Positive effects in courses for preservice teachers about inclusion of students with disabilities and other exceptionalities have not been consistently shown, but it is possible that the lack of effect is due to the assessment technique that has been used. This study used a retrospective pretest to gauge the effects on attitudes in a course preparing students for inclusive classrooms. Having the students take a second, "retrospective," pretest after the posttest revealed positive results for the course not shown by traditional, pretest-posttest assessment. ********** Increasing numbers of students with disabilities being taught in general education classrooms have generated a corresponding number of teacher preparation courses designed to prepare prospective general education classroom teachers for these students. These courses have the meritorious purpose of preparing general education classroom teachers for the diversities which will exist in their classrooms (Cantrell, 2003). It has often been noted that specialized courses and training experiences are needed to prepare prospective classroom teachers for future inclusive classrooms (Martinez, 2003). Yet, noticeably, even with blossoming numbers of these courses, literature describing these courses is scant. The literature one does find has varying records of their success. Attitudes are presumed to be the critical variable in the success of inclusion. Richards and Clough (2004) relate that teacher attitudes are presumed to be the critical variable in the success of inclusion. A principal concern then becomes the attitudes these future educators will have about teaching students with varying disabilities. There is some literature showing that even teachers who are currently in classrooms--who may not have had preparation for teaching these diversities--may not have hoped-for attitudes toward teaching these students or the ready willingness to teach them (Martinez, 2003). Martinez points out: "Despite documentation that general education teachers believe that regular classrooms are the best placement for children with disabilities, their attitudes are frequently ambivalent or negative toward increased mainstreaming practices" In the limited research that does exist, studies have found these teachers' attitudes and beliefs about inclusion to be negative (Garriott, Miller, & Snyder, 2003). Some writers have declared that attitudes may be positive as an initial predisposition, though they may not have conducted specific assessment of those attitudes (Richards & Clough, 2004). Additionally, there is limited evidence about the effects of interventions aimed at changing attitudes toward students with disabilities (Martinez, 2003). This is echoed by the limited evidence for the impact of introductory inclusion courses in teacher preparation programs, with resulting impact on attitudes being inconsistent. Although those who take such courses may show increases in their readiness to teach these students, and that is an "improving trend" (Sharma et al., 2008, p. 783), they may not have had a corresponding increase in attitude. Moreover, course instructors have the perception that students do leave such courses feeling more confident and excited about the opportunities they will have in their classrooms (Peterson & Beloin, 1999). Still, the contradictory findings could lead to the conclusion that one course may not be sufficient to produce the hoped-for attitudes (Martinez). One example of such a course is provided by Martinez (2003), who assessed attitudes with the Opinions Relative to the Integration of Students with Disabilities (ORI) (Antonak & Larrivee, 1995). This researcher compared pre-and posttest results of an inclusion course on the ORI, a measure of teachers' sense of efficacy, and interviews. Pre- and posttest comparison on the attitude scale did not show differences, although the researcher points out that at the end of the course students had "overwhelmingly positive attitudes about inclusion" (p. …


, The process of micro-encapsulation by emulsifying a solution in a stirred tank has been accepted as the most suitable method for the production of microcapsules for carbonless copy paper and is currently used by Mondi Paper in Merebank. The focus of this project was to obtain a more uniform size distribution of the microcapsules so that oversize capsules would not smudge when they are coated on paper. There was also concern that the formation of very small ink/oil droplets was consuming wall material unnecessarily and was not contributing to the formation of an image on paper. The reduction of these tiny droplets would result in a saving of the cost of the wall material. Mondi currently produces microcapsules with an average diameter between 4 and 5 microns. The amount of capsules produced above 10 microns, the oversize, is less than 1 per cent (v/v) and the amount of capsules produced below 2 microns, the undersize, is between 25 and 30 per cent. Mondi wishes to reduce the amount of undersize capsules, thereby producing a narrower size distribution. This could result in large savings, as discussed above. It could also lead to the production of a sixsheet set of carbonless papers instead of the four-sheet set, which is currently produced. The production ofmicrocapsules by emulsification was investigated in a 2.5-1iter laboratory tank, using an impeller measuring 45 mm in diameter. A range of agitation speeds was investigated and it was seen that at the lowest speed that formed emulsions, 6600 rpm, 15.03 per cent of undersize capsules was produced and an average capsule diameter of 7.57 microns, after 40 minutes of agitation. At the highest impeller speed, 8000 rpm, the average capsule diameter was reduced to 1.93 microns and 67.02 per cent ofUndersize capsules were classified as "undersize". No oversize capsules were observed. These capsule specifications were not favourable. Further experimentation showed that at 7500 rpm, an average capsule diameter of 5.12 microns and an undersize of 24.20 per cent were observed. The proportion of oversize capsules was 1.63 per cent. Since these results were similar to the results obtained from the plant, 7500 rpm was used accepted as the "standard" speed for the experiments. A reduction in the impeIler speed from 7500 rpm to 7200 rpm after the first 20 minutes of emulsification was one· way on reducing the proportion ofundersize particles further. The proportion ofundersize particles was reduced from 20.20 per cent to 19.71 per cent at standard conditions. The average capsule diameter and the oversize were not affected significantly. The effect of the emulsi£1cation temperature on the particle size distribution was investigated with temperatures ranging from 22 to 40°C, in increments of2 QC. A temperature of30 °c was used as a standard temperature as this temperature was being used at the plant. A decrease in the proportion of undersize capsules to 17.12 per cent was seen at temperatures below 30°C and an average of 23.87 per cent was noticed above 30 QC. Although the proportion of undersize capsules decreased, the average capsule diameter increased beyond the specified range to an average of 7.77 microns at temperatures below 30°C. At temperatures above 30 °c the average size was reduced to 5.59 microns. Hence the selection 000 °c as the optimum temperature was confirmed. Experimentation with the emulsification time showed that there were times when a unimodal size distribution was produced. However, these were at times just after the polymerisation had begun, and the reaction was not complete at this stage. A bimodal distribution was always noticed after 40 minutes ofemulsification, i.e. after the completion ofthe reaction. The effects of the baffle widths on the microcapsules were also investigated. Baffle sizes of 5, 10 and 15 mm were used. It was shown that with an increase in baffle width, there was a decrease in the amount of undersize capsules produced. However, the average capsule diameter became too large. A baffle width of 5 mm was shown to produce desirable capsule sizes, although the undersize did not improve, or worsen. Too much of air was trapped in the emulsion when no baffles were used in the tank. Alternatives to the current surfactant, called "Lupasol" were tested so that Mondi could produce the capsules independently instead of relying on the original raw material supplier. This investigation was done based on limited informa.tion on Lupasol. Results from these experiments were inconclusive since more data on Lupasol was required. Samples of the microcapsule emulsion were sent to different companies, in South Africa and abroad, to determine whether the particle size analyser used at Mondi was giving correct results. The results obtained from the companies in South Africa differed by a small amount from that measured at Mondi. However, results obtained from companies abroad varied considerably and it is recommended that Mondi change their particle analyser settings.


We provide a new 3-D GPS velocity field solution of the Euro-Mediterranean area computed at the Centro Nazionale Terremoti (CNT) division of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). The available raw GPS data since 1993, have been fully reprocessed by three different software and the final velocity field is obtained by combining three independent velocity solutions in a least squares sense. The input velocity solutions are treated as stochastic samples of the true velocity field by loosening the reference frame constraints in the associated variance-covariance matrix. The proposed approach allows for a fast combination of multi velocity solutions taking into account the full covariance, if available. The velocity map for the Euro-Mediterranean region will be updated and released regularly on the web portal of the National GPS Network (http://ring.gm.ingv.it). Here we show and discuss in detail the data analysis, combination scheme and results of the analysis procedure.


We investigate a simple theory where baryon number (B) and lepton number (L) are local gauge symmetries. In this theory B and L are on the same footing and the anomalies are canceled by adding a single new fermionic generation. There is an interesting realization of the seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses. Furthermore, there is a natural suppression of flavor violation in the quark and leptonic sectors since the gauge symmetries and particle content forbid tree level flavor changing neutral currents involving the quarks or charged leptons. Also one finds that the stability of a dark matter candidate is an automatic consequence of the gauge symmetry. Some constraints and signals at the Large Hadron Collider are briefly discussed.


In the past two decades Flash memory grew from a novelty technology to a powerful disruptor that has profoundly transformed consumer electronics and mobile computing. This was made possible through relentless cost reductions leveraging technology scaling through 19 generations of Flash memory in just 24 years, outpacing Moore's Law. NAND Flash, System-Flash, and multilevel cells (MLC) were critical elements in establishing the foundations for today's $25 billion Flash industry. Flash enabled, and in turn benefitted from new mega markets in digital consumer electronics, and more recently, from the ascendency of mobile phones and tablets as the ultimate convergence device for billions of consumers worldwide. The author began working in the semiconductor industry in the early 1970s and participated in the growth of the non volatile memory (NVM) industry [1], first as a device physicist, then as an entrepreneur and businessman. Section 2 of this paper provides the author's personal recollections of the key milestones and innovation breakthroughs that made Flash memory such a game changer. Section 3 describes the enormous impact that Flash memory has had on Consumer Electronics and Mobile Computing. Section 4 discusses some of the major challenges and opportunities ahead for the Flash industry.


In his recently essay, Why Conservative Jurisprudence Is Compassionate, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson's defends conservative jurisprudence against a claim that he believes unfairly derogates the normative attractiveness of conservative jurisprudence - specifically that conservative jurisprudence lacks compassion. To Judge Wilkinson, conservative jurisprudence, properly understood, can "more than hold [its] own" against its liberal counterpart in the compassion debate. This essay responds to Judge Wilkinson's thesis. It first articulates the arguments advanced by Judge Wilkinson in support of his thesis but then suggests that even if his contentions hold some resonance, they still fall short of the goal of defending contemporary conservative jurisprudence as compassionate. To begin with, Judge Wilkinson's arguments are essentially only negative points about the purported over-use of compassion in liberal jurisprudence; they are not positive propositions suggesting that conservatism has its own unique vision or understanding of compassion. Moreover, Judge Wilkinson's attempt to defend conservative jurisprudence is misplaced because the conservatism he describes is not contemporary conservative jurisprudence. Rather contemporary conservative jurisprudence, in order to achieve its desired results, is marked with the exact same jurisprudential deficiencies that Judge Wilkinson condemns in liberal jurisprudence. Finally, Judge Wilkinson's attempt to defend contemporary conservative thought against liberal attack is misdirected because the liberal/conservative dichotomy he describes is not the primary line that currently divides the conservative and liberal camps. The division is not between a jurisprudence that inappropriately responds to individual poignancies and one that relies on sharp lines and collective concerns. Rather the essential division is between a liberal jurisprudence geared to protecting the marginalized groups in society versus a conservative jurisprudence that tends to reinforce the existing powers of dominant groups. As this essay demonstrates, conservatives have taken their role in protecting entrenched interests quite seriously. They have expanded the constitutional rights of already powerful interests. They have opposed liberal attempts to increase the constitutional protections accorded marginalized groups. They have invalidated legislative attempts that would reduce the disparities between the powerful and the marginalized in the political marketplace. They have consistently resisted both constitutional and legislative attempts to increase the access of disadvantaged litigants to courts of justice. Accordingly, the essay contends that the claim that such a jurisprudence is "compassionate" is difficult to sustain.


Since its origins, academic publishing and the academic book have pursued the objective of preserving the quality of the published content and the efficient dissemination of the knowledge  produced by the universities. These cardinal goals nowadays face obstacles which call into question the regular performance of university publishers. The indiscriminate proliferation of publications, the self-publishing phenomenon, the crisis of traditional channels of distribution and retail, and finally the recent and apparently definitive mingling of the number of readers are only the most conspicuous elements of a puzzle that plagues the scientific edition. In this paper it is maintained that the very fate of scientific communication - and particularly its closest and eldest ally, the academic book - depends on the ability to overcome the challenges listed.
unication.


The coast is a key interface in the Arctic environment, a locus of human activity, a rich band of biodiversity, critical habitat, and high productivity, and among the most dynamic components of the circumpolar landscape. A very large proportion of Arctic residents live on the coast and many derive their livelihood from marine resources. The coast is a region exposed to natural hazards and particularly sensitive to climate change; it is thus a high priority for change detection and awareness acknowledged by the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) and the Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR). Under the patronage of Land-Ocean Interaction in the coastal zone (LOICZ), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) and the International Permafrost Association (IPA), a new initiative was formed to fill the gap observed in existing reports and assessments and to highlight the uniqueness of Arctic coasts. Its objective is to produce the first review on the state of Arctic coasts and to provide an outlook on the fate of coastal biophysical and societal environments, underlining the complex interactions at work at the land-Ocean interface. This presentation provides an update on the progress of this report and a few excerpts from the document.


Abstract. Chemical modelling studies have been conducted over north-western Europe in summer conditions, showing that night-time dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) heterogeneous reactive uptake is important regionally in modulating particulate nitrate and has a~modest influence on oxidative chemistry. Results from Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model simulations, run with a detailed volatile organic compound (VOC) gas-phase chemistry scheme and the Model for Simulating Aerosol Interactions and Chemistry (MOSAIC) sectional aerosol scheme, were compared with a series of airborne gas and particulate measurements made over the UK in July 2010. Modelled mixing ratios of key gas-phase species were reasonably accurate (correlations with measurements of 0.7–0.9 for NO2 and O3). However modelled loadings of particulate species were less accurate (correlation with measurements for particulate sulfate and ammonium were between 0.0 and 0.6). Sulfate mass loadings were particularly low (modelled means of 0.5–0.7 μg kg−1air, compared with measurements of 1.0–1.5 μg kg−1air). Two flights from the campaign were used as test cases – one with low relative humidity (RH) (60–70%), the other with high RH (80–90%). N2O5 heterogeneous chemistry was found to not be important in the low-RH test case; but in the high-RH test case it had a strong effect and significantly improved the agreement between modelled and measured NO3 and N2O5. When the model failed to capture atmospheric RH correctly, the modelled NO3 and N2O5 mixing ratios for these flights differed significantly from the measurements. This demonstrates that, for regional modelling which involves heterogeneous processes, it is essential to capture the ambient temperature and water vapour profiles. The night-time NO3 oxidation of VOCs across the whole region was found to be 100–300 times slower than the daytime OH oxidation of these compounds. The difference in contribution was less for alkenes (× 80) and comparable for dimethylsulfide (DMS). However the suppression of NO3 mixing ratios across the domain by N2O5 heterogeneous chemistry has only a very slight, negative, influence on this oxidative capacity. The influence on regional particulate nitrate mass loadings is stronger. Night-time N2O5 heterogeneous chemistry maintains the production of particulate nitrate within polluted regions: when this process is taken into consideration, the daytime peak (for the 95th percentile) of PM10 nitrate mass loadings remains around 5.6 μg kg−1air, but the night-time minimum increases from 3.5 to 4.6 μg kg−1air. The sustaining of higher particulate mass loadings through the night by this process improves model skill at matching measured aerosol nitrate diurnal cycles and will negatively impact on regional air quality, requiring this process to be included in regional models.


In recent years, there has been an influx of Korean popular culture throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Korean popular culture, also known as the "Korean Wave" (Hallyu in Korean) ranges from television dramas, movies, popular music (K-pop), dance (B-boys), video game, food, fashion, tourism, and language (Hangul). The main focus of this paper is to examine the essence of the Korean Wave and its impact on the world. In particular, this paper aims to explore the relationships between the spread of the Korean Wave and political and social changes in a global perspective. That is, does the Korean Wave affect the political position and diplomatic leverage of Korea in any meaningful way? Toward this objective, this paper first examines the relevant literature of international relations for policy and culture change, especially with regards to globalization, interdependence, soft power and world value change. Then, recent developments of the Korean Wave are reviewed and critically analyzed in order to ascertain political and policy implications for Korean diplomatic and practical directives. Finally, we will draw an interpretive conclusion and recommendations toward the plausibility of the Korean Wave as a policy tool for Korea's cultural diplomacy.


Uganda's rice demand has been on an increase due to increasing population, urbanization and changing consumer preferences. The resulting effect has been increased importation of rice into the country consequently straining foreign exchange accounts. Insufficiency in the rice supply is related to the low national average yield of 1.5t/ha. New upland rice varieties that are high yielding have been introduced in the country to improve national supply, save wetlands, fight food insecurity and improve incomes of the rural poor. This study was conducted in South Western Uganda in the districts of Bushenyi and Rukungiri. It examined whether farmers were technically efficient in input use to generate the required output levels and the farm specific factors that were affecting their technical efficiency. A total of 196 respondents were randomly selected from four rice producing sub counties using a sampling frame generated by the sub county leaders. A Cobb Douglas production function was fitted to the data to generate results. Analysis was accomplished using frontier 4.1 programme. Results revealed that production of upland rice involved excessive use of labour (1136 person days/ ha) and seeds (154kg/ha) compared to the recommended rates. It was also found that technical efficiency of upland producers were below the frontier level averaging at 61% and the existing output was being achieved through land expansion. Attainment of primary five education significantly (P=0.076) improved efficiency of farmers. For farm level technical efficiency of upland rice to improve, yield improving and labour saving technologies need to be introduced notably soil enriching aspects like fertilizers. For labour saving technologies, use pre or post emergency herbicides and mechanization of the upland rice would be a better move in the right direction. Lastly promoting primary education and specialised extension services that target upland rice will improve efficiency greatly.


OBJECT
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of injury, hospitalization, and death among pediatric patients. Admission CT scans play an important role in classifying TBI and directing clinical care, but little is known about the differences in CT findings between pediatric and adult patients. The aim of this study was to determine if radiographic differences exist between adult and pediatric TBI.

METHODS
The authors retrospectively analyzed TBI registry data from 1206 consecutive patients with nonpenetrating TBI treated at a Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center over a 30-month period.

RESULTS
The distribution of sex, race, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was not significantly different between the adult and pediatric populations; however, the distribution of CT findings was significantly different. Pediatric patients with TBI were more likely to have skull fractures (OR 3.21, p < 0.01) and epidural hematomas (OR 1.96, p < 0.01). Pediatric TBI was less likely to be associated with contusion, subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or compression of the basal cisterns (p < 0.05). Rotterdam CT scores were significantly lower in the pediatric population (2.3 vs 2.6, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
There are significant differences in the CT findings in pediatric versus adult TBI, despite statistical similarities with regard to clinical severity of injury as measured by the GCS. These differences may be due to anatomical characteristics, the biomechanics of injury, and/or differences in injury mechanisms between pediatric and adult patients. The unique characteristics of pediatric TBI warrant consideration when formulating a clinical trial design or predicting functional outcome using prognostic models developed from adult TBI data.


After decades of offshoring production across the world, companies are rethinking their global networks. Local sourcing is receiving more attention, but it remains challenging to balance the offshore sourcing cost advantage against the increased inventories due to its longer leadtime, and against the cost and (volume-)flexibility of each source's capacity. To guide strategic allocation in this global network decision, this paper establishes reasonably simple prescriptions that capture the key drivers. We adopt a conventional discrete-time inventory model with a linear control rule that smoothes orders and allows an exact and analytically-tractable analysis of single and dual sourcing policies under normal demand. Distinguishing features of our model are that it captures each source's leadtime, capacity cost and flexibility to work overtime. We use Lagrange's inversion theorem to provide exact and simple square-root bound formulae for the strategic sourcing allocations and the value of dual sourcing. The formulae provide structural insight on the impact of financial, operational and demand parameters, and a starting point for quantitative decision making. We investigate the robustness of our results by comparing the smoothing policy with existing single and dual sourcing models in a simulation study that relaxes model assumptions.


Background/Context While different instructional approaches have been proposed to integrate academic content and English proficiency for English language learning (ELL) students, studies examining the magnitude of the relationship are non-existent. This study examined the relationship between the "form" (i.e., conventions, organization, and style/voice) and "content" (i.e., specific knowledge and understanding of science) of expository science writing among third grade ELL students in the beginning and at the end of each year during the three-year implementation of the intervention. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study The study is part of a larger five-year research and development project aimed at improving science and literacy achievement of ELL students in urban elementary schools in a large school district. Research Design The intervention was comprised of curriculum units for students and teachers and professional development workshops for teachers throughout the school year. As a school-wide initiative, all third grade teachers and their students from six treatment schools participated. The study involved 683 third graders during the first year, 661 third graders during the second year, and 676 third graders during the third year. Approximately half of the students were Hispanic and the other half were Black, including Haitians and Caribbean Islanders. A writing sample was used as a measure of English proficiency and ability to explain science concepts in writing. At the beginning and end of each school year, teachers administered the writing prompt to their students. Data were analyzed using a hierarchical linear modeling approach. Findings/Results The results indicated significant relationships between writing form and content at both pretest and posttest, with a stronger relationship at posttest. The effect of English proficiency on the magnitude of the relationship was significant only at posttest, for which the relationship was stronger for non-ELL students. The results suggest that through our intervention over the course of the school year, students with greater English proficiency learned science content and developed English literacy simultaneously, whereas students with lower English proficiency did not show this simultaneous growth to the same degree. Conclusions Thus, interventions such as ours, which primarily present science curriculum and instruction in English, might be expected to have limited positive effects for ELL students at the beginning and intermediate levels of English proficiency. The results point out potential conflicts in current educational policies, including high-stakes testing and accountability and English-only policies, which affect ELL students.


This paper sees countertrade as a means by which the PCPEs (previously centrally planned economies) and LDCs extract some of the monopoly profits from firms in OECD countries to subsidize their exports. Viewed in this way, countertrade is an exchange of market entry for marketing assistance in which the PCPEs and LDCs effectively shift the terms of trade in their favour. Based on a new sample of 230 countertrade contracts, which have been signed between firms in OECD countries and PCPEs and LDCs in the period between 1984 and 1988, the paper estimates the likelihood of such terms-of-trade change as a function of the market power of OECD firms, the extent to which goods offered by the PCPEs/LDCs in the contract reflect comparative advantage, and the information available in the bargaining over the terms of the contract. The data are consistent with the view that countertrade is used by the PCPEs/LDCs as a vehicle to reduce the effective price of their imports. Since it is equivalent to an import tax cum export subsidy in the presence of foreign market power, countertrade raises the welfare of the PCPEs/LDCs by allowing them to recapture some of the monopoly rents the OECD firms are extracting from their consumers in PCPEs/LDCs.


The Sznajd model (SM) is a one-dimensional voter-like model used to study consensus in systems where information flows outward from like-minded neighboring agents. Here, we introduce long-range interactions to the SM via the parameter p, where p→1 is the mean-field limit (MFL) and p→0 the one-dimensional limit (1DL). Using Monte Carlo simulations and finite size scaling analyses to characterize the exit probability for p > 0, we find a step function reliant on two p-dependent exponents. By examining the exponents' behavior in the 1DL, we comment on the functional form of the exit probability in one dimension—its nature has been an open question. Complimenting this limiting approach, we also simulate the 1D case via two parallelization techniques (task-level and data-level). Finally, we investigate the quantitative nature of consensus time and system magnetization across the p-spectrum. We find that one of the exponents grows rapidly in the 1DL, its behavior suggesting divergence in this limit; the other stays approximately constant, although more low-p runs are needed to verify both values. Combined, these two exponents give rise to a functional form that well approximates a sigmoidal polynomial that almost exactly fits the original SM simulation results. We also find that consensus time at fixed system size is proportional to p. In testing the parallel code, we find that the task-level parallelism approach generates a speedup nearly equal to the number of processors applied; conversely, the data-level parallelism approach results tentatively suggest a superlinear speedup for constant system size.


What facts are public and what facts are private? It is the fundamental, first-principles question in privacy law, and a necessary element in the two most important privacy torts, public disclosure of private facts and intrusion upon seclusion. Yet the American courts lack a coherent, consistent methodology for determining whether an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy in a particular fact that he has shared with one or more persons. Some courts hold that when an individual discloses a sensitive fact about himself to a handful of co-workers, friends, relatives, or strangers, this disclosure renders the fact in question sufficiently public to deprive him of a tort cause of action when that fact is subsequently widely disseminated or obtained by a third party using improper means. Other courts hold that an individual can share such a fact with dozens, or even hundreds of people, and still retain a cause of action under privacy tort law. So how much disclosure is enough to transform a private fact into a public fact? This paper argues that insights from the literature on social networks and information dissemination can help provide courts with satisfying answers to these central questions in privacy law. The social networks literature has generated theoretical and empirical insights about the probability that information disclosed to one member of a community will ultimately become known by a large segment of the community. Using these insights, courts can gauge whether the plaintiff's previously private information would have been widely disseminated regardless of the defendant's actions in a particular case. If so, the information in question was public, and if not, the tort law ought to deem the information as private. This paper argues that such an approach, which treats the privacy question as an empirical one, is more attractive than any other method of establishing whether the plaintiff had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the information at issue. The literature on social networks and information dissemination has wide applications beyond privacy tort law, but has found its way into little legal scholarship. Legal scholars interested in Fourth Amendment law, trade secrets, patent law, constitutional privacy, defamation, and other fields might find the paper's survey of social networks theory useful and provocative.


The health of coastal human communities and marine ecosystems are at risk from a host of anthropogenic stressors, in particular, climate change. Because ecological health and human well-being are inextricably connected, effective and positive responses to current risks require multidisciplinary solutions. Yet, the complexity of coupled social–ecological systems has left many potential solutions unidentified or insufficiently explored. The urgent need to achieve positive social and ecological outcomes across local and global scales necessitates rapid and targeted multidisciplinary research to identify solutions that have the greatest chance of promoting benefits for both people and nature. To address these challenges, we conducted a forecasting exercise with a diverse, multidisciplinary team to identify priority research questions needed to promote sustainable and just marine social–ecological systems now and into the future, within the context of climate change and population growth. In contrast to the traditional reactive cycle of science and management, we aimed to generate questions that focus on what we need to know, before we need to know it. Participants were presented with the question, "If we were managing oceans in 2050 and looking back, what research, primary or synthetic, would wish we had invested in today?" We first identified major social and ecological events over the past 60 years that shaped current human relationships with coasts and oceans. We then used a modified Delphi approach to identify nine priority research areas and 46 questions focused on increasing sustainability and well-being in marine social–ecological systems. The research areas we identified include relationships between ecological and human health, access to resources, equity, governance, economics, resilience, and technology. Most questions require increased collaboration across traditionally distinct disciplines and sectors for successful study and implementation. By identifying these questions, we hope to facilitate the discourse, research, and policies needed to rapidly promote healthy marine ecosystems and the human communities that depend upon them.


Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum) IMI 507027 as a technological additive for all animal species. The additive is intended to improve the production of silage at a proposed application rate of 1 × 109 colony forming units (CFU)/kg fresh material. The bacterial species L. plantarum is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach. As the identity of the strain has been established and no antimicrobial resistance determinants of concern were detected, the use of the strain as a silage additive is considered safe for livestock species, for consumers and for the environment. In the absence of data, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the potential of the additive to be a skin/eye irritant or a skin sensitiser. Given the proteinaceous nature of the active agent, the additive should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. The additive at the proposed application rate of 1 × 109 CFU/kg fresh material has the potential to improve the fermentation of the silages from easy to moderately difficult to ensile forages.


Abstract Despite the rapid growth of other types of social media, Internet discussion forums remain a highly popular communication channel and a useful source of text data for analyzing user interests and sentiments. Being suited to richer, deeper, and longer discussions than microblogging services, they particularly well reflect topics of long-term, persisting involvement and areas of specialized knowledge or experience. Discovering and characterizing such topics and areas by text mining algorithms is therefore an interesting and useful research direction. This work presents a case study in which selected classification algorithms are applied to posts from a Polish discussion forum devoted to psychoactive substances received from home-grown plants, such as hashish or marijuana. The utility of two different vector text representations is examined: the simple bag of words representation and the more refined embedded global vectors one. While the former is found to work well for the multinomial naive Bayes algorithm, the latter turns out more useful for other classification algorithms: logistic regression, SVMs, and random forests. The obtained results suggest that post-classification can be applied for measuring publication intensity of particular topics and, in the case of forums related to psychoactive substances, for monitoring the risk of drug-related crime.


Streptomyces are multicellular bacteria that grow as branched filaments and are best known for producing the majority of our antibiotics, many immunosuppressant and anticancer compounds. Unfortunately their multicellular life style creates many problems for efficient industrial production. In a bioreactor, depending on the environment and the genetics, it can grow quickly as dispersed mycelia or aggregate in slow growing pellets. Either morphology has advantages and disadvantages, which can be product specific.
 For my thesis I studied the mechanism by which these filaments can aggregate into dense pellets. I found a small gene cluster that produces poly-1,6-N-acetylglucosamine, a bacterial glue which binds neighboring cells and required for pellet formation in S. coelicolor. Subsequently we can use these genes to control the morphology of streptomycetes in a liquid environment, tailoring it for production.
 My work has given us new insights in the mechanims through which streptomycetes aggregate, but also has the potential to make streptomycetes a more favorable host for industial production.


The fusion of voice and data applications, along with the demand for high data-rate applications such as video-on-demand, is making radio frequency (RF) spectrum an increasingly expensive commodity for current and future communications. Although bandwidth-efficient digital modulation alleviates part of the problem by requiring a minimal use of spectral resources, they put an extra design burden on RF engineers. RF transmitters and power amplifiers account for more than half the total maintenance cost of a base-station, and occupy nearly the same portion of space. Therefore, power amplifiers become a bottleneck for digital systems in terms of space and power consumption. However, power-efficient use of the amplifiers, although desirable, is extremely detrimental to end-to-end performance due to the very high peak-to-average power ratios of modulations that are used today. In order to reduce distortion while maintaining high power conversion efficiency in a power amplifier, linearization schemes are needed. In addition, significant frequency-dependent Memory Effects result in high power amplifiers operating on wideband signals. Therefore, these effects need to be considered during any attempt to minimize amplifier distortion. In this thesis, we present two schemes to cancel nonlinear distortion of a power amplifier, along with its memory effects and results for one of the schemes. The results highlight the fact that in the presence of significant memory effects, cancellation of these effects is necessary to achieve reasonable improvement in performance through linearization. We focus on predistortive schemes due to their digital-friendly structure and simple implementation. The operating environment consists of a multi-carrier W-CDMA signal. All of the studies are performed using numerical simulation on MATLAB and Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS).


Building on Resource Based View theory, we investigate the complementary effect between ERP and e-business technologies, and the impact of such effect on business performance. Different from previous studies that assume ERP and ebusiness technologies have direct effects on firm performance, this study argues that it is the complementarily use of the two IT resources to build integration capabilities that is more likely to create business value. We use a sample of 150 U.S. manufacturing firms and two different approaches to measure the complimentary effect. We present new empirical evidence that the complementary effect between ERP and e-business technologies in creating business value is stronger than the main effects of ERP or e-business technologies alone. Accordingly, firms should utilize and deploy ERP and e-business technologies in a mutually reinforcing manner by building both system integration and business process integration capability.


Although the septic tank is the most applied on-site system for wastewater pre-treatment, limited research has been performed to determine sludge accumulation and biogas production in the tank. Therefore a dynamic mathematical model based on the Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) was developed for anaerobic digestion of the accumulated sludge in a septic tank treating domestic wastewater or black water. The results showed that influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the tank mainly control the filling time with sludge, while operational temperature governs characteristics of the accumulated sludge and conversion to methane. For obtaining stable sludge and high conversion, the tank needs to be operated for a period more than a year without sludge wasting. Maximum conversion to methane in the tank is about 50 and 60% for domestic wastewater and black water, respectively. The required period for sludge wasting depends on the influent COD concentration and the HRT, while characteristics of the wasted sludge are affected by operational temperature followed by the influent COD concentration and the HRT. Sludge production from the tank ranges between 0.19 to 0.22 and 0.13 to 0.15 L/(person.d), for the domestic wastewater and black water, respectively.


Abstract. We analyzed the ability of the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean – Phase II (ECCO2) reanalysis to represent the hydrographic properties and variability of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) in the Southern Ocean. We used a 20-year (1992–2011) observational database to perform comparisons of hydrographic properties and reanalysis output for the same time period. Four case studies based on current meter data and the AABW volume transport estimates previously reported in the literature were also evaluated. The opening and maintenance of an oceanic polynya in the Weddell Sea sector is observed after 2004 in the reanalysis product. Moreover, intense deep water production due to deep convection occurs, which leads to a scenario in which the Weddell Sea is flooded with AABW. For this reason, our analyses focused on the period that was identified as more reliable (1992–2004). The main Southern Ocean oceanographic features, as well as the characteristic shape of the regional potential temperature–salinity (θ–S) diagrams, are coincident with observations. However, the reanalysis output produces surface waters that are generally denser than observations due to the reproduction of waters that are generally saltier than expected, which probably resulted from the strong seasonality of sea ice concentrations. Bottom waters are warmer and less dense, while intermediate waters are statistically closest to the observations. The differences in bottom water properties are partially due to the inability of the reanalysis to properly reproduce the formation and export of dense waters from the shelf and the consequent absence of the densest AABW variety for most of the analyzed period. Despite differences in the absolute values, the upper AABW limit (γn ≥ 28.27 kg m−3) and AABW occupied area estimates are coincident with the observations in the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) repeat sections SR2 and SR4. Moreover, the AABW volume export and current velocity variability are correlated with the observed time series in the most important region of dense water export (i.e., the Weddell Sea). Despite the consistency in terms of variability, the absolute volume transport and velocity estimates are underrepresented in all cases.


UNLABELLED
Hitherto, noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) of teeth have been generally ascribed to either toothbrush-dentifrice abrasion or acid "erosion." The last two decades have provided a plethora of new studies concerning such lesions. The most significant studies are reviewed and integrated into a practical approach to the understanding and designation of these lesions. A paradigm shift is suggested regarding use of the term "biocorrosion" to supplant "erosion" as it continues to be misused in the United States and many other countries of the world. Biocorrosion embraces the chemical, biochemical, and electrochemical degradation of tooth substance caused by endogenous and exogenous acids, proteolytic agents, as well as the piezoelectric effects only on dentin. Abfraction, representing the microstructural loss of tooth substance in areas of stress concentration, should not be used to designate all NCCLs because these lesions are commonly multifactorial in origin. Appropriate designation of a particular NCCL depends upon the interplay of the specific combination of three major mechanisms: stress, friction, and biocorrosion, unique to that individual case. Modifying factors, such as saliva, tongue action, and tooth form, composition, microstructure, mobility, and positional prominence are elucidated.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
By performing a comprehensive medical and dental history, using precise terms and concepts, and utilizing the Revised Schema of Pathodynamic Mechanisms, the dentist may successfully identify and treat the etiology of root surface lesions. Preventive measures may be instituted if the causative factors are detected and their modifying factors are considered.


Background hypertrophic Cardiomayopathy is an inherited heart muscle disease with considerable heterogeneity at genetic and phenotypic levels and poor correlation between genotype and phenotype. Next generation sequencing could help in addressing this problem. Subjects and Methods The present study involved 144 unrelated consecutive index HCM patients enrolled in the BA HCM National Program in Egypt subjected to large scale high throughput targeted next generation of coding and exon flanking regions of over 100 genes involved in inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) including genes with a known role in HCM (Illumina HiSeq) Results Putative pathogenic variants were detected in 67 samples (67/144, 46%), mostly found in sarcomeric genes in the order of: MYBPC3 (38.8%), followed by MYH7 (33%), MYL3 (9%), TNNT2 (4.5%), TNNI3 (in 2 samples). TNNC1, MYLK2 and TPM1, ACTN2, TCAP, PLN, ACTN2, MYH6 showed a potentially pathogenic in 1 patient, each. Validation was performed by Sanger sequencing. Twenty six variants were novel (26/144, 18%) and were not found in any of the control series and by in silico analysis were scored as potentially pathogenic, hence were considered as variants of unknown significance and should be tested for coseggregation. An approximate of 10% (14/144) of the samples revealed likely pathogenic variants in genes not commonly known to be linked to HCM. Complex heterozygosity involving sarcomeric and non sarcomeric genes particularly ion channel genes was observed in almost a quarter of the samples in the present cohort (35/144, 24%), and homozygousity was found in nine patients(9/67, 9%). This could provide an explanation to the heterogeneity of the phenotype observed amongst different members within the same family and among unrelated patients having the same sarcomeric mutation. The studied cohort involved six HCM phenocopies 3 had mutations in PTPN11 and two cases had novel possibly pathogenic variants in RAF1. One Fabry case with a reported pathogenic mutation in GLA gene. Conclusion High throughput NGS has enabled detection of possibly/likely pathogenic variants in over 60% of samples studied. The detection of homozygous patients and complex heterozygosity in almost a quarter of the HCM patients provides a possible explanation to the phenotype heterogeneity observed in HCM.


Henrico County, Virginia (The County) utilizes multiple chemical technologies in the sewage collection system in order to control hydrogen sulfide concentrations at key points within the system. The county has strict compliance limits for hydrogen sulfide and was facing growing costs, spending in excess of $1.8 million dollars in 2010. The county decided to utilize programmable chemical dosing controllers and real-time hydrogen sulfide reporting to manage its odor control program costs. Evoqua Water Technologies installed programmable advanced dosing controllers at 14 dosing sites, and deployed cellular-modem enabled hydrogen sulfide data loggers at 11 compliance points. The primary objective of the hydrogen sulfide control program was to control hydrogen sulfide to compliance limits while reducing program costs. This paper reviews the effectiveness of the program against these primary and other secondary objectives.


When Iain Kerr, CEO of the Ocean Alliance, a whale and ocean conservation group in Gloucester, MA, USA, went on a voyage to collect data on the effects of contaminants on whales, he took a crossbow with him. Sitting at the boom of his group's research vessel The Odyssey, a 29‐meter steel hulled ketch, Kerr shot darts into the flanks of blue whales. The darts collected biopsy samples weighing a few grams from an 18‐meter and 70‐ton blue whale. Kerr and his colleagues used the tissue samples to look for contaminants and to build a database of whale DNA to determine family relationships and track populations.

> The advent of the drone for conservation and research is akin to the invention of the microscope for cellular biologists.

Biopsy darts are old and busted. Kerr is now testing a newer, noninvasive tool to track whales: drones. "People have done this in expensive airplanes and expensive helicopters. But then you're always stressed out because you're ripping up hundred dollar bills and risking your life", he said. But Kerr was struck with the idea of using drones to collect DNA and microbiota from the blow, the slimy collection of mucus, water, and cells spurting through the blowhole at the top of a cetacean's head through which the animals breathe air. From 20 meters away, he would be drenched with smelly mucus from the whales' blow. "I thought there had to be a better way. Why not collect the biomass from the blow?" he said.

Kerr and his team now send drones aloft to swoop at about 3.5 meters through the blue whale's blow, which reaches up to 10 meters into the air (Fig 1). "I was recently hovering above a blue whale, the largest animal that has ever lived on this planet. The drone …


BACKGROUND
Patient satisfaction metrics are emerging as determinants of quality of care and reimbursement after spine surgery. Identifying modifiable factors that improve satisfaction is of utmost importance.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether patient-related factors or patient-reported outcomes could predict dissatisfaction after spine surgery.

METHODS
Patients undergoing elective surgery for degenerative lumbar and cervical disease over a period of 2 years were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal registry. Patient-reported outcome, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)/Neck Disability Index (NDI), and numeric rating scale for back/neck (BP/NP) and leg/arm pain (LP/AP), were recorded at baseline and the 12-month follow-up. Previously published values of minimal clinically important differences of 14.9% for ODI, 17.3% for NDI, 2.1/2.6 for BP/NP, and 2.8/4.1 for LP/AP were used. Patient satisfaction was assessed with the North American Spine Society Satisfaction Questionnaire.

RESULTS
A total of 1645 patients underwent elective spine surgery (811 male patients; age, 57 ± 13 years). Eighty-three percent of patients (1362) reported satisfaction with outcome 12 months after surgery. In a multivariable analysis, after controlling for an array of patient-specific factors, the inability to achieve minimal clinically important difference for ODI/NDI (P < .001; odds ratio [OR] = 4.215; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7-6.5), BP/NP pain (P < .001; OR = 3.1; 95% CI, 2.188-4.43), and LP/NP (P < .001; OR = 2.6, 95% CI, 1.8-3.6); Medicaid/uninsured payer status (P = .04; OR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.01-1.93); and higher baseline ODI/NDI (P = .002; OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.19) and BP/NP scores (P = .002; OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06) were the independent predictors of patient dissatisfaction at 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION
Patient satisfaction with outcome may accurately represent the effectiveness of surgical spine care in terms of 1-year improvement in pain and disability. However, healthcare stakeholders relying on satisfaction as a proxy of overall quality or effectiveness of care need to account for Medicaid/uninsured payer status and worse baseline pain and disability scores as confounders.


At the Anniversary meeting the Annual Report was delivered covering topics such as Research grants, events, the activities of the Society and publications. The Treasurer also presented the Society's Financial Review. A list of newly elected Fellows was read, and a list of deceased Fellows from 2010-2011 is included. New members of Council were then elected and the Presidential Address was delivered by Barbara Crawford.


Abstract Kyphosis, a congenital humpback condition of the spinal column, has been reported across a broad range of chelonian taxa. These reports are often of single observations and lack background information about the history of the animal(s) involved. A kyphotic female midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) reported herein is a member of a long-term mark–recapture study in Algonquin Park (Ontario, Canada), providing a unique opportunity to document life-history characters of a kyphotic turtle over 18 yrs and draw comparisons to other members of her cohort and population. Despite her spinal deformity, the somatic growth, body size, age at sexual maturity, and reproduction of the kyphotic female have been similar to those of nonkyphotic females in our long-term study population, suggesting that the condition has not compromised her fitness.


BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy with high dose methotrexate is the mainstay of treatment for Burkitt lymphoma (BL), especially to manage central nervous system (CNS) disease. However, methotrexate administration requires close drug level monitoring for appropriate folinic acid rescue, which might not be readily available in all centers. In this study, we assessed the long-term treatment outcomes of a modified Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)-Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) 90 regimen in pediatric high-risk BL without CNS involvement.

METHODS
Between 1999 and 2011, 42 patients (median age: 7 years) with advanced-stage BL were treated with modified NHL-BFM 90 regimen (methotrexate at a dose of 1 g/m2). Demographic data, stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and treatment results were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were assessed for toxicity, survival and CNS recurrence.

RESULTS
Thirty-six patients had Stage III and six had Stage IV disease, respectively. The median LDH level was 1,432 IU/L. Four patients died of infectious and metabolic complications. One patient had local recurrence at the 48 < sup > th < /sup > month of the follow-up and he is in the second remission for 72 months. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the overall survival and event-free survival rates at 10 years were found as 90 % and 88 %, respectively. None of our patients died of treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS
The administration of the reduced dose of methotrexate seems to not compromise treatment success nor increase the risk of CNS recurrence in high-risk BL without CNS involvement. The limitation of the study is that it is not randomized. Our treatment scheme might be considered for centers without methotrexate measurement facility.


Ellis v. Carucci represents an evolution in Nevada's child custody laws that should continue. Before Ellis, Nevada courts modified custody arrangements without explicitly considering the best interests of the child. Ellis cemented the legislative intent behind Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) § 125.480 to make the child's best interest the focus of the judge's decision in custody cases. However, Ellis and NRS §125.480 are not enough to accomplish this overarching goal. The Nevada legislature should revise NRS § 125.480 so that the statute explicitly recognizes the instability and adjustments that children of divorce must endure. The statute should also be revised to identify factors that are not appropriate for consideration under the best interests standard and to provide for the possible use of a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Part I of this Note describes the historical development of Nevada's child custody laws, from the early law in child custody to the contemporary law and the Ellis decision. Part II explains the principal case, Ellis v. Carucci. Part III analyzes the Nevada Supreme Court's decision in Ellis v. Carucci. Part IV proposes a revision of NRS § 125.480. Part V analyzes the probable effects of the revisions suggested in Part IV. Finally, Part VI concludes the note suggesting that courts must analyze additional issues to properly focus on the child's best interest in a custody modification decision.


Over the last fifteen years London and Barcelona have epitomised the story of the 'resurgent city' but now face a set of challenges without easy answers. BCN_LDN 2020 brings together a range of essays that acknowledge the achievements of recent policy making, but provide a critical reflection on the success stories that we hear from both cities and explore directions for future urban politics.


Decentralization of education has been a recurrent policy debate in many countries. In 1989, the Swedish Parliament decided to transfer the political and economic responsibility for primary and secondary education from the state (the national level) to the municipalities. The reform, implemented in 1991/1992, increased the size of the Swedish municipal sector by one-fifth, making the reform one of the most sweeping in Swedish history. Despite broad support for the reform in Parliament, the process was slow, and deliberations continued for twenty years before the final decision was made. To understand the microprocesses underlying this decision and the slowness of the process itself, we refer to insights from behavioral economics. In addition to the empirical contribution, we show how behavioral economics can be used to improve historical analysis of decision-making processes. The article is based on studies of public records and on a unique set of interviews with key advisers and top-level decision makers, including the prime minister, which allow us not only to describe the process thoroughly but also to analyze it in the broader context of the Swedish welfare state .


The reconstruction of 3D points from two view camera images has found several applications in various fields of engineering, science and architecture today. Many of these fields are involved in the generation of 3D models using diverse technology in 3D reconstruction. In geomatics, estimating 2D or 3D locations can be made through direct or indirect measurement. Direct measurements involve laser technology (e.g. total stations), satellite positioning and terrestrial laser scanning. Indirect methods, on the other hand, involve remote sensing, aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry. In delineating parcel boundaries, direct measurements with total stations and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are used in field operations. Although these have been quite stable with satisfactory results, the cost of operations is still relatively higher compared to indirect measurements, especially in larger areas of coverage. This study investigated the feasibility of using close-range photogrammetry thru uncalibrated image pairs for fast acquisition of target locations. The general algorithm will derive the fundamental matrix, generate the camera matrices, triangulate the projective 3D positions and finally transform these points to their metric ground 3D positions using Ground Control Points (GCP). The extracted northing (y-coordinates) and easting (x-coordinates) of the parcel's corners were compared to coordinates derived from total stations. These showed an error vector of up to 10 cm. Results also revealed that the required accuracy for tertiary survey can be achieved around 30 percent distance from the image center. Beyond this, the positional error increases, making this method unsuitable for boundary delineation. The RMSE of this set of points was 0.0758 m or 7.58 cm. Keywords: Close Range Photogrammetry, Computer Vision, 3D Reconstruction, Direct Linear Transformation


In this volume, international experts in negation provide a comprehensive overview of cross-linguistic and philosophical research in the field, as well as accounts of more recent results from experimental linguistics, psycholinguistics, and neuroscience. The volume adopts an interdisciplinary approach to fundamental questions ranging from why negation displays so many distinct linguistic forms to how prosody and gesture participate in the interpretation of negative utterances. Following an introduction from the editors, the chapters are arranged in eight parts that explore, respectively, the fundamentals of negation; issues in syntax; the syntax–semantics interface; semantics and pragmatics; negative dependencies; synchronic and diachronic variation; the emergence and acquisition of negation; and experimental investigations of negation. The volume will be an essential reference for students and researchers across a wide range of disciplines, and will facilitate further interdisciplinary work in the field.


Robust Estimation and Testing Robert G. Staudte 2011-09-15 An introduction to the theory and methods of robust statistics, providing students with practical methods for carrying out robust procedures in a variety of statistical contexts and explaining the advantages of these procedures. In addition, the text develops techniques and concepts likely to be useful in the future analysis of new statistical models and procedures. Emphasizing the concepts of breakdown point and influence functon of an estimator, it demonstrates the technique of expressing an estimator as a descriptive measure from which its influence function can be derived and then used to explore the efficiency and robustness properties of the estimator. Mathematical techniques are complemented by computational algorithms and Minitab macros for finding bootstrap and influence function estimates of standard errors of the estimators, robust confidence intervals, robust regression estimates and their standard errors. Includes examples and problems.


Individual dosimetry for exposure to beta particles in radiation protection deals essentially with the dosimetry of skin, i.e. the directional and individual dose equivalents at 0.07 mm depth for weakly penetrating radiation as indicated by the publications of ICRU and the ISO 6980. This article describes the procedure used to establish the primary standard in terms of absorbed dose to tissue of LNE-LNHB.


Naturally occurring fallout 210 Pb is strongly adsorbed by soils and sediments and has been widely used as a tracer to establish the chronology of deposited sediments in various sedimentary environments. This paper reports an attempt to explore the potential for using fallout 210 Pb to estimate rates of water-induced soil erosion on cultivated land. Soil cores were collected from both cultivated and undisturbed areas in a small catchment in Devon, UK, and land use practices were shown to be the primary factor controlling the depth distribution of fallout 210 Pb. Based on existing knowledge of the behavior of 210 Pb in cultivated soils, a mass balance model has been developed that enables longer-term (100 yr) rates of erosion and deposition to be estimated from values of unsupported 210 Pb inventory for individual sampling points. In order to estimate longer-term soil redistribution rates, the mass balance model was applied to an 8.54-ha cultivated field within the study catchment from which 167 bulk cores had been collected at the intersections of a 20 by 20 m grid. Soil redistribution rates within the field ranged from -5.9 kg m -2 yr -1 (erosion) to 6.4 kg m -2 yr - (deposition), and the mean erosion rate for the eroding area was 1.95 kg m -2 yr -1 . The pattern of soil redistribution within the study field reflected the influence of topography on sediment mobilization and transport. The results obtained confirm the potential for using fallout 210 Pb measurements to estimate rates and patterns of water-induced soil erosion on cultivated land.


This dissertation presents an experimental and analytical study of the Vision Based Navigation system (VisNav). VisNav is a novel intelligent optical sensor system invented by Texas A&M University recently for autonomous proximity operations. This dissertation is focused on system calibration techniques and navigation algorithms. This dissertation is composed of four parts. First, the fundamental hardware and software design configuration of the VisNav system is introduced. Second, system calibration techniques are discussed that should enable an accurate VisNav system application, as well as characterization of errors. Third, a new six degree-of-freedom navigation algorithm based on the Gaussian Least Squares Differential Correction is presented that provides a geometrical best position and attitude estimates through batch iterations. Finally, a dynamic state estimation algorithm utilizing the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is developed that recursively estimates position, attitude, linear velocities, and angular rates. Moreover, an approach for integration of VisNav measurements with those made by an Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU) is derived. This novel VisNav/IMU integration technique is shown to significantly improve the navigation accuracy and guarantee the robustness of the navigation system in the event of occasional dropout of VisNav data.


Poor pharmacokinetics, side effects and compound toxicity are frequent causes of late-stage failures in drug development. A safe in silico identification of adverse effects triggered by drugs and chemicals would therefore be highly desirable as it not only bears economical potential but also spawns a variety of ecological benefits: sustainable resource management, reduction of animal models and possibly less risky clinical trials as in silico studies are typically based on human proteins. In the recent past, our laboratory has developed a 6D-QSAR concept and validated a series of "virtual test kits" based on the aryl hydrocarbon, estrogen, androgen, thyroid, and glucocorticoid receptor as well as on the enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4. The test kits were trained using a representative selection of 610 substances and validated with 188 compounds different therefrom. These models were subsequently compiled into a database for the virtual screening of drugs and environmental chemicals. In this account, we report the validation of a model for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma). Its receptor surrogate is based on the experimental structure of the protein and 95 tyrosine-based compounds. The simulation reached a cross-validated r(2)=0.832 (75 training ligands) and yielded a predictive r(2)=0.723 (20 test compounds). The model was challenged by a series of scramble tests as well as with the prediction of a few structurally different compounds.


The biographies collected in this volume bring together Plutarch's Lives of those great men who established the city of Rome and consolidated its supremacy, and his Comparisons with their notable Greek counterparts. Here he pairs Romulus, mythical founder of Rome, with Theseus, who brought Athens to power, and compares the admirable Numa and Lycurgus for bringing order to their communities, while Titus Flamininus and Philopoemen are portrayed as champions of freedom. As well as providing an illuminating picture of the first century AD, Plutarch depicts complex and nuanced heroes who display the essential virtues of Greek civilization - courage, patriotism, justice, intelligence and reason - that contributed to the rise of Rome. These new and revised translations by W. Jeffrey Tatum and Ian Scott-Kilvert capture Plutarch's elegant prose and narrative flair. This edition also includes a general introduction, individual introductions to each of the Lives and Comparisons, further reading and notes. The "Rise of Rome" is the penultimate title in "Penguin Classics" complete revised Plutarch in six volumes. Other titles include "Rome In Crisis", "On Sparta", "Fall of the Roman Republic", "The Age of Alexander" and "The Rise and Fall of Athens" (forthcoming 2014).


So much has been spoken and written about the original Kirklees Warm Zone Project (2007-2010) that it is hard to separate fact from fiction. Yet the Kirklees model is increasingly invoked as an example of best practice for local authorities to follow in tackling fuel poverty. The Kirklees Warm Zone Project team have written many accounts – technical, financial, and householder-focused – that offer valuable insights into how the Project was run. Keyworkers also have valuable collective memories, some of which remains undocumented.In February 2011, having read many of the written accounts, researchers from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland spent time with the 3 Key Officers who managed the Kirklees Project from its earliest inception. Sections 1 and 3 of this report distil some of their comments and reflections. Section 2 presents a formal cost-benefit analysis of the project and its estimated impacts on the well-being of Kirklees residents.


A transparent artificial cornea derived from biological material is the ultimate goal of corneal research. Attempts at artificial corneal constructs produced from synthetic polymers have proved unsuccessful due to lack of biocompatibility and ability to integrate into the tissue. We have designed a corneal model derived from collagenous biological materials that has several advantages: it has low antigenicity and therefore small chance of eliciting an immune reaction, it can be broken down by the body's own cells and gradually replaced over time by natural materials, and it may contain signaling information for native cells, thereby inducing normal phenotype and behavior. In addition, a transparent corneal model has the potential to be used for testing of novel ophthalmic drugs or gene therapy approaches, eliminating the need for animal testing. We have used an optical coherence microscope (OCM) to evaluate both the structure of our tissue constructs over time in culture and the optical properties of the tissue itself. This imaging technique promises to be an important diagnostic tool in our efforts to understand the influence of mechanical forces, cell phenotype, and soluble factors on the transparency of corneal tissue.


At present, WOUGNET operates online, so that most members are based in Kampala where it is relatively easy to gain Internet access. For members in rural areas who lack Internet access, WOUGNET puts them in contact with women who do have access and are willing to serve as ´information conduits´.

WOUGNET´s programmes and activities include:

a mailing list via which women and women´s organisations can exchange and disseminate information;
a website profiling women´s organisations and their activities.
a monthly Update Newsletter highlighting the activities of women´s organisations throughout Uganda;
a ´TechTips´ programme to address members´ queries related to computers or IT; and
a website design programme.
Feedback from members reveals that the information shared and exchanged has benefited their projects and/or research programmes. In achieving its goals, however, WOUGNET faces a number of challenges:

increasing its outreach to women living outside Kampala;
obtaining information (content) that is relevant to members´ needs;
raising awareness about the potential of ICTs as effective tools for information exchange and dissemination;
providing hands-on demonstrations and training in the use of ICTs;
offering opportunities for members to meet face-to-face in addition to online networking; and
improving its own institutional capacity to support its programmes.
The Ugandan government recognizes that timely and relevant information will contribute to national development plans such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) and the Plan for the Modernization of Agriculture (PMA). However, the bulk of Uganda´s communications infrastructure is restricted to urban areas, and is accessible to only a small proportion of the population. WOUGNET therefore aims to enable rural women to access information on food production and disease prevention, and to encourage them to participate in local initiatives.

WOUGNET members have launched several programmes to improve information access for rural women, either directly or via intermediaries. For example,

Women´s groups of the ALFA Ministries are working in partnership with six organisations in Mpigi District to promote rural community development projects focusing on improving the lives of women. ALFA Ministries runs a rural information centre, which uses a mobile phone to access the net.
The Women´s Information Resource Electronic Service (WIRES) of the Council for the Economic Empowerment of Women in Africa is a web-based resource centre providing business information for women. WIRES aims to sensitize rural women about ICTs using community leaders and individuals who are knowledgeable about ICTs as role models. WIRES advertises its services using posters and mobile video shows, and offers ICT demonstrations and training sessions.
Nakaseke Women´s Development Association (NAWODA) runs a multipurpose community telecentre that includes a library, computers and audio-visual equipment. Its members share ideas for earning money, and information on diseases and treatment. Its members are pioneer users of the CD-ROM ´Rural Women in Africa: Ideas for Earning Money´, which was designed to be accessible to users with limited reading skills, and is available in the local language (Luganda) and in English.
Radio Apac, a community radio station, broadcasts programmes for women on peace and conflict, good farming practices, HIV/AIDS, etc.
In support of its activities, WOUGNET has launched a pilot programme to make available WorldSpace satellite radio equipment to members. It recently hosted an online conference on ´Information Access for Rural Women´ to facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences. WOUGNET is a key online source of information about NAWODA, and obtained a copy of the English version of the CD-ROM for use by Radio Apac´s women´s desk. A Luo version of the CD-ROM will soon be available.
WOUGNET is committed to sharing experiences and lessons learned with stakeholders in rural development and women´s empowerment. For further information, visit WOUGNET´s website at www.wougnet.org.

About the author:
Dorothy K. Okello (email@example.com) is the WOUGNET´s fouding coordinator. At present, she is completing her PhD study at the Telecommunications and Signal Processing (TSP) Laboratory of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada.


A maternal effect occurs when the phenotype of an organism is influenced by the phenotype of its mother. When the maternal environment is an accurate predictor of the offspring's environment, maternal effects can play an important role in enhancing offspring fitness. Maternal investment (e.g. egg size), which is often a function of maternal size, is one mechanism for the transmission of maternal effects. I used the mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta, as a model system for examining the effects of maternal size on offspring phenotypes. Females deposit egg capsules on blades of eel grass, and exhibit high variability in the number of egg capsules laid, the number of eggs per capsule, and the morphology of their egg capsules. During early ontogeny, encapsulated embryos suffer high levels of predation. I conducted two studies to test for the presence of inducible maternal effects in response to predation. First, I conducted a pilot study analyzing how maternal size affects egg capsule deposition in small (shell length = 14.5 - 18.0 mm) medium (18.1 - 21.0 mm) and large (21.1 - 26.0 mm) snails, both with and without the presence of a predator (the green crab, Carcinus maenas). In this experiment I measured egg size, the number of eggs per capsule, the number of egg capsules laid, and several egg capsule morphometrics. I then, in a more complete study, investigated how egg capsule deposition and embryonic development are influenced by maternal size in the presence of predatory green crabs by exposing small (15 – 19 mm) and large (21 – 25 mm) adult mud snails to C. maenas cue and measuring egg size, egg number, egg capsule number, and egg capsule morphometrics. Additionally, I measured larvae at hatching to test for effects of predator cues on intracapsular development. Across both studies, I found that large snails lay more egg capsules and eggs per capsule, and that large snails lay significantly larger eggs than small snails. Larval size at hatching increased significantly in the presence of green crabs, and there is a trend suggesting that these larvae hatch sooner. Egg capsules were longer and wider in large snails, and, in the presence of a predator, were wider and possessed significantly longer defensive spines. In a test of predator preference, capsules with short spines were preferentially preyed upon by hermit crabs, suggesting that spines may be an adaptive deterrent to predation on egg capsules. Altogether, these results suggest that maternal effects in I. obsoleta can be size- and context-dependent, play an important role in defending embryos from predators during early development, and may persist post-hatching.


Abstract The Trout Valley Formation of Emsian–Eifelian age in northern Maine hosts evidence of early vascular plant communities interpreted as having colonized wetland, estuarine environments. To date, collections made under permits issued by the Baxter State Park Commission originate from outcrop along Trout Brook, its tributaries, and poorly exposed lithologies inside the woodlands. Construction of a new roadway in the Scientific Forest Management Area, oriented parallel to Trout Brook, unearthed pavement exposures in which new fossil assemblages were found. These were collected under a salvage and conservation effort. Plant megafossils, as well as new macroinvertebrates and ichnofossils, were recovered from sandy siltstone and siltstone lithofacies along a west-to-east transect along Wadleigh Mountain Road. Autochthonous plants fossils include erect axes of cf. Psilophyton forbesii and vertical rooting structures of unknown affinity. Parautochthonous and allochthonous plants include Pertica quadrifaria, Taeniocrada dubia, three species of Psilophyton, and cf. Kaulangiophyton sp., all of which are known from the area. A newly discovered shell ground of a monotypic assemblage of Modiomorpha concentrica is accompanied by trace fossils assigned to Skolithos, Planolites, and Spirophyton. The invertebrates are described to have inhabited shallow, nearshore estuarine to open marine conditions, which are unreported in the area. The co-occurrence of Modiomorpha, Spirophyton, and allochthonous axes of Pertica and Psilophyton is used as additional evidence to support a brackish water, estuarine depositional environment for the Trout Valley Formation.


Background: Genetic and environmental factors are known to play a role in the development of atopic diseases, such as asthma, eczema, and rhinitis. However, the atopy gene (or genes) has yet to be defined. Studies of familial asthma have identified several regions that may contain genes predisposing to atopy, but the data for candidate regions do not show agreement, which may be due to heterogeneity, ascertainment bias, or stochastic factors. Factors such as an early age of onset, a positive family history, and a clearly defined phenotype favor a genetic origin and improve the chance of identifying genes that predispose to atopy. Objective: We sought to define genes that predispose to the development of atopic eczema. Methods: We have studied nuclear families with multiple cases of early-onset atopic eczema for involvement of the candidate regions on chromosomes 5q31 (IL gene cluster), 11q13 (highaffinity FCe receptor), 14q11.2 (mast cell chymase), and 16p12 (IL-4 receptor α -chain, IL4RA gene). Results: Using a recessive model, we find a maximum parametric log of the odds of linkage score of 2.25 and nonparametric score of 2.54 (P = .006) for a region on chromosome 5q31, which we postulate contains a gene predisposing to atopic eczema, but lack of support for linkage to 11q13. Transmission disequilibrium tests do not support an association with candidate polymorphisms in the mast cell chymase and IL4RA genes. Conclusion: We have identified a clinically homogeneous cohort of patients with atopic eczema to identify genetic factors predisposing to the development of atopy. We postulate that there are certain loci that predispose to atopy in general and other loci that determine which of the atopic phenotypes is expressed. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:1066-70.)


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify medical and non-medical factors associated to the performance of a trial of labor during the second delivery of women with one previous cesarean section.

METHODS
This was a nested case control study, with a secondary data analysis from a retrospective population based cohort study. It was primarily performed on a population of women who had had their first children in Campinas, SP, Brazil, during 1985. The study population was constituted of the 1,352 women of the cohort study who had had their first deliveries by cesarean section and also had their second deliveries no matter when. The group of cases (333 women, almost 25%) was constituted of those women who had a trial of labor during their second deliveries and the control group (1,019 women) of those who had not had it. For each possible associated factor evaluated, the Odds Ratio and its respective 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. For the ordered categorical variables, the chi2 for trend was also calculated. Finally, a non conditional multivariate regression analysis was performed, identifying the significant factors and then estimating their adjusted Odds Ratio.

RESULTS
The main factors associated with the trial of labor in this situation were a low monthly family income, having public medical insurance by the national health system, a low maternal age, the occurrence of rupture of membranes during the second delivery, and having been in childbirth during the first delivery.

CONCLUSION
It is concluded that the main determinants for a trial of labor among primipara women with one previous cesarean section were basically social and economic factors, rather than medical ones.


The differences between the oscillation frequencies and uncertainty estimates of a star derived by different fitters can be large, sufficiently large so that, were one to find a stellar model that fitted one frequency set ($\chi^2\sim 1$), it does not fit an alternative set. I give 21 examples, comparing frequency sets in common between the Kepler Legacy project and frequency sets from Appourchaux et al (2014) and Davies et al (2015). For 16CygAB the $\chi^2$ of the fit of Legacy to Davies's values ranging from 1.64 to 11.47 for 16CygA and 1.62 to 1.79 for 16CygB, depending on which error estimates are used. I analyse both stars in some detail applying my own mode fitting code to both the Legacy and Davies's power spectra and find reasonable agreement with Davies's full frequency sets and very good agreement between values for modes with signal/noise > 1 ($\chi^2 = 0.06, \chi^2_B=0.03$). But the difference with the Legacy values remains large even for modes with S/N>1. I also examine the effects of different power spectra (weighted and unweighted) using the kasoc light curves for Q6-17.2 and Q7-Q16, the effect of different mode height ratios and different rotational splitting and inclination.


BACKGROUND--In December 1991 London experienced a unique air pollution episode during which concentrations of nitrogen dioxide rose to record levels, associated with moderate increases in black smoke. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this episode was associated with adverse health effects and whether any such effects could be attributed to air pollution. METHODS--The numbers of deaths and hospital admissions occurring in Greater London during the week of the episode were compared with those predicted using data from the week before the episode and from equivalent periods from the previous four years. Relative risks (RR) (episode week versus predicted) for adverse health events were estimated using log linear modelling and these were compared with estimates from control areas which had similar cold weather but without increased air pollution. RESULTS--In all age groups mortality was increased for all causes (excluding accidents) (relative risk = 1.10) and cardiovascular diseases (1.14); non-significant increases were observed for all respiratory diseases (1.22), obstructive lung diseases (1.23), and respiratory infections (1.23). In the elderly (65 + years) the relative risk of hospital admission was increased for all respiratory diseases (1.19) and for obstructive lung diseases (1.43), and a non-significant increase was observed for ischaemic heart disease (1.04). In children (0-14 years) there was no increase in admissions for all respiratory diseases and only a small non-significant increase for asthma. When compared with control areas the relative risks became non-significant but remained increased. CONCLUSIONS--The air pollution episode was associated with an increase in mortality and morbidity which was unlikely to be explained by the prevailing weather, a coincidental respiratory epidemic, or psychological factors due to publicity. Air pollution is a plausible explanation but the relative roles of nitrogen dioxide and particulates cannot be distinguished.


Background: Body image dissatisfaction (BID) is the negative perception of the weight and shape of one's body. It is a prominent risk factor for conditions ranging from eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. BID evolves from a complex interaction between psychological (personality, self-esteem), physical (body mass index), and cultural factors (social expectations and media messages). Once restricted to adolescent Caucasian females, BID has been increasing among men in developing Asian cultures. This study aimed to address the scarcity of research on BID and its correlates among young Indian men. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, observational, questionnaire-based research design was chosen to address the objectives in a sample of male college students aged 18–25 years. The body shape questionnaire (BSQ-8c), sociocultural attitudes toward appearance questionnaire-4, Rosenberg's self-esteem scale and the mini-International personality item pool (MINI-IPIP) personality scale were used to measure BID, sociocultural pressures, self-esteem, and personality traits, respectively. Results: Of the 511 males, 34.44% (n = 176) had moderate to marked BID. Underweight men had greater BID than those who were obese. However, the differences in BSQ-8c scores across various BMI categories were not statistically significant (Kruskal–Wallis H = 6.07, df = 3, P = 0.108). BID significantly correlated with levels of neuroticism (rs = 0.093, P = 0.0360). Sociocultural pressure from the family, peers, and media significantly correlated with the internalization of thin and muscular body image ideals (all P < 0.001, highly significant). Conclusion: BID is a significant concern among young Indian men, especially those with high levels of neuroticism. This is compounded by the internalization of social pressures from the family, peers, and media.


In this paper we introduce a new Italian dataset consisting of simultaneous recordings of continuous speech and trajectories of important vocal tract articulators (i.e. tongue, lips, incisors) tracked by Electromagnetic Articulography (EMA). It includes more than 500 sentences uttered in citation condition by three speakers, one male (cnz) and two females (lls, olm), for approximately 2 hours of speech material. Such dataset has been designed to be large enough and phonetically balanced so as to be used in speech applications (e.g. speech recognition systems). We then test our speaker-dependent articulatory DeepNeural-Network Hidden-Markov-Model (DNN-HMM) phone recognizer on the set of data recorded from the cnz speaker. We show that phone recognition results are comparable to the ones that we previously obtained using two well-known British-English datasets with EMA data of equivalent vocal tract articulators. That suggests that the new set of data is a equally useful and coherent resource. The dataset is the session 1 of a larger Italian corpus, called Multi-SPeaKing-style-Articulatory (MSPKA) corpus, including parallel audio and articulatory data in diverse speaking styles (e.g. read, hyperarticulated and hypoarticulated speech). It is freely available at http://www.mspkacorpus.it for research purposes. In the immediate future the whole corpus will be released.


Kuiper Belt objects with absolute magnitude less than 3 (radius $\gtrsim$500 km), the dwarf planets, have a range of different ice/rock ratios, and are more rock-rich than their smaller counterparts. Many of these objects have moons, which suggests that collisions may have played a role in modifying their compositions. We show that the dwarf planets fall into two categories when analysed by their mean densities and satellite-to-primary size ratio. Systems with large moons, such as Pluto/Charon and Orcus/Vanth, can form in low-velocity grazing collisions in which both bodies retain their compositions. We propose that these systems retain a primordial composition, with a density of about 1.8 g/cm$^3$. Triton, thought to be a captured KBO, could have lost enough ice during its early orbital evolution to explain its rock-enrichment relative to the primordial material. Systems with small moons, Eris, Haumea, and Quaoar, formed from a different type of collision in which icy material, perhaps a few tens of percent of the total colliding mass, is lost. The fragments would not remain in physical or dynamical proximity to the parent body. The ice loss process has not yet been demonstrated numerically, which could be due to the paucity of KBO origin simulations, or missing physical processes in the impact models. If our hypothesis is correct, we predict that large KBOs with small moons should be denser than the primordial material, and that the mean density of Orcus should be close to the primordial value.


This paper compares Social Security benefits relative to those paid from private investments: specifically, whether 2003 retirees would gain more retirement income if they had invested their payroll taxes in private accounts during their working years. Three different retirement ages and four possible earnings levels are considered for two private investments-6-month CDs or the S&P 500. On average, the results suggest less than 5 percent of current retirees would receive a higher monthly benefit with Social Security. Several Social Security reform proposals are described.


Lean product development is considered by many authors to promote learning and knowledge transfer, but studies that relate lean product development to the understanding drawn from the knowledge management field seem to be lacking. This article establishes a link between the concept of lean product development and the field of knowledge management. The transfer of knowledge within any organisation is recognised as a challenging task and mastering that challenge is increasingly important. Numerous studies show that common knowledge transfer tools such as post-project reviews are problematic, which calls for improved ways of transferring knowledge. By relating Lean principles and methods to the knowledge creation framework developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi (often referred to as the SECI-model), this article suggests that lean product development offers principles and methods that could provide a way of improving knowledge transfer in product development.


Objective: To determine antimutagenic activity of Cassia auriculata Linn. on chromosomal damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CP). Material and Methods: In the present investigation, four groups of six Swiss albino mice in each group were used. Excepting for thefirst group all the remaining groups were treated with CP (50 mg/kg). Mice of third and fourth group were treated with ethyl acetate extract of C. auriculata Linn. at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg with CP. Metaphase of bone marrow cells of all animals were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative chromosomal aberrations. Break, fragment, deletion, Polyploidy, pulverized, ring and total aberration were observed. Results: Flavonoids rich extracts of root of C. auriculata Linn. provided significant protection (P < 0.05) against CP induced chromosomal aberration. Total chromosomal aberration was found to be 12.16 and 7.33% in 100 and 200 mg/kg of extract treated animals respectively. Conclusion: From the present study it can was observed that ethyl acetate extract of C. auriculata Linn possess significant anti-mutagenic potential against CP induced chromosomal aberration.


The seeds of P. frutescens L., collected from different altitudes showed a maximumoil yield (43%) fromGhat Chamoli, while in cultivated samples fromPinder Valley an oil yield of 46%was observed. The fatty acid profile revealedmore than 87%polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) having 74.3% omega-3 fatty acid (ALA) from cultivated seed oil of Dehradun, while in wild samples amaximumof 84.5%PUFAs with 68.8%omega-3 fatty acid. The fatty acid profile revealed octadecatrienoic (omega-3) acid as themajor component of these oils ranging from 65.96-74.29%, maximum being in cultivated seed oil fromDehradun region, therefore, we may conclude that Perilla should be cultivated for the oil vis-a-vis omega-3 fatty acid.


A new type of individual-cell-based on-chip multielectrode array (MEA) cell-cultivation system with an agarose microchamber (AMC) array for topographical control of the network patterns of a living neuronal network has been developed. The advantages of this system are that it allows control of the cell positions and numbers for cultivation using AMCs, as well as easy and flexible control of the pattern of connections between the AMCs through photothermal etching where a portion of the agarose layer is melted with a 1480 nm infrared laser beam. With adequate laser power, narrow micrometer-order grooves (microchannels) can easily be fabricated that can be used to combine neighbouring AMCs to enable topographical control of the neural network pattern. Using this system, an individual-cell-based neural network pattern was formed of rat hippocampal cells within the AMC array without cells escaping from the electrode positions in the microchamber during an eight-day cultivation, and could record cell firing in response to 1.5 V, 500 kHz stimulation through an electrode. This demonstrated the potential of the on-chip AMCMEA cell cultivation system for long-term single-cell-based electrophysiological measurement of a neural network system.