Novel polycatenar bent-core Schiff-base metallomesogens from derivatives of 1,1 O-phenanthroline ([MCb(LPhen-n)]), 2,2-bipyridine ([MCb(L Bipy-n)]) and 5,5'-dimethyldipyrromethane ((tc)_[M(LDipy-n)] and ex-[M(L Dipy-n)]) have been investigated in this body of work. The mesomorphic properties of these first- and second-row transition metal complexes have been studied. Further to the examination of the compounds in the liquid crystalline state, single crystal X-ray studies of short chain analogues were performed to determine the coordination geometry and the degree of selfassembly of the molecules in the solid state.
Chapter 1 introduces the field of liquid crystals and metallomesogens, with a focus on thermotropic liquid crystals and their nomenclature, physical properties and applications. The historical background of the field is briefly explored and previous research on bent-core metallomesogens from the Schroder group in Nottingham has been reviewed. The characterisation of liquid crystalline mesophases, namely by polarised optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction, are described. Further discussion is dedicated to the X-ray diffraction patterns generated by columnar mesophases. The chapter finishes with a description of the aims of the project.
Chapter 2 commences with an introduction to liquid crystals derived from 1,1 O-phenanthroline. Following this is a description of the synthesis and characterisation of mesomorphic metal-free ligands, LPhen-n (n = 10, 12, 14, 16), four novel series of metallomesogens and two non-mesomorphic series of complexes derived from 1,10-phenanthroline, [MCb(LPhen-n)] (M = Mn2+, Fe2~, C02+, Ni2+, Cu2+. Zn2+~ LPhen = 2.9-bis-[3' A ',5' -tri(alkoxy)phenyliminon1ethyl]- 1,1 O-phenanthroline: n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16). Structural determination by single crystal X-ray diffraction of the analogous methoxy complexes [MCb(LPhen-l)] (M = Mn2+, C02+, Ni2+, Zn2+), and the complex without any lateral aliphatic groups [CuCb(LPhen-O)], revealed the metal (II) complexes to have either distorted trigonal bipyramidal, square pyramidal or octahedral coordination geometry. The mesomorphic behaviour of the complexes [MCb(LPhen-n)] (M = Mn2+, C02+, Ni2+, Zn2+; n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) and the metal-free ligands LPhen-n (n = 10, 12, 14, 16) is columnar (with the exception of the non-mesomorphic [CoCb(LPhen-8)]), and the 2D symmetries of these mesophases vary between hexagonal, rectangular and oblique.
Chapter 3 is introduced with a discussion of liquid crystalline compounds derived from 2,2' -bipyridine. Subsequently, the synthesis and characterisation of four new series of metallomesogens and two nonmesomorphic compounds derived from 2,2' -bipyridine, [MCb(L Bipy-n)] (M = Mn2+, Fe2+, C02+ Cu2+ and n = 16; M = Ni2+, Zn2+ and n = 10, 12, 14, 16; L Bipy = 6,6' -bis-[3' ,4',5' -tri(alkoxy)phenyliminomethyl]-2,2' -bipyridine) are detailed. Single crystal X-ray diffractometry revealed the coordination geometry• of [MnCb(LBipy-l)], [CoCb(LBipY-l)] and [NiCb(LBipy-l)] to be octahedral, whereas [ZnCb(LBipY-l)] is distorted trigonal bipyramidal. The complexes [MCb(L Bipy-n)] (M = Mn2+, C02+ and n = 16; M = Ni2+, Zn2+ and n = 10, 12, 14, 16) exhibit mesomorphic character and again generate columnar mesophases.
Finally, Chapter 4 begins with a discussion on pyrrole-derived liquid crystals. Consequently, the synthesis and characterisation of hexacatenar d compoun s [M(LDipH/)] \: (M -- 2H ,Zn 2+, Pd2+.' n = 10 ,_l', 1'1"t o 16', x. = 1, ,-), tetracatenar compounds tc_[M(LDip~-16)1\ (M = 2H, Zn2+, Pd2T ; x = 1, 2) and extended dicatenar compounds ex_[M(LDipy-n)]x (M = 2H, Zn2+, Pd2+; x = 1. 2) are described. Characterisation by X-ray diffraction of single crystals of [Zn(LDipy-l)h, ex-[Zn(LDipy-l)h show they exhibit a distorted tetrahedral geometry, forming double stranded helical structures, while ex-[Pd(L Dipyl)] has a distorted square planar geometry. The metal-free ligands H2LDip~-1/ (n = 10, 12, 14, 16) and complexes [Zn(LDipy-16)h and [Pd(LDipy-n)] (n = 12, 14, 16) all exhibit narrow mesomorphic temperature ranges and unidentified mesophases. The tetracatenar compound tc_[Zn(LDipy-16)h generates a columnar hexagonal mesophase and the complex tc_[Pd(LDipy-16)] generates an unidentified liquid crystalline phase, whereas the metal-free ligand tc-H2L Dipy-16 has no mesomorphic character. Finally, two of the extended dicatenar compounds ex-H 2L DipY-16 and ex-[Zn(L Dipy-16)h are non-mesomorphic, while ex-[Pd(L Dipy-16)] was found to have a smectic A phase.


Adversarial Propagation (AdvProp) is an effective way to improve recognition models, leveraging adversarial examples. Nonetheless, AdvProp suffers from the extremely slow training speed, mainly because: a) extra forward and backward passes are required for generating adversarial examples; b) both original samples and their adversarial counterparts are used for training (i.e., 2$\times$ data). In this paper, we introduce Fast AdvProp, which aggressively revamps AdvProp's costly training components, rendering the method nearly as cheap as the vanilla training. Specifically, our modifications in Fast AdvProp are guided by the hypothesis that disentangled learning with adversarial examples is the key for performance improvements, while other training recipes (e.g., paired clean and adversarial training samples, multi-step adversarial attackers) could be largely simplified. Our empirical results show that, compared to the vanilla training baseline, Fast AdvProp is able to further model performance on a spectrum of visual benchmarks, without incurring extra training cost. Additionally, our ablations find Fast AdvProp scales better if larger models are used, is compatible with existing data augmentation methods (i.e., Mixup and CutMix), and can be easily adapted to other recognition tasks like object detection. The code is available here: https://github.com/meijieru/fast_advprop.


Delivering fault free code is the clear goal of each devel- oper, however the best method to achieve this aim is still an open question. Despite that several approaches have been proposed in literature there exists no overall best way. One possible solution proposed recently is to combine static source code analysis with the discipline of machine learn- ing. An approach in this direction has been defined within this work, implemented as a prototype and validated subse- quently. It shows a possible translation of a piece of source code into a machine learning algorithm's input and further- more its suitability for the task of fault detection. In the context of the present work two prototypes have been de- veloped to show the feasibility of the presented idea. The output they generated on open source projects has been collected and used to train and rank various machine learn- ing classifiers in terms of accuracy, false positive and false negative rates. The best among them have subsequently been validated again on an open source project. Out of the first study at least 6 classifiers including "MultiLayerPer- ceptron", "Ibk" and "ADABoost" on a "BFTree" could convince. All except the latter, which failed completely, could be validated in the second study. Despite that the it is only a prototype, it shows the suitability of some machine learning algorithms for static source code analysis.


This thesis examines how Sundarbans islanders living in the southern reclaimed islands of the Bengal delta both think about and 'interact with' the man-eating tigers of the region. The thesis classifies three broad occupational groups - forest workers, prawn collectors, and landowners - and discusses how they use different understandings of the tiger to draw distinctions between each other. It argues that the islanders' interactions with tigers articulate both social practices and understandings of the social, and that attitudes to the forest/land opposition divide people into the distinct groups of bhadralok and gramer lok. These interactions are discussed in connection with people's relation to their environment. The environment is understood both as a set of narratives - about humans and tigers sharing a cantankerous nature because of a harsh geography and of a common history of displacement - and as a practical experience - of working in the forest as crab, fish or honey collectors, especially by opposition to landowning cultivators. The thesis also looks at environmentalists' perceptions of the Sundarbans as 'tiger-land' and the repercussions of such an image on state policies for the region's people. This is undertaken through a discussion of how the portrayal of the Sundarbans as a wildlife area means that the Sundarbans inhabitants' demand for a more equal allocation of resources between them and tigers is not seen as legitimate by outsiders. Thus this thesis, by engaging with the Sundarbans islanders' narratives and daily experiences of living 'alongside tigers', addresses the Sundarbans islanders' social relations as well as ideas of the social not just in relation to themselves and each other, but also in relation to their position as a 'collective' and their place in the realm of the politics of global conservation.


Context: Pain resulting from failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is generally resistant to physiotherapy and pharmacological treatment. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of adding calcitonin to local anesthetic and steroids during ultrasound-guided caudal epidural injection for patients suffering from FBSS. Patients and Methods: Fifty-six patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided caudal epidural injection. Group A received 40 mg (1 mL) methylprednisolone +9 mL lidocaine 0.5% + 1500 iu hyaluronidase in 10 mL normal saline, whereas Group B received 40 mg (1 mL) methylprednisolone +9 mL of 0.5% lidocaine + 1500 iu hyaluronidase in 5 mL normal saline + 50 iu calcitonin in 5 mL normal saline. Results: A statistically significant decrease in visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and analgesic consumption was recorded in Group B as compared to Group A at 1, 2, and 3 months interval. No side effects were reported in Group A, whereas patients belong to Group B experienced nausea (2 cases), and diuresis for 24 h was detected in two cases. Conclusion: The addition of calcitonin to epidural steroid and local anesthetic injection resulted in better Oswestry disability scale, diminished pain intensity, and less analgesic consumption.


Objectives Evidence indicates a relationship between obesity and infection. We assessed the prevalence of obesity in hospitalized patients and evaluated its impact on antimicrobial management. Methods Three National Health Service hospitals in London in 2011–12 were included in a cross-sectional study. Data from all adult admissions units and medical and surgical wards were collected. Patient data were collected from the medication charts and nursing and medical notes. Antimicrobial therapy was defined as 'complicated' if the patient's therapy met two or more of the following criteria: (i) second- or third-line therapy according to local policy; (ii) intravenous therapy where an alternative oral therapy was appropriate; (iii) longer than the recommended duration of therapy as per local policy recommendations; (iv) repeated courses of therapy to treat the same infection; and (v) specialist advice on antimicrobial therapy provided by the medical microbiology or infectious diseases teams. Results Of the 1014 patients included in this study, 22% (225) were obese, 69% (696) were normal/overweight and 9% (93) were underweight. Obese patients were significantly more likely to have more complicated antimicrobial therapy than normal/overweight and underweight patients (36% versus 19% and 23%, respectively, P = 0.002). After adjustment for hospital, age group, comorbidities and the type of infection, obese patients remained at significantly increased odds of receiving complicated antimicrobial therapy compared with normal/overweight patients (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.75–3.45). Conclusions One in five hospitalized patients is obese. Compared with the underweight and normal/overweight, the antimicrobial management in the obese is significantly more complicated.


Topological features based on persistent homology capture high-order structural information so as to augment graph neural network methods. However, computing extended persistent homology summaries remains slow for large and dense graphs and can be a serious bottleneck for the learning pipeline. Inspired by recent success in neural algorithmic reasoning, we propose a novel graph neural network to estimate extended persistence diagrams (EPDs) on graphs efficiently. Our model is built on algorithmic insights, and benefits from better supervision and closer alignment with the EPD computation algorithm. We validate our method with convincing empirical results on approximating EPDs and downstream graph representation learning tasks. Our method is also efficient; on large and dense graphs, we accelerate the computation by nearly 100 times.


A taxonomic revision of Operculicarya H.Perrier (Anacardiaceae) in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands is presented. Eight species are recognized, seven endemic to Madagascar, two of which (O. capuronii and O. multijuga) are described as new and illustrated. Th e two new species are distinguished by the size of their leaves and leafl ets, and the structure of their infl orescences. A slightly expanded circumscription of the genus is adopted to include O. gummifera, most recently placed in Poupartia by Eggli. Eco-geographic features of each species are discussed, and preliminary conservation assessments are calculated using IUCN Red List criteria. A key to the species is provided in English and French.


Social workers, government, and non-governmental organizations in the United States have been inadequately prepared to address the impact of trauma faced by refugees fleeing persecution. Compounding their initial trauma experiences, refugees often undergo further traumatic migration experiences and challenges after resettlement that can have long-lasting effects on their health and mental health. Micro and macro social work practitioners must understand the impact of these experiences in order to promote policies, social work training, and clinical practice that further the health and well-being of refugees and society. Social workers are in a unique position to provide multi-dimensional, structurally competent care and advocacy for diverse refugee populations. The experiences of Cambodian refugees will be used to examine these issues. We will explore the benefits of an ecological perspective in guiding interventions that support refugees, and will apply the framework of structural competence to highlight multidimensional implications for social work with refugee populations.


Abstract The Tiñu Formation of Oaxaca State is the only fossiliferous lower Palaeozoic unit between the Laurentian platform in northwest Mexico and Gondwanan successions in Andean South America. The Tiñu traditionally has been referred to the Lower Ordovician (Tremadoc) and regarded as having a provincially mixed fauna with Laurentian, Avalonian, and Gondwanan elements. Bio- and lithostratigraphic re-evaluation demonstrates that the Tiñu is a Gondwanan, passive margin succession. It includes a lower, thin (to 16 m), condensed, uppermost Cambrian Yudachica Member (new). The Yudachica nonconformably overlies middle Proterozoic basement as a result of very high late Late Cambrian eustatic levels. The Yudachica changes from storm-dominated, but slightly dysoxic, shelf facies (fossil hash limestone and shale) in the south to an upper slope facies with debris flows 50 km to the north. Three biostratigraphically distinct depositional sequences comprise the Yudachica. The Yudachica has Gondwanan-aspect trilobites with low-diversity conodonts characteristic of unrestricted marine/temperate facies. The upper Tiñu, or Río Salinas Member (new), is a Lower Ordovician (Tremadoc) depositional sequence that records strong early, but not earliest, Tremadoc eustatic rise marked by graptolite- and olenid-bearing dysoxic mudstones. Higher strata shoal upward into shell-hash limestones and proximal tempestite sandstones with upper lower Tremadocian unrestricted marine/temperate conodonts. New taxa include Orminskia rexroadae Landing gen. et sp. nov. from the Cordylodus andresi Zone; this euconodont is related to hyaline coniform genera best known from Ordovician tropical platform successions. Cornuodus? clarkei Landing sp. nov. resembles the coeval, upper lower Tremadoc tropical species Scalpellodus longipinnatus (Ji & Barnes).


Summoned to the country estate of his wealthy uncle Colonel Yegor Rostanev, the young student Sergey Aleksandrovich finds himself thrown into a startling bedlam. For as he soon sees, his meek and kind-hearted uncle is wholly dominated by a pretentious and despotic pseudo-intellectual named Opiskin, a charlatan who has ingratiated himself with Yegor's mother and now holds the entire household under his thumb. Watching the absurd theatrics of this domestic tyrant over forty-eight explosive hours, Sergey grows increasingly furious - until at last, he feels compelled to act. A compelling comic exploration of petty tyranny, "The Village of Stepanchikovo" reveals a delight in life's wild absurdities that rivals even Gogol's. It also offers a fascinating insight into the genesis of the characters and situations of many of Dostoyevsky's great later novels, including "The Idiot", "Devils" and "The Brothers Karamazov".


The purpose of this instrumental study was to show how to conduct
a study aimed at obtaining content validity evidence in the test construction/adaptation
process. An applied perspective was used, and this paper presents the content validity
analysis of the Spanish adaptation of the State-Trait Cheerfulness Inventory trait form
(STCI-T). This paper illustrates the stages required to analyze content validity: 1)
definition of the content domain to be assessed, 2) item construction, and 3) expert
judgment of the items constructed. This study focused mainly on the third stage and
the results obtained with a previously selected panel of experts are included. The paper
briefly describes the most important criteria to consider in the selection of experts, the
procedure recommended to obtain judgments, the material to administer, aspects of
items to assess, and the type of analyses that should be conducted. Based on the
results obtained for the Spanish adaptation of the STCI-T, the article discusses the
importance of obtaining content validity evidence in the test construction/adaptation
process. The indices used demonstrated good content validity for the Spanish version
of the STCI-T.


1 Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. 2 Hospital dos Servidores do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. 3 Sociedade Brasileira de Microcirurgia Reconstrutiva, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. In more-distal amputations of the fingertips, microsurgical replantation is not feasible. For these cases, composite graft provides the best functional and aesthetic results. However, its reintegration is uncertain. Several techniques have been proposed to improve bulky graft survival by basically reducing its volume, regardless of whether a skin flap is connected. Other techniques create an additional contact surface for plasmatic diffusion, the so-called subcutaneous pocket, without reducing the composite graft volume and yielding high success rates. This article presents a case of amputation of the distal tip of the fifth digit (Ishikawa zone I) of a 2-year-old child. Because of the impossibility of microsurgical replantation, a composite graft was used to reintegrate the amputated stump, without debridement, by creating a new contact surface for plasmatic diffusion at the distal end of the grafted stump, on the dermal plane in the hypothenar region, thereby increasing the contact area and decreasing the radial distance for the plasmatic diffusion of the composite graft. Twelve days later, the additional contact was separated and both surfaces presented bleeding. Full reintegration occurred with minimal scarring of the finger and hypothenar region. A brief literature review was conducted, discussing surgical concepts and factors that influence composite graft survival. The most appropriate and best vascularized anatomic plane for additional contact with the graft in the recipient area needs to be determined. ■ ABSTRACT


This document provides environmental information on postulated closure options for the Old F-Area Seepage Basin at the Savannah River Plant and was developed as background technical documentation for the Department of Energy's proposed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on waste management activities for groundwater protection at the plant. The results of groundwater and atmospheric pathway analyses, accident analysis, and other environmental assessments discussed in this document are based upon a conservative analysis of all foreseeable scenarios as defined by the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1500-1508). The scenarios do not necessarily represent actual environmental conditions. This document is not meant to be used as a closure plan or other regulatory document to comply with required federal or state environmental regulations.


The new classic! C Primer Plus, now in its 5th edition, has been revised to include over 20 new programming exercises, newly improved examples and the new ANSI/ISO standard, C99. Task-oriented examples will teach you the fundamentals of C programming. From extended integer types and compound literals to Boolean support and variable-length arrays, you will learn to create practical and real-world applications with C programming. Review questions and programming exercises at the end of each chapter will reinforce what you have learned. This friendly and easy-to-use self-study guide will help you understand the fundamentals of this core programming language.


A new transaural system referred to as a ''stereo dipole'' reproduction system using a closely spaced pair of loudspeakers in front of a listener has been introduced recently. Computer simulations using theoretical models, in which the listener's head is assumed to be a perfectly rigid sphere, revealed that sound field equalization by the SD system including inverse filtering and also for the virtual source reproduction can be achieved in a wide range of area relative to the standard loudspeaker arrangements. This paper will deal with a further investigation of the SD system in terms of the controlled acoustic field around the head. The theoretical model used in the computer simulation is extended so that one can calculate an impulse response at any point while considering the influence of a rigid sphere. This model is used to compare the sound field around the spherical obstacle due to the SD system with one by the ordinary transaural system.


Natural habitats adjacent to human-modified areas often suffer edge effects stemming from physical disturbance, elevated predator densities, or invasive species. Although seldom documented, detrimental edge effects can also occur at natural ecological boundaries. Here I examine the spatial pattern and ecological effects of a biological invasion at well-delineated and abrupt edges between riparian corridors and coastal sage scrub at 10 sites in southwestern California. The invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile thrives in moist riparian corridors but decreases greatly in number with increasing distance into adjacent dry scrub habitats. As L. humile numbers decrease, both the number of native ant workers and the number of native ant species captured in pitfall traps increase. Argentine ants appear to suppress native ants within at least 50 m of riparian corridors, but these effects diminish to undetectable levels by 200 m. At comparable uninvaded sites neither the number of native ant workers nor the number of native ant species captured in pitfall traps varies significantly across riparian-scrub edges. Areas subject to this edge effect may be sinks both for native ants and for organisms that depend on them for food or services. In general edge effects occurring at natural boundaries should receive increased attention as they might disrupt ecosystems not greatly altered by human activity.


Situated learning theory posits that learning in organizations arises in the contexts and conditions of practical engagement, and time is an important dimension of activity and context of learning. However, time has primarily been conceptualized as an internal property of communities, buffered from social and organizational temporalities that shape rhythms of working and learning. This article examines how external temporalities affect situated learning through case studies of technical after-sales services. A situated learning perspective posits how new understandings are constructed from a broad assemblage of resources and relations. These resources and relationships are to a large extent governed by external temporalities that influence opportunities for learning through everyday work. We highlight temporal structures as an important mechanism guiding or obstructing the development of new understandings, and we conclude that a temporal perspective on situated learning holds important implications for practice and further research.


Abstract. An ozone mini-hole is a synoptic-scale region with strongly decreased total column ozone resulting from dynamical processes. Using total column measurements from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument and ozone profile measurements from the Microwave Limb Sounder, we evaluate the accuracy of mini-hole representation in five reanalyses. This study provides a metric of the reanalyses' ability to capture dynamically driven ozone variability. The reanalyses and the measurements show similar seasonal variability and geographical distributions of mini-holes; however, all of the reanalyses underestimate the number of mini-holes and their area, and in many reanalyses their location displays an eastward bias. The reanalyses' underestimation of mini-hole number ranges from about 34 to about 83 %. The mini-hole vertical representation in the reanalyses agrees well with that in the MLS measurements and, furthermore, is consistent with previously reported mechanisms for mini-hole formation. The skill of the reanalyses is not closely tied to the ozone fields assimilated, suggesting that the dynamics of the reanalysis models are more important than the assimilated ozone fields to reproducing ozone mini-holes.


Well-intended policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions may have unintended undesirable consequences. Recently, a large literature has emerged showing that such a 'green paradox' may occur in response to particular policies. We review this literature and identify four different imperfect policy approaches that may induce a green paradox. We discuss under what conditions a green paradox may occur and highlight avenues for future research.


The three-dimensional (3-D) pulse propagation code, pulsed ultrashort laser simulation emulator (PULSE), has been used to model the interaction of thermal blooming, diffraction, and nonlinear self-focusing in the atmosphere. PULSE is a derivative of the free-electron laser (FEL) simulation code, free-electron laser experiment (FELEX) [Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A250, 449 (1986)] that was used for many years to model the 3-D interaction of optical pulses with electron beams. This code has now been modified to model nonlinear material interactions. In its current configuration, an electromagnetic pulse is modeled on a Cartesian grid, thereby allowing for arbitrary amplitude and phase modulations in the transverse (x, y) and longitudinal (z) directions. The code includes models for thermal blooming (in a laminar transverse wind field), diffraction, Kerr self-focusing and self-phase modulation, plasma defocusing and absorption, and multiphoton and avalanche ionization. Simulation of picosecond length pulses indicate that the defocusing effects of thermal blooming and diffraction can be effectively eliminated by Kerr self-focusing. Simulation results show that the beam arrives at the target with a spot size comparable to (or less than) its initial spot size. For propagation distances of many kilometers, this can result in order-of-magnitude increases of the on-target intensity at range, which can significantly reduce the average power requirement of the laser required to provide a given irradiance level.


Individual variations in the spatial profile of macular pigment (MP) density were measured for 32 subjects. Peak density of MP measured with a 460-nm, 12-arcmin stimulus averaged 0.58, standard deviation (SD) = 0.26, with a range of 0.175 to 1.39. To assess the symmetry of the MP distribution, MP density was measured on the horizontal and vertical meridians at +/-1 deg eccentricity. The density varied by no more than 16% at these four locations, indicating a basically symmetric distribution. Based on a linear interpolation between measured locations, the width of the spatial distribution of MP at half the maximal density averaged 1.03 deg, SD = 0.38, with a range of 0.25 to 1.9 deg. The average spatial profile of MP density across subjects was fitted with both an exponential and a Gaussian function. An exponential decay with eccentricity explained more variance in the data than did a Gaussian function. Assuming an exponential decay with eccentricity, once MP density has been measured in the center of the retina (denoted A), MP density at more eccentric locations (X, deg) can be predicted with a standardized equation (MP = A x 10(-0.42x)). For individual cases, small deviations from an exponential function suggest the existence of minor flanking peaks or shoulders for 40% of the subjects. We also examined the temporal stability of the MP profile of four subjects over a time span of 4-14 months and for a single spatial location for ten subjects over a time span of 1-16 years. These longitudinal data show that differences in MP density among subjects are maintained over time, if dietary patterns are stable.


Objective. This experimental study examined the effect of erythropoietin (Epo) in a rat model and particularly in a hypoxiareoxygenation (HR) protocol. The effect of that molecule was studied biochemically using blood mean chloride (Cl) levels. Materials and methods. 40 rats of mean weight 247.7 g were used in the study. Cl levels were measured at 60 min (groups A and C) and at 120 min (groups B and D) of reoxygenation. Erythropoietin was administered only in groups C and D. Results. Epo administration non-significantly decreased Cl levels by 1.07%+0.91% (p=0.2635). Reoxygenation time nonsignificantly decreased Cl levels by 0.68%+0.92% (P= 0.4457). However, erythropoietin administration and reoxygenation time together produced a non-significant combined effect in decreasing Cl levels by 0.74%+0.54% (P= 0.1701). Conclusions. Epo administration, reoxygenation time and their interaction have non-significant, short-term, decreasing effects on Cl levels.


Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation in an intermeshing co-rotating twin-screw extruder with the assistance of supercritical CO2 injection. The effect of molecular weight of PP-MA (maleic anhydride modified polypropylene) on clay dispersion and mechanical properties of nanocomposites were investigated. After injection molding, the tensile properties and impact strength were measured. The best overall mechanical properties were found for composites containing PP-MA with the highest molecular weight. The basal spacing of clay in the composites was measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Nano-scale morphology of samples was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystallization kinetics was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and by optical microscopy at a fixed crystallization temperature. For well dispersed two-component system, PPMA330k/clay, the crystallization kinetics and the spherulite size remained almost unchanged and the impact strength decreased with increasing the clay content. On the other hand, the intercalated three component system, PP/PP-MA330k/clay, containing some dispersed clay as well as the clay tactoids, showed much smaller size of spherulites and a slight increase in impact strength with increasing the clay content. The influence of supercritical CO2 on mixing was evaluated together with the effect of initial melting temperature. Increasing initial melting temperature causes gradual decrease in bulk crystallization kinetics with exception of the 240-260°C temperature range for system without CO2. Optical microscopy revealed large number of small spherulites for system without CO2 after initial melting at 250°C. After 28 min of initial induction period of crystallization many small spherulites appeared in the vicinity of large spherulites for the Complimentary Contributor Copy Petr Svoboda 106 system with CO2 indicating beginning of homogenous nucleation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and direct observation of the samples after tensile testing helped in comparison of dispersion of nanoclay for the systems with and without CO2. Practical importance of this topic is demonstrated by the interest from TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION in this area for the applications in the automotive industry. When properly mixed, only small amount (1-3%) of nanoclay improves tremendously mechanical properties.


Caecal coccidiosis was determined in 12 white Leghorn chickens aged 18 weeks. Macroscopically, slight thickness, con- gestion and petechie were observed in the caecum. The lumen of caecum was full of blood and, necrotic areas were seen on the mucosal surface due to the damagae of villi epithelisl cells. Microscopically, it was observed that erythrocyte, epithelial cells and forms of parasites were present in the lumen of caecum due to the damage of villi epithelial cells. Lymphocyte, plasma cell and heterophil cell infiltrations were found in the propria mucosa as well as gangrenous typhilitis containing focal necrosis.


The ability of the IEEE 802.11 medium access control (MAC) protocol to perform well in multi-hop ad hoc networks has been recently questioned. We observe levels of spatial reuse that are 30% to 50% away from the theoretical limit. The goal of this paper is to answer the following question: what prevents the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol from operating at the limit determined by its physical layer? We identify three problems in the contention resolution mechanism of the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol, and we show that they account for most of the gap separating the actual and optimal performances of the protocol. For each of the problems, we propose a solution that, once implemented, allows us to quantify the impact of the problem on the performance of the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol. The resulting protocol operates 10% to 15% away from the theoretical limit. Finally, we show that reducing the overhead of the protocol to some negligible quantity brings the spatial reuse of the protocol to the theoretical limits. It also makes apparent the powerful organizing capacity of the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol


In view of the public concern over the effect of extremely low frequency electrical and magnetic fields on the human health, it is necessary to measure the level encountered in Jordan at different locations in the vicinity of electrical appliances, switchgears, transformers, cables, transmission lines, and any electrical devices. The danger posed by these devices is assessed by comparing the measured values with the guideline limits as defined by international standards. Exposure limits are suggested at the country level and recommendations are made for the public and the occupational staff to avoid or at least minimize the risk of exposure to these fields.


We introduce an entity-centric search experience, called Active Objects, in which entity-bearing queries are paired with actions that can be performed on the entities. For example, given a query for a specific flashlight, we aim to present actions such as reading reviews, watching demo videos, and finding the best price online. In an annotation study conducted over a random sample of user query sessions, we found that a large proportion of queries in query logs involve actions on entities, calling for an automatic approach to identifying relevant actions for entity-bearing queries. In this paper, we pose the problem of finding actions that can be performed on entities as the problem of probabilistic inference in a graphical model that captures how an entity bearing query is generated. We design models of increasing complexity that capture latent factors such as entity type and intended actions that determine how a user writes a query in a search box, and the URL that they click on. Given a large collection of real-world queries and clicks from a commercial search engine, the models are learned efficiently through maximum likelihood estimation using an EM algorithm. Given a new query, probabilistic inference enables recommendation of a set of pertinent actions and hosts. We propose an evaluation methodology for measuring the relevance of our recommended actions, and show empirical evidence of the quality and the diversity of the discovered actions.


Conceptual design is a crucial system lifecycle stage; but systematic methods for conceptual design evaluation are not well developed, and existing approaches are not satisfactory. In this work we describe implementation and assessment of an advanced simulation environment that can serve conceptual design evaluation purposes using Object‐Process Methodology (OPM). The simulation exploits two major advantages of the OPM modeling language: its integration of the structural and behavioral aspects of the system in a single type of diagram and the hierarchical organization of the model diagrams. Simulation of the system model is instrumental in understanding and exploring the behavioral aspects of the system under study and uncovering logical and conceptual problems, such as incorrect control flow, logical errors, and missing structural relations among objects. Understanding the model and correcting it are achieved via an intuitive user interface and a host of debugging capabilities, including "lifespan" and "Debug Info" components. Using these components, one can explore the state of any OPM entity and be aware of a variety of potential problems that are manifested during the simulation process. © 20133 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 16


Article received: May 29, 2014. Article accepted: July 7, 2014. ABSTRACT Introduction: This study analyzed the association between plastic surgery complications and risk factors in the study population, and presents a safety scale for planning plastic surgery procedures. Methods: A case-control study was performed, including patients who underwent procedures at various plastic surgery centers from 2010–2011 and who had some type of postoperative complication. The control group consisted of patients who underwent similar procedures during the same period without complications. Descriptive analysis was performed using absolute and relative frequency and measures of central tendency (mean and median) and dispersion (standard deviation and minimum and maximum value). Associations were analyzed using the chi-squared test of association and univariate and multiple logistic models. In all analyses, statistical significance was defined as p-values <0.05. Results: A total of 168 patients were analyzed: 75 cases with complications (Group I, 44.64%) and 93 controls (Group II). There was a statistically significant association between the presence of a complication and two variables: undergoing an associated procedure (p = 0.049) and surgery duration greater than 240 minutes (p=0.049). Conclusion: The literature shows multifactorial risks for plastic surgery procedures. Proper patient selection, preoperative planning, and intraand postoperative prophylactic care have contributed to decreased incidence of serious complications. The main risk factors associated with post-surgical complications were surgery durations longer than 4 hours and associated procedures.


The aim of this paper is to broaden the knowledge concerning the development of Finnish firms' innovation activities. The results show that during 2008–2017 the share of overseas R&D has risen. Currently, 14–25% of Finnish firms' total R&D are conducted overseas. If Nokia is taken into account, the share of overseas R&D rises to 53–65%. Furthermore, the results suggest that Finnish firms invest approximately Eur 1.8 billion in innovation activities outside the traditional R&D definition.


A growing body of critical literature seeks to identify conceptual and practical problems accompanying the realisation of mainstream 'eco-city' initiatives around the world. However, little attention has been paid to the status of the 'city' itself within the broader discourse. If eco-cities are to be more than experimental 'technological showcases', and aim to transform urban life more generally, the question of what types of 'cityness' will ensue is of considerable importance. To effect a more significant sustainability transition, eco-city plans and policies may need somehow to encompass a more nuanced conceptualisation of cities as complex, unpredictable, and emergent spaces. The incompatibility of such a conceptualisation with liberal-modernist modes of planning means that radically innovative new approaches to eco-city development may need to be found.

This thesis considers whether the eco-city, theorised as a multiple process of real-world experimentation, may shed some light on how 'cityness' might better be planned for in future. To do so, it conceptualises cityness through the lens of 'publicness'. It makes an original contribution to knowledge by developing a new theoretical model of publicness as an 'assemblage' of space and behaviour, with an 'emergent' and 'civic' modality. It thereby extends recent debates over the idea of 'urban assemblage', and makes innovative links between theories of planning and of the public. This model informs the analysis of original empirical research, investigating the conceptualisation of the public in an international sample of official eco-city documents, and exploring the publicness of two implemented initiatives, in Portland, Oregon (US) and newly built Sejong City (South Korea).

The research finds that publicness tends to be poorly articulated in mainstream eco-city plans and policies, with potentially negative implications for sustainability in the 'urban age'. However, it also argues that state institution-led planning – even when experimental 'governance' approaches are adopted – may inevitably be limited in its ability to encompass the emergent public life of the city. The thesis concludes by considering the prospects for overcoming or more productively acknowledging these limits in future.


Between 2005 and 2015, organized criminal groups murdered 209 politicians in Mexico. This paper explains why. It argues that the two interwoven trends of political and criminal pluralization in Mexico fostered the conditions for a new type of criminal violence against politicians. Mexican politicians are now targeted for accepting illicit money as well as for standing up to criminals. Moreover, this violence is evidence of an alarming and persistent pattern in Mexico of politicians enlisting criminal organizations to eliminate their political competition. Using a zero-inflated negative binomial model, this paper shows there is a strong statistical relationship between the increase in assassinations and the increases in political pluralization and criminal fragmentation. The article concludes that the failure to protect local public officials creates greater opportunities for the emergence of subnational authoritarian enclaves and threatens democratic consolidation.


In most natural disaster prone areas, vernacular builders have implemented affordable strategies that have proven to perform adequately during natural hazards. Learning from these practices represents a great potential to further strengthen the resilience of contemporary societies dealing with these risks. This paper presents an approach for the identification and the valorisation of disaster resilient local building practices, based on two methodologies developed for the analysis of vernacular building cultures in risk prone areas. One focuses on issues concerning the exploration of vernacular architecture seismic performance; the other explores the relation between building technical features and factors influencing the resilience of communities living in areas affected by various types of natural hazards. This combined approach aims to explore and to put forward ways to further benefit from the inventiveness inherent to vernacular building cultures, in order to pragmatically contribute to the vulnerability reduction process of present-day built environments.


Abstract. Since SPOT1, the French national space centre (CNES) has worked on improving the geometry of Earth observation spacecrafts. The accuracy of sensor calibration is one of the main key points for any Earth observation application such as orthorectification, DEM generation or surface change detection. For the last twenty years CNES has developed two families of methods: absolute methods and relative methods. These methods are used to characterize a pushbroom acquisition along the detector line and the time line. By this way, the viewing directions are measured and the residual of the spacecraft's attitude angles (not restituted by the Attitude and Orbit Control System) is estimated. This information can complete the geometric model of all the scenes acquired by the instrument and is used in all geometric applications. This paper presents new attitude assessment methods taking advantage of the capabilities of Pleiades-HR in terms of agility and focal plane arrangement – panchromatic band and multispectral (MS) bands.


Cancer is still a major cause of mortality in the Thai population. The heterogeneity and complexity of cancer make this disease often result in ineffective treatment and a fatal outcome. Primary prevention for a knownrisk cancer is one way to minimize the number of new cancer cases; however, effective treatment with reasonable cost-effectiveness is important for cancer patients. Basic and preclinical cancer research are necessary for better and deeper understanding of the nature of cancer. Several research initiatives should be implemented to translate the preclinical developments to clinical outcome. High specificity and sensitivity of tumour markers in serum or secretory fluids are helpful for diagnosis of cancer before advanced, high cost, or invasive diagnoses are implemented. A set of potential markers instead of a single marker should be researched to increase the diagnostic power of the tests for a particular cancer. Simplicity, low cost, and highly effective diagnostic power of the test is also required to validate a test for clinical use. The knowledge generated at the molecular level together with the advanced technologies of next-generation sequencing, cellular and molecular biology, and computational biology, provide a new trend of precise treatment against individual cancers. Histoculture drug response assays or in vitro chemo-sensitivity assays, genomic profiling of tumours by next-generation sequencing, drug repositioning for cancer, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy are exciting approaches that lead to precise and effective therapy for cancer patients. In this review, several new directions for the precise diagnosis and effective treatments of cancer are highlighted.


U.S. land management can contribute 1.2 Pg CO2e year−1 of greenhouse gas mitigation, 76% of which costs USD 50 Mg CO2e−1 or less. Limiting climate warming to <2°C requires increased mitigation efforts, including land stewardship, whose potential in the United States is poorly understood. We quantified the potential of natural climate solutions (NCS)—21 conservation, restoration, and improved land management interventions on natural and agricultural lands—to increase carbon storage and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. We found a maximum potential of 1.2 (0.9 to 1.6) Pg CO2e year−1, the equivalent of 21% of current net annual emissions of the United States. At current carbon market prices (USD 10 per Mg CO2e), 299 Tg CO2e year−1 could be achieved. NCS would also provide air and water filtration, flood control, soil health, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience benefits.


Sandy fields have been reclaimed to exploit the grain production potential in northwestChina. A 2-year statistically replicated field study was conducted to determine the effects ofmulched drip irrigation on soil water, soil nitrate, shoot root growth and yields of maize on asandy field in the Hetao irrigation district. Treatments included border irrigation (BI), fullymulched drip irrigation (FMDI) and partially mulched drip irrigation (PMDI). Low frequencyfertigation and high frequency fertigation were applied in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Theresults showed that high frequency mulched drip irrigation (MDI) maintained soil moisture andNO3--N at suitable levels and improved soil water uniformity (Cus). Soil NO3--N was adequatefor the FMDI treatment of both high and low frequency fertigations, but it was insufficient forthe PMDI treatment under low frequency fertigation. Soil water and Cus regulated root-shootvia leaf areas and surface root areas were described well by the ratio of root surface area to leafarea (Sr/l). Higher Cus tended to cause a lower Sr/l. Compared with the BI treatment, a higheryield and harvest index (HI) was obtained under the MDI treatments primarily due to the highnumber of grains per spike. The FMDI and PMDI treatments resulted in no yield differencesunder high frequency fertigation. Therefore, high frequency PMDI management with irrigationamounts based on the reference evapotranspiration after the jointing stage were recommended inthe sandy maize field based on economic considerations. Under low frequency fertigation, theFMDI treatment was recommended for a higher yield, which was attributable to the higher drymatter of the vegetative organs and maintaining higher levels of soil NO3--N in the upper sandlayer when compared to the PMDI treatment.


In his otherwise excellent review of the AIDS epidemic in the 21st century, Fauci presented no new strategies for preventing the spread of the disease.1 He made no mention of male circumcision, yet there is now compelling epidemiological evidence from over 40 studies which shows that male circumcision provides significant protection against HIV infection; circumcised males are two to eight times less likely to become infected with HIV.2 Furthermore, circumcision also protects against other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis and gonorrhoea,3 4 and since people who have a sexually transmitted infection are two to five times more likely to become infected with HIV,5 circumcision may be even more protective. The most dramatic evidence of the protective effect of circumcision comes from a new study of couples in Uganda who had discordant HIV status; in this study the woman was HIV positive and her male partner was not.6 No new infections occurred among any of the 50 circumcised men over 30 months, whereas 40 of 137 uncircumcised men became infected during this time. Both groups had been given free access to HIV testing, intensive instruction about preventing infection, and free condoms (which were continuously available), but 89% of the men never used condoms, and condom use did not seem to influence the rate of transmission of HIV. These findings should focus the spotlight of scientific attention onto the foreskin. Why does its removal reduce a man's susceptibility to HIV infection?

#### Summary points

The majority of men who are HIV positive have been infected through the penis

There is conclusive epidemiological evidence to show that uncircumcised men are at a much greater risk of becoming infected with HIV than circumcised men

The inner surface of the foreskin contains Langerhans' cells with HIV receptors; these cells are likely to …


Abstract Despite several decades of research and phenomenal advances in technology and therapeutics, sepsis remains a catastrophic enigma. As a frequent cause of death, sepsis now rivals acute myocardial infarction. The longstanding therapeutic principles of early antibiotics use and supportive care have been difficult to improve upon. The authors conducted a concise review of pertinent literature on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of sepsis and the pharmacologic effects of statins. They conclude that, though statins possess anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties, these effects may not be advantageous throughout the changing immunoresponse that can occur in sepsis syndrome. Based on the available information, statin therapy seems advantageous before the onset of sepsis and during sepsis resolution—but not during the compensatory anti-inflammatory response that may occur. Thus, the authors recommend that, until the status of a patient's changing immune response can be clearly determined, the uninterrupted use of statin therapy throughout the full spectrum of sepsis should be avoided.


PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To explore the impact of rurality on health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) disparities in rural long-term cancer survivors.

DESIGN
Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING
Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) 7, 8, and 9.

SAMPLE
91 adults at least five years post-treatment.

METHODS
Mailed surveys measured HRQOL, self-esteem, and social support. Regression models were estimated to isolate (from self-esteem and social support) the effect of level of rurality on HRQOL.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
HRQOL, self-esteem, social support, and rurality.

FINDINGS
No differences in demographic characteristics existed among RUCCs. Survivors residing in RUCCs 7 or 8 tended to be similar in several dimensions of HRQOL. Survivors living in RUCC 7 reported significantly lower social function and greater financial difficulty and number of symptoms compared to survivors in RUCC 9 (the most remote). Self-esteem and social support strongly correlated with HRQOL.

CONCLUSIONS
The significant impact of rurality on HRQOL beyond self-esteem and social support suggests its role in explaining cancer survivorship disparities and directing practice. Until additional exploration can identify mechanisms behind rurality's impact, consideration of level of rurality as a potential factor in evaluating survivors' HRQOL outcomes is reasonable.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Survivor context (e.g., level of rurality) influences HRQOL outcomes. Context or culture-relevant risk minimization and HRQOL optimization nursing practices are indicated.


This essay considers predictions of the effect of digital technology on the English language, contrasts language content or information with language media or data, considers traditional dimensions of linguistic data and information, contrasts face-to-face conversation with mediated conversation like Twitter and Facebook, looks at alphabetic and phonetic shorthands in the context of digital social networking, makes several suggestions for English language reform given its present role as an international language, and closes with comments on the failure of the education to inculcate literacy.


Large eddy simulations of turbulent convective heat transfer in a square duct are presented. A finite volume LU decomposition scheme is used to simulate compressible three-dimensional turbulent flow at low Mach numbers in a heated duct. Time derivative preconditioning is used to deal with the low Mach number situation. A localized dynamic subgrid-scale (SGS) model is used to evaluate the unresolved stresses. The calculation domain is divided into two parts. In the first part periodic boundary conditions are used and this provides the fully developed inlet flow for the second part in which the heat transfer conditions are imposed. Characteristic out-flow conditions are applied in the second part. This allows the flow to develop further as it responds to the heating condition. The Reynolds number varied from the order of 1,000 to the order of 10,000. Heated duct cases under constant wall temperature and constant wall heat flux were simulated. Good agreement between the present results with available numerical and experimental data has been obtained.Copyright © 2004 by ASME


Early career teachers rarely receive sustained support for addressing issues of diversity and equity in their science teaching. This paper reports on design research to create a 30 hour professional development seminar focused on cultivating the interpretive power of early career teachers who teach science to students from historically non-dominant communities. Interpretive power refers to teachers' attunement to (a) students' diverse sense-making repertoires as intellectually generative in science and (b) expansive pedagogical practices that encourage, make visible, and intentionally build on students' ideas, experiences, and perspectives on scientific phenomena. The seminar sought to integrate student sense-making, scientific subject matter, teaching practice, and matters of equity and diversity on the same plane of professional inquiry by engaging participants in: (a) learning plant science; (b) analyzing classroom cases; (c) experimenting with expansive discourse practices in their classrooms; and (d) analyzing their classroom experiments in relation to student sense-making and expansive pedagogy. Twenty-eight teachers participated in two cycles of design research. An interview-based transcript analysis task captured shifts in teachers' interpretive power through their participation in the seminar. Findings showed that the teachers developed greater attunement to: complexity in students' scientific ideas; the intellectual generativity of students' sense-making; student talk as evidence of in-process, emergent thinking; and co-construction of meaning in classroom discussions. Findings also showed that participants developed deeper understanding of the functions of expansive teaching practices in fostering student sense-making in science and greater commitment to engaging in expansive practices in their classroom science discussions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach XX:XX-XX, 2015.


Works of fiction sometimes contain disclosures of inventions that operate as a bar to patentability, preventing inventors who actually make those inventions from subsequently patenting them. This is because the fictional disclosures effectively destroy the novelty of the inventions or render them obvious. Despite such disclosures, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office does not habitually or effectively search through fiction for pertinent prior art in its examinations. This paper explores the legal, economic, and pragmatic considerations if searching fiction is to become part of the patent examination process. Until recently, it was impracticable to search fiction in a manner that would accurately locate pertinent prior art. However, with the advent of the Google Book Search Project, fiction can be both effectively and efficiently searched for the first time in history. Ultimately, the strong public interest in keeping invalid patents from issuing requires that fictional prior art searching be incorporated into patent examinations.


The demography of armed conflict is an emerging field among demographers and peace researchers alike. The articles in this special issue treat demography as both a cause and a consequence of armed conflict, and they carry important policy implications. A study of German-allied countries during World War II addresses the role of refugees and territorial loss in paving the way for genocide. Other articles focusing on the demographic causes of conflict discuss highly contentious issues of whether economic and social inequality, high population pressure on natural resources, and youth bulges and limited migration opportunities can lead to different forms of armed conflict and state failure. The articles on demographic responses to armed conflict analyze the destructiveness of pre-industrial warfare, differences in short- and long-term mortality trends after armed conflict, and migratory responses in war. Another set of articles on demographic responses to war is published simultaneously in the European Journal of Population.


The potential application of hybrid ZSM-5/Al-MCM-41 zeolitic-mesostructured materials as supports of metallocene polymerization catalysts has been investigated and compared with the behaviour of standard mesoporous Al-MCM-41 and microporous ZSM-5 samples. Hybrid zeolitic-mesostructured solids were prepared from zeolite seeds obtained with different Si/Al molar ratios (15, 30 and 60), which were assembled around cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles to obtain hybrid materials having a combination of both zeolitic and mesostructured features. (nBuCp)2ZrCl2/MAO catalytic system was impregnated onto the above mentioned solid supports and tested in ethylene polymerization at 70 ◦C and 5 bar of ethylene pressure. Supports and heterogeneous catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms at 77 K, transmission electron microscopy, 27Al-MAS-NMR, ICP-atomic emission spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy. Catalysts supported over hybrid ZSM-5/Al-MCM-41 (Si/Al = 30–60) exhibited the best catalytic activity followed by those supported on Al-MCM-41 (Si/Al = 30–60). However, catalyst supported on ZSM-5 gave lower polymerization activity because of its microporous structure with narrower pores and lower textural properties than hybrid and mesoporous materials. Although higher acid site population shown by hybrid materials could contribute to the stabilization of the metallocene system on the support, in this case their better catalytic performance is mainly ascribed to the larger textural properties. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


This paper introduces a new concept, the software continuum concept based on the observation that exists a general parallelism between the software continuum from bits to business/Internet ecosystems and the natural continuum from particles to ecosystems. The general parallelism suggests that homeomorphisms may be identified and therefore some concepts, processes, and/or mechanisms in one continuum can be investigated for application in the other continuum. We argue that the homeomorphisms give rise to a biologically-inspired architectural framework for addressing robust control, robust intelligence, and robust autonomy issues in e-business software and other business-IT integration challenges. As application, we examine the mapping of a major enterprise-level architecture framework to the biologically-inspired framework. Design considerations for robust intelligence and autonomy in large-scale software automation and some major systemic features for flexible business-IT integration are also discussed.


(Abstract) The design earthquake selection problem is fundamentally probabilistic. Disaggregation of a probabilistic model of the seismic hazard offers a rational and objective approach that can identify the most likely earthquake scenario(s) contributing to hazard. An ensemble of time series can be selected on the basis of the modal earthquakes derived from the disaggregation. This gives a useful time-domain realization of the seismic hazard, to the extent that a single motion parameter captures the important time-domain characteristics. A possible limitation to this approach arises because most currently available motion prediction models for peak ground motion or oscillator response are essentially independent of duration, and modal events derived using the peak motions for the analysis may not represent the optimal characterization of the hazard. The elastic input energy spectrum is an alternative to the elastic response spectrum for these types of analyses. The input energy combines the elements of amplitude and duration into a single parameter description of the ground motion that can be readily incorporated into standard probabilistic seismic hazard analysis methodology. This use of the elastic input energy spectrum is examined. Regression analysis is performed using strong motion data from Western North America and consistent data processing procedures for both the absolute input energy equivalent velocity, (V ea), and the elastic pseudo-relative velocity response (PSV) in the frequency range 0.5 to 10 Hz. The results show that the two parameters can be successfully fit with identical functional forms. The dependence of V ea and PSV upon (NEHRP) site classification is virtually identical. The variance of V ea is uniformly less than that of PSV, indicating that V ea can be predicted with slightly less uncertainty as a function of magnitude, distance and site classification. The effects of site class are important at frequencies less than a few Hertz. The regression modeling does not resolve significant effects due to site class at frequencies greater than approximately 5 Hz. Disaggregation of general seismic hazard models using V ea indicates that the modal magnitudes for the higher frequency oscillators tend to be larger, and vary less with oscillator frequency, than those derived using PSV. Insofar as the elastic input energy may be a better parameter for quantifying the damage potential of ground motion, its use in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis could provide an improved means for selecting earthquake scenarios and establishing design earthquakes for many types of engineering analyses. iii Acknowledgments I …


The decrease of the bearing length in extrusion processes results in increasing of the material flow and offers, through this, the possibility for manipulation and optimization. This paper presents a simulation based optimization technique which uses this effect for optimizing the material flow in direct extrusion processes. Firstly, the method is used in a multi-extrusion process with equal pitch circle profiles, then in an extrusion process of an asymmetric profile. Furthermore, a composite extrusion process is analyzed where endless wires of high strength steel are embedded in a base material of aluminum. The insertion of reinforcement elements into the base material flow, especially within the small ratio between profile thickness and the reinforcement diameter, can lead to significant local disturbances inside the die, which result in undesirable profile defects. Hence, the simulation-based optimization method is especially used to optimize inhomogeneous wall thicknesses in composite profiles.


The increasing degree of complexity challenges today's managers. The purpose of this study is to show how the Viable System Model (VSM) can assist managers in these circumstances. The contributions of the VSM are drawn from a literature review and a case study applying the model to a sugarcane production and supply system. The study highlights the appropriateness of the VSM in a managerial context, in that it facilitates the design or diagnosis of any system, and assists in complexity management by supporting local autonomy and the direct handling of issues. Moreover, the VSM considers multiple stakeholder groups, and pursues the establishment of a common corporate culture as well as adequate feedback mechanisms and communication channels. Although the VSM application in the case study did not include the handling of detected shortcomings, the study concludes by arguing for the significance of the VSM in the field of management science.


Enterprise-architecture is often described as part of IT, but its real scope is much wider - the structure of everything the enterprise is and does. This book introduces a new approach to tackle this broader role for whole-of-enterprise architecture, using a systematic, iterative process for architecture development. Topics include how to bridge the business/IT divide; how to link architecture with business strategy; and how to improve balance between manual, machine and IT-based processes.


It has been suggested that Mexican investors were the front-runners in the peso crisis of December 1994, turning pessimistic before international investors. Different expectations about their own economy, perhaps due to asymmetric information, prompted Mexican investors to be the first ones to leave the country. This paper uses data from three Mexican country funds to investigate the hypothesis of divergent expectations. We find that, right before the devaluation, Mexican fund Net Asset Values (mainly driven by Mexican investors) dropped faster than Mexican country fund prices (mainly driven by foreign investors). Moreover, we find that Mexican NAVs tend to Granger-cause the country fund prices. This suggests that causality, in some sense, flows from the Mexico City investor community to the Wall Street investor community. More generally, the paper proposes an asymmetric information approach that differs from the existing explanations of country fund discounts.


Quantum measurement requires an observer to prepare a specific macroscopic measuring device from various options. In previous papers we redefined this observer role through a new concept: the observer determination, that is, the observer's unique selection between the various measurement-devices. Unlike the measurement itself that is rationalized as dictated by nature, we presented the observer determination as a selection that cannot be disputed since it can neither be measured nor proven to be true or false. In general, we suggest that every action or decision made by the observer is eventually an output of some measurement. The apparently contradiction between the observer free determination and the deterministic measurement output was solved by extending the Hilbert space into a Hyper Hilbert space that is a space with hierarchy. In that frame the so called free selection of the observer determination in a certain level turns out to be a deterministic measurement output in the next higher level of the hierarchy. An important role of the conventional Hilbert space is played by the Schr?dinger equation. It determines a basis of stationary states. In this paper we define the Schr?dinger equation that corresponds with the various levels and we show that each level can be characterized by a unique time scale. We also show how various levels can be synchronized. We believe that this hyperspace level represents a certain level in the physics of consciousness and therefore a level unique time scale can contribute to the time perception of the mind.


The Terminal Man is the extraordinary story of Mehran Karimi Nasseria, better known as 'Sir Alfred' of Charles de Gaulle Airport. Sir Alfred has spent the last 15 years living and sleeping inside the airport's Terminal One building, trapped in international no-man's land without the proper documentation needed to move on. Sir Alfred was born in Iran in 1945. When he was twenty his father died and he received an even greater shock when the woman he regarded as his mother told him he wasn't her son, but the result of a union between his father and a British nurse. A deal was agreed for Sir Alfred to disappear overseas to England and his family would pay for his studies. After a year at university, his family broke all contact and he returned to Iran where he was imprisoned for his political activism, was arrested and tortured. He was then expelled from Iran with a passport valid for just one year - so he was now a stateless person. He was mugged on his way to Charles de Gaulle airport in 1988 and lost all his documents. He boarded a plane to London but without the appropriate documentation was sent straight back to Paris. On trying to leave the airport he was arrested and sentenced as an illegal immigrant, and served six months in jail. Upon his release, he returned to Charles de Gaulle and was refused permission to enter any other country. Fearing arrest if he left the terminal building but unable to board a flight, he was trapped there for years. He sleeps on a red bench borrowed from an old bar, surrounded by piles of newspapers and magazines stored in cargo boxes and his extensive diary. As Sir Alfred remained trapped between countries his fame began to spread. There have been numerous press and magazines articles around the globe; he receives hundreds of letters from well-wishers as well as his visits and has also featured in three documentary feature films about his plight as the world's only celebrity homeless person. Political refugee, prisoner, exile, rebel, gentleman, citizen of the world, media magnet and, most of all, delayed passenger, The Terminal Man tells Sir Alfred's incredible and unique life story in his own words.


Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the ATM gene is characterised by cerebellar atrophy and progressive neurodegeneration which has been poorly recapitulated in Atm mutant mice. Consequently, pathways leading to neurodegeneration in A-T are poorly understood. We describe here the generation of an Atm knockout rat model that does not display cerebellar atrophy but instead paralysis and spinal cord atrophy, reminiscent of that seen in older patients and milder forms of the disorder. Loss of Atm in neurons and glia leads to accumulation of cytosolic DNA, increased cytokine production and constitutive activation of microglia consistent with a neuroinflammatory phenotype. Rats lacking ATM had significant loss of motor neurons and microgliosis in the spinal cord, consistent with onset of paralysis. Since short term treatment with steroids has been shown to improve the neurological signs in A-T patients we determined if that was also the case for Atm-deficient rats. Betamethasone treatment extended the lifespan of Atm knockout rats, prevented microglial activation and significantly decreased neuroinflammatory changes and motor neuron loss. These results point to unrepaired damage to DNA leading to significant levels of cytosolic DNA in Atm-deficient neurons and microglia and as a consequence activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and cytokine production. This in turn would increase the inflammatory microenvironment leading to dysfunction and death of neurons. Thus the rat model represents a suitable one for studying neurodegeneration in A-T and adds support for the use of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of neurodegeneration in A-T patients.


This paper considers the possibility of implementing low-cost hardware techniques which would allow to tolerate temporary faults in the datapaths of coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures (CGRAs). Our goal was to use less hardware overhead than commonly used duplication or triplication methods. The proposed technique relies on concurrent error detection by using residue code modulo 3 and re-execution of the last operation, once an error is detected. We have chosen the DART architecture as a vehicle to study the efficiency of this approach to protect its datapaths. Simulation results have confirmed hardware savings of the proposed approach over duplication.


A quantitative study of the libraries of 7 Technical Universities (TUs) of Ghana was conducted to evaluate information literacy programmes at such universities in Ghana. The study employed a descriptive survey research strategy. A sample of 7 librarians out of the 8 TUs libraries in Ghana was collected using purposive sampling. A questionnaire served as the instrument to collect data relating to the objectives of the study. The study gathered mostly quantitative data which were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings showed that the majority of the examined libraries included information literacy classes as part of their information literacy programmes. These were mostly widely delivered through face to face and online tutorial methods. Furthermore, the study identified the barriers to the successful implementation and running of information literacy programmes in Ghana. It identified lack of integration of information literacy into the curricula of tertiary institutions as a barrier to effective information literacy programmes. From this barrier many other barriers that are typically rectified when information literacy is properly integrated into school curricula


Differing terminology and database structure hinders meaningful cross search of excavation datasets. Matching free text grey literature reports with datasets poses yet more challenges. Conventional search techniques are unable to cross search between archaeological datasets and Web-based grey literature.

Results are reported from two AHRC funded research projects that investigated the use of semantic techniques to link digital archive databases, vocabularies and associated grey literature. STAR (Semantic Technologies for Archaeological Resources) was a collaboration between the University of Glamorgan, Hypermedia Research Unit and English Heritage (EH). The main outcome is a research Demonstrator (available online), which cross searches over excavation datasets from different database schemas, including Raunds Roman, Raunds Prehistoric, Museum of London, Silchester Roman and Stanwick sampling. The system additionally cross searches over an extract of excavation reports from the OASIS index of grey literature, operated by the Archaeology Data Service (ADS).

A conceptual framework provided by the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) integrates the different database structures and the metadata automatically generated from the OASIS reports by natural language processing techniques. The methods employed for extracting semantic RDF representations from the datasets and the information extraction from grey literature are described. The STELLAR project provides freely available tools to reduce the costs of mapping and extracting data to semantic search systems such as the Demonstrator and to linked data representation generally. Detailed use scenarios (and a screen capture video) provide a basis for a discussion of key issues, including cost-benefits, ontology modelling, mapping, terminology control, semantic implementation and information extraction issues.

The scenarios show that semantic interoperability can be achieved by mapping and extracting different datasets and key concepts from OASIS reports to a central RDF based triple store. It is not necessary to expose the full detail of the ontological model; the Demonstrator shows that user interfaces for retrieval (or mapping) systems can be expressed using familiar archaeological concepts. Working with the CRM-EH archaeological extension of the CIDOC CRM ontology allows specific archaeological queries, while permitting interoperability at the more general CRM level, potentially extending to other areas of cultural heritage. The ability to connect published datasets with the hitherto under-utilised grey literature holds potential for meta studies, where aggregate patterns can be compared and hypotheses for future detailed investigation uncovered. Connecting the interpretation with the underlying context data via the semantic model facilitates the revisiting of previous interpretations by third parties, the possibility of juxtaposing parallel interpretations, or exposing the data to new research questions.


As the study of sexual commerce has grown dramatically in recent decades due to interest in HIV/AIDS, an expanded literature has scrutinized how research teams manage the operational challenges of accessing spaces that typically resist scrutiny. This paper ventures a combination of both scholarly reflections on the utility of ethical listening and specific methodologies for working with hard-to-reach populations, and selective use of field notes to illustrate the ethical and operational challenges of data collection with marginalized youth. The paper highlights several pivotal commitments and procedures for generating an effective community-based research project, the extent of time demanded for such research, and collective reflections on the potential for both harm and good in such projects. Efforts to understand the social context in which young adults engage in sexual exchange—both on the street and in erotic dance clubs—requires a commitment to ethical listening, and to progressive learning.


Today's investment in and calls for public anthropology are one symptom of the profound rupture and reorganization of the research agendas of social/cultural anthropology as it moved away from the four-field organization of anthropology into an alignment with certain humanities-driven, energetically interdisciplinary appropriations of the concerns of the social sciences in the name of "theory." In anthropology, this story can most cogently be told by focusing on what happened to its central professional culture of method: what ethnography looks like today and the conditions of research, encompassing fieldwork, that produce it. This article is an examination of this reorganization of social/cultural anthropology, which has left the center of the discipline intellectually weak relative to the vitality of its diverse interdisciplinary and even nonacademic engagements. It asks whether this post-1980s reorganized social/cultural anthropology might rediscover and reunite with some of its historic core associations (four-field as well as topical) in the new terrains of research and partnerships on the peripheries of its old disciplinary center.


Background
Smoking has been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality in previous studies and might also be associated with prognosis after CRC diagnosis. However, current evidence on smoking in association with CRC prognosis is limited.

Patients and methods
For this individual patient data meta-analysis, sociodemographic and smoking behavior information of 12 414 incident CRC patients (median age at diagnosis: 64.3 years), recruited within 14 prospective cohort studies among previously cancer-free adults, was collected at baseline and harmonized across studies. Vital status and causes of death were collected for a mean follow-up time of 5.1 years following cancer diagnosis. Associations of smoking behavior with overall and CRC-specific survival were evaluated using Cox regression and standard meta-analysis methodology.

Results
A total of 5229 participants died, 3194 from CRC. Cox regression revealed significant associations between former [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.12; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.20] and current smoking (HR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.04-1.60) and poorer overall survival compared with never smoking. Compared with current smoking, smoking cessation was associated with improved overall (HR<10 years = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.69-0.88; HR≥10 years = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.63-0.97) and CRC-specific survival (HR≥10 years = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.67-0.85).

Conclusion
In this large meta-analysis including primary data of incident CRC patients from 14 prospective cohort studies on the association between smoking and CRC prognosis, former and current smoking were associated with poorer CRC prognosis compared with never smoking. Smoking cessation was associated with improved survival when compared with current smokers. Future studies should further quantify the benefits of nonsmoking, both for cancer prevention and for improving survival among CRC patients, in particular also in terms of treatment response.


While most of the historical events that took place in L'viv, Ukraine, during and after World War II are being successively researched, less attention has been paid to their representation throughout the Soviet period and its transformation afterwards. This article looks at two war museums in L'viv representing the most prominent competing historical perspectives on World War II in Ukraine today: the Soviet narrative of heroism and liberation, as put forward by the Museum of the History of the Carpathian Military District, and the Ukrainian narrative of a no less heroic fight for freedom and self-determination, as presented by the Museum of the Liberation Struggle of Ukraine. The first was the state narrative of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, is still supported by many Ukrainian citizens and politicians, and continues to influence ideas about how war should be commemorated; the promoters of the second have hoped to make it the new Ukrainian master narrative, but they encounter a variety of difficulties, which will be addressed in this article. The article examines the circumstances, motives, and goals of the museums' creators, of the exhibitions' narratives (and silences), and their design. The analysis is based on empirical research conducted in L'viv between August 2015 and October 2017 as part of the interdisciplinary research project "L'viv: Museum of War," a collaboration between the artist Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair and the historian Alexandra Wachter.
Article in English.
DOI: 10.25285/2078-1938-2018-10-2-52-79


This article examines the role of the often-overlooked contract clause in the context of the current financial crisis experienced by many states and localities. In the face of severe budget shortfalls, state and local governments have sought to modify public employee contacts, especially with respect to health and pension benefits. Federal and state courts have reached confliction opinions concerning legislation that curtails existing contractual rights for such employees. The article criticizes the prevailing multi-prong test for determining contract clause violations as vague and malleable. It also calls into question the notion that courts should employ a heightened standard of review when states alter their own contractual undertakings. Further, the article proposes a return to a principled reading of the contract clause, arguing that financial problems are not a excuse to avoid contractual obligations of any sort, and that all contracts, public as well as private, should be held to the same standard of review. It maintains that public employees should not be singled out for harsh treatment in economically distressed times, but that neither should they be treated as a privileged class.


ABSTRACT Moore, G.E.; Grizzle, R.E.; Ward, K.M., and Alshihi, R.M., 2015. Distribution, pore-water chemistry, and stand characteristics of the mangroves of the United Arab Emirates. Mangroves are the dominant coastal vegetation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), occupying one of the driest mangrove habitats in the world. However, published estimates of mangroves do not represent current conditions for the country as a whole. This study provides an up-to-date estimate of UAE's mangroves, summarizing their habitat characteristics, stand heights, and pore-water conditions. Estimates of mangrove cover are based upon remote sensing, aerial photointerpretation, and field verification. Our results document more mangroves than previously estimated for Abu Dhabi and the nation altogether. Mapped areas were classified into three descriptive density cover classes to facilitate interpretation of the data: low (<10%), moderate (10–75%), and high (>75%). The high-density class reflects prior national estimates for mangrove coverage (roughly 3613 ha), while moderate- and low-density classes contributed an additional 5659 ha and 4344 ha (respectively) to the national total. The largest contiguous mangrove area was 710 ha, while the smallest mapped area was 0.03 ha. Mapped mangrove habitat types included fringe, basin, and overwash, with average heights of 3.36 ± 0.25 m and density of 61.83% ± 5.01%. Stand height and pore-water sulfide concentrations were significantly different between habitat types, while stand density, pore-water salinity, and redox potential were highly variable. In sum, approximately 13,616 ha of mangrove area was mapped, roughly three times more than prior estimates. This is the first study in recent years to document the full areal extent of mangroves and associated stand characteristics across the seven emirates.


In situ cationic polymerization of bio-based tung oil in the presence of poly(e-caprolactone), a crystallizable, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymer, was performed to produce novel semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). The macromolecular structure and properties of these IPNs were investigated as a function of composition using small amplitude oscillatory shear flow rheology, FT-IR spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This versatile and low-cost strategy successfully produced bio-polymer blends with various degrees of miscibility, morphology, and crystallization behavior. The carbon–carbon double bonds in tung oil were consumed quickly after adding the cationic initiator to form a three-dimensional (3D) crosslinked network in all measured samples as confirmed by FT-IR. A complete miscible structure with a single glass transition temperature and one-phase morphology was observed for a tung oil/PCL 90/10 blend. On the other hand, a two-phase structure exhibiting a nanoscale morphology of the dispersed minor phase as small as 100 nm was observed for blends with 20 and 30 wt% PCL. For a 50 wt% PCL blend, an interconnected, co-continuous microstructure of the two phases was also detected. DMA and DSC measurements confirmed the miscibility (or partial miscibility) of the blends by following the changes in the glass transitions of phases as a function of the composition. The value of the elastic modulus (E′) in the glassy state as obtained from the DMA measurements was strongly dependent on the composition, reaching a maximum at 20 wt% PCL.


The Tarim River is the major water source for all kinds of human activities and for the natural ecosystems in the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China. The major water consumer is irrigation agriculture, mainly cotton. As the area under irrigation has been increasing ever since the 1950s, the lower and middle reaches of the Tarim are suffering from a water shortage. Within the framework of the Water Law and two World Bank projects, the Tarim River Basin Water Resource Commission was founded in 1997 in order to foster integrated water resource management along the Tarim River. Water quotas were fixed for the water utilization along the upstream and downstream river stretches. Furthermore, along each river stretch, quotas were set for water withdrawal by agriculture and industry and the amount of water to remain for the natural ecosystems (environmental flow). Furthermore, huge investments were undertaken in order to increase irrigation effectiveness and restore the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Still, a regular water supply for water consumers along the Tarim River cannot be ensured. This paper thus introduces the hydrology of the Tarim River and its impacts on land use and natural ecosystems along its banks. The water administration in the Tarim Basin and the water allocation plan are elaborated upon, and the current water supply situation is discussed. Finally, the adaptations made due to issues of water allocation and water scarcity on the farm level are investigated and discussed.


Three new species of unstalked crinoids (Echinodermata, Crinoidea) belonging to the comasterid genera Comactinia A. H. Clark, 1909, Capillaster A. H. Clark, 1909 and Cenolia A. H. Clark, 1916 from depths of 73-310 m, are described. Comactinia titan n. sp., from the Philippines and New Caledonia, which bears thicker arms than any other comasterid, is the first representative of its genus recorded outside the tropical western Atlantic. Capillaster squarrosus n. sp., from Vanuatu, resembles C. multiradiatus (Linnaeus, 1758) but has uniquely modified arms. Cenolia amezianeae n. sp., from southern New Caledonia and Vanuatu, resembles its congeners but bears combs on pinnules as far as P 19 (rather than just to P 4 as in other Cenolia), which requires an emendation of the generic diagnosis. RESUME


Thermal cracking is a critical pavement issues in the cold regions and has been of a major concern in asphalt pavements. The paper presents a viscoelastic modeling work using pure power law, generalized power law, and Prony series functions to characterize low temperature performance of asphalt mixtures. The bending beam rheometer (BBR) using asphalt mixture beams was employed to obtain creep compliance and further viscoelastic analyses were performed to determine relaxation moduli and thermal stresses of asphalt mixtures. The objective of this paper is to provide a better understanding on low temperature viscoelastic behavior of asphalt mixtures by quantifying creep compliance errors and differences among these representation models (pure power law, generalized power law, and Prony series functions) in the predictions of relaxation moduli and thermal stresses. Based on the comparison of viscoelastic analyses at low temperatures, the generalized power law function shows a better agreement with the experimental data and has the least creep compliance error as compared with other two representation functions.


The results of our recent studies of controlled modifications of the photoelectrical properties of n-Si due to B + ion implantation are supplemented with new data, summarized and analyzed. The starting material was wafers of single-crystalline n-Si and a silicon-on-insulator structures. p-n-Si structures were fabricated by ion implantation of B + in doses ranging from 1 × 10 13 to 1 × 10 15 сm −2 and ion acceleration energies of 50 and 32 keV. Subsequent annealing was performed both by steady-state (900 and 1000°C, 20 min) and pulsed photon processing. In such structures, a pronounced photosensitivity is observed in the short-wave infrared range (1.5–2.2 μm), as well as in the ultraviolet region within 0.25–0.40 μm. A well-defined correlation between the structural, electrical and photoelectrical properties and the implantation and annealing regimes, as well as the content of C and O impurities is demonstrated. In the starting material, a damaged layer with a thickness of hundreds of nanometers was found to have a significant effect on the results obtained. The main results are discussed in terms of the formation/transforma-tion of deep-level extended defects in n-Si during B + implantation followed by annealing. Innovative application approaches of the technology are obvious.


Isotope amount ratios (hereafter referred to as simply isotope ratios) are proving useful in an ever increasing array of applications that range from studies unravelling transport processes, to pinpointing the provenance of specific samples as well as trace element quantification by using isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). These expanding applications encompass fields as diverse as archaeology, food chemistry, forensic science, geochemistry, medicine and metrology. However, to be effective tools, the isotope ratio data must be reliable and traceable to enable the comparability of measurement.
The importance of traceability and comparability in isotope ratio analysis has already been recognized by the Inorganic Analysis Working Group (IAWG) within the CCQM. Three pilot studies have focused on the quality of isotope ratio determinations (P48 "U isotope ratios in urine", P75 "stable isotopes in Methionine", P105 "87Sr/86Sr in wine"). Moreover, isotope ratio measurements are fundamental to IDMS amount of substance determinations. For example, when Pb quantification using IDMS is undertaken, this requires the measurements of Pb isotope ratios. While the requirements for isotope ratio accuracy and precision in the case of of IDMS are generally quite modest, "absolute" Pb isotope ratio measurements for geochemical age dating and source rock characterization as well as forensic provenance and fingerprinting studies require Pb isotope ratio measurements of the highest quality. To support present and future CMCs on isotope ratio determinations, a Key Comparison was urgently needed. Therefore, it was decided at the IAWG meeting in Paris in April 2011 that a Key Comparison on the determination of Pb isotope ratios in a pure Pb solution and in a bronze sample should be organized and accompanied by a pilot study.
Measuring Pb isotope amount ratios in a pure Pb solution, while seemingly straight forward, rigorously tests the ability of analyst to correct for any instrumental effects (such as mass discrimination and blank correction) on the measured ratios. Pb, present in trace amounts in a metal matrix sample (e.g. Pb in bronze), provides a real world test of the whole chemical and instrumental procedure, from chemical separation and sample purification to analysis and subsequent correction of appropriate instrumental effects on the separated samples.
A suitable bronze material with a Pb mass fraction between 10 and 100 mg·kg-1 was available at BAM. A high purity solution of Pb with a mass fraction of approximately 100 mg·kg-1 was also available. By comparing the Pb isotope ratio results obtained for the bronze sample with the Pb isotope ratio results from the Pb solution, potential biases arising from the processing of the bronze sample could be effectively identified and separated from the instrumental effects arising from the measurement and data processing protocol.


OZDEN, A., 2014. Total factor productivity growth in Turkish agriculture: 1992-2012. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 20: 469-473 Agricultural sector has an important role in Turkey. Since it provides capital to other sectors, meets the raw material needs of them and contributes to the labor employment in the country. The main purpose of this study is to measure agricultural technical efficiency and Total factor productivity using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the DEA-based Malmquist TFP index in Turkey in the periods 1992–2012. Value of agricultural production is taken as output. Land, tractors, labour, fertiliser and livestock are taken as input. The results were derived by imposing the assumption of constant returns to scale using an input-oriented DEA. A general specification encompassing all available input and output data was employed to obtain the average TFPC for the sector over the 1992–2012 periods. The average total factor productivity growth in the general model specification is -5.6%. These patterns are largely on the account of technological change as opposed to technical efficiency.