ABSTRACT The resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to some antimalarial drugs is linked to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Currently, there are no methods for the identification of resistant parasites that are sufficiently simple, cheap, and fast enough to be performed at point-of-care, i.e., in local hospitals where drugs are prescribed. Primer extension methods (PEXT) were developed to identify 4 SNPs in P. falciparum positioned at amino acids 86, 184, and 1246 of the P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 gene (pfmdr1) and amino acid 76 of the chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pfcrt). The PEXT products were visualized by a nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (NALFIA) with carbon nanoparticles as the detection labels. PCR-PEXT-NALFIAs showed good correlation to the reference methods, quantitative PCR (qPCR) or direct amplicon sequence analysis, in an initial open-label evaluation with 17 field samples. The tests were further evaluated in a blind study design in a set of 150 patient isolates. High specificities of 98 to 100% were found for all 4 PCR-PEXT genotyping assays. The sensitivities ranged from 75% to 100% when all PEXT-positive tests were considered. A number of samples with a low parasite density were successfully characterized by the reference methods but failed to generate a result in the PCR-PEXT-NALFIA, particularly those samples with microscopy-negative subpatent infections. This proof-of principle study validates the use of PCR-PEXT-NALFIA for the detection of resistance-associated mutations in P. falciparum, particularly for microscopy-positive infections. Although it requires a standard thermal cycler, the procedure is cheap and rapid and thus a potentially valuable tool for point-of-care detection in developing countries.


In this inaugural volume of the "Alexis De Tocqueville Lectures", political scientist James Ceaser traces the way certain ideas, including nature, history and religion - which he calls foundational ideas - have been understood and used by statesmen and public intellectuals over the course of American history, from the Puritans to the current day. Ceaser treats these ideas not as pure concepts of philosophy or theology, but rather as elements of political discourse that provide the ground or ultimate appeal for other political ideas, such as liberty or equality. At times, they have critically influenced the course of American political development, offering various opportunities and constraints for political leaders. Ceaser traces the histories of these ideas and their relation to other ideas, to practices, and to the fortunes of successive partisan regimes. Three critical commentators - historian Jack Rakove and political theorists Nancy Rosenblum and Rogers Smith - challenge Ceaser's arguments in several ways. They suggest that other ideas may be considered foundational, and they prod him to clarify further how foundational ideas work politically. Ceaser responds with vigour, and the result is a spirited debate about large and enduring questions in American politics.


Speaker diarization relies on the assumption that speech segments corresponding to a particular speaker are concentrated in a specific region of the speaker space; a region which represents that speaker's identity. These identities are not known a priori, so a clustering algorithm is typically employed, which is traditionally based solely on audio. Under noisy conditions, however, such an approach poses the risk of generating unreliable speaker clusters. In this work we aim to utilize linguistic information as a supplemental modality to identify the various speakers in a more robust way. We are focused on conversational scenarios where the speakers assume distinct roles and are expected to follow different linguistic patterns. This distinct linguistic variability can be exploited to help us construct the speaker identities. That way, we are able to boost the diarization performance by converting the clustering task to a classification one. The proposed method is applied in real-world dyadic psychotherapy interactions between a provider and a patient and demonstrated to show improved results.


Essential Law for Marketers offers clear and concise explanations of the laws that impact on the practice of marketing, advertising, sponsorship, design and public relations, providing expert guidance on crucial issues for the busy practitioner. Each chapter in the book offers, in simple English, full analysis of the law on each subject, and illuminates it with numerous examples and cases taken from current industry practice. It also offers helpful tips and suggestions for 'keeping it legal' without losing sight of the overall commercial objectives. Uniquely written from the practitioner's point of view, the text is structured to offer a complete and accessible picture of how the law can impinge on the job: 'Point of law' offers clear legal definitions or shows the generic application of a legal point in a real life context 'Law in action' outlines actual legal cases and their outcomes, with full referencing for the case available on the companion site 'Insight' offers background information, providing a broader practical or commercial context for a legal topic 'Checklist' at end of each chapter itemises the key issues to bear in mind

Essential Law for Marketers covers all the key issues facing those working in the media. From making claims and statements, copyright, defamation, promotion and advertising, through to lobbying, cybermarketing and ambush marketing, it is an invaluable reference guide for anyone working within the sector. It also functions as an excellent learning resource for all marketing students who need to appreciate the legal implications of industry practice.


Introduction Exacerbations are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory bacterial and viral infections are an important trigger for the occurrence of such exacerbations. However, using conventional diagnostic techniques, a causative agent is not always found. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) allows analysis of the complete virome, but has not yet been applied in COPD exacerbations. Objectives To study the respiratory virome in nasopharyngeal samples during COPD exacerbations using mNGS. Study design 88 nasopharyngeal swabs from 63 patients from the Bergen COPD Exacerbation Study (2006-2010) were analysed by mNGS and in-house qPCR for respiratory viruses. Both DNA and RNA were sequenced simultaneously using an lllumina library preparation protocol with in-house adaptations. Results By mNGS, 23/88 samples tested positive. Sensitivity and specificity were both 96% for diagnostic targets (23/24 and 1067/1120, respectively). Viral pathogens only detected by mNGS were herpes simplex virus type 1 and coronavirus OC43. A positive correlation was found between Cq value and mNGS viral species reads (p=0.008). Patients with viral pathogens had lower percentages of bacteriophages (p<0.000). No correlation was found between viral reads (species and genus level) and clinical markers. Conclusions The mNGS protocol used was highly sensitive and specific for semi-quantitative detection of respiratory viruses. Excellent negative predictive value implicates the power of mNGS to exclude any infectious cause in one test, with consequences for clinical decision making. Reduced abundance of bacteriophages in COPD patients with viral pathogens implicates skewing of the virome, and speculatively the bacterial population, during infection.


We introduce an approach to integrate segmentation information within a convolutional neural network (CNN). This counter-acts the tendency of CNNs to smooth information across regions and increases their spatial precision. To obtain segmentation information, we set up a CNN to provide an embedding space where region co-membership can be estimated based on Euclidean distance. We use these embeddings to compute a local attention mask relative to every neuron position. We incorporate such masks in CNNs and replace the convolution operation with a "segmentation-aware" variant that allows a neuron to selectively attend to inputs coming from its own region. We call the resulting network a segmentation-aware CNN because it adapts its filters at each image point according to local segmentation cues, while at the same time remaining fully-convolutional. We demonstrate the merit of our method on two widely different dense prediction tasks, that involve classification (semantic segmentation) and regression (optical flow). Our results show that in semantic segmentation we can replace DenseCRF inference with a cascade of segmentation-aware filters, and in optical flow we obtain clearly sharper responses than the ones obtained with comparable networks that do not use segmentation. In both cases segmentation-aware convolution yields systematic improvements over strong baselines.


We have previously shown that a significant inverse correlation exists between the height of the plasma insulin concentration and the efficiency of glucose uptake in the fasting state. Subsequently, we devised an infusion technic that provides a more specific measure of cellular resistance to insulin mediated glucose uptake. We have used this technic to study the relationship between fasting plasma insulin level and resistance to insulin mediated glucose uptake in twenty-two patients with normal oral glucose tolerance, fourteen patients with impaired glucose tolerance, and fourteen patients classified as having chemical diabetes mellitus. The results indicate a highly significant positive correlation between the degree of insulin resistance and fasting plasma insulin concentration (r = .69, p < .0001). A positive correlation (r = .43, p < .005) was also found between the degree of insulin resistance and the two hour plasma glucose level during an oral glucose tolerance test. However, no significant correlation was found between per cent adiposity and fasting insulin level, and the relationship between insulin resistance and fasting insulin level appeared to be independent of obesity or any other known cause of decreased insulin responsiveness. These studies indicate that: (1) increases in fasting insulin levels and increase in resistance to insulin mediated glucose uptake are closely related, and that these changes can occur in the absence of any of the "known" causes of decreased insulin responsiveness; (2) in the types of subjects we have studied, deterioration of glucose tolerance is closely related to increases in insulin resistance; and (3) the increases in fasting insulin levels which we have observed appear to be compensatory attempts to overcome the resistance to glucose uptake.


The feasibility of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for sensitive variables extraction, non-destructive detection and visualization of total viable count (TVC) and pH in lamb was investigated. Regions of interest (ROIs) of pure muscles were acquired and the corresponding representative dataset were preprocessed and divided into the calibration set and the prediction set using the method of sample set partitioning based on the joint X–Y distance (SPXY). Moreover, sensitive variables were studied and identified from full band spectra (473–1013 nm) by coarse screening (GA), medium screening (GA-CARS) and fine screening (GA-CARS-SPA). Consequently, sixty two and fifty nine feature-related variables were selected to develop the best models of GA-CARS-PLSR for predicting and visualizing TVC and pH in lamb with R2p of 0.93 and 0.96 and RMSEP of 0.42 and 0.054, respectively. In addition, based on GA-CARS-SPA, seventeen and sixteen simplified feature-related variables were finally extracted to build new multiple linear regression (MLR) models for facilitating further development of a multispectral system of these two attributes, yielding R2p of 0.79 and 0.87 and RMSEP of 0.73 and 0.11, respectively. The promising results indicate that HSI has the potential as a fast and non-invasive method for simultaneously predicting and visualizing multiple freshness attributes of vacuum packaged lamb samples.


The effect of added Li+ to two ionic liquids (ILs), ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) and ethanolammonium nitrate (EtAN), has been investigated using rheology and colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM). Rheology data revealed a complex viscosity dependence that can be ascribed to the different bulk nanostructures. AFM force curves revealed steps for the neat ILs, analogous to those in previous studies. The addition of Li+ broadened the steps, which is likely an effect of ion clusters formed. Friction measurements corroborate this data and also showed that the structure of EtAN is much more prone to change as Li+ is added. These results demonstrate the complex behavior of ILs on interfaces and the effect of perturbing such interactions.


Differentiation into diverse cell lineages requires orchestration of gene regulatory networks guiding cell fate choices. Here, we present the dissection of cellular composition and gene networks from transcriptomic data of 43,168 cells across five discrete time points during cardiac-directed differentiation. We utilize unsupervised clustering and implement a lineage trajectory prediction algorithm that integrates transcription factor networks to predict cell fate progression of 15 subpopulations that correlate with germ layer and cardiovascular differentiation in vivo. These data reveal transcriptional networks underlying lineage derivation of mesoderm, definitive endoderm, vascular endothelium, cardiac precursors, and definitive cell types that comprise cardiomyocytes and a previously unrecognized cardiac outflow tract population. Single cell analysis of genetic regulators governing cardiac fate diversification identified the non-DNA binding homeodomain protein, HOPX, as functionally necessary for endothelial specification. Our findings further implicate dysregulation of HOPX during in vitro cardiac-directed differentiation underlying the molecular and physiological immaturity of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.


Background. The safety of epidural anaesthesia in patients at risk for right ventricular pressure overload remains controversial. We compared the haemodynamic effects of vascular and cardiac autonomic nerve block, induced by selective lumbar (LEA) and high thoracic epidural anaesthesia (TEA), respectively, in an animal model subjected to controlled acute right ventricular pressure overload. Methods. Eighteen pigs were instrumented with epidural catheters at the thoracic (T) and lumbar (L) level and received separate injections at T2 (1 ml) and L3 (4 ml) with saline (s) or bupivacaine 0.5% (b). Three groups of six animals were studied: (i) a control group (Ls þ Ts), (ii) LEA group (Lb þ Ts), and (iii) TEA group (Ls þ Tb). Haemodynamic measurements including biventricular pressure-volumetry were performed. Right ventricular afterload was then increased by inflating a pulmonary artery (PA) balloon. Measurements were repeated after 30 min of sustained right ventricular afterload increase. Results. LEA decreased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and did not affect ventricular function. TEA had minor effects on SVR but decreased left ventricular contractility while baseline right ventricular function was not affected. Control and LEA-treated animals responded simi-larly to a PA balloon occlusion with an increase in right ventricular contractility and heart rate. Animals pretreated with a TEA did not show this positive inotropic response and developed low cardiac output in the presence of right ventricular pressure overload. Conclusions. In contrast to LEA, TEA reduced the haemodynamic tolerance to PA balloon occlusion by inhibiting the right ventricular positive inotropic response to acute pressure overload. 2010;


The behaviors and actions that an individual carries out in their daily life and how they are translated by their society overdetermine the gender one might have—or not—according to social norms. However, do the postulates enounced by feminist and queer Western thinkers still maintain their validity when the context changes? Can the performances of gender carry out their validity when the landscape is other than the one in Europe or the United States? And how can the context of drag complicate these matters? These are the questions that this article will try to answer by analyzing the 2015 movieVivaby Irish director Paddy Breathnach.


The era of new media and internet cause a lot of effect in people's lives, both negative and positive. The existence of new media is even capable of changing the lives of people in one entire village, perform a civic empowerment movement. Program cyber village on Rt 36 RW 09 Taman Kelurahan Patehan, Kecamatan Kraton, Yogyakarta starts from the desire of the village board who wish to advance the village and its villagers through the use of new media. Starting from a blog, this program was introduced to the citizens. Villagers began to be taught how to use computers and internet, then how the internet can be used as a marketing tool. This program continues to grow and eventually villagers in RT 36 is not only using new media as a marketing tool for their products but also transforms new media as a new way of communication. The predicate of Cyber Kampong is now attached to RT 36, the village was changed from a traditional village into a village full of new potential in business and industry. The research itself used qualitative methods case studies, where this research itself is an extension study from analysis of new media utilization in RT 36. The results showed that the use of new media in the cyber kampong program is successful to improve people's stage of lives. This success has changed the initial views of citizens who reject this program, now cyber kampong appears as a tourism village that not only sell craft products but also cyber education tourism. Keywords: Civic empowerment; cyber village; internet; new media


Multi-sector collaboration is an important means of achieving strategic, cross-sectoral change. However, it also presents significant managerial challenges. In this paper, we examine these challenges in the case of a multi-sector collaboration formed to address treatment issues in the Canadian HIV/AIDS domain. Based on this case, we develop a framework for understanding multi-sector collaboration as a series of conversations in which participants must successfully juggle their dual roles of collaborative partner and organisational representatives.


In solar cell current research, innovative solutions and materials are continuously requested for efficiency improvements. Si-based technology rules over 95% of the market, with silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell reaching 26.7% record efficiency. Nonetheless, hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layers employed in the structure still have challenges, resolvable with oxygen/nitrogen inclusion. In parallel, new technologies based on different materials still lack in the market due to stability issues or low efficiencies. However, a preliminary study of their properties creates a deeper knowledge exploitable in photovoltaic application. In this perspective, we investigated both innovative Si-based materials (nanocrystalline and amorphous silicon oxy-nitride and oxide thin films, nc-SiOxNy, a-SiOxNy and a-SiOx, respectively) and innovative materials (perovskite lanthanum-vanadium oxide LaVO3 thin films, indium gallium nitride InxGa1-xN and aluminium indium gallium nitride AlxInyGa1-x-yN layers) for solar cell concepts. Different deposition conditions have been employed to extract their influence on compositional, optical, and electrical properties.
The study on nc-SiOxNy layers by conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) and surface photovoltage (SPV) has allowed to clarify O, N, and B content, and annealing treatment role on microscopic transport properties.
On a-SiOx and a-SiOxNy layers, by spectral ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoconductance decay and SPV, we can conclude that moderate insertions of O/N in a-Si:H lead to a decrease of optical parasitic absorption, preserving the passivation quality of the layers.
The measurements by AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy on LaVO3 have clearly shown that it is a poor charge-transport medium, thus not suitable for photovoltaic applications.
The analysis on InGaN and AlGaInN by SPV measurements has shown how low In content, Si doping and no misfit dislocations in InGaN/GaN structure cause less recombination processes at the interface, whereas, the strain relaxation (tensile and compressive) with the formation of pinholes produces better interfaces in the AlGaInN/GaN samples.


Buildings have significant and continuously increasing impact on the environment. The power consumption for comfortable housing is ever increasing, which is adding additional burden to the power crisis of the world. The main objective of this project is to reduce the heat transfer through the building roof by providing thermal insulation, thereby reducing the heat load on the building. Moreover, if the building is to be air-conditioned then effective thermal insulation will reduce the power consumption drastically and saves lot of energy consumption. New innovative type of insulation is proposed in this work to reduce the heat transfer through roof structure by using seashells and coconut shells. The coconut shells and seashells layer along with normal tiles will provide very good thermal insulation and it will maintain low roof bottom surface temperature when compared with the normal conventional concrete roof without insulation. Two identical experimental rooms were constructed on the top of the college mechanical engineering department block and were instrumented with thermocouple and RTD along with data logger for obtaining continuous experimental results. The amount of heat reduction provided by the insulated roof structure was calculated using analytical method. Then the cooling load requirement for air-conditioning and the corresponding energy cost per year was calculated for the new CAD lab of the mechanical engineering department. The result showed the huge energy savings potential for this innovative thermal insulation technique. The electricity savings obtained is around 39.7%.when compared with conventional concrete roof. This innovative technique for providing thermal insulation to the building is more affordable and comfortable for living.


"I love you dad." I looked at my 5 year old son and made a mental note to complain to the school about the subversive content of its discussion forum classroom activity known as circle time. I explained that he didn't even know me and that he should wait until he was at least 40 before he started making any definite commitment. He nodded, but I wasn't sure that he understood. In Britain, understatement rules supreme, and Brief Encounter—the dullest film ever made—is considered by many as our greatest love story. Emotional Americana makes many of us squirm.squirm.

Figure 1

Adam Wishart

Profile Books, £15, pp 288 ISBN 1 86197 752 2

Rating: ★★★★

Adam Wishart's father is diagnosed as having metastatic cancer. Faced by his father's mortality, Adam is imprisoned by emotions. Both father and son are bound by the social stereotypes and expectations of their gender. The pursuit of understanding is the comfort zone of their relationship, and so begins the author's research into the history of cancer.

Names of certain medical heroes, who have caused generations of medical students' eyes to glass over, are all here: Hippocrates, Galen, Snow, Virchow, Morgagni, Lister, Marie Curie, Farber, Doll, and many lesser known luminaries.

The ancients believed that cancer was an illness of melancholy. It was not until the scientific revolution of the 17th century that these views were swept aside by the advent of medical dissection and then the microscope. Lister, influenced by Pasteur's germ theory, used antiseptics and ended the scourge of Victorian surgery—infection. Combined with new anaesthetics, effective cancer surgery became a reality and ended the butchery of the past. The chance discovery of x rays and radium at the start of the 20th century opened a new door into both the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy in the 1950s cured children with leukaemia.

In the 1960s, with the love-ins and the lunar landing, humanity and especially America seemed able to conquer all. President Nixon seeking his place in history (he needn't have worried) declared a "war on cancer." The search for the magic bullet against cancer began in earnest, but death rates were unchanged.

Punk and industrial recession saw the optimism of the 1960s and 1970s vanish. Society began to question cancer care. The mutilating surgery, the poisonous chemotherapy, and the scorching radiotherapy had traumatised families and patients alike, with little seeming benefit, so patients turned away from conventional treatments. With the rise of alternative therapies, medicine was forced to relinquish its "monopoly on wisdom."

As for the modern love affair for all things "screening," Wishart neatly explains that paradoxically the individual is never likely to benefit directly from screening. Finally he looks at gene therapy and ponders whether this is the magic bullet.

The story of the author's father is woven through the book until his eventual death. Clearly, being a man and telling your father that you love him isn't easy. No circle time for us. One in Three offers real hope.


The present aimed to identify and describe lesions caused by helminths in motelo tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulata). Forty gastrointestinal tracts were collected at Belen market in Iquitos, Peru where this species is sold for meat consumption. The macroscopic analysis showed that 42.5, 70.0, and 100% of the stomachs, small intestine and large intestine respectively were parasitized or affected by pathological –possibly due to parasites– changes like nodules, blackish coloration areas, ulcers, perforations, thickening, congestion and hemorrhagic areas. Parasites of 11 species were collected: Labiduris gulosa, Labiduris zschokkei, Labiduris irineuta, Atractis marquezi, Klossinemella travassosi, Sauricola sauricola, Chapiniella variabilis, Angusticaecum holopterum and Ophidascaris arndti (Nematoda), and Halltrema avitellina and Helicotrema spirale (Trematoda). Histologically, an invasion of the four gastrointestinal layers by parasitic structures compatible with H. avitellina (and its eggs), C. variabilis, S. sauricola and un undetermined species of atractideus was observed mostly surrounded by inflammatory exudates formed by eosinophiles, giant cells, lymphocytes and connective tissue. Also, the presence of eosinophilic infiltrate in the mucosa was found as a response to the contact with O. arndti and H. spirale. The results showed that all animals presented parasitic lesions in the large intestine, most of them severe; whereas lesions in stomach and small intestine were mainly moderate and mild.


Before the availability of antibiotics minor infections could become life threatening. Nurses working in voluntary and public hospitals in Britain were exposed to such risks. This thesis uses both oral testimonies and published sources in order to examine their practices concerning the management of infection risks. The detail of nursing work in this period has been generally hidden in nursing histories of the 1930s and 1940s which have addressed mainly political, recruitment, educational, registration and status issues. Whilst these histories may comment about menial duties, and the culture and discipline in clinical areas, they lack detailed exploration of the day-to-day work of the nurse. This novel study contributes to redressing the balance by examining nursing practice between the discovery of penicillin in 1929 and its widespread availability in Britain in 1948. Data analysis, including the oral testimonies of nineteen former nurses who worked between 1929 and 1948, suggests that nursing practice during this period placed enormous emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene. It is argued that this was linked to sanitarianism which influenced nursing practice before its replacement by germ theory. Probationer nurses learnt their skills in managing infection risks to themselves and their patients in a disciplined and safe way. This was achieved through the exercise of strict routines and a hierarchy of tasks that provided a graduated exposure to the patient and infection risks. This thesis draws on debates in the literature about purity, vocation and status to explore, and add weight to this argument. The analysis also identifies that the introduction of sulphonamide drugs and antibiotics altered nursing practices in the management of both infection risks and patients with infection. Whilst the full effects of these changes are not examined in this thesis, it is argued that the significant impact of these drugs was such that the emphasis on cleaning and hygiene became diminished in importance and nursing had to redefine its role. It suggests that more prominence needs to be given to changes in clinical practice in the history of nursing.This study breaks new ground by suggesting the rigorous training of nurses in cleaning and hygiene tasks was needed in order to manage the infection risks faced by nurses before the availability of antibiotics.


This paper discusses a central element in globalization debate little addressed by economists, namely the interactions at global, national, and community levels between globalization and societally based values. Social values refer to wider notions of collective identity: religious values, attitudes towards materialism, moral beliefs, and a sense of collective awareness and are a broader and more encompassing concept than social capital discussed in recent economics and sociology literature. Social capital relates to trust, honesty and the social fabric of accepted norms central to the successful implementation of individual optimizing decisions, and denotes a communal asset reflecting strength of joint collective commitment whose amount can be increased or improved upon through investment of time and resources. Social values are much discussed in sociological literature going back to Comte, Durkheim, Parsons, and others. The issues taken up here are how different social values might interact and change as societies and their economies integrate (globalize). Processes of value competition, displacement, joint assimilation occur naturally to economists, but seem little studied by sociologists who seemingly place less stress on analytical comparative statics. Scenarios for how values can interact under globalization are discussed in the text.


Borehole ground penetrating radar (BGPR) operated in zero offset profiling (ZOP) mode has promise for monitoring rapidly changing water contents within the subsurface. However, the coexistence of multiple travel paths through the subsurface can give rise to measurement errors. Specifically, in layered systems with sharp changes in water content with depth, critically refracted waves may arrive before direct waves at some depths. Velocity profiles are determined based on analyses of the travel time of the first‐arriving energy at each depth. Therefore, correct velocity analysis requires that these travel times be classified according to the path followed by the first‐arriving energy. We establish criteria that can be used to identify first‐arriving critically refracted waves from travel time profiles. Through hypothetical examples and a field experiment, we demonstrate that these criteria allow for more accurate determination of the water content profile. However, these corrections are limited if thin, high water content layers are present in the subsurface.


Tamper-resistant cryptographic processors are becoming the standard way to enforce data-usage policies. Their history began with military cipher machines, and hardware security modules that encrypt the PINs used by bank customers to authenticate themselves to ATMs. In both cases, the designers wanted to prevent abuse of data and key material should a device fall into the wrong hands. From these specialist beginnings, cryptoprocessors spread into devices such as prepayment electricity meters, and the vending machines that sell credit for them. In the 90s, tamper-resistant smartcards became integral to GSM mobile phone identification and to key management in pay-TV set-top boxes, while secure microcontrollers were used in remote key entry devices for cars. In the last five years, dedicated crypto chips have been embedded in devices from games console accessories to printer ink cartridges, to control product and accessory aftermarkets. The 'Trusted Computing' initiative will soon embed cryptoprocessors in PCs so that they can identify each other remotely. This paper surveys the range of applications of tamperresistant hardware, and the array of attack and defence mechanisms which have evolved in the tamper-resistance


Robinson supports the proposed purposes text of the New American Law Institute Report on Sentencing Reform but argues that in practice it will not mean what traditional utilitarians, like those supporting limiting retributivism, are expecting. First, the proposed text allows reliance upon non-desert distributive principles only to the extent that they serve their stated goals. As the ALI Report concedes, there are limits to the effectiveness one can expect from rehabilitation and, as is now becoming apparent from social science research, our realistic expectations for the effectiveness of deterrence are similarly fading. It is true that incapacitation undoubtedly works to prevent future crime and there is increasing evidence that restorative processes can be effective in achieving their goal, but following these distributive principles can have crime prevention costs (which the text's proposed distributive principle would not seem to allow to be taken into account). For example, most importantly, reliance upon these principles can undercut the criminal law's moral credibility and, thereby, its power to gain compliance by harnessing social norms. Second, the greatest constraint on the influence of the enumerated non-desert purposes is the proposed principle's demand that no distribution can conflict with the demands of desert. Contrary to the assumption of the original advocates of limiting retributivism that desert provides only vague outer limits on punishment, desert has quite specific demands, driven in large part by the demand of ordinal ranking: that a case of greater blameworthiness receive greater punishment than a case of comparatively less blameworthiness. Given the limited range of punishments a liberal democracy ought to be willing to inflict, distinguishing cases of distinguishable blameworthiness means that the deserved punishment will fall within a narrow range on the punishment continuum (a result consistent with what social scientists are lately learning about the rather sophisticated intuitions of justice shared by laypersons). In closing, Robinson offers brief remarks addressed to those who oppose a desert distribution, of which he suggests there are two sorts: those who have an erroneous of what desert means, and those who think avoiding crime is more important than doing justice. To the first group, he simply sketches the current consensus view of constitutes the modern conception of desert. To the second group, he argues that a desert distribution may well be the most effective in avoiding future crime, once one takes into account the crimogenic effect of nondesert distributions, when the community comes to understand that the criminal justice system is not in fact in the business of doing justice. In any case, he argues that in the absence of sufficient data to reliably answer the empirical question as to which distribution would best reduce crime, we ought to do at least what we know we can do: do justice.


Abstract:Online illness stories (and, arguably, other online stories as well) do not simply adhere to or demonstrate the increasingly identifiable generic conventions of electronic media but also contain the potential to play with their form as particular stories and perspectives demand. Through an investigation of the My Cancer blog, hosted on National Public Radio's Web site from 2006 to 2009, I will examine how blogging narrative negotiates the paradoxical aspects of its hybrid but generic form of storytelling. Borrowing a phrase that Arthur W. Frank uses to describe the impact of story in The Wounded Storyteller, I argue that blogs such as My Cancer forward a dynamic and ambivalent model of storytelling that encourages their readers to think differently about illness and illness communities.


Qing imperial economic activity was under the tight control of a few important organizations, a highly concentrated economy, and political pressure. The Imperial Household Department (IHD) is one of these important organizations, and is a major one. The major sources of Qing income were land tax, salt tax, and customs duties. IHD revenue came from tariffs and salt monopoly, far beyond its income from agricultural land rents. In the Qianlong era, IHD bondservants made up most of the tariff administration and the salt administration. These personal also handled the IHD trade in ginseng and other goods, as well as interest bearing loans to merchants from the IHD treasury, which were issued through the Changlu and Lianghuai salt administrations. If these officials were found to have committed a crime and were fined, or had their property confiscated, it would all go to the IHD. In the Qianlong period, every year the IHD treasury was ordered to move millions in funds to the Board of Revenue. Those millions were originally taxes that merchants submitted to the Board of Revenue through the IHD. Qianlong's establishment of Tibetan Buddhist temples in the Rehe region helped to maintain more than one hundred years' peaceful relationship with the Mongolia. During the Qing dynasty, emperors provided for numerous Tibetan monks in the capital, their daily expenses paid by the Board of Revenue. Expenses for building temples and conducting ceremonies were paid by the IHD. The moneys paid by the emperors were far more than the expenses covered by the Board of Revenue, and therefore did not cause fiscal problems for the state. Because the temples of Tibetan Buddhism attracted numerous followers, areas by the temples became important markets, and lamas further gained income from commercial activities. Qing emperors believed that Mongolia was weakened because of Mongol belief in Tibetan Buddhism and that their donations to the lamas contributed to the decline of the Mongolian economy. From these observations, it is safe to say the Qing government successfully weakened Mongolia through Tibetan Buddhism. Surcharges added to customs levies were too numerous to calculate and provided many opportunities for bureaucratic corruption. Although the money that the bureaucrats owed to the government should have been paid to the Board of Revenue, the emperor ordered the payments to be handed over to the IHD. As the emperor set this selfish example, so the bureaucrats followed suit. This pattern of corruption lasted until the end of the Qing dynasty and was a major cause of the Qing's decline.


OBJECTIVE
Persistent neurocognitive deficits have been described in bipolar mood disorder. As far as we are aware, no study have examined whether the cognitive impairment is presented in the same way in a Brazilian sample.

METHOD
Cognitive function of 66 patients with bipolar disorder (32 with depressive symptoms and 34 euthymic) and 28 healthy subjects was examined using a complete cognitive battery.

RESULTS
Patients with bipolar disorder presented a significantly poorer performance in eight of the 12 subtests when compared to healthy subjects. There was no significant difference between the subgroups of patients. These patients showed impairment in both verbal and non-verbal cognitive function.

CONCLUSION
Cognitive impairment was found in both groups of patients with bipolar disorder. The findings described here suggest an overall impairment of cognitive function, independent of mood symptoms. This is in line with data showing that cognitive deficits may be a persistent characteristic of bipolar disorder.


List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Editors' Introduction Guide for Students and Teachers 1. Biography of the Daoist Saint Wang Fengxian by Du Guangting (850 - 933) Translated by Suzanne Cahill This biography of an important Daoist female saint of the mid-ninth century chronicles her life from childhood through her spiritual self-cultivation, culminating in her ascension to heaven. 2. Biography of the Great Compassionate One of Xiangshan by Jiang Zhiqi (1031 - 1104) Translated by Chun-fang Yu The earliest documentary evidence of the legend of Miaoshan, this stone inscription shows how the local story of a Chinese princess became identified with a universal Buddhist deity, the Bodhisattva Guanyin. 3. The Book of Filial Piety for Women Attributed to a Woman Nee Zheng (ca. 730) Translated by Patricia Buckley Ebrey The excerpt from this classic appears opposite corresponding passages from the original Book of Filial Piety to highlight the differences gender makes in the text and its messages. 4. Funerary Writings by Chen Liang (1143-1194) Translated by Beverly Bossler These three funerary odes describe how the funeral tablets of Chen Liang's mother's family came to be in his care, how his mother and her sister decided to marry their children together, and how his sister sustained her natal household during a period of family calamity. Along with the commemorative biography that follows, they open important windows on domestic life and family values during the period following the fall of the Northern Song. 5. "The Customs of Various Barbarians" by Li Jing (1251 - ?) Translated by Jacqueline M. Armijo-Hussein This description of minority peoples from a Yuan dynasty official's record of his experiences in Yunnan province illustrates how views of gender relations and especially sexual practices served as a measure of the level of civilization among non-Han populations. 6. Selected Writings by Luo Rufang (1515 - 1588) Translated by Yu-Yin Cheng In these writings scholar and philosopher Luo Rufang celebrates women who pursue intellectual and philosophical interests. He also champions the virtue of motherly nurturance and love, which he considered as important as the central Confucian virtues of filial piety and brotherly respect. 7. Final Instructions by Yang Jisheng (1516 - 1555) Translated by Beverly Bossler Composed in prison, these notes instruct Yang's wife and sons how to get along without him. His foremost concerns are three: that his family not become the subject of ridicule, that his sons get along with one another, and that his wife--who had already proven herself the moral conscience of the family--not commit suicide. 8. "Record of Past Karma" by Ji Xian (1614 - 1683) Translated by Grace S. Fong This autobiographical essay by the woman poet Ji Xian , with its powerful descriptions of dreams, visions, and personal illness, is unusually self-revelatory of the tensions between her personal religious desires and her obligations to her family. 9. "Letter to My Sons" by Gu Ruopu (1592 - ca.1681) Translated by Dorothy Ko Having seen to it that both sons married capable and learned wives, Hangzhou poet Gu Ruopu, virtuous widow and matriarch of the Huang family, decided to divide the family property and establish separate households for them. In this letter Gu outlines her support for the Confucian ideal of familism, but admonishes her sons to recognize women's indispensable roles in the male-centered kinship system. 10. Personal Letters in Seventeenth-Century Epistolary Guides Translated by Kathryn Lowry The large number of epistolary guides and collected letters published in the late Ming include models for letters to family members as well as a few examples of love letters and provide a unique view of the social universe of that period. The love letters translated here show how this genre can be read as a sort of epistolary fiction and raise questions about how people might have consulted letter-writing manuals for reasons beyond social etiquette. 11. Letters by Women of the Ming-Qing Period Translated by Yu-Yin Cheng These short letters, written in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, reveal the erudition and wit as well as the spiritual and aesthetic sensibilities of highly educated upper-class women. 12. Selected Short Works by Wang Duanshu (1621 - after 1701) Translated by Ellen Widmer These short selections from the works of one of the earliest anthologists of women's writings display the extraordinary range and breadth of her learning, while revealing her personal, aesthetic, and scholarly sensibilities. 13. Two Ghost Stories from Liaozhai's Records of the Strange by Pu Songling (1640 - 1715) Translated by Judith T. Zeitlin The ghost story, authored by men and narrated from the male point of view, is one of the privileged spaces in Chinese literature for exploring fantasies of gender and sexuality. Such tales often involve a passionate affair between a young scholar and a beautiful female ghost who possesses a surprising degree of corporeality. The two late imperial tales translated here share two related themes: the power of love to triumph over death and the cosmic power of male generativity. 14. Two Biographies by Zhang Xuecheng (1738 - 1801) Translated by Susan Mann These biographies by one of the most distinguished scholars of the Qing period breathe life into views of women that are sometimes dismissed as mere conventions or stereotypes. In both texts we see, through men's eyes, how women took responsibility for setting the standards to measure and criticize men's behavior. 15. Poems on Tea-Picking Translated by Weijing Lu These poems about women at work, written mostly by men and spanning the dynasties from Tang through Qing, display the varied meanings of women's work in the poetic imagery of elite writers and point to the ways in which women as literary subjects supplied a ceaseless range of possibilities for inventive poets over time. The poems also show the subtle relationship between poetry as social criticism and poetry as aesthetic performance in the culture of the late imperial elite. 16. Drinking Wine and Reading "Encountering Sorrow": A Reflection in Disguise by Wu Zao (1799 - 1862) Translated by Sophie Volpp In this dramatic tableau the playwright casts herself as the sole speaker. She poses before a portrait of herself cross-dressed as a male scholar and sings to the portrait a sequence of lyrics describing her frustrations as a woman of talent. The text concludes that none but her cross-dressed self-image is a match for the writer herself. Hangzhou poet and official Chen Wenshu, a noted patron of female writers, wrote a collection of poems celebrating this work. 17. A Brief Record of the Eastern Ocean by Ding Shaoyi (fl. 1847) Translated by Emma Jinhua Teng During his eight-month stay in Taiwan in 1847 Ding Shaoyi wrote the Brief Record, which treats sixteen topics, among them: taxes, schools, coastal defense, local products, "savage" villages, "savage" customs, and marvels. When he returned to Taiwan in 1871 he appended new material to each item in his original account. The passage translated here is Ding's 1871 supplement to his original entry titled "Savage Customs." 18. The "Eating Crabs" Youth Book Translated by Mark C. Elliott This anonymous bilingual text, in Manchu and Chinese, reflects the complex ethnic picture in late imperial China, particularly in and around Beijing. Youth books were a form of oral performance very popular in the Qing capital. In this particular one, the story is told of a hapless Manchu bannerman and his shrewish Han Chinese wife who run afoul of a pot of feisty crabs. Glossaries and References Contributors Index


OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of myrica flavone on male reproductive toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide and its mechanism.

METHODS
Thirty 6-week-old male ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group, cyclophosphamide reproductive injury model group, myricetin low-medium high-dose intervention group. Except the blank control group, the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg daily for 7 consecutive days. The myricetin group received intragastric administration of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg myricetin daily for 30 consecutive days since the second day of modeling. The blank control group and the model control group were given an equal volume of a 0. 25% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution. The body weight was measured every 3 days, and the day after the last administration, the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the epididymis and testes were quickly taken. Testicular weighing, testicular index calculation, epididymis to obtain sperm, sperm analyzer to analyze sperm density and vitality. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in testicular tissues was detected by immunoblotting, and the mitochondrial membrane potential of sperm was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS
After 9 days of modeling, the weight of mice in the model group was lower than that of the blank control group, which was statistically different(P<0. 05). There was no difference between the myricetin treatment group and the model group. The testis index of the model group was(3. 93±0. 91)mg/g, which was significantly lower than that of the blank control group(6. 93±0. 98)mg/g, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0. 05). After treatment with bayberry flavonoids, the testis index increased, in the 100 and 200 groups and 400 mg/kg testis index were(3. 94±1. 21) mg/g, (4. 33±0. 88) mg/g, and(4. 80±0. 43) mg/g, respectively. Compared with model control group, The difference was statistically significant(P<0. 05 and P<0. 01). Compared with the control group, the sperm density, sperm rate of forward movement, sperm rate of non-forward movement, and decreased sperm rate of non-moving sperm increased in the model group. After treatment with bayberry flavonoids, compared with the model group, the sperm density, sperm rate of forward motion, and sperm rate of non-forward motion increased, and the immobility sperm rate decreased. The 200 and 400 mg/kg groups had statistical significance(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01); the normal rate of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential in the model group was(54. 70±5. 45)%, and the normal mitochondrial membrane potential rate after treatment with myricetin of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg(59. 10±9. 97)%, (62. 10±6. 07)% and(77. 10±8. 87)%, of which the 400 mg/kg group was statistically significant(P<0. 05); the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the model group was 5. 92±1. 45, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 decreased after treatment with myricetin of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, which were 2. 52±0. 51, 1. 71±0. 52 and 1. 07±0. 29. There were statistical differences(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01).

CONCLUSION
Myrica flavone can protect sperm mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibit testicular cell apoptosis, and protect the male mice from reproductive toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide.


A coherent receiver module is presented, comprising two optical 90° hybrids monolithically integrated with eight waveguide p-i-n photodiodes in balanced configuration and two dual-channel linear transimpedance amplifiers. Its performance is demonstrated by transmitting up to 160 Gb/s dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keying signals over 610 km standard single-mode fiber.


In this paper, we consider a class of optimization problems with orthogonality constraints, the feasible region of which is called the Stiefel manifold. Our new framework combines a function value reduction step with a correction step. Different from the existing approaches, the function value reduction step of our algorithmic framework searches along the standard Euclidean descent directions instead of the vectors in the tangent space of the Stiefel manifold, and the correction step further reduces the function value and guarantees a symmetric dual variable at the same time. We construct two types of algorithms based on this new framework. The first type is based on gradient reduction including the gradient reflection (GR) and the gradient projection (GP) algorithms. The other one adopts a columnwise block coordinate descent (CBCD) scheme with a novel idea for solving the corresponding CBCD subproblem inexactly. We prove that both GR/GP with a fixed step size and CBCD belong to our algorithmic framework,...


As one of the important religions of Korea, Shamanism has collided with Buddhism and Confucianism in the special historical development, which has resulted in localized "difference". This cultural phenomenon has triggered diversified discussions among the international academia of different fields. During the study in Korea, the author has felt that the traditional dance of Korea, as an important symbol of Korean culture, not only expresses the traditional elements of Korea with an aesthetic attitude in the contemporary society, but also keeps developing by spreading the "contemporary traditional dance creation of Korea". The author's research intention has thus been evoked. Through literature review, the author has found that the Korean culture scholars and dancers who are studying Korean culture share a consensus at different levels. On the basis of previous argumentation of other scholars, the research starts from the observation of the "Dharma wheel" manifestation in the contemporary traditional dances of Korea, and explores the seemingly simple relationship between the "manifestation of urban Shamanism Dharma wheel" and the contemporary traditional dance creation of Korea. It makes an attempt to expound the new relationships of Korean dance creation that keeps reshaping the manifestation of dance's life taking the elements in "cities" as a social mirror, by analyzing and surveying different literature and objects from a cross-cultural perspective. This research is believed to highlight the multiple PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN 2454-5899 497 meanings of disciplines such as anthropology, history and social science to the performing art studies and is expected to fill the research gap in the contemporary Shaman "Dharma wheel" and performing arts through the connection with "contemporary traditional dance creation of Korea".


Purpose: The major purpose of the present study was to identify the gaps between acquired and required graduate attributes of pass out graduates of teacher education programs in Pakistan and investigate the influence of program accreditation on these gaps. Research Method: A quantitative research method was used to achieve the research objectives. 160 graduates of the accredited and non-accredited master level teacher education programs associated with 24 different universities in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory participated in the study. A questionnaire based on national professional standards for teachers (NPSTs) in Pakistan was developed to collect the data. Findings: The study demonstrates that the participants' acquired attributes do not match the required attributes of their job. The gaps between acquired and required graduates' attributes are comparatively smaller among the graduates of accredited programs. The study supports the positive effects of accreditation on the output of teacher education programs. Implications for Research and Practice: The findings of this study strengthen the idea that a well framed accreditation mechanism positively influences the products of professional programs. Further research may be conducted on making teacher education accreditation programs more effective in Pakistan with respect to the graduate attributes.


We wished to determine whether total knee replacement (TKA) performed by young surgeons increased rates of mortality and complications compared with TKA performed by senior surgeons using the same model of arthroplasty. There were no significant pre-operative differences between the groups in terms of age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, diagnosis, comorbidity and duration of follow-up, which was a mean of 15 years in both groups. Hence, we assessed the 15 year survival of the first 150 Ceraver Posterior-Stabilized total knee arthroplasties undertaken by young surgeons (aged of less than 30 years) in formation in a single university hospital setting (Group B). We used survival curve analysis, with strict definitions regarding end-points, and evaluated a number of different endpoint criteria to assess the outcome and to compare the results with those obtained by the two seniors (aged of more than 40 years) with their 50 first implantations (Group A). The clinical results and survival rate of implants at intermediate to long-term follow-up were similar in both Groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, with revision as the endpoint for failure, showed that the rate of survival at ten years was 96% (95% CI, 93 to 100) in both groups. At fifteen years the rate of survival was 91% (95% CI, 85 to 97) in group B, and 92% (95% CI, 90 to 94) in group A. The implant used in this series appears particularly safe since the usual complications observed with posterior stabilized arthroplasties were not observed even with young surgeons.


From the Publisher:
Since the first edition of this book was published seven years ago, the field of modeling and simulation of communication systems has grown and matured in many ways, and the use of simulation as a day-to-day tool is now even more common practice. With the current interest in digital mobile communications, a primary area of application of modeling and simulation is now in wireless systems of a different flavor from the 'traditional' ones.
This second edition represents a substantial revision of the first, partly to accommodate the new applications that have arisen. New chapters include material on modeling and simulation of nonlinear systems, with a complementary section on related measurement techniques, channel modeling and three new case studies; a consolidated set of problems is provided at the end of the book.


htmlabstractThis preprint is the outcome of the "Training Workshop Interdisciplinary Life Sciences", held in October 2013 in the Lorentz Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. The motivation to organize this event stems from the following considerations: The enormous progress in laboratory techniques and facilities leads to the availability of huge amounts of data at all levels of complexity (molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organisms, populations, ecosystems). Especially data at the cellular level reveal details of life processes we were unconscious of until recently. However, it becomes clear that huge amounts of data alone do not automatically lead to understanding. The data explosion in Life Sciences teaches one lesson: life processes are of a highly intricate and integrative nature. To really understand the dynamic processes in living organisms one must integrate experimental data sets in quantitative and predictive models. Only then one may hope to grasp the functioning of these complex systems and be able to convert information in understanding. In the field of physics, for instance, this strong interaction between experiment and theory is already common practice since centuries, culminating in the 20th century being called the 'Century of Physics'. In contrast to physics, the complex nature of the Life Sciences forces us to work in an interdisciplinary fashion. The necessary expertise is available, but scattered over many scientific disciplines. Only the combined efforts of biologists, chemists, mathematicians, physicists, engineers, and informaticians will lead to progress in tackling the huge challenge of understanding the complexity of life. Researchers in the Life Sciences often focus their research on a rather narrow research field. However, the majority of the upcoming generation of researchers in the Life Sciences should be trained to expand their skills, becoming able to tackle complex, multi-dimensional systems. The knowledge they have to incorporate in their research will stem from a diverse range of disciplines, So, they should be trained to integrate a broad range of modelling approaches in order to deduce quantitative, predictive and often multi-scale models from highly diverse data sets. Present curricula in the Life Sciences hardly offer this kind of training yet. This workshop intends to start filling this gap.

Three teams worked on the following open problems: 1) Modeling the influence of temperature on the Regulation of flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana; 2) Validation of computational models of angiogenesis to experimental data; 3) Reconstructing the gene network that regulates branching in Tomato. This preprint bundles the reports of the three teams.


RGB-D scanning of indoor environments is important for many applications, including real estate, interior design, and virtual reality. However, it is still challenging to register RGB-D images from a hand-held camera over a long video sequence into a globally consistent 3D model. Current methods often can lose tracking or drift and thus fail to reconstruct salient structures in large environments (e.g., parallel walls in different rooms). To address this problem, we propose a fine-to-coarse global registration algorithm that leverages robust registrations at finer scales to seed detection and enforcement of new correspondence and structural constraints at coarser scales. To test global registration algorithms, we provide a benchmark with 10,401 manually-clicked point correspondences in 25 scenes from the SUN3D dataset. During experiments with this benchmark, we find that our fine-to-coarse algorithm registers long RGB-D sequences better than previous methods.


In this highly interdisciplinary work, linguist Anna Wierzbicka casts new light on the words of Jesus by taking her well-known semantic theory of "universal human concepts"- concepts which are intuitively understandable and self-explanatory across languages-and bringing it to bear on Jesus' parables and the Sermon on the Mount. Her approach results in strikingly novel interpretations of the Gospels. Written in dialogue with other biblical commentators, What Did Jesus Mean? is scholarly, rigorous, and yet accessible.


Speech production in Down's syndrome is highly variable, with particular problems arising from complex articulations such as fricatives. In this paper, EPG analysis is used to study the variation in the production of the fricatives /s/ and /sh/ in 6 young people with Down's syndrome. The variability of these productions is compared with information from the Robbins and Klee Oral/Speech Motor Control Protocol.


The facial nerve schwannoma (FNS) is a tumor originated from Schwann cells. It may appear in any part of the nerve, from its origin in the cerebellopontine angle to its extracranial branches in the parotid space.
Objectives: the present study aims to present different forms of presentation, evolution and management of facial schwannomas and compare the results of the three therapeutic modalities (observation, radiotherapy and surgery) used in our observation.
Material and methods: A retrospective review of all facial schwannomas cases in neuro-otology' service at the National Institute of Neurology and neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suarez from 2005 to 2014 have been considered for this study.
Results: 12 patients consisting 9 women and 3 men in the age group of 27-82 years, with an average age of 51.3 years were identified for this study. At the beginning all the cases have showed some degree of peripheral facial paralysis as per the House- Brackmann scale (HB). They are graded into three categories: 16.6% (2) cases in grade II and V; 25% (3) of cases as grade III and 5 and 41.6% (4) cases as grade VI. Three therapeutic modalities including observation with MRI studies in 3 cases (25%), radiotherapy in 4 (33.3%) cases and surgery in 5 (41.6%) cases have been adopted. The procedure consisting of microsurgical resection alone, microsurgical resection more nerve repair with sural nerve graft inginter position (SNI) or just terminal anastomosis of the facial nerve without nerve interposition.
Conclusions: The facial nerve schwannomas are manifested in different ways. Most patients with sudden and recent facial palsy recover from this disease after a systemic steroid use. The study concludes that the treatment should always be aimed to preserving the facial and auditory function.


Efficient navigation of one's environment is a fundamental requirement of a successful mobile robot. Ideally an agent's interactions with an unmarked environment should build reliable spatial relationship information without the aid of foreknowledge. Problems arise when different parts of the environment "look" similar to the agent, confusing the agent as to its true position. This problem has become known as 'perceptual aliasing'. In this research project this problem was approached by introducing and investigating the chaining of dynamic virtual landmark identification in the agent's environment. The learning method introduced, called "context chaining" is an extension of the InteractivistExpectancy Theory of Learning (IETAL). Experiments with software agent simulations showed the success of this approach, measured by the number of steps required to reach the drive satisfier, cumulative memory size, and the number of surprises encountered.


Isotropically tumbling discoidal bicelles are a useful biophysical tool for the study of lipids and proteins by NMR, dynamic light scattering, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Isotropically tumbling bicelles present a low-curvature central region, typically enriched with DMPC in the lamellar state, and a highly curved detergent rim, typically composed of DHPC. In this report, we study the impact of the partitioning and induced curvature of a few molecules of a foreign lipid on the bicelle size, structure, and curvature. Previous approaches for studying curvature have focused on macroscopic and bulk properties of membrane curvature. In the approach presented here, we show that the conical shape of the DOPE lipid and the inverted-conical shape of the DPC lipid induce measurable curvature changes in the bicelle size. Bicelles with an average of 1.8 molecules of DOPE have marked increases in the size of bicelles, consistent with negative membrane curvature in the central region of the bicelle. With bicelle curvature models, radii of curvature on the order of -100 Å and below are measured, with a greater degree of curvature observed in the more pliable Lα state above the phase-transition temperature of DMPC. Bicelles with an average of 1.8 molecules of DPC are reduced in size, consistent with positive membrane curvature in the rim, and at higher temperatures, DPC is distributed in the central region to form mixed-micelle structures. We use translational and rotational diffusion measurements by NMR, size-exclusion chromatography, and structural models to quantitate changes in bicelle size, curvature, and lipid dynamics.


Albania is focusing its efforts in the achievement of medium and long-term development objectives, particularly so its goals for European integration and the processes to this end. Local and foreign investments and projects in the Extractive industry are growing in the last years. Statistical data and references show an increased level of production and payments made to the state. Income from hydrocarbon sector constitutes the most important part of these payments, followed by the mining sector for the production of construction materials. The level of production and income recorded in these sectors is increasing. Proof of this are the payments made to the government by the extractive industry year after year, thus showing consistency of the economic sector and a moderate impact on the state budget and other macroeconomic indicators. Joining this initiative comes as a continuation of reforms undertaken for this purpose, in order to increase the transparency for all payments made to the Albanian State by the Extractive Industry. It follows the path of a broad program of economic, financial and institutional reform where transparency and proper management of natural resources have a particular importance. These two factors are essential for sustainable development. The new Mining Law and other by-laws, in addition to other changes required by legal improvements and economic development of the country, reflect the requirements of this initiative.


Childhood maltreatment is a factor frequently associated with adolescents who commit sexual assault. This study sought to determine: 1) whether juvenile sex offenders (JSO) progressed on a set of targets following a psychoeducational group intervention; and 2) whether presence of childhood maltreatment and quality of parent-adolescent relationship predicted this progression. To this end, 128 male JSO completed outcome measures of post- traumatic stress, self-esteem, social skills, and sex knowledge, attitude and behaviour pre- and post-intervention. Groups were composed of 5 to 10 participants and facilitated by two psychosocial practitioners (generally social workers and psychoeducators). A total of 24 to 30 weekly sessions were held lasting on average two hours each. Results show JSO improved significantly on practically all intervention targets, namely, post-traumatic stress symptoms, social skills, sex attitude, comfort level discussing sex, and self-esteem. Moreover, analyses indicate quality of parent-adolescent relationship at intervention outset does not influence outcomes whereas different forms of childhood maltreatment are associated with more positive outcomes for some targets. The intervention appears appropriate for JSO, especially those who experienced childhood maltreatment.


The recent spread of Benefit Corporations formally challenges the assumption that for-profit companies are strictly profit maximizing entities. Businesses can now incorporate under charitable business purposes that were once restricted to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. While incorporating under a charitable purpose is no longer restricted to only non-profit entities, Benefit Corporations are not able to receive the same income tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code. While for-profit entities do receive some tax benefits for their charitable behavior, such as the charitable donation deduction, the current tax structure does not provide an equal amount of tax benefits for charitable behavior when performed by a Benefit Corporation as it does for a 501(c)(3). This Note argues that the Internal Revenue Code's entity classification for non-profits and forprofits does not accommodate the mixed-purpose structure of the Benefit Corporation. This Note will explore the Internal Revenue Code's treatment of non-profit 501(c)(3)s and charitable behavior by for-profit entities and posits that the Internal Revenue Code attempts to treat the charitable behavior of an entity favorably more than it attempts to treat an entity as a whole favorably. Because charitable behavior is not considered a trade or business under the Internal Revenue Code, Benefit Corporations will now be regularly engaging in charitable behavior, the expense of which will not be categorized as either a charitable deduction or as ordinary and necessary business expenses. This Note suggests that a possible way to give Benefit Corporations the same tax treatment for its charitable behavior as non-profits engaging in the same behavior is to create a "Benefit Expense" deduction akin to the ordinary and necessary business expense deduction currently available to for-profit entities. 270 WILLIAM & MARY BUSINESS LAW REVIEW [Vol. 4:269


Polysynthetically-twinned TiAl crystals were deformed by compression with loading axis parallel and perpendicular to the lamellar interfaces. The deformation structures on the free surfaces were scanned using a dimension AFM with scan directions parallel and perpendicular to the lamellar interfaces. Abnormal deformation behaviors were observed to occur in both orientations. When the compression axis is parallel to the lamellar interfaces, the gamma and alpha lamellae deform primarily by shear in planes inclined with the lamellar interface, while the shear vectors lie in the interface. However, in-plane shear, shear in slip planes parallel to the lamellar interfaces, also occurs along the lamellar interfaces. When the loading axis is perpendicular to the lamellar interface, in-plane shear was found to be dominant at the beginning stage of plastic deformation and contributes more to the macroscopic strain. These behaviors are controversial to the Schmid's Law since the applied resolved shear stress for these deformation systems is zero. The abnormal phenomenon was explained by the large coherency stresses along the lamellar interfaces. Comments Copyright Materials Research Society. Reprinted from MRS Proceedings Volume 842. 2005 Integrative and Interdisciplinary Aspects of Intermetallics. Symposium Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings Publisher URL: http://www.mrs.org/s_mrs/sec_subscribe.asp?CID=2702&DID=115609&action=detail This conference paper is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/mse_papers/93 Abnormal deformation behavior in Polysynthetically-twinned TiAl crystals with A and N orientations─── an AFM study Yali Chen and David P. Pope Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6272, U.S.A


1. Research Project Objectives Community archives are historical archives (those which preserve their holdings eternally) created on a grass-roots level, commonly organized by foundations and associations, but also by private persons or informal groups. This type of archives significantly differs from other types, especially from state archives. Community archival projects are created "from below", which means they have no institutional back-up (or at least they had none when they were created). It means that their existence is a result of citizen activity and passion to history and past, an effect of belief that some records or memories are worth preserving, even if state archives do not recognize so. Community archives almost always lack professional archival staff (with only few exceptions). Such archives collect their materials actively, by themselves. They gather mainly photographs and oral histories, but sometimes also traditional, paper records – but those latter are not very popular part of community archives' holdings. Donors, who pass their materials to community archives are almost only private persons, and just sometimes other community projects or NGOs. What is very important for this study – community archives create their collections by themselves – not also by collecting them, but also by organizing and describing their archival materials in their own way, sometimes carefully planned and thought through, but rarely reflecting professional, scientific way of arrangement and description of archival collections.


Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of single-gene disorders in which the axons of the corticospinal tract either fail to develop normally or undergo progressive degeneration. The main clinical feature of all HSPs is a bilateral, symmetrical, slowly progressive spastic paraparesis predominantly of the lower extremities, which occurs in relative isolation in pure or uncomplicated HSPs (PHSPs) or in combination with other features in complicated HSPs (CHSPs). So far, about 40 different chromosomal HSP loci have been identified by genetic linkage analysis and an increasing number of gene mutations are being identified, representing one of the most significant examples of genetic heterogeneity. Autosomal and X-linked patterns of inheritance, both dominant and recessive, have been described. Defects in intracellular trafficking and transport in myelination and abnormalities of mitochondrial proteins have been involved in HSP pathogenesis.

Key Concepts:

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are a group of single-gene disorders characterized by bilateral, symmetrical, slowly progressive spastic paraparesis predominantly of the lower extremities (pure or uncomplicated HSPs).

The phenotype can be complicated by additional features (complicated HSPs).

HSPs affect 1/10 000 individuals.

Pathogenesis depends on abnormalities in intracellular trafficking, trasnsport and endocytosis, neural cell recognition and signalling, myelination and mitochondrial proteins.

About 40 different chromosomal loci and 20 genes have been identified indicating the extraordinarly strong genetic heterogeneity.

Patterns of inheritance include autosomal and X-linked, both recessive and dominant.

Mutations in Spastin (SPG4) account for approximately 40% of autosomal dominant HSPs, and more then any other HSP defect. Autosomal recessive HSP account for approximately 15–20% of all types of HSPs.

Genotype–phenotype correlation and penetrance can be extremely variable even among the same family and/or gene defect.

Genetic counselling is particularly challenging because of genetic heterogeneity and should take in consideration pattern of inheritance, geographical epidemiology and clinical evaluation with a multidisciplinary approach.

To date, treatment of HSPs is primarily directed symptomatically towards reducing muscle spasticity.

Keywords:

hereditary spastic paraplegia;
spastic gait;
linkage analysis;
genetic heterogeneity;
corticospinal tract


Peatlands are highly valued for their range of ecosystem services, including distinctive biodiversity, agricultural uses, recreational amenities, water provision, river flow regulation and their capacity to store carbon. There have been a range of estimates of carbon stored in peatlands in the United Kingdom, but uncertainties remain, in particular with regard to depth and bulk density of peat. In addition, very few studies consider the full profile with depth in carbon auditing. The importance of sub‐peat soils within peatland carbon stores has been recognized, but remains poorly understood and is included rarely within peatland carbon audits. This study examines the importance of the carbon store based on a study of blanket peat on Dartmoor, UK, by estimating peat depths in a 4 × 1 km survey area using ground penetrating radar (GPR), extraction of 43 cores across a range of peat depth, and estimation of carbon densities based on measures of loss‐on‐ignition and bulk density. Comparison of GPR estimates of peat depth with core depths shows excellent agreement, to provide the basis for a detailed understanding of the distribution of peat depths within the survey area. Carbon densities of the sub‐peat soils are on average 78 and 53 kg C/m3 for the overlying blanket peat. There is considerable spatial variability in the estimates of total carbon from each core across the survey area, with values ranging between 56.5 kg C/m2 (1.01 m total depth of peat and soil) and 524 kg C/m2 (6.63 m total depth). Sub‐peat soil carbon represents between 4 and 28 per cent (mean 13.5) of the total carbon stored, with greater values for shallower peat. The results indicate a significant and previously unaccounted store of carbon within blanket peat regions which should be included in future calculations of overall carbon storage. It is argued that this store needs to be considered in carbon audits.


We present non-linear self-consistent 3D global fluid simulations of the SOL plasma dynamics using the Global Braginskii Solver (GBS) code. The code solves the drift-reduced Braginkii equations in a collisional plasma, with cold ions. The GBS code, originally developed for an electrostatic, 2D configuration has been recently upgraded to describe the SOL turbulence with the introduction of the variable curvature along the magnetic field lines, the magnetic shear, and the electromagnetic effects. The code peculiarity lies in the capability of evolving self-consistently equilibrium and 3D fluctuations as a results of the interplay among the sources, the turbulent transport and the plasma losses at the limiter plates. The non-linear simulations have been interpreted by means of linear analysis of the fluid equations modeling the system. This points out the presence of two main instabilities driving turbulence: the Drift Wave and the Resistive Balloning instabilities. The dependence of the instabilities growth rate and of their properties on the physical parameters of the system, for example the characteristic length of the plasma density, the magnetic shear and the beta ratio have been explained and the regions where each instability dominates have been identified.


Background: Intravenous prostanoid therapy is one cornerstone of therapy for patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). Long-term central venous catheters expose patients to infectious complications. Objectives: We report the incidence of catheter-related infection (CRI) and the spectrum of bacteria for ambulatory PH patients treated with iloprost via non-tunnelled central venous catheters from our Swiss referral centre in Zurich. Methods: Data from 15 PH patients treated with intravenous iloprost between May 2000 and June 2012 were reviewed. Results: We found 11 CRI in 4 cases by two different organisms. Pathogens found were Brevibacterium (55%), Micrococcus luteus (18%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (9%) and Staphylococcus aureus (9%), as well as unusual organisms such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Delftia tsuruhatensis. The overall CRI rate was 1.28 per 1,000 catheter days, or 0.47 per year. Conclusions: The incidence of CRI using long-term, non-tunnelled central venous catheters in PH patients treated with iloprost is low. Uncommon, rare pathogens causing CRI were found in a substantial number of patients.


A Step Forward in Stem Cell Research NEW YORK, June 27, 2005 - According to research published on June 27, 2005, investigators from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have used new techniques in the laboratory that allowed them for the first time to derive unlimited numbers of purified mesenchymal precursor cells from human embryonic stem cells (HESCs). Mesenchymal precursor cells are capable of giving rise to fat, cartilage, bone, and skeletal muscle cells, and may potentially be used for regenerative stem cell therapy in bone, cartilage, or muscle replacement. The new study, demonstrating the specialized techniques for isolating mesenchymal precursors and generating, purifying, and differentiating those cells in culture, is published online and freely available in the journal PLoS Medicine (Public Library of Science). Researchers took two lines of completely undifferentiated HESCs and by culturing them in the presence of mouse cells, stimulated them to turn into mesenchymal cells. They then treated these cells with compounds to make them change into specialized bone, cartilage, fat, and muscle cells. According to the study, researchers were able to confirm that these cells were all human cells and that there was no evidence that the cells became cancerous. Mesenchymal precursors derived from HESCs are different from adult mesenchymal cells because they can efficiently differentiate into skeletal muscle (adult mesenchymal cells do not) in addition to fat, cartilage, and bone. Limited numbers of mesenchymal stem cells have been isolated from adult bone marrow and connective tissues, but harvesting these cells from any of these sources requires invasive procedures and the availability of a suitable donor. The capacity of these cells for long-term proliferation is also poor. In contrast, HESCs could provide an unlimited number of specialized cells. According to Lorenz Studer, MD, PhD, Head of the Stem Cell and Tumor Biology Laboratory at MSKCC and senior author of the PLoS Medicine study, the high purity, unlimited availability, and multi-potentiality of mesenchymal precursors derived from HESCs will provide the basis for preclinical mouse studies to assess the safety of these cells. The investigators have already taken the next step in this research and are testing the therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cell-derived muscle cells in animal models of muscle disorders. Tiziano Barberi, PhD, of the Stem Cell and Tumor Biology Laboratory, is the first author of the work, which was supported in part by the Kinetics Foundation. Journalists may contact the Department of Public Affairs for more information.Telephone: 212-639-3573E-mail: email@example.com


Kawasaki disease is the most common childhood vasculitis in the USA and the most common cause of acquired cardiac disease in children in developed countries. Since the vast majority of Kawasaki disease initially presents at <5 years of age, many adult cardiologists are unfamiliar with the pathophysiology of this disease. This vasculitis has a predilection for coronary arteries with a high complication rate across the lifespan for those with medium to large coronary artery aneurysms. An inflammatory cascade produces endothelial dysfunction and damage to the vascular wall, leading to aneurysmal dilatation. Later, pseudonormalisation of the vascular lumen occurs through vascular remodelling and layering thrombus, but this does not necessarily indicate resolution of disease or reduction of risk for future complications. There is a growing prevalence of Kawasaki disease, making it increasingly relevant for adult cardiologists as this population transitions into adulthood. As the 2017 American Heart Association (AHA) and 2014 Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) guidelines emphasise, Kawasaki disease requires rigorous follow-up with cardiac stress testing and non-invasive imaging to detect progressive stenosis, thrombosis and luminal occlusion that may lead to myocardial ischaemia and infarction. Due to differences in disease mechanisms, coronary disease due to Kawasaki disease should be managed with different pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment algorithms than atherosclerotic coronary disease. This review addresses gaps in the current knowledge of the disease and its optimal treatment, differences in the AHA and JCS guidelines, targets for future research and obstacles to transition of care from adolescence into adulthood.


Combating poverty in Saudi Arabia has become an important national target; this study researches poverty in Saudi Society and in particular, female poverty, focusing on poor female-headed households (FHHs) in Jeddah City. This is an exploratory study to highlight the social reality of the FHHs and their female heads, with a focus on the details of their everyday lives and their relationships with social support institutions, namely: the Social Security Department (SSD) and the Charitable Women's Associations. The main aim of this study is to explore the social reality of these families and how, during their struggles to obtain or maintain a standard of living, they interact with these social support institutions. The study investigated a main sample of 112 FHHs represented by their female heads who were selected purposefully according to a matrix designed to ensure adequate representation across the main sample according to marital status, age group and place of residence (south or north) in Jeddah City. They were also selected by their marital status according to five sub-groups: widows' families, divorced women's families, abandoned women's families, prisoners' wives' families and finally married women's families. A further sample was 18 informants (called 'elites') who were selected purposefully from a range of experts, officials and decision makers from different governmental and non-governmental departments to explore and interpret issues raised during the women's interviews. The interviews with the female heads were based on questions designed to achieve four main goals: 1- to study and identify the social, cultural and demographic characteristics of poor FHHs in Jeddah City. 2- to study and present the poor FHHs' experiences and how they interacted with their social reality. 3- to study social policies in practice and highlight the relationship between the FHHs and the social support institutions. 4- to make recommendations for formulating an effective social policy for combating poverty among women and poor FHHs in Saudi society. The data and information was collected via different methods such as interviews, document searches, observations, field notes and digital recordings. The data was organized and analysed using a thematic approach to reduce the data, present it and provide conclusive statements. The main findings are organized in chapters 5, 6 and 7 and cover the study goals. The main findings are as follows: The typical poor FHHs were mostly large families and the male head tended to be missing from family life, thus the family was headed by the female. The women had suffered divorce, widowhood, imprisonment of their husbands, abandonment, or their husbands suffered sickness, old age or unemployment. These female heads were mostly uneducated or had a low or basic level of education. The families typically had no regular earned income because the head of the family was not in employment. The majority of the FHHs were tenants and lived in small flats. A significant number of FHHs was deprived of both official support from the SSD and from the women's associations for various reasons. Some of the women were regarded legally and socially as minority groups because of their ethnicity, family backgrounds and/or nationality. These details provided an honest and clear picture of the lives of the poor FHHs and showed the inter-penetrated realms of these families and their heads that were: 1- public realms (society, culture, state, welfare systems and social support institutions); 2- private realms (women's worlds, specific stories and experiences that had led the women to head their families such as divorce, widowhood, abandonment or the imprisonment of the head of the family). The details of everyday life showed how the sub-categories and their female heads had a similar experience in some aspects of the public realm but they experienced quite different private realms. The study concludes with some important strategic, public and specialized recommendations aimed at improving and reforming the current welfare system and social policies and suggests integrated social policies to eradicate poverty in general and among FHHs in particular.


The study analyses the EU Internal market from a dynamic and a contextual perspective, taking into account, not just the normative changes brought by the intense legislative and judicial activity in this area, but also the important economic and technological transformations that have largely altered the structure of the global economy in the last two to three decades. These could, in my view, challenge the first principles upon which the EU economic integration process and, in particular the "single market" idea, is based. This "updating" of the Internal market project is essential if one is to critically reflect on the role and the specificity of the EU integration process, in the context of the broader globalization movement. The first part of the paper introduces the "neo-functionalist" perspective, which has largely influenced the EU economic integration process, from its incipiency, and explores its theoretical linkages with trade theory (the law of one price), thus presenting the fundamental tenets of positive EU Internal market law. The second part delves into the subsequent mutation of the economic integration ideal towards the more modular and scalar concept of "regulatory convergence". Opening the black box of economic integration will lead us to analyse its transformation, as a result of a paradigm shift currently occurring in the organization of the global process of economic production, with the development of global value chains, and the important role of technology, in particular the Internet, in promoting economic integration not through law, but through code. The study predicts that addressing more systematically the effect of both private and public obstacles to trade should take centre-stage if one is to opt for a more holistic and dynamic perspective in analysing the process of economic integration. A more extensive intervention of the competition law tool and other regulatory initiatives against private restrictions to trade is therefore to be expected in the future, these areas of law taking a more prevalent part in the EU Internal market law compass. The study discusses in some detail the recent legislative and jurisprudential developments with regard to geo-blocking and geo-filtering practices. The last part of the study provides some concluding thoughts on the need for the EU Internal market concept to be updated and raises some questions with regard to its ontology in the context of a globalized economy.


Sound impact of road and railway infrastructures are more and more severely regulated by European laws: acceptable thresholds in emission and reception are decreasing. This implies to develop propagation models able to take many phenomena into account at the same time (meteorology, uneven ground, impedances discontinuities...). The parabolic equation (PE) is one of those numerical methods. Its main purpose is to predict long-range sound propagation under range-dependant environment. Despite of its efficiency, this method shows a number of limitations in complex outdoor situations. This paper aims at presenting ATMOS (Advanced Theorical Models for Outdoor Sound propagation). This GFPE (Green's Function Parabolic Equation method) based calculation code is dedicated to complex outdoor situations which can not be solve with a classical PE approach. Usually PE neglects backscattering and complex topography can not be considered. ATMOS takes those phenomena into account by new several techniques: complementary Kirchhoff approximation, GFPE-BEM hybrid method, referential rotation. The atmosphere properties are included into the range dependant sound speed profile, integrating atmospheric attenuation, density fluctuation, wind, temperature gradients and turbulence… All those parameters may be varying with height and distance along the propagation. Numerical examples of road traffic configurations that illustrate those combined effects are presented and compared to scale model measurements.


Construction activities impact on the environment throughout the life cycle of development. These impacts occur from initial work on-site through the construction period, operational period and to the final demolition when a building comes to an end of its life. Even though the construction period is comparatively shorter in relation to the other stages of a building's life, it has diverse significant impacts on the environment. This study investigates the major impacts of construction activities on the environment in Ghana. Thirty-three possible impacts of construction activities on the environment were identified from literature. These impacts were further categorized into nine major groups and were subjected to a cross-sectional survey. Questionnaire and interview were used to elicit the views of respondents. Questionnaires were distributed to 100 randomly selected construction practitioners made up of 58 architects, 37 quantity surveyors and 5 structural engineers registered with their professional bodies. Semi-structured interview was conducted amongst purposively selected contractors and consultants. The respondents were asked to identify the most important environmental impacts. The relative importance of the impacts identified were calculated and ranked by the relative importance index. According to the results of the study, the respondents agreed that resource consumption group impacts ranked highest among the major impacts of construction activities on the environment in Ghana. The resource consumption group impacts were raw materials consumption, electricity consumption, water consumption and fuel consumption. Biodiversity impact was second followed by local issues impacts. The paper recommends that stakeholders in the construction industry should come up with special legislations, codes or standards relating to sustainable construction practices specific to Ghana's construction environment and ensure proper and effective implementation.


Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience significant difficulties in attention, learning, executive functions, and behavioral regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that computerized cognitive training may remediate these impairments. In a double blind controlled trial, 76 children with IDD (4-11 years) were randomized to either an attention training (n = 38) or control program (n = 38). Both programs were completed at home over a 5-week period. Outcome measures assessed literacy, numeracy, executive functioning, and behavioral/emotional problems, and were conducted at baseline, post-training, and 3-month follow-up. No training effects were observed at post-training; however, children in the training group showed greater improvements in numeracy skills at the 3-month follow-up. These results suggest that attention training may be beneficial for children with IDD; however, the modest nature of the intervention effects indicate that caution should be taken when interpreting clinical significance.