PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to compare the dosimetric quality of new partial-double arc (partial-DA) technique in volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning of prostate cancer.

METHODS
In this retrospective study, twelve cases of low-risk prostate cancer were included. For each case, a full-double arc (DA) plan was created using two arcs in Varian Eclipse (version 11). The partial-DA plans were then created using identical dose-volume optimization values and beam parameters as in full-DA plans except for arcs which included anterior (30degree) and posterior (60degree) avoidance sectors. All plans were calculated by analytical anisotropic algorithm. For planning target volume (PTV), maximum dose (Dmax), mean dose (Dmean), and conformity index (CI) were evaluated. For bladder and rectum, volumes that received 70,50,40,and 20Gy (V70,V50,V40 and V20, respectively),and Dmean were compared. For femoral heads, V20 and Dmean were evaluated. Additionally, monitor units (MUs) and integral dose were compared.

RESULTS
Doses to PTV were comparable in partial-DA and full-DA plans with an average difference ±0.2%. The CI (1.24; p=0.960) was same for both sets of plans. Dose to rectum was always lower in partial-DA plans by average differences of 1.8%(p=0.183) for V70, 9.2%(p=0.014) for V50, 22.6%(p<0.000) for V40, 19.4%(p=0.028) for V20, and 9.5%(p<0.000) for Dmean. Similarly, dose to bladder was always lower in partial-DA plans by average differences of 10.2%(p=0.002) for V70, 31.0%(p=0.001) for V50, 40.9%(p=0.001) for V40, 21.8%(p=0.001) for V20, and 18.5%(p<0.000) for Dmean. In contrast, partial-DA technique delivered higher dose to femoral heads by average differences of 52.2%(p<0.000) for V20 and 21.2%(p<0.000) for Dmean. Partial-DA plans produced higher number of MUs (7.5%,p=0.005) and integral dose (5.5%,p<0.000).

CONCLUSION
In comparison to full-DA technique, our purposed partial-DA technique reduced rectal and bladder dose significantly but with higher femoral head dose, which was nonetheless within planning criteria, for the same PTV coverage.


Grasp detection in clutter requires the robot to reason about the 3D scene from incomplete and noisy perception. In this work, we draw insight that 3D reconstruction and grasp learning are two intimately connected tasks, both of which require a fine-grained understanding of local geometry details. We thus propose to utilize the synergies between grasp affordance and 3D reconstruction through multi-task learning of a shared representation. Our model takes advantage of deep implicit functions, a continuous and memory-efficient representation, to enable differentiable training of both tasks. We train the model on self-supervised grasp trials data in simulation. Evaluation is conducted on a clutter removal task, where the robot clears cluttered objects by grasping them one at a time. The experimental results in simulation and on the real robot have demonstrated that the use of implicit neural representations and joint learning of grasp affordance and 3D reconstruction have led to state-of-the-art grasping results. Our method outperforms baselines by over 10% in terms of grasp success rate.


Aim. To review the surgical management of sialorrhoea (submandibular duct transposition with or without bilateral excision of the sublingual salivary glands: the 'drooling procedure\', DP) at Red Cross War Memorial Children\'s Hospital, Cape Town.
Patients and methods. A retrospective review of the medical records of patients who had undergone a DP between 1996 and 2003, to ascertain the results of the procedure and complications. Subsequently a questionnaire was sent to all patients with a recognisable postal address to ascertain long-term satisfaction with the procedure.
Results. Forty-six patients had had a DP, and 32 of the medical records were available for analysis. In 23 cases a comment had been recorded on the result of the procedure; 18 (78%) had shown 'marked\' improvement and 5 (22%) 'a little\' improvement. The medical records indicated that 2 patients had had immediate postoperative problems: one patient was slow to commence oral feeding and another required a single high dose of intravenous steroids to resolve marked oedema of the floor of the mouth. In the longer term, one patient developed a ranula (a mucus inclusion cyst). Ten postal questionnaires, were returned; of these 8 reported an improvement in the symptoms.
Discussion. Short-term improvement was recorded in 78% of patients, and although only 10 questionnaires were returned, 8 of these indicated satisfaction with the procedure. It is impossible to draw conclusions, however, as the large number of patients (36 of the original 46) lost to follow-up could have had a poor outcome. There is need for prospective studies on the long-term outcome of the DP. South African Journal of Child Health Vol. 2 (2) 2008: pp. 46-49


The blister beetle genus Lydoceras Marseul, 1870, tribe Mylabrini, is revised. Its four species are redescribed and figured. Faunistic and ecological records of each species also are summarized. Results of a morphology-based cladistic analysis show Lydoceras lictor (Gerstäcker, 1885) and L. fasciatus (Fabricius, 1775) as most closely related. These two species and L. flavosellatus (Fairmaire, 1887) are placed in the nominate subgenus. The group occurs in eastern Africa and western Arabian Peninsula. The highly distinctive L. stanleyanus (Duvivier, 1890), endemic to central Africa, is placed in the resurrected subgenus Denierus Pic.


The aims of this study are to examine the effects of 24-form Tai Chi exercise in six months on physical fitness, blood pressure and perceived health as well as sleep quality, visual attention, and balance ability of older people living in dwelling community. This study is also aimed to compare differences in physical fitness and subjectively rated health between German and Vietnamese older adults in terms cross-cultural study between Vietnamese and German samples.
The subjects were divided randomly into two groups, Training group and Control group. The subjects were expected to consent or volunteer. Participants in Training group (forty eight subjects ranging in age from 60 years to 80 (69.02±5.16) were assigned 6-months Tai Chi training in Vinh city, Vietnam. Participants in the control group (forty eight subjects ranging in age from 60 years to 79 (68.72±4.94) were instructed to maintain their routine daily activities and not to begin any new exercise programs. The SFT were used in an empirical process to assess the physical fitness. Blood circulations (heart beat, systole blood pressure, diastole blood pressure) and some anthropometrical indices (BMI, WHR, weight, height) were checked. The SF-36 was used to assess the changes of physical and mental health. Pittsburgh sleep quality index, the falls efficacy scale, and valuation of life were also tested in intervention periods. German sample included 159 people aged 72±6.1 living in 11 different cities of Germany.
Results showed that 24 week Tai Chi program can be an alternative form of exercise for older adults. The 24-form Tai Chi brings physical and psychological benefits to older adults. Strength, aerobic fitness, flexibility, dynamic balance of people who engaged in Tai Chi program were remarkably improved. Blood pressure was also significantly improved except diastole blood pressure. The scores of self-report health in two domains of Short form 36 of Tai Chi group were better than Control group. This proved that physical and mental health was much improved after Tai Chi training. There was much improvement in balance in Tai Chi group and sleep quality, visual attention were enhanced with Tai Chi exercise as well. Tai Chi program has been demonstrating its benefits and effects on maintaining physical and mental functioning of older adults in community. It also enhances and promotes the elder adults' to participate in Tai Chi in public.
This study is also an initial comparison of physical fitness and mental health of the elderly between Vietnam and Germany. The results indicated that the Vietnamese elderly reported a better performance in physical fitness. However, there is no significant change in subjectively rated health. The study findings present a higher level of motor abilities in Vietnamese participants, which maintain a higher level over the age span and even tent do expand the distance of performance levels to German participants in the higher age group. The consequences for the German sample might results in an earlier loss of independence, social participation and general health. The higher levels of Vietnamese participants reflect a more active lifestyle throughout the whole life span, especially after retirement, which are not only reached by systematic physical activities like sports, but may be the result of a generally more challenging, physically active lifestyle in everyday activities. This could serve as an explanation for the convergence of life expectancy of Vietnam and Germany from birth (e0) to the age of 60 years (e60), stating that a physically active lifestyle is able to contribute to an extension of life expectancy in older age. German older people would profit by an enhancement of their physical demands in everyday life, and thus could use the potentials of their living conditions to full capacity. Researching the circumstances, situations and stimuli after retirement in different cultures could provide a basis for the future constitution of physically demanding living environments for older people.
Over the 6-month Tai chi program, there was a 18.75% drop-out (not including the follow-up period) in Tai chi group. It is evident that relatively high rate of participants were likely to engage in Tai chi training. The attrition of participation was due mainly to travelling or leaving the city rather than dissatisfaction with the training program. Tai chi is low – technology exercise that can be easily carried out in variety of communities. However, it may be necessary to have skills for performing physical tests, because some participants found difficult to understand and perform the tests. Measurements for all physical tests should be more accurate and need more accurate devices in the laboratory with specialized machines. Some of the questionnaires are directly translated from English to Vietnamese which may lead participants to difficulty to have in understanding some of the questions.
The study has a small sample size, a low-frequency training schedule of only twice per week. The Follow-up period should be longer in order to examine how long the effects of Tai Chi remain. Furthermore, we have used two research groups, while the Tai Chi group received treatment but the control group did not. The social effects and biased opinions resulting from individuals in both groups might be raised. It should be, therefore, comparative design that account for equal condition of intervention. Moreover, all participants come from urban areas which may not be representative for the whole Vietnamese population. This study also presents an initial step toward cross-cultural analysis of functional ability among the aged between Germany and Vietnam in the comparison of differences in physical fitness and subjectively rated health between German and Vietnamese older adults. Further research may take different directions or determinants such as health, social conditions and lifestyle. There are descriptive data differences in socio-demographic variables, especially in the examined age groups, and an imbalance of the total number of recruited participants between Vietnam and Germany.


The phrase "past performance is not an indicator of future outcomes" is a common fine print line found in all mutual fund literature. Yet due to either force of habit or conviction, both investors and advisors consider past performance and related metrics to be important factors in fund selection.Does past performance really matter? The semi-annual S&P Persistence Scorecard seeks to track the consistency of top performers over three- and five-consecutive year periods, and measure performance persistence through transition matrices for three- and five-year non-overlapping holding periods. As in our widely followed Standard & Poor's Indices Versus Active Funds (SPIVATM) Scorecards, the University of Chicago's CRSP Survivorship Bias Free Mutual Fund Database underlies our analysis.Very few funds manage to consistently repeat top-half or top-quartile performance. Over the five years ending September 2009, only 4.27% large-cap funds, 3.98% mid-cap funds, and 9.13% small-cap funds maintained a top-half ranking over the five consecutive 12-month periods. No large- or mid-cap funds, and only one small-cap fund maintained a topquartile ranking over the same period.Looking at longer term performance, 24.32% of large-cap funds with a topquartile ranking over the five years ending September 2004 maintained a top-quartile ranking over the next five years. Only 16.39% of mid-cap funds and 27.06% of small-cap funds maintained a top-quartile performance over the same period. Random expectations would suggest a repeat rate of 25%.Our research suggests that screening for top-quartile funds may be inappropriate. A healthy plurality of future top-quartile funds comes from the prior period's second, third and even fourth quartiles. Screening out bottom quartile funds may be appropriate, however, since they have a very high probability of being merged or liquidated.


Scientists worldwide are warning of the looming extinction of thousands of species, from tigers and polar bears to rare flowers, birds, and insects. If the destruction continues, a third of all plants and animals could disappear by 2050 - and with them earth's life-support ecosystems that provide our food, water, medicine, and natural defenses against climate change. Now Caroline Fraser offers the first definitive account of a visionary campaign to confront this crisis: rewilding. Breathtaking in scope and ambition, Rewilding aims to save species by restoring habitats, reviving migration corridors, and brokering peace between people and predators. Traveling with wildlife biologists and conservationists, Fraser reports on the vast projects that are turning Europe's former Iron Curtain into a greenbelt, creating trans-frontier Peace Parks to renew elephant routes throughout Africa, and linking protected areas from the Yukon to Mexico and beyond. An inspiring story of scientific discovery and grassroots action, "Rewilding The World" offers hope for a richer, wilder future.


Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) is an autosomal dominant familial syndrome with a complex seizure phenotype. It is caused by mutations in one of three voltage-gated sodium channel subunit genes (SCN1B, SCN1A, and SCN2A) and the γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor 2 subunit gene (GBRG2). The biophysical characterization of three mutations (T875M, W1204R, and R1648H) in SCN1A, the gene encoding the CNS voltage-gated sodium channel subunit Nav1.1, demonstrated a variety of functional effects. The T875M mutation enhanced slow inactivation, the W1204R mutation shifted the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation in the negative direction, and the R1648H mutation accelerated recovery from inactivation. To determine how these changes affect neuronal firing, we used the NEURON simulation software to design a computational model based on the experimentally determined properties of each GEFS+ mutant sodium channel and a delayed rectifier potassium channel. The model predicted that W1204R decreased the threshold, T875M increased the threshold, and R1648H did not affect the threshold for firing a single action potential. Despite the different effects on the threshold for firing a single action potential, all of the mutations resulted in an increased propensity to fire repetitive action potentials. In addition, each mutation was capable of driving repetitive firing in a mixed population of mutant and wild-type channels, consistent with the dominant nature of these mutations. These results suggest a common physiological mechanism for epileptogenesis resulting from sodium channel mutations that cause GEFS+. Epilepsy-associated Dysfunction in the Voltage-gated Neuronal Sodium Channel SCN1A


The interaction of light and matter in the world surrounding us is of striking complexity and beauty. Since the very beginning of computer graphics, adequate modelling of these processes and efficient computation is an intensively studied research topic and still not a solved problem. The inherent complexity stems from the underlying physical processes as well as the global nature of the interactions that let light travel within a scene. This paper reviews the state of the art in interactive global illumination (GI) computation, i.e., methods that generate an image of a virtual scene in less than 1 s with an as exact as possible, or plausible, solution to the light transport. Additionally, the theoretical background and attempts to classify the broad field of methods are described. The strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, when applied to the different visual phenomena, arising from light interaction are compared and discussed. Finally, the paper concludes by highlighting design patterns for interactive GI and a list of open problems.


This article is an elaboration of a Stanford University panel discussion entitled 'Looking ahead: governance and democracy', which is available on Stanford iTunes. The main speaker of the panel was Professor Paul Collier of Oxford University, with two other contributors from Stanford: Professor John McMillan and Professor Larry Diamond. In exploring the topic, the panel discussed the ways and previous experiences concerned with driving less developed countries towards a better future. The panel was useful and enjoyable and the speakers sounded highly sincere in their cause. Professor Collier suggested four 'instruments' for influencing the development in these countries. In this respect, 'knowledge', which represents an important instrument for both human and economic development, was overlooked. This article emphasises knowledge and addresses the issue of the 'globalisation of Higher Education (HE)' as an important instrument for a better future, not only for the less developed countries, but also for the whole world. The scope of the article is limited to this instrument and does not consider debating the views on the other instruments addressed by the panel.


We evaluate a Danish reform focused on improving Danish language training for those granted refugee status on or after January 1, 1999. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design we find a significant, permanent, positive effect on earnings. This effect emerged after completion of language classes and was accompanied by additional schooling and higher probability of working in communication-intensive jobs, suggesting that language training, rather than other minor aspects of the reform, produced it. We also find evidence of higher completion rates of lower secondary school and lower probability of crime for male children with both parents exposed to the reform.


ABSTRACT There has been a revival of interest in the relationship between research and teaching and its impact on student learning. Most studies have focused on the experience of research informed teaching (RIT) for undergraduate students, usually from teachers' perspective. Here we explored the experience of 25 Masters' students on a Management degree in a business school using phenomenography. We identified five different conceptions of RIT: the transmitter focuses on RIT as spreading research signals to students; the detective foregrounds methods of inquiry; the catalyst emphasises teaching impacts; the agent focuses on students taking ownership for self-directed learning; and the wayfarer engages students in a lifelong journey which shifts students' ways of thinking about knowledge. Our findings challenge academics to go beyond limited functional conceptions of RIT so that confidence to embrace the idea that knowledge is provisional, and commitment to lifelong exploration and impactful learning are developed in students.


Autonomic Computing is concerned with improving the self-management and adaptability in software. In this paper, we propose an Autonomic concept that would allow robots to interact with each other using an alternative communication protocol in the event that direct wireless digital communications fail. The aim of the research is to create enhanced levels of autonomous behavior that enable the robots to still communicate via a more primitive mechanism. The alternative communication protocol uses a form of textual semaphore. The visual means of communication involves processing textual images that contain meaningful messages or instructions. These textual images are transmitted via a display screen mounted on the robot. The robot receiving the message does so by taking a photo and performing image processing. The research focus is on how robots could adapt to a hardware communications failure by using the technique outlined here. Our experiments have proven that a robot can read text from a screen and respond with an action, e.g., to rotate. Results also indicate that further work is needed in the area of image processing in order to improve the accuracy of the character recognition. It is hoped that these results will lead to further research that can build upon the ideas presented and seek to establish a two-way conversation as opposed to a monologue.


Vidant Heatlh adopted a "healthy food environment" policy in 2012. This vendor tool kit includes the policy definitions that support the policy stept that help a vendor adhere to the policy and resources. Topics covered include criteria for healthy foods percent healthy foods required calorie labeling serving sizes and point of selection signage. A companion event planner tool kit provides tips for meeting planners working with caterers to provide healthy meals and snacks at company sponsored events.


The Philippines is often a puzzle to many international observers. Compared to its Asian neighbors South Korea and Taiwan which have both attained the enviable NIC (newly industrializing country) status, the Philippines has lagged behind both countries in terms of several economic development indicators: GNP growth, per capita income, life expectancy, calorie intake requirements, etc. (See Table 1, Appendix). Only a few decades ago, the Philippines was considered as the "jewel" among Southeast Asian nations and was even referred to in some literature as an NIC like South Korea and Brazil (Harris 1983). The Philippines appeared set to join the ranks of the NICs in the early 1970s, with large and growing sectors of manufacturing and labor-intensive goods, especially when other Asian NICs were vacating the field of light labor-intensive manufactures and moving into skilled and capital-intensive products (Hill and Jayasuriya 1985, 135). But now, all other Southeast Asian nations, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, have surpassed the Philippines (Haggard in Nelson 1990, 215).


Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging is a metabolic imaging technique using a radioactive tracer, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), to identify the presence and severity of disease, namely cancers. Most malignant tissues have increased 18F-FDG uptake associated with an increased rate of glycolysis and of glucose transport. The increase in 18F-FDG uptake noted in malignant tissues is related in a complex manner to the proliferative activity of malignant tissue and information regarding the location of abnormal levels of radioactive glucose obtained from a PET scan helps clinicians effectively pinpoint sources of cancer and progression of disease. According to the 2011 census, a total of 1,853,700 clinical PET and PET/CT studies were performed at over 2,200 U.S. locations[1]. Appropriate patient preparation plays an important role in obtaining good quality images, which is essential for accurate interpretation as the concentration of circulating glucose can significantly affect 18F-FDG uptake by tumors. Relevant considerations before the study include restrictions of diet and activity, management blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes, as well as an awareness of the effect of medications and environmental conditions. Important protocol guidelines for performing PET and PET/CT have been proposed by various societies and groups, including the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the American College of Radiology (ACR), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Netherlands society of nuclear medicine. *Corresponding author: Courtney Schultz, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA, Tel: 513-861-3100; E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Citation: Courtney Schultz. The Effect of Glucose on Quality of PET Scan Results. (2017) J Pharm Pharmaceutics 4(2): 14. The Effect of Glucose on Quality of PET Scan Results


Qualitative analysts have received stern warnings that the validity of their studies may be undermined by selection bias. This article provides an overview of this problem for qualitative researchers in the field of international and comparative studies, focusing on selection bias that may result from the deliberate selection of cases by the investigator. Examples are drawn from studies of revolution, international deterrence, the politics of inflation, international terms of trade, economic growth, and industrial competitiveness. The article first explores how insights about selection bias developed in quantitative research can most productively be applied in qualitative studies. The discussion considers why qualitative researchers need to be concerned about selection bias, even if they do not care about the generality of their findings, and it considers distinctive implications of this form of bias for qualitative research, as in the problem of what is labeled "complexification based on extreme cases." The article then considers pitfalls in recent discussions of selection bias in qualitative studies. These discussions at times get bogged down in disagreements and misunderstandings over how the dependent variable is conceptualized and what the appropriate frame of comparison should be, issues that are crucial to the assessment of bias within a given study. At certain points it becomes clear that the real issue is not just selection bias, but a larger set of trade-offs among alternative analytic goals.


This thesis describes my journey of self discovery and renewal as I reinvented myself from my position as a sales and marketing manager in a corporate setting to that of a professional coach in private practice. I discuss my rationale for change and what precipitated it, how I became a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania and how the Organizational Dynamics program prepared me to become a coach. I will also detail the role an undiagnosed learning disability played in my life and how I tapped its gifts and utilized my strengths to become my best self. The psychological foundations for change and my role in each of the steps are outlined. The coaching process is thoroughly examined as I coached my first client using the Wilkinsky Normative 9-Step Coaching model. I present my behavioral coaching model and discuss the principles upon which it is based. Real life coaching situations illustrate how the model was applied. Highlights from five professional coaching engagements provide insights into the types of coaching that I am currently practicing. I conclude with insights for readers who may be contemplating following in my path with questions and exercises to start them on their own path toward their passion. Finally, I discuss my future in coaching and where my endeavors may lead me. Comments Submitted to the Program of Organizational Dynamics in the Graduate Division of the School of Arts and Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania Advisor: William Wilkinsky This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/od_theses_msod/37 THE EVOLUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL COACH


Background. Deliberate self-harm (DSH) may be associated with increased risk of death from a variety of causes, not just suicide. Method. A follow-up study of 11583 DSH patients who presented to a general hospital over a 20-year period was conducted to examine risk of death from a range of causes during a follow-up period of between 3 and 23 years. Deaths were identified through national death registries. Expected numbers of deaths were calculated from national death statistics. Results. The number of deaths (1185, 10·2%) was 2·2 times the expected number, the excess being significantly greater in males than females. Suicides were 17 times more frequent than expected and undetermined causes of death and accidental poisonings 15 times more frequent. Significantly more than expected numbers of deaths from most natural causes were found, including respiratory disease, circulatory, neurological, endocrine, digestive, skin and musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders, and symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions. Deaths due to accidents other than poisoning were more frequent than expected in both genders and homicides more frequent in males. Conclusions. In addition to increased risk of suicide, DSH patients are at increased risk of dying from a wide range of other causes. Possible explanations include lifestyle factors, physical disorders contributing to initial risk of DSH, and social disadvantage. The findings are relevant to clinical management and evaluation of outcome and health-care costs associated with DSH.


A growing number of advanced economies with monetary policy frameworks that involve inflation targeting have adopted formal processes of review and renewal. These allow policy-makers and other stakeholders to assess the current framework's performance to date, explore the merits of potential alternative frameworks and reach decisions about how best to enhance design and implementation. In this paper, we argue that well-governed review and renewal processes can contribute importantly to the success of a monetary policy framework: (1) they help to adjust the framework in response to experience, theoretical developments and changes in the economy; and (2) they enhance the legitimacy and credibility of changes made to the framework. However, as these processes involve inputs from the government or legislature, they also create potential for tensions regarding central bank independence. We use an international comparison to show that these considerations have been balanced in different ways across countries and time, with a spectrum running from relatively technocratic processes to ones more closely linked to the political cycle. We also highlight several unique aspects of the modern review and renewal experience in Canada, where renewals of the Bank of Canada's joint inflation-control agreement with the government have regularly been preceded by in-depth framework reviews, each involving a large amount of original research and significant levels of transparency.


Purpose Peripheral field loss (PFL) due to retinitis pigmentosa, choroideremia, or glaucoma often results in a highly constricted residual central field, which makes it difficult for patients to avoid collision with approaching pedestrians. We developed a virtual environment to evaluate the ability of patients to detect pedestrians and judge potential collisions. We validated the system with both PFL patients and normally sighted subjects with simulated PFL. We also tested whether properly placed high-power prisms may improve pedestrian detection. Methods A virtual park-like open space was rendered using a driving simulator (configured for walking speeds), and pedestrians in testing scenarios appeared within and outside the residual central field. Nine normally sighted subjects and eight PFL patients performed the pedestrian detection and collision judgment tasks. The performance of the subjects with simulated PFL was further evaluated with field of view expanding prisms. Results The virtual system for testing pedestrian detection and collision judgment was validated. The performance of PFL patients and normally sighted subjects with simulated PFL were similar. The prisms for simulated PFL improved detection rates, reduced detection response times, and supported reasonable collision judgments in the prism-expanded field; detections and collision judgments in the residual central field were not influenced negatively by the prisms. Conclusions The scenarios in a virtual environment are suitable for evaluating PFL and the impact of field of view expanding devices. Translational Relevance This study validated an objective means to evaluate field expansion devices in reproducible near-real-life settings.


Objective:To facilitate collection of cumulative data on longitudinal HIV disease outcomes during HIV prevention studies by developing recommendations for follow-up of the relatively few study participants with breakthrough infections. Design:We formed a working group to compare and contrast the various approaches taken in recent HIV prevention trials, to summarize the advantages and disadvantages associated with each, and to explore the feasibility of developing protocols for the long-term follow-up of seroconverters. Methods:We reviewed study designs, objectives, and assessments in 15 interventional studies that followed HIV seroconverters. Protocol team members joined discussions of the various approaches and developed recommendations. Results:Most HIV prevention clinical trials share a core set of objectives, including the description/comparison of virological, immunological, and clinical course of HIV, and sometimes a comparison of preseroconversion and postseroconversion behavior. Long-term follow-up of seroconverters can be conducted in separate studies if the transition from parent protocol is effectively managed. Conclusion:We recommend the development of harmonized seroconverter protocols. Although specific research questions in the postseroconversion period may differ depending on prevention modality, harmonizing key evaluations would create an opportunity to ask overarching questions that inform the prevention field with respect to design and implementation of future combination prevention studies. Follow-up immediately postseroconversion should be conducted in the parent protocol before roll over into a follow-up protocol. Development of specimen repositories with ample volumes for future assays, standardized definitions of infection, diagnosis and seroconversion dates, and harmonization of study objectives and sample collections at key time points are important.


Mating pheromone signaling in yeast requires the G protein βγ subunits; however, constitutively active Gα (Gpa1Q323L) stimulates many of the mating responses. Using a screen of yeast deletion mutants, Slessareva et al. found that the catalytic and regulatory subunits of class III phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Vps34 and Vps15, respectively, were required to mediate mating responses triggered by Gpa1Q323L. Responses to mating pheromone were diminished, but not eliminated, in yeast deficient for either subunit of PI3K. Both Gpa1Q323L and PI3K were localized to endosomes, whereas wild-type Gpa1 was predominantly at the plasma membrane. Gpa1 interacted directly with both subunits of PI3K (based on copurification experiments with purified proteins or proteins expressed in yeast cells). Activated Gpa1 exhibited enhanced binding to the catalytic subunit of PI3K, and the regulatory subunit of PI3K interacted with inactive Gpa1. The catalytic subunit of PI3K was a true Gα effector, because cells expressing the Gpa1Q323L exhibited increased production of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. Modeling of the regulatory subunit Vps15 suggests that it has a seven-bladed propeller structure similar to that of Gβ subunits. The authors suggest that PI3K serves as both effector and β subunit for the endosomally localized Gα. Questions remain regarding how Gα becomes activated and localized at endosomes and what role PI3K plays in pheromone signaling. However, these results broaden the roles for G proteins to signaling from internal membranes and suggest a novel regulatory mechanism, with Gα cycling between active and inactive through its interactions with the effector and β subunit of PI3K (see Koelle for discussion). J. E. Slessareva, S. M. Routt, B. Temple, V. A. Bankaitis, H. G. Dohlman, Activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Vps34 by a G protein α subunit at the endosome. Cell 126, 191-203 (2006). [Online Journal] M. R. Koelle, Heterotrimeric G protein signaling: Getting inside the cell. Cell 126, 25-27 (2006). [Online Journal]


ObjectiveTo ascertain the extent of family member support to heterosexual HIV-serodiscordant couples, and to identify associated sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. DesignDiscordant couples enrolled in a cohort study of heterosexual HIV transmission were interviewed with structured questionnaires to obtain sociodemographic data, family member awareness of HIV and perceived support from family members. Clinical characteristics were established by medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests. ResultsAwareness and support of family members were associated with sex of family member and HIV seropositivity, sex, education, and race of the partner. HIV-seropositive partners were more likely to have a sister aware than were HIV-negative partners (P =0.01). More educated HIV-positive partners had fewer aware family members than less educated HIV-positive individuals (P = 0.02). Mothers of HIV-positive women were more often aware than mothers of all other partners (P =0.04). Black HIV-negative partners had fewer aware family members than whites or Hispanics (P =0.02). ConclusionThis research shows both encouraging and disturbing patterns of family awareness of HIV and support to serodiscordant partners.


AIMS/BACKGROUND: Iris fluorescein angiography (IFA) is not commonly used in clinical practice, although its value has been demonstrated especially in cases of diabetic disease. IFA is able to show neovascular tufts in order to guide the laser treatment, and it is highly recommended in diabetic patients who need cataract surgery or vitrectomy. Nevertheless, IFA fails to demonstrate the iris vascular pattern in heavily pigmented iris and conspicuous leakage cases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of iris indocyanine green videoangiography (IICGV) and to correlate its findings with those of IFA in diabetic iridopathy. METHODS: Thirty six patients affected in varying degrees by diabetic retinopathy underwent an ophthalmic examination including retinal fluorescein angiography, IFA, and IICGV. IICGV was performed using IMAGEnet System H1024. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that IICGV allows precise visualisation of the iris vascular pattern, also in cases of heavily pigmented iris. CONCLUSIONS: Three main findings seemed to be evident: firstly, iris neovascularisations are detected with IFA far more easily than IICGV; secondly, capillary dilatations and iris hypoperfusion are identified far more clearly using IICGV; thirdly, there is no evident relation between capillary dilatation or iris hypoperfusion, and degree of diabetic retinopathy.


If the increase of the female presence on the labor market marked time for important progress in terms of equal opportunities, it highlighted at the same time the need to reexamine occupational and prevention politics and practices. This is the result of recent investigations, of the program papers worked out by international organizations and of the information included in different projects including a type perspective. The spread of the information on the elaboration in progress, both practical and theorical, becomes a basic tool to diffuse the results and to start a process of removal of the inequalities.


The production of Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase (GOX) and native amylase by the recombinant M. circinelloides KFA199 strain under conditions of dimorphic growth was investigated. The recombinant KFA199 strain was compared to its parental ATCC 1216b strain and a wild‐type CBS 232.29 strain under similar morphology‐controlled conditions. Cultivation in Vogel's medium supplemented with ergosterol/Tween‐80 and sparged with nitrogen gas was most suitable for yeast‐like biomass production under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic growth was characterized by high levels of ethanol formation and linear growth rates of 0.24–0.05/h, indicating metabolic stress. Subsequent to anaerobic growth, cultures were shifted to aerobic conditions to induce aerobic mycelial growth. GOX produced by the recombinant KFA199 after the shift to aerobic conditions was poorly secreted and accumulated intracellularly to 0.56 U/mlculture. Amylase production by the KFA199, ATCC12b and CBS 232.29 strains was determined during growth on starch after the shift to aerobic culture. Growth‐associated amylase production by the ATCC 1216b (0.63 U/mlculture) and wild‐type CBS 232.29 (0.33 U/mlculture) strains was substantially higher than by the recombinant KFA199 strain (0.07 U/mlculture), which may be related to the leucine auxotrophy of the transformation host, or genetic changes induced during transformation of the KFA199 strain. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


With increased public environmental awareness and support for environmental protection, business success is becoming more dependant on environmental performance. Many large companies have acknowledged this and are engaged in corporate environmentalism to work towards the goal of ecological sustainability. The small business sector has an equally important role to play in sustainable development since their combined impact on the environment is significant. The extent to which the small business sector in South Africa has adopted a pro-environmental attitude however, has not been established. This research therefore attempts to ascertain the level of environmental awareness and practice within small business. To achieve this aim, a questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from a sample population of small businesses in Edenvale, Gauteng. The sample population represented a variety of economic sectors. The quantitative data was analysed statistically by calculating the percentage of respondents or responses and by performing a test of proportions. The qualitative data was used to clarify the findings. The results suggested that the overall level of environmental awareness and practice within the small businesses was very low. Environmental issues were not considered to be a part of the business agenda as small business managers were unaware of the environmental impacts of their business activities. Moreover, there was a lack of both environmental pressures and information. The majority of the small businesses were therefore environmentally inactive. A small proportion of the businesses were environmentally reactive in that they had started to address environmental issues. This was however, only in response to environmental pressures and not through their own volition. Furthermore, unless subjected to environmental pressures or given incentives, the small businesses were not planning to integrate environmental practices into their business activities in the future.


Human hydatid cyst is an endemic disease and its distribution is worldwide affecting many countries in the Northern Africa as well as other parts of the world including Middle East area, India, South America, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey and Southern Europe. This disease is a major public health problem in our country. The incidence of the disease has been increasing in the absence of an effective prevention policy. It is ubiquitous; it is endemic to our region of "Grand Maghreb". At this geographical ubiquity joins a ubiquitous localization. The primary involvement of pelvic organs by Echinoccocus granulosus is extremely rare. In addition to liver and lung localization representing 90% of the disease, other organs and tissues are spared. The pelvic seat is rare; it is 0.2 to 2% of cases. The isolated uterine localization is even more exceptional, it considered unusual. We report a case of a voluminous primary and solitary hydatid cyst of uterus in young female which was mimicking a pregnancy.


This paper revisits economic growth in Colombia using a growth diagnostics methodology to identify the most binding constraints for economic growth and the policies that, if implemented, can have the largest positive impact. The data shows economic reactivation in areas with falling violence. Results from analysis at the microeconomic level, however, give a particular spin to this conclusion by showing that investment decisions at the firm level are also explained by the restoration of some form of public order connected to the cessation of paramilitary violence. From a public policy perspective, perhaps the most relevant result is the confirmation that in Colombia, investment decisions are negatively affected by the cost of financing. Empirical results single out the provision of access to financing at fair prices as a policy priority for economic growth, independent of whether uncertainties from poor protection to property rights are resolved.


The scores provided by the International Test of Developed Ability (ITDA) have been used as an alternative baseline for comparing the progress of students in the A-level Information System (ALIS) project of U.K. The responses of 26,964 examinees to the mathematics items of ITDA in year 2000 were fitted by using the Rasch model. Five subject groups (the population, 2 gender groups and 2 ability groups) and 25 random samples (5 from each group) were generated from the responses of the examinees. The unconditional maximum likelihood estimates of the item difficulty and examinee ability parameters for various groups/samples were produced by the RASCAL program. The scatterplots among different sets of sample item difficulty parameters reflected that the feature of item and ability invariance was not preserved in the groups of extreme abilities. The assumptions of unidimensionality, equal item discrimination, zero guessing factor and non-speededness were generally not supported in the two ability groups. In particular, the result indicated that the ITDA Mathematical Test might be a speeded test. It was quite interesting in this study to see that the item difficulty parameters and examinee abilities estimated from the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and those from the Rasch model were very comparable and both frameworks exhibit more or less the same feature in terms of invariance. On the other hand, more items were "found" unfit by the CTT method than the Rasch approach indicating that the former looks more sensitive to the lack of fit than the latter. To study the effect of speededness, the analysis was repeated with the last 11 items (which has the highest omits) deleted. Disappointingly, the results showed no significant improvement. Further research on the fitness of data with speed incorporated into the estimation of ability level is recommended.


Generally, studies on biodiversity conservation have focused on topics within the natural sciences, such as species and ecosystem concerns. However, an understanding of the human dimensions of biodiversity conservation is lacking. To address this gap, a study was undertaken in the Robson Valley in east-central British Columbia in 2001 to document stakeholders - understanding and perceptions of biodiversity issues, examine potential trade-offs associated with conservation, and provide decision makers with insight concerning the acceptability of potential forest management scenarios. A mail survey was used to collect data from residents of British Columbia and two groups of recreationists. Results show that stakeholders are diverse in their perceptions and knowledge related to biodiversity conservation. A choice experiment was used to examine trade-offs inherent in conserving biodiversity at the landscape level. The choice model showed that respondents preferred options that emphasized biodiversity conservation, and that Robson Valley residents had different preferences than the respondents in the other subsamples. Several potential forest management scenarios were simulated using the choice model results. The potential for future research, and ideas for improving the model, are discussed.


This article examines the relationships between governance structures and regulatory approaches. It develops a typology to explain and fine-tune supranational regulatory models for the governance of markets. The article suggests, firstly, a range of regulatory options which are defined according to two dimensions: (a) the degree of centralization of regulation, which includes networks, meta-organizations, and single central authorities; and (b) the degree of invasiveness of regulation, which ranges from sunshine regulation to command and control approaches. The aim is to relate structural alternatives (considered in terms of centralization) to regulatory approaches (considered in terms of invasiveness). The typology here constructed is applied to analyse the governance structure of EU competition law. Secondly, the article focuses on the recent structural changes reshaping the governance of European financial markets. The reform is discussed through the lens of the typology. It appears that, differently from what was observed in the EU competition law model, the newly established European Supervisory Agencies (ESAs) are part of a complex structural development, in which the separation between a highly invasive regulatory approach and a decentralised supervisory structure adds further complexity. The article concludes by noting a set of possible normative implications, suggested by the typology, to ensure a consistent governance model for financial markets regulation and supervision in the EU.


OBJECTIVE
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a relapsing-remitting course. When a mild/moderate flare occurs, treatment with corticosteroids is often instituted. There are 2 methods of acutely giving a boost of steroids: triamcinolone injection or a short-term boost of oral prednisone or methylprednisolone. We investigated whether triamcinolone is superior to oral corticosteroids for mild/moderate flare in patients with lupus.

METHODS
In a clinical trial, 50 patients with SLE presenting with a mild or moderate flare [defined using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) flare instrument] were randomized to receive oral methylprednisolone with rapid tapering (medrol dose-pack) or triamcinolone 100 mg, given intramuscularly. The patients completed a Likert scale of activity and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 health status questionnaire on the randomization day, and repeated them the next day, 2 days, one week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and one month later.

RESULTS
Complete improvement occurred in 0% at one day, 0% at 2 days, 8.3% at one week, 20.8% at 2 weeks, 20.8% at 3 weeks, and 25% at 4 weeks in the methylprednisolone group versus 4.3% at one day, 4.3% at 2 days, 8.6% at one week, 12.5% at 2 weeks, 30.4% at 3 weeks, and 34.7% at 4 weeks in the triamcinolone group. Improvement in health status by Week 4 occurred in 66.6% of the patients in the methylprednisolone group versus 73.9% in the triamcinolone group.

CONCLUSION
The triamcinolone and oral methylprednisolone groups did equally well. Triamcinolone may lead to a more rapid response than the oral methylprednisolone (69.5% vs 41.6% with some improvement at day one).


This case study explores the implementation of La Cuna, an online mentoring forum in a small, subjectbased professional association, the Seminar for the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM). Designed using the social network software Ning, the forum functioned as an informal learning community for 38 members and was an innovative response to geographical challenges and changing technological skills. Using participation data and a questionnaire to analyze the implementation and development of the hybrid e-mentoring community, this study reveals challenges and benefits that should be considered when managing similar professional development activities. While the forum failed to maintain sustained participation, findings revealed the need to assess professional association member needs regularly and highlighted the importance of continued exploration of online learning tools. Through the description of this project, professional associations and other learning communities will gain insights into the creation and implementation of an online e-mentoring learning community, which will be useful as librarians and groups attempt to meet member professional development needs.


Bio-optical measurements and sampling were carried out in the delta of the Lena River (northern Siberia, Russia) between 26 June and 4 July 2011. The aim of this study was to determine the inherent optical properties of the Lena water, i.e., absorption, attenuation, and scattering coefficients, during the period of maximum runoff. This aimed to contribute to the development of a bio-optical model for use as the basis for optical remote sensing of coastal water of the Arctic. In this context the absorption by CDOM (colored dissolved organic matter) and particles, and the concentrations of total suspended matter, phytoplankton-pigments, and carbon were measured. CDOM was found to be the most dominant parameter affecting the optical properties of the river, with an absorption coefficient of 4.5–5 m −1 at 442 nm, which was almost four times higher than total particle absorption values at visible wavelength range. The wavelenght-dependence of absorption of the different water constituents was chracterized by determining the semi logarithmic spectral slope. Mean CDOM, and detritus slopes were 0.0149 nm −1 (standard deviation (stdev) = 0.0003, n = 18), and 0.0057 nm −1 (stdev = 0.0017, n = 19), respectively, values which are typical for water bodies with high concentrations of dissolved and particulate carbon. Mean chlorophyll a and total suspended matter were 1.8 mg m −3 (stdev = 0.734 n = 18) and 31.9 g m −3 (stdev = 19.94, n = 27), respectively. DOC (dissolved organic carbon) was in the range 8–10 g m −3 and the total particulate carbon (PC) in the range 0.25–1.5 g m −3 . The light penetration depth (Secchi disc depth) was in the range 30–90 cm and was highly correlated with the suspended matter concentration. The period of maximum river runoff in June was chosen to obtain bio-optical data when maximum water constituents are transported into the Laptev Sea. However, we are aware that more data from other seasons and other years need to be collected to establish a general bio-optical model of the Lena water and conclusively characterize the light climate with respect to primary production.


In the dryland of the Libertador General Bernardo O?Higgins Region in Chile, most farmers rely on wide and shallow
hand-dug wells as their primary source of water during the dry summer. Few of these wells have sufficient yield for
more than domestic use (human consumption, livestock, and irrigation of a subsistence garden). To more accurately
assess available groundwater resources, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K) of aquifers in the eight counties that
comprise this region?s dryland was estimated using evacuation and recovery tests in 353 hand-dug wells. K followed
a log-normal distribution and ranged over nearly five orders of magnitude. County median K varied by a factor of
5 and a slight increasing K trend in the southward direction. In one northern county, less than 4% of the sites had
K > 4 m d-1. In the t two southernmost counties, approximately one-quarter of the K values exceeded 4 m d-1. This
is approximately the minimum K required for a typical well (1 m diameter and 3 m depth below the water table) to
yield 1 L s-1 of water, which is roughly the yield required to irrigate 1 ha. Aquifers located where parent material was
predominantly intrusive granite had slightly higher and statistically significant K than those formed predominantly of
metamorphic and sedimentary rock. A semi-variogram of K provided weak evidence of a characteristic length scale
of approximately 4 km.


Although the human rights and access to knowledge movements share many of the same goals, their legal and regulatory agendas concerning Internet regulation have historically had little in common. While state censorship online has been a central concern for human rights advocates, this issue has largely not been a focus of the access to knowledge movement. Likewise, human rights advocates have failed to examine the cumulative effect of expanding copyright protections on education and culture, an issue of critical importance for access to knowledge. These disparate agendas reflect fundamentally different views about the nature of the harms associated with state regulation of online content - and thus the solutions that might be implemented to address these harms. Overcoming this divide is critical to ensuring the movements can draw on their respective strengths to address the pressing issues we face at the intersection of access to knowledge and human rights.This article bridges the "human rights/access to knowledge divide" in two ways. First, it explores how the origin of each movement has led to such different conceptions of the harms associated with regulatory authority in the online context. The article maintains that this divide reflects a deeper unresolved debate about the proper division of authority between state and international institutions and that lack of agreement on this issue has inhibited coherent regulation of the Internet. Second, building on recent literature concerning the design of international institutions, the article develops a model of "flexible harmonization" - employing imprecise but binding international norms - that responds to the regulatory concerns of both movements. The article uses this model to evaluate two proposed frameworks for Internet governance and examines the conditions under which a model of flexible harmonization can be employed in other contexts.


Dexterity and perception capabilities of surgical robots may soon be improved by cognitive functions that can support surgeons in decision making and performance monitoring, and enhance the impact of automation within the operating rooms. Nowadays, the basic elements of autonomy in robotic surgery are still not well understood and their mutual interaction is unexplored. Current classification of autonomy encompasses six basic levels: Level 0: no autonomy; Level 1: robot assistance; Level 2: task autonomy; Level 3: conditional autonomy; Level 4: high autonomy. Level 5: full autonomy. The practical meaning of each level and the necessary technologies to move from one level to the next are the subject of intense debate and development. In this paper, we discuss the first outcomes of the European funded project Smart Autonomous Robotic Assistant Surgeon (SARAS). SARAS will develop a cognitive architecture able to make decisions based on pre-operative knowledge and on scene understanding via advanced machine learning algorithms. To reach this ambitious goal that allows us to reach Level 1 and 2, it is of paramount importance to collect reliable data to train the algorithms. We will present the experimental setup to collect the data for a complex surgical procedure (Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy) on very sophisticated manikins (i.e. phantoms of the inflated human abdomen). The SARAS platform allows the main surgeon and the assistant to teleoperate two independent two-arm robots. The data acquired with this platform (videos, kinematics, audio) will be used in our project and will be released (with annotations) for research purposes.


"Land degradation, in the form of soil erosion and nutrient depletion, threatens food security and the sustainability of agricultural production in many developing countries. Governments and development agencies have invested substantial resources in promoting soil conservation practices, in an effort to improve environmental conditions and reduce poverty. However, very limited rigorous empirical work has examined the economics of adopting soil conservation technology. This paper investigates the impact of stone bunds on crop production value per hectare in low and high rainfall areas of the Ethiopian highlands using cross-sectional data from more than 900 households having multiple plots per household. We use modified random effects models, stochastic dominance analysis (SDA) and matching methods to ensure robustness. The parametric regression and SDA estimates are based on matched observations obtained from nearest neighbor matching using propensity score estimates. This is important because conventional regression and SDA estimates are obtained without ensuring the existence of comparable conserved and non-conserved plots within the distribution of covariates. Here, we use matching methods, random effects and Mundlak's approach to control for selection and endogeneity biases that may arise due to correlation of unobserved heterogeneity and observed explanatory variables. The three methods used herein consistently show that plots with stone bunds are more productive than those without such technologies in semi-arid areas but not in higher rainfall areas, apparently because the moisture-conserving benefits of this technology are more beneficial in drier areas. This implies that the performance of stone bunds varies by agro-ecological type, suggesting a need for the design and implementation of appropriate site-specific technologies." from Authors' Abstract


There is no doubt that Inditex Group has had an impact on fashion retailers' industry, with this company group being considered as one of the trendsetters in such industry. Based on that, the objective of paper is twofold: the first is to analyse the different levels of online engagement reached by the Inditex Group via social media, and the second is to analyse the main characteristics that cause the online participation reached, focusing in the online engagement that motivates giving a feedback. For this purpose, the Facebook pages of the eight retail brands of this group have been analysed. Results show that, in the context of fashion retailers' industry, social media activity does not necessarily entail higher levels of stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, topics should be focused on new collections and tutorials or tips of beauty and fashion to engage stakeholders in commenting posts. Likewise, the content should be presented using diverse formats in order to provide complete and entertaining information. Finally, and regardless of the target segment, publications should be made during the week and outside of working hours.


The AMIA Public Health Informatics 2011 Conference brought together members of the public health and health informatics communities to revisit the national agenda developed at the AMIA Spring Congress in 2001, assess the progress that has been made in the past decade, and develop recommendations to further guide the field. Participants met in five discussion tracks: technical framework; research and evaluation; ethics; education, professional training, and workforce development; and sustainability. Participants identified 62 recommendations, which clustered into three key themes related to the need to (1) enhance communication and information sharing within the public health informatics community, (2) improve the consistency of public health informatics through common public health terminologies, rigorous evaluation methodologies, and competency-based training, and (3) promote effective coordination and leadership that will champion and drive the field forward. The agenda and recommendations from the meeting will be disseminated and discussed throughout the public health and informatics communities. Both communities stand to gain much by working together to use these recommendations to further advance the application of information technology to improve health.


Nowadays, product-mix in small batches contributes to shop floor uncertainties, whereas distributed resources are handled collaboratively during assembly planning. There is a growing need to develop methods that can increase adaptability and flexibility in dynamic and collaborative job-shop assembly floors. Based on our previous work on an assembly planning framework using Function Blocks (FBs), a novel approach to assembly planning and control is developed, which enables adaptive decision making besides effective plan execution. Following our previous work, this paper reports the latest development of design and simulation of an FB communication network in Matlab-Simulink environment, and validates the methodology through an example.


Dolphin, T.J., Vincent, C.E., Wihsgott, J., Belhache, M. and Bryan, K.R., 2011. Seasonal rotation of a mixed sand-gravel beach. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 64 (Proceedings of the 11th International Coastal Symposium), – . Szczecin, Poland, ISSN 0749-0208 Beach rotation is the result of alternation between two prevailing wave directions in which sufficient time elapses to allow longshore sediment transport to drive sediment to one end or other of a headland enclosed bay. The key features of beach rotation are usually a bi-directional wave climate with sufficiently persistent episodes of each wave direction to alter the beach orientation, and headlands to trap the sediments transported along the shore. In this paper we examine shorelines derived from digital cameras that show a seasonal beach rotation due to changes in wave direction, but in the absence of any headlands. We speculate that the driving forces behind the beach rotation are the winter and spring wave regimes, and the presence of the adjacent sand bank. Beach rotation in the absence of headlands could conceivably result from longshore transport gradients. Coughlan et al. (2007) showed that there are steep gradients in longshore transport in the lee of the sand bank partly as a result of significant alongshore variability in wave height. The shoreline data also show longer-term responses that are likely to be connected to changes in bank position. ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: video, longshore sediment transport, sand banks, headlands, wave breaking, refraction,, bidirectional wave climate


For several years, the government of the western Canadian province of Alberta has drafted policies and conducted research on the problem of populations under-represented in adult education.  This Alberta-North and Athabasca University study, funded by the Alberta government's Innovation Fund, uses the advice and educational experiences of northern former and present students, and of other community members, to identify ways of better attracting, preparing, and retaining under-represented populations in northern Alberta communities through provision and training in the use of distance delivery methods. The research reported here commences with a review of the literature to investigate the following: 1) the contribution distance education makes globally to learning access in remote areas (and resulting economic growth for under-served populations); 2) how support is provided to retain isolated students; and 3) the help needed to assist remote students to complete distance programs.  Community consultations with social service and education agencies in three communities were conducted in order to obtain their perspectives about what helps to attract and support students to educational programs and the barriers students typically encounter, which might be mitigated by distance methods.  Finally, a survey was designed and distributed in 87 Alberta-North communities in northern Alberta and across Canada's Northwest Territories to add perspective to the consultation results.


Undesired career termination represents a critical life event for professional athletes. This study examined traumatic stress resulting from (a) a career-ending event and (b) the athlete's separation from his or her social support network. Data were collected from 40 professional athletes who were members of the German National Ski Team, using standardized (Impact of Event Scale; Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale) and partially standardized (psychosomatic stress reaction) questionnaires. Correlations between the impact of termination and traumatic stress symptoms were observed over a period of 8 months. Athletes who experienced supportive termination (involving discussion with coaches) endorsed fewer symptoms than those who experienced socially disintegrative termination (lacking support of coaches). Nearly 20% of participants endorsed clinically relevant levels of traumatic stress at 3 and 8 months posttermination.


Dynamic and steady-state water flux, current density, and resistance across a Nafion 115 membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) were measured as functions of temperature, water activity, and applied potential. After step changes in applied potential, the current, MEA resistance, and water flux evolved to new values over 3000-5000 s, indicating a slow redistribution of water in the membrane. Steady-state current density initially increased linearly with increasing potential and then saturated at higher applied potentials. Water flux increases in the direction of current flow resulting from electro-osmotic drag. The coupled transport of water and protons was modeled with an explicit accounting for electro-osmotic drag, water diffusion, and interfacial water transport resistance across the vapor/membrane interface. The model shows that water is dragged inside the membrane by the proton current, but the net water flux into and out of the membrane is controlled by interfacial water transport at the membrane/vapor interface. The coupling of electro-osmotic drag and interfacial water transport redistributes the water in the membrane. Because water entering the membrane is limited by interfacial transport, an increase in current depletes water from the anode side of the membrane, increasing the membrane resistance there, which in turn limits the current. This feedback loop between current density and membrane resistance determines the stable steady-state operation at a fixed applied potential that results in current saturation. We show that interfacial water transport resistance substantially reduces the impact of electro-osmotic drag on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell operation.


Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, affecting 360 million people globally. It is characterised by chronic inflammation, recurrent episodes of bronchoconstriction and mucosal hypersecretion. Symptoms include chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Oral corticosteroids used for the treatment of asthma have adverse effects, including bone mineralisation and adrenal suppression. Not all children with acute asthma-like symptoms will have persistent asthma in the future. This is particularly common at a pre-school age. This persistence is only known retrospectively. Identifying children early in their disease course can better direct treatment. Additionally, further understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms can direct novel therapies.

Metabolomics is the systematic study of metabolites in a biological system. Metabolites are low molecular weight biochemical that are reactants, intermediates and end products of biological reactions. They are highly sensitive and are a snapshot of a particular biochemistry and/or pathophysiology. However, they are also highly sensitive to analytical variation. Thus, there were three aims in this study: to assess the impact of potentially limiting factors of retrospectively collected serum samples on metabolomic analysis; to determine whether metabolomics can identify potential biomarkers to distinguish wheeze/asthma exacerbation and control groups; and to determine whether metabolomics-derived biomarkers can identify differences between preschool-aged and school-aged phenotypes.

Serum samples were curated from the Mechanisms of Acute Viral Respiratory Infections in Children (MAVRIC) study. This cohort study recruited children upon presentation to the emergency department at Princess Margaret Hospital with acute lower respiratory illnesses including wheeze/asthma. One–hundred and sixty-one samples were from children with acute wheeze/asthma, and 51 were from healthy controls. Samples were previously stored between 0.8 to 7.9 years at −80 °C. Samples were extracted, derivatised and subsequently analysed using GC-QTOF-MS. SpectralWorks' AnalyzerPro® was used for the deconvolution and untargeted processing of the metabolite data. The quality control-robust spline correction (QC-RSC) algorithm was used for inter- and intra- batch correction. Putative identification of metabolites was made using the NIST (v2.0) library.

Fifty-two metabolites were included in the data analysis, with 24 putatively identified metabolites. The effects of storage time on metabolites were determined via Spearman's correlation. There was a significant difference (p-value < 0.05) in metabolite abundances for succinate, serine and tryptophan; however, the correlation was weak. A two-way Analysis of Variance was performed to compare acute wheeze/asthma vs. healthy, pre-school vs. school age and the associated interactions. Twenty-nine metabolites were found to be significantly different (p-value < 0.05) between the acute wheeze/asthma and the control group. The sub-classes of metabolites include amino acids, fatty acids and sugars. Principal Component Analysis showed a difference in spread between the acute wheeze/asthma and control group. However, there was no clear difference between preschool and school-aged brackets for each group. Arabinofuranose and creatinine were significantly different (p-value < 0.05) between pre-school and school-aged subjects with acute wheeze/asthma. Creatinine is potentially being indicative of higher ASM stress and damage in the school-aged subjects with acute wheeze/asthma.


Objective:1) To find out efficacy of various ovulation induction protocols in IUI 2) To find out the efficacy of IUI in treatment of infertility Method: All infertility patients of our OPD underwent a standard investigation protocol The infertility work-up included patients€ history, physical examination, conformation of ovulation by follicular monitoring, tubal patency test by diagnostic laparoscopy, and semen analysis of male partner & PCT. All women underwent a standard treatment protocol that included either natural cycle or ovulation induction to achieve superovulation by clomiphene citrate alone, or combined with gonadotrophins. Follicula monitoring using transvaginal sonography was done from D6-8 onwards and all women were given injection Human chorionic gonadotrophin 5000 U for LH surge when the dominant follicle was 18 mm. IUI was Performed at 18 hours and 40 hours from the time of HCG injection. Semen for IUI was prepared by the standard Swim Up technique, or by the Density Gradient method. Progesterone (Transvaginal micronized progesterone 200mg/day) for luteal phase support for 14 days following IUI was given to patients who were affording. Results: Majority of couples were having primary infertility (60.97%) Patients of secondary infertility were of 39.03% only . In our study only 11.82% patients were having multiple factors contributing to infertility. Male factor was in 42.59% of couples as against 30.3 4% of couples were having only anovulation as causative factor for infertility. Unexplained infert ility was present in 13.82% patients only. The outcome variable for success of IUI was occurrence of pregnancy. This was defined by delay in menses associated with presence of positive pregnancy test or a detectable rise in serum beta HCG levels. In our study overall pregnancy rate per cycle was 8.01% & per couple it was 21.65%. Per cycle fecundity according to the factor responsible for infertility , the highest success rate was observed in cervical factor (33.33%). For male factor it was 7.74% and for combined factor s overall it was 5.92%. Out of 152 pregnancies that occurred during study 108 had Full Term live birth of the baby (71.05% Miscarriage was there in 9.87% patients only. Only three patients had multiple pregnancies (1.97%) and one patient had ectopic pregnancy. Per cycle fecundity was little better in patients with only anovulation( 10.51%). When we compared various regimen used for ovulation induction for IUI we found that though percentage of pregnancies achieved by Low dose HMG either with (13.89%) or without Clomiohene (15.58%), pregnancy rate achieved with clomiphene alone was 7.43% . This was promising at low affordable cost.


An attempt has been made to compare the multispectral Resourcesat-2 LISS III and Hyperion image for the selected area at sub class level classes of major land use/ land cover. On-screen interpretation of LISS III (resolution 23.5 m) was compared with Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) classification of Hyperion (resolution 30m). Results of the preliminary interpretation of both images showed that features like fallow, built up and wasteland classes in Hyperion image are clearer than LISS-III and Hyperion is comparable with any high resolution data. Even canopy types of vegetation classes, aquatic vegetation and aquatic systems are distinct in Hyperion data. Accuracy assessment of SAM classification of Hyperion compared with the common classification systems followed for LISS III there was no much significant difference between the two. However, more number of vegetation classes could be classified in SAM. There is a misinterpretation of built up and fallow classes in SAM. The advantages of Hyperion over visual interpretation are the differentiation of the type of crop canopy and also crop stage could be confirmed with the spectral signature. The Red edge phenomenon was found for different canopy type of the study area and it clearly differentiated the stage of vegetation, which was verified with high resolution image. Hyperion image for a specific area is on par with high resolution data along with LISS III data.


This paper examines the impact of global value chain (GVC) participation in productivity by considering both backward and forward participation. Conducting a panel estimation covering 47 countries and 13 manufacturing sectors for the period of 1995 to 2011, we found that both backward and forward GVC participation contribute to an increase in the productivity of the countries involved in GVCs. In particular, benefits in the form of improved productivity are larger in cases where developing countries procure intermediate goods from developed countries, or backward participation. Our analysis indicates the importance of GVC participation for improving productivity. We argue that, in order for a country to increase GVC participation, an open, free, and transparent trade and foreign direct investment environment (which is provided by regional trade agreements); well-developed soft infrastructure (e.g. educational and legal systems); hard infrastructure (e.g. transportation and communication systems); and the availability of capable human resources are important.


Structure of a bacterial adhesin reveals its role in forming a mixed-species symbiotic community with diatoms on sea ice. Bacterial adhesins are modular cell-surface proteins that mediate adherence to other cells, surfaces, and ligands. The Antarctic bacterium Marinomonas primoryensis uses a 1.5-MDa adhesin comprising over 130 domains to position it on ice at the top of the water column for better access to oxygen and nutrients. We have reconstructed this 0.6-μm-long adhesin using a "dissect and build" structural biology approach and have established complementary roles for its five distinct regions. Domains in region I (RI) tether the adhesin to the type I secretion machinery in the periplasm of the bacterium and pass it through the outer membrane. RII comprises ~120 identical immunoglobulin-like β-sandwich domains that rigidify on binding Ca2+ to project the adhesion regions RIII and RIV into the medium. RIII contains ligand-binding domains that join diatoms and bacteria together in a mixed-species community on the underside of sea ice where incident light is maximal. RIV is the ice-binding domain, and the terminal RV domain contains several "repeats-in-toxin" motifs and a noncleavable signal sequence that target proteins for export via the type I secretion system. Similar structural architecture is present in the adhesins of many pathogenic bacteria and provides a guide to finding and blocking binding domains to weaken infectivity.


Lobbying is central to the democratic process. Yet, only four political systems have lobbying regulations: the United States, Canada, Germany and the EU (most particularly, the European Parliament). Despite the many works offering individual country analysis of lobbying legislation, a twofold void exists in the literature. Firstly, no study has offered a comparative analysis classifying the laws in these four political systems, which would improve understanding of the different regulatory environments. Secondly, few studies have analysed the views of key agents—politicians, lobbyists and regulators—and how these compare and contrast across regulatory environments.

We firstly utilise an index measuring how strong the regulations are in each of the systems, and develop a classification scheme for the different 'ideal' types of regulatory environment. Secondly, we measure the opinions of political actors, interest groups and regulators in all four systems (through questionnaires and elite interviews) and see what correlations, if any, exist between the different ideal types of system and their opinions. The conclusion highlights our findings, and the lessons that can be used by policy-makers in systems without lobbying legislation.


INTRODUCTION Is there such a thing as a long-standing grudge? Based on personal experiences, the authors can definitively say yes. Consider the following: In 1995, one of the authors' friends (who will be called Mike) became Treasurer of a local youth baseball program. As part of his responsibilities, he was charged with procuring uniforms and equipment for more than 600 youngsters. A day before the season opener, three children were added to league rosters. This meant that Mike had to stop by the local sporting goods store which supplied the organization with all uniforms and equipment. After picking up the uniform pants needed to equip the new players, Mike patiently waited while the store manager was busily fielding phone calls and customer returns. Mike finally reached the front of the line only to have the store manager, frazzled by the amount of people he had to deal with that day, inform Mike that he would have to return to the store the next day if he wanted to charge the cost of the uniform pants to his league's account. He told the store manager that he would just go to a checkout line and pay cash for the uniform pants. At that point, the store manager yelled over to his three checkout people instructing them not to wait on Mike. Incredulous and angered by now, Mike asked the store manager why he would not be allowed to pay cash for the pants. The manager responded that it would create bookkeeping problems for him if Mike were to return the pants. Mike left the store in a rage vowing never to return and proceeded to open up a league account at a rival store that very same day. What was the cost to the sporting goods store of their store manager "having a bad day" and taking it out on a customer? Mike is still the Treasurer of his neighborhood Little League and annually spends upwards of $15,000 on items that had previously been purchased at the first store. Furthermore, Mike succeeded in convincing several other local sports leagues to switch their business away from the store. Add in the lost sales from individuals such as Mike and his friends and it can be estimated that over $25,000 in annual purchases are being lost due to this one incident. Multiply this amount by 13 years worth of business and the price of the store manager's indiscretion can be set at upwards of $325,000...and still counting. Events like the above are not isolated or unusual as they relate to the amount of revenue that could be lost by offending companies. Companies such as Harley Davidson figure the lifetime value of lost customers is more than $200,000, based on the accumulated product, service, and referral sales that go elsewhere (Mackinnon 2005). Depending on the restaurant format, it can be estimated that lifetime revenues lost from "forever-gone" customers and their dining friends can range from $12,000 for a Taco Bell customer (Kotler 2001) to over $100,000 for an upscale restaurant. In the grocery industry, it is estimated a lost customer can cost the offending grocer up to $50,000 in non-retrievable revenues over a ten year period (Javaigi, Whipple, Ghosh & Young 2005). Remember, even a daily average purchase of $3 at a coffee shop can add up to $5,000 per lost customer over a 5 year period. Consumers are more empowered than ever to express their displeasure toward businesses by holding grudges, withholding their patronage from offending organizations, and then making "grudge purchases" from rival firms, on behalf of his Little League. The current research has four main objectives. The first objective is to revisit the current knowledge on consumer grudgeholding against businesses. The second objective is to examine using empirical data the causes of consumer grudgeholding, the variety of responses enacted by the grudgeholders against their targeted organizations, and the impact of these responses. The third objective is to determine whether differences between age groups exist as it relates to the abovementioned variables and their impact on the firm. …


Combined seals, as a kind of reciprocating seals, are widely used in hydraulic systems. The combined seal usually contains two or more elements to achieve the sealing function. Not only the interference fit between the seal and the rod/groove should be considered, but the assembling parameters between the inner sealing elements are also essential to be investigated. Stretching ratio, as an indicator for the interference fit, usually exerts a significant influence on the sealing performance. However, in the studies of stretching effects on combined seals, the traditional axisymmetric modeling method will introduce the overstretching problems, resulting in large errors. To overcome this problem, this paper proposed a putter-movement method, where an extra putter is introduced into the model, and a mixed-lubrication theory was employed to study macro and micro characteristics among the sealing zone. As a typical kind of combined seals, the VL seal is utilized as the research object, and the material's plastic effects are included in the reciprocating-seal modeling for the first time. The numerical results are compared with the experimental data, and good agreements are obtained. The proposed method is then employed to discuss the sealing characteristics under different interference-fit conditions systematically. The results indicate that the stretching mainly affects the contact pressure on the cavity side. Compared to the performance of the seal with the standard geometry, in the extra-stretching condition, the leakage is increased, but the friction is decreased.


This Paper continues the study of the Optimal Consumption Function in a Brownian Model of Accumulation, see Part A [2001] and Part B [2014]; a further Part D, dealing with the effects of perturbations of the Brownian model, is in preparation. We begin here with a review of the o.d.e. system S which was used in Part B for the proof of the existence of an optimal consumption function. This system is non-linear, two dimensional but bilaterally asymptotically autonomous with limiting systems as log-capital tends to plus/minus infinity, each of which has a unique saddle point. An important part is played in the existence proof by the sets of forward/backward 'special' solutions, i.e. solutions of S converging to the asymptotic saddle points, and by their representing functions f and g. A 'star' solution, which is both a forward and a backward special solution, corresponds to an optimal consumption function. It is shown here that the sets of special solutions of S are C(1) sub-manifolds of R(3), hence that the functions f and g are continuously differentiable. The argument involves the construction of an imbedding of S in a 3-D autonomous dynamical system such that the asymptotic saddle points are mapped to saddle points of the 3-D system and the sets of forward/backward special solutions are mapped into stable/unstable manifolds. The usual Stable/Unstable Manifold Theorem for hyperbolic stationary points then yields the required C(1) properties locally (i.e. near saddle points), and these properties can be extended globally. A 'star' solution of S then corresponds to a saddle connection in the 3-D system. A stability result for the saddle connection is given for a special case.


As children reach adolescence, peer interactions become increasingly central to their development, whereas the direct influence of parents wanes. Nevertheless, parents may continue to exert leverage by shaping their children's peer groups. We study interactions of parenting style and peer effects in a model where children's skill accumulation depends on both parental inputs and peers, and where parents can affect the peer group by restricting who their children can interact with. We estimate the model and show that it can capture empirical patterns regarding the interaction of peer characteristics, parental behavior, and skill accumulation among US high school students. We use the estimated model for policy simulations. We find that interventions (e.g., busing) that move children to a more favorable neighborhood have large effects but lose impact when they are scaled up because parents' equilibrium responses push against successful integration with the new peer group.


Teeth were collected from First Nation schoolchildren inhabiting the remote western James Bay region of northern Ontario, Canada. Lead levels in dentine chips were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, for naturally exfoliated deciduous teeth. Within exfoliated teeth (one tooth supplied per person), no significant differences in lead concentrations between tooth type were found (P = 0.36). The mean lead concentration of exfoliated teeth of 9.2 microg g(-1) dry weight (N = 61) from this remote region was comparable to levels reported by others for children inhabiting urban centers or residing near smelters. Further, 24.6% (N = 15) had elevated dentine-lead levels ( > 10 microg g(-1)). Lead levels in soil, water, and air have been reported as being low and unimportant sources of exposure for people of the western James Bay area. Evidence is reviewed suggesting that lead contaminated game meat was one source of environmental lead exposure. Consumption data indicate that wildlife is still an important food source for First Nation people of the western James Bay region; 98% (46/47) of the children surveyed consumed some type of wild meat.


Following the research strategy put in practice in the project behind Stein et al. (2008), Policymaking in Latin America: How Politics Shapes Policies, this project will be a collective and interactive process among various country teams and the coordinators. We will build a number of country studies structured around a common set of questions. The objective of this paper is to put together some theoretical axes as well as a number of guiding questions to serve as background to the country studies, but the overall comparative framework will be jointly developed throughout the project with feedback from and cross-fertilization among the country studies.


Identifications In order to discuss this rather broad set of relationships, it is probably desirable to limit the contexts. Definitions of war, peace and civilizations are all controversial, so rather than attempt them, it may be well to identify what is being considered here, and grant that each could be extended further. War encompasses violent, physical conflict among political entities or among substantial factions within these entities. Peace is considered to be an absence of such violent conflict. It includes situations in which anger or hostility is openly expressed, and in which arms buildups occur, if there is little physical conflict. A situation of mutual war preparation between potential adversaries who nevertheless do not fight would be a period of peace. The term cold war has been used to describe such a period, but it could better be described as a cold peace. Situations in which there is a high rate of violence, as in some large cities, or episodes of terrorism, do not fit comfortably within either of these parameters. Still by almost any measure, peace is normal, war exceptional (Melko, 1996). As for civilization, attempts to define it by groups of critical thinkers usually fail. For the purposes of this essay, let us say that they are large societies possessing a degree of cultural autonomy, agriculture, literacy, cities, religion and government. They date back about six thousand years and have their origins along the Tigris-Euphrates and Nile rivers. There will be debates, however, about the sequence and importance of the qualities mentioned or omitted and the extent to which they can be distinguished from primitive or nomadic societies. Political Forms Civilizationists tend to distinguish three political forms within civilizations. Terms frequently used to describe these are feudal, state and imperial. The forms have been recurrent as political systems emerge, disintegrate, or reconstitute; they tend to be periods of stress in which political systems arise or reconstitute. I am going to focus on state systems, probably the most prevalent form in history, as it is today. State systems contain political entities we call states that are limited in boundary by other states and are at least minimally autonomous. They lack a central government. Usually this enlarged system occurs within a single civilization, although states on the periphery are likely to interact with peripheral states in neighboring civilizations. At some periods there may be more than one system within a civilization, but they tend to coalesce. (Toynbee III: 301-306, Wilkinson 1985, Wesson 1978: 10-18). As these states begin to encounter one another, conflict among them ensues. Such a system of recurring conflict would seem to be unstable in that power obviously increases and decreases within the states as leadership changes or succeeding generations lack the taste or skill for governance, diplomacy or warfare. Yet such a system can also have long-term stability, continue for decades or centuries, experiencing recurrent warfare, but also longer periods of relative peace. (Toynbee IX: 234-287; Coulborn 1966: 414-416; Wight 1977: 46-72, 110-152; Wesson 1978: 28-35; Wilkinson 1985). How do groups of states, having no dominant government, maintain stability? One theory is that if one state threatens to become too powerful, others may form alliances against it. Thus a balance of power may come into existence and preserve the system. This leads to frequent changes of alliance as perceptions of power change, hence a degree of instability within such systems. This has been the prevailing view of the realist school of thought in the West, perhaps because it describes the European state system from 1618 to 1945 (Morgenthau 1978: 171-228; Wight 1977: 66-67, 96-97, 150-152; Levy 1983: 8-49; Waltz 1979: 1 17-128, 163-170). While dominant states have conquered all others and created spectacular empires that have received much attention from historians, it is probable that dominant powers more often could not or did not seek to conquer all other states. …


Background New marine invasions have been recorded in increasing numbers along the world's coasts due in part to the warming of the oceans and the ability of many invasive marine species to tolerate a broader thermal range than native species. Several marine invertebrate species have invaded the U.S. southern and mid-Atlantic coast from the Caribbean and this poleward range expansion has been termed 'Caribbean Creep'. While models have predicted the continued decline of global biodiversity over the next 100 years due to global climate change, few studies have examined the episodic impacts of prolonged cold events that could impact species range expansions. Methodology/Principal Findings A pronounced cold spell occurred in January 2010 in the U.S. southern and mid-Atlantic coast and resulted in the mortality of several terrestrial and marine species. To experimentally test whether cold-water temperatures may have caused the disappearance of one species of the 'Caribbean Creep' we exposed the non-native crab Petrolisthes armatus to different thermal treatments that mimicked abnormal and severe winter temperatures. Our findings indicate that Petrolisthes armatus cannot tolerate prolonged and extreme cold temperatures (4–6°C) and suggest that aperiodic cold winters may be a critical 'reset' mechanism that will limit the range expansion of other 'Caribbean Creep' species. Conclusions/Significance We suggest that temperature 'aberrations' such as 'cold snaps' are an important and overlooked part of climate change. These climate fluctuations should be accounted for in future studies and models, particularly with reference to introduced subtropical and tropical species and predictions of both rates of invasion and rates of unidirectional geographic expansion.