Skull and skull bone articulations 1 Skull From the front Muscle attachments Le Fort facial fractures From the left Muscle attachments From behind Vault of skull Base of skull External surface Muscle attachments Infratemporal region and teeth Internal surface Interior of skull, median section Cavities of the skull Bones of the skull Mandible Muscle attachments and age changes Frontal bone Ethmoid bone Sphenoid bone and vomer Occipital bone Maxilla, nasal bone and lacrimal bone Palatine bone and inferior nasal concha Temporal bone Parietal bone and zygomatic bone Skull bone articulations Facial skeleton Orbital and anterior nasal apertures Orbit Roof and lateral wall Floor and medial wall Nasal cavity Roof, floor and lateral wall Maxillary hiatus and nasolacrimal canal Base of the skull Anterior cranial fossa Middle and posterior cranial fossae External surface, posterior part Pterygopalatine fossa Posterior nasal aperture Fetal skull Fontanelles, sutures and sutural bones Cervical vertebrae and neck 2 Cervical vertebrae Atlas Axis Third to seventh cervical vertebrae Cervical and first thoracic vertebrae Other bones First rib, manubrium of sternum and costovertebral joints Bones of shoulder girdle Shoulder girdle and upper thoracic skeleton Neck Surface markings Head, neck and shoulders, superficial muscles Superficial dissection I. Platysma and superficial veins Blood supply and venous drainage Superficial dissection II. Sternocleidomastoid Superficial dissection III. Anterior triangle Lymphatic system Superficial dissection IV. Posterior triangle Deep dissection I. Great vessels and nerves and thyroid gland Deep dissection II. Great vessels and thyroid gland Deep dissection III. Thyroid and parathyroid glands and root of neck Deep dissection IV. Thyroid gland, thymus and root of neck Deep dissection V. Root of neck Deep dissection VI. Prevertebral muscles Face, orbit and eye 3 Face Surface markings Superficial dissection. Parotid gland, facial nerve and muscles Deep dissection I. Temporalis and masseter muscles and temporomandibular joint Deep dissection II. Infratemporal fossa and temporomandibular joint Deep dissection III. Infratemporal fossa And temporomandibular joint Orbit and eye Eye and lacrimal apparatus Orbital contents I. From above, and extraocular muscles Orbital contents II. Dissection from the lateral side and ciliary ganglion Ciliary ganglion and dissection from the front Orbital contents III. Eyes in section and the lacrimal gland Nose, oral region, ear and larynx 4 Nose and paranasal sinuses Nasal cartilages and nasal cavity Walls of the nasal cavity Frontal and ethmoidal sinuses Sphenoidal and maxillary sinuses Sections of sinuses and nerves of the nasal septum Mouth, palate and pharynx Sagittal section of head and neck Tongue and floor of the mouth Roof and floor of the mouth and the salivary glands Inside of the mouth and the palate External and internal surfaces of the pharynx Posterior surface of the pharynx Ear External, middle and internal ear Transverse sections and the auditory ossicles Coronal sections and the auditory ossicles Larynx Hyoid bone and laryngeal cartilages Larynx, pharynx, hyoid bone and trachea Muscles, ligaments, membranes and joints Cranial cavity and brain 5 Cranial cavity Sagittal section Cranial vault, meninges and brain Brain and arachnoid mater Dura mater and cranial nerves Dura mater Cranial fossae Cranial nerves and their connections Cranial fossae, cavernous sinus and trigeminal nerve Cranial cavity, brain and cranial nerves Brain Brain and meninges Cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum Cerebral veins Cerebral hemisphere Blood supply of the cerebral cortex Brain and brainstem Medial surface of the hemispheres and cerebral arteries Base of the brain Arteries of the base of the brain and brainstem Brainstem, cranial nerves and geniculate bodies Ventricles of the brain Internal capsule and basal nuclei Hemispheres and brainstem in coronal section Cerebellum and brainstem Cerebellum, brainstem and spinal cord Cervical vertebral column and Suboccipital region Radiographs 6 Radiographs Vertebral column Carotid arteriogram and venogram of the neck Skull and paranasal sinuses Skull, lateral view Carotid arteriograms Vertebral arteriograms Dural venous sinuses Appendices Appendix I Dental anaesthesia Inferior alveolar and lingual nerve block Long buccal nerve block Infiltration anaesthesia of the upper teeth Posterior superior alveolar nerve block Nasopalatine nerve block Greater palatine nerve block Mental and incisive nerve block Appendix II Reference lists Muscles Nerves Lymphatic System Arteries Veins Skull foramina Index Preface This new 4th edition of 'McMinn's Head and Neck Anatomy', heralds 28 years of publication in seven language editions of English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Italian and French, with considerable sales worldwide, it has, over time, become an accepted standard anatomical text on the subject. It was originally penned in 1979 by the hand of R. M. H. 'Bob' McMinn who was then Sir William Collins Professor of Human and Comparative Anatomy, Department of Anatomy,The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, where Ralph Hutchings (photographer) was Chief Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer and Bari Logan the Prosector. The concept of the book evolved in response to the need for a specific anatomical text to suit the educational needs of dental students, and through Peter Wolfe, director of Wolfe Medical Publications, London, it was first published in 1981 and received considerable acclaim as an illustrated reference atlas of human anatomy. Over the ensuing years it has proved equally popular with Radiologists, Neuro, Skull-base, Cranio-facial, Maxillo-facial, Plastic-reconstructive, Ophthalmic, Dental and ENT surgeons, it has therefore continued to fill an important niche on the bookshelves of medical libraries. With the full retirement of Bob McMinn to his homeland in the Scottish Highlands, a new author, Patricia Reynolds joined the team in 2002 for the 3rd edition and added (adds) a new level of expertise to the book. Again, in order to meet readers' demands for this edition, we have incorporated new anatomical preparations, radiographic images, clinical photographs with notes and paid particular attention to a new series of page spreads dedicated to dental anatomy. We hope that these new additions will be appreciated and that the book will continue in its popularity and important contribution to medical education at both the pre-clinical and postgraduate level. As before, the name 'McMinn' is retained in the title as a tribute to an outstanding anatomist and distinguished colleague. Bari Logan Pat Reynolds Ralph Hutchings Professor R. M. H. McMinn, MD (Glas), PhD (Sheff), FRCS (Eng) Robert 'Bob' McMinn was a medical graduate of the University of Glasgow. After hospital posts and service with the Royal Air Force in Iraq and Africa, he began his anatomical career as a Demonstrator in Anatomy in Glasgow in 1950. He became a lecturer in the University of Sheffield and was later Reader and then Titular Professor at King's College London. In 1970 he was appointed to the Chair of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Among his publications 'A Colour Atlas of Human Anatomy' with photographer R. T. Hutchings was first published in 1977 and became a worldwide best-seller, with translations into over 25 languages. For this and other later atlases his co-editors added the name 'McMinn' to the titles in recognition of his contribution to anatomical teaching. He was editor of the 8th and 9th editions of Last's Anatomy Regional and Applied' which remains a standard work for surgical trainees. He was programme secretary and later treasurer of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and was a founder member and the first secretary of the British Association of Clinical Anatomists. At the International Anatomical Congress held in Cambridge in 2000 he received a Special Presentation Award from the Anatomical Society for his teaching and research activities. His research interests were in wound healing and tissue repair, and on the association between skin disease and the alimentary tract. He has been fully retired for nearly 20 years now and lives on the west coast of Scotland.


The effectiveness of trade mark protection depends on the enforceability of rights. However, little is known about how trade mark owners actually go about enforcing their trade marks in the civil courts. The few studies which have emerged recently show a high success rate for trade mark owners. In this study, we created a database of all trade mark enforcement decisions of Australian courts for the period 1997-2003. Analysing the nature and outcomes of the trade mark litigation, we found a more complex story than previous studies: counterfeit proceedings where the trade mark owner always wins and the alleged infringer often fails to show up in court on the one hand; more contentious proceedings on the other where the trade mark owner only succeeded around a third of the time. The study raises, although it cannot answer, some interesting questions about trade mark owner knowledge and motivations in entering litigation.


Foreign aid is one of the few topics in the development discourse with such an uninterrupted, yet volatile history in terms of interest and attention from academics, policymakers, and practitioners alike. Does aid work in promoting growth and reducing poverty in the developing world? Will a new 'big push' approach accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals or will another opportunity be missed? Can the lessons of almost half a century of aid giving be learnt? These are truly important questions in view of the emerging new landscape in foreign aid and recent developments related to the global financial crisis, which are expected to have far reaching implications for both donors and recipients engaged in this area. Against this shifting aid landscape, there is a pressing need to evaluate progress to date and shed new light on emerging issues and agendas. This volume brings together leading aid experts to review the progress achieved so far, identify the challenges ahead, and discuss the emerging policy agenda in foreign aid. A central conclusion of this important and timely volume is that, since development aid remains crucial for many developing countries, a huge effort is needed from both donors and aid recipients to overcome the inefficiencies and make aid work better for poor people. After all, as global citizens, we have a moral obligation to do the best we can to lift people out of poverty in the developing world. The findings of this book will be of considerable interest to professionals and policymakers engaged in policy reforms in foreign aid, and provide an essential one-stop reference for students of development, international finance, and economics.


Tensor decomposition is a fundamental unsupervised machine learning method in data science, with applications including network analysis and sensor data processing. This work develops a generalized canonical polyadic (GCP) low-rank tensor decomposition that allows other loss functions besides squared error. For instance, we can use logistic loss or Kullback-Leibler divergence, enabling tensor decomposition for binary or count data. We present a variety statistically-motivated loss functions for various scenarios. We provide a generalized framework for computing gradients and handling missing data that enables the use of standard optimization methods for fitting the model. We demonstrate the flexibility of GCP on several real-world examples including interactions in a social network, neural activity in a mouse, and monthly rainfall measurements in India.


This study was conducted on the "Inflation and Economic Growth Nexus in Nigeria" using annual time series data from 1961 to 2014. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between inflation and economic growth in Nigeria for a longer period of 54 years. This study was organized into five different sections. Section I was on introduction, section II was on literature review and empirical literature, section III dealt with the methodology of the study, section IV was on the results and discussions while section V was on conclusion and recommendations. Preliminary tests of stationarity were conducted and the series under investigation were found to be I(0) variables. The study employed the use of Ordinary Least Squares method, Johansen Cointegration method, Error Correction mechanism and Granger Causality method to ascertain both the impact of inflation on economic growth as well as the relationship between the two variables. The result of the OLS regression analysis revealed a negative impact of inflation on economic growth in Nigeria, although the coefficient is statistically insignificant which implied that inflation does not influence economic growth in the country over the sample period. The cointegration test result indicated the existence of a long-run equilibrium relationship between inflation and economic growth in Nigeria. The error correction term was correctly signed and statistically significant which confirmed that the two variables under study converge towards a long run equilibrium relationship but the speed of adjustment appeared to be slow as only 17% of the error was being corrected each year. The Granger causality test result showed that there was no either unidirectional or bidirectional causality between inflation and economic growth in Nigeria from 1961 to 2014. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that both fiscal and monetary policy measures be taken to reduce inflation rate in Nigeria. Keywords— Inflation and Economic Growth Nexus


Abstract The justification of Natural Law is a very controversial issue, not only after the Positivist's rebuttals, but since its very anthropological foundations in the early modern age. In this paper, I try do give an account of Natural Law and natural rights in terms of a phenomenological description of the background of normative intentionality. Taking a genetic stance, I go from the positive norm and the intentionality that constitutes it to the underling pregiveness that supplies the condition of its possibility. I exhibit it as the experience of the live-world, and I analyze it as an intersubjective world, where persons are given as equals and worth-counting. This is the very root of the concept of human dignity. Starting from it, I develop an account of the sense and content of the concept of Human Rights as a set of eidetic laws creating the framework for authentic human relationships.


Most traits of interest in plant breeding show quantitative inheritance, which complicate the breeding process since phenotypic performances only partially reflects the genetic values of individuals. The genetic variation of a quantitative trait is assumed to be controlled by the collective effects of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), epistasis (interaction between QTLs), the environment, and interaction between QTL and environment. Exploiting molecular markers in breeding involve finding a subset of markers associated with one or more QTLs that regulate the expression of complex traits. Many QTL mapping studies conducted in the last two decades identified QTLs that generally explained a significant proportion of the phenotypic variance, and therefore, gave rise to an optimistic assessment of the prospects of markers assisted selection. Linkage analysis and association mapping are the two most commonly used methods for QTL mapping. This review provides an overview of the two QTL mapping methods, including mapping population type and size, phenotypic evaluation of the population, molecular profiling of either the entire or a subset of the population, marker-trait association analysis using different statistical methods and software as well as the future prospects of using markers in crop improvement.


The illegal wildlife trade is emblematic of the underlying complexities that exist in bilateral relations. There is a discrepancy between diplomatic and unofficial spaces, and between supply and demand countries (as in the case of China and South Africa), which translates into a lack of common understanding in policy spaces and societies on the intrinsic value of wildlife. This contributes to larger debates about the relationship between economic development and conservation in Africa. Moreover, there are wider concerns about the asymmetrical nature of China– Africa relations, and uneven respect for local laws and values as China's engagement increases on the continent. Underlying this are the South African public and others' perceptions of China, despite its having responded concretely to the conservation of wildlife. Not Beating Around the Bush: Understanding China and South Africa's Illegal Wildlife Trade


Fear conditioning is an associative learning paradigm that can be used to examine the acquisition and extinction of learned fear in various populations. Unusual patterns in fear conditioning are known to be associated with different types of psychopathology, and anxiety in particular has been studied extensively in relation to fear conditioning. However, far less is known about fear conditioning in nonclinical samples, particularly with regards to personality. The aim of the current study is to examine the acquisition and extinction of conditioned fear as it relates to neuroticism. The study utilized both physiological and subjective measures of learned fear, allowing for comparison across domains of fear expression. Eyeblink startle responses indicated that fear conditioning did not take place, with no significant differences in startle response magnitude in the presence of the conditioned and the unconditioned stimulus. Neuroticism was not found to be associated with greater eyeblink startle to either stimulus type. However, subjective fear ratings revealed an increase in fear of the conditioned stimulus following the acquisition phase, and a decrease in fear of the conditioned stimulus following the extinction phase, indicating that fear conditioning did in fact take place. Neuroticism was positively correlated with fear of the conditioned stimulus in the acquisition phase, indicating that more neurotic individuals may in fact acquire fear more readily than less neurotic individuals. Neuroticism was also associated with greater fear of the conditioned stimulus following extinction, suggesting that neurotic individuals may have difficulty learning when a stimulus no longer predicts threat. These findings indicate that neuroticism does impact both acquisition and extinction of conditioned fear, and there is a need for further replication in order to better understand the discrepancies between physiological and subjective measures in assessing fear conditioning. FEAR CONDITIONING: EFFECTS OF NEUROTICISM 3 Personality and Fear Conditioning: Effects of Neuroticism


The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Brachial plexus injuries are caused by damage to those nerves. Erb-Duchenne (Erb's) palsy refers to paralysis of the upper brachial plexus. Dejerine-Klumpke (Klumpke's) palsy refers to paralysis of the lower brachial plexus. Although injuries can occur at any time, many brachial plexus injuries happen when a baby's shoulders become impacted during delivery and the brachial plexus nerves stretch or tear. There are four types of brachial plexus injuries: avulsion, the most severe type, in which the nerve is torn from the spine; rupture, in which the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment; neuroma, in which the nerve has torn and healed but scar tissue puts pressure on the injured nerve and prevents it from conducting signals to the muscles; and neuropraxia or stretch, in which the nerve has been damaged but not torn. Neuropraxia is the most common type of brachial plexus injury. Symptoms of brachial plexus injury may include a limp or paralyzed arm; lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist; and lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand.


My paper is about our relationship with inanimate objects. It also considers the notion that there is an element of thrill and compulsion in their loss. Drawing on Freud's seminal work about a child's game of disappearance and return as a preparation for separation from the mother, I develop various ideas about why the loss of an object provokes such anxiety. During my research I found that, besides Freud's 'Psychopathology of Everyday Life' and a paper by Anna Freud, the theme of losing concrete objects is largely untouched by psychoanalytic literature.

In the paper I consider objects as symbols of our identity and containers for memory. Using psychoanalytic theory I develop ideas about what happens when, due to traumatic historical events, all material objects are lost. The end of the article describes the Lost Property Office of London Transport - an archetypal monument of loss.

As part of my research I negotiated access to the storage rooms of the Lost Property Office. To illustrate the loss on such a grand scale I convinced the journal, against their normal practice, to publish some of the photographs I took there, which were reminiscent of photos of depersonalised belongings found in concentration camps.

I had a good response to my article from a number of psychotherapists, who felt that I had made a valuable contribution to the theme of object loss in psychoanalytic criticism. The paper was written for 'Psychodynamic Practice', a peer-reviewed academic journal. The journal is aimed at professionals who use psychodynamic thinking in connection with social, political and cultural issues.


For many animals, shelters are valuable source to hide from predators. To know acquisition of adequate shelter is important to understand social interactions of animals. Preferences for types of shelter used by the Marmorkrebs (marbled crayfish) were analysed behaviourally. Individual crayfish were presented with a choice between two PVC pipes with four different internal diameters (XL, L, M and S). The time spent in each shelter and the number of times crayfish entered each shelter were measured. Preference ranks of crayfish were XL = L = or > M > S. Our experiments strongly suggested that crayfish chose shelters based first on the diameter of the entrance, and then based on the length of the shelter. Crayfish recognised adequate shelters by visual cues under light conditions and utilised tactile cues from their antennae under dark conditions.


This article addresses the impact of Alleyne v. United States on statutes that restrict an offender's eligibility for release on parole or probation. Alleyne is the latest of several Supreme Court decisions applying the rule announced in the Court's 2000 ruling, Apprendi v. New Jersey. To apply Alleyne, courts must for the first time determine what constitutes a minimum sentence and when that minimum is mandatory. These questions have proven particularly challenging in states that authorize indeterminate sentences, when statutes that delay the timing of eligibility for release are keyed to judicial findings at sentencing. The same questions also arise, in both determinate and indeterminate sentencing jurisdictions, under statutes that limit the option of imposing either probation or a suspended sentence upon judicial fact finding. In this Article, we argue that Alleyne invalidates such statutes. We provide analyses that litigants and judges might find useful as these Alleyne challenges make their way through the courts, and offer a menu of options for state lawmakers who would prefer to amend their sentencing law proactively in order to minimize disruption of their criminal justice systems.


A two-stage purification-extraction-stripping-NH4NO3 technology to precipitate V2O5 was developed based on the characteristics of the alkaline leaching solution produced from roasted stone coal. Factors influencing purification, extraction, stripping, and NH4VO3 precipitation were studied. Vanadium can be recovered effectively from alkaline leaching solutions using this technology. The purity of the V2O5 product was 99.6%, thereby meeting national standards. The overall vanadium recovery was 90.9%.


Single atom catalysts exhibit well-defined active sites and potentially maximum atomic efficiency. However, they are unsuitable for reactions that benefit from bimetallic promotion such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline medium. Here we show that a single atom Co precatalyst can be in-situ transformed into a Co-Fe double atom catalyst for OER. This catalyst exhibits one of the highest turnover frequencies among metal oxides. Electrochemical, microscopic, and spectroscopic data including those from operan-do X-ray absorption spectroscopy, reveal a dimeric Co-Fe moiety as the active site of the catalyst. This work demonstrates double-atom catalysis as a promising approach for the developed of defined and highly active OER catalysts.


Purpose. To determine whether the sequestration of inflammatory cells plays a role in the antiinflammatory effects of amniotic membrane transplantation to the ocular surface. Methods. Amniotic membrane grafts were prepared from placental tissue procured from mothers undergoing planned Cesarean sections. A detailed explanation was given to all donors, and a written consent was obtained before processing. Amniotic membrane tissue was dissected into 3- × 3-cm segments, rinsed in phosphate buffered saline, and stored in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions at −80°C until use. In a clinical series, amniotic membrane patches of the ocular surface were performed in 20 eyes of 20 patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects, or as a prophylactic measure after corneal limbal transplantation. Amniotic membrane patches were harvested after a 1-week observation period and were subjected to histopathologic examinations by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Inflammatory cells trapped within the amniotic membrane were labeled by immunocytochemistry using anti-CD14, CD4, CD8, and CD20 antibodies. TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) staining was done to observe cells undergoing apoptosis. The T cell line Molt 4 was co-cultured with amniotic membrane in vitro to observe adhesion of T cells to amniotic membrane. Results. Various degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in all clinical samples of amniotic membrane patches. Most of the inflammatory cells stained positively with anti-CD14 antibodies, indicating that these cells were of monocyte/macrophage lineage. Subsets of T cells included both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells, whereas CD20(+) cells were sparse. TUNEL assays revealed that trapped inflammatory cells exhibited characteristics of cells undergoing apoptosis. Molt 4 invaded within amniotic membrane in an in vitro assay, which was not inhibited by blocking antibodies to &bgr;1 and &bgr;2 integrins. Conclusion. Amniotic membrane attracts and traps inflammatory cells infiltrating the ocular surface, which may explain some of the antiinflammatory properties of the fetal tissue.


Although many environments are powered by smart solutions, users do not have a simple way to gather their collective knowledge and program devices' behaviour. Telecommunication (Telco) providers wish to act as the facilitator, but still lack proper components for enabling integrated services over their networks, even though this work is already in active standardisation. In this work we present the architecture of a IoT solution developed in close collaboration with Telco providers, its evolution, which we call SCoT (Smart Cloud of Things), and the best practices from the several pilots we have been running. The architecture builds upon ETSI standards, combined with a rich service execution environment, providing facilitated orchestration of services and devices, as well as integrated portals for end users access.


This article examines the effects of translingual wordplay, Russian names, and cultural allusions in Olga Grushin's novel. The Dream Life of Sukhanov. Applying Wolfgang Iser's concepts of the implied reader and the repertoire of the text, the analysis considers various interpretative possibilities which may be actualized by bilingual and monolingual readers. The article concludes that while Russian elements in the text may elicit recognition on the part of the bilingual reader, they potentially serve as a device of defamiliarization for the monolingual reader, creating a parallel between the reading process and the protagonist's disorientation in the Soviet Union during glasnost'.


Compilers are among the most fundamental programming tools for building software. However, production compilers remain buggy. Fuzz testing is often leveraged with newlygenerated, or mutated inputs in order to find new bugs or security vulnerabilities. In this paper, we propose a grammarbased fuzzing tool called DEEPFUZZ. Based on a generative Sequence-to-Sequence model, DEEPFUZZ automatically and continuously generates well-formed C programs. We use this set of new C programs to fuzz off-the-shelf C compilers, e.g., GCC and Clang/LLVM. We present a detailed case study to analyze the success rate and coverage improvement of the generated C programs for fuzz testing. We analyze the performance of DEEPFUZZ with three types of sampling methods as well as three types of generation strategies. Consequently, DEEPFUZZ improved the testing efficacy in regards to the line, function, and branch coverage. In our preliminary study, we found and reported 8 bugs of GCC, all of which are actively being addressed by developers.


This thesis is a study of the experiences of nurses who have undertaken training in Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). While the clinical outcomes of using SFBT, and other psychological therapies, to treat clients have been the subject of much research, the outcomes of training therapists to use SFBT has been relatively unexplored. It is, therefore, my intention to address, in part, this uncharted area of practice. Utilising a mixed methodology, the study is divided into two Stages. In Stage I, an original Solution Focused (SF) methodology is developed and used to conduct individual interviews with twenty participants. Interviews are transcribed and treated as narrative texts, and are then subjected to multi-factored analysis enabling the synthesis of a ˜group narrative and the construction of a typology of experience. In Stage II, I conduct further in-depth interviews with three of the original participants and utilise a hermeneutic methodology, drawing on the work of Hans-Georg Gadamer, to engage with the texts generated from these interviews. The texts are explored thematically, and through the nursing metaparadigm of Jacqueline Fawcett, and are compared with a metaparadigm of SF practice. The research suggests that training is SFBT can have a profound effect on the clinical practice, and professional identity, of nurses, and that this is related to the paradigm of nursing which informs their practice. Where the nursing paradigm is of the dominant ˜assessment and delivery of care needs modality, SFBT training has little to offer the nurse; however, where the nursing paradigm reflects an ˜interpersonal, dynamic modality based on shared relationships, training in SFBT can be a transformative experience for the nurse. This research makes an original contribution to the field of SFBT and to our understanding of the relationship between SFBT and nursing. Building on the work of earlier scholars, it argues that SFBT is congruent with some nursing paradigms, and not all nursing paradigms as previously suggested. It also advances our understanding of how the scope and field of SF practice may be delineated.


Abstract : Although present laser safety standards are based on an adequate data base for acute viewing situations, they are limited in predicting the type of change in visual function that might be induced from prolonged or repetitive viewing of laser sources. Viewing requirements in holography, laser display systems, and in general, repeated exposure to low levels of laser radiation require a more complete data base for optimizing the environmental protection of individuals who will be required to work in such environments. In these studies, we have simulated very low-level radiation environments and determined the effects of repetitive prolonged exposure on the visual function of the of the Rhesus. Our data suggest that prolonged viewing of such sources, even though they are well below present laser safety standards, can produce permanent changes in visual processes that underline normal human day (photopic) and night (scotopic) vision. Studies of morphology have shown possible subtle morphological correlate. The coherency of laser light is implicated as a significant factor in inducing these effects. It is recommended that individuals required to work in these situations be frequently evaluated for changes in visual function by presently available clinical instruments for assessment of visual function. Further confirmation of these studies will determine the impact of these research findings on present laser safety standards.


According to National Forest Inventory data, there is an urgent need for tending seedling stands of at least 700,000 ha and a need for 1 million ha in the next few years in Finland. The motivation for forest owners to conduct pre-commercial silvicultural operations is low due to the associated high costs. Especially the costs of tending and clearing operations after the regeneration of the stand have been increasing. In addition, the availability of labor is a restricting factor due to the high seasonality of silvicultural works. In the 2000s, several solutions for the mechanization of tending have been proposed. These are based on the use of harvester or a forwarder as a base machine. Typically, light weight base machines are favored to reduce the hourly cost of operations and the impacts on the remaining seedlings. There have been challenges with the high speed of the cutting device, which increases the risk of damages to the head and the ignition of forest fires when the circular saw or chain hits stones, for example. In addition, the chain can become dislocated due to bending forces caused by stumps.
 Cutlink has presented a low RPM solution based on rotating cone-shaped shears that cut 50–100 cm wide corridors between and around seedlings. In this study, the productivity of mechanized tending with Cutlink´s device compared to manual tending was evaluated in spruce seedling stands in central Finland. The productivity, fuel consumption and quality of the seedling stand after the operation were measured. In early tending, the productivity of motor manual tending was notably better than when using the Cutlink device. Crucial factors for the competitiveness of a mechanized alternative include the annual working hours and finding suitable working areas for the machine. Additional work for the device and base machine can also be found in the clearing of forest road sides.


Accurate quantification of uncertainty is crucial for real-world applications of machine learning. However, modern deep neural networks still produce unreliable predictive uncertainty, often yielding over-confident predictions. In this paper, we are concerned with getting well-calibrated predictions in regression tasks. We propose the calibrated regression method using the maximum mean discrepancy by minimizing the kernel embedding measure. Theoretically, the calibration error of our method asymptotically converges to zero when the sample size is large enough. Experiments on non-trivial real datasets show that our method can produce well-calibrated and sharp prediction intervals, which outperforms the related state-of-the-art methods.


: The ARMUS system presents a new approach for observation of the hull of large marine vessels providing fast, but at the same time very accurate and reliable method for underwater inspection, detection and identification of various threats. ARMUS is magnetic tracks based mobile robot capable to stick-on and move along iron surfaces and operate in extreme environmental conditions, including under the water surface. Among the main advantages of the ARMUS system is its ability to reduce significantly the time for hull inspection by providing in process estimation and assessment of the hull while the ship is in motion. This advantage reduces significantly the standby time of the ships when inspection of the hull is required before entering a port. On other hand the in process inspection allows the vessels to be observed continuously during the voyage. Another important advantage of ARMUS is its capability to stay underwater as long as it is necessary. The system is powered and controlled directly by the vessel it inspects and may operate in long cycles without maintenance and recharge.


BGA, CSP, and flip-chip packages are widely used in printed circuit boards. These packages use an array of solder bumps as the electrical junction. To reduce the failures in manufacturing and after long-term use, solder bump inspection is strongly required for quality control. In this paper, we propose an automated inspection method for microsolder bumps using an X-ray image. The thickness, area, volume, and void of the solder bumps were automatically inspected by this method. We introduced some correction techniques to reduce the effects of variation in the X-ray intensity and the spatial nonuniformity in the image. In this experiment, we evaluated accuracy and repeatability. The results demonstrated that the accuracy and repeatability met the requirement for online inspection. In conclusion, our automated method for inspecting microsolder bumps may be useful in practice.


This paper reports on part of a user-centred study examining the design of a website for an Indigenous Australian community. It focuses on the capture of culturally relevant design features and describes the outcomes from a focus group undertaken with 12 members of the community stakeholders. Key cultural themes to emerge from the focus group were the need for visually relevant imagery, support for kinship and community, as well as fun, local language and traditional forms of music, dance and oral history. These themes were mapped into design features such as a virtual tour of the building and grounds, video messages from community members, a facility for feedback and interactive games. Many existing guidelines for cultural design were affirmed in the study, including the use of simple language, local imagery and the provision of an interaction style appropriate to the Indigenous group.


This paper examines the effect of complex crack geometry on the J-resistance curves obtained by strain-based ductile tearing simulation of complex cracked tension (CC(T)) specimens. The damage model is determined by analyzing the results of a smooth bar tensile test and a compact tension (C(T)) specimen toughness test on an SA508 Gr.1a low-alloy steel at 316 °C. The validity of the damage model and simulation method is checked by comparing the fracture test data for two CC(T) specimen tests. To investigate the effect of the complex crack geometry on the crack growth profiles and J-resistance curves, two geometric parameters (namely, the through-wall crack length and the surface crack depth) are systematically varied. It is found that the J-resistance curves for the CC(T) specimens with various through-wall crack lengths and surface crack depths are consistently lower than the corresponding 1 T C(T) J-resistance curves. The effect of the through-wall crack length upon the J-resistance curve is found to be less significant than that of the surface crack depth. Moreover, the J-resistance curve decreases continuously with increasing surface crack depth.


The paper presents an application of the transient heater foil measurement technique using thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC) to endwall heat transfer and film cooling investigations in a transonic turbine vane cascade. The film cooling configuration consists of an upstream slot, representing the leakage flow area between the interface of the combustor and the turbine, and several rows of cylindrical and fan-shaped holes within the passage. With the transient method chosen, the heat transfer and adiabatic film cooling effectiveness distributions can be obtained simultaneously together with the local heat release within the heater foil. Therefore, the heat release in the foil is not required to be uniform, and the foil can contain discrete holes in the film cooling configuration. Some new developments are presented, which are directed towards improved application of the transient heater foil method for such a complex configuration. This includes tailoring the foil heat-release distribution towards the expected heat transfer patterns, supported by numerical Finite-Element computations and the use of a double-TLC mixture for improved time-wise TLC indications. Additionally, CFDsimulations were used to evaluate the recovery temperature distribution through the vane cascade without film cooling. The experiments were performed in the linear cascade facility at the EPFL-Lausanne. A compressor provides a continuous air flow at near-ambient temperature regulated with heat exchangers. Carbon dioxide is used as coolant in order to achieve engine-representative density ratio between coolant and main flow. Multiple experiments with the same main and coolant flow settings but varying heat flux levels and coolant injection temperatures have been performed and simultaneously analysed using nonlinear regression analysis. The time required between successive experiments to return to homogenous initial conditions, as required by the transient method, has been analysed using an analytical solution for heat-on-heat-off conditions. This permits the model assumption of onedimensional conduction within a semi-infinite wall with a heat releasing layer on the top. Example results for cases without cooling, with film cooling from rows of discrete holes and the addition of slot film cooling are used to illustrate the benefit of the new approaches for the investigated vane cascade.


Part I. From Water for Pleasure to Water as Threat: 1. The Water That Infiltrated: The wide open skin, The dry wash 2. The Disappearance of Certain Practices: Steam-baths and bath-houses, 'Getting out the bathtubs' 3. The Old Pleasures of Water: Mingled bodies, Transgression, The 'multitude of God's goods' Part II. The Linen That Washed: 4. What Was Covered and What Was Seen: Vermin, Hands and faces, Linen and the invisible, Bodies and spaces 5. The Skin and White Linen: Linen and sweat, Linen and looking, Frequencies, A matter of surfaces 6. Appearances: The cleanliness that distinguished, The perfume that 'cleansed' Part III. From Water That Penetrated to Water That Strengthened: 7. A Pleasant Sensation on the Skin: A novel and rare type of bath, Sensibility, The 'conveniences' 8. Cold and the New Vigour: Ideas about cold baths, What practices?, Visions of invigorated bodies 9. Nature and Artifice: Health versus cosmetics, The deception of perfume, The internal versus appearance 10. The Stench of Towns and People: The quantification of death, The localisation of unhealthiness, The water that improved the atmosphere 11. All-Over Baths and Local Washing: More baths, Local washing Part IV. The Water That Protected: 12. The Functions of the Skin: The new use of the word 'hygiene', The skin and the energetic balance, The resistance of prudery 13. Water's Itineraries: Water and protection against epidemics, The circulation of water and public hygiene, Bathing and social hierarchy 14. The Pastoral of Poverty: Making cleanliness moral, Education, Regenerating measures 15. The Children of Pasteur: The 'invisible monsters', What could not be seen 16. Installations and Privacy: Extending the bedroom, Cells, Dynamics.


Introduction Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents a risk factor for mother and child in both short-term (peripartal morbidity) and long-term horizon (diabetes postpartum and foetal programming). Numerous studies focused on birth and peripartal complications in the offspring of women with GDM, however fewer studies prospectively followed these children. Higher risk of obesity, hypertension or diabetes is supposed similarly to offspring of women with T2DM. No such a study was performed in Czech population. Material and methods A total of 592 women (of those 496 women had GDM and 96 were healthy women) were addressed with a request to fill an electronic questionnaire with aim to find out basic parameters of their children younger than 3 years (from health documentation of the child – weight, height, head circumference, psychomotor development, morbidity, the need for drugs/hospitalization, the need for monitoring by a specialist, the state of vaccination and breast-feeding duration). 55 women filled the questionnaire (48 with GDM and 7 with physiologic pregnancy). Postpartum impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) remained in 4 women with GDM. We compared offspring of women with and without GDM and also subgroups of offspring of women with GDM (those with and without IGT postpartum). Following parameters were compared in mothers: age, BMI, weight increment during pregnancy, diabetes (DM) in the family, smoking, parity, and overweight/obesity. Results Healthy mothers had less commonly DM in family case history compared to women with GDM and they were more commonly primiparas (P=0,037, resp. P=048, chi-square test). Comparison of GDM subgroups showed significantly more common smoking in the anamnesis of those with IGT postpartum (P=0,003, chi-square test). We did not find statistically significant differences in selected parameters between offspring of women with and without GDM or between offspring of women with GDM with and without IGT postpartum although certain trends in results can be seen – offspring of women with GDM are less commonly breast-fed, less commonly receive vaccination according to the recommended scheme and more commonly need medical treatment by a specialist (allergologist and orthopedist) compared to offspring of healthy mothers. Conclusion Compliance of respondents was very small (approximately 10 % of all addressed filled the questionnaire which corresponds to worldwide trend), therefore we are not able to provide reliable statistically significant results. Our results suggest certain differences between offspring of women with and without GDM, however more participants needs to be included.


Motivated in part by the problem of large-scale lateral turbulent heat transport in the Earth's atmosphere and oceans, and in part by the problem of turbulent transport itself, we seek to better understand the transport of a passive tracer advected by various types of fully developed two-dimensional turbulence. The types of turbulence considered correspond to various relationships between the streamfunction and the advected field. Each type of turbulence considered possesses two quadratic invariants and each can develop an inverse cascade. These cascades can be modified or halted, for example, by friction, a background vorticity gradient or a mean temperature gradient. We focus on three physically realizable cases: classical two-dimensional turbulence, surface quasi-geostrophic turbulence, and shallow-water quasi-geostrophic turbulence at scales large compared to the radius of deformation. In each model we assume that tracer variance is maintained by a large-scale mean tracer gradient while turbulent energy is produced at small scales via random forcing, and dissipated by linear drag. We predict the spectral shapes, eddy scales and equilibrated energies resulting from the inverse cascades, and use the expected velocity and length scales to predict integrated tracer fluxes. When linear drag halts the cascade, the resulting diffusivities are decreasing functions of the drag coefficient, but with different dependences for each case. When β is significant, we find a clear distinction between the tracer mixing scale, which depends on β but is nearly independent of drag, and the energy-containing (or jet) scale, set by a combination of the drag coefficient and β. Our predictions are tested via high- resolution spectral simulations. We find in all cases that the passive scalar is diffused down-gradient with a diffusion coefficient that is well-predicted from estimates of mixing length and velocity scale obtained from turbulence phenomenology.


After an initial overview of socioeconomic data in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Asia and Europe, and after an analysis of the current regulatory provisions pertaining to the process of mediation, this study proceeds to identify a number of principles and standards that have contributed to the progressive definition of the concept of mediation overseas, both as it has been developed by national states and by supranational and international organisms. The second part of this paper describes the phenomenon of mediation in the context of various cultures and legal traditions. The diverse socioeconomic frameworks where mediation develops, identifying the areas where mediation occurs, and where mediation is applied at material and organic levels. Finally, after a careful characterization of the concept and a legal description of mediation as it exists in Spain and Catalonia - tertium comparationis, this study concludes with a comparative exercise, which aims at recognizing the cross-sectional and transnational aspects possibly applicable in a future regulation of mediation in Catalonia.


Volunteers provide essential services to community sport organizations; thus, it is important to understand the underlying factors in successful volunteer–organization relationships. Organizational identification, an integral component of relationship building for members in an organization, is a useful yet underutilized concept to understand how and why volunteers create lasting, deep relationships with sport organizations. This research utilizes a sequential mixed-method design to examine the evolution of organizational identification among volunteers in a community sport organization. The survey results indicate that new volunteers formed their organizational identification over the course of a single program season, such that, by the end of the season, they were similar to returners. Subsequent qualitative analysis of focus group data indicated that the content and evolution of organizational identities varied for newcomers and returners. These results provide important contributions related to the ongoing nature of identity work of volunteers and offer practical implications for volunteer management within community sport organizations.


Introduction Male infertility becomes a worldwide problem and contributed to 50% of infertility cases [1]. The main cause of male infertility is spermatogenesis failure such as oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Azoospermia is defined as absence of spermatozoa from semen and it is present in 15% of infertile [2]. It is a major concern due to unability to have their own offspring. Azoospermia is related to incomplete spermatogenesis process which related to genetic disorder, hormonal problem or testicular failure [3]. Recreating human spermatogenesis outside of its original environment is a scientific curiosity in andrology world and a quest for male fertility treatment. It has a huge impact on our understanding on physiology and pathway of genetic in male reproduction using a well-characterized model of human spermatogenesis. Animal studies have provided us the knowledge of gonadogenesis, spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis based on the histology, immunohistochemistry, hormonal assays and phenotype of gene alterations [4]. In vitro spermatogenesis in azoospermic patients has long been attempted, however, it remains challenging due to limitation of culture system. In this review, we would address the limitation studies of the in vitro human spermatogenesis in developing sperm for future clinical application.


The honeybee, Apis mellifera L. is an ecologically and economically important insect species. Recent honey bee losses causing decline of bee diversity is found alarming for the pollination of both wild plant biodiversity and crop production. Therefore, determination of genetic diversity of honey bee populations is essential and will provide a valuable resource for conservation purposes. Twenty Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were used to assess the genetic diversity in 720 worker bees collected from 360 colonies of 25 provinces in Turkey. Ten out of twenty primers produced 105 reproducible, bright bands, all were polymorphic. Mean genetic diversity values ranged between 0.035 and 0.175, coefficient of gene differentiation ( GST ) values were estimated as 0.060 to 0.441, and the private band patterns reflected a high level of genetic variation. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) partitioned the total genetic variation as 60% within, 40% among populations. The Mantel test did not reveal significant correlation between the genetic and geographic distances. First three Eigen values of principle coordinate analysis explained 63% of total variation, 27, 21, and 15% for the first, second and third respectively. The cluster analysis showed that the honey bees of Thrace region of Turkey and an island at a short distance were clustered together. The other two populations from southeastern Anatolia which belong to African lineage according to mitochondrial DNA analysis formed a separate cluster and rest of the populations which belong to north Mediterranean branch (C lineage) formed the third cluster. The results showed that genetic variability of honey bee populations from Turkey are determined using RAPD markers and provide information for future management and conservation plans.


Improvement in stress tolerance of forage and turf grasses is a major breeding goal. Most forage and some turf grasses are grown on marginal lands under stressful environments with minimal inputs. In contrast, current high-input turf grass production systems such as golf courses and lawns are expensive and often environmentally unfriendly. Cultivars with improved stress tolerance are necessary for the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly production systems. Until recently, decades of breeding and selection have resulted in limited improvements of stress tolerance of forage and turf grass species. Recent developments in molecular and genomic sciences suggest new methods to improve stress tolerance in many plants, but compared to major crop plants (e.g., rice [Oryza sativa L.], wheat [Triticum spp.], and maize [Zea mays L.]), the development of molecular and genomic resources for forage and turf grasses has been limited. In this review, we present an overview of recent molecular and genomic studies aimed at improving stress tolerance of forage and turf grasses, including endophyte grass interactions. Important molecular and genomic resources are now available for some forage and turf grasses, including ryegrasses (Lolium spp.) and fescues (Festuca spp.). Noteworthy progress is being made in improvements of both biotic and abiotic stress tolerances of these grasses, but the challenge is to simplify and streamline the molecular tools and new discoveries for cost-effective and efficient application in forage and turf grass breeding. Stress tolerances of many forage and turf grasses are influenced by their mutualistic association with Neotyphodium spp. endophytes, and this area of research is discussed.


Environmental as well as genotypic effect on weight gain is a normal phenomenon. The aim of the present study was to determine the environment and breed effect on weight gain. One observational cross-sectional study was done on the Fayoumi and Sonali chicks at Chittagong and Noakhali district from October 2005 to July 2006. A total of 48 farmers (24 from each Upazila) were selected randomly, who rear chicks under scavenging condition as well as had broody hens. Twelve eggs of each breed were supplied to each farmer. The chicks were hatched out by the farmers managed broody hens. Then the chicks were reared under scavenging system. The weight-gain of Fayoumi chicks after 8 weeks was higher (226.0 gm) than Sonali (170.7 gm) and it differed significantly (χ2 = 7.71, df = 1, p < 0.01). The Fayoumi chicks of Chittagong site gained higher weight (285.4 gm) than that of Noakhali (171.1 gm). In case of Sonali chicks, the weight gain of day old to eight weeks aged showed the similar performance in both Districts. Chicks of both breeds gained better weight in Chittagong than Noakhali significantly (Fayoumi: χ2 = 28.6, df = 1, p < 0.001; Sonali: χ2 = 10.01, df = 1, p < 0.01). Weight gain and environmental adaptation of Fayoumi chicks were better than Sonali. Key words: Environment; Fayoumi; genotype; Sonali; weight gain. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijns.v1i1.8611 International Journal of Natural Sciences (2011), 1(1):22-24


Two dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, such as graphene, black phosphorus, covalent–organic frameworks, hexagonal boron nitride, layered double hydroxides, metals, metal oxide, metal–organic frameworks, MXenes, and transition metal dichalcogenides, have attracted increasing attention during recent years. Compared with other 2D nanomaterials, the 2D metallic nanomaterials have their own specialties as well as corresponding applications. In this review, different synthesis methods for 2D metallic nanomaterials are systematically presented, aiming to supply possible fabrication routes and assist the study in this domain. The main applications of the 2D metallic nanomaterials are also discussed.


One of the most important parameters in the analysis of containment safety of the light water reactors during a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) is the prediction of the hydrogen concentration. To ensure proper design of the containment and to mitigate the fire/explosive risk created by the flammable hydrogen gas, this concentration build up must be analyzed. Lumped parameter (LP) codes are the main tools used in containment thermal-hydraulic analysis; however, they are limited when it comes to scenarios which require higher fidelity analysis of local phenomena. While the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) allows for higher fidelity analyses, CFD requires a comprehensive validation study due to turbulence and condensation modeling. During a LOCA accident, the leaked hydrogen from the primary circuit can form a stable stratified layer at the top of the containment building. The formation and erosion of a stratified layer is a challenging numerical problem due to the interaction mechanism of the jet flow with the stratified layer. The OECDNEA conducted an experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) as part of the third International Benchmark Study (IBE-3) to investigate the erosion of the stratified layer by a vertical air-helium jet from the bottom of the large vessel (height 8 m. diameter 4 m.). During the experiment, CFD grade experimental data was generated that could be used for comparative studies. In the present study, the experiment is simulated by using the STAR-CCM+ CFD code with various turbulence models including Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models and Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The Realizable k-ε and k-ω SST showed good agreement with the experimental data when predicting the erosion of the stratified layer and global mixing of the gas components; specifically an anisotropic analysis with RSM showed similar behavior with the isotropic two equations model for the erosion of the stratified layer. The LES model also showed faster erosion than experimental data, while the cost of the LES simulation was much higher than RANS simulations. The current validation study contributes to the sensitivity analysis of the turbulence models for erosion behavior in the stratified layer. In addition to that, the results of this study will provide a foundation to discuss the feasibility of the CFD code usage in containment level thermal hydraulic analysis.


ABSTRACT We use a unique question from the Irish Labour Force Survey that captures the reasons for workers being paid below the minimum wage. Compared to existing work, this allows us to more precisely identify sub-minimum wage workers. We find that 5.6 percent of minimum wage workers are paid below the minimum wage for reasons other than those permitted under legislation. This is considerably lower than estimates reported in the existing literature.


Abstract The article assesses China's Indian Ocean strategy against the backdrop of its naval base development in Djibouti. It argues that China's naval force posturing stems from a doctrinal shift to ocean-centric strategic thinking and is indicative of the larger gameplan of having a permanent naval presence in the Indian Ocean. China's maritime strategy comprises four key components. First, to channel naval reinforcements for securing its maritime trade and economic interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)—even as it strengthens the Maritime Silk Road initiative. Second, to develop logistical and operational capacities for a permanent far-seas presence, including preparedness for maritime combat and non-combat operations. Third, to undermine India's geo-strategic influence in the IOR as the two lock into a near zero-sum game maritime competition. Fourth, to overcome the threat of US naval dominance and deter its coercive tactics by enhancing the costs of military conflict. Beijing's ultimate objective is to emerge as a 'global maritime power' capable of commanding the far seas and oceans.


OBJECTIVE
Obese patients have been shown to have longer operative times and more complications from surgery. However, for obese patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery, these differences may not be as significant. In the lateral position, it is thought that obesity is less of an issue because gravity pulls the visceral fat away from the spine; however, this observation is primarily anecdotal and based on expert opinion. The authors performed oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and they report on the perioperative morbidity in obese and nonobese patients.

METHODS
The authors conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent OLIF performed by 3 spine surgeons and 1 vascular surgeon at the University of California, San Francisco, from 2013 to 2018. Data collected included demographic variables; approach-related factors such as operative time, blood loss, and expected temporary approach-related sequelae; and overall complications. Patients were categorized according to their body mass index (BMI). Obesity was defined as a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, and severe obesity was defined as a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2.

RESULTS
There were 238 patients (95 males and 143 females). There were no significant differences between the obese and nonobese groups in terms of sex, levels fused, or smoking status. For the entire cohort, there was no difference in operative time, blood loss, or complications when comparing obese and nonobese patients. However, a subset analysis of the 77 multilevel OLIFs that included L5-S1 demonstrated that the operative times for the nonobese group was 223.55 ± 57.93 minutes, whereas it was 273.75 ± 90.07 minutes for the obese group (p = 0.004). In this subset, the expected approach-related sequela rate was 13.2% for the nonobese group, whereas it was 33.3% for the obese group (p = 0.039). However, the two groups had similar blood loss (p = 0.476) and complication rates (p = 0.876).

CONCLUSIONS
Obesity and morbid obesity generally do not increase the operative time, blood loss, approach-related sequelae, or complications following OLIF. However, obese patients who undergo multilevel OLIF that includes the L5-S1 level do have longer operative times or a higher rate of expected approach-related sequelae. Obesity should not be considered a contraindication to multilevel OLIF, but patients should be informed of potentially increased morbidity if the L5-S1 level is to be included.


Following the 2007 global financial crisis, the understanding of the relationship between debt and other economic indicators has become crucial for policymakers worldwide. In this study, we investigated the macroeconomic determinants of household debt for the South African economy using macroeconomic variables such as GDP growth, consumption, interest rates, inflation, housing prices and domestic investments. Our mode of empirical investigation is the quantile regression approach which is applied to quarterly time series data spanning from 2002:q1 to 2016:q4. Our empirical results imply that inflation and consumption are insignificantly related with household debt; GDP growth and house prices are only related with household debt at moderate to high levels of distributions whereas interest rates and investment are related with household debt across all quantile distributions. All-in-all, these empirical findings bear important implications for South African policymakers.


The electronic space weather upper atmosphere (eSWua) is a hardware–software system that is based on measurements collected by instruments installed by the Upper Atmosphere Physics Group of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV, Italy). More recently, it has also included the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ionospheric scintillation and total electron content (TEC) monitor (GISTM) stations that are managed and operated by the University of Nottingham (UK). By visiting the eSWua website, it is possible to access the database that has been implemented to organize and manage the large amount of information acquired. The section of the database designed for the TEC and scintillation data has been designed to address the needs of the space weather community as well as of scientific users. Through the web tools, it is possible to visualize, plot, extract and download the data from each station. This interactive website is supported by a structured database, and it provides a powerful tool for the scientific and technological community in the field of telecommunications and space weather. At present, the data transmission procedure, the database population algorithm, the linear plot and polar plot visualization tools, the statistics page, and the user management system are fully operational. Web access to the data and tools has been realized to handle the data from the sites at low, mid and high latitudes. In this report, we present the results of the system for the GNSS data in the Arctic, the Antarctica, and the three GISTM stations operated by the University of Nottingham: Nottingham, Trondheim and Dourbes. Case studies of the efficacy of this system for scientific and application purposes are also presented and discussed.


OBSERVER INCORPORATED NEOCLASSICAL CONTROLLER DESIGN: A DISCRETE PERSPECTIVE W. Alexander Baker Jr. Marquette University, 2010 Control theory has generally been divided into two categories, modern control and classical control. Modern control uses state feedback to alter the pole locations of a given system. Classical control uses pre-compensation to alter the zeroes of the system and uses output feedback to adjust the poles to bring stability to the system. The drawback is that the application of classical control techniques can be a lengthy, complicated and iterative design process and in the end, classical control techniques still do not give information about the state of the system. Neoclassical control combines classical control techniques with the state feedback approach of modern control to stabilize the system, eliminate the steady state error, provide relevant internal state information, and reduce the time it takes to design the controller. This thesis explores the application of neoclassical control to discrete-time systems. The mass-spring-damper, magnetic levitation, and ball and beam systems are discretized using the zero-order-hold or the Euler approximation. State-feedback control is used to modify the pole locations for these systems. A discrete-time integrator is put in series to eliminate the steady-state error for a step input. The pre-compensator is also put in series to replace the numerator of the open-loop system with a desired numerator. The unit output-feedback is then used to close the loop. The closed-loop system will have a step response which matches the discrete-time optimal ITAE, Bessel, or Butterworth transfer functions. An observer is added to estimate the state of the plant in this work. The observer is applied to the discrete-time mass-spring-damper, the magnetic levitation, and the ball and beam systems in such a way that the error in the state estimate will be driven to zero within the desired period of time. This will allow the application of this controller to systems when the state is not known or measurable.


Additive Manufacturing (AM) which embrace as a new range technology of creating and producing end user parts in term of adding material layer by layer to create solid object from 3D CAD data. AM in particular Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) used (ABS) thermoplastic have shown the most popular among the industry as its technology can print complex geometrical part without human intervention and tools. However, FDM fierce enemy whereas the common problem of stair-stepping, which means that seam lines appear between layers and excess material if often left as a residue, cause to lead rough surface and poor quality finish. It is often desirable for an AM model to have aesthetic or functional importance. Hence, reducing layer thickness will generally improve surface roughness but will add to the build time for the model. As an interest investigate the use of ultrasonic for FDM, this experiment will focus on the effect of applying multiple piezoelectric transducer for FDM printer. This paper aims to explore the effect use of multiple piezoelectric with different frequency applied (27, 40, 50 kHz) to improve surface finish quality part printed by FDM whereby an ultrasonic transducer firmly attached onto the platform. Optical microscope with the aid of pro VIS software version 2.90 was used to measure the quality of surface roughness of samples printed with vibration in the above stated frequency. Hence, it was found that 1 piezo with 50 kHz frequency applied to the FDM machine achieved improve surface finish due to less layer thickness defect and finer layer thickness produce.


During the first years of data taking at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the simulation and reconstruction programs of the experiments proved to be extremely resource consuming. In particular, for complex event simulation and reconstruction applications, the impact of evaluating elementary functions on the runtime is sizeable (up to one fourth of the total), with an obvious effect on the power consumption of the hardware dedicated to their execution. This situation clearly needs improvement, especially considering the even more demanding data taking scenarios after the first LHC long shut down. A possible solution to this issue is the VDT (VectorisD maTh) mathematical library. VDT provides the most common mathematical functions used in HEP in an open source product. The function implementations are fast, can be inlined, provide an approximate accuracy and are usable in vectorised loops. Their implementation is portable across platforms: x86 and ARM processors, Xeon Phi coprocessors and GPGPUs. In this contribution, we describe the features of the VDT mathematical library, showing significant speedups with respect to the LibM library and comparable accuracies. Moreover, taking as examples simulation and reconstruction workflows in production by the LHC experiments, we show the benefits of the usage of VDT in terms of runtime reduction and stability of physics output.


The Paramount Communications, Inc. v. Time Inc. (Time-Warner) decision and its reasoning exemplify a modern trend in corporate governance affording boards of directors unilateral power to transform a corporation. This article proposes three statutory limits on the current permissive model of corporate governance. The first proposal is a statutory standard of fiduciary duty specifying that a director's duty in deciding whether or not to oppose a purchase of corporate control is to act reasonably and in good faith to maximize the company's value and its investors' returns. The second proposal would allow stockholders to set the terms by which they can sell their shares, by allowing bylaws to restrict a poison pill's use or duration. The third proposal would require majority stockholder consent to any corporation transforming action initiated by a board of directors, such as Time's acquisition of Warner. These three proposals would each check the unilateral power boards currently enjoy in transforming a corporation or blocking a purchase of corporate control.


In cricket, batting against a fast bowler is thought to be one of the most challenging tasks a player must undertake. Despite this, minimal research exists investigating the techniques used by batsmen, with the majority of research focussed on injury mechanisms and pace generation in fast bowlers. The aim of this study was to investigate the techniques used by elite and amateur batsmen in a training environment, such that key aspects of batting technique relating to success could be extracted, and recommendations for future coaching practice and player development could be made. A novel methodology was developed for the collection of full body three-dimensional kinematic data of cricket batsmen in a realistic training environment. Kinematic and high-speed video (250 Hz) data were collected for 31 batsmen, and a three-dimensional full body biomechanical model was developed. Batsmen performed forward drive and pull shots against different delivery methods. Key events and kinematic parameters were defined, and used to produce detailed biomechanical descriptions of the forward drive and pull shots. A curve fitting methodology was developed and validated to determine the impact location of the ball on the bat face, and used to investigate the effects of impact location on shot outcome during a range hitting task. Impacts further from the sweetspot were found to generate lower ball speeds and decrease shot accuracy through bat twist. [Continues.]


ABSTRACT A variety of competitive advantages accompany colonization of hard substrates in aquatic settings, and as a result, many organisms adopt this mode of life. Similarly, adverse effects may occur to organisms that have themselves been encrusted. Many marine basibiont faunas (organisms that provide a substrate for populations of attached epibiontic organisms), including bivalve mollusks, are known to employ a range of chemical and physical deterrents to minimize the incidence of epibiotic attachment, with its attendant detrimental impacts. Freshwater basibiont and epibiont associations, however, are poorly documented. We collected an assemblage of dead, empty freshwater mussel (unionid bivalve) shells from the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada. Some unionid specimens exhibited colonization by attached Trichoptera (caddisfly) cases, in either their final instar larval or pupal developmental stages. The trichopteran assemblage, identified from case morphology, included abundant Neophylax sp. together with common Goera sp. and rarer Helicopsyche borealis. For all genera, site-selective attachment occurred upon the shell surfaces. Crystalline aragonite and organic layers exposed within taphonomically damaged regions of molluscan shell were not colonized. Attachment was instead confined to areas of intact periostracum posterior to the umbonal region of the shell, the periostracum perhaps being selected for its rough surface texture in comparison to aragonitic layers. Trichoptera cases dislodged during handling of specimens revealed no damage to the underlying shell. Observations undertaken on the bivalve shells using scanning electron microscopy suggest that physical barriers to attachment are absent within these faunas, and evidently, any chemical barriers, if present, are largely ineffective.


Calotropis gigantea Linn. (Asclepiadaceae) a widely growing plant has been reported to possess number of medicinal properties. It has been reported as a traditional folk medicine for a variety of alignments. The plant C. gigantea is also used in some parts of India for wound healing in combination with other plants. However there are no scientific reports on wound healing activity of the plant C.gigantea. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate scientifically the wound healing activity of Petroleum ether, Benzene, Chloroform, Methanol and Aqueous extract of leaves of the plant C.gigantea by excision and incision wound healing models in rats. Wistar albino rats of either sex weighing between 160 and 200 g were topically treated with extracts was applied once daily in excision wound model. C.gigantea leaves extracts were given orally at a dose of 200mg/kg and 180 mg/kg (methanol extract) in incision wound healing model. Rats of standard groups were treated with 5% Povidone iodine ointment topically. The percentage wound closure; epithelization time, hydroxyproline content and scar area on complete epithelization were measured. Topical application of methanolic extract of C.gigantea leaves in excision wound model increased significantly the percentage of wound contraction by 12 th day, i.e. 70.11±0.54 compared with control 45.09±0.53. Scar area and epithelization time were decreased from 21.56 to12.56 days when compared with control. In incision wound model breaking strength of wounds and hydroxyproline was increased significantly from 125.48±0.78 in control up to 321±0.99 with methanolic extract. Hence, the methanolic extract of C.gigantea leaves accelerated wound healing activity in rats and thus supports its traditional use.


Trajectory queries, which retrieve nearby objects for every point of a given route, can be used to identify alerts of potential threats along a vessel route, or monitor the adjacent rescuers to a travel path. However, the locations of these objects (e.g., threats, succours) may not be precisely obtained due to hardware limitations of measuring devices, as well as complex natures of the surroundings. For such data, we consider a common model, where the possible locations of an object are bounded by a closed region, called "imprecise region". Ignoring or coarsely wrapping imprecision can render low query qualities, and cause undesirable consequences such as missing alerts of threats and poor response rescue time. Also, the query is quite time-consuming, since all points on the trajectory are considered. In this paper, we study how to efficiently evaluate trajectory queries over imprecise objects, by proposing a novel concept, u-bisector, which is an extension of bisector specified for imprecise data. Based on the u-bisector, we provide an efficient and versatile solution which supports different shapes of commonly-used imprecise regions (e.g., rectangles, circles, and line segments). Extensive experiments on real datasets show that our proposal achieves better efficiency, quality, and scalability than its competitors.


The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is building an automated people mover (APM) system as part of a five-year, $2.6-billion capital development program that includes three runway extensions and a new international terminal. The $849-million APM project includes a 25,400 ft (7,742 m) long elevated guideway, 12 center-platform stations, a maintenance and storage facility, integration with the existng terminals, modifications to the apron and jet bridges, and the train system. In terms of cost, guideway length, and number of vehicles put into service at one time, the system is the largest airport APM to date. A fast-track schedule requires construction to be complete by mid-2003. The guideway superstructure was originally envisioned as using precast-concrete beams, but common prestressed beam construction was chosen instead to save time and money. On the land side, steel trapezoidal box beams were required where existing buildings, utilities, and roads restricted the available column locations, necessitating long spans and tight turning radii. The beams are topped with a cast-in-place concrete deck, and soffit panels flush with the bottom of the bent caps impart a sleek appearance. Guideway columns located outside the air operations area are constructed of cast-in-place concrete, but on the air side the columns are constructed of precast, posttensioned concrete segments joined together with a precast-concrete bent. The relatively unusual combination of precast columns and bent caps reduces construction time and minimizes disruption to airport operations.


Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)/summer maize (Zea mays) rotation is a major system in the North China Plain. The wheat yield target was achieved recently, whereas the maize yield has been static since the 2000s, even with high density planting and fertilizer input. This study analyses the factors limiting maize growth and yield. Maize yields from eight field trials (2006–2011) were classified into five levels: low yield (< 8.25), farmer yield (8.25–9.75), experimental yield (9.75–11.25), record high yield (11.25–12.75), and target yield (> 12.75) t/ha. Shoot dry weight, nitrogen accumulation, and leaf area index at critical stages, yield, and yield components were measured. Grain yield fluctuated from 6.4–13.8 t/ha (10.1 t/ha on average). Insufficient kernel number per ear and low kernel weight limited further yield improvement. Shoot dry weight, leaf area index, and shoot N-accumulation before silking did not vary among the different yield levels, whereas after silking these parameters were significant larger at high yield levels. It can be concluded that low kernel number per ear across yield levels was related to source limitation pre-silking. Additionally, low kernel weight was due to poor post-silking dry matter production. However, the potential of yield increment through increasing source size was limited under the current system. Strategies to enhance post-silking leaf and root function shall therefore be considered to improve post-silking dry matter production and transportation under a high density and high nitrogen input system.


Many intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) have been developed, deployed, assessed, and proven to facilitate learning. However, most of these systems do not generally adapt to new circumstances, do not self-evaluate and self-configure their own strategies, and do not monitor the usage history of the learning content being delivered or presented to the students. These shortcomings force ITS developers to often spend much development time in manual revision and fine-tuning of the learning and instructional contents of an ITS. In this paper, we describe an intelligent agent that delivers learning material adaptively to different students, factoring in the usage history of the learning materials and student profiles as observed by the agent. Student-tutor interaction includes the activities of going through learning material, such as a topical tutorial, a set of examples, and a set of problems. Our assumption is that our agent will be able to capture and utilize these student activities as the primer to select the appropriate examples or problems to administer to the student. Using an integrated introspective case-based reasoning approach, our agent further learns from its experience and refines its reasoning process-including the instructional strategies-to adapt to student needs. Moreover, our agent monitors the usage history of the learning materials to improve its performance. We have built an end-to-end ITS using an agent powered by this integrated introspective case-based reasoning engine. We have deployed the ITS in a CS course. Results indicate that the ITS was able to learn to deliver more appropriate examples and problems to the students.


The problems associated with the use of diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy concern both female and male children exposed in utero and the mothers themselves. Strong epidemiological evidence has linked clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina in young women to maternal ingestion of DES during the 1st 18 weeks of pregnancy. Benign abnormalities of the genital tract have also occurred in daughters of women exposed during pregnancy. 3 data sources have been particularly important for continued assessment of DES: the 1951 University of Chicago double-blind study following controls, treated women, and offspring; the National Cooperative Diethylstilbestrol Adenosis (DESAD) project which collects information on thousands of women exposed in utero, and the Registry of Clear-Cell Adenocarcinoma (Mesonephroma) of the Genital Tract in Young Females. The risk of clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix in this group for ages 14 through 24 is estimated to be .14-1.4/1000 females exposed in utero. The risk is highest when exposure was early in intrauterine life. Peak incidence of tumors is between 17-21 years, rarely appearing before the age of 14. Concern over an increase in squamous cell dysplasia was raised, however a Massachusetts General Hospital study showed the prevalence of dysplasia was 2.1% and the incidence .85/1000 women years of follow-up. Benign abnormalities of the genital tract are common among this group and include: vaginal adenosis and structural abnormalities such as cervical hoods, ridges, and T-shaped uterus. The structural abnormalites may predispose to problems with reproduction; the incidence of complications after the 20th week of pregnancy, premature delivery, and perinatal death were found to be significantly increased. Results are conflicting concerning the impact of DES exposure on fertility. Males exposed to DES in utero may have an increased frequency of anatomic and functional changes including epididymal cyst, hypoplasia of the testes, induration of the testicular capsule and impairment of spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and accessory gland secretion. The data are inconclusive concerning the incidence of breast cancer for women who took DES during pregnancy. The psychological impact on the mothers who took DES and on the exposed offspring is another important consideration.


Unlike the celebrated Ediacara fossils, those from the roughly coeval localities of the Kuibis Quarzite of Namibia are preserved not as imprints on the sandstone bedding plane, but three-dimensionally, within the rock matrix. The pattern of deformation and the presence of sand in lower parts of the bodies of Ernietta , the most common and typical of those organisms, indicate that their three-dimensional preservation is a result of a density-controlled sinking of sand-filled organic skeletons within hydrated mud layers. Specimens of Ernietta have preserved various stages of migration across the mud beds. Their wall material, as documented by the mode of deformation, was not only flexible, but also elastic, which makes it unlike chitin. The walls thus seem to be proteinaceous, built probably of a collagenous fabric. The Ernietta skeleton was built of series of parallel chambers, which excludes the possibility that these were external body covers. The chambers apparently represent walls of hydraulic skeleton units, resembling the basement membrane of chaetognaths or the notochord sheath of primitive chordates. Such chambers are widespread among the earliest fossil animals represented by fossils preserved in sandstone. The rise and fall of the Ediacaran faunas thus seem to be partially preservational artifacts. The range of its occurrence is a result of two successive evolutionary events: the origin of an internal hydraulic skeleton enclosed by a strong basement membrane, and the appearance of decomposers with abilities to disintegrate such collagenous sheaths.


BACKGROUND
Alcohol consumption is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer. This association is thought to be largely hormonally driven, so alcohol use may be more strongly associated with hormonally sensitive breast cancers. Few studies have evaluated how alcohol-related risk varies by breast cancer subtype.

METHODS
We assessed the relationship between self-reported alcohol consumption and postmenopausal breast cancer risk among 87 724 women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study prospective cohort from 1993 through 1998. Multivariable adjusted Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS
A total of 2944 invasive breast cancer patients were diagnosed during follow-up through September 15, 2005. In multivariable adjusted analyses, alcohol consumption was positively related to risk of invasive breast cancer overall, invasive lobular carcinoma, and hormone receptor-positive tumors (all P(trend) ≤ .022). However, alcohol consumption was more strongly related to risk of certain types of invasive breast cancer compared with others. Compared with never drinkers, women who consumed seven or more alcoholic beverages per week had an almost twofold increased risk of hormone receptor-positive invasive lobular carcinoma (HR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.18 to 2.81) but not a statistically significant increased risk of hormone receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinoma (HR = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.87 to 1.50; difference in HRs per drink per day among current drinkers = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.32, P = .042). The absolute rates of hormone receptor-positive lobular cancer among never drinkers and current drinkers were, 5.2 and 8.5 per 10 000 person-years, respectively, whereas for hormne receptor-positive ductal cancer they were 15.2 and 17.9 per 10 000 person-years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol use may be more strongly associated with risk of hormone-sensitive breast cancers than hormone-insensitive subtypes, suggesting distinct etiologic pathways for these two breast cancer subtypes.


Excerpt] The practice of granting a company's employees, officers, and directors options to purchase the company's stock has become widespread among American businesses. According to Information Technology Associates, 15% to 20% of public companies offer stock options to employees as a part of their compensation package, and over 10 million employees receive them. During the technology company boom of the 1990s, they were especially important to start-up companies, allowing them to avoid paying large cash salaries to attract talent. Employee stock options have been extolled as innovative compensation plans benefitting companies, stockholders, and employees. They have been condemned as schemes to enrich insiders at the expense of ordinary stockholders and as tax avoidance devices. This report explains the tax treatment of various types of employee stock options recognized by the Internal Revenue Code, examines some of the issues that have arisen because of the real and perceived tax benefits accorded employee stock options, and describes key laws and regulations concerning stock options, and discusses the "book-tax" gap as it relates to stock options and S. 1375 (Ending Excessive Corporate Deductions for Stock Options Act).


The field of biomedical materials plays an imperative requisite and a critical role in manufacturing a variety of biological artificial replacements in a modern world. Recently, titanium (Ti) materials are being used as biomaterials because of their superior corrosion resistance and tremendous specific strength, freeallergic problems and the greatest biocompatibility compared to other competing biomaterials such as stainless steel, Co-Cr alloys, ceramics, polymers, and composite materials. However, regardless of these excellent performance properties, Implantable Ti materials have poor shear strength and wear resistance which limited their applications as biomaterials. Even though the wear properties of Ti alloys has revealed some improvements, the crucial effectiveness of biomedical Ti alloys as wear components requires a comprehensive deep understanding of the wear reasons, mechanisms, and techniques that can be used to improve wear behavior. This review examines current information on the effect of thermal and thermomechanical processing of implantable Ti materials on the long-term prosthetic requirement which related with wear behavior. This paper focuses mainly on the evolution, evaluation and development of effective microstructural features that can improve wear properties of bio grade Ti materials using thermal and thermomechanical treatments. Keywords—Wear Resistance, Heat Treatment, Thermomechanical Processing, Biomedical Titanium Materials.


This paper describes how multisource satellite data and efficient image analysis may successfully be used to conduct rapid-mapping tasks in the domain of disaster and crisis-management support. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has set up a dedicated crosscutting service, which is the so-called "Center for satellite-based Crisis Information" (ZKI), to facilitate the use of its Earth-observation capacities in the service of national and international response to major disaster situations, humanitarian relief efforts, and civil security issues. This paper describes successful rapid satellite mapping campaigns supporting disaster relief and demonstrates how this technology can be used for civilian crisis-management purposes. During the last years, various international coordination bodies were established, improving the disaster-response-related cooperation within the Earth-observation community worldwide. DLR/ZKI operates in this context, closely networking with public authorities (civil security), nongovernmental organizations (humanitarian relief organizations), satellite operators, and other space agencies. This paper reflects on several of these international activities, such as the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, describes mapping procedures, and reports on rapid-mapping experiences gained during various disaster-response applications. The example cases presented cover rapid impact assessment after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, forest fires mapping for Portugal, earthquake-damage assessment for Pakistan, and landslide extent mapping for the Philippines


Gaseous nitric oxide (NO) is produced through the action of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and acts as a neurotransmitter (Jacklet and Gruhn, 1994b; Elphick et al., 1995a; Jacklet, 1995) in the nervous systems of adult gastropod molluscs. By comparison, little or no information appears to exist about the ontogeny of molluscan NOS‐containing neurons. NADPH‐diaphorase (NADPHd) has been determined biochemically and histochemically to colocalize with NOS immunoreactivity in neurons; NOS is an isoform of NADPHd (Dawson et al., 1991; Hope et al., 1991). We used NADPHd histochemistry to map the distribution of NOS activity in the nervous systems of larvae, including metamorphosing individuals, and juveniles of the marine snail Ilyanassa obsoleta. Several ganglionic neuropils displayed reaction product throughout development. The most intense NADPHd staining occurred in the neuropil of the apical ganglion, a specialized larval structure. Intermediate staining levels occurred in neuropils of the cerebral, pedal, and pleural ganglia. Larval buccal and intestinal ganglia showed little reaction product, with slight increases arising in metamorphically competent larvae. NADPHd activity conspicuously decreased in the central nervous systems of metamorphosing larvae. The osphradial ganglion, which was present in young larvae, showed only weak NADPHd activity. Our results provide evidence for the existence of a nitrergic signalling system in molluscan larvae and juveniles. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


This 3-part article represents an effort to confront 3 large lacunae in the research on reading fluency: definition, component structure, and theory-based intervention. The 1st section describes several historical approaches to fluency and the components of fluent reading that are implicit in these approaches. We then present our own developmental- and component-based definition of reading fluency. In the 2nd section we discuss how different types of current fluency interventions correspond to particular components in fluency's structure and to particular phases of its development. The last section presents an overview of an experimental fluency program that attempts to address multiple components in the development of fluent reading. Finally, we argue that increased exploration of the issues surrounding fluency and comprehension will contribute to our understanding of both reading development and dyslexia subtypes.


In Fragmenting Modernisms, Carolyn FitzGerald traces the evolution of Chinese modernism during the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-45) and Chinese Civil War (1945-49) through a series of close readings of fiction, poetry, film, and visual art.


This dissertation uses longitudinal micro-data from Stockholm between 1878 and 1926 to study the causes and consequences of the fertility transition and to examine the development of living standards inequality during industrialization. Although both processes have received much interest from researchers, we know relatively little of how either one played out among individuals in urban areas, which were both at the forefront of industrialization and the fertility decline. To address this deficiency, I have analyzed the development of socioeconomic differentials in fertility, children's intergenerational social mobility, and infant and child mortality during Stockholm's industrialization and fertility transition. The results of this work challenge many existing explanations of the fertility decline and reveal how, despite overall improvements in living standards, elite socioeconomic groups were able to continually leverage their superior resources to maintain significantly lower levels of infant and child mortality. (Less)


The experimental investigations of the interaction of the pulsed laser radiation with different types of thin films are presented. Polycluster diamond films, aluminum nitride films, and indium tin oxide films were investigated. A high efficiency inelastic scattering of light due to optoacoustic interaction was registered. The spectral features of the scattered light are defined by the morphology of the samples.