Abnormalities in adipocytes play an important role in various conditions, including the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, but little is known about alterations at the protein level. We therefore sought to (1) comprehensively characterize the human adipocyte proteome for the first time and (2) demonstrate feasibility of measuring adipocyte protein abundances by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE and high performance liquid chromatography-electron spray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). In adipocytes isolated from approximately 0.5 g of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of three healthy, lean subjects, we identified a total of 1493 proteins. Triplicate analysis indicated a 22.5% coefficient of variation of protein abundances. Proteins ranged from 5.8 to 629 kDa and included a large number of proteins involved in lipid metabolism, such as fatty acid transport, fatty acid oxidation, lipid storage, lipolysis, and lipid droplet maintenance. Furthermore, we found most glycolysis enzymes and numerous proteins associated with oxidative stress, protein synthesis and degradation as well as some adipokines. 22% of all proteins were of mitochondrial origin. These results provide the first detailed characterization of the human adipocyte proteome, suggest an important role of adipocyte mitochondria, and demonstrate feasibility of this approach to examine alterations of adipocyte protein abundances in human diseases.


In this paper we present a model of action based on the change in the state of the environment. Many actions involve similar dynamics and hand-object relationships, but differ in their purpose and meaning. The key to differentiating these actions is the ability to identify how they change the state of objects and materials in the environment. We propose a weakly supervised method for learning the object and material states that are necessary for recognizing daily actions. Once these state detectors are learned, we can apply them to input videos and pool their outputs to detect actions. We further demonstrate that our method can be used to segment discrete actions from a continuous video of an activity. Our results outperform state-of-the-art action recognition and activity segmentation results.


This article investigates, both theoretically and empirically, the economics of stock market crashes. Using more than 100 years of daily data on the DJIA (and shorter series on NASDAQ, IBM, and Caterpillar), we first document empirically that (a) the probability of a daily stock market decline in excess of 5% is non-negligible (about 0.25%); (b) stock market crashes are not only relatively more likely to occur than rallies (higher crash arrival rates), but substantially more brutal; (c) the pre-1945 crash valuation measures depart radically from the post-1945 counterpart with the left tail decaying to zero much slower than the right tail; and (d) the motion of large percentage price declines and rises conforms closely with the characteristics of the Frechet distribution (asymptotically). To realistically model the empirical properties of crashes and extremes, we propose a family of Markov processes for which the density of the maximum percentage price drop can also be derived. The objective probability of the crash is found to be related, in an intuitive manner, to higher order moments of the return distribution. Examination of this model suggests that the implied probabilities are not at odds with the empirical counterparts. To assess the implications of our findings for real-life investment analysis, we generated buy/sell signals contingent on the crash probability. Investment trading rules relying on the model's prediction outperform traditional ones (e.g., buy and hold). Our implementation methods are sufficiently versatile to discover crash/rally information embedded in option markets. Exploiting more than 17,000 out-of-money option prices, the framework quantifies three dimensions of crash discovery (i) time-variations in Arrow-Debreu security price on the extreme, (ii) the structure of jump-fear levels, and (iii) the term structure of forward jump-risks. This paper provides a unified treatment for discovering crashes in stock and option markets.


Several image coding and compression schemes based on Mathematical Morphology have been documented in the literature including: morphological skeleton coding [1], multiresolution analysis [2], morphological pyramid coding [3,4], morphological subband coding [5,6], and segmentation-based coding using the watershed transform [7,8]. The advantages of the morphological approach over more traditional linear methods are: low computational complexity, inherent parallelism, and elimination of the ringing and blurring associated with linear techniques such as linear subband coding and transform coding using the discrete cosine transform (the latter is used in JPEG and MPEG). Morphological compression algorithms rely on two basic transformations: the dilation and the erosion. Hardware implementation of these operations is needed to realise the computational speed required for the real time processing of video. This paper proffers specifications for a video rate VLSI processor and examines the throughput and organisation for an implementation in 0.5 um GaAs technology.


In this paper, we seek to answer three research questions: (1) What is the pattern of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the African food and agriculture sector in the last 15 years? (2) What are the drivers of FDI in the African food and agriculture sector? (3) What is the evidence on the impacts of private-sector investments in the African food and agriculture sector on the product and labor markets, with particular focus on income effects? Our analysis shows that a total of $48.737 billion was invested in the African food and agriculture sector by foreign private-sector investors between 2003 and 2017, with a noticeable peak in FDI inflows observed after the 2008/09 agricultural commodities shocks suggesting that international investors want to capitalize on high food prices. The initiatives such as the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition and Grow Africa, which aim to create a conducive environment for investment, might have also contributed to the growth of FDI volumes reported over the last years. Our econometric analysis reveals that market potential is one of the main drivers of FDI in food and agriculture sector in Africa. More specifically, population size consistently has a significant impact on sectoral FDI inflows in Africa, irrespective of the model specification. Among the supply-side factors, the size of agricultural land turns out to be an important predictor of FDI inflows. Agglomeration effects are also observed, with a lagged volume of FDI inflows having a very strong impact on the level of current FDI. Finally, infrastructure or institutional quality play an essential role in attracting investment. These findings give support to various strands of literature that we drew upon in the theoretical framework. Uncovering the impacts that private-sector investment has on the population proved not to be straightforward. Even though the literature is relatively abundant, it is flawed with multiple methodological issues that limit its internal and external validity. Despite these caveats, most of the studies reviewed in our paper seem to suggest positive impacts on farm and labor income. The effects on equality and poverty are not clear, as some investment schemes may be biased towards the better-off households. However, wage-employment opportunities generated by private-sector investment seem to benefit the poorest, especially when they target unskilled labor or women. Finally, there is evidence that private-sector investment might act as a driver of technical innovation. However, many research gaps remain.


Abstract: This article argues for constructive responses to the dominance, in the analysis of African economic history, of concepts derived from Western experience. It reviews the existing responses of this kind, highlighting the fact that some of the most influential ideas applied to African economies, past and present, have been coined in the context not of Europe or North America but rather of other relatively poor regions formerly under European colonial rule. These "Third World" contributions have been enriching for African studies, though they have been duly criticized in African contexts, in accordance with the usual scholarly pattern. It is argued here that the main requirement for overcoming conceptual Eurocentrism in African history, in the interests of a more genuinely "general" social science and "global" history, is reciprocal comparison of Africa and other continents—or, more precisely, of specific areas within Africa with counterparts elsewhere. Pioneering examples of such comparisons are reviewed and, to illustrate the possibilities, a set of propositions is put forward from African history that may be useful for specialists on other parts of the world. The article concludes with suggestions for ways in which Africanists can best pursue the project of reciprocal comparison, and with a plea for us to be more intellectually ambitious.


The amount of data on the web is constantly growing. The separation of relevant from less important information is a challenging task. Due to the huge amount of data available in the World Wide Web, the processing cannot be done manually. Software components are needed that learn the user preferences and support users in finding the relevant information. In this work we present our recommender system tailored for recommending news articles. The developed recommender system continuously analyzes a data-stream using the APACHE FLINK framework, computes recommender models and provides real-time recommendations. The recommendations are optimized on specific news portals and consider the user session. The recommender system analyzes the user-item interactions in real-time and continuously updates the recommender models ensuring that only fresh articles are recommended. We explain the developed architecture of the system and discuss the specific challenges of processing continuous streams. The scalability and the methods for optimizing the parameter configuration are explained. The evaluation in the NEWSREEL Living Lab scenario as well as in the offline evaluation shows that our recommender fulfills the requirements and reaches a good recommendation performance.


The use of culture based methods for the detection of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) only gives information on the occurrence of E. coli and not pathogenicity of the organisms detected. To detect the both indicator and diarrhoeagenic E. coli (DEC) a method was developed using the Colilert ® Quanti-Tray/2000 system and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 619 samples were collected from springs (33), boreholes (24), taps (5), rivers (36), streams (8), domestic storage containers (253), raw sewage (1), final effluents (5), stool (149), soil (5) and toilet seat swab (100) samples from various provinces in South Africa. E. coli was enumerated using the Colilert ® Quanti-Tray9s/2000 and DNA extracted from E. coli positive wells and used as template for a multiplex-PCR targeting genes specific to entero-pathogenic- (EPEC), entero-haemorrhagic- (EHEC), entero-invasive- (EIEC), entero-toxigenic (ETEC) and entero-aggregative E. coli (EAEC). The internal control was detected in 99% of positive E. coli samples. EAEC was detected in 17%, EIEC in 4%, ETEC in 11%, EHEC in 9% and EPEC in 21% of the E. coli positive samples. It is shown that this method can be used for the detection of DEC from a wide range of samples enriched with Colilert ® Quanti-Tray9s/2000.


XML and its associated technologies are increasingly being used in Electronic Publishing. This fact is due to some of its inherent characteristics: (1) XML allows separating the contents and the presentation format. (2) XML allows giving a logical structure to information. (3) XML allows associating semantics to the logical structure. There is a general agreement thatthese features will be very important for the development of the semantic web. In this context there is a demand for XML editors. A comparative analysis of current XML editors reveals that most of them have two general lacks. Firstly, using these editors requires deep knowledge of the XML syntax and its DTD or the XML-Schema particular vocabulary. Their interfaces do not guide to user in the edition process, e.g. by showing him/her the different possibilities available at any moment withrespect to vocabulary. This drawback is especially discouraging for naive users. Secondly, the validation of a document is made on request to specific commands or on saving it. In the worst case, these tools allow generating an invalid document that accumulates errors and overwhelms the user during their correction. In this paper, we describe an editor of XMLdocuments, called eXitor, that shares the common features of the main XML editors, but tries to solve the two problems quoted above. With respect to the visibility of XML syntax, the editor supports both naive and expert users. For the first kind of users, the user can understand the document structure without the need to see the XML source code. For the expert users, the tool allows displaying XML syntax. With respect to the validation problem, the user interface does not allow generatingnon-valid XML documents. During the edition process, elements and attributes can be inserted guaranteeing that the XML document is well-formed and valid with respect to a given DTD. (In the specific case of XML Schema this tool only supports DocBook XML Schema V22.214.171.124.) In summary, its main characteristics are: (1) The tool can hide syntactic information (XML syntax and DTD or Schema syntax), only displaying the textual contents of the elements. (2) The tool can display syntax information to the advanced user. (3) The document structure is always shown in a tree format. (4) The tool forces to introduce all the compulsory components. (5) At any moment, the document is well formed and valid.


Determination of saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, and the shape parameters α and n of the water retention curve, θ(h), is of paramount importance to characterize the water flow in the vadose zone. This work presents a modified upward infiltration method to estimate Ks, α and n from numerical inverse analysis of the measured cumulative upward infiltration (CUI) at multiple constant tension lower boundary conditions. Using the HYDRUS‐2D software, a theoretical analysis on a synthetic loam soil under different soil tensions (0, 0–10, 0–50 and 0–100 cm), with and without an overpressure step of 10 cm high from the top boundary condition at the end of the upward infiltration process, was performed to check the uniqueness and the accuracy of the solutions. Using a tension sorptivimeter device, the method was validated in a laboratory experiment on five different soils: a coarse and a fine sand, and a 1‐mm sieved loam, clay loam and silt‐gypseous soils. The estimated α and n parameters were compared to the corresponding values measured with the TDR‐pressure cell method. The theoretical analysis demonstrates that Ks and θ(h) can be simultaneously estimated from measured upward cumulative infiltration when high (>50 cm) soil tensions are initially applied at the lower boundary. Alternatively, satisfactory results can be also obtained when medium tensions (<50 cm) and the Ks calculated from the overpressure step at the end of the experiment are considered. A consistent relationship was found between the α (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.02) and n (R2 = 0.97, p < 0.001) values measured with the TDR‐pressure cell and the corresponding values estimated with the tension sorptivimeter. The error between the α (in logarithm scale) and n values estimated with the inverse analysis and the corresponding values measured with pressure chamber were 3.1 and 6.1%, respectively. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


In this paper, we obtain improved running times for regression and top eigenvector computation for numerically sparse matrices. Given a data matrix $\mat{A} \in \R^{n \times d}$ where every row $a \in \R^d$ has $\|a\|_2^2 \leq L$ and numerical sparsity $\leq s$, i.e. $\|a\|_1^2 / \|a\|_2^2 \leq s$, we provide faster algorithms for these problems for many parameter settings. For top eigenvector computation, when $\gap > 0$ is the relative gap between the top two eigenvectors of $\mat{A}^\top \mat{A}$ and $r$ is the stable rank of $\mat{A}$ we obtain a running time of $\otilde(nd + r(s + \sqrt{r s}) / \gap^2)$ improving upon the previous best unaccelerated running time of $O(nd + r d / \gap^2)$. As $r \leq d$ and $s \leq d$ our algorithm everywhere improves or matches the previous bounds for all parameter settings. For regression, when $\mu > 0$ is the smallest eigenvalue of $\mat{A}^\top \mat{A}$ we obtain a running time of $\otilde(nd + (nL / \mu) \sqrt{s nL / \mu})$ improving upon the previous best unaccelerated running time of $\otilde(nd + n L d / \mu)$. This result expands when regression can be solved in nearly linear time from when $L/\mu = \otilde(1)$ to when $L / \mu = \otilde(d^{2/3} / (sn)^{1/3})$. Furthermore, we obtain similar improvements even when row norms and numerical sparsities are non-uniform and we show how to achieve even faster running times by accelerating using approximate proximal point \cite{frostig2015regularizing} / catalyst \cite{lin2015universal}. Our running times depend only on the size of the input and natural numerical measures of the matrix, i.e. eigenvalues and $\ell_p$ norms, making progress on a key open problem regarding optimal running times for efficient large-scale learning.


Recent advances in information retrieval over hyperlinked corpora have convincingly demonstrated that links carry less noisy information than text. We investigate the feasibility of applying link-based methods in new applications domains. The specific application we consider is to partition authors into opposite camps within a given topic in the context of newsgroups. A typical newsgroup posting consists of one or more quoted lines from another posting followed by the opinion of the author. This social behavior gives rise to a network in which the vertices are individuals and the links represent "responded-to" relationships. An interesting characteristic of many newsgroups is that people more frequently respond to a message when they disagree than when they agree. This behavior is in sharp contrast to the WWW link graph, where linkage is an indicator of agreement or common interest. By analyzing the graph structure of the responses, we are able to effectively classify people into opposite camps. In contrast, methods based on statistical analysis of text yield low accuracy on such datasets because the vocabulary used by the two sides tends to be largely identical, and many newsgroup postings consist of relatively few words of text.


Christian feminist theologians state that community, connection, and caring are the means by which women live their lives and through which women understand and express their faith. These theologians also claim that their theologies are based on women's expeniences. In this
thesis I ask, are the ideas of community, connection, and caring proposed by these theologians relevant to older women in Britain today? Are older women's experiences reflected in Christian feminist theologies? Should there be a separate theology of older women based on these concepts? I explore these questions first by considering ideas of community, connection, and caring put forward by feminists and Christian feminist theologians and then by comparing these ideas with the lived experiences of older women themselves. These experiences are gathered from the field of social gerontology as well as from new empirical research: semi-structured interviews with 40 churchgoing Methodist and Anglican women in York, aged 65 and over.

Data analysis indicates that community, connection, and caring are important and desirable aspects of older women's lives, and that the family and the local church are significant sources of these entities and processes. In this respect, older women's experiences are reflected in
Christian feminist theologies, although this appears to be more by default than by design. In addition, their experiences (for example, of being a newcomer to a church congregation or of working to maintain an identity as a carer in a society that views them as recipients of care only) are not universally positive, adding dissenting voices to the largely enthusiastic assertions of the
theologians. Consequently, I propose a move towards a Christian feminist practical theology of older women-a theology based on older women's experiences of community, connection, and caring and calling for informed, committed praxis by the churches, suggestions for which are offered. Such a feminist theology would complement other developing theologies and spiritualities of older women. At the same time, it would be flexible and provisional, taking on
board new developments and data as they arise-particularly as succeeding generations of women age-and intentionally incorporating them.


This paper presents an experiment aimed at empirically exploring the variations of facial actions (FA) during gaming sessions with induced boredom and stress. Twenty adults with different ages and gaming experiences played three games while being recorded by a video camera and monitored by a heart rate sensor. The games were carefully designed to have a linear progression from a boring to a stressful state. Self-reported answers indicate participants perceived the games as being boring at the beginning and stressful at the end. The 6 hours of recordings of all subjects were manually analyzed and FA were annotated. We annotated FA that appeared in the recordings at least twice; annotations were categorized by the period when they happened (boring/stressful part of the games) and analysed on a group and on an individual level. Group level analysis revealed that FA patterns were related to no more than 25% of the subjects. The individual level analysis revealed particular patterns for 50% of the subjects. More FA annotations were made during the stressful part of the games. We conclude that, for the context of our experiment, FA provide an unclear foundation for detection of boredom/stressful states when observed from a group level perspective, while the individual level perspective might produce more information.


Modern scientific research is generating daunting amount of data that is commonly required to be combined together to service daily research endeavors. This paper introduces an ontology-based approach to publishing and composing dataintensive web service. The approach distinguishes itself by its capability of dynamically evolving service interface and a query rewriting-based planner for service composition, enabled by richly describing service capability using the semantic web languages. The advantage of the proposed approach is that the data service can adapt itself with client request dynamically, greatly improving its query service capability. The evaluation reveals the approach scale well as service number


Conventional approaches to relation extraction usually require a fixed set of pre-defined relations. Such requirement is hard to meet in many real applications, especially when new data and relations are emerging incessantly and it is computationally expensive to store all data and re-train the whole model every time new data and relations come in. We formulate such challenging problem as lifelong relation extraction and investigate memory-efficient incremental learning methods without catastrophically forgetting knowledge learned from previous tasks. We first investigate a modified version of the stochastic gradient methods with a replay memory, which surprisingly outperforms recent state-of-the-art lifelong learning methods. We further propose to improve this approach to alleviate the forgetting problem by anchoring the sentence embedding space. Specifically, we utilize an explicit alignment model to mitigate the sentence embedding distortion of learned model when training on new data and new relations. Experiment results on multiple benchmarks show that our proposed method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art lifelong learning approaches.


In 2003 a team of scientists from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the U. S. Geological Survey found a high incidence of an intersex condition, oocytes in the testes, among smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the South Branch Potomac River and the Cacapon River of West Virginia, indicating the possible presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). Possible sources of EDCs include municipal and domestic wastewater, and agricultural and industrial activities. Several sampling strategies were used to identify emerging contaminants, including potential EDCs, and their possible sources in these river basins and at an out-of-basin reference site. Passive water-sampling devices, which accumulate in-stream organic chemical compounds, were deployed for 40-41 days at 8 sampling sites. Sampler extracts were analyzed for a broad range of polar and non-polar organic compounds including pesticides, flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, and personal-care products. Analysis of passive-sampler extracts found 4 compounds; hexachloro-benzene; pentachloroanisole; 2,2',4,4',5-penta-bromo-diphenyl ether (BDE 47); and 2,2',4,4',6-penta-bromo-diphenyl ether (BDE 99) to be present at every sampled site, including the reference site, and several sites had detectable quantities of other compounds. No detectable quantity of any antibiotics was found in any passive-sampler extract. Effluent samples were analyzed for 39 antibiotics as tracers of human and agricultural waste. Additionally, poultry-processing plant effluent was sampled for roxarsone, an organoarsenic compound used as a poultry-feed additive, and other arsenic species as tracers of poultry waste. Antibiotics were detected in municipal wastewater, aquaculture, and poultry-processing effluent, with the highest number of antibiotics and the greatest concentrations found in municipal effluent. Arsenate was the only arsenic species detected in the poultry-processing plant effluent, at a concentration of 1.0 μg/L. Water samples were collected from 7 stream sites and analyzed for arsenic species, including roxarsone. Arsenate was detected in samples from 6 of the 7 stream samples, in concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 μg/L. Additionally, the analysis of smallmouth bass blood plasma for potential EDCs indicated the presence of several compounds including some found in the passive sampler extracts, specifically BDE 47 and BDE 99. Data from this reconnaissance will help to focus efforts for further studies of the occurrence of emerging contaminants, EDCs, and intersex in smallmouth bass in these Potomac River tributaries. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BACKGROUND
Giant intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare cerebrovascular lesions that pose management challenges.

OBJECTIVE
To further clarify outcomes in patients with giant cerebral AVMs managed with conservative or interventional therapies.

METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with AVMs evaluated at our institution from 1990 to 2013. Patients with a single intracranial AVM >6 cm were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: conservative management or intervention (microsurgery, radiosurgery, or embolization). Functional outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS
A total of 55 patients with giant AVMs were included, and 35 patients (63.6%) had clinical follow-up with a mean of 11.8 years. Spetzler-Martin grades were as follows: grade III, n = 2 (3.6%); grade IV, n = 15 (27.3%); and grade V, n = 38 (69.1%). Twenty-four patients (43.6%) were conservatively managed. The patients in the conservatively managed group had larger AVMs (P < .05) with more frequent involvement of the temporal lobe (P = .02). Five patients (26.3%) in the conservatively managed group and 5 (31.3%) in the intervention group experienced hemorrhage during follow-up, translating to an annualized risk of 2.7% and 4.1%, respectively. No significant difference in risk of first subsequent hemorrhage was observed (P = .78). Despite comparable mRS scores at presentation, we observed a trend toward better outcomes (mRS < 2) in patients undergoing conservative management (P = .06) compared with the intervention group at last follow-up.

CONCLUSION
This study suggests that interventions for giant AVMs should be considered cautiously because hemorrhagic risk is similar regardless of management strategy and functional outcome is likely to be same or better in the conservatively managed population.

ABBREVIATIONS
AVM, arteriovenous malformationmRS, modified Rankin Scale.


The thesis explores the application of Continuing Professional Education learning in the work place, and evaluates the factors contributing to its application to clinical practice. The research specifically reviews and assesses relevant literature and theories of adult learning and evaluation. Using existing literature, empirical research work was undertaken in three case study sites. The methodological strategies of illuminative evaluation were utilised in the study, the innovation was examined in the context of "Learning milieu" (Snyder, 1971). Observations of documentary evidence, interviews with course participants and their respective managers and pre and post course questionnaires constituted the data collection. The combination of data assisted the researcher in "illuminating" issues, significant features and problems. The research study systematically and logically investigated, unfolded and clarified issues as they arose.

The study utilised a qualitative approach supported by quantitative data in order to reveal individuals' learning processes within the organisations (case study sites) and comprised of three main phases of action, which in practice were more like inter-related loops. A review of existing literature, an introductory visit to the three research sites; questionnaires, distributions and semi-structured interviews with the stake holders; and the writing of the case studies to reveal impact and application to practice. A cycle of "planning, acting, observing and reflecting" was implemented throughout.

In this research study the researcher constructed and adopted a multi-dimentional integrated approach, acknowledging not only the social environment in which adults find themselves, but also the cognitive dimensions. Therefore, the study was close to its social context and the "reality" as experienced by the course participants.

The researcher strived to understand programmes and situations as a whole. This holistic approach assumed that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It further assumed that a description and understanding of a programme's social and political context is essential for overall understanding of that programme (Patton, 1990).

A number of issues were identified from the research study and recommendations made. Their adoption will be particularly valuable to those currently involved in Continuing Professional Education, Nurse Managers, Practitioners, Purchasers and Commissioners of Health Care.


Gold-bearing quartz reefs commonly show extremely erratic and unpredictable grade variation, although gross geological continuity may be good. This type of variation is often described as being nuggety or having a high nugget effect and can be measured quantitatively using the semi-variogram. Understanding of geological features such as reef texture and structure will provide improved models for the interpretation of assay data, drill core descriptions, etc. In this paper, a case study from the quartz-hosted gold occurrences in the Gwynfynydd mine, United Kingdom, is described. The work provides a starting point for models of lateral variation and demonstrates the types of structural and textural features that may be sought to give clues to the prediction of gold distribution in similar deposits.

Gold deposition at Gwynfynydd is primarily associated with the reef footwall. The host veins form a discrete group of structures that may have been emplaced early in the sequence of quartz veins forming the reef. This potentially exposes them to a maximum number of dissection events during repeat dilations of the lode. Gold was deposited in the local porosity at extreme concentrations, equivalent to kg/t grades, when the host fissure had become filled with a porous framework of crystalline quartz and sulfides. Distribution of porosity varied laterally along the vein as the result of the formation of clump-like growths of minerals from the vein walls. The growth style is relevant to the distribution of gold although it may not be relevant to the occurrence of gold in a particular vein. The preservation of pores with some connectivity late in the vein fill sequence may be important in permitting continued but slow fluid flows. This facilitates effective fluid reaction with wall rock-derived methane, thus changing the relative rates of gold and quartz deposition in favor of gold.

The textural studies explain the first-order control of nugget distribution at Gwynfynydd but do not allow for prediction and optimization of the resource estimation process. This is principally because of the very low geological continuity and poor predictability of the high-grade pockets. Nonetheless, the work does provide a clear geological explanation for the erratic nature of the gold. It indicates textures and structures that can be used to determine geological continuity of the gold-bearing elements within the gross reef envelope.


Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions, in which the solid phase material is composed of magnetic nanoparticles, while the base fluid can potentially be any fluid. The solid particles are held in suspension by weak intermolecular forces and may be made of materials with different magnetic properties. Magnetite is one of the materials used for its natural ferromagnetic properties. Heat transfer performance of ferrofluids should be carefully analyzed and considered for their potential of their use in wide range of applications. In this study, convective heat transfer experiments were conducted in order to characterize convective heat transfer enhancements with Lauric acid coated ironoxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticle based ferrofluids, which have volumetric fractions varying from 0% to ~5% and average particle diameter of 25 nm, in a hypodermic stainless steel microtube with an inner diameter of 514 Hm, an outer diameter of 819 Hm, and a heated length of 2.5 cm. Heat fluxes up to 184 W/cm2 were applied to the system at three different flow rates (1ml/s, 0.62ml/s and 0.36 ml/s). A decrease of around 100% in the maximum surface temperature (measured at the exit of the microtube) with the ferrofluid compared to the pure base fluid at significant heat fluxes (>100 W/cm2) was observed. Moreover, the enhancement in heat transfer increased with nanoparticle concentration, and there was no clue for saturation in heat transfer coefficient profiles with increasing volume fraction over the volume fraction range in this study (0%-5%). The promising results obtained from the experiments suggest that the use of ferrofluids for heat transfer, drug delivery, and biological applications can be advantageous and a viable alternative as new generation coolants and futuristic drug carriers.


US citizens, who have long relied heavily on their intelligence services for the comfort of believing that calamities from abroad will not suddenly afflict them, have made that reliance even heavier in recent years. In a poll taken by Daniel Yankelovich in June 2005, 65 percent of US citizens said that reforming the intelligence services is the best way to strengthen US security significantly. That view is reflected in the latest surge of rhetoric, inquiries, and countless other forms of attention directed at intelligence and how changing it might avoid calamities abroad. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The yearning for an intelligence fix as the key to assuring the nation's security, although especially prominent since September 11, 2001, is not new. It is rooted in an optimistic US political tradition that presumes that a democratic government will protect the people from harm if it is properly informed; incorrect information is, then, the most likely cause of a failure to provide that protection. It also is rooted in a comparably optimistic inclination to believe that any problem, especially one posing a serious threat to national security, can be solved with enough attention, resources, and ingenuity. Hence a recurrent theme: intelligence is broken, needs to be fixed, and fixing it will prevent recurrence of harm. Intelligence is, as 7th Circuit United States Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner has put it, a "natural scapegoat." The September 11 terrorist attack, one of the most traumatic events in the nation's history, led distraught US citizens to conclude that intelligence must have been the problem because surely leaders who had intelligence on such a horrible plot would have taken any steps necessary to prevent the attack. This, at the level of tactical intelligence about individual plots, is true. The first congressional inquiries into the disaster were entrusted to the intelligence committees. The independent 9/11 Commission, created to examine all issues associated with the attacks, chose to focus on a particular proposal of its own to reorganize the intelligence community. Its report included an authoritative account of the terrorist operation itself but was otherwise crafted to bolster support for its intelligence proposal, with a selective and misleading portrayal of the intelligence community's performance and relative inattention to other variables that will have far greater effect on the future incidence of terrorism against the United States. The commission's extensive and skillful public relations effort culminated in passage by the US Congress of legislation that incorporated most of its reorganization scheme. The US invasion of Iraq emerged as an intelligence issue when it became clear that the Iraqi unconventional weapons forming the basis of the call for war did not exist and as violence and disorder in Iraq steadily escalated. Still, for intelligence the Iraq imbroglio had a silver lining: it brought to light certain problems of tradecraft that contributed to intelligence errors in assessing Iraqi weapons programs, such as inadequate procedures for rechecking the credibility of sources. A new commission, chaired by Washington, DC, Circuit US Court of Appeals Judge Laurence Silberman and former senator Charles Robb, documented these shortcomings and, while eschewing any scheme of its own, made several dozen useful recommendations to reduce the chance of similar errors in the future. The interplay of the two issues of 9/11 and Iraq has impaired public understanding of what intelligence contributes to countering terrorism and avoiding ill-fated adventures such as the Iraq war. The occurrence of two huge debilitating events in less than two years wearing the "intelligence failure" label has had a multiplier effect in fostering sentiment that a broken intelligence system is the problem. One event is seen as an event; two events are seen as a pattern and a problem in need of a solution. …


Research shows that while judging accumulations of quantities over time (e.g., money in a bank account or CO2 in Earth's atmosphere), people assume that the shape of the accumulation is similar to the shape of the inflow (i.e., people rely on a correlation heuristic). Relying on the correlation heuristic is particularly worrisome for Earth's climate, as judging the CO2 accumulation according to its emissions (inflow) would underestimate the actual (nonlinear) increase. This misperception undermines the seriousness of climate problem and results in wait-and-see behavior. We report two experiments where the effectiveness of a physical representation is compared with graphical and text representations in reducing people's underestimation of nonlinear accumulation in different contexts and problems. A physical representation presents an accumulation using a picture that works as a metaphor. In the first experiment, participants drew the shape of an accumulation over time relying on physical or graphical representations in one of two contexts: carbon dioxide and marbles. Although the participants underestimated the accumulation in both contexts, underestimations were reduced in the physical representation compared with the graphical representation. In the second experiment, we extended the evaluation of physical representations against both text and graphical representations in two different climate problems (with linearly increasing or decreasing inflow). Again, underestimations of the accumulation were reduced in the physical representation compared with the other two representations, regardless of the nature of the problem. We discuss implications of using the physical representation for improving people's estimates of nonlinear CO2 accumulation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there has been a strong interest amongst States in matters relating to national security. While every State has a right to ensure security and control borders, it is also necessary to ensure that the legitimate security interests of States are consistent with their international human rights obligations and that immigration controls do not indiscriminately affect those refugees in need of international protection, so as not to undermine the international regime for protection of refugees. This article explores the links between the security of States and the international protection of refugees, focusing on the compatibility of both themes. Security is both a right of refugees and a legitimate interest of States. It is therefore important to understand that the security of States and the protection of refugees are complementary and mutually reinforcing. In this sense, legislation regarding refugees and fair and effective operational procedures for the determination of refugee status can be utilized by States as useful tools to solidify and strengthen their security.


Abstract. Global climate variability affects important local hydro-meteorological variables like precipitation and temperature. The Southern Oscillation (SO) is an easily quantifiable major driving force that gives impact on regional and local climate. The relationships between SO and local climate variation are, however, characterized by strongly nonlinear processes. Due to this, teleconnections between global-scale hydro-meteorological variables and local climate are not well understood. In this paper, we suggest to study these processes in terms of nonlinear dynamics. Consequently, the nonlinear dynamic relationship between the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), precipitation, and temperature in Fukuoka, Japan, is investigated using a nonlinear multivariable approach. This approach is based on the joint variation of these variables in the phase space. The joint phase-space variation of SOI, precipitation, and temperature is studied with the primary objective to obtain a better understanding of the dynamical evolution of local hydro-meteorological variables affected by global atmospheric-oceanic phenomena. The results from the analyses display rather clear low-order phase space trajectories when treating the time series individually. However, when plotting phase space trajectories for several time series jointly, complicated higher-order nonlinear relationships emerge between the variables. Consequently, simple data-driven prediction techniques utilizing phase-space characteristics of individual time series may prove successful. On the other hand, since either the time series are too short and/or the phase-space properties are too complex when analysing several variables jointly, it may be difficult to use multivariable statistical prediction techniques for the present investigated variables. In any case, it is essential to further pursue studies regarding links between the SOI and observed local climatic and other geophysical variables even if these links are not fully understood in physical terms.


Biofeedback is a method gaining increased interest and showing good results for a number of physical and psychological problems. Biofeedback training is mostly guided by an experienced clinician and the results largely rely on the clinician's competence. In this paper we propose a three phase computer assisted sensor-based biofeedback decision support system assisting less experienced clinicians, acting as second opinion for experienced clinicians. The three phase CBR framework is deployed to classify a patient, estimate initial parameters and to make recommendations for biofeedback training by retrieving and comparing with previous similar cases in terms of features extracted. The three phases work independently from each other. Moreover, fuzzy techniques are incorporated into our CBR system to better accommodate uncertainty in clinicians reasoning as well as decision analysis. All parts in the proposed framework have been implemented and primarily validated in a prototypical system. The initial result shows how the three phases functioned with CBR technique to assist biofeedback training. Eventually the system enables the clinicians to allow a patient to train himself/herself unsupervised.


This study analyzes a data set of 701 U.S. teenagers (ages 12-18) that merges an online survey of social network site (SNS) preferences with administrative records from their public school districts. Using a multinomial logistic model, I examine whether offline divides across gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, self-esteem, and social capital predict teenagers' membership into the popular SNSs, Facebook and Myspace. The results show that the characteristics of teens that use Facebook, Myspace, or both SNSs show distinct differences, which illuminate questions of digital divide and complex adolescent social practices as they relate to online participation. The study offers two main contributions by providing an analysis of: (a) teenage SNS users, a population that is less examined in the research literature of online communities; and, (b) the relationship between their off-line characteristics and online social networks.


Peer-support has existed in prisons both in the U. K. and abroad for decades, primarily in the form of discernible yet informal 'programs'or 'schemes'. Through these programs, prisoners are able to access support from fellow prisoners for issues ranging from emotional distress and addiction problems to practical and educational needs. Peer-support, as a general 'help resource', is underscored by the principles of mutual reciprocity, empathy, and shared problem solving. Although this resource has existed in prisons for decades, research focussing explicitly on those who uphold peer-support roles is virtually non-existent. This is surprising when considering the apparent benefits of peer-led helping (i.e. prisoners upholding meaningful empathetic roles) and the ever-present global obsession with identifying 'what works' in addressing the problem of crime. It is even more surprising when considering that peer-helping boasts the innate and transparent benefit of being virtually cost-free. Indeed, an intervention that has organically established itself in the prison context, remained there for decades, and has clocked up no calculable monetary cost warrants further investigation. To this end, the overarching aim of this thesis and its empirical chapters was to provide a deeper understanding of how adopting a peer-support role in prison may affect offenders' attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and experiences of imprisonment. This was approached qualitatively and on two levels in terms of offence type (generalised and sexual), and three levels in terms of context (personal, institutional, and social). Three empirical chapters (studies) represent the core of this theses.

Study 1 explored the broad construct of peer-support with those who uphold peer-helping roles in prison. It asked participants questions relating to how peer-support roles are delivered, experienced, and assimilated into a number offending contexts (i.e. at an experiential and institutional level and at a personal subjective narrative level). Given this holistic focus, this study utilised a sizable (N=22) sample comprised of mixed offence type participants who resided across three U.K. prisons. It relied on semi-structured interviews and employed thematic analysis to draw out recurrent notions that portrayed an understanding of the dynamics of peer-support in prison and its utility amongst offenders. The analysis within this study revealed that the implications of peer-helping in prison transcend far and wide the simple notion of shared problem solving. For incarcerated people, upholding a peer-support role offers a wellspring of meaningful activity that can be used to cope with prison deprivation, enhance well-being, contribute to good lives and possible selves, and energise cognitive transformations. Ultimately, this study introduced the encouraging notion that through peer-support roles, prisoners can gather forward momentum and create trajectories that are not predetermined by being doomed to deviance.

Study 2 continues the enquiry into the utility of peer-support in prisons and focuses on the experiences of the role-holders themselves. This time there is an explicit focus on a smaller sample (N=15) and on sexual offenders. The justification for these decisions was based on both previous exemplary studies, and the fact that sexual offenders represent an under-researched, poorly understood, and deeply ostracised population. Sexual offenders are also required, more so than other offending populations, to go through intensive treatment programs and demonstrate reduced risk. Therefore, such offenders were considered an important population with which to explore peer-support, given that it appeared from study 1 to engender a community and restorative aspect typified by 'doing good'. The inherently personal-subjective and deeply phenomenological insights that characterised much of the dataset in study 1 featured in the decision to employ an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) in this study. Here, the 15 participants who upheld roles as 'Listeners', 'Insiders', and 'Shannon-Trust' mentors participated in semi-structured interviews. The IPA reiterated many of the findings from study 1 in terms of the experiential benefits of peer-support and the importance of meaning-making in prison. However, analysis also revealed specific benefits of peer-support for sexual offender populations, such as the chance to earn self-forgiveness and consequently move away from harmful labels such as 'monster'. There were also some important implications alluded to throughout this chapter that related to maximising sexual offender treatment gains, and these are discussed alongside rehabilitative climate and therapeutic community bodies of literature.

Study 3 edged away from the phenomenological experiences of the individuals who upheld peer-support roles and asked questions about peer-support as a wider level of intervention that might be formally assimilated into the institutional context if prison. A convenience subset sample of participants from studies 1 and 2 were follow-up interviewed and their thoughts about the status and potential utility of their peer-support programs were explored. The objective here was to explore peer-support on more of a structural level, but while still relying on the insights from the experts – the peer-supporters serving time. Therefore, participants' general understandings of peer-support, rehabilitation, imprisonment, and how these constructs interact were sought. The aim here was to generate an understanding of the organisational and structural influences that govern rehabilitative work, and how these can either represent challenges or opportunities for the future of peer-support. The questions put to participants yielded responses that were thematically analysed and reduced to three superordinate themes ('through the gate implications', 'stumbling blocks', and 'implications for policy and practice'). The analysis highlights several ways in which peer-support can assist the criminal justice system in dealing with the intricate challenges that come with attempting to rehabilitate and reintegrate offenders. A set of stumbling blocks (institutional challenges) that need to be addressed in order to maximise the utility of peer-support in prisons are also identified and unpacked.

These empirical findings from this research are reflected on in the final two chapters of this thesis, firstly within the scope of a literature-informed discussion, and secondly within the framework of desistance and reintegration theory. The former looks to tie any loose-ends between the literature review and the analytical chapters, and rework any early assumptions and definitions according to the research findings. Accordingly, the extant theoretical definitions of peer-support are re-examined, and some suggestions for how these can be extrapolated to incorporate the prison environment are offered. Also, many of the theoretical understandings interweaved into the analyses in this thesis are revisited, and the degree to which they synergise with peer-support in offending contexts is deliberated. One of the main discussions in this section relates to the extent to which peer-support roles might compliment desistance and whether, therefore, it may be considered to have an innate redemptive property. The final chapter proposes some potential uses for peer-support, mainly for the endeavours of operationalising and shaping theory, and contributing to practical work with offenders.

This thesis closes with a discussion of its limitations and its hopes for the future. It departs with two fundamental messages: 1) a call to policy makers and scholars to acknowledge and further investigate the vast utility of peer-support in prisons; 2) a plea to society to listen to and be willing to accept the people that so often want to be a part of it.


The objective of this study is to assess and analyse the Greek-Cypriots educational policy regarding elementary and secondary education in Pafos' province, and to evaluate its contribution to the development of education in Cyprus during the British administration from October' s revolt (1931) till the Independence of Cyprus (1960). This aim includes an examination of the administration of education in Pafos and its organisation within the historical context, which includes both the Church and the Colonial Government' s involvement. It also includes an appraisal of education ' s operation and content in Pafos' province and particularly the school' s management, the type of the schools that operated that time as well as the students' participation and withdrawal. Finally, the thesis intention is to investigate the probability of the influence of certain policies from the English educational system to mainly secondary schools and to determine and interpret the policy that the Colonial Government sought to impose on the secondary education of Pafos. The study concludes that the British administration from 1931 and on tried to impose the centralisation of the educational system in order to influence the Greek-Cypriots in favour of the British Government. The Colonial authorities tried to influence schools timetables and curricula by emphasising on teaching English language and history at the expense of the Greek ones. However, the British could not put into effect their intention s, due to the pressure that the majority of the citizens and the Church exercised on the Colonial Government. Finally, the thesis remarks that Greek-Cypriots education in Pafos' province was strong enough to survive and improve not only through schools, but through the socio-cultural development due the initiative s of its scholar-citizens as well.


In today's world of increasing scarcity of resources and economic stagnation, we still see rapid developments in computer science and user experience towards increasingly mobile, intelligent and context-aware computing systems. These innovations represent a new frontier for transformative innovation on a societal level. They hold the promise of breakthroughs in how people can collaborate through dynamically coordinated, efficient and reciprocal service transactions to improve the quality of life for all. I fix your car, you do a neighbor's taxes, she designs my new kitchen, and so on. Existing organizations, which are already pursuing the goal of leveraging untapped community potential, do exist. These are known as as timebanks and community exchanges and have been around and increasing in number for quite some time, but they have grown only slowly in relation to the need for their services. This is partly due to a lack of adequate resources devoted towards setting up and running them and also to constraints in the design of the systems that they rely on to coordinate the transactions between community participants. This paper highlights the possibilities for today's researchers and innovators to turbocharge community collaboration by developing the required technologies. It is based on past research and our own ongoing research conducted towards building a mobile app for timebanking. The guiding vision is to develop more intelligent and context-aware systems to support on-the-fly service brokering that will greatly increase the scope and efficiency of acts of reciprocal altruism.


Microorganisms represent the oldest biological forms on the planet and reside in virtually all environments capable of supporting life. These metabolically diverse microscopic organisms are responsible for driving global energy fluxes, including the carbon and nutrient cycles which dramatically affect soil health and nutrient uptake in higher plants, and which support plant growth, health and productivity.1 Modern "omics" technologies have been employed to better elucidate the complexities of these microbial-plant relationships. However, these sophisticated methods generate complex data that requires time-consuming interpretation and are too costly to be used "on-farm" by growers as decision making tools to optimize agricultural practices to increase crop productivity. The scientific and academic communities continue to advance our knowledge of complex microbial-plant ecological relationships; but there is an immediate need to develop rapid, low cost diagnostics tools, which growers can use to better apply this growing body of knowledge to their individual farms and successfully increase crop yields. This Commentary briefly reviews current literature documenting the importance of microorganisms to crop productivity and the complex relationship between components of a productive agricultural soil microbiome. We also offer a forward-looking perspective regarding on-farm tools that could enable growers to capitalize in predictable and controllable ways, on this expanding knowledge of how microbial-plant relationships can contribute to improved crop performance to benefit growers.


All atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of planar Na+-counterion-neutralized polyacrylic acid (PAA) brushes are performed for varying degrees of ionization (and thereby varying charge density) and varying grafting density. Variation in the PE charge density (or degree of ionization) and grafting density leads to massive changes of the properties of the PE molecules (quantified by the changes in the height and the mobility of the PE brushes) as well as the local arrangement and distribution of the brush-supported counterions and water molecules within the brushes. The effect on the counterions is manifested by the corresponding variation of the counterion mobility, counterion concentration, extent of counterion binding to the charged site of the PE brushes, water-in-salt-like structure formation, and counterion-water-oxygen radial distribution function within the PE brushes. On the other hand, the effect on water molecules is manifested by the corresponding variation of water-oxygen-water-oxygen RDF, local water density, water-water and water-PE functional group hydrogen bond networks, static dielectric constant of water molecules, orientational tetrahedral order parameter, and water mobility. Enforcing such varying degree of ionization of weak polyelectrolytes is possible by changing the pH of the surrounding medium. Thus, our results provide insights into the changes in microstructure (at the atomistic level) of weak polyionic brushes at varying pH. We anticipate that this knowledge will prove to be vital for the efficient design of several nano-scale systems employing PE brushes such as nanomechanical gates, current rectifiers, etc.


Following the discovery of gold in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (Canada), Giant Mine officially opened in 1948. Mining activities ceased shortly after the mine's owner went bankrupt in 1999. Since 2004, the mine has been the responsibility of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). Historical activities at the mine have resulted in the generation of arsenic trioxide dust stored in underground chambers, contaminated soil and waste rock, four tailings containment areas, seven open pits, and contaminated water and sediment in Baker Creek, which traverses the mine site. The site has been undergoing progressive reclamation to stabilise the site since 2005, with final closure activities anticipated to be implemented in 2021.
The roughly 50-year operating period of the mine resulted in significant disturbance and impacts on the health and lifestyles of local people, especially members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) and the North Slave Metis Alliance (NSMA). Giant Mine is within the Akaitcho Dene asserted territory and is close to the YKDFN communities of N'Dilo and Dettah, and is within the traditional land use area of the Tlicho, known as Mowhi Gogha De Niitlee. Giant Mine is also situated within the municipal boundaries of the City of Yellowknife.
The closure and reclamation plan for Giant Mine was submitted in April 2019 to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for approval. The Giant Mine Remediation Project (GMRP) team made decisions about closure options for Giant Mine using input from an extensive engagement process with YKDFN, NSMA, the City of Yellowknife, and other community and government stakeholders. The goals of the GMRP are to minimise public and worker health and safety risks, minimise the release of contaminants from the site into the environment, remediate the site in a way that inspires public trust, and implement an approach that is cost-effective and robust over the long-term.
As part of the approval process to commence remediation activities, the project team is required to complete a quantitative risk assessment (QRA). There is an explicit requirement to determine acceptability thresholds in consultation with potentially affected communities and to examine risks from a holistic perspective that includes environmental, social, health, and financial effects. The approval and implementation of the closure and reclamation plan is also occurring within the broader context of reconciliation with Indigenous people in Canada and growing requirements for the federal government to meaningfully engage Indigenous people on actions affecting their lands and resources. Together, these requirements present a unique challenge for the Giant Mine QRA as potentially affected communities rarely participate in, or provide specific input to, a QRA process. An extensive literature review found no publicly available documentation of community involvement in QRAs conducted in natural resource industries.
Consequently, the GMRP team and its consultants had to develop an innovative, fit-for-purpose engagement strategy to complete the QRA. This strategy is described herein, and specific outcomes of engagement with Indigenous and stakeholder groups are provided.


A number of field-campaigns in the tropics have been conducted in the recent years with the mobile LIDAR systems MARL and ComCAL aboard the research vessel Polarstern in the tropical Atlantic and at Paramaribo in Suriname (5.8N.2W ). Generally,, high coverage with cirrus of about 80% was observed in the inner tropics. The frequency of occurrence of subvisual clouds was found to be clearly enhanced compared to similar observations performed with the same instrument at mid-latitudes. Extremely thin cirrus with optical depth below 10−3 were frequently observed near the cold point tropopause. We investigated the conditions of ice cloud occurrence in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) with a newly developed trajectory model andfound that the cirrus clouds are almost always present in air masses that currently experience a temperature minimum. This model also indicates that TTL cirrus efficiently dehydrates ascending air. Most likely, the extremely thin cirrus at the CPT are rather composed of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) than of pure ice. The temperature in the TTL is influenced by downward propagating equatorial Kelvin waves. We find a clear correlation between the temperature anomalies introduced by these waves and the occurrence of thin cirrus. This finding suggests an influence of wave activity on the dehydration characteristics of the TTL.


e15652 Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a particularly poor prognosis. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy are required. The aim of the present phase I study was to evaluate the safety, immune responses and clinical activity of a vaccine based on autologous dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with a specific MUC1 peptide in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.

METHODS
Five patients who had pancreatic cancer ductal adenocarcinoma expressing MUC1 in stage of III/IV were enrolled to the clinical trial. Patients underwent leukapheresis to generate dendritic cells by culture in vitro with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 for 5 days. Dendritic cells were then pulsed overnight with MUC1 peptide (GVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPAH) and harvested for vaccination. Dendritic cells (3×106-6×106) were injected intradermally every 2 weeks for 3-4 times.

RESULTS
All patients remained with progressive disease. Four patients developed strong T-cell IFN-γ and Granzyme B Elispot responses to the vaccine. Most interestingly, the patient who was treated with the highest number of DC(6×106) had more number of CTL than other patients and showed delayed-type hypersensitivity responses at injection sites and this patient stopped application of the analgetics. Another patient with relapsed pancreatic cancer who had finished the 4 times of vaccination and then followed 6 times of chemotherapy with Gemcitabine had a surprisingly long term of survival of 12 month. No evidence of significant treatment related toxicity or auto-immunity was observed.

CONCLUSIONS
This study showed the safety and clinical response of MUC1 peptide-pulsed dendritic cell therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. It confirms the capability of this DC vaccine to stimulate an immune response in patients with pancreatic cancer even in the presence of a large tumor burden. Dendritic cell therapy is recommended for further clinical studies in pancreatic cancer patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


The European Space Agency Euclid mission aims to answer the question of how the universe originated through the mapping of the dark Universe. One method to investigate this geometry is to measure subtle changes in ellipticity using image sensors such as the charge-coupled device (CCD). However, the radiation environment in space plays a major part in the performance of CCD-based camera systems. When placed in space, a CCD becomes damaged by the radiation environment, and this can lead to a "smearing" of the charge, acting to change the ellipticity, and therefore, one must be able to separate the changes in ellipticity caused by radiation damage from those the mission aims to measure. To this end, the radiation-damage-induced shape changes require an in-depth investigation such that optimized operation can be achieved. A Monte Carlo simulation is being used to predict this impact, backed by experimental data from a detector formerly baselined for the mission. During the experimental study, an investigation was undertaken into the serial readout of the CCD to demonstrate an approach toward performance optimization through a consideration of the trap species involved. A change in the clocking scheme was found to result in a factor of 3 reduction in charge transfer inefficiency.


To respond to the needs of its authors, the IEEE has recently moved to expand the options that it provides for open access to its more than 125 journals in the IEEE Xplore digital library. There are three basic options. The first uses a hybrid open access model with the author choosing at submission between traditional and open access options. Upon acceptance with the open access option, the author pays a fee to enable unrestricted public access to the article in IEEE Xplore. With the traditional option, the article is available on a subscription basis to members and libraries. In the second option for open access, there are several new fully open access topical journals such as IEEE Journal on Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine. These are offered in electronic form only, and they typically have a rapid review cycle. The final option is a multidisciplinary open access mega journal, IEEE Access, which spans all of the IEEE fields of interest. For our three major RAS publications - IEEE Transactions on Robotics, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, and IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine (RAM) - all have adopted the hybrid open access model. In fact, RAM is the only magazine within the IEEE to be approved for open access. On another note, it is reported that the IEEE/Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ) International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) was held in Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal, 7-12 October 2012. This is the largest cosponsored conference for the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS).


BACKGROUND
To date, there are no data on long-term use of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS; myfortic) from time of renal transplantation. We report the first long-term safety and efficacy data on EC-MPS when administered for up to 3 years post transplant.

METHODS
De novo renal transplant recipients completing 1 year of treatment in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial of EC-MPS versus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were invited to take part in an open-label extension during which all patients received EC-MPS 720 mg b.i.d. Results from the period 12 - 36 months post transplant were compared to comparable data from MMF-treated patients taking part in two studies of everolimus versus MMF (RAD 201 and RAD 251).

RESULTS
Of 367 patients completing the blinded core study, 247(62%) entered the open-label extension phase. During the first 24 months of the extension, the incidence, type and severity of adverse events were comparable between the newly-exposed and long-term EC-MPS patients. There were 2 deaths in the newly-exposed group and 4 among long-term EC-MPS patients, with 1 and 2 graft losses, respectively. Six patients (5%) in the newly-exposed group and 4 (3%) in the long-term EC-MPS group experienced biopsy-proven acute rejection. Cross-study comparisons indicated that the tolerability profile of EC-MPS was similar to MMF, including the incidence of adverse events, infections and malignancies, as was the incidence of efficacy events.

CONCLUSION
These results demonstrate that EC-MPS with cyclosporine and steroids provides good long-term efficacy and tolerability, and confirm the safety of converting renal transplant patients from MMF to EC-MPS.


Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders caused by genetic defects that affect transmission at the neuromuscular junction.1 To date, 10 genes are known to cause CMS if mutated.2

Mutations in the muscle specific kinase ( MUSK ) gene have been published in a single family worldwide.3 Two siblings of this family were reported carrying heteroallelic MUSK mutations.

### Case reports.

We report on CMS caused by a novel homozygous missense mutation in MUSK in 5 affected sibs (patients 1–5) from a consanguineous Sudanese family. The father and the maternal grandmother are first-degree cousins.

The patients were followed up for 5 years (ages at the end of follow-up: 9–19.5 years). All studies were carried out with informed consent of the patients' parents and approved by the institutional ethics review board.

All affected individuals demonstrated ptosis at age 1–3 years and fatigability, when walking for a long distance, more pronounced in the evening. At the first examination they had exercise-induced weakness of the deltoid muscle. Four of them had partial ophthalmoparesis (except patient 3). Patients 2 and 3 showed modified Gowers sign and waddling gait or pronounced lordosis, respectively. Treatment with pyridostigmine (30–60 mg/day) led to slight benefit. Increased doses were reported to result in the "feeling of muscle stiffness" and the medication was discontinued.

Five years later (table), there was some progression, i.e., ophthalmoparesis in all, involving additional directions of gaze in patients 2 and 5 and mild facial weakness. Patient …


Despite increasing recognition that integrating evolutionary theory into conservation decisions can achieve better long‐term outcomes, there has been little progress adapting management strategies. A commonly hypothesized barrier to better integration is poor understanding of evolutionary biology among conservation practitioners. To assess this claim, we surveyed conservation practitioners to determine their understanding of evolutionary concepts. We found that most practitioners had a good understanding of general concepts (evolution and genetic diversity), but a much poorer understanding of other relevant concepts. These findings suggest that knowledge is limiting the ability of conservation practitioners to effectively manage evolutionary processes. Encouragingly, practitioners educated in evolutionary biology and population genetics had a better understanding, suggesting focused training is important. However, better integration of evolutionary theory will require that evolutionary biologists develop a culture of knowledge exchange, actively engaging practitioners to improve management. Otherwise, our findings suggest it is unlikely practitioners will be able to adapt their practices.


abstract:Recent science education research indicates that classroom discussions about the underrepresentation of women in science help to promote female undergraduate student academic success and retention, especially in physics and chemistry. The "History of Women in Science" workshop described in this article provides a promising model for engaging students in these kinds of discussions. We have found that using a historical approach to teach students about the achievements and challenges faced by women in science is a powerful and productive way to engage with these issues. In this activity, students become detectives, reconstructing the history of women in science at our institution by tracing science course enrollments in the early to mid-twentieth century and investigating how the science curriculum itself has changed over time as indicated by the subjects faculty were hired to teach and course descriptions. Students also learn about the creation and eventual amalgamation of science clubs for men and women as described in the student newspaper. These examples from our archives offer a compelling and instructive set of documents with which to discuss women's experiences in and contributions to science. Moreover, this type of "discovery" assignment appeals broadly to all students and may be easily tailored to other institutional settings. By examining accounts of women in science from the archives, students develop a deeper understanding of how gender stereotypes can change over time and affect who studies science.


Drought is a slow-onset hazard affecting ecosystems and human society. Although it is difficult to assess the uncertainty associated with drought, it is very important to identify the severity of drought. Using a dynamic naive Bayesian classifier (DNBC), this study combined the strengths of three conventional drought indices, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI), and the Vegetation Health Index (VHI), and developed a DNBC-based drought index (DNBC-DI) to identify overall drought conditions. After comparing recent actual drought events with the drought indices, the drought severity was classified into five states using them: severe wet, moderate wet, normal, moderate drought, and severe drought. We evaluated the performance of the DNBC-DI for representing actual hydrological droughts that occurred since 2000. In this study, the actual hydrological drought was represented by the Streamflow Drought Index (SDI). Our results indicated that the accuracy of the DNBC-DI was 60%, which was higher than SPI (40%), ESI (40%), and VHI (0.41%). Even though in practice, the evaluation of drought is highly dependent on the drought index, this study tried to develop a practical drought index that can be used for comprehensive drought assessment. Article history: Received 11 August 2018 Revised 29 July 2019 Accepted 8 October 2019


A European central banking institution will be an essential feature of the final stage of the European Economic and Monetary Union. The EC Committee of Central Bank Governors has recently produced a Draft Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank. The draft Statute mandates the maintenance of price stability as the explicit primary objective of the ECB. and the necessary monetary functions and operations of the system are defined in accordance with standard practice. The maintenance of a stable financial and payments system, however. is not an explicit objective of the ECB. and only limited banking functions are admitted as one of the system's tasks. The draft Statute clearly subscribes to a "narrow" concept of the System of Central Banks with a single objective-monetary stability-rather than a "broad" concept with the additional objective of financial-market stability. In this paper we examine the consequences of a "narrow" central banking system for Community financial markets, We conclude that in the absence of such banking functions it will be necessary to slow or even prevent the ongoing development of Community-wide liquid. securitized financial markets, supported by a large-volume wholesale payments system. Instead, the historically prevalent bank-intermediated financial system will have to be maintained to lower the likelihood of liquidity crises that demand central bank intervention.


The construction industry in Brazil has great importance both socially and economically, but generates more than 50% of municipal solid waste and consuming large quantities of raw materials, energy and water. Thus the sector is strategic under the environmental point of view, since small changes in their processes cause the reduction of environmental impacts. To meet the current housing shortage, many building systems are being employed in the country, among which, the Light Steel Framing (LSF), which consists of a rational building system, and industrial productivity. The aim of this study was to simulate the amount of embodied energy original (EEi) of a standard project aimed at social housing using the LSF as a constructive system, applying the concepts of Life Cycle Analysis of Energy (ACVE). To achieve this goal initially was held to review the literature on sustainability, and LSF construction system ACVE. Following the adjustment was made for a project for social housing in structural masonry designed to LSF. From the specifications for materials and components, their respective values of the quantitative EEi and held the simulation of the quantity of EEi considering three scenarios: project conceived in structural masonry concrete block, masonry, structural ceramic blocks and LSF. Comparing the results of three simulations, it was concluded that the project designed masonry structural ceramic blocks showed the lowest absolute value of the EEi in relation to other systems simulated (117.6 GJ and 3.0 GJ / m2 ), with the LSF presented an intermediate value (154.3 GJ and 3.9 GJ / m2), but very close to the masonry of ceramic blocks, while designed masonry concrete blocks had a higher value (262 , 0 GJ and 6.6 GJ / m2), largely due to the high value of IAS adopted for the concrete. It is noteworthy that these results should not be extrapolated as EE values were used for materials and components used in these construction systems referenced in the international literature, which indicates the need to build a national database about. Key-words:, Life Cycle Analysis, Embodied Energy, Light Steel Framing, Sustainability.


This study examines within-person and cross-person relations between depressive symptoms, harsh parenting, and parental rejection in low-income Filipino mothers and fathers of adolescents using an actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). Mother and father dyads (N = 81, Mage  = 43.48, SD = 8.66) recruited from urban neighborhoods in the Philippines completed orally administered questionnaires on depressive symptoms, harsh parenting, and rejection. Results showed that mothers' scores and fathers' scores on depressive symptoms did not significantly differ and that mothers scored significantly higher than fathers on harsh parenting and rejection. Dyadic analyses using the APIM showed that the actor effect of depressive symptoms on harsh parenting was statistically significant for fathers only and that the actor effects of depressive symptoms on rejection were statistically significant for both mothers and fathers. No partner effects on harsh parenting and rejection were statistically significant. These findings contribute to the robust evidence linking parental depressive symptoms to negative parenting behaviors and highlight the need to attend to both fathers' psychological health and mothers' psychological health in efforts to reduce harsh and rejecting parenting behaviors among Filipino parents.


We demonstrate a novel pulse-compression technique that uses the self-confinement of two-dimensional spatial solitons propagating in bulk nonlinear media to increase the spectral bandwidth followed by a grating pair for recompression. Output pulses of 19-fs duration with 0.6-μJ energies are routinely obtained at a repetition rate of 8.6 kHz. Unlike other high-energy compression methods, soliton compression offers both high repetition rates and a potentially unlimited wavelength range.


This study developed two instruments, the Self-Care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Inventory (SC-COPDI) and the COPD-Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale (SCES), and tested their psychometric properties on a convenience sample of 498 patients from Northern, Central, and Southern Italy. First, the domains and the items of the SC-SCOPDI were generated based on the middle-range theory of self-care of chronic illness, comprising the dimensions of self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring, and self-care management, and the SCES-COPD was developed accordingly. Second, we assessed the content validity of each scale. Third, we conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study to test their structural validity, convergent and discriminative validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability. The theoretical dimensions of the two instruments were confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was demonstrated by the correlation among the three self-care scales and the Self-Efficacy Scale, and discriminative validity by higher self-care scale scores in individuals with greater COPD severity and poorer health status. The global reliability index ranged from .78 to .92 for all scales. The intraclass correlation coefficients were higher than .70. Further studies are needed to confirm the psychometric properties of the two instruments in different COPD populations and countries to extend their use in clinical practice.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of regulations, reforms and legal environment on dividend policy in a different institutional setting. Particularly, it examines the firm-level cash dividend behaviour of publicly listed firms in Turkey in the post-2003 period, since there were major economic and structural reforms as well as significant regulatory changes of dividend payout rules imposed by the supervisory bodies. Design/methodology/approach - The paper focuses on a recent large panel data set of 264 Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE)-listed firms over a ten-year period 2003-2012. First, it employs a modified specification of Lintner's (1956) partial adjustment model for analysis regarding target payout ratio and dividend smoothing. Second, it performs a logit model for analysis in identifying the link between financial characteristics and the likelihood of paying dividends. Findings - The results show that ISE firms now follow the same determinants as suggested by Lintner. They, indeed, have long-term payout ratios and adjust their cash dividends by a moderate level of smoothing, and therefore adopt stable dividend policies (although less stable policies compared to their counterparts in the developed US market) as a signalling mechanism over the period 2003-2012. Moreover, the results also report that ownership structure concentration affects the target payout ratio and dividend smoothing in the Turkish market. In addition, the results further show that more profitable, more mature and larger sized ISE firms are more likely to pay cash dividends, whereas ISE firms with higher investment opportunities and more debt are less likely to distribute cash dividends in the post-2003 period. Originality/value - To the best of authors' knowledge, this paper is the first major research that examines the implications of reforms and regulations on cash dividend payments and dividend smoothing over time in Turkey during its market integration process in the post-2003 period.


Many health maintenance organizations (HMOs) have implemented programs providing varying degrees of annual drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in their plans. Older adult plan members in an HMO operating in central Massachusetts were able to choose among 3 drug benefit options starting January 1, 1994: full coverage for prescription drugs, a maximum of $1000/year in coverage, or no drug coverage. As such, cost containment policies have been shown to affect prescription drug use and other types of health service utilization. The unintended effects of this policy are important to consider. This research investigated the effects of type of drug benefit plan chosen on use of lipid lowering agents (LLA), a group of drugs of well documented benefit for both primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), which continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. The objectives of this study were a) to describe LLA utilization during a oneyear period, for both prevalent and new users, and to compare this utilization with various patient characteristics including gender, age group, prescriber specialty, comorbidities (CHD, diabetes, hypertension), and choice of drug benefit plan option; b) to examine differences in persistence to LLAs among members of different drug benefit plans; c) to determine the effect of drug plan benefit option on the type of statin drugs, a class of LLAs, prescribed (expensive versus the less expensive statins). Analyses were performed using 2229 seniors who were continuously enrolled between July I , I 993 and June 30, 1996 and had a prescription for an LLA. Of these, 1551 were studied to describe the LLA utilization during a one-year period (paperl), 322 to examine persistence to LLA (paper2), and 484 to investigate the type of statin prescribed (paper3). Statins were the most widely prescribed group of LLAs among both prevalent (61.8%) and new (65.5%) users, and a very low rate of combination therapy was found in both prevalent (1.6%) and new (0.9%) users of LLAs. This may, in part, explain why many patients on LLAs do not reach their target cholesterol levels since combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy in lowering cholesterol levels. The type of drug benefit plan option did not affect choice among LLAs, but comorbidities, mainly CHO and diabetes, seem to be among the main factors that influenced drug selection, possibly through affecting lipid levels. Patients with CHO were more frequently prescribed statin monotherapy (p<0.000 l in prevalent use; p= 0.0028 in new use) and combination therapy (p=0.0467 in prevalent use) and Jess frequently prescribed bile acid sequestrants (p<0.0001 for prevalent use). Diabetic patients more frequently used fibrates (p=0.0032 for prevalent use), less frequently used bile acid sequestrants (p=0.0007 for prevalent use; p=0.0329 for new use), and niacin (p=0.0336 in prevalent use) compared to nondiabetics. Other observed differences include: females were more frequently prescribed bile acid sequestrants compared to males (p=0.0213 for prevalent use; p=O.O 168 for new use), which could be a result of confounding by diabetes since the significant difference disappeared after restricting the analysis to diabetics or non-diabetics. Cardiologists prescribed bile acid sequestrants more frequently (p=0.0008 for new use) and prescribed fibrates less frequently (p=0.0092 for prevalent use) than internists, and finally patients aged 65-69 were less frequently prescribed a bile acid sequestrant compared to other age groups (p=0.0006 in prevalent use). The overall discontinuation rate for LLAs increased with time from 18.3% after 6 months of therapy, to 46.4% at 12 months, to 66.3% at 18 months. Statin users had better persistence than non-statin users in the bivariate (p=0.0004) and multivariate (HR=0.536; CI=0.375-0.766; p=0.0006) models. In the bivariate models, males had better persistence than females (p=0.0078), and CHD patients had better persistence than non-CHD patients (p=0.0424), but no significant differences with regard to gender or CHD existed after controlling for covariates in the multivariate model. No significant differences existed with plan type in the bivariate model (p=0.3121) or multivariate model (HR= 0.877; CI=0.610-1.260; p=0.4777). Other variables, diabetes, other medications ~3 , age ~70 , were not significantly associated with persistence as well. There was no significant association between the drug benefit plan option and statin type prescribed (OR=0.654; CI=0.376-1.139; p=0.1335) after controlling for potential confounders including gender, age ~70, comorbidities (CHD, diabetes, hypertension), and physician prescriber specialty. There were no significant associations with other predictor variables as well. In sum, research results generally indicate that the policy of drug benefit plan option initiated at the HMO among older adult members did not significantly influence the choice among or persistence to LLAs.


Recent work stimulated by Piaget & Inhelder's (1956) account of spatial development indicates that children as young as 4 years of age are capable of using Euclidian coordinate reference systems. However, the exact basis for this early ability is yet to be established; specifically, although we know a good deal about the conditions under which young children are capable of interpreting spatial coordinate cues to locate an object, less is known about their ability to construct spatial coordinate cues to indicate the location of an object. The current study investigates the ability of children aged 4-5 years to locate a hidden object by coordinating information provided by markers in orthogonal dimensions (interpretation task) and to correctly position orthogonally orientated markers to indicate the location of a hidden object (construction task). Performance was superior on the construction task, with a clear majority of children performing significantly above chance. Additionally, performance on the interpretation task improved following the construction task. The results serve to extend rather than falsify the Piagetian account, by indicating that in simple tasks 4- to 5-year-olds are capable of both interpreting and constructing coordinate dimensions. It is possible that the child's engagement in the activity of construction may have made the task principles more transparent, enhancing performance in the process. The findings have consequences as to the age and manner in which children are introduced to tasks, such as map work, which involve the use of dimensional coordination.


We have constructed a grape BAC library using the cultivar Syrah. The library contains 55,296 clones stored in 144 384-well microtiter plates. A random sampling of 381 BACs indicated an average insert size of 144 kb with a range of 30 to 355 kb, and less than 4% of the clones do not contain inserts. Eighty-nine percent of BAC clones in the library have an average insert size greater than 100 kb. Based on a genome size of 483 Mb, library coverage is 16.5 haploid genome equivalents. Screening the BAC library colony filters with cpDNA sequences showed that contamination of the genomic library with chloroplast clones was low (1.5%). Library screening of an 11X coverage (2 BAC colony filters) with 12 cDNA probes corresponding to flavonoid and stilbene biosynthesis genes resulted in an average of 13 hits per probe (range = 1 to 27). To gain a glimpse into the grape genome and evaluate the library for sequence-tagged connector (STC) development, 768 BAC clones were end sequenced in both forward and reverse directions. The STCs were queried against the SWISS-PROT database and significant hits were sorted according to putative function.


An examination of the professional practice of engineers in many disciplines reveals a history of engineers developing highly sophisticated tools to eliminate the need to 'do mathematics' in the conventional sense. This paper considers aspects of the history of a number of what I shall call mathematical 'meta-tools' in the fields of electronics, telecommunications and control engineering. I argue that, for most engineers, 'doing mathematics' has become something categorically different from the mathematics of physical scientists or mathematicians. The paper reviews the origins and changing fortunes of a number of classic information engineering meta-tools that appeared in the period just before or after the Second World War: the Nyquist and Bode plots (early 1930s); the Smith Chart (1939); the Nichols Chart (1947); and the root-locus technique (1948). The 1950s and 1960s saw an increasing mathematicization of engineering education, linked to the rise of the notion of 'engineering science' that was driven to a large extent by the legacy of WW2 research and development and the post-war funding environment in the USA and elsewhere. Such changes, and the arrival of digital computers, meant that the utility of the earlier diagrammatic tools was often played down or questioned. In recent years, however, such tools have been incorporated into powerful engineering software, where their function now is not to avoid computation, but to mediate between the user and the machine carrying out the computation.


DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) is a Stage IV ground-based dark energy experiment that will study baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) and the growth of structure through redshift-space distortions with a wide-area galaxy and quasar redshift survey. To trace the underlying dark matter distribution, spectroscopic targets will be selected in four classes from imaging data. We will measure luminous red galaxies up to $z=1.0$. To probe the Universe out to even higher redshift, DESI will target bright [O II] emission line galaxies up to $z=1.7$. Quasars will be targeted both as direct tracers of the underlying dark matter distribution and, at higher redshifts ($ 2.1 < z < 3.5$), for the Ly-$\alpha$ forest absorption features in their spectra, which will be used to trace the distribution of neutral hydrogen. When moonlight prevents efficient observations of the faint targets of the baseline survey, DESI will conduct a magnitude-limited Bright Galaxy Survey comprising approximately 10 million galaxies with a median $z\approx 0.2$. In total, more than 30 million galaxy and quasar redshifts will be obtained to measure the BAO feature and determine the matter power spectrum, including redshift space distortions.