Relations between China and the USA began with the best of intentions: the USA would sponsor the normalization of China's status in the international community through trade in exchange for China's commitment to peaceful co-existence with the west. As an emerging economy, China has relied upon trade for export-led economic growth, mimicking the path taken by its immediate neighbours over the past 25 years and the road taken previously by Germany and Japan. For a variety of reasons, the original deal has been over-taken by the massive surge in Chinese exports to the USA, the tensions occasioned by the global financial crisis, and the sense in which the USA, as a debtor country, is now reliant upon China for its long-term future. The China Investment Corporation (CIC) is a product of the original deal and is emblematic of the new status of China in the global economy. As one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, the CIC has eschewed conventional portfolio investment in developed financial markets for strategic investment in resources and jurisdictions deemed essential to China's long-term growth. As such, attempts to rein-in its ambitions through the Santiago Principles and the like have been circumvented by a very different approach to investment. The CIC is re-making the rules of engagement in global financial markets, thereby redrawing the nature and scope of the long-term relationship between the two superpowers of the twenty-first century: China and the USA.


Numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations are conducted to achieve a better understanding of the behavior of wakes generated by the wind turbines. The simulations are performed by combining the in-house developed code EllipSys3D with the actuator line technique.In step one of the project, a numerical study is carried out focusing on the instability onset of the trailing tip vortices shed from a 3-bladed wind turbine. To determine the critical frequency, the wake is perturbed using low-amplitude excitations located near the tip spirals. Two basic flow cases are studied; symmetric and asymmetric setups. In the symmetric setup a 120 degree flow symmetry condition is dictated due to the confining the polar computational grid to 120 degree or introducing identical excitations. In the asymmetric setup, uncorrelated excitations are imposed near the tip of the blades. Both setups are analyzed using proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). By analysing the dominant modes, it was found that in the symmetric setup the amplification of specific waves (traveling structures) traveling along the tip vortex spirals is responsible for triggering the instability leading to wake breakdown, while by breaking the symmetry almost all the modes are involved in the tip vortex destabilization. The presence of unstable modes in the wake is related to the mutual inductance (vortex pairing) instability where there is an out-of-phase displacement of successive helix turns. Furthermore, using the non-dimensional growth rate, it is found that the mutual inductance instability has a universal growth rate equal to Π/2. Using this relationship, and the assumption that breakdown to turbulence occurs once a vortex has experienced sufficient growth, an analytical relationship is provided for determining the length of the stable wake. This expression shows that the stable wake length is inversely proportional to thrust, tip speed ratio and the logarithmic of the turbulence intensity.In second study, large eddy simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations are also performed to investigate the wake interaction. Previous actuator line simulations on the single model wind turbine show that the accuracy of the results is directly related to the quality of the input airfoil characteristics. Therefore, a series of experiments on a 2D wing are conducted to obtain high quality airfoil characteristics for the NREL S826 at low Reynolds numbers. The new measured data are used to compute the rotor performance. The results show that the power performance as well as the wake development behind the rotor are well-captured. There are, however, some difficulties in prediction of the thrust coefficients. The continuation of this work considers the wake interaction investigations of two turbines inline (full-wake interaction) and two turbines with spanwise offset (half wake interaction). It is demonstrated that the numerical computations are able to predict the rotor performances as well as the flow field around the model rotors, and it can be a suitable tool for investigation of the wind turbine wakes.In the last study, an evaluation of the performance and near-wake structure of an analytical vortex model is presented. The vortex model is based on the constant circulation along the blades (Joukowsky rotor) and it is able to determine the geometry of the tip vortex filament in the rotor wake, allowing the free wake expansion and changing the local tip vortex pitch. Two different wind turbines have been simulated: a wind turbine with constant circulation along the blade and the other setup with a realistic circulation distribution, to compare the outcomes of the vortex model with real operative wind turbine conditions. The vortex model is compared with the actuator line approach and the presented comparisons show that the vortex method is able to approximate the single rotor performance and qualitatively describe the flow field around the wind turbine but with a negligible computational effort. This suggests that the vortex model can be a substitute of more computationally-demanding methods like actuator line technique to study the near-wake behavior.


Introduction: The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act I. Paths to Zauderer A. Origins of the Prohibition Against Compelled Speech B. Commercial Speech Jurisprudence C. Zauderer v. Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of Ohio D. Supreme Court and Disclosure Requirements Following Zauderer II. Tobacco Warnings and the Issue of Interpreting Zauderer A. Conservative or Liberal Zauderer B. Litigation Over the Tobacco Control Act's Cigarette Warning Labels 1. Discount Tobacco City & Lottery Inc. v. United States a. The Discount Tobacco City Dissent 2. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. FDA a. The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Dissent III. Strike a Match: Illuminating Zauderer A. "Purely Factual and Uncontroversial" 1. The Factual Component 2. The Uncontroversial Component B. "Reasonably Related to the State's Interest in Preventing the Deception of Consumers". C. "Unjustified or Unduly Burdensome Disclosure Requirements". Conclusion INTRODUCTION: THE FAMILY SMOKING PREVENTION AND TOBACCO CONTROL ACT The United States has required cigarette packages to display warning labels since the 1960s. (1) The first warning label stated simply, "Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous to Your Health." (2) In 1984, Congress passed the Comprehensive Smoking Education Act requiring tobacco companies to display on every cigarette package four periodically-rotating health warnings. (3) The Act specified language for the four warning labels, (4) and required them to "appear in conspicuous and legible type in contrast by typography, layout, or color with all other printed material on the package." (5) Cigarette companies customarily printed the warnings in black and white down one side of the package. As other countries adopted more aggressive warning labels to combat smoking, the United States' regulatory structure went unchanged for twenty-five years. (6) On June 22, 2009, President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (7) ("Tobacco Control Act" or "Act") into law. (8) It gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. The Tobacco Control Act mandates that every cigarette package include one of nine concise phrases highlighting the deleterious effects of smoking. (9) The term "WARNING" is to be printed in all capital letters and seventeen-point font. (10) The Tobacco Control Act requires the warnings to cover the top half of both the front and back of the cigarette package. (11) Finally, the Act directed the FDA to promulgate "color graphics depicting the negative health consequences of smoking to accompany" the textual warnings. (12) The FDA was to develop the new graphic warning labels within two years. (13) A day before the two-year deadline, on June 21, 2011, the FDA unveiled the nine new warning labels, (14) and on June 22, 2011, the FDA published its Final Rule implementing them. (15) The FDA had selected the nine graphical labels from a group of thirty-six proposed images after comprehensive studies of the effectiveness of each. (16) The chosen images included photographs and illustrations depicting a comparison of a diseased lung to a healthy lung, an autopsied torso, a set of teeth and gums ravaged by smoking, a cartoon image of child in an incubator, a close-up of a tracheotomy, a woman--perhaps a mother?--blowing smoke into a child's face, a distraught woman, a man attached to a respirator, and a man posing in a t-shirt on which is printed an anti-smoking slogan. (17) One of the statute's corresponding textual warnings respectively accompanies each image. (18) Also included in the graphic warning is the text "1-800-QUIT-NOW," the phone number for an anti-smoking hotline. (19) Under the Tobacco Control Act, the new warnings become effective fifteen months after the rule's publication. …


ABSTRACT
 The cassava mealybug Phenacoccus herreni (Sternorryncha: Pseudococcidae) is a pest of cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae), in South America. Proteins, representing direct gene products, are prime candidates in genetic engineering manipulations for host plant resistance. Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae), a plant species known to contain proteins toxic to insects, exhibited insecticidal properties to P. herreni. The toxic compounds consisting of proteins around 101.02 kDa appeared to be mostly located in the mature leaves. Further studies are needed to identify the proteins and to ensure that they are not toxic to mammals.


The design and implementation of a Land Information System (LIS) is a complex undertaking involving considerable resources. The justification for such a venture is twofold. Firstly, to provide more accurate, complete and timely information for use at either routine or strategic management levels. Secondly, to eliminate both, the extensive duplication of data across government organisations, together with the deficiencies of data retrieval in the existing paper filing systems.
Land Information Systems are in many respects closely related to, and have been plagued by problems and failures similar to those faced by Management Information Systems (MIS) and Decision Support Systems (DSS). There has been considerable research and empirical studies conducted in an attempt to understand the nature of these problems and formulate strategies to overcome them. In most cases the research efforts concentrate on the technical aspects of systems development and propose technically oriented solutions.
There is, however, a growing awareness that some other, less tangible, factors have a greater impact on the design, implementation and operation of Land Information Systems than merely technical considerations. This argument suggests that the interplay of people, organisations and politics is the dominant factor influencing LIS development. Land Information Systems evolution has been influenced greatly by Data Processing professionals, therefore, it is not surprising that a technical bias has prevailed. The oponents of this theory are generally computer literate professionals, although trained in a separate discipline, and occupy administrative or management positions in land related organisations. From such positions, theirs is a global perspective, and offers an embracing view of all aspects and influences at play. Nevertheless, this argument is not widely supported. The experience and advice offered by overseas US 'experts' endorses the 'people-political' argument, but this advice falls on deaf ears. The LIS community, at large, remains beholden to the technocrats. Meanwhile, many LIS implementation attempts in this country continue to struggle without attaining a significant level of success.
This thesis is a case study in which the author acted as a consultant for the Hydro Electric Commission of Tasmania with the brief to undertake the design, development and installation of a LIS within the Commission's Survey section. The implementation strategy for this project was designed with the specific intention of overcoming the 'people-political' problems discussed in the section above. Importantly, therefore, the consultancy provided the opportunity, through an evaluation of the experience, to identify the critical factor influencing LIS development. Determination of the 'people-political' problem as the critical factor would justify the emphasis placed on this issue In the design of the methodology. It would also indicate a new direction for the practice of LIS implementation.
The detailed objectives of the contract were to:
(i) devise and implement a methodology for developing a LIS for an operational environment,
(ii) observe and analyse the typical problems encountered during systems development,
(iii) formulate improvements to the devised implementation methodology based on its observed performance,
(iv) make a more informed evaluation of other LIS research and empirical study.
The thesis is concerned with the design and development of an operational LIS, and has the following structure.
Chapter one examines the relationship between the development of a LIS and other Information Systems. The tradional Systems Development Life-Cycle is briefly outlined then two, more detailed, sections discuss its known deficiencies and some recent attempts to improve the methodology. The final section suggests why the traditional methodology is incapable of successfully developing an LIS, and proposes a new strategy.
Chapter two, firstly, introduces the development environment for the HEC project. It describes the organisation's structure, objectives, methods and problems. The nature of its existing data storage and retrieval systems are outlined in addition to the type of data it holds and the information it requires. Secondly, the formulation of a hybrid methodology for system development is discussed. The third, and final section of this chapter, describes each stage of the implementation methodology as it was performed in the HEC project.
The purpose of chapter three is to evaluate the methodology. This task is approached in two sections. The first of these investigates some current techniques for measuring the success of an Information System and applies these to the Hydro Electric Commission LIS. The second approach analyses the achievements at each stage of the System Development Life-Cycle and compares these with their respective objectives and expected achievements.
The purpose of chapter four, therefore, is to investigate and propose modifications to improve the implementation methodology. In addition to strategic improvements, some software considerations, such as the User Interface, Fourth Generation 'Languages and Database Management Systems are also the subject of discussion.
The thesis concludes with a summary of the achievements of the Hydro Electric Commission LIS project. In particular, the proposed improvements to the implementation methodology are stressed. A more significant objective of the conclusion, however, is to emphasise three issues which, if followed, will assist those involved in LIS development toward the successful implementation LISs in Australia.


In this paper we examine the role of different material artefacts in the exploration of novel strategic topics. We conceptualize strategic topics as epistemic objects that become instantiated in multiple material artefacts, i.e. partial objects, which not only represent the epistemic object but also energize and direct the exploration process. Based on a longitudinal case study of a company that (in collaboration with other companies) explored the strategic topic of 'flexible production', we develop a new typology of material artefacts in terms of their relation to the strategic topic. We describe the layered nature of materiality, differentiating between different types of objectual and non‐objectual material artefacts, and show how their interplay shapes the dynamics of the strategizing process. In particular, we explain how the constellation of material artefacts can lead to a shift of the strategic topic itself. We offer a conceptual model that captures the mechanisms in the dynamic interplay of different types of material artefacts and their effect on the process of exploration.


CONTEXT
Unintended pregnancy is a key reproductive health indicator, but rates have never been calculated for all 50 states.

METHODS
State-level estimates of unintended pregnancy rates in 2006 were calculated using data from several sources. The proportion of births resulting from unintended pregnancies was obtained from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System and similar state surveys, and the intention status of pregnancies ending in abortion from a national survey of abortion patients. These proportions were applied to birth and abortion counts for each state, and fetal losses were estimated. Rates of unintended pregnancy were obtained by dividing relevant figures by the number of women aged 15-44 in each state. Six states and the District of Columbia had no appropriate survey data; their rates were predicted using multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS
In 2006, the median state unintended pregnancy rate was 51 per 1,000 women aged 15-44. Most rates fell within a range of 40-65 unintended pregnancies per 1,000 women. The highest rate was in Mississippi (69); the lowest rate was in New Hampshire (36). Rates were generally highest in the South and Southwest, and in states with large urban populations. In 29 states and the District of Columbia, more than half of pregnancies were unintended; in nine, a consistent upward trend in unintended pregnancy rates between 2002 and 2006 was apparent; no state had a consistent decline.

CONCLUSIONS
These rates provide benchmarks for measuring the impact on unintended pregnancy of state policies and practices, such as those governing sex education and the funding of contraceptive services.


ABSTRACT The Kutai Basin (East Kalimantan, Indonesia) contains a rich and well-preserved Miocene fossil record of small patch reefs that developed under the influence of high siliciclastic input associated with the progradation of the Mahakam Delta. In this study, we reconstruct the biodiversity and paleoenvironments on one of these delta-front, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic systems that developed at the Serravallian–Tortonian boundary near the city of Samarinda. In two newly exposed sections, we analyzed the sedimentology and distribution of the main fossil biota including corals, foraminifers, coralline algae, and bryozoans. Seven facies are herein defined, including two dominated by platy corals and two by larger benthic foraminifera. Facies distributions were driven by changes in depth and variations in terrigenous input within a range of delta-front habitats. Despite the turbid conditions, fossil assemblages are highly diverse, including 69 coral species and 28 bryozoan species that occur in coral-dominated facies. Crustose coralline algae were mainly associated with the coral-dominated facies. Larger benthic foraminifera showed broader ecological tolerance within the range represented in the studied sections and thus are common in most facies. These diverse patch reef ecosystems were able to cope with high siliciclastic input during the early development of the Miocene coral reef biota.


In 2017, unit labour costs in Germany's manufacturing industry remained high in comparison with the foreign competition. On average, unit labour costs in the comparator countries were 8 per cent below the German level. The cost advantage of the Eurozone compared to Germany amounted in 2017 to 3 per cent. Productivity in Germany is also above average, but not by enough to compensate for the disadvantage of high labour costs. Nor is Germany exceptional in how unit labour costs have developed. Since the introduction of the euro, the level of unit labour costs has improved by only 5 per cent compared with the rest of the world, despite the weakness of the German competitiveness at that time. With an improvement of just under 10 per cent between 1999 and 2017, Germany has outperformed the rest of the Eurozone. However, this is solely due to improvements occurring up to the pre-crisis year of 2007. Moreover, unit labour costs in three euro area countries have developed slightly to significantly more favourably than in Germany. And in France, which unlike Germany has not been criticised for its supposedly underperforming wage dynamics, unit wage costs in manufacturing developed only 3 per cent less favourably than in Germany during the observation period. After a period of high volatility, the position of German unit labour costs vis-a-vis the rest of the euro area has since 2013 remained almost constant and differed little from the long-term average. Since German surpluses in visible trade in relation to trade volume with the Eurozone are little larger than at the end of the 1990s and almost all euro countries now have current account surpluses, there is little empirical evidence of Germany being in a position of stifling competitive advantage.


Shock pressure due to breaking wave was studied experimentally and analytically for the case of two-dimensional regular oscillatory wave. In the first part of this paper, important characteristics of shock pressures were described, which were obtained by using the newly designed pressure gauges of very high frequency responces ( 10 ~ 10000 c/s ). And the following two points were mainly examined l) the detailed characteristics of pressure-time histories of shock pressures, and li) the similarity of pressure-time histories observed simultaneously with two separated gauges. In the second part of this paper, the dynamical models representing the generation mechanism of shock pressure were examined to explain the observed properties of shock pressures, in which the new air-cushion model extended from the original air-cushion model of Bagnold (1939) was included. Under the assumption of small compression of the air cushion, the analytical solutions representing the pressure-time histories were obtained both for the original model of Bagnold (1939) and for the present new model. For the cases of relatively high-intensity shock pressures, the consistent results were obtained by analyzing the observed shock pressures by the new air-cushion model. The discussion of shock pressure due to finite compression of air cushion was also included.


Robotics: Science and Systems III spans a wide spectrum of robotics, bringing together researchers working on the foundations of robotics, robotics applications, and analysis of robotics systems. This volume presents the proceedings of the third annual Robotics: Science and Systems conference, held in June 2007 at Georgia Tech. Papers report state-of-the-art research on topics as diverse as Legged Robotics, Reconfigurable Robots, Biomimetic Robots, Manipulation, Humanoid Robotics, Telerobotics, Haptics, Motion Planning, Collision Avoidance, Robot Vision and Perception, Bayesian Techniques, Machine Learning, Mobile Robots, and Multi-robot systems. This conference reflects not only the tremendous growth of robotics as a discipline but also the desire in the robotics community for a flagship event at which the best of the research in the field can be presented.


In this article we analyse the structures and features related to food processing or preparation and their social and economic implications among the protohistoric communities of the Iberian culture during the Iron Age (sixth–second century bc). Different types of facilities are considered, including ovens, hearths, fireplaces and grinding areas, according to their specific location within the settlements (indoor or outdoor areas). We also look at the evidence from the artefacts involved in these processes and the contextualisation of their functional need within the urban structure/planning. The presence of collective facilities located outside the houses implies, on the one hand, an organised collaborative practice and management network and, on the other, the transfer of certain specific household activities to the public sphere. The organisation of management and use of those facilities would have affected various aspects of Iberian societies, such as the dynamics and routine of everyday life, not only through arranging and scheduling the availability of the facility, but also by operating as a mechanism of social interaction among both equals and persons of different statuses.


In this paper, the effect of working-fluid replacement within an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) turbine is investigated by evaluating the performance of two supersonic stators operating with different working fluids. After designing the two stators, intended for operation with R245fa and Toluene with stator exit absolute Mach numbers of 1.4 and 1.7, respectively, the performance of each stator is evaluated using ANSYS cfx. Based on the principle that the design of a given stator is dependent on the amount of flow turning, it is hypothesized that a stator's design point can be scaled to alternative working fluids by conserving the Prandtl–Meyer function and the polytropic index within the nozzle. A scaling method is developed and further computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for the scaled operating points verify that the Mach number distributions within the stator, and the nondimensional velocity triangles at the stator exit, remain unchanged. This confirms that the method developed can predict stator performance following a change in the working fluid. Finally, a study investigating the effect of working-fluid replacement on the thermodynamic cycle is completed. The results show that the same turbine could be used in different systems with power outputs varying between 17 and 112 kW, suggesting the potential of matching the same turbine to multiple heat sources by tailoring the working fluid selected. This further implies that the same turbine design could be deployed in different applications, thus leading to economy-of-scale improvements.


Do tax systems distort firm-to-firm trade? This paper considers the effect of tax policy on supplier networks in a large developing economy, the state of West Bengal in India. Using administrative panel data on firms, including transaction data for 4.8 million supplier-client pairs, we first document substantial segmentation of supply chains between firms paying Value-Added Taxes (VAT) and non-VAT-paying firms. We then develop a model of firms' sourcing and tax decisions within supply chains to understand the mechanisms through which tax policy interacts with supply networks. The model predicts partial segmentation in equilibrium because of both supply-chain distortions (taxes affect how much firms trade with each other) and strategic complementarities in firms' tax choices. Finally, we test the model's predictions using variations over time within-firm and within supplier-client pairs. We find that the tax system distorts firms' sourcing decisions, and suggestive evidence of strategic complementarities in firms' tax choices within supplier networks. ∗Gadenne: University of Warwick, Institute for Fiscal Studies and CEPR. Nandi: CTRPFP, Center for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Rathelot: University of Warwick and CEPR. We would like to thank Andrew Bernard, Luis Candelaria, Michael Devereux, Irem Guceri, Jyotsna Jalan, Sugata Marjit, Isabelle Méjean, Dennis Novy, Aureo de Paula, Carlo Perroni, Imran Rasul, Debraj Ray, Camilla Roncoroni, Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato, Chris Woodruff, and numerous seminar participants for helpful comments. We are particularly thankful to the Directorate of Commercial Taxes of West Bengal, India for the permission to use their data. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the IGC and the IFS. All errors are our own.


Abstract Rheological properties of elastomeric nanocomposites with organically modified Montmorillonite clays, as possible replacements or supplements to classical active fillers, such as carbon black or silica, have been intensively studied in recent years. Possessing large specific surface areas acquired through the melt-mixing processes of elastomeric intercalation and subsequent filler exfoliation, the clay particles have indeed proved to be highly eligible reinforcing and thermally stabilizing ingredients for application in elastomers. In fact, their performance has shown to be in many respects superior to that of classical fillers, particularly owing to some unusual, though beneficial, exhibited properties. Namely, apart from uncommonly high surface activity, manifested by creation of a host of van der Waals type secondary linkages with elastomer molecules, the main curiosity of clay filler is its dissipative action. Using dynamic mechanical functions under different deformational and temperature conditions, as means for rheological characterization of nanocomposites, the foregoing nano-scale traits are clearly reflected in substantial stiffness at low strains and, unexpectedly, dwindling energy loss with increasig filler content and/or decreasing temperature. Besides, rheological analysis of this kind, together with appropriate theoretical grounds, has enabled elucidation of peculiar conduct, as well as macroscopic insight into the very nature of secondary interactions in elastomers.


The New England states and New York are more than 50 percent forested, a rate well above the national average. Economies in this heavily forested region have historically relied on forest-based industries, and human population has clustered along coastal regions and major waterways, though recent trends suggest widespread in-migration to amenity-rich rural areas. Over the last decade, all states in this region have experienced notable declines in forest cover. In urban and suburban areas like southern New Hampshire, this loss of forest cover is likely related to increased demand for housing and services. It is also likely to be a permanent transition, since developed land rarely reverts to forest cover. Much of the forest cover loss in rural northern New England is due to commercial timber harvesting and is likely temporary, but in other portions of northern New England forest cover has declined consistently since 2001, and it is unclear whether this shift is the result of development or forest harvesting. These two types of forest cover change can have drastically different effects on the services local residents derive from forests. Because more developed regions have already lost much of their forest cover, a sustained loss of the remaining forestland has serious implications for vital ecosystem services like drinking water filtration, storm abatement, and air purification. This brief contributes to a better understanding of the linkages between demographic and forest cover change so as to inform policy efforts aimed at maintaining existing forested areas in and around sprawling urban centers. Introduction


The spread of sensory blockade after epidural injection of a specific dose of local anesthetic (LA) differs considerably among individuals, and the factors affecting this distribution remain the subject of debate. Based on the results of recent investigations regarding the distribution of epidural neural blockade, specifically for thoracic epidural anesthesia, we noted that the total mass of LA appears to be the most important factor in determining the extent of sensory, sympathetic, and motor neural blockade, whereas the site of epidural needle/catheter placement governs the pattern of distribution of blockade relative to the injection site. Age may be positively correlated with the spread of sensory blockade, and the evidence is somewhat stronger for thoracic than for lumbar epidural anesthesia. Other patient characteristics and technical details, such as patient position, and mode and speed of injection, exert only a small effect on the distribution of sensory blockade, or their effects are equivocal. However, combinations of several patient and technical factors may aid in predicting LA dose requirements. Based on these results, we have also formulated suggested epidural insertion sites that may optimize both analgesia and sympathicolysis for various surgical indications.


The risk based regulation approach is reasonable. There are some prerequisites and some limitations to its use which are discussed at length in the paper (e.g. degree of reliability of data, the type of risk indicators, cool-efficiency criterion etc.). Various types of schools on liability laws are discussed. Some initial answers to the regulations and how they should look are given.


Shared-use vehicle services provide members access to a fleet of vehicles for use throughout the day, without the hassles and costs of individual auto ownership. From June 2001 to June 2002 the paper surveyed 28 North American shared-use vehicle service organizations on a range of topics, including business model approach, organizational size, strategic partnerships, pricing strategies, and technology applications. While survey findings demonstrate a decline in the number of organizational starts between June 2001 and June 2002, the rate of operational launches into new cities, membership, and fleet size continue to increase. Several growth-oriented organizations in Canada and the U.S. are responsible for the majority of this growth and innovation. The paper also noted several factors that could facilitate or inhibit shared-use vehicle market growth in North America, such as high capital investment (or start-up costs), dramatic hikes in insurance rates, grant programs and other supportive public policies, and technology developments.


This article describes a study seeking to assess perceptions of campus judicial officers/members of the Association for Student Judicial Affairs (ASJA) regarding the effectiveness of the Clery Act (Campus Security Act) on campus judicial practices. In addition it provides information regarding overall effectiveness of Clery as perceived by the respondents. The researchers surveyed 1,143 members of the Association for Student Judicial Affairs (ASJA) whose institutions are covered by the Act. A total of 422 ASJA members returned questionnaires. This provided a response rate of 36.9%. The respondents included 39% Senior Student Affairs Officers who supervise a judicial conduct administrator, 44% who were judicial affairs officers and 17% who indicated that they were either faculty members, graduate students or "other." The overall population of respondents was divided among both public and private institutions. Here, 60% of the respondents were from public institutions and 40% were from private institutions. A large majority (88%) of the respondents worked at four-year institutions with the remainder (12%) working at two-year institutions.


I want to consider a puzzle in the realm of confirmation theory. The puzzle arises from consideration of reasoning with an argument, given certain epistemological commitments. Here is the argument (preceded by the stipulated justification for the first premise): (JUSTIFICATION FOR 1) The table looks red. (EK) (1) The table is red. (2) If the table is red, then it is not white with red lights shining on it. (3) The table is not white with red lights shining on it. (EK) – the easy knowledge argument – has received much epistemological scrutiny of late. My aim, in this discussion note, is to set out an example, leading to the puzzle, putatively troubling for dogmatism. The puzzle takes the form of a pair of arguments which I take to be extractable from the recent work of a number of prominent epistemologists. My aim is modest: I seek not novelty, but rather merely to tie together accessibly some interesting recent work towards the formal end of epistemology which bears on cruxes at the heart of traditional epistemology.


The Ontario Court of Appeal recently released a decision rejecting a constitutional challenge to the Processing and Distribution of Semen for Assisted Conception Regulations. In this paper I argue that the Court's reasoning in Doe v Canada is flawed and that certain provisions of the Semen Regulations constitute an unjustified infringement of section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I also argue that the claimants in this case would have been better served by the jurisprudence of section 15 of the Charter had they premised their argument on the assertion that they were discriminated against on the basis of family status rather than sexual orientation. Such an approach would be preferable both in terms of avoiding the pitfalls of the formal equality approach to section 15 adopted by both levels of court in this case, in addition to providing a more inclusive and progressive litigation strategy for acquiring legal recognition of familial relationships which deviate from the hetero-normative paradigm assumed by the Semen Regulations.


Codeine was considered a suitable analgesic for children after adenotonsillectomy. It has been used extensively in the UK1 for over 40 years and appeared effective.2 It was listed in the WHO as the second step on the Analgesic Ladder for the treatment of cancer pain. Adult data suggest the combination paracetamol 1000 mg/codeine 60 mg provides better analgesia (number needed to treat, (NNT) 1.9) than codeine 60 mg (NNT 17), or paracetamol 1000 mg (NNT 4.6), illustrating the synergistic effect of analgesic combinations.3 The addition of codeine to paracetamol increased duration of analgesia by about 1 hour, and reduced the need for rescue medication.4 Consequently, many clinicians have expressed surprise at moves by regulatory bodies (US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) to impose restrictions on its use in children, particularly after adenotonsillectomy.

Children suffer considerable pain with severe functional limitation for at least 7 days after this common procedure.5 Although part of the problem may be inadequate parent education and information concerning analgesia,6 there are also gaps in our pharmacologic armamentarium. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) have been frowned upon because of fears concerning their effects on platelet function and subsequent postoperative bleeding despite studies demonstrating that NSAIDs did not cause any increase in bleeding requiring a return to operating room.7 Paracetamol dosing recommendations have been lowered in recent years; these recommendations are not based on pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic knowledge,8 but rather on fears of potential hepatotoxicity due to paracetamol's oxidative metabolite (N -acetyl- p -benzoquinone imine).9 This adverse effect is rare but devastating when the drug is routinely given, and the reason why some children are so afflicted remains unknown. Opioid use at home is generally discouraged because of dispensing regulations and the knowledge that these drugs can cause …


ABSTRACT Garenoxacin (T-3811ME, BMS-284756) is a novel, broad-spectrum des-F(6) quinolone currently under study for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections. This analysis assessed garenoxacin population pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationships for safety (adverse effects [AE]) and antimicrobial activity (clinical cure and bacteriologic eradication of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the grouping of Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis). Data were obtained from three phase II clinical trials of garenoxacin administered orally as 400 mg once daily for 5 to 10 days for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and sinusitis. Samples were taken from each patient before drug administration, 2 h following administration of the first dose, and on the day 3 to 5 visit. Individual Bayesian estimates of the fu (fraction unbound), the Cmax, and the fu for the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (fu AUC0-24) were calculated as measurements of drug exposure by using an ex vivo assessment of average protein binding. Regression analysis was performed to examine the following relationships: treatment-emergent AE incidence and AUC0-24, Cmax, or patient factors; clinical response or bacterial eradication and drug exposure (fu Cmax/MIC, fu AUC0-24/MIC, and other exposure covariates); or disease and patient factors. Garenoxacin pharmacokinetics were described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination. Clearance was dependent on creatinine clearance, ideal body weight, age, obesity, and concomitant use of pseudoephedrine. The volume of distribution was dependent on weight and gender. Patients with mild or moderate renal dysfunction had, on average, approximately a 16 or 26% decrease in clearance, respectively, compared to patients of the same gender and obesity classification with normal renal function. AE occurrence was not related to garenoxacin exposure. Overall, clinical cure and bacterial eradication rates were 91 and 90%, respectively, for S. pneumoniae and 93 and 92%, respectively, for the grouping of H. influenzae, H. parainfluenzae, and M. catarrhalis. The fu AUC0-24/MIC ratios were high (>90% were >200), and none of the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic exposure measurements indexed to the MIC or other factors were significant predictors of clinical or bacteriologic response. Garenoxacin clearance was primarily related to creatinine clearance and ideal body weight. Although garenoxacin exposure was approximately 25% higher for patients with moderate renal dysfunction, this increase does not appear to be clinically significant as exposures in this patient population were not significant predictors of AE occurrence. Garenoxacin exposures were at the upper end of the exposure-response curves for measurements of antimicrobial activity, suggesting that 400 mg of garenoxacin once daily is a safe and adequate dose for the treatment of the specified community-acquired respiratory tract infections.


This Report presents results of pull-out tests performed on plane strips of galvanised mild steel embedded in both well graded and uniformly graded soil. Tests were performed under both static and dynamic loading conditions. The pull-out resistance of the reinforcements was reduced by the dynamic stresses generated by vibration. The reduction in pull-out resistance correlated well with the reduction in normal stress caused by the stress waves generated by a vibrating plate compactor. The percentage reduction in pull-out resistance was similar for tests performed in both the well graded and uniformly graded soils.


The 4th Artillery Regiment and the 6th Infantry Regiment of Duke Margis of Pilėnai were relocated to Plungė as part of the efforts to strengthen the defensive capacities of Lithuania's western territory. At first, soldiers were quartered in the buildings situated in Plungė park and later moved to the newly-built barracks. Therefore, the major aim of the article is to reveal the input of the garrison soldiers into the cultural life of Plungė as well as to contribute to the research on the topic which so far has been little studied. The article shows how the park was reorganised to adjust the new space to life and military functions, and how it was set up for the purposes of culture and free time of the army and the townspeople. It provided an opportunity to actively engage in exercise in a partly-closed space for the town dwellers and to take part in various events for the military. The park also hosted various celebrations of public holidays, summer outdoor parties for young people known as gegužinė, orchestra performances, and even served as a stage for soldiers performing songs. The garrison's military brass band was popular and well-known in Plungė and the neighbouring towns and villages. The band would play on the occasion of seeing off and meeting soldiers; it would also perform during city festivals and gegužinė outdoor parties, thus becoming an inseparable part of the town's cultural life. Soldiers would hold the celebrations of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, show jumping events and Military and Public Days during which they would organise parades, horse shows to the public as well as demonstrate their military preparedness. The garrison soldiers staged plays, delivered lectures to local residents and even had their own reading-room. Wearing a full-dress uniform, the regiment soldiers would attend religious and town festivals. The article shows that through involvement of the public in cultural activities, celebration of public holidays, and promotion of patriotic and civic spirit in society, the garrison became an important factor in the provincial life of independent Lithuania, which did not only have a significant influence on the town of Plungė but also earned respect among its residents.


ABSTRACT Several cutinase variants derived by molecular modelling and site-directed mutagenesis of a cutinase gene from Fusarium solani pisi are poorly secreted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The majority of these variants are successfully produced by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus awamori. However, the L51S and T179Y mutations caused reductions in the levels of extracellular production of two cutinase variants by A. awamori. Metabolic labelling studies were performed to analyze the bottleneck in enzyme production by the fungus in detail. These studies showed that because of the single L51S substitution, rapid extracellular degradation of cutinase occurred. The T179Y substitution did not result in enhanced sensitivity towards extracellular proteases. Presumably, the delay in the extracellular accumulation of this cutinase variant is caused by the enhanced hydrophobicity of the molecule. Overexpression of the A. awamori gene encoding the chaperone BiP in the cutinase-producing A. awamori strains had no significant effect on the secretion efficiency of the cutinases. A cutinase variant with the amino acid changes G28A, A85F, V184I, A185L, and L189F that was known to aggregate in the endoplasmic reticulum of S. cerevisiae, resulting in low extracellular protein levels, was successfully produced by A. awamori. An initial bottleneck in secretion occurred before or during translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum but was rapidly overcome by the fungus.


We conduct the first large-scale study of image-based political misinformation on Facebook. We collect 13,723,654 posts from 14,532 pages and 11,454 public groups from August through October 2020, posts that together account for nearly all engagement of U.S. public political content on Facebook. We use perceptual hashing to identify duplicate images and computer vision to identify political figures. Twenty-three percent of sampled political images (N = 1,000) contained misinformation, as did 20% of sampled images (N = 1,000) containing political figures. We find enormous partisan asymmetry in misinformation posts, with right-leaning images 5–8 times more likely to be misleading, but little evidence that misleading images generate higher engagement. Previous scholarship, which mostly cataloged links to noncredible domains, has ignored image posts which account for a higher volume of misinformation. This research shows that new computer-assisted methods can scale to millions of images, and help address perennial and long-unanswered calls for more systematic study of visual political communication.


This paper summarizes the micro-level survey evidence from Central Asia generated and analyzed between 1991 and 2012. We provide an exhaustive overview over all accessible individual and household-level surveys undertaken in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - and of all English-language academic papers published using these datasets. We argue that Central Asia is a fascinating region for the study of comparative economics given its dual experience of transition and development. However, the region is also understudied, in part due to lack of data, and especially due to a lack of panel data. We identify knowledge gaps caused from this lack of longitudinal surveys and suggest worthwhile areas for future research. Finally, we also present the new and novel individual-level panel dataset called "Life in Kyrgyzstan".


Abstract. The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) is an ultra-spectral satellite sensor with 8461 spectral channels. IASI spectra contain high information content on atmospheric, cloud, and surface properties. The instrument presents a challenge for using thousands of spectral channels in a physical retrieval system or in a Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) data assimilation system. In this paper we describe a method of simultaneously retrieving atmospheric temperature, moisture, and cloud properties using all available IASI channels without sacrificing computational speed. The essence of the method is to convert the IASI channel radiance spectra into super-channels by an Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) transformation. Studies show that about 100 super-channels are adequate to capture the information content of the radiance spectra. A Principal Component-based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) is used to calculate both the super-channel magnitudes and derivatives with respect to atmospheric profiles and other properties. A physical retrieval algorithm then performs an inversion of atmospheric, cloud, and surface properties in the super channel domain directly therefore both reducing the computational need and preserving the information content of the IASI measurements. While no large-scale validation has been performed on any retrieval methodology presented in this paper, comparisons of the retrieved atmospheric profiles, sea surface temperatures, and surface emissivities with co-located ground- and aircraft-based measurements over four days in Spring 2007 over the South-Central United States indicate excellent agreement.


Reanalysis of occultation data from the Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiter spacecraft to determine the shape of Mars indicated that the hemispheric dichotomy is not a fundamental feature of the shape of the planet. It is a consequence of an approximately 3-kilometer offset between Mars's center of mass and center of figure, and the boundary, along most of its length, consists of broad, gradual surface slopes over distances of thousands of kilometers. This result was supported by analysis of high spatial resolution Earth-based radar topographic profiles. Any successful model for the origin of the dichotomy must explain a planet with an ellipsoidal shape and a long wavelength gradual topographic transition between the northern and southern hemispheres.


Unlike most other fungi, molds of the genus Trichoderma (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) are aggressive parasites of other fungi and efficient decomposers of plant biomass. Although nutritional shifts are common among hypocrealean fungi, there are no examples of such broad substrate versatility as that observed in Trichoderma. A phylogenomic analysis of 23 hypocrealean fungi (including nine Trichoderma spp. and the related Escovopsis weberi) revealed that the genus Trichoderma has evolved from an ancestor with limited cellulolytic capability that fed on either fungi or arthropods. The evolutionary analysis of Trichoderma genes encoding plant cell wall-degrading carbohydrate-active enzymes and auxiliary proteins (pcwdCAZome, 122 gene families) based on a gene tree / species tree reconciliation demonstrated that the formation of the genus was accompanied by an unprecedented extent of lateral gene transfer (LGT). Nearly one-half of the genes in Trichoderma pcwdCAZome (41%) were obtained via LGT from plant-associated filamentous fungi belonging to different classes of Ascomycota, while no LGT was observed from other potential donors. In addition to the ability to feed on unrelated fungi (such as Basidiomycota), we also showed that Trichoderma is capable of endoparasitism on a broad range of Ascomycota, including extant LGT donors. This phenomenon was not observed in E. weberi and rarely in other mycoparasitic hypocrealean fungi. Thus, our study suggests that LGT is linked to the ability of Trichoderma to parasitize taxonomically related fungi (up to adelphoparasitism in strict sense). This may have allowed primarily mycotrophic Trichoderma fungi to evolve into decomposers of plant biomass.


Clinical notes are becoming an increasingly important data source for machine learning (ML) applications in healthcare. Prior research has shown that deploying ML models can perpetuate existing biases against racial minorities, as bias can be implicitly embedded in data. In this study, we investigate the level of implicit race information available to ML models and human experts and the implications of model-detectable differences in clinical notes. Our work makes three key contributions. First, we find that models can identify patient self-reported race from clinical notes even when the notes are stripped of explicit indicators of race. Second, we determine that human experts are not able to accurately predict patient race from the same redacted clinical notes. Finally, we demonstrate the potential harm of this implicit information in a simulation study, and show that models trained on these race-redacted clinical notes can still perpetuate existing biases in clinical treatment decisions.


Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) are lysosomal storage disorders resulting from loss of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity. We have used a knockout mouse model of NPD (ASMKO mice) to evaluate the effects of direct intracerebral transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the progression of neurological disease in this disorder. MSCs were transduced with a retroviral vector to overexpress ASM and were injected into the hippocampus and cerebellum of 3-week-old ASMKO pups. Transplanted cells migrated away from the injection sites and survived at least 6 months after transplantation. Seven of 8 treated mice, but none of the untreated controls, survived for > or = 7 months after transplant. Survival times were greater in sex-matched than in sex-mismatched transplants. Transplantation significantly delayed the Purkinje cell loss that is characteristic of NPD, although the protective effect declined with distance from the injection site. Overall ASM activity in brain homogenates was low, but surviving Purkinje cells contained the retrovirally expressed human enzyme, and transplanted animals showed a reduction in cerebral sphingomyelin. These results reveal the potential of treating neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders by intracerebral transplantation of bone marrow-derived MSCs.


Background: mental Retardation or RM is a serious problem for the nation. Estimation of the case RM weighing about 0.3% of the entire population and almost 3% had an IQ below 70.  The prevalence of disabilities RM as a whole is not yet known for sure, but the number estimated at 1 to 3% of the entire human population (Bi et al., 2016). Other researchers in the Netherlands reported that based on the population of meta analysis revealed the prevalence of RM – 1% with Division of 85% of all cases is mild, RM RM RM 10% and Moderate heavy very heavy/5% (Iqbal and Bokhoven, 2014). The purpose of the study to find out the relationship between the social, economic and environmental factors against mental retardation incident.
Subjects and method: this type of research is the study of analytic observational research with approach case control. Implementation time in October-December 2016 in district of Pare Regency Kediri, East Java, Indonesia. Variables in research is the socio-economic, environmental factors and mental retardation. The sample is selected by fixed disease sampling, by comparison to 1:2 the subject of cases and controls, a number of 105 subject. Engineering data collection using the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Logistic regression analysis using SPSS program version 21.
Results: there are social relations of economic families (OR = 0.31; CI = 0.13-0.76; p = 0.009) and environment (OR = 0.36; CI = 0.14-0.75; p = 0.008) and status of mental retardation.
Conclusion: there is a relationship of socioeconomic status and family environment with mental retardation..


Abstract. Extremely high levels of column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of atmospheric methane (XCH4) were detected in August and September 2013 over northeast Asia (∼  20 ppb above the averaged summertime XCH4 over 2009–2012, after removing a long-term trend), as being retrieved from the Short-Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR) spectral data observed with the Thermal And Near-infrared Sensor for carbon Observation – Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS) onboard Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT). Similar enhancements of XCH4 were also observed by the ground-based measurements at two Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) sites in Japan. The analysis of surface CH4 concentrations observed at three monitoring sites around the Japan archipelago suggest that the extreme increase of XCH4 has occurred in a limited area. The model analysis was conducted to investigate this anomalously high XCH4 event, using an atmospheric transport model. The results indicate that the extreme increase of XCH4 is attributed to the anomalous atmospheric pressure pattern over East Asia during the summer of 2013, which effectively transported the CH4-rich air to Japan from the strong CH4 source areas in east China. The two Japanese TCCON sites, ∼  1000 km east–west apart each other, coincidentally located along the substantially CH4-rich air flow from east China. This analysis demonstrates the capability of GOSAT to monitor an XCH4 event on a synoptic scale. We anticipate that the synoptic information of XCH4 from GOSAT data contributes to improve our understanding of regional carbon cycle and the regional flux estimation.


We describe a local parallel method for computing the stochastic completion field introduced in the previous article (Williams and Jacobs, 1997). The stochastic completion field represents the likelihood that a completion joining two contour fragments passes through any given position and orientation in the image plane. It is based on the assumption that the prior probability distribution of completion shape can be modeled as a random walk in a lattice of discrete positions and orientations. The local parallel method can be interpreted as a stable finite difference scheme for solving the underlying Fokker-Planck equation identified by Mumford (1994). The resulting algorithm is significantly faster than the previously employed method, which relied on convolution with large-kernel filters computed by Monte Carlo simulation. The complexity of the new method is O (n3m), while that of the previous algorithm was O(n4m2 (for an n n image with m discrete orientations). Perhaps most significant, the use of a local method allows us to model the probability distribution of completion shape using stochastic processes that are neither homogeneous nor isotropic. For example, it is possible to modulate particle decay rate by a directional function of local image brightnesses (i.e., anisotropic decay). The effect is that illusory contours can be made to respect the local image brightness structure. Finally, we note that the new method is more plausible as a neural model since (1) unlike the previous method, it can be computed in a sparse, locally connected network, and (2) the network dynamics are consistent with psychophysical measurements of the time course of illusory contour formation.


This dissertation explores the role of relationships with front-line officers on the subjective wellbeing of the recipients of the conditional cash transfer programme in Mexico, Oportunidades-Prospera. To do so, it builds bridges between the literatures on wellbeing, development and public policy. In recent decades, wellbeing has acquired greater significance in public policy with the interest of changing the conceptualization of progress from one driven by economic growth to one which takes quality of life as its ultimate aim. Much attention has been placed on measuring wellbeing for national policy deliberation. This dissertation, instead, is interested in understanding how taking a wellbeing approach may contribute to street-level development: to the design, practice and implementation of social policies and programmes. The value of wellbeing is that it draws attention to dimensions of experience that policy has tended to under-estimate or ignore. In this respect, one of the most consistent findings of wellbeing scholarship is the centrality of social relationships in shaping action and driving how people evaluate their lives. While the main emphasis has been on close relationships, this dissertation asks how the relationships created during the implementation of social programmes may influence wellbeing – and hence the overall impact of policies themselves. This research focuses on relationships at the health clinics which clients of Oportunidades-Prospera are required to attend as a condition for receiving a cash transfer. It follows a mixed-methods approach that reveals that relationships with health officers have a significant role on recipients' sense of what they can do and be in different domains. It also finds that the quality of these relationships has two dimensions, positive and negative, and that these have differential effects on wellbeing. The study concludes that paying attention to the wellbeing implications of officer-recipient relationships deepens understanding of the overall effect of social programmes on their clients, highlighting unintended effects that are usually unaccounted for. In addition, the significance of relationships in implementation indicates a vital dimension of the policy process that requires direct attention if social policy and programmes are to achieve their full potential to improve people's wellbeing.


Emotional adjustment seems to be a significant factor to consider in the diagnosis and treatment of reading difficulties. This statement is substantiated by a number of studies which have been made to investigate the incidence of emotional disturbances in retarded readers. Misseldine (18) studied the emotional background of thirty children with reading disabilities and concluded that practically all of the children tested were "insecure," "restless," and "emotionally ill." A study by Ellis (9) led him to conclude that there are emotional factors in many, if not all, cases of reading disability. Sylvester and Kunst (23) reported that all pupils with reading difficulties have emotional problems. Other investigators are more conservative in their estimates of the incidence of emotional disturbances. For example, Witty (24) indicated 52% and Challman (7) and Gates (14) each stated 75%. Regardless of variance, all studies suggest that emotional disturbance is a significant factor which the reading therapist must consider. Therefore, it may be inferred that an understanding of emotion as a behavioral mechanism is of real value to the prospective reading clinician. Since emotion is a relatively broad subject, this paper will be limited to a discussion of one aspect of emotion, anxiety, and its effects on learning. The study of this topic appears to be a fruitful venture for in the final analysis all human behavior can be seen as direct or indirect attempts to cope with anxiety.


Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an adult-onset, progressive neurodegenerative disorder. MSA patients show various phenotypes during the course of their illness including parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, autonomic failure, and pyramidal signs. MSA is classified into the parkinsonian (MSA-P) or cerebellar (MSA-C) variant depending on the clinical motor phenotype at presentation. MSA-P and MSA-C are predominant in Western countries and Japan, respectively. The mean age at onset is 55 to 60 years. Prognosis ranges from 6 to 10 years, but some cases survive for more than 15 years. Early and severe autonomic failure is a poor prognostic factor. MSA patients sometimes present with isolated autonomic failure or motor symptoms/signs, and the median duration from onset to the concomitant appearance of motor and autonomic symptoms was approximately 2 years in our previous study. As the presence of the combination of motor and autonomic symptoms is essential for the current diagnostic criteria, early diagnosis is difficult when patients present with isolated autonomic failure or motor symptoms/signs. We experienced MSA patients who died before presentation of the motor symptoms/signs diagnostic for MSA (i.e., premotor MSA). Detection of the nature of autonomic failure consistent with MSA and identification of the dysfunctional anatomical sites may increase the probability of a diagnosis of premotor MSA. Dementia is another problem in MSA. Although dementia had been thought to be rare in MSA, frontal lobe dysfunction is observed frequently during the early course of the illness. Magnetic resonance imaging can show progressive cerebral atrophy in longstanding cases. More recently, MSA patients presenting with frontotemporal dementia preceding the presence of motor and autonomic manifestations diagnostic of MSA have been reported. Novel diagnostic criteria based on an expanding concept of the clinical conditions and symptoms of MSA will be needed for the development of disease-modifying therapies and better management.


The Arizona Archeological and Historical Society? was founded in 1916. It is a nonprofit, educational organization affiliated with the Arizona State Museum. AAHS provides a forum for professionals in archeology and related fields as well as the general public to share their common interests and enthusiasm for the Southwest?s rich cultural history. Activities, announced monthly in the newsletter, Glyphs, provide educational and social opportunities to explore these interests. The Society's quarterly journal, Kiva , publishes original research in southwestern anthropology and history, and is an internationally recognized professional journal. Visit the AAHS website here [1].


Usability patterns represent knowledge about known ways to design graphical user interfaces that are usable and meet the needs and expectations of users. There is currently a plethora of usability patterns published in books, private repositories and the World-Wide Web. The dominance of pattern discovery efforts has neglected the emerging need to organize the patterns so they can become a proactive resource for developing interfaces. This paper presents an approach using Semantic Web concepts that turns informal patterns into formal representations capable of supporting systematic design methods. Through this method, loosely coupled pattern collections can be turned into strongly coupled pattern languages that help organize usability knowledge into a form that is easily and widely disseminated. This in turn can be used to facilitate the accumulation of usability development knowledge.


Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the high school students' self-efficacy beliefs about math literacy, and examine this beliefs in terms of some variables. The research was conducted on 712 high school students. A questionnaire and Math Literacy Self-Efficacy Scale were used for data collection. The data were analyzed in terms of t-test, one way anova and multiple regression analysis. According to the result of the study: it was determined that there were significant differences in math literacy self-efficacy in terms of gender, school type, class level, math degree, parents' educational status and the importance given to math classes. On the other hand, it was found that, math achievement and importance given to math classes variables were significant predictor of the math literacy self-efficacy. The findings were discussed in the light of related literature. Key Words Math Literacy, Self-Efficacy Belief, High School Students. It can be seen that literacy concept is emphasized directly or indirectly, when the aims and goals of the training programs of today's education system is examined. Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills come first as the main elements of literacy. Changes have been unavoidable in the approach of raising the targeted individual according to the variable conditions of today's world. In the transition process from industry-production age to information-technology age, a literate individual is expected to have superior cognitive skills such as communication, judgment, problem solving, decision making beyond basic skills and to use them effectively in his/her life. In the PISA studies made by OECD, a new approach to literacy is being brought. Literacy is discussed to make students use the information and skills learned from basic lessons in necessary place and time, to analyze and judge the problems in different situations, and to use the obtained results in an efficient way (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development [OECD], 2003, p. 24). This change in the literacy concept has spread to many areas and some literacy types have been discussed and researched. Math literacy (ML) concept has been created after the improvements in mathematics as a result of the changes in today's life conditions and qualifications expected from individuals. The need and the importance of competence in the mathematical content, process and situations faced in the daily lives, job-education lives of individuals can be seen as the point of origin of ML. According to Edge (2009), one has to be math literate in order to be functional in an optimal level. Besides, it has been stated that ML is a must for students in order to comply with the innovations (Pugalee & Chamblee, 1999). The ML concept has sometimes been defined as compared with mathematical efficacy, mathematical power, spatial and numeric literacy (Steen, 1999; De Lange, 2001; Kilpatrick, 2001). Whatever it is named, any individual has to have mathematical skills and abilities beyond pure mathematical content (Lengnink, 2005, p. 247). Even if ML has not been fully described in the published standards of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM] (1989; 2000) for school mathematics, its importance has been accepted and emphasized. The importance of ML is mentioned in today's Turkey mathematics curriculum (Milli Egitim Bakanligi [MEB], 2005). According to NCTM (1989, p. 5), individual's use of different mathematical methods in solving non-ordinary problems shows his discovering, estimating and logical judgment skills. The catchword "math for everyone" of NCTM (2000, p. 13) has played an important role in making ML more important. Romberg (2001, p. 8) bases the meaning of being math literate on the vision of NCTM. In order to make math literacy valid and possible significant mathematical information and skills are necessary. This concept will not be considered as only reading- writing and numerical transactions. …


Phenomena accompanying bainitic transformation in the range of swing back were investigated by using acoustic methods and microscopic analyses. It has been found out that midribs are probably formed in the first few dozen seconds. Plates of a midrib are a twinned thin-plate martensite. While forming midribs, sources of displacement are activated. Rapid local deformations exceeding the limit of plasticity produce large acoustic effects. Midribs are the first elements of the formed sheaves of bainite and privileged sites for bainite nucleation. The tests were made by using specimens of high-carbon steel with 1.1C wt.%, where a very clear range of the accelerated start of bainite transformation was observed. This range was determined earlier by using dilatometric measurements. It was stated that morphology of microstructures of lower bainite with a midrib (LBM) shows butterfly-shaped arrangement of plates, which is induced by midribs. An outline of the acoustic spectrum corresponds with a characteristic of the continuous precipitation.


email@example.com Abstract | Place experiences of users happen through their daily life experience in space, cognition of space characteristics and their evaluations about space. Through those interactions people experience the spaces and they perceive a place desirable or undesirable. If the spaces support their daily needs they find it desirable and if not they find it undesirable. In order to investigate those experiences in streets and explore common characteristics among desirable and attractive streets, some cases have been chosen. Firstly, Azadi Street (From Enqelab to Azadi Square in four parts) was chosen because of its physical and situational significance, although it cannot support pedestrians' needs and their activities efficiently. Secondly, Khayyam Street in Qazvin as the most attractive public space in Qazvin was also selected based on interviews with citizens and observations. Finally, Motahhari Street in Rasht with the different functional and physical attractions such as shopping and eating activities was chosen as a successful and desirable public space based on people interviews. The research aim was to find differences and similarities between two successful spaces from one hand and Azadi Street in other hand. The research variables include: variety, equity and democracy based on Fainstein study about "Just cities", and vitality, sense, fit, accessibility, control, justice and efficiency criteria based on Lynch study about "Good City Form". Data was analyzed by descriptive analysis based on the given scores (from 1 to 10 scores) to different variables and their different indicators based on direct observation in those three case studies. The result shows the common characteristics which make Motahhari and Khayyam Street successful were two factors: vitality and efficiency. Also, the results indicate Azadi Street has not been a successful public space in term of one of the most important criteria; "fit", and protecting pedestrians' activities.


In this study, processes that broaden drop size distributions (DSDs) in Eulerian models with two-moment bin microphysics are analyzed. Numerous tests are performed to isolate the effects of different physical mechanisms that broaden DSDs in two- and three-dimensional Weather Research and Forecasting Model simulations of an idealized ice-free cumulus cloud. Sensitivity of these effects to modifying horizontal and vertical model grid spacings is also examined. As expected, collision–coalescence is a key process broadening the modeled DSDs. In-cloud droplet activation also contributes substantially to DSD broadening, whereas evaporation has only a minor effect and sedimentation has little effect. Cloud dilution (mixing of cloud-free and cloudy air) also broadens the DSDs considerably, whether or not it is accompanied by evaporation. This mechanism involves the reduction of droplet concentration from dilution along the cloud's lateral edges, leading to locally high supersaturation and enhanced drop growth when this air is subsequently lifted in the updraft. DSD broadening ensues when the DSDs are mixed with those from the cloud core. Decreasing the horizontal and vertical model grid spacings from 100 to 30 m has limited impact on the DSDs. However, when these physical broadening mechanisms (in-cloud activation, collision–coalescence, dilution, etc.) are turned off, there is a reduction of DSD width by up to ~20%–50% when the vertical grid spacing is decreased from 100 to 30 m, consistent with effects of artificial broadening from vertical numerical diffusion. Nonetheless, this artificial numerical broadening appears to be relatively unimportant overall for DSD broadening when physically based broadening mechanisms in the model are included for this cumulus case.


Resveratrol is a naturally occurring product used in the prevention and treatment of various diseases by acting as a potent defensive antioxidant. Resveratrol can be used in various fields, but the use is limited due to its poor solubility and hence low bioavail - ability. For overcoming this limitation, various drug delivery systems of resveratrol were developed. The aim of the novel drug delivery system (NDDS) is to provide a therapeu- tic amount of drug to the target site to maintain the desired drug concentration. NDDS enhances the duration of therapeutic activity, increases plasma half-life, decreases the immunogenicity, increases the stability of biopharmaceuticals, improves the solubility of low molecular weight drugs so does the bioavailability, and has a potential of targeted drug delivery. However, they have their own advantages as well as limitations. This chapter focuses on: (1) general introduction to resveratrol and its various therapeutic uses, (2) pharmacokinetic- and bioavailability-related problems of resveratrol, and (3) general about various NDDS used in resveratrol formulations.


Information about production and detoxification of reactive oxygen species during seed germination of halophytes under saline conditions is scanty. We therefore studied levels of common oxidative stress markers, antioxidant substances and antioxidant enzyme activities in germinating seeds of two subtropical coastal halophytes Limonium stocksii and Suaeda fruticosa under various NaCl (0, 200 and 400 mM) treatments. Mature seeds of both species lacked reduced ascorbate (AsA) in dry state. However, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were detected in dry seeds of both species. Higher and rapid germination was noted in L. stocksii seeds compared to S. fruticosa in distilled water. Ascorbate (AsA) was detected in water imbibed seeds of both species, along with increase in GSH levels and SOD, APX and GR activities during germinaeactive oxygen species tion in distilled water. Germination and hydration of the seeds of both species decreased with increases in NaCl concentration. CAT and GPX activities were higher while APX, AsA and GSH decreased in salt stressed seeds compared to water-imbibed seeds. Thus, it appears that the salinity inhibits seed germination of L. stocksii and S. fruticosa by reducing water uptake and compromising ascorbate dependent antioxidant system. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


A high expression of a solvent stable enzyme enables characterization of it solvent stability profiles which could aid in many aspects of structural studies in understanding protein-solvent interaction. A thermostable and solvent stable lipase (Lip 42) gene previously isolated from Bacillus sp. strain 42 was subcloned into pET-51b. High expression was achieved using this vector which employs T7 promoter, using E. coli host strain BL21(DE3)pLysS. Expression was achieved at 160 U/mg protein, after 25 hour incubation at 37°C using 0.5 mM isopropyl β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). Lip 42 was purified using Strep-tag affinity chromatography and it molecular weight size is 43 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Studies on purified lipase in solvent with different polarities (log P values) showed that it was generally stable in water miscible solvents such as DMSO, DMF, ethanol, and methanol; and in apolar solvent such as n-hexane. The enzyme retained high residual activities in 45 to 60% v/v hydrophilic solvents, and also some enhancements (> 100%) were observed in low DMSO compositions (15-30% v/v). Stability preference in water miscible solvents would make Lip 42 lipase a suitable enzyme to be employed in bio-diesel production.
Structural characterizations of the enzyme in different solvent compositions were carried out using fluorescence spectroscopy, and also by using both far- and near- UV circular dichroisms (CD). Both secondary and tertiary structures were retained in low solvent ( 60% v/v, the tertiary structure was perturbed accompanied by the formation of molten globule (MG), or an expanded helical structure state. Far-UV CD studies in methanol indicated the conserved secondary structure with an increase in α-helices, and decreased in β-sheets. Near UV-CD spectra in low methanol and DMSO compositions (30 - 45% v/v) resembled the native protein. At solvent > 60% v/v, the distinct tertiary structure perturbation was observed each in methanol and DMSO. Intrinsic fluorescence spectra in both solvents showed blue shifts at 0-45% v/v indicating a buried Tryptophan, and at > 60% v/v showed red shift indicating an exposed Tryptophan. Extrinsic fluorescence studies showed the possible formation of inactive molten globule (MG) at > 60% v/v solvent. In this state, the collapse of tertiary structure with an intact secondary structure was manifested by the loss in biological function.
Based on solvent stability profiles, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were run in the presence of water, 60% v/v DMSO + 40% v/v water, and 100% v/v DMSO.Structural (RMSD) and flexibility (RMSF) changes indicated that the major changes in the lid involving two helix-loop-helix motif loops. In 60% v/v DMSO, the gap between the loops was narrower and there was a collapse of a nearby hydrophobic cluster. However, the cluster was still seen in water and neat (100% v/v) DMSO. Consequently, the H-bond interaction and hydrophobic cluster region are important elements in protein solvent interaction. A site-directed mutation on the lid region (V171S) with residue Ser 171 replacing Val (hydrophobic to polar) impaired the enhancement in low solvent compositions. This effect was more pronounced at higher pre-incubation temperature (50°C), showing 120% reduction from the amount achievable by the native enzyme. This indicated the crucial role of the hydrophobic residue on helix-loop-helix motif in providing the hydrophobic effect pre-requisite for interfacial activation mechanism. In conclusions, these studies provide better understanding in protein solvent interaction and suggest a suitable parameter in rational design strategy for a better non-aqueous catalysis.


Abstract. Biomass burning (BB) plumes were measured at the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station during the 2006 Precursors to Particles campaign, when emissions from a fire on nearby Robbins Island impacted the station. Measurements made included non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) (PTR-MS), particle number size distribution, condensation nuclei (CN) > 3 nm, black carbon (BC) concentration, cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) number, ozone (O3), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), halocarbons and meteorology. During the first plume strike event (BB1), a 4 h enhancement of CO (max ~ 2100 ppb), BC (~ 1400 ng m-3) and particles > 3 nm (~ 13 000 cm-3) with dominant particle mode of 120 nm were observed overnight. A wind direction change lead to a dramatic reduction in BB tracers and a drop in the dominant particle mode to 50 nm. The dominant mode increased in size to 80 nm over 5 h in calm sunny conditions, accompanied by an increase in ozone. Due to an enhancement in BC but not CO during particle growth, the presence of BB emissions during this period could not be confirmed. The ability of particles > 80 nm (CN80) to act as CCN at 0.5 % supersaturation was investigated. The ΔCCN / ΔCN80 ratio was lowest during the fresh BB plume (56 ± 8 %), higher during the particle growth period (77 ± 4 %) and higher still (104 ± 3 %) in background marine air. Particle size distributions indicate that changes to particle chemical composition, rather than particle size, are driving these changes. Hourly average CCN during both BB events were between 2000 and 5000 CCN cm-3, which were enhanced above typical background levels by a factor of 6–34, highlighting the dramatic impact BB plumes can have on CCN number in clean marine regions. During the 29 h of the second plume strike event (BB2) CO, BC and a range of NMOCs including acetonitrile and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) were clearly enhanced and some enhancements in O3 were observed (ΔO3 / ΔCO 0.001–0.074). A short-lived increase in NMOCs by a factor of 10 corresponded with a large CO enhancement, an increase of the NMOC / CO emission ratio (ER) by a factor of 2–4 and a halving of the BC / CO ratio. Rainfall on Robbins Island was observed by radar during this period which likely resulted in a lower fire combustion efficiency, and higher emission of compounds associated with smouldering. This highlights the importance of relatively minor meteorological events on BB emission ratios. Emission factors (EFs) were derived for a range of trace gases, some never before reported for Australian fires, (including hydrogen, phenol and toluene) using the carbon mass balance method. This provides a unique set of EFs for Australian coastal heathland fires. Methyl halide EFs were higher than EFs reported from other studies in Australia and the Northern Hemisphere which is likely due to high halogen content in vegetation on Robbins Island. This work demonstrates the substantial impact that BB plumes can have on the composition of marine air, and the significant changes that can occur as the plume interacts with terrestrial, aged urban and marine emission sources.


Nanopore sequencing instruments measure the change in electric current caused by DNA transiting through the pore. In experimental and prototype nanopore sequencing devices it has been shown that the electrolytic current signals are sensitive to base modifications, such as 5-methylcytosine. Here we quantify the strength of this effect for the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencer. Using synthetically methylated DNA we are able to train a hidden Markov model to distinguish 5-methylcytosine from unmethylated cytosine in DNA. We demonstrate by sequencing natural human DNA, without any special library preparation, that global patterns of methylation can be detected from low-coverage sequencing and that the methylation status of CpG islands can be reliably predicted from single MinION reads. Our trained model and prediction software is open source and freely available to the community under the MIT license.


The present study is to establish a rat model of abnormal phlegmatic syndrome with Erectile Dysfunction (ED) according to the theory of Uygur traditional medicine. In addition, the feasibility and reliability of this model is evaluated. A total of 100 mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: normal control group (n=10) that had normal environment and diet, and model group (n=90) that was treated with spinach and coriander diet in a cold-wet environment. Biological parameters and sexual behavior of the rats were observed for 20 weeks until establishment of abnormal phlegmatic syndrome and ED model. Through erection test, the rats were randomly divided into 6 groups and disproved for 2 weeks. The levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormones, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol and prolactin in the serum of the rats were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The abnormal phlegmatic syndrome and ED model rats showed inactivity, dull hair, clear urine, loose and soft stool, dark tongue, greasy tongue coating, decreased body weight and water consumption, and increased food consumption, urine and stool production. For sexual behaviors, increased mounting, erectile, insertion, and ejaculation latency and decreased mounting, erectile, insertion, and ejaculation numbers were observed in ED model rats. After 2 weeks of disproof treatment, biological parameters, sexual behavior and sexual hormones were reversed. The present study demonstrates that the model mimics the development of abnormal phlegmatic syndrome with ED and shows Biological characterization consistent with clinic patients. Moreover, the model can be reversed after treatment.


Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and adult disability in the world. Although many molecules have been documented to have a neuroprotective effect, the majority of these molecules failed to improve the neurological outcomes for patients with brain ischemia. It has been proposed that neuroprotection alone may, in fact, not be adequate for improving the prognosis of ischemic stroke. Neuroprotectants that can regulate other processes which occur in the brain during ischemia could potentially be targets for the development of effective therapeutic interventions in stroke. Neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim domain protein 4 (Npas4) is an activity-dependent transcription factor whose expression is induced in various brain insults, including cerebral ischemia. It has been shown that Npas4 plays an important role in protecting neurons against many types of neurodegenerative insult. Recently, it was demonstrated that Npas4 indeed has a neuroprotective role in ischemic stroke and that Npas4 might be involved in modulating the cell death pathway and inflammatory response. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the roles that Npas4 may play in neuroinflammation and ischemia. Understanding how ischemic lesion size in stroke may be reduced through modulation of Npas4-dependent apoptotic and inflammatory pathways could lead to the development of new stroke therapies.


This paper considers narratives about traumatic pasts, using interviews with visitors of the two exhibitions about the war crimes of the German Wehrmacht, shown in Germany and Austria 1995 and 2002, as examples. Numerous justification and legitimization strategies are involved in public and private discourses. The study claims that official genres, such as school books or TV documentaries, still launch narratives which exculpate the German Wehrmacht as institution, although the evidence provided by historians and the exhibitions is overwhelming. The topoi used (such as 'doing one's duty'; 'all wars are the same'; and so forth) are to be found in similar debates in other countries as well. Hence, this case study illustrates patterns of argumentation which occur much more generally than only in the specific national contexts studied in detail here.


Collective memory has been a notoriously difficult concept to define. I appeal to Paul Ricoeur and argue that his account of the relationship of the self and her community can clarify the meaning of collective memory. While memory properly understood belongs, in each case, to individuals, such memory exists and is shaped by a relationship with others. Furthermore, because individuals are constituted over a span of time and through intersubjective associations, the notion of collective memory ought to be understood in terms of the way that memory enacts and reenacts networks of relations among individuals and the communities to which they belong, rather than in terms of a model that reifies either individuals or groups. Ricoeur's account can show sources of oppression and offers ways to respond to them.


The purposes of this study were to identify the attributes consumers use to distinguish between mainstream and niche sports and determine which of those attributes were related to support for niche sports. Niche sports were classified as those sports not attracting mainstream media attention or large scale live audiences (Miloch & Lambrecht, 2006). Participants (n = 197) were asked to rate their perception of seven attributes (i.e., accessibility, popularity, uniqueness, affordability, star power, player similarities, and player skill) with four niche sports and one mainstream sport. Results indicated that consumers differentiate niche sports from mainstream sports across several attributes. Specifically, fans associated affordability and player similarity with niche sports, and star power and popularity with the mainstream sport. These findings illustrate which aspects the respective sports should emphasize to reach consumers and suggest how niche sport marketers may position their sport property against mainstream sports.


Transabdominal ultrasound is clinically useful in detecting Crohn's disease (initial diagnosis) by evaluating bowel wall thickness and surrounding structures including periintestinal inflammatory reaction, extent and localization of involved bowel segments and detection of extraluminal complications such as fistula, abscesses, carcinoma and ileus. Transabdominal ultrasound presently is accepted as a clinically important first line tool in assessing patients with Crohn's disease irrespective of their clinical symptoms and/or disease activity. It helps to better characterize the disease course in individual patients and can guide therapeutic decisions. In this review the current literature will be analysed.


Graphite based materials are of particular interest as energy materials. Graphite is used as a moderator in nuclear reactors and there have been investigations into the ability of modified graphites, such as expanded or intercalated graphite, to store hydrogen. Poly-crystalline coherent inelastic neutron scattering(poly-CINS) is used to give information on the dynamic properties of materials. typically poly-CINS produces large and difficult to interpret data sets. Neutronplot, a novel analysis software suite described in this work, is used in conjunction with predicted dynamic information to analyse poly-CINS
data. X-ray diffraction measurements taken by Keens[1] were used to investigate the bulk structural properties of several natural graphites, one of which was chosen for poly-CINS analysis using IN5 experimental data, simulated
data and Neutronplot. These investigations were also replicated with an exfoliated graphite sample. Both x-ray and neutron diffraction were used to investigate the structure of a C60 intercalated graphite sample derived from
the exfoliated graphite and a Poly-CINS experiment was conducted using the NEAT spectrometer.

We have found that the current IUPAC lattice values for rhombohedral stacking in graphite do not fit with experimental measurements. Also the interlayer spacing of rhombohedrally stacked graphite in natural graphite samples tends to be larger than that of hexagonal graphite. The investigations of exfoliated graphite show how interactions other than the graphene interlayer begin to dominate as disorder is added into the system. Successful C60 intercalation in graphite layers is confirmed by neutron diffraction.

Measurements of the elastic constant C33 for natural and exfoliated graphite show good agreement with other graphite measurements. The intercalate poly-CINS measurement suffered from low statistics and shows how Neutronplot
can be used for less than ideal data sets. The data shows diffuse C60 in the graphite matrix, this result is reflected in the diffraction measurements.


This paper reports on a 2018 survey of law professors teaching consumer protection, and follows up on similar 2010 and 2008 surveys, which appeared in Jeff Sovern, The Content of Consumer Law Classes II, 14 J. CONSUMER & COMMERCIAL L. 16 (No. 1 2010), at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1657624 and Jeff Sovern, The Content of Consumer Law Classes, 12 J. CONSUMER & COMMERCIAL L. 48 (No. 1 2008), at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1139894, respectively. As reported in previous surveys, professors teaching consumer law report considerable variation in coverage. Professors want to cover relatively current subjects within their courses, such as FinTech, credit invisibles, and mortgage servicing. They also continue to cover topics traditionally explored in consumer law courses, such as common law fraud and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The 2 survey also found considerable interest in some topics that did not generate any interest in the 2010 survey, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission and student loan servicing. The survey also asked professors whether they read contracts before agreeing to them and read required disclosures before entering into consumer transactions. Not one professor reported always doing so, while 57% said they rarely or never read contracts and 48% said they rarely or never read required disclosures. It thus appears that not even consumer law professors routinely read consumer contracts and disclosures.


Plasma cells are occasionally observed in the peripheral blood of the patients with multiple myeloma. When the number of these circulating cells is significant, the term of plasma cell leukemia is used. We report 5 cases of plasma cell leukemia with poor prognosis with review of the literature.