BACKGROUND
Acid-suppressive medications are increasingly prescribed for noncritically ill hospitalized patients, although the incidence of nosocomial gastrointestinal (GI) tract bleeding (GI bleeding) and magnitude of potential benefit from this practice are unknown. We aimed to define the incidence of nosocomial GI bleeding outside of the intensive care unit and examine the association between acid-suppressive medication use and this complication.

METHODS
We conducted a pharmacoepidemiologic cohort study of patients admitted to an academic medical center from 2004 through 2007, at least 18 years of age, and hospitalized for 3 or more days. Admissions with a primary diagnosis of GI bleeding were excluded. Acid-suppressive medication use was defined as any order for a proton pump inhibitor or histamine-2-receptor antagonist. The main outcome measure was nosocomial GI bleeding. A propensity matched generalized estimating equation was used to control for confounders.

RESULTS
The final cohort included 78,394 admissions (median age, 56 years; 41% men). Acid-suppressive medication was ordered in 59% of admissions, and nosocomial GI bleeding occurred in 224 admissions (0.29%). After matching on the propensity score, the adjusted odds ratio for nosocomial GI bleeding in the group exposed to acid-suppressive medication relative to the unexposed group was 0.63 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.93). The number needed to treat to prevent 1 episode of nosocomial GI bleeding was 770.

CONCLUSIONS
Nosocomial GI bleeding outside of the intensive care unit was rare. Despite a protective effect of acid-suppressive medication, the number needed to treat to prevent 1 case of nosocomial GI bleeding was relatively high, supporting the recommendation against routine use of prophylactic acid-suppressive medication in noncritically ill hospitalized patients.


Two models to calculate the irradiance threshold for laser-induced breakdown for water have been introduced. Both of the models have been incorporated into a computer code and code results compared to experimentally measured irradiance threshold for breakdown of pure water by nanosecond, picosecond and femtosecond laser pulses in the visible and near-infrared. The result shows that the second one has a wider range than first one to agree with the experiment data. For nanosecond laser pulses, the generation of free electrons in distilled water is initiated by multiphoton ionization but then dominated by cascade ionization. For shorter laser pulses, multiphoton ionization gains ever more importance, and collision and recombination losses during breakdown diminish. The threshold near infrared is more depend on the initial electrons.


Introduction Exercise has been shown to improve clinical measures of strength, balance and mobility, and in some cases, has improved symptoms of tremor and rigidity in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, to date, no research has examined whether improvements in trunk control can remedy deficits in dynamic postural stability in this population. The proposed randomised controlled trial aims to establish whether a 12-week exercise programme aimed at improving dynamic postural stability in people with PD; (1) is more effective than education; (2) is more effective when training frequency is increased; and (3) provides greater long-term benefits than education. Methods/design Forty-five community-dwelling individuals diagnosed with idiopathic PD with a falls history will be recruited. Participants will complete baseline assessments including tests of cognition, vision, disease severity, fear of falling, mobility and quality of life. Additionally, participants will complete a series of standing balance tasks to evaluate static postural stability, while dynamic postural control will be measured during walking using head and trunk-mounted three-dimensional accelerometers. Following baseline testing, participants will be randomly-assigned to one of three intervention groups, who will receive either exercise once per week, exercise 3 days/week, or education. Participants will repeat the same battery of tests conducted at baseline after the 12-week intervention and again following a further 12-week sustainability period. Discussion This study has the potential to show that low-intensity and progressive trunk exercises can provide a non-invasive and effective means for maintaining or improving postural stability for people with PD. Importantly, if the programme is noted to be effective, it could be easily performed by patients within their home environment or under the guidance of available allied health professionals. Trial registration number The protocol for this study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12613001175763).


How and where are coronal loops rooted in the solar lower atmosphere? The details of the magnetic environment and its evolution at the footpoints of coronal loops are crucial to understanding the processes of mass and energy supply to the solar corona. To address the above question, we use high-resolution line-of-sight magnetic field data from the Imaging Magnetograph eXperiment instrument on the Sunrise balloon-borne observatory and coronal observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory of an emerging active region. We find that the coronal loops are often rooted at the locations with minor small-scale but persistent opposite-polarity magnetic elements very close to the larger dominant polarity. These opposite-polarity small-scale elements continually interact with the dominant polarity underlying the coronal loop through flux cancellation. At these locations we detect small inverse Y-shaped jets in chromospheric Ca ii H images obtained from the Sunrise Filter Imager during the flux cancellation. Our results indicate that magnetic flux cancellation and reconnection at the base of coronal loops due to mixed polarity fields might be a crucial feature for the supply of mass and energy into the corona.


Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality which involves application of photosensitizers and their ability to accumulate selectively and damage cancer cells in presence of light. Light induced damage to cancer tissues is irreversible which mediates the formation of reactive oxygen species. Photochemical internalization (PCI) is a novel technology which is based on principles of PDT and is a site specific technology which releases entrapped drugs in light exposed cells. The present study aimed to assess the effect of hexyl aminolevulinate (HAL) and the new photosensitizer Amphinex in rat bladder cancer cells (AY-27) using blue and red light. The focus of the thesis was also to examine the cytotoxicity effect of Bleomycin in cancer cells with Amphinex using PCI technique. Furthermore, bleaching effect of Amphinex in bladder cancer cells was also studied using different light doses.In this project, dose response curves were established for HAL (10 μM, 3.5 h) and Amphinex (0.2 μg/ml, 18 h) treated AY-27 cells 24 h post illumination with blue light (435 nm). Similarly, cell survival with Amphinex based PDT was also done 48 h post illumination with red light (652 nm). The LD 50dose from Amphinex based PDT was further used for PCI in combination with Bleomycin to see cytotoxic effects of photochemical delivery of Bleomycin in bladder cancer cells. All cell viability results were confirmed by measurements of mitochondrial activity as found by MTT assay. Finally, fluorescence spectroscopy was used to investigate the bleaching effect of Amphinex in cancer cells after delivery of different red light doses. LumiSource® (PCI Biotech, Oslo) and Quanta System (Solbiate Ololna, Italy) were the two light sources used for blue and red light illumination of AY-27 cells.A decrease in cell viability was observed in both HAL and Amphinex treated cells after PDT. Similarly, reduction in the cell survival was assessed in PCI of Amphinex with Bleomycin and both photosensitizers were found to be effective in inducing death in AY- 27 cells after PDT treatment with blue and red light. Likewise, there has been marked reduction in cell survival of cancer cells with Amphinex based PCI in combination with Bleomycin presenting the potential cytotoxic effect of Bleomycin. A continuous reduction in fluorescence intensity was also observed with increasing light dose in Amphinex treated cells using red light. The decline in fluorescence was due to continuous photobleaching effect of Amphinex in presence of the light.


'Searching for safe text' is the main title of the dissertation, and also refers to the process involved in writing (and reading) it. 'Transfers on to the Infobahn' is the subtitle, which applies the guiding metaphor of movement to the central concept of transfer, used to explain potentially unsafe text, and to its application in cyberspace, seen as a further step from off-line experiences.

The research is on difficulties in interaction associated with differences in background languages and cultures, with an increasingly narrow focus on trans-cultural computer mediated communication using written text, mainly in English. The thesis investigates whether and how forms of linguistic interference, particularly negative transfers, lead to unsafe text and serious misunderstandings, which negatively affect interactions.

Aims of the project include increased awareness of the characteristics and problems of both media and messages, and promotion of basic skills and tools to recognise, resolve, reduce and prevent such misunderstandings, to supplement broadly applicable (trans-)linguistic and transcultural communication capabilities. For this research I have collected, analysed, evaluated and compared many relevant examples, which are mostly compatible with online settings, to illustrate problems and promote approaches to their resolution. The most serious outcomes are in areas which impact on basic human needs and values, such as life, liberty and self-esteem, and involving the notion of face, also in the context of linguistic conventions of politeness.

This work brings a lifelong interest in forms of transfer between different languages to the new and rapidly evolving arena of computer-mediated communication, with primary concern for interaction difficulties involving native and non-native users of a supposedly 'common' language. Attention to polyglots, though not exclusive, intends to highlight the often ignored issues of differences in background languages, particularly within the wide and varied English-speaking world. The challenges range from ethical concerns for equity, access and diversity in multicultural societies to economic needs for competitiveness and effectiveness in the international arena.


ABSTRACT P-wave velocities measured in Cretaceous skeletal grainstones from Limburg, southeastern Netherlands, are significantly higher in moderately cemented samples than in poorly cemented samples from similar depositional facies. Petrography suggests that this relationship is due to differences in the extent of development of intergranular cementation as influenced by original grain mineralogy, rather than a significant difference in primary porosity. The time-average velocity equation for a calcite matrix fails to predict the cementation effect on sonic velocity at high porosities. Linear and nonlinear time-average regressions show strong correlation between velocity and porosity. Whether the underlying trend is linear or nonlinear is a fundamental question that cannot be determined with this data set. Comparison between carbonate grainstones and siliciclastic sandstones reveals that: (1) the grainstones have gradients in velocity-porosity space similar to those in siliciclastic arenites but have velocities that are up to 0.3 km/s higher than those in clean arenites and up to 0.8 km/s higher than in argillaceous arenites; and (2) grainstones develop a rigid framework that transports elastic waves at significantly higher porosities than arenites, 40-50% compared to 30-40%. Higher sonic velocity presumably results from the higher matrix velocity of calcite versus quartz, and the higher elastic moduli created by the effective cement bridges connecting grains.


*Abstract: Ecuador is one of the countries with the lowest broadband internet penetration rates in the region, a mere 2.7%, notes Maria Eugenia Hidalgo. This, she says, is the legacy of a failed privatisation process in the telecommunications sector and the subsequent adoption of legal reforms that handed the most profitable segment of the market (mobile telephony) to the transnational private sector. The liberalisation of the sector was enshrined in the constitution adopted in 1998 which eliminated the concept of strategic sectors, including telecommunications. Hidalgo points out that the emergence of wireless technologies, especially Wi-Fi, offers an alternative for internet access in areas that are unprofitable by market standards and lack infrastructure. She also notes that the new Ecuadorian constitution and the reforms being undertaken by the government in the framework of a new model of state activity, aimed at putting rights into practice through strong state involvement in the provision of services and infrastructure, should create a favourable environment for implementing the concept of universal access. Hidalgo concludes by stressing the need for solid, long-term legal and regulatory solutions to promote the development and sustainability of networks geared to the public interest, which can contribute to bridging the broadband divide.


This paper aims to present the results of a GIS modelling to predict debris flow susceptible areas in the Aparados da Serra region (Brazil). The region shows a 1000 m high scarp located close to Atlantic Ocean in southern Brazil. The scarp is developed upon sandstones (Botucatu Fm.) and basalts and dacites (Serra Geral Fm.) of the Parana Basin, after the break-up of the Gondwana Supercontinent and the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a topographic barrier to convective clouds migrating from ocean to the continent, mainly in spring and summer seasons. Geologic, geomorphologic, geotechnical mapping were conducted in order to enable GIS data modelling for debris flow in the region. The prediction of areas susceptible to debris flow along the scarp was based upon USPED algorithms. However, some changes were introduced into USPED algorithms in order to model debris flows in this region. The GIS modelling results distinguished susceptible areas for erosion and deposition of the debris, according the modified USPED procedures. These results were compared with a large debris flow event occurred in December 1995, and also recent small scale and localized debris flow events. All these observed debris flows show good correlation with predicted area of occurrence. Thus, it can be concluded that such GIS modelling can be applied to predict areas susceptible for erosion and deposition of debris related to concentrated convective storms.


The increased incidence of skin cancer in recent years has resulted in investigations on the effects of UV radiation. An attempt has been made to produce UV-resist fabrics using Titanium dioxide in lyocell and silk union fabrics. The treated and untreated samples are characterized using using SEM/EDS and FTIR. The effectiveness of the treatment is assessed using the standardized tests, such as UV-Vis spectrophotometry and the calculation of the ultraviolet protection factor both before and after washing of the treated samples. It is found that TiO2 as a UV finish can be efficiently given to silk and lyocell union fabrics. The UV tests indicate a significant improvement in the UV absorbing activity in the TiO2 treated fabrics. Samples treated with UV finish showed good fastness properties up to 25 washes. The effect of UV finish on air permeability, absorbency, wickability, tensile strength, crease recovery and drapability was also observed. UV finished fabrics show a marginal decrease in tensile strength, absorbency, crease recovery and air permeability.


Building good sparse approximations of functions is one of the major themes in approximation theory. When applied to signals, images or any kind of data, it allows to deal with basic building blocks that essentially synthesize all the information at hand. It is known since the early successes of wavelet analysis that sparse expansions very often result in efficient algorithms for characterizing signals in noise or even for analyzing and compressing signals. The very strong links between approximation theory and computational harmonic analysis on one hand and data processing on the other hand, resulted in fruitful crossfertilizations over the last decade. This paper proposes to create a tree structure from an arbitrary dictionary of functions. Due to a hierarchical classification of the original data, an important part of the redundancy is intrinsically hold by the structure that represents whole bunch of highly correlated atoms by an unique element. A pursuit algorithm taking advantage of this structure is proposed. It consists in finding the best path through the tree. It presents the important advantage of being much faster than a classical Matching Pursuit. The proposed method reduces the dimensionality of the problems without losing important information for the problem at hand; it only minimally degrades the quality of approximation. The performance of the proposed algorithm are demonstrated in the context of image representation.


A hybrid model integrating artificial neural networks and support vector regression was developed for daily rainfall prediction. In the modeling process, singular spectrum analysis was first adopted to decompose the raw rainfall data. Fuzzy C-means clustering was then used to split the training set into three crisp subsets which may be associated with low-, medium- and high-intensity rainfall. Two local artificial neural network models were involved in training and predicting low- and medium-intensity subsets whereas a local support vector regression model was applied to the high-intensity subset. A conventional artificial neural network model was selected as the benchmark. The artificial neural network with the singular spectrum analysis was developed for the purpose of examining the singular spectrum analysis technique. The models were applied to two daily rainfall series from China at 1-day-, 2-day- and 3-day-ahead forecasting horizons. Results showed that the hybrid support vector regression model performed the best. The singular spectrum analysis model also exhibited considerable accuracy in rainfall forecasting. Also, two methods to filter reconstructed components of singular spectrum analysis, supervised and unsupervised approaches, were compared. The unsupervised method appeared more effective where nonlinear dependence between model inputs and output can be considered.


This paper examines the effects of public spending reallocations on economic growth. Assembling a disaggregated public spending dataset of 83 countries over the 1970-2011 period, we show that spending reallocations towards education, from health and social protection, have significant growth-promoting effects across a wide range of countries' income levels. However, income heterogeneity matters, particularly when reallocations involve infrastructure spending. Specifically, a reallocation from this spending to education also promotes growth, albeit primarily when the income level is low. This occurs because the effects of infrastructure spending are particularly weak in low-income countries, possibly due to the low quality of governance.


While some law review articles emphasize the importance of teaching Emotional Intelligence (EI) as part of the students' law school curriculum as a component of "professionalism," fewer articles thus far have illuminated how professors can cultivate their own EI to become better educators. The present article aspires to provide law professors with a workable explanation of EI, and practical guidance to make EI accessible and useful in the classroom. Part I of this article explains the basic concept and components of Emotional Intelligence, and how understanding and cultivating one's own EI in a classroom dynamic can enhance teaching. This section also urges law professors to embrace a "growth mindset," a term advanced by Dr. Carol Dweck, to describe our fundamental ability to change qualities about ourselves that we once might have thought were "fixed." Part II describes some of the distinctive characteristics of the Millennial generation of law students; in fact, we also need to start studying the characteristics of the post-Millennial "Generation Z." Understanding the underlying societal drivers behind the current and next generation's classroom demeanor and approach to learning will help professors overcome kneejerk "Breakfast Club"-style behavioral stereotypes based on past assumptions which may no longer be valid. Part III draws from Dr. Ken Bain's study of exemplary college-level teachers, as well as the 2013 book, What the Best Law Teachers Do, to identify specific qualities for improving effectiveness as an El-savvy law teacher. Finally, Part IV suggests practical techniques for applying EI in the law school classroom so that professors can adjust more readily to a constantly evolving classroom dynamic and the needs of the inimitable mosaic of individual learners within each student group.


Alcohol abuse can lead to severe psychological and physiological damage. Little is known, however, about the relative impact of a small, daily dose of alcohol (daily-moderate schedule) versus a large, once per week dose (weekly-binge schedule). In this study, we examined the effect of each of these schedules on behavioural measures of anxiety in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Adult wild-type zebrafish were administered either 0.2% ethanol on a daily-moderate schedule or 1.4% ethanol on a weekly-binge schedule for a period of 21 days, and then tested for scototaxis (preference for darkness) during withdrawal. Compared to a control group with no alcohol exposure, the daily-moderate group spent significantly more time on the light side of the arena (indicative of decreased anxiety) on day two of withdrawal, but not day 9 of withdrawal. The weekly-binge group was not significantly different from the control group on either day of withdrawal and showed no preference for either the light or dark zones. Our results indicate that even a small dose of alcohol on a daily basis can cause significant, though reversible, changes in behaviour.


Droplet microfluidic assays are rapidly gaining popularity because they enable analysis of biochemical reactions, individual cells or small cell populations with high sensitivity, precision and accuracy in a high-throughput manner. Nonetheless, there is a demand for user-friendly and low-cost droplet analysis technology. In this article, we meet this demand by developing two droplet analysis pipelines via free open-source software CellProfiler (CP) and its companion (CellProfiler Analyst, CPA). To illustrate the competence of the pipelines as an independent, and freely accessible droplet analysis tool for any researcher without the need of programming skills, we show (i) droplet digital quantification of viable fluorescent bacteria using single-color images and (ii) analysis of a multi-color fluorescence image with droplets containing different chemical compositions.


In this paper, a robust image watermarking method in two-dimensional space/spatial-frequency distributions domain is proposed which is robust against geometric distortion. This watermarking is detected by a linear frequency change. The one-dimensional S transformation is used to detect the watermark. The chirp signals are used as watermarks and this type of signals is resistant to all stationary filtering methods and exhibits geometrical symmetry. In the two-dimensional Radon-Wigner transformation domain, the chirp signals used as watermarks change only its position in space/spatial-frequency distribution, after applying linear geometrical attack, such as scale rotation and cropping. But the two-dimensional Radon-Wigner transformation needs too much difficult computing. So the image is put into a series of 1D signal by choosing scalable local time windows. The watermark embedded in the 1D S transformation domains. The watermark thus generated is invisible and performs well in StirMark test and is robust to geometrical attacks. Compared with other watermarking algorithms, this algorithm is more robust, especially against geometric distortion, while having excellent frequency properties.


Susan Castillo's pioneering study examines the extraordinary proliferation of polyphonic or 'multi-voiced' texts in the three centuries following the first contact between Europeans and the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Taking a selection of plays, printed dialogues, travel narratives and lexicographic studies in English, Spanish and French, the book explores both European and indigenous writers of the early Americas. Paying particular attention to performance and performativity in the texts of the early colonial world, Susan Castillo asks: * why vast numbers of polyphonic and performative texts emerged in the Early Americas * how these texts enabled explorers, settlers and indigenous groups to come to terms with radical differences in language, behaviour and cultural practices * how dialogues, plays and paratheatrical texts were used to impose or resist ideologies and cultural norms * how performance and polyphony allowed Europeans and Americans to debate exactly what it meant to be European or American, or in some cases, both. Tracing the dynamic enactment of (often conflictive) encounters between differing local narratives, Castillo presents polyphonic texts as not only singularly useful tools for exploring what initially seemed inexpressible or for conveying controversial ideas, but also as the site where cultural difference is negotiated. Offering unparalleled linguistic and historical range, through the analysis of texts from Spain, France, New Spain, Peru, Brazil, New England and New France, this volume is an important advance in the study of early American literature and the writings of colonial encounter.


As a consequence of Hume's famous is-ought problem, it may seem that no rational justification of a moral statement can ever be inferentially provided, and no argument typically used in applied ethics would ever deserve the title of rational justification. This paper aims to propose a fallibilist, non-foundationalist account of rational justification of a moral standpoint based on rational argumentation. This account will be developed within a noncognitivist theory of morality — a framework that seems to constitute the most challenging context for a similar attempt. First, the paper shows how we can have a good rational justification of a moral claim also if its (necessary) moral premises are neither indubitable nor properly inferentially justified, as long as we adopt what is called a Popperian solution to the "problem of prescriptive basic statements". Second, it argues that a good rational justification of a moral claim does not need to be deductively valid. Using the idea that implicit presumptions introduced by invalid inferences can be monitored by a number of related critical questions, the article distinguishes between fallacious and non-fallacious invalid arguments, and examines how a use of an invalid non-fallacious argument can count as a rational justification of a moral position in applied ethics. However, applied ethics must do its part, and must be explicitly based on rational argumentation.


ABSTRACT/RESUME The purpose of this article is to highlight the success and failure of multiculturalism in Canada and to present policy suggestions for enhancing its future. While multiculturalism is a defining characteristic of Canada's contemporary national identity, the reality of multi-culturalism is both complex and problematic. Based on previous empirical evidence and several social surveys as well as the 2001 census, it is shown that there are significant inequities among ethno-racial groups, most of which are experienced by visible minorities and recent immigrants. Although there is some evidence of lower civic society participation among ethno-racial minorities, this is limited to the formal political arena. Nevertheless, it has been shown that visible minorities possess a "warm feeling" toward Canada alongside similar feelings for their own ethno-racial communities. Ultimately, it is argued that the contradiction between ideologies rooted in individualism and collectivism can be viewed as an explanation of why multicultural policies have shown limited success in addressing ethno-racial inequities. Cet article cherche a presenter le succes ainsi que l'echec du multiculturalisme au Canada, et a presenter des recommandations de politiques visant a ameliorer son futur. Bien que le multiculturalisme soit une caracteristique intrinseque a la definition de l'identite nationale contemporaine au Canada, sa realite est a la fois problematique et complexe. Selon certaines donnees empiriques anterieures, plusieurs releves demographiques et le recensement de 2001, il existe des inegalites significatives parmi les groupes ethniques, dont souffrent surtout les nouveaux immigrants et les minorites visibles. Malgre les preuves d'une faible participation civique des minorites ethniques, il a toutefois ete demontre que les minorites visibles font preuve d'un sentiment de "bien-etre" face au Canada ainsi qu'un attachement semblable a leur propre communaute ethnique. Finalement, l'article soutient que la contradiction qui existe entre une ideologie ancree dans l'individualisme ou dans le collectivisme pourrait en fait expliquer pourquoi les politiques multiculturelles ont recueillies un pietre succes en matiere d'inegalites ethniques. INTRODUCTION This article discusses how we can enhance the future of multiculturalism in Canada. I discuss present ethno-racial inequalities in Canada before outlining reasons for the limited success of multiculturalism. Several suggestions are then made regarding what should be done if the policy is to accomplish its goals. Canadian multiculturalism is built on the three pillars of social justice, civic participation, and identity (specifically, a sense of belonging to Canada). In this first section, I offer evidence of the success and failure of these pillars using data collected from the Census of Canada (2001), the Ethnic Diversity Survey (2002), the Canadian Election Survey (2000), and the Academic Profession Survey (2000). With respect to social justice, a wide range of empirical research focusing on socioeconomic inequality demonstrates that ethno-racial minorities generally achieve higher education levels, yet are statistically less likely to appear in the upper income groups or to work in the types of occupations to which such educational credentials usually lead (see Lian and Mathew 1998; Herberg 1998; Gee and Prus 2000). We can further state that recent immigrants experience more of these types of inequities. Those who arrived in Canada in the 1980s and later have lower incomes, on average, and work at lower-level occupations compared to those born in Canada. Finally, among recent immigrants a clear demarcation exists between those classified as visible minority and the British or French charter groups (Reitz 2001; Reitz and Sklar 1997; Li 2000). These differences tend to persist even after education and other social capital characteristics are accounted for. …


We present a multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) of the time series of return generated by our recently-proposed Ising financial market model with underlying small world topology. The result of the MFDFA shows that there exists obvious multifractal scaling behavior in produced time series. We compare the MFDFA results for original time series with those for shuffled series, and find that its multifractal nature is due to two factors: broadness of probability density function of the series and different correlations in small- and large-scale fluctuations. This may provide new insight to the problem of the origin of multifractality in financial time series.


The English version of this paper can be found at http://ssrn.com/abstract=2123611.Under what circumstances should Internet Service Providers (ISPs) be held liable when copyrighted material is made available over the Internet without authorization of rights holders? Is Google's controversial Library Project to scan millions of books into digital format an ambitious plan for public good or is it just another format of copyright infringement under the digital age? When audience enjoys watching live broadcasts of sports events, who are the rights holders behind the scene, and how do they protect their rights and interests from being infringed? All these questions have become highly important under the digital age, and therefore drawn serious attention from legal scholars and legislators worldwide. For direction, the world looks to influential legal regimes arising from the U.S. copyright law, the EU Directives, along with the jurisprudence and legal theory that attaches to each. But the world also looks to China, where a rapidly evolving legal regime holds its own course. This very useful book compares the legislation and case law of Chinese copyright law with those of the United States and European countries, focusing on three subjects - the liability of Internet Service Providers, the 'fair use' versus 'fair dealing' copyright doctrine, and the copyrightability of live sports telecasts - all of which are unsettled questions of law under the existing copyright regime.Among the important aspects covered are the following: secondary liability theories worldwide, including contributory liability, vicarious liability, inducement liability and joint liability; legislative and technology responses to online piracy: "graduated response" program and fingerprint filtering technology; pros and cons of the fair-use doctrine v. fair-dealing doctrine; different outcomes of the Google litigation worldwide; copyrightability of sports telecasts; China's strategy in combating online piracy of live sports telecasts during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.The author draws on numerous case studies from several countries and on the full range of legal theory in the field to explore how these copyright issues are treated differently in each country. In addition, addressing problems and uncertainties under the existing PRC copyright law, she proposes a number of measures to be considered in China's legislative reform process. Although for this reason the book will be especially valuable to parties concerned with Chinese law, the centrality of the subject and its comparative legal analysis is sure to appeal to interested lawyers, policymakers, and scholars worldwide.


Few United Nations documents and legal literature have already given their share to disability non–discrimination and equality issues, although it is argued whether the existing human rights machinery consisting of six core human rights conventions is enough: unlike other vulnerable groups having legally binding treaties, the disability–specific convention is still under debate and the protection of people with disabilities is slightly visible. Discrimination on the grounds of disability is prohibited but the direct implementation in Labour laws is not equally expressive. Difficulties and advantages of employment of people with disabilities in sheltered workshops, social undertakings and quota–protected workplaces are widely discussed throughout European countries, United States and member states of International Labour Organization. So the next logical step towards full participation and equality of people with disabilities ensuring their independent way of life lies in one of the areas – equal employment. Article is highly structured in three directions: territorial, personal and by subject–matter. The target of present research is the analysis of employment regulation in an open labour market and some requirements of additional protection for particular vulnerable groups throughout new EU member states (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary) and some candidate countries of Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria. These vulnerable groups include working people with disabilities, employees raising children with disabilities and employees taking care of disabled family members. Comparative analysis involve national codified labour regulations with special interest attached to probationary period, labour conditions of working time, part–time and flexible work time distribution, additional holidays, peculiarities of wages, labour discipline and termination of labour contract. While people with disabilities are seeking for equality and non–discrimination they are entitled to the same legal regulation in common with other employees, only the need for special protection impels the enforcement of additional guarantees.


At a state dinner in Jakarta, Tony Abbott's first foreign destination as prime minister, the new Australian leader said that there have been times when 'all sides of Australian politics could have said less and done more'. Australia's recent handling of issues relating to asylum seekers and live cattle exports to Indonesia has at times been light on diplomacy. But does the new asylum seeker policy continue this trend? How has Prime Minister Abbott fared in his initial dealings with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono? And how will the Australian government fare in balancing its domestic policy agenda on asylum seekers with Indonesia's desire for a multilateral approach? Fifth Estate host Sally Warhaft will be joined by a panel of experts including Greg Sheridan (the Australian's foreign editor) and Dr Dave McRae (the Lowy Institute's Indonesia expert) to discuss Australian-Indonesian relations, and the key responsibilities and obligations of both nations, in this new political climate.


Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disorder and effective long-term treatment is necessary to prevent associated health risks. Standard treatment remains continuous positive airway pressure which is highly efficacious but has well-recognized limitations, with suboptimal patient acceptance and adherence rates, which in turn obviates the desired health benefits. The leading alternative device treatment is oral appliances. Patients often report preferring oral appliances to CPAP treatment, with better usage rates. However, unlike CPAP, inter-individual variability in the efficacy of oral appliance therapy means that patients are often left with some residual OSA. Despite discrepancies in efficacy (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] reduction) between CPAP and oral appliances, randomized trials show similar improvements in health outcomes between treatments, including sleepiness, quality of life, driving performance, and blood pressure. Similar results in terms of health outcomes suggests that although the two treatments have different efficacy and treatment usage profiles, these result in similar overall effectiveness. In this narrative review, we discuss efficacy versus effectiveness in relation to CPAP and oral appliance treatment of OSA.


Higher temperatures expected by midcentury increase the risk of shocks to crop production, while the interconnected nature of the current global food system functions to spread the impact of localized production shocks throughout the world. In this study, we analyze the global potential impact of a present-day event of equivalent magnitude to the US Dust Bowl, modeling the ways in which a sudden decline in US wheat production could cascade through the global network of agricultural trade. We use observations of country-level production, reserves, and trade data in a Food Shock Cascade model to explore trade adjustments and country-level inventory changes in response to a major, multiyear production decline. We find that a 4-year decline in wheat production of the same proportional magnitude as occurred during the Dust Bowl greatly reduces both wheat supply and reserves in the United States and propagates through the global trade network. By year 4 of the event, US wheat exports fall from 90.5 trillion kcal before the drought to 48 trillion to 52 trillion kcal, and the United States exhausts 94% of its reserves. As a result of reduced US exports, other countries meet their needs by leveraging their own reserves, leading to a 31% decline in wheat reserves globally. These findings demonstrate that an extreme production decline would lead to substantial supply shortfalls in both the United States and in other countries, where impacts outside the United States strongly depend on a country's reserves and on its relative position in the global trade network.


A prodigiously brilliant thinker who sharply challenged the beliefs of his age, the political and social radical John Stuart Mill was the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century. Regarded as one of the sacred texts of liberalism, his great work, "On Liberty" argues lucidly that any democracy risks becoming a tyranny of opinion' in which minority views are suppressed if they do not conform with those of the majority. Written in the same period as "On Liberty", shortly after the death of Mill's beloved wife and fellow-thinker Harriet, "The Subjection of Women" stresses the importance of equality for the sexes. Together, the works provide a fascinating testimony to the hopes and anxieties of mid-Victorian England, and offer a compelling consideration of what it truly means to be free.


We present a Monte Carlo approach to prompt-photon production, where photons and QCD partons are treated democratically. The photon fragmentation function is modeled by an interleaved $\mathrm{QCD}+\mathrm{QED}$ parton shower. This known technique is improved by including higher-order real-emission matrix elements. To this end, we extend a recently proposed algorithm for merging matrix elements and truncated parton showers. We exemplify the quality of the Monte Carlo predictions by comparing them to measurements of the photon fragmentation function at LEP and to measurements of prompt photon and diphoton production from the Tevatron experiments.


Surprisingly, the relict cosmological constant has a crucial influence on properties of accretion discs orbiting black holes in quasars and active galactic nuclei. We show it by considering basic properties of both the geometrically thin and thick accretion discs in the Kerr–de Sitter black hole (naked-singularity) spacetimes. Both thin and thick discs must have an outer edge allowing outflow of matter into the outer space, located nearby the so-called static radius, where the gravitational attraction of a black hole is balanced by the cosmological repulsion. Jets produced by thick discs can be significantly collimated after crossing the static radius. Extension of discs in quasars is comparable with extension of the associated galaxies, indicating a possibility that the relict cosmological constant puts an upper limit on extension of galaxies.


This paper outlines a qualitative study of 10 in-service teachers in Japan who use a task-based language teaching (TBLT) approach in their language classrooms. The study investigates the reasons why these teachers began using TBLT, their beliefs about the advantages and disadvantages of implementing TBLT, and whether or not they agree with common criticisms levelled at TBLT for use in foreign language classrooms in Japan and Asia in general. Critics argue that TBLT is not suitable for many language learning situations, explaining that students are used to more 'traditional' teacher-centered language classes and that they prefer more 'passive' approaches. Such criticisms also hold that TBLT is not able to adequately prepare students for the high-stakes tests that are used for secondary school and university entrance purposes. The results from interviews with these 10 teachers suggest that they reject many of these criticisms, and are in fact successfully using TBLT to develop both language ability and motivation in their students. At the same time, the teachers noted that there may be a need to use a 'weaker' form of TBLT with beginner students, or with those used to more passive styles of learning. They also highlighted the importance of heavily scaffolding tasks in such cases. Finally, a number of the teachers discussed the need for the development of more TBLT related materials, both for students and teachers.


Ascending pathways in the spinal cord are very important in transmitting sensory information from the periphery to the higher brain centres. The spinothalamic tract represents an important component of these ascending pathways, and it has been traditionally described as the main pathway for conveying nociceptive and thermoceptive information. Spinothalamic neurons are widely distributed within the grey matter. Lamina I represents an important nociceptive zone and provides a significant source of projection neurons, some of which project to the thalamus. A projection from cervical superficial dorsal horn to the posterior triangular thalamic nucleus (PoT) in the rat has recently been identified. The PoT is located at the caudal end of the thalamus and was not included in injection sites in many previous quantitative retrograde tracing studies of the spinothalamic tract. Therefore, one of the reasons to conduct the present study was to estimate the number of the spinothalamic cells in lamina I in rat cervical and lumbar enlargements following injections that target the PoT with or without other thalamic nuclei known to receive input from lamina I. Neurons in this lamina are also known to project to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPb) and the periaqueductal grey matter (PAG). Other aims of the study were to quantify neurons in lamina I in the cervical enlargement that project to the LPb and PAG, to determine the proportion of lamina I spinothalamic neurons in lumbar and cervical enlargements that could be labelled from LPb and PAG, and to investigate morphological differences between different projection populations. Recent investigations have identified a group of neurons in lamina I of rat lumbar spinal cord that had large numbers of puncta that were immunoreactive for the glycine receptor-associated protein, gephyrin, and have a very high density of input from glutamatergic axons that contain vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2). These "large gephyrin-coated cells" in the lumbar cord are known to project to the LPb, but it is not yet known whether they project to thalamus and PAG. Therefore, another aim was to determine whether these cells project to these areas and also to analyse the projection pattern of cells of this type in the cervical enlargement.

Previous studies have identified a population of large neurons in laminae III and IV of rat spinal cord that express the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1r) and have prominent dorsal dendrites that enter the superficial laminae. A substantial body of evidence points to the involvement of this population of cells in processing various types of noxious stimulus. Neurons of this type in lumbar enlargement are projection cells and form a major route through which nociceptive information reaches the brain. The proportion of these neurons that project to thalamus was not previously known, and the projection pattern of cells of this type in cervical enlargement has not yet been investigated. Therefore, an additional aim was to elucidate more on the projection patterns of these cells in both enlargements.

Various tracers (cholera toxin B subunit, Fluorogold or fluorescent latex microspheres) were injected stereotaxically into thalamus (25 rats), into thalamus and LPb (3 rats), or into thalamus and PAG (4 rats). Rats were perfused after three days and sections from the spinal cord (cervical and lumbar enlargements) were processed immunocytochemically to reveal tracer(s) in lamina I and lamina III/IV neurons, the NK1r, neuronal nuclei and, in some cases, the glycine receptor-associated protein gephyrin. Sections from brains were processed to visualise the injection sites.

Results of this study showed that: 1) most lamina I spinothalamic neurons in the C7 and L4 segments could be labelled from injections centred on the PoT; 2) the estimated total numbers of spinothalamic cells in lamina I on the contralateral side of the C7 and L4 segments are 91 and 16 cells, respectively, and this constitutes 2-3% and 0.2% of the total neuronal population in lamina I in the C7 and L4 segments, respectively; 3) the C7 segment contained fewer lamina I spinoparabrachial cells, but a similar number of spino-PAG cells, compared to L4; 4) virtually all spinothalamic lamina I neurons at both cervical and lumbar levels were labelled from LPb and between a third and a half were labelled from PAG; 5) spinothalamic lamina I neurons differed from those labelled only from LPb in that they were generally larger, more often multipolar and (in cervical enlargement) had stronger NK1r-immunoreactivity; 6) ~39% of "large gephyrin-coated cells" in L5 project to the thalamus and this accounts for ~21% of the total thalamic projection from lamina I in this segment, even though these cells constitute only ~2.5% of projection neurons in lamina I; 7) the great majority of "large gephyrin-coated cells" in C6 project to thalamus and LPb, and at both segmental levels, some project to both of these areas; 8) only few "large gephyrin-coated cells" in L5 and some of those in C6 project to PAG; 9) ~84% of the lamina III/IV NK1r-immunoreactive neurons in C6 and C7 and 17 28% of those in L4 and L5 belong to the spinothalamic tract, and these apparently project exclusively to the caudal thalamus, including PoT; 10) most of the large NK1r-immunoreactive lamina III/IV cells at both levels project to LPb, but few were labelled from PAG, and at both segmental levels, some project to both thalamus and LPb.

Findings from the present study indicate that the PoT is one of the major targets for neurons in lamina I as well as to the population of the NK1r-immunoreactive neurons in laminae III and IV. Since the PoT projects to the second somatosensory and insular cortices, the present results suggest that these are major targets for information conveyed by both these populations of spinothalamic neurons. In addition, these results confirm that projection neurons have extensive collateral projections, and suggest that different sub-populations of lamina I cell have characteristic patterns of supraspinal projection.


Background. Occlusal splints are nowadays commonly used in dentistry to treat symptoms of myoarthropathies of the masticatory system, but also to treat simple occlusal parafunctions. Still, the exact mechanism by which the treatment works is unknown. The aim of this study was to find out the answers to following questions: 1. is there an immediate change of the minimum condyle-fossa distance and accompanying disc thickness by inserting a Michigan splint and 2. is it possible to displace the main loading area on the disc by inserting a Michigan splint?
Methods. For each subject and each temporomandibular joint (TMJ), four magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) recordings were taken in the following situations: maximum intercuspation without/with Michigan splint, maximum protrusion without/with Michigan splint (splint 3 mm). The image stacks were reconstructed to three-dimensional virtual models using the Amira™ software. Several measurements were taken on these models and subsequently compared within and across the subjects.
Results. No significant change in the global minimum condyle-fossa distance could be achieved by inserting a Michigan splint. However, in most TMJs (18 out of 20) a shift of the main loading area (the area with the smallest joint space) could be observed. This effect could cause an unloading of the otherwise most loaded zone. The intensities of MR images within the discs did not differ significantly intraindividually, thus indicating that all discs were segmented in the same way and were comparable. Most subjects (8 of 10) reached a more anterior condylar position during protrusion with inserted splint compared to the situation without splint.
Conclusion. With this method, no increase of the overall minimum TMJ space due to the sole insertion of a Michigan splint could be demonstrated, however a shift of the main loading area could be shown.


Futures studies are the scientific study of possible, desirable, and probable future developments and scope for design, as well as the conditions for these in the past and in the present. Modern futures studies assume that the future is not entirely determinable and that different future developments ('futures') are possible and there is scope for design. They are based on the realization that there are indeed a great number of possible futures but that these are not arbitrary. The term 'Future-oriented Technology Analysis' refers to potent changes and challenges for futures studies at the interface of technological change with increasingly science-based innovation, attention to societal issues and concerns. Futures Studies and Future-oriented Technology analysis are concerned with complex dynamic systems and processes and engage multiple stakeholders in participatory and interdisciplinary processes to assure distributed understanding and sustainable development. The article discusses principles and context of Futures studies and Futures analyses methodology. It puts forward five core research lines to outline Futures studies contribution to addressing issues in the research area of Internet & Society.


The kalam cosmological argument, by showing that the universe began to exist, demonstrates that the world is not a necessary being and, therefore, not self-explanatory with respect to its existence. Two philosophical arguments and two scientific confirmations are presented in support of the beginning of the universe. Since whatever begins to exist has a cause, there must exist a transcendent cause of the universe.


Abstract Current multi-AUV systems are far from being capable of fully autonomously taking over real-life complex situation-awareness operations. As such operations require advanced reasoning and decision-making abilities, current designs have to heavily rely on human operators. The involvement of humans, however, is by no means a guarantee of performance; humans can easily be over-whelmed by the information overload, fatigue can act detrimentally to their performance, properly coordinating vehicles actions is hard, and continuous operation is all but impossible. Within the European funded project NOPTILUS we take the view that an effective fully-autonomous multi-AUV concept/system, is capable of overcoming these shortcomings, by replacing human-operated operations by a fully autonomous one. In this paper, we present a new approach that is able to efficiently and fully-autonomously navigate a team of AUVs when deployed in exploration of unknown static and dynamic environments towards providing accurate static/dynamic maps of the environment. Additionally to achieving to efficiently and fully-autonomously navigate the AUV team, the proposed approach possesses certain advantages such as its extremely computational simplicity and scalability, and the fact that it can very straightforwardly embed and type of physical or other constraints and limitations (e.g., obstacle avoidance, nonlinear sensor noise models, localization fading environments, etc).


The primary purpose of a data standard is to improve the comparability of data created by multiple standard users. Given the high cost of developing and implementing data standards, it is desirable to be able to assess the quality of data standards. We develop metrics for measuring completeness and relevancy of a data standard. These metrics are evaluated empirically using the US GAAP taxonomy in XBRL and SEC filings produced using the taxonomy by approximately 500 companies. The results show that the metrics are useful and effective. Our analysis also reveals quality issues of the GAAP taxonomy and provides useful feedback to the taxonomy users. The SEC has mandated that all publicly listed companies must submit their filings using XBRL beginning mid 2009 to late 2014 according to a phased-in schedule. Thus our findings are timely and have practical implications that will ultimately help improve the quality of financial data.


This article examines the recent history and current status of the marital presumption of paternity. It explores the social, economic and legal developments that have contributed to the erosion of the presumption, focusing in particular on the efforts of federal and state governments to identify and collect financial support from unmarried biological fathers. The article then describes the procedural and equitable doctrines that some courts and legislatures have used to bolster the marital presumption in the face of conflicting biological evidence. Finding these approaches problematic, the article advocates a revitalized marital presumption as a substantive rule of law. It argues that marriage should generally be a sufficient - albeit not an exclusive - basis for ascribing legal fatherhood and that spouses and former spouses should have only a limited ability to rebut the presumption. The article also endorses the notion of dual fatherhood as an option for cases in which a child has both a marital and an involved genetic father.


Fire is a natural and important environmental disturbance influencing the structure, function, and composition of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems. However, recovery of young pines to leaf scorch may involve changes in leaf physiology, which could influence leaf water-use efficiency (WUE). This work is part of a larger seasonal burning study containing three treatments: spring burn, fall burn, and no burn. The study site is a 21.4-ha (53-acre) longleaf pine plantation planted in 2005 and located on the Winn Ranger District of the Kisatchie National Forest in central Louisiana. This work assessed changes in leaf gas exchange and their resultant WUE in 7-year-old longleaf pine among spring burned and no burn (control) treatments during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Treatment effects on intrinsic WUE [carbon assimilation/ stomatal conductance (gs); iWUE] were assessed using an infrared gas analyzer. We hypothesized that leaf area loss resulting from scorch will: (1) increase photosynthesis, and (2) increase leaf-level iWUE as a result of increased photosynthesis. In the 3 months after the prescribed burn, we observed increases in photosynthesis (ASat) in the new foliage of scorched trees that decreased below control levels during the following growing season. During the 2012 growing season, 1 year after the burn, there were larger diurnal increases in iWUE in scorched trees than in controls that increased as temperature increased and water availability decreased. This response was due to greater diurnal reductions in gs in scorched trees.


After an emergency event (EE) happens, emergency decision making (EDM) is a common and effective way to deal with the emergency situation, which plays an important role in mitigating its level of harm. In the real world, it is a big challenge for an individual emergency manager (EM) to make a proper and comprehensive decision for coping with an EE. Consequently, many practical EDM problems drive group emergency decision making (GEDM) problems whose main limitations are related to the lack of flexibility in knowledge elicitation, disagreements in the group and the consideration of experts' psychological behavior in the decision process. Hence, this paper proposes a novel GEDM approach that allows more flexibility for preference elicitation under uncertainty, provides a consensus process to avoid disagreements and considers experts' psychological behavior by using the fuzzy TODIM method based on prospect theory. Eventually, a group decision support system (GDSS) is developed to support the whole GEDM process defined in the proposed method demonstrating its novelty, validity and feasibility.


Climate change threatens the objective of eradicating poverty. Poor people and poor countries are already vulnerable to all types of climate-related shocks—natural disasters that destroy assets and livelihoods; water borne diseases and pests that becomemore prevalent during heat waves, floods, or droughts; crop failure from reduced rainfall; andspikes in food prices that follow extreme weather events. Such shocks can erase decades ofhard work and leave people with irreversible human and physical losses. Changes in climateconditions caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will worsen these shocks and slow down poverty reduction. The good news is that, at least until 2030, "good development" can prevent most of these impacts. By "good development," we mean development that is rapid, inclusive, and climate informed; includes strong social safety nets and universal health coverage; and iscomplemented with targeted adaptation interventions such as heat-tolerant crops and early warning systems. Absent such good development, many people will still be living in or closeto extreme poverty in 2030, with few resources to cope with climate shocks and adapt to longterm trends, and climate change could increase extreme poverty by more than 100 million people by 2030. In the longer run, beyond 2030, our ability to adapt to unabated climate change is limited. To keep the longer-term impacts on poverty in check, immediate emissions-reduction policiesare needed that bring emissions to zero by the end of the 21st century. These policies neednot threaten short-term progress on poverty reduction—provided they are well designed andinternational support is available for poor countries.Ending poverty and stabilizing climate change will be unprecedented global achievements.But neither can be attained without the other: they need to be designed and implementedas an integrated strategy. Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty brings together those two objectives and explores how they can more easily be achieved if considered together. The book provides guidance on how to design climate policies so they contribute to poverty reduction, and on how to design poverty reduction policies so they contribute to climate change mitigation and resilience building.


Purpose: This research study examines women's perspectives and utilization of health care services during pregnancy and childbirth in a rural community in northern India. Design: This research project is a descriptive, qualitative study. Purposeful sampling was utilized to seek information-rich cases. A snowball technique was used for the sample population. An open-ended questionnaire was utilized to elicit information. Sample: Ten women who had given birth within the last year, and who were 18 years old or older living in a rural community in northern India. Results: Five participants did not seek out or receive any health care services. Five participants sought out healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth. All the women shared their perspectives on how utilization of healthcare could be improved within their community. Conclusion: Women in rural India have little access to health care resources. This study showed that lack of educational resources, distance, cost and transportation, cultural, religious, and family influences all had an impact on women utilizing healthcare services. Implications: Understanding women's perspectives can help reduce barriers to health care during pregnancy and childbirth.


Background: Various parts of three Terminalia species, namely, Terminalia arjuna (stem bark), Terminalia bellirica (fruit), and Terminalia chebula (fruit) are widely known for their therapeutic principles and other commercial values. However, stem bark of T. bellirica and T. chebula along with Terminalia tomentosa are reported as adulterants of T. arjuna. Correct botanical identification is very critical for safe and effective herbal drugs. DNA-based identification approaches are advancing the conventional methods and sometime proved more beneficial. Objective: The purpose of the study was to develop polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region to ascertain the identity of T. arjuna herbal material as well as detection of mixing of other three Terminalia species. Materials and Methods: DNA from stem barks samples were isolated and subjected to ITS region amplification and sequencing. Sequences were compared for polymorphic nucleotides determination to develop species-specific primers. Final primers were selected on the basis of in silico analysis and experimentally validated. PCR assays for botanical identification of Terminalia species were developed. Sensitivity testing and assay validation were also performed. Results: The PCR assays developed for Terminalia species were resulted in definite amplicons of the corresponding species. No cross-reactivity of the primers was detected. Sensitivity was found enough to amplify as low as 2 ng of DNA. Mixing of DNA in various concentrations for validation also proved the sensitivity of assay to detect original botanicals in the mixture. The developed methods proved very specific and sensitive to authenticate Arjuna bark to develop evidence-based herbal medicines.


We present the synthesis and characterization of soluble, high molecular weight phenyl-substituted poly(p-phenylenevinylenes). The studied polymers are poly(2-(2',5'-bis(2?-ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)- 1,4-phenylenevinylene) (BEHP-PPV) and copolymers of BEHP-PPV and poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV). Their photoluminescence and electroluminescence have been examined as well as their stability to air and light. The polymers emitted green and yellow light. Stability measurements showed increased stability compared to some previously known substituted PPVs.


We simulate ballistic deposition with long range temporally correlated noise of bounded amplitude in 1 + 1 dimension. Good agreement with the dynamical renormalization group calculation of Medina et al. is obtained for the scaling exponents when the noise is generated by a version of Mandelbrot's fast fractional Gaussian noise (ffGn) generator. However, using either the original ffGn or a chaotic map generator, other exponents are obtained. We suggest that this difference is due to an extraordinarily slow crossover caused by the existence of an anomalous growth mode incompatible with the KPZ equation. This may have implications on similar model dependent results for recent simulations on growth with power-law noise and spatially correlated noise.


A spacetime discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin (DPG) method for the linear wave equation is presented. This method is based on a weak formulation that uses a broken graph space. The wellposedness of this formulation is established using a previously presented abstract framework. One of the main tasks in the verification of the conditions of this framework is proving a density result. This is done in detail for a simple domain in arbitrary dimensions. The DPG method based on the weak formulation is then studied theoretically and numerically. Error estimates and numerical results are presented for triangular, rectangular, tetrahedral, and hexahedral meshes of the spacetime domain.


From slave times to the present the proverb has been a mainstay in African-American communication. Such sayings as "Hard times make a monkey eat red pepper when he don't care for black," "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice," and "Nothing ruins a duck but its bill" convey not only axiomatic impact but also profound contextual meanings.This study of African-American proverbs is the first to probe deeply into these meanings and contexts. Sw. Anand Prahlad's interest in proverbs dates back to his own childhood in rural Virginia when he listened to his great grandmother's stories. Very early he began collecting "sayings," and, in researching this book, he spent five years listening to proverbs spoken in bars, clubs, churches, and retirement homes; on street corners, basketball courts, and public buses; at PTA meetings and bingo games.To discover the full context of a proverb, Prahlad considers four levels of meanings--grammatical, cultural, situational, and symbolic. The grammatical level refers to its literal meanings, the cultural level to its associations shared by most members of the cultural group, the situational level to the specific situation in which the proverb is spoken, and the symbolic to the speaker's own personal associations with the proverb.All these operate simultaneously when a proverb is spoken. Since the speaker may be fully aware of all levels, part of the artistry in using proverbs comes from the complex interplay of the dimensions of their meanings."African-American Proverbs in Context" documents and analyzes both historic and contemporary proverbs. A survey of WPA interviews with former slaves and of the lyrics of blues songs and the contexts in which these were performed shows how proverbs have been used as a means of protest and cultural affirmation. Extensive field research conducted by the author with both master proverb users and young persons reveals the myriad functions proverbs perform in modern America. These range from direct communication of traditional knowledge to aggressive verbal competition among youths wishing to establish identity and status. This book has been chosen as a volume in the Publications of the American Folklore Society New Series.


The degradation of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important control variable in the global carbon cycle. For our understanding of the kinetics of organic matter cycling in the ocean, it is crucial to achieve a mechanistic and molecular understanding of its transformation processes. A long-term microbial experiment was performed to follow the production of non-labile DOM by marine bacteria. Two different glucose concentrations and dissolved algal exudates were used as substrates. We monitored the bacterial abundance, concentrations of dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC, POC), nutrients, amino acids and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) for 2 years. The molecular characterization of extracted DOM was performed by ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) after 70 days and after ∼2 years of incubation. Although glucose quickly degraded, a non-labile DOC background (5–9% of the initial DOC) was generated in the glucose incubations. Only 20% of the organic carbon from the algal exudate degraded within the 2 years of incubation. The degradation rates for the non-labile DOC background in the different treatments varied between 1 and 11 μmol DOC L −1 year −1 . Transparent exopolymer particles, which are released by microorganisms, were produced during glucose degradation but decreased back to half of the maximum concentration within less than 3 weeks (degradation rate: 25 μg xanthan gum equivalents L −1 d −1 ) and were below detection in all treatments after 2 years. Additional glucose was added after 2 years to test whether labile substrate can promote the degradation of background DOC (co-metabolism; priming effect). A priming effect was not observed but the glucose addition led to a slight increase of background DOC. The molecular analysis demonstrated that DOM generated during glucose degradation differed appreciably from DOM transformed during the degradation of the algal exudates. Our results led to several conclusions: (i) based on our experimental setup, higher substrate concentration resulted in a higher concentration of non-labile DOC; (ii) TEP, generated by bacteria, degrade rapidly, thus limiting their potential contribution to carbon sequestration; (iii) the molecular signatures of DOM derived from algal exudates and glucose after 70 days of incubation differed strongly from refractory DOM. After 2 years, however, the molecular patterns of DOM in glucose incubations were more similar to deep ocean DOM whereas the degraded exudate was still different.


Rich colors decorating oil slicks on water are interference fringes. These fringes arise from the constructive and destructive interference of the multicomponents of light beams generated from partial reflection of the incident light beam at the first and second surfaces of a transparent sample having plane parallel surfaces. Fringes are reflection (or transmission) maxima and minima and appear when the wavelength of the incident light, the angle of incidence, or film thickness is changed. Interference fringes are very useful since advantage can be taken of them in many applications, including measurement of film thickness and refractive index n1; constructions of interference filters, cold mirrors, and high Q optical cavities; and modulation of light, to name a few.


Results from the first assessment of air quality over the Canadian oil sands–one of the largest industrial undertakings in human history–using satellite remote sensing observations of two pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), are presented. High‐resolution maps were created that revealed distinct enhancements in both species over an area (roughly 30 km × 50 km) of intensive surface mining at scales of a few kilometers. The magnitude of these enhancements, quantified in terms of total mass, are comparable to the largest seen in Canada from individual sources. The rate of increase in NO2between 2005 and 2010 was assessed at 10.4 ± 3.5%/year and resulted from increases both in local values as well as the spatial extent of the enhancement. This is broadly consistent with both surface‐measurement trends and increases in annual bitumen production. An increase in SO2 was also found, but given larger uncertainties, it is not statistically significant.


Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant glial tumor. A two-dimensional model of GBM was developed using Metropolis Monte Carlo algorithm to replicate the idealized Gompertzian curve. Using a two-dimensional model in modeling tumor growth poses various advantages such as efficient machine computing performance. The simulated tumor resembled a circular mass with rough edges. The average total area of the 3 test runs made was 4340 square units after 50,000 iterations. This model demonstrates the growth of a solid tumor as a function of time. Thus, further strengthening the use of Gompertz function in the analysis of tumor growth.


Lithologic and foraminiferal analysis from the western part of the Valles–San Luis Potosi platform reflect a sea-level rise suggesting that the platform was drowned at the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary interval. Benthic and planktic foraminiferal content of the succession was identified to establish the transition from the shallow-water carbonate sedimentation with abundant larger benthic foraminifera, algae, rudists and other molluscs, corals, echinoderms, worms changing to hemipelagic-pelagic sediments containing calcispheres and opportunistic foraminifers (r-strategists), such as whitenellids, hedbergellids, heterohelicids and elongated chambered forms, as well as radiolarians. The El Abra Limestone is dated as the middle-late Cenomanian age (Pseudolituonella reicheliAssemblage Zone) and was deposited on a warm shallow-marine rimmed platform. Peloidal-bioclastic packstone-grainstone is the dominant texture of these rocks. Lithological variations determined by the high detrital influx were followed by a major transgression when wackestone and marly limestone of the lower part of the Soyatal Formation were deposited. The transition to deeper open marine environments is dated as latest Cenomanian/earliest Turonian represented by the Whiteinella archaeocretacea Partial Taxon Range Zone and coincides with a global sea-level rise and the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2). Deeper overlying deposits of the Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica Total Range Zone (early/middle Turonian) are characterized in the study area by the occurrence of the keeled forms (k strategists). The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary is placed within the Whiteinella archaeocretacea Partial Range Zone in absence of ammonite markers. When theValles-San Luis Potosí platformwas flooded, the carbonate factorywas stressed due to the trophic resource modifications. Production of a larger amount of nutrients led to the extinction of the k-strategist benthic foraminifera; only small benthic foraminifera survived for a short period of time in the newly established mesotrophic conditions. High productivity continued and in the eutrophic episode the calcispheres, r-opportunists, intermediate taxa and the planktic foraminifera with elongate chambers proliferated. Later, complete drowning enabled the recovery of oligotrophic conditions with the occurrence of k-strategist keeled planktic taxa.


New educators may feel overwhelmed by the options available for engaging students through classroom participation. However, it may be helpful to recognize that participatory pedagogical systems often have constructivist roots. Adopting a constructivist perspective, our paper considers three meta-practices that encourage student participation: designing activities, leading others, and assessing peers. We explored the consequences of these meta-practices for important student outcomes, including content knowledge, engagement, self-efficacy, sense of community, and self-awareness. We found that different meta-practices were associated with different combinations of outcomes. This discovery demonstrates the benefit of studying metapractices so as to reveal the nuanced effects that may arise from pedagogical choices. In addition, an understanding of meta-practices can help leadership educators to be more discerning and intentional in their course designs. Journal of Leadership Education DOI: 10.12806/V15/I4/R6 Volume 15 Issue 4 Research


This thesis explores the theological complexity of the Jacob narrative. In particular this is centred upon the paradox of divine presence and absence, and the contrast of the human and the divine. In the first part, an investigation is made of three key episodes which contain an encounter with the divine: the opening oracle (25:19ff), Bethel (28:10-22) and Peniel (32:23-33). It is concluded that the first passage is constructed as an introduction, making explicit the theme of the presence of God in the Jacob story, but also introducing the human side of the paradox. Bethel and Peniel are based on older pre-Yahwistic traditions, now shaped and incorporated into the story of Jacob to throw a theological perspective over the wider plot. The second part consists of a reading of the wider Jacob story, with particular attention to the theme of divine presence and absence and the interaction of the human and the divine. It is argued that even the most human of stories betray a theological interest and contribute to the overall paradox, but also that there are several indications of the presence of God. In the conclusion, it is noted that behind the present unity of the Jacob story there is evidence of earlier traditions, a growing together of material, and supplements offering new perspectives. It is also concluded that a close reading of the final text and a historical-critical appreciation need not be mutually exclusive, and that a cautious use of critical insights has thrown light upon the final form. Finally, it is argued that the theme of the presence and absence of God offers a way of reading the Jacob story in a theological way, that does most justice to its historical depth, final form, and canonical status.


Critical infrastructure protection (CIP) refers to safeguarding essential services from harm. CIP has gained recognition as a priority area on the national security agendas of many countries in recent years, most notably Australia, due to events that have compromised the critical infrastructure (CI) of other nations. The importance of the CIP process is evidenced extensively in the related literature, where the major phases of the process are discussed. Traditionally, the CIP focus is on the three major stages of vulnerability identification, risk assessment and risk management. A study conducted by Breeding in 2003 introduced the risk of 'sensitive but unclassified' data to America's infrastructure, viewing the threat on CIP from an alternative viewpoint. 'Sensitive but unclassified' data refers to information that may not on its own appear harmful but when amalgamated with additional data elements can be truly revealing about CI, thus posing a threat to CIP. This study adapts Breeding's research to an Australian setting, in an attempt to determine the threat of public data availability on the CIP process in Australia. The methodology involved an observational study on the nature of the public data availability situation through a structured public data collection process, an evaluation of data protection mechanisms using a content analysis, and a survey of security experts in Australia. The ultimate objective of the study was to attempt to provide a solution to the censorship versus open information access debate, which is presently a prominent dilemma. That is, should certain CI-related information be restricted from the public arena in the interest of national security? The outcomes of the public data collection phase, the content and the survey revealed that a balance between open data access and restriction is required, supporting the existing view in the reviewed literature. A Stakeholder Matrix was devised as a crucial component of public data protection, providing a sensitivity-based grading system. Additionally, a structured approach in the form of the Public Data Protection Lifecycle was proposed, which recognised that current security mechanisms (primarily written documentation) do not offer adequate protection for CI-related public data. A comprehensive, and multi-faceted approach is required, which considers the Stakeholder Matrix, current written documentation (licence agreements), and technical security mechanisms as instrumental to protecting public data from potential misuse, and ensuring that the threat of public data availability on the CIP process, and Australia's CI is minimised. Publication Details This thesis was originally submitted as Abbas, R, The Threat of Public Data Availability on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), and the Level of Awareness Amongst Security Experts in Australila, Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (Honours), University of Wollongong, 2006,129p. This thesis is available at Research Online: http://ro.uow.edu.au/thesesinfo/2 The Threat of Public Data Availability on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), and the Level of Awareness Amongst Security Experts in Australia


The purpose of this research was to gain insight into how consumer's body size, image, and satisfaction with previous apparel shopping experiences relate to views of the bridal gown shopping experience in terms of anticipated pleasure and involvement. It was also of interest to note whether not differences existed between individuals who were considered to be plus size and those who were not. Data was collected from 75 self-identified brides-to-be at a major Southeastern Bridal Exposition via a four page questionnaire. Results indicated that there was a positive relationship body satisfaction, satisfaction with previous apparel shopping experiences and the anticipated pleasure they associated with bridal gown shopping. Participants indicated that they had positive experiences with apparel shopping in the past and had expected the bridal gown shopping experience to be pleasurable. In particular, participant's previous apparel shopping experiences with dresses was the most significant predictor of anticipated pleasure associated with bridal gown shopping. There were no significant findings in regards to body satisfaction, self-evaluative salience, and anticipated involvement with bridal gown shopping.
Multiple factors, including the number of participants, questionnaire format, and the nature of the garment itself could have contributed to these findings. The results of this study are valuable in terms of contribution to the industry, to the existing literature and recommendations for future research endeavors. Further, more personalized research is warranted to understand the motivations and reservations of this consumer segment.


CONTEXT: Data accessors allow one to read and write components of a data structure, such as the fields of a record, the variants of a union, or the elements of a container. These data accessors are collectively known as optics; they are fundamental to programs that manipulate complex data. INQUIRY: Individual data accessors for simple data structures are easy to write, for example as pairs of "getter" and "setter" methods. However, it is not obvious how to combine data accessors, in such a way that data accessors for a compound data structure are composed out of smaller data accessors for the parts of that structure. Generally, one has to write a sequence of statements or declarations that navigate step by step through the data structure, accessing one level at a time - which is to say, data accessors are traditionally not first-class citizens, combinable in their own right. APPROACH: We present a framework for modular data access, in which individual data accessors for simple data structures may be freely combined to obtain more complex data accessors for compound data structures. Data accessors become first-class citizens. The framework is based around the notion of profunctors, a flexible generalization of functions. KNOWLEDGE: The language features required are higher-order functions ("lambdas" or "closures"), parametrized types ("generics" or "abstract types"), and some mechanism for separating interfaces from implementations ("abstract classes" or "modules"). We use Haskell as a vehicle in which to present our constructions, but languages such as Java, C#, or Scala that provide the necessary features should work just as well. GROUNDING: We provide implementations of all our constructions, in the form of a literate program: the manuscript file for the paper is also the source code for the program, and the extracted code is available separately for evaluation. We also prove the essential properties demonstrating that our profunctor-based representations are precisely equivalent to the more familiar concrete representations. IMPORTANCE: Our results should pave the way to simpler ways of writing programs that access the components of compound data structures.


The calcium channel gamma subunits comprise an eight-member protein family that share a common topology consisting of four transmembrane domains and intracellular N- and C-termini. Although the first gamma subunit was identified as an auxiliary subunit of a voltage-dependent calcium channel, a review of phylogenetic, bioinformatic, and functional studies indicates that they are a functionally diverse protein family. A cluster containing gamma1 and gamma6 conforms to the original description of the protein family as they seem to act primarily as subunits of calcium channels expressed in muscle. Members of a second cluster (gamma2, gamma3, gamma4, gamma8) function as regulators of AMPA receptor localization and function in the brain and are collectively known as TARPs. The function of members of the third cluster (gamma5, gamma7) remains unclear. Our analysis shows that the members of each cluster contain conserved regulatory motifs that help to differentiate the groups. However, the physiological significance of these motifs in many cases remains to be demonstrated.


We demonstrate an all-fiber sensor for low-frequency vibration measurements. The sensor is based on the configuration of a Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI), where the first mirror of the FPI is a splice joint between a single-mode fiber and a hollow-core fiber (HCF) and the second mirror is the end face of an etched microstructure support beam inserted into the HCF. The support beam consists of a mass block in the middle and can oscillate freely in the HCF when the sensor is subject to vibration. Our experimental sensor using a 60 mm long support beam with a diameter of 35 μm and a mass block of 2.95×10−8  kg can detect vibrations at frequencies lower than 1 Hz with an acceleration resolution of 8.35×10−7g and a measurement range of ±2.24  g. The sensor output varies by only 2.5% when the temperature changes from 20°C to 120°C. The sensor could be embedded in composite material and find applications in harsh environments.


There is no cure for chronic neurodegenerative diseases and disease-modifying therapies are limited. In order to develop successful disease-modifying therapies the molecules and pathways that underpin early stages of disease, such as synapse loss, need to be better defined. Three distinct in vivo mouse models of neurodegeneration have been used to investigate molecular stress response molecules and pathways. These models are the ME7 prion model, the cysteine string protein alpha (CSP?) -/- model and a kainic acid model of excitotoxicity. In all cases hippocampal tissue from mice was used to investigate the neuropathology and associated stress-related pathways. The unfolded protein response (UPR) and other stress-related response molecules: immediate early genes (ATF3, c-Jun and c-Fos), activity-induced immediate early genes (Arc and Homer1a) and a cellular physiological and environmental damage stress sensor (GADD45?) were investigated. Biochemical and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed no evidence for a robust and classic UPR in any of the three models despite neuropathological changes associated with these distinct insults being evident. However, other stress-related response molecules were induced in these models and the induction of some of these occurred at the same time/prior to synapse loss suggesting that these are early responses and potential therapeutic targets for modifying neurodegenerative disease. Tissue analysis is confounded by cellular heterogeneity. To investigate discrete cell specific events laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to isolate the cell bodies of dysfunctional CA3 pyramidal neurons across key stages of ME7 prion disease. Optimisation of LCM enabled enrichment of CA3 pyramidal neurons and targeted analysis of UPR molecules. mRNA analysis failed to show strong evidence for a robust induction of the UPR in these vulnerable CA3 pyramidal neurons. Total RNA has also been used for RNA sequencing to analyse differentially expressed genes and molecular pathways activated during prion disease progression. The aim of this targeted approach will be to resolve molecular targets and pathways which might mitigate the progression of chronic neurodegenerative diseases.


We study the complexity of valued constraint satisfaction problems (VCSPs) parametrized by a constraint language, a fixed set of cost functions over a finite domain. An instance of the problem is specified by a sum of cost functions from the language and the goal is to minimize the sum. Under the unique games conjecture, the approximability of finite-valued VCSPs is well understood, see Raghavendra [2008]. However, there is no characterization of finite-valued VCSPs, let alone general-valued VCSPs, that can be solved exactly in polynomial time, thus giving insights from a combinatorial optimization perspective.
 We consider the case of languages containing all possible unary cost functions. In the case of languages consisting of only {0,∞}-valued cost functions (i.e., relations), such languages have been called conservative and studied by Bulatov [2003, 2011] and recently by Barto [2011]. Since we study valued languages, we call a language conservative if it contains all finite-valued unary cost functions. The computational complexity of conservative valued languages has been studied by Cohen et al. [2006] for languages over Boolean domains, by Deineko et al. [2008] for {0,1}-valued languages (a.k.a Max-CSP), and by Takhanov [2010a] for {0,∞}-valued languages containing all finite-valued unary cost functions (a.k.a. Min-Cost-Hom).
 We prove a Schaefer-like dichotomy theorem for conservative valued languages: if all cost functions in the language satisfy a certain condition (specified by a complementary combination of STP and MJN multimorphisms), then any instance can be solved in polynomial time (via a new algorithm developed in this article), otherwise the language is NP-hard. This is the first complete complexity classification of general-valued constraint languages over non-Boolean domains. It is a common phenomenon that complexity classifications of problems over non-Boolean domains are significantly harder than the Boolean cases. The polynomial-time algorithm we present for the tractable cases is a generalization of the submodular minimization problem and a result of Cohen et al. [2008].
 Our results generalize previous results by Takhanov [2010a] and (a subset of results) by Cohen et al. [2006] and Deineko et al. [2008]. Moreover, our results do not rely on any computer-assisted search as in Deineko et al. [2008], and provide a powerful tool for proving hardness of finite-valued and general-valued languages.


Recently, a new transaural sound reproduction system, referred to as a ''stereo dipole'' (SD) reproduction system, has been proposed, in which a closely spaced pair of loudspeakers is located in front of a listener. Theoretical investigation was carried out by computer simulations and it was reported that the SD system would be capable of providing a relatively large equalized area to the listener and robustness with respect to a listener's head movement compared with those given by the standard loudspeaker arrangements. This paper deals with a subjective investigation of the SD system. It is known that the ordinary transaural system has a disadvantage in the quality of reproduced sound; that is, the reproduction of unnatural and antiphase virtual sound from the psychoacoustic point of view. Therefore, subjective listening tests were carried out, which aimed to compare the SD system with the ordinary system. The significance of the SD system on reproduced sound perception is suggested.


Currently there is substantial exchange and communication between academic communities around the world as researchers endeavour to discover why so many children 'fail' at a subject that society deems crucial for future economic survival. This book charts current thinking and trends in teacher education around the world, and looks critically at the inservice education of maths teachers. The contributors explore the processes , practices and issues in teacher education projects in ten countries and these are then discussed and related to current philosophies of teacher education. The book provides an insight into the successes and shortcomings of many different approaches to maths education.


Online communication is often presented in research as offering ways for young people to explore various forms of masculinity and femininity, which, in turn, could extend the notions of gendered identity. This paper explores how a Harry Potter fan fiction website can function as an online setting for gender identity construction among young fans. A positioning analysis of a small story told in an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) shows that although traditional gendered subject positions are explored and troubled in the story and its telling, heteronormativity prevails through the interpretative repertoires made available by the textual universe of Harry Potter. On the other hand, the positioning analysis of the small story activates an understanding of the interplay between the relational order among story characters and among the storytellers that can be seen as opening up a space between what is the told and the telling that allows the fans to experiment with aspects of gender identities that are related to power and control within an interpretative repertoire of heteronormativity.


AIM
This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of vulnerability in homeless adolescents.

BACKGROUND
Caring for vulnerable populations and reduction of health inequities are top international healthcare priorities. Homeless adolescents experience health disparities as compared to their housed counterparts and are among the most vulnerable of all populations. Understanding the concept of vulnerability as it relates to the homeless adolescent population will assist nurses in addressing the health and social concerns of this population.

DATA SOURCES
The PubMed, Medline, Cochrane and CINAHL electronic databases were used to search for research papers published between 1980 and 2009. The keywords 'vulnerable', 'vulnerability' and 'homeless', 'adolescent', 'street' and 'youth' were used. Twenty-three papers from multiple disciplines were reviewed in an effort to arrive at a global definition of homeless adolescents' vulnerability.

METHOD
Rodgers' evolutionary method of concept analysis was used for the analysis.

RESULTS
Based on this analysis, vulnerability in homeless adolescents is defined as the constellation of past, present and future risk, perceived or real, because of the common human experience of risk, the increased vulnerability of the adolescent period, the consequences of family disruption, and the increased risks of life on the street.

CONCLUSION
There was agreement in the literature regarding the antecedents, attributes, consequences and surrogate terms of the concept. However, differentiation between the concepts of risk and vulnerability, as suggested by seminal nurse researchers, was not supported. More research is needed into self-perceptions of vulnerability and vulnerability in subgroups of homeless adolescents.