Longitudinal associations between infant-parent attachment and parental and toddler behavior during storybook interaction were examined for 131 lower-middle to middle-class families (70 girls; 61 boys). At ages 12 and 15 months, infant-mother and infant-father dyads were videotaped in the laboratory-based Strange Situation procedure to assess attachment. At 24 months, dyads visited the laboratory and were videotaped during storybook interaction. Infants with a history of insecure-resistant attachment with their mothers were less enthusiastic and focused during storybook interaction. Moreover, mothers of insecure-resistant infants were less warm and supportive, more hostile and intrusive, more detached, and less stimulating of cognitive development than mothers of secure or avoidant infants. Disorganized attachment did not predict the quality of storybook interaction and few attachment-related differences were found when the toddler-father dyad was considered.


The Indian Government has defined the Birhor as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). They live in small, scattered communities in Jharkhand and Odisha. Until the 1950s, their lifestyle was primarily nomadic and depended on the availability of forest game and market trends. The government of India then began to limit Birhor access to the forests, forcing them into low-skilled agricultural and mining jobs and settling them in resettlement colonies. The majority of the Birhor still live in these colonies, in houses that they use and inhabit, yet cannot completely appreciate. The reason for this lack of appreciation derives mainly from their religious beliefs and their cultural perception of living spaces. Consequently, many Birhor have made considerable changes to their allotted housing, not only to adapt it to their cultural concepts, but also to serve the perceived requests of the invisible, yet omni- present, hapram bonga , spiritual ancestors, who are always treated with the greatest consideration in Birhor settlements.


Preface. Chapter 1: Introduction: Genomics and Personalized Medicine (Dimitri Semizarov). 1.1. Fundamentals of genomics. 1.2. The concept of personalized medicine. 1.3. Genomics technologies in drug discovery. 1.4. Scope of this book. References. Chapter 2: Genomics Technologies as Tools in Drug Discovery (Dimitri Semizarov). 2.1. Introduction to genomics technologies. 2.2. Gene expression microarrays: technology. 2.2.1. Standard microarray protocol. 2.2.2. Monitoring the quality of RNA for microarray experiments. 2.2.3. Specialized microarray protocols for archived and small samples. 2.2.4. Quality of microarray data and technical parameters of microarrays. 2.2.5. Reproducibility of expression microarrays and cross-platform comparisons. 2.2.6. Microarray databases and annotation of microarray data. 2.3. Gene expression microarrays: data analysis. 2.3.1. Identification of significant gene expression changes. 2.3.2. Sample classification and class prediction using expression microarrays. 2.3.3. Pathway analysis with gene expression microarrays. 2.3.4. Common problems affecting the validity of microarray studies. 2.4. Comparative genomic hybridization: technology. 2.5. Comparative genomic hybridization: data analysis. 2.6. Microarray-based DNA methylation profiling. 2.7. Microarray-based microRNA profiling. 2.8. Technical issues in genomics experiments and regulatory submissions of microarray data. 2.8.1. Study of a drug's mechanism of action by gene expression profiling. 2.8.2. Early assessment of drug toxicity in model systems. 2.8.3. Biomarker identification in discovery and early development. 2.8.4. Patient stratification in clinical trials using gene expression signatures. 2.8.5. Genotyping of patients in clinical studies to predict drug response. 2.9. Conclusion. References. Chapter 3: Genomic Biomarkers (Dimitri Semizarov). 3.1. Introduction into genomic biomarkers. 3.2. DNA biomarkers. 3.2.1. DNA copy number alterations. 126.96.36.199. DNA copy alterations in cancer. 18.104.22.168. DNA copy number alterations in other diseases. 188.8.131.52. Identification of DNA copy number biomarkers in drug discovery. 3.2.2. Mutations. 18.104.22.168. p53 mutations. 18.104.22.168. K-ras mutations. 184.108.40.206. EGFR mutations. 220.127.116.11. Bcr-abl and KIT mutations. 3.2.3. Epigenetic markers. 3.3. RNA biomarkers. 3.3.1. Gene expression biomarkers validated as diagnostic tests. 3.3.2. Other examples of gene expression biomarkers. 3.4. Clinical validation of genomic biomarkers. References. Chapter 4: Fundamental Principles of Toxicogenomics (Eric Blomme) . 4.1. Introduction. 4.2. Fundamentals of toxicogenomics. 4.2.1. Principle of toxicogenomics. 4.2.2. Technical reproducibility. 4.2.3. Biological reproducibility. 4.2.4. Species extrapolation. 4.3. Analysis of toxicogenomics data. 4.3.1. Compound-induced gene expression changes. 4.3.2. Visualization tools. 4.3.3. Class prediction. 4.3.4. Network and pathway analysis. 4.4. Practical and logistic aspects of toxicogenomics. 4.4.1. Species considerations. 4.4.2. Toxicogenomics studies. 18.104.22.168. Sample considerations. 126.96.36.199. Experimental design in toxicogenomics studies. 4.5. Toxicogenomics reference databases. 4.5.1. The utility of reference databases in toxicogenomics. 4.5.2. Design and development of toxicogenomics reference databases. 4.5.3. Existing toxicogenomics databases. 4.6. Conclusion. References. Chapter 5: Toxicogenomics: Applications to In Vivo Toxicology (Eric Blomme). 5.1. The value of toxicogenomics in drug discovery and development. 5.2. Basic principles of toxicology in drug discovery and development. 5.2.1. Preclinical safety assessment. 5.2.2. Discovery toxicology. 5.3. Toxicogenomics in predictive toxicology. 5.3.1. Prediction of hepatotoxicity. 5.3.2. Prediction of nephrotoxicity. 5.3.3. Prediction of in vivo carcinogenicity. 5.3.4. Gene expression-based biomarkers in other tissues and the promise of hemogenomics. 5.3.5. Integration of toxicogenomics in discovery toxicogology. 5.4. Toxicogenomics in mechanistic toxicology. 5.4.1. Toxicogenomics to investigate mechanisms of hepatotoxicity. 5.4.2. Intestinal toxicity and Notch signaling. 5.4.3. Cardiac toxicity. 5.4.4. Testicular toxicity. 5.5. Toxicogenomics and target-related toxicity. 5.5.1. Target expression in normal tissues. 5.5.2. Target modulation. 5.6. Predicting species-specific toxicity. 5.7. Evaluation of idiosyncratic toxicity with toxicogenomics. 5.8. Conclusion. References. Chapter 6: Toxicogenomics: Applications in I n Vitro Systems (Eric Blomme). 6.1. Introductory remarks on in vitro toxicology. 6.2. Overview of the current approaches to in vitro toxicology. 6.3. Toxicogenomics in in vitro systems: technical considerations. 6.3.1. Reproducibility. 6.3.2. Genomic classifiers. 6.3.3. Testing concentrations. 6.3.4. Throughput and cost. 6.4. Proof-of-concept studies using primary rat hepatocytes. 6.5. Use of gene expression profiling to assess genotoxicity. 6.5.1. Toxicogenomics can differentiate genotoxic carcinogens from non-genotoxic carcinogens. 6.5.2. Toxicogenomics can differentiate DNA reactive from non-DNA reactive compounds positive in the in vitro mammalian cell-based genotoxicity assays. 6.5.3. Toxicogenomics assays may be less sensitive than the standard battery of in vitro genetic toxicity tests. 6.6. Application of gene expression profiling for the in vitro detection of phopholipidosis. 6.7. Toxicogenomics in the assessment of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. 6.8. Do peripheral blood mononuclear cells represent a useful alternative in vitro model? 6.9. Current and future use of in vitro toxicogenomics. 6.9.1 Improved gene expression platforms. 6.9.2. Standardization of protocols and experimental approaches. 6.9.3. Performance accuracy. 6.9.4. Battery of gene expression signatures. 6.9.5. Clear actionable data points. 6.10. Conclusion. References. Chapter 7: Germ Line Polymorphisms and Drug Response (Dimitri Semizarov). 7.1. Introduction into germline polymorphisms. 7.2. Polymorphisms and drug response in oncology. 7.2.1. UGT1A1 polymorphism and response to irinotecan. 7.2.2. FGFR4 polymorphism and response to chemotherapy. 7.2.3. Mdr-1 polymorphism and response to paclitaxel. 7.2.4. DPD polymorphisms and response to 5'-fluorouracil. 7.2.5. TPMT variants and response to thiopurines. 7.2.6. MTHFR polymorphisms and response to chemotherapy. 7.2.7. Tandem repeat polymorphisms in the TS gene and response to drugs targeting thymidylate synthase. 7.2.8. Use of cancer cell lines to identify predictive SNPs. 7.3. Polymorphisms and response to anticoagulants. 7.4. Polymorphisms in neuroscience. 7.5. Polymorphisms and drug response in immunology. 7.6. Polymorphisms and response to antiviral agents. 7.6.1. Anti-HIV drugs. 7.6.2. Interferon therapy in hepatitis B treatment. 7.7. Gene copy number polymorphisms. 7.8. Conclusions: approaches to identification of polymorphisms as predictors of drug response. 7.8.1. Candidate gene approach. 7.8.2. Genome-wide approach. 7.8.3. Pathway approach. 7.8.4. Use of model systems in the identification of predictive pharmacogenetic markers. 7.8.5. Comparison of the methodologies in the context of drug discovery. References. Chapter 8: Pharmacogenetics of Drug Disposition (Anahita Bhathena). 8.1. Introduction. 8.2. Genes and polymorphisms affecting drug disposition. 8.2.1. Drug metabolizing enzymes. 8.2.2. Drug transport proteins. 8.3. Genomic biomarkers for PK studies. 8.4. Utility of PG--PK studies in early clinical trials. 8.5. Limitations of PG--PK studies. 8.6. Genotyping technologies. 8.7. Conclusion. References. Chapter 9: Overview of Regulatory Developments and Initiatives Related to the Use of Genomic Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development (Eric Blomme). 9.1. Introduction into recent regulatory developments in the genomic area. 9.2. FDA guidance on pharmacogenomic data submission. 9.2.1. Voluntary genomic data submission (VGDS). 9.2.2. Pharmacogenomic data submission. 9.2.3. International harmonization. 9.3. Pharmacogenomic data submission: draft companion guidance. 9.4. Drug-diagnostic co-development concept paper. 9.5. Regulations for in vitro diagnostic assays. 9.5.1. General overview of regulatory pathways for devices in the U.S.A. 9.5.2. Draft guidance for industry, clinical laboratories, and FDA staff on in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assays. 9.6. Biomarker qualification. 9.7. Current initiatives relevant to pharmacogenomics. 9.8. Future impact of genomic data on drug development. References. Index.


THE IMPACT OF LATINO FAMILY VARIABLES ON THE SEXUAL ACTIVITY OF LATINO ADOLESCENTS: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY Brittany N. Barber, M.A. Marquette University, 2011 Researchers" examination of Latino adolescents" cultural values and sexual activity has yielded questions regarding the culturaland gender-specific attitudes and practices in this area (Deardorff, Tschann, & Flores, 2008). Cultural values include family-related variables such as different aspects of familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring, which have been found to decrease adolescents" engagement in other negative activities such as aggressive behavior, (Dishion & McMahon, 1998), substance use (Estrada, Rabow, & Watts, 1982), and juvenile delinquency (Clark & Shields, 1997). Research investigating these risk behaviors has often implicated Latino adolescents" level of assimilation to White, mainstream society as a potential risk factor for higher engagement in negative behaviors, emphasizing the importance of better understanding the cultural context in which Latino youth live and how it may impact their risky behavior. This dissertation study, therefore, examined the relationship between five Latino family variables (i.e., attitudinal familism, behavioral familism, structural familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring), assimilation to White culture, and the sexual activity beliefs and behaviors of Latino adolescents. A mixedmethods project explored and tested the relationships between these variables. Four gender-specific focus groups were conducted with adolescents; data were analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). Also, 410 Latino youth completed quantitative surveys about their family-related behaviors, attitudes, and sexual activity. Relationships among these variables were tested using correlations and regressions. Primary findings from the qualitative study indicated that gender differences in Latino families" communication about sex and monitoring behaviors impacts Latina girls" and Latino boys" sexual activity beliefs. Differences observed with regard to gender were such that Latina girls" felt sexual activity was not appropriate for teenagers, whereas the boys felt that it was acceptable for teenagers to engage in sexual activity as long as they used a contraceptive method. Quantitative results indicated parental monitoring and some aspects of familism were found to be related to a decreased likelihood of engaging in sexual activity for the girls and boys. High assimilation to White, mainstream culture was not found to impact sexual activity beliefs or behaviors in the current study. Running head: LATINO FAMILY VARIABLES AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY i


A doctor must strive to provide health care as best as they could in order to create satisfied patient. The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of quality of care from the doctor and patient satisfaction in hospital, clinic. And the effect of patient satisfaction on word of mouth, then patient satisfaction can create revisited patient. A theoretical framework was developed to test the relationship among the study construct. The design of this research applies to hos p ital, clinic and the questionnaires were spread away to 100 respondents or patients from 2 hospita l in Jakarta, bekasi and by using purpose sampling. The result of the research conclude that doctor' s quality of care has a significant effect to patient satisfaction, and patients satisfaction hasn't a sig n ificant effect to word of mouth but patient satisfaction has a significant effect to revisited patient. Keyword: doctor's quality of care, patient satisfaction, word of m o uth, revisited patient.


Experiments were conducted to determine two pieces of information essential to identify practices necessary to ensure tapping trees for birch sap collection is both sustainable and profitable—the selection of the time to initiate tapping birch trees to obtain maximum yields, and the volume of nonconductive wood (NCW) associated with taphole wounds in birch trees. The yields obtained from various timing treatments varied between sapflow seasons, but indicate that using test tapholes to choose the appropriate time to initiate tapping is likely to result in optimum yields from birch trees. The volume of NCW associated with taphole wounds in birch trees was highly variable and generally quite large, averaging 220 times the volume of the taphole drilled, and requiring relatively high radial growth rates to maintain NCW at sustainable levels over the long-term. However, more conservative tapping practices, including reduced taphole depth and increased dropline length, as well as thinning and other stand management practices, can be used to reduce the minimum growth rates required. Producers can use this information to ensure that they use tapping practices that will result in sustainable outcomes and obtain the maximum possible sap yields from their trees.


This essay examines the relation between psychoanalysis and law by arguing that property is allied to trauma and lays a foundation for individuals and communities to recognize themselves in its wake. During the twentieth century, property became less a barometer of happiness or aspiration than an index of bereavement. Modernist fiction records property as a source of grief, disappointment, dispossession, and guilt. Against this backdrop, struggles over property can be grasped not as symptoms of aggressive instincts, as Freud maintains in Civilization and its Discontents, but as measures of loss along the lines described in "Mourning and Melancholia." Building on the connection between property and loss, the essay examines owning and owing, inheritance and indebtedness, in Walter Benjamin's "Unpacking My Library" and James Joyce's Ulysses. These texts illustrate how property can be understood both as a condition and a process. As a condition, it aims to freeze time and produce nostalgia, while as a dynamic and unpredictable process, it can inaugurate a narrative that resists the possibility of stasis and releases an emotional current not of nostalgia but of grief—and ultimately, indebtedness.


Abstract The quantification of deformation is one of the main objectives studied by geologists in order to control the evolution of tectonic structures and their kinematics during different tectonic phases. One of the most reliable methods of this theme is the direct calculation of quantity of deformation based on field data, while respecting several parameters such as the notion of tectonic inheritance and reactivation of pre-existing faults, or the relationship between the elongation and shortening axis with major faults. Thus, such a quantification of deformation in an area may explain the relations of thin- and thick-skinned tectonics during this deformation. The study of structural evolution of the Jebel Elkebar domain in the southern-central Tunisian Atlas permits us to quantify the deformation during the extensional phase by a direct calculation of the vertical throw along normal faults. This approach is verified by calculation of thickness of eroded strata in the uplifted compartment and of resedimented series, named the Kebar Formation, in the downthrown compartment. The obtained results confirm the importance of the Aptian-Albian extensional tectonic regime. The extent of deformation during the compressional phase, related to reactivation of pre-existing faults, is less than that of extensional phases; indeed the compressive reactivation did not compensate the vertical throw of normal faults. The geometry of the Elkebar fold is interpreted in terms of the "fault-related fold" model with a décollement level in the Triassic series. This permitted the partition of deformation between the basement and cover, so that the basement was allowed for a limited transport only, and the maximum of observed deformation was concentrated in the thin-skinned tectonics.


Work on the biology of Collembola (Springtails) was carried out betweenn Ootober 1959 and October I962, on the Moor House National Nature Reserve, in Westmorland. This is an area of high Pennine moorland (l840ft. O.D.) which experiences a sub-Arctic olimate. Population studies wars made on Limestone grassland, Alluvial grassland and Heather moor, by means of a statistical sampling method. Juncus squarrosus grassland and the erosion and recolonisation of blanket bog were also studied from the points of view of population densities and species differences. In an attempt to explain the fluctuations in numbers rocorded, biological data was also obtained from laboratory cultures of selected species. Observations on reproductive behaviour, fecundity, egg development, frequency of moulting, sex ratios and age distributions were made. Breeding experiments on members of the Onychiurus arnatus species group were carried out, and these revealed what appears to be an unusual form of parthenogenesis; these experiments also showed that in some species, at least, the criteria for the division of the 0. aimatus species group, which have been questioned by some continental workers, are valid. Regular sampling of the selected vegetation types provided data on horizontal distribution (aggregations), vertical distribution and seasonal variations in the numbers and biomass of Collembola. Limestone grassland carried the highest mean anual population density (52.92 x 10(^3) per m(^2)) and Juncus squarrosus grassland the lowest (20.93 x 10(^3) per m(^2)). A flotation extractor, to remove Collembola from organic soils, was designed and built, and this may prove an important step forward in the technique of studying the moorland fauna. The work forms a contribution to the study of moorland ecology, but it is clear that to obtain a comprehensive picture of the ecological importance of Collembola on moorland, a great deal of work will be necessary in the future.


A multichannel noise reduction and equalization approach for distributed microphones is presented. The speech enhancement is based on a blind-matched filtering algorithm that combines the microphone signals such that the output SNR is maximized. The algorithm is developed for spatially uncorrelated but nonuniform noise fields, that is, the noise signals at the different microphones are uncorrelated, but the noise power spectral densities can vary. However, no assumptions on the array geometry are made. The proposed method will be compared to the speech distortion-weighted multichannel Wiener filter (SDW-MWF). Similar to the SDW-MWF, the new algorithm requires only estimates of the input signal to noise ratios and the input cross-correlations. Hence, no explicit channel knowledge is necessary. A new version of the SDW-MWF for spatially uncorrelated noise is developed which has a reduced computational complexity, because matrix inversions can be omitted. The presented blind-matched filtering approach is similar to this SDW-MWF for spatially uncorrelated noise but additionally achieves some improvements in the speech quality due to a partial equalization of the acoustic system.


For its significant role in legitimizing the Philippine revolution in 1898, the place of Apolinario Mabini's "True Decalogue" in Philippine history is already well secured. In this essay, I, however, demonstrate the continuing relevance of this work in current discussions on the morality of nationalism. After explicating its arguments for why nationalism should be regarded as a moral imperative, I explore how it handles the issue concerning the moral justifiability of national partiality—referring to the partiality of a person to the interests of his/her own country and co-nationals. Using a combination of content, logical, and comparative types of analysis as a method, I first exhibit the philosophical character of this work in terms of both substance and form, after which I compare and contrast of its insights and views with some other perspectives on the morality of nationalism. In the main, I show that Mabini's work endorses a universalist type of nationalism, utilizes both instrumentalist and non-instrumentalist modes of reasoning, and anticipates some of the critical considerations in reconciling national partiality with the standard view, called moral universalism, which states that moral principles should apply equally to persons of all kinds.


Due to legal, economic and socio-environmental factors, reverse logistics practices and extended producer responsibility have developed into a necessity in many countries. The end results and expectations may differ, but the motivation remains the same. Two significant components in a reverse logistics system -product recovery options and return channels - are the focus of this thesis. The two main issues examined are allocation of the returned products to recovery options, and selection of the collection methods for product returns. The initial segment of this thesis involves the formulation of a linear programming model to determine the optimal allocation of returned products differing in quality to specific recovery options. This model paves the way for a study on the effects of flexibility on product recovery allocation. A computational example utilising experimental data was presented to demonstrate the viability of the proposed model. The results revealed that in comparison to a fixed match between product qualities and recovery options, the product recovery operation appeared to be more profitable with a flexible allocation. The second segment of this thesis addresses the methods employed for the initial collection of returned products. A mixed integer nonlinear programming model was developed to facilitate the selection of optimal collection methods for these products. This integrated model takes three different initial collection methods into consideration. The model is used to solve an illustrative example optimally. However, as the complexity of the issue renders this process ineffective in the face of larger problems, the Lagrangian relaxation method was proposed to generate feasible solutions within reasonable computational times. This method was put to the test and the results were found to be encouraging.


We propose a measure of life satisfaction, alternative to the standard synthetic cognitive wellbeing question, based on the specific contribution of eleven life satisfaction sub-components (including satisfaction about the past, life opportunities, hope for the future, vitality, control over one's on life, meaning of life). The alternative measure is either estimated as a latent factor, obtained as a simple unweighted average from the above mentioned sub-components, or extracted with principal component analysis. We document that the new dependent variable fits much better standard socio-demographic controls and corrects the "Danish life satisfaction bias" in the direction suggested by the vignette approach. These findings do not reject our theoretical assumption that the alternative measures derived from the life satisfaction sub-components are less noisy and less culturally biased and therefore perform better than the standard self-reported life satisfaction. The straightforward policy advice of the paper is to introduce the above mentioned sub-components (similarly to what happens with sub-questions used to calculate the General Health Questionnaire score) in an additional question to measure more effectively subjective wellbeing.


This article seeks to illuminate the use of exceptional national security and emergency powers in the fight against terrorism in Turkey. The article is organized in four parts. Section I looks at the role of terrorism in the activation and justification of a state of emergency and introduces the Turkish case within this context. Section II explores the historical origins of the Turkish state of emergency regime and analyses the principles regulating emergency regime at the Turkish domestic level. Section III examines the operation of governmental emergency powers by providing an analysis of the state of emergency practices in Turkey, both past and present. A principal focus is necessarily directed at the state of emergency and the measures deployed within this framework in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast, where emergency rule was in force from 1987 to 2002, and the recent nationwide state of emergency in the wake of the 15 July attempted coup. Section IV presents concluding remarks.


Successive elimination of candidates is often a route to making manipulation intractable to compute. We prove that eliminating candidates does not necessarily increase the computational complexity of manipulation. However, for many voting rules used in practice, the computational complexity increases. For example, it is already known that it is NP-hard to compute how a single voter can manipulate the result of single transferable voting (the elimination version of plurality voting). We show here that it is NP-hard to compute how a single voter can manipulate the result of the elimination version of veto voting, of the closely related Coombs' rule, and of the elimination versions of a general class of scoring rules.


This study considers the application of both high-and zero-dividend strategies to the U.K. market. Following recent academic studies we conjecture that the payout ratio may provide a useful additional filter for portfolio construction and that zero-dividend stocks may also offer higher returns. These strategies do indeed outperform both the high-yield and index returns on an absolute basis but not when adjusted for risk and transaction costs.


New Discoveries in Child Psychotherapy presents eleven new contributions to child psychoanalytic research, most of them based on the experience of the clinical consulting room. Each chapter is the work of an experienced child psychotherapist or child analyst, vivid in their description of the children and families they encountered. Their understanding of the "inner worlds" of patients and the clinical consulting room is clearly evidenced in their analysis of clinical presentations.

The chapters are the result of the psychoanalytic clinical and observational practices of their authors, allied to their use of rigorous qualitative research methods, in particular Grounded Theory and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). They describe developments of child psychoanalytic knowledge in several fields, including autism, psychotherapy with severely deprived children, and the study of early infancy. They demonstrate advances in child psychoanalytic theories and methods and the development of new forms of clinical service provision. Contested issues in psychoanalytic research are thoroughly evaluated, showing how it can be made more accountable and rigorous through the adaptation of established qualitative research methods to the study of unconscious mental phenomena.

New Discoveries in Child Psychotherapy will be an essential text in the field of child psychoanalysis and will be highly useful in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis training courses and for psychoanalytic researchers, as well as for practitioners.


PURPOSE
Megavoltage photon beams are typically used for therapy because of their skin-sparing effect. However, a focused low-energy x-ray beam would also be skin sparing, and would have a higher dose concentration at the focal spot. Such a beam can be produced with polycapillary optics. MCNP5 was used to model dose profiles for a scanned focused beam, using measured beam parameters. The potential of low energy focused x-ray beams for radiation therapy was assessed.

METHODS
A polycapillary optic was used to focus the x-ray beam from a tungsten source. The optic was characterized and measurements were performed at 50 kV. PMMA blocks of varying thicknesses were placed between optic and the focal spot to observe any variation in the focusing of the beam after passing through the tissue-equivalent material. The measured energy spectrum was used to model the focused beam in MCNP5. A source card (SDEF) in MCNP5 was used to simulate the converging x-ray beam. Dose calculations were performed inside a breast tissue phantom.

RESULTS
The measured focal spot size for the polycapillary optic was 0.2 mm with a depth of field of 5 mm. The measured focal spot remained unchanged through 40 mm of phantom thickness. The calculated depth dose curve inside the breast tissue showed a dose peak several centimeters below the skin with a sharp dose fall off around the focus. The percent dose falls below 10% within 5 mm of the focus. It was shown that rotating the optic during scanning would preserve the skin-sparing effect of the focused beam.

CONCLUSIONS
Low energy focused x-ray beams could be used to irradiate tumors inside soft tissue within 5 cm of the surface.


We draw from an eight-year dataset of 98 organisational entities involved in pre-competitive innovation networks across the UK pharmaceutical sector. These data map into three networks that are representative of: (i) a product development-led sequential pathway that begins with digitalised product development, followed by digitalisation of supply networks, (ii) a supply network-led sequential pathway that starts with digitalised supply networks, followed by digitalisation of product development, and (iii) a parallel — platform-driven — pathway that enables simultaneous digitalisation of development, production, and supply networks. We draw upon extant literature to assess these network structures along three dimensions — strategic intent, the integrative roles of nodes with high centrality, and innovation performance. We conduct within-case and cross-case analyses to postulate 10 research propositions that compare and contrast modalities for sequential and platform-based digitalisation involving collaborative innovation networks. With sequential development, our propositions are congruent with conventional pathways for mitigating innovation risks through modular moves. On the other hand, we posit that platform-based design rules, rather than modular moves, mitigate the risks for parallel development pathways, and lead to novel development and delivery mechanisms.


This article starts from the observation of current changes in the nature of a globalizing public sphere for which older structural boundaries have lost much of their relevance. Though the public sphere has traditionally been a topic for social scientists (and philosophers), a redefinition in terms of the realm of publicly accessible meaning, and of struggles over socially and politically important meaning, necessitates a contribution from the humanities. In particular, linguistic pragmatics, providing tools for an analysis of the way in which explicit and implicit forms of meaning interact in the process of generating meanings, is argued to be a useful instrument. The argument is supported with an analysis of the differences in meaning landscapes that emerge even in different-language versions of the 'same' text, illustrating how dependent publicly available meaning is on basic pragmatic processes. The article concludes that a maturing science of language use is therefore needed to understand variations in the accounts of social and political reality that people in a globalizing public sphere live by.


Developing countries have to allocate limited government resources for rural areas among different investment activities and regions to achieve the twin goals of productivity growth and poverty alleviation. This is particularly important at a time when many countries are facing severe financial constraints. This paper develops a framework and provides empirical evidence on the impact of government investments in technology, irrigation, education and infrastructure on agricultural productivity growth and rural poverty reduction in rural India. The results reveal that government investments in more favored areas played significant roles during the green revolution period. But the marginal returns from additional government investments in these areas have declined in more recent years. It is now the less-favored areas where marginal returns are higher. This result has important policy implications for where government investments should be targeted in order to achieve further productivity growth and rural poverty reductions.


CONTEXT
It is currently unclear how different pitching roles affect arm injury risk in professional pitchers.

OBJECTIVE
1) Investigate the differences in arm injury hazard between professional baseball starting and relief pitchers; 2) Separately investigate elbow and shoulder injury hazard between professional baseball starting and relief pitchers.

STUDY DESIGN
Prospective cohort Setting: Minor League Baseball (MiLB) from 2013-2019 Patients or Other Participants: Pitchers Main Outcome Measures: Pitchers were followed for the entire MiLB season and athletic exposures (AE's) and injuries were recorded. Risk ratios and risk difference were calculated between starting and relieving MiLB pitchers. A cox survival analysis was then performed in relation to time to arm injury between starting and relieving MiLB pitchers. Subgroup analyses were performed for elbow and shoulder.

RESULTS
297 pitchers were included with a total of 85,270 player days recorded. Arm injury incidence was 11.4 arm injuries per 10,000 AE's. Starting pitchers demonstrated greater risk ratio (1.2 (95% CI: 1.1-1.3)) and risk difference (13.6 (95% CI: 5.6-21.6)) and hazard of arm injury (2.4 (95% CI: 1.5-4.0)) compared to relief pitchers. No differences were observed for hazard of elbow injury between starting and relief pitchers (1.9 (95% CI: 0.8-4.2)). Starting pitchers demonstrated greater hazard of shoulder injury compared to relief pitchers (3.8 (95% CI: 2.0-7.1)).

CONCLUSIONS
Starting pitchers demonstrated almost two and a half times greater hazard of arm injury compared to relief pitchers. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that starters exhibited greater hazard of shoulder injury compared to relievers; but, no differences were observed for hazard of elbow injury. However, due to the wide confidence intervals, these subgroup analyses should be interpreted with caution. Clinicians may need to consider cumulative exposure and fatigue and how these factors relate to different pitching roles when assessing pitching arm injury risk.


Epoxy underfill is often required to enhance the reliability of flip-chip interconnects. This study evaluates the flow of filled epoxy underfill materials between parallel plates driven by capillary action. An exact model was developed to understand the functional relationship between flow distance, flow time, separation distance, surface tension, and viscosity for quasi-steady laminar flow between parallel plates. The model was verified experimentally with a typical underfill material. The measured values of flow distance agreed well with the exact model. A new material parameter, the coefficient of planar penetrance, is introduced. This parameter measures the penetrating power of a liquid between parallel plates driven by capillary action. The effectiveness of gravity and vacuum as flow rate enhancements are explored.


Local population units (LPUs) were delineated in Canada's recovery strategy for threatened boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Population viability analyses central to contemporary integrated risk assessments of LPUs implicitly assume geographic closure. Several LPUs in northwest Canada, however, were in part delineated by geopolitical boundaries and/or included large areas in the absence of evidence of more finely resolved population spatial structure. We pooled >1.2 million locations from >1200 GPS or VHF-collared caribou from northeast British Columbia, northwest Alberta and southwestern Northwest Territories. Bayesian cluster analysis generated 10 alternative candidate LPUs based on a spatial cluster graph of the extent of pairwise co-occurrence of collared caribou. Up to four groups may be artifacts in as yet under-sampled areas. Four were mapped LPUs that were conserved (Prophet, Parker, Chinchaga and Red Earth). One small group between Parker and Snake-Sahtaneh known locally as the "Fort Nelson core," and outside any mapped LPU, was also conserved. Finally, one large group, at >136000 km2, spanned all three jurisdictions and subsumed all of six delineated LPUs (Maxhamish, Snake-Sahtaneh, Calendar, Bistcho, Yates, Caribou Mountains) and part of southern Northwest Territories. These results suggest less geographic closure of LPUs than those currently delineated, but further analyses will be required to better reconcile various sources of knowledge about local population structure in this region.


A neural network (NN) was trained on amino and nucleic acid sequences to test the NN's ability to predict a nucleic acid sequence given only an amino acid sequence. A multi-layer backpropagation network of one hidden layer with 5 to 9 neurons was used. Different network configurations were used with varying numbers of input neurons to represent amino acids, while a constant representation was used for the output layer representing nucleic acids. In the besttrained network, 93% of the overall bases, 85% of the degenerate bases, and 100% of the fixed bases were correctly predicted from randomly selected test sequences. The training set was composed of 60 human sequences in a window of 10 to 25 codons at the coding sequence start site. Different NN configurations involving the encoding of amino acids under increasing window sizes were evaluated to predict the behavior of the NN with a significantly larger training set. This genetic data analysis effort will assist in understanding human gene structure. Benefits include computational tools that could predict more reliably the backtranslation of amino acid sequences useful for Degenerate PCR cloning, and may assist the identification of human gene coding sequences (CDS) from open reading frames in DNA databases.


A multitask learning framework is developed for discriminative classification and regression where multiple large-margin linear classifiers are estimated for different prediction problems. These classifiers operate in a common input space but are coupled as they recover an unknown shared representation. A maximum entropy discrimination (MED) framework is used to derive the multitask algorithm which involves only convex optimization problems that are straightforward to implement. Three multitask scenarios are described. The first multitask method produces multiple support vector machines that learn a shared sparse feature selection over the input space. The second multitask method produces multiple support vector machines that learn a shared conic kernel combination. The third multitask method produces a pooled classifier as well as adaptively specialized individual classifiers. Furthermore, extensions to regression, graphical model structure estimation and other sparse methods are discussed. The maximum entropy optimization problems are implemented via a sequential quadratic programming method which leverages recent progress in fast SVM solvers. Fast monotonic convergence bounds are provided by bounding the MED sparsifying cost function with a quadratic function and ensuring only a constant factor runtime increase above standard independent SVM solvers. Results are shown on multitask data sets and favor multitask learning over single-task or tabula rasa methods.


Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has a mortality rate of up to 30% in developing countries. In contrast, the mortality rate of S. aureus in the U.S. is less than 5%. One reason for the six-fold increase in fatality in underdeveloped communities is lack of access to a rapid, accurate, and user-friendly diagnostic method to enable timely detection of these infections. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if enzymatic and volatile compound-based approaches would perform more quickly in comparison to existing S. aureus diagnostic methods and to evaluate these novel methods on accuracy. Further, we sought to implement them in a reusable 3D-printed instantaneous detection device. A combination of droplet transmission tests and direct contact tests were developed and evaluated to create a comprehensive method by which individuals can diagnose their condition as pathogenic S. aureus, incorrect use of device, or another infection. We hypothesized that the approaches developed in this study would perform more quickly than existing approaches. Ultimately, our device provided results in less than 30 seconds, which is much quicker than existing methods that take anywhere from 10 minutes to 48 hours based on approach. Statistical analysis of accuracy provides preliminary confirmation that our device based on enzymatic and volatile compound-based approaches can be an accurate and time-efficient tool to detect pathogenic S. aureus.


Large-scale hydrological modeling in China is challenging given the sparse meteorological stations and large uncertainties associated with atmospheric forcing data. Here we introduce the development and use of the China Meteorological Assimilation Driving Datasets for the SWAT model (CMADS) in the Heihe River Basin(HRB) for improving hydrologic modeling, by leveraging the datasets from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS)(including climate data from nearly 40000 area encryption stations, 2700 national automatic weather stations, FengYun (FY) 2 satellite and radar stations). CMADS uses the Space Time Multiscale Analysis System (STMAS) to fuse data based on ECWMF ambient field and ensure data accuracy. In addition, compared with CLDAS, CMADS includes relative humidity and climate data of varied resolutions to drive hydrological models such as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Here, we compared climate data from CMADS, Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) and traditional weather station (TWS) climate forcing data and evaluated their applicability for driving large scale hydrologic modeling with SWAT. In general, CMADS has higher accuracy than CFRS when evaluated against observations at TWS; CMADS also provides spatially continuous climate field to drive distributed hydrologic models, which is an important advantage over TWS climate data, particular in regions with sparse weather stations. Therefore, SWAT model simulations driven with CMADS and TWS achieved similar performances in terms of monthly and daily stream flow simulations, and both of them outperformed CFRS. For example, for the three hydrological stations (Ying Luoxia, Qilian Mountain, and ZhaMasheke) in the HRB at the monthly and daily Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency ranges of 0.75-0.95 and 0.58-0.78, respectively, which are much higher than corresponding efficiency statistics achieved with CFSR (monthly: 0.32-0.49 and daily: 0.26 – 0.45). The CMADS dataset is available free of charge and is expected to a valuable addition to the existing climate reanalysis datasets for deriving distributed hydrologic modeling in China and other countries in East Asia.


Solvation change induced by a chemical reaction can move a macromolecule in a specific direction. The hydrodynamic effect on a solvation motor was studied by using molecular dynamics simulations with a simple model. We examined the dependence of motor displacement induced by the chemical reaction on the size of the basic cell. The size dependence given by the simulation sat on a straight line as a function of the system size, and the displacement in an infinite system was estimated from the plot.


A single optical component for a diode laser bar combines fast-axis smile and lens error correction with slow-axis collimation. Produced by laser-machining/polishing, it provides 0.9 mm focal length, 200 microm pitch slow-axis collimation on the same surface that corrects fast-axis errors. Custom fabrication enables fill-factor optimization for the 49 single-mode beams and gives parallel collimation with rms pointing errors of 3% and 6% of the far-field divergence for the fast- and slow-axis array respectively. Sub-micron pitch mismatch between the slow-axis lens and emitter arrays, and beam pointing changes by thermal expansion of the laser bar are detected.


This paper looks at three countries that have been hard-hit by the world economic recession, and have turned to the IMF for assistance: Hungary, Latvia, and Ukraine. In all of these countries, it would appear that there were more sensible responses to the crisis that would reduce the loss of employment and output, cuts in social services, and political instability that have resulted from the downturn. Instead, the governments' responses to the downturn as well as IMF conditions for assistance have caused additional harm.


OBJECTIVES
Examine primary health care services for ill children in a sub-Saharan African country, assess the appropriateness of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) in such a setting and evaluate its implementation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study was carried out in March, 2005 in the Monkey Bay area, Malawi, in two state-run health facilities that provide services free of charge and in three privately run facilities that charge user fees. Data was collected from each facility regarding all out-patient visits but in particular of children under five years of age (U5s). Interviews were conducted with health workers and drug inventories were carried out in the facilities.

RESULTS
Eight out of 10 health workers were trained in IMCI. It was 1.22 times more likely (RR, 95% CI 1.18-1.26) that U5s were brought to a state-run facility than a private one. Around 4/5 of all disease classifications during the research period are dealt with in the IMCI. About half of U5s were classified with malaria, 28% with other respiratory infections, 6% with pneumonia, and 5% with diarrhoea. Most IMCI-recommended drugs were in stock at the time of inspection but all facilities lacked at least one recommended drug.

CONCLUSION
Results show that IMCI reaches the periphery of the health care system in a low-income country such as Malawi. They confirm that IMCI deals with the majority of diseases affecting U5s in such a setting. User fees seem to influence health care seeking behaviour. It is important to support and strengthen health services for ill children in the area, support continuous education of staff and ensure availability of drugs and equipment.


UNLABELLED
The hop (Humulus lupulus), a component of beer, is a sedative plant whose pharmacological activity is due principally to its bitter resins, especially to the α-acid component 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol. The mechanism of action of the resin of hop consists of increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric (GABA), inhibiting the central nervous system (CNS).

OBJECTIVES
To analyze in an experimental model of diurnal animal the sedative effect of hop, a component of beer, on the activity/rest rhythm.

METHODS
Experiments were performed with common quail (Coturnix coturnix) similar to humans in the sleep-wake rhythm, isolated in 25 × 25 × 25 cm methacrylate cages, with food and water ad libitum, in a room with artificial ventilation (22 ± 1 °C) and a lighting cycle of 12L/12D (n = 5). The doses administered, close to the content of non-alcoholic beer, were 1, 2 and 11 mg extract of hop as one capsule per day, at 18:00 h for one week. A control group received capsules only with a methylcellulose excipient and a basal group received no treatment. The chronobiological analysis of the animals' activity captured and logged by the software DAS24 was performed using the Ritme computer program (cosinor methods).

RESULTS
With the dose of 2 mg, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction of the arithmetic mean nocturnal activity (23 ± 3.0) with respect to the basal (38.56 ± 2.79), control (38.1 ± 2.8) and other doses groups 1 mg (52.04 ± 3.65) and 11 mg (47.47 ± 5.88). This dose of 2 mg, similar to the concentration in beer, was more effective in reducing nocturnal activity than the other doses of 1 and 11 mg, as well as preserving the circadian activity/rest rhythm.

CONCLUSION
The concentration of 2 mg of hop extract effectively decreased nocturnal activity in the circadian activity rhythm. On the basis of this investigation, administration of non-alcoholic beer would be recommended due to its hop content and consequent sedative action, which would be an aid to nocturnal sleep.


Numerous orientation studies and regional sampling campaigns by CSIRO and, more recently, the Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Evolution and Mineral Exploration (CRC LEME), over the past 20 years, have demonstrated that residual lateritic gravels and duricrust are useful sampling media for regional, district and detailed exploration for gold, base metals and rare metals in the Yilgarn Craton. This paper focuses on regional exploration. A regional approach to geochemical sampling, using lateritic duricrust and lateritic gravels, based on regolith–landform models, is advocated. Sampling of areas of 10 000 km2 or more, or integrating several data sets, is intended to identify geochemical trends and detect large geochemical haloes several hundred square kilometres in size, arising from concealed ore deposits or mineralized districts. In unexplored or underexplored regions, sampling at 3 km spacing on a triangular grid is appropriate at the reconnaissance stage. Results of this study show that, even if the sampling pattern is opened up to 9 km spacing, major trends can still be identified. In relict landform regimes, follow-up sampling should progressively close the spacing through 3 km, 1 km, 300 m, and less, in areas of interest. The effectiveness of a broad scale approach to laterite sampling is demonstrated by using As and Ni data for the southwestern part of Western Australia, where regional geochemical trends are apparent even at a 9 km sample spacing. For regional sampling in semi-arid terrains, use of a helicopter is effective because it provides the geologist with the optimum view of the landscape for regolith–landform control, as well as flexibility to choose an appropriate site for sampling. Whereas lateritic residuum (ferruginous gravels and duricrust) represents the preferred sample medium for regional surveys, other ferruginous materials are also suitable, particularly at the follow-up stage. Assigning regolith codes to all sample media and categorizing each sample are essential. The codes become part of the geochemical database and allow valid statistical evaluation of data for specific regolith materials. In all cases, analysis of a multi-element suite, including target and pathfinder elements, is recommended. Multi-element analysis allows interpretation that can take into account variable characteristics due to sample matrix, landform position, weathering environment and gross bedrock lithology. Multi-element geochemistry also provides the opportunity for multi-commodity exploration.


In this study, the authors employ data from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly to examine the concordance between a self-reported measure of the ability to walk across a small room and a performance-based assessment of the respondent's ability to perform the same task. The data reveal that although these two ways of assessing this particular aspect of functional capacity are roughly concordant, other psychological and social factors affect self-reports independent of actual physical ability. A large proportion of individuals who are unable to complete the performance-based task report that they are mobile. The analysis indicates that performance-based measures are better predictors of mortality than self-assessments, but when viewed in terms of the disablement process, it is clear that performance-based and self-reported measures tap something different. The authors conclude that each type of measure conveys useful information about functioning in complex daily environments.


Within the past decade, treatment options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma have expanded dramatically. Currently, seven targeted agents are approved for use in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and have superseded the use of parenteral cytokine therapy with interleukin-2 or interferon, the former standards of care for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Targeted agents include inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway (i.e. sorafenib, sunitinib, pazopanib, axitinib, and bevacizumab) and inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway (i.e. temsirolimus and everolimus). These newer therapies have been shown to improve progression-free survival compared with previous approaches. Because most of these targeted agents are taken orally, responsibility for dose administration has shifted to patients, which might result in variable adherence. Additionally, with new treatments for metastatic renal cell carcinoma comes the challenge of selecting dosing schemes that maximize therapeutic benefit and minimize adverse events. Much of the information related to the effectiveness of dose modifications for targeted therapies in metastatic renal cell carcinoma has been gathered from clinical studies that have strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, which might not translate directly to real-world patient populations. This review discusses the impact of dose adherence on the effectiveness of targeted agents to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma, assesses the literature regarding the effectiveness of approved dosing strategies, and provides a summary of alternative dosing strategies.


Summary Background: Acute diarrhea is one of the most common childhood diseases. The main aim of therapy is oral rehydration, mostly using a glucose-electrolyte solution. Results from a previous study (DIALOG I) investigating adjuvant treatment with a medicinal preparation containing an apple pectin-chamomile extract (Diarrhoesan®) indicated a significantly reduced duration of diarrhea in children. Objectives: The objective of the present clinical placebo-controlled, double-blind study (DIALOG II) was to assess the clinical efficacy and tolerability of the apple pectin-chamomile extract on a larger number of patients. Methods: The investigation was designed as a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study enrolling 255 patients presenting with acute diarrhea. Patients were aged between 6 months and 6 years and treated on an outpatient basis with either an apple pectin-chamomile preparation or placebo. As a basic medication, each child received a glucose-electrolyte solution on the first day of treatment. Results: The primary outcome (primary efficacy parameter) included a combined analysis of stool frequency, stool consistency and duration of diarrhea. The statistical analysis revealed a superior efficacy of the tested preparation over placebo with a significantly reduced stool frequency in the treatment group compared to the control group. The results were corroborated by efficacy assessment performed by investigators and patients. Treatment was well tolerated, with an incidence of adverse effects similar to placebo. Conclusion: These findings support the concept of a beneficial influence of the investigated vegetable extract in shortening the course of the disease and relieving associated symptoms.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the modes of detection of breast malignancies in Mexico City and to estimate the number of patients diagnosed in advanced stages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted between 1994 and 1996, among 256 women with a histological diagnosis of breast cancer, at three tertiary level public hospitals in Mexico City. Personal interviews were conducted to collect data on reproductive characteristics, clinical history, and breast cancer modes of detection. Data analysis consisted of percentages, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS
Ninety percent of women sought medical care after identifying a breast lump by themselves. Only 10% of patients had a stage-I tumor; all 27 cases first identified by a physician were in stage II-B and higher.

CONCLUSIONS
An increasing trend of breast cancer mortality in Mexico City will persist, unless a greater proportion of tumors in situ is detected; this would require enhancing breast cancer screening programs and conducting an intense educational intervention among women at risk.


Grond en die sogenaamde "grondvraagstuk" is 'n welbekende tema in die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke diskoers. Heelwat is reeds hieroor geskryf in die hedendaagse tydsgewrig, maar ook in die historiese verloop van die Suid-Afrikaanse politiek.
Hierdie artikel artikuleer gedagtes rondom die betekenis van grond as politieke stryd (en ook binne die konteks van 'n bepaalde begrip van politiek) in Suid-Afrika, maar plaas dit ook teen 'n wyer internasionale doek. Moontlik kan so 'n benadering bydra om die saak te kontekstualiseer en te ontdaan van die emosionele bagasie wat dikwels daarmee gepaardgaan. Die benadering van die artikel is dat grond as politieke stryd hanteer word, waarna aandag geskenk word aan hoe politieke akteurs hulself posisioneer binne hierdie stryd. Daar word ook kortliks verwys na ander faktore wat 'n rol speel in hierdie politieke stryd. Die artikel sluit af met 'n gevolgtrekking ten opsigte van die grondvraagstuk, wanneer dit vanuit die perspektief van politieke stryd, soos in hierdie artikel omskryf, beskou word en die moontlike uitkoms van die grondvraagstuk oorweeg word.
Land as a space of political contestation in South Africa
The so-called "land question" is a well known theme in South African political discourse. Much has been written on the subject in recent times, but also in the historical development of South African politics.
This article articulates thoughts concerning the political meaning of land by way of framing the land question as a space of political contestation in South Africa, simultaneously discussing it against a wider international background, acknowledging that the land question is not unique to South Africa and that it also relates to many historical and contemporary political struggles. It is suggested that such an approach possibly may contribute to contextualise the matter and to shed some of the emotional baggage that often pertains to it. The article contextualises land as political contestation while suggesting an interpretation of what politics is. Attention is afforded to the understanding of politics as conflict, but also as reconciliation and compromise against an underlying context of power and its purposes. The latter determining in what kind of country political actors would want to live and relating to interests and values that political actors hold in common. The possibility exists that if reconciliation and compromise are not possible, politics will come to an end, which will not contribute to a sustainable democracy or a solution to the land question. The broader conflicting nature of positions and understandings of the land question in South Africa is further highlighted within the context of political contestation, after which attention is afforded to the positioning of political actors within this contestation. The position of the government and political parties is highlighted within this conflict based framework, noting the different understandings of the land question as well as the commonalities that parties share. Reference is briefly made to non party political actors (formal and informal) which represents the same conflictual positions, but which also alludes to other factors relevant to the land question whereafter these factors are highlighted. These include the broader social and economical issues (which are also understood as political), as well as an agricultural and rural bias in the land question, while it is also a matter of political and socio-economic rights within an urban context. The question is also asked whether solutions to the land question should not be found in a forward looking manner, rather than a romanticised understanding of land. The article concludes with a discussion in regard to the land question, when it is viewed from the perspective of political contestation, as defined in this article, as well as considering the possible outcome of the land question. A suggestion is made that consideration could be given to a re-negotiation of this space of political contestation, as land reform will remain unsuccessful if the politics thereof is not addressed; although this would also entail its own dangers for a democratic South Africa where democracy is not yet fully consolidated.


This article narrates how bureaucrats in eastern Sri Lanka operated during and after the war. They managed to keep minimal state services running whilst being locked between the government and the insurgent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). When the government defeated the LTTE in 2009, civil servants were freed from rebel coercion, but they also lost their counterweight against unappreciated policies from the capital and interference by local politicians. The article links the thinking on armed conflicts with the literature that conceptualizes 'the state' not as a coherent entity, but as a subject of continuous negotiation. The state's insigne provides a sense of legitimacy and supremacy, but governments have no monopoly on using it. Other powerful actors capture state institutions, resources and discourse for contradictory purposes. This perspective helps us reconcile the appearance of bureaucratic order with the peculiar and hybrid forms of rule that emerged in the war between rebels and government, and it sheds light on some of the surprising changes and continuities that occurred when that war ended. Public administration is neither just a victim of war, nor plainly a victor of the post-war situation.


The cross-situational word learning paradigm argues that word meanings can be approximated by word-object associations, computed from co-occurrence statistics between words and entities in the world. Lexicon acquisition involves simultaneously guessing (1) which objects are being talked about (the "meaning") and (2) which words relate to those objects. However, most modeling work focuses on acquiring meanings for isolated words, largely neglecting relationships between words or physical entities, which can play an important role in learning. Semantic parsing, on the other hand, aims to learn a mapping between entire utterances and compositional meaning representations where such relations are central. The focus is the mapping between meaning and words, while utterance meanings are treated as observed quantities. Here, we extend the joint inference problem of word learning to account for compositional meanings by incorporating a semantic parsing model for relating utterances to non-linguistic context. Integrating semantic parsing and word learning permits us to explore the impact of word-word and concept-concept relations. The result is a joint-inference problem inherited from the word learning setting where we must simultaneously learn utterance-level and individual word meanings, only now we also contend with the many possible relationships between concepts in the meaning and words in the sentence. To simplify design, we factorize the model into separate modules, one for each of the world, the meaning, and the words, and merge them into a single synchronous grammar for joint inference. There are three main contributions. First, we introduce a novel word learning model and accompanying semantic parser. Second, we produce a corpus which allows us to demonstrate the importance of structure in word learning. Finally, we also present a number of technical innovations required for implementing such a model.


OBJECTIVE
Estimating the cost of chicken pox in a Colombian pediatric population.

METHODOLOGY
This was a retrospective case study which searched for all diagnosed chicken pox cases in the Napoleón Franco Pareja children's hospital (Cartagena, Colombia), during 2005-2008. The hospital's records/perspective was used. Cost related to health personnel, lab, diagnostic images and drugs were searched. The micro-costing was made at Colombian peso prices for 2010. An adjustment was made for inflation.

RESULTS
Mean hospital costs were $ 898,766 (Q1: $ 197,348; Q3: $ 1,195,262). Mean hospital cost per day was $ 221,777 (Q1: $ 97,027; Q3: $ 293,740). Mean cost <1 year-old patients was $ 980,742 (Q1: $ 905,708; Q3: $ 1,026,031). Mean cost was $ 105,833 in 5-12 year-old patients (Q1: $ 39,568; Q3: $ 891,824).

CONCLUSIONS
The results were similar to those of previous studies (in Panama and some developed countries) highlighting relatively high illness costs in Colombia. These results increase the evidence in favor of vaccination and invite Colombian public health officials to consider introducing a chicken pox vaccine into Colombia.


The interaction of fires, where one fire burns into another recently burned area, is receiving increased attention from scientists and land managers wishing to describe the role of fire scars in affecting landscape pattern and future fire spread. Here, we quantify fire-on-fire interactions in terms of frequency, size, and time-since-previous fire (TSPF) in three large wilderness areas in Montana and Idaho, USA, from 1984 to present, using spatially consistent large fire perimeter data from the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) dataset. The analysis is supplemented with less consistent fire perimeter data from a regional fire atlas in order to examine the potential role played by smaller fires in fire-on-fire interactions. We compare current rates of burning to existing estimates using the natural fire rotation (NFR) to determine whether recent fire activity falls within established historical ranges. We also compare actual fires to randomly located fires to establish whether the frequency and size of re-burns differ by chance. Finally, we systematically classify shared fire edges as fire-stopping or breached to quantify the effect of previous fires on subsequent fire spread. In total, more than half of the Frank Church, one-quarter of the Bob Marshall, and fifteen percent of the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness areas have burned since 1984. Area burned within each of the study areas yielded NFRs that are consistent with results derived from fire atlas and tree-ring research studies. The data show that re-burning occurs less frequently than chance in the Frank Church Wilderness Area, perhaps less frequently in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, and the same as chance in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. In each of the study areas, the total amount of edge at which a fire met another fire was less than three percent of the total available perimeter. However, ∼80 % of the total edge encountered was breached, resulting in fire spreading onto previously burned landscapes and re-burning at least 40 ha. Year-to-year variability in re-burn occurrence was high, and the size of re-burns was typically small, implying a general resistance to re-burning, but the preponderance of small patches resulting from fire interactions has perhaps significant ecological implications. There was a systematic decrease in the frequency of small to medium sized re-burns (40 ha to 405 ha) as time between fires increased in all three wilderness areas. The frequency of large re-burns increased with time in the Frank Church wilderness area, but this trend was not apparent in the other two wilderness areas. Overall, fire-on-fire interactions show a high degree of complexity, making direct comparisons between the three wilderness areas difficult, but the evidence suggests that large wildfires generally inhibit the spread of subsequent fires, while small fires appear to have little impact on the spread of other fires. The limiting effect of large fires on small fires is potentially significant based on the number of cases observed (n = 101).


Fully updated in line with the latest developments in Information Communications Technology (ICT), this course teaches students the language and skills they need to understand and work in the world of computers. A focus on terminology is combined with vocabulary and grammar practice to give students the tools to use English in areas such as describing features and functions, applying for jobs and discussing the world of ICT. The Student's Book contains 30 topic-based units covering everything from computer essentials through to programming, web design, job-hunting, and future technologies.


Objective: Review of patients operated for primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva in the Department of Gynaecological Oncology, University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, to determine factors related to recurrence as well as survival of disease. Material/Methods: A retrospective review using details obtained from patients' records. Hazard ratio estimation was carried out with Cox Regression analysis and survival plots were determined using Kaplan-Meier plots. Results: 144 women with primary vulval SCC were operated from 2002-2010. Commonly, radical wide local excision (49.3%) and radical vulvectomy (46.5%) were carried out, apart from ano-vulvectomy (1.4%) and local excision biopsies (2.8%). In 77.1% lympnode dissection was performed and inguinal metastasis was diagnosed in 28.8%, bilaterally in 68.8%. Histologically, 64.4% were moderate/poor differentiation and 30.9% were advanced disease (FIGO III and IVA). The 5-year survival rate (OS) was 61.1%. Stratified by FIGO classification, the 5-year OS for stages IA, IB, II, III and IVA were 72.7%, 86.0%, 50%, 34.4% and 45.5% respectively. Age >70 years was an important prognostic factor (51.9% OS) compared to 71.6% in patients 70 years. Patients with grade 1 disease survived in 72.5%, grade 2 in 58.8% and poorly differentiated cancer in 41.7%. Presence of inguinal metastasis was associated with a 40.6% 5-year OS, absence with 74.7%. Conclusions: Cox regression analysis confirms that age, presence/bilaterality of inguinal lymphnode metastasis, high-grade tumour differentiation, tumour size, FIGO stage and adjuvant therapy are important prognostic factors for 5-year survival.


Objective: To explore clinical value and significance of simvastatin in treatment of adult-onset obesity with asthma.
Methods: 82 cases of adult-onset obesity with asthma enrolled in Qingdao Municipal Hospital from Jun 2015 to Aug 2016 were selected as the study objects and randomly divide them into control group and experiment group with 41 cases each. The patients in the control group were treated with budesonide and formoterol inhalation therapy while simvastatin treatment was added in the experiment group in addition to the above therapy. Then, we evaluate Asthma Control Test (ACT) of the two groups before and after treatment within 55 d, compare the patient's pulmonary function recovery and observe serum leptin level of the two groups, record side effects and then compare the life quality of the patients.
Results: With different treatment schemes, the ACT score, pulmonary function recovery level, serum leptin level, life quality of the patients turn out to be better in both two groups, while the effects in experimental groups were more excellent with a statistical significance (P<0.05); but no obvious side effects were found.
Conclusion: Simvastatin has good effect in treatment of obese adults with asthma on improving lung function, reducing the patient's serum leptin level, decreasing the incidence of adverse reactions, and improving the quality of life of the patients.


The Topics in Geobiology series covers the broad discipline of geobiology that is devoted to documenting life history of the Earth. A critical theme inherent in addressing this issue and one that is at the heart of the series is the interplay between the history of life and the changing environment. The series aims for high quality, scholarly volumes of original research as well as broad reviews. Geobiology remains a vibrant as well as a rapidly advancing and dynamic field. Given this field's multidiscipline nature, it treats a broad spectrum of geologic, biologic, and geochemical themes all focused on documenting and understanding the fossil record and what it reveals about the evolutionary history of life. The Topics in Geobiology series was initiated to delve into how these numerous facets have influenced and controlled life on Earth.  Recent volumes have showcased specific taxonomic groups, major themes in the discipline, as well as approaches to improving our understanding of how life has evolved.  Taxonomic volumes focus on the biology and paleobiology of organisms – their ecology and mode of life – and, in addition, the fossil record – their phylogeny and evolutionary patterns – as well as their distribution in time and space.  Theme-based volumes, such as predator-prey relationships, biomineralization, paleobiogeography, and approaches to high-resolution stratigraphy, cover specific topics and how important elements are manifested in a wide range of organisms and how those dynamics have changed through the evolutionary history of life.   Comments or suggestions for future volumes are welcomed.  Neil H. Landman Department of Paleontology American Museum of Natural History New York, USA E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com  Peter J. Harries Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences North Carolina State University Raleigh, USA E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


Some physicists surmise that gravity lies outside of quantum mechanics. Thus theories like the standard semiclassical theory of quantum to gravity coupling (that of Rosenfeld and Møller) are possible real models of interaction, rather than a mere approximation of a theory of quantum gravity. Unfortunately, semiclassical gravity creates inconsistencies such as superluminal communication. Alternatives by authors such as Diósi, Martin, Penrose, and Wang often use the term 'stochastic' to set themselves apart from the standard semiclassical theory. These theories couple to fluctuations caused by for instance continuous spontaneous localization, hence the term 'stochastic'. This paper looks at stochastic gravity in the framework of a class of emergent or ontological quantum theories, such as those by Bohm, Cetto, and de Broglie. It is found that much or all of the trouble in connecting gravity with a microscopic system falls away, as Einstein's general relativity is free to react directly with the microscopic beables. The resulting continuous gravitational wave radiation by atomic and nuclear systems does not, in contrast to Einstein's speculation, cause catastrophic problems. The small amount of energy exchanged by gravitational waves may have measurable experimental consequences. A very recent experiment by Vinante et al. performed on a small cantilever at mK temperatures shows a surprising non-thermal noise component, the magnitude of which is consistent with the stochastic gravity coupling explored here.


pads/t is a declarative data description language paired with an error-aware transformation language. This pairing provides rich support for programming with ad hoc data sources. Such data is common in a wide range of domains including networking, financial analysis, biology, and physics. pads/t's data description language is based on polymorphic, recursive, and dependent data types. From such descriptions, the compiler generates robust parsing and pretty printing code. The transformation language supports error-aware computation by automatically maintaining an association between data and a description of the errors in that data.


HEGEL EXPLICATES HIS THEORY of the history of philosophic thinking in several introductions to the various cycles of Lectures on the History of Philosophy held in Jena, Heidelberg, and Berlin. Only the introductions to the first cycle of Heidelberg lectures (1816) and to the second cycle of Berlin lectures (1820) survive in Hegel's own hand. (1) Since the earlier of these is an integral part of the latter, an analysis of the 1820 Introduction provides a reliable account of Hegel's theory. Hegel lectures on the history of philosophy mainly as a philosopher, not as a historian. "The history of philosophy must itself be philosophical," (2) he declares in the address delivered ahead of the 1820 Introduction. (3) Thus, he is not interested primarily in delivering a chronicle of philosophic ideas, propositions, claims, arguments, and counterarguments in the historical order of their formulation. He presupposes his audience's general acquaintance with historical facts and events pertaining to philosophic theories, as well as with major thinkers' general tenets. Hegel is rather concerned with showing, first, why these tenets were relevant and enjoyed recognition in their time; second, how and why they were subsequently transformed; and third, how a core meaning may be discerned in them throughout their transformations. A paradigmatic illustration of Hegel's procedure in interpreting fundamental principles of the philosophic tradition is provided by the following comment on "being person" in a Remark to his treatment of "property" in the 1821 Philosophy of Right: The notion that what spirit is according to its concept or in itself, it should be also in its Dasein and for-itself (thereby that it be person capable of property, having ethicality [and] religion)--this idea is itself spirit's concept (as causa sui, i.e. as free causation, spirit is such cuius natura non potest concipi nisi existens; Spinoza, Ethics I, Def. 1.) Precisely in this concept ... there lies the possibility of the opposition between what spirit is merely in itself and its being also for itself ... and thus the possibility of the alienation of personhood. (4) In other words: the late modern conception of personhood as subjectivity with rights (to property, to moral convictions, beliefs, and so forth) is explained by Hegel as realization of the core meaning of Spinoza's "god" (or, as in other passages, of Descartes's res cogitans, equally inconceivable unless as existent). The core meaning of "spirit" since its inception as nous is the idea of a being that determines itself into being what it is--one important expression of which is, for example, modern political philosophy's notion of an autonomous, self-determining subject. The first of the goals outlined in the address and Introduction to these Lectures (see above) implies a serious attempt to grasp and to convey the sense in which philosophic concepts and arguments are meant and understood at their inception. This is where the philological and historiographic skill of the historian of philosophy has its rightful and necessary place. The second and third goals presuppose a theory of philosophy as a particular kind of thinking with specific logical and epistemological features. Here is where the philosopher must deliver an interpretation of historically documented theories and their principles that includes but also goes beyond the meaning ostensibly intended by each of them. The philosopher lecturing on the history of philosophy has, then, two sets of criteria guiding the exposition: the theoretical order of philosophic concepts (dictated by the analysis of their meanings, which is for Hegel a logical and metaphysical task at once) and the chronological order of their expression in the history of philosophic systems. These two sets of criteria do not operate independently of one another. Hegel's explicit claim is actually stronger than this. …


We develop a theory of secondary invariants associated to complete Riemannian metrics of uniformly positive scalar curvature outside a prescribed subset on a spin manifold.
We work in the context of large-scale (or "coarse") index theory.
These invariants can be used to distinguish such Riemannian metrics up to concordance relative to the prescribed subset.
We exhibit a general external product formula for partial secondary invariants, from which we deduce product formulas for the Rho-invariant of a metric with uniformly positive scalar curvature as well as for the coarse index difference of two metrics with uniformly positive scalar curvature.

Our methods yield a new conceptual proof of the secondary partitioned manifold index theorem and a refined version of the delocalized APS-index theorem of Piazza--Schick for the spinor Dirac operator in all dimensions.
We establish a partitioned manifold index theorem for the coarse index difference.
Moreover, we reprove the existence of a transformation from the positive scalar curvature sequence of Stolz to the analytic surgery sequence of Higson--Roe for real K-theory.

As applications of our theory, we construct several complete metrics of uniformly positive scalar curvature on non-compact spin manifolds which can be distinguished up to concordance relative to certain subsets.
Moreover, we establish variants of obstructions to existence and concordance of positive scalar curvature metrics via index invariants on submanifolds.

From a technical standpoint, the central novelty of this thesis is that we use Yu's localization algebras in combination with the description of K-theory for graded C*-algebras due to Trout.
This formalism allows direct definitions of all the invariants we consider in terms of the functional calculus of the Dirac operator and enables us to give concise proofs of the product formulas.
It also allows us to consistently work in the setting of real K-theory.


Huntington's disease (HD) is a purely genetic neurodegenerative disorder
affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 people. It is most commonly associated
with excessive involuntary movement, or chorea, combined with varying
degrees of other motor, psychiatric and cognitive disturbances. Identification of
the mutation in the HD gene prompted the generation of several transgenic
mouse models. HD is but one of a family of at least 9 triplet repeat disorders,
all of which exhibit protein aggregation by a similar mechanism. The
understanding of one disease is therefore of importance to the understanding of
them all. This thesis aims to be a comprehensive comparative study of three
very different mouse models of HD elucidating the pathological changes that
precede and accompany the disease process.
The work described in this thesis presents a detailed account of a longitudinal
study of the pathological changes that occur within the brains of founder
generations of mice transgenic for exon 1 of the HD gene, containing a highly
expanded CAG repeat, the R6 lines. I have determined the intracellular sites for
deposition and accumulation of the mutant protein huntingtin (htt), within both
the neurons and glia of the central nervous system. The progressive
accumulation of additional proteins within these aggregates has been described.
The temporal evolution and spatial distribution of the neuronal intranuclear
inclusion (NII) was determined using both immunohistochemical and
morphometric analyses. The cellular consequences resulting from the
aggregation of mutant htt were also investigated. I have conducted a detailed
morphometric analysis of neurones within the cerebral cortex, striatum and
cerebellum throughout the period of protein deposition, until the eventual
degeneration of these cells. The dendritic and somal changes resulting from the
cellular disruption associated with these NII are also described.
In a further series of experiments I have investigated the changes that occur in
a novel model of HD, namely the conditional, doxycycline inducible double
transgenic mouse, HD94 model. It was interesting to find that the same
construct when differently manipulated in two mouse lines can produce such
contrasting symptoms and pathology. This was highlighted by the comparison
of immunohistochemical and morphometric analyses between the HD94 and
the R6 lines, where the pattern of mutant protein deposition was found to vary
significantly.
Lastly I have studied a more genetically accurate murine model of HD, the
HD80 'knock-in model'. These mice develop a pathology broadly similar to
that of the R6 lines but markedly different to that of the HD94, and over a much
longer time frame
This detailed comparative analysis of the molecular and cellular pathology of
three transgenic mouse models of HD provides new insights identifying novel
and unique neuropathology and suggests new approaches for therapeutic
treatments for this disease.


This paper provides a detailed documentation of microstructures developed in the banded iron formation (BIF) of Gua mine, located in the Bonai Synclinorium (eastern India), where the rocks have been subjected to three deformations (D1 to D3). Folded iron ores, quartz strain fringes around rigid core objects and folded iron ore layers, and refracted quartz veins are described from samples taken from D2 folds in the banded iron formation. Orientations of microstructures are compared with mesoscopic structures to interpret the generations of ore minerals, planar structures and the time relationship between deformation and development of different microstructures. The mechanism of D2 folding is worked out and its bearing on microstructure development is discussed. The D2 folds are inferred to have developed by a combination of tangential longitudinal strain in the competent layer, flexural flow in the incompetent layers and flexural slip at the interface between layers of differing competence. Homogeneous flattening strain superposed the earlier strain, which led to modification of the folds in the competent layer from class 1B to 1C. This strain is quantified and is found to be higher in the limb than the hinge of a fold. Diffusive mass transfer by solution and bulging dynamic recrystallization in quartz are inferred as the dominant deformation processes during folding. Moreover, based on comparison with published deformation microstructure maps, the microstructures of the present study are estimated to have developed between 300 and 350 °C temperatures at a strain rate of 10−14–10−12 s−1, which are geologically realistic conditions for naturally deformed rocks.


We develop an in-service dispersion monitoring technique based on the optical frequency modulation (FM) method and examine its applicability to wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) long-haul transmission systems. This method is insensitive to the group-delay drift induced by environmental perturbations and can measure the dispersion value with its sign (normal or anomalous) accurately only from the received signal light. These features are very attractive for the application in ultralong-haul transmission systems. We implement the in-service dispersion monitor in a 32 /spl times/ 10.7 Gbit/s WDM transmission system. Accurate dispersion monitoring at a transmission distance of 5950 km is achieved without any bit error rate (BER) penalty. Also, we discuss the applicability of the optical FM method to higher bit-rate systems from the experimental result.


Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has promoted an ethos of sharing and connecting with friends. From Facebook's motto to "connect and share with people in your life" to its recent "Friendaversary" that invites users to celebrate friendships mediated on the site, Facebook operates on a logic of sharing. While there is considerable work on sharing practices, what is less well-understood is dis-use, or the absence of disclosures. In other words, what is left unsaid on Facebook? In this paper we draw on data from the Facebook Timelines project to explore the multi-dimensional notion of 'absence' as it plays out on Facebook: obvious gaps, disclosures that were erased, and significant events (deaths, break-ups, failures) deemed inappropriate for Facebook. In this study we interviewed 34 people in their twenties who had been using Facebook for more than five years, in both Tasmania (Australia) and Liverpool (UK). During our interviews, we 'scrolled back' with our participants over their years of disclosures. This paper will be divided into three parts to cover three themes in the data: evolving social media literacies, imagined audiences, and absence on social media as a safety mechanism. We argue our findings contribute towards Light's (2014) theorisation of 'disconnective practice'.


The use of recycled rubber crumb in the design and production of thermoplastic-rubber composites as sound absorbers can provide solutions to noise pollution and for the recovery of post-consumer materials from both packaging and waste tyres. The work of this study is concerned with the effect of rubber crumb incorporation in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and also in HDPE glass fibre composites on acoustic, mechanical and physical properties. Recycled HDPE compounds containing variable concentrations of cured rubber crumb particles were prepared by twin screw extrusion. Thermal analysis has revealed a significant increase in the level of crystallinity of the HDPE component by increasing the rubber content in the mixes. Standard three-point bending and notched impact test specimens were manufactured by injection moulding, and large-scale beam samples were produced by compression moulding using an ad hoc method that allows variation of the through-thickness elastomer content as a means of obtaining composition gradients. The flexural modulus and impact strength varied monotonically with rubber crumb concentration. A fast Fourier transform technique was used to determine the acoustic performance of the beams over a wide frequency range. The graded structures produced large improvements in acoustic absorption properties in the frequency range of 2–6 kHz, notably from composite beams containing 20% rubber and also in some multilayer beams with rubber concentration gradients.


Dear Editor-in-ChiefAccording to many questions arising in clinical laboratories community on quality assessment and performance of In Vitro Diagnosis (IVDs) process in Iran, we are publishing a descriptive detailed process of Ministry of Health & Medical Education (MHME) role in achieving a permit for importing or local production of IVDs, supervi-sions on distribution, consumption, post market-ing monitoring, limitations, and future prospects of Reference Health Laboratory (RHL) and its role in improving each step.The quality assessment & performance of IVDs program, is among other important quality assur-ance issues in medical laboratories of Iran started at RHL of MHME many years ago. At that time the results of a data set produced by RHL was the base for introducing and choosing of a product in the market. However, in recent years, issues such as introducing different technologies, competition of companies (local manufactures /importers), variety in clinical assessment analysis along with significant technical performance differences among IVDs in conducted analytical and clinical studies, and also different relevant certificates and approvals in a product technical file, have caused the clinical laboratories & technology manage-ment office to breakdown the evaluation process and consider other effective parameters to im- prove the investigation steps. These processes which at present are being proceeded in Medical Equipment office (MEO) with RHL cooperation for reviewing the technical file and performance evaluation are as follows (1-3):1- A company RegistrationAll legal & real people according to law may act in manufacturing, and in IVDs importing. The necessary steps are:* Introduce themselves to MEO and present a sample of the company's stamp with neces-sary documents indicating authorization of them.* Fill out necessary application forms.* Pass the training courses with at least mini-mum acceptable score.* Receive an activity I.D from MEO after pre-senting all necessary documents and permits.2- IVD RegistrationThe applicant at this step presents an appropriate request for reviewing the IVD/s technical file to MEO. The technical file should be in special for-mat and contain(2,3) the following items:* Executive Summary* Device Description* Design Philosophy* Marketing History* Standards Lists* Performance Evaluation Documents* Common Technical Specifications (CTS)* Risk Management* Labeling* Quality Management System (ISO 13485)* International Certificates: FDA, CE or CE Declaration of Conformity (whether or not).Each of the above sections reveals important information on a product quality and performance specifications. For example, marketing history has a valuable impact indicating the product has al-ready been distributed in regulated international markets. Furthermore, if validity of international certificates is suspected, it is clarified through communication with issuing agencies.The responsibility of RHL, as mentioned earlier, is reviewing the technical file of products in details by its expert technologist, and performance evaluation in cases that is needed. If the gathered data are complete and adequate, they are pre-sented at "Registry Committee" and the final re-sult is then reported to MEO.The members of IVDs Registry Committee, held 2-3x monthly at RHL, are RHL general director and representatives from two offices as fixed members. In addition, experts from other related organs may be invited to attend the relevant ses-sions of the committee. The final decision of committee is categorized in four different groups:* To evaluate a product technically at RHL or other collaborating laboratories based on RHL protocol.* To receive an import permit for a limited number of products after necessary quality and IVDs performance evaluation in collaborating laboratories at specific time period determined by RHL. …


Although individual ants have an extremely basic intelligence, and are completely incapable of surviving on their own, colonies of ants can develop remarkably sophisticated and biologically successful behavior. This paper discusses a set of experiments which attempt to simulate one of these behaviors, namely the ability of ants to place pheromones as a way of communication. These experiments involved a variety of different environments, and tested two varieties of the genetic algorithm NEAT: the standard offline version, and its online counterpart rtNEAT. Since the experimental environment did not seem to offer any benefit to continuous learning, we had expected NEAT and rtNEAT to have roughly similar learning curves. However, our results directly contradict this hypothesis, showing much more succesful learning with rtNEAT than with standard NEAT.


This paper analyses the relationship between Spanish household consumption patterns and atmospheric pollutant emissions in 2000. Applying an input-output approach we estimate the relative responsibility of different types of households in the emissions of nine different atmospheric pollutants: the six greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6, HFCs and PFCs) regulated by the Kyoto protocol and three other gases (SO2, NOx and NH3). We combine input-output tables, national consumer survey statistics and environmental pollution satellite accounts into an environmental extended input-output model. We also analyse the assumptions required in order to apply the model to available data. We find that there is a positive and very high relationship between the level of household expenditure and the direct and indirect emissions generated by household consumption. However, the emission intensities tend to decrease with the expenditure level for the different atmospheric pollutants, with the exception of the synthetic greenhouse gases (SF6, HFCs and PFCs).