We consider a decode-and-forward based wireless multihop network with a single source node, a single destination node, and N intermediate nodes. To increase the spectral efficiency and energy efficiency of the system, we propose a cooperative multihop communication with spatial reuse, in which interference is treated as noise. The performance of spatial-reused space-time coded cooperative multihop network is analyzed over Rayleigh fading channels. More specifically, the exact closed-form expression for the outage probability at the nth receiving node is derived when there are multiple interferences over non-i.i.d. Rayleigh fading channels. In addition, we propose a simple power control scheme which is only dependent on the statistical knowledge of channels. Finally, the analytic results were confirmed by simulations. It is shown by simulations that the spatial-reused multihop transmission outperforms the interference-free multihop transmission in terms of energy efficiency in low and medium SNR scenarios.


The transmission and Faraday rotation characteristics of one-dimensional photonic crystals in cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Ce:YIG) with multiple defects in the optical bandgap are studied theoretically at /spl lambda/ = 1.55 /spl mu/m. It is found that the interdefect spacing can be adjusted to yield a flat top response, with close to 100% transmission and 45/spl deg/ Faraday rotation, for film structures as thin as 30 to 35 /spl mu/m. This is better than a three-fold reduction in thickness compared to the best Ce:YIG films for comparable rotations, and may allow a considerable reduction in size in manufactured optical isolators. Transmission bands as wide as 7 nm are predicted, which constitutes a considerable improvement over previously reported bandwidths for magnetic photonic crystals. Diffraction across the structure corresponds to a longer optical path length than the thickness of the film, calling for the use of guided optics to minimize insertion losses in integrated devices. The basis for the flat-top transmission in ferrite photonic crystals is presented and discussed.


The severity of a roadside feature is often based on survey responses and has tended to emphasize extreme crash events, thereby overestimating the average severity of a particular feature. In this study, severity was related to embankment geometry by examining real-world accident data over a 7-year period. This was done by correlating the number of severe and fatal accidents to the exposure of particular slope geometries. Slope geometry was described by slope steepness and fill height, and its exposure was described by traffic volume and total unshielded mileage. Severity was adjusted for posted speed limits as well. The Roadside Safety Analysis Program (RSAP) was calibrated such that the distribution of severe injury and fatal accidents accurately reflected real-world data. Using this calibrated version of RSAP, the new severity indexes were studied and equations were created to correlate severity index to functional class, fill height, slope steepness, and posted speed limit. The local highway classification provided the highest severity, and the default severity used in RSAP was increased to accommodate this finding. Freeways, rural arterials, and urban arterials experienced reduced severity indexes relative to default values used in RSAP.


Abstract. Airborne backscatter lidar measurements at 532 nm were carried out over Siberia in July 2013 and June 2017. The Russian Tu-134 flew over major Siberian cities (Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yakutsk), the gas flaring fields of the Ob valley and Siberian Taiga in order to sample several kinds of Siberian aerosol sources. Aerosol types are derived using the Lagrangian FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (FLEXPART) simulations, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) CO total column and AOD at 10 μm. Forest fire detection is based on NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) from MODIS and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) observations and airborne in-situ measurements when available. Six aerosol type could be identified in this work: (i) Dusty aerosol mixture (ii) Ob valley industrial emission (iii) fresh boreal forest fire plumes (iv) aged forest fire plumes (v) pollution over the Tomsk/Novosibirsk region (vi) long range transport of Chinese pollution over Yakutsk. The backscatter to extinction ratio and then the corresponding lidar ratio (LR) were derived for each of these 6 identified aerosol type, using an iterative method based on the Fernald forward inversion constrained by the 10 km MODIS collection 6 AOD distribution closed to the airborne lidar observation. The LR analysis showed that the lowest LR range was obtained for the Dusty Mix case (26–40 sr) and the highest for the urban and industrial pollution from the Tomsk/Novosibirsk area (71–90 sr). The comparison is good with previous estimate of LR according to the aerosol classification. The range of lidar ratio obtained for gas flaring emission (43–60 sr) was lower than the high values encountered in the Tomsk/Novosibirk urban area and has never been characterized using lidar observations. Airborne lidar backscatter ratio vertical structure, aerosol types and integrated LR derived from the airborne data analysis were compared to nearby CALIOP overpasses. These comparisons showed three main differences with the CALIOP LR and aerosol type classification over Siberia: (i) CALIOP aerosol layer can be classified as Elevated smoke instead of Polluted continental and vice versa, but with little influence on the LR value (ii) aging and transport of aerosol layers effect on the CALIOP LR value is not always properly accounted for even when the CALIOP classification is correct (iii) the lack of discrimination between fresh and old fire plume leads to an overestimation of the optical depth for the fresh fires in the CALIOP AOD over the fire source region.


Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites are continuing to gain prominence in structural as well as non-structural applications all over the world due to their outstanding properties such as high strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, good thermal performance, anti-fire performance and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions both through its method of production and their effective thermal insulation qualities. The increased popularity and demand for FRP composites have spurred research efforts in both academia and civil construction industry.

A composite sandwich structural element can be made-up by attaching two thin and stiff skins to a lightweight and thick core, which serves as a building block for constructing laminated structural sandwich composites for civil engineering applications. A structural composite multilayer beam or plate can be manufactured by gluing two or more composite sandwiches together to form a laminated composite. An Australian manufacturer has fabricated a new generation structural Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) sandwich panel made from E-glass fibre skin and a high strength modified phenolic core for civil engineering applications, the outstanding features of the sandwich material being high strength to weight ratio, good thermal insulation and termite resistance. These features offer the composite panel a wide range of applications in Australian construction industry as structural elements such as beams, slabs, bridge decks and railway sleepers.

While sandwich composite construction has some great benefits, the behaviour of sandwich structures containing damage is much more complex and one of the major factors limiting the optimum usage of the same. Although perfect bond between the skin and the core is a common assumption, an important issue that needs to be considered in using a composite beam or slab is the development of debonding between the skin and the core, which is a predominant damage mode of these sandwiches. Interlayer debonding or delamination is also a predominant form of damage phenomenon in laminated composites, which can often be pre-existing or can take place under service conditions. Debonding and delamination cause significant changes in the vibration parameters, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes of structures leading to serviceability issues related to deflection limits. During the design stages of FRP composite structures, it is vital to identify how the global response of these structures will be affected by skin-core debonding and interlayer delamination.

Even though the dynamic behaviour of undamaged sandwich panels is the subject of extensive research, papers reported on the dynamic behaviour of sandwich panels with debonding are less presented in the literature. Specifically, knowledge on seismic behaviour of composites with debonds is severely limited. Further research is therefore needed into investigation of the dynamic behaviour of debonded composite structural elements to gain wider acceptance of composites by the structural composite field around the globe. Finite element method is particularly versatile and effective in the analysis of complex structural behaviour of the composite structures. The use of dynamic analysis methods helps the engineer to better understand the behaviour of a structure subjected to an earthquake.

This research deals with the investigation of the influence of debonding on the dynamic characteristics of novel GFRP beams and plates by finite element based numerical simulations and analyses using STRAND7 finite element (FE) software package. The research approach is to develop a three dimensional computer model and conduct numerical simulations to assess the dynamic behaviour. The FE model developed has been validated with published experimental, analytical and numerical results for fully bonded as well as debonded beams and slabs. Dynamic seismic response investigation of structures containing GFRP slab panels with debonds subjected to a probable earthquake loading is also incorporated. The influence of various factors such as debonding size, location of debonding, boundary condition of the structural member and the effect of multiple debonding has been delineated with the aid of an extensive parametric investigation and comparative analyses.

Generally it was evident from all the analyses that debonding and interlayer delamination cause reduction in magnitudes of natural frequency. Moreover, some vibration modes and accordingly the mode shapes are also noticeably changed. It is generally observed that higher natural frequencies and mode shapes are more influenced by the presence of debonding. Yet there are exceptions to this trend depending on how severely the local modes are affected by debonding. It is observed that the associated mode shapes explain the causes of these inconsistencies. Furthermore, the results show that the presence of relatively small debonding or delamination has an insignificant effect on the natural frequencies and associated mode shapes. The results also suggest that fastening the delamination region is an effective corrective measure in decreasing the natural frequency variation, hence improving its dynamic performance compared to the delaminated panel.

To sum up, the results suggest that debonding and delamination predominantly leads to reduction of the natural frequencies and modifying the modes of vibrations thus altering the mode shapes as well, resulting in dramatic changes in dynamic characteristics when extents of debonding are large. The more the supports are restrained, the greater the influence on free vibration characteristics. Most importantly, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of non-destructive methods to detect debonding and delamination damage in practical composite structures. The results of the seismic study show that the seismic performance of the considered buildings is unresponsive to small percentages of debonding of the GFRP slab panels. An existence of extensive percentage of debonding causes a slight increase in the maximum vertical displacement and reduction of natural frequencies of the buildings due to loss of stiffness occurring due to debonding.

The results of this study will offer engineers and designers a better understanding of the influence of debonding and delamination on the dynamic performance of FRP composites in general, in addition to its direct application to Australian composite industry. Finally, the study provides valuable insights into the seismic behaviour of composite slabs with debonding thus facilitating the actual application of these findings in worldwide composite industry.


Three-dimensional appearance models represent an essential outcome of industrial design
practice, facilitating the origination, evaluation and specification of exterior form. As
manufacturers face increasing pressure to reduce time scales for new product development,
the production of such models using conventional fabrication techniques must be appraised.
As a means of economically translating digital geometry into one-off components, rapid
prototyping has the potential to contribute towards a reduction in lead times for the production
of appearance models. The objective of this research is to propose a methodological approach
for the effective integration of rapid prototyping within industrial design practice.
The field and practice of industrial design is defined, the technology of rapid prototyping
discussed, and their integration proposed through a draft computer-aided industrial
design/rapid prototyping (CAID/RP) methodological approach. This is exposed to practitioner
feedback, modified, and employed as a revised CAID/RP methodological approach during the
industrial design of a nylon line trimmer. The product outcome is used to compare and contrast
the production of an appearance model via rapid prototyping, an appearance prototype via
rapid prototyping, and an appearance model via conventional fabrication techniques.
Two issues arise from the use of the revised CAID/RP methodological approach: the
production of stl files and the lack of physical interaction with product form. In addition, the
emergence of rapid prototype sketch modelling systems following the line trimmer case study
provides an opportunity for further enhancement. A strategy for the resolution of these issues
is proposed, and their effectiveness evaluated through additional case studies. The resulting
CAID/RP methodological approach is subject to validation through practitioner interviews and a
normalised rating/weighting method. The positive feedback acknowledges the significance of
the CAID/RP methodological approach through a reduction in product development lead times
and enhancement of professional practice. The project makes a contribution to new knowledge
and understanding in the area of professional practice through the definition and validation of
operational paradigmatic change.


The two major methods for growing C. elegans are liquid and plate culture. Differences in oxygenation and other environmental variables could affect many experimentally relevant biological processes, such as metabolism, cellular structure, and gene regulation. Worms on solid support move with deliberate sinusoidal movements, while worms in liquid thrash rapidly and almost constantly, often appearing elongated. We investigated differential gene expression under these two commonly used growth conditions. Embryos were isolated by bleaching from adults grown for several generations on plates. After hatching in M9 media, animals were placed either on plates seeded with OP50 or in liquid supplemented with HB101 under standard conditions. Both cultures were grown until worms reached young adulthood, approximately 48 hours later. Total RNA was isolated independently from each growth, differentially labeled with a fluorescent dye, and mixed directly for comparative hybridization to 4-plex NimbleGen DNA microarrays, which contained 72,000 probes, which covered all predicted C. elegans protein-coding genes (minimum 3 probes per gene). The experiment was performed in triplicate. Analysis of the expression data yielded surprisingly few genes with differential expression, about 1%. Overall, 176 genes were downregulated significantly (p<0.01; Student's t) in liquid culture relative to plates, but of these only 102 genes were down two-fold or more. A total of 121 genes were upregulated (p<0.01. Student's t) in liquid; of these, RNA corresponding to 50 increased by at least two-fold. Surprisingly few genes directly associated with a stress response were differentially regulated in this experiment. However, the single gene most strongly upregulated in liquid is nnt-1, which encodes a mitochondrial NADP transhydrogenase, which protects against oxidative stress (Arkbladt et al., 2005). Other molecules associated with reducing oxidation are also upregulated in liquid culture, including thioredoxin, and two glutathione-S-transferases. As a class, however, the group of genes most differentially regulated encode collagens. A total of 12 collagen genes were downregulated in liquid culture relative to plates, while none are upregulated. Other genes affected include those encoding proteins involved in ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, Ras signaling, transcriptional regulation, ribosome function, and multiple membrane-associated proteins. The limited changes in relative RNA levels under different culture conditions provide increased confidence in comparisons made between worms grown in liquid and solid culture, and more generally between datasets obtained in different labs under slightly different culture conditions. Knowing which genes are most responsive to different culture conditions tells us how environment affects the animal, and should be of interest for comparison to other stress and longevity global datasets. The data is being prepared for formal publication, and is available via GEO accession number GSE21526 (http://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/).


Written in non-technical terms, this book explains how the dynamics of big business have influenced national and international economies. A path-breaking study, it provides the first systematic treatment of big business in advanced, emerging, and centrally-planned economies from the late nineteenth century, when big businesses first appeared in American and West European manufacturing, to the present. Large industrial enterprises play a vital role in developing new technologies and commercializing new products in all of the major countries. How such firms emerged and evolved in different economic, political, and social settings constitutes a significant part of twentieth-century world history. This historical review of big business is particularly valuable today, when the viability of large enterprises is being challenged by small firms, networks, and alliances. These essays, written by internationally-known historians and economists, help one understand the essential role and functions of big business.


Abstract The human brain differs from that of other primates, but the underlying genetic mechanisms remain unclear. Here we measured the evolutionary pressures acting on all human protein-coding genes (N=17,808) based on their divergence from early hominins such as Neanderthal, and non-human primates. We confirm that genes encoding brain-related proteins are among the most conserved of the human proteome. Conversely, several of the most divergent proteins in humans compared to other primates are associated with brain-associated diseases such as micro/macrocephaly, dyslexia, and autism. We identified specific expression profiles of a set of divergent genes in ciliated cells of the cerebellum, that might have contributed to the emergence of fine motor skills and social cognition in humans. This resource is available at http://neanderthal.pasteur.fr and can be used to estimate evolutionary constraints acting on a set of genes and to explore their relative contribution to human traits.


Abstract This study was conducted to explain the tensile strength loss of wood due to the modification with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) and glutaraldehyde (GA). Modified and control wood blocks were macerated to deliberate fibres, and handsheets were produced thereof. The nitrogen content of the fibres indicated that maceration removed the major proportions of DMDHEU. The stability of GA in wood during maceration was not assessed. Tensile strength determined at zero span (z-strength) and finite span (f-strength) was equal for the handsheets from DMDHEU-modified fibres and the control handsheets. The microscopic appearance of the tested finite-span paper strips from DMDHEU-modified fibres mainly indicated interfibre failure and did not differ from the fibre fracture mode of the control handsheets. In contrast, the z-strength of the handsheets from GA-modified fibres was lower than that of controls and decreased with increasing content of GA in the initial modified wood. The f-strength behaviour of the handsheets from GA-modified fibres was the opposite: it was higher than that of controls and increased with increasing GA content. The microscopic appearance of the rapture zones of the finite-span testing mainly indicated intrafibre failure for the GA-modified fibres. It was concluded that cross-linking is likely to be the major reason for tensile strength loss of GA- and DMDHEU-modified wood. In terms of DMDHEU-modified wood, the incrustation of the cell wall by the resin and the reduction in pliability could play an additional role.


Anglers' direct mail survey data were used with IMPLAN (Impact Analysis for Planning), input-output system, to estimate the economic impact of recreational fishing in Alabama and the Alabama Black Belt. Separate economic impacts are analyzed for the Black Belt and the State; and direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts were estimated for government revenues, income, and employment. Possible increases in these impacts were also estimated for hypothetically improved recreational fishing sites, using the 'ideal' hypothetical site characteristics. The results showed a direct total value added impact of $102.5m; indirect impact of $24.7m, and an induced impact of $8.3m, which all add up to a total impact of $135.5m in total value added to the State. The total labor impact for the state is 4,442 jobs created as a result of anglers expenditures. Therefore, these results are expected to encourage the improvement of water resources for recreational fishing purposes.


Abstract : This thesis addresses the following question: Why do some insurgent groups use female suicide bombers while others avoid this tactic? The thesis presents a comparative analysis of three conflict regions: Sri Lanka (1987-2009), Iraq (2003-2008), and Afghanistan (1979-1989 and 2002-2009). Afghanistan is an example of a conflict zone where the propensity for female suicide terrorism is lower than other conflict regions, such as Iraq and Sri Lanka. Strategic calculations and materialist gains play a unique role in influencing organizational behavior, but deeper structural considerations, such as norms, institutional barriers, and the dynamics of conflict also influence the agency of actors. Realist approaches provide limited explanatory power in addressing the variation in the use of female suicide terrorism; constructivism provides a better model toward addressing individual, organizational, and societal acceptance of this tactic, particularly as it relates to women. The case of the Taliban insurgency and its limited use of female suicide bombers suggest that factors other than materialist imperatives are at play. The comparative study of female suicide bombings has immediate policy and counterterrorism implications, but it can also shed light on the debate between materialist and constructivist approaches in international relations theory and in the formulation of military doctrine.


(1) Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of maternal death in 11–15% of women worldwide. This emphasises the importance of administrating timely and appropriate antibiotic therapy to women with sepsis. We aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing in women diagnosed with peripartum sepsis. (2) Method: A prospective observational cohort study in a single Scottish health region with 12,233 annual live births. Data were collected on women diagnosed with sepsis in the peripartum period using physical and electronic medical records, drug Kardex® (medication administration) and ward handover records. (3) Results: A sepsis diagnosis was concluded in 89 of the 2690 pregnancy cases reviewed, with a median hospital stay of four days. Good overall adherence to the local guidelines for the empiric antimicrobial treatment of sepsis was observed. Group B Streptococcus was associated with 20.8% of maternal sepsis cases, whilst in 60% of clinical specimens tested no causative pathogen was isolated. (4) Conclusion: The lack of specific and sensitive clinical markers for sepsis, coupled with their inconsistent clinical application to inform diagnosis, hindered effective antimicrobial stewardship. This was further exacerbated by the lack of positive culture isolates from clinical specimens, which meant that patients were often continued on broader-spectrum empiric treatment.


Nowadays with appearance of a wide range of wireless devices, security of Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) became an important problem and Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be deployed as a second line of defense in a MANET. In this paper, a monitoring nodes selection method with high battery power in these networks is presented. A three-phase detection scheme is proposed. In the first phase, unauthorized nodes and in the second phase, malicious nodes are detected. Finally in the third phase, nodes with the largest battery power as monitoring nodes are considered. So, with this scheme, some of nodes contribute in monitoring task and costs of network monitoring and intrusion detection system will be decreased.


Using the stochastic kernel, we analyse the Hungarian convergence path before and after accession to the European Union (EU), within its NUTS 3 regions (counties), and between those of the eastern EU Member States. Then, we develop a convergence analysis of GDP per capita PPS (Purchasing Power Parity) conditioned to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds, in order to understand the role of the introduction of the CAP in the convergence of Hungarian rural areas. We find increasing divergence both within Hungarian NUTS 3 regions and between the eastern EU MS NUTS 3 regions, especially after Hungary joined the EU; a limited contribution of the CAP to the catching up of rural areas; and persisting difficulties of working with lacking rural disaggregated statistics.


The unique contribution of the restorative justice perspective is its emphasis on present, interpersonal practice. Restorative justice pursues, but does not necessarily achieve, mutually respectful and empowering speech. This emphasis on communicative engagement is paramount. It informs the other differences that Paul McCold (2004, this issue) identifies between restorative justice and community justice: for example, the necessary involvement and decision‐making authority of particular persons affected by a crime, in restorative justice programs. If justice is practice, then restorative justice programs should be evaluated phenomenologically.


Abstract This paper explores the dynamic interrelationship between demographic change and housing systems and the implications for assessing future housing need, including a review of the literature on demography and housing and a case study of Northern Ireland. The main research method is historical analysis of census and other data relating to changing population structures and the housing system in Northern Ireland between 1981 and 2011. These changes are compared to developments in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland over the same period. The paper identifies a long period of broadly consistent relations between demographic and housing system trends between 1981 and 2001, followed by significant changes in demographic trends and a turbulent housing system undergoing rapid change between 2001 and 2011. Our conclusions include consideration of the implications of this study for future analyses of the relationships between demographic change and housing systems.


The use of Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP/AES) for the analysis of samples which contain either low or high amounts of dissolved solids and/or suspended particles has become common in recent years because of the high sensitivities and multielement capability of this technique. One of the major concerns associated with ICP/AES is the reproducible introduction of the sample aerosol into the plasma. This parameter is commonly thought of as the limiting factor in the reproducibility of experimental results. Although traditional pneumatic nebulizers, such as crossflow or concentric types, can be used for samples containing low amounts of dissolved solids, such nebulizers cannot be used for samples which contain suspended particles and/or high amounts of dissolved solids, because of the possible clogging of the sample capillary. For such samples, either frit, ultrasonic, or Babington-type nebulizers are commonly employed.


Soil degradation poses a major challenge to agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Whereas there is a wealth of knowledge on the consequences of degraded soils, the evidence base for farm management practices that could prevent and mitigate soil degradation is still emerging and farmer uptake of such practices remains mostly low. We propose that low adoption rates are due, in part, to a lack of near-term, farm-level incentives, specifically immediate financial benefits accruing to farmers who implement sustainable management practices associated with enhanced soil health. To encourage adoption of soil-enhancing production practices by African smallholder farmers, a focus on farm-level return on investment (ROI) is essential. To be effective at scale, soil health initiatives must be built on realistic predictions of context-specific benefits, adoption barriers, and farm-level financial incentives. In this paper, we postulate that monetizable benefits of soil-enhancing practices accrue from increased agricultural production, reduced cost of production, greater resilience and environmental benefits. We review value chain, policy, and finance strategies that can shift the structural incentives that powerfully influence farm-level ROI and smallholder adoption of soil-enhancing practices. We conclude that agricultural development initiatives should integrate evidence-based estimation of soil-related biophysical changes and thorough analysis of monetizable benefits of promoted interventions, both on-farm and off-farm. This should be built on robust regional datasets and models, developed over several consecutive seasons and considering local specificities.


The processing of mangosteen rind is still less than optimal, so one of processing mangosteen rind is making herbal tea. The purpose of research is drying mangosteen rind with best quality and knowing the acceptance of panelists from herbal tea of mangosteen rind. Research conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 4 replications. Each treatment is using drying for 3 hours at different temperatures, namely 75°C, 80°C, 85°C and 90°C. Parameters measured were water content, ash content, crude fiber, antioxidants, toxicity and organoleptic. The result showed the drying temperature significantly affect the water content, crude fiber, organoleptic and not significantly to ash content. The best treatment is drying at 85 ° C with a water content value 7.98; 4,129 ash content; crude fiber 7863; antioxidant 3.95 × 10-34; toxicity of 34.67 and 0.92 overall acceptance. Keywords: mangosteen, drying temperature, mangosteen rind, herbal tea


The advent of dual-modality PET/CT imaging has revolutionized the practice of clinical oncology, cardiology and neurology by improving lesions localization and the possibility of accurate quantitative analysis. In addition, the use of CT images for CT-based attenuation correction (CTAC) allows to decrease the overall scanning time and to create a noise-free attenuation map (μmap). The near simultaneous data acquisition in a fixed combination of a PET and a CT scanner in a hybrid PET/CT imaging system with a common patent table minimizes spatial and temporal mismatches between the modalities by elimination the need to move the patient in between exams. As PET/CT technology becomes more widely available, studies are beginning to appear in the literature that document the use of PET/CT in a variety of different cancers, including lung, thyroid, ovarian, lymphoma, and unknown primary cancers, and for general oncology, cardiology and neurology applications. Specific applications of PET/CT, such as those for radiation therapy planning, are also being explored. The purpose of this review paper is to introduce the principles of PET/CT imaging systems and describe the sources of error and artifact in CT-based attenuation correction algorithm. This paper also focuses on recent developments and future trends in hybrid imaging and their areas of application. It should be noted that due to limited space, the references contained herein are for illustrative purposes and are not inclusive; no implication that those chosen are better than others not mentioned is intended.


Two Canadian studies that addressed different aspects of this problem were conducted in the late 1970's. One was funded by Canadian Marine Drilling Ltd. (Canmar), who was drilling for oil and gas in the Canadian Beaufort Sea (Sharp 1978); the other was funded by Syncrude Canada Ltd. , which was then constructing a facility to produce oil from oil sands in northern Alberta (Ward 1978). The Canmar study tested three promising methods of scaring water birds from a lagoon on the Beaufort Sea Coast to help develop a plan to reduce bird mortality in case of an oil spill. The northern Alberta study tested a proposed method to prevent birds from landing on a 17 sq km tailings pond under construction. This pond would have oil on its surface and be hazardous to birds landing on it.


The usage of different concentrations of three gas mixture (carbon dioxide, nitrogen,oxygen) ,and also vacuum conditions and flexible multi-layer films were studied for determination of aerobic bacteria of smoked kutum fish (Rutilus Frisii Kutum) at ambient condition (T= 25 0C). Normal conditions as a control packaging were compared with four types of modified atmosphere packaging: (N270%+CO230%), (N230% + CO270%), (45%CO2+45%N2+10%O2) and vacuum conditions, in this project. These samples(smoked kutum fish) were packaged in 3 kinds of flexible multi-layer films 3-layer (PET(12)/AL(12)/LLD(100)) , 4-layer (PET(12)/AL(7)/PET(12)/LLD(100) ),and 3-layer ( PET(12)/AL(7)/LLD(100)). Packed samples were performed microbial tests (Aerobic bacteria count), in different times during 60 days, with 15 treatment ,3 run, statistical analysis and comparison of data, were done by software SAS (Ver:9/1) and Duncan's new multiple range test, with confidence level of 95% (P <0.05). The usage of MAP was not adequet for controlling spoilage but the spoilage process was delayed. The shelf life of smoked kutum fishes (according to Aerobic bacteria count) in 4-layer , under conditions 1,2,3 were reported 60,58,45 days and in vacuum conditions were 40 days, in 3-layer (AL:12) , under conditions 1,2,3 and in vacuum conditions were 55,50,40, 35 days, with 3-layer (AL:7),under conditions 1,2,3 were 45,40,35 days and under vacuum conditions were 30 days. Aerobic bacteria count showed that increasing CO2 concentration increased shelf life of smoked fish. According to these results could be concluded the best condition for controlling the growth of Aerobic bacteria belonged to treatment under modified atmosphere CO2 70% as an antibacterial properties of more carbon dioxide in container 4-layer, since steam permeability of 4-layer was less than 3-layer in order to maintain long-term shelf life of smoked kutum Fish.


The development of new—cheaper, more efficient, more sustainable, and more reliable—functional materials with useful properties calls for ever-improving, smart, and innovative synthesis strategies. A multitude of inorganic compounds are already used as energy materials, i.e., electrodes, catalysts, permanent magnets, and many more are considered highly promising for these and similar applications. Innovative synthesis techniques are developed, resulting in new compounds as well as known ones with unique structures and morphologies. Here, we will discuss the nonconventional solid-state methods, microwave heating and spark plasma sintering, highlighting their potential for the preparation of a plethora of inorganic compounds. Thermoelectric and magnetic materials are chosen as two examples of energy materials that are relevant for several different areas, such as waste heat recovery, energy generation, and refrigeration. The goal is to provide an overview of the inorganic compounds, ranging from intermetallics to chalcogenides and oxides, which have been prepared using these two nonconventional synthesis techniques. Furthermore, the reaction conditions as well as key properties regarding their thermoelectric and magnetic behavior are summarized.


The original fossil record of Allosorex stenodus Fejfar, 1966 from Ivanovce (late Ruscinian, MN 15b) is redescribed and supplemented by the description of so far unpublished fossil remains, including upper dentition (P4 and M3) and a humerus fragment as well as the enamel microstructure analysis of m2. Based on the critical evaluation of other fossil remains from sites in Romania, Hungary, and France, the Ivanovce fossils are so far the only unquestionable recorded finds of A. stenodus in Europe, which can be considered as a local early Pliocene (MN 15) endemic species. Its occurrence is connected with the forested karst area along a broad valley of "pre-Váh" River, ecologically and climatically resembling the environment of modern karst areas in south-eastern Asia. Based on enamel microstructure analysis and unique mandible and dentition morphological characters, a separate taxonomical status of the species is also discussed.


Purpose: One of the distinguishing features of the network's efficiency is its flexibility, quite strongly explored on the ground of individual business entities - in the network conditions, it is a set of many unknown factors and mechanisms. The article aims to identify the fundamental distinguishing features of interorganizational networks and define a set of research questions to exemplify them empirically. Design/Methodology/Approach: The achievement of this goal was possible through the subject literature review introducing the design and conduct of in-depth empirical research in the future. Findings: The theoretical research carried out made it possible to identify several research questions, thus showing how complex category the flexibility of interorganizational networks is. The conclusions identified the need to consider environmental influence when studying the flexibility of interorganizational networks, which seems obvious. However, a detailed analysis enabled identifying factors determining the balance of network conditions and network systems, being a novelty in the analyzed topic. Practical Implications: The practical business implications concern mostly the consideration of the possibility of a deliberate impact on the flexibility of interorganizational networks in the result of the development and intentional use of interorganizational network flexibility mechanisms. For many interorganizational networks, this may prove to be an essential condition for the success of both the network and its nodes. Originality/value: This research proposes the grounds for the procedure of researching the flexibility of interorganizational networks, using the analogy to organizational entities, and pointing out the flexibility of the network as one of the four categories of interorganizational network efficiency (next to engagement, exchange, and reciprocity).


A major feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder, is the ordered aggregation of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) into fibrils that comprise extracellular neuritic plaques found in the disease brain. One of many potential pathways for Aβ toxicity may be modulation of lipid membrane function. Here, we show by in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) that astrocyte secreted lipoprotein particles (ASLPs) containing different isoforms of apolipoprotein E (apoE), of which the apoE4 allele is a major risk factor for the development of AD, can protect total brain lipid extract bilayers from Aβ(1-40) induced disruption. The apoE4 allele was less effective in protecting lipid bilayers from disruption compared with apoE3. Size analysis of apoE-containing ASLPs and mechanical studies of bilayer properties revealed that apoE-containing ASLPs modulate the mechanical properties of bilayers by acquiring some bilayer components (most likely cholesterol and/or oxidatively damaged lipids). Measurement of bilayer mechanical properties was accomplished with scanning probe acceleration microscopy (SPAM). These measurements demonstrated that apoE4 was also less effective in modulating mechanical properties of bilayers in comparison with apoE3. This ability of apoE to alter the mechanical properties of lipid membranes may represent a potential mechanism for the suppression of Aβ(1-40) induced bilayer disruption.


Recent past has witnessed a proliferation of online maps and resources that, with their machineaccessible web services, enable the tech-savvy to mix-and-match these services to create web applications of novel utility. Many of these applications, so-called mash-ups, again are online resources that attract large populations of users and receive voluminous user feedback. If the Web is to be seen as the platform for building the next generation culture atlas, who are the contributors and what motivate them? In this presentation we contemplate these questions from the perspective of user participation and collaboration. We will identify the key issues and propose ways to address them. We have been building a prototype system called Web3P ("A Web of Place, People, and Participation") to experiment with various design elements and implementation techniques to facilitate collaborative geospatial mapping. We will present our experience from using the prototype to map the geographic and cultural landscape of Orchid Island (Lanyu), the home to the Tao aborigines of Taiwan.


BACKGROUND: In the United States, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection afflicts approximately 3.2 million persons and is the leading indication of liver transplantation. Therapies for chronic HCV are not completely effective and African Americans are significantly less responsive to therapy than Caucasian Americans. Studies suggest that lipoproteins and cholesterol metabolism play a role in biological mechanisms of the HCV life cycle. This dissertation characterizes the serum lipid profile in a cohort with genotype 1 chronic HCV infection, the predominant HCV genotype in the United States. STUDY POPULATION: Participants for this study were from the Virahep-C study, a prospective study of resistance to antiviral therapy involving 401 treatment naive people with chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1) infection who underwent combination pegylated interferon alfa-2a + ribavirin therapy for up to 48 weeks. Included in this dissertation analysis were 330 participants who had serum lipid profile data before starting therapy. RESULTS: Before treatment, HCV viral level was directly associated with triglyceride levels, liver fat was directly and inversely related to triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, and severe fibrosis was associated with lower of total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Over the course of therapy, all lipid profile measures changed during 6 months of treatment, and post-treatment, changes were limited to 6 month virological responders. For some lipid profile measures, changes during 6 months of treatment differed by race and were related to the amount of interferon taken. Lastly, components of the lipid profile were significant predictors of sustained virological response in univariable and multivariable analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This dissertation highlights the importance of the lipid profile in relation to aspects of liver disease, potential mechanisms of HCV eradication attributed to antiviral therapy, and virological response to therapy. The findings are of public health significance as they may highlight opportunities for new therapeutic targets and intervention studies to improve virological response, as well as elucidate factors involved in the racial disparity in treatment efficacy.


Multimodal recognition emerges when the non-robustness of unimodal recognition is noticed in real applications. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is a powerful tool of feature fusion for multimodal recognition. However, in CCA, the samples must be pairwise, and this requirement may not easily be met due to various unexpected reasons. Additionally, the class information of the samples is not fully exploited in CCA. These disadvantages restrain CCA from extracting more discriminative features for recognition. To tackle these problems, in this paper, the class information is incorporated into the framework of CCA for recognition, and a novel method for multimodal recognition, called discriminative canonical correlation analysis with missing samples (DCCAM), is proposed. DCCAM can tolerate the missing of samples and need not artificially make up the missing samples so that its computation is timesaving and space-saving. The experimental results show that 1) DCCAM outperforms the related multimodal recognition methods; and 2) the recognition accuracy of DCCAM is relatively insensitive to the number of missing samples.


Changing Your Belief The ability to display behavioral flexibility depends on an internal representation of the environment—a framework of beliefs that can be adjusted on the basis of experience. Recording from multiple electrodes in the rat medial prefrontal cortex, Karlsson et al. (p. 135) investigated how ensembles of neurons changed their activity during the performance of a task in which the animal had to update its knowledge of reward contingencies. The results suggest that changes in perceived action-outcome contingencies were associated with abrupt switches in neuronal representations in the rat medial prefrontal cortex. Abrupt neuronal activity in the rat prefrontal cortex indicates a switch from exploitation to exploration. Regions within the prefrontal cortex are thought to process beliefs about the world, but little is known about the circuit dynamics underlying the formation and modification of these beliefs. Using a task that permits dissociation between the activity encoding an animal's internal state and that encoding aspects of behavior, we found that transient increases in the volatility of activity in the rat medial prefrontal cortex accompany periods when an animal's belief is modified after an environmental change. Activity across the majority of sampled neurons underwent marked, abrupt, and coordinated changes when prior belief was abandoned in favor of exploration of alternative strategies. These dynamics reflect network switches to a state of instability, which diminishes over the period of exploration as new stable representations are formed.


The "evidence-based practice" paradigm was proposed to IS researchers a decade ago. Since then evidence-based practice has become established across a range of disciplines, but it has received relatively little attention in IS. This paper explains the idea of evidence-based practice and reviews the related work found in the IS research literature. Some possible reasons for the lack of widespread adoption in IS are suggested. Systematic literature reviews (SLRs), a key research method in evidencebased practice, are explained. Recent developments in SLRs are discussed, which enable a richer and more nuanced approach to understanding information systems than found in conventional SLRs. It is proposed that these developments now make SLRs more suitable for synthesising empirical studies in IS. Greater use of SLRs by IS researchers would enable us to develop a cumulative knowledgebase of use to both researchers and practitioners.


BACKGROUND
The amount of protection that condoms provide for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is unknown. Cohort studies of sexually active HIV serodiscordant couples with follow-up of the seronegative partner, provide a situation in which a seronegative partner has known exposure to the disease and disease incidence can be estimated. When some individuals use condoms and some do not, namely some individuals use condoms 100% of the time and some never use (0%) condoms, condom effectiveness can be estimated by comparing the two incidence rates. Condom effectiveness is the proportionate reduction in disease due to the use of condoms.

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this review is to estimate condom effectiveness in reducing heterosexual transmission of HIV.

SEARCH STRATEGY
Studies were located using electronic databases (AIDSLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and MEDLINE) and handsearched reference lists.

SELECTION CRITERIA
For inclusion, studies had to have: (1) data concerning sexually active HIV serodiscordant heterosexual couples, (2) a longitudinal study design, (3) HIV status determined by serology, and (4) contain condom usage information on a cohort of always (100%) or never (0%) condom users.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Studies identified through the above search strategy that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed for inclusion in the analysis. Sample sizes, number of seroconversions, and the person-years of disease-free exposure time were recorded for each cohort. If available, the direction of transmission in the cohort (male-to-female, female-to-male), date of study enrollment, source of infection in the index case, and the presence of other STDs was recorded. Duplicate reports on the same cohort and studies with incomplete or nonsepecific information were excluded. HIV incidence was estimated from the cohorts of "always" users and for the cohorts of "never" users. Effectiveness was estimated from these two incidence estimates.

MAIN RESULTS
Of the 4709 references that were initially identified, 14 were included in the final analysis. There were 13 cohorts of "always" users that yielded an homogeneous HIV incidence estimate of 1.14 [95% C.I.:.56, 2.04] per 100 person-years. There were 10 cohorts of "never" users that appeared to be heterogeneous. The studies with the longest follow-up time, consisting mainly of studies of partners of hemophiliac and transfusion patients, yielded an HIV incidence estimate of 5.75 [95% C.I.: 3.16, 9.66] per 100 person-years. Overall effectiveness, the proportionate reduction in HIV seroconversion with condom use, is approximately 80%.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS
This review indicates that consistent use of condoms results in 80% reduction in HIV incidence. Consistent use is defined as using a condom for all acts of penetrative vaginal intercourse. Because the studies used in this review did not report on the "correctness" of use, namely whether condoms were used correctly and perfectly for each and every act of intercourse, effectiveness and not efficacy is estimated. Also, this estimate refers in general to the male condom and not specifically to the latex condom, since studies also tended not to specify the type of condom that was used. Thus, condom effectiveness is similar to, although lower than, that for contraception.


The paper studies the levels and changes in wage inequality among Chinese rural-urban migrants from 2002 to 2007. We use the Chinese Household Income Project dataset and the Rural to Urban Migration in China dataset to construct a unique dataset that allows us to document changing wage inequality among migrants and among urban natives between 2002 and 2007. We find that wage inequality among migrants decreased significantly between 2002 and 2007, whereas it increased among urban natives during the same period. Our results show that the high-wage migrants experienced slower wage growth than middle- and low-wage migrants, a primary cause of declining inequality among migrants. We used distributional decomposition methods, and find that the overall between-group effect (coefficient effect) dominates in the whole wage distribution of the migrants, which means that the change in returns to the characteristics (education and experience) play a key role, but on the upper tails of the wage distribution, the within group effect (residual price effect) dominates which implies that the unobservable factors or institutional barriers do not favor the migrants at the top tail of the wage distribution.


This paper presents Mary of Nazareth as our model for being new creatures in Christ, emphasizing her liberty and hospitality. Preserved of all stain, Mary welcomes freely and unreservedly the Word that makes us free, so becoming the paradigm of a free and liberating woman. Her Son, the new man, frees us of the ties that block our personal realization and breaks down the barrier of enmity which keeps us apart (Cf. Eph 2,14). The world is again a welcoming home where we can grow in freedom and reciprocal hospitality, under the attentive and loving look of our Mother of heaven.


The fundamental resolution limit and depth of focus of immersion lithography are described. The image contrasts for TE polarization, TM polarization, and unpolarized condition are explored in detail. There are complications associated with diffraction orders incident on the resist at large incident angles. Image contrast can be improved or degraded depending on the choice of polarization states. The influence of polarization on processing windows for 65 and 45 nm 1:1 line/space patterns is studied by simulation. It shows the use of vector image lithography simulator to quantify exposure-focus processing window improvements for TE polarization as compared with TM polarization. The results show that the full resolution capabilities of immersion lithography systems can only be realized when the polarization control is used.


As the global population rises to an estimated 9.4bn by 2050, the pressure for food, fuel and freshwater will continue to increase. Current renewable energy technologies are not widely applicable to the transport sector, which requires energy dense liquid fuels that drop into our existing infrastructure. Algal biofuels promise significantly higher yields than plants, without the displacement of valuable agricultural resources and have the potential to meet the global demand for transport fuel. Fossil fuel energy is largely 'a legacy of algal photosynthesis', with algae accounting for ~50% of global CO2 fixation today. In addition, these curious organisms show remarkable diversity in form, behaviour and composition. Recently there has been a global resurgence of interest in microalgae as a resource of biomass and novel products. With the present level of technology, knowledge and experience in commercial scale aquaculture, the capital cost and energy investment for algal biomass production is high. Culturing, harvesting and disrupting microalgal cells account for the largest energy inputs with more positive energy balances requiring low energy designs for culture, dewatering and extraction, efficient water and nutrient recycling with minimal waste. Little is known about the variable cell wall of microalgae, which presents a formidable barrier to the extraction of microalgal products. Staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and enzymatic digestion were all utilised in an attempt to visualise, digest and characterise the cell wall of stock strains of Chlorella spp. and Pseudochoricystis ellipsoidea. The presence of algaenan, a highly resistant biopolymer, rendered staining and enzymatic digestion techniques ineffective. TEM revealed that algaenan is present in the outer walls of microalgae in a variety of conformations which appeared to impart strength to cells. A preliminary investigation utilising Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. elaeidis as a novel source of enzymes for the digestion of algaenan has also been described. Methods were developed for the mutagenesis of Chlorella emersonii and P. ellipsoidea using EMS and UV with the intent of generating cell-wall mutants. Although no viable cell wall mutants were produced, a viable pale mutant of C. emersonii was recovered 5 from UV mutagenesis. Growth rates of the pale mutant were significantly slower than the wild type, yet FAME profile was largely unaffected. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) was also investigated as a means for the rapid screening of mutagenized cells for cell wall mutants. In an attempt to reduce cooling costs of closed-culture systems, temperature tolerant species of microalgae were sought by bioprospecting the thermal waters of the Roman Baths. Numerous methods for isolation and purification of microalgae from the Baths were employed, ultimately yielding seven diverse isolates including cyanobacterial, eukaryotic, filamentous and single celled species. Despite some species possessing an increased tolerance to higher temperatures, none showed marked temperature tolerance coupled with high productivity. Further improvements to the culture conditions may have improved the productivity at higher temperatures. All seven isolates were deposited to the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP). A variety of extraction methods including soxhlet, beadbeating, sonication and microwaving was investigated for efficacy of extracting fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from C. emersonii. Beadbeating proved most effective in the extraction of FAMEs from C. emersonii. Microwaving showed potential as a rapid method of extraction yet was coupled with degradation of FAMEs, requiring further method development to resolve this issue. Method development has been a significant component of the work described in this thesis.


Cellular automata (CA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been used by researchers over the last three decades to simulate land-use change (LUC). While conventional CA and ANN models assign a cell to only one land-use class, in reality, a cell may belong to several land-use classes simultaneously. The recently developed multi-label (ML) concept overcomes this limitation in land change science. Although the ML concept is a new paradigm with nonexclusive classes and has shown considerable merit in several applications, few studies in land change science have applied it. In addition, determining transition rules in conventional CA is difficult when the number of drivers is large. Since CA has been shown as a potential model to consider neighborhood effects and ANN has been shown effective in determining CA transition rules, we integrated both CA with an ANN model to overcome limitations of each tool. In this study, we specifically extended the ANN-based Land Transformation Model (LTM) with both a CA-based model and the ML concept to create an integrated ML-CA-LTM modeling framework. We also compared, using standard evaluation measures, differences between the proposed integrated model with a conventional CA-based LTM model (called the ml-CA-LTM). Parameterization was made using a learning and testing procedure common in machine learning. Results showed that the modified LUC model, ML-CA-LTM, produced consistently better goodness of fit calibration values compared to the ml-CA-LTM. The outcome of this modified model can be used by managers and decision makers for improved urban planning.


Models of credit valuation generally predict a hump-shaped spread term structure for low quality issuers. This is understood to be driven by the shape of the underlying conditional default probabilities curve. We show that (a) recovery assumptions and (b) deviation of bond's price from its par value can also drive different term structure shapes. Our analysis resolves conflicting empirical evidence on the shape of speculative grade spread curves and explains the related existing theoretical results. On examining a large set of speculative grade bonds and credit default swaps, we find evidence that par-spread term structures are likely to be downward sloping as credit quality deteriorates sufficiently.


This paper examines humorous protests against U.S. President George W. Bush in the year preceding his re-election, which were dispersed online through email. Utilizing Atton's Typology for Radical and Alternative Media (2002), this paper argues that these protest email fall squarely within the tradition of U.S. alternative media. It also proposes a rudimentary typology for categorizing such email-based protests, referring to them as "virals" in order to foreground not only their non-hierarchical distribution and quotidian nature, but also their at times multimedia, performative, disruptive, or experiential aspects. The subject is limited by three major parameters: virals that are humorous, dissenting, and email-borne. Ultimately, by positioning these virals within the history of U.S. dissident or alternative media, this paper construes individuals using email to disseminate creative protests as Internet-era publishers or not-necessarily-broad-casters, and, as such, vital components of a liberal democratic political communications system.


Prosodic structure encodes the grouping of words into hierarchically layered prosodic constituents, including the prosodic word, intermediate phrase (ip) and intonational phrase (IP). This paper investigates the phonetic encoding of prosodic structure from a corpus of scripted broadcast news speech in American English through analysis of the acoustic correlates of prosodic boundary and their interaction with phrasal stress (pitch-accent) at three levels of prosodic structure: Word, ip, and IP. Evidence for acoustic effects of prosodic boundary is shown in measures of duration local to the domain-final rime. These findings provide strong evidence for prosodic theory, showing acoustic correlates of a 3-way distinction in boundary level.


The spatial and temporal controls on soil CO2 production and surface CO2 efflux have been identified as an outstanding gap in our understanding of carbon cycling. I investigated both the spatial and temporal variability of soil CO2 concentrations and surface CO2 efflux across eight topographically distinct riparian-hillslope transitions in the ~300 ha subalpine upper-Stringer Creek Watershed in the Little Belt Mountains, Montana. Riparian-hillslope transitions provide ideal locations for investigating the spatial and temporal controls on soil CO2 concentrations and surface CO2 efflux due to strong gradients in respiration driving factors, including soil water content, soil temperature, and soil organic matter. I collected high frequency measurements of soil temperature, soil water content, soil air CO2 concentrations (20 cm and 50 cm), surface CO2 efflux, and soil C and N concentrations (once) at 32 locations along four transects. Soil CO2 concentrations were more variable in riparian landscape positions, as compared to hillslope positions, as well as along transects with greater upslope accumulated area. This can be attributed to a greater range of soil water content and higher soil organic matter availability. Soil gas diffusion also differed between riparian and hillslope positions. Soil gas transport limited surface CO2 efflux in riparian landscape positions due to high soil water content (despite strong concentration gradients), while efflux was gradient (production) limited in hillslope positions. This led to spring-fall reversal of maximum riparian and hillslope soil CO2 concentrations, with highest hillslope concentrations near peak snowmelt and highest riparian concentrations during the late summer and early fall. Soil temperature was a dominant control on the overall temporal variability of soil CO2. However, soil water content controlled differences in the timing of soil CO2 concentration peaks within and between riparian and hillslope positions, as exemplified by those locations closest to Stringer Creek (wetter landscape positions) peaking up to three months later than those riparian locations near the riparian-hillslope transition. This work suggests that one control on the spatial and temporal variability of watershed soil CO2 concentrations and surface CO2 efflux is a soil water content mediated tradeoff between CO2 production and transport.


Background and Purpose: Over 30 million people in the United States (U.S.) have diabetes mellitus, which comprises about 9% of the population, and about 90% of individuals with diabetes have type 2 diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Adults with type 2 diabetes at a local internal medicine clinic were consistently having high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels, demonstrated by data collected from the electronic health record (EHR), and there was no ordering process for referring patients to diabetes management education and support (DSMES) services. The purpose of this project was to improve glycemic control, demonstrated by lower HbA1C levels, and reach a diabetes education attendance rate of 62.5% at an internal medicine clinic in Chandler, Arizona. Methods: An electronic health record (EHR) template was created and brief staff training was completed to connect patients with diabetes in the community to a local formal diabetes education program. HbA1C levels were measured before and three months after adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) received physicians' orders for a DSMES program, and rates of attendance to the program were calculated. Data was collected through the EHR and through feedback from the DSMES program. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis. Outcomes: The participants' results did not demonstrate significant differences in pre-referral and post-referral HbA1C results after they were ordered DSMES services (p = .506). The proportion of education attendance (30%) was lower than the project goal of 62.5%, but increased from the clinic baseline. Conclusions: EHR template implementation for referral to DSMES may increase rates of formal diabetes education and improve glycemic control. Larger sample sizes, longer project periods, DIABETES EDUCATION 3 alternative methods of communication, and increased follow-up of participants may be required to produce significant results.


Background: Children with severe neurological impairment may have significant oral motor dysfunction and are at increased risk of nutritional deficiencies, poor growth, and aspiration pneumonia. Gastrostomy tube feeding is increasingly being used for nutritional support in these children. Aim: To examine the occurrence of respiratory morbidity before and after gastrostomy feeding tube insertion in children with severe neurological disabilities. Methods: This study was nested in a longitudinal, prospective, uncontrolled, multicentre cohort study designed to investigate the outcomes of gastrostomy tube feeding in 57 children with severe neurological disabilities. Parents completed a questionnaire prior to (visit 1) and 6 and 12 months (visits 2 and 3) following the gastrostomy, detailing number of chest infections requiring antibiotics and/or hospital admission. Results: Mean number of chest infections requiring antibiotics was 1.8 on visit 1 and 0.9 on visit 3. Hospital admissions for chest infections fell significantly from 0.5 to 0.09. Conclusion: This study provides no evidence for an increase in respiratory morbidity following insertion of a feeding gastrostomy in children with cerebral palsy.


We present an overview over theoretical models to describe adiabatic potential-energy curves, experimental excitation spectra, and electronic and nuclear dynamics in interacting Rydberg-atom pairs at large internuclear separations. The potential-energy curves and molecular wavefunctions are determined from the multipole expansion of the static Coulomb interaction which is evaluated numerically in a product basis of atomic orbitals. The convergence of this approach both in the truncation of the multipole expansion as well as in the size of the product basis is discussed, and the comparison of simulated excitation spectra is established as a useful criterium to test the convergence of the calculation. We finally discuss the dynamics of electronic and nuclear motions of pairs of Rydberg atoms, focusing on the stability of ultralong range Rydberg molecules with respect to autoionization.


We propose a formal model for non-interactive message authentication protocols (NIMAPs) using two channels and analyze all the attacks that can occur in this model. Further, we introduce the notion of hybrid-collision resistant (HCR) hash functions. This leads to a new proposal for a NIMAP based on HCR hash functions. This protocol is as efficient as the best previous NIMAP while having a very simple structure and not requiring any long strings to be authenticated ahead of time. We investigate interactive message authentication protocols (IMAPs) and propose a new IMAP, based on the existence of interactive-collision resistant (ICR) hash functions, a new notion of hash function security. The efficient and easy-touse structure of our IMAP makes it very practical in real world ad hoc network scenarios. We also look at message recognition protocols (MRPs) and prove that there is a one-to-one correspondence between non-interactive MRPs and digital signature schemes with message recovery. Further, we look at an existing recognition protocol and point out its inability to recover in case of a specific adversarial disruption. We improve this protocol by suggesting a variant which is equipped with a resynchronization process. Moreover, another variant of the protocol is proposed which self-recovers in case of an intrusion. Finally, we propose a new design for message recognition in ad hoc networks which does not make use of hash chains. This new design uses random passwords that are being refreshed in each session, as opposed to precomputed elements of a hash chain.


Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Surgery is the only viable treatment, but irradical resection rates are still high. Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery has some technical limitations for surgeons and tumor identification may be challenging. Image-guided techniques provide intraoperative margin assessment and visualization methods, which may be advantageous in guiding the surgeon to achieve curative resections and therefore improve the surgical outcomes. In this chapter, current available laparoscopic surgical approaches and image-guided techniques for pancreatic surgery are reviewed. Surgical outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy performed by laparoscopy, laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), and robotic surgery are included and analyzed. Besides, image-guided techniques such as intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence imaging and surgical navigation are presented as emerging techniques. Results show that minimally invasive procedures reported a reduction of blood loss, reduced length of hospital stay, and positive resection margins, as well as an improvement in spleenpreserving rates, when compared to open surgery. Studies reported that fluorescenceguided pancreatic surgery might be beneficial in cases where the pancreatic anatomy is difficult to identify. The first approach of a surgical navigation system for guidance during pancreatic resection procedures is presented, combining preoperative images (CT and MRI) with intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound imaging.


Time-binding: the characteristic human ability to transmit information, using language and other symbols, across time; the potential for individuals to learn from their own and other people's experiences; the potential for each generation to start off from where the last generation left off; the potential to become aware of this ability; this allows for the formation of cultures and the ability to study cultures, etc. (1) Alfred Korzybski published Science and Sanity, his magnum opus that introduced general semantics to the world, in 1933. That same year another important literary work emerged, a twelve-volume (plus one volume Supplement) edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), that concentrated more particularly on word meanings. The OED, whose first editor was appointed in 1859 when the lexicon was known as A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles, has gone on to become the premiere dictionary of the English language, a "living document" that has been growing and changing for over 150 years. This article will map the historical roots of the OED, how it came into being, and what its present and future looks like. A Brief History of English Lexicography: From the Middle Ages to the Mid-Nineteenth Century The first reference books for English-speaking people were bilingual glossaries that supplied English equivalents for Latin or French words. In the Middle Ages, difficult English words were also sometimes glossed. Most early lexicographers were schoolmasters who assembled glossaries or dictionaries as teaching aids for their students, as little else was obtainable. Robert Cawdrey's A Table Alphabeticall ... (the complete title of this work fills the entire title page), which was published in 1604, is generally considered to be the first monolingual English dictionary. (2) It contained 2,500 vocabulary entries and incorporated almost 90 percent of the words of Edmund Coote's English Schoolmaster, a grammar, prayer book, and word list with brief definitions published in 1596. That Coote's dictionary had so many "borrowed" terms is understandable as the history of English lexicography is full of recurring and successful acts of copying. A Table Alphabeticall dealt with "hard vsuall English wordes ... gathered for the benefit & helpe of Ladies, Gentlewomen, or any other unskillful persons." (3) Seventeenth-century lexicographers thought that women, because they received less schooling than men, were more apt to need assistance in decoding "hard" words. In the early eighteenth century, some dictionaries began to go beyond the hard-words tradition and include the meanings of all sorts of words. John Kersey, regarded by famed linguist and general semanticist Allen Walker Read as the first professional lexicographer, (4) was the editor of such a lexicon, The New English Dictionary (1702), which included commonplace terms of daily language like about, and, any, arm, etc. Kersey's dictionary was the first to attempt systematic coverage of familiar words in addition to arcane ones. Nathan Bailey's An Unusual Etymological Dictionary (1721) continued to push English lexicography forward by giving great attention to the etymological roots of words. Containing roughly 40,000 entries, An Unusual Etymological Dictionary represented language as it was used and included taboo terms. Bailey's etymological dictionaries, whose thirty editions spanned the years 1721-1802, were immensely popular during the 18th century and were the chief competitors to Samuel Johnson's prodigious word list. In 1747, Samuel Johnson sent the Earl of Chesterfield his plan to put together a dictionary that would survey the total English language and show the history of every word. Nine years later Johnson published his Dictionary, a book that surveyed only some of the English language; specifically 42,773 entries that were so well defined with so many illustrious quotations (over 114,000 of them that were drawn from every area of literature) that it stood as the most authoritative dictionary in English for well over a hundred years. …


The study of rapid heating and its effects on silcrete is widely debated, and studies have arrived at competing conclusions regarding factors that determine the success of silcrete rapid heating. Clarifying the potential effect of these various factors is important for furthering our understanding of the role of intentional heat treatment as an engineering strategy employed by early humans for modifying the flaking potential of lithic materials. To this end, this study tests for potential interand intra-source variation in the overall fracture rates of silcrete heated under a controlled, rapid heating environment. The tested silcrete samples were collected from a range of locations within Australia and South Africa; the primary test material were from Bannister's Point/Mollymook and Bendalong Point on the New South Wales South Coast, and the secondary material came from Mustard Hill and Quartz Valley in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Following Mercieca and Hiscock (2008), silcrete samples were prepared in standardised dimensions and heated rapidly under multiple temperature gradients. Prior to heating, the silcrete samples were characterised by a range of attributes, including weight, material composition, and the block of stone from which the sample was cut. In addition, the geochemical property of a subset of the silcrete samples was examined by non-destructive X-ray florescence. Silcrete samples were placed in an oven preheated to 550, 600 and 700 degrees Celsius for a period of one hour before gradual cooling. The degree of heat fracture was quantified by comparing the weight of the largest remaining stone of each heated sample to their corresponding mass prior to heating. Statistical analyses were carried out to examine the influence of sample volume, temperature, and source on the degree of heat-induced fracture. While the results suggest that sample volume plays a significant role in influencing silcrete heat fracture, the effect varies considerably by source. Specifically, samples from Bendalong Point displayed far greater heat resistance than those of Bannister's Point/Mollymook. This trend of inter-source variation was also apparent in the South African material, although limited sample size restricts the assessment to visual inspection only. The finding also showed intra-source variation, where different blocks of stone from a single source displayed significant difference in heat fracture ii under identical conditions. Contrary to expectation, maximum temperature was shown to have an insignificant role on heat fracture variation when the influence of source and sample dimension is controlled.


The Mammalia are characterized by a limited degree of tooth replacement. This condition must have arisen from that typical of primitive reptiles, where the teeth are continually replaced throughout the animals' life. The therapsid reptiles include the ancestors of the mammals, and it is here that the origin of the mammalian mode of tooth succession is to be sought. The present paper describes an investigation of two groups of the more primitive therapsids, the Gorgonopsia and the Therocephalia, which lie close to the main line of synapsid evolution. The investigation involved the use of the recently developed methods of chemical preparation, along with X-ray examination of the material so prepared. In the Gorgonopsia and in the Therocephalia all the teeth were replaced at least once. Thus, none of their teeth can be equated with the molars of placental mammals, which are never replaced. Replacement of the incisors occurred at least twice and of the upper canines at least four times. Thus the condition in the mammals, where no tooth is replaced more than once, had not yet been achieved. Except in the upper canines there was no functional distichial replacement, each tooth being immediately replaced in function by the next generation of its own tooth family. The only sign of distichism is the tendency of the functional teeth to fall into two alternating groups in some cases, the members of each such group being replaced at about the same time. There are two alveoli in each maxilla for the upper canines. In the most primitive Therocephalia, and in the Gorgonopsia, there is only one functional canine on each side of the upper jaw, and this tooth is borne alternately by each of the pair of alveoli. Thus there is functional distichial replacement, since each canine is immediately replaced by a member of the tooth family of the other alveolus. This distichism is secondary, the ancestral Pelycosauria having two functional canines in each maxilla, each being immediately replaced by the next member of its own tooth family. Thus in the ultimate descendants of these theriodonts, the Mammalia, the deciduous and permanent teeth are almost certainly members of the same tooth family, with a possible exception in the case of the upper canines. The theory of Bolk (1922), that the two dentitions of the mammals are homologous with the alternating dentitions of primitive tetrapods, is unacceptable. The upper, and in one genus at least (Notosollasia) the lower, canines are shed by the erosion of the tooth through its cervix, the root being retained within the alveolus. The root is then penetrated by spongy bone and resorbed, the resorption starting at the cervix and proceeding along to its apex. This method of shedding the teeth appears to be unique. In the majority of the specimens the functional canine lies in the anterior alveolus, the posterior alveolus being filled with a plug of spongy bone, which often contains the remains of an old root undergoing resorption. In these examples there are no replacing canines, and replacement in the other teeth is limited or absent. This suggests that after a certain time in the animal's life tooth replacement ceased, the permanent upper canines being always borne by the anterior alveoli. In this limited tooth replacement the Gorgonopsia and the Therocephalia show an analogy with the mammals. The number of teeth is not fixed; for example, there may be seven incisors on one side and six on the other, or four cheek teeth on one side and five on the other. Thus tooth number is not a good taxonomic character.


It is often asserted that UK school-leavers know less grammatical terminology than in earlier years. However, objective data on this supposed phenomenon are somewhat scarce. The study reported in this paper aimed to see whether and to what extent knowledge about language (KaL) has declined over three decades, and how this might relate to university studies and the English school-leaving examinations known as A-level. We analysed data collected in a test-based survey of UK university undergraduates and compared them with a similar test-based survey conducted in 1986. We also put the studies in context by comparing the performance of UK home students with that of students in and from other countries. In addition, we analysed recent pre- and post-test data on whether courses of instruction in grammar improve undergraduates' knowledge of grammatical terminology. Our results show a general reduction in school-leavers' knowledge of grammatical terminology since 1986. Moreover, UK students have a much weaker knowledge than do non-UK students. Studying a foreign language leads to somewhat better levels of KaL, but this is not true for English language A-level. However, our results confirm that university-level instruction does improve awareness of and ability to use grammatical terminology. We end by discussing the value of KaL.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Fibrotic masses in the breast secondary to fat necrosis or hematoma are a complication of breast reduction mammaplasty. The treatment commonly recommended for this condition is early surgical debridement of necrotic tissue from the entire area, which causes scarring. This case report describes the use of low-intensity laser therapy for fibrotic lumps following reduction mammaplasty.

CASE DESCRIPTION
The patient was a 46-year-old woman who had breast reduction surgery 80 days prior to referral for physical therapy. At the time of referral, the largest mass was 8.0 cm in diameter. The patient reported pain and said she was distressed about the breast disfigurement. Laser irradiation was initiated at an energy density (ED) of 20 J/cm2 and a pulse repetition rate of 5,000 pulses per second. The laser settings were adjusted during the 8-month treatment period. The final ED was 50 J/cm2.

OUTCOMES
The mass was 33% of its original size after 3 treatments over the initial 11-day period. Pain relief was immediate. The rate of resolution decreased after the initial period. The patient had some tissue thickening at the time of discharge after 6 months of treatment.

DISCUSSION
This case demonstrates the potential use of laser therapy as a treatment for benign breast lumps following mammaplasty.


Plants are useful in studies of metal toxicity, because their physiological responses to different metals are correlated with the metal exposure dose and chemical state. Moreover a network of proteins and biochemical cascades that may lead to a controlled homeostasis of metals has been identified in many plant species. This paper focuses on the global protein variations that occur in a Populus nigra spp. clone (Poli) that has an exceptional tolerance to the presence of cadmium. Protein separation was based on a two-dimensional liquid chromatography technique. A subset of 20 out of 126 peaks were identified as being regulated differently under cadmium stress and were fingerprinted by MALDI-TOF. Proteins that were more abundant in the treated samples were located in the chloroplast and in the mitochondrion, suggesting the importance of these organelles in the response and adaptation to metal stress.


Background In a military setting, pre-hospital times may be extended due to geographical or operational issues. Helicopter casevac enables patients to be transported expediently across all terrains. The skill-mix of the pre-hospital team can vary. Aim To quantify the doctors' contribution to the Medical Emergency Response Team–Enhanced (MERT-E). Methods A prospective log of missions recorded urgency category, patient nationality, mechanism of injury, medical interventions and whether, in the crew's opinion, the presence of the doctor made a positive contribution. Results Between July and November 2008, MERT-E flew 324 missions for 429 patients. 56% of patients carried were local nationals, 35% were UK forces. 22% of patients were T1, 52% were T2, 21.5% were T3 and 4% were dead. 48% patients had blast injuries, 25% had gunshot wounds, 6 patients had been exposed to blast and gunshot wounds. Median time from take-off to ED arrival was 44 min. A doctor flew on 88% of missions. It was thought that a doctor's presence was not clinically beneficial in 77% of missions. There were 62 recorded physician's interventions: the most common intervention was rapid sequence induction (45%); other interventions included provision of analgesia, sedation or blood products (34%), chest drain or thoracostomy (5%), and pronouncing life extinct (6%). Conclusion MERT-E is a high value asset which makes an important contribution to patient care. A relatively small proportion of missions require interventions beyond the capability of well-trained military paramedics; the indirect benefits of a physician are more difficult to quantify.


In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Oceana employed an ROV to complete bionomic seabed surveys in the Mediterranean Sea and Bay of Biscay, between 50 and 350 meters depth. Information on positions, depths and times of observations was recorded, providing new data on the geographic distribution and bathymetric range of chondrichthyans. Fourteen species were found: five sharks, eight batoids and one chimaera. A total of 304 individuals were observed: 58 in the Mediterranean and 46 in the Bay of Biscay. The most widespread chondrichthyan observed was Scyliorhinus canicula, accounting for 69% of all observations. The densest presence of chondrichthyans in general (56.786 sightings/ hr) occurred in the Aceste seamount, Italy, due to the high number of Galeus blainvillei. The other species observed were Hexanchus griseus, Galeus melastomus, Galeus atlanticus, Dasyatis pastinaca, Torpedo marmorata, Raja clavata, Raja montagui, Raja miraletus, Raja naevus, Raja radula, Raja brachyura and Chimaera monstrosa. Galeus atlanticus was recorded for the first time in the Bay of Biscay, out of its recorded distribution range of the Alboran Sea, Strait of Gibraltar and surrounding European and African Atlantic waters. The use of an ROV in underwater investigations helps us better understand the chondrichthyan populations which live at deeper depths.


Introduction: Drug targeting represents an interesting motivation to prevent side effects and increase doxorubicin cytotoxicity. Magnetic nanoparticles offer new opportunities for developing effective drug delivery systems because they are feasible to produce characterize and specifically tailor their functional properties for drug delivery applications. To improve their stability and biocompatibility, the Fe3O4 nanoparticles are often modified with surfactants or polymers.
 Materials and Methods: In the present work, a nanocomposite was synthesized via in situ preparation of Fe3 O4 nanoparticles inside poly lactic glycolic acid and poly vinyl alcohol. The anticancer drug of doxorubicin was loaded on the synthesized nanocomposite in order to targeted drug delivery technique. The nanostructures were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, VSM and XRD techniques. The in vitro drug release from synthesized nanocomposite was investigated as nanocarrier in 2 different pHs (equal blood and tumor environments) at 37° C and extent of drug release was calculated by UV-Vis spectrophotometer.
 Results: In vitro drug release experiments showed that the doxorubicin release at pH=6.0 was promisingly more and faster than pH=7.4. The fitted equation of release curves was corresponded to Peppas model.
 Conclusion: All these results together suggest that the DOXloaded nanocarrier may serve as a promising magnetic targeting therapy for the treatment of tumor cells.


Abstract We review the taxonomic status of Oligodon waandersi sensu lato after examining all the name-bearing types (including synonyms) and morphological evidence. Oligodon waandersi sensu stricto is widely distributed (up to 1200 m above sea level) throughout the southern, some parts of the central, and the northern slopes of Central Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, whereas a similar species, O. propinquus, is only known from its holotype and considered to have originated from Java. Here, we demonstrate that O. propinquus is a close match with the northern population (North and Gorontalo) of O. waandersi and morphologically distinct; hence, we consider the type locality of O. propinquus as North Sulawesi, not Java. Oligodon taeniurus, long considered a junior synonym of O. waandersi, is a distinct species, but here we synonymize it with the morphologically closely matched O. propinquus, which has priority over O. taeniurus. Oligodon waandersi in Southeast Sulawesi (including some populations of Buton Islet) is morphologically distinct from O. waandersi sensu stricto in South Sulawesi; hence, it requires a new name. The new species is distinguished from congeners by having the following combination of characters: maximum snout–vent length of 340 mm, a single postocular, a single cloacal plate, a completely divided nasal, ventrals 150–169, subcaudals 18–26, temporals 1+2, six supralabials with third and fourth in contact with eye, dorsal scale rows 15-15-15, hemipenes not forked and covered with spines, maxillary teeth 6–7, shorter tail (6.8–11.2% of total length), brownish dorsum with few dark-edged spots on the vertebral line anteriorly, reddish brown vertebral line on the posterior body and tail, mostly a blackish brown blotch below the eye, and whitish collar band interrupted middorsally. We provide a complete redescription for O. waandersi and O. propinquus based on respective holotypes deposited at the Natural History Museum London and the Zoologisches Museum Hamburg.


Machine learning advances in the last decade have relied significantly on large-scale datasets that continue to grow in size. Increasingly, those datasets also contain different data modalities. However, large multi-modal datasets are hard to annotate, and annotations may contain biases that we are often unaware of. Deep-net-based classifiers, in turn, are prone to exploit those biases and to find shortcuts. To study and quantify this concern, we introduce the perceptual score, a metric that assesses the degree to which a model relies on the different subsets of the input features, i.e., modalities. Using the perceptual score, we find a surprisingly consistent trend across four popular datasets: recent, more accurate state-of-the-art multi-modal models for visual question-answering or visual dialog tend to perceive the visual data less than their predecessors. This trend is concerning as answers are hence increasingly inferred from textual cues only. Using the perceptual score also helps to analyze model biases by decomposing the score into data subset contributions. We hope to spur a discussion on the perceptiveness of multi-modal models and also hope to encourage the community working on multi-modal classifiers to start quantifying perceptiveness via the proposed perceptual score.


This study focused on reviewing a student's music therapy practice at an acute assessment unit for people living with dementia and mental health issues, finding links between the placement philosophy, and new ideas about practice. Kitwood's (1997) book on personhood and the needs of people who are living with dementia and other mental health issues appeared to resonate with the student music therapists' practice. This was supported by the active use of his model of needs by nursing staff at the placement. Investigations looked specifically at Kitwood's model of needs; how music therapy links with his philosophy and how interventions during practice connected to those needs. The data was draw from descriptive clinical notes using secondary analysis. The rich qualitative data was analysed using deductive and inductive methods. Findings are presented under Kitwood's model of needs, forming the five categories for the study. The main themes within these categories were then summarised and explanations given under both Kitwood's model of needs and music therapy interventions used to meet them. Though the findings are qualitative, specific to this study and not necessarily generalisable, several links within music therapy practice, and nursing practice revealed the importance and need for more person-centred individualised care programmes for patients in mental health settings.


Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to establish a set of steps for helping companies to create a Green Supply Chain Strategy based on the reduction of their carbon footprint. The aim is to put forward a simple guideline that companies can follow and guide them in achieving their carbon emission targets, as well as obtaining attractive supply chain savings. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a literature review and benchmarking this paper proposes a methodology based on three pillars: 1) Corporate Carbon Strategy; 2) Carbon emission roadmap; and 3) Implementation and tracking. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques were used in order to create a green strategy and support the decision-making processes to select the most interesting alternatives for carbon emission reduction and supply chain savings. The supply chain of a metallurgical company is used to illustrate the case study where the proposed methodology is used. The criteria used for the carbon alternatives selection was based on three factors: 1) the supply chain cost of the alternative; 2) carbon emission impact in terms of CO 2 tonnes; and 3) marketing effect. Findings: The paper identifies some specific steps for developing a Green Supply Chain Strategy. The case study developed, demonstrates the importance of following a proper methodology based on a set of steps, it also demonstrates that some alternatives focus on improving the supply chain, such as the facilities location, can also improve the key performance indicator related with carbon emission.  Originality/value: The study provides guidance for manufacturing companies in implementing their Green Supply Chain Strategy.


Since Day (1968) and Dick & Basu (1994) the possibility that true loyalty can be distinguished from spurious loyalty and therefore managed has been supported by countless studies linking cognitive attitudinal models to stated purchase intention. Studies linking attitudinal and behavioural measures are rare, and also unreliable. Cognitive modelling, being cross sectional, assumes sustained competitive advantage and rarely if ever takes into account the possibility that if one brand can influence its consumer-based brand equity, the effect is unlikely to be persistent, because the available choice-alternatives are trying equally hard in the opposite direction. How then should brand loyalty be conceptualised, let alone operationalized? In this study our starting point was with time: the value of repeat-buying to a firm is not in cross section, or in a quarter or two, but in a strategic, long term time frame. Repeat-buying is the marketing efficiency that delivers improved cash flow and predictable sales that can be valued as brand equity. But repeat buying loyalty seems totally immune to marketing manipulation. The only way to influence it is to raise the brand's penetration.