods correctly classified the smokers. The DETB extraction method had a lower false positive rate (averaging 3% on morning and afternoon urine samples) than either the DETB or the barbituric acid method (12% and 6% respectively) and was the best procedure for classifying subjects as "smokers" or "non-smokers." When a quantitative variant of the barbituric acid method was used there was a significant correlation (r = 0.85, p less than 0.001) between the ratios of urinary nicotine metabolites to creatinine and the number of cigarettes smoked. The ratios for smokers of 6-15, 16-25, and 26 or more cigarettes, however, overlapped considerably. The methods can be performed very rapidly and the reagent cost is equivalent to less than 1p per test.


Objective: Fatigue is one of the most disturbing and the most common symptoms reported by patients dialyzed. The aim of this study is comparing Reflexology and stroke massage on fatigue in hemodialysis patients.
Methods: This study is quasi-experimental intervention. The subjects included 52 hemodialysis patients who were divided into two groups randomly. The first group received hand reflexology massage and the second group received light stroke back. The before and after of each intervention fatigue were assessed through questionnaires. Data were analyzed with independent t test, chi square test, Fisher's exact test, two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni test.
Results: Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant differences between the two groups [p=0.878] but after the intervention fatigue in the group receiving Stroke massage was reduced significantly compared to Reflexology group (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: This study showed that the use of Stroke as a nursing intervention to reduce fatigue in dialysis patients is safe, effective and affordable use.


THE DANISH PHYSICIST and engineer Ludvig August Colding (1815-1888) is known to historians of nineteenth-century physics as the author of one of several formulations, during the 1840s, of the concept that eventually gained currency as the principle of the conservation of energy. Thanks largely to the work of Per Dahl, the substance of Colding's work and a rough idea of the route he followed has been known for several decades.1 In brief, Colding sought experimental corroboration, in terms of the frictional heat produced via the expenditure of a measured amount of mechanical work, of a rough notion of the general imperishability of the forces of nature that he derived from an originally metaphysical conviction concerning the imperishability of the human spirit regarded as a species of force. Nor has the importance gone unnoticed of (Holding's relationship to Hans Christian Orsted (1777-1851), to whom Colding was attached for many years as student and protege Orsted had disclosed the interactive relationship between electricity and magnetism in 1820 and was a highly visible proponent of the notion of the unity of nature, as showcased in particular in the collection of essays he entitled The spirit in nature? Yet some of the important details in this overall picture remain unclear. The quality of Colding's metaphysical beliefs has not been explored in appropriate depth, nor has the significance been established of his brief reference to the role played in the development of his ideas by the antimateri alistic pronouncements of zoologist and physiologist Daniel Frederik Eschricht (1798-1863).3 Nor have we been adequately enlightened as to the significance of what he referred to as d'Alembert's principle of lost forces, or to the status of such a principle in the mechanics of the period.4 And his relationship to Orsted is problematic. Although there would appear to be some important con nection between Colding's and Orsted's general views on nature and its forces, and Orsted occasionally asserted some kind of unity among the forces of nature, he failed signally to appreciate the significance of Colding's work when it was given him to evaluate.5 The solution to this apparent paradox will be sought through an understanding of Orsted's changing conception of force and its relationship to the "activities" of heat, light, electricity, magnetism, and chemical activity.6 Without paying proper attention to language, historians have tended to read back into Orsted's usages meanings of "force" that came to it in large part as a result of the work of Colding and his generation.7


The mutation Glu108-->Val (E108V) in T4 lysozyme was previously isolated as a second-site revertant that specifically compensated for the loss of function associated with the destabilizing substitution Leu99-->Gly (L99G). Surprisingly, the two sites are 11 A apart, with Leu99 in the core and Glu108 on the surface of the protein. In order to better understand this result we have carried out a detailed thermodynamic, enzymatic and structural analysis of these mutant lysozymes as well as a related variant with the substitution Leu99-->Ala. It was found that E108V does increase the stability of L99G, but it also increases the stability of both the wild-type protein and L99A by essentially equal amounts. The effects of E108V on enzymatic activity are more complicated. The mutation slightly reduces the maximal rate of cell wall hydrolysis of wild-type, L99G and L99A. At the same time, L99G is an unstable protein and rapidly loses activity during the course of the assay, especially at temperatures above 20 degrees C. Thus, even though the double mutant L99G/E108V has a slightly lower maximal rate than L99G, over a period of 20-30 minutes it hydrolyzes more substrate. This decrease in the rate of thermal inactivation appears to be the basis of the action of E108V as a second-site revertant of L99G. Mutant L99A creates a cavity of volume 149 A(3). Instead of enlarging this cavity, mutant L99G results in a 4-5 A displacement of part of helix F (residues 108-113), creating a solvent-accessible declivity. In the double mutant, L99G/E108V, this helix returns to a position akin to wild-type, resulting in a cavity of volume 203 A(3). Whether the mutation Glu108-->Val is incorporated into either wild-type lysozyme, or L99A or L99G, it results in a decrease in crystallographic thermal factors, especially in the helices that include residues 99 and 108. This increase in rigidity, which appears to be due to a combination of increased hydrophobic stabilization plus a restriction of conformational fluctuation, provides a structural basis for the increase in thermostability.


To prepare graduate students for their future careers and to help solve a variety of problems (e.g., societal, environmental, economic, practical, and theoretical), grant writing courses or seminars should be considered with respect to their required or elective curriculum. This work intends to provide an example of a previously taught course concerning the setting up and developing of a quality graduate-level grant writing class in Sport Management to provide necessary knowledge and experience for future scholars of the field. A multi-step approach and discussion of the grant writing process modeled after an actual grant writing course dedicated to Sport Management graduate students is presented to develop an appreciation for research, collaboration, and technical writing skills among prospective scholars. Finally, course evaluation components and a review of the course are included to make recommendations for future efforts.


The aim of the present study was to validate a modified version of the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) rating scale, the CAP-II. The CAP is a hierarchy rating scale which assesses a child?s functioning in everyday situations. It covers a range of auditory performance and also takes into consideration different developmental rates of children. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by participants rating benefits young children receive with cochlear implants (CI). Volunteers watched video recordings of staff describing hypothetical cases of children who wear CIs. Children are difficult to assess using conventional methods, requiring their cooperation, thus there is need for additional assessment methods. The CAP has been validated and can provide additional information on disability reduction beyond that provided by audiological tests, as it illustrates the benefits that children now receive with CIs. The original CAP scale consists of 8 categories. There is evidence of ceiling effects as it does not address the more complicated listening skills achievable with CIs. Therefore it has been proposed that two new additional categories are added to the original scale to form the CAP-II. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using video recordings of rehabilitative staff describing behaviour and listening skills of children with CIs. Thirty-three participants, volunteers from the University of Southampton watched 6 video recordings and assigned ratings based on how each child was doing. High inter-rater reliability was found between all participants. The percent of overall agreement (PO) was 0.76% and no significant difference was found between the ratings (p>0.05). There was also a strong relationship between all participants, as there was a statistically significant correlation between participants when they were compared (p Overall the results indicate that the modified CAP has good reliability. It is proven to be a relatively reliable and useful method. Specific findings about the CAP-II especially categories 7 (use of telephone with known speaker), 8 (follow group conversation in a reverberant room or where there is some interfering noise such as in a classroom or restaurant) and 9 (use of telephone with unknown speaker in unpredictable context) suggest that they need to be reordered. Categories 7 and 9 should be optional. Young children may not yet have developed these listening skills due to their age. Once these modifications are made the CAP-II could prove to be a valid tool in clinical use, as it addresses the additional benefits now achievable with CIs whilst avoiding ceiling effects. Although more research involving a larger population needs to be conducted in order to assess whether ceiling effects are evident.


This article offers a cross-cultural comparison of current and past juvenile court systems in India and the United States. Issues such as juvenile court development, differences and similarities in juvenile court philosophies, and the impact of legislative reforms are explored within political, social, and legal contexts. Specifically, the juvenile justice system in India is examined and analyzed within the context of how changes in philosophy and terminology have affected juvenile court practices and procedures. Our conclusion is that in both countries the juvenile justice system often fails to achieve the rehabilitative agendas set forth by their legislative and child welfare bodies.


The prediction of external automobile aerodynamics using Computational Fluid
Dynamics (CFD) is still in its infancy. The restrictions on grid size for practical use
limit the ability of most organisations to predict the full flow over an automobile.
Some insight into the flow over a passenger car can be made by examining the flow
over a bluff body in close proximity to the ground. One such body is the Ahmed body
composed of a rounded front, straight mid-section and variable slant-rear section. This
body exhibits many of the 3D flow structures exhibited by passenger cars. The main
feature of the flow around this body is the change in flow structure as the angle of the
slant surface at the rear of the body is increased. The flow starts fully attached and
ends fully separated. In between these two regimes is a third high drag regime. The
flow structure is characterised by strong counter-rotating longitudinal vortices
originating from the interaction between the flow from the sides and top of the body,
and a small separation from the top/slant edge on the centre-plane of the body. The
flow reattaches to the slant surface and the low-pressure fluid within the separation
bubble increases the drag considerably. The use of CFD incorporating tine averaged
statistical turbulence models to reproduce these flow patterns is assessed in this study.
Initial work concentrated on evaluating structured grid methods for this flow type.
Some success was achieved with the flow fields for the attached and fully separated
cases but the third high drag regime was not predicted. The flow field also exhibited a
grid dependent flow structure and drag result. To examine these effects further
without high grid overheads an unstructured mesh generator was developed and used
to provide meshes with more grid cells clustered around the body and it's wake.
Analysis and refinement of the unstructured grids proved successful at removing the
grid dependent flow field but still showed no evidence of the third high drag flow
regime. Further, the bulk levels of drag in all cases was too high and the fully separated flow regime occurred too late in the slant surface angle sweep, coming at
40° instead of the 30° seen in the wind tunnel results. Further analysis of the flow
field using highly refined mixed meshes showed no improvement in the drag or flow
field prediction with the high drag flow field still not present. The use of higher order
differencing schemes and anisotropic turbulence models reduced the drag levels
considerably but not to the levels seen in the wind tunnel results.
Comparison of the results from this work with the work of other authors is difficult
for two reasons. Firstly, work on the specific body used in this thesis is sparse and,
secondly, much of the work done by other authors was in conjunction with
automotive manufacturers and details of the specific numerical methods employed are
not available. The most important parallel conclusion from the work presented here
and that of other authors is the inability of the CFD prediction to capture the change in
flow mode as the angle of slant surface is increased. This failure can, in all
probability, be attributed to the use of a steady-state CFD solution algorithm to
capture the flow field around the body. A small possibility perhaps still exists that
further grid refinement, very localised around the body, would help, but the detailed
and careful predictions presented in this study make this highly unlikely. The most
important piece of further work that could follow this work would therefore be the
application of a time-accurate (unsteady) CFD solution algorithm to the bluff body in
ground proximity problem. Whether these predictions should be of an unsteady
RANS nature, or full LES predictions would be best answered by applying these
methods to the present flow problem which is fundamental to the study of automobile
aerodynamics.


Willful patent infringement is a critical issue in patent litigation, as it can result in an award of up to treble (enhanced) damages. In a 2007 decision, In re Seagate, 497 F.3d 1360 (en banc), the Federal Circuit significantly altered the standard governing willful infringement by requiring the patentee to prove at least "objective recklessness" by the accused infringer. Many observers predicted that this heightened standard would result in far fewer willfulness findings and enhanced damage awards. To date, however, there has been no comprehensive empirical study of Seagate's actual impact in patent litigation. This paper fills that gap by analyzing six years of decisions in the district courts - three years before and after Seagate - on willful patent infringement and enhanced damages. Surprisingly, it determines that willful infringement was found only about 10% fewer cases after Seagate. In addition, after Seagate, juries find willful infringement substantially more often than judges at trial. However, enhanced damages are awarded less frequently and in lower amounts when juries find willfulness compared to judges. Finally, this Article evaluates the impact of several common factors on willful infringement decisions after Seagate. Based on the empirical data collected in this study, the existence of a "substantial" or "legitimate" defense to infringement is the strongest predictor of a finding of no willfulness after Seagate, while evidence of copying by the accused infringer was the strongest predictor of willfulness. In contrast, the remaining factors studied - opinions of counsel, attempts to design around the patent, reexamination at the PTO, and bifurcation of willfulness from liability at trial - had no statistically significant effect on willfulness decisions.


This study was designed to evaluate the effect of 70% ethanolic crude extract of Portulaca oleracea L on mice orgons . (In vivo),In vivo, the acute toxicity of 70 % ethanolic extract of the plant on normal mice was studied. No toxic effect was noted on normal mice even at 9500 mg /kg B.W S/C injection.Histopathological changes due to ethanolic extract of the plant in healthy mice were summarized in hyperplasia of white pulp with amyloid deposition, proliferation of megakaryocytes and mononuclear cell infiltration in the liver and kidney parenchyma. There were no significant lesions detected in the brain, heart and ovary in all treated groups.


Background:
 Amelioration of systemic inflammatory changes during the acute phase of Kawasaki Disease (KD) is critical for preventing coronary artery lesions (CALs). Plasma exchange (PE) therapy has been applied to patients with severe KD in several medical facilities in Japan and been covered by health insurance since 2012.

 Methods:
 We reviewed medical records of five KD patients, aged 3 to 44 months, who were treated with PE in Nagasaki University Hospital from December 2012 to August 2015.

 Results:
 All patient were treated with two courses of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). After IVIG that had offered little or no improvement, two of the five patients used infliximab and another used cyclosporine A before PE. PE was performed for the consecutive 3 or 5 days until defervescence and clinical improvement were obtained. Acute inflammatory changes were successfully ameliorated upon PE therapy in all five patients, although two patients who had already developed CALs before PE on days 20 and 21, respectively, residual CALs were confirmed one year after the treatment. No CALs had developed in the remaining three patients who started PE therapy within nine days after onset (days 8, 8 and 9, respectively). PE therapy was carefully performed in the intensive care unit, and no severe adverse events occurred.

 Discussion:
 PE therapy is able to ameliorate acute inflammation in most cases of severe KD refractory to standard IVIG therapy; however, it is critical to start PE therapy earlier than day-10 in order to prevent CALs. Thus, pediatricians have to make prompt decision on referral of their KD patient who did not respond IVIG to the institutions where PE is applicable in Japan.