Exams have traditionally been given to evaluate students but in recent years, with the appearance of freely accessible on-line tutoring, quizzes can also be used as a learning tool. In systems where students can request quiz items until a satisfactory grade is obtained, new probabilistic approaches are required for dealing items to students and new statistical approaches are required for analysis, including student evaluation. This paper applies various models to a case study to quantify the actual learning involved in using such a dynamic system and demonstrates the need for new statistical approaches. Responses to repeatedly assigned questions, some with random numbers, are analyzed to distinguish rote learning from learning with understanding. It is seen that models designed for evaluation are inadequate for dynamic systems which are a part of a learning experience in contrast to static systems which merely provide data storage and snapshot evaluation. Keywords: interactive learning, computer-assisted education, logistic regression, rote learning, item response theory, mixed effects models ********** Across the world reading material in the form of printed textbooks dominate in schools, sometimes with handouts on paper, except for the many parts where this is too expensive. Instructors still use mainly blackboard and chalk with recent moves in some parts to whiteboards, pens and (electronic) slide presentations. Homework, quizzes and exams are used to monitor progress, sometimes on the move to hypermedia (Dillon and Gabbard, 1998), with considerable debates on standards (Friesen, 2004). Most uses of electronic media merely make electronic slides available (see references in Stefansson, 2004). These, and storing handouts on-line, are petty uses of the web's potential and no real improvement over paper. To use the possibilities of the web a system should at least interlink the material and add options for testing. On-line tests are mostly computerized paper tests with fixed questions to be solved in a fixed time slot. Reducing instructor-time, this gives no credit to the interactive nature of the web. However, drilling systems for learning have been developed, from spelling and arithmetic (Frantz, 1982; Thompson and Cloer, 1982; Chang et al., 2008) through generic memorization drills (Feng et al., 2006; Maya et al., 2007; Wozniak, 2007). Most are task-specific, proprietary and not freely available, not specifically designed to enhance exchange of content, nor do they provide a single platform for multiple topics, student groups and instructors. Results in this paper are based on the "tutor-web', a system for web-assisted education and research on education, both for in-class use and for remote learning. The system is free and includes the possibility of a student taking exams. Instructors anywhere can obtain free access to exchange and use teaching material. Students have free access to the system, including self-evaluation. The system provides a basis for research on web-assisted education such as item selection and uses in low-income areas. A goal of the "tutor-web" project is to set up a repository of educational material for a BSc degree in mathematics and and MSc degree in statistics, complete with slides, handouts and on-line quizzes. This is being done by a consortium of faculty and researchers in some 20 countries. The approach taken is to insert material in various stages of development, from simple handouts through complete sets of interlinked material. Given the interactivity of the WWW and a student's obvious desire to obtain a high grade, on-line quizzes have the potential to permit the student to work towards a goal, with the quiz becoming a learning experience. The "tutor-web" has been designed with this in mind, as have a few other systems, some of which have been used to evaluate the effects on student performance (Goldberg & McKhann, 2000; Griffin & Gudlaugsdottir, 2006; Feng et al. …


A phase-sensitive scanning optical microscope is described that can measure surface height changes down to 0.1 nm. This is achieved by using two heterodyne Michelson interferometers in parallel. One interferometer probes the sample with a tightly focused beam, and the second has a collimated beam that illuminates a large area of the surface, providing a large area on sample reference. This is facilitated by using a specially constructed objective lens that permits the relative areas illuminated by the two probe beams to be varied both arbitrarily and independently, thus ensuring an accurate absolute phase measurement. We subtracted the phase outputs from each interferometer to provide the sample phase information, canceling the phase noise resulting from microphonics in the process. Results from a prototype version of the microscope are presented that demonstrate the advantages of the system over existing techniques.


Contours and junctions are important cues for perceptual organization and shape recognition. Detecting junctions locally has proved problematic because the image intensity surface is confusing in the neighborhood of a junction. Edge detectors also do not perform well near junctions. Current leading approaches to junction detection, such as the Harris operator, are based on 2D variation in the intensity signal. However, a drawback of this strategy is that it confuses textured regions with junctions. We believe that the right approach to junction detection should take advantage of the contours that are incident at a junction; contours themselves can be detected by processes that use more global approaches. In this paper, we develop a new high-performance contour detector using a combination of local and global cues. This contour detector provides the best performance to date (F=0.70) on the Berkeley Segmentation Dataset (BSDS) benchmark. From the resulting contours, we detect and localize candidate junctions, taking into account both contour salience and geometric configuration. We show that improvements in our contour model lead to better junctions. Our contour and junction detectors both provide state of the art performance.


The overall in vitro embryo production efficiency in buffalo is hampered by the poor IVF efficiency. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether the fertilizing ability of buffalo sperm is improved by the presence of bovine oviductal cells (BOEC) during IVF. Because of limited availability of buffalo oocytes, this was assessed by heterologous IVF. Bovine oviducts were obtained at a local abattoir from cows that were in the preovulatory phase of a normal estrous cycle. BOEC recovered from 5 oviducts as previously described (Gualtieri and Talevi 2000 Biol. Reprod. 62, 1754-1762) were pooled and plated in 100 μL drops of TCM-199 + 10% FCS, 100 U mL-1 penicillin, 100 μg mL-1 streptomycin and 0.25 μg mL-1 amphotericin B under mineral oil. Medium was changed every 48 h up to Day 6, when cell confluence and cilia activity were optimal. On day of IVF the medium was removed from the drops and replaced with TALP supplemented with 0.2 mM penicillamine, 0.1 mM hypotaurine, and 0.01 mM heparin (IVF medium). Frozen-thawed sperm from an IVF-tested buffalo bull, treated by Percoll gradients, were used for all IVF groups (2 × 106 sperm mL-1). In vitro-matured bovine oocytes (n = 409), over 3 replicates, were distributed in 4 fertilization groups: (A) IVF medium alone (control); (B) BOEC monolayer + IVF medium; (C) sperm preincubated for 6 h in IVF medium; and (D) sperm preincubated for 6 h with BOEC + IVF medium. After 20 h of coincubation at 38.5°C and 5% CO2 in air, putative zygotes were denuded, washed, and cultured in SOF medium. Forty-eight hours after IVF, cleavage rate was evaluated, and cleaved and uncleaved oocytes were fixed in 60% methanol and stained with DAPI for nuclei examination under fluorescence microscope. Data were analyzed by chi-square test. Although cleavage rate was not different among groups (46.2, 55.8, 50.0, and 50.0% for A, B, C, and D, respectively), the monospermic penetration rate increased (P 4 cells) was higher (P < 0.01) in groups C and D (47.9 and 37.1%, respectively) than in group A (12.1%), whereas group B (21.0%) was only different from group C. We demonstrated that the fertilizing capacity of buffalo sperm, evaluated as oocyte penetration rate after heterologous IVF, is enhanced by the presence of BOEC. This suggests that IVF of buffalo oocytes on BOEC monolayer may improve the IVF efficiency in buffalo. The higher incidence of advanced embryos in both groups with preincubated sperm may be accounted for by an earlier accomplishment of capacitation, leading to anticipated oocyte penetration. However, because the penetration rate in these groups was not improved compared with the control, we hypothesize that sperm viability may have decreased and hence that shorter incubation times should be tested in further studies.


Triathletes, rejoice! For the first time, USA Triathlon, its elite athletes, and the nation's most respected coaches share their secrets, strategies, and advice for every stage, every event, and every aspect of the world's most demanding sport. From training to technique, fueling to recovery, if it's essential to the sport, it is covered in Complete Triathlon Guide.
 In this guide, you'll find invaluable bike-handling techniques straight from the pros, learn how to assess running form and improve running cadence and stride, troubleshoot your freestyle swim stroke, and shave seconds off starts and transitions. And you'll go inside the sport for expert instruction and personal insights from triathlon's biggest names:
 Joe Friel
 Gordon Byrn
 Bob Seebohar
 Sage Rountree
 Ian Murray
 Sara McLarty
 Linda Cleveland
 George Dallam
 Steve Tarpinian
 Krista Austin
 Iñigo Mujika
 Alicia Kendig
 Barb Lindquist
 Christine Palmquist
 Graham Wilson
 Jackie Dowdeswell
 Jess Manning
 Joe Umphenour
 Karl Riecken
 Katie Baker
 Kristen Dieffenbach
 Kurt Perham
 Mathew Wilson
 Michael Kellmann
 Mike Ricci
 Scott Schnitzspahn
 Sergio Borges
 Sharone Aharon
 Suzanne M. Atkinson
 Timothy Carlson
 Yann Le Meur
 With Complete Triathlon Guide you'll enhance your training regimen with the most effective workouts, including stage-specific programs for swimming, cycling, and running; programs for strength, flexibility, and endurance; tactics that address individual weaknesses; and advice on tapering to ensure you're in peak physical condition on race day.
 From the latest on equipment and technology to preventing injuries and dehydration, this guide has you covered. Whether you're gearing up for your first race or you're a hard-core competitor looking to stay ahead of the pack, Complete Triathlon Guide is the one book you should not be without.


Importance of the field: High platelet reactivity has been linked to recurrent ischemic events in patients treated with conventional dual antiplatelet therapy, in patients with arterial diseases and particularly in patients treated with coronary artery stenting. The limitations of clopidogrel have served as a major rationale for the development of new P2Y12 blockers that have superior pharmacodynamic profiles uninfluenced by concomitant therapies or specific genotypes. Ticagrelor is the first direct-acting reversibly binding oral P2Y12 receptor antagonist. Extensive Phase II investigations have addressed the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and safety-related properties of ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel. The recently completed PLATO trial demonstrated promise for ticagrelor as a major treatment strategy for a wide spectrum of patients with acute coronary syndromes. Ticagrelor is now being reviewed by the FDA as a P2Y12 receptor blocker to treat patients with coronary artery disease and, once accepted, will be in widespread use as an antiplatelet agent. Thus, it is both appropriate and timely to review available data and provide a comprehensive review of ticagrelor. Areas covered in this review: We discuss the rationale for the development of ticagrelor, a reversible and potent P2Y12 receptor blocker. The data regarding ticagrelor based on preclinical and clinical studies are examined. We researched articles about 'AZD6140' and 'ticagrelor' in PubMed from 2006 to 2010 and also reviewed data presented at recent cardiology meetings. What the reader will gain: This is an updated and comprehensive review of ticagrelor. The advantages and disadvantages of ticagrelor and available P2Y12 receptor blockers such as clopidogrel and prasugrel are discussed, thus providing a clear picture to readers. Take home message: Ticagrelor has an important role as an antiplatelet agent in the settings of acute coronary syndrome and percutaneous coronary intervention and once accepted will be in widespread use.


The long-stale page metaphor for Web sites is finally dying out, replaced by the single-screen rich-Internet apps that Flash MX 2004 is at last bringing to the mainstream. To stay ahead of the curvei¾?and to start creating the kind of Web sites you used to only dream ofi¾?you need this guide. In these pages you'll learn how to create the sites that more and more companies are demandingi¾?the kind that pull complex data from multiple sources for delivery via a single Web interface, so that users can perform multiple functions from a single screen. The focus here is on building the Flash MX 2004 front end to work with that complex data. You'll learn how to structure applications to eliminate page refreshes while reducing download time, build real-time and time-delayed applications with Flash Communication Server, integrate technologies like Flash Remoting and Macromedia Central, and more. You can even download all of the source files form the book's companion Web site.


Uterine Leiomyoma (fibroids, myomas) are benign tumors of localized, proliferative smooth muscle cells. They are commonly found with an incidence of approximately 30 % among American women. The majority of these are clinically "silent" and asymptomatic; but when they do become symptomatic, they most commonly present with: Pain (including secondary dysmenorrhea); Bleeding (menorrhagia with an increased amount and duration of flow); and Pressure (related to size and number of tumors). Since fibroids can present as "Pelvic Masses", they should be investigated to rule-out the possibility of cancer. Uterine Leiomyoma (fibroids, myomas) are benign tumors of localized, proliferative smooth muscle cells. They are commonly found with an incidence of approximately 30 % among American women. The majority of these are clinically "silent" and asymptomatic; but when they do become symptomatic, they most commonly present with: Pain (including secondary dysmenorrhea); Bleeding (menorrhagia with an increased amount and duration of flow); and Pressure (related to size and number of tumors). Since fibroids can present as "Pelvic Masses", they should be investigated to rule-out the possibility of cancer. Leiomyomas are hormone-responsive, in that Growth is directly related to the Estrogen-environment: (increased estrogen = increased growth and number of tumors). With menopause (or situations where estrogen is decreased, e.g. progestin supplementation), and the relative lack of estrogenic stimulation, these tumors usually undergo atrophy and become clinically 'nonexistent'. In less than 1% of cases, malignancy can arise usually forming leiomyosarcomas (though there can be several histologic variants). The turn to malignancy is more commonly seen in older patients (post menopausal) who present with rapidly growing tumors, post menopausal bleeding, and a moderate degree of pelvic pain/discomfort. In this population, an enlarging pelvic mass must not be assumed to be fibroid (as it might be in a younger pt); cancer must first be considered a likely etiology. In general, bleeding is the most common presentation of uterine fibroids. 3 mechanisms have generally been accepted for the increased bleeding: Alteration of normal myometrial contractility 1. within the Small Artery and Arterioles supplying the endometrium. Inability of the overlying endometrium to respond 2. to the normal menstrual phases (estrogen/progesterone) which induces efficient sloughing of the endometrium. Pressure Necrosis of the overlying endometrial bed 3. exposing vascular surfaces and leading to excessive bleeding. The best example of a fibroid which presents as uncontrolled bleeding is the Submucousal Leiomyomata. In this form, the majority of distortion created by the smooth muscle tumor projects inward towards the uterine cavity thus disrupting the endometrial layer (and leading to "repeated menses"). Blood loss from this type of continuous menstruation can, occasionally, be heavy enough to contribute to chronic irondeficiency anemia or, rarely, to severe acute blood loss possibly shock. Diagnosis of fibroids is usually made on clinical grounds with a supporting history; clinical examination (abdominal and bimanual examination) may reveal characteristic qualities of a myoma: large, midline, mobile pelvic mass Quick Review: Uterine Fibroids 2 of 3 with an irregular contour and a "hard" or "solid" feel. These tumors can usually be differentiated from adnexal disease though a subserosal tumor which becomes pedunculated may present as an adnexal mass. Further studies can include ultrasound, CT, MRI but cost must be weighed against benefit, endometrial sampling or D & C (especially when dealing with an older pt to exclude possibility of cancerous growth), and hysteroscopy (allows direct visualization of the fibroid especially submucus type). Complications of leiomyomata are few: Degeneration (with possible hemorrhage or infection), Sarcomatous Change (mentioned earlier), and the worsening of symptomatology (with associated quality of life issues). Depending on the severity of symptoms, most uterine fibroids will not require surgical treatment. In treating these tumors, reassurance and observation (once cancer has been ruled out) may be all that are required especially if pt is close to the natural menopause. Medical treatments are based on the notion that these tumors are 'estrogen-dependent' and involve: The use of Progestin Supplementation (to decrease 1. the high-estrogen environment). This may minimize the amount of uterine bleeding; however if there is a significant amount of cavitary distortion caused by a large intramural or submucus fibroid (as in this case), progesterone will be of minimal benefit since the excessive bleeding is due to the severe anatomic and vascular abnormalities. GnRH Agonists (Lupron) which inhibit the release 2. of the gonadotropins (LH and FSH) by interrupting the pulsatile release of physiologically produced GnRH (stimulation is now continuous). This treatment is usually temporary with a 3 6 month course given pre-operatively in preparation for hysterectomy or to postpone symptoms until the natural menopause. Danazol has also been used to reduce the amount 3. of ovarian-produced estrogen but has not been very successful in treating symptoms. Surgical treatment via Myometomy is occasionally used especially in younger patients with infertility problems secondary to the fibroid (uterine distortion or implantation). The definitive surgical treatment for myomas is hysterectomy. However, indications for the proper use of this surgery include: excessive bleeding, intractable pain, rapidly-enlarging size, post menopausal enlargement, pelvic pressure symptoms, and impingement of the ureters (leading to hydronephrosis). The decision to use this approach must include an assessment of the pt's future reproductive plans, the associated disability caused by the fibroid, and the clinical signs of worsening condition (e.g. anemia). However, the presence of uterine myomas alone does not necessarily warrant this operation.


The article presents a case-study on the calibration and verification of mathematical models of organic carbon removal kinetics in biofilm. The chosen Harremöes and Wanner & Reichert models were calibrated with a set of model parameters obtained both during dedicated studies conducted at pilot- and lab-scales for petrochemical wastewater conditions and from the literature. Next, the models were successfully verified through studies carried out utilizing a pilot ASFBBR type bioreactor installed in an oil-refinery wastewater treatment plant. During verification the pilot biofilm reactor worked under varying surface organic loading rates (SOL), dissolved oxygen concentrations and temperatures. The verification proved that the models can be applied in practice to petrochemical wastewater treatment engineering for e.g. biofilm bioreactor dimensioning.


The paper presents a face recognition system based on 3D features with the aim of verifying the identity of subjects accessing a controlled Ambient Intelligence Environment and customizing all the services accordingly. The proposed approach relies on stereoscopic face acquisition and 3D mesh reconstruction avoiding non automated and expensive 3D scanners, unsuitable for real time applications in general. A bidimensional feature descriptor is extracted from each 3D mesh. It consists in a color image transferring face's 3D features in a 2D space. An automatic weighting mask of each authorized person improves the robustness of recognition in presence of diverse facial expressions and beard. The experiments conducted show high average recognition rate and a measurable effectiveness of both flesh mask and expression weighting mask.


Passengers have faced a history of discrimination in transportation systems. Peer transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft present the opportunity to rectify long-standing discrimination or worsen it. We sent passengers in Seattle, WA and Boston, MA to hail nearly 1,500 rides on controlled routes and recorded key performance metrics. Results indicated a pattern of discrimination, which we observed in Seattle through longer waiting times for African American passengers—as much as a 35 percent increase. In Boston, we observed discrimination by Uber drivers via more frequent cancellations against passengers when they used African American-sounding names. Across all trips, the cancellation rate for African American sounding names was more than twice as frequent compared to white sounding names. Male passengers requesting a ride in low-density areas were more than three times as likely to have their trip canceled when they used a African American-sounding name than when they used a white-sounding name. We also find evidence that drivers took female passengers for longer, more expensive, rides in Boston. We observe that removing names from trip booking may alleviate the immediate problem but could introduce other pathways for unequal treatment of passengers.


The Jackpot Mentality: The Growth of Government Lotteries and the Suppression of Illegal Numbers Gambling in Rio de Janeiro and New York City Matthew Vaz This dissertation examines social and political conflict over gambling policy in the United States and Brazil from 1960 to the present with a particular focus on New York City and Rio de Janeiro. The study accounts for the process by which illegal numbers gambling in New York and the jogo do bicho in Rio de Janeiro were determined to be the basis for widespread corruption and lawlessness. As policy makers proposed enhanced government lotteries as a solution for the problem of illegal gambling, numerous groups scrambled for position within shifting gambling frameworks. Tens of thousands of persons who had long worked in illegal numbers networks pressed for access to legal gambling jobs, corporate entities partnering with government lotteries pushed to secure monopoly concessions, while many citizens and religious groups opposed any and all forms of gambling legalization. As gambling workers, bettors, clergy, police officers, politicians and corporate lobbyists all struggled over how gambling would be conducted going forward, an intense debate unfolded in both Brazil and the United States with issues relating to police corruption, welfare, public safety, state sovereignty, personal liberty, and distribution of the tax burden all under examination. While there are many comparative elements of this study, it is ultimately transnational in that the narrative histories of gambling policy in Brazil and the United States eventually converge through the gambling technology corporation Gtech, which emerged as a powerhouse in the government lottery sectors of both nations. As the low stakes illegal gambling games of the numbers and the jogo do bicho are suppressed in favor of legal government lotteries, a vast new array of gambling habits are introduced to the gambling public in both Brazil and the United States. Of particular importance to this study is the growth of multimillion-dollar jackpot games offered by governments and their corporate partners. As players leave behind the old games with their reasonable odds and their modest payouts, they take up new games with astronomical odds and obscene jackpots. In the argument of this study, jackpot style gambling has brought the gambling habits of the poor and working classes into accord with contemporary patterns of wealth distribution.


This PhD thesis presents the findings of an evaluation to understand the impact of a care farm aiming to improve the mental and social health of disadvantaged young people with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESDs) from low-socioeconomic backgrounds who are at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Employment, Education and Training) at sixteen years of age. It examines the potential for underlying mechanisms of a care farm to enhance young people's chances of remaining in education, employment and training and lead to improvements for this disadvantaged group's health and well-being. The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) was used as a theoretical framework to explore the psychological mechanisms underlying experiences of attending the care farm. This mixed-method study, explores the experiences and perceptions of young people attending the care farm. Data were longitudinally captured using a validated questionnaire pack, semi- structured interviews at baseline, six months and nine months, triangulated with observational fieldwork. The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) evaluation framework was used to contextualise these findings. Inferential statistical analysis of behavioural, emotional and subjective well-being measure scores identified statistically significant differences in respect of the amount of time the young people had been attending the care farm and reductions in conduct problems, hyperactivity and the use of non-productive coping strategies and increased satisfaction with school, awareness of how actions affect the environment and overall connection to nature. Analysis of qualitative data suggested the young people perceived the farm as an inclusive environment, which improved their green environmental engagement (e.g. positive experiences from animals, sense of freedom from the physical space, increased participation in physical activity), personal functioning (e.g. coping, trust, self-confidence, self-efficacy, kindness, empathy), social functioning (e.g. pro-social behaviour: relationships with family, peers and in the school environment, social inclusion, sense of belonging to the care farm) and personal development (e.g. re-engagement with school, life & work skill learning). The young people also reported a reduction in their self-reported mental health risks (depression, anxiety and stress) and behavioural regulation difficulties. The thesis concludes by arguing that this care farm initiative provides an alternative to traditional classroom based learning for pre-NEET young people with BESDs when they are therapeutically supported in a green space. The farm environment is conducive for young people to build key social, life and relationship skills, thus enhancing their chances of remaining in education, employment or training.


Talia fell under a spell...Jack broke the curse. I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic...I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind. I awakened in the same place but in another time-to a stranger's soft kiss. I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen. Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner! Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels...The good news: My parents will freak! Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all-even time?


Thyroid dysfunction is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease depending upon severity of disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid function impairment among stable and acute exacerbation COPD patients with age matched healthy controls and correlation of thyroid function tests with pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis. 60 {30 stable (group1) and 30 exacerbation (group2)} COPD patients and 30 age matched healthy controls (group3) were studied. There was a significant difference with respect to BMI, mean serum FT3 in between group 1&2; group 2&3 and group 1&3. Mean serum TSH was within normal limits but had lower values than controls. FT4 was within normal limits. It had no significant difference between all groups. Mean serum FT3 was negatively correlated with bicarbonate levels whereas FT4 was negatively correlated to Hb levels .No correlation was found in between Pulmonary Function Test and ABG analysis with thyroid function impairment. In conclusion among all groups of COPD patients, impaired thyroid function is associated with respiratory workload, as thyroid hormones regulate the metabolic rate and in exacerbation phase due to critical illness thyroid dysfunction reflects non-thyroidal illness syndrome.


Abstract In recent years, a growing body of empirical research suggests that indiscriminate violence against civilian targets tends to carry substantial political risks compared to more selective violence against military targets. To better understand why terrorist groups sometimes attack politically suboptimal targets, scholars are increasingly adopting a principal-agent framework where the leaders of terrorist groups are understood as principals and lower level members as agents. According to this framework, terrorist leaders are thought to behave as essentially rational political actors, whereas lower level members are believed to harbor stronger non-political incentives for harming civilians, often in defiance of leadership preferences. We test this proposition with an original content analysis of terrorist propaganda videos. Consistent with the principal–agent framework, our analysis demonstrates statistically that terrorist leaders tend to favor significantly less indiscriminate violence than their operatives actually commit, providing unprecedented insight into the incentive structure of terrorist leaders relative to the rank-and-file.


The question of creating an Australian head of state is a symbolic, constitutional and governance issue that remains unresolved. The lesson of the 1999 referendum is that for the current constitutional arrangements to be modified, there will need to be some consensus on a model. Yet at present the movement is deadlocked between a direct election model and a parliamentary appointment model with substantively different implications. There is therefore a great challenge to create a model that satisfies both the desire for popular electoral input and the desire to retain an essentially ceremonial and politically neutral non-executive head of state. After reviewing extant models (including relevant overseas models) and historical and conceptual issues, the problems of a full popular vote are discussed. The article then responds by introducing new concepts to the debate. These are: (1) "Tri-partisan Endorsement" (or "Three-way Support") being a three party endorsement of a single candidate to face the voters along with any other nominees in an open popular election; (2) "Fifty-Fifty" being a method for appointment of an Australian head of state which involves aggregating the results of a parliamentary and a popular vote. The first seeks to achieve a politically neutral candidate while the second seeks to moderate the parliamentary vote for such head of state with a popular vote and vice-versa. The two concepts are separate but might also be utilised in combination in a single model. Finally, the article proposes a partial response to the unresolved "1975" dilemma through "Concurrent Expiration" where a head of state who removes a Prime Minister against the will of the House of Representatives will see the former's own tenure expire 75 days after the holding of the ensuing election (subject to possible re-election). The article concludes that such concepts offer hope for the development of a judicious consensus model capable of achieving the support of the Australian people at a referendum.


In this study we use combined historical records and results of early paleo-earthquake studies to show that a 160 km seismic gap has existed along the northeast-striking right-slip Tangshan-Hejian-Cixian fault (China) over more than 8400 yr. The seismic gap is centered in Tianjin, a city in the North China Basin with a population of 11 million and located ∼100 km from Beijing, which has a population of 22 million. Current data indicate that the recurrence interval of major earthquakes along the Tangshan-Hejian-Cixian fault is 6700–10,800 yr. This implies that a large earthquake with an estimated magnitude of ∼M 7.5 is either overdue or will occur within the next 2000–3000 yr along the inferred seismic gap if it is ruptured by a single event. Alternatively, the seismic gap may be explained by aseismic creeping, strain transfer between adjacent faults, or much longer recurrence times than the current knowledge indicates.


After an historical review of evaluation methods, we describe an emerging research method called Multi-dimensional In-depth Long-term Case studies (MILCs) which seems well adapted to study the creative activities that users of information visualization systems engage in. We propose that the efficacy of tools can be assessed by documenting 1) usage (observations, interviews, surveys, logging etc.) and 2) expert users' success in achieving their professional goals. We summarize lessons from related ethnography methods used in HCI and provide guidelines for conducting MILCs for information visualization. We suggest ways to refine the methods for MILCs in modest sized projects and then envision ambitious projects with 3-10 researchers working over 1-3 years to understand individual and organizational use of information visualization by domain experts working at the frontiers of knowledge in their fields.


BACKGROUND
The oncolytic herpes simplex-1 virus, NV1066, is a replication-competent virus that has been engineered to infect and lyse tumor cells selectively and to carry a transgene for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The purpose of this study was to determine viral cytotoxicity in an esophageal cancer cell line and to determine whether EGFP expression could be used as a marker of viral infection.

METHODS
BE3 esophageal adenocarcinoma cells were infected with NV1066 in vitro to determine cell kill and viral replication. EGFP expression was assessed by flow cytometry. The in vivo anti-tumor activity of NV1066 was tested in subcutaneous and intraperitoneal xenograft models. EGFP expression was localized in vivo by fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent laparoscopy.

RESULTS
NV1066 effectively replicated within and killed BE3 cells in vitro and in vivo. EGFP expression identified infected tumor cells. After NV1066 treatment in vivo, EGFP expression localized to the tumor. In an intraperitoneal tumor model, EGFP could be visualized endoscopically using a laparoscope with a fluorescent filter.

CONCLUSIONS
NV1066 has oncolytic activity against the BE3 cell line and may be a useful therapy against esophageal cancer. EGFP expression localizes the virus and may help to identify tumor deposits in vivo. Oncolytic activity with NV1066 against gastrointestinal cancers may potentially be tracked by endoscopy.


We have examined the associations of purified red cell band 4.2 with red cell membrane and membrane skeletal proteins using in vitro binding assays. Band 4.2 bound to the purified cytoplasmic domain of band 3 with a Kd between 2 and 8 X 10(-7) M. Binding was saturable and slow, requiring 2-4 h to reach equilibrium. This finding confirms previous work suggesting that the principal membrane-binding site for band 4.2 lies within the 43-kDa cytoplasmic domain of band 3 (Korsgren, C., and Cohen, C. M. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5536-5543). Band 4.2 also bound to purified ankyrin in solution with a Kd between 1 and 3.5 X 10(-7) M. As with the cytoplasmic domain of band 3, binding was saturable and required 4-5 h to reach equilibrium. Reconstitution with ankyrin of inside-out vesicles stripped of all peripheral proteins had no effect upon band 4.2 binding to membranes; similarly, reconstitution with band 4.2 had no effect upon ankyrin binding. This shows that ankyrin and band 4.2 bind to distinct loci within the 43-kDa band 3 cytoplasmic domain. Coincubation of ankyrin and band 4.2 in solution partially blocked the binding of both proteins to the membrane. Similarly, coincubation of bands 4.1 and 4.2 in solution partially blocked binding of both to membranes. In all cases, the data suggest the possibility that domains on each of these proteins responsible for low affinity membrane binding are principally affected. The data also provide evidence for an association of band 4.2 with band 4.1. Our results show that band 4.2 can form multiple associations with red cell membrane proteins and may therefore play an as yet unrecognized structural role on the membrane.


Edge computing provides a promising paradigm to support the implementation of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) by offloading computational-intensive tasks from resource-limited machine-type devices (MTDs) to powerful edge servers. However, the performance gain of edge computing may be severely compromised due to limited spectrum resources, capacity-constrained batteries, and context unawareness. In this article, we consider the optimization of channel selection that is critical for efficient and reliable task delivery. We aim at maximizing the long-term throughput subject to long-term constraints of energy budget and service reliability. We propose a learning-based channel selection framework with service reliability awareness, energy awareness, backlog awareness, and conflict awareness, by leveraging the combined power of machine learning, Lyapunov optimization, and matching theory. We provide rigorous theoretical analysis, and prove that the proposed framework can achieve guaranteed performance with a bounded deviation from the optimal performance with global state information (GSI) based on only local and causal information. Finally, simulations are conducted under both single-MTD and multi-MTD scenarios to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed framework.


Electrical geophysical methods, when applied to mineral exploration, have traditionally consisted of electrode array configurations such as pole-dipole, dipole-dipole, gradient array, etc., in which survey design usually results in a tradeoff between minimum target size, logistical complexity in the field, and the depth of investigation of the survey. Recent development of distributed acquisition systems (MIMDAS by M.I.M. Exploration and Titan24 by Quantec Geoscience) allow increased depth of investigation without significantly limiting minimum target size requirements. The two systems are similar in that they collect induced polarization (IP), direct current (dc) resistivity, and/or magnetotelluric (MT) data with multichannel configurations and signal-processing techniques that efficiently use nonconventional arrays and remove natural and cultural noise. This can be particularly effective in near-mine environments where traditional systems are challenged to produce interpretable information, particularly...


This work addresses the problem of segmenting an object of interest out of a video. We show that video object segmentation can be naturally cast as a semi-supervised learning problem and be efficiently solved using harmonic functions. We propose an incremental self-training approach by iteratively labeling the least uncertain frame and updating similarity metrics. Our self-training video segmentation produces superior results both qualitatively and quantitatively. Moreover, usage of harmonic functions naturally supports interactive segmentation. We suggest active learning methods for providing guidance to user on what to annotate in order to improve labeling efficiency. We present experimental results using a ground truth data set and a quantitative comparison to a representative object segmentation system.


Article type: Original Article Received: Oct. 2016 Accepted: Dec. 2016 Published: Jan. 2016 Corresponding author: Batool Tirgari e-mail: email@example.com Background & Aim: Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the psychiatric disorders and exposure to trauma is a key factor in its development. This disorder affects important aspects of a person's life such as professional quality of life. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between post-traumatic stress symptoms and professional quality of life among psychiatric nurses. Methods & Materials: In this descriptive analytical study, 160 nurses in psychiatric wards affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences, were selected using census sampling in 2013. Data were collected using questionnaires including professional and demographic characteristics, the Weathers' PTSD checklist (PCL-C) and Hudnall Stamm's Professional Quality of Life (PQOL). Data were analyzed by the SPSS software v.20 using the Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression. Results: There was a significant correlation between PTSD score and professional quality of life scores in psychiatric nurses (r=0.32, P<0.001). Also, PTSD was positively correlated with burnout (r=0.36, P<0.001) and secondary traumatic stress (r=0.61, P<0.001), and conversely correlated with compassion satisfaction (r=-0.29, P<0.001). After removing the effects of age, work experience, previous experience of traumatic events, the correlation between two main research variables was significant as well (P<0.001). Conclusion: Post-traumatic stress has a correlation with professional quality of life in psychiatric nurses. Therefore, factors related to PTSD are suggested to be identified and prevented.


Introduction Environmental issues are defining a new agenda for energy research and energy policy development. At the 24th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers, the Northeast International Committee on Energy (NICE 1999) tabled 'energy and the environment' as an area of key interest. NICE resolution 24-5 recognised the need to address issues regarding energy and the environment, including the consideration of new and existing energy alternatives and research into the development of sustainable energy policies. The traditional preoccupation of energy policy-makers, however, has been to increase electricity supply, exploit new resources and introduce new electricity technologies to meet projected demands independent of energy and environmental policies (Bregha et al. 1990). Energy policies have been largely incentive-based, relying on tax codes and deregulation to promote investment and development. Environmental policy, in contrast, has been largely interventionist, relying on regulations rather than incentives, to minimise the environmental impacts associated with energy resource development, distribution and use (Anderson 1994). While there have been increasing attempts to incorporate environmental considerations into energy policy design, such attempts are tacked on rather late in the policy development process, at a point where the relevant policy options have already been defined (Anderson 1994). There is a fair degree of consensus among the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries that long-term energy trends are unlikely to experience radical changes over the next 25 years (OECD 1999). While new technologies may come on-stream, the future energy mix for electrical generation is unlikely to present any major disruptions compared with recent trends (Lahidji et al. 1999). The dynamics of energy demand have been quite stable since the early 1980s, growing at an average annual rate of 1.2-1.6 percent annually and are expected to continue along this trajectory (National Energy Board [NEB] 1999). The period from 2025 to 2050, however, could prove to be a watershed in the transition of Canadian energy systems (Lahidji et al. 1999; Energy Technology Futures [ETF] 2000). While fuel sources for electrical generation are not expected to change significantly, concerns over energy security and new directions in socioeconomics, trade and environmental policy issues are expected to have significant effects on the energy scene (World Energy Council 1993; Natural Resources Canada [NRCan] 1997; OECD 1999). The goal of early studies in energy policy should not be to identify a precise figure for energy demand or consumption, but rather to give an indication of a practical and sustainable energy strategy and the direction of change needed to meet specified goals and objectives within the context of existing and future resources, technologies and market situations. Thus, developing a strategy for the development of Canada's electricity sector involves not only the consideration of existing and potential electricity sources, but also the consideration of broader socioeconomic and environmental policy issues. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate alternative Canadian electricity futures and to explore the implications of a national electricity development policy. To accomplish this, a panel of energy and environmental experts was selected to evaluate five alternative electricity supply scenarios on the basis of several competing factors, and to identify the preferred direction for electricity and energy policy development. A brief discussion of alternative Canadian electricity supply futures is presented, followed by an analysis of electricity alternatives and a discussion of the broader implications of a national electricity strategy within the context of regional electricity resource siting. Canada's Electricity Futures Electricity supplies about one-fifth of all energy used in Canada, and electricity production consumes about one-third of all primary energy sources. …


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: A single-use flexible cystoscope with integrated grasper (Isiris, Coloplast, Denmark) has recently become commercially available. The objective of this study was to compare the costs of stent removal in an outpatient clinical environment between the single-use Isiris system (Coloplast, Denmark) to our existing approach using a reusable cystoscope and stent grasper. METHODS: The number of stent removal procedures at our tertiary center was recorded as a proportion of all cystoscopic procedures performed between February 2016 and February 2017. Elements included in the micro-cost assessment included: the original purchasing price of an Olympus digital reusable cystoscope, repair fee (based on a one year contract), sterilization equipment and accessory costs, reprocessing costs of the cystoscope, and labor costs. Costs were estimated on a per-use basis. This was compared to the purchasing price of Isiris. RESULTS: A total of 1775 cystoscopic procedures were performed, and the reusable cystoscope was used for stent removal in 871 cases. The per-use cost for stent removal procedures using the reusable cystoscope was estimated to be $161.85. The per-use purchasing price for the Isiris device is $200. After 704 stent pulls, micro-costing analysis appears to favor the reusable cystoscope compared to the disposable. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this micro-cost analysis, per-use costs appear to favor the reusable cystoscope for stent removal. It appears that centers with high volumes of stent pulls may find the reusable cystoscope and stent grasper more cost-beneficial than the single-use system. Further study addressing performance and convenience of single-use system is needed. Source of Funding: None


Although there have been distance education programmes offered by Irish Higher Education institutions for over twenty-five years, little is known about those who graduate from these online distance education programmes such as; their socio-economic profile, why they chose distance education and the effect that completing a distance education programme has had on their lives and careers. Drawing on preliminary results from a survey of distance education graduates, this paper seeks to begin to address the gap in the research on this cohort of graduates.

This paper argues that online distance education is providing opportunities for higher education attainment, in a very flexible manner, to students from a highly diverse background, who often cannot access higher education any other way. Furthermore, online distance education can play an even greater role in extending access into the future. However, to achieve this potential, the funding model will have to change to that recommended by the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 whereby 'All students, whether full-time or part-time, on campus or off-campus, should be equally supported by the funding model used to allocate resources to and within institutions' (DES 2011, p17).


Mainly this study sought to find out primary sources of law undergraduate law students cite in their research projects. It also sought to ascertain most frequently cited sources as well as their availability in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria. Five research questions guided the study. The research design was a survey. A total of 543 projects were used for the study. Instrument for data collection were checklist and interview. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages to answer research questions 1,2 and 3. Responses from the law librarians in research questions 4 and 5 were qualitatively analysed. Findings of the study revealed that most of the information sources cited were not available in the four law libraries studied. Problems which impinge on the provision and availability of these resources were highlighted. Finally strategies that will enhance the availability and use of these information sources in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria were recommended.


In this Essay, Professor Ramachandran examines Professor Rubenfeld's concept of self-possession, which Rubenfeld presents as a helpful way to define the harm of rape. She argues that if the concept represents exclusive physical control over one's body, it is an elusive and undesirable ideal, and as problematic as the sexual autonomy concept that Rubenfeld critiques. Alternately, if it represents the narrower concept of mind-body integration, it makes a principled distinction between rape and battery impossible. The solution is to acknowledge that rape is a sex crime, unique because sex carries distinctive risks and meanings.


Phylogenetic relationships among 115 species representing the legume genus Astragalus and 12 related genera were inferred from an analysis of nucleotide sequence variation in the internal transcribed spacers and 5.8S gene of nuclear ribosomal DNA. For a subset of these taxa, the ITS data were supplemented by sequences from the chloroplast trnL intron. Phylogenies derived from maximum parsimony and neighbor- joining analyses of sequence and insertion/ deletion characters all suggest that the vast majority of Astragalus is monophyletic (with the exception of "outlier" species). All New World Astragalus species with aneuploid chromosome numbers (n = 11-15) form a monophyletic group ("Neo-Astragalus"), which now includes the Mediterranean aneuploid Astragalus echinatus. Other Old World aneuploid species are not closely related to Neo-Astragalus, but rather are found among Old World euploid (n = 8, 16) groups. Similarly, the relatively few North American species with euploid numbers are not the closest relatives to Neo-Astragalus but are dispersed among divergent Old World groups that include both aneuploid and euploid species. The histor- ically allied genus Oxytropis is not nested within Astragalus, but forms a separate clade within the larger "Astragalean" clade. The proposed segregate genera Astracantha (Eurasian) and Orophaca (North American) are clearly nested within Astragalus s. str. South American species of Astragalus are nested within Neo- Astragalus and comprise at least two independently derived clades (along with their close North American relatives), as previously suggested by morphology. Parsimony reconstructions of characters that have been used in the traditional subgeneric taxonomy of the genus were examined and show high levels of homoplasy. Preliminary estimates of the absolute rate of species diversification in Astragalus suggest it may be higher than in some other, often cited, continental or insular adaptive radiations in angiosperms.


Aims. The authors intend to asses the risk factors, the grades of severity and the complications associated with peri-/intraventricular hemorrhage and to establish by means of standardized clinical criteria and specific investigations (cerebral ultrasonography, electroencephalogram, cerebral CT and MRI) the long-term prognosis. Materials and method. A 5-year retrospective study (2012-2017) performed in the "L. Ţurcanu" Preterms and Neonatology Department, Emergency Hospital for Children, Timisoara, on preterm newborns with clinical and ultrasonographic signs of peri-/intraventricular hemorrhage. Serial cerebral ultrasonography was the elective method in establishing the diagnosis. The exclusion criteria were: cerebral malformations, metabolic disorders, central nervous system infections, and genetic disorders. Results. The main incriminated risk factors were: acidosis, respiratory distress syndrome, hypoxia and hypercarbia. The incidence of peri-/intraventricular hemorrhage was 17.03%. The incidence related to gestational age was higher among very low birth weight preterm infants (64.21%) and extremely-low-birth-weight preterm infants (78.5%). The distribution of cases based on the degree of severity was as follows: grade I – 39.68%; grade II – 27.62%; grade III – 17.70%; grade IV – 15%. Posthemorrhagic obstructive hydrocephalus was the most common complication, in 29.50% of cases (26.04% of preterms with third-degree intraventricular hemorrhage, and 58.33% of those with fourth-degree intraventricular hemorrhage). Conclusions. Although ultrasonography, a rapid and simple diagnostic method, has certain advantages compared to other types of imagistic methods in current medical practice, cerebral MRI or CT is necessary in cases which need ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Moderate-to-severe disabilities such as cerebral palsy, vision or hearing loss and learning disabilities, language, cognitive/behavioural/attentional deficits were present, depending on the size and evolution of the hemorrhagic lesion.


The term "development of doctrine" inevitably calls to mind the classic work of Blessed John Henry Newman that has exercised so much influence on Christian thought over the past century and a half. (1) But the eminent nineteenth-century historian was not the inventor of this idea. As Newman himself freely acknowledged, the notion of development has its roots deep in the theological work of St. Vincent of Lerins, a fifth-century resident of a monastery on the Mediterranean coast of Gaul. (2) In our own day, the island of Lerins (now called Saint-Honorat after the first abbot in 410) still boasts the presence of a monastery. But, in its earliest years, Lerins was a citadel of profound theological reflection, giving rise to numerous monk-theologians, among whom was the insightful Vincent. (3) It is my contention that St. Vincent, with his vigorous endorsement of authentic doctrinal development, is an author worthy of retrieval by the contemporary Church. His work can still aid theological and ecumenical advances, even while it shows that the very notion of development is neither a modern idea nor a defensive reaction to the corrosive acids of historical scholarship. On the contrary, the notion of faithful development lies deep within the Church's genetic code. We know little of St. Vincent outside of the fact that he was a monk of Lerins and was, as Gennadius tells us around a.d. 490, "learned in Holy Scripture and in church doctrine." His magnum opus, the Commonitorium or Reminder, remains an important monument to his theological acumen despite its unusual career. Although written in 434 (for Vincent tells us he is writing three years after the council of Ephesus, convoked in 431), for a full millennium the great book was enveloped by silence, so that from the sixth to the fifteenth century we do not hear a single word about it. The most likely explanation for this neglect is that the manuscript was buried in archives inaccessible to later thinkers. When the volume was finally rediscovered in the sixteenth century, Vincent's book was hailed by both Catholic and Protestant theologians as a contribution of singular importance. The seventeenth-century Catholic theologian St. Robert Bellarmine described it as a golden book, libellus plane aureus, an evaluation confirmed by the fact that over twenty editions of the Commonitorium appeared in the sixteenth century and another thirteen (along with twenty-one translations from the Latin) in the nineteenth. (4) In recent decades, however, Vincent's reputation has fallen from its prior lofty position, and once again theologians have fallen silent about his work. This neglect has occurred for two principal reasons. First, the monk of Lerins has come to be perceived as a determined opponent of St. Augustine, particularly of the latter's accent on the sovereign priority of grace. Vincent, it is claimed, is a staunch defender of semipelagianism, the idea that man's own disciplined efforts (rather than divine grace) constitute the beginning of salvation. While one needs God's grace to live a virtuous life, a person's first turn to God--the initium fidei--comes about through one's own agency. Even if this allegation is true (and a host of studies debate the issue), the charge does not substantively touch the Commonitorium's orthodoxy, since the precise relationship between grace and free will was a contentious topic in the early Church and received no authoritative clarification until the second council of Orange in 529, long after St. Vincent's death. Further, the grace-free will issue is tangential to Vincent's volume, which is centrally concerned with questions relating to the Incarnation and the Holy Trinity. A second and more substantive reason for Vincent's current eclipse is the alleged unwieldiness of his famous "canon" or rule, the bright line that the monk of Lerins offers for separating salutary orthodoxy from noxious heresy. Vincent asks: How do Christians who are constantly beset with errors and heresies (and Vincent lists a full roster of them) know the truth? …


This article presents results from a study of prequalification in architectural competitions. The aim is to develop knowledge of how the organizer appoints candidates to invited competitions. Prequalification is a selection procedure used early in the competition process to identifysuitable candidates for the following design phase. Usually three to six teams are invited to develop design proposals. The overall research question in the study is about how organizers identify architects / design teams for competitions with limited participation. The methodology includes an inventory of competitions, case studies, document review and interviews of key-persons. Ten municipal and governmental competitions have been examined in the study. There are 375 applications from design teams in the competitions. 43 architect firms/teams (11 %) have been invited. In five of the ten competitions 19 informants have reported their experiences of prequalification. The informants responded to an interview guide with questions on the background of the competition, development of the invitation, and the need for information about the candidates, assessment process and experience from the selection of architects / design teams. The invitation emerges during negotiation at the organizing body, which includes discussion with the Swedish Association of Architects.General conditions, submission requirements and criteria for the evaluation of applications by architect firms are part of an established practice. All clients have an assessment procedure made up of two distinct stages. First they check whether applications meet the specific "must requirements" in the invitation. Thereafter follows an evaluative assessment of the candidate's professional profile, which is based on the criteria in the invitation. Reference projects and information from the referees are important sources of information in this stage. Decisivein the final assessment is the organizer's perception of the candidates' ability to produce projects of architectural quality, the ability to combine creative solutions with functional requirements and aptitude to work with developers and contractors.


Networks of dynamical systems occur in diverse areas of engineering, such as distributed computation, automated vehicular formations, and power systems networks. We investigate the interplay between network coherence and the network's interconnection topology. In such networks, synchronization or more general coherence under stochastic uncertainty is an important measure of performance. For example, in power systems this notion corresponds to phase and frequency coherence of multiple generators (the lack of which may lead to so-called inter-area oscillations), while in vehicular formations this notion corresponds to how well vehicles are collectively tracking their commanded trajectories. We study abstractions of all of the above problems as distributed/cooperative control problems. We investigate the asymptotic limits of performance when network sizes become large as a function of the networks' topologies. This has important implications for the design of future highly-distributed-generation power networks, as well as large vehicular formation schemes such as those in proposed automated highway systems. This talk will specifically address the notion of network coherence under stochastic disturbances, and its dependence on network topology and various notions of network dimension. Regular lattices and fractal networks provide case studies with both integer and fractional dimension. We give asymptotic lower bounds on network disorder and show its dependence on both the complexity of individual node dynamics, as well as network dimension. It turns out that higher connectivity improves coherence, while more complex node dynamics can hinder it. However, in all cases there is a critical network dimension above which purely local interactions can lead to the emergence of global order. We outline the connections between these results and those on the statistical mechanics of harmonic solids. For future highly-distributed-generation power networks, we quantify the cost of synchronization in terms of resistive line losses due to the power flow needed to achieve this synchrony. We show that this cost scales unboundedly with the number of generators in the network and is independent of the underlying connection topology. This result is a further argument for the use of information communication rather than only power flows to enhance synchrony in such large networks.


Rapid technological advances, the establishment of large-scale biobanks, and the exchange of data across international boundaries raise a variety of questions for regulators struggling with the problem of how to govern such stores of information and the processes connected with them. Engaging with the pressing issues of privacy, consent, access to data, and benefit sharing, "Principles and Practice in Biobank Governance" draws together the latest empirical research from the UK, Europe, America, Australia and Asia to focus on these challenges. Current models of governance are critiqued, principles and policies are debated, and new models and theoretical frameworks are presented through this intellectually stimulating, informative volume. This truly international volume offers new insights from a range of disciplinary perspectives and will be essential reading for policy makers and scholars across a range of social sciences, including sociology, bioethics, law and social policy.


The hpr1 delta 3 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is temperature-sensitive for growth at 37 degrees and has a 1000-fold increase in deletion of tandem direct repeats. The hyperrecombination phenotype, measured by deletion of a leu2 direct repeat, is partially dependent on the RAD1 and RAD52 gene products, but mutations in these RAD genes do not suppress the temperature-sensitive growth phenotype. Extragenic suppressors of the temperature-sensitive growth have been isolated and characterized. The 14 soh (suppressor of hpr1) mutants recovered represent eight complementation groups, with both dominant and recessive soh alleles. Some of the soh mutants suppress hpr1 hyperrecombination and are distinct from the rad mutants that suppress hpr1 hyperrecombination. Comparisons between the SOH genes and the RAD genes are presented as well as the requirement of RAD genes for the Soh phenotypes. Double soh mutants have been analyzed and reveal three classes of interactions: epistatic suppression of hpr1 hyperrecombination, synergistic suppression of hpr1 hyperrecombination and synthetic lethality. The SOH1 gene has been cloned and sequenced. The null allele is 10-fold increased for recombination as measured by deletion of a leu2 direct repeat.


An Oxford student of C.S. Lewis's said he found his new tutor interesting, and was told by J.R.R. Tolkien: "Interesting? Yes, he's certainly that. You'll never get to the bottom of him." You can learn a great deal about people by their friends and nowhere is this more true than in the case of C.S. Lewis, the remarkable academic, author, populariser of faith - and creator of Narnia. He lost his mother early in life, and became estranged from his father, much to his regret. Throughout his life, key relationships mattered deeply to him, from his early days in the north of Ireland and his schooldays in England, as still a teenager in the trenches of World War One, and then later in Oxford. The friendships he cultivated throughout his life proved to be vital, influencing his thoughts, his beliefs and his writings. What did Arthur Greeves, a life-long friend from his adolescence, bring to him? How did J.R.R. Tolkien, and the other members of the now famous Inklings, shape him? Why, in his early twenties, did he move in with a single mother twice his age, Janie Moore, and live with her for so many years until her death? And why did he choose to marry so late? What of the relationship with his alcoholic and gifted brother, who eventually joined his unusual household? In this sparkling new biography, which draws on material not previously published, Colin Duriez brings C.S. Lewis and his friendships to life.


The optical and electrical properties of doped solution-deposited and rf sputter-deposited thin metal oxide films were investigated following post deposition pulsed laser irradiation. Solution deposited films were annealed at 450 oC. Following the heating regiment, the transparent metal oxide films were subjected to 355 nm pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation (4 nsec pulsewidth) at fluences between 5 and 150 mJ/cm2. Irradiation times at pulse frequencies of 30 Hz ranged from seconds to tens of minutes. Film densification, index change and a marked increase in conductivity were observed following irradiation in air and under vacuum of Al:ZnO (AZO), Ga:ZnO (GZO), and In:ZnO (IZO) films deposited on silica substrates. Despite the measured increase in conductivity, all films continued to show high transparency on the order of 90% at wavelengths from the band edge well into the near infrared region of the spectrum. Laser energies required for turning on the conductivity of these films varied depending upon the dopant. Irradiations in air yielded resistivity measurements on the order of 16.cm. Resistivities of films irradiated under vacuum were on the order of 0.1.cm. The increase in conductivity can be attributed to the formation of oxygen vacancies and subsequent promotion of free carriers into the conductionmore » band. All irradiated films become insulating after around 24 hours. Oxygen atoms in air become reduced by electrons in the metal conduction band and diffuse into the vacancies in the lattice. The rate of this reduction process depends on the type of dopant. This work also sheds light on the damage threshold, correlating the optical properties with the presence of free carriers that have been introduced into the conduction band. All films were characterized by means of UV-VIS-NIR transmission spectroscopy, visible and UV Raman spectroscopy and Hall measurements. Analysis of interference fringes in measured transmission spectra allowed film density and refractive index to be evaluated while the Raman measurements showed an increase in LO mode intensity with respect to the TO mode intensity as the films became more conducting. Results of this study are not only important for the continued development of transparent conducting oxide films that find use in photovoltaic cells and solid state lighting modules, but also provide evidence for the role of free carriers in initiating the laser damage process in these wide bandgap metal oxide films.« less


PURPOSE
We aimed to assess the clinical and predictive role of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) as the primary method for imaging evaluation of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODS
Thirty-one patients with symptomatic BPH, treated with PAE from October 2016 until February 2018, were enrolled in this prospective, single-center study. Microspheres (100-700 µm) were utilized for PAE. International prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum urinary flow (Qmax), prostatic volume (PV) and post void residual volume (PVR) were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months post PAE. Unenhanced transabdominal US was utilized for PV and PVR measurements; prostatic enhancement was studied with transabdominal CEUS at baseline, during the procedure, 1 day and 1, 3, and 6 months post PAE. Technical success was defined as embolization of the PA of at least one pelvic side. Clinical success was based on the improvement of IPSS and QoL, with no need for any additional treatment. Follow-up time ranged from 6 to 18 months (mean, 9.7±4.3 months). Clinical success rates were calculated and changes in prostatic enhancement were correlated with the outcome parameters.

RESULTS
Technical success rate was 90.3%. Clinical success rates at 3, 6, and 12 months post PAE were 85.7%, 85.7%, and 79.1% respectively. Improvement of outcome parameters (baseline vs. 6-month values) was statistically significant, with 12.4 points mean reduction of IPSS (50.4%, P = 0.003), 2.0 points mean reduction of QoL (45.4%, P < 0.001), 30.3 mL mean reduction of PV (30.2%, P < 0.001), 72.6 mL mean reduction of PVR (51.8%, P = 0.005) and 8.6 mL/s mean increase in Qmax (103%, P = 0.002). The most significant complications were bladder ischemia (n=1), and ischemic rectal ulcer (n=1), both attributable to nontarget embolization, with complete recovery. CEUS 1 day post PAE demonstrated prostatic infarcts in 26/28 (92.8%) patients. The percentage of prostatic infarction (pPI, defined as prostatic infarcted volume 1 day post PAE divided by baseline PV) was 1%-71%. There was a very strong positive correlation between pPI and prostate shrinkage (r=0.81, P < 0.001), but a weak correlation between pPI and the improvement of the other outcome parameters (r= 0.01-0.36; P = 0.093-0.965). However, in the subgroup of patients with indwelling bladder catheter (9/28 patients), successful removal of the catheter was achieved only in patients with pPI>10%.

CONCLUSION
CEUS appears to be a practical method for the study of the local ischemic effect of PAE, with potential predictive value.


The aim of this thesis was to enable the direct utilization of solid carbonaceous fuels like coal and biomass, in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Since SOFCs are based on ceramic oxygen-ion conducting electrolytes, it is possible, in principle, to generate electricity by the direct oxidation of solid fuels in these fuel cells. The electrochemical conversion of these fuels can realize high efficiencies in power generation and decrease environmental impact by allowing easy CO2 capture and minimizing NOx and SOx emissions. The main challenge in this technology involves finding an anode system to enable the facile transfer of oxygen from the SOFC electrolyte to the solid fuel. In this study, several molten-metal/metal-oxide systems were examined as anodes for such direct carbon fuel cells (DCFC). The molten metal candidates tested were, Tin(Sn), Bismuth(Bi), Indium(In), Lead(Pb) and Antimony(Sb). The oxygen transport properties of these molten metal systems were studied by placing them in direct contact with the SOFC electrolyte. The open circuit voltage (OCV) related to the anode oxidation reaction and its contribution to the cell resistance were the two major considerations for anode viability. Characterization of the electrochemical oxidation of the metal at the electrolyte interface showed that, metals like Sn and In had high OCVs but exhibited a time-dependent increase in non-ohmic resistance due to formation of solid oxide layers of their high-melting oxides, which blocked further ion transfer. Bi had low resistances because of its ionically conductive oxide, but had a low OCV. The key anode characteristic for low resistance was observed to be a low melting oxide from the study of Pb and Sb. Sb was the most intriguing because it had a reasonable OCV and oxidized most types of solid fuels below 973 K. High power DCFCs based on molten Sb anodes were demonstrated using various types of solid fuels at stable power levels for over 250 h at 973 K. These long-term stability tests revealed thinning of scandia-stabilized zirconia electrolytes, but no thinning was observed using yttria-stabilized zirconia. Hence, efficient and longterm stable DCFCs using molten Sb are possible with the correct choice of electrolyte material. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering First Advisor Raymond J. Gorte Second Advisor John M. Vohs This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/646


Virtually all residential and commercial windows in the U.S. have some form of window attachment, but few have been designed for energy savings. ISO 15099 presents a simulation framework to determine thermal performance of window attachments, but the model has not been validated for these products. This paper outlines a review and validation of the ISO 15099 centre-of-glass heat transfer correlations for perimeter gaps (top, bottom, and side) in naturally ventilated cavities through measurement and simulation. The thermal transmittance impact due to dimensional variations of these gaps is measured experimentally, simulated using computational fluid dynamics, and simulated utilizing simplified correlations from ISO 15099. Results show that the ISO 15099 correlations produce a mean error between measured and simulated heat flux of 2.5 ± 7%. These tolerances are similar to those obtained from sealed cavity comparisons and are deemed acceptable within the ISO 15099 framework.


AIMS
To quantify left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and in patients after myocardial infarction (MI) applying an accelerated three-dimensional (3D) tagging cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) technique, and to combine dyssynchrony information with viability data obtained by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Thirty-two patients (59 +/- 11 years) after first MI (Pats(MI)), 10 patients (63 +/- 10 years) with LBBB (ejection fraction < 40%; Pats(LBBB<40)), 13 patients (63 +/- 11) with LBBB (ejection fraction >or= 40%; Pats(LBBB >or=40 )), and 15 healthy controls (53 +/- 10 years) underwent 3D tagging CMR and LGE imaging at 1.5 T. As a measure of mechanical LV dyssynchrony, the standard deviation of T(max) over the LV, the circumferential uniformity ratio estimate (CURE) index, and a segmental-based circumferential systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) were calculated. All three parameters detected significantly increased circumferential dyssynchrony in patients compared with controls. The CURE and SDI showed a good correlation (r = 0.93, P < 0.0001) and detected most severe dyssynchrony in Pats(LBBB<40) (P < 0.001 vs. controls, P < 0.005 vs. Pats(MI)). Systolic dyssynchrony index additionally allowed integration of localized viability information to yield SDI(viable) which was highest in Pats(LBBB<40).

CONCLUSION
Dyssynchrony patterns in the LV can be quantified globally and regionally by 3D tagging CMR. Combination of viability and dyssynchrony information allows for a comprehensive dyssynchrony quantification in patients with LBBB or post-MI. Future studies are required to test the value of the method to predict responsiveness to resynchronization.


Background: Previous studies have described that pediatric offices are ill-prepared for medical emergencies. Pediatric "mock codes" have been utilized to increase the emergency preparedness of inpatient medical units for several decades. These practice drills have been shown to both increase practitioners' confidence and decrease anxiety during actual resuscitations. Although the use of mock codes is recommended in the outpatient setting, these benefits have yet to be demonstrated for office-based practitioners. Objective: We conducted this study to determine whether mock codes performed in pediatric primary care offices increase practitioner confidence to perform life-saving skills. Methods: Pediatric group practices participated in a clinical trial of an office-based, 2-step, emergency preparedness training. First, physicians and staffs attended a 1-hour didactic program which included staff education, office emergency protocols, emergency equipment and medications, and guidelines on instituting a mock code program. Second, each practice participated in a 10-15-minute mock code exercise. The drill was conducted by pediatric advanced life support instructors. After the code, a 30-minute feedback session was conducted which reviewed office coordination, individual skill performance, and approach to resuscitation. Each participating practice also received an infant manikin and a text complete with several mock codes scenarios written specifically for the pediatric primary care office. Evaluation of the intervention consisted of 2 components. (1) Pre- and postintervention completion of a self-administered survey assessed participants' comfort in emergency situations and confidence to perform specific life-saving skills, using an ordinal scale: 1 = "strongly agree" to 5 = "strongly disagree". (2) Practices were contacted by telephone 12 months after the training to determine whether they had implemented improvements in emergency preparedness, including instituting mock codes, preparing a written emergency protocol and purchasing new emergency equipment and medications. Results: Eleven group pediatric practices participated, which were representative of urban, suburban, and rural offices in southwestern Pennsylvania. Ninety-seven of a total 164 (59%) physicians and staff members completed both pre- and postintervention surveys. Practitioner participants were analyzed in 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants; group 2 consisted of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and medical assistants. Comparison of pre- versus postintervention surveys in both of these groups revealed significant improvement in reported confidence to perform resuscitation skills that were included in the mock code after the training: airway positioning (group 1, 67% vs. 94%, P < 0.001; group 2, 55% vs. 75%, P = 0.003), airway suctioning, (group 1, 64% vs. 88%, P = 0.005; group 2, 27% vs. 51%, P < 0.001), and bag-mask assisted ventilation (group 1, 82% vs. 91%, P = 0.003; group 2, 39% vs. 71%, P < 0.001). In addition, group 1 reported more confidence in their ability to place an intraossesous line (24% vs. 39%, P = 0.003) and group 2 showed a significant increase in their confidence to administer oxygen (65% vs. 84%, P < 0.001). As a result of the mock code, 83% of all participants, both medical and nonmedical staffs, and 96% of physicians felt less anxious about medical emergencies in the office. Twelve months after the conclusion of the program, 18% of offices had conducted 1 or more mock codes, 64% of offices had written an emergency protocol, and 27% of offices had acquired essential resuscitation medications or equipment. Conclusions: The results of this study support the recommendation that mock codes should be performed in the pediatric primary care setting to improve practitioner confidence and decrease practitioner anxiety.


This paper aimed at identifying if the leadership style from era of millennials to generation Z transformed. To start the project the idea was analyzing the historical aspect and evolutions of leadership styles, generations and workplace and, crossing them, understand which characteristics were important to define which style of leadership and management was more successful. After that, with some analyses of generation Z, trending for the market and the workplace, this project will propose the appropriate leadership style of generation Z. The method used to validate this idea was case study and analyses with quantitative and qualitative approach. To obtain the data a survey applied with 68 teenagers between 14 and 24 years old. Most of the teenagers were female (70%), with a median age of 17 years. The result obtained at the end of this project in terms of personal traits, workplace characteristics and leadership preferences were very varied which draws the conclusion that the leader should be able to lead simultaneously different types of employees, with different characteristics, skills, values and behaviors, it's not being possible defined a single leadership style to leader in the future. 


The piazza is a basic component of the Italian urban fabric. It is an open exterior space that functions integratively in the city. Connected by streets to other piazzas and other sectors of the city, piazzas create a sense of place and perspective, fitting together like polychromatic pieces of a puzzle to create a total character unique to any specific city section and to the city as a whole (Fig. 1). Although many individual piazzas are closely linked to other nearby piazzas, most piazzas have a primary function. In areas beyond the oldest sections of the cities some piazzas are polyfunctional and resemble small cities unto themselves, as in a small village, where a central piazza serves as a retail, commercial, and governmental node, a center of religious and social activities, and a parking lot (Akinori 1980, 5-7; Webb 1991, 35-65). Most research on Italian piazzas has focused on the design and development of historically significant ones and on the often monumental, architecture associated with them (Trachtenberg 1988; Benevolo 1991). The focus here is functional: the role of the piazza in the morphology of modern Italian cities. I examine a wide range of piazza types, uses, and functions, and I trace the origins and diffusion of the piazza through the Italian city system from Roman times to the present. Specific emphasis is on the medieval period, 1100-1400, because it is crucial to understanding current piazza location, form, and function. Present-day patterns are summarized in a sixfold typology of piazzas that integrates interactions among location, form, function, and causative process. Data for the study came from a variety of sources: published works; fieldwork in numerous Italian cities, especially Florence between 1991 and 1993; and cartographic resources in the archives of Florence, whose holdings date to A.D. 900. A piazza is an opening in the city fabric that allows public access and activity in various forms -- walking, riding, driving, shopping, socializing, and playing. The space may be designed or undesigned; it may be only an opening into which street traffic is funneled; it may or may not have landscaped interior spaces for public interaction set apart from the surrounding edges. Essential to this definition and to the analysis in this article are that this space must have a formal name and that it must be recognized as a piazza in public documents such as maps, guidebooks, and civic records. It must be a "conceptual anchor point" in the urban center (Lynch 1960, 102). History of the Piazza The notion of the centrally designed space as ritual center, public meeting ground, marketplace, or political center has diffused widely through Western urban morphology since the origin of cities in western Asia (Zucker 1959). The immediate antecedent of present-day Italian piazzas is the Roman forum. The exact origins of forums in Roman cities are unknown, but they probably derived their conceptual and design criteria from at least two sources: the Greek agora, and the small quadrangular centers with crossing streets in the Etruscan settlements of northern and central Italy (Sitte 1945, 1-9; Zucker 1959, 46-50; MacKendrick 1983, 28-112; Stambaugh 1988, 243-254). The forums in the hundreds of urban centers planned and designed by the Romans in Italy and their empire were rectangular public squares set at the center of two main cross streets, the north-south cardo and the east-west decumanus. The forum and the two crossing streets served as the anchors for the development of the Roman grid-pattern town. At the height of the empire the forum of a Roman city served as a symbolic and geographical center and was a highly functional space for the practice of religion, politics, education, commerce, and recreation (Zucker 1959, 45-62; Stambaugh 1988, 243-286). In Italy after the fifth century A.D. the decline and disintegration of the empire brought about the retrenchment of the Roman city system and the disintegration of the rationally ordered towns. …


Summary GAPIN is a web-based application for structural interaction network analysis among any type of PDB molecules, regardless of whether their interfaces are between chain-chain or chain-ligand. A special emphasis is given to graph clustering, allowing users to scrutinize target contexts for ligand candidates. We show how GAPIN can be used to unveil underlying hydrophobic patterns on a set of peptidase-inhibitor complexes. In another experiment, we show there is a positive correlation between cluster sizes and the presence of druggable spots, indicating that the clustering may discriminate the higher complexity of these hot subnetworks. Availability and implementation GAPIN is freely available as an easy-to-use web interface available at https://pinga.unifei.edu.br. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com.


Air pollutant concentrations inside street canyons are usually several times background concentrations in urban areas. In this paper, carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations observed in a street canyon are compared with estimated values obtained using four atmospheric dispersion models: STREET, STREET-BOX, OSPM and AEOLIUS. Results for leeward, windward and intermediate wind directions are analyzed. Data used in the model evaluation include one year of hourly CO concentrations measured inside a street canyon of Göttinger Strässe (Hannover, Germany) and at the roof of a nearby building, wind speed and direction data registered at the roof of the nearby building and traffic flow in the street. Each model performance was evaluated for leeward, windward and intermediate wind directions. Results obtained with the STREET model considering the empirical constant k=7 (default value), underestimated observed concentrations. A better performance of the STREET model was obtained with k= 12.1. The STREET-BOX model gave acceptable results for leeward and intermediate wind directions. The results of this model showed great differences with observed windward concentration values. In dirección electrónica: email@example.com L. E. Venegas y N. A. Mazzeo 4 general, the concentrations estimated by OSPM and AEOLIUS showed the best agreement with observed values.


ABSTRACT We used on-site interviews and roundtable conversations with practitioners to uncover original evidence of ways in which two variant South African communities activated citizens' involvement in radio co-production of content. We found dual analytical filters in state control of radio during two colonialisms and via contemporary policy regimes rooted in conceptualizations of participatory communication. Evidence of citizen-owners' reversal of state's radiophonic capabilities for repression and marginalization of voices added to literature on community radio in South Africa. Findings included policy and theoretical implications plus recommendations for the reformation of the African radio sector.


The Strategic Obsolescence of the "Rogue Doctrine" It has been ten years since General Colin Powell, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff manufactured the "Rogue Doctrine" as the basic template for US military strategy in the post-Cold War era. With the Soviet Union in irreversible decline and no other superpower adversary in sight, Powell elected to focus US strategy on the threat allegedly posed by hostile Third World powers--the so-called "rogue states." Although intended largely as an interim measure--a means of maintaining defense spending at near-Cold War levels until a more credible threat appeared on the horizon--the antirogue strategy has become the defining paradigm for American security policy. But while immensely popular on Capitol Hill, the Rogue Doctrine has become increasingly irrelevant to the security environment in which American forces operate. Under current US military policy, the Department of Defense is required to maintain sufficient strength to simultaneously fight and defeat two Iraq-like regional adversaries. These adversaries-generally assumed to include Iraq, Iran, Libya, and North Korea-are said to be dangerous because of their potent military capabilities, history of antagonism toward the West, and their pursuit of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Although not linked by treaty or formal alliance, these states are said to pose a threat because of their common disregard for the accepted norms of international society. The Rogue Doctrine is presently the main guiding principle for the structure, orientation, and disposition of US military forces. Other tasks are, of course, assigned to the armed forces on a regular basis, as demonstrated most recently by the air war against Serbia. But these other missions, including multilateral peacekeeping operations, are considered "add-ons" to the primary mission of fighting the rogues; they do not g overn the basic organization of the Armed Services. Just as US forces were once trained and equipped for the overriding task of resisting a Warsaw Pact invasion of Western Europe-the "Fulda Gap mentality"-they are now trained and equipped to repeat Operation Desert Storm again and again. The Rogue Doctrine also significantly influences US foreign policy. For instance, much effort has been put into isolating fran from the international community, despite the fact that most of the United States' allies do not share Washington's views on the necessity of doing so. The United States also expends great political capital in trying to maintain economic sanctions on Iraq-even though a growing number of states have concluded that the sanctions have outlived their usefulness. Unfortunately, the Rogue Doctrine has been subjected to very little critical analysis. Few in Congress have questioned the rationale behind the "two war" policy that now governs US strategy, or its US$275 billion per year cost (soon to rise to US$300 billion). The mass media has not behaved any better; references to the "rogue state threat" are common, but are rarely accompanied by any analysis of political and military developments in the states involved or of the changing nature of the security environment. If we are to adopt a realistic approach to future perils, therefore, it is essential to look more critically at the dominant US security paradigm. The Rise of the Rogue Doctrine The origins of the Rogue Doctrine can be traced to the final weeks of 1989, when General Colin Powell commenced a search for a new, post-Soviet military doctrine. Recognizing that the threat of a US-Soviet clash had lost all plausibility in the wake of the Berlin Wall's collapse, Powell sought to construct a new threat scenario that would justify the preservation of America's superpower capabilities in a world with no Sovietlike opponent. Working closely with General Lee Butler, then Director of the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J-5) of the Joint Staff, Powell conceived of a strategy in which regional threats, not the monolithic threat of the Soviet Union, would govern US military planning in the years to come. …


This work briefly describes Brazilian colonization of the Paraguayan agricultural frontier analyzes factors responsible for expelling population from Brazil and for attracting Brazilians to Paraguay and assesses the economic and social consequences of immigration to the area. Paraguays vast and sparsely populated agricultural frontier in areas outside the Central subregion underwent a process of intense colonization from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s. The Paraguayan government initiated an ambitious colonization program in 1963 to increase production relieve population pressure and subdivision of small parcels in the Central subregion encourage agricultural modernization and produce a more diversified agriculture. Paraguayan agriculture in the early 1960s suffered from excessive concentration of land in a few hands and resulting exclusion of around 3/4 of workers from ownership and from any possibility of obtaining credit to fund technological improvements. Results of studies 2 decades after implementation of the colonization plan suggest that it has failed in significant areas. Although a considerable population redistribution alleviated pressure in the Central subregion it apparently resulted more from spontaneous movement of peasants outside the colonization areas than from the official program. Concentration of lands is now occurring in the colonization area. Assistance for agricultural modernization and diversification of production in the peasant sector has been minimal. On the other hand production of soy wheat and cotton for export increased substantially because of an entrepreneurial agriculture capitalized by foreign as well as national interests The unmet goals of the colonization program would have required structural reforms rather than simple spatial redistribution of the population. Many of the colonists in the 1970s were Brazilian families displaced by mechanized agriculture in the southern states of Parana Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Many were relatively small producers who were attracted to the Alto Parana region of Paraguay near the Brazilian border by its geographic proximity extensive availability of land at low prices and favorable credit and tax policies. Many small proprietors from Brazil were able to buy extensive tracts in Paraguay and to develop an economy based on cultivation of export crops on small and medium sized holdings. A serious and efficient plan for financial aid together with technical assistance and intensive training programs could have placed Paraguayan cultivators in a position similar to that of the Brazilians. Paraguayan colonists in the frontier areas could then have progressed rapidly beyond their current state of subsistence or semisubsistence agriculture to the kind of entrepreneurial agriculture practiced by the Brazilians.


Free radical production related with many stress factors including radiation, drugs, ageing and trauma plays a key role in cell death. Notwithstanding, free radicals can cause pathology in a variety of diseases through oxidative stress: Under oxidative stress, excessive production of free radicals can trigger cell death by primarily DNA and all cellular macromolecule damages. Also, excessive free radicals have a role in early inducers of autophagy cell death upon nutrient deprivation. Autophagy is physiologic process of eukaryotic systems, which have significant role in adaptation to oxidative stress by degradation of metalloproteins and oxidatively damaged macromolecules. By oxidizing, membrane injuries allow the leakage of enzymes and contribute to cell damage. However, recent publications demonstrate the protecting role of lysosome system during excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by the elimination of damaged proteins or organelles. Activation of autophagic or lysosomal system can eliminate the oxidizing components of cell in oxidative stress response. This chapter aims to provide the novel insight data for oxidative damage-mediated autophagy as well as their metabolic networks.