OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to verify whether techniques of yoga with and without the addition of Tui Na might improve pain and the negative impact of fibromyalgia (FMS) on patients' daily life.

DESIGN
Forty (40) FMS women were randomized into two groups, Relaxing Yoga (RY) and Relaxing Yoga plus Touch (RYT), for eight weekly sessions of stretching, breathing, and relaxing yogic techniques. RYT patients were further submitted to manipulative techniques of Tui Na.

OUTCOME MEASURE
Outcome measures comprised the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), pain threshold at the 18 FMS tender points, and a verbal graduation of pain assessed before treatment and on the followup. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain was assessed before and after each session and on the follow-up.

RESULTS
Seventeen (17) RYT and 16 RY patients completed the study. Both RY and RYT groups showed improvement in the FIQ and VAS scores, which decreased on all sessions. The RYT group showed lower VAS and verbal scores for pain on the eighth session, but this difference was not maintained on the follow-up. Conversely, RY VAS and verbal scores were significantly lower just on the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS
These study results showed that yogic techniques are valid therapeutic methods for FMS. Touch addition yielded greater improvement during the treatment. Over time, however, RY patients reported less pain than RYT. These results suggest that a passive therapy may possibly decrease control over FMS symptoms.


A number of feature selection mechanisms have been explored in text categorization, among which mutual information, information gain and chi-square are considered most effective. In this paper, we study another method known as within class popularity to deal with feature selection based on the concept Gini coefficient of inequality (a commonly used measure of inequality of income). The proposed measure explores the relative distribution of a feature among different classes. From extensive experiments with four text classifiers over three datasets of different levels of heterogeneity, we observe that the proposed measure outperforms the mutual information, information gain and chi-square static with an average improvement of approximately 28.5%, 19% and 9.2% respectively.


By failing to properly transfer ownership of loans and mortgages, recording fraudulent documents, and performing unlawful foreclosures, financial institutions and law firms have generated property titles that range from defective to toxic. Those actions evince a systemic failure to comply with longstanding principles of real property law and regulations governing financial transactions. Title companies participated in title services and issued title insurance policies throughout the housing boom and although they did not directly cause toxic titles, many title insurers have ultimately assumed the risk for the bad practices that became the industry norms in the last decade. In this article, I will discuss how title insurers have exposed themselves to liability for toxic titles.


This paper reports the experience of a regional network of academic departments involved in water education that started as a project and evolved, over a period of 12 yr, into an independent network organisation. The paper pursues three objectives. First, it argues that it makes good sense to organise postgraduate education and research on water resources on a regional scale and presents the WaterNet experience as an example that a regional approach can work. Second, it presents preliminary findings and conclusions that the regional approach presented by WaterNet did make a contribution to the capacity needs of the region both in terms of management and research capacity. Third, it draws two generalised lessons from the WaterNet experience. Lesson one pertains to the importance of legitimate ownership and an accountability structure for network effectiveness. Lesson two is related to the financial and intellectual resources required to jointly developing educational programmes through shared experience.


The study explores inequalities in the utilization of delivery care services in different administrative divisions in Bangladesh, by key socioeconomic factors. It estimates the extent of the relationship between women's socioeconomic inequalities and their place of delivery during 2004 and 2007. Trends in relation to place of delivery in relation to residency and education over a period of thirteen years (1993-2007) have also been measured. The study analyzed the trends and patterns in utilization of institutional delivery care among mothers, using data from the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) conducted during 1993-2007. The data was disaggregated by area of residence in different divisions in Bangladesh. Bi-variate analyses, concentration curves and multivariate logistic regression were employed in the analysis of the data. The study indicated slow progress in the utilization of institutional delivery care among mothers in Bangladesh between 1993 and 2007. Large variations in outcome measures were observed among the different divisions. Multivariate analyses suggested growing inequalities in utilization of delivery care services between different economic groups and parents with different educational levels. The use of institutional delivery care remains substantially lower among poor and less educated rural mothers in Bangladesh, irrespective of age and employment. Further studies are recommended to explore the specific causes relating to the non-utilization of institutional delivery care.


The piezoelectric film electro-deposition for optical fiber sensor with ZnO coating is studied. The zinc oxide plating film is made on the copper surface directly by cathodic electro-deposition in the Zn(NO3)2 single salt aqueous solution systems. The influences of main experimental conditions on the properties of ZnO thin film in the electro-deposition processes are analyzed and a stable, practical and economic technique is obtained.


Background Identifying individual correlates of infectivity of influenza virus is important for disease control and prevention. Viral shedding is used as a proxy measure of infectivity in many studies. However, the evidence for this is limited. Methods In a detailed study of influenza virus transmission within households in 2008–12, we recruited index cases with confirmed influenza infection from outpatient clinics, and followed up their household contacts for 7–10 days to identify secondary infections. We used individual-based hazard models to characterize the relationship between individual viral shedding and individual infectivity. Results We analyzed 386 households with 1147 household contacts. Index cases were separated into 3 groups according to their estimated level of viral shedding at symptom onset. We did not find a statistically significant association of virus shedding with transmission. Index cases in medium and higher viral shedding groups were estimated to have 21% (95% CI: -29%, 113%) and 44% (CI: -16%, 167%) higher infectivity, compared with those in the lower viral shedding group. Conclusions Individual viral load measured by RT-PCR in the nose and throat was at most weakly correlated with individual infectivity in households. Other correlates of infectivity should be examined in future studies.


Atrial fibrillation could be induced reproducibly by 50Hz rapid stimulation which was given through systolic and early diastolic phase of atrial excitation. Duration of atrial fibrillation induced in this way was roughly dependent on the current amplitude of the stimulation. The minimum current that could induce long-lasting atrial fibrillation (30sec in the clinical setting, 2sec in the rabbit or rat model) was defined as atrial fibrillation threshold (AFT). AFT was larger in patients who had history of atrial fibrillation than those who did not. Anti-arrhythmic drugs raised AFT by various degrees both in experimental and clinical cases. Long-term efficacy of a drug could be predicted in a patient, measuring how much the drug increased AFT (cut-off point = 5mA increase). AFT is a useful marker to evaluate atrial vulnerability and to guide pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation.


Children's right to participate in judicial and administrative matters that affect them is perhaps the most frequently overlooked children's right, globally. This research was a descriptive study of what exists with regard to children's participation, at the Office of the Family Advocate, when parents divorce. The methods of data collection used included a content analysis (quantitative method) a focus group interview (qualitative method) and review of the literature and legislation. The content analysis involved analyzing the data of forty case files involving disputed cases, according to a content analysis schedule. The focus group interview was conducted with family advocates and farylily counselors and focused on various factors that facilitate or impede children's participation at the enquiry. The data obtained was analyzed manually and presented in the form of pie charts, tables, discussions and quotes. From the content analysis the researcher found that most children had definite views regarding their future care . One of the factors that hinder children's participation at the enquiry is the fact that not all enquiries are conducted using the team approach . The research also indicates that the adversarial nature of divorce proceedings impact negatively on children's participation and a more conciliatory approach would prove more child-centered. The focus group interview indicates that the professionals involved have positive attitudes towards children's views and participation in the enquiry. Children's expressed wishes are considered in conjunction with other factors such as the bond between parent and child, and the suitability of the parent. The focus group participants made various suggestions with regard to ensuring a more childcentered approach regarding children 's participation. The researcher presented the major findings, together with recommendations for future research at the end of the study.


Abstract Pseudotachylytes resulted from frictional melts associated with ultramylonites in high-grade metapelitic rocks from the Ivrea-Verbano zone in the Southern Alps (Northern Italy) were studied with focus on the deformation microstructures in zircon. The aims were to investigate the characteristics of zircon deformation in seismic zones, and to recognize specific microstructures generated in zircon during earthquakes, which could be useful for mineral dating of paleo-seismic events; helps to understand how seismic energy is released at depth and interacts with metamorphic processes. The interior of polished zircon grains ranging from 30 to 150 mm in length were investigated with optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques, including secondary electron (SE), backscattered electron (BSE), forward scattered electron (FSE), cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, and crystallographic orientation mapping by electron backscatter diffraction analysis (EBSD). Grains were studied in situ and as separated fractions embedded in epoxy disks. Among different cataclastic and crystal-plastic deformation microstructures in zircon we identified characteristic planar deformation bands (PDBs), planar fractures (PFs), and curviplanar fractures (CFs). Planar deformation bands in zircon are crystallographically controlled planar lattice volumes with misorientation from the host grain, which varies from 0.4° to 2.7°. PDBs are usually parallel to {100} crystallographic planes, have width from 0.3 to 1 mm and average spacing of 5 mm in 2D sections. Planar deformation bands appear as contrast lamellae in orientation contrast images and in EBSD maps, and in rare cases can be observed with the optical microscope. PDBs form in specifically oriented grains due to high differential stresses, high temperatures, and high strain rates generated in seismically active environment and/or due to shearing in the vicinity of frictional melts. Discovered structures represent a result of crystal-plastic deformation of zircon grains with operating dislocations having <100>{010} glide system and <001> misorientation axis, therefore, they can be classified as a new type 4 lattice distortion pattern, according to the existing classification for zircon (Piazolo et al. 2012; Kovaleva et al. 2014). We have demonstrated that formation of planar fractures in zircon takes place not only during impacts, but also in seismically active zones. We observe at least two cases of formation of PFs with {100} orientation: (1) as a result of evolution of PDBs and (2) as micro-cleavage. This study demonstrates that planar microstructures in terrestrial zircon do not exclusively form during impact events, but also as a result of seismic events at depth due to unusually high differential stress, strain rate, and temperature. According to the new findings, PDBs in zircon from the deep-crust are supposed to represent newly recognized evidence of seismicity.


This paper extends my earlier analysis of border states influence to air quality management along the U.S.-Mexico border. The reasons for so doing are several. First, the environmental field has been an important arena for border state policy activism generally. In 1983, in good measure as a result of state policy influence, the two countries signed a landmark agreement on border environmental cooperation that has become a framework for foreign policy development in this sphere and further enhances the role of the states in policy development. Thus, it is a useful case for illustrating the role of states in foreign policy making. Second, a close look at the several issue-areas within the broader category of environmental policy, water, air, and hazards, may further establish the usefulness of the categories previously identified for analyzing and explaining the bases of state influence in foreign policy making. Third, a review of the transboundary air quality subfield may shed light on the prospects for further policy progress in this sphere.


Rosemary Deem provides students with a concise introduction to a range of issues and debates surrounding work, unemployment and leisure in contemporary societies. Beginning with an examination of the social and historical factors which have shaped work and leisure patterns in modern Britain, she shows how the boundaries between them are culturally constructed and change over time. As well as looking at the effects of class, Work, Unemployment and Leisure also considers gender, race and ethnicity dimensions. The author takes a wide view of work, encompassing work carried out both within and outside the formal economy. The chapter on unemployment considers the lives of those who are unemployed, and the impact of unemployment on work and leisure. There is a critical analysis of leisure itself and some recent controversies are considered. The final chapter contains a discussion of the future of work and leisure in industrial societies.


HL-A antigens were determined in 100 patients with diabetes mellitus. When the data are combined with that from other studies, there is a definite positive association of acute-onset juvenile diabetes mellitus with HL-A8 and W15. Four families are described in which two or more members with this type of diabetes are present, and in each family, affected individuals share a haplotype including HL-A8 or W15. These findings are consistent with the possible role of immune response genes in the HL-A chromosomal region which might control the immune response to virus infections capable of producing islet cell damage.


Indigenous communities, like all Australian communities, require long-term, secure access to clean air, clean water, safe food and living space, and surrounding land and seas that are free of contamination. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right to set their own goals and to be involved in the processes necessary to make this happen.
Community-based Environmental Health Workers are in a good position to improve,and then monitor and manage, the kinds of environmental conditions in communities that might impact on the health of their people. To do this well, they need continuous support and real cooperation from others in and out of their community –individuals and families living in community; other health practitioners working in community; staff and elected members of the Community Council; community managers; visiting environmental health officers; regional and state organisation representatives, to name just a few. All community members have a stake in
the future and all are potential partners in action on environment and health issues. For this reason Community-based Environmental Health Action Plans (CEHAPs) must b
built from the ground up.
Environmental Health Planning and Action: A Handbook for Indigenous Practitioners uses simple language to stress the importance of planning for action. It also includes illustrations, provides useful examples and includes worksheets and forms ready for use or adapting by you, the reader. The text is written to suit readers of broad backgrounds and literacy levels. The format and binding allow the Handbook to be as much used in the field as it is in the community office or in the teaching classroom.
This Handbook draws heavily on two earlier documents. The first document relates to planning and action in environmental health in the broader Australian population. The text, called Common Ground and Common Sense: Community-based Environmental Health Planning[1], includes useful information and resources to help communities and government work together on local environmental health problems.
The second document is strong on community-based planning in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. This book, Community-based Planning: Principles and Practices (2nd Edition), was produced by ATSIC in 1994 but is no longer in print.
The Handbook has been prepared specifically for community-based Indigenous environmental health practitioners. Every attempt has been made to make it appropriate to the needs and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities throughout the country. But we recognise that Indigenous communities are rich and diverse and the challenges facing each of them vary as greatly as the resources available and individual interests and skills. We invite you therefore to use and adapt the Handbook to fit your community and to let us know what worked well and what didn't.


Introduction
The Birmingham, West Midlands' Young Persons' Physical Activity Pathway (YPPAP) is a pilot six week behavioural intervention (a physical activity pathway) aimed at increasing physical activity levels in school-aged children in school years 6 and 7 (ages 10-12 yrs).

Methods
A mixed-methods approach including a quantitative and qualitative component was employed.

Findings
Data analysis revealed that of the 239 eligible participants, 99 entered the pathway (31.2%). Ninety-three participants set physical goals at baseline and 3 were lost to follow up representing a pathway completion rate of 97% (n = 90). Overall, the results indicated that the increase in 'spare time' physical activity was statistically significant (t(95)=-2.88, p=.005), but the differences were not significant for overall physical activity (t(95)=-.096, p=.924), or mean frequency of physical activity (t(95)=-.414, p=.680). Analysis also revealed that the correlation between change in physical activity between baseline and follow up and the number of goals set by participants was not significant (r = 0.08, p =.436). This was potentially influenced by a number of confounding variables.

Qualitative findings revealed that participants perceived that the pathway had helped to educate them about the relationship between physical activity and health and had provided a means of engaging with physical activity in a way that was fun and non-threatening. Delivery costs were also calculated taking into account management and delivery costs, including resources, training and support, the total cost per child of delivering the intervention was £143.

Conclusion
The pathway attracted a range of participants which demonstrated potential for securing the interest and motivation of participants. This underpins the importance of understanding the number, variety and availability of local physical activity opportunities and delivering the intervention in a way that is engaging and supportive.


This paper describes a design procedure that optimizes the three principle functions of a brushless DC (BLDC) motor. The weight, average torque and cogging torque of a 3phase, 6 slot BLDC motor with 4 surface mounted permanent magnet has been optimized by MOGA and DE. The upper and lower limits of the motor geometries are cast into the role of optimization in DE but MOGA is bounded to no constraints as far as it doesn't conflict. Finally the paper suggests a group of geometries from MOGA that each of them has been dominated in one or some of the objective functions and compared them to DE and other references.


The dynamic spectrum market (DSM) is a key economic vehicle for realizing the opportunistic spectrum access that will mitigate the anticipated spectrum-scarcity problem. DSM allows legacy spectrum owners to lease their channels to unlicensed spectrum consumers (or secondary users) in order to increase their revenue and improve spectrum utilization. In DSM, determining the optimal spectrum leasing price is an important yet challenging problem that requires a comprehensive understanding of market participants' interests and interactions. In this paper, we study spectrum pricing competition in a duopoly DSM, where two wireless service providers (WSPs) lease spectrum access rights, and secondary users (SUs) purchase the spectrum use to maximize their utility. We identify two essential, but previously overlooked, properties of DSM: 1) heterogeneous spectrum resources at WSPs and 2) spectrum sharing among SUs. We demonstrate the impact of spectrum heterogeneity via an in-depth measurement study using a software-defined radio (SDR) testbed. We then study the impacts of spectrum heterogeneity on WSPs' optimal pricing and SUs' WSP selection strategies using a systematic three-step approach. First, we study how spectrum sharing among SUs subscribed to the same WSP affects the SUs' achievable utility. Then, we derive the SUs' optimal WSP selection strategy that maximizes their payoff, given the heterogeneous spectrum propagation characteristics and prices. We analyze how individual SU preferences affect market evolution and prove the market convergence to a mean-field limit, even though SUs make local decisions. Finally, given the market evolution, we formulate the WSPs' pricing strategies in a duopoly DSM as a noncooperative game and identify its Nash equilibrium points. We find that the equilibrium price and its uniqueness depend on the SUs' geographical density and spectrum propagation characteristics. Our analytical framework reveals the impact of spectrum heterogeneity in a real-world DSM, and can be used as a guideline for the WSPs' pricing strategies.


Following our recent work on the use of Co(III) complexes as p-type dopants for triarylamine-based organic hole-conductors, we herein report on two new Co(III) complexes for doping applications. With the aim of ameliorating the dopant's suitability for its use in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, we show how the properties of the dopant can be easily adjusted by a slight modification of the molecular structure. We prove the eligibility of the two new dopants by characterizing their optical and electrochemical properties and give evidence that both of them can be used to oxidize the molecular hole-transporter spiro-MeOTAD. Finally, we fabricate high-performance solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells using a state-of-the-art metal-free organic sensitizer in order to elucidate the influence of the type of dopant on device performance.


Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) was used to fabricate multilayer anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) on spherical fiber couplers. Two- and four-layer designs were applied for single- and double-band ARCs centered at 1300 nm and 1550 nm, respectively. The systems consist of SiO2 as a low index material, and SiN1.3 or TiO2 as high index materials, obtained from different precursors (SiH4, SiCl4, and TiCl4). The deposition was controlled in-situ by single wavelength (632.8 nm) reflection monitoring. The optical and mechanical performance of the lenses was evaluated and related to the deposition conditions and the film microstructure.


Cooperation between wireless nodes to retransmit data for the other users introduces multiuser diversity to a wireless network and increases the system throughput. In this paper, the optimal cooperative relaying strategies in the MAC layer are analyzed while considering the UWB unique properties such as fine ranging and immunity to small scale fading. Specifically, the optimal cooperation strategies in the absence of coordination message passing between relays are determined in order to maximize the system throughput while reducing the control packet overhead. Mobile networks are also considered, in which the relays should exchange their ranging information together in some update intervals. The optimal update interval length is calculated in order to maximize the system throughput. More importantly, we show that if this optimal update interval is used, the optimal cooperation strategies in the mobile case will be similar to those in the static network. Two different relay selection schemes, namely proactive and reactive settings, are considered. Analysis and simulations confirm that the proposed UWB-based Cooperative Relaying Scheme, UCoRS, can achieve a considerable diversity gain in spite of its implementation simplicity. UCoRS also minimizes the number of control packets that are required for the optimal cooperation, which leads to the energy efficiency in the UWB costly data-receiving process.


Cartonera publishing emerged in post-crisis Buenos Aires with the birth of Eloísa cartonera (2003), whose founders proposed a radically new model of making books out of recycled cardboard, purchased from, and made with, cartoneros (waste-pickers). Since then, this model has been adapted across Latin America by an ever-growing number of collectives (currently around 250). In this article we ask: What relations and/or networks have enabled this model of underground cultural production to grow on such a scale? What modalities of resistance do they enable? Our contention is that Deleuze and Guattari's theory of rhizomes helps in understanding the ways in which cartoneras work, network and spread. Examining texts and practices across Argentina, Mexico and Brazil through literary analysis and ethnography, we make a case for the political significance of cartonera networks and, more broadly, the possibilities afforded by rhizomatic formations for emerging modes of micro-political action and transnational cultural activism.


This study is based on clinical sociological principles derived from Durkheim's and Weber's theories, as well as from contemporary research findings which suggest that religion and feminism can be social sources of empowerment for women. The theoretical orientation therefore incorporates social and cultural influences on behavior, as well as the intrapsychic and interpersonal decision-making processes characteristic of other therapeutic modalities. Two life histories show ways in which feminism and religion reinforce women's personal growth, and expand the scope of their contributions to society. Influences of feminism and religion on these women's beliefs are examined, as well as how redefining responsibilities during clinical sessions—by deepening and broadening understandings of "God's will"—changes their behavior. Sociological practitioners can benefit from understanding how feminism inspires some women to work for their individual and collective empowerment through engaging in religious practices (prayer and meditation) which give emotional support to their questioning of traditional beliefs defining patriarchy as God's will. Clinical outcomes suggest that feminism and religion can motivate women clients to redefine reality and change behavior by encouraging reassessments of their understandings of God's will and their individual and social


India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world whose global share in "outward foreign direct investment" (OFDI) among the developing countries increased from a low level to second only to China. It has not only been a spectacular rise in Indian overseas investment activity, but the nature and the structure of Indian OFDI have also changed in the last decades. In the following paper we will examine the reasons and driving forces behind this spectacular rise, concentrating mostly on those host country characteristics that are the pull factors in attracting Indian investments. We follow the most recent literature on global value-chain specialization as much of Indian outward foreign investment is following a technology-seeking strategy currently. We choose Central and Eastern Europe as our case study because the region combines attributions of both advanced and developing countries in attracting Indian investment.


Fast fashion retailers are growing faster than any other type of retailer due to their ability to offer trendy low-cost clothing mimicking latest runway trends with turnaround times as low as two weeks. Fueled by short production and distribution lead times, fast fashion retailers combine rapid prototyping, small batches of fashionable product designs, and efficient transportations and delivery. Among others, the methods applied in fast-fashion industry include mass customization and personalization, and lean manufacturing. Current trends in manufacturing lean towards the application of digital and rapid manufacturing methods and increased use of product lifecycle management, knowledge management systems and computer integrated manufacturing. Furthermore, modern fashion systems span geographical regions, wherein design and manufacturing is not necessarily done at the same location and it requires coordination of many pairs of hands and machines, followed by multiple processes and treatments to meet the demands of ever decreasing time-to-market. Hence, there are connections that can be used as a benefit for multidisciplinary student projects which would include fashion merchandising students and engineering students. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present a model of a project which would include a team of students with diverse backgrounds and experiences in fashion, engineering, and industrial technology in order to examine various manufacturing system concepts that can be used to enhance the sustainability of fast-fashion systems. These activities would be embedded in their current courses and they would expose engineering students to a fashion manufacturing industry and fashion students to engineering concepts of product lifecycle management and computer aided manufacturing. Special emphasis would be given to female engineering students who are not necessarily exposed to this kind of industry in their major.


Metallo-organic complexes are a class of materials that are increasingly used in sensory applications. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are their subclass that are topologically isomorphic with zeolites. The porosity of the crystals and their chemical structure, as well as their thermal and chemical stability, make some of these materials (ZIFs) very suitable for making sensors. The large specific area of micro and nano particles is an important parameter for sensor applications. Despite the fact that the dielectric characterization of powders in the RF domain was neglected in scientific works, this method can have great practical importance. This paper presents the results of the dielectric characterization of the ZIF-8 nanopowder in the frequency range of 24 Hz to 24 KHz. The results indicate that the presence of evaporation of water, ethanol and methanol leads to major changes in the dielectric permittivity of ZIF-8 nanopowder.


In this contribution, methylammonium lead trichloride (CH3NH3PbCl3) perovskite thin films were fabricated via a two-step spin coating and solvent-vapor-assisted thermal annealing method at low temperature. The films exhibited a cubic crystalline structure and pinhole-free morphologies. The possible charge traps were investigated via the analysis of photoluminescence (PL) spectra of perovskite films prepared with different lead chloride (PbCl2) precursor concentrations while maintaining the same concentration of methylammonium chloride (CH3NH3Cl). Prototypical ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors with the structure of ITO/CH3NH3PbCl3/poly(triaryl amine) (PTAA)/Al were fabricated and showed a low dark current density of 1.60 × 10−5 mA cm−2 under a reverse bias of −1 V, a strong photoresponse in the 300–400 nm region, and a high UV-visible rejection ratio of up to 500 under a bias of 0 or −0.5 V. All the results demonstrated that low-temperature solution-processed CH3NH3PbCl3 perovskite thin films offer great potential for making flexible, lightweight visible-blind UV-A photodetectors.


Pressure drop due to filters embedded in HVAC systems is one of the energy loss causes in building air conditioning systems, which can become important in large all-air systems with highly demanding filtering needs, such as hospitals, clean rooms, laboratories or pharmaceutical environments. This pressure drop increases with filter use, since grid spacing diminishes with filtering effect, due to accumulation of particles in the grid. This energy loss can be partially avoided with the use of special filters, with the same filtering effect but that, based in a different filtering technology, lead to a lesser head loss. In this work we consider active polarization filters, which use an active electrostatic field to polarize both the fibers of a media pad and the particles to be removed. The polarized particles are drawn to the polarized media fibers and to each other, form bigger clusters that are more easily captured in the grid. This way, with a coarse filter (and consequently a lesser pressure drop) an equivalent filtering effect is achieved. The aim of this work is to assess the effect in final energy use of a building of this kind of filters compared to conventional ones, during a filter life period between two substitution/cleaning of the filters. A 7,500 m 2 non-residential building (office building) with a ventilation system has been chosen to perform a simulation with each one of the mentioned types of filters, which allows evaluating the energy consumption difference and the corresponding economic savings. This case has been considered as an average case, being the influence of the filters over the total energy consumed restricted, since filtering level is not very demanding and HVAC system considered is not an all-air system (VRV systems are considered for HVAC), where air flow levels are usually higher and so is consumed fan energy. However, an annual saving of more than a 7% and a cumulated saving in a 5 year life period of a 6% over the final energy consumption is achieved considering unused filters for case former mentioned.


Providing personalized services for mobile commerce (m-commerce) can improve user satisfaction and merchant profits, which are important to the success of m-commerce. This paper proposes a Bayesian network (BN)-based framework for personalization in m-commerce applications. The framework helps to identify the target mobile users and to deliver relevant information to them at the right time and in the right way. Under the framework, a personalization model is generated using a new method and the model is implemented in an m-commerce application for the food industry. The new method is based on function dependencies of a relational database and rough set operations. The framework can be applied to other industries such as movies, CDs, books, hotel booking, flight booking, and all manner of shopping settings.


The world's expanding and aging population has created a demand for unobtrusive, automated healthcare solutions. Thermal imaging aids in the development of these solutions by enabling the extraction of physiological signals in an unobtrusive manner. This paper aims to examine the potential for thermal video in conjunction with image segmentation methods to quantitatively describe the behavior of blood vessels as blood flow is occluded and relieved. Thermal video of a subject's arm wearing a wireless blood pressure cuff was captured as the cuff operated. Each frame of the thermal video was subjected to three methods of image segmentation (to identify the arteries); basic thresholding, watershed method and level set method. Results from each method were compared; all methods resulted in successful segmentation, but varied in region identification performance. The basic method resulted in the least accurate segmentations, the level set method resulted in the smoothest boundaries and most accurate shape, and the watershed method resulted in a crude shape but best identified the correct areas. When the segmentation results were quantified in terms of region area and examined over time, all methods indicated a smaller area when blood had been occluded, and a larger area both initially and during vascular recovery. The watershed method best characterized the vascular behaviour, while being computationally inexpensive. These results suggest that thermal video in conjunction with image segmentation methods, particularly watershed method, can be used to indicate blood flow through a segmented vessel.


PURPOSE
Our previous study showed that adjusting selected MLC leaf pairsto follow prostate movement is an effective strategy to account for daily prostate displacement during concurrent treatment with pelvic lymph nodes. MLC leaf width affects the quality of MLC shifting plans for longitudinal prostate motion compensation. This study is to investigate the effect of the MLC leaf width in compensation of the prostate movement.

METHODS
Fifty-one daily CT on-rail scans from three patients were available for this study. On these CTs, the prostate, bladder and rectum were manually contoured, and the lymph nodes contours were transferred from the planning CT after rigid bony registration. For each patient, three different IMRT plans were created based on a planning CT using leaf width of 2.5, 5, and 10 mm, respectively. For each CT, the prostate displacement was determined by dual imaging registration and compensated by shifting MLC resulting in a total of 153 MLC shifted plans.

RESULTS
Among 51 daily CTs, the average prostate movement along the superior/inferior direction was 1.1±3.7 mm (range: -6 to 6.5 mm). The differences in D99 of the prostate between the dose of the day and dose of the plan were 2.3±3.3%, 1.3±2.0%, and 4.4±5.1% for 2.5, 5, and 10 mm leaf width plans, respectively (p<<0.05). The corresponding differences in D99 of the lymph nodes were 0.7±0.9%, 0.6±0.9%, and 1.4±0.8%. The mean differences in D50 were 0.8%, 1.6%, and 2.7% for the bladder, and 10.0%, 3.9%, and 5.7% for the rectum, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Using the MLC Shifting method to compensate for prostate movement in the longitudinal direction depends on the MLC leaf width and the magnitude of the prostate motion. The use of leaf width of 5 mm can provide sufficient tumor coverage without significantly affecting doses to the critical structures.


Monetary policy rule parameters are usually estimated at the mean of the interest rate distribution conditional on inflation and an output gap. This is an incomplete description of monetary policy reactions when the parameters are not uniform over the conditional distribution of the interest rate. I use quantile regressions to estimate parameters over the whole conditional distribution of the federal funds rate. Inverse quantile regressions are applied to deal with endogeneity. Real-time data of inflation forecasts and the output gap are used. I find significant and systematic variations of parameters over the conditional interest rate distribution. Testing for structural changes in regression quantiles shows that these parameter variations cannot be explained by preference shifts of the Fed. Asymmetric interest rate responses can rather be related to expansions and recessions and are consistent with a recession avoidance preference of the Fed during the Volcker–Greenspan era.


This paper revisits some ideas that were first raised seriously in the mid-90s; that it should be possible to establish linkages (in spatial terms) between local economic factors and sector performance in commercial real estate markets. There have been a number of developments in the quality and quantity of relevant data over the intervening period that make it appropriate to return to have another look at some of these ideas in a more 'modern' technological context. Using data from several sources this exploratory paper seeks therefore to look at some of the spatial patterns that can be derived from the data. It examines the extent to which it is possible to make linkages and visualise the geographical structure of those markets and their change over time. Naturally there remain strong limitations on the extent to which it is possible to achieve 'good' results in this kind of analysis, and one major intention of the paper is to encourage a debate about how data sets can be developed and improved to allow these methods to be taken further.


Genetic transformation using the rice shoot apical meristem, derived from germinating seedlings, was established in this study for commercial varieties of Oryza sativa. To optimize apex-mediated DNA transformation in rice several parameters were tested to improve the efficiency and reliability of isolation of the shoot apices and regeneration of vegetative shoot apices. Results from these experiments indicated that certain factors were important in increasing the frequency of survival rate of the apex, cocultivation and co-transformation. These factors included: the starting size of the apex had to range between 1.0 mm and 1.2 mm for maximum survival of the apex, concentration of the infecting bacteria (pCL3 and pCL4) at an OD of 0.6-0.8 at 600nm and pTOK233 at an OD of 1.5-1.8 at 600nm, the minimum lethal concentration of hygromycin B was 5 mg/L, and use of Rice Shoot Apex (RSA) medium. Furthermore, the presence of acetosyringone before and during co-cultivation at levels between 400 ppm and 1000 ppm increased the number of transformed apices by 40%. Vacuum infiltration at 20-21 Hg for 5 minutes did not have an effect on apex survival, however apex transformation rate was increased by 30–35%. Adhering to the development of the new protocol resulted in a 90% shoot apex culturing success rate and a 95% transformation rate of the apices. Vectors containing the GUS gene with either the maize ubiquitin promoter or rice ubiquitin promoter resulted in > 85% transformation efficiency of the apices based on GUS assays. The vectors LBA4404 (pCL3) and LBA4404 (pCL4) proved to be more apex-specific than root-specific, an advantage over the super-binary vector LBA4404 (pTOK233). Preliminary vectors such as pRQGus, pRQHg and pSB41 were constructed for future use in experiments involving LBA4404 (pTOK233) and tissue culture experiments. Conducting experiments with both the results from tissue culture and vector construction could provide alternative routes to further enhance the efficiency of apexmediated transformation.


As the reader encounters Book III of the Psalter, the disorientation of exile challenges the psalmists' attempts to find hope in traditional elements of faith. Within a canonical context of exile, the hymns of celebration found in Pss 84–89 become ironic expressions of a grieving Israel looking to reorient their theology by appealing to Temple, land, and Davidic covenant. Those traditional elements, however, are no longer capable of providing hope. This prepares the reader for return to Moses and Mosaic covenant in Book IV. Davidic kingship and Zion gives way to Yahweh as king, enthroned forever.


Blood erythrocytes of Brazilian tree-frogs, Phrynohyas venulosa were found to frequently contain single, small, densely staining inclusions. Electron microscopy showed these to be icosahedral viral particles which measured from 250-280 nm in diameter: they were devoid of an envelope, and thus differed from previously described viruses of frog erythrocytes. The infected erythrocytes lacked a crystalline body.


R-trees are popular spatial indexing techniques that have been widely used in many geospatial applications. The increasingly available Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) resources for general computing have attracted considerable research interests in applying the massive data parallel technologies to index and query geospatial data based on R-trees. In this paper, we investigate on the potentials of accelerating both R-tree bulk loading construction and R-tree based spatial window query on GPUs. Experiments show that our proposed GPU-based parallel query processing implementation achieves 6x~18x speedup over serial CPU implementations and is 2X faster on average over 8core CPU implementation using OpenMP. Our experiments also show that the speedups are significantly affected by R-tree qualities which warrants further investigations. Additional comparisons between the GPU R-tree implementation and a GPU single-level grid-file based indexing approach are performed to understand the relative advantages and disadvantages of the two popular spatial indexing approaches on GPUs.


The first syntheses of cytotoxic marine arenarans A and B starting from commercial (-)-sclareol are reported. The oxocene ring of the target compound is formed via ring-closing metathesis, a process that depends on certain structural requirements. The trans-fused structure of the natural product is confirmed by comparison with the cis-fused isomer, which was synthesized. This synthetic strategy is also applicable to the synthesis of other oxocene terpenes.


The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is the versatile FACTS controller that can control up to three transmission system parameters individually or simultaneously in appropriate combinations. The work presented in this thesis is concentrated on the modelling and control of the UPFC. The overall aim is to provide effective tools for optimising the impact of the UPFC in the reinforcement of a transmission system. Existing modelling techniques for the UPFC together with the associated control strategies have been systematically reviewed. An exact power injection model is proposed which is based on the polar representation of the UPFC parameters and includes the reactive power capability of the shunt inverter. In addition, a steady-state model based on an ideal controlled voltage source has been developed using MATLAB/SIMULINK which provides a useful tool to analyse and develop the UPFC control system. The UPFC internal limits have been identified and accordingly, the feasible operating area of a transmission system incorporating a UPFC has been determined based on the UPFC maximum limits. The influence of both the series and shunt inverters on this controlled area has been analysed. The impact of a change in the system short circuit level on the UPFC operation and the size of the feasible area has also been investigated. Three modern controllers have been designed and tested for controlling the UPFC in a power flow mode for the series part and a voltage control mode for the shunt part. These controllers are: a fuzzy knowledge based controller, an artificial neural network based controller and a neuro-fuzzy based controller. For the former, the fuzzy rules are deduced from the relationship between the controlled power system parameters and the UPFC control variables. The second is a simple RBFNN controller which is constructed from a single neuron and trained on-line by a gradient descent algorithm. The third controller is designed using the adaptive capabilities of neural networks to estimate and tune the fuzzy rules. Computer simulation and experimental implementation of a UPFC using DS 1103 data acquisition board have been used to verify the proposed control strategies. In the experimental lab model, two 6-pulse inverters implementing the SPWM technique have been used to realise the UPFC system.


A two-well tracer test was conducted in eastern Denmark, in which a short duration pulse of lithium chloride was injected into a recharge well and made to flow through a fractured chalk aquifer to a discharge well. The wells were 25 m apart, and the concentration of lithium arriving at the discharge well was monitored at five vertical intervals in the well for a 21-day period. The observed breakthrough curves show a sharp breakthrough front, with an arrival time that is consistent with advective transport through the fractures in the chalk. The breakthrough curves also exhibit a long tail in the falling limb, suggesting the influence of a secondary transport mechanism of diffusion into the porous matrix.


What is behind the changing attitudes towards intellectual property in India and China? This exploration of empirically-based research comparisons on the character of intellectual property systems found in these two countries, offers answers to three key questions: what are the drivers that have moved them towards a closer embrace of IP norms, how have domestic and systemic influences shaped the character of this embrace, and how have state and non-state actors interacted within the international system to promote this transformation? Focusing on the software and IT services industries, it illuminates the policy drivers that have influenced IP regime adoption, and helps our understanding the process by providing a clear framework of distinctive phases of technological, political and social development.


In pH reactors, determination and control of pH is a common problem concerning chemical-based industrial processes due to the non-linearity observed in the titration curve. We introduced a modified multiregional fuzzy- based control system to overcome the complexity of precise control of pH. In order to compensate for the experimental inaccuracies in measurements of pH in-situ values; an observer for pH is implemented using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The pH control approach and ANFIS-based observer are integrated in a nonlinear cascade structure to ensure the dynamic modifications and stability enhancement. The cascade structure is designed using a multiregional Fuzzy PI controller in the master loop and a Wiener model-based fuzzy proportional controller as a slave one. The multiregional fuzzy cascade control (MFCC) structure is developed to implicate the three main regions of the titration curve.


Our purpose is to ensure that people and institutions better manage information through digital libraries (DLs). Thus we address a fundamental human and social need, which is particularly urgent in the modern Information (and Knowledge) Age. Our goal is to significantly advance both the theory and state-of-theart of DLs (and other advanced information systems) - thoroughly validating our approach using highly visible testbeds. Our research objective is to leverage our formal, theory-based approach to the problems
of defining, understanding, modeling, building, personalizing, and evaluating DLs. We will construct models and tools based on that theory so organizations and individuals can easily create and maintain fully functional DLs, whose components can interoperate with corresponding components of related DLs. This research should be highly meritorious intellectually. We bring together a team of senior researchers with expertise in information retrieval, human-computer interaction, scenario-based design, personalization, and componentized system development and expect to make important contributions in each of those areas. Of crucial import, however, is that we will integrate our prior research and experience to achieve breakthrough advances in the field of DLs, regarding theory, methodology, systems, and evaluation. We will extend the 5S theory, which has identified five key dimensions or onstructs underlying effective DLs: Streams, Structures, Spaces, Scenarios, and Societies. We will use that theory to describe and develop metamodels, models, and systems, which can be tailored to disciplines and/or groups, as well as personalized. We will disseminate our findings as well as provide toolkits as open source software, encouraging wide use. We will validate our work using testbeds, ensuring broad impact. We will put powerful tools into the hands of digital librarians so they may easily plan and configure tailored systems, to support an extensible set of services, including publishing, discovery, searching, browsing, recommending, and access control, handling diverse types of collections, and varied genres and classes of digital objects. With these tools, end-users will for be able to design personal DLs.
Testbeds are crucial to validate scientific theories and will be thoroughly integrated into SciDL research and evaluation. We will focus on two application domains, which together should allow comprehensive validation and increase the significance of SciDL's impact on scholarly communities. One is education (through CITIDEL); the other is libraries (through DLA and OCKHAM). CITIDEL deals with content from publishers (e.g, ACM Digital Library), corporate research efforts e.g., CiteSeer), volunteer initiatives (e.g., DBLP, based on the database and logic rogramming literature), CS departments (e.g., NCSTRL, mostly technical reports), educational initiatives (e.g., Computer Science Teaching Center), and universities (e.g., theses and dissertations). DLA is a unit of the Virginia Tech library that virtually publishes scholarly communication such as faculty-edited journals and rare and unique resources including image collections and finding aids from Special Collections. The OCKHAM initiative, calling for simplicity in the library world, emphasizes a three-part solution: lightweightprotocols, component-based development, and open reference models. It provides a framework to research the deployment of the SciDL approach in libraries. Thus our choice of testbeds also will nsure that our research will have additional benefit to and impact on the fields of computing and library and information science, supporting transformations in how we learn and deal with information.


Diabetes increases the risk and severity of cognitive impairment, especially after ischemic stroke. Pathological remodeling of the cerebrovasculature has been postulated to contribute to poor neuronal repair and worsened cognitive deficits in diabetes. However, little is known about the effect of diabetes on the vascularization of hippocampus, a domain critical to memory and learning. Therefore, we had two aims for this study: 1) to determine the impact of diabetes on hippocampal neurovascular remodeling and the resulting cognitive impairment after stroke using two models with varying disease severity, and 2) to compare the effects of ischemia on hippocampal neurovascular injury in diabetic male and female animals. Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by either the suture or embolic method in control and diabetic age-matched male and female Wistar rats. Hippocampal neuronal density, vascular architecture, and microglial activation as well as cognitive outcomes were measured. Embolic MCAO induced greater neuronal degeneration, pathological vascularization, microglial activation, and cognitive impairment in diabetes as compared with control animals or 60-min MCAO. Although diabetic males had lower neuronal density at baseline, diabetic females had more neurodegeneration after stroke. Control animals recovered cognitive function by day 14 after stroke; diabetic animals showed deficits regardless of sex. These results suggest that mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in diabetes may differ in males and females and provide further insight to the impact of diabetes on stroke severity and poststroke cognitive impairment. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study is the first to provide comparative information on the effects of diabetes and ischemia on cognitive outcomes in both sexes while also evaluating the neurovascular structure in the hippocampus, a critical region for cognitive and memory-related tasks.


Principals shape the academic setting of schools. Yet, there is limited evidence on whether principal professional development improves schooling outcomes. In 2008-09, Pennsylvania's Inspired Leadership (PIL) induction program required that newly hired principals complete targeted in-service professional development within five years of employment. Using panel data on all Pennsylvania students, teachers and principals, we leverage within-principal variation in the timing of PIL completion within the same school setting to estimate the impact of PIL induction on principal persistence, teacher effectiveness and student achievement. PIL induction increased principal tenure by 18 percent, corresponding to approximately half an additional year as principal of record; however, PIL induction had no impact on teacher effectiveness or student achievement. We discuss the implications of our findings for principal induction efforts.


Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of patients with gender identity disorder (GID), presenting to Tehran Psychiatric Institute, toward Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Method: 58 patients with gender identity disorder (41 female-to-male and 17 male-to-female) were selected using convenience sampling. The subjects completed the questionnaire proposed by Family Health Organization. Subsequent to determining the distribution by statistical methods, data were analyzed using parametric and non- parametric tests suitable for group comparison. Results: About 70% of the subjects believed that an apparently healthy individual could be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Only five subjects (8.6%) considered themselves to be at risk for HIV infection. With regard to routes of transmission, 70% believed anal sex carries lower risk than vaginal sex. Conclusion: Subjects had a low level of knowledge regarding sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, all individuals with GID should be provided with sufficient information about AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.


This is the One is a fascinating insight into the mindset and winning temperament of the recently retired Sir Alex Ferguson, the most success manager in English football. When This Is The One was first published in 2007 it was hailed by Michael Crick as 'one of the all-time Manchester United classics' and featured by The Times in their quest to find the 'Best Ever 50 Sports Books'. Written over the course of two eventful and controversial seasons, it offers a unique portrait of Sir Alex Ferguson from Daniel Taylor's position behind the scenes as a football writer covering Manchester United for the Guardian. During the 2005-06 season, Taylor saw Ferguson at one of the lowest ebbs of his quarter of a century in charge, with a failing team, explosive fallouts with Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy, a disenchanted fan-base and speculation that he might be forced out of the job. The season that followed demonstrated why Ferguson deserves to be seen as the greatest manager the modern game has produced, with Manchester United deposing Chelsea as Premier League champions and eventually seeing off Jose Mourinho. Ferguson would later call it the 'greatest achievement' of his time at England's biggest football club. This Is The One is the close-up, warts-and-all account of what happened during those two helterskelter seasons - the excruciating lows and the exhilarating highs. It is also a fascinating exploration of the many different facets of Ferguson himself, from his infamous 'hairdryer' treatment to the softer, more humane side of the most successful manager in the business.


Petroleum Profit Tax is a major source of revenue for the Federal Government of Nigeria to meet its statutory obligations of ensuring the economic development of Nigeria. It assists the government to achieve the country's macroeconomic objective in the areas of fiscal and monetary policies.However,it has been observed that non-provision of corporate social responsibilities in the communities where there is extraction of crude oil result into constant destruction of production installations, and hindrance to production; tax avoidance and evasion d poor tax administration, and weak fiscal policy have been negating the increase in tax income generated. The main objective of this paper is to assess the relationship between petroleum profit tax and economic development of Nigeria for the enhancement of the welfare of the citizens.
Primary and secondary data were used to collect the research data, while chi-square and multiple regression statistical models were used to analyze the results of the field work. The findings reveal that there is a very strong relationship between petroleum profit tax and economic development of Nigeria, tax avoidance and evasion are major hindrance to income growth in this sector, poor tax administration is a problem to effectiveness and efficiency of this source of income, and lack of corporate social responsibilities is causing unrest in the crude oil production zone. The paper recommends the need for the government to make judicious use income generated for the benefits of Nigerians, and among others the need for tax reforms to address the issue of tax evasion and avoidance.


Pattern recognition aims to classify data (patterns) based ei- ther on a priori knowledge or on statistical information extracted from the data. In this paper we will concentrate on statistical pattern recognition using a new probabilistic approach which makes possible to select the so called 'informative' features. We develop a pattern recognition algorithm which is based on the conditional independence structure underlying the statistical data. Our method was succesfully applied on a real problem of recognizing Parkinson's disease on the basis of voice disorders.


This paper outlines the processes of censorship affecting translation under Nazi rule. Despite a markedly suspicious attitude towards translated fiction, the Nazi regime did not simply eliminate it. In fact, far from collapsing in 1933, the publication of translated fiction actually increased, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of all fiction, until the outbreak of war. However, if in purely quantitative terms translation flourished, the figures mask deep qualitative shifts: Jewish or anti-Nazi authors, translators and publishers disappeared; safe-selling genres came to dominate the market; and source-language preferences changed. These shifts were clearly the outcome of aggressive state measures, both classic "negative" censorship—the banning of literary producers and products or the imposition of "voluntary" self-regulation—and the energetic promotion of approved forms of translation. At the same time, more detailed study suggests that even for non-approved forms, the influence of state control was not always so clear-cut. In the case of the translated detective fiction of the time, censorship in translation was an amalgam of state intervention, pre-emptive filtering, selective readings of the source genre's ambivalences, and the "normal" pressures of the book market. Even in this totalitarian context of extreme literary control, it remains difficult to define the borders of "translation censorship" as such.


LONG, DAVID (29 Sept. 1787-1 Sept. 1851), Cleveland's first physician, was born in Hebron, N.Y., to David and Margaret (Harkness) Long. He attended medical school in New York City, received his medical degree in 1810, and moved to Cleveland, the first permanently-settled physician and the only doctor until 1814. During the WAR OF 1812, Long was a surgeon in the Western Army. In 1824 Long became first president of the Society of the State of Ohio's 19TH MEDICAL DISTRICT, forerunner of the ACADEMY OF MEDICINE of Cleveland. Long was also involved in business. He operated a dry-goods and notions store; in 1816 was an incorporator of the COMMERCIAL BANK OF LAKE ERIE; helped organize the Cleveland Pier Co.; and with LEVI JOHNSON erected the first warehouse on the CUYAHOGA RIVER in 1817. Later Long concentrated more on business than on medicine. When Cleveland was incorporated as a village in 1814, Long was elected a trustee, serving off and on until 1836; in 1829 he was village president. In 1832 Long was appointed to Cleveland's first board of health, and in 1835 to the committee framing Cleveland's first city charter. In 1811, Long became the first librarian of the Library Society of Cleveland, which he helped organized. He helped establish Cleveland's first church, Trinity Episcopal, in 1817; and in 1820, with his family, became members of Cleveland's first Sunday school. In 1833 he was president of the CLEVELAND ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. Long married Juliana Walworth (see JULIANA WALWORTH LONG) on 7 April 1811 and had 2 children: Mary and Horace. He died in Cleveland and was buried in ERIE STREET CEMETERY. He was transferred to WOODLAND CEMETERY on July 31, 1866.


Several studies have shown female preference for conspecific males with the attached artificial ornaments of more elaborate heterospecifics. However, preference for heterospecifics under natural conditions is relatively rare. We tested what factors affect behavioural mechanisms of species isolation using three species of estrildid finch (genus Uraeginthus) that occur in both sympatry and allopatry. These finches differ in degree of sexual dimorphism; male ornamentation; behavioural and morphological similarity; and phylogenetic distance. Paired mate–choice trials were used in which females were presented with a conspecific and heterospecific male to test which of the above between–species differences best predicted the degree of premating isolation. The three species differed in the degree of species–specific mate preference shown. Females from the brighter two species discriminated against dull males, independently of sympatry–allopatry, similarity and phylogenetic distance. Females from the dull species reacted to conspecific males and brighter heterospecific males equally strongly, independently of similarity and phylogenetic distance. In contrast to previous studies, an equal preference for heterospecific and conspecific males was found under natural conditions. It is suggested that differences between closely related species in male ornamentation affect the likelihood that premating isolation will occur due to the fact that sexual selection tends to drive preferences for exaggerated ornamentation.


Daniel Kontowski - PhD student at University of Winchester and University of Warsaw. Address: Department of Education Studies and Liberal Arts, Alwyn Middle, University of Winchester, SO22 4NR Winchester, UK. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com The article presents the case study of Wagner College curriculum as an example of paradoxical transformation within contemporary liberal education. The Wagner Plan for Practical Liberal Arts is an important example of overcoming the traditional liberal/vocational distinction in higher education, that has been increasingly challenged by both the economic condition of colleges and wider changes in skills required by the workforce of developed countries. The Wagner College case is not widely acknowledged, yet it may be important for European liberal education institutions. Even though they are mostly public colleges/programs, they operate in a context that has become increasingly similar to that which Wagner College was facing in the early 1990s. Calls for more liberal education go against governmental expectations, study choices and disciplinary traditions of institutions. Wagner buildson the triple assumption that learning is really practical, that higher education can have a practical impact on a local community and that broad interdisciplinary knowledge is even more useful preparation for a future career. Such claims, even though controversial, fit well with the pragmatic consensus in American pragmatic consensus that strengthened around liberal arts in last three decades. For Eastern European liberal education, which is a growing field, Wagner provides an interesting example of holistic educational vision that was implemented with relatively limited resources. Apart from administrators, this study may also be of interest to teachers and students who consider the traditional academic setting due to be revamped, even in liberal education programs. Any strategy of development of liberal education in Eastern Europe require scaling up and making it more relevant for major stakeholders (as happened in the Netherlands and is now taking place in the UK), as well as overcoming the neoliberal pressures and academic reluctance. The Wagner case example may spark much needed discussionon how to accomplish it without losing our soul. Eastern Europe, civic engagement, liberal education, liberal arts education, pragmatism, higher education, practical liberal arts.


A detailed survey of the field of intelligent control is presented. Current practices are reviewed and the need for a unifying framework to identify and strengthen the underlying core principles is postulated. Intelligent control is redefined to make explicit use of human systems in control as a reference model. Psychological theories of intelligent behaviour reveal certain basic attributes. From these a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for intelligent control are derived. Learning ability is identified as a crucial element. Necessary attributes for learning are prediction capabilities, internal world model, estimation of the model parameters, and active probing to reduce uncertainties. This framewoik is used to define a Learning Based Predictive Control (LBPC) strategy. LBPC is derived from Predictive Functional Control techniques with an adaptive layer implemented by recursive least squares. Improved performance above conventional adaptive control is demonstrated. Distributed parameter systems are identified as a suitable application area requiring an intelligent control approach. Such systems are invariably complex, ill-defined, and nonlinear. Plasticating extrusion processes are considered in particular. LBPC is applied to control of the primary loop to regulate melt temperature and pressure at the die. A novel control technique is proposed for dynamic profile control of extruder barrel wall temperature. This is a two-level hierarchical scheme combining the benefits of LBPC control blocks at the lowest level with decision logic operating at the higher level as a supervisor. This Logic Based Strategy allows multivariable control of non-square systems with more outputs than inputs. The application of LBS to an extruder is demonstrated.


Objective: To evaluate the value of selective laparotomy in pregnant women with penetrating abdominal injuries. Methods: A retrospective survey was carried out at our center over 16 years of civil war, extending from 1975 to 1991. Fourteen pregnant women had uterine injuries secondary to high-velocity abdominal penetrating trauma. The corresponding management was evaluated carefully with respect to maternal and fetal outcomes. Results: Two maternal deaths occurred, neither resulting solely from intra-abdominal injuries. Visceral injuries were present when the entrance of the missile was in either the upper abdomen or the back. When the entry site was anterior and below the uterine fundus, visceral injuries were absent in all six women upon surgical exploration. Perinatal deaths occurred in half of the cases and were due to maternal shock or uteroplacental or direct fetal injury. Immediate cesarean delivery was performed because of either limited surgical field exposure, fetal injury, or distress. Three patients explored were managed by delaying delivery. All later delivered vaginally with successful fetal outcomes in all three. Conclusion: Selective laparotomy may be considered in pregnant women with anterior penetrating abdominal trauma, as the likelihood of intra-abdominal injuries may be predicted based on the location of the penetrating wound. (Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:259-64)


In this paper we discuss three issues that are relevant to understanding the current state of marketing and consumer behavior in online sales channels and electronic marketplaces enabled by the Internet and World Wide Web (Web). First, how is the Internet used for marketing? It can be used as a new tool for market research, new product creation, product advertising and distribution, and developing consumer relationships. The second issue is how much money is currently spent by companies for Web advertising and by consumers for purchasing products and services online? Statistics illustrate explosive growth in each of these areas in the past few years. And the third issue is what factors affect consumer purchase behavior in electronic sales channels and markets? Three studies that represent current research in this area are discussed. Each study uses a different approach to study online consumer behavior in industries such as books, travel, and financial services. Online consumer behavior is an important issue for companies because they need to identify the characteristics of their potential online customers and use this information to effectively design their Web-based customer interface to succeed in this highly competitive new market.


Social and economic changes included an increase in production of food and raw materials, in turn sustaining the remarkable growth of towns and cities over this period. However, in the folk memory of Scotland the social and cultural costs of the revolution loom much larger: the loss of land for many thousands of families; the rise of individualism and the decline of neighborhood; the death of old rural societies which had formed Scotland's character for many generations. The drama and tragedy of Highland history during this period have attracted many authors, whereas the Lowland experience, that of the majority of Scots, hardly any. This book attempts to redress that balance, and in so doing examines why this extraordinary era, inextricably associated with failure, famine and clearance in Gaeldom, is remembered as one of 'improvements' in the Lowlands, where the folk memory of dispossession, if it ever existed, is long lost in collective amnesia. In so doing, Devine addresses an issue which goes right to the heart of the nation's past.


The number of males entering higher education via an enabling pathway is slowly increasing; yet, males still battle with the anti-intellectual attitude that is prevalent in regional areas of Australia. Previous research undertaken by the authors began exploring the factors that inhibited or enhanced the male experience within an enabling course. This paper expands upon this research with a deeper focus on the male experience through personalised accounts derived from individual interviews. Using qualitative methodology and narrative inquiry, the findings provide a deeper understanding of the issues that males of different ages face when creating a new identity as a university student. This paper shares insights into what motivated the male students to enter university via an enabling pathway; the actual personal experiences both positive and negative during this time; and the effect that this commitment to study had on them personally and the people around them. The lens of transformative theory underpins this research through exploring frames of reference that align with the students' experiences. Portraiture prose shares the individual stories which are analysed and the key findings extrapolated.


Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the rate of personality disorders and coping strategies in female sex-workers. Method: In this observational cross- sectional study 30 female sex-workers who were selected using convenience sampling, completed the Structured Clinical Interview DSM-IV axis II disorders (SCID-II) and Billings Coping Style Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The findings showed a prevalence of 90% for personality disorders, with passive- aggressive personality disorder having the highest prevalence of 53.3%. Also, schizotypal personality disorder was not present in subjects. Among coping strategies, emotion- focused coping (56.7%) and somatization-focused coping (23.3%) were the most prevalent. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of personality disorder among female sex-workers and their high use of emotion-focused coping in confronting life events, training this group with coping and problem solving skills is recommended.


We study the complexity of Boolean constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) when the assignment must have Hamming weight in some congruence class modulo M, for various choices of the modulus M. Due to the known classification of tractable Boolean CSPs, this mainly reduces to the study of three cases: 2-SAT, HORN-SAT, and LIN-2 (linear equations mod 2). We classify the moduli M for which these respective problems are polynomial time solvable, and when they are not (assuming the ETH). Our study reveals that this modular constraint lends a surprising richness to these classic, well-studied problems, with interesting broader connections to complexity theory and coding theory. The HORN-SAT case is connected to the covering complexity of polynomials representing the NAND function mod M. The LIN-2 case is tied to the sparsity of polynomials representing the OR function mod M, which in turn has connections to modular weight distribution properties of linear codes and locally decodable codes. In both cases, the analysis of our algorithm as well as the hardness reduction rely on these polynomial representations, highlighting an interesting algebraic common ground between hard cases for our algorithms and the gadgets which show hardness. These new complexity measures of polynomial representations merit further study. The inspiration for our study comes from a recent work by N'agele, Sudakov, and Zenklusen on submodular minimization with a global congruence constraint. Our algorithm for HORN-SAT has strong similarities to their algorithm, and in particular identical kind of set systems arise in both cases. Our connection to polynomial representations leads to a simpler analysis of such set systems, and also sheds light on (but does not resolve) the complexity of submodular minimization with a congruency requirement modulo a composite M.


We analyse focus group discussions about long-run (retirement) financial decisions, and explore the extent to which participant responses are related to the oft-used behavioural explanations of financial choice. We find that persons of all ages understand the importance of long-term savings, but face many challenges in preparing for retirement. There is mixed support for a range of associated behavioural explanations. Complexity, relevance of decisions, and uncertainty come up repeatedly in all focus groups, irrespective of the age of the participants. The use of heuristics, confidence, costs of mistakes, mental accounting, and the importance of social interaction appeared of less immediate relevance to all groups. We discuss the implications of these findings for how the financial services and superannuation industries communicate with members. There appears to be a general view from the focus groups that breaking large, complex retirement decisions into more manageable pieces (based on personal circumstances) and providing more focused and relevant information to investors would result in more effort and care expended on retirement decisions.


INTRODUCTION The study of the Oribatei (moss mites or beetle mites) of the Netherlands was started by Oudemans, who in 1896 published his "List of Dutch Acari, First Part, Oribatei", that was followed in 1900 and 1902 by a first and by a second part of a "New List". After that time Oudemans repeatedly published papers in which Oribatei of the Netherlands were dealt with, although in his later years he paid less attention to this group of Acari. Only a part of the moss mites that Oudemans collected were mentioned by him; a preliminary catalogue of his collection, containing some hitherto unpublished faunistical data on Oribatei, appeared after his death (Buitendijk, 1945). Willmann (1930) published a note on interesting Oribatei in the Oudemans Collection, and among these were some species described after Dutch material. Wasmann (1899) recorded four species of Oribatei from ants' nests ; these were apparently identified by Michael. Geijskes (1950) collected mites on the small isle of Griend; his list contains five species of moss mites. In investigations of the soil fauna of recent years much attention has been paid to the Oribatei ; important papers on this subject were published by Noordam and De Vlieger (1943), and by Van der Drift (1950), who showed that the Oribatei are the predominating group of inhabitants of the litter. This common occurrence, together with the uncertain identity of many of the species recorded up till now, made it desirable to have a critical revision of the Oribatei of the Netherlands. For this reason I started the present study. The above mentioned papers together contain the names of about 110


The Cleveland Shale fauna represents a unique view of the time after a major Devonian extinction event (Frasnian–Famenian) with the recovery of arthrodires (Placodermi) best represented by this most specious North American fauna. This time was followed by an additional event (Hangenberg Biocrisis) leading to the extinction of arthrodires (and all other placoderms). An understanding of the diversity and interrelationships of North American arthrodires can aid our understanding of this critical time in vertebrate evolution. A new aspinothoracid arthrodire Hlavinichthys jacksoni gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Late Devonian of northern Ohio, U.S.A., which adds to our knowledge of this group. It provides a point of comparison to other members of the fauna whose interrelationships are poorly known. A phylogenetic analysis supports an assignment of  Hlavinichthys jacksoni gen. et sp. nov. among the aspinothoracid arthrodires. This work has drawn attention to the continued need for descriptive and phylogenetic analyses of this unique fauna. Decades old species descriptions need revision along with preparation and description of new taxa. The work on Hlavinichthys jacksoni gen. et sp. nov. here is one step in that process.


Mechanisms responsible for resistance to β-Iactam antibiotics were investigated in clinical isolates of Bacteroides spp., the most common anaerobic Gram negative pathogen. Among 108 isolates of Bacteroides spp. obtained from clinical material in Nottingham, 69 (64%) were identified as Bacteroides fragilis. Approximately one-fifth of the Bacteroides spp. produced elevated levels of β-Iactamases, and many of these strains showed increased resistance to β-Iactam antibiotics usually regarded as β-Iactamase stable.

Four β-Iactamase types were identified: Type one was represented by zinc dependent metallo-β-lactamases that hydrolysed cefoxitin, latamoxef and imipenem. Type two displayed intermediate to high specific activity in tests with nitrocefin as substrate and hydrolysed cefoxitin and latamoxef, but not imipenem. Type three exhibited intermediate levels of specific activity and caused reduced susceptibility to cefoxitin, latamoxef and imipenem, although they hydrolysed these antibiotics inefficiently. Type four probably represented enhanced production of the β-Iactamases characteristic of most bacteroides strains. Organisms producing this enzyme normally remained susceptible to cefoxitin, latamoxef and imipenem, and the enzyme was fully susceptible to β-Iactamase inhibitors, including clavulanic acid.

Several strains were detected that exhibited reduced susceptibility to imipenem that was not related to metallo-β-Iactamases production. In contrast, one strain that produced a metallo-β-lactamase remained fully sensitive to imipenem as judged by conventional titration. Investigation of isolates producing metallo-β-lactamase and several similar ones encountered in an earlier study showed a correlation between the degree of resistance to imipenem and specific imipenemase activity.

In an attempt to elucidate reduced susceptibilty to imipenem that was not related to metallo-β-lactamase production, cell envelope properties and penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of selected strains were investigated. Studies of outer membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharide composition of B.fragilis strains unexpectedly showed that metallo-β-Iactamase producers displayed unusual cell envelope profiles. Those strains that showed reduced susceptibility that was not associated with β-Iactamase appeared to be normal, although two of these strains displayed abnormally high crypticity values.

Between three and six PBPs were visualised in tests with 3H-benzylpenicillin. PBPs 1 to 3 were present in all strains, but were observed in imipenem-resistant strains only when tests were carried out in the presence of β-lactamase inhibitors. Competitive binding experiments indicated that imipenem showed affinity for the high molecular weight PBPs of sensitive B.fragilis. The low molecular weight PBPs 4 to 6 were detected intermittently and only in certain strains, notably those that exhibited reduced susceptibility to imipenem. PBP 6 was found only in strains showing non-enzymic resistance.

The results suggest that several different types of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics are circulating in clinical isolates of Bacteroides spp. in Nottingham: firstly, strains that produce a metallo-β-lactamase that hydrolyses 'β-lactamase-stable' compounds, including imipenem; secondly, strains producing enzymes that hydrolyse cefoxitin and latamoxef, but not imipenem; thirdly, strains that possess a permeability barrier that affects imipenem as well as other β-Iactam antibiotics; fourthly, strains with altered penicillin-binding proteins; and fifthly strains that produce raised amounts of 'normal' β-lactamase. The latter strains slowly hydrolyse imlpenem and other β-lactam compounds and this may be a factor in the reduced susceptibility to these agents.

Clinical isolates that possess these resistance mechanisms may appear susceptible according to conventional break-point criteria in vitro. Never the less, they exhibit considerably reduced susceptibility to β-Iactam agents and the therapeutic implications of this need investigating. At present such strains represent a relatively small proportion of clinical isolates of Bacteroides spp., but the prevalence of resistance needs to be carefully monitored.


Historically in Australia eucalypts have been harvested from native forests to meet both the demand for hardwood and chips. In the last 20 years the scenario has changed and there has been a rapid expansion in the area of eucalypt plantations in Australia from less than 50 000 ha in 1985 to over 500 000 ha today. These plantations have primarily been established to supply woodchips for export. The largest areas (over 350 000 ha of predominantly Eucalyptus -ystemic) have been established in the Mediterranean climate of Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria followed by approximately 100000 ha of predominantly E. nitens in the temperate climate of Tasmania. More recently, plantations have been established in sub-tropical Australia. Unlike exotic eucalypt plantations which flourish in the absence of native pests and diseases, the plantation estate in Australia has been faced with a multitude of indigenous pests and diseases. In addition, Australian plantations are also threatened by pathogens that have arisen on exotic eucalypt plantations but could be introduced to Australia. Faced with all these challenges one may imagine that the industry in Australia is under severe threat. However, variation in pest and disease impact is observed in taxa and provenance trials and selection of superior lines will assist in a sustainable plantation industry in the future. The major eucalyptus diseases present in Australia and those that exist overseas and pose a threat to the Australian industry will be discussed.


Advances in sequencing technology have drastically increased the depth and feasibility of bacterial genome sequencing. However, little information is available that details the specific techniques and procedures employed during genome sequencing despite the large numbers of published genomes. Shotgun approaches employed by second-generation sequencing platforms has necessitated the development of robust bioinformatics tools for in silico assembly, and complete assembly is limited by the presence of repetitive DNA sequences and multi-copy operons. Typically, re-sequencing with multiple platforms and laborious, targeted Sanger sequencing are employed to finish a draft bacterial genome. Here we describe a novel strategy based on the identification and targeted sequencing of repetitive rDNA operons to expedite bacterial genome assembly and finishing. Our strategy was validated by finishing the genome of Paenibacillus polymyxa strain CR1, a bacterium with potential in sustainable agriculture and bio-based processes. An analysis of the 38 contigs contained in the P. polymyxa strain CR1 draft genome revealed 12 repetitive rDNA operons with varied intragenic and flanking regions of variable length, unanimously located at contig boundaries and within contig gaps. These highly similar but not identical rDNA operons were experimentally verified and sequenced simultaneously with multiple, specially designed primer sets. This approach also identified and corrected significant sequence rearrangement generated during the initial in silico assembly of sequencing reads. Our approach reduces the required effort associated with blind primer walking for contig assembly, increasing both the speed and feasibility of genome finishing. Our study further reinforces the notion that repetitive DNA elements are major limiting factors for genome finishing. Moreover, we provided a step-by-step workflow for genome finishing, which may guide future bacterial genome finishing projects.


On February 19, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Bowman v. Monsanto – the first case to directly present the question of how the Exhaustion Doctrine should apply to patents relating to biotechnology and digital technology inventions.  The Petitioner, Vernon Hugh Bowman, asserts that the Exhaustion Doctrine should be extended to advanced agricultural technologies where the technology itself is contained in genetically modified seeds that may be reproduced through successive generations of seeds without limitation, and that companies like Monsanto can instead rely on remedies found in contract law to protect its commercial interests.  The Respondent, Monsanto Corporation, supported by the U.S. Government, (not surprisingly) disagrees, contending that an extension of the Exhaustion Doctrine of this magnitude would undercut effective patent protection for inventions that may reproduce perfectly over generations, undermining R&D in innovative technologies.   During the Bowman v. Monsanto oral argument on February 19th, the Justices focused on the broad scope of the exception sought by the Petitioner to patent rights for GM seed as an extension of the Exhaustion Doctrine to biotechnology and digital technology inventions, and did not appear persuaded either that the only reasonable use of the soybeans by Bowman was to plant them or that right holders would find effective modes of protection through contract law.  The Justices noted that this was the first case to present the intersection of the Exhaustion Doctrine and effective protection for inventions that may be reproduced across generations – that intersection to be the issue of greatest interest to the Court in  Bowman v. Monsanto, where the Court may be unlikely to create a sweeping exception to patent rights for biotechnology or digital technology inventions that has not been contemplated by the Congress.


As multicore processors are deployed in mainstream computing, the need for software tools to help parallelize programs is increasing dramatically. Data-dependence profiling is an important technique to exploit parallelism in programs. More specifically, manual or automatic parallelization can use the outcomes of data-dependence profiling to guide where to parallelize in a program. However, state-of-the-art data-dependence profiling techniques are not scalable as they suffer from two major issues when profiling large and long-running applications: (1) runtime overhead and (2) memory overhead. Existing data-dependence profilers are either unable to profile large-scale applications or only report very limited information. In this paper, we propose a scalable approach to data-dependence profiling that addresses both runtime and memory overhead in a single framework. Our technique, called SD3, reduces the runtime overhead by parallelizing the dependence profiling step itself. To reduce the memory overhead, we compress memory accesses that exhibit stride patterns and compute data dependences directly in a compressed format. We demonstrate that SD3 reduces the runtime overhead when profiling SPEC 2006 by a factor of 4.1X and 9.7X on eight cores and 32 cores, respectively. For the memory overhead, we successfully profile SPEC 2006 with the reference input, while the previous approaches fail even with the train input. In some cases, we observe more than a 20X improvement in memory consumption and a 16X speedup in profiling time when 32 cores are used.


Behavioral Finance has become a challenge to the scientific community. Based on the assumption that behavioral aspects of investors may explain some features of the Stock Market, we propose an agent based model to study quantitatively this relationship. In order to approximate the simulated market to the complexity of real markets, we consider that the investors are connected among them through a small world network; each one has its own psychological profile (Imitation, Anti-Imitation, Random); two different strategies for decision making: one of them is based on the trust neighborhood of the investor and the other one considers a technical analysis, the momentum of the market index technique. We analyze the market index fluctuations, the wealth distribution of the investors according to their psychological profiles and the rate of return distribution. Moreover, we analyze the influence of changing the psychological profile of the hub of the network and report interesting results which show how and when anti-imitation becomes the most profitable strategy for investment. Besides this, an intriguing asymmetry of the return rate distribution is explained considering the behavioral aspect of the investors. This asymmetry is quite robust being observed even when a completely different algorithm to calculate the decision making of the investors was applied to it, a remarkable result which, up to our knowledge, has never been reported before.


A randomized case control prospective method was adopted in this study in order to assess the health benefit associated with the Darfiyeh cheese, a traditional Lebanese raw goat milk cheese ripened in goat skin. 21 participants were recruited and divided into 2 groups: test group (n = 10) and control group (n = 11). Venous blood and stools were collected at day 14, 21 and day 0 and 21 respectively. Flow cytometry was performed on blood sample. Fecal samples were plated on Plate Count Agar (PCA) and de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe Agar (MRS) agar in order to monitor any alteration in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). At day 24, a significant increase by 27.67% (p = 0.043) in the bacterial count was seen on the MRS agar for the test group in comparison to no change in the total bacterial count. At day 14 a significant drop (p = 0.026) in CD3+/CD4+ population in the test group (35.67 vs 42.87), and a non-significant drop (p = 0.818) in CD8+ (24.76 vs 28.28) is seen when compared to control group. At day 24, no significant change (p = 0.20) in the CD3+/CD4+ population in comparison between both groups and no change in CD8+ or Geo means in both groups. In conclusion, an alteration in the GIT microflora could be hinted at by the lactobacilli bacterium, which was not reflected on the total bacterial count.


Detecting the z-position of moving objects in an embedded microchannel is an important but highly challenging problem in the MEMS field. The present study proposes a new depth measurement system based on the chromatic aberration effect under a dark-field illumination scheme. The microchannel is illuminated by dispersed white light and the light scattered from the moving objects is captured by a low numerical aperture (N.A.) objective lens. Due to chromatic aberration effect, sample in various positions will scatter different wavelengths. The depth of each moving object is then determined by inspecting the intensity ratio of the scattered spectral components with wavelengths of 450 nm (blue light) and 670 nm (red light), respectively. Experimental results show that the proposed system enables the object depth to be measured over a range of ±15 μm while using acrylic lens for light aberration. Alternatively, the developed system is capable to discriminate the depth change of 2 μm micro-beads when a higher Abbe number material of BK7 lens is used for light aberration. The depth measurements are obtained without the need for a delicate optical system or scanning process with the developed system. The use of UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer enables this system to analyze the depths of the samples in flow velocity 500 μm/sec. The proposed system provides a straightforward yet highly effective means of determining the depth of moving objects in microfluidic channels in a continuous manner.