Autism is considered to be a chronic developmental disability that affects communication, relationships, emotional development and imagination (NAS, 2010). Prevalence rates for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggest that the rates have increased over time and recent research shows that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with the disorder (Baio, 2014). These children's difficulties in the areas of communication, social skills and restricted/repetitive behaviours and interests lead to the need of therapeutic support (APA, 2013) and often it falls to parents to find an appropriate treatment for their child (Marcus et al, 2005). Among recommended services to these children are speech and language therapy, occupational therapy (Johnson and Myer, 2007) and psychotherapy (Alvarez et al, 1999). There are a number of intervention approaches for children with autism that have been developed, however none have been universally accepted as being the most effective (Farrell et al, 2005). As a result, parents often find it difficult to know which is the most appropriate approach for their child.

This study aims to explore the development of children with autism over time in the areas of social skill and communication, regardless of the kind of treatment (speech and language therapy, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy and occupational therapy) they are receiving and to investigate the association between therapy context and the patterns of developmental change. This thesis is designed as a cross-national study in order to examine the aspects of the disorder that differ in the UK and Greece along with the differences (if any) in the developmental patterns across countries. The significance of doing a cross-national study is to explore autism from a wider international perspective and to identify any differences and similarities across the two countries.

Twenty children with autism who had completed one of two differing types of treatment in the UK (psychotherapy, n=10 and speech and language therapy, n=10) were recruited to be monitored post-therapy twice over a two-year period. Twenty children with autism who had received one of two types of treatment in Greece (occupational therapy, n=10 and speech and language therapy, n=10) were also recruited to be monitored post-therapy twice over a two-year period.

The research found that all children changed significantly over time on all aspects of measurement. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the children from the two different countries at the start of the study and they developed in a very similar way as well. The results suggested though that based on the ADOS-Social (p=0.008) and ADOS-Imagination (p=0.008) children in the UK improve faster in the areas of social skill, imagination and the CDI-no of words understood and produced (p=0.015) showed an increase in their ability to understand and say words compared to the children in Greece. However, the CDI-no of words understood (p=0.027) showed that the children in Greece improved faster in the area of comprehension. The children who received SLT are also mainly developing in a very similar way across the two countries. Most measures showed change over time, except for the SCQ (p=0.081), ADOS-Ster (p=0.050) and CDI-U (p=0.141|). Also, only the ADOS-Social (p=0.021) and the Social Communication Questionnaire (p=0.021) showed a significant interaction effect. Thus, the SLT group from the UK seems to improve faster in the area of social skills compared to the SLT group from Greece.

Additionally, in regards to the effect of the therapy context on the developmental pattern of children with autism, there were no differences across intervention contexts at the beginning and there were mainly non-significant interactions in the rate of change across the differing types of intervention. The findings suggested that all measures showed change over time. Only the SCQ (p=0.041) and the ADOS-imagination (p=0.033) showed a significant interaction effect before adjusting for age. Therefore, the SLT group in the UK seems to improve faster in the social communication area and the Psychotherapy group in the UK improved faster in the area of imagination.

Conclusively, the SLT groups showed more change on language and communication measures, whilst the psychotherapy and occupational therapy groups saw changes in other areas of autistic symptomatology not achieved in the SLT groups, such as imagination and stereotypical behaviour.

In summary, the current study helps parents gain better insight in different therapy choices and raises awareness of other types of therapy that are available in terms of intervention. The findings of this study can help professionals who work with children with autism further their understanding of the disorder and how it manifests through time in order to provide appropriate services based on each child's needs. Additionally, the cross-national approach was intended to give some suggestions about the manifestation of autism across countries and about the way childhood autism is treated in each country. In regards to the more specific changes that the analysis revealed, they seem to fit well with the intervention targets of each type of therapy. Thus, the analysis suggested that certain characteristics tend to be associated with specific treatment types, which leads us to believe that sometimes the most effective course of treatment is a combination of therapies depending on the individual needs of each family. Finally, the results of this study offer original findings with respect to the outcomes of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic psychotherapy for children with autism since there is a lack of rigorous research in this field.


Division is everywhere in our culture. We are divided by races, economic level, political affiliations, religion, nationality, and the list goes on, and on. Everywhere we turn we are faced with things that divide us, but we are rarely brought together. There are very few things in the world that allow us to set aside our differences and come together. Unfortunately public housing complexes in the U.S. have far too often served as a dividing factor in our society. As many public housing complexes have become synonymous with violence, neglect, and criminal activity, residents have been forced to avoid the public spaces, allowing them to become deserted community wastelands. But we can reverse the trend. This thesis will show that by creating spaces that encourage interaction between people, such as community centers, public parks, and retail nodes, we can begin to restore social housing complexes. By removing some of the barriers from our society we can help people reconnect with their neighbors and become more involved with their communities. This thesis will show that the removal of barriers from our public life also highlights the importance of reinforcing barriers in our private lives. This thesis will also demonstrate that bringing together different groups can not be accomplished by a single building but is most effective when accomplished by a group of buildings working in conjunction with each other. This thesis will show that careful planning and architecture can serve as the catalyst for bringing together people and communities Community Space in the Urban Context


"Operative Strategies" is a fully illustrated guide to the favorite techniques of aesthetic surgeons based on their significant clinical experience. Authors are Aesthetic Society members or other recognized experts.


To synthesize fixed-final-time control-constrained optimal controllers for discrete-time nonlinear control-affine systems, a single neural network (NN)-based controller called the Finite-horizon Single Network Adaptive Critic is developed in this paper. Inputs to the NN are the current system states and the time-to-go, and the network outputs are the costates that are used to compute optimal feedback control. Control constraints are handled through a nonquadratic cost function. Convergence proofs of: 1) the reinforcement learning-based training method to the optimal solution; 2) the training error; and 3) the network weights are provided. The resulting controller is shown to solve the associated time-varying Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation and provide the fixed-final-time optimal solution. Performance of the new synthesis technique is demonstrated through different examples including an attitude control problem wherein a rigid spacecraft performs a finite-time attitude maneuver subject to control bounds. The new formulation has great potential for implementation since it consists of only one NN with single set of weights and it provides comprehensive feedback solutions online, though it is trained offline.


Virtual teams enabled by information and communications technologies (ICT) are increasingly being adopted not only by for-profit organizations but also by education institutions as well. This study investigates what contributes to the success of virtual learning teams. Specifically, we examine the issue of leadership in virtual learning teams. The study first reviews the current literature on teams, leadership, and trust then proposes a framework of team effectiveness of virtual learning teams. A field study is conducted to investigate the influence of several independent variables including diversified leadership roles, leadership effectiveness, team trust, and propensity to trust. It is found that diversified leadership roles influences both leadership effectiveness and team trust; both leadership effectiveness and propensity to trust influence team trust, and team trust in turn directly impacts team effectiveness. In addition, team trust mediates the relationship between leadership effectiveness and team effectiveness. Some practical implications of the results are discussed as well.


Background COPD is a debilitating disease that affects patients' daily lives. One's daily physical activity (DPA) decreases due to multifactorial causes, and this decrease is correlated with a poor prognosis in COPD patients. Muscle wasting may at least be partly due to increased activity of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway and apoptosis. Methods This study investigated the relationships among DPA, circulating proteasome activity, and protein carbonyl in COPD patients and healthy subjects (HSs). This study included 57 participants (42 patients and 15 healthy subjects). Ambulatory DPA was measured using actigraphy, and oxygen saturation was measured with a pulse oximeter. Results COPD patients had lower DPA, lower 6 min walking distance (6MWD), lower delta saturation pulse oxygenation (SpO2) during the 6MWT, and lower delta SpO2 during DPA than HSs. COPD patients had higher proteasome activity and protein carbonyl than HSs. Circulating proteasome activity was significantly negatively correlated with DPA (r=−0.568, P<0.05) in COPD patients, whereas delta SpO2 during the 6MWT was significantly positively correlated with proteasome activity (r=0.685, P<0.05) in HSs. Protein carbonyl was significantly negatively correlated with the body mass index (r=−0.318, P<0.05), mid-arm circumference (r=0.350, P<0.05), calf circumference (r=0.322, P<0.05), forced expiratory volume in the first second (r=-0.441, P<0.01), and 6MWD (r=−0.313, P<0.05) in COPD patients. Our results showed no significant difference in inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) or ubiquitin between the two groups. Conclusion COPD patients had lower DPA levels and higher circulating proteasome activity than HSs, and a negative correlation of DPA with circulating proteasome activity.


WordPress is a publishing software whose main qualities are simplicity, speed and ease of use. WordPress is favored by an active community, real core of free software. WordPress is a powerful personal publishing platform with many features designed to make publishing your Internet experience as simple, pleasant and enjoyable as possible. It offers a freely distributable publishing platform, standards compliant, fast, light and free with parameters and features and a thoughtful extraordinarily adaptable core.WordPress is a blogging software that has all the usual features of this type of software. It allows multiple authors to publish posts, which are ordered by date and by category. Multiple categories can be assigned to a given post. WordPress is popular mainly with users around free software and with knowledge of software programming. The public interface is customizable through templates files, and plugins can be developed. The WordPress community is very active and has a growing number of resources such as ready-made themes, documentation and translation software.


BRUTUS. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crowned : How that might change his nature, there 's the question: It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that! And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections sway'd More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; ' But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend. So Caesar may: Then, lest he may, prevent. SHAKESPEARE, JultUS CaesOT, Act II, Sc. I.


Future ocean CO2 and temperatures are predicted to increase primary productivity across tropical marine habitats, potentially driving a shift towards algal-dominated systems. However, increased consumption of algae by benthic grazers could potentially counter this shift. Yet, the response of different grazer species to future conditions will be moderated by their physiologies, meaning that they may not be functional equivalents. Here, we experimentally assessed the physiological response of key grazers—the sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispina and 2 gastropod species, Astralium haematragum and Trochus maculatus—to predicted CO2 concentrations (400, 700 and 1000 ppm) and temperature conditions (ambient, +3 and +5°C). In line with metabolic theory, we found that urchin metabolic rate increased at future temperatures regardless of CO2 conditions, with evidence of metabolic acclimation to higher temperatures. The metabolic rate of A. haematragum was depressed only by CO2, whereas T. maculatus initially had elevated metabolic rates at moderate CO2, which were depressed by the combination of the highest CO2 concentration and temperatures. Taxa showed differential survival, with no urchin mortality under any future conditions but substantial mortality of both gastropods under elevated temperatures regardless of CO2 concentration. Importantly, all species had substantially reduced algal consumption in response to elevated CO2, though the urchins only demonstrated an energetic mismatch under combined future CO2 and temperature. Therefore, despite sharing an ecological niche, these key grazers are likely to be differentially affected by future environmental conditions, potentially reducing the strength of ecological compensatory responses depending on the functional redundancy in this grazing community.


The Metaphorical Measurements for a British Olympics booklet is a visual clarification of measurements involved in 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports, embodying Hardie's commitment to cross the boundaries between commissioned work, invited work and authorial work. It builds on Hardie's ongoing research into book arts, collecting as a design tool, graphic games, rules, and measurements of all sorts, all of which are reflected in its graphic and textual wit. Hardie RDI was awarded £6,000 for Metaphorical Measurements from the Creative Campus Initiative (CCI), a consortium of 13 Universities across South East England established to create a programme of innovative and dynamic cultural events inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Funded by HEFCE, CCI was an initiative of the HE Cultural Forum, recognised by the London 2012 Inspire programme, and charged with presenting new high quality artworks and cultural events. Hardie's application proposed 'that this booklet be printed in a large edition and given away during the Olympics. The volume production would contrast well with other cultural projects which often involve "one off" art, performance and screen based work, and would represent the important cultural disciplines of graphic communication and printed ephemera.' Hardie played further Olympic-related roles alongside Metaphorical Measurements: as commissioned designer of the Royal Mail stamp celebrating Paralympic Archery (2009); and as advocate for graphic arts through his leadership of the 'Drawing Olympics' at 'Pick Me Up' at Somerset House (2012), including 'Synchronised Drawing' and the 'Fastest Idea for a Drawing'. Published in two editions, of 5,000 and 2,000,Metaphorical Measurements was widely disseminated, including: distribution of copies to members of the Alliance Graphique Internationale at their Barcelona Congress (2011); exhibition and distribution by leading furniture manufacturer Vitsœ, at its London headquarters (2011), and 1,600 copies with It's Nice That (issue 8, 2012).


Glucocorticoids (GC) have been used for more than 70 years in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The immediate improvement of the clinical picture is one of their main advantages. However, RA is a chronic disease and unfortunately, long-term GC administration is associated with several serious adverse events. This is the major reason why GC therapy should be administered for the shortest possible period of time, with tapering as far as it is feasible. Although this is accepted as a "dogma", there is recently growing evidence suggesting that low doses, even in the long-term, might not be as dangerous as previously believed. On the contrary, GC may be beneficial for RA patients in several ways, considering their protective role in radiographic progression or lymphoma development.


A change in the properties of influenza virus in 1968 has left a profound mark on population immunity Influenza is a threat that has been with humans throughout history, fueled by a constant race between host immunity and viral evolution. Control strategies rely on annual immunizations and require frequent updates of the vaccine, an expensive, cumbersome, and not always foolproof process. Efforts are therefore under way to develop vaccines that confer broadly cross-protective immunity to diverse influenza strains. Cross-immunity is pervasive in nature; in multistrain viral diseases such as influenza or dengue, response to a primary infection can profoundly influence response to the next strain encountered. Even unrelated viruses can be recognized by the same cross-reactive T cells. On page 722 of this issue (1), Gostic et al. show that severe infection with a bird flu virus depends on the individual's first encounter with influenza in childhood.


In the first part, we first introduce steganography (in chapter 1) not in the usual context of information security, but as a method to piggyback data on top of some content. We then focus on audio steganography and propose a new steganographic scheme in chapter 2 as well as a model for the noisy, analog communication channel we are considering (in section 3.2). The method we use is based on signal mixing, the science of constructing vectors in a way that their sum can then be split back into the original components. This is presented in chapter 4. The data recovery, or demixing, relies on convex optimization (presented in chapter 5) and some further signal processing detailed in chapter 6. In the second part we present our proof of concept implementation and show the results of simulation runs that have been made in order to study the properties of the overall system (chapter 7). We study how the different parameters of the system and the communication channel affect the performance of the steganographic scheme.Finally, we draw conclusions (chapter 8) about the findings and suggest (in chapter 9) what next steps could be taken in order to further study this steganographic scheme.


This paper deals with the building-up of a methodological framework on how to develop and manage Cultural Routes (CRs) by making use of route development best practices and governance instruments targeted to foster sustainable cultural tourism. CRs are intended by the Council of Europe as "historical lines interconnecting one or more regions and organized around topics whose historical, artistic or social interest proves to be European, either because of the geographical layout of the route, or due to its contents and significance". Most ECRs lack comprehensive methodologies and governance instruments to implement effective strategies at regional level. The draft methodology is intended to be tested and detailed under a European project (CERTESS) where partners, while designing their CR Route Plans, will: a) adopt customised Best Practices; b) develop and adopt well-suited governance tools; c) promote local enterprises and products along their routes by use of innovative immaterial services including ITC....


Yield and natural reaction to anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosponoides) of four yam cultivars planted without staking This study evaluated marketable yield and the natural reaction to anthrac nose (Colletotrichum gloeosponoides Penz) of four yam (Dioscorea alata) cultivars planted without staking: Florido, Diamantes, Forastero, and Kabusah. No significant yield differences were found among cultivars Dia mantes, Forastero and Kabusah. Average marketable yields were 26,169; 25,634; and 24,750 kg/ha, respectively. These yields were significantly higher than that obtained for Florido, 2,899 kg/ha. Florido showed the high est disease severity caused by anthracnose with 51%, 76% and 96% at four, five and six months after planting, respectively. Percentage of disease se verity in Florido was significantly higher than that observed in cultivars Dia mantes, Forastero, and Kabusah.


This book is the first comprehensive collection of the letters of Johannes Brahms ever to appear in English. Over 550 are included, virtually all uncut, and there are over a dozen published here for the first time in any language. Although he corresponded throughout his life with some of the great performers, composers, musicologists, writers, scientists, and artists of the day, and although thousands of his letters have survived, English readers have until now had scant opportunity to meet Brahms in person, through his words, and in his own voice. 'I am aware of my bad habit of writing briefly but obscurely', Brahms once wrote to a friend. He was needlessly hard on himself, for his letters describe many significant events in his life, throw light on his friendships and music, and reveal his wit, idealism, intelligence, generosity, sarcasm, and above all his powerful sense of integrity. The letters in this volume range from 1848 to just before his death. They include all Brahms's letters to Robert Schumann, over a hundred letters to Clara Schumann, and the complete Brahms-Wagner correspondence. They are joined by a running commentary to form an absorbing narrative, documented with scholarly care, provided with comprehensive notes, but written for the general music lover. The result is a lively biography. The book is generously illustrated, and contains several detailed appendices and an index.


BACKGROUND
To assess fetal hemodynamic changes before and during active labor, either spontaneous or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-induced labor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a prospective longitudinal study and a cohort of 49 healthy women at 37-41+ weeks gestation without signs of fetal distress was investigated until in labor. One group of 23 healthy women had spontaneous active labor, the second group of 26 women was in active labor induced by an intra-cervical administration of PGE1 for elective induction. Blood flow waveform indices (S/D ratio, RI, PI) were assessed by pulsed Doppler ultrasonography from the umbilical artery (UA) and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) before and in labor. Both groups were compared for the waveform indices and perinatal outcome including duration of labor, meconium stain, baby sex, birthweight, UA blood gas measurements at delivery, Apgar's scores, prolonged nursery stay (> or =5 days), and NICU admission.

RESULTS
Demographic data of the two groups were comparable. During spontaneous active labor, the S/D ratio and RI became significantly decreased in the UA (p<0.05) and the three wave-form indices were decreased more in the MCA (p<0.01, 0.005, 0.05, respectively) compared with those measured before labor. During PGE1-induced active labor, all the waveform indices were not significantly decreased in either the UA or the MCA. The occurrence of abnormal UA blood gas values was significantly more in the PGE1-induced group than in the spontaneous labor group (23.1% v.s. 4.3%; p<0.05). No other adverse perinatal outcomes were observed in either group.

CONCLUSIONS
Decreasing impedance in both the UA and MCA during spontaneous labor is a physiological fetal adaptation to labor to prevent fetal cerebral hypoxia by maintaining adequate brain blood flow during normal parturition. This fetal adaptation phenomenon was not observed in the group of PGE1-induced labor with the result of a high incidence of abnormal UA blood gas values.


Prohibitions against offensive conduct have existed for many years, but their extent and use was on the decline. Recently, however, several jurisdictions, including England and Wales, have moved to broaden the reach and severity of measures against incivilities. New measures include expanded targeting of unpopular forms of public conduct, such as begging, and legislation authorising magistrates to issue prohibitory orders against anti-social behaviour. Because these quality-of-life prohibitions can be so restrictive of personal liberties, it is essential to develop adequate guiding and limiting principles concerning State intervention in this area. This book addresses the legal regulation of offensive behaviour. Topics include: the nature of offensiveness; the grounds and permissible scope of criminal prohibitions against offensive behaviour; the legitimacy of civil orders against incivilities; and identifying the social trends that have generated current political interest in preventing incivilities through intervention of law. These questions are addressed by eleven distinguished philosophers, criminal law theorists, criminologists, and sociologists. In an area that has attracted much public comment but little theoretical analysis to date, these essays develop a fuller conceptual framework for debating questions about the legal regulation of offensive behaviour.


It has previously been assumed that the dissolution of chalcopyrite in acidic ferric solutions occurs by a typical oxidative process which can be described by the mixed potential electrochemical model. However, it has been demonstrated in this study that a parallel non-oxidative dissolution process must also be taken into account in the description of the kinetics. This has been based on both detailed ring-disk electrochemical studies and also by direct measurement of the rates of dissolution as measured by the iron and copper in solution. Thus, the direct oxidation path is characterized by the well known rapid initial dissolution rate which rapidly decays to a slow rate at longer times. This has been shown to be the case for potentials within the so-called passive region in the anodic behaviour of chalcopyrite and is typical of the situation with ferric ions as the oxidant under ambient conditions. The effect of potential on the rate of the oxidative process has been found to be relatively small in the potential region 0.5 to 0.75V with significantly increased rates only in the transpassive region above 0.75V.

The effect of potential on the rate of the non-oxidative process has also been studied at potentials below those in the oxidative region and there appears to be no noticeable effect of potential on the rate in this region. Rotating ring-disk experiments have been used to confirm the simultaneous production of copper ions, ferrous ions and hydrogen sulfide during the dissolution in sulfuric acid solutions. Furthermore, it is suggested, without direct experimental evidence, that the non-oxidative reaction can be sustained by oxidation of the hydrogen sulfide by ferric ions. This model for the oxidative process will be described and quantitative simulation of this scheme has produced results which are remarkably consistent with the observed rates of dissolution. The practical implications of these findings to the leaching of chalcopyrite will also be discussed.


The Health Literacy Program for Minnesota Seniors (HeLP MN Seniors) is a joint project between the University of Minnesota's Health Sciences Libraries and the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership. Through the work of a multi-disciplinary team of health sciences librarians, health literacy specialists, public health professionals, and senior care specialists, HeLP MN Seniors has worked to create an evidence-based workshop program to build capacity and enhance efforts to improve the health literacy status of older adults. The workshops serve as a model health literacy program for seniors that is available for use by others interested in improving health outcomes through health literacy initiatives.


Parenting in mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) requires a new set of energetic and behavioural demands. Because of constraints presented by the infant, as well as the increased energy requirements associated with mothering, parenting females need to change their activity patterns to ensure the successful upbringing of their offspring. This study of wild mantled howler monkeys was conducted to examine differences in activity between parenting and non-parenting adult females. Twenty two hours of continuous sampling on focal individuals was collected over the course of ten days in August at a study site in Nicaragua. It was found that the two groups do differ in their activity patterns: parenting females spent a larger percent of their time resting, feeding and interacting, but a lower percent of their time travelling when compared to non-parenting females. Further, it was found that parenting females engaged in scanning behaviours more frequently, and engaged in bridging (a locomotor behaviour) less frequently. These results suggest that parenting female mantled howler monkeys adopt an energy-minimizing activity pattern wherein the mothers compensate for their increased energetic requirements by only slightly increasing their food intake and instead drastically increasing the amount of time spent resting.


ebalance implements entropy balancing, a data preprocessing procedure that allows users to reweight a dataset such that the covariate distributions in the reweighted data satisfy a set of specified moment conditions. This can be useful to create balanced samples in observational studies with a binary treatment where the control group data can be reweighted to match the covariate moments in the treatment group. Entropy balancing can also be used to reweight a survey sample to known characteristics from a target population.


Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are difficult to detect due to their "low-and-slow" attack patterns and frequent use of zero-day exploits. We present UNICORN, an anomaly-based APT detector that effectively leverages data provenance analysis. From modeling to detection, UNICORN tailors its design specifically for the unique characteristics of APTs. Through extensive yet time-efficient graph analysis, UNICORN explores provenance graphs that provide rich contextual and historical information to identify stealthy anomalous activities without pre-defined attack signatures. Using a graph sketching technique, it summarizes long-running system execution with space efficiency to combat slow-acting attacks that take place over a long time span. UNICORN further improves its detection capability using a novel modeling approach to understand long-term behavior as the system evolves. Our evaluation shows that UNICORN outperforms an existing state-of-the-art APT detection system and detects real-life APT scenarios with high accuracy.


This paper is analyzed one of the closed multi-class queueing networks model by using the discrete review policies. The size of the batches is selected in the network according to discrete uniform distribution and is served according to Erlang distribution. Our aim is to obtain model performance measures when the number of jobs in the system is fixed, the generating parameter of service times is changed, calculate the efficiency measures of the network by using discretereview policies results through an example.


This study estimates the plume migration of mobile supercritical phase (flowing), aqueous phase (dissolved), and ionic phase CO_2 (bicarbonate), and evaluates the spatial distribution of immobile supercritical phase (residual) and mineral phase CO_2 (carbonates) when CO_2 was sequestered. This utilized a simulation, in an anticline structure of a deep saline aquifer in the Tiechenshan (TCS) field, Taiwan. All of the trapping mechanisms and different CO_2 phases were studied using the fully coupled geochemical equation-of-state GEM compositional simulator. The mobile supercritical phase CO_2 moved upward and then accumulated in the up-dip of the structure because of buoyancy. A large amount of immobile supercritical phase CO_2 was formed at the rear of the moving plume where the imbibition process prevailed. Both the aqueous and ionic phase CO_2 finally accumulated in the down-dip of the structure because of convection. The plume volume of aqueous phase CO_2 was larger than that of the supercritical phase CO_2, because the convection process increased vertical sweep efficiency. The up-dip of the structure was not the major location for mineralization, which is different from mobile supercritical phase CO_2 accumulation.


ABSTRACT A remarkably aerially extensive (∼2,000 km2) unit of carbonate microbialites occurs in many Triassic–Jurassic boundary interval outcrops of the southwestern United Kingdom and captures petrographic evidence that could link them to the end-Triassic extinction event. The bioherms—known regionally as the Cotham Marble—occur as discrete ∼20-cm-thick, decimeter- to meter-scale mounds, and display at least five growth phases that alternate between laminated and dendritic mesofabrics. Cross sections parallel to bedding through the dendritic phases expose a reticulate dendritic framework separated by polygonal spaces (∼1–3 cm diameter), characteristic of "tubestone" microbialites. Microscopically, the dendrolites contain evenly distributed rod to filamentous putative microfossils (∼2 µm diameter and ∼10 µm in length) in a matrix of micrite and contain higher total organic carbon than the surrounding matrix. Round to ellipsoidal spar-filled regions (∼200 µm in diameter) within the dendrolites (previously interpreted as serpulid worm tubes) likely resulted from the production of gas bubbles within rapidly lithifying mats or are a two-dimensional artifact of evenly spaced three-dimensional branching within the mats. The fill between the dendrolites of the first layer contains abundant phycoma clusters of the green algal prasinophyte Tasmanites, commonly considered a "disaster taxon." The cyclic phases represent episodic and laterally extensive environmental change within shallow water coastal environments during a marine transgression. Collectively, the presence of microbial micrite in a shallow marine setting, the marked lateral extent of the bioherms, and the abundance of Tasmanites suggest the Cotham Marble microbialites formed during the high pCO2 and relatively warmer conditions associated with the events of the end-Triassic mass extinction.


The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of administration ofGnRH orPGF2α during early postpartum (PP) on uterine involution (UI), postpartum period (PPP), days open (DP) number of services per conception and calving interval (CI) in cross-bred dairy cows. A total of 45 cross-bred dairy cows (4 - 8 years) were recruited to determine the influence of administration of GnRH orPGF2αduring early PP on the above mentioned traits. The cows were divided randomly into three equal groups A, B and C (15 cows each). Group A and B were injected intra muscularly (i.m) withGnRH orPGF2α 200 microgram and 500 microgram respectively on day 21 PP. while cows in group C were employed as untreated control. The result of the current study showed that injection of GnRH or PGF2αthree week post calving had no significant difference on the time taken for UI compared to the control. However, the PPP of cows treated either with GnRH orPGF2αas early as 21 days PP was significantly (P < 0.005) shortened when compared to the control. The number of services per conception was significantly (P < 004) improved for the treated cows as compared to the control.Moreover, the DO and CI were significantly (P < 001) minimized compared to the control. It is concluded that the PP reproductive performance in dairy cows could be managed with injection of GnRH or PGF2αas early as three weeks Reproductive trait, postpartum, GnRH, PGF2α , Dairy cow


INTRODUCTION
Oculometrics have been shown to be responsive to acute hypoxemia. We investigated whether oculometrics could be used as an objective index of a hypoxic effect on the central nervous system (CNS) during altitude acclimatization. We hypothesized that oculomotor reflexes [pupil diameter (PD), constriction amplitude (CA), constriction latency (CL), and saccadic velocity (SV)] changed in concert with a select number of accepted acclimatization variables and that these changes correlated with the severity of acute mountain sickness (AMS).

METHODS
After sea-level, baseline (SLB) measurements were obtained, 18 men (19-33 yr) were transported to Pikes Peak, CO (4300 m), where they remained for 14 d. Periodic measurements (days 1-4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12) were made of PD, CA, CL, and SV in addition to heart rate (HR), pulse oximetry (SpO2), end-tidal PO2 and PCO2, 24-h urinary catecholamine concentrations, and AMS severity (environmental symptoms questionnaire, ESQ).

RESULTS
PD and CL decreased from SLB on days 1-4 and subsequently returned toward SLB; these changes paralleled changes in ventilatory and circulatory variables. CA decreased on days 1 and 2 and remained decreased for 12 d. SV increased over days 1-6 then returned toward SLB with continued exposure, similar to changes in urinary catecholamines. With acclimatization, CL correlated with HR and SpO2; SV correlated with PCO2, HR, and SpO2. AMS severity peaked during days 2-4, returned toward SLB over the next 10 d, and correlated only with CL (p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS
Oculometrics can be used as an indicator of CNS hypoxia and altitude acclimatization, although there was no strong correlation with AMS severity.


Abstract. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with adequate sensors enable new applications in the scope between expensive, large-scale, aircraftcarried remote sensing and time-consuming, small-scale, terrestrial surveyings. To perform these applications, cameras and laserscanners are a good sensor combination, due to their complementary properties. To exploit this sensor combination the intrinsics and relative poses of the individual cameras and the relative poses of the cameras and the laserscanners have to be known. In this manuscript, we present a calibration methodology for the Unified Intrinsic and Extrinsic Calibration of a Multi-Camera-System and a Laserscanner (UCalMiCeL). The innovation of this methodology, which is an extension to the calibration of a single camera to a line laserscanner, is an unifying bundle adjustment step to ensure an optimal calibration of the entire sensor system. We use generic camera models, including pinhole, omnidirectional and fisheye cameras. For our approach, the laserscanner and each camera have to share a joint field of view, whereas the fields of view of the individual cameras may be disjoint. The calibration approach is tested with a sensor system consisting of two fisheye cameras and a line laserscanner with a range measuring accuracy of 30 mm. We evaluate the estimated relative poses between the cameras quantitatively by using an additional calibration approach for Multi-Camera-Systems based on control points which are accurately measured by a motion capture system. In the experiments, our novel calibration method achieves a relative pose estimation with a deviation below 1.8° and 6.4 mm.


Postantibiotic effect (PAE) describes the suppression of microbial growth occurring after a short exposure to an antimicrobial agent. PAE appears to be a property of the majority of antimicrobial agents and is demonstrated by a wide variety of microorganisms. At present, carbapenems and penems are the only members of the -lactam group of antimicrobial agents that exhibit a significant PAE on Gram-negative bacilli. A standardised method was developed to evaluate the in vitro PAE of three carbapenems; imipenem, meropenem and biapenem on Gram-negative bacteria under reproducible laboratory conditions that partially mimicked those occurring in vivo. The effects on carbapenem PAE of the method of antimicrobial removal, concentration, exposure duration, inoculum size, inoculum growth phase, multiple exposures and pooled human serum were determined. Additionally, the reproducibility, susceptibility prior to and after PAE determination and inter-strain variation of carbapenem PAE were evaluated. The method developed determined PAE by utilising viable counts and demonstrated carbapenem PAE to be reproducible, constant over successive exposures, dependent on genera, concentration, duration of exposure, inoculum size and growth phase. In addition, carbapenem PAE was not significantly effected either by agitation, the antimicrobial removal method or the viable count diluent. At present, the mechanism underlying PAE is undetermined. It is thought to be due to either the prolonged persistence of the antimicrobial at the cellular site of action or the true recovery period from non-lethal damage. Increasing the L-lysine concentration and salinity at recovery decreased and increased the carbapenem and imipenem PAE of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, no apparent change was observed in the production of virulence factors by P.aeruginosa in PAE phase. However, alterations in cell morphology were observed throughout PAE phase, and the reappearance of normal cell morphology corresponded to the duration of PAE determined by viable count. Thus, the recovery of the penicillin binding protein target enzymes appears to be the mechanism behind carbapenem PAE in P. aeruginosa.


Digital piracy. It's a global war -- and it's just begun. Pirates of the Digital Millennium chronicles that war. All of it: media conglomerates vs. teenagers, tech companies vs. content providers, artists battling artists, nations vs. nations, law enforcement vs. organized crime. John Gantz and Jack Rochester cover every side and all the implications. Economics. Law. Ethics. Culture. The players. And above all, the realities -- including the exclusive new findings of a 57-country digital piracy research project. The media universe is shaking to its very foundations. This book helps you make sense of what's happening -- and what's next.


This paper considers the problem of managing the workload implications of plagiarism detection as part of the larger issue of assessment management and within a holistic approach to educational integrity. It looks specifically at the potential for Electronic Assessment Management (EAM) to provide some of the solutions to this problem. It draws on the work of Mantz Yorke whose research into assessment management calls for the establishment of appropriate structures and mechanisms which support systems that achieve the dual imperatives of efficiency and effectiveness. This paper considers the workload issues related to plagiarism detection under these dual imperatives, looking first at the issue of effectiveness and then turning to consider the issue of efficiency. Finally, it argues for why and how these issues should be taken into account in the procurement of digital plagiarism detection software and how the use of these tools should fit within a rigorous and consistent holistic approach to educational integrity.


This chapter of Dark Continent is told through the Medieval Mystic, an anchoress buried into the walls of a church, overcome with psychedelic visions and pulsing with erotic desires. She is also built into the walls of the city on the edge of time.

Performed by Maya Lubinsky and LIVE SCORE by LET'S EAT GRANDMA
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'Dark Continent' is the gates to this city out of time, an installation which combines text, film, sculpture, a series of three staged performances and a window through which to see. A gesamtkunstwerk braiding narratives, fictions and mythologies, a Dionysian descent into rapture, ideology, language and flesh into the bottomless pit told through a neanderthal hermaphrodite, a medieval mystic and the woman on the edge of time.

'Dark Continent', is an ongoing feminist project, currently iterated through character-led installations, films, performances and texts, it is an experimental and expanded adaptation of Christine de Pizan's 1405 pioneering feminist book, 'The Book of the City of Ladies' within which Christine builds an allegorical city for notable women drawn from a medieval conception of history, where fact, fiction and myth are blurred. This non-hierarchical approach also determines the construction of the characters and narrative of 'Dark Continent'. A 'City of Women' is also a construct often revisited by feminist science fiction authors (such as Pamela Sargent in The Shore of Women, Sally Miller Gearheart in The Wanderground and Suzy McKee Charnas in The Mother Lines), has served as a significant narrative device to articulate feminism's ultimate goals; egalitarian civilizations and realities beyond gender.

Taking the 'City of Women' as a point of departure to imagine an alternative history which privileges, sensation and interiority and constructs a possible post-patriarchal future. This very loose adaptation offers an ahistorical, non-linear, non-place, simultaneously internal and geographic, past and future, a city in time but not in space. It proposes an allegorical city of women populated by composite, symbolic protagonists that embody excess and examine 'feminine' subjectivity and experience as well as the potentials of a realism defined by excess and the irrational; qualities traditionally surrounding notions of the "feminine".


This document describes the technological infrastructure of the AKTiveSA TDS, developed in the context of DIF DTC project 8.14, with a specific emphasis on the opportunities for operationally-effective modes of user interaction. While we do not limit the discussion to user interface components per se (we also describe a number of supporting technology components), much of the discussion focuses on the user interface as a means of highlighting the functional capabilities of the AKTiveSA TDS from the user's perspective. The design of the user interface components, discussed herein, is based upon the need to provide an intuitive mechanism for user interaction via simple perceptual affordances, in some cases exploiting the expertise and experience of specific end-user communities (particularly the military), so as to minimize the training overhead required for effective use of the AKTiveSA client application. Each user interface component exploits background functionality provided by the AKTiveSA technology framework to mediate transformations in the user's mental model of a particular situation. This is achieved via filtered visual displays, user alerts, navigational and orientation aids, decision support services, certainty metrics and so on. In addition, the ability of users to actively manipulate the way in which information is presented, juxtaposed, filtered and processed enables the functionality of the AKTiveSA TDS to be harnessed and adapted to meet a user's situation and task-specific information processing objectives. Such modes of user interaction, we argue, propitiate cognitive outcomes consistent with enhanced situation awareness and operationally-effective decision making in both conventional war-fighting and OOTW scenarios.


Article history: Received May 12, 2013 Received in revised format 30 June 2013 Accepted 28 July 2013 Available online July 31 2013 Like other innovative strategies, companies have paid more attention to market oriented strategies in recent years. This has been focused by organizations for improved effectiveness and the organization performance accelerated a lot in business competition. In responding to this fact, organizations are trying to formulate many of the issues familiar to large organizations, which have involved with market oriented strategy planning. This paper reviews key elements in market-oriented strategy planning with regard to competitiveness and performance in large organizations and outlines a comprehensive model for strategy planning in profit organizations. These elements include environment, top management, organization structure and market oriented strategy. Professional question of this study has a particularly important role in formulating relations of this model. These elements are well positioned to evaluate the impact of market-oriented strategy planning on organizations and their expected impacts on organization performance. A well-organized questionnaire to help organizations with their planning is proposed in this survey. Based on the proposed questionnaire, data obtained from Tehran food industry experts and analyzed by using SEM method. Results accepted eight hypotheses and rejected one. © 2013 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.


A pattern database (PDB) is a heuristic function implemented as a lookup table that stores the lengths of optimal solutions for subproblem instances. Standard PDBs have a distinct entry in the table for each subproblem instance. In this paper we investigate compressing PDBs by merging several entries into one, thereby allowing the use of PDBs that exceed available memory in their uncompressed form. We introduce a number of methods for determining which entries to merge and discuss their relative merits. These vary from domain-independent approaches that allow any set of entries in the PDB to be merged, to more intelligent methods that take into account the structure of the problem. The choice of the best compression method is based on domain-dependent attributes. We present experimental results on a number of combinatorial problems, including the four-peg Towers of Hanoi problem, the sliding-tile puzzles, and the Top-Spin puzzle. For the Towers of Hanoi, we show that the search time can be reduced by up to three orders of magnitude by using compressed PDBs compared to uncompressed PDBs of the same size. More modest improvements were observed for the other domains.


The distribution, organization, and orientation of apatitic mineral associated with vesicles and collagen in normal calcifying turkey leg tendon have been examined to determine inorganic-organic interactions in this vertebrate tissue. The study utilized selected area electron diffraction and bright or dark field transmission electron microscopy of thin sections (approximately 70 nm) treated by anhydrous means. Bright field microscopy revealed crystals randomly disposed in radial clusters related to vesicles or highly oriented related to collagen. Dark field images of the crystal c-axis were localized within some hole zone regions of collagen but were generally sparse in vesicles. Images of mineral a,b-axes were associated with vesicles and also appeared in collagen hole zones complementary to those containing c-axis images. Where mineralization of vesicles occurred adjacent to that of collagen, bright and dark field images provided suggestive evidence that the crystals could be contiguous at some sites, but the bulk of extracellular mineralization was spatially discontinuous. The varying disposition of mineral in vesicles and collagen is likely indicative of distinct mechanisms of nucleation in these components, the complementary orientation of mineral c- and a,b-axes in collagen may provide insight into the structure and organization of the protein, and the distribution of vesicle-mediated mineralization appears to contribute to apatite accumulation between collagen fibrils.


Introduction If the popular press is to be believed, New Zealanders possess a strong entrepreneurial orientation (Riley, 1995). New Zealanders are told and encouraged to buy into the paradigm. For example, the book by John Hopkins, Blokes and Sheds (1998), later made into a television series, celebrates the popular notion of the innovative nature that resides in the average New Zealander. There is also research evidence for this idea. On at least two occasions the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, an international survey of entrepreneurial activity within the participating country, has placed New Zealand highly in total entrepreneurial activity (Reynolds, Camp, Bygrave, Autio, & Hay, 2001, 2004). A precise definition is problematic, though, with entrepreneurship commonly seen as involving a business start-up by an individual. In contrast, Shane and Venkataraman (2000, p. 218) describe entrepreneurship as "a process of opportunity discovery, evaluation and exploitation". This takes entrepreneurship out of the business relationship and makes it more a way of thinking rather than a way of starting a business. This definition has much in common with the accepted idea of the entrepreneurial orientation, which Lumpkin and Dess (1996) describe as having elements of innovation, creativity, risk and proactivity. Presumably this is the meaning intended in The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC), which has as one of its vision statements that students will be "enterprising and entrepreneurial" (Ministry of Education, 2007, p. 8). Basic schooling is important as an avenue for cementing popular ideals. This research project looks at how preservice secondary school teacher trainees view the construct of entrepreneurship and finds that they appear to be uncertain about how to apply the concept. Our research was inspired by an earlier study in this area. In 1997 the New Zealand educational practitioner's journal set: Research Information for Teachers published a paper entitled "Inadequate perceptions of the educator's role" (Cardow, 1997). The paper reported on research conducted with preservice economics teachers and their instructors within New Zealand Colleges of Education. The three conclusions reached were as follows: * Colleges of Education saw their goal as "turning students into teachers", with the implication that the skills of creativity and innovation in business are "not what [teacher training] Colleges are set up to do" (p. 4). * Instructors of preservice teachers envisaged those involved in entrepreneurship as being someone with "The ability to make a profit while being innovative and taking a risk" (p. 3), a narrow perception which has not materially changed in the intervening period. * Preservice teachers and their instructors interpreted entrepreneurship as "stepping outside normal bounds of making things happen" (p. 3). Our research adds to the previous study by providing, in essence, a "snapshot" of preservice teacher training from 1997 to 2008. We report on the changes to the New Zealand curriculum aimed at including entrepreneurship. The research also uncovers the perceptions preservice teachers have regarding the implementation of entrepreneurship in their classrooms. We conclude that, despite the positive intentions of the Ministry of Education, 10 years on nothing much has changed. Background In 1987 the New Zealand public service, including the education sector, was subject to wide neoliberal reforms. In the postprimary sector these reforms were collectively known as "Tomorrow's Schools". Essentially, governance issues were devolved to individual school boards of trustees. The objective was to provide autonomy through independent management of secondary schools. The philosophy of the government of the day was to encourage entrepreneurship within high school management. The research outlined below critiques the situation 10 years after those reforms and during the tenure of another neoliberal Labour Government. …


Abstract Sales of organic food have soared over the past decade. Although nearly all organic commodities pass through the hands of at least one intermediary on the way from the farmer to the consumer, there is a dearth of literature examining organic food marketing, especially for the middle section of the supply chain. This paper uses new survey data on organic intermediaries (organic handlers) to characterize firms that are certified to both handle and produce organic foods, or organic producer–handlers. Because of their direct link to the production level, the producer–handler has the potential to provide insight into value-added activities in the organic sector. A logistic regression is estimated in order to identify characteristics that make it more likely that a firm would be both a certified organic handler and a certified organic producer, while survey results are also used to describe some of the main challenges these producer–handlers face in handling their products. Organic producer–handlers ranked problems with ingredient procurement and supply and international trade issues as the highest barriers to growth. The model indicated that with few exceptions, many of the operational and procurement characteristics of organic producer–handlers are comparable to the entire organic handling population. However, those facilities dedicated solely to organic handling and those certified longer are more likely to be organic producer–handlers. Use of direct markets by organic handlers has the most robust relationship in the model, although marketing to natural products independent retailers and wholesalers are also important.


Doctor | Living With Melanoma | Resource Guide Surgical Procedures for Melanoma by Debra Wood, RN En Espanol (Spanish Version) Surgical removal of the cancerous tissue is the primary treatment for melanoma. Melanoma Removal The extent of the procedure depends on the stage of the cancer. Types of surgery include: Excision —This procedure is usually done when a melanoma diagnosis has already been made via a biopsy. A rim of normal, non-cancerous skin is cut away from around the tumor site to make sure no more cancer cells remain in the skin. The wound is stitched together or covered with a skin graft and usually leaves a scar. Moh's Surgery —This procedure, performed by specialized dermatologists, is designed to shave away cancer cells while leaving as much normal tissue behind. It is somewhat controversial in the management of melanomas, but many believe it is as effective as a wider, potentially more disfiguring surgical procedure. Mohs surgery is usually reserved for stage 0 or in situ melanoma. The so-called "slow Mohs" combines features of both Mohs surgery and excision. Amputation —If melanoma is present on a finger or toe, it may be necessary to amputate the cancerous part of that digit. Therapeutic lymph node dissection —If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, some of those nodes will be surgically removed. Depending on how extensive the melanoma removal proves to be, the area may be closed with stitches or may require a skin graft for repair. Stitches are usually removed about 7-14 days after surgery. REFERENCES: American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp . American Society for Dermatologic Surgery website. Available at: http://www.asds-net.org/ . Dawn ME, Dawn AG, Miller SJ. Mohs surgery for the treatment of melanoma in situ: a review. Dermatol Surg . 2007 Apr;33(4):395-402. Review. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/ . Walling HW, Scupham RK, Bean AK, Ceilley RI. Staged excision versus Mohs micrographic surgery for lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol . 2007 Oct;57(4):659-64.


Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is more common in renal allograft recipients and may present with dissemination or an atypical features. We report a renal allograft recipient with intestinal TB presenting 3 years after transplantation with persistent fever, weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain and mass in the abdomen with intestinal obstruction. He was diagnosed to be having an ileocolic intussusception which on resection showed a granulomatous inflammation with presence of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) typical of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, AFB was detected in the tracheal aspirate, indicating dissemination. He received anti-TB therapy (ATT) from the fourth postoperative day. However, he developed a probable immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) with multiorgan failure and died on 11th postoperative day. This is the first report of intestinal TB presenting as intussusception in a renal allograft recipient. The development of IRIS after starting ATT is rare in renal allograft recipients. This report highlights the need for a high index of suspicion for diagnosing TB early among renal transplant recipients and the therapeutic dilemma with overwhelming infection and development of IRIS upon reduction of immunosuppression and starting ATT.


Painted rock art occurs throughout the islands of the Western Pacific and has previously been argued to have motif and design elements in common, indicating that it was created within the context of a shared symbolic system. Here we report five new painted rock-art sites from Kisar Island in eastern Indonesia and investigate the commonalities between this art and the painted art corpus in Timor-Leste, the independent nation that forms the eastern part of the neighbouring island of Timor. We examine the motifs in the Kisar art and suggest that, rather than being Neolithic in age, some of the figurative motifs more likely have a Metal Age origin, which in this region places them within the last 2500 years.


Physically unclonable functions (PUFs) are innovative physical security primitives that produce unclonable and inherent instance-specific measurements of physical objects; in many ways they are the inanimate equivalent of biometrics for human beings. Since they are able to securely generate and store secrets, they allow us to bootstrap the physical implementation of an information security system. In this book the author discusses PUFs in all their facets: the multitude of their physical constructions, the algorithmic and physical properties which describe them, and the techniques required to deploy them in security applications. The author first presents an extensive overview and classification of PUF constructions, with a focus on so-called intrinsic PUFs. He identifies subclasses, implementation properties, and design techniques used to amplify submicroscopic physical distinctions into observable digital response vectors. He lists the useful qualities attributed to PUFs and captures them in descriptive definitions, identifying the truly PUF-defining properties in the process, and he also presents the details of a formal framework for deploying PUFs and similar physical primitives in cryptographic reductions. The author then describes a silicon test platform carrying different intrinsic PUF structures which was used to objectively compare their reliability, uniqueness, and unpredictability based on experimental data. In the final chapters, the author explains techniques for PUF-based entity identification, entity authentication, and secure key generation. He proposes practical schemes that implement these techniques, and derives and calculates measures for assessing different PUF constructions in these applications based on the quality of their response statistics. Finally, he presents a fully functional prototype implementation of a PUF-based cryptographic key generator, demonstrating the full benefit of using PUFs and the efficiency of the processing techniques described. This is a suitable introduction and reference for security researchers and engineers, and graduate students in information security and cryptography.


Purpose: To determine the extent to which skindose can be reduced by defining the skin as a Region at Risk (RAR) structure to an IMRTtreatment plan of a head and neck patient being delivered with a tomotherapy unit. Method and Materials: The head and neck section of a RANDO phantom was imaged in a CT scanner and two treatment plans were created for it simulating the treatment of a head and neck cancer. Both plans were identical, with the exception that for one an attempt was made to spare the skin as much as possible without compromising the tumor coverage or increasing dose to other RARs. This was accomplished by defining the skin as a RAR, for the purpose of pan optimization. In order to confirm the doses predicted by the treatment planning system the RANDO phantom was treated as per the plans, with metal oxide‐silicon semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) placed on its surface to determine the dose.Results: The DVHs created by the treatment planning system showed a substantial reduction to skindose as a result of introducing a skin RAR. The dose coverage of the PTV and other RARs were comparable. The change in skindose was confirmed by the readings from the MOSFET detectors which indicated that the skindose per treatment could be reduced from ∼180 cGy to ∼150 cGy with this process. Conclusion: The dose to the skin for head and neck treatments delivered with IMRT is known to be greater than that of conventional radiation therapy. We propose a method of delivering IMRT on a tomotherapy unit with substantial skin sparing. In order to control the skindose to the patient, treatment plans must be made treating it as an organ at risk.


This article reassesses the value of the Canons of Dort, drafted at the Synod of Dort (1618–19). A picture with diverse shades emerges. After four hundred years, the Canons of Dort stand out when compared to the Remonstrant position for their pastoral tone, Reformed catholicity, emphasis on the efficacity of divine grace, an infralapsarian stance on the decrees of God, and their biblical character. In retrospect, however, the Canons also show theological limitations such as allowing the dominance of the Arminian agenda, the potentially problematic nature of complex, causal logic, the deficiency of certain important biblical notions, and a deficiency as to the centrality of Christ. Christ as the mirror of election in particular deserves a more central place in the doctrine of election.


Abstract Light-absorbing organic aerosol (brown carbon, BrC) impacts the radiative balance of the earth's atmosphere; however, the magnitude of this impact is poorly constrained due to uncertainties in BrC sources, composition, and lifetime. In particular, the role of chemical "aging" on the optical properties of BrC particles is poorly understood. Here we carry out laboratory studies aimed at understanding how one such aging process, heterogeneous oxidation, may affect the chemical and optical properties of biomass burning-derived BrC. We generate BrC from smoldering ponderosa pine needles, oxidize the BrC in a flow reactor, and use simultaneous measurements of aerosol optical properties and chemical composition to monitor changes upon oxidation. Under the set of conditions investigated here, we find that with increased oxidant exposure, the aerosol becomes more oxidized and less absorbing, presumably due to oxidative degradation of the chromophores. Both the kinetics and evolution of this process are oxidant dependent. While heterogeneous oxidation by ozone results in a rapid "bleaching" of the BrC (i.e., decrease in absorptivity), a substantial fraction of the BrC is resistant to bleaching by this mechanism. In contrast, bleaching due to heterogeneous oxidation by OH in the presence of ozone remains active over long timescales (timescale of days), suggesting a sustained evolution of BrC optical properties throughout the aerosol atmospheric lifetime. Copyright © 2019 American Association for Aerosol Research Video Abstract Read the transcript Watch the video on Vimeo


Abstract. Research and practice in seismology and urban planning interfere concerning the impact of earthquakes on urban areas. The roles of sub-area wide or typological divisions of the town were investigated with the methodology of regression, regarding their contribution to urban earthquake risk management. The inductive data set comprised recovery, preparedness, mitigation and resilience planning. All timely constituted planning types are refound today as layers, as the zoning results are used by differently backgrounded actors: local authorities, civil protection, urban planners, civil engineers. In resilience planning, the urban system is complexly theoretised, then integratedly approached. The steady restructuring process of the urban organism is evident in a dynamic analysis. Although expressed materially, the "urban-frame" is realised spiritually, space adaptation being also social. A retrospective investigation of the role of resilient individual buildings within the urban system of Bucharest, Romania, was undertaken, in order to learn systemic lessons considering the street, an educational environment. (In)formation in the study and decision making process stay in a reciprocal relationship, both being obliged in the (in)formation of the public opinion. For a complete view on resilience, both zoning types, seismic and urbanistic, must be considered and through their superposition new sub-area wide divisions of the town appear, making recommendations according to the vulnerability of the building type.


This paper argues that two properties of the linguistic structure of an utterance influence and partially determine whether the utterance has a metaphoric meaning that results in a stable interpretation: (i) degree of meta phoricity and (ii) degree of metaphoric saturation. A majority of metaphoric utter ances in a corpus study (66%) were unsaturated, low metaphoricity utterances that behave as expected by Max Black and the cognitive linguistics paradigm. However, a significant minority (34%) of the metaphoric utterances were satu rated or high metaphoricity utterances that behave partially as expected by Donald Davidson and others working in his tradition. This suggests that the di rect and indirect interpretation views of metaphor are not incompatible but apply to different subgroups of metaphoric utterances. The paper then constructs a model of metaphoric meaning that makes falsifiable predictions about the inter pretations of metaphoric utterances in order to provide further evidence that unsaturated, low metaphoricity utterances have stable interpretations. This re search provides both converging evidence for the cognitive linguistic view of metaphor and also a framework for limiting its scope to most, but not all, meta phoric utterances.


This paper provides new insights into the ways in which urban youth draw upon and reference spatial concepts over the course of their participation in activism and organizing. The concept of the geographical imagination is the starting point from which to explore how young people's understanding of places near and far affects their political engagement. Civic participation is often conceived as voting and volunteering; however, this research suggests that young people who are collectively engaged in helping their community while extending their capacity to connect social forces to material outcomes are also civic and political actors. Furthermore, this paper shows how young people's experiences, perception, and attachment to different places inform the strategies and stances of their social and political activities. Drawing from a year-long investigation at a Harlem-based youth organization, the findings document how young people trace patterns of marginalization, neglect, and belonging in places near and far, which is an underexplored aspect of critical geography and youth participation. By showing how spatial concepts are embedded in young people's experiences with and narratives about their community's most pressing issues, an extended geographical imagination can help youth illuminate social and spatial injustice, and imagine progressive alternatives for change.


Introduction: Intradural spinal cord tumors are uncommon with an incidence of 3 per 100,000 individuals. Multiple reports concerning intraspinal hematomas with neurologic deterioration following spinal needle insertion exist, but few reports have confirmed intraspinal hemorrhages from an undiagnosed lumbar ependymoma after attempted spinal anesthesia.
Methods: A 22-year-old male with progressive low back pain presented with sensory and motor deficits of both lower extremities after incurring unsuccessful lumbar punctures for a urologic procedure under spinal anesthesia. A contrastenhanced multiplanar MRI demonstrated a large, nodular intradural mass from L2 to S2. Posterior decompression, intradural tumor resection, and posterior instrumentation with spinal fusion from L2 to L5 were carried out.
Results: Histomorphologic study of the tumor specimen showed myxopapillary ependymoma (WHO Grade 1). Hip flexors and knee extensors improved to 4/5 bilaterally by the 2nd week after surgery, the ankle dorsiflexors and big toe extensors to 4/5 bilaterally by the 3rd week and the ankle plantarflexors to 4/5 bilaterally by the 4th week. Patient was already ambulating with walker assistance a month after surgery. Ankle clonus disappeared by the 2nd week, and both dermatomal and peri-anal sensations were fully regained bilaterally by the 4th week.
Conclusion: Intradural myxopapillary ependymoma is thought to be prone to hemorrhage due to its vascular structure. This report draws attention to the need for careful evaluation of symptoms suggesting the presence of a spinal mass, before lumbar puncture, peridural, or spinal anesthesia is planned.


Imatinib protects oocytes from cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Young women diagnosed with cancer can face the agonizing realization that the very chemotherapeutic treatments required to save their lives may also destroy their fertility. Moreover, the ability of a particular individual to take advantage of cryopreservation techniques may be limited by the urgency with which she needs to start treatment or the possibility that the cancer has invaded the ovaries (see Perspective by Woodruff). Gonfloni et al. found that in vitro exposure of ovaries from 5-day-old mice to the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin led to increased abundance of the TAp63-α isoform of the p63 tumor suppressor in ovarian lysates, DNA double-strand breaks, and massive oocyte apoptosis. Cisplatin also increased the abundance of the mRNA encoding the c-Abl tyrosine kinase, as well as c-Abl protein, and inhibition of c-Abl with imatinib blocked not only the increase in c-Abl mRNA but also the increase in TAp63 and apoptosis. Experiments in a human osteosarcoma cell line stably transfected with a construct that could be induced to express TAp63-α by tetracycline treatment revealed that cisplatin-induced apoptosis depended on TAp63-α. Constitutively active forms of c-Abl phosphorylated TAp63 and increased its abundance; mutational analysis implicated one of these phosphorylated residues (Tyr149) in the ability of TAp63 to transcriptionally induce the proapoptotic proteins NOXA and PUMA. Intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin into female mouse pups led to depletion of primordial and primary ovarian follicles, an effect that was substantially attenuated by coinjection of imatinib. Moreover, imatinib partially rescued cisplatin-induced infertility. Thus, the authors have identified a pathway involved in oocyte loss in response to cisplatin and shown that imatinib has a fertoprotective effect. Whether imatinib also interferes with cisplatin's antineoplastic effect remains to be determined. S. Gonfloni, L. Di Tella, S. Caldarola, S. M. Cannata, F. G. Klinger, C. Di Bartolomeo, M. Mattei, E. Candi, M. De Felici, G. Melino, G. Cesareni, Inhibition of the c-Abl–TAp63 pathway protects mouse oocytes from chemotherapy-induced death. Nat. Med. 15, 1179–1185 (2009). [PubMed] T. K. Woodruff, Preserving fertility during cancer treatment. Nat. Med. 15, 1124–1125 (2009). [PubMed]


Semi-supervised learning (SSL) provides a powerful framework for leveraging unlabeled data. Existing SSL typically requires all classes have labels. However, in many real-world applications, there may exist some classes that are difficult to label or newly occurred classes that cannot be labeled in time, resulting in there are unseen classes in unlabeled data. Unseen classes will be misclassified as seen classes, causing poor classification performance. The performance of seen classes is also harmed by the existence of unseen classes. This limits the practical and wider application of SSL. To address this problem, this paper proposes a new SSL approach that can classify not only seen classes but also unseen classes. Our approach consists of two modules: unseen class classification and learning pace synchronization . Specifically, we first enable the SSL methods to classify unseen classes by exploiting pairwise similarity between examples and then synchronize the learning pace between seen and unseen classes by proposing an adaptive threshold with distribution alignment. Extensive empirical results show our approach achieves significant performance improvement in both seen and unseen classes compared with previous studies.


This Handbook is a guide for constructing and using composite indicators for policy makers, academics, the media and other interested parties. While there are several types of composite indicators, this Handbook is concerned with those which compare and rank country performance in areas such as industrial competitiveness, sustainable development, globalization and innovation.  The Handbook aims to contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of composite indicators and to an improvement of the techniques currently used to build them.  In particular, it contains a set of technical guidelines that can help constructors of composite indicators to improve the quality of their outputs.It has been prepared jointly by the OECD (the Statistics Directorate and the Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry) and the Applied Statistics and Econometrics Unit of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission in Ispra, Italy.


Speed, regulation and mass production defined the first Industrial Revolution, but we have entered a new era. Todays revolution has been driven by digital technologies and tools, giving rise to entirely new working methods, skill sets and consumer products. Spearheading this movement is a new generation of creatives who fuse the precision and flexibility of computing and digital fabrication with the skill and tactility of the master artisan to create unexpected and desirable objects and products. For the first time on a global scale, Digital Handmade selects a group of 80 pioneering designers, artists and craftsmen who represent the best of this new trend. Profiles of each artisans techniques are featured alongside the objects they produce, each conceived and made through a multifaceted process of hand and digital means and unique to its maker. Examples range from the affordable and obtainable to the extraordinary and priceless. Welcome to the next industrial revolution.


The objective of this study was to unveil the effectiveness of current strategies put in place to thwart the root causes of corruption and its damaging effects on economic growth and political development in the Gauteng Provincial Government. To achieve this purpose, this thesis looked at the incidence of political corruption in South Africa in general and Gauteng in particular, in an attempt to ascertain the implication of the political and historical legacy of corruption on democratic governance. This work is an attempt to raise awareness and understanding of the problem of corruption, more a step toward transparency and accountability. The research project is positioned within the qualitative paradigm at the preliminary stage to establish a historical background of political corruption. And within the quantitative research at the second stage that required establishing from the preliminary research a sizeable sample of (approximately 100) key individuals and people in the field of corruption to which detailed questionnaires were distributed. The main findings as shown from the Gauteng experience were that in Gauteng, cases of corruption were widespread in almost all departments where public servants exploited state structures and used them to extract benefits for their own gains. However, the departments the most vulnerable to corrupt practices were those of Housing, Safety and Security, Transport and Public Works, Education, Welfare, Local Government and Health. As discovered, areas such as affirmative action, tendering or the expanded provision of benefits (e.g. in Housing, Welfare or Education) are areas that are vulnerable to corruption and are all associated with transformation/democratization projects. However, the incidence of corruption in the province can be explained by Gauteng's lack of a "traditional" culture base that may make leaders especially susceptible to acquisitive and individualistic forms of behaviour. As a result corruption impacts negatively on the political process by undermining the legitimacy of the state and economically by impeding developmental strategies, as "corruption leads to loss of much needed revenue and human talent for development, distorts priorities for public policy, and shifts scarce resources away from the public interest ... Political instability, corruption, and underdevelopment are mutually reinforcing" (Elliot: 2001:926). vi In terms of anti-corruption measures, the study has found that Gauteng is on the right path, as anticorruption measures applied in the province suit those applied at the national level, that in turn are in the same line with international practices. The study argues that while Gauteng anti-corruption measures have succeeded in reducing corruption levels, they have not stopped it, as new cases surface almost every week in the local press. Thus there is still room for improvement if the Gauteng government aims to succeed. The researcher has recommended that there is a need for common guidelines and coordination strategies amongst internal departmental anti-corruption units that have been established and the initiation in each department of its own monitoring and evaluation capacity. This means the buildup and the improvement of internal audits and controls by higher authority applicable to both officialdom and the business sector. Finally the study assumes that many other examples of strategies to fight corruption could be provided, however, the ones provided are sufficient to argue the point that in many cases the fight against corruption cannot proceed independently from the reform of the state. In many ways it is the same fight. The study's major conclusions concern those general assumptions about the relationship between democracy and good governance, which characterize certain theories concerning the causation of corruption, need to be revised. Even the most authoritarian systems, as was apartheid, were able to control the levels of corruption and keep it at an economically viable level. To this end, other mechanisms such as accounting standards and audits and direct accountability of leadership in government need to be strengthened alongside with the protection of whistleblowers. But the end result is that several factors associated with these mechanisms have highlighted the fact that transparency and the resulting exposure have increased opportunities for graft. In more democratic and open societies, besides greater civic engagement, the chance of closer monitoring and exposure of corrupt officials and politicians is higher than in no democratic society. Freedom of the press and of association leads public interest groups to expose abuses of power. While democracy seems to decrease corruption, both variables interact strongly with the level of transition. Hence the needs for more research on the actual effect of democratization in government departments that will serve the cause of anti-corruption campaign better. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS


Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic surveys of open ocean microbial assemblages have revealed a vast number of nucleic acid sequences that are of unknown function or phylogenetic affiliation. We examined metatranscriptomic databases and found several highly expressed, yet unidentified, transcripts which were present across diverse locations in the open ocean. Comparison of the 5 most highly represented transcript contiguous sequences (hRCs) against the Global Ocean Survey (GOS) assembled metagenomic sequence database revealed that 4 of the 5 hRCs had been observed previously in open ocean microbial DNA. Amplification of the hRCs from pelagic microbial DNA yielded 1 amplicon (hRC93). To confirm that hRC93 was syntenous with the nucleotide sequence on a matching GOS contig (JCVI_SCAF_1096627329331), we amplified a 706 bp region between hRC93 and an adjacent gene from pelagic microbial DNA. We further characterized hRC93 by examining its relative frequency in metatranscriptomic libraries and performed quantitative PCR on microbial DNA collected from the equatorial Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Maine, and a tropical estuary (Bayboro Harbor). Our data demonstrate that hRC93 is in a rare (~0.1-1% of cells) component of productive tropical surface water microbial assemblages, and that its role in host physiology is not related to photosynthesis or to the expression of adjacent genes on the matching GOS genome fragment. However, the large investment in hRC93 transcription suggests an important role in host ecology. These results highlight the lack of genomic information on rare marine microorganisms, but also suggest that unannotated reads in metagenomic and metatranscriptomic surveys can provide useful information on the ecophysiology of uncultivated microorganisms.


The article discloses problems of the putting into practice the right of social partners to create labour law by signing collective agreements in the particular working place, which had been meant in Lithuanian laws before Labour Code of Lithuania enforced. Beside that the author analyses the importance of the collective agreement in the plant level, as source of Lithuanian labour law, emphasizing the level of the possibility for the social partners to take part into the creation of labour law according Labour Code of Lithuania, which was adopted on the 4'th of June, 2002 and was enforced on the first of January, 2003. The development of the collective agreement since the beginning of modification of the Lithuanian labour law till the adoption of Labour Code of Lithuania is presented. The author also analyses the importance of collective agreement, as the source of labour law in the other foreign countries (the Grate Britain, Germany, Italy, and etc.), compares the implementation of the binding of European Social Charter to seek that the relationship between two social partners (employers from one side and employees from another) were regulated by collective agreements. In the article the normative part of collective agreement in the plant level, which was made between the united trade unions of Lithuanian Railways and the administration of Lithuanian Railways is analysed. It is emphasized that since Labour Code of Lithuania was adopted there was no stimulation in Lithuanian laws for the employer to start collective bargaining and collective agreement. In Lithuanian Railways as in the other companies, where collective agreements in plant level already exists this is made because of strong trade unions of these companies. The author presents the reasons, which cause that the collective agreement in plant level, as the source of Lithuanian labour law, nowadays is not popular enough. The liberalization of Lithuanian labour law in Labour Code of Lithuania is emphasized. The author analyses if the reform of the labour law of Lithuania will cause the popularity of the collective agreement in plant level. The mane point of this article is to look what has been done to stimulate the process of making collective agreements. The article expresses the idea that it had been done enough to stimulate the interest of both sides of collective bargain procedure to regulate part of their relationship by collective agreements.


ABSTRACT This article examines the links between state formation and indigenous mobilization in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. Through an ethnographic and historical analysis, the article explores how processes of state formation in the Madre de Dios region have drawn indigenous people into complex interactions with outsiders. The article argues that these social relations, which are characterized not simply by resistance but also by subjugation, have shaped the Arakbut people's struggles for land rights. Recent Arakbut engagements with a multinational oil corporation are informed by patron–client networks that work as a governmentality technique. By creating debt and exacerbating internal divisions, clientelism disciplines indigenous people, undermining their resistance to oil development and other forms of predatory state expansion into their territories.


In this paper, we propose using augmented hypotheses which consider objectness, foreground and compactness for salient object detection. Our algorithm consists of four basic steps. First, our method generates the objectness map via objectness hypotheses. Based on the objectness map, we estimate the foreground margin and compute the corresponding foreground map which prefers the foreground objects. From the objectness map and the foreground map, the compactness map is formed to favor the compact objects. We then derive a saliency measure that produces a pixel-accurate saliency map which uniformly covers the objects of interest and consistently separates fore-and background. We finally evaluate the proposed framework on two challenging datasets, MSRA- 1000 and iCoSeg. Our extensive experimental results show that our method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches.


While research on peer interaction in language learning has proliferated over the past two decades, little is known regarding why students interact differently with their peers and how collaborative patterns can be developed to promote the effectiveness of small group work in L2 learning. To fill such a void in the research literature, the present case study investigates the factors that shape the collaborative pattern of a small group of Chinese EFL learners in peer feedback activities. Multiple sources of data were collected, including video recordings of peer feedback sessions, semi-structured interviews, stimulated recalls, and student drafts of writing. The findings show that students' beliefs and values, students' motives and goals, the use of mediating artifacts, and the power relationship among the students shape the patterns of group interaction considerably. This study deepens our understanding of the nature of peer interaction in peer feedback for L2 writing and contributes new knowledge to the research on pair and small group work in L2 learning.


Abstract The crystal structure of halloysite, despite being one of the most commonly occurring clay minerals on the Earth's surface, remains elusive. This paper reports on a multi-methodological study to shed more light on the atomic arrangement of halloysite from Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia, which has a prismatic morphology. It has been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) and, in particular, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), to reveal its atomic structure and formation process. XRD analysis indicated a basal spacing of ca. 7.2 Å and two characteristic peaks with d = 4.28 and 4.03 Å on the tail of the 02,11 band. The halloysite grain cross sections displayed various prismatic forms, ranging from a rectangle to a regular 18-sectored polygon in SEM and TEM. The SAED pattern from a sector of the polygonal prisms with the incident beam parallel to the prism axes showed a regular one-layer oblique reciprocal lattice, similar to that of kaolinite along Yi-directions. HRTEM imaging performed with the new computer-assisted minimal-dose system and an incident beam perpendicular to the prism axis showed stacking of most dioctahedral 1:1 layers with their pseudo-mirror plane perpendicular to the prism axis and an almost random, or rather, alternating lateral stagger to the right or left from the preceding layer, which corresponds to interlayer displacements of τ+ and τ- in Zvyagin symbols, or layer displacements of t1 and t2 used to describe the stacking in kaolinite. This stacking feature explains the SAED pattern from the side of the prismatic grains and the two characteristic peaks on the tail of the 02,11 band in the XRD pattern. Based on these results, it is proposed that tubular halloysite initially forms as a hydrated one with the pseudo-mirror plane of the kaolinite layers perpendicular to the tube axis, then dehydrates with, possibly, partially hydrogen-bonded interlayers, and finally transforms to a prismatic one consisting of sectored flat layers with the complete hydrogen-bonded interlayers. During this transformation, stacking with comparable ratio and frequent alternation of τ+ and τ- is formed, to minimize morphological change of the tubes.


Objective: To determine the spectrum of various bone tumors and their relative frequency at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of histopathological reports of all bone specimens received in the Department of Pathology (histopathology section), RIMS hospital for a period of 2 years from January 2009-December 2011 was done. Results: Of the 98 histopathologically diagnosed bone lesions, 50 (51%) were males and 48 (49%) were females, with a male to female ratio of 1.04:1. Age ranged from 7-74 years. Nonneoplastic lesions accounted for 36.7%, while neoplastic lesions accounted for 63.3%. Osteomyelitis was the most common and only nonneoplastic lesion encountered with 36 cases (36.7%). Out of 62 cases of bone tumors, benign tumors made up to 66.01%, while the malignant tumor and tumor-like lesions made up 17.71 and 16.2%, respectively. Age ranged from 8-74 years, in which 34 (55%) were males and 28 (45%) were females with M:F ratio of 1.2:1. Osteochondroma with 22 cases (35.2%) and osteosarcoma with seven cases (11.27%) were the most common benign and malignant tumors, respectively; while fibrous dysplasia with five cases (8.05%) was the most common tumor-like lesion. The age peak incidence was in the 2 nd (43.55%) and 3 rd (32.2%) decades. Femur was the most common site with 19 (30.6%) occurrences followed by tibia with 18 (29%). Conclusion: Chronic osteomyelitis was the commonest nonneoplastic lesion. Among the bone tumors, osteochondroma and osteosarcoma was the most common benign and malignant bone tumor, respectively.


The main focus in the present work concerns calculations on steel/slag equilibria. Thermodynamic software and databases are now powerful and accurate enough to give reliable results when applied to complex metallurgical processes. One example is the decarburization process of high alloyed steels. It is shown that using advanced thermodynamic models, without a complicated kinetic description of the system, reasonable agreement with experimental data is obtained. The calculations are performed using the Thermo-Calc software. Within this work a Java interface for Thermo-Calc has been implemented. Java gives graphical possibilities and a graphical interface has been created that facilitates calculations that involve both metallic phases as well as oxides and make them feasible also for an industrial user.


Background: Consumer's interest in healthy eating shifted towards the potential health benefits of specific foods and food ingredients. Flaxseed has a unique fatty acid profile. It is high in omega-3 fatty acid and calcium. Objective(s): The purpose of this study was to highlight the nutritional quality of flaxseed and effect of fortification of biscuits on omega 3 and calcium content of products. Methods: Different flaxseed concentrations (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) were used in the preparation of fortified biscuits. Proximate analysis of flaxseed and produced biscuits was performed to determine moisture, fat, total ash, crude protein, crude fiber and carbohydrate content. Sensory evaluation of produced biscuits was done to assess color, taste, odor, texture, over-all acceptability and residual after taste. Omega-3 and calcium content of flaxseed and produced biscuits was determined. Results: In our study, the changes in chemical composition of biscuits fortified with flaxseed showed that the addition of flaxseed to wheat flour significantly increased protein, fat and ash content, meanwhile, decreased the content of carbohydrates. Biscuit samples made from substitution of wheat flour with flaxseed up to 20% were acceptable and gave nearly similar scores to the control. Our results indicated that flaxseed was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (60.43 %) with omega-3 representing 47.22%. Biscuits fortified with flaxseed revealed that omega-3 content of flaxseed fortified biscuits was significantly higher than the control biscuits. In our study, the calcium content of the grinded flaxseed was 188.9 mg/100g. Control biscuits which were formulated from wheat flour contained 25.6 mg/100g calcium. Whereas, biscuits fortified with 10 %, 20% and 30% flaxseed exhibited significantly higher contents of calcium (168.3, 175.0 and 179.1 respectively). Conclusion: The use of flaxseed in dietary products can be recommended as functional food. Substitution of wheat flour in biscuits with 20% flaxseed was acceptable by panelists. Enrichment of diets with flaxseed for better utilization of ω-3 fatty acids and calcium for better bone health is recommended.