This essay, the written version of the Nathanson Lecture at the University of San Diego, asks how much of legal language is ordinary language, and how much of it is technical language. The topic is important and pervasive, because it forces us to confront the question of how much, if at all, an interpreter of legal language should take account of the goals of particular laws and the goals of the legal system generally in deciding just what a law means. To the extent that legal language is ordinary language, it is possible for an interpreter at the first stage of interpretation to decide what that language simply means, and then at a subsequent stage (as proponents of the distinction between interpretation and construction maintain) to decide what a legal outcome ought to be. But if legal language is a technical language, then the interpretation-construction distinction collapses, and right from the beginning, as Lon Fuller most prominently insisted, the interpreter must consider just what laws in particular and law in general are aimed at achieving. So although it is obvious that certain terms are constituted by law – habeas corpus, assumpsit, corporation, trust, bill of attainder – the larger question is whether all of law and all of legal language should be understood in substantially the same way. The aim of this lecture is to open up the question of legal language as technical language for broader and deeper exploration, and to suggest that resolution of the ordinary language versus technical language question reaches into almost all of the domains of legal interpretation.


Avian eggs are exposed to hydrophobic contaminants through maternal transfer. How maternal transfer of contaminants within a species is influenced by individual variation in characteristics such as body burden, yolk precursor levels, or reproductive investment is not understood. The authors investigated sources of variation in the maternal transfer of 2,2′,4,4′,5‐pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE‐99) in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). The authors dosed adult female zebra finches with levels of BDE‐99 relevant to exposure in wild birds (0, 33.7 or 173.8 ng/g body wt/d) for three weeks prior to pairing. Maternal BDE‐99 and very‐low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL) in plasma were measured during egg formation and at clutch completion, and BDE‐99 was measured in the corresponding egg. The lipid‐normalized egg‐to‐maternal tissue BDE‐99 relationship decreased with increasing maternal burden. Individual variation in maternal VLDL was related to BDE‐99 transfer to the eggs when BDE‐99 was at background levels in control birds, but not when BDE‐99 was elevated in dosed birds. The decrease in maternal plasma BDE‐99 over the laying period was only significant (p < 0.05) in the high‐dose birds. Finally, the decrease in BDE‐99 in maternal plasma during egg‐laying was significantly positively correlated with clutch mass in the high‐dose group. These results suggest that the relationship between maternal and egg contaminant levels can be highly variable. This has significant implications for using eggs as indicators of adult or environmental concentrations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:345–352. © 2012 SETAC


Jean Zaru, the longtime activist and Quaker leader from Ramallah, here brings home the pain and central convictions that animate Christian nonviolence and activity today. Zaru vividly paints the complex realities faced by all parties in Palestine - Jews and Muslims and Christians, Israelis and Palestinians, women and men. Yet even as Zaru eloquently names the common misunderstandings of the history, present situation, and current policies of the parties there, she vividly articulates an alternative: a religiously motivated nonviolent path to peace and justice in the world's most troubled region.


Robo-advisors can replace financial advisors and asset managers at low costs. However, human managers and advisors will survive. This is predominantly because although robo-advisors primarily appeal to a clientele of already financially sophisticated investors, they lack some of the qualities people look for in a "money doctor", and their business models have not yet stood the test of time. While a general algorithm aversion is absent in the financial domain, even tech-savvy millennials do not particularly favor robo-advisors. As new survey data shows, investors view algorithms as an aid to human managers rather than competitors. A hybrid model with humans and robos working together, as already implemented by some financial institutions, might be the future of delegated investment.


The historian Herbst (1965) posited that "scholarship . . . like most human endeavors, [is] given [its] distinguishing character by the specific time and place in which [it is] pursued" (p. vii). The distinguishing character of U.S. higher education at the turn of the nineteenth century was transition. Indeed, in the early 1800s, U.S. educators were struggling to determine the future of higher education in the United States, igniting discussions and disagreements concerning everything from the purpose of education, to curriculum and pedagogy, and to student life (Herbst, 1965). Yet, answers did not appear to be forthcoming from within the young nation's colleges, encouraging a growing trend to seek answers abroad. Early academicians looked to German universities as models of ideal higher education institutions (Gore, 2005). To import ideas that would shape U.S. higher education, U.S. academicians sent young scholars to Germany. One of the first scholars to study abroad was George Ticknor. This paper examines Ticknor's study-abroad observations and personal quest for knowledge, highlighting the elements of the philosophy of education, curriculum and pedagogy, and student life in nineteenth century German higher education. The author argues that early study-abroad students in Germany, such as George Ticknor, brought home profound observations which influenced the institutions of nineteenth century U.S. higher education.


Wireless sensor network is attracting attention of many researchers as it has capability to sense and communicate happening of events. Much of the research is being done in the routing section of this technology. Sensor networks have limited transmission range which makes it impaired for some applications. By use of transmit and receive diversity (MIMO) in conjunction with the Space Time Block Coding it becomes possible to transmit data over longer range(1.6 times the SISO). In this paper operation of WSN in diversity environment is tested and it is found that long range transmission is possible at no significant loss of major Quality-of-Service parameters. Extensive simulation is done on NS2.


The expression of transmembrane and ubiquitin-like domain containing 1 (Tmub1) is upregulated during liver regeneration, however, the function and underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for Tmub1 action remain to be determined. This study utilized BRL-3A rat liver cells for Tmub1 shRNA lentivirus infection and IL-6 stimulation. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. A [3H]thymidine incorporation assay was performed to assess changes in cell proliferation rates. Laser scanning confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation-western blotting were used to assess the interaction between Tmub1 and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAML) protein. The effect of Tmub1 on calcium ion influx into BRL-3A cells was measured by inverted fluorescence microscopy. The data showed that IL-6 treatment induced proliferation of rat hepatocytes and expression of Tmub1 mRNA and protein, while Tmub1 shRNA knocked down Tmub1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, compared to the negative control, Tmub1 shRNA-infected BRL-3A cells were highly proliferative with or without IL-6 stimulation. Tmub1 is colocalized with CAML in the hepatocellular cytoplasm, whereas knockdown of Tmub1 expression upregulated expression of CAML protein. Influx of Ca2+ into rat liver cells was also affected after Tmub1 knockdown. The data from the current study demonstrate that Tmub1 plays a negative role in IL-6-induced hepatocyte proliferation, and indicate that the interaction between Tmub1 and CAML may mediate the function of Tmub1 in hepatocytes.


This paper outlines the technologies employed to develop a successful solution to minimise dust emissions using calibrated discrete element modelling (DEM) and new dust extraction technology. The case study comprised of a large crushing station that screens and crushes oversize product. The coal processed varies from dry dusty coal to wet cohesive coal that can often block sections of the transfer chute. The air generation can often be significant in the stilling chamber on the out-going conveyor due to the large drop height, making it a formidable task to design a reliable dust extraction system. Material testing for DEM calibration purposes was conducted on representative samples of dry and wet coal in order to improve the accuracy of the solution. A new dust extraction system was designed and installed to extract the airborne dust, including respirable particles using a combination of misting and high efficiency cyclone technologies.


The present study involves 1D basin modelling of two wells from the Haltenbanken Area (the Midgard well 6407/4-1 and the Smørbukk well 6506/12-9S), by employing BAS software (a Basin Simulator which is developed by IFE). The core objective is to estimate the minimum critical moments (timing of oil and gas generation and expulsion) for the Åre, Melke and Spekk formations at these two locations by reconstructing the burial and thermal histories, utilizing the formation thicknesses, age of horizons, geothermal gradients and other relevant parameters. It is furthermore a target to evaluate if two common modelling tools in use provide the same or different time estimates. This study utilized two different kinetic modelling approaches, i.e. the Pepper and Corvi model (1995) and the Tissot and Espitalie (1969 and 1975) model for the kerogen transformation. These modelling approaches are based on realistic source rocks' pre-exponential factors and distribution of activation energies. It was found that both kinetic modelling techniques yielded similar results concerning the critical moments and the remaining potentials for the source rocks, but that the two models differ quite considerably concerning results for the expelled quantities of oil and gas. According to modelling results (Case-1, Case-2, Case-3), the Åre Formation started HC generation at the depth of 3200 m and is recently at the depth of approximately 5000 m. The time for oil generation in this formation was estimated to be ca. 92 Ma b.p. at the Midgard location and 87 Ma at the Smørbukk location, which corresponds to Turonian – Late Cretaceous. Gas from this formation is estimated to start from ca. 30 Ma b.p. (Rupelian – Early Oligocene) for the Midgard location and at ca. 50 Ma (Ypresian – Early Eocene) for the Smørbukk location. Furthermore, modelling results for the Melke Formation suggests HC generation at the depth of ca. 3200 m. This formation is currently at the depth of ca. 4200 m and 4100 m in the Midgard and the Smørbukk regions respectively. This formation is modelled to have started oil generation at ca. 47 Ma b.p. (at Midgard) and ca. 48 Ma b.p. (at Smørbukk), which corresponds to Lutetian – Middle Eocene time. Similarly, gas generation from this formation is estimated at ca.13 Ma b.p. (Serravallian – Middle Miocene) for the Midgard region and ca.20 Ma b.p. (Burdigalian – Early Miocene) for the Smørbukk region. The current study suggests that the Spekk Formation started HC generation at the depth of ca. 2900 m, while at present this formation is at the depth of ca. 4200 m at the location of the Midgard and the Smørbukk fields. This formation started oil generation at ca. 40 Ma b.p., that corresponds to the Bartonian – Middle Eocene time, in the Midgard Field, while oil generation from the shales in the Smørbukk Field took place at ca. 55 Ma b.p. (Ypresian – Early Eocene). Early Gas generation from the shales of this formation is estimated to have been initiated at ca. 10 Ma b.p. (Tortonian – Late Miocene) at the Midgard field and at ca. 25 Ma b.p. (Chattian – Late Oligocene) for the Spekk Formation at the Smørbukk Field. Another objective of the present work was to estimate the remaining source rock potential of these wells today. This study estimates 5% remaining potential for the Åre Formation, while 40% 50% reactive kerogen is computed to be left within the Melke Formation. Similarly, the present modelling argues that Spekk Formation has 40% 55% remaining potential in the areas under investigation. Bearing in mind the fact that both the Midgard and Smørbukk fields have received petroleum charges from down flank regions, which are buried deeper than the investigated formations in the trap themselves, the current results provide minimum times for actual reservoir filling. Still, the relative time difference for HC generation in these three formations may still be applicable to the deeper "oil and gas kitchens". It is outside the scope of this study, but still of interest that this residual potential may affect the cap rock properties of the structures, as continued generation of HC compounds could tentatively act to hinder the influx of petroleum products from the main reservoir.


A dissertation submitted to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering for the Degree of Master of Business of Administration in Information Technology


Authorized Self-Study GuideDesigning for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN)Second EditionFoundation learning for CCDA exam 640-863Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN), Second Edition, is a Cisco®-authorized, self-paced learning tool for CCDA® foundation learning. This book provides you with the knowledge needed to design enterprise networks. By reading this book, you will gain a thorough understanding of designing routed and switched network infrastructures and services within a modular architecture.In Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN), Second Edition, you will study a broad range of network design principles and guidelines. You will learn about network design in the context of the Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture (SONA) framework and the Cisco Enterprise Architecture. Specific topics include campus and data center infrastructure, remote connectivity, IP addressing design, routing protocol selection, voice network design, wireless network design, and including security in your designs. An ongoing case study plus chapter-ending review questions illustrate and help solidify the concepts presented in the book.Whether you are preparing for CCDA certification or simply want to gain a better understanding of network design principles, you will benefit from the foundation information presented in this book.Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN), Second Edition, is part of a recommended learning path from Cisco that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners worldwide, please visit www.cisco.com/go/authorizedtraining.Diane Teare is a professional in the networking, training, and e-learning fields. She has more than 20 years of experience in designing, implementing, and troubleshooting network hardware and software and has also been involved in teaching, course design, and project management. She has extensive knowledge of network design and routing technologies and is an instructor with one of the largest authorized Cisco Learning Partners. Understand the Cisco vision of intelligent networks and the SONA framework Learn how to structure and modularize network designs within the Cisco Enterprise Architecture Design basic campus and data center networks Build designs for remote connectivity with WAN technologies Create IPv4 addressing schemes Understand IPv6 design Select the appropriate routing protocol for various modules in the Cisco Enterprise Architecture Design basic VoIP and IP telephony networks Understand wireless design principles Build security into your network designs This volume is in the Certification Self-Study Series offered by Cisco Press®. Books in this series provide officially developed self-study solutions to help networking professionals understand technology implementations and prepare for the Cisco Career Certifications examinations.Category: Cisco Press-Network DesignCovers: CCDA Exam 640-863


The endometrium is a complex multicellular tissue that is exquisitely sensitive to the actions of sex steroids synthesised in the ovary (endocrine system). Recent studies have highlighted a previously under-appreciated role for local (intracrine) metabolism in fine-tuning tissue function in both health and disease. In this review we have focused on the impact of oestrogens and androgens on endometrial function summarising data from studies on normal endometrial physiology and disorders including infertility, endometriosis and cancer. We consider the evidence that expression of enzymes including aromatase, sulphatase and AKR1C3 by endometrial cells plays an important role in tissue function, and malfunction, and discus results from studies using drugs targeting intracrine pathways to treat endometrial disorders. We summarise studies exploring the spatial and temporal expression of oestrogen receptors (ERalpha, ERbeta and GPER) and their role in mediating the impact of endogenous and synthetic ligands on cross-talk between vascular, immune, epithelial and stromal cells. There is a single androgen receptor and androgens play a key role in stromal-epithelial cross talk, scar-free healing of endometrium during menstruation and regulation of cell proliferation. The development of new receptor-selective drugs (SERMs, SARMs, SARDs) has reinvigorated interest in targeting receptor subtypes in treatment of disorders including endometriosis and endometrial cancer and some show promise as novel therapies. In summary, understanding the mechanisms regulated by sex steroids provides the platform for improved personalised treatment of endometrial disorders as well as novel insights into the impact of steroids on processes such as tissue repair and regeneration.


Determining the existence of any direct spectral relationship between the far-field scattering properties and the near-field Raman-enhancing properties of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates has been a challenging task with only a few significant results to date. Here, we prove that hot spot dominated systems show little dependence on the far-field scattering properties because of differences between near- and far-field localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects as well as excitation of new plasmon modes via a localized emitter. We directly probe the relationship between the near- and far-field light interactions using a correlated LSPR-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) surface-enhanced Raman excitation spectroscopy (SERES) technique. Fourteen individual SERS nanoantennas, Au nanoparticle aggregates ranging from dimers to undecamers, coated in a reporter molecule and encased in a protective silica shell, were excited using eight laser wavelengths. We observed no correlation between the spectral position of the LSPR maxima and the maximum enhancement factor (EF). The single nanoantenna data reveal EFs ranging from (2.5 ± 0.6) × 10(4) to (4.5 ± 0.6) × 10(8) with maximum enhancement for excitation wavelengths of 785 nm and lower energy. The magnitude of maximum EF was not correlated to the number of cores in the nanoantenna or the spectral position of the LSPR, suggesting a separation between near-field SERS enhancement and far-field Rayleigh scattering. Computational electrodynamics confirms the decoupling of maximum SERS enhancement from the peak of the scattering spectrum. It also points to the importance of a localized emitter for radiating Raman photons to the far-field which, in nonsymmetric systems, allows for the excitation of radiative plasmon modes that are difficult to excite with plane waves. Once these effects are considered, we are able to fully explain the hot spot dominated SERS response of the nanoantennas.


In Maui Nui, Hawai'i, limited information is available regarding the impact of fisheries interactions on two island-associated populations of common bottlenose ( Tursiops truncatus ) and pantropical spotted ( Stenella attenuata ) dolphins. To quantify the number of individuals with evidence of fisheries interactions, this study examined images of bottlenose and spotted dolphins' dorsal fins, mouthlines, and bodies that were photographically identified during survey efforts from 1996 to 2020. Our results reveal that 27% of the 255 identified bottlenose dolphins and 13% of the 374 identified spotted dolphins displayed one or more fishery gear-related scars. These data suggest that fisheries interactions may pose a serious threat to the population of bottlenose dolphins and is a concern for spotted dolphins in Maui Nui, Hawai'i. Our methodology of review-ing above- and underwater footage for mouthline and body images increased scar-detection rates by 51 and 40% for bottlenose and spotted dolphins, respectively. We recommend that future surveys expand dorsal fin photo-identification efforts to col-lect additional above- and underwater images of animals' mouthlines and bodies when in the field. In conjunction with the apparent decline in the Maui Nui bottlenose dolphin population, our findings highlight the need for further investigation regarding the level of impact fisheries interactions have on the status of these populations.


Abstract The thermal properties of the pebble beds have a significant impact on the temperature profile of the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed blanket and the extraction of heat from the pebble beds to the coolant. The effective thermal conductivity of pebble bed has been modeled as the isotropic one. However, the isotropic thermal conductivity inherently can be achieved only the case with perfectly isotropic arrangement which is difficult to realized in the actual blanket device. In this paper, the relation between effective thermal conductivity tensor and fabric tensor in 2D pebble bed is investigated experimentally. It is cleared that the effective thermal conductivity tensor is proportional to the structural anisotropic tensor. And, the anisotropic feature is quite different between core region and near wall region, so that it is suggested that modeling of the effective thermal conductivity tensor of the pebble bed should be separately carried out at least in above two regions.


Endothelial cells form the inner lining of blood and lymphatic vessels. In mice only tumours of the blood vessel endothelium (haemangiomas) have been thus far reported. In the first part of this thesis is described a highly reproducible method for the induction of benign tumours of the lymphatic endothelial cells (lymphangioma) in mice, by intraperitoneal injection of incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Different criteria have been used in order to establish the nature of the induced lesion. Morphological and histophatological studies of the tumour developed in the peritoneal cavity revealed the presence of cells at various levels of vascular development. Expression of the endothelial markers PECAM/CD31, ICAM-l/CD54, ICAM 2/CDI02 as well as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor Flk-I, the endothelial cell specific receptors Tie-I, Tie-2, and the lymphatic endothelial specific Flt-4 was identified. When the lesion was induced in ~- galactosidase knock-in Flt-4+/- mice, the tumour endothelia could be stained blue in a number of tumour cells. Tumour-derived cells were propagated in vitro where they spontaneously differentiated, forming vessel-like structures. This evidence leads to the conclusion that this is the first experimental protocol for the induction of a lymphatic endothelium hyperplasia in mice peritoneum. The second part of this thesis describes the use of this model system to investigate the profile of chemokine expression in murine lymphangiomas and in lymphangioma-derived lymphatic endothelial primary cultures. Chemokines are a superfamily of small, secreted chemoattractant molecules that plays a key role in the immune cell trafficking. Although production of chemokines by vascular endothelial cells has been extensively documented, there is much less information regarding the lymphatic endothelium. The reported results are the first detailed analysis of chemokine production by lymphatic endothelial cells. Chemokines belonging to all three subfamilies (CXC, CC and C), were found to be expressed in lymphangioma. Among these molecules is remarkable the identification of CIO, a molecule previously identified only in the bone marrow. The molecular as well as functional assays performed provide an indication of the signals that mediate the recruitment of leukocytes into lymphatic vessels.


Tourism plays an important role in contributing to cultural exchange and sustainable development. On the one hand, it involves a short-term consumer experience of other locales. Tourist can play and leave, remaining isolated from negative impacts at the local level. On the other hand, tourism may increase recognition of the importance of respecting cultural diversity and developing an identity as a world citizen. Consumer can play a major role in the transformation of societies towards sustainability. Tourism is heterogeneous in nature, made up of many different types of traveler, seeking a wide range of tourism products. Tourist demand depends on the availability of time and money, on images, perceptions and attitudes. Tourists want experiences not places. This paper has aimed to give motivations and behaviors of tourists and new trends in seeking of destinations, which are very important about the tourist supply. The results of the analysis for the tourist's profile can be used by actors of tourism in the area, who are interested in planning and development of tourism.


A study was conducted to investigate coagulation efficiency of the plant Dicerocaryum eriocarpum (DE) in the removal of turbidity from raw water. Widespread poor land use practices contribute to high turbidity in river water, making turbidity management or removal critical, particularly before the water is used for drinking or subjected to chemical treatment. In this study, mucilage from DE was extracted with deionized water and different chloride solutions. A coagulation efficiency of 99% using modified mucilage coagulant was achieved. The modified mucilage of potassium crude extract and sodium crude extract displayed higher coagulation efficiencies than unmodified mucilage of deionized water crude extract. An increase in coagulant dosage and initial turbidity influenced the coagulation efficiency of DE coagulant. A large reduction in turbidity levels of the treated water samples resulted in an improvement in water quality. Keywords : coagulation, Dicerocaryum eriocarpum plant, mucilage, optimise, turbidity


During the last two decades conventional therapy has improved the prognosis of thalassemia. However, despite such improvement it still remains a progressive disease with treatment-related complications such as hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and cardiac disease. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) can prevent or delay progression of the aforementioned complications. The importance of clinical research in the field of BMT was recognized with the award of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine to E. Donnall Thomas, one of the pioneers of BMT in humans. George Mathe' was a pioneer in the early development of clinical BMT. Mathe' and co-workers were the first to describe graft-versus-host-disease and its treatment, and the graftversus-leukemia effect in human. The first BMT for βthalassemia major was performed successfully by Thomas and colleagues in Seattle, in 1981. In the same year another patient with β-thalassemia major underwent BMT in Pesaro, Italy, by Lucarelli and others Since then, several hundred transplantations have been performed worldwide, mostly in Italy. From 1991 through 2007 BMT have been performed on 497 (Tehran=342, Shiraz=155) blood transfusion dependent patients with thalassemia major in Iran, with disease-free survival of 71-77% respectively. Because of high graft failure and high rates of graftversus-host-disease rates, BMT from alternative donors should be restricted to patients who have poor life expectancies because they cannot receive adequate conventional treatment or because of alloimmunizat ion to minor blood antigens. Beginning in the early 1980s, it was shown that umbilical cord blood contained high levels of hematopoietic progenitor cells.


PROTEIN TURNOVER AND REGULATION IN RAT SKELETAL MUSCLE DURING IN VITRO HYPO-OSMOTIC STRESS Hypo-osmolality influences tissue metabolism, but research on protein turnover in skeletal muscle is limited. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of hypo-osmotic stress on protein turnover in rat skeletal muscle. We hypothesized increased protein synthesis and reduced degradation following hypo-osmotic exposure. EDL muscles (n=8/group) were incubated in iso-osmotic (290 Osm/kg) or hypo-osmotic (190 Osm/kg) modified medium 199 (95% O2, 5% CO2, pH 7.4, 30±2 °C) for 60 min, followed by 75 min incubations with L-U[ 14 C]phenylalanine or cycloheximide to determine protein synthesis and degradation. Immunoblotting was performed to assess signalling pathways involved. Phenylalanine uptake and incorporation were increased by 199% and 169% respectively in HYPO from ISO (p < 0.05). This was supported by elevated phosphorylation of mTOR Ser 2448 (+12.5%) and increased Thr 389 phosphorylation on p70s6 kinase (+23.6%) (p < 0.05). Hypo-osmotic stress increased protein synthesis and potentially amino acid uptake. Future studies should examine the upstream mechanisms involved.


Objectives: Pilot trials are smaller randomized controlled trials conducted to inform the design and assess the feasibility of a large-scale trials. The objectives of this systematic review were to describe pilot trials in pediatric critical care, their conclusions about the clinical implications of the results, and the need for future research and to determine the frequency of large follow-up trials. Data Sources: The Evidence in Pediatric Intensive Care database (http://epicc.mcmaster.ca), a comprehensive repository of published pediatric critical care randomized controlled trials and the World Health Organization's Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials described in the publication as "pilot," "feasibility," "proof-of-concept," "exploratory," "phase 2," "vanguard," or "preliminary." Data Extraction: Pairs of reviewers screened studies for eligibility and abstracted data independently. Data Synthesis: We found 32 pilot trials (12.2% of all pediatric critical care randomized controlled trials) published before July 2014, varying in size from 6 to 165 children. Pilot trials were significantly smaller than those not described as pilots, but other key characteristics were not significantly different. The authors of 16 publications (48.4%) included explicit and specific conclusions about the design or feasibility of larger trials based on the results of the pilot trial. In 20 publications (64.5%), the authors made conclusions about clinical efficacy based on results of the pilot trial. Four of the 32 pilot trials (12.9%) led to larger trials, two of which have been published. Conclusions: Published pilot trials in pediatric critical care often focus on clinical outcomes. They uncommonly report explicit feasibility outcomes, criteria for success, or rationale for the pilot sample size. These pilot trials infrequently lead to larger trials. Understanding and addressing the reasons for this are key to the success of pediatric critical care research.


This study examined the relationship of instrumental and emotional aggression to bullying, victimization, and psychosocial maladjustment. It was hypothesized that both types of aggression would be associated with bullying behavior and that emotional aggression would be exclusively associated with risk of victimization and psychological maladjustment (that is, depression, anxiety, and loneliness). The sample consisted of 219 Taiwanese seventh-graders with valid data on all of the research variables; 51.1% (n = 112) were male, and 48.9% (n = 107) were female. A series of structural equation models was analyzed to evaluate fit indices for competing models. The results indicated that both instrumental aggression and emotional aggression were associated with bullying, but only the latter was associated with victimization. Once psychological maladjustment was entered into the model, the association between emotional aggression and bullying became nonsignificant. Model indices also suggested that psychological maladjustment was a concurrent characteristic rather than a consequence of peer victimization. Implications for future investigation are discussed. KEY WORDS: adolescents; aggression; bullying; psychological maladjustment; victimization ********** Research on school bullying has increased rapidly over the past few decades. It is now well established that such aggression is prevalent internationally, with considerable numbers of youths affected. In a recent study of 2,086 German students, Scheithauer, Hayer, Petermann, and Jugert (2006) found that 12.1% of respondents bullied others, and 11.1% reported being victimized. In a survey on 1,344 fourth-grade primary school children in South Korea, Yang, Kim, Kim, Shin, and Yoon (2006) revealed a similar picture, with 12.0% of students bullying others, 5.3% reporting being victimized, and 7.2% reporting both bullying and victimization. Similar levels of bullying have been identified in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Norway, the United States, and Japan (Nansel et al., 2001; O1weus, 1992;A. M. O'Moore, Kirkham, & Smith, 1997; Rigby & Slee, 1991; Takahiro & Iwao, 2000; Whitney & Smith, 1993). Experiences of being bullied have been found to be associated with various psychological problems such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, and low self-esteem (Hawker & Boulton, 2000; Storch & Ledley, 2005).Victims may also exhibit psychosomatic symptoms, suicidal ideation, and reduced school attachment (Ivarsson, Broberg, Arvidsson, & Gillberg, 2005; Natvig, Albrektsen, & Qvarnstrom, 2001; Wei & Williams, 2004). Such adverse effects have raised serious human rights concerns, and efforts are underway to identify the risk factors of bullying for prevention and intervention (Greene, 2006). Previous studies have identified distinctive aggressive patterns in bullying (Carney & Merrell, 2001; Haynie et al., 2001; O1weus, 1997; M. O'Moore & Kirkham, 2001; Schwartz, 2000). The majority of bullies were characterized by an overt aggressiveness, a need to dominate, little empathy for others, and positive attitudes toward violence (Carney & Merrell, 2001; Olweus, 1997). Despite such antisocial tendencies, such youngsters do not necessarily have salient psychological maladjustments. Although some researchers have found bullies to have lower self-esteem (Austin & Joseph, 1996), others have found that bullying has little association with self-esteem, anxiety, or loneliness (Kaukiainen et al., 2002; M. O'Moore & Kirkham, 2001; Nansel et al., 2001; Rigby & Slee, 1993). Instead, children who engage in bullying have been seen to be at higher risk of aggression, delinquency, and externalizing problems (Ivarsson et al., 2005; Kumpulainen & Rasanen, 2000;Veenstra et al., 2005). A relatively small group of youths--namely, bully/victims or aggressive victims--manifest quite different patterns of behavior and personal characteristics. …


We propose a statistical model of the term structure of U.S. treasury yields tailored for long-term probability-based scenario generation and forecasts. Our model is easy to estimate and is able to simultaneously reproduce the positivity, persistence, and factor structure of the yield curve. Moreover, we incorporate heteroskedasticity and time-varying correlations across yields, both prevalent features of the data. The model also features a regime-switching short-rate model. We evaluate the out-of-sample performance of our model in terms of forecasting ability and coverage properties, and find that it improves on the standard Diebold and Li model.


The Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, often described as an 'elite minority', holds a special position in the country. With linguistic rights protected by the constitution of Finland, Swedish-speakers, as a minority of only 5.3%, are often described in public discourse and in academic and statistical studies as happier, healthier and more well off economically than the Finnish-speaking majority. As such, the minority is a unique example of language minorities in Europe. Knowledge derived from qualitatively grounded studies on the topic is however lacking, meaning that there is a gap in understanding of the nature and complexity of the minority. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in four different locations in Finland over a period of 12 months, this thesis provides a theoretically grounded and empirically informed rich account of the identifications and sites of belonging of this diverse minority. The thesis makes a contribution to theoretical, methodological and empirical research on the Swedish-speaking minority, debates around identity and belonging, and ethnographic methodological approaches. Making use of novel methodology in studying Swedish-speaking Finns, this thesis moves beyond generalisations and simplifications on its nature and character. Drawing on rich ethnographic empirical material, the thesis interrogates various aspects of the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns by combining the concepts of belonging and identification. Some of the issues explored are the way in which belonging can be regionally specific, how Swedish-speakers create Swedish-spaces, how language use is situational and variable and acts as a marker of identity, and finally how identifications and sites of belonging among the minority are extremely varied and complex. The thesis concludes that there are various sites of belonging and identification available to Swedish-speakers, and these need to be studied and considered in order to gain an accurate picture of the lived experience of the minority. It also argues that while identifications are based on collective imagery, this imagery can vary among Swedish-speakers and identifications are multiple and situational. Finally, while language is a key commonality for the minority, the meanings attached to it are not only concerned with 'Finland Swedishness', but connected to various other factors, such as the context a person grew up in and the region one lives in. The complex issues affecting the lived experience of Swedish-speaking Finns cannot be understood without the contribution of findings from qualitative research. This thesis therefore points towards a new kind of understanding of Swedish-speaking Finns, moving away from stereotypes and simplifications, shifting our gaze towards a richer perception of the minority.


Background: Pregnancy is associated with significant but reversible changes in thyroid function. Abnormal thyroid hormone levels could give rise to increased malplacentation increase to malplacentation that underlies the association between maternal thyroid dysfunction and adverse obstetric outcomes such as fetal brain damage, preterm births, and fetal death. Aim: The present study was planned to predict the risk of abortion in pregnancy by studying the relation between thyroid profile and rate of abortion. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in 100 pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy of 6–12 weeks of gestation in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B.D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak. The patients were divided into three groups, namely, Group 1 (n = 30, control group) included normal pregnant women with no history of abortion; Group 2 (n = 35) included pregnant females with previous history of abortion; and Group 3 (n = 35) comprised pregnant women coming with chief complaint of bleeding per vaginum. A volume of 5 mL blood sample was taken and serum was separated using centrifugation. Triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were estimated by chemiluminiscence. Results: T3, T4 and levels were comparable in all the three groups and the difference was not statistically significant. TSH levels were found to be negatively correlated with T3 and T4 values in the three groups. Only, 13% of the patients had spontaneous abortion. Nearly 6.66% of the patients in Group 1, 11.42% in Group 2 and 19.99% of patients in Group 3 ended up in abortion. TSH was found to be strongly associated with abortion in all the three groups (P ≤ 0.001). TSH levels were significantly higher in the first trimester in women who had an abortion than pregnant women who had a successful continuation of pregnancy. Conclusions: TSH was strongly associated with abortion in the first trimester in all the three groups.


This chapter deals with the study of the possibility of using yellow clay - which was only used in pottery so far- in the civil engineering field as building materials, especially in the field of fired bricks. With the aim to improve the technological properties of yellow clay based bricks, two wastes were used as secondary raw materials. The first one is a mineral waste - pyrrhotite ash - this waste was neither characterized nor valued before by any other author. While the second waste is an organic waste - cedar sawdust - which is from the artisanal sector. Clay bricks containing yellow clay and different content of wastes were prepared and tested to evaluate their technological properties: water absorption, bulk density, porosity and mechanical strength… The test results indicate that the addition of wastes to clay bricks improves their technological properties and highlights the possibility of wastes reuse in a safe and sustainable way.


This article aims to develop a typology for evaluating different types of activism in the digital age, based on the ideal of radical democracy. Departing from this ideal, activism is approached in terms of processes of identification by establishing conflictual frontiers to outside others as either adversaries or enemies. On the basis of these discussions, we outline a typology of four kinds of activists, namely the salon activist, the contentious activist, the law-abiding activist and the Gandhian activist. The typology's first axis, between antagonism and agonism, is derived from normative discussions in radical democracy concerning developing frontiers. The second axis, about readiness to engage in civil disobedience, is derived from a review of studies of different forms of online activism. The article concludes by suggesting that the different forms of political engagement online have to be taken into account when studying how online activism can contribute to social change.


I determine UK income inequality levels and trends by combining inequality estimates from tax return data (for the 'rich') and household survey data (for the 'non-rich'), taking advantage of the better coverage of top incomes in tax return data (which I demonstrate) and creating income variables in the survey data with the same definitions as in the tax data to enhance comparability. For top income recipients, I estimate inequality and mean income by fitting Pareto models to the tax data, examining specification issues in depth, notably whether to use Pareto I or Pareto II (generalised Pareto) models, and the choice of income threshold above which the Pareto models apply. The preferred specification is a Pareto II model with a threshold set at the 99th or 95th percentile (depending on year). Conclusions about aggregate UK inequality trends since the mid-1990s are robust to the way in which tax data are employed. The Gini coefficient for gross individual income rose by around 7% or 8% between 1996/97 and 2007/08, with most of the increase occurring after 2003/04. The corresponding estimate based wholly on the survey data is around –5%.


A citrus ringspot isolate from Star Ruby grapefruit (RS-SR) was mechanically transmitted to Chenopodium quinoa. RS-SR was partially purified by differential centrifugation, fractionation in a sucrose gradient, and agarose gel electrophoresis of selected fractions. Infectivity of concentrated extracts on C. quinoa was lost in individual fractions of the gradient, but it was recovered by combining a top and a bottom component. Both components contained a 48-kDa protein not found in similar preparations from healthy plants. After further purification the 48 kDa protein was detected at the top edge of the agarose gel. In the initial experiments a 38-kDa protein was found in the same fractions that later contained the 48-kDa protein. An antiserum obtained to the 38 kDa protein reacted in Western blots with both the 38- and the 48-kDa proteins, whereas another antiserum raised to the Florida isolate CRSV-4 (also containing a 48-kDa protein) did not react with the 38-kDa protein, indicating that the latter was probably a degradation product of the 48-kDa protein. Filamentous flexous particles were observed by serologically specific electron microscopy in crude extracts from RS-SR-infected C. quinoa plants. These results indicate that RS-SR is associated with a two-component virus similar to those associated with several psorosis and ringspot isolates, and serologically related to CRSV-4.


Abstract:This paper examines visual representations—charts, talismans, and drawings—in Daoist ritual manuals contained in a collection of about 200 Chinese-language manuscripts from the Sino-Vietnamese border. Today kept in Taiwan, they presumably belonged to ritual specialists of Zhuang and Yao ethnic minority groups. This paper provides detailed analysis of many common graphic and pictorial images featured in Daoist manuals omnipresent in south China and, as this research shows, neighboring Vietnam. Used during the ritual of salvation of the soul of a deceased, these manuals present numerous talismans that formed part of the healing techniques practiced by Daoist priests.


This review provides a perspective on the recent developments in the transmission of light through subwavelength apertures in metal films. The main focus is on the phenomenon of extraordinary optical transmission in periodic hole arrays, discovered over a decade ago. It is shown that surface electromagnetic modes play a key role in the emergence of the resonant transmission. These modes are also shown to be at the root of both the enhanced transmission and beaming of light found in single apertures surrounded by periodic corrugations. This review describes both the theoretical and experimental aspects of the subject. For clarity, the physical mechanisms operating in the different structures considered are analyzed within a common theoretical framework. Several applications based on the transmission properties of subwavelength apertures are also addressed.


Any individual that re-registers an expired domain implicitly inherits the residual trust associated with the domain's prior use. We find that adversaries can, and do, use malicious re-registration to exploit domain ownership changes - undermining the security of both users and systems. In fact, we find that many seemingly disparate security problems share a root cause in residual domain trust abuse. With this study we shed light on the seemingly unnoticed problem of residual domain trust by measuring the scope and growth of this abuse over the past six years. During this time, we identified 27,758 domains from public blacklists and 238,279 domains resolved by malware that expired and then were maliciously re-registered. To help address this problem, we propose a technical remedy and discuss several policy remedies. For the former, we develop Alembic, a lightweight algorithm that uses only passive observations from the Domain Name System (DNS) to flag potential domain ownership changes. We identify several instances of residual trust abuse using this algorithm, including an expired APT domain that could be used to revive existing infections.


Abstract. Satellite remote sensing of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can provide valuable information for estimating surface nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. Using an exponentially modified Gaussian (EMG) method and taking into account the effect of wind on observed NO2 distributions, we estimate 3-year moving-average emissions of summertime NOx from 35 US (United States) urban areas directly from NO2 retrievals of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) during 2005–2014. Following conclusions of previous studies that the EMG method provides robust and accurate emission estimates under strong-wind conditions, we derive top-down NOx emissions from each urban area by applying the EMG method to OMI data with wind speeds greater than 3–5 m s−1. Meanwhile, we find that OMI NO2 observations under weak-wind conditions (i.e., 0.93) with weak-wind OMI NO2 burdens as well as with bottom-up NOx emission estimates over 35 urban areas, implying a linear response of the OMI observations to surface emissions under weak-wind conditions. The simultaneous EMG-obtained effective NO2 lifetimes (~ 3.5 ± 1.3 h), however, are biased low in comparison to the summertime NO2 chemical lifetimes. In general, isolated urban areas with NOx emission intensities greater than ~ 2 Mg h−1 produce statistically significant weak-wind signals in 3-year average OMI data. From 2005 to 2014, we estimate that total OMI-derived NOx emissions over all selected US urban areas decreased by 49 %, consistent with reductions of 43, 47, 49, and 44 % in the total bottom-up NOx emissions, the sum of weak-wind OMI NO2 columns, the total weak-wind OMI NO2 burdens, and the averaged NO2 concentrations, respectively, reflecting the success of NOx control programs for both mobile sources and power plants. The decrease rates of these NOx-related quantities are found to be faster (i.e., −6.8 to −9.3 % yr−1) before 2010 and slower (i.e., −3.4 to −4.9 % yr−1) after 2010. For individual urban areas, we calculate the R values of pair-wise trends among the OMI-derived and bottom-up NOx emissions, the weak-wind OMI NO2 burdens, and ground-based NO2 measurements, and high correlations are found for all urban areas (median R= 0.8), particularly large ones (R up to 0.97). The results of the current work indicate that using the EMG method and considering the wind effect, the OMI data allow for the estimation of NOx emissions from urban areas and the direct constraint of emission trends with reasonable accuracy.


Purpose: Tumor-specific replication-selective oncolytic virotherapy is a promising antitumor therapy for induction of cell death in tumor cells but not of normal cells. We previously developed an oncolytic adenovirus, OBP-301, that kills human epithelial malignant cells in a telomerase-dependent manner. Recent evidence suggests that nonepithelial malignant cells, which have low telomerase activity, maintain telomere length through alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). However, it remains unclear whether OBP-301 is cytopathic for nonepithelial malignant cells. Here, we evaluated the antitumor effect of OBP-301 on human bone and soft tissue sarcoma cells. Experimental Design: The cytopathic activity of OBP-301, coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) expression, and telomerase activity were examined in 10 bone (OST, U2OS, HOS, HuO9, MNNG/HOS, SaOS-2, NOS-2, NOS-10, NDCS-1, and OUMS-27) and in 4 soft tissue (CCS, NMS-2, SYO-1, and NMFH-1) sarcoma cell lines. OBP-301 antitumor effects were assessed using orthotopic tumor xenograft models. The fiber-modified OBP-301 (termed OBP-405) was used to confirm an antitumor effect on OBP-301–resistant sarcomas. Results: OBP-301 was cytopathic for 12 sarcoma cell lines but not for the non–CAR-expressing OUMS-27 and NMFH-1 cells. Sensitivity to OBP-301 was dependent on CAR expression and not on telomerase activity. ALT-type sarcomas were also sensitive to OBP-301 because of upregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA following virus infection. Intratumoral injection of OBP-301 significantly suppressed the growth of OST and SYO-1 tumors. Furthermore, fiber-modified OBP-405 showed antitumor effects on OBP-301–resistant OUMS-27 and NMFH-1 cells. Conclusions: A telomerase-specific oncolytic adenovirus is a promising antitumor reagent for the treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Clin Cancer Res; 17(7); 1828–38. ©2011 AACR.


Drawing on ten years of undercover work and research in four major school districts, Lydia Segal reveals how systemic waste and fraud siphon millions of dollars from urban classrooms. Segal shows how money is lost in systems that focus on process rather than on results, and how regulations established to curb waste and fraud provide perverse incentives for new forms of both. Calling for renewed powers for principals and a streamlining of oversight, Segal offers a bold, far-reaching plan to reclaim our schools.


This essay reads Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem, Fears in Solitude, in the context of the letters, memoirs, pamphlets, prints and caricatures that were produced in Britain during the 1797-98 French invasion scare. The essay will explore the ways in which these written and visual products attempted to evoke, express and even suppress feelings of fear, anxiety and terror and aims to understand Coleridge's 'fears' in the context of these feelings. In particular, the essay will examine how Coleridge's poem responds to the heightened alertness following the Fishguard landing in February 1797. In Fears in Solitude, Coleridge is deeply ambivalent about his stance towards his own country and his attitude towards the French. Reviewers and scholars have long been debating the poem's pro- or anti-war stance, and whether or not it is part of a contemporary alarmist discourse. Many broadsides, handbills and pamphlets published during this period warned about the horrors of a possible French invasion. They were funded by royalist associations with the sole aim of propagating fear across the nation. While these publications contributed to a widespread discourse of alarm, others, especially the visual culture of the period, challenged and ridiculed such fearmongering. Military and naval accounts and other first-hand narratives gave voice to the feelings pervading this time of psychological warfare, and explored the extent to which the horrors of war did come home intimately to affect the individual body and mind during this time. Read in the context of such contemporary texts, Coleridge's poem emerges as an artistic discourse designed reflectively to manage his own and the nation's fears instead of perpetuating the feeling itself.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
AKI is common and novel biomarkers may help provide earlier diagnosis and prognosis of AKI in the postoperative period.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS
This was a prospective, multicenter cohort study involving 1219 adults and 311 children consecutively enrolled at eight academic medical centers. Performance of two urine biomarkers, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), alone or in combination with other injury biomarkers during the perioperative period was evaluated. AKI was defined as doubling of serum creatinine or need for acute dialysis.

RESULTS
KIM-1 peaked 2 days after surgery in adults and 1 day after surgery in children, whereas L-FABP peaked within 6 hours after surgery in both age groups. In multivariable analyses, the highest quintile of the first postoperative KIM-1 level was associated with AKI compared with the lowest quintile in adults, whereas the first postoperative L-FABP was not associated with AKI. Both KIM-1 and L-FABP were not significantly associated with AKI in adults or children after adjusting for other kidney injury biomarkers (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and IL-18). The highest area under the curves achievable for discrimination for AKI were 0.78 in adults using urine KIM-1 from 6 to 12 hours, urine IL-18 from day 2, and plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin from day 2 and 0.78 in children using urine IL-18 from 0 to 6 hours and urine L-FABP from day 2.

CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative elevations of KIM-1 associate with AKI and adverse outcmes in adults but were not independent of other AKI biomarkers. A panel of multiple biomarkers provided moderate discrimination for AKI.


This paper evaluates the impact of the European Commission's Proposal for a Council directive on the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) (COM(2011) 121/4). We analyze the impact of the apportionment formula to be applied to the CCCTB on the revenues of the Slovak state budget. The sample of our analysis is composed of eleven transnational corporations operating in the Slovak Republic and other EU member states. The results indicate a decrease in tax revenues under the proposed CCCTB system in comparison to the current national tax legislation. By contrast, according to the data available, the likelihood that Slovakia will benefit from the CCCTB system by collecting more taxes seems to be low.


The tests described in this paper afford a direct comparison of the efficiency and smoothness of flow obtained with propeller fan and multiblade centrifugal fan drives in the same wind tunnel. The propeller fan was found to be superior to the centrifugal fan in that the efficiency was about twice as great, and the flow much smoother.


The hypothesis is offered that relative brightness judgments are based upon experience with the way the amount of light reflected by objects changes with their distance from the light source.The experimental results support this hypothesis. One group of 40 subjects judged half brightness, and another 40 estimated the change in luminance corresponding to moving a hidden point light source to twice the distance from an illuminated standard field. Judgments of the two groups were equivalent.Under stimulus conditions designed to represent the common visual situation (stimuli subtending wide visual angles, adaptation approximating stimulus levels), one quarter the standard luminance was correctly chosen for the effect of doubling distance from the source, and the same fraction was chosen for half brightness for all standard intensities (0.00086 to 87 millilamberts).Under less familiar conditions similar to those employed for the bril scale (small stimuli with black backgrounds, indeterminate levels of adaptation) half brightness judgments were again equivalent to estimates of the effect of doubling distance from object to light source. These estimates were less than one-quarter standard luminance.The hypothesis is discussed in terms of sensory scaling in general, and the neutral value and bril scales in particular.


This study aims at investigating the nexus between natural resource endowment and economic growth using a sample of West African countries. The study adopted a Barrow-type growth model to analyse the impact of natural resource wealth on economic growth. A dynamic panel estimation technique was employed using relevant data from West African Countries. The results from the panel regressions indicate that natural resource endowments have very minimal impact in terms of promoting economic growth in West Africa, more so in resource rich countries. In terms of relative effects, the results indicate that a 10% increase in natural resource export reduces growth in income per capita by approximately 0.4%. Part of the factors explaining this finding amongst others; include high corruption in the public sector as well as the frequency of civil conflicts in resource rich economies of West Africa. For the natural resources of the region to fully benefit its citizens, these countries require , urgently, to improve management of natural resource export revenues and to apply effective policy measures to eradicate/ mitigate incidences of rampant corruption in the public sector.


Field performance of the Heliothis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larval parasitoids Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) and Cardiochiles nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was assessed at various parasitoid densities and on different plants. Laboratory-reared M. croceipes were released in field plots of soybeans and peanuts at levels of ca. 400 and 1,350/ha. Observed and calculated data indicate that over a 4-day period parasitism levels of 45 and 95%, respectively, would be obtained with M. croceipes at these levels on soybeans. Performance of M. croceipes on peanuts was less consistent, but in one study, 71% parasitism was obtained during a 2-day interval after releases of 1,344 females/ha. The searching behavior and efficiency of C. nigriceps females were studied on the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab L.) and Florida beggarweed (Desmodium purpureum (Mill.)). Observed and calculated data indicate that populations of 2,622 and 5,371 females/ha on the hyacinth bean and beggarweed, respectively, would yield 80% parasitism, as compared to earlier studies showing that 988-1,142 females/ha yield this level of parasitism on cotton. These findings show that the efficiency of the parasitoids varies considerably on different host plants. The distribution of searching parasitoids within the experimental plots and the distribution of their eggs among the host larvae did not differ significantly from a random (Poisson) pattern.


Allocation of fisheries resources to recreational fishers via Recreational Only Fishing
Areas (ROFAs) is becoming increasingly common in all developed countries,
particularly in coastal areas. ROFAs are often introduced with the expectation that such
action will segregate competing recreational and commercial fishers (by excluding
commercial fishers) and thus resolve apparent conflict over previously shared fisheries
resources. ROFAs also have the expected benefit of improving recreational catch
quality for previously shared species. Whether these benefits are realised, however, is
unknown because little monitoring of outcomes occurs post-ROFA implementation.

Using questionnaires of recreational and commercial fishers and collection of
fishery-dependent and fishery-independent recreational catch data, this study
investigated the outcomes of ROFAs in north Queensland estuaries. Specifically, the
study examined: the nature and source of conflict between recreational and
commercial fishers competing for shared barramundi stocks; whether current estuarine
ROFAs are successful in segregating and reducing conflict between these sectors; and
whether ROFAs result in improved recreational catches of barramundi.

Results from the questionnaires show that while recreational fishers (anglers)
have high expectations of ROFAs and would like more implemented, most anglers are
unaware of locations of current ROFAs, and do not deliberately choose to use them.
Consequently, current ROFAs are not increasing segregation of recreational and
commercial fishers. Moreover, contact between the recreational and commercial
sectors appears to already be limited due to time segregation (commercial netting is
not allowed in estuaries on weekends) and the finding that most commercial fishers
avoid areas heavily occupied by recreational fishers. Thus the conflict between these
sectors does not appear to be due to high levels of direct contact.

Investigations of the perceptions of fishers from both sectors via the
questionnaire program revealed that the underlying conflict between commercial and
recreational fishers in north Queensland appears to be based on mutual
misperceptions of the competing sector's operations and impacts, particularly from
anglers. Such misperceptions lead to blame (i.e. anglers blame commercial fishers) for
negative outcomes such as (real or perceived) catch declines. ROFAs do not address
this problem of mutual misperceptions of fishers and are therefore unlikely to resolve
this conflict in the long-term. Increased communication between sectors and education
from fisheries managers and researchers and stakeholder representatives regarding
each sector's operations and impacts on the resource is more likely to reduce conflict. Such actions should reduce misperceptions, adjusting attitudes of fishers to be more
positive towards the competing sector, and hence reducing conflict.

Despite anecdotal claims and expectations of improved recreational catches of
barramundi in ROFAs compared to open estuaries in north Queensland, fishery dependent
(from charter fishing records, voluntary recreational catch logbooks, and
personal fisher time series records) and fishery-independent (in the form of structured
fishing surveys) recreational catch data collected though this study did not reveal
improvements in catch per unit effort or success rates for barramundi in ROFAs.
Results did show that the average size of barramundi caught in ROFAs was larger than
those caught in the open estuaries, though the reason for this difference in size
structure is unknown. Further investigation into why recreational catch benefits are not
being realised and what this may mean for barramundi populations is required. Results
imply natural variation may be more influential on barramundi populations than fishing,
or that recreational fishing is highly variable and not a good indicator of stock structure
and abundance.

Overall, results of this project suggest current estuarine ROFAs in north
Queensland are not resulting in the expected benefits: i.e. they are not reducing conflict
between recreational and commercial fishers or resulting in improved recreational
catches of barramundi. This study highlights the importance of determining the source
of conflict, and collecting quality time-series recreational catch data before and after
ROFA implementation. Future studies should aim to examine both the costs and
expected benefits of ROFAs to determine whether benefits outweigh the costs
involved. Costs and benefits should be examined from a multi-disciplinary approach,
including social, ecological and economic aspects.


PTAEDA2 is a distance-dependent, individual tree model that simulates the growth and yield of a plantation of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) on an annual basis. The MAESTRO model utilizes an array of trees in a stand to calculate and integrate the effects of biological and physical variables on the photosynthesis and respiration processes of a target tree on an hourly basis. PTAEDA2 sums the quantities for individual trees to obtain stand results; MAESTRO computes values for one tree at a time. These models were linked to provide a tool for further understanding stand, climatic, and edaphic effects on tree and forest productivity. PTAEDA2 predicts the characteristics of trees grown at a given stand density, on a given site, for a given length of time. These characteristics (outputs) are then used as direct inputs into MAESTRO which assesses the expected impact of environmental changes on tree function. The results from MAESTRO are fed back into PTAEDA2 to update future predictions by modifying the site index driver variable of the growth and yield model. An equation that predicts changes in site index as a function of net photosynthesis, age, and trees per unit area is the backbone of the dynamic linkage. The model changes required to link PTAEDA2 to MAESTRO were developed and reported earlier. This article reviews the earlier work and reports research results quantifying the relationships between net photosynthesis and the PTAEDA2 growth predictors, thus providing the basis for the MAESTRO to PTAEDA2 feedback process and integration of these two models. FOR. SCI. 47(1)77-82.


In next generation technology-enhanced learning environments, intelligent educational systems can benefit from tapping into multi-agent, adaptive, gamified learning experiences, which transform the traditional instructional paradigm from classroom-based learning to personalised learning in any setting, whether collective or individual. Such settings enable learning targeted to each individual's learning styles and needs, through the use of autonomous technological agents as actuators of the learning process. Learning components which will respond to the needs of such an educational framework should provide capabilities for adaptive, affective and interactive learning, automatic feedback and automatic assessment of the learners' behavioural state. A novel methodology is proposed to model such components, which focuses on the representation and management of learning objects (LOs) for any educational domain, any type of learner and learning style and any learning methodology, while fostering non-linearity in the educational process. This methodology is supported by a strategy for modelling and adapting re-usable learning objectives, coupled with an ontology that enables scalable and personalized decision-making over learning activities on autonomous devices, enabling dynamic modularisation of learning material during the learning process.


BACKGROUND
The most robust neurocognitive effect of marijuana use is memory impairment. Memory deficits are also high among persons living with HIV/AIDS, and marijuana is the most commonly used drug in this population. Yet research examining neurocognitive outcomes resulting from co-occurring marijuana and HIV is limited.

OBJECTIVE
The primary objectives of this comprehensive review are to: (1) examine the literature on memory functioning in HIV-infected individuals; (2) examine the literature on memory functioning in marijuana users; (3) synthesize findings and propose a theoretical framework to guide future research.

METHOD
PubMed was searched for English publications 2000-2013. Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria in the HIV literature, and 23 studies in the marijuana literature.

RESULTS
Among HIV-infected individuals, memory deficits with medium to large effect sizes were observed. Marijuana users also demonstrated memory problems, but results were less consistent due to the diversity of samples.

CONCLUSION
A compensatory hypothesis, based on the cognitive aging literature, is proposed to provide a framework to explore the interaction between marijuana and HIV. There is some evidence that individuals infected with HIV recruit additional brain regions during memory tasks to compensate for HIV-related declines in neurocognitive functioning. Marijuana is associated with disturbance in similar brain systems, and thus it is hypothesized that the added neural strain of marijuana can exhaust neural resources, resulting in pronounced memory impairment. It will be important to test this hypothesis empirically, and future research priorities are discussed.


Mary marries Charlie Turner, a poor white South African farmer. As her loneliness and unhappiness increase, she falls obsessively in love with her black servant, yet she still treats him cruelly, as with all black people. "Penguin Readers" is a series of simplified novels, film novelizations and original titles that introduce students at all levels to the pleasures of reading in English. Originally designed for teaching English as a foreign language, the series' combination of high interest level and low reading age makes it suitable for both English-speaking teenagers with limited reading skills and students of English as a second language. Many titles in the series also provide access to the pre-20th century literature strands of the National Curriculum English Orders. "Penguin Readers" are graded at seven levels of difficulty, from "Easystarts" with a 200-word vocabulary, to Level 6 (Advanced) with a 3000-word vocabulary. In addition, titles fall into one of three sub-categories: "Contemporary", "Classics" or "Originals". At the end of each book there is a section of enjoyable exercises focusing on vocabulary building, comprehension, discussion and writing. Some titles in the series are available with an accompanying audio cassette, or in a book and cassette pack. Additionally, selected titles have free accompanying "Penguin Readers Factsheets" which provide stimulating exercise material for students, as well as suggestions for teachers on how to exploit the Readers in class.


The dynamic properties of flare ribbons and the often associated filament eruptions can provide crucial information on the flaring coronal magnetic field. This Letter analyzes the GOES-class X1.0 flare on 2014 March 29 (SOL2014-03-29T17:48), in which we found an asymmetric eruption of a sigmoidal filament and an ensuing circular flare ribbon. Initially both EUV images and a preflare nonlinear force-free field model show that the filament is embedded in magnetic fields with a fan-spine-like structure. In the first phase, which is defined by a weak but still increasing X-ray emission, the western portion of the sigmoidal filament arches upward and then remains quasi-static for about five minutes. The western fan-like and the outer spine-like fields display an ascending motion, and several associated ribbons begin to brighten. Also found is a bright EUV flow that streams down along the eastern fan-like field. In the second phase that includes the main peak of hard X-ray (HXR) emission, the filament erupts, leaving behind two major HXR sources formed around its central dip portion and a circular ribbon brightened sequentially. The expanding western fan-like field interacts intensively with the outer spine-like field, as clearly seen in running difference EUV images. We discuss these observations in favor of a scenario where the asymmetric eruption of the sigmoidal filament is initiated due to an MHD instability and further facilitated by reconnection at a quasi-null in corona; the latter is in turn enhanced by the filament eruption and subsequently produces the circular flare ribbon.


This article is a textual analysis that compares features of the 1807 edition of The Book of the Duchess with its predecessors. The Book of the Duchess features, has been chosen for this analysis because, in a practical sense, it is limited enough to be manageable, but more importantly, it is a significant poem in Chaucer's oeuvre and its authority has never been questioned. Thus, it has appeared in every printed edition of the works of Chaucer, providing this study with extensive points for comparison. The editor of the 1807 edition claims that his work is newly edited—a claim that many editors of Chaucer's works made, without much effort to see through. In reality, the editor appears to have taken Thomas Tywhitt's second edition of the Canterbury Tales, and used this as the basis for editing the non-Canterbury Tales texts. It is something of an homage to Tyrwhitt's editing.


Equitable access to healthy food is a multifaceted issue faced by many underserved populations. Intimate understanding of individual communities' food practices allows for the creation of community-based interventions that elaborate upon specific needs and desires. Through collaborative research and action, this study aims to become better informed of the current eating habits of community members participating in The Happy Kitchen program at Wesley Rankin Community Center in West Dallas, how those habits have changed over time, and the factors that contribute to access and utilization of a healthy diet. This research seeks to develop a dialectical relationship between the participants and GROW North Texas to design relevant cooking classes and interventions in West Dallas; thereby increasing access to and consumption of nutritious food.


The reigning assumption in migration and development studies is that international
migration promotes development in places and countries of origin. But this idea lacks a theoretical and empirical basis: it ignores the root causes underlying the exodus of millions of poor workers forced to struggle for their survival in the developed nations; it discards the contributions made by migrants to the economy of the receiving countries, and obfuscates the many transferences and costs migration represents for sending countries–loses that are not compensated by remittance flow. This article proposes the construction of a comprehensive approach to the phenomenon through six theses that analyze key aspects of the global capitalist restructuring process in practice during the past three decades. The Mexico-United States case is used as a paradigmatic example of the socioeconomic losses incurred by workforce-exporting nations and the enormous benefits reaped by labor-importing countries.


The area of the Vinodol Valley and Bakar Bay represents a NW‒SE oriented valley in the NW Adriatic characterised by prominent historical and instrumentally recorded seismicity. As part of the greater geodynamic domain including the Ilirska Bistrica–Rijeka–Senj seismogenic fault zone, new geological and structural data addressing the tectonic evolution of the area were collected in order to better understand the focal mechanisms of previous earthquakes and to enable identification of potential seismogenic sources.
Mapped informal lithostratigraphic units mostly correspond to the Upper Cretaceous, Palaeogene and Quaternary successions described in other parts of the External Dinarides. However, a shorter stratigraphic range of the Gornji Humac fm., the youngest Cretaceous unit in the study area, was determined and suggests that the uplifted area in the central NW part of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform already comprised several thousand km2 (from W and NW Istria to Krk and Vinodol area) at the end of the Turonian.
Structural measurements of the fault planes in the study area generally correspond to the existing structural model of the tectonic evolution of the Dinarides. However, in contrast to the SW vergences typical of the Dinarides, NE-vergent reverse structures are common, especially along the SW margin of the Vinodol Valley. Cross-cutting relationships suggest that transpressional (NW–SE and NE–SW striking dextral and sinistral faults) and extensional features (NW–SE and NE–SW striking normal faults) are structurally concurrent or younger than the reverse faults, suggesting a change in the palaeostress field during the Neogene–Quaternary, with prevalent transpression and radial extension. Comparison of results of the palaeostress field analysis and the constructed synthetic focal mechanisms on one side, with available focal mechanism solutions for earthquakes within the Ilirska Bistrica–Rijeka–Senj seismogenic fault zone on the other, shows a favourable orientation of the observed NW‒SE and NE‒SW striking faults with respect to the recent compressional/transpressional stress field (N‒S oriented P-axis), indicating these as potential seismogenic sources within the study area.


The thesis is concerned with the strategic analysis of carp culture development in Iran, based on an assessment of the supply potential from various forms of carp farming, and on the potential demand, market features and price determinants for carp and carp products. Based on a sample of 188 farms from the three main carp farming provinces plus two case studies, all farmers in all locations and categories made a profit, with feed and fertiliser dominating variable costs. Considerable variation in production costs and profitability was observed. Where some degree of investment and support services have been provided, major increases in output have occurred. The culture of carp is technically possible in a variety of conditions within the country, though, expanding large scale farming mainly depends on reducing the cost of feed and fertiliser. Future targets could be to integrate with other agricultural activities, intensify smaller farms in the Caspian area, and consider developing larger scale commercial production in Khuzestan. A market and consumer survey was conducted, including a sample of 357 consumers in Tehran and Karaj, and 96 sellers in II main cities from 6 provinces. Younger consumers had the strongest preferences for ready meals product, while to increase consumption, a rise in income and decline in price will have a greater effect on older groups, larger sized families and educated people. The growing willingness to buy new product forms, particularly by younger consumers, educated groups, inland urban dwellers and highmiddle income groups might be expected to increase demand. A range of supply/demand scenarios has been presented, offering projections for the year 2010, suggested target levels of 284,000-348,000 t. In broad terms a policy for carp production was described to meet these targets. As in developing markets elsewhere, the traditional wholesale sector may lose its position as multiple retailers and supermarket chains become increasingly important outlets for carp and its products, and opportunities may arise for adding value in a range of ways. Within rural areas, and smaller cities, consumers may also increase their ability to buy fresh fish at the farm gate or at local outlets.


Excerpt] Security valuation techniques have become increasingly sophisticated, as evidenced by advances in option pricing theory and Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT). Despite the availability of these paradigms, the price/earnings (P/E) approach to security valuation has maintained its popularity among practicing security analysts. Much of this lasting popularity can be attributed to the apparent simplicity of the P/E approach and the difficulties inherent in implementing complex valuation models. To implement the P/E approach, analysts must estimate the appropriate P/E multiple, which typically requires the development of a model. Unfortunately, most of the P/E models that have been developed use ad hoc empirical tests and historical data. One notable exception is a study by Cragg and Malkiel, which tested a theoretical P/E model using analysts' forecasts for a nonrandom sample of 175 large firms. This note extends the work of Cragg and Malkiel in two ways. First, it is not restricted to large firms; all firms with complete data are included in the empirical tests. Second, the model includes some factors not considered by other researchers.


Purpose There is no independent standardized self-management approach available for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this project was to develop and test a novel self-management manual for individuals with COPD. Patients Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD were recruited from primary care. Methods A novel self-management manual was developed with health care professionals and patients. Five focus groups were conducted with individuals with COPD (N = 24) during development to confirm and enhance the content of the prototype manual. The Self-management Programme of Activity, Coping and Education for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (SPACE for COPD) manual was developed as the focus of a comprehensive self-management approach facilitated by health care professionals. Preference for delivery was initial face-to-face consultation with telephone follow-up. The SPACE for COPD manual was piloted with 37 participants in primary care. Outcome measures included the Self-Report Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire, Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, and Endurance Shuttle Walking Test (ESWT); measurements were taken at baseline and 6 weeks. Results The pilot study observed statistically significant improvements for the dyspnea domain of the Self-Report Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire and ESWT. Dyspnea showed a mean change of 0.67 (95% confidence interval 0.23–1.11, P = 0.005). ESWT score increased by 302.25 seconds (95% confidence interval 161.47–443.03, P < 0.001). Conclusion This article describes the development and delivery of a novel self-management approach for COPD. The program, incorporating the SPACE for COPD manual, appears to provoke important changes in exercise capacity and breathlessness for individuals with COPD managed in primary care.


Ryanodine receptors, which function as calcium channels activated by binding of cyclic ADP ribose (cADPr), are present in nuclear membranes with their ligand binding sites facing the nucleoplasm. However, it has not been clear whether cADPr produced in the cytoplasm can cross nuclear membranes to reach such binding sites. Adebanjo et al. now report that ADP-ribose cyclase or CD38, the membrane-associated enzyme that generates cADPr from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), is present in the inner nuclear membrane, with its catalytic region on the nucloplasmic side. In isolated nuclei from mammalian MC3T3.E1 cells treated to allow storage of calcium in the nuclear envelope, NAD+ or cADPr caused increases in the concentration of nucleoplasmic calcium. The authors propose that cADPR generated in the nucleoplasm may cause transport of calcium across the inner nuclear membrane through ryanodine receptors and could thereby influence gene expression. Adebanjo, O.A., Anandatheerthavarada, H.K., Koval, A.P., Moonga, B.S., Biswas, G., Sun, L., Sodam, B.R., Bevis, P.J.R., Huang, C.L.-H., Epstein, S., Lai, F.A., Avadhani, N.G., and Zaidi, M. (1999) A new function for CD38/ADP-ribosyl cyclase in nuclear calcium homeostasis. Nature Cell Biol. 1: 409-414. [Online Journal]


Abstract Integrating multiple metrics derived from stream macroinvertebrate communities into single scores that reflect ecological condition can bridge the needs of multiple groups using biomonitoring data. Macroinvertebrate metrics from 511 Waikato, New Zealand, stream samples were standardised by their maximum observed value. Metric redundancy and optimisation processes identified three standardised metrics from an initial set of 17 that provided greatest discrimination between reference sites and those influenced by urbanisation or high levels of pastoral development: the richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera excluding Hydroptilidae (EPT*), % EPT* and the macroinvertebrate community index (MCI). The mean of these standardised metrics was used to calculate the average score per metric (ASPM). Narrative condition bands were developed based on the lower SD of individual metrics for reference samples to distinguish "very high" values, and metric quartiles between this point and a hypothetical worst‐case community were used to define "high", "moderate", "low", and "very low" bands. When compared with its component metrics, the ASPM distinguished reference conditions and low‐moderate levels of catchment modification and local habitat degradation more accurately than EPT* richness or MCI, and displayed lower temporal variability within reference sites than either EPT* metric. The ASPM was calculated for an independent test data set of urban and reference sites which, respectively, were allocated to low‐very low and high‐very high narrative condition bands. This analysis suggests that prudent application of the ASPM can provide a parsimonious and effective screening tool for assessing the condition of wadeable streams where more complex methods are not practical.


Context Over the past 15 years, a philosophical renaissance has emerged within the educational research literature, raising conundrums about the nature of knowledge and how to acquire it. To date, such philosophical conundrums have not been directly posed in relation to pedagogical research, particularly our understanding of what constitutes quality in teaching. Purpose Our purpose in writing this article is to focus a philosophical lens on quality teaching in general, and the High-Quality Teaching (HQT) study in particular, an examination of what teachers do to help fourth- and fifth-grade students succeed in reading and mathematics. Our intent is to demonstrate how such philosophical scrutiny can lead to a fuller understanding of high-quality teaching in its varied manifestations. Research Design This article is an analytical essay. We first identify multiple philosophical threads (epistemological perspectives on knowledge) that can be used to characterize education broadly, and teaching specifically. We next demonstrate how these epistemological perspectives have informed our understandings of quality teaching, the nature of mathematics and reading education, and the use of different research paradigms to investigate teaching and learning. Finally, we apply these epistemological threads to the HQT study retrospectively, highlighting how identifying them helps us better understand our own work and the effects of the decisions that we made. Conclusions Our philosophical scrutiny leads us to conclude that efforts to engage in meaningful and informative research on teachers and teaching would be enhanced if the epistemological threads of such research were explicit and valued components in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and interpretation of research results.


This book contains ten extended abstracts submitted by PhD students of the Doctoral
Program in Water Science and Technology within the framework of our annual
meeting. The meeting was addressed to undergraduates, master and doctoral students
interested in the ongoing research, current and future applications in the field of water
science and technology. With this purpose, doctoral students were asked to summarize
their ongoing activities in the format of an outreach scientific paper, with scientific
rigor, but attractive, highlighting its innovative and most relevant aspects and potential
applications.
This book of abstracts is not an extensive summary of the research training done in the
doctoral program; it is the result of a training activity resulting in a sample of the
diversity of topics of the program and the different steps followed during the three to
four years of a PhD: starting with the research plan; followed by the research activities
and completed with the writing and edition of a doctoral thesis. It is organized in
research topics: environmental chemistry, genetics, microbiology, ecology and
ecotoxicology and chemical engineering, covering a part of the research lines of the
program. First year students like Giulia Gionchetta, David Cunillera-Montcusi and Pau
Gimeno provide interesting summaries of their research plans, full of ideas and
hypothesis that will be responded in the following years. The first set of results is
clearly presented by Ruben Vera, Vicente Luis Jimenez Ontiveros, Elena Hernandez-del
Amo, Laia Planella and Laura Barral, who are in the middle of their thesis. Ruben, for
instance, summarizes his first findings on a new type of membranes for chemical
speciation studies, whereas Vicente provides evidences demonstrating that microbial
diversity in lakes changes over time. We have also two doctoral students presenting a
summary of their whole PhD, Imma Nogerola, with interesting findings about the role
of bacteria (Epsilon proteobacteria) linking C and S cycling and Baigal-Amar
Tuulaikhuu summarizing her findings on the influence of Arsenic on freshwater biofilm
and fish


IIn mid September 2001, Jennifer Campbell, the chief financial officer of this large CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) equipment manufacturer must decide whether to pay out dividends to the firms shareholders, or repurchase stock. If Campbell chooses to pay out dividends, she must also decide on the magnitude of the payout. A subsidiary question is whether the firm should embark on a campaign of corporate-image advertising and change its corporate name to reflect its new outlook. The case serves as an omnibus review of the many practical aspects of the dividend and share buyback decisions, including: (1) signaling effects, (2) clientele effects, and (3) finance and investment implications of increasing dividend payout and share repurchase decisions. This case can follow a treatment of the Miller-Modigliani dividend irrelevance theorem and serves to highlight practical considerations in setting dividend policy.


BACKGROUND
Cities across the U.S. and internationally are adopting Bus Rapid Transit to improve transit services for residents. Features of Bus Rapid Transit include fewer stops, dedicated bus lanes, and expedited systems for boarding busses, compared with regular bus service. This study examines whether Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) ridership is associated with increased rates of walking, because of the greater distance between BRT stops compared with regular bus service.

METHODS
Surveys were conducted with riders of local and BRT buses for New York City's M15 Select Bus Service line. Surveys examined bus ridership, health status and physical activity, walking rates, and demographic information.

RESULTS
BRT riders reported walking approximately half a block more than did local bus riders. The average number of blocks walked decreased for BRT riders who previously used the subway before the implementation of the BRT.

CONCLUSIONS
BRT may be a useful tool to support walking for some groups. Depending on where it is implemented, BRT may also be associated with reduced walking among users who switch to BRT from other active transportation modes. Future research should examine associations between walking and BRT ridership with a larger sample and more sites.


ABSTRACT Tanks holding liquid high level waste from reprocessing spent fuel have large inventories of highly radioactive materials. These tanks could potentially be damaged by a variety of chemical explosions, leading to the dispersion of a significant fraction of their radioactive contents. This article describes some of the different chemical explosions that could occur and examines how such explosions could occur at the Kalpakkam Reprocessing Plant in India, which likely stores a large volume of high level liquid waste because vitrification of that waste did not begin until more than 15 years after the plant began operating in 1998. The atmospheric dispersion of the hypothetical radioactive release is modeled using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model developed by the Air Research Laboratory of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The results suggest that the modeled accident scenario would lead to nearly 97,000 cancers, with roughly 47,000 of these being fatal. Larger radioactive releases are possible and would lead to proportionately higher incidence of cancer and cancer-caused mortality.


Background: Recent studies in childhood cancer suggest that maternal vitamin supplementation may reduce the risk of leukaemia, neuroblastoma and certain types of childhood brain tumours. For example, a previous study found a significantly reduced risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) but not acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in children with Down syndrome whose mothers reported any vitamin supplement use prior to knowledge of pregnancy (ALL OR adjusted for confounders 0.51, 95% confidence limits (CL): 0.30, 0.89; AML OR adjusted for confounders 0.92, 95% CL 0.48, 1.76). Recall of exposures, including maternal vitamin supplement use, however, may be difficult and subject to error. Epidemiologists are encouraged to quantitatively adjust for systematic error in study results, but often do not. Methods: The impact that misclassification of maternal vitamin supplement use may have had on the observed ORs in this study was quantified. Uncertainty analysis was used to calculate ORs adjusted for inaccurate reporting of vitamin supplement use under assumed probability distributions for exposure misclassification parameters. Results: Given our assumptions, adjustment for exposure misclassification yielded ORs that were predominantly more protective for ALL than the crude OR. Conclusions: Uncertainty analysis can give important insights into the magnitude and direction of error in study results due to exposure misclassification.


Abstract Fifty years ago, John McCarthy and James Painter (1967) published the first paper on compiler verification, in which they showed how to formally prove the correctness of a compiler that translates arithmetic expressions into code for a register-based machine. In this article, we revisit this example in a modern context, and show how such a compiler can now be calculated directly from a specification of its correctness using simple equational reasoning techniques.


The adoption of game mechanics into serious contexts such as business applications (gamification) is a promising trend to improve the user's participation and engagement with the software in question and on the job. However, this topic is mainly driven by practitioners. A theoretical model for gamification with appropriate empirical validation is missing. In this paper, we introduce a prototype for gamification using SAP ERP as example. Moreover, we have evaluated the concept within a comprehensive user study with 112 participants based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) using partial least squares (PLS) for analysis. Finally, we show that this gamification approach yields significant improvements in latent variables such as enjoyment, flow or perceived ease of use. Moreover, we outline further research requirements in the domain of gamification.


Expert system rules have been developed through the use of principal components analysis (PCA) for discriminating compounds containing large molecular substructures from their condensed-phase infrared spectra. With the use of this approach, the presence of substructures such as those of barbiturates, cocaines, and amphetamines can be recognized automatically. The classification rule can be generated from a PCA of a small training set of infrared spectra of compounds containing the substructure of interest. One important use of this type of expert system is the analysis of direct-deposition capillary gas and supercritical fluid chromatographic separations in which many peaks are eluted and analyzed by FT-IR spectrometry but only one or two contain the substructure of interest. Classification rules for substructures are easy to generate with little or no knowledge of characteristic group frequencies.