BACKGROUND
Proponents of early intervention have argued that outcome might be improved if more therapeutic efforts were focused on the early stages of schizophrenia or on people with prodromal symptoms. Early intervention in schizophrenia has two elements that are distinct from standard care: early detection and phase-specific treatment. Both elements may be offered as supplements to standard care, or may be provided through a specialised early intervention team. Early intervention is now well established as a therapeutic approach in America, Europe and Australasia, but it is unclear how far early detection, phase-specific treatments, and the use of early intervention teams are underpinned by evidence of effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effects of: (a) early detection; (b) phase-specific treatments; and (c) specialised early intervention teams in the treatment of people with prodromal symptoms or first episode psychosis.

SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched CINAHL (1982-2002), The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (November 2001), The Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Register (July 2003), EMBASE (1980-2002), MEDLINE (1966-2002), PsycINFO (1967-2002), reference lists and contacted the European First Episode Network (2003). For the 2006 update we searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's register.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We included all randomised controlled trials designed to prevent progression to psychosis in people showing prodromal symptoms, or to improve outcome for people with first episode psychosis. Eligible interventions, alone and in combination, included early detection, phase-specific treatments, and care from specialised early intervention teams. We accepted cluster-randomised trials but excluded non-randomised trials.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We reliably selected studies, quality rated them and extracted data. For dichotomous data, we estimated relative risks (RR), with the 95% confidence intervals (CI). Where possible, we calculated the number needed to treat/harm statistic (NNT/H) and used intention-to-treat analysis (ITT).

MAIN RESULTS
We included seven studies with a total of 941 participants. Six studies were small with numbers of participants ranging between 56 and 83, and one study randomised 547 people. None of the studies had similar interventions and therefore they were analysed separately. One small Australian trial (n=59) was concerned with a phase-specific intervention (low dose risperidone and cognitive behavioural therapy) for people with prodromal symptoms. This group were significantly less likely to develop psychosis at a six month follow up than people who only received care from a specialised team which did not involve phase-specific treatment (n=59, RR 0.27 CI 0.1 to 0.9, NNT 4 CI 2 to 20). This effect was not significant at 12 month follow up (n=59, 1 RCT, RR 0.54 CI 0.2 to 1.3). A UK-based study (EDIE) randomised 60 people with prodromal symptoms, to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or a monitoring group. Only two outcomes were reported: leaving the study early and transition to psychosis, both sets of data were non-significant. A Chinese trial used a phase-specific intervention (family therapy) plus out patient care trial for people in their first episode of psychosis and found reduced admission rates care compared with those who received only outpatient care (n=83, RR 0.28 CI 0.1 to 0.6, NNT 3 CI 2 to 6). The applicability of this finding was, however, questionable. One Dutch study (n=76) comparing phase-specific intervention (family therapy) plus specialised team with specialised team for people in their first episode of schizophrenia found no difference between intervention and control groups at 12 months for the outcome of relapse (n=76, RR 1.05 CI 0.4 to 3.0). The large Scandinavian study (n=547) allocated people with first episode schizophrenia to integrated treatment (assertive community treatment plus family therapy, social skills training and a modified medication regime) or standard care. Global state outcome GAF significantly favoured integrated treatment (n=419, WMD -3.71 CI -6.7 to -0.7) by one year, but by two years data were non-significant. Rates of attrition were significantly lower (n=547, RR 0.59 CI 0.4 to 0.8, NNT 9 CI 6 to 18) for integrated treatment by one and two year follow-up. PRIME (USA) was the only double blind study and allocated people with prodromal symptoms to olanzapine or placebo. No significant differences were found between olanzapine and placebo in preventing conversion to psychosis by about 12 months (n=60, RR 0.58 CI 0.3 to 1.2). Clinical Global Impression change scores 'severity of illness' were equivocal by 12 months. Scale of Prodromal Symptoms (SOPS) scores were also equivocal and the PANSS, total, positive and negative outcomes were non-significant. There were no significant differences between the olanzapine and placebo group on adverse effects rating scales - SAS, BAS and AIMS scores; Weight gain was significantly higher in the olanzapine group (n=59, WMD 7.63 CI 4.0 to 11.2) by 12 months. Finally one more Australian study included people in their first episode of psychosis who were acutely suicidal and allocated people to phase-specific cognitively orientated therapy or standard care. Outcome data for leaving the study early and suicide were equivocal.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We identified insufficient trials to draw any definitive conclusions. The substantial international interest in early intervention offers an opportunity to make major positive changes in psychiatric practice, but making the most of this opportunity requires a concerted international programme of research to address key unanswered questions.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of cytologic diagnosis, compared with histologic diagnosis, in determination of disease in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates of splenic lesions.

DESIGN
Retrospective study.

SAMPLE POPULATION
Splenic specimens from 29 dogs and 3 cats.

PROCEDURES
Records were searched for dogs and cats that had undergone ultrasound-guided splenic aspiration. Criteria for inclusion were ultrasonographic identification of splenic lesions and cytologic and histologic evaluation of tissue from the same lesion. Cytologic samples were obtained by fine-needle aspiration, and histologic specimens were obtained via surgical biopsy, ultrasound-guided biopsy, or necropsy.

RESULTS
Cytologic diagnoses corresponded with histologic diagnoses in 19 of 31 (61.3%) cases and differed in 5 of 31(16.1%) cases, and 1 aspirate was inadequate for evaluation. In 7 of 31 (22.6%) cases, histologic evaluation of tissue architecture was required to distinguish between reactive and neoplastic conditions. On the basis of histologic diagnosis in 14 animals with nonneoplastic conditions, the cytologic diagnosis was correct in 11 cases, not definitive in 2 cases, and incorrect in 1 case. In 17 animals with malignant neoplastic diseases, the cytologic diagnosis was correct in 8 cases, not definitive but consistent with possible neoplasia in 5 cases, and incorrect in 4 cases. Multiple similar-appearing nodules were significantly associated with malignancy, whereas single lesions were more often benign.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Ultrasound-guided aspiration of splenic lesions is a minimally invasive tool for obtaining specimens for cytologic evaluation. Although cytologic diagnoses often reflect histologic results, if missampling or incomplete sampling occurs or tissue architecture is required to distinguish between reactive and neoplastic conditions, accurate diagnosis with fine-needle aspiration may not be possible.


State attorneys general can and should play an important role in remedying police violations of constitutional rights. In 1994, Congress enacted 42 U.S.C. § 14141 to authorize the U.S. Attorney General to seek equitable relief against state and local police departments engaged in patterns or practices of misconduct. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has used this statute to reform some of the nation's most troubled police departments. However, the DOJ has lacked the resources to pursue more than a few cases each year and the Trump Administration has recently announced it would no longer enforce § 14141.

In response, a small but growing number of state attorneys general have sought to fill the regulatory gap. These attorneys general claim legal standing under the common law doctrine of parens patriae to seek equitable relief in federal court against police departments within their states for violations of constitutional rights — even without any statutory authority for their lawsuits. Allowing these cases to go forward would give state attorneys general expansive and untapped potential as agents of police reform, with significant implications for police practices and accountability.

This Article provides a cautionary tale about uses of parens patriae by state attorneys general and an alternative. It urges that the common law doctrine of parens patriae should not allow state attorneys general to seek equitable relief in federal district court against local police departments engaged in patterns of misconduct. The Article shows that such uses of parens patriae raise numerous doctrinal and policy concerns. Nevertheless, the Article concludes that state attorneys general are uniquely situated to provide a check on abuses by local law enforcement and that they should be given the tools to do so. As an alternative to using common law parens patriae, both Congress and state legislatures should grant state attorneys general explicit statutory authority to seek equitable relief against local police departments. Empowering state attorneys general in this manner has the potential to curb seemingly intractable problems of police violations of constitutional rights.


Athens, NY Hot off an outstanding reception from both the West Coast boating public and industry insiders at the Seattle Boat Show in late January, Elco Motor Yachts, supplier of the powerplant for the award-winning Hunter 27E, will have a major presence at the Atlantic City Boat Show. Set to run from February 2-6 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in the heart of the "Jersey Shore" resort area, the 32nd annual show will give snow-weary East Coast residents an opportunity to inspect the innovative electric propulsion systems produced by Elco Motor Yachts of Athens, NY as well as enjoy an exhibit co-sponsored by Elco, "The History of Boating in America." Nominated for Cruising World Boat of the Year in the 30 Feet and Under class, Hunter's unique craft was named a Green Award winner by Sail magazine and has proven to be a head-turner wherever it has been displayed. While a Hunter 27E will not be on display, representatives of Elco Motor Yachts will be on hand to answer questions related to the craft's "zero emission" electric motor, which produces no noise, vibration, heat or fumes and has an unparalleled emission rating. The propulsion system installed in the Hunter 27E uses a 3-phase AC motor with but one moving part that offers the same thrust as a 14 hp diesel engine. State of the art batteries provide 6-8 hours of power before needing a recharge, which may be supplied by either shore power or the optional "Energy" package that combines onboard solar panels and a wind generator. It is seen by many as a mainstay of pleasure boating in the future. For those unfamiliar with Elco, the company is the nation's oldest manufacturer of electric boats, with a heritage and reputation for quality dating to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This heritage will be illustrated by the 1899 Elco electric launch that will be the centerpiece of the "History of Boating" exhibit, which will also include a fully restored 1937 Syracuse Electric launch. The exhibit, presented by Halls Boat Co. of Lake George, NY in conjunction with Elco, will also feature a variety of photos, videos and related memorabilia chronicling the history of pleasure boating in America along with a 8' model PT boat from the Battle Cove Museum and displays illustrating solar, wind mill and battery developments. The Atlantic City show's hours are 11am to 8 pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.


In this study, we wish to examine official translation (termed sworn translation in Spain) from the point of view of the function and the communicative intent of documents which are the subject of this type of translation. The theoretical basis for an unusual approach to official translation is discussed;its aim is to render communication more effective. The theoretical foundations of this study lie in the functional theory of translation as formulated by Christiane Nord as well as a number of concepts from pragmatics deemed compatible with the above model. Judicial and administrative practices are also drawn upon in the discussion.Considering the process of official translation as a sequence of speech acts, as outlined by Alesandro Ferrara, this study describes the various functions within the sequence which are performed by the examples of documents examined (a British birth certificate, a U.S. birth certificate and an academic transcript from the U.S.).In applying the above approach the components of the document are analysed in relation to the addressee. Official translation fulfils a function and adapts itself to a number of conditions all different from those of the original text. The end result is that a considerable part of the information contained in the original document goes unnoticed in the translated document and even makes its understanding difficult, but the application of a strategy of omission of those elements runs counter to the perspective of the addressee (and quite often also that of the customer) and may affect its acceptability and validity.


This article examines the highly under-researched area of exactly how a market orientation can be successfully implemented within an organisation. Market orientation is the key strategic orientation that assists for-profit organisations achieve improved performance and can potentially also assist charities that play a vital role within society but are facing increasing competition. Utilising a discourse transformation framework to case study a charity that introduced market orientation as its dominant strategic orientation, thematic analysis identifies how management transformed the organisation via a three-phase process and greatly improved performance. The new dominant market orientation was aided by elements of other strategic orientations, particularly entrepreneurialism. Minimal articles have previously examined how management of a charity can successfully implement a market orientation. The article also introduces a discourse transformation perspective into the examination of market orientation and offers charity managers valuable insights to assist performance improvement.


Ralph Cudworth, Doctor of Divinity, Master of Christ's College at Cambridge, and philosophical chieftain of the Cambridge Platonists, published The True Intellectual System of the Universe in 1678 to disprove "the fatal necessity of all actions and events." This disproof would destroy the various atheisms founded upon such "fatal necessity"; it would also correct those Christians who mistakenly honoured God by subjecting men to a divinely administered fate. Cudworth, with a constant eye on Hobbes, whom he did not name, struck at atheism by establishing a "true intellectual system" and by arguing away its principle of fate. His design swelled as he worked to meet the various versions of "fatal necessity" with the various atheisms founded upon them, to establish the true doctrine, and to accommodate his own copious learning, and it swelled too much for the published work to be more than a first instalment of his whole design.


Bacteriophages (phages) are arguably the most abundant biological entities on the planet. They play crucial roles in driving the adaptive evolution of their bacterial hosts, and achieve this both through the predator)prey roles of the phage)bacterium interaction and through the adaptive impacts of lysogeny and lysogenic conversion. Bacteriophages are the source of many biochemical reagents and technologies, indispensible for modern molecular biology. Furthermore, phages are being exploited in other areas of biotechnology, including diagnostics, prophylaxis and other aspects of food microbiology. In recent years there has been a growing interest in developing phages for therapeutic purposes (phage therapy) as natural alternatives to antibiotics. The inexorable rise in the incidence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens, coupled with the disappointingly low rate of emergence of new, clinically useful antibiotics, has refocused attention on the potential utility of phages for treating human and animal disease. Examples of the roles of phages in fundamental biological research and in medical and industrial biotechnologies will be discussed at this meeting A late registration fee applies after Oct 20th 2013 Speakers include


Organic de-icing chemicals, such as propylene glycol and potassium formate, cause environmental degradation in receiving water if left untreated, due to the high organic load resulting in oxygen depletion. Biofilters are commonly used for the treatment of biodegradable organic carbon in water treatment. This study investigated the potential for using biofilters for treating organic de-icing compounds. Lab-scale adsorption tests using filter media made of crushed clay (Filtralite) and granular activated carbon were conducted. Further, a column filtration experiment testing two different crushed clay size ranges was carried out investigating the effect of filter media depth, nutrient addition, and filtration rate. The surrogate parameter used to monitor the removal of de-icing chemicals was dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The adsorption test showed no significant adsorption of DOC was observed. The column test showed that the most active separation occurred in the first ~20 cm of the filter depth. This was confirmed by results from (1) water quality analysis (i.e., DOC removal and adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) measurement); and (2) calculations based on a filtration performance analysis (Iwasaki model) and filter hydraulic evaluation (Lindquist diagram). The results showed that, for the highest C:N:P ratio tested (molar ratio of 24:7:1), 50–60% DOC removal was achieved. The addition of nutrients was found to be important for determining the biofilter performance.


Ambient environments consist of components surrounding the user and offering services. Applications can here be composed opportunistically and automatically by an intelligent system that puts together available components. Thus, applications that are a priori unknown emerge from the environment. The problem is in the intelligible presentation to an average user of those emerging composite applications. Our approach consists in automatic generation of user-oriented application descriptions from unit descriptions of each component and service. For that, we propose a well-defined language for component description and a method for combining descriptions. A prototype has been developed and used to experiment the generation of different composite application descriptions. Based on these experiments, we assess the degree of fulfillment of the requirements we have identified for the problem.


WIT Transactions on Engineering Sciences, Vol 90, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3533 (on-line) © 2015 WIT Press doi:10.2495/MC150291 Materials Characterisation VII 319 In the context of the rising demand for reliability and safety in concrete subjected to blast or impact loading, understanding the bi-axial behavior of concrete under high-strain rate conditions is an issue of great significance in civil engineering. Since concrete is an anisotropic material, the dynamic bi-axial behavior of concrete should be considered when describing a concrete structure subjected blast or impact loading. Concrete subjected to bi-axial high-strain rates loading shows quite different behavior from that under un-axial static loads, because of confinement effect and strain rate effect. Although several dynamic bi-axial models for concrete have been proposed to describe the high-strain rate bi-axial behavior of concrete, it is difficult to reflect the coupled effect of the strain rate and lateral pressure reasonably. To solve this problem, this paper introduces a bi-axial model for concrete under high-strain rate conditions by combining the HJC (Holmquist–Johnson–Cook) model and the bi-axial model proposed by Yan. The proposed model takes into account the strain rate effect with the HJC model and the confining pressure effect with the Yan model independently. A failure envelop consists of the compression–compression region using the proposed model and the tension–tension region using CEB-FIP code. Furthermore, high-strain rate biaxial stress–strain curves for the compression–compression region determined by the proposed model are compared with experimental results, the HJC (Holmquist–Johnson–Cook) model and the K&C (Karagozian & Case) model to verify accuracy of the proposed model. The results indicate that the introduced model can effectively describe the bi-axial compressive behavior of concrete under high-strain rate conditions.


ASSESSING STUDENTS' GAINS FROM THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY by Ramona Adele Milhorn Williams The purpose of this study was to determine what activities from the ETSU experience influence students' opinions about their growth and development. This study also examined the influence of sex, age, and classification in college, Three research questions and five hypotheses were examined. The Third Edition of the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ) was the instrument used in this study. The CSEQ was administered to 50 undergraduate classes at East Tennessee State University during the Spring Semester 1994. There were 19 independent variables and five dependent variables in this study. The 19 independent variables included students' scores on the 14 Quality of Effort Scales along with sex, age, and classification in college. The dependent variables were five factors extracted from the Estimate of Gains Scale. This study utilized a correlational research design with five hierarchical multiple regression models (one for each of the five factors). All hypotheses were tested using an alpha level of .05. Results showed that the five factors extracted accounted for 60.8% of the variance in the Estimate of Gains Scale. The five factors were Factor I (Personal/Social Development), Factor II (Intellectual Skills), Factor III (Science/Technology), Factor IV (General Education, Literature, Arts, and Social Sciences), and Factor V (Vocational Preparation). For each of the five factors, the combined effects of age, sex, classification in college, and the Quality of Effort Scales explained more of the variance in the Estimate of Gains Scale than did age, sex, and classification in college alone.


The relationship between urine-marking and caching was studied in two captive groups of wolves (Canis lupus). It was found that urine-marking never occurred when a cache was stocked, rarely occurred during later investigations if some food was still present, but usually occurred soon after the cache was emptied. The animal marking an empty cache was often not the one which had exploited it. Once an empty cache was marked it received little further attention, as opposed to caches that were empty but not urine-marked. These results suggest that urine-marking may enhance foraging efficiency in wolves by signalling that a site contains no more edible food despite the presence of lingering food odors.


Thomas Reid is often misread as defending common sense, if at all, only by relying on illicit premises about God or our natural faculties. On these theological or reliabilist misreadings, Reid makes common sense assertions where he cannot give arguments. This paper attempts to untangle Reid's defense of common sense by distinguishing four arguments: (a) the argument from madness, (b) the argument from natural faculties, (c) the argument from impotence, and (d) the argument from practical commitment. Of these, (a) and (c) do rely on problematic premises that are no more secure than claims of common sense itself. Yet (b) and (d) do not. This conclusion can be established directly by considering the arguments informally, but one might still worry that there is an implicit premise in them. In order to address this concern, I reconstruct the arguments in the framework of subjective Bayesianism. The worry becomes this: Do the arguments rely on specific values for the prior probability of some premises? Reid's appeals to our prior cognitive and practical commitments do not. Rather than relying on specific probability assignments, they draw on things that are part of the Bayesian framework itself, such as the nature of observation and the connection between belief and action. Contra the theological or reliabilist readings, the defense of common sense does not require indefensible premises.


We use the GEOS-Chem model to interpret long-term measurements of tropospheric $ {O}_{3}$ and CO and to investigate the factors that contribute to their interannual variation (IAV) during the period from 1987 to 2005 with a focus on the northern mid-latitudes. We find that the model reproduces relatively well the observed IAV of $ {O}_{3}$ and CO in general, except the negative anomalies in $ {O}_{3}$ from 1991 to 1993 as well as the following upward trend in 1993-1996 observed at several sites in the northern mid-latitudes which are not represented by the model. We suggest that this likely results from a poor representation of stratospheric chemistry and dynamics in the model. Using a variety of sensitivity and tagged $ {O}_{3}$ simulations, we examine in details the period of 1998-1999, when a large anomaly in TOC is observed and simulated over Europe (maximum of +4.9 DU or +14% in February 1998). Three consecutive periods can be distinguished during this longlasting anomaly, during which different processes affected the $ {O}_{3}$ burden over Europe. The first period (spring 1998) is more largely influenced by the preceding 1997 El Nino that affects 1) stratosphere-troposphere exchange and 2) Asian pollution export and transport towards Europe by a change in convective activity in East Asia and a strengthening of the subtropical jet stream. An enhanced pollution export from North America is also noticed for this period. The second period (summer-fall 1998) shows a mixed influence from boreal wildfires occurring in summer 1998 and from Asian pollution. The third period is more significantly influenced by enhanced wildfires in Southeast Asia. Throughout the period from 1997 to 2005, positive anomalies in tropospheric $ {O}_{3}$ column and in surface $ {O}_{3}$ are found over Europe the following spring of an El Nino year.


This study was designed to characterize the growth parameters of the albacore, Thunnus alalunga, in the eastern Mediterranean. A total of 819 albacore specimens were collected from gillnet boats operating in Antalya Bay (in the Levantine Sea) between May and July from 2006 to 2008. Individuals were all between 55 and 101 cm in fork length (FL). The fork length was directly proportional to weight, with a relationship of W = 0.00042FL2.246 for females, W = 0.00022FL2.396 for males, and W = 0.00016FL2.467 for males and females combined. Negatively allometric growth was observed in all individuals. Age and growth were estimated by assessing seasonal bands formed on the first dorsal spines of 744 specimens. Albacore samples were estimated to be between 1 and 9 years old. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated for all individuals and for males and females independently. There were significant differences between growth patterns in males and females. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for both sexes and all years combined were L\infinity = 93.198 cm, W\infinity = 11.552, k= 0.295 year-1 and to = -1.213 years.


The Zhu-Nakamura formulas based on on-the-fly trajectory surface hopping dynamics simulations at the two-state-averaged CASSCF level were employed to investigate the E → Z photoisomerization mechanisms of hemithioindigo-hemistilbene (HTI) upon S1 excitation. Seven conical intersections were observed along the isomerization pathways, which were composed of double bond torsion, benzene ring torsion, inversion and pyramidalization motions, and only three of them were found to play a role in the dynamics simulations started at S1E-HTI. The dominant isomerization pathway proceeds via central double bond torsion together with pyramidal and tilt motions to some extent (hop via CI5) and accounts for all the reactive trajectories. On the other hand, the two pathways that involve the conical zones lie in the vicinity of the E-form Franck-Condon region (CI7) and proceed along the combined central double bond and benzene ring torsion route (CI3/CI4) with generation of the E products. Within the 332 simulated trajectories, 66 hop to the ground state and only 19 switch to the Z product. The estimated quantum yield of 0.057 (19 in 332) agrees well with the reported experimental value of 0.053 ± 0.016. The excited-state lifetimes span a wide region from hundreds of femtoseconds to several picoseconds, depending on the time for vibrational relaxation and number of cycles for periodical mixed mode torsion.


Retailers are aiming to enhance customer experience by automating the checkout process. The key impediment here is the effort to manually align the product barcode with the scanner, requiring sequential handling of items without blocking the line-of-sight of the laser beam. While recent systems such as Amazon Go eliminate human involvement using an extensive array of cameras, we propose a privacy-preserving alternative, RFGo, that identifies products using passive RFID tags. Foregoing continuous monitoring of customers throughout the store, RFGo scans the products in a dedicated checkout area that is large enough for customers to simply walk in and stand until the scan is complete (in two seconds). Achieving such low-latency checkout is not possible with traditional RFID readers, which decode tags using one antenna at a time. To overcome this, RFGo includes a custom-built RFID reader that simultaneously decodes a tag's response from multiple carrier-level synchronized antennas enabling a large set of tag observations in a very short time. RFGo then feeds these observations to a neural network that accurately distinguishes the products within the checkout area from those that are outside. We build a prototype of RFGo and evaluate its performance in challenging scenarios. Our experiments show that RFGo is extremely accurate, fast and well-suited for practical deployment in apparel stores.


In this study, it was aimed to determinate beneficial effects of Nerolidol (NLR) against reproductive toxicity caused by Thioacetamide (TAA). Male, 3-4-months-old, rats (n=32) were divided into four groups. Group-1 was kept as control and given corn oil as carrier. Group-2 received TAA (200 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.), two times per week) for 3 weeks, in group-3; NRL was orally administered at the dose of 100 mg/kg per every other day by gavages, group-4; 200 mg/kg TAA and 100 mg/kg NRL were given. Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) and reduced Glutathione (GSH) levels, Catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX), sperm parameters and reproductive organs weight were determined. TAA caused a significant rise in TBARS level and a significant reduce in GPX, CAT, SOD and GSH levels in the testicular tissues compared with the control group, while NLR led to significant reduce in lipid peroxidation via decreasing TBARS level and increasing the levels of GPX, CAT, SOD and GSH. Besides, sperm parameters significantly reduced, and pathologic testicular damage increased with TAA exposure. However, these effects of TAA on sperm parameters and histopathological changes were reversed by NLR treatment. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the management of TAA induced the testicular damage and NLR prevented thioacetamide-induced testicular damage in rats.


Graphene/polypyrrole (PPy) composite film was prepared by simple electrodeposition of graphite oxide and pyrrole mixture under acid conditions. The morphology, composition, and electronic structure of the composites were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Based on the fast redox property of PPy and high conductivity of graphene, the prepared composite film could be constructed to a supercapacitor device directly. The electrochemical performances of the supercapacitor were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The composites showed better electrochemical performances than the individual components. A high specific capacitance of 335 F·g-1 was obtained with the capacitance retention of 85% after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 A·g-1 by charge-discharge analysis between 0 and +1.0 V. The enhanced specific capacitance and cycling life implied a synergistic effect of graphene and PPy.


We describe a technique to synthesize DNA homopolymers on a surface using surface-initiated enzymatic polymerization (SIEP) with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdTase), an enzyme that repetitively adds mononucleotides to the 3'-end of oligonucleotides. The thickness of the synthesized DNA layer was found to depend on the deoxymononucleotide monomer, in the order of dATP > dTTP > dGTP approximately dCTP. In addition, the composition and the surface density of oligonucleotide initiators were also important in controlling the extent of DNA polymerization. The extension of single-stranded DNA chains by SIEP was further verified by their binding to antibodies specific to oligonucleotides. TdTase-mediated SIEP can also be used to grow spatially defined three-dimensional DNA structures by soft lithography and is a new tool for bioinspired fabrication at the micro- and nanoscale.


In the present work, Fourier Analysis is applied to the mean monthly NOx concentrations of the period 1989-1999, for a network of 7 stations. Treating NO and NO2 as a single primary pollutant, we succeeded the assessment of NOx concentrations. The main causes of NOx emissions in urban areas are the road traffic and the industrial activity. The annual variation of NOx concentration is well described with only two harmonic components, which explain over 90% of the total variance. The spatial distribution of the time of maximum, for every one of the two harmonic components in Athens basin, is also presented.


PURPOSE
Studies were conducted to examine the effect of hydrogen peroxide on active sodium-potassium transport in a cell line derived from nonpigmented ciliary epithelium of the rabbit eye.

METHODS
Studies were carried out using a rabbit nonpigmented ciliary epithelium cell line. 86Rb uptake by intact cells was measured in the presence or absence of ouabain. The ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake rate was used as an index of the rate of active sodium-potassium transport. Cell sodium content was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Na,K-ATPase activity was determined by measuring ATP hydrolysis in the presence or absence of ouabain, using membrane material isolated by centrifugation of cell homogenates.

RESULTS
Ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake rate measured in cells that had been preincubated with 200microM hydrogen peroxide for either 30 min or 60 min was increased to 196% and 181% of the control uptake rate, respectively. Lesser concentrations of hydrogen peroxide caused lesser degrees of stimulation. 200microM hydrogen peroxide caused an increase of cell sodium content. Such a change of cell sodium content is likely to be responsible, at least in part, for the observed stimulation of active sodium-potassium transport. However, the response may also be partly dependent on activation of a protein kinase since the serine/threonine protein kinase inhibitors staurosporine (1microM) and H-89 (20microM) were both found to prevent the stimulatory effect of 200microM hydrogen peroxide on ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake. Interestingly, neither H-89 nor staurosporine prevented the elevation of sodium content in cells that received 200microM hydrogen peroxide.

CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these findings suggest a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide causes increased sodium entry into the cell and also activates a protein kinase-dependent mechanism for sodium pump stimulation. The protein kinase-dependent mechanism does not appear to be triggered by an increased rate of sodium entry since staurosporine did not prevent the stimulation of ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake elicited by an increase in sodium permeability caused by amphotericin B.


The exchange of energy and nutrients are integral components of ecological functions of benthic shallow‐water ecosystems and are directly dependent on in situ environmental conditions. Traditional laboratory experiments cannot account for the multidimensionality of interacting processes when assessing metabolic rates and biogeochemical fluxes of structurally complex benthic communities. Current in situ chamber systems are expensive, limited in their functionality and the deployment is often restricted to planar habitats (e.g. sediments or seagrass meadows) only. To overcome these constraints, we describe a protocol to build and use non‐invasive, cost‐effective and easy to handle in situ incubation chambers that provide reproducible measurements of biogeochemical processes in simple and structurally complex benthic shallow‐water communities. Photogrammetry tools account for the structural complexity of benthic communities, enabling to calculate accurate community fluxes. We tested the performance of the system in laboratory assays and various benthic habitats (i.e. algae growing on rock, coral assemblages, sediments and seagrass meadows). In addition, we estimated community budgets of photosynthesis and respiration by corals, rock with algae and carbonate sediments, which were subsequently compared to budgets extrapolated from conventional ex situ single‐organism incubations. The tests highlight the transparency (>90% light transmission) of the chambers and minimal water exchange with the surrounding medium on most substrates. Linear dissolved oxygen fluxes in dependence to incubation time showed sufficient mixing of the water by circulation pumps and no organismal stress response. The comparison to single‐organism incubations showed that ex situ measurements might overestimate community‐wide net primary production and underestimate respiration and gross photosynthesis by 20%–90%. The proposed protocol overcomes the paucity of observational and manipulative studies that can be performed in in situ native habitats, thus producing widely applicable and realistic assessments on the community level. Importantly, the tool provides a standardized approach to compare community functions across a wide range of benthic habitats. We identify multiple experimental strategies, including the manipulation of stressors/factors, and discuss how the method may be implemented in a variety of aquatic studies.


This study provides an analysis of specific performance indicators for water utilities in four countries, Albania, Hungary, Poland and Romania. The annual operational and staff cost indicators from records of the IBNET database have been analysed. Statistical analysis indicates significant differences between the fraction of energy and labour operational costs among the countries studied. Some statistically significant correlations of performance within financial indicators are also revealed. The results can provide input for more in-depth technical and economic analysis for water utilities.


It is our comprehension that Consciousness is both transcendent and immanent as similarly understood in Hinduism. The transcendental aspect of Consciousness produces and influences reality through self-referential spin as the interactive output of Consciousness. In turn, reality produces and influences immanent aspect of Consciousness as the interactive input to Consciousness through self-referential spin. The spin-mediated consciousness theory as originally proposed has mainly dealt with the immanent aspect of Consciousness which is driven by the self-referential spin processes. This paper focuses and "regurgitates" on the transcendental aspect of Consciousness which drives the self-referential spin processes.


In The Well-Played Game, games guru Bernard De Koven explores the interaction of play and games, offering players -- as well as game designers, educators, and scholars -- a guide to how games work. De Koven's classic treatise on how human beings play together, first published in 1978, investigates many issues newly resonant in the era of video and computer games, including social gameplay and player modification. The digital game industry, now moving beyond its emphasis on graphic techniques to focus on player interaction, has much to learn from The Well-Played Game. De Koven explains that when players congratulate each other on a "well-played" game, they are expressing a unique and profound synthesis that combines the concepts of play (with its associations of playfulness and fun) and game (with its associations of rule-following). This, he tells us, yields a larger concept: the experience and expression of excellence. De Koven -- affectionately and appreciatively hailed by Eric Zimmerman as "our shaman of play" -- explores the experience of a well-played game, how we share it, and how we can experience it again; issues of cheating, fairness, keeping score, changing old games (why not change the rules in pursuit of new ways to play?), and making up new games; playing for keeps; and winning. His book belongs on the bookshelves of players who want to find a game in which they can play well, who are looking for others with whom they can play well, and who have discovered the relationship between the well-played game and the well-lived life.


The leadership of the principal is directly tied to the success or demise of a school. Principals assume various leadership roles including those of educational leader, decision maker, visionary for change, supervisor of faculty and staff, and communicator with various stakeholders. This study investigates the alignment between the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards and the successful strategies of outstanding first year principals as well as the behaviors and skills various stakeholders identify as crucial to the first year principal's success. The topic of outstanding first year principals is important for two reasons. First, strong leadership results in effective schools. Second, understanding the elements of outstanding leadership can have implications regarding the preparation of first year principals in educational leadership programs. This qualitative case study examined five award-winning principals during the period from 2006 to 2010. The primary sources of data included interviews with each principal, interviews with a select focus group, and a content analysis of the nominating packet contents. The results indicate that the principals had a command of the ISLLC standards, were especially skilled with relationships, removed the need for selfrecognition and possessed the trait of withitness. The results of this study provide school districts, school leadership teams, and administrative programs the opportunity to engage in an active dialogue around those areas which can be challenging and more difficult to teach (relationship building, withitness, and


The recently celebrated discovery of the Higgs boson has captivated the public's imagination with the promise that it can explain the origins of everything in the universe. It's no wonder that the media refers to it grandly as the "God particle." Yet behind closed doors, physicists are admitting that there is much more to this story, and even years of gunning the Large Hadron Collider and herculean number crunching may still not lead to a deep understanding of the laws of nature. In this fascinating and eye-opening account, theoretical physicist Alexander Unzicker and science writer Sheilla Jones offer a polemic. They question whether the large-scale, multinational enterprises actually lead us to the promised land of understanding the universe. The two scientists take us on a tour of contemporary physics and show how a series of highly publicized theories met a dead end. Unzicker and Jones systematically unpack the recent hot theories such as "parallel universes," "string theory," and "inflationary cosmology," and provide an accessible explanation of each. They argue that physics has abandoned its evidence-based roots and shifted to untestable mathematical theories, and they issue a clarion call for the science to return to its experimental foundation.


CASIMIR INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SCATTERERS IN CARBON NANOTUBES Dina Zhabinskaya Eugene J. Mele, advisor In this thesis we calculate interactions between localized scatterers in metallic carbon nanotubes. Backscattering of electrons between localized scatterers mediates long range forces between them. These interactions are mapped to Casimir forces mediated by one-dimensional massless fermions and calculated using a force operator approach. We first study interactions between scatterers described by spinor polarized potentials relevant to the single-valley problem in carbon nanotubes. We obtain the force between two finite width square barriers, and take the limit of zero width and infinite potential strength to study the Casimir force mediated by the fermions. For the case of identical scatterers we recover the conventional attractive one dimensional Casimir force. For the general problem with inequivalent scatterers we find that the magnitude and sign of this force depend on the relative spinor polarizations of the two scattering potentials which can be tuned to give an attractive, a repulsive, or a compensated null Casimir interaction. Next, we generalize our work on the single-valley Casimir problem to study interactions between physically realizable scatterers in nanotubes. We model spatially localized scatterers by local and non-local potentials and treat simultaneously the effects of intravalley and intervalley backscattering. We find that the long range forces between scatterers exhibit the universal power law decay of the Casimir force in one dimension, with prefactors that control the sign and strength of the interaction. These prefactors are nonuniversal and depend on the symmetry and degree of localization of the scattering potentials. We find that local potentials inevitably lead to a coupled valley scattering problem, though by contrast non-local potentials lead to two decoupled single-valley problems. The Casimir effect due to two-valley scattering potentials is characterized by the appearance of spatially periodic modulations of the force. iv


A new and effective nonintrusive method for characterization of N coupled waveguides is presented. The method is able to furnish readily the coupling parameters of most significance, and furnishes in addition, a way of assessment of overall device quality and performance. The procedure is based on a semi-empirical implementation of coupled mode theory, by means of which different functions are defined for different input configurations. In a well-functioning device, all these function should attain a common single minimum, out of which the coupling coefficient and additional parameters of the device are deduced. Devices were fabricated on Z-cut LiNbO/sub 3/ crystals by in-diffusion of titanium. The method was applied in order to measure the wavelength and polarization dependence of the coupling coefficient.


This groundbreaking book reconceptualizes slavery through the voices of enslaved persons themselves, voices that have remained silent in the narratives of conventional history. Focusing in particular on the Islamic Middle East from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century, Ehud R. Toledano examines how bonded persons experienced enslavement in Ottoman societies. He draws on court records and a variety of other unexamined primary sources to uncover important new information about the Africans and Circassians who were forcibly removed from their own societies and transplanted to Middle East cultures that were alien to them. Toledano also considers the experiences of these enslaved people within the context of the global history of slavery. The book looks at the bonds of slavery from an original perspective, moving away from the traditional master/slave domination paradigm toward the point of view of the enslaved and their responses to their plight. With keen and original insights, Toledano suggests new ways of thinking about enslavement.


A steady decline in Arctic sea ice has been observed over recent decades. General circulation models predict further decreases under increasing greenhouse gas scenarios. Sea ice plays an important role in the climate system in that it influences ocean-to-atmosphere fluxes, surface albedo, and ocean buoyancy. The aim of this study is to isolate the climate impacts of a declining Arctic sea ice cover during the current century. The Hadley Centre Atmospheric Model (HadAM3) is forced with observed sea ice from 1980 to 2000 (obtained from satellite passive microwave radiometer data derived with the Bootstrap algorithm) and predicted sea ice reductions until 2100 under one moderate scenario and one severe scenario of ice decline, with a climatological SST field and increasing SSTs. Significant warming of the Arctic occurs during the twenty-first century (mean increase of between 1.6° and 3.9°C), with positive anomalies of up to 22°C locally. The majority of this is over ocean and limited to high latitudes, in contrast to recent observations of Northern Hemisphere warming. When a climatological SST field is used, statistically significant impacts on climate are only seen in winter, despite prescribing sea ice reductions in all months. When correspondingly increasing SSTs are incorporated, changes in climate are seen in both winter and summer, although the impacts in summer are much smaller. Alterations in atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns are more widespread than temperature, extending down to midlatitude storm tracks. Results suggest that areas of Arctic land ice may even undergo net accumulation due to increased precipitation that results from loss of sea ice. Intensification of storm tracks implies that parts of Europe may experience higher precipitation rates.


Sexual activity is an important aspect of quality of life and contributes to healing and recovery. Adequate information may minimize post-operative risks and improve wellbeing. The aim of this literature review was to identify and review articles regarding the information on sexual activity after hip replacement provided to or obtained by patients and partners prior to their hip replacement surgery. The literature search was performed in the following databases: CINAHL, PubMed/Medline, MEDLINE (via Ebscoost) and Scopus. The results underline the importance of providing hip replacement patients and partners with relevant information, to reduce their concerns and improve their satisfaction and quality of life. Such information could promote person-centered care for patient and partner, and increase long-term cost-effectiveness for the healthcare organization. Information to patients and partners on post-hip-replacement sexual limitations has not been closely studied. Further research is needed to help healthcare providers promote patients' and partners' sexual health and quality of life and improve wellbeing.


Abstract. This study presents an original method to evaluate key parameters for the estimation of the direct radiative effect (DRE) of aerosol above clouds: the absorption of the the cloud albedo. It is based on multi-angle total and polarized radiances both provided by the A-train satellite instrument POLDER – Polarization and Directionality of Earth Reflectances. The sensitivities brought by each kind of measurements are used in a complementary way. Polarization mostly translates scattering processes and is thus used to estimate scattering aerosol optical thickness and aerosol size. On the other hand, total radiances, together with the scattering properties of aerosols, are used to evaluate the absorption optical thickness of aerosols and cloud optical thickness. The retrieval of aerosol and clouds properties (i.e., aerosol and cloud optical thickness, aerosol single scattering albedo and Angstrom exponent) is restricted to homogeneous and optically thick clouds (cloud optical thickness larger than 3). In addition, a procedure has been developed to process the shortwave DRE of aerosols above clouds. Three case studies have been selected: a case of absorbing biomass burning aerosols above clouds over the southeast Atlantic Ocean, a Siberian biomass burning event and a layer of Saharan dust above clouds off the northwest coast of Africa. Besides these case studies, both algorithms have been applied to the southeast Atlantic Ocean and the results have been averaged during August 2006. The mean DRE is found to be 33.5 W m−2 (warming). Finally, the effect of the heterogeneity of clouds has been investigated and reveals that it affects mostly the retrieval of the cloud optical thickness and not greatly the aerosols properties. The homogenous cloud assumption used in both the properties retrieval and the DRE processing leads to a slight underestimation of the DRE.


In 2013 George Mason University research librarians seized the opportunity to craft an exhibit space in the main corridor of Fenwick Library. This article presents adventures in management and partnerships as well as lessons learned. We also demonstrate how Fenwick Gallery's exhibits increase the library visibility and value by engaging, enlightening, and educating passersby.


Purpose: To specify a Variable Elasticity of Substitution function (VES), in which the estimated Elasticity of Substitution (ES) can give some implications for the tendency of economic growth in the Vietnames manufacturing sector.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The contribution and the relevant methodology is based on the Bayesian approach having some advantages over the frequentist method: (i) the simulation and prediction results are more reliable in Bayesian analysis due to combining prior knowledge about parameters with obverved data to compose a posterior model, whereas the frequentist approach is based only on available data; (ii) in probability sense, Bayesian credible intervals have a straightforward interpretation compared to frequentist confidence intervals. The Bayesian nonlinear regresion performed is suitable for fitting production functions and depicting economic growth.

Findings: The specified VES function has the ES greater than one and this finding contradicts many previous empirical studies in the growth theory. This result points to the possibility of unbounded endogenous growth in the Vietnamese manufacturing sector.

Practical implications: Based on the empirical results, in order to realize the possibility of endogenous growth for the studied Vietnamese manufacturing sector, policies of enforcing investment are needed. To raise the level of science and technique, as well as human capital of the Vietnamese enterprises, at the same time, there is great necessity to encourage R&D activities in both the private and public sectors.

Originality/Value: Although this study organically builds upon recent studies about the link between the VES, the elasticity of factor subsitution and economic growth, its results proved that the VES is more appropriate than the Cobb-Douglas and the Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) to explain economic growth in the view of capital-labor relationship.


The evolution of chain transfer agents (CTAs) was studied for the polymerization of styrene by reverse iodine transfer polymerization (RITP). CTAs are formed during an inhibition period where the radical initiator reacts with molecular iondine. These compounds were studied using in situ1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. The molecular weight of polystyrene was evaluated with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and 1H NMR. Structural analysis of the resulting polymers was done using 1H NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI–ToF) mass spectrometry. The inhibition period of styrene polymerized by RITP was much shorter than expected. This is due to the consumption of iodine in the reaction between styrene and iodine which reversibly forms 1,2-diiodoethylbenzene leading to the subsequent formation of 1-phenylethyl iodide (1-PEI). For the first time the formation of 1,2-diiodoethylbenzene as an intermediate structure in RITP of styrene has been proven...


This thesis considers conflicting representational strategies used by Christian missionaries in displaying Melanesian people to white audiences in the West with particular reference to films made during the period of colonial modernity between 1917 and 1935. Most scholarly work on Christian mission in the Pacific has focussed on the nineteenth century and on the effect of Christianisation on indigenous populations, rather than on the effect of mission propaganda on Western communities. This thesis repositions mission propaganda as an important alternative source of visual imagery of the Melanesian 'Other' available to white popular audiences.  Within a broader commercial market that commodified Western notions of Melanesian 'savagery' via illustrated travelogue magazines and commercial multi-media shows, missionaries trod an uneasy knife-edge in how they transmitted indigenous imagery and mediated cultural difference for white consumers. Five case-studies consider missionary propaganda from four Christian denominations in disparate parts of Melanesia. They reveal a temporal trajectory in the conflicted but symbiotic relationship between, on one hand, missionary organisations interested in propagandising their work and, on the other, travelogue-adventurers operating with commercial motives. This trajectory follows missionaries as they move from facilitation of travelogue-adventurers, through passive commissioning of their services, then active collaboration, and finally to autonomous film-making in their own right.  I consider how white missionaries played a pivotal role in both enabling and subverting the dominance of the prevailing commercial paradigm of the period: that Melanesians are by nature and definition 'savages' and 'head-hunters' residing in a thrilling, timeless, virtual place called 'Cannibal-Land.' These contradictory impulses, I contend, destabilised both Christian and 'Cannibal-land' stereotypes. This destabilising effect was not restricted to film, but I suggest that it was amplified by the use of the quintessentially modern medium of moving images. I argue that film – particularly film made by missionaries – posed an implicit challenge to the essentially literary trope of 'Cannibal-land'. Moving images offered a more unruly medium within and around which indigenous Melanesians of the colonial era could sometimes display what I term a radical visibility that escaped and transcended both types of Western stereotype.


The construct of calling has received substantial recent attention in vocational research. This article reports on the development of a scale designed to measure parents' subjective sense of calling in the childrearing role. Using exploratory, parallel, and confirmatory factor analysis, two studies revealed a three-factor, eleven item scale that measured calling in childrearing. Reliability findings are reported, as are convergent and discriminant validity. Parental subjective sense of calling in childrearing was positively associated with authoritative parenting style, importance of parenting, pleasure of parenting, parenting satisfaction, presence of meaning in life, satisfaction with life, savouring, and positive affect. The construct was negatively related to age, income, and the sense that parenting is a burden. Calling in childrearing is similar to calling in vocation, and appears related to optimal outcomes for those who possess it.


Many counterterrorism efforts in last decades, and especially since 9/11, have been plagued with doubts as to whether or not they actually make us safer. Unfortunately, the terrorism research that is needed to better plan and evaluate counterterrorism efforts has suffered from both a lack of sufficient rigour and lack of influence on policy-making. This article reviews the state of terrorism research and evidence-based practice in counterterrorism, and the challenges to both. A framework is proposed for the kind of research that needs to be conducted in order to develop evidence-based counterterrorism programs as well as the subsequent evaluative research on existing programs as part of a wider quality improvement program. The argument is made that there is a need for a concrete infrastructure of evidence-based practice and quality improvement in counterterrorism to ensure the best outcomes for national security. The components of a full spectrum quality improvement program in counterterrorism are described. Insights are garnered from the field of medicine, which has recently delved full force into evidence-based practice and quality improvement.


Abstract As China continues to open up to the transnational circulation of labor, ideas, technology and capital under globalization, we must wonder: will Chinese society's more cosmopolitan and transnational groups continue to be guided by guanxi? The authors conducted 40 in-depth interviews with Chinese physicists at 11 research universities in three cities in order to examine the role of ethics, including guanxi, in the professional lives of one of China's most cosmopolitan populations, the elite scientific community. Analysis reveals, counter-intuitively, that Chinese physicists very much think about guanxi in relation to their research grants and scientific collaboration, that the ethical connotation of guanxi is contextual, and that some see it as a double-edged sword. They realize that guanxi can empower the individual scientist and the scientific community even as it weakens them both.


Recessive mutations in the human PARKIN gene are the most common cause of hereditary parkinsonism, which arises from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the loss of parkin causes dopaminergic neurodegeneration are not well understood. Parkin is an enzyme that ubiquitinates several candidate substrate proteins and thereby targets them for proteasomal degradation. Hypothesis-driven searches have led to the discovery of aggregation-prone protein substrates of parkin. Moreover, the enzyme is upregulated when under unfolded protein stress. Thus, loss-of-function mutations of parkin might impair the removal of potentially toxic protein aggregates. However, the limited neuropathological information that is available from parkin-proven patients, as well as the recent knockout of the parkin gene in fruit flies and mice, may indicate a more complex disease mechanism, possibly involving the misfolding of parkin itself or of additional substrates. The risk factors that predispose dopaminergic neurons to degenerate on parkin failure are yet to be identified.


Research shows that human operant behavior typically differs from non-human operant behavior on schedules of reinforcement. These differences in performance may be related to differences between the experimental preparations used to study human and non-human operant behavior. One such difference is the type of reinforcer used. This experiment analyzed the differential effects of points alone, points backed up by money, and sounds on schedule performance of human subjects. Results show that sounds generated moderate rates of responding, capable of change in either direction. When points backed up with money were the reinforcers, however, high rates of behavior were generated, disrupting the previously established baseline performance. This suggests that while points may be effective in generating high rates of behavior, they may be ineffective in producing sensitive baselines needed to study human operant behavior on schedules of reinforcement.


Background: No previously published research has investigated public awareness and knowledge of Right Hemisphere Communication Disorders (RHCD). In comparison, there are a handful of published studies that have investigated public awareness and knowledge of aphasia. The results of these studies indicate that awareness and knowledge is low but has marginally increased in recent years, due to international efforts to raise the public profile of the disorder. Aims: The current study investigated public awareness and knowledge of RHCD and compared it to that of aphasia. Information regarding awareness and knowledge of stroke was also determined for those participants who did not have awareness of RHCD or aphasia. Methods & Procedures: A face-to-face survey of 87 members of the public was undertaken in North West London, United Kingdom. Outcomes and Results: Of the 87 survey respondents, only 9.2% reported having heard of RHCD and 4.6% met the criteria for having basic knowledge of this disorder. In comparison, 32.2% of participants had heard of aphasia and 24% had basic knowledge about it. While the results show that fewer people were aware and had knowledge of RHCD compared to aphasia, this difference was not significant. Of those participants who had heard of neither disorder, all had heard of and the majority had knowledge of stroke. Conclusions: The findings suggested that awareness of RHCD amongst members of the public is low. It is suggested that in order to improve quality of services, funding and social re-integration following a right hemisphere stroke, raising public awareness and knowledge is necessary.


Cognitive Radio (CR) enables unlicensed or Secondary Users (SUs) to operate in underutilized spectrum (or white spaces) owned by licensed or Primary Users (PUs) conditional upon PU encountering acceptable interference levels. A Distributed Cognitive Radio Network (DCRN) is a distributed wireless network established by a number of SUs in the absence of fixed network infrastructure such as a base station. Cognition Cycle (CC) is the key concept of CR to provide intelligence to SUs so that they are able to sense for white spaces and carry out an optimal or near-optimal joint action on its operating environment for network-wide performance enhancement. The CC can be applied in various applications in DCRNs such as dynamic channel selection, topology management, congestion control, and scheduling. Popular artificial intelligence approaches such as Reinforcement Learning (RL) have been widely applied to realize the conceptual CC. As with other computer networks, there are security aspects in DCRN but the research into them is still in its infancy. To the best of our knowledge, no attempt has been made to date to investigate security vulnerabilities in DCRN as a result of the application of RL. This paper aims to spark new research interest in this area. We provide our initial investigation on security vulnerabilities, as well as their mitigation, in RL-based applications in DCRNs.


Waterfront regeneration and development represents a unique opportunity to spatially and visually alter cities worldwide. However, its multi-faceted nature entails city-building with all its complexity including the full range of organizations involved and how they interact. This book examines how more inclusive stakeholder involvement has been attempted in the nine cities that took part in the European Union funded Waterfront Communities Project. It focuses on analyzing the experience of creating new public realms through city-building activities. These public realms include negotiation arenas in which different discourses meet and are created – including those of planners, urban designers and architects, politicians, developers, landowners and community groups – as well as physical environments where the new city districts' public life can take place, drawing lessons for waterfront regeneration worldwide.

The book opens with an introduction to waterfront regeneration and then provides a framework for analyzing and comparing waterfront redevelopments, which is followed by individual case study chapters highlighting specific topics and issues including land ownership and control, decision making in planning processes, the role of planners in public space planning, visions for waterfront living, citizen participation, design-based waterfront developments, young peoples' involvement, a social approach to urban waterfront regeneration and successful place making. Significant findings include the difficulty of integrating long term 'sustainability' into plans and the realization that climate change adaptation needs to be explicitly integrated into regeneration planning. The transferable insights and ideas in this book are ideal for practising and student urban planners and designers working on developing plans for long-term sustainable waterfront regeneration anywhere in the world.


Automatic speech recognition (ASR) can be very helpful for speakers who suffer from dysarthria, a neurological disability that damages the control of motor speech articulators. Although a few attempts have been made to apply ASR technologies to sufferers of dysarthria, previous studies show that such ASR systems have not attained an adequate level of performance. In this study, a dysarthric multi-networks speech recognizer (DM-NSR) model is provided using a realization of multi-views multi-learners approach called multi-nets artificial neural networks, which tolerates variability of dysarthric speech. In particular, the DM-NSR model employs several ANNs (as learners) to approximate the likelihood of ASR vocabulary words and to deal with the complexity of dysarthric speech. The proposed DM-NSR approach was presented as both speaker-dependent and speaker-independent paradigms. In order to highlight the performance of the proposed model over legacy models, multi-views single-learner models of the DM-NSRs were also provided and their efficiencies were compared in detail. Moreover, a comparison among the prominent dysarthric ASR methods and the proposed one is provided. The results show that the DM-NSR recorded improved recognition rate by up to 24.67% and the error rate was reduced by up to 8.63% over the reference model.


Abstract The Blatné Depression located in the NW part of the Danube Basin represents the northernmost sub-basins of the Pannonian Basin System. Its subsidence is associated with oblique collision of the Central Western Carpathians with the European platform, followed by the back-arc basin rifting stage in the Pannonian domain. The conglomerates recognized in the Cífer-2 well document the latest Burdigalian–early Langhian deposition in fan delta lobes situated above the footwall and hanging wall of a WSW–ENE trending fault system, the activity of which preceded the opening of the late Langhian–Serravallian accommodation space with a NE–SW direction. The provenance area of the "Cífer conglomerate" was linked to the Tatric Super-unit complexes. Similar rocks crop out in the southern part of the Malé Karpaty Mts. and are also present in the pre-Cenozoic basement of the Danube Basin. Documented extensive erosion of the crystalline basement and its sedimentary cover lasted until the early/middle Miocene boundary. The "Cífer conglomerate" has distinct clast composition. The basal part consists of poorly sorted conglomerate with sub-angular clasts of metamorphic rocks. Toward the overlying strata, the clasts consist of poorly sorted conglomerates with sub-rounded to well-rounded carbonates and granitoids. The uppermost part consists of poorly sorted conglomerates with sub-rounded to rounded clasts of carbonate, granitoid and metamorphic rock. Within the studied samples a transition from clast to matrix supported conglomerates was observed.


In rainfall–runoff modeling, the wavelet-ANN model, which includes a wavelet transform to capture multi-scale features of the process, as well as an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the runoff discharge, is a beneficial approach. One of the essential steps in any ANN-based development process is determination of dominant input variables. This paper presents a two-stage procedure to model the rainfall–runoff process of the Delaney Creek and Payne Creek Basins, Florida, USA. The two-stage procedure includes data pre-processing and model building stages. In the data pre-processing stage, a wavelet transform is used to decompose the rainfall and runoff time series into several sub-series at different scales. Subsequently, independent sub-series are chosen via a self-organizing map (SOM). In the model building stage, selected sub-series are imposed as input data to a feed-forward neural network (FFNN) to forecast runoff discharge. To make a better interpretation of the model efficiency, the proposed model is compared with the Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average with eXogenous input (ARIMAX) and with the ad hoc FFNN methods, without any data pre-processing. The results proved that the proposed model leads to better outcome especially in term of determination coefficient for detecting peak points (DCpeak).


Brazil, Mexico and a few other Latin American republics enjoyed faster industrialization after 1870 than did the rest of Latin America and even faster than the rest of the poor periphery (except East Asia). How much of this economic performance was due to more accommodating institutions and greater political stability, changes that would have facilitated greater technology transfer and accumulation? That is, how much to changing fundamentals? How much instead to a cessation in the secular rise in the net barter terms of trade which reversed de-industrialization forces, thus favoring manufacturing? How much instead to cheaper foodstuffs coming from more open commercial policies ('grain invasions'), and from railroad-induced integration of domestic grain markets, serving to keep urban grain prices and thus nominal wages in industry low, helping to maintain competitiveness? How much instead to more pro-industrial real exchange rate and tariff policy? Which of these forces contributed most to industrialization among the Latin American leaders, long before their mid 20th century adoption of ISI policies? Changing fundamentals, changing market conditions, or changing policies?


We perform a search for gravitational wave bursts using data from the second science run of the LIGO detectors, using a method based on a wavelet time-frequency decomposition. This search is sensitive to bursts of duration much less than a second and with frequency content in the 100–1100 Hz range. It features significant improvements in the instrument sensitivity and in the analysis pipeline with respect to the burst search previously reported by LIGO. Improvements in the search method allow exploring weaker signals, relative to the detector noise floor, while maintaining a low false alarm rate, O(0.1) μHz. The sensitivity in terms of the root-sum-square (rss) strain amplitude lies in the range of hrss∼10-20-10-19  Hz-1/2. No gravitational wave signals were detected in 9.98 days of analyzed data. We interpret the search result in terms of a frequentist upper limit on the rate of detectable gravitational wave bursts at the level of 0.26 events per day at 90% confidence level. We combine this limit with measurements of the detection efficiency for selected waveform morphologies in order to yield rate versus strength exclusion curves as well as to establish order-of-magnitude distance sensitivity to certain modeled astrophysical sources. Both the rate upper limit and its applicability to signal strengths improve our previously reported limits and reflect the most sensitive broad-band search for untriggered and unmodeled gravitational wave bursts to date.


A 12 yr old male neutered domestic shorthair cat presented with worsening tachypnea of 1 mo duration and open mouth breathing. Radiographs revealed tracheal narrowing at the thoracic inlet. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a contrast enhancing 8-cm long fusiform mass within the dorsal tracheal membrane. Tracheobronchoscopy confirmed the presence of the tracheal mass at the thoracic inlet, and lymphoma was diagnosed based on uniformly atypical lymphoid cells on aspirated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The cat was treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisolone. Thoracic radiographs and CT performed 1 mo after completion of the 6 mo chemotherapy protocol revealed resolution of the tracheal mass. The cat remained clinically normal at 21 mo after treatment.


The shadow or informal economy covers all economic activities which are hidden from official authorities for monetary, regulatory and institutional reasons. Although widely used, multiple indicator-multiple cause (MIMIC) models have been criticised, and we develop a modified model and database covering 157 countries over the years 1991 to 2017. We tested our model using satellite data on nocturnal light intensity as a proxy for the size of countries' economies, and compared our results with the figures of 23 countries' national statistical offices, finding stable and similar results. The average over all countries and over the whole period is 30.9% of GDP. The shadow economy is large in some regions (Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa) and there is sizeable heterogeneity within regions. On average, from 1991 to 2017 the shadow economy declined by 6.8%. In the short term the shadow economy has a negative impact on the official one and in the long term it has a positive effect.


Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant disease, caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch-repair genes (MMR). These mutations lead to microsatellite instability (MSI). It has been found that the MSI is not confined to the setting of hereditary disease and may be seen in approximately 12-17% of the sporadic CRCs. In 1998 a National Registry for CRC was instituted in Queen Giovanna Hospital, Sofia. A total of 150 patients have been selected for MSI analysis and 25 tumors showed to be unstable, 14 with loss of heterozygosity (LOH). These tumors were further analyzed for MLH1 promoter hypermethylation and a significant association between this epigenetic change and MSI/LOH sporadic cases. We proposed this method as a step that follows the analysis for MSI and prior to the screening for MMR mutations. The mutation screening detected four known and two novel mutations, one unpublished and four known intronic polymorphisms in both hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes. The use of IHC analysis has been found effective in the investigation of some unclear molecular variations.We developed an efficient diagnostic strategy for HNPCC testing and the mutation status of 80% MSI HNPCC cases could be detected.


An effective negative refractive index (NRI) is demonstrated and experimentally verified for the first two propagation bands of a fishnet-like metamaterial at millimeter-wave frequencies. The dual-band NRI behavior is achieved by engineering the diffraction order (±1, ±1) associated with the internal mode supported between holey layers to correspond with the second propagation band. In addition to the experimental interferometric technique that accounts for the handedness of the propagation, numerical results are given to predict the dual-band effective NRI and to confirm dual-band negative refraction for a prism composed of the proposed metamaterial.


For an accurate prediction of the low and medium frequency surface vibration and sound radiation behaviour of porous materials, there is a need to improve the means of estimating their elastic and acoustic properties. The underlying reasons for this are many and of varying origin, one prominent being a poor knowledge of the geometric anisotropy of the cell microstructure in the manufactured porous materials. Another one being, the characteristic feature of such materials i.e. that their density, elasticity and dissipative properties are highly dependent upon the manufacturing process techniques and settings used. In the case of free form moulding, the geometry of the cells and the dimensions of the struts are influenced by the rise and injection flow directions and also by the effect of gravity, elongating the cells. In addition the influence of the boundaries of the mould also introduces variations in the properties of the foam block produced. Despite these complications, the need to predict and, in the end, optimise the acoustic performance of these materials, either as isolated components or as part of a multi-layer arrangement, is growing. It is driven by the increasing demands for an acoustic performance in balance with the costs, a focus which serves to increase the need for modelling their behaviour in general and the above mentioned, inherent, anisotropy in particular. The current work is focussing on the experimental part of the characterisation of the material properties which is needed in order to correctly represent the anisotropy in numerical simulation models. Then an hybrid approach based on a combination of experimental deformation, strain field mapping, flow resistivity measurement and physically based porous material acoustic Finite Element (FE) simulation modelling is described. This inverse estimation linked with high quality measurements is crucial for the determination of the anisotropic coefficients of the porous materials is illustrated here for soft foam and fibrous wool materials.


Objective: The prevalence of asthma is increased in obese individuals. There is no concrete evidence that an increase in body mass index is associated with a loss of pulmonary function in childhood asthma. Our aim was to investigate the effect of obesity, atopy, and sex on pulmonary function in asthmatic children. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis in children with mild persistent asthma. A total of 76 obese and 55 lean children with asthma were recruited. All of the participants were assessed by pulmonary function tests. Skin prick tests including common aeroallergens were performed to all patients. Results: No differences were found in pulmonary function test parameters between obese and lean patients with asthma. In obese patients with asthma, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) was significantly lower in nonatopic (92.1±6.4) than in atopic patients (95.5±5.3, p=0.02). We also demonstrated that FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in nonatopic obese patients (92.1±6.4) than in nonatopic lean patients with asthma (95.6±4.7, p=0.05). Conclusion: Obesity does not seem to be affecting pulmonary function in children with well-controlled mild persistent asthma. However, airways of nonatopic obese asthmatics are negatively affected.


Introduction: The presence of the pericondylar vein in the area of the temporomandibular joint is scarcely reported in the literature; however, it is present in anatomical dissected preparations and during surgical procedures. Objective: To determine the characteristics of the pericondylar vein located in the area of the temporomandibular joint, related to the parotid region. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study that included 30 human cadavers that were dissected at the temporomandibular joint level was conducted. The variables analyzed were the distribution of the pericondylar vein, its shape, dimensions and the relationships existing between bony structures. Results: The 30 cases presented the pericondylar vein that surrounded the external face of the neck of the mandibular condyle; 73,3 % of the veins ended at the level of the retromandibular vein; 38,3 % of them presented an oblique path. The average length of the vein was 2,37 cm and its average diameter was 1.82 mm. The presence of the pericondyleal artery was found in two cases, among other relationships. Conclusions: The pericondyleal vein was present in all cases, mostly unique and located around the outside of the neck of the mandibular condyle. It most frequently runs into the retromandibular vein.  Up to its mouth, it often has an oblique path, from top to bottom and backwards.


This research includes the preparation of polymers mixtures consists of resins (Unsaturated Polyester with Polyurethane) (UP+PU), where the optimal mixing ratio has been selected on the basis of the best impact strength. It is found that the mixing ratio with percentage (60% Polyester+40% Polyurethane), where it has been used to prepare the samples. The mechanical tests have been performed on the prepared samples; in addition the effect of increasing the temperature (22±2 °C (R.T.), 35±4°C, 50±4 °C) has been studied on the samples. A four samples where prepared from the polymers mixtures using the above mentioned mixing ratio by using the method of hand casting technique; these samples are: polymers mixture consisting of (UP+PU), added to it the micro cotton powder with weight ratio (2%) once and for copper by weight ratio (39%) with volumetric fraction of copper (5%) again, as well as composite material was prepared from the same polymers mixture adding to it micro cotton powder filling and chips together in the same weight ratios mentioned earlier. Some mechanical tests were conducted include: (Flexural strength and Tensile strength). A sample of the four polymers mixtures have been examined using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and study the effect of adding reinforcement materials, and also study the topography of the surface of each sample and the knowledge the fine structure for each mixture. Results showed that the reinforced blends with micro cotton powder and copper (UP+PU+MC+Cu) possess better mechanical properties of Flexural strength and Tensile strength, also it has all tests are affected by temperatures.


In February 1998, an outbreak of acute febrile illness was reported from the Kapalata military camp in Kisangani, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The illness was characterized by an acute onset of fever associated with severe headache, arthralgia, backache, neurologic signs, abdominal pain, and coughing. In 1 individual, hemorrhagic manifestations were observed. The neurologic signs included an altered level of consciousness, convulsions, and coma. Malaria was initially suspected, but the patients showed negative blood films and failed to respond to antimicrobial drugs. A total of 35 sera collected from the military patients in the acute phase were tested for the presence of IgM against vector-borne agents. Serum IgM antibodies against West Nile fever virus were found in 23 patients (66%), against Chikungunya virus in 12 patients (34%), against dengue virus in 1 patient (3%), and against Rickettsia typhi in 1 patient (3%). All sera were negative for IgM antibody against Rift Valley fever virus, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, and Sindbis virus. These data suggest that infections with West Nile fever virus have been the main cause of the outbreak.


The effects of decreasing water potential (Ψ) on O2 evolution and fluorescence yield at room temperature and at 77 K were investigated using the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria. Changes in Ψ were created either by atmospheric desiccation or by osmotic dehydration, with either sucrose, sorbitol or NaCl as osmoticum. Independent of the method used to establish Ψ, similar inactivation patterns were obtained and were reversible after reincubation in pure water for 10 min. Our data indicate that exposure to increasing water stress acts at two levels. In the first phase, at 'mild' stress, i.e. at Ψ greater than −13, −16 and −20 MPa for drying, NaCl and sucrose treatments, respectively, a progressive decline in O2 production and the fluorescence yield (ΔF/Fm′ and Fv/Fm) was correlated with increases in non-photochemical quenching (qN). At the same time the photochemical quenching (qp) changed only sligthly, indicating the absence of overreduction. The Fo level remained relatively constant in this first stage of water loss. A ΔpH mediated down regulation and a donor side limitation of photosystem (PS) II are discussed. When the water stress was severe, a further decrease in the fluorescence yield was observed and correlated with a considerable decrease in Fo (second phase). Kinetic analysis of the 77 K emission showed that osmotic stress and atmospheric desiccation possibly lead to an increased spillover from PS II to PS I. In addition, a strong negative effect of NaF on the recovery from dehydration was found. This may indicate a state transition mediated by the displacement/recoupling of light harvesting complex (LHC) II from/to PS II. The photoprotective role of spatial rearrangements of antenna complexes during desiccation is discussed.


One effect of mycorrhizal fungi is to stimulate the plant immune system, leading to induced systemic resistance. Thus, mycorrhizal fungi influence the interactions between plants and aboveground herbivores. The molecular mechanisms underlying these types of beneficial microbe-plant interactions have mostly been studied in herbaceous plants. In contrast, little is known concerning whether mycorrhizae mitigate aboveground threats to tree species. To fill this gap in our knowledge, Kaling et al. (pp. 2639–2656) have investigated the impact of the colonization of poplar (Populus 3 canescens) roots by the ectomycorrhiza Laccaria bicolor on aboveground herbivory by the poplar leaf beetle (Chrysomela populi). The authors report that L. bicolor inoculation reduced leaf infestation of poplar and drastically decreased the oviposition of poplar leaf beetle. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses demonstrated reprogramming of defense processes in the leaves of mycorrhizal compared with nonmycorrhizal poplars. The integration of the transcriptomic and metabolomic data of leaves by network analysis revealed the down-regulation of phenolic metabolism and the induction of protease inhibitors and aldoxime biosynthesis. Ectomycorrhizae had a systemic influence on jasmonate-related signaling transcripts. These results suggest that ectomycorrhizae may prime wounding responses and shift resources from constitutive phenol-based to specialized protective compounds. Consequently, symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal fungi enabled poplars to respond to leaf beetle feeding with a more effective arsenal of defense mechanisms compared with nonmycorrhizal poplars, thus demonstrating the importance of belowground plantmicrobe associations inmitigating aboveground biotic stress.


The optical constants of discontinuous gold films consisting of both embedded and unembedded spherical particles in the size range 5–14 nm were determined from spectroellipsometric and spectrophotometric measurements. The optical response was modeled with the Yamaguchi anisotropic dielectric function. The energy and width dependence of the surface-plasmon resonance owing to the finite size of the gold particles was determined with a phenomenologically modified metal dielectric function. The expected blueshift and broadening of the resonance with decreasing particle size was observed. The magnitude of the shift suggests that lattice contraction, including its effect on both the free-electron response and the core response, plays an important role in determining the resonant energy. The width dependence on particle size was found to be well described by broadening parameters A=0.15 and A=0.22 for embedded and unembedded particles, respectively.


Abstract Morphological characters of twelve Recent species of Nodosariinae (Foraminifera) are revised, using a large number of specimens collected in the North Atlantic. The species are assigned to four genera: Dentalina Risso 1826, Laevidentalina Loeblich and Tappan 1986, Nodosaria Lamarck 1812, and Pseudonodosaria Boomgaart 1949. One new species, Nodosaria haliensis is described. Previously unknown variation in the lamination pattern of the Nodosariinae test wall is described and some new terms are proposed to describe that variation. We continue to use the term monolamellar for septa made of a single layer, but use the term polylamellar, for septa made of two or more layers. The term plesio-polylamellar is proposed for forms with septa made of several layers, and which form secondary lamellae that envelope only some of the previous chambers. The term poly-monolamellar is replaced with a new term, ortho-polylamellar. We also discovered that only some, but not all of the primary layers in polylamellar septa continued to form secondary lamellae; this is referred to as a partial origin of secondary laminations. This is different from the well-known pattern in which all of the primary layers of a plesio-polylamellar septum continue and form what we refer to as a complete origin of secondary lamellae. We discovered that the lamellar structure of L. frobisherensis is somewhat variable even within the same specimen. The initial chambers are always ortho-monolamellar, but in later chambers the structure becomes plesio-monolamellar or even plesio-polylamellar, and the secondary lamellae can be either a partial or complete continuation of the primary lamellae of the septa. Species of Nodosaria are found to be atelo-lamellar, Laevidentalina are ortho-lamellar or plesio-lamellar and Dentalina and Pseudonodosaria are ortho-lamellar.


The integral membrane protein fumarate reductase catalyzes the final step of anaerobic respiration when fumarate is the terminal electron acceptor. The homologous enzyme succinate dehydrogenase also plays a prominent role in cellular energetics as a member of the Krebs cycle and as complex II of the aerobic respiratory chain. Fumarate reductase consists of four subunits that contain a covalently linked flavin adenine dinucleotide, three different iron-sulfur clusters, and at least two quinones. The crystal structure of intact fumarate reductase has been solved at 3.3 angstrom resolution and demonstrates that the cofactors are arranged in a nearly linear manner from the membrane-bound quinone to the active site flavin. Although fumarate reductase is not associated with any proton-pumping function, the two quinones are positioned on opposite sides of the membrane in an arrangement similar to that of the Q-cycle organization observed for cytochrome bc1.


Since 1976, incarcerated individuals in the United States have an established right to healthcare. This has created a national system charged with addressing the unique challenges of healthcare delivery in jails and prisons. As incarcerated populations are often excluded from large research studies, evidence-based practices must often be extrapolated from community data. There is a wide variation in care delivery across institutions nationwide. Challenges in correctional settings include a "dual loyalty" to patients' health and facility security and the toxic effects of disciplinary practices including solitary confinement, violence, communicable disease control, an aging population, discharge planning for community reentry, and a high prevalence of substance use disorder and mental health disease. Although incarceration may offer a unique opportunity to address chronic health issues of a difficult-to-reach population, the net health effects in the United States seem to be mostly negative. Mass incarceration in the United States has led to significant health consequences at the individual, family, and community levels and has exacerbated health, socioeconomic, and racial disparities. As most incarcerated individuals return to the community, healthcare delivery during incarceration plays a substantial role in the health of communities at all levels.


The standard procedure to count birds is a manual one. However a manual bird count is a time consuming and cumbersome process, requiring several people going from nest to nest counting the birds and the clutches. High resolution imagery, generated with a UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) offer an interesting alternative. Experiences and results of UAS surveys for automatic bird count of the last two years are presented for the bird reserve island Langenwerder. For 2011 1,568 birds (± 5 %.) were detected on the image mosaic, based on multispectral image classification and GIS-based post processing. Based on the experiences of 2011 the results and the accuracy of the automatic bird count 2012 became more efficient. For 2012 1,938 birds with an accuracy of approx. ± 3 % were counted. Additionally a separation of breeding and non-breeding birds was performed with the assumption, that standing birds cause a visible shade. The final section of the paper is devoted to the analysis of the 3D-point cloud. Thereby the point cloud was used to determine the height of the vegetation and the extend and depth of closed sinks, which are unsuitable for breeding birds.