The decline and mortality of forest-grown trees upon which a lawn setting has been imposed is an all too common event. Thousands of forest remnant oaks have succumbed in northeastern Illinois lawns and parks in recent years. In many cases, soil compaction, severe physical root damage, or some combination of these disturbances are suspected as the factors initiating tree decline. Some deaths appear to have been caused by such physical disturbances, but others cannot be explained by these mechanisms nor can they be attributed to insects, pathogens, or nutrient deficiencies manifested by classical symptoms. Studies underway at The Morton Arboretum suggest that one of the common soil types in forests of the Chicago region has properties which compel shallow rooting of several native tree species, thus setting the stage for an escalation of competition-induced stress as well as other detrimental effects of soil surface modification. The fact that grass is associated with most of the inexplicable deaths suggests the necessity of exploring the literature for data and case histories implicating grass in the decline and/or mortality of trees.


This piece is a short rejoinder to César Bolaño and Eloy Vieira's paper The Political Economy of the Internet and related articles (e.g., Comor, Foley, Huws, Reveley, Rigi and Prey, Robinson) that center around the relevance of Marx's labor theory of value for understanding social media. I argue that Dallas Smythe's assessment of advertising was made to distinguish his approach from the one by Baran and Sweezy. Smythe developed the idea of capital's exploitation of the audience at a time when both feminist and anti-imperialist Marxists challenged the orthodox idea that only white factory workers are exploited. The crucial question is how to conceptualize productive labor. This is a theoretical, normative, and political question. A mathematical example shows the importance of the "crowdsourcing" of value-production on Facebook. I also point out parallels of the contemporary debate to the Soviet question of who is a productive or unproductive worker in the Material Product System.


The CDC's Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movements of Persons with Potential Ebola Virus Exposure is deeply flawed because it disregards the science of Ebola transmission. It recommends that officials quarantine individuals exposed to the virus but who do not have any symptoms of illness, ignoring the fact that only those with Ebola symptoms can communicate the virus to others. Consequently, any quarantine order based on the Guidelines is surely unconstitutional and illegal under most states' public health statutes — as exemplified by the State of Maine's failed petition to quarantine Nurse Kaci Hickox in October 2014. This article examines the Guidance and events surrounding its creation to explore why the CDC issued quarantine recommendations that lack scientific foundation. It also catalogues the costs of doing so, concluding that the Guidance undermines rather than serves population health.


Abstract The human brain is able to learn difficult categorization tasks, even ones that have linearly inseparable boundaries; however, it is currently unknown how it achieves this computational feat. We investigated this by training participants on an animal categorization task with a linearly inseparable prototype structure in a morph shape space. Participants underwent fMRI scans before and after 4 days of behavioral training. Widespread representational changes were found throughout the brain, including an untangling of the categories' neural patterns that made them more linearly separable after behavioral training. These neural changes were task dependent, as they were only observed while participants were performing the categorization task, not during passive viewing. Moreover, they were found to occur in frontal and parietal areas, rather than ventral temporal cortices, suggesting that they reflected attentional and decisional reweighting, rather than changes in object recognition templates. These results illustrate how the brain can flexibly transform neural representational space to solve computationally challenging tasks.


The Health and Homes briefing is part of the South East Public Heath Group's Information Series of briefings. The Information Series is a set of briefings on a variety of public health topics. Their purpose is to inform partners about public health issues. In particular they can be used to inform the Local Area Agreement process. The series is evolving and comments and suggestions are welcome.


Laser microprobe analysis of sulfide mineral pairs from several volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) stockwork feeder zones shows that greenschist to upper amphibolite facies metamorphism will reset sulfur isotope thermometers if the mineral grains are in direct grain-to-grain contact. However, discrete monomineralic sulfide grains that are completely encased in quartz matrix and that are not in direct grain-to-grain contact with one another, will preserve their original hydrothermal sulfur isotope compositions, because exchange during metamorphism is inhibited by the enclosing quartz. Calculated temperatures from three separate VMS systems range from 170 to 424 °C for sulfide pairs that are not in direct grain-to-grain contact, and are consistent with independently determined temperature estimates. Sulfide pairs that are in direct contact yield unreasonably low temperatures, indicative of reequilibration during metamorphism and subsequent slow cooling.


The relevance of sociological theory for explaining the recent dramatic changes in Eastern Europe is at hand. The impact of the downfall of communism has been compared with those Great Transformations along which sociology evolved as a science of crisis par excellence (Habermas). The actual elaboration of a sociological theory of post-communist transformation and its relation to East European studies is, nevertheless, anything but clear. The unexpected collapse of socialism was perceived as a failure of prognosis and led to self-critical debates in all social science disciplines. In this rethinking its basic concepts, sociology is exposed to pressure from different sides - above all from the polemic launched with the surprising revival of the theory of totalitarianism against the ,,liberalist social sciences across the board. Influential historians like Robert Pipes, Martin Malia, Robert Conquest, and Francois Furet followed by sociologists from Robert Nisbet to Seymour Lipset hold the fatal influence exerted by social science concepts on Eastern European and Soviet Studies during the last decades responsible for the whole intellectual disaster in Western Academe which became apparent after 1989. These approaches, as the neo-totalitarian accusation runs, elevated Soviet socialism to a modernization strategy and conceded a reform capacity which, in fact, was not available. Target of this critique are all attempts of a social history from below, sociological theories of action and especially the positivist illusion of modernization theory. Blinded by political motives, it is said, the insights of (neo-)totalitarianism theory into the inevitable collapse of communism were dismissed. In order to correctly draw the lines in the controversies between neototalitarianism theory and the social science approach, it is helpful to follow them along the changing career of the concept of totalitarianism thereby reconstructing the sociological arguments involved in the current discussion on the disintegration of socialist societies. On this line it will be argued (section 2), that the crisis of the classic theory of totalitarianism and the social science approach in Soviet studies did not follow from a politically motivated revisionism since the 1960s and 1970s. Analysing the socialist societies after 1945 was shaped from the very beginning by sociological, political science and economic models, which contrasted with fundamental assumptions of the classic concept of totalitarianism (section 3). The findings generated by this type of research as well as its limits are revealed when it comes to explaining the disintegration of Soviet socialism. The neo-totalitarianist's objection is correct that ranging socialism in an evolutionary scheme of ascending forms of society was problematic. This construction seems highly inadequate in view of the postcommunist crises and regressions (section 4). On the other hand, a coherent and self-reliant neo-totalitarianism theory is not visible (section 5). Instead the research on Eastern Europe after 1989 has seen an explosive growth of the social science approach in the course of which many revisionist theorems have been refuted, modified or confirmed. Nevertheless, the wave of social science theories entering the post-communist studies does not imply a way back to the golden age of classic modernization theory. The lesson to be learned from (neo-)totalitarianism theory concerns the stress it lays on domination and its specific irrationalities, variables which were indeed neglected by mainstream sociology and, after the Soviet breakdown, are ignored by the liberalist optimism of neoclassic reform programmes. The drama of the post-communist crises reminds us that there are no hidden hands and no evolutionary universals which would lead, quasi automatically, to modernity. On the other hand, the lesson to be learned from the social science approach is that even the most total totalitarianism did not result from a logic of history, but from certain constellations of interests, reciprocities between rulers and ruled, institutions of administration and value commitments, etc. which are quite accessible to a reconstruction in sociological terms.


Java is the first widely accepted language that addresses heterogeneous resources, security, and portability problems, making it attractive for scientific computation. It also encourages programmers to use object-oriented techniques in programming. Unfortunately, such object-oriented programs also incur unacceptable performance penalties. For example, using a polymorphic number hierarchy in a linear algebra package resulted in a code that is four times shorter, more extensible and less bug-prone than the equivalent Fortran-style code, but also many times slower.
To address the poor performance problem, this dissertation introduces several new compilation techniques that can improve the performance of scientific Java programs written in a polymorphic, object oriented style to within a factor of two of the equivalent hand-coded Fortran-style programs. These techniques also maintain an acceptable level of Java byte-code portability and flexibility, thus rewarding, rather than penalizing, good object-oriented programming practice.
This dissertation first discards the typical one-class-at-a-time Java compilation model for a whole-program model. It then introduces two novel whole-program optimizations, class specialization and object inlining, which improve the performance of high-level, object-oriented, scientific Java programs by up to two orders of magnitude, effectively eliminating the penalty of object-oriented design.
Next, this dissertation introduces a new Almost-whole-program compilation model. This model improves the flexibility of the generated code, while still permitting whole-program optimizations and incurring only modest performance penalties. It enables the programmer balance performance and flexibility of the program after the development phase, instead of compromising the design for performance.
Furthermore, this dissertation reduces the restrictions that Java imposes upon classical optimization techniques by introducing exception hiding and SSA conversion algorithms. Exception hiding transforms the code to create exception-free zones, in which code motion transformations can move the code without restraint. The new, nearly linear-time SSA-to-CFG conversion algorithm considerably reduces the number of copies inserted in the conversion process, improving the effectiveness of classical optimizations.
Finally, this dissertation lays the groundwork for further research, particularly for fast register allocation, precise type analysis, coordinated compilation, and exception recovery.


New high-order finite-volume numerical schemes for the magnetohydrodynamics equations are proposed in two and three dimensions. Two different sets of magnetohydrodynamics equations are considered. The first set is the ideal magnetohydrodynamics system, which assumes that the fluid can be treated as a perfect conductor. The second set is resistive MHD, which involves non-zero resistivity. A high-order central essentially nonoscillatory (CENO) approach is employed, which combines unlimited k-exact polynomial reconstruction with a monotonicity preserving scheme. The CENO schemes, which were originally developed for compressible fluid flow, are applied to the MHD equations, along with two possible control mechanisms for divergence error of the magnetic field. The hyperbolic fluxes are calculated by solving a Riemann problem at each cell interface, and elliptic fluxes are computed through k-exact gradient interpolation where point-wise values of the gradients are required. Smooth test problems and test cases with discontinuities (weak or strong) are considered, and convergence studies are presented for both the ideal and resistive MHD systems. Several potential space physics applications are explored. For these simulations, cubed-sphere grids are used to model the interaction of the solar wind with planetary bodies or their satellites. The basic cubed-sphere grid discretizes a simulation domain between two concentric spheres using six root blocks (corresponding to the six faces of a cube). Conditions describing the atmosphere of the inner body can be applied at the boundary of the inner sphere. For some problems we also need to solve equations within the inner sphere, for which we develop a seven-block cubed-sphere grid where the empty space inside the interior sphere is discretized as a seventh root block. We consider lunar flow problems for which we employ the seven-block cubed-sphere mesh. Ideal MHD is solved between the inner and outer spheres of the grid, and the magnetic diffusion equations are solved within the inner sphere, which represents the lunar interior. Two cases are considered: one is without intrinsic magnetic field, where only a wake is expected without any bow shock forming ahead of the Moon, and the second is with a small dipole moment to model a lunar crustal magnetic anomaly, in which case a small-scale magnetosphere is expected ahead of the region with the magnetic anomaly.


The Adult Experience Of Learning From Novels Novel readers may not necessarily read with the primary intention of learning from their novels, but it is known that learning is frequently an outcome. Literature on novels describe their content as both factual and philosophical opportunities to learn but do not describe them in terms of adult learning theory. A study by Radway (1984) found that readers of formula romance have complex learning outcomes from their reading but this was related to literature on novels rather than adult learning theory. Conversely, although learning is a known outcome of novel reading, literature on adult learning theories and research have taken little notice of novel reading as an opportunity to learn. Yet reading novels is an activity in which millions engage. The nature of reading as a highly personal, self-directed activity, suggested a literature review of theory pertaining to self-directed learning, informal learning and how adults make meaning. The purpose of the research was to explore the experience of learning novels; how reading contributes to knowledge, understanding of environment, and social and selfunderstanding in the context of adult learning theory. The research problem asked what evidence novel readers provide for making meaning as a result of their reading and what they do with that learning outcome. Research was conducted with individual interviews of five regular novel readers which served as case studies. Analysis was done by coding each interview paying particular attention to relationships to personal history, types of learning suggested and their effects. Case studies were then cross coded to discover trends and patterns. Findings showed that respondents used novels to be entertained and escape from their daily responsibilities, but along the way they also experienced a variety of types of learning. They collected new information they found personally interesting or added to an existing knowledge base, challenged their perspectives to think abut themselves and others in new ways. There was also a variety of uses for what they had learned. Respondents reported believing they have a broader knowledge base, could more effective interact with others, arrive at greater selfawareness, and in a few instances change behavior. The experience of learning from novels is a remarkable combination of self-motivation and self-direction undertaken for pleasure, yet incidentally can result in a range of learning outcomes including building a more complex knowledge base, constructivist organization and interpretation of information, critical reflection about self and others, and transformation of understanding to result in change.


ABSTRACT The prognosis for children with early-onset conduct disorder is poor. Conduct disorder also has a social cost for families and communities, and an economic cost for society through the increased use of health, education, social, legal and detention services. In this study, the Incredible Years (IY) BASIC programme was delivered to parents of pre-school children at risk of developing a conduct disorder and evaluated by pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Participants were parents of 161 children (110 intervention, 51 control) aged between 36 and 59 months (mean age 44 months, 63% boys) and scoring over the clinical cut-off on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). At follow-up (six months post-baseline), the intent-to-treat analysis showed a mean between group difference in favour of IY on the SDQ total difficulties score of 2.23 (p < 0.05, effect size: 0.50). IY was also superior to control on the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (p < 0.05, effect size: 0.37) and on the Arnold and O'Leary parenting scale (p < 0.01, effect size: 0.43). This study confirms the effectiveness of IY in a public system delivered with fidelity by regular children's centre staff, supporting findings from a similar trial in Wales. These results support the wider roll-out of IY to similar children.


ABSTRACT Mitreola petiolata and M. sessilifolia in the Loganiaceae are similar wetland annuals occurring in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions in the southeastern U.S., Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The flowers of both species have previously been described to open briefly with an apparent window for outside pollination, followed by flower closure and massive pollen germination within the anthers with pollen tubes covering the adjacent stigma. The phenomenon was documented with field observations, floral dissections, and light and scanning electron microscopy. Both species open their flowers for a brief 6–8 hour window. Subsequently, pollen germinates within the closed or closing flower with pollen tubes completely covering the stigma. The prevalence and importance of selfing by precocious pollen germination are discussed.


Transitions 4: New Directions in Comics Studies took place place on Saturday the 26th of October 2013, at Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX This file contains an archive of 651 Tweets tagged with #transitions4 (case not sensitive). This file was created and shared by Ernesto Priego (Centre for Information Science, City University London) with a Creative Commons- Attribution license (CC-BY) for academic research and educational use. The Tweets contained in this file were collected using Martin Hawksey's TAGS 5.1. This is a.xlsx file that contains 3 sheets. Only users with at least 2 followers were included in the archive. Retweets have been included. An initial automatic deduplication was performed but data might require further deduplication. The Time column (E) indicates the event's local time zone. Please note that both research and experience show that the Twitter search API isn't 100% reliable. Large tweet volumes affect the search collection process. The API might "over-represent the more central users", not offering "an accurate picture of peripheral activity" (Gonzalez-Bailon, Sandra, et al. 2012). It is not guaranteed this file contains each and every Tweet tagged with the archived hashtags during the indicated period, and is shared for comparative and indicative educational and research purposes only. Please note the data in this file is likely to require further refining and even deduplication. The data is shared as is. This dataset is shared to encourage open research into scholarly activity on Twitter. If you use or refer to this data in any way please cite and link back using the citation information above.


Agents offer a new and exciting way of understanding the world of work. In this paper we describe the development of agent-based simulation models, designed to help to understand the relationship between people management practices and retail performance. We report on the current development of our simulation models which includes new features concerning the evolution of customers over time. To test the features we have conducted a series of experiments dealing with customer pool sizes, standard and noise reduction modes, and the spread of customers' word of mouth. To validate and evaluate our model, we introduce new performance measure specific to retail operations. We show that by varying different parameters in our model we can simulate a range of customer experiences leading to significant differences in performance measures. Ultimately, we are interested in better understanding the impact of changes in staff behavior due to changes in store management practices. Our multi-disciplinary research team draws upon expertise from work psychologists and computer scientists. Despite the fact we are working within a relatively novel and complex domain, it is clear that intelligent agents offer potential for fostering sustainable organizational capabilities in the future.


Field trials with the potato cultivars 'Ants' (medium late) and 'Laura' (medium early) were carried out on the experimental fields of the Department of Field Crops and Grassland Husbandry located at Eerika (58°22′ N, 26°40′ E), Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2010 and 2011. The yield of tubers and starch, marketable yield of potato, number of tubers per plant and tuber weight were studied. We used the following treatments: untreated control (To): seed tubers were planted directly from storage house (storage temperature 4°C); thermal shock (TS): seed tubers were kept before planting 5 days in a room with temperature of 30°C and 2 days with temperature of 12°C; pre-sprouting (PS): before planting the seed tubers were kept 26 days in a room with temperature of 15°C and 10 days with temperature of 12°C. The results are presented as the averages of studied years. According to the average results of two experimental years, the pre-planting treatment with thermal shock increased the number of tubers per plant of cultivar 'Ants' by 30.6%, compared to control treatment. None of the treatments had any effect on the number of tubers of cultivar 'Laura'. The thermal treatment increased the average weight of tubers of cultivar 'Laura' compared to the control treatment (thermal shock by 14.7%, pre-sprouting by 20.7%), but for cultivar 'Ants' the weight of tubers was decreased by 16.7% (thermal shock treatment). The thermal shock treatment increased the tuber yield of cultivar 'Ants' by 10.7% and the presprouting increased the total tuber yield of cultivar 'Laura' by 9.9%. The thermal shock increased significantly the starch content of cultivar 'Ants' and decreased that of cultivar 'Laura'.


In this paper we present an analysis of 599 Twitter accounts of politicians, who for the first time became involved with social networking, becoming their own "reputational entrepreneurs" in social media (Fine, 1996) while running for an office the German Bundestag election in 2009. They did so by creating their own Twitter accounts, tweeting their own content and deciding whom to connect with. We were able to investigate how and with whom politicians established connections and which topics they discussed by tracking almost 20,000 connections of over 599 Twitter accounts, monitoring over 240,000 tweets over a period of three weeks. Our findings contribute to the open question whether the political social media ecosphere is fragmented or not, whether the structure of the social network influences communication flow and sentiment among members of the medium. The analysis of the network shows that the majority of connections were established between members of the same party while connections between different parties were significantly less represented. An analysis of the exchanged tweets demonstrated that the majority of discussions took place between members of the same party cluster and was more positive towards members of the same political party rather than towards members of other political parties.


Genetically modified (GM) crops have never been approved for
commercialization in Kenya, but debates on their suitability have
been going on for more than a decade. In this article we explore
these debates in the context of GM maize in Kenya to better
understand the positions of the different groups, and whether
there is scope for policy change that would lead to the cultivation
of GM crops. We evaluate the economic and political
motives of groups that are likely to lobby against or for the GM
crop cultivation, such as different types of farmers and consumers,
local and foreign seed companies, grain processors, and
environmental groups. A multimarket economic surplus
approach is employed to estimate disaggregated benefits. The
results of the surplus analysis modeling is evaluated in the context
of the wider GM crop debate in Kenya and the stated positions
of the different stakeholders.


The very human need for religion and magic as supplements to scientific and technological knowledge is the subject of this work. In 1942 Hsu witnessed a cholera epidemic in a small rural settlement in Yunnan province, China, and found that, contrary to anthropological expectations, the Chinese responded to the crisis with a combination of conciliatory rituals and practical hygienic measures. More than thirty years later, he witnessed the elaborate ritualistic prepartions for another epidemic in the Shatin sub-division of Hong Kong and found the supernatural/empirical response to be virtually the same as in 1942. The author argues that, in spite of technological and intellectual sophistication, the human psychic need for magic and religion persists. He pursues this contention in a longitudinal analysis of this phenomenon in the South Seas, East Africa, and Indian and white America.


This paper examines the quality of policy intent and policy implementation in education policies related to school-based management (SBM) in rural Senegal. For this purpose, we adapted the World Bank diagnostic tool for the SBM system known as SABER-SAA (System Approach for Better Education Result for the policy domain of School Autonomy and Accountability), to conduct a survey of various actors in the education system of Senegal. In terms of policy intent, the results of the assessment show that Senegal is making progress on strengthening the participatory roles of school councils in school operations, and on the management of operational budgets at the municipal level. However, the field survey data show that there are differences between policy intent and implementation, and differences among stakeholders in the degree of policy implementation. In terms of the participation of school councils in school activities, we found that when school councils were active in the implementation of procedural policies, such as holding general assemblies, the amount of financial contributions to the school were larger, and there were more council inspired activities. Furthermore, the variables indicating a more active role for school councils also had a positive and statistically significant association with pass rates in the primary graduation exam. The degree of functionality of the school council was also assisted by supporting measures, such as training and monitoring visits. Other factors positively associated with increased pass rates include: a shared vision by school directors and school councils on commune responsibility towards a school, and the use of comparisons of school performance with the performance of other schools as a motivator for making improvements in the subject school. These findings suggest that strengthening the implementation of policy in the area of participatory school councils, as well as improving linkages with sub-national administrations, is important for better learning outcomes. We also recommend that better use of student assessment information by schools should be promoted in the context of rural Senegal.


The Catalyst 6500 is a modern commercial switch, capable of processing millions of packets per second through the utilization of specialized hardware. One of the main hardware components aiding the switch in performing its task is the Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM). TCAMs update themselves with data relevant to routing and switching based on the traffic flowing through the switch. This enables the switch to forward future packets destined to a location that has already been previously discovered at a very high speed. The problem is TCAMs have a limited size, and once they reach their capacity, the switch has to rely on software to perform the switching and routing a much slower process than performing Hardware Switching that utilizes the TCAM. A framework has been developed to analyze the switch's performance once the TCAM has reached its capacity, as well as measure the penalty associated with a cache miss. This thesis concludes with some recommendations and future work.


Background: Evidences suggest that manual therapies, a physiotherapy specialty widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, would be complementary or alternative for the treatment of cardiac autonomic dysfunction present in the elderly, patients with cardiovascular diseases, some neuromuscular diseases and in some pain processes. Objective: Evaluate the available scientific evidence regarding the effect of manual therapy techniques on cardiac autonomic control. Methods: The selected articles were indexed in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, SCIELO and LILACS. Results: In the initial search, 233 articles were identified in the electronic databases. After initial analysis of the titles, 210 articles were excluded because they did not address the research topic, performed other types of intervention or evaluation or because they were review articles. A second step of evaluating the 23 previously selected articles was carried out and consisted of reading the abstracts of the articles. After reading the abstracts, 11 were selected. According to the analysis of the selected articles, it was possible to observe that most manual therapy techniques improved the cardiac autonomic control of their samples: Fornari, Carnevali and Sgoifo (2017), Girsberger et al. (2014), Valenzuela et al. (2018), Curi et al. (2017), Akbaş et al. (2019), Buttagat et al. (2009),Kunikata et al. (2012), Mantovani et al. (2005) and Giles et al. (2011). Guilherme et al. (2010) was the only study that found no change. Conclusion: Manual therapies have improved cardiac autonomy acutely in healthy young and middle-aged populations or with discomfort, hypertension and back pain associated with the presence of myofascial trigger points. It is emphasized the importance of conducting new randomized controlled studies, with high methodological quality, that address the effect of other manual therapies on cardiac autonomic control.


Glufosinate may not adequately control annual grasses and Amaranthus spp. in glufosinate-resistant (GR) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). A field experi ment at six sites determined effects of residual herbicides and timing of initial glufosinate application on control of annual grasses, Amaranthus spp., Ipomoea spp., and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) in GR cotton. Glufosinate was initially applied early postemergence (EPOST) to 1- to 2leaf cotton or mid-postemergence (MPOST) to 3- to 4-leaf cotton. Residual herbicides included fluome turon, fomesafen, pendimethalin, and pyrithiobac applied preemergence (PRE) and pyrithiobac mixed with glufosinate applied postemergence. All treatments included glufosinate late postemergence (6- to 7-leaf cotton) followed by prometryn plus MSMA postemergence-directed. Weed control and cotton yield were generally greater with glufosinate applied EPOST compared with MPOST. Greater early season control of annual grasses and Amaranthus spp. was noted at all sites when PRE herbicides preceded glufosinate. Greater late-season annual grass and Amaranthus spp. control was noted at four and two sites, respectively, with systems that included PRE herbicides. Differences among PRE herbicides were minor, except pyrithiobac was less effective on annual grasses. Pyrithiobac applied postemergence (POST) was less effective than PRE herbicides. Ipomoea spp. and common lambsquarters were controlled well by all herbicide systems. The PRE herbicides increased cotton yield at four of six sites, while pyrithiobac POST increased yield at one site. Good control of annual grasses, Amaranthus spp., Ipomoea spp., and common lambsquarters can be obtained in GR cotton with production systems that include PRE herbicides and well-timed glufosinate applications.


Previous research on non-speech audio interfaces has demonstrated that they can enhance performance on menu navigation tasks. Most of this work has focused on tasks in which the menu is not spoken and visual representation of the menu is accessible throughout the task. In this paper we explore the potential benefits that earcons, a type of structured sound, might bring to spoken menu systems for which a visual representation is not available. Evaluation of two spoken menu systems that differ only in whether they also employ earcons, indicates that the use of earcons improves task performance by reducing the number of keystrokes required, while also increasing the time spent for each task.


Delivering sustainable reform within an ever changing
external environment, usually reliant on a range of
stakeholders stakeholders, requires a different way of thinking, a
better understanding of the drivers of benefits realisation
and more effective methods and tools than have been
generally available in the public sector so far.
The BeReal approach helps bridge the gap between the
aspiration of benefits realisation in the public sector and
the current reality, by simplifying best practice and
providing a framework for the active planning and
tracking that is needed.
We have developed a well‐researched methodology and
toolkit to elicit, value, measure and realise stakeholder as
well as corporate benefits. We also emphasise the need
to address cultural, capacity and capability issues
through collaboration and innovation.
We strongly believe that this approach to benefit
realisation is at the heart of securing integrated change
as well as being able to evidence the value for money of
individual projects.
This Consultative Guide describes and sets out how to
adopt this approach, which we have called BeReal


In the present study, intensity, prevalence, and some pathologic effects of Caligus minimus, Nerocila spp., and Livoneca punctata on fishes extending from the eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey were determined. In addition, besides morphological characters of parasites, diagnosis of the species was carried out by using a molecular method (polymerase chain reaction) in characterization. Caligus minimus was isolated for the first time from wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) from the eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey. Seasonal distribution of Nerocila spp. Was determined. The highest prevalence rates of Nerocila were determined on snouted sole (Pegusa nasuta, syn. Solea nasuta) at 26.94%, wrasse or corkwing (Symphodus spp.) at 16.77%, rusty blenny (Parablennius sanguinolentus) at 11.76%, goby fishes (Gobius niger and Neogobius melanostomus) at 5.21%, and pipefish (Syngnathus sp.) at 3.44%. Conversely, Nerocila spp. Were not isolated from whiting (Merlangius merlangus), horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus), Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda), sardine (Sardina pilchardus), Black Sea herring (Alosa immaculata), or picarel (Spicara smaris). Livoneca punctata was only isolated from Black Sea herring (Alosa immaculata). The most common pathological symptoms were mechanical injury on the skin and fins of the infested fish.


The Circuit breaker has become the integral part of power system with increasing need for uninterrupted power supply for each applications of human being. With the present breaker, this need is being satisfactorily fulfilled, but the environmental impact of those breakers is overlooked in view of efficiency. But by adopting certain modification in circuit breaker, eco-friendly circuit breakers can be developed that are not only harmless to environment but also supports environment in various processes to enhance the economy of country.


This paper reports on the impact of growing managerialism on the work practices of two groups of professionals (nurses and academics) within Australian public hospitals and universities. The findings suggest that one factor that may affect how employees respond to such policies and programs is whether managers implementing them come from the same professional values and beliefs. The evidence suggests that when those from the same profession undertake the tasks of management, there is a significant trend towards mediating any proposed changes in work practices for colleagues according to the long established beliefs and values of the profession. In effect, this bottom-up force appears to have the effect of "cushioning" the top-down push somewhat for colleagues. However, the opposite was evident where the profession was relatively newly established (as in the case of nurses) and where senior management was more likely to come from outside the profession.


Worldwide there are at least 1.6 billion scrap tyres produced each year. Of these Britain is responsible for 50 million, equating to an annual production of 700,000 tonnes of waste. Tyres have traditionally been disposed of in landfill sites and illegal dumping has caused problems. As a result many countries have implemented legislation and set objectives to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, the dumping and land-filling of waste tyres, EU legislation bans the disposal of whole tyres in landfill this month, and that of shredded tyres by 2006. To meet these requirements alternative uses of scrap tyres must be developed. Currently the most common of these are re-treading, burning for electricity generation/incineration in cement kilns and for surfacing for sports arenas and play areas. In the construction industry the tyres are shredded and used as lightweight fill, landfill drainage layers and as an alternative to aggregate in concrete and road pavements. Another option is to use the shredded tyres as a drainage material. Shredded tyres are a lightweight material which can be graded to suit requirements, are free-draining and very permeable. Under load the shredded tyres behave in an elastic manner and are highly compressible. Shear strength parameters are similar to those of a granular soil. Permeability reduces when loaded but remains higher than that of many other granular drainage materials. In light of these findings it is considered that shredded tyres could be used as a drainage material in many types of construction project and could in some circumstances be a viable alternative to aggregates or geotextiles. There are at present certain cases where traditional drainage materials are better to use but with further research to thoroughly establish the properties and behaviour of this new material, shredded tyres could be used with greater confidence in a widespread range of drainage applications.


Dry coal cleaning has generated renewed interest in scientific and coal mining communities alike due to water scarcity in many parts of the world and the numerous tailings ponds that have resulted from traditional wet coal preparation methods. Commercially available dry separation technologies such as air tables and air jigs are mostly effective in cleaning coarse coal with particle size larger than 6.35 mm. The smaller-than-6.35 mm fraction, which might be up to 20 to 40 percent of raw coal, is sent to the clean coal or tailings streams in a dry separation plant without any cleaning. The main objective of this study is to develop, design and fabricate a new density-based dry separator to effectively clean fine coal in the size range of smaller than 6.35 mm to larger than 1 mm.A difficult-to-clean coal sample with particle size smaller than 6.35 mm and flat-shaped shales as main rocks were used in this study. Using a laboratory-scale fluidization bed, the optimum air flow rate for fluidization of fine particles in air tables was found, which was much less than that for coarse coal. The perforations diameter and open area of the separating deck of the air table were also found to be critical for fine particle separation. These findings led to the development of a new air table named SIU Airtable for cleaning fine coal sized smaller than 6.35 mm and larger than 1 mm. The new air table has a unique air distribution and fluidization system for fine particles, along with adjustable vibration frequency and direction. It also has an optional extended section to lower the moisture content of high-moisture fine coal using part of the fluidization air. The experiments showed that an ash rejection of about 49 percent could be achieved with a combustible recovery of around 89 percent, indicating suitable separation. Furthermore, increasing ash rejection to 70 percent gives a combustible recovery of 72 percent, indicating that the separation performance of the new air table is close to the fine coal washability data.


Three different extracts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Cucurbitaceae), a medicinal plant used for a variety of ailments in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) including those caused by viral infections with claims of efficacy against HIV-1 infections were screened. These claims motivated the study in which the inhibition of viral vector infectivity of HeLa cells was assessed flow cytometrically by measuring the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene incorporated in the lentiviral vector construct. An infectious VSV-G-pseudotyped, human immunodeficiency virus type 1-based, selfinactivating lentivirus vector particles were generated by transient co-transfection of the vector plasmid (pHIV-1 CSCG), with packaging plasmids encoding tat, rev, gag-pol (pCMVΔR8.2), a VSV-G expression plasmid (pHIT-G) and a secretory alkaline phosphate expression plasmid (pSEAP) all necessary for viral infectivity. The extracts studied were obtained by solvent extraction of the leaf powder of G. pentaphyllum with ethyl ether (EG), methanol (MG), and water (AG). The AG, MG and EG were all active against the HIV-1 lentiviral vector and inhibited the early events of the viral replication cycle on HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner with a IC 50 of 6.21 μg AG/ml, 8.32 μg MG/ml and 5.8 μg EG/ml, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the extracts to HeLa cells evaluated in parallel by the 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay method showed TC 50 values of 36.77 μg AG/ml, 38.68 μg MG/ml and 41.02 μg EG/ml with selectivity indices (SI) of 5.92, 4.65 and 7.02, respectively. The results of the study show that the extracts of G. pentaphyllum possess potent and selective anti-retroviral potentials and could serve as possible source of lead antiviral drugs against HIV. Key words : Antiviral activity, antiviral screening, Gynostemma pentaphyllum , HIV-1, viral vector-based screening.


When you or someone you love is diagnosed with a vascular condition, it can bring up a lot of questions and concerns. For your many questions, we have some answers. In these pages, you will find original articles on common conditions, tests and treatments by vascular surgeons who are esteemed in their areas of expertise. Learn more about peripheral arterial disease, diabetic foot and much more: What is a vascular surgeon? Your vascular system What is vascular disease?


The paper deals with the role played by the Macabebes as native soldiers used by the American military against the Filipino revolutionary forces during the Filipino-American War from 1899 to 1902. It has been the standard practice of any colonizing power to use native troops as auxiliary forces in many colonies to achieve its end. The Macabebes in the town of Macabebe, Pampanga were known to be very zealous in protecting their homeland by resisting the Spanish colonizers. But after their defeat by the superior military power, they made a one hundred eighty-degree turn and started serving the Spanish colonial government for more than three centuries. This turn of events was made possible by the Spaniards through the use of the elites of the town of Macabebe who acted as intermediaries between them and the common people. When Spanish colonization ended, the Macabebes who did not have any alliance with the Filipino revolutionaries shifted their loyalty to the Americans. Like the Spaniards, the Americans used the elites in the town of Macabebe in order to get the support of the common people for their cause. The people of this town had a patron-client relationship with these elites who were pro-American and controlled the politics and economy. In their campaign against the revolutionary forces during the Filipino-American War, they used the Macabebes as scouts, pontooniers, teamsters, camp followers, and guides in their military operations in order to cripple the last vestige of Filipino resistance. The employment of Macabebe Scouts in the American military campaign was a great success. The unbroken succession of elite influence since the Spanish period to the American regime made it possible for the American project of employing native troops for military service. The Macabebes who were merely farm workers (kasamak) of the landlords had seen soldiering as a source of their family's income. A number of them joined, but this decision tarnished their reputation as a people. They were branded by their fellow Filipinos as stooges, collaborators, and traitors. These accusations, however, are unfair for the Macabebes. Their service to the American colonial government was largely a consequence of the elite influence in their town that had been controlling the politics and economy that marginalized them for a long period of time.

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* Instructor of history at the Department of Social Sciences at the Cavite State University in Indang, Cavite. Email: email@example.com.


Introduction Communicating with patients about their feelings and preferences for the future is a challenging element of palliative care. Useful evidence exists, but most is embedded in social-scientific rather than clinical research. Aims and Methods To collate evidence about communication practices used in addressing sensitive future issues, from studies where patient/professional conversations have been recorded and analysed. To inform communication policy, practice and training. This innovative systematic review spanned social science, clinical and linguistics research. Using explicit criteria, we searched electronic databases and specialist sources. We used review and synthesis techniques appropriate for social-science research. Results 2203 publications were initially identified. Of the 18 meeting the inclusion criteria, 5 were social science, five clinical and eight linguistics publications. Strong evidence (11/18) indicates hypothetical questions are effective in encouraging people to address feelings and plans for uncertain and difficult futures. Moderate evidence (5/18) indicates that another way to create such opportunities entails using cautious, euphemistic language; and that this provides distinctive opportunities for people to deflect or avoid the topic. Moderate evidence (3/21) indicates that people often steer such conversations towards more optimistic statements, which tends to stop further talk about difficult events. Conclusions Social-science, linguistic and clinical evidence is available to inform this skilled, often problematic element of care. There are different ways to provide opportunities to discuss feelings and plans in relation to end of life. Different ways have different results: better understandings of these will facilitate evidence-based communication. To fill gaps in knowledge, further research using recordings of authentic palliative care consultations is needed.


We have compiled 223 sedimentary charcoal records from Australasia in order to examine the temporal and spatial variability of fire regimes during the Late Quaternary. While some of these records cover more than a full glacial cycle, here we focus on the last 70,000 years when the number of individual records in the compilation allows more robust conclusions. On orbital time scales, fire in Australasia predominantly reflects climate, with colder periods characterized by less and warmer intervals by more biomass burning. The composite record for the region also shows considerable millennial-scale variability during the last glacial interval (73.5e14.7 ka). Within the limits of the dating uncertainties of individual records, the variability shown by the composite charcoal record is more similar to the form, number and timing of DansgaardeOeschger cycles as observed in Greenland ice cores than to the variability expressed in the Antarctic ice-core record. The composite charcoal record suggests increased biomass burning in the Australasian region during Greenland Interstadials and reduced burning during Greenland Stadials. Millennial-scale variability is characteristic of the composite record of the subtropical high pressure belt during the past 21 ka, but the tropics show a somewhat simpler pattern of variability with major peaks in biomass burning around 15 ka and 8 ka. There is no distinct change in fire regime corresponding to the arrival of humans in Australia at 50 10 ka and no correlation between archaeological evidence of increased human activity during the past 40 ka and the history of biomass burning. However, changes in biomass burning in the last 200 years may have been exacerbated or influenced by humans. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Soil-borne nitrous oxide (N$_2$O) emissions have a high spatial and temporal variability which is commonly attributed to the occurrence of hotspots and hot moments for microbial activity in aggregated soil. Yet there is only limited information about the biophysical processes that regulate the production and consumption of N$_2$O on microscopic scales in undisturbed soil. In this study, we introduce an experimental framework relying on simplified porous media that circumvents some of the complexities occuring in natural soils while fully accounting for physical constraints believed to control microbial activity in general and denitrification in particular. We used this framework to explore the impact of aggregate size and external oxygen concentration on the kinetics of O$_2$ consumption, as well as CO$_2$ and N$_2$O production. Model aggregates of different sizes (3.5 vs. 7\,mm diameter) composed of porous, sintered glass were saturated with a defined growth medium containing roughly 10$^9$ cells ml$^{-1}$ of the facultative anaerobic, \textsl{nosZ}-deficient denitrifier \textsl{Agrobacterium tumefaciens} with N$_2$O as final denitrification product and incubated at five different oxygen levels (0-13\,vol-$\%$). We demonstrate that the onset of denitrification depends on the amount of external oxygen and the size of aggregates. Smaller aggregates were better supplied with oxygen due to a larger surface-to-volume ratio, which resulted in faster growth and an earlier onset of denitrification. In larger aggregates, the onset of denitrification was more gradual, but with comparably higher N$_2$O production rates once the anoxic aggregate centers were fully developed. The normalized electron flow from the reduced carbon substrate to N-oxyanions (e$^{-}_{\rm denit}$/e$^{-}_{\rm total}$ ratio) could be solely described as a function of initial oxygen concentration in the headspace with a simple, hyperbolic model, for which the two empirical parameters changed with aggregate size in a consistent way. These findings confirm the important role of soil structure on N$_2$O emissions from denitrification by shaping the spatial patterns of microbial activity and anoxia in aggregated soil. Our dataset may serve as a benchmark for constraining or validating spatially explicit, biophysical models of denitrification in aggregated soil.


1. After the concentration of potassium in the haemolymph of Helix pomatia has been raised by the infusion of KCl, it falls approximately exponentially for a time and then tends to rise. The accompanying rise and fall of calcium concentration can be fitted to a simple mathematical model. 2. The mobilization of calcium is accompanied by the generation of bicarbonate in equivalent amounts, without much change in pH or Pco2. 3. There is probably an increased production or retention of carbon dioxide at this time, but the main cause of the changes in calcium and bicarbonate is not respiratory acidosis. 4. The concentration of potassium rises in snalis that have been infused with CaCl2. 5. The adverse responses visible in snails infused with KCl are largely prevented when CaCl2 is infused at the same time. 6. Homeostasis seems to involve the maintenance of a proper balance of calcium and potassium concentrations.


Presbyterian minister John Witherspoon was a key figure, politically and religiously, in the formative years of the United States. In this fresh account of Witherspoon's thought, L. Gordon Tait focuses on Witherspoon's piety--the way Witherspoon believed that the Christian faith should take visible and practical form in ministry, politics, and everyday obedience and devotion. The Piety of John Witherspoon is filled with photographs from Witherspoon's life, and Tait's comprehensive treatment of Witherspoon makes a significant contribution to the understanding of his impact on church, education, and society.


Abstract. The marine aerosol arriving at Barbados (Ragged Point) was characterized during two 3-week long measurement periods in November 2010 and April 2011, in the context of the measurement campaign CARRIBA (Cloud, Aerosol, Radiation and tuRbulence in the trade wInd regime over BArbados). Through a comparison between ground-based and airborne measurements it was shown that the former are representative of the marine boundary layer at least up to cloud base. In general, total particle number concentrations (Ntotal) ranged from as low as 100  up to 800 cm−3, while number concentrations for cloud condensation nuclei (NCCN) at a supersaturation of 0.26 % ranged from some 10 to 600 cm−3. Ntotal and NCCN depended on the air mass origin. Three distinct types of air masses were found. One type showed elevated values for both Ntotal and NCCN and could be attributed to long-range transport from Africa, by which biomass burning particles from the Sahel region and/or mineral dust particles from the Sahara were advected. The second and third type both had values for NCCN below 200 cm−3 and a clear minimum in the particle number size distribution (NSD) around 70 to 80 nm (Hoppel minimum). While for one of these two types the accumulation mode was dominating (albeit less so than for air masses advected from Africa), the Aitken mode dominated the other and contributed more than 50 % of all particles. These Aitken mode particles likely were formed by new particle formation no more than 3 days prior to the measurements. Hygroscopicity of particles in the CCN size range was determined from CCN measurements to be κ  =  0.66 on average, which suggests that these particles contain mainly sulfate and do not show a strong influence from organic material, which might generally be the case for the months during which measurements were made. The average κ could be used to derive NCCN from measured number size distributions, showing that this is a valid approach to obtain NCCN. Although the total particulate mass sampled on filters was found to be dominated by Na+ and Cl−, this was found to be contributed by a small number of large particles ( >  500 nm, mostly even in the super-micron size range). Based on a three-modal fit, a sea spray mode observed in the NSDs was found to contribute 90 % to the total particulate mass but only 4 to 10 % to Ntotal and up to 15 % to NCCN. This is in accordance with finding no correlation between Ntotal and wind speed.


Aim To assess the effectiveness and safety of interventions used for the treatment of primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register for randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials for the treatment of primary PPH. Results Twelve randomised clinical trials (RCT) with a total of 4060 participants fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Four RCTs (1483 participants) compared misoprostol with placebo given in addition to conventional uterotonics. Adjunct use of misoprostol to additional uterotonics had no impact on our primary outcomes including maternal mortality (risk ratio (RR) 6.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75 to 50.85), serious maternal morbidity (RR 0.34; 95% CI 0.01 to 8.31); admission to intensive care (RR 0.79; 95% CI 0.30 to 2.11), or hysterectomy (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.16 to 5.41). Two RCTs (1851 participants) compared 800 mcg sublingual misoprostol to oxytocin infusion as primary PPH treatment. Primary outcomes did not differ between the two groups. Five trials examined the effectiveness of oestrogen, tranexamic acid, lower segment compression and aortic compression devices, but were too small to assess impact on primary outcomes. Conclusion Compared with misoprostol, oxytocin infusion is more effective and causes fewer side effects when used as the first-line therapy for the treatment of primary PPH. There is no evidence to suggest that misoprostol is effective as an adjunct to uterotonic treatment for primary PPH. Misoprostol should be considered as first-line uterotonic in settings where injectable oxytocics are not available.


A classical result of MacMahon shows the equidistribution of the major index and inversion number over the symmetric groups. Since then, these statistics have been generalized in many ways, and many new permutation statistics have been defined, which are related to the major index and inversion number in may interesting ways. In this dissertation we study generalizations of some newer statistics over words and labeled forests. Foata and Zeilberger defined the graphical major index, majU , and the graphical inversion index, invU , for words over the alphabet {1, . . . , n}. In this dissertation we define a graphical sorting index, sorU , which generalizes the sorting index of a permutation. We then characterize the graphs U for which sorU is equidistributed with invU and majU on a single rearrangement class. Björner and Wachs defined a major index for labeled plane forests, and showed that it has the same distribution as the number of inversions. We define and study the distributions of a few other natural statistics on labeled forests. Specifically, we introduce the notions of bottom-to-top maxima, cyclic bottom-to-top maxima, sorting index, and cycle minima. Then we show that the pairs (inv,BT-max), (sor,Cyc), and (maj,CBT-max) are equidistributed. Our results extend the result of Björner and Wachs and generalize results for permutations. Lastly, we study the descent polynomial of labeled forests. The descent polynomial for permutations is known to be log-concave and unimodal. In this dissertation we discuss what properties are preserved in the descent polynomial of labeled forests.


INTRODUCTION: The epilepsy avoidable death is a neglected issue. Deaths related to epilepsy are still not fully understood. Recently, some studies have showed the methodology of avoidable death, describing the causes of death should not occur in the presence of good quality services and appropriate medical treatment. The impact of studying the causes of avoidable death is relevant and promising for the monitoring and evaluation of performance of health care system for people with epilepsy. PURPOSE: To explore and select the studies emphasizing epilepsy as avoidable death or avoidable mortality studies where the selection of epilepsy was defined within the group of preventable causes of death. METHODOLOGY: The review was based on a search in the database PubMed, using as key words: "mortality", "avoidable", "death" and "epilepsy", without time limits on the date of publication. RESULTS: We observed a variety of studies of epilepsy in the group of avoidable causes of death. So, we could discuss the topics that could guide the actions and public health policies. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest strategies involving the establishment of committees of mortality - institutional, multidisciplinary and confidential - to prevent mortality related to epilepsy. So, the adequate intervention' strategies can be performed to improve the management of people with epilepsy and, consequently, to reduce the mortality on epilepsy.


In 1950s Paris, Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld were friends, the rising stars of the fashion world. But by the late sixties, the city was invaded by a new mood of liberation and hedonism, and dominated by intrigue, infidelities, addiction and parties. Each designer created his own mesmerizing world, so vivid and seductive that people were drawn to the power, charisma and fame, and it was to make them bitter rivals. "The Beautiful Fall" is a dazzling expose of an era and the story of the two men who were its essence and who remain its most singular survivors.


Natural products (NPs) have provided the inspiration for most of the active ingredients in medicines. The reason for this success in drug discovery can probably be explained by their high chemical diversity, the effects of evolutionary pressure to create biologically active molecules, and/or the structural similarity of protein targets across many species. This large chemical diversity [1] is also directly linked to a high variability of their intrinsic physicochemical properties that render their universal detection challenging. None of the available HPLC detectors are able to detect all the NPs in a given extract within a single analysis. This limitation is well-known in meAbstract


Objective: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was highlighted as a valid marker of ovarian dysfunction in women with anovulatory polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and was linked with cardiovascular conditions. This study was designed to determine the circulating AMH levels in different phenotypes of PCOS without additional risk factors for atherosclerosis in Bulgarian cohort. Material and methods: A case-control single-center design was used. The levels of serum AMH were analyzed in non-pregnant, pre-menopausal women with PCOS, smoker or non-smoker, without other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Results: Significant elevated levels of AMH were observed in all phenotypes of PCOS. However, there are no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers. Serum levels of androgens in PCOS were increased nearly twice. In phenotype C there was a positive correlation between ??H and the androgens. The estradiol levels decreased significantly in the cases with polycystic ovaries. The comparison of the ROC curves shows statistical significant diagnostic efficacy of the variables to diagnose PCOS between AMH and testosteron (Z=4.586, P<0.001) as well as AMH and E2 (Z=6.450, P<0.001). Conclusion: Thus, AMH will be a more reliable diagnostic marker of PCOS than the well-known nonconstant clinical and hormonal parameters in non-pregnant, pre-menopausal women with different phenotypes of PCOS, smokers and non-smokers, without additional risk factors for atherosclerosis in Bulgarian cohort.


The environment, where a safety critical system (SCS) operates, is an important source from which safety requirements of the SCS can originate. By treating the system under construction as a black box, the environment is typically documented as a number of assumptions, based on which a set of environmental safety requirements will be elicited. However, it is not a trivial task in practice to capture the environmental assumptions to elicit safety requirements. The lack of certain assumptions or too strict assumptions will either result in incomplete environmental safety requirements or waste many efforts on eliciting incorrect requirements. Moreover, the variety of operating environment for an SCS will further complicate the task, since the captured assumptions are at risk of invalidity, and consequently the elicited requirements need to be revisited to ensure safety has not been compromised by the change. This short paper presents an on-going work aiming to 1) systematically organize the knowledge of system operating environment and, 2) facilitate the elicitation of environmental safety requirements. We propose an ontological approach to achieve the objectives. In particular, we utilize conceptual ontologies to organize the environment knowledge in terms of relevant environment concepts, relations among them and axioms. Environmental assumptions are captured by instantiating the environment ontology. An ontological reasoning mechanism is also provided to support elicitation of safety requirements from the captured assumptions.


This dissertation explores the humanistic therapist's lived experience of loss following bereavement and how a bereaved therapist manages their client work in the midst of their grief. This qualitative phenomenological research was conducted on the basis of semi-structured interviews with seven participants (all of them practising therapists who had experienced recent bereavement), whose accounts were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four main themes were identified. The first highlighted the overwhelming and disorientating experience of grief on an instinctual level. The second dealt with how the participants sought to manage the therapeutic encounter by relying on technique and their professional identity. The third theme explored the positive as well as negative ways in which grief impacted participants' work with clients. The fourth and final theme explored the expansion of self which seemed to result from participants' experience of loss in combination with their continuing therapeutic work. This study seeks to contribute to the under-researched area of therapist bereavement and the impact of grief or vulnerability on the therapeutic encounter. Its findings suggest that therapists' experiences of loss involve complex dynamics with important implications both for therapists themselves and for the therapeutic relationship. The study recommends that further research be undertaken into how therapists are affected by significant life crises, how they manage their own vulnerabilities, and how they navigate therapeutic processes in the midst of bereavement.


A DNA-based platform was developed to address fundamental aspects of early stages of cell signaling in living cells. By site-directed sorting of differently encoded, protein-decorated DNA origami structures on DNA microarrays, we combine the advantages of the bottom-up self-assembly of protein-DNA nanostructures and top-down micropatterning of solid surfaces to create multiscale origami structures as interface for cells (MOSAIC). In a proof-of-principle, we use this technology to analyze the activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in living MCF7 cells using DNA origami structures decorated on their surface with distinctive nanoscale arrangements of EGF ligand entities. MOSAIC holds the potential to present to adhered cells well-defined arrangements of ligands with full control over their number, stoichiometry, and precise nanoscale orientation. It therefore promises novel applications in the life sciences, which cannot be tackled by conventional technologies.


Previous studies have found a correlation between malnutrition and prognosis in respiratory infections. Our objectives were to determine (i) the percentage of malnutrition, and (ii) its prognosis in patients admitted for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this monocentric retrospective study, we consecutively included all adult patients presenting with acute COVID-19 between 9 April and 29 May 2020. Malnutrition was diagnosed on low body mass index (BMI) and weight loss ≥ 5% in the previous month and/or ≥ 10% in the previous six months. The Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) defined nutritional risk. Severe COVID-19 was defined as a need for nasal oxygen ≥ 6 L/min. We enrolled 108 patients (64 men, 62 ± 16 years, BMI 28.8 ± 6.2 kg/m2), including 34 (31.5%) with severe COVID-19. Malnutrition was found in 42 (38.9%) patients, and moderate or severe nutritional risk in 83 (84.7%) patients. Malnutrition was not associated with COVID-19 severity. Nutritional risk was associated with severe COVID-19 (p < 0.01; p < 0.01 after adjustment for C reactive protein), as were lower plasma proteins, albumin, prealbumin, and zinc levels (p < 0.01). The main cause of malnutrition was inflammation. The high percentage of malnutrition and the association between nutritional risk and COVID-19 prognosis supports international guidelines advising regular screening and nutritional support when necessary.


Fibrous tissue accumulation is an integral feature of the adverse structural remodeling of cardiac tissue seen with hypertensive heart disease. Given the importance of fibrous tissue in leading to myocardial dysfunction and failure, noninvasive monitoring of myocardial fibrosis by use of serological markers of collagen turnover could prove a clinically useful tool, particularly given the potential for cardioprotective and cardioreparative pharmacological strategies. An emerging experimental and clinical experience holds promise for the use of radioimmunoassays of various serological markers of fibrillar collagen type I and type III turnover in arterial hypertension. More specifically, the measurement of serum concentrations of procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide (a peptide that is cleaved from procollagen type I during the synthesis of fibril-forming collagen type I) may provide indirect diagnostic information on both the extent of myocardial fibrosis and the ability of antihypertensive treatment to diminish collagen type I synthesis and reduce myocardial fibrosis. This approach represents an exciting and innovative strategy, and available data set the stage for larger trials, in which noninvasive measures of fibrosis in hypertensive heart disease could prove useful. (Hypertension. 2001;38:1222-1226.)


Medical nanoplatforms based on clusters of superparamagnetic nanoparticles decorated with a PNIPAM thermo-responsive shell have been synthesized and used as drug carriers for doxorubicin (DOXO), a common chemotherapeutic agent. The nanosystem here developed has a total diameter below 200 nm and exploits the temperature responsive behaviour of the PNIPAM polymeric shell for the controlled loading and release of DOXO. The system has been tested in vitro on tumour cells and it clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of drug polymer encapsulation and time-dependent cell death induced by the doxorubicin release. Comparative cellular studies of the DOXO loaded nanoplatform in the presence or absence of an external magnet (0.3 T) showed the synergic effect of accumulation and enhanced toxicity of the system, when magnetically guided, resulting in the enhanced efficacy of the system.


The destruction caused by the earthquake can be widespread causing damage to telecommunication & power infrastructure, bridges & roads, water & sanitation facilities, and other services. Similarly, local administration during earthquake becomes mostly impaired especially after the destruction of majority of government buildings. The major earthquakes of Pakistan include Quetta Earthquake 1935, Kashmir - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Earthquake 2005, Ziarat Earthquake 2008 and Awaran – Balochistan Earthquake 2013 which emphasized for the need of public and institutional preparedness at large scale. The objective of this paper is to assess the people and government earthquake preparedness in district Mansehra and recommend measures for its improvement. Historically, two high risks tehsils of district Mansehra (Balakot and Mansehra) were selected for this paper. A survey questionnaire was conducted using random sampling technique. The data was collected from six government departments and 498 local respondents. The results of the study reveal that government organizations have learnt lessons from the experience of past earthquake and thus increased their level of preparedness including emergency response system, early warning system, protection of assets and property, care for the human resources, addressing health issues, provision of shelter and logistics etc. Similarly, people are now well aware about the affects of earthquake disaster. The public preparedness level includes adequate knowledge about earthquake disaster, mitigation measures, alternative shelter arrangements and protection of resources. Based on the results of collected data and findings, the research study has proposed certain measures for further improving the public and institutional earthquake preparedness.


Background: The pandemic the world is facing today started in the city of Wuhan, central China, in December 2019, and presented as unexplained lower respiratory infections. On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus be called "corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)." Since the beginning of the pandemic there has been quite some debate regarding starting or continuing the treatment of diseases requiring immunosuppression. The major issues arise with management of dermatological diseases, such as vesiculobullous disorders, moderate-to-severe psoriasis, acute severe drug reactions, and connective tissue diseases which would require high level of immune-suppression or immune-modulation as treatment. In this article, we discuss the management strategies adopted for the management of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) as the prototypical examples. We will discuss the algorithm we evolved in our department for managing such cases during COVID-19 pandemic to give optimum benefit for our patients along with decreasing their risk for increased vulnerability for severe COVID-19 infection. The same principle can be used for other diseases requiring immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies. Objectives: The management of the patients suffering from BP and PV that came to our department during the national lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective study of 30 consecutive patients that came to our outpatient department either previously diagnosed or as fresh cases of PV or BP. Results: Treating patients with BP or PV during the pandemic has been a challenge. Analyzing the risk versus benefit and making a custom-based treatment helped us minimize the risk for severe COVID-19 infection as well as the side effects due to the primary drugs that are used in BP/PV. We were successful in keeping the primary disease in control. None of our patients was infected with symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: With rapidly changing scenario of the pandemic it is very difficult to assess the optimal management of complex diseases such as PV and BP. With contradictory data available whether suppressing the immunity will result in a milder form of COVID 19 with less complications or render the patient at higher risk of complicated COVID-19 is unknown. Thus we, as dermato-physicians, need to keep ourselves and our patients updated, educated, and choose the best possible option where in the risk for severe COVID-19 infection minimized while keeping their primary disease in control.


A novel application of chemiluminescence, a chemical reaction which generates light, is being developed in view of its potential use for landslide monitoring. The light emission from the device is detected using an array of inexpensive photodetectors and the signal transmitted via a wireless node to a base station. Since the light is emitted on detection of soil movement by virtue of chemiluminescence, no light source is required for the sensing system to work. In this study, the sensing system was tested and found to be capable of detecting small soil movement of approximately 4 cm. Work is still being carried out to improve the detection sensitivity. A physical embodiment of the sensing device has been fabricated and tested in a simulated soil movement set-up and results show that the sensor is capable of detecting soil movement typical of that experience in landslide. The sensing device is inexpensive with a wireless transmission range of 300m and can be easily installed on site by non-specialists. Wireless data can be acquired immediately upon deployment and does not require signal processing of a large amount of data, as a result of a simple damage detection approach. Being self- sustaining, the sensor system could be powered using energy harvesting technique such as solar panels and is capable of operating with little or no servicing requirements. The sensor is expected to be useful in applications in many geotechnical projects such as underground construction, detection of liquefaction in hot spots, ground settlement and others. It is also useful to detecting soil movement in areas prone to landslides particularly in the rural residential areas where the availability of a low-cost and easy to implement sensor device would be highly desirable. doi: 10.12783/SHM2015/116


According to a widespread view, deontic modalities are relative to normative systems. Four arguments in favour of this suggestion will be presented in this paper. Nevertheless, I have proposed and defended an analysis of deontic modalities in terms of Transparent Intensional Logic (TIL) that is non-relativistic (with respect to normative systems) and accommodates minimal semantics of TIL. This leads to a question whether one can do justice to arguments for deontic relativism and put forward a relativistic analysis of deontic modalities in TIL. The main aim of this paper is to amend the former analysis of deontic modalities in terms of TIL to incorporate both the standard (relativistic) view and the minimal semantics of TIL.


Despite all the attention focused on the Takings Clause in recent years, the remedy for government takings of private property has been largely ignored. This Article examines different approaches to valuing takings. Until now, takings scholarship has focused primarily on the liability question: What government actions count as takings of private property? The remedy question, however, is equally important to the Fifth Amendment's protection of private property: When the government takes property, how should just compensation be assessed? It is settled law that compensation for takings is measured by the fair market value of the property taken, but this standard hides a number of important decisions - what the Article dubs valuation mechanisms - that can dramatically alter a property owner's recovery. These include, among others, choosing whether to value the property by the owner's loss or the government's gain; allocating development risk between the government and the property owner; and selecting a valuation date for the property. This Article identifies nine separate valuation mechanisms, examines their application in the case law, and argues that their application corresponds to different, substantive takings theories.


Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hell for all the slaves, but especially bad for Cora; an outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is coming into womanhood --where even greater pain awaits. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Matters do not go as planned --Cora kills a young white boy who tries to capture her. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted.


FULL TITLE: Between Arabic and French in the Israeli education system: Acquisition of cosmopolitan capital in a conflict-ridden society

Abstract
In the era of globalization, educational systems are forced to react and globalize through schools' content and context. Among other 21st century capabilities such as information technology use, team work and entrepreneurship, multilingual competence has been placed among the objectives of education systems worldwide. We analyzed the pattern of students' choice for advanced studies in English, Arabic and French languages in Israeli schools over the last twenty years (1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010) together with mothers' education years. Our results revealed a change in the pattern of language learning over the years, with English and French advanced studies highly correlated with mothers' education (hence associated with a certain perceived status), while Arabic became increasingly correlated with mothers' education over the years. In addition, we performed semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 20 parents of children studying either French or Arabic in junior high schools. All interviewed parents were selected from schools where pupils can choose between French and Arabic and parents were asked about the motivation for choosing earthier French or Arabic. We found that parents mostly see foreign languages as part of cultural and cosmopolitan capital that their children need to acquire, in order to benefit from it later in their career. While French was found to be perceived in terms of pragmatic and instrumental cosmopolitan capital, Arabic was perceived as a pragmatic but also as an ideological asset. We discuss our findings in the context of Israeli society and the conflict-ridden situation that its education system is functioning within.

5,739 words
Cosmopolitan capital, schools, French. Arabic, Israel


Three new approaches for collecting and processing sinking particles for biogeochemical studies are presented. They include (1) a modification of our existing indented rotating sphere carousel (IRSC) sediment trap design from its conventional time‐series function to one that collects particles based on discrete particle settling‐velocity ranges; (2) development of a large, free‐floating NetTrap based on the design of a closing plankton net capable of collecting large amounts (~1 g) of very fresh sinking particulate material in short time periods (24–36 h) to facilitate microbial decomposition experiments; and (3) an elutriation system to fractionate particles from the NetTrap into settling‐velocity classes using countercurrents of varying speeds. These approaches were recently tested in the Mediterranean Sea and appear to provide new opportunities to characterize fluxes of carbon and other elements of interest and to investigate mechanisms of sinking.


This qualitative study examined 45 education speeches presented by President Obama and leaders of the U.S. Department of Education from January 2009 through December 2010. These speeches were interpreted with the use of critical discourse analysis and reviewed through the lens of interest convergence theory. The first aim of the researcher was to uncover the underlying ideologies represented in the Obama Administration's education speeches. The second objective was to understand how those ideologies impacted the Administration's proposed reform ideas. Specifically, the researcher was interested in how the underpinning ideologies and proposed solutions affected the education of poor students of color. The researcher found four primary ideologies in the education speeches. First, every speech was coupled with an economic agenda. Second, the speakers displayed great concern over America's ability to remain a global economic leader. Third, there was an emphasis on the role of education in promoting equal opportunity and a belief in the American Dream. Finally, the speakers showed a deficit-oriented perception of students of color. The researcher discovered that economic ideologies inspired the Obama Administration's proposed solutions. As such, the author argues that the Obama Administration utilized interest convergence by focusing on the economic self-interests of white policymakers. This study concludes with the author's recommendations for change in the education of poor students of color. The author calls for strategic alliances throughout group identities in order to achieve educational equity.


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Early intensification with MTX is a key component of most treatment regimens used for children, adolescents and young adults with ALL. We have previously shown that HDMTX is superior to C-MTX in B-ALL in COG Study AALL0232. Because there are differences in sensitivity to MTX and pegaspargase (PEG-ASNase) between B- and T-ALL that might affect outcome, we conducted a front-line, Phase III study for patients with T-ALL. COG AALL0434 was a 2 x 2 pseudo-factorial randomization comparing the COG augmented BFM (ABFM) regimen with C-MTX without leucovorin rescue to ABFM with HDMTX plus leucovorin rescue in T-ALL, and randomizing patients with T-ALL and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma to therapy with/without six, five-day courses of nelarabine. Study subjects with T-ALL received either block of MTX therapy during the 8-week Interim Maintenance (IM) phase; those with CNS3 status were non-randomly assigned to receive HDMTX. The T-ALL patients all received prophylactic (1200 cGy) or therapeutic (1800 cGy for CNS3) cranial irradiation (cXRT), except for the ~10% with low-risk T-ALL (NCI standard risk, CNS1 without extramedullary disease, and Day 29 minimal residual disease <0.1%), who did not receive cXRT. AALL0434 accrued 1,895 study subjects between 2007 and 2014. One thousand thirty-one T-ALL subjects without CNS3 status were randomized to receive ABFM with C-MTX or HDMTX. Subjects randomized to C-MTX (n= 518) received cXRT during Consolidation (Week 4 of protocol therapy), while subjects randomized to HDMTX (n=513) received cXRT during Delayed Intensification (DI) Week 26 of protocol therapy. The 4-year disease-free survival rates (DFS) were 89.3% (SE 1.5%) overall and 92.5% (SE 1.8%) for the C-MTX regimen vs. 86.1% (SE 2.4%) for the HDMTX regimen (p = 0.0173) (Figure 1). Interim monitoring resulted in the early release of efficacy results showing that C-MTX is superior to HDMTX, but data for the nelarabine randomization (n = 659) have not yet matured enough to assess its impact. The C-MTX regimen had 11 relapses; 7 without CNS, and 4 with CNS involvement, all occurring after Week 21 in DI phase therapy. In contrast, among those randomized to HDMTX, there were 24 relapses, 14 without CNS and 10 with CNS involvement, 6 with CNS before delivery of HDMTX and cXRT. This result is directly opposite to what we observed in B-ALL (Larsen et al, ASCO 2011), emphasizing the different biology and treatment sensitivities of B- and T-ALL. The reasons for these differences are uncertain, but may be related to different sensitivities to MTX with/without leucovorin rescue, differences in PEG-ASNase scheduling, or near universal use of cXRT in AALL0434 with different timings of cXRT administration between study arms. In conclusion, AALL0434 produced a 4-year DFS rate of 89.3% (SE 1.5%) in children, adolescents, and young adults with T-ALL, and established that ABFM with C-MTX was superior to ABFM plus HDMTX.

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Figure 1.

Disclosures Hunger: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment; Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Sigma Tau Pharmaceuticals; Erytech: Honoraria.

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To the best of my knowledge; no one has ever exploited the relationship between Democracy and Education and Dewey's logical theory as presented in these other works. Doing so not only lends textual evidence to the important relationship between Dewey's logical theory and Democracy and Education; it reinforces Dewey's claim that Democracy and Education best represents his philosophy in general. Democracy and Education evinces arguments regarding logical theory that Dewey hadn't yet made in his published works on logical theory. These arguments concern the role and scope of scientific method in the context of the practice of teaching and the social psychology of learning. Attention to scientific method and to the habits and dispositions of the student-as-learner will be my focus. I argue that these arguments find their way into Dewey's later logical theory; represented in Logic: the Theory of Inquiry (1938) under the rubrics of 'the existential matrix of inquiry' and 'social inquiry.' In particular; the accounts of habit; adaptation; and interaction in Chapter 2 of Dewey's Logic; together with the account of social problems and their resolution in a genuine determination as discussed in Chapter 24; are indebted to Chapters 11–14 of Democracy and Education. And for this reason alone; Democracy and Education should be considered among the most important of Dewey's influences regarding the development of his logical theory.


On 29 October 2017, it was announced that the UK authorities are planning to revoke the blanket ban on prisoner voting and allow those who are sentenced to under a year in prison to go home for a day and vote. This was done to ensure the compliance with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Hirst No 2 which was delivered in 2005. It took the UK government twelve years to come up with a proposal that would put English law in line with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.


BACKGROUND
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a first-line conservative treatment for urinary incontinence in women. Other active treatments include: physical therapies (e.g. vaginal cones); behavioural therapies (e.g. bladder training); electrical or magnetic stimulation; mechanical devices (e.g. continence pessaries); drug therapies (e.g. anticholinergics (solifenacin, oxybutynin, etc.) and duloxetine); and surgical interventions including sling procedures and colposuspension. This systematic review evaluated the effects of adding PFMT to any other active treatment for urinary incontinence in women

OBJECTIVES
To compare the effects of pelvic floor muscle training combined with another active treatment versus the same active treatment alone in the management of women with urinary incontinence.

SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Register, which contains trials identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, MEDLINE in process, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP and handsearching of journals and conference proceedings (searched 5 May 2015), and CINAHL (January 1982 to 6 May 2015), and the reference lists of relevant articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised or quasi-randomised trials with two or more arms, of women with clinical or urodynamic evidence of stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence or mixed urinary incontinence. One arm of the trial included PFMT added to another active treatment; the other arm included the same active treatment alone.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently assessed trials for eligibility and methodological quality and resolved any disagreement by discussion or consultation with a third party. We extracted and processed data in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Other potential sources of bias we incorporated into the 'Risk of bias' tables were ethical approval, conflict of interest and funding source.

MAIN RESULTS
Thirteen trials met the inclusion criteria, comprising women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI); they compared PFMT added to another active treatment (585 women) with the same active treatment alone (579 women). The pre-specified comparisons were reported by single trials, except bladder training, which was reported by two trials, and electrical stimulation, which was reported by three trials. However, only two of the three trials reporting electrical stimulation could be pooled, as one of the trials did not report any relevant data. We considered the included trials to be at unclear risk of bias for most of the domains, predominantly due to the lack of adequate information in a number of trials. This affected our rating of the quality of evidence. The majority of the trials did not report the primary outcomes specified in the review (cure or improvement, quality of life) or measured the outcomes in different ways. Effect estimates from small, single trials across a number of comparisons were indeterminate for key outcomes relating to symptoms, and we rated the quality of evidence, using the GRADE approach, as either low or very low. More women reported cure or improvement of incontinence in two trials comparing PFMT added to electrical stimulation to electrical stimulation alone, in women with SUI, but this was not statistically significant (9/26 (35%) versus 5/30 (17%); risk ratio (RR) 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79 to 5.38). We judged the quality of the evidence to be very low. There was moderate-quality evidence from a single trial investigating women with SUI, UUI or MUI that a higher proportion of women who received a combination of PFMT and heat and steam generating sheet reported a cure compared to those who received the sheet alone: 19/37 (51%) versus 8/37 (22%) with a RR of 2.38, 95% CI 1.19 to 4.73). More women reported cure or improvement of incontinence in another trial comparing PFMT added to vaginal cones to vaginal cones alone, but this was not statistically significant (14/15 (93%) versus 14/19 (75%); RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.71). We judged the quality of the evidence to be very low. Only one trial evaluating PFMT when added to drug therapy provided information about adverse events (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.60; very low-quality evidence).With regard to condition-specific quality of life, there were no statistically significant differences between women (with SUI, UUI or MUI) who received PFMT added to bladder training and those who received bladder training alone at three months after treatment, on either the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Revised scale (mean difference (MD) -5.90, 95% CI -35.53 to 23.73) or on the Urogenital Distress Inventory scale (MD -18.90, 95% CI -37.92 to 0.12). A similar pattern of results was observed between women with SUI who received PFMT plus either a continence pessary or duloxetine and those who received the continence pessary or duloxetine alone. In all these comparisons, the quality of the evidence for the reported critical outcomes ranged from moderate to very low.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review found insufficient evidence to state whether or not there were additional effects by adding PFMT to other active treatments when compared with the same active treatment alone for urinary incontinence (SUI, UUI or MUI) in women. These results should be interpreted with caution as most of the comparisons were investigated in small, single trials. None of the trials in this review were large enough to provide reliable evidence. Also, none of the included trials reported data on adverse events associated with the PFMT regimen, thereby making it very difficult to evaluate the safety of PFMT.


The averaged intensity distribution of the diffraction spectrum of light transmitted by a superimposed ultrasonic wave and diffuser is investigated in the far field. The diffuser plate makes each spectral component broaden owing to its random nature. The intensity at an observation plane is represented as a summation of each component of the diffraction spectrum. A measure to distinguish the zeroth-order spectral component from the first-order component is given under the assumption that the diffuser obeys Gaussian statistics. It is suggested theoretically and experimentally that the roughness parameter of the diffuser can be obtained from the measurement of the ratio between the peak intensities of the zeroth- and first-order spectra. The advantage of using an ultrasonic wave is that its wavelength can be utilized as a marker for the determination of the roughness parameter.