Fifty kindergarten children were examined in an
attempt to compare their educational readiness.
There were 19 girls and 31 boys and their average
age was 5 1/2 years. Although not strictly controlled,
their socio-economic background was considered to be
working class. The Boehm Test of Basic Concepts (BTBC)
and the Draw-a-Man Test were used. As well, teachers
and parents rated the children on the following
characteristics: hyperactivity and distractibility,
articulated speech, auditory perception,. visual motor
co-ordination, laterality, behaviour considered normal,
behaviour considered apathetic and withdrawn and
behaviour considered angry and defiant.
The results showed that certain physical,
intellectual, emotional and social characteristics
considered relevant to early educational success exist
in some kindergarten children and not in others.
Girls had more of the component skills considered
necessary than did boys. They scored significantly
higher on the BTBC and were seen by teachers and
parents as haying better articulated speech. Boys
were rated by teachers as being more apathetic and
withdrawn than girls. Although results for other
characteristics did not reach statistical_significance,
there was a consistent trend in favour of
There was a higher incidence of left-handedness
in boys And significantly more boys who were neither clearly
right- nor left-handed. The articulated speech of right-handed boys was seen by the teachers as
being better than that of the left-handed and.
'undecided' -boys.
Children who scored high on the BTBC were more
likely to score higher on the Draw-a-Man Test and be
considered by the teachers to have more normal behaviour
than did low scorers. Conversely, low scorers on the
BTBC were more likely to have poor auditory perception
and visual motor co-ordination, be more hyperactive
(boys only) and apathetic and withdrawn (girls only)
than did high scorers. There was no relationship
between the BTBC and angry and defiant behaviour for
either sex. It was proposed that general intelligence
and/or developmental stages accounted for the correlations.
The study was confined to group differences and
did not analyse the results of individual children.
Parent' and teachers' ratings agreed on children
who had 'normal' behaviour but not on those who had
maladaptive behaviour. When children with either
type of extreme behaviour were grouped together,
there was agreement.
Implications for education regarding the importance of individual differences in readiness for formal school
work were discussed.


The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions cooperate to protect human health and the environment from the negative effects of hazardous pollutants. This Environment and Gender Information (EGI) platform analysis explores how women are represented as delegates to the Conferences of the Parties (COPs), members and observers of Conventions' Subsidiary Bodies, and national focal points. It investigates how gender equality considerations are included in Parties' reporting mechanisms to the BRS Conventions, including initial National Implementation Plans (NIPs) to the Stockholm Convention and the most recent National Reports to the Basel and Stockholm Conventions. This study also explores how gender considerations are included in the Rotterdam Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Circular.


AIMS
To develop a population pharmacokinetic model for paclitaxel in the presence of a MDR modulator, zosuquidar 3HCl.

METHODS
The population approach was used (implemented with NONMEM) to analyse paclitaxel pharmacokinetic data from 43 patients who received a 3-h intravenous infusion of paclitaxel (175 mg x m(-2) or 225 mg x m(-2)) alone in cycle 2 or concomitantly with the oral administration of zosuquidar 3HCl in cycle 1.

RESULTS
The structural pharmacokinetic model for paclitaxel, accounting for the Cremophor ELTM impact, was a three-compartment model with a nonlinear model for paclitaxel plasma clearance (CL), involving a linear decrease in this parameter during the infusion and a sigmoidal increase with time after the infusion. The final model described the effect of Zosuquidar 3HCl on paclitaxel CL by a categorical relationship. A 25% decrease in paclitaxel CL was observed, corresponding to an 1.3-fold increase in paclitaxel AUC (from 14829 microg x l(-1) x h to 19115 microg x l(-1) x h following paclitaxel 175 mg x m(-2)) when zosuquidar Cmax was greater than 350 microg x l(-1). This cut-off concentration closely corresponded to the IC50 of a sigmoidal Emax relationship (328 microg x l(-1)). A standard dose of 175 mg x m(-2) of paclitaxel could be safely combined with doses of zosuquidar 3HCl resulting in plasma concentrations known, from previous studies, to result in maximal P-gp inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS
This analysis provides a model which accurately characterized the increase in paclitaxel exposure, which is most likely to be due to P-gp inhibition in the bile canaliculi, in the presence of zosuquidar 3HCl (Cmax > 350 microg x l(-1)) and is predictive of paclitaxel pharmacokinetics following a 3 h infusion. Hence the model could be useful in guiding therapy for paclitaxel alone and also for paclitaxel administered concomitantly with a P-gp inhibitor, and in designing further clinical trials.


In this study Karen Lawrence presents Joyce's Ulysses as it evolves through radical changes of style. She traces the abandonment of a narrative norm for a series of rhetorical masks, regarded as conscious aesthetic experiments, and considers the theoretical implication of this process, for both the writing and reading of novels.Originally published in 1982.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.


This study explains how managers' perceptions of pressure from competitors and industry associations to adopt environmental practices are associated with the adoption of such practices, and firm performance in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in fragmented industries. First, we hypothesize, in fragmented industries, perceived weaker competitive pressure focuses SME managers' attention on opportunities associated with the adoption of environmental practices, resulting in further adoption of such practices. We also hypothesize that perceived stronger competitive pressure focuses managers' attention on competitive threats and efforts to maximize value creation from adopted practices, thus, positively moderating the relationship between adopted environmental practices and financial performance. We test our hypotheses with survey data from wineries and vineyards in Italy, France, Denmark, and the United States, and find support for both hypotheses. These findings deepen our understanding of how SMEs in fragmented industries respond to perceived competitive pressure to adopt environmental practices.


Recently the use of the mixture with wood fiber substrates for cultivation of vegetable transplants has received increasing attention. Several experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of water supply on bio-morphological and plant-physiological parameters of tomato transplants cultivated in pure wood fiber substrates in order to optimize cultivation. Optimal growth of transplants in these substrates requires high moisture levels. Comparing time-dependent with water-tension-dependent irrigation (φ = -30 hPa) showed that almost identical bio-morphological plant characteristics were achieved. In an ebb/flood system, irrigation pulses are recommended at (p = -30 hPa for better leaf morphological parameters and optimal root development of tomato transplants in a coarse substrate. Measurements of free proline in plants grown under these irrigation levels support these results. Critical water tension for irrigation pulses and content of free proline in tomato transplants were closely correlated (r 2 =0,95).


Currently, standards for wireless multimedia communication with high bit rate in the 5 GHz band are being developed in the US, Europe, and Japan. The available user data rate for these systems is supposed to be significantly greater than 10 Mbps. The high data rate and the channel characteristics are the main challenges for the design of the physical layer and in particular the selection of modulation technique for such a system. In this paper two modulation techniques, single-carrier and multicarrier modulation (implemented by OFDM), are considered as candidates. Both techniques are introduced, individually optimized to some extent and finally compared with regard to link performance and other aspects like coverage and power consumption. It is shown that for the assumed conditions the addressed coherent OFDM scheme provides about 2-3 dB performance gain compared to single-carrier modulation as well as non-coherent OFDM.


Studies that exist on quality improvement efforts within local health departments indicate that there needs to be clearer approaches for achieving a culture of quality. This study describes how a local health department used the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO's) Roadmap to an Organizational Culture of Quality Improvement (QI Roadmap) to successfully build a quality culture on its journey to becoming accredited, as reflected in results from a February 2016 survey. Local health departments who invest in and promote QI efforts that are aligned with strategic priorities; establish the necessary infrastructure to regularly track and report performance data, including customer service data; expand the use of different types of teams; offer opportunities to identify areas of improvement and trainings; and promote resources for using various improvement models can establish a solid foundation in QI leading to accreditation.


Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel due to aging or overuse of the hand. The symptoms include numbness of the fingers and atrophy of the thenar muscle. Thenar atrophy recovers slowly postoperatively; therefore, early diagnosis and surgery are important. While physical examinations and nerve conduction studies are used to diagnose CTS, problems with the diagnostic ability and equipment, respectively, exist. Despite research on a CTS-screening app that uses a tablet and machine learning, problems with the usage rate of tablets and data collection for machine learning remain. Objective To make data collection for machine learning easier and more available, we developed a screening app for CTS using a smartphone and an anomaly detection algorithm, aiming to examine our system as a useful screening tool for CTS. Methods In total, 36 participants were recruited, comprising 36 hands with CTS and 27 hands without CTS. Participants controlled the character in our app using their thumbs. We recorded the position of the thumbs and time; generated screening models that classified CTS and non-CTS using anomaly detection and an autoencoder; and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). Results Participants with and without CTS were classified with 94% sensitivity, 67% specificity, and an AUC of 0.86. When dividing the data by direction, the model with data in the same direction as the thumb opposition had the highest AUC of 0.99, 92% sensitivity, and 100% specificity. Conclusions Our app could reveal the difficulty of thumb opposition for patients with CTS and screen for CTS with high sensitivity and specificity. The app is highly accessible because of the use of smartphones and can be easily enhanced by anomaly detection.


Propositions are often aligned with truth-conditions. The view is mistaken, since propositions discriminate where truth conditions do not. Propositions are hyperintensional: they are sensitive to necessarily equivalent differences. I investigate an alternative view on which propositions are truthmaker conditions, understood as sets of possible truthmakers. This requires making metaphysical sense of merely possible states of affairs. The theory that emerges illuminates the semantic phenomena of samesaying, subject matter, and aboutness.


Attempts to identify priority sites for conserving biodiversity are greatly hampered by a lack of good data on species' distributions. Recent work suggests one promising solution might be to use higher-level taxa (such as genera or families) which might be more easily surveyed, yet nevertheless still act as reliable surrogates for patterns of species richness. But evidence justifying this approach comes mostly from temperate datasets or inventories over enormous areas, and a number of concerns remain unanswered about the use of higher-taxon richness for identifying key conservation sites in the tropics, where most diversity occurs. Here in the first of two papers addressing these points, we explored congruence between species and higher-taxon richness across protected areas in Indo-Malaya and the Pacific rim. Our results support the use of the higher-taxon approach in guiding tropical conservation, but with certain reservations. In all three groups examined, higher-taxon richness was quite closely related to species number. However, the precision with which absolute species richness of reserves could be predicted from higher-taxon richness was often surprisingly low, particularly for rich sites where surveying higher taxa rather than species would save most time. The performance of higher taxa as surrogates also dropped sharply with increasing taxonomic rank, resulting in a trade-off between time saved by high-level surveys and the value of those surveys. Lastly, we found that species richness within individual higher taxa was potentially as powerful an indicator of the overall species diversity of a site as the number of higher taxa it contained.


[1] Arctic clouds are often mixed-phase, such that the radiative properties of the clouds are a strong function of the relative amounts of cloud liquid and ice. Modeling studies have shown that the poorly understood ice phase processes are the regulators of the liquid water fraction. However, evaluating the fidelity of the model ice parameterizations has proven to be a difficult task. This study evaluates results of different ice microphysics representations in a cloud resolving model (CRM) using cloud radar measurements. An algorithm is presented to generate realistic ice crystals and their aggregates from which radar backscattering cross sections may be calculated using a generalized solution for a cluster of spheres. The aggregate is composed of a collection of ice crystals, each of which is constructed from a cluster of tiny ice spheres. Each aggregate satisfies the constraints set by the component crystal type and the mass-dimensional relationship used in the cloud resolving model, but is free to adjust its aspect ratio. This model for calculating radar backscattering is compared to two spherical and two spheroidal (bulk model) representations for ice hydrometeors. It was found that a refined model for representing the ice hydrometeors, both pristine crystals and their aggregates, is required in order to obtain good comparisons between the CRM calculations and the radar measurements. The addition of the radar-CRM comparisons to CRM-in situ measurements comparisons allowed conclusions about the appropriateness of different CRM ice microphysics parameterizations.


A mathematical model of unsteady flow around a cylinder gives lift, drag, and velocity fluctuations in reasonable agreement with experimental results. Vorticity is represented by element Rankine vortices, which are superimposed on the potential flow around a cylinder to form the boundary layers and separated shear layers. The solution advances timewise from assumed initial conditions. At each time step, every element vortex is moved through a distance equal to the product of its instantaneous translational velocity and a small time increment, determined after stability tests. Concentrated clouds of vorticity form and are shed from the cylinder, with accompanying fluctuations in lift and drag. The total number of element vortices in the model is minimized by replacing each cloud by a single equivalent vortex. Because feedback from the formation region to the separation points is present in the model, it is potentially well-suited to studies of flow around oscillating cylinders.


Both LTE and WiMAX (802.16) 4th generation wireless systems (4G) utilize orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). These technologies will become more wide spread as time goes on. Therefore, it would be beneficial to study covert communication in the presence of OFDM systems. OFDM is becoming more utilized due to a number of advantages it has over other techniques in wireless communication. OFDM can help to mitigate inter symbol-interference (ISI) resulting from multipath propagation. The lower rate of the sub-carriers is what makes this possible. OFDM takes several narrow-band lower-rate signals, and using the discrete Fourier transform, combines them into one high rate wide-band signal. The orthogonality of the OFDM signal eliminates cochannel interference. OFDM combined with adaptive modulation can be very effective in frequency selective environments. Most OFDM standards call for unused subchannels for channel spacing and synchronization of transmitter and receiver. The effects we will be discussing in this thesis pertain to inserting a narrow band signal, that will be used for covert communication, in one of the unused sub-carrier locations of the OFDM signal and analyzing its effects on the OFDM signal. Although this signal is in an unused "slot", it is no longer orthogonal. We will also examine the effect of the OFDM signal on the covert signal. It would also be beneficial to study the ability to recover the information in the covert carrier in the midst of an OFDM signal. It will be important to view the effects of the covert signal on the OFDM signal by varying both


Digital imaging of cultural heritage artifacts has become a standard practice. Typically, standard commercial cameras, often commodity rather than scientific grade cameras, are used for this purpose. Commercial cameras are optimized for plausible visual reproduction of a physical scene with respect to trichromatic human vision. However, visual reproduction is just one application of digital images in heritage. In this paper, we discuss the selection and characterization of an alternative imaging system that can be used for the physical analysis of artifacts as well as visually reproducing their appearance. The hardware and method we describe offers a middle ground between the low cost and ease of commodity cameras and the high cost and complexity of hyperspectral imaging systems. We describe the selection of a system, a protocol for characterizing the system and provide a case study using the system in the physical analysis of a medieval manuscript.


This article identifies a specific problem – journalists who fail to provide the public with the accurate information needed to foster informed public opinion – and offers a specific solution: defining "the press�? to provide protections and prestige only to those whose work actually advances First Amendment values. American journalistic norms facilitate lying by politicians, candidates for office, and other public figures. Because many journalists are committed to the ideal of balance over truth, they are often incapable of calling out lies. Instead, they create a false equivalence by suggesting there are two sides to every argument, even when one side is demonstrably false. Politicians and other public figures are able to exploit this reality by making false statements with impunity, secure in the knowledge that journalists will not expose their deceptions. Scholars like Robert C. Post, Paul Horwitz, Mark Tushnet and others have recently focused on the questions of whether false statements contain constitutional value and when false statements may be regulated by the government. Although Post's recent book, Democracy, Expertise, and Academic Freedom: A First Amendment Jurisprudence for the Modern State, does not focus on the problem of false statements disseminated by journalists, his concept of democratic competence is especially relevant to the problem of the balance trap. By extending press membership only to those journalists whose work advances First Amendment values of truth and democratic competence, we can move toward a press corps that truly informs the public by providing accurate information and exposing false statements by elected officials and other public figures. This approach does not depend on suppressing any speech: by turning to the Press Clause, it is possible to advance democratic competence simply by redefining the press, meaning that only competent journalists will receive the status and protections associated with press membership, while other journalists will be free to practice balance trap journalism but will be denied press status. Changing the way journalists do their work depends on a new definition of the press. Other scholars have defined the press in institutional (Schauer, Horwitz) or functional (West) terms, but, while these definitions identify a number of important considerations, each deals far too often in abstractions, failing to consider the work journalists are actually doing and whether their work merits press status. As a result, each definition is both over- and under-inclusive, providing press membership to balance trap journalists and denying press membership to some journalists who recognize and reject the balance trap approach. This article does something new by putting forward a definition of the press that is based on specific examples of work journalists are doing, and proposing a way to assess whether this work advances First Amendment values of truth and democratic competence. In addition, while other scholars who believe that the press deserves specific protection seek to establish the basis for that protection solely or mainly through courts or legislatures, this article does something new by identifying a central role for journalists themselves in the process. Ultimately, the goal of this article is to give meaning to Oliver Wendell Holmes's assertion that "the real justification of a rule of law is that it helps to bring about a social end which we desire.�? Replacing balance trap journalism with journalism that gives Americans the accurate information they need to make informed decisions is a highly desirable social end. If we want to have a better press corps, we must begin with a definition of the press that has the potential to solve the balance trap problem by recognizing only members of the press whose work truly advances First Amendment values.


Traditional heat pump systems supply conditioned air to space at certain temperatures such as, in summer, about 16°C. When the supply-air temperature drops too low, most occupants tend to feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, a certain amount of dehumidification has to be carried out and sometimes, the velocity of supply-air has to be high which in turn creates a draught. This paper introduces a new air supply method to reduce fan power consumption as well as to improve thermal comfort of occupants. Using this method, colder fresh air at 13°C is generated by air handling units and pumped to the ceiling supplies. As supply air temperature is lower, less air flow rate is required to meet the latent load. The reduced air flow rate decreases the fan power consumption. The supply air units mounted on the ceiling are specially designed so that space air flows upwards to inside due to negative pressure created by the supply unit and mixed with the 13°C cold air. The mixed air consists of roughly 60% return air and 40% fresh air at 13°C. Due to the mixing process, the supply air temperature is around 19°C and supply air velocity is around 0.7 m/s. Both the supply temperature and velocity are more thermally-favored compared to those from traditional units. A commercially-available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool was used to evaluate the operative temperature as well as air velocity distribution inside an office-setting equipped with induced-air supply unit for both heating and cooling cases. Since the air velocity may change due to various latent loads, Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) technique was applied to study the thermal comfort conditions when air velocity changes between 0.1 m/s to 1 m/s. The POD method uses a sophisticated interpolation method based on a set of CFD snapshots which are generated once beforehand. The method can reduce the computation time from hours for CFD to seconds when predicting temperature and velocity fields at different supply air velocities. The model outputs are compared with field measured data for model validation. The simulation results show that the induced-air supply unit creates a good thermal comfort conditions for the occupants in terms of predicted mean vote (PMV). The average PMV of a 45-person office shows a value of - 0.2 in the summer and - 0.6 in winter.


The ability of adult CNS neurons to successfully regenerate their axons upon injuries such as stroke and spinal cord injury is very limited. Over the last two decades researches have focused on the challenging question of how to overcome this regenerative failure. The identification of the myelin associated neurite outgrowth inhibitor Nogo-A shed light on the inhibitory nature, compared to the PNS, of CNS myelin. Subsequent Nogo-A neutralization experiments led to successful CNS regeneration in animal models of spinal cord injury. The first part of Chapter 1 summarizes important findings regarding Nogo-A function as a neurite outgrowth inhibitor and gives insight into emerging roles of Nogo-A during development and disease. Nogo-A contains two inhibitory regions for neurite outgrowth inhibition: the Nogo66 region, also common to Nogo-B and Nogo-C, and the Nogo-A specific region, NogoΔ20. Whereas the signaling mechanisms of the Nogo66 region are well characterized, comparatively little is known about the signaling complex of NogoΔ20. Since blocking of the Nogo66 receptor complex does not completely abolish myelin inhibition of neurite outgrowth, it is of great importance to elucidate the Nogo66 receptor independent mechanism of Nogo-A signaling. Over the last few years it has become clear that endocytosis plays an active role during cellular communication. A number of surface ligandreceptor complexes are known to internalize into cells and signal from endosomes. The second part of Chapter 1 introduces endocytosis as a possible mechanism for NogoΔ20 signaling and reviews the known endocytic pathways. In Chapter 2 we find that the soluble, active NogoΔ20 fragment is internalized into neuronal cells. The internalization into early endosomes does not follow a conventional clathrin-and dynamin dependent route, it rather depends on the Pincher protein and the small GTPase Rac. This Pincher-mediated macroendocytosis of NogoΔ20 results in the formation of NogoΔ20 signalosomes that direct RhoA activation and growth cone collapse. In compartmentalized chamber cultures, NogoΔ20 is endocytosed into neurites and retrogradely transported to the cell bodies of DRG neurons, triggering RhoA activation en route and decreasing pCREB levels in cell bodies. The decrease of pCREB points towards an antagonistic regulation of the growth machinery by Nogo-A and neurotrophins. Taken together, the findings of the present thesis suggest that Pincher-dependent macroendocytosis may lead to the formation of a Nogo-A signaling endosome that is retrogradely transported from the axons to the cell body thus suppressing the neuronal growth program. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-005960506 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-32013 Dissertation Originally published at: Joset, A. Pincher-generated Nogo-A signalosomes mediate growth cone collapse and retrograde transport. 2009, University of Zurich / ETH Zurich, Faculty of Medicine. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-005960506


Learning disability services aspire to the social model of disability which acknowledges the expertise of service-users on all aspects of their lives. Counselling is now more widely accepted as a treatment approach for the emotional problems of people with learning disability, where previously pharmacological and behavioural methods prevailed. While the literature attests to the effectiveness of counselling with this population, research has mostly been quantitative. To date, minimal qualitative research exists on how people with learning disability experience counselling and none in an Irish context.

The present study aimed to hear the voices of Irish service-users on this aspect of their service. It explored the lived experience and meaning-making of adults with mild learning disability of individual counselling. The study design was qualitative, specifically interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Participants were ten adults with mild learning disability from Irish learning disability services. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using IPA methodology (Smith, Flowers and Larkin, 2009).

The study found that participants valued counselling, experiencing it as relevant to their needs. Four superordinate themes emerged: overwhelming emotions, trepidation to trust, helpful aspects of counselling and the shadow of authority. Participants' experience was linked with existing literature in learning disability and counselling through concepts such as embodiment, emotional intelligence, attachment theory, life events and power relations. Participants' expectation that counselling would reflect prior experienced power relations of subordination/dominance is examined as is the role of staff in facilitating counselling. Participants' experience of counselling as a safe and helpful space primarily due to the therapeutic relationship is discussed.

The implications for counselling practice are considered in terms of the need to attend to emotions, the importance of the counselling relationship, awareness of power dynamics, recognition of social context and flexibility of approach. Finally, issues for learning disability services, counsellor training, policy and social implications are discussed with reference to the findings.


How, and why, did the Anglo-American world become so obsessed with the private lives and public character of its political leaders? Marilyn Morris finds answers in eighteenth-century Britain, when a long tradition of court intrigue and gossip spread into a much broader and more public political arena with the growth of political parties, extra-parliamentary political activities, and a partisan print culture. The public's preoccupation with the personal character of the ruling elite paralleled a growing interest in the interior lives of individuals in histories, novels, and the theater. Newspaper reports of the royal family intensified in intimacy and its members became moral exemplars--most often, paradoxically, when they misbehaved. Ad hominem attacks on political leaders became commonplace; politicians of all affiliations continued to assess one another's characters based on their success and daring with women and money. And newly popular human-interest journalism promoted the illusion that the personal characters of public figures could be read by appearances.


This paper examines the sociology of education from the perspective of its recent history and attempts to assess the current state of the field. The authors argue that cognate disciplines such as economics and social policy have taken over some of the key questions that were once the preserve of sociology of education. This raises the question of what is lost if the sociology of education is no longer making a significant contribution, in key areas, to the major educational, social and economic issues of the day.


Little research has been conducted to distinguish the unique experiences of specific groups of interpersonal violence victims. This is especially true in the case of battered Muslim immigrant women in the United States. This article examines battered Muslim immigrant women's experiences with intimate partner violence and their experiences with the police. Furthermore, to provide a more refined view related to battered Muslim immigrant women's situation, the article compares the latter group's experiences to battered non-Muslim immigrant women's experiences. Finally, we seek to clarify the similarities and differences between battered immigrant women aiming to inform responsive police service delivery.


The findings from our studies on licorice phenolics are summarized here. The following types of flavonoids, i.e., flavones, flavonols, flavanones, chalcones, isoflavones, isoflavanones, isoflavans, 3-arylcoumarins, coumestans, pterocarpans, 2-benzyldihydrobenzofuran-3-ones, benzyl phenyl ketones, 2-arylbenzofurans, and others, were identified by the structural studies. Among them, licochalcone A (chalcone), isolicoflavonol (flavonol), glycycoumarin (3-arylcoumarin), and glycyrrhisoflavone (isoflavone) displayed antihuman immunodeficiency virus effects, and also 8-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)-wighteone (isoflavone) and 3′-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)-kievitone (isoflavanone) showed potent antibacterial effects on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Licoricidin (isoflavan) suppressed the oxacillin resistance of the MRSA strains noticeably. Effects of phenolics with related structures isolated from Psoralea corylifolia were also examined, and bakuchiol (meroterpene), isobavachalcone, and corylifol B (chalcones) also showed potent effects on MRSA strains. Some licorice phenolics such as licoricidin (isoflavan), 8-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)-wighteone (isoflavone), and gancaonin I (2-arylbenzofuran) also showed potent antibacterial effects on vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) strains. The potency of the effects largely depended on their structures including the lipophilic prenyl or related substituents and also phenolic hydroxyl groups. Inhibitory effects of licorice phenolics on oxidative enzymes, in addition to their radical-scavenging effects, are also shown. The methods used in the structural studies and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of licorice extracts are described shortly, too.


The SWITCH-Asia Regional Policy Support Component is the third component of the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme, which has a long-term goal to increase sustainable consumption and production in Asia i.e. to develop less polluting and more resource-efficient products, processes and services, and to change sustainable consumption patterns and behaviour. In accordance with the agreement signed with the EC and in line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme Manual, this 'Terminal Evaluation' is undertaken at completion of the project to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the project, including their sustainability.


To test factors limiting regeneration of large-seeded hardwoods in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina, we planted one-year old bare root Quercus alba L. and Cornus florida L. seedlings in pine plantation understories and adjacent clearcuts. We hypothesized that soil moisture, light, and leaf and stem herbivory would have relatively strong effects on growth and survival during the first two years after planting. Next to each seedling, we measured five abiotic factors (soil carbon and moisture, gap light index (GLI), and available nitrogen and phosphorus). We also estimated percent stem and leaf herbivory and harvested seedlings after the second year to measure seedling growth. Survival was not significantly different between clearcut (62.9%) and understory (64.6%) treatments. Biomass growth was significantly greater (P<0.05) in the clearcuts for both species. All abiotic variables measured except soil carbon were greater in the clearcuts (P<0.05). Each seedling growth response was regressed against all variables using forward selection (P=0.15). Soil moisture significantly affected survival in 12.5% and biomass growth in 16.7% of the regressions. Light availability significantly impacted biomass growth in 8.3% of the regressions. Neither leaf nor stem herbivory frequently affected survival, but one or the other or both significantly influenced the biomass growth of seedlings in 41.5% of the regressions. Herbivory had the strongest impact on seedling responses. Neither water nor light was very influential for growth or survival responses. We conclude that hardwood restoration in the uplands of the Upper Coastal Plain is best accomplished by planting in recent clearcuts.


Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver was first defined as a separate clinicopathological entity in 1978. it is uncommon hepatic tumor of mesenchymal origin, usually observed in children and teenage, but also infrequently encounter in adult. It represent about 9-15% of all hepatic tumor in children. We report a case of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver in a 6 year old girl who presented with non specific right hypochondrial pain and mass with fever. Laboratory studies of the liver function were normal and the other tests were non specific. Ultrasonography and CT scan showed a large heterogeneous mass ranging from cystic tissue with multiple septa to more predominant solid component in the right lobe of the liver. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and revealed a large mass in the right lobe and part of the left lobe of the liver. Tumor resection was performed and about 70% of the total liver was resected. Macroscopically, tumor was large solitary globular firm predominant solid mass weighing 1100gm and measuring 18 x 12 x 8 cm, with variegated cut surface of solid, cystic, necrotic and hemorrhagic areas. Microscopically, the tumor has a variable but distinctive sarcomatous appearance, composed of spindle, oval and stellate-shaped sarcomatous cells, with marked nuclear pleomorphism, closely packed in whorls or scattered loosely in a myxoid ground substance. Numerous bizarre multinucleated giant cells, containing large intracytoplasmic hyaline globules with ample mitosis many of which are atypical. Tumor cells entrapped hyperplastic bile ducts. Accordingly the diagnosis of *Pathology Department, College of Medicine, University of Mosul. **Pathology Lab, Al-Khansa'a Maternity Teaching Hospital, Mosul. *** Department of Surgery, Nineveh College of Medicine, University of Mosul. ****Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Baghdad University, Iraq. undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver was performed. Conclusion: Prompt detection of this aggressive tumor with complete surgical resection is the key to a successful outcome. Prognosis recently improved following postoperative chemotherapy.


This study further explores the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in small and informal businesses in the developing world by focusing on the role of ICTs in customer acquisition and retention. Data is drawn from a survey of 317 sole proprietors and operators of small businesses with five or fewer employees in and around urban Hyderabad in Southern India. Respondents describe how various customers were acquired—via walk-in, referral, family connections, landline telephone, mobile phone, internet/email, etc. Results suggest that face-to-face interactions dominate customer interactions, even among those with access to ICTs. Four tests explore whether telephony enables more specialized, hands-off, numerous or distant relationships with customers; a significant relationship between landline ownership and total number of customers is found.


This research focused on existential and motivational implications of the emotion of nostalgia. Nostalgia (relative to control) increased meaning in life, which, in turn, galvanised intentions to pursue one's most important goal (Experiment 1) and to pursue one's most important, but not least important, goal (Experiment 2). The basic pattern held in two cultures (British and Danish) independently of positive affect. This is first evidence that nostalgia has specific motivational consequences (i.e., pursuit of more, but not less, important goals) and transmits these consequences via meaning in life. Also, this is first evidence that meaning is associated with specific motivational consequences. Discussion considers the relevance of the findings for the emotion and motivation literatures.


Progress of health information system (HIS) in recent years has made significant impact on both developed and developing countries. HIS has played a very important role in the hospital. Construction and employment of HIS can improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare work. But the development of HIS has some problems inherent in them such as non-standard hospital management, poor standardization, and lack of interoperable software development. As a result, HIS run is not able to share medical information and therefore, can't meet the needs of reform in healthcare system delivery. In the future, for the sake of medical information sharing, teleconsulation, hospital efficiency enhancement, all the independent systems will realize interoperability. This paper however, seeks to analyze and address factors militating against interoperability in software systems the healthcare domain and recommends the adoption of service oriented architecture (SOA) within the domain.


Abstract Objectives: Health care in South Africa takes place within a diverse cultural context and includes perceptions about health that strongly link to cultural beliefs and values. Biomedical healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, are exposed to and expected to cope with cultural challenges on a daily basis, with little or no training on how to do so. In this paper, we explore nurse and patient attitudes to and beliefs about how the systems of health care coexist, what issues this raises and how nurses and patients address these issues in their daily practice. Design: The study employed an exploratory, qualitative research design. Setting and subjects: Four in-depth focus group discussions were conducted with nurses and patients at a deep rural, district hospital in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Participants were selected based on their availability and willingness to contribute to the discussion. Results: Traditional and biomedical healthcare systems coexist and are used simultaneously with the healthcare- seeking pattern of patients traversing multiple systems of care. Currently, patients and nurses have developed strategies to address this by steering a pragmatic course to minimise risks, and by doing so, bridging the gap between the two healthcare mediums. Conclusion: Further research is required to understand which illnesses are primarily seen as traditional, how this gap can be effectively addressed, and how different healthcare co-delivery models can best be utilised and evaluated.


The oldest known condylarth fauna of the Tertiary of South America comes from basal Palaeocene strata of the Santa Lucia Formation at Tiupampa (Bolivia). It includes five genera and seven species: Molinodus suarezi, Tiuclaenus minutus, T. cotasi n. sp., T. robustus n. sp., Pucanodus gagnieri, Andinodus boliviensis, and Simoclaenus sylvaticus, n. gen., n. sp. This work presents a thorough revision of all the fossils previously described, which are interpreted in the light of recently discovered specimens including materials belonging to three new taxa. The sample contains 33 jaws and 43 isolated teeth. The Tiupampa condylarths are included in the Kollpaniinae Marshall, Case & Woodburne, 1990 (= Molinodinae Bonaparte, Van Valen & Kramartz, 1993), a subfamily of the Mioclaenidae (Kollpania tiupampina Marshall & Muizon, 1988, the type species of the type genus of the Kollpaniidae Marshall, Case & Woodburne, 1990 is regarded as a junior synonym of Tiuclaenus minutus Muizon & Marshall, 1987). Some of the taxa (e.g., Molinodus suarezi, Tiuclaenus cotasi) are well represented and the cheek dentition of the former is almost completely known. However, other genera such as Andinodus and Simoclaenus are still poorly known (a few lower teeth only in the case of Andinodus). Because of their scant representation, their position within the Kollpaniinae still has to be confirmed by the discovery of new specimens, especially upper molars of Andinodus. The Tiupampa condylarths are clearly related to the North American Mioclaenidae, although it is not possible to securely relate them to a specific genus. They share with the North American taxa the following derived characters when compared to Protungulatum: bulbous cusps, the apices of which are approximated in occlusal view; protocone enlarged; stylar shelf greatly reduced or lost; styles reduced and tending to be aligned with para- and metacristae; paraconid appressed against metaconid; entoconid and hypoconulid connate to fused, and forming an obliquely oriented posterolingual crest. The major characteristics of the Kollpaniinae are: metaconid well posterior to protoconid, strongly inflated, and invading the talonid basin posteriorly; loss of the entocristid; hypoconid extremely inflated, occupying at least the medial half of the talonid (generally more); talonid basin reduced to an obliquely oriented groove that is widely opened lingually; posterior slope of the hypoconulid of m3 less convex than in the other mioclaenids. The Kollpaniinae (Tiupampa condylarths and Escribania) are also regarded as closely related to the Didolodontidae and Litopterna (especially the Protolipternidae). The key synapomorphy of the three groups is the morphology and development of the paracristid, which is narrower than half the width of the trigonid, deeply arched posteriorly, projected anteriorly, and attaching on the anterior to anterolingual side of the proto- and paraconids. Study of the Tiupampa condylarths confirms that the South American Didolodontidae and Litopterna have their origins in North American Mioclaenidae. A parsimony analysis establishes the monophyly of the clade including the North American Mioclaenidae, the Kollpaniinae (South American Mioclaenidae), the Didolodontidae, and the Litopterna. This clade is formally designated as a new order of mammals, the Panameriungulata.


The sliding block model proposed by Newmark (1965) is an accepted methodology for assessing the accumulated displacement of a soil slope during an earthquake. For slopes restrained by elastic structural elements, such as geotextile reinforcement or ground anchors, the assumptions behind the Newmark block model may not be valid. The Newmark model assumes the resistance against acceleration remains constant with displacement, however, the restraint provided by an elastic structural element increases with displacement as it stretches. This paper considers the significance of this in design of restrained slopes and discusses possible modifications to analyses to allow for this elastic behaviour.


The regenerative braking method has been employed in DC-fed electric railway vehicle traction system in order to reduce energy consumption. The load's power consuming is sometimes insufficient for the regenerated power, and it causes the input voltage of traction inverter rises. In such a case, the regenerative current is regulated to prevent the over voltage. However, in applying this regulation, especially to the permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) traction system, a continuous oscillation of regenerative current is sometimes observed. Unfortunately, It deteriorates passengers' riding comfortability due to torque fluctuation.On this paper, we analyze the phenomena of the oscillation of regenerative currents and suggest an anti-oscillation regenerative current regulation method based on the analyzing results. The detail is as follows.(1) We construct a nonlinear time-varying model, which consists of the substation, power feeding system and the main traction circuit onboard and divide the nonlinear time-varying model into four linear time-invariant systems.(2) Through the analysis with the models, we make it clear that the continuous oscillation is caused by the traditional regenerative braking control method(3) Based on the analysis we suggest a novel anti-oscillation regenerative braking control method, whose effectiveness is proved through experiments.


The work of Carl Rogers and Ruth Sanford in South Africa during the 1980's was continued in the form of person-centered diversity awareness workshops. This article describes action and qualitative research on participants' experiences during and after these workshops. Post workshop interviews indicated that organizational change agents and consultants were exposed to new ways of facilitating learning opportunities which are not based on using classroom techniques and methods, but on their own realness, respect for and ability to put themselves in their client group's frame of reference. The results highlighted South Africa's never-ending journey of healing and the showed the need for South Africans' to integrate race and gender splits, subgroup and individual identities, and denigrated and idealized parts of the self


The study explores interpretations of problems, coping strategies and help-seeking behaviour of black Christians attending a Black Majority Church (BMC). BMCs (Pentecostal churches) are the fastest-growing group of Christians in the UK (Christian Research 2006). At the same time, black people continue to be over-represented in the mental health system compared to their white counterparts; are more likely to be diagnosed as 'schizophrenic'; more likely to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act and, since 2009, are more likely to be placed on community treatment orders (Mental Health Foundation 2014). A growing body of research exists on the role of BMCs in supporting individuals in distress (Bhugra 1997; Leavey 2004; Edge 2010). The qualitative study examines participants' perspectives on whether there are links between faith and belonging to a faith community, and mental health and well-being. Fifty-six participants (eleven males and forty-five females) took part in the study. A broad range of BMCs were represented, including New Testament, Apostolic, Independent and Catholic denominations. Eleven focus groups and eight subsequent individual interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim, data was analysed using Thematic Analysis and Narrative Inquiry. Findings suggest that music, prayer, The Word (preaching, quoting/reading The Holy Bible) and belonging to a church provide a positive sense of well-being. Lack of understanding of mental health issues within the church, distrust, ignorance and leaders lacking adequate training and qualifications were cited as areas impacting negatively on mental health and well-being. Faith in God emerges as central to mental stability and well-being and was considered more effective and appropriate than therapy in some cases. Mistrust and suspicion of psychiatrists and mental health services was expressed by participants, often based on first- and second-hand experiences of the effects of medication, negative encounters, lack of understanding and little or no access to talking therapies. Participants recovering from, or living with, mental health difficulties voiced a wish to be respected, to be treated with kindness, to receive a warm welcome when they attend church services and to be contacted regularly. A culture of acceptance, openness and destigmatising mental health problems, rather than spiritualising and demonising them, was emphasised. Participants stressed that leaders should be better equipped to deal with both the congregants' and their own mental health concerns. Examples of good practice and in-house counselling initiatives within black churches are identified. Products of the study include: the development of Sozo Therapeuo (N.B. not affiliated to any other similarly worded organisation), a mental health resource to promote, improve and maintain good mental health within BMCs; a therapist directory of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists; bespoke training packages and workshops designed to meet the needs of individual churches; Mental Health Awareness for Churches and Counselling Skills for Pastors training manuals following two pilot training events; Consultancies to churches setting up counselling services, such as Bethel Church, Bristol; 'Speak your Mind' radio show host promoting mental health on award-winning Ruach Radio; a church-based therapy forum and a network of church-based mental health champions who have received mental health awareness training.


Flood is a natural phenomenon which is difficult to avoid but can control. Flood hazard tends to escalate into disaster, especially in urban areas, due to the high concentration of population. Therefore, flood mitigation measures have become one of the main discussing point in the society. Nowadays there has been a significant move from flood protection to flood risk management. Spatial planning has been identified as one of the fundamental flood management measures, since it can influence the incidence of flooding and its consequential damage, by regulating the locations of activities, types of land use, and scales of development and designs of physical structures. In order to develop such a successful spatial plan, it is important to identify the suitability of the land for the development. However, adequate attention is not still paid to develop a proper mechanism for evaluating this development suitability. The main objective of this research is to analyze the development suitability of the lands, considering both Emergency Evacuation Easiness and the flood risk level of the land. This analysis will be useful to develop a set of guidelines for the future development activities. The research has used the Geographical Information System based approach to model the development suitability of the lands. Two main aspects were assessed in this regard: flood risk level and emergency evacuation easiness. It was assessed by taking the Rathnapura MC as the case study area and the uncertain event as the flood disaster. The research resulted a development suitability map displaying the development suitability levels of each land plots of the study area. This map is very useful for urban planners to decide which type of development is suitable for different areas considering the natural disaster. The same method can be applied to other natural disasters to get an idea about the development suitability of the areas which frequently affect with natural disasters.


In a credit market, a low-cost foreign entrant is likely less informed than a domestic bank with information endowments. We present a steady-state model in an infinite-period framework, and analyze how the informational asymmetry affects the lending equilibrium and the foreign banks' entry modes. Firstly, we show that the domestic bank's initial informational advantage from its relatively large market share at the beginning of competition is not enough to hinder the entry of a low-cost foreign bank. In addition, the foreign bank is more likely to be the winner in the steady state of an infinite-period game than that in a static game. Secondly, the comparative static analysis show that the likelihood of foreign bank becoming the winning party increases with borrower quality, project payoff and the growth rate of potential new borrowers. Thirdly, when the foreign bank wins game in the steady state, its market share is decreasing in project payoff and the growth rate of new borrowers, while changes non-monotonically with borrower quality. Finally, we extend our model to characterize the domestic bank's sustainable advantage in being relatively familiar with new market, and provide valuable explanations for the observed entry modes of foreign banks in China.


The aim of this study was to test a hypothesized model to examine the impact of factors surrounding performance appraisal (rater characteristics, halo, personal bias, leniency and compassion and overstatement) on dimensions of subordinates' performance (i.e., amount of work, discipline, completion of tasks and quality of work) within the Water Authority Corporation in Jordan. The population of the study consisted of employees working in full time in the SSC. To recruit the sample a developed questionnaire was distributed randomly to 300 potential employees working in Water Authority. After careful examination, 270 responses were valid for data analysis, resulting in an overall response rate of 90%. An empirical research method was performed to extract relevant points. Application of stepwise regression analysis and correlational tests lends support to the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that the perceptions of staff in the Water Authority of the factors surrounding the process of performance evaluation were high. Also, the results revealed that perceptions of the staff at the Water Authority to the level of job performance were highly. The reported findings provide valuable insights to managers by corroborating and extending prior empirical findings in Jordan. Furthermore, the staff awareness of the effectiveness of the applied performance evaluation system in the Water Authority indicates that the presidents understand the staff problems. So they like to improve the daily relationship with the president. It also leads to enhance satisfaction with their relationship with their colleagues at work, their salaries and their relationship with the managers. So the availability of these dimensions will have a positive impact in improving the staff performance. Further implications, potential limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.


Background: The study objective was to assess the development of xerophthalmia [dry eye syndrome (DES) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca] in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.Methods: Twenty two head and neck cancer patients requiring more than 60 Gy of curative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy and ten patients requiring radiotherapy/ chemoradiotherapy for treating cancers in the non head and neck regions (like breast, oesophagus, prostate, cervix and rectal cancers) were also enrolled in the study. The development of DES was studied at the beginning (day 0, before the start of radiotherapy) at day 21 (after completion of 30 Gy) and on completion of the treatment (> 60 Gy). As a comparative cohort, people with non head and neck cancer needing curative radiotherapy were also evaluated for comparison.Results: There was no difference in degree of DES between the Head and Neck cancer cohorts and non head and neck group at the beginning of treatment. However there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between the two groups at both mid and end of RT time point. Inter comparison between the various time points in the head and neck cancer group showed that the incidence of DES increased with the radiation exposure and was significant (pre to mid p < 0.001; and mid to end p < 0.005). A negative (r = -0.262) correlation was seen between DES and distance.Conclusions: The study showed that lesser the distance from the epicenter of the radiation to the orbital rim more was the severity of DES.


It is widely accepted today that the First Amendment does not apply, or applies only weakly, to what are often referred to as "low-value" categories of speech. It is also widely accepted that the existence of these categories extends back to the ratification of the First Amendment: that low-value speech is speech the punishment of which has, since 1791, never been thought to raise any constitutional concern. This Article challenges this second assumption. It argues that early American courts and legislators did not in fact tie constitutional protection for speech to a categorical judgment of its value, nor did the punishment of low-value speech raise no constitutional concern. Instead, all speech — even low-value speech — was protected against prior restraint, and almost all speech — even high-value speech — was subject to criminal punishment when it appeared to pose a threat to the public order of society, broadly defined. It was only after the New Deal Court embraced the modern, libertarian conception of freedom of speech that courts began to treat high and low-value speech qualitatively differently. By limiting the protection extended to low-value speech, the New Deal Court attempted to reconcile the democratic values that the new conception of freedom of speech was intended to further with the other values (order, civility, public morality) that the regulation of speech had traditionally advanced. Nevertheless, in doing so, the Court found itself in the difficult position of having to judge the value of speech even though this was something that was in principle anathema to the modern jurisprudence. It was to resolve this tension that the Court asserted — on the basis of almost no evidence — that the low-value categories had always existed beyond the scope of constitutional concern. By challenging the accuracy of the historical claims that the Court has used to justify the doctrine of low-value speech, this Article forces a reexamination of the basis for granting or denying speech full First Amendment protection. In so doing, it challenges the Court's recent claim that the only content-based regulations of speech that are generally permissible under the First Amendment are those that target speech that was historically unprotected. What the history of the doctrine of low-value speech makes clear is that history has never served as the primary basis for determining when First Amendment protections apply. Nor should it today, given the tremendous changes that have taken place over the past two centuries in how courts understand what it means to guarantee freedom of speech, and to what kinds of expression the guarantee applies.


Abstract To develop kinetics calculational capability of the analytic function expansion nodal methodology for space-dependent feedback problems, a novel method with the time-dependent solution decomposed into an analytic part and a polynomial correction part is proposed. The analytic part consists of the analytic solutions of the "quasi-static" diffusion equation and the polynomial part is determined by applying a Galerkin scheme. The results tested on several benchmark problems (two-dimensional and three-dimensional) show that 1 node/assembly calculation and a large time-step size can be used for high accuracy. The new feedback calculation method removes almost all the errors induced from space-dependent feedback. Also, it is shown that the coarse group rebalance acceleration scheme and conventional techniques for kinetics calculation (exponential transformation for time variable and bilinear weighting for control rod cusping problem) can be easily incorporated into the method.


One US senior marine notes that "military cultures are like great ocean liners or aircraft carriers: they require an enormous effort to change direction". Indeed, in most nations, military cultures are known for their resistance against change. The military ethos, which includes features such as absolute obedience, hierarchy, collectivism, and sacrificing oneself for all, makes military cultures less likely to adopt liberal and democratic values. In this regard, Turkey is in an interesting position in that military culture has constantly experienced transitions between three different identities: revolutionists, guardians and depoliticals. The first identity is modernist, progressive, and staunchly secular; the second is more conservative, less tolerant of the notion of individual rights and liberties, and more likely to maintain the status quo; the third is being politically neutral, committed to civilian supremacy, and likely to work in harmony with the politicians. Indeed, because of the role it played during the Liberation War, the military has had an unwritten legitimacy in national politics as the nation builder. Related to this, the military's priviliged position in the eyes of the people has enabled any change in military culture to make fundemental changes in politics. Yet, if one observes most cases of civil-military relations, one may see that the relationship between militaries and states tends to follow a stable, positive, or negative path regarding democratisation. But, in the Turkish case this relationship does not draw a steady line. Rather, it can show very different results depending on time and developments. Hence, the main purpose of this thesis is to identify the relationship between military culture and Turkish politics regarding our five civil-military models: the 'positive-undemocratic', 'negative-undemocratic', 'positive-democratic', 'negative-democratic', and variable relationships


Abstract. In recent decades the decline of the Arctic sea ice has modified vertical momentum fluxes from the atmosphere to the ice and the ocean, thereby affecting the surface circulation. In the past ten years satellite altimetry has contributed to understand these changes. However, data from ice-covered regions require dedicated processing, originating inconsistency between ice-covered and open ocean regions in terms of biases, corrections and data coverage. Thus, efforts to generate consistent Arctic-wide datasets are still required to enable the study of the Arctic Ocean surface circulation at basin-wide scales. Here we provide and assess a monthly gridded dataset of sea surface height anomaly and geostrophic velocity. This dataset is based on Cryosat-2 observations over ice-covered and open ocean areas of the Arctic up to 88° N for the period 2011 to 2018, interpolated using the Data-Interpolating Variational Analysis (DIVA) method. Geostrophic velocity was not available north of 82° N before this study. To examine the robustness of our results, we compare the generated fields to one independent altimetry dataset and independent data of ocean bottom pressure, steric height and near-surface ocean velocity from moorings. Results from the comparison to near-surface ocean velocity show that our geostrophic velocity fields can resolve seasonal to interannual variability of boundary currents wider than about 50 km. We further discuss the seasonal cycle of sea surface height and geostrophic velocity in the context of previous literature. Large scale features emerge, i.e. Arctic-wide maximum sea surface height between October and January, with the highest amplitude over the shelves, and basin wide seasonal acceleration of Arctic slope currents in winter. We suggest that this dataset can be used to study not only the large scale sea surface height and circulation but also the regionally confined boundary currents. The dataset is available in netCDF format from PANGAEA at [data currently under review].


Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a disease with a complicated pathogenesis that remains unclear. Previous studies have shown that allergy is one of the pathogenic factors involved in OME. However, the regulatory mechanism of allergy in OME is unknown. This study evaluated the T helper cell 1 (Th1)/Th2 polarization tendency in the middle ear microenvironment. To investigate the differentiation of Th cells in the middle ear of a rat model of OME, 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into an OME group (Exp group) and a control group (Con group). The levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-4 in the tympanic lavage fluid were evaluated by ELISA. Additionally, the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the middle ear mucosa and bone marrow cavity were examined by immunohistochemistry. Compared to those in the Con group, the levels of IL-4 and ratio of Th2/Th1 (IL-4/IFN-γ) in the tympanic lavage fluid, middle ear mucosa, and bone marrow of the Exp group were increased significantly, whereas there was no significant difference in IFN-γ levels between groups. The expression of IL-4 in the middle ear highly increased following allergy stimulation, whereas the expression of IFN-γ was decreased. A Th1/Th2 immune response imbalance results in a Th2 response in the middle ear microenvironment of an allergic OME rat model.


Aims. We analyze the dynamics of the prominence fine structures of a quiescent prominence observed on April 26, 2007 during a coordinated campaign of several spaceborne and ground-based instruments. We use Lyman spectra observed by SOHO/SUMER and the Hα line spectra obtained by MSDP spectrograph working at the Meudon Solar Tower. Methods. We employ the 2D multi-thread prominence fine-structure modelling that includes randomly distributed line-of-sight (LOS) velocities of individual threads to derive models producing synthetic Lyman lines in good agreement with the SOHO/SUMER observations. We then use these models to produce synthetic Hα line spectra that we compare with the observed spectra using three statistical parameters: the line integrated intensity, the line full-width at half-maximum (FWHM), and the Doppler velocity derived from shifts of the line profiles. Results. We demonstrate that the 2D multi-thread models that produce synthetic Lyman spectra in agreement with observations also generate synthetic Hα spectra in good agreement with the observed ones. The statistical analysis of the FWHM and Doppler velocities of the synthetic Hα line profiles show that the overall LOS velocities in the April 26, 2007 prominence at the time of the observations were below 15 km s−1 and in the prominence core were close to 10 km s−1. In combination with the analysis of the Lyman spectra, we determine several physical parameters of the observed prominence fine-structures that show that the April 26, 2007 prominence had a relatively low-mass weakly magnetized structure. We are also able to impose some constraints on the prominence core temperature, which may be relatively low, with values below 6000 K. Conclusions. The combination of 2D non-LTE prominence fine-structure modelling with the statistical analysis of the observed and synthetic Lyman and Hα spectra allows us to analyze the influence of the model input parameters and the velocity fields on the synthetic Hα line profiles, thus determine the overall dynamics of the observed prominence as well as the physical parameters of its plasma.


Public reason's default position is not atheism or agnosticism about the dependence of everything on a transcendent Creator. On the contrary, there is good reason to judge that there is such a transcendent cause, capable of communicating with intelligent creatures, that one of the world's religions may be essentially true and others substantially truer than atheism, and that there is a human or natural right to immunity from coercion in religious inquiry, belief (or unbelief, precisely as such), and practice so far as is compatible with public order, that is with the rights of others, public peace and public morality. Contrary to the arguments of legal theorists such as Dworkin, Eisgruber and Sager, and the "mystery" passage in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the right to religious freedom should not be regarded as a mere instance of a general right to choose one's lifestyle and ethical beliefs or passionate choices. At the same time, any religious beliefs or practices which deny or overlook that right to religious liberty, and which encourage or license intimidation in relation to religious belief or in the name of religion, are not immune from coercive defensive measures where necessary for the protection of the rights of others or of the other aspects of public order. Such measures discriminate amongst religions justifiably.


The oxygen isotope composition of fossil fi sh teeth, a paleo– upper ocean temperature proxy exceptionally resistant to diagenetic alteration, provides new insight on the evolution of the low- to middlelatitude thermal gradient between the middle Cretaceous climatic optimum and the cooler latest Cretaceous period. The new middle Cretaceous low to middle latitude thermal gradient agrees with that previously inferred from planktonic foraminifera δ 18O recovered from Deep Sea Drilling Project and Ocean Drilling Program drilling sites, although the isotopic temperatures derived from δ 18O of fish teeth are uniformly higher by ~3–4 °C. In contrast, our new latest Cretaceous thermal gradient is markedly steeper than those previously published for this period. Fish tooth δ18O data demonstrate that low- to middle-latitude thermal gradients of the middle Cretaceous climatic optimum and of the cooler latest Cretaceous are similar to the modern one, despite a cooling of 7 °C between the two periods. Our new results imply that no drastic changes in meridional heat transport are required to explain the Late Cretaceous climate. Based on climate models, such a cooling without any change in the low to middle latitude thermal gradient supports an atmospheric CO2 decrease as the primary driver of the climatic evolution recorded during the Late Cretaceous.


Extravagantly rich and exotic come to mind when thinking of the bygone world of Indian royalty, yet almost all of the 565 princely states abruptly and peacefully came to an end in 1947. In fact, the dazzling princely dress had come to represent subordination to the Queen of Britain. Because Indian rulers were unable to perform the princely duties of defending their state under colonial rule, Indian royalty directed their excess resources to the consumption of luxury goods. These goods, most notably represented in their dress, came to symbolize the ruling class's increasing incompetence in the governing of their states.


Watershed Best Management Practices (BMPs) are often designed to reduce loading from particle‐borne contaminants, but the temporal lag between BMP implementation and improvement in receiving water quality is difficult to assess because particles are only moved downstream episodically, resting for long periods in storage between transport events. A theory is developed that describes the downstream movement of suspended sediment particles accounting for the time particles spend in storage given sediment budget data (by grain size fraction) and information on particle transit times through storage reservoirs. The theory is used to define a suspended sediment transport length scale that describes how far particles are carried during transport events, and to estimate a downstream particle velocity that includes time spent in storage. At 5 upland watersheds of the mid‐Atlantic region, transport length scales for silt‐clay range from 4 to 60 km, while those for sand range from 0.4 to 113 km. Mean sediment velocities for silt‐clay range from 0.0072 km/yr to 0.12 km/yr, while those for sand range from 0.0008 km/yr to 0.20 km/yr, 4–6 orders of magnitude slower than the velocity of water in the channel. These results suggest lag times of 100–1000 years between BMP implementation and effectiveness in receiving waters such as the Chesapeake Bay (where BMPs are located upstream of the characteristic transport length scale). Many particles likely travel much faster than these average values, so further research is needed to determine the complete distribution of suspended sediment velocities in real watersheds.


"English Poetry in Context" offers an accessible, comprehensive survey of the genre from the early modern period to the present day. Situating close readings of selected poems within their larger literary and historical contexts, it is an ideal starting point for students, teachers and other readers looking for a book that maps out the field of English poetry. Whether you are interested in a comprehensive overview or in in-depth case studies of your favourite poems, "English Poetry in Context" will cater for your demands.
Proceeding chronologically and discussing both canonical and less canonical poets, "English Poetry in Context" provides concise surveys of the periods discussed, biographical information on individual poets, case studies of their poems as well as suggestions for further reading. The book invites readers to look closely at what the poetic text, both in form and content, reveals about the context in which it was written, and to make individual poems and their larger historical contexts reflect upon each other.


The primary purpose of this study was to examine the potential of LOw LAtency (LOLA), a low latency audio visual technology designed to allow simultaneous music performance, as a distance learning tool for musical styles in which synchronous playing is an integral aspect of the learning process (e.g., jazz, folk styles). The secondary purpose was to describe participant perceptions of the effectiveness of three technologies used to teach music: LOLA, PolyCom, and Skype. To achieve these goals, we isolated a classical masterclass, jazz lesson, and old-time fiddle session and described trends for these lessons across the three technology platforms. Participants rated the overall effectiveness of LOLA (M = 4.25) higher than PolyCom (M = 3.06) and Skype (M = 2.80). Participants shared their perception that LOLA was superior to other technologies for learning and teaching music. Implications for music teaching are discussed.


Applying the iterative stitching algorithm, we demonstrate the power of subaperture testing through experiments. Naturally the algorithm applies to flats, spherical or aspheric surfaces. We first apply it to a silicon carbide flat mirror with larger aperture than the interferometer's. The testing results help to obtain a high-precision mirror through five iterations of ion beam figuring. The second experiment is 37-subaperture testing of a large spherical mirror. Good consistence is observed between the stitching result and the full aperture test result using a Zygo interferometer. Finally we study the applicability of the algorithm to subaperture testing of a parabolic surface. The stitching result is consistent with the auto-collimation test result. Furthermore, the surface is tested with annular subapertures and also retrieved by our algorithm successfully.


This essay is based on a lecture given as part of the McGeorge School of Law's Distinguished Speaker Series. The essay examines Brady v. Maryland as one of the Warren Court's criminal procedure cases that has taken on superhero status, announcing not only an important procedural right, but doing so in ringing moral terms that forever associate the right with the case. In Brady, the majority crafted its holding that an accused has a constitutional right to material exculpatory evidence as embodying the prosecutor's ethical duty to pursue "justice" and not simply victory in the courtroom. By crafting the opinion in this way, Brady joined cases like Gideon, Miranda and Mapp as opinions that possess special rhetorical power because they are expressly founded upon fundamental values like equality, human dignity, and the morality of government. This essay argues, however, that subsequent cases have largely robbed Brady of its superhero powers as a pre-trial discovery doctrine. By setting a very high threshold before exculpatory evidence becomes "material" and must be turned over - evidence that "could reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict" - the Court essentially has turned Brady from a pre-trial discovery device into a post-trial safety net to catch cases of government misconduct. Indeed, the essay suggests that the materiality standard is now so high that a prosecutor who discovers true Brady evidence prior to trial should ethically be considering dismissal of the charges, let alone the need to turn the evidence over to the defense. Because of Brady's limited usefulness as a pre-trial source for discovery, the essay urges that we not let the "mirage" of a constitutional right to discovery keep us from debating the need for broader discovery through statutory discovery rights and the rules of criminal procedure.


This work is motivated by the industrial need to improve the thermal treatments of carbon steels used for the production of files. It aims at clearly defining the role that carbon plays in hardness and wear resistance of files. Three steel grades with different carbon content have been studied. The samples underwent various austenizing treatments, including treatments under carburizing atmosphere, followed by a quenching process leading to an essentially martensitic microstructure. This microstructure has been studied by mechanical spectroscopy. Several complementary techniques have been used : microscopy, thermopower, calorimetry, measurement of the microhardness and of the file performance. The damping spectra show three relaxation peaks, attributed to the interaction of interstitial atoms with dislocations in martensite. Two of these peaks, M2 and M4, are related with the presence of interstitial carbon. Peak M2 is related with the migration of geometrical kinks along screw dislocations, and peak M4 with the kink-pair formation and migration on screw dislocations. Both peaks are controlled by carbon dragging. This interpretation is supported by the measured activation enthalpies. The amplitude of peak M4 depends on the interstitial-carbon content, which apparently contradicts its physical interpretation. This dependence is attributed to the increase of the quench-induced dislocation density with interstitial-carbon content. The peak amplitude is in fact proportional to the dislocation density. The mechanical spectroscopy measurements are also sensitive to tempering effects. In particular, the precipitation of transition carbides at 380 K is associated with a decrease of the damping background, attributed to the depletion of martensite from interstitial carbon. The decomposition of retained austenite, occurring at 520 K or 670 K depending on the grade, is associated with a modulus anomaly, attributed to a sudden decrease of the dislocation density in martensite. A damping maximum coinciding with this transformation can also be observed at low frequency. This study lead to the use of new thermal treatments under carburizing atmosphere. The used gas mix gives rise to an efficient carbon enrichment of the samples. However, the increase of interstitial-carbon content may also lead to a higher content of retained austenite, thus reducing hardness. Calorimetry measurements allow the quantification of such content, which varies according to the steel grade and the thermal treatment. Martensite hardness and wear resistance of the files clearly increase with the interstitial-carbon concentration, that can be quantified by thermopower measurements, after correction of the effect of retained austenite. Long carburizing treatments can cause the formation of carbides on the sample surface. The presence of carbides in a high-carbon martensite does not seem to improve the mechanical performances, and can even be detrimental. The present study leads to the assessment of an optimal treatment duration of 30 min, which produces a hard martensite with maximum interstitial-carbon content and limits the amount of retained austenite and carbides. This carburizing time seems to produce the saturation of both the content of interstitial carbon at the steel surface and of the amplitude of damping peak M4. The amplitude of this peak seems to be an effective criterion for the evaluation of the ideal carburizing time. Indeed, the peak amplitude increases with the content of interstitial carbon and decreases with the content of retained austenite and carbides. The estimated optimal carburizing time is compatible with production demands. A cryogenic treatment proves to lower efficiently the amount of retained austenite.


We have measured the total system latencies of MacOS 10.2.8, Red Hat Linux (2.4.25 kernel with low-latency patches), and Windows XP from stimulus in to audio out, with stimuli including analog and digital audio, and the QWERTY keyboard. We tested with a variety of audio hardware interfaces, audio drivers, buffering and related configuration settings, and scheduling modes. All measured audio latencies tracked expectedly with buffer sizes but with a consistent amount of unexplained additional latency. With analog I/O there was also a consistent additional bandwidth-dependent latency seemingly caused by hardware. Gesture tests with the QWERTY keyboard indicate discouragingly large amounts of latency and jitter, but large improvements on Linux when real-time priorities are set.


Parental separation is a major adverse childhood experience. Parental separation is generally preceded by conflict, which is itself a risk factor for child problem behavior. Whether parental separation independent of conflict has negative effects on child problem behavior is unclear. This study was embedded in Generation R, a population-based cohort followed from fetal life until age 9 years. Information on family conflict was obtained from 5,808 mothers and fathers. The 4-way decomposition method was used to apportion the effects of prenatal family conflict and parental separation on child problem behavior into 4 nonoverlapping components. Structural equation modeling was used to test bidirectional effects of child problem behavior and family conflict over time. Family conflict from pregnancy onward and parental separation each strongly predicted child problem behavior up to preadolescence according to maternal and paternal ratings. Using the 4-way decomposition method, we found evidence for a strong direct effect of prenatal family conflict on child problem behavior, for reference interaction, and for mediated interaction. The evidence for interaction implies that prenatal family conflict increased the children's vulnerability to the harmful effect of parental separation. There was no evidence of a pure indirect effect of parental separation on child problem behavior. Overall, results indicated that if parental separation occurs in families with low levels of conflict, parental separation does not predict more child problem behavior. Moreover, the bidirectional pattern suggested that child problem behavior influences the persistence of family conflict.


Planning an electronics assembly line is a complicated and costly business, both for traditional 'through hole' assembly and also surface mounting. There are a wide range of machines and facilities on the market, and the selection of one particular system over another has wide ranging implications for a company's manufacturing process and its final product. The directory provides manufacturers with a readable comparison of every electronics assembly machine at present available. By laying out the benefits and features of each system in simple tables, the editors have produced a concise and invaluable reference work. Along with comparisons of the systems, the directory provides contact names and addresses for suppliers worldwide including the States.


Peripheral nerves need to bend and stretch around joints in the limbs during normal movement. If this ability is compromised due to injury or disease then localised tension can result in damage and loss of function. Understanding how nerves function in biomechanical terms is an important research topic and translating observations made in animal models to the clinical situation is a critical step. Rat nerves exhibit localised strain differences and are more compliant at regions where they traverse joints. A corresponding regional heterogeneity in collagen fibril diameter has been observed in the rat median nerve, with fibrils at the joint region being thinner and more numerous than those in non joint regions. Earlier studies in humans suggested that an increase in fascicular number may help nerves resist the forces present at joints. To examine further whether increased fasciculation and/or variation in collagen fibril diameter occurs in human peripheral nerves where they traverse the elbow and wrist joints, a comparative ultrastructural and histological examination of cadaveric median, ulnar and radial nerves was undertaken. Two joint regions (elbow and wrist) and one non joint region (mid-forearm) were studied in each nerve. Collagen fibrils in the endoneurium, perineurium and epineurium were measured using transmission electron microscopy, and fascicle numbers were analysed by light microscopy. In the median nerve there was a similar trend in collagen fibril diameter to that seen in the rat, with thinner fibrils at the joint regions compared to the non joint region. The ulnar and radial nerves did not show this trend. Additionally, the median and ulnar nerves showed an increased number of fascicles at the wrist compared to the other areas studied. The biomechanical properties of human nerves have not been fully characterised and the extent to which stiffness varies along their length has not been measured directly. It is interesting therefore that the human median nerve shows the same pattern of joint-related ultrastructural characteristics as the rat nerve, suggesting that localised collagen fibril diameter may be a key feature contributing to median nerve mechanical architecture.


A typical animal mitochondrial genome consists of a single circular chromosome with 37 genes (Shao et al. 2015). Atypical mitochondrial genomic arrangements have been found in some lice species, including some species with minichromosomes with only a single protein-coding or ribosomal RNA gene (Cameron et al. 2011). Mitochondrial genome data from two species of chewing lice from pocket gophers have been reported to date. For both species, Geomydoecus aurei and Thomomydoecus minor (order Phthiraptera, suborder Ischnocera, family Trichodectidae), the cox1 gene occurs on a small (less than 2,000 base-pair [bp]) minichromosome (Pietan et al. 2016). Eight additional mitochondrial chromosomes of the louse, G. aurei are characterized here, one of which is derived from unpublished work of Andersen and Spradling (2017). For three additional minichromosomes, primers anchored in a conserved sequence region were used to amplify the majority of the circle. The four other minichromosomes were characterized using genomic sequence data annotated for mitochondrial sequences, which allowed the design of primers to amplify a portion of the circle. Seven protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 16 tRNA genes were annotated. The nucleotide lengths of G. aurei minichromosomes ranged from 1,318-1,922 bp. Each minichromosome had 1-2 protein-coding or rRNA genes with 1-3 tRNA genes. An identical 79-bp nucleotide sequence was present in all of the G. aurei minichromosomes along with three additional conserved sequence blocks that were shared among chromosomes, making the architecture of these minichromosomes similar to those of other lice in the family Trichodectidae (Song et al. 2018). All G. aurei minichromosomes had a 19-bp and an 11-bp sequence within the 79-bp conserved sequence block that was identical to the other pocket gopher louse species, T. minor, studied by Pietan et al. (2016). Given the differentiation otherwise observed between these species, the presence of stretches of identical nucleotide sequences suggests functional importance. The G. aurei cox2 minichromosome has a reduced gene content compared to other trichodectids, yet the total size of the minichromosome is similar among species, supporting suggestions by Shao et al. (2017) and Song et al. (2018) that selective pressure regulates overall size of minichromosomes in lice. ANALYSIS OF A FRAGMENTED MITOCHONDRIAL GENOME IN A CHEWING LOUSE, GEOMYDOECUS AUREI


Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a life support system for infants and children with intractable cardiorespiratory failure. The risk for developing neurological injuries in this group of patients is considerable. The causes are multifactorial and are not yet fully understood. Induction of ECMO involves ligation of the major neck vessels – common carotid artery and internal jugular vein – which may cause lateralised cerebrovascular injury. Physiologic changes such as hypoxia, hypotension and hypercarbia associated with ECMO can disrupt cerebral autoregulation.
Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers the advantage of continuous non invasive means of monitoring cerebral oxygenation at the bedside. To date, NIRS systems used clinically are single or dual channel systems and do not allow evaluation of the status of cerebral circulation in the extended cerebral regions.
This work involves the development of a multichannel NIRS system for use in paediatric cardiothoracic intensive care with specific application on patients supported on extracorporeal circulation. A novel flexible neonatal cap was designed and constructed to accommodate an array of sources and detectors that provide measurements of multisite cerebral oxygenation from 12 channels. Multimodal data collection (systemic and ECMO circuit parameters) simultaneous with multichannel NIRS was established to allow monitoring of multisite cerebral oxygenation and haemodynamics.
A novel method of analysis, wavelet cross-correlation, was generated to study the concordance between multisite oxyhaemoglobin concentration (HbO2) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) as a means to investigate regional variations in cerebral circulation and assess cerebral autoregualtion. Group data of 6 patients showed statistically significant differences in WCC between right and left hemispheres during sequential changes in ECMO circuit blood flow. WCC between HbO2 and MAP provides a useful method to investigate the dynamics of cerebral autoregulation during ECMO. Modest manipulations of ECMO flows are associated with regional changes in cerebral autoregulation which may potentially have an important bearing on clinical outcome.


The aim of this project was to evaluate the use of personal questionnaires as a form of enquiry into the individual experience of university students, and as a possible guide to student support processes. The general background to the work is a university initiative to develop research into student counselling and psychological support, within which the project starts to address the systematic understanding of student needs and concerns.

A rationale for the use of personal questionnaires with student populations was considered in comparison with features of psychometric approaches to the assessment of psychological variables in clinical and educational settings. This pilot study intended to explore how students engage with personal questionnaires in a range of university settings, and to obtain evaluations of participating students and associated staff relating to the impact, relevance and utility of personal questionnaires.

Trials of personal questionnaire formats were conducted in three academic and four support sites over a three-month period in the latter half of the academic year. One hundred and seventeen students participated in questionnaire trials on two university campuses; eleven staff in advisory and counselling settings participated in evaluation interviews. Outcomes were analysed using descriptive statistics of questionnaire use and a content summary of semi-structured interviews.

Allowing for the stated limitations of the project, including the small quantity of student feedback, the findings indicate that personal questionnaires enable students to present an authentic account of experiences subject to the influence of personal and contextual variables. Interview data suggest that these include level of emotional arousal, the motivation to engage in self-reflection, and the availability of a reflective space or facilitating relationship.

Based on these findings, proposals are made for more extensive and specific research into personal questionnaire use with students; and for consideration of their integration as elements in the overall appraisal of student support.