Coastal Partnerships (CPs) have emerged since the early 1990s as a local and regional response to the national coastal management policy vacuum in the United Kingdom (UK). CPs are voluntary groupings of stakeholders aspiring to improved coastal resource use through integrated coastal management (ICM). CPs use the rationale of deliberative consensus building to develop and implement multi-sectoral coastal management strategies to deliver ICM. Despite the significance of CPs, there has been a lack of research into their effectiveness in securing meaningful representation of stakeholder views in decision-making. Poor stakeholder representation has the potential to undermine the credibility, legitimacy, accountability and democratic basis of CP management outputs.
Through a telephone interview schedule with CP officers in the UK, the procedures and safeguards in place to accommodate stakeholder representation were evaluated. Results indicated that CPs have restrictive and variable membership criteria and unclear decision making procedures. These limitations exposed CPs to poor inclusivity and served to maintain existing power relations amongs stakeholders. It was also apparent that CPs had little information concerning the legitimacy of those representing stakeholder constituencies, potentially risking exposure to misrepresentattion. In order to examine these issues further, four case study CPs were selected and a personal interview schedule undertaken with stakeholder representatives. It was found that representatives were, in general the legitimate representative of their constituency, that most held a trustee relationship with their constituency, but generally had limited accountability - both individually and collectively. Representatives perceived the decision-making process of CPs to favour already powerful groups, which served to limit the credibility of the CP amongst the membership.
The concept of secure representation was developed to describe circumstances in which stakeholder representation could be assured. It was determined that secure representation occurred when representatives were responsive to their constituency, when CPs had an inclusive membership and when decision-making was fair to all involved. Specific internal and external management measures to deliver secure representation were defined. This facilitated the development of a conceptual model that mapped secure representation against specific management measures. The model allowed particular routes to be identified for CPs to enhance their secure representation. It was concluded that both the procedures and safeguards within CPs and the management measures within stakeholder constituencies required reform. Central to this reform was the need for CPs to extend their sphere of influence to enhance the representation of stakeholder constituencies within coastal decision-making


The main aim of this thesis is to consider R.S. Thomas's struggle with identity during the
early years of his career, primarily from birth up until his move to the parish of
Aberdaron in 1967. It is an analysis both of the poet's personal life and his public,
national role as a poet, examining the tensions present between his numerous, conflicting
identities.
The discussion is separated into three main chapters. The introductory passage takes into
consideration the various ways R.S. Thomas is constructed by his critics and by the
media, concentrating in particular on the varying responses to his death in 2000. Chapter
1 then moves on to discuss notions of the uncanny, as proposed by Sigmund Freud and
the critic Nicholas Royle, as a means of exploring Thomas's feelings of alienation and
displacement throughout childhood and early adult life.
Chapter 2 is a comparative study of R.S. Thomas and the Scots vernacular poet Hugh
MacDiarmid, which looks at how MacDiarmid provides for Thomas a model of Celtic
regeneration, enabling Thomas to relocate himself in a cultural context, and also to
explore the cultural and linguistic tensions he feels within Wales, as an English-language
poet.
Chapter 3 then attempts to relate the uncanny to issues of post-colonial theory, using the
work of Homi K. Bhabha and David Punter as a means of providing a more theoretical
basis in the form of the unhomely, and to show how Thomas's political poetry presents
Wales as a terrifying, and often unreal territory within which the poet evidently felt both
disorientated and displaced.
This study concludes by considering various notions of personal, cultural and spiritual
unity as they are presented in Thomas's work, and how ultimately, Thomas struggled to
counteract the alienating forces of the uncanny and the unhomely, and to strive for a
spiritual unity within himself.


Background. The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-funded Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) aims to support medical education and research in sub-Saharan African institutions. The intention is to increase the quantity, quality and retention of graduates with specific skills addressing the health needs of their populations. While many MEPI programmes include elements of community-based education (CBE), such as community placements, clinical rotations in underserved locations, community medicine, or primary healthcare, the challenge identified by MEPI-supported schools was the need for appropriate approaches and tools to evaluate these activities. This article outlines the process of identifying tools that, with modification, could assist in the evaluation of CBE programmes in participating MEPI schools. Methods. A literature search was carried out to identify approaches and tools that could be used in Africa to evaluate CBE programmes. The search included published, peer-reviewed literature as well as grey literature and websites. Evaluation tools considered appropriate were obtained from the articles or their authors for inclusion in a compendium of example CBE evaluation tools. All tools sourced through the search were entered into a CBE evaluation matrix, which included an analysis of the tool in relation to Kirkpatrick's four levels of evaluation. Results. Out of 37 sources included as appropriate, 8 sets of CBE evaluation tools were obtained for the compendium. Most of the evaluations were quantitative, relied on Likert-type scales, and focused on measuring CBE activities and intermediate outcomes in terms of student learning. When categorised according to the level of the evaluation, the evaluations largely focused on levels 1 and 2 of the Kirkpatrick model, as measured through students' reactions to and learning from the CBE programmes. Tools that focused on student assessment, rather than programme evaluation, were excluded from the final set. Conclusion. With the shortage of published literature on CBE evaluation, the findings of this literature review will assist African medical schools in developing appropriate evaluation approaches and tools.


In this paper, I develop an empirical framework for the analysis of large-scale policies, and apply it to study the effects of school finance reform on the Detroit metropolitan area. Exploiting school finance reform in Michigan in 1994, I estimate a general equilibrium model of multiple jurisdictions with 1990 data from Detroit, predict the 2000 equilibrium, and compare this prediction with 2000 data to validate the model. I conduct counterfactual simulations using the estimates. According to my analysis, feasible revenue-based reforms that ensure spending equity or adequacy have little impact on school quality or household demographics in Detroit. (JEL H75, I22)


This article is a comprehensive critique of the reductionist view of control advocated in recent minimalist studies, most notably Hornstein 1999. The core of this view is the claim that obligatory control should be collapsed with raising, and nonobligatory control with pronominal coreference. I argue that Hornstein's theory (a) overgenerates nonexisting structures and interpretations, (b) fails to derive a wide range of well-known raising/control contrasts, and (c) involves unstated stipulations belying the appeal to Occam's razor.


A delightful and fascinating social history of Victorians at leisure, told through the letters, diaries, journals and novels of nineteenth-century men and women, from the author of the bestselling 'The Victorian House'. Imagine a world where only one in five people owns a book, where just one in ten has a knife or a fork - a world where five people out of every six do not own a cup to hold a hot drink. That was what England was like in the early eighteenth century. Yet by the close of the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution had brought with it not just factories, railways, mines and machines but also fashion, travel, leisure and pleasure. Leisure became an industry - a cornucopia of excitement for the masses - and it was spread by newspapers, advertising, promotions and publicity - all of which were eighteenth-century creations. It was Josiah Wedgwood and his colleagues who invented money-back guarantees, free delivery and celebrity endorsements. New technology such as the railways brought audiences to ever-more-elaborate extravaganzas, whether it was theatrical spectaculars with breathtaking pyrotechnics and hundreds of extras - 'hippodramas' recreating the battle of Waterloo - or the Great Exhibition itself, proudly displaying 'the products of all quarters of the globe' under twenty-two acres of the sparkling 'Crystal Palace'. In 'Consuming Passions', the bestselling author of 'The Victorian House' explores this dramatic revolution in science, technology and industry - and how a world of thrilling sensation, lavish spectacle and unimaginable theatricality was born.


Organic farming (OF) enhances top soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in croplands compared with conventional farming (CF), which can contribute to sequester C. As farming system differences in the amount of C inputs to soil (e.g. fertilization and crop residues) are not enough to explain such increase, shifts in crop residue traits important for soil C losses such as litter decomposition may also play a role. To assess whether crop residue (leaf and root) traits determined SOC sequestration responses to OF, we coupled a global meta-analysis with field measurements across a European-wide network of sites. In the meta-analysis, we related crop species averages of leaf N, leaf-dry matter content, fine-root C and N, with SOC stocks and sequestration responses in OF vs. CF. Across six European sites, we measured the management-induced changes in SOC stocks and leaf litter traits after long-term ecological intensive (e.g. OF) vs. CF comparisons. Our global meta-analysis showed that the positive OF-effects on soil respiration, SOC stocks, and SOC sequestration rates were significant even in organic farms with low manure application rates. Although fertilization intensity was the main driver of OF-effects on SOC, leaf and root N concentrations also played a significant role. Across the six European sites, changes towards higher leaf litter N in CF also promoted lower SOC stocks. Our results highlight that crop species displaying traits indicative of resource-acquisitive strategies (e.g. high leaf and root N) increase the difference in SOC between OF and CF. Indeed, changes towards higher crop residue decomposability was related with decreased SOC stocks under CF across European sites. Synthesis and applications. Our study emphasizes that, with management, changes in crop residue traits contribute to the positive effects of organic farming (OF) on soil carbon sequestration. These results provide a clear message to land managers: the choice of crop species, and more importantly their functional traits (e.g. leave and root nitrogen), should be considered in addition to management practices and climate, when evaluating the potential of OF for climate change mitigation.


This manuscript presents some general comments about the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Even the most casual reader will gather that I am not too impressed with the scientific usefulness of the Wilcoxon test. However, the actual motivation is more to illustrate differences between parametric, semiparametric, and nonparametric (distribution-free) inference, and to use this example to illustrate how many misconceptions have been propagated through a focus on (semi)parametric probability models as the basis for evaluating commonly used statistical analysis models. The document itself arose as a teaching tool for courses aimed at graduate students in biostatistics and statistics, with parts of the document originally written for applied biostatistics classes and parts written for a course in mathematical statistics. Hence, some of the material is also meant to provide an illustration of common methods of deriving moments of distributions, etc.


Obesity is characterized by excess adipose tissue and is one of the leading public-health issues of the industrialized world. Gain of adipose tissue can result from accumulation of fat in existing adipocytes (fat cells), as well as increased commitment of stem cells into new adipocytes through a process known as adipogenesis. Although a number of key adipogenic transcription factors such as PPARgamma2 and CEBPalpha are well characterized, the temporal and spatial molecular and cellular events that occur during adipogenesis are still largely unknown. Better understanding of these events could have important implications in finding treatments for obesity. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are a type of adult stem cells that can commit to a number of mature cell types including adipocytes upon receiving appropriate stimuli. Through a microarray study, a number of genes whose expression was significantly upor downregulated during adipogenesis were uncovered, including RGS2, a member of the Regulators of G-protein signaling factors (RGS) family. RGS2 is a GTPase regulator and is significantly up regulated upon adipogenic stimulation. In this study, we focus on understanding the role of RGS2 in the adipogenic lineage commitment of adipose-derived hMSCs (ad-hMSCs). Our results so far demonstrated that down regulation of RGS2 at 40-50% level as induced by siRGS2 during adipogenic initiation significantly inhibited adipogenesis, suggesting that RGS2 plays a positive role in the adipogenic commitment process of ad-hMSCs. Future studies will focus on examining the effect of RGS2 overexpression during adipogenesis.


Saudi Arabia is a vast country of 2,149,690 km2, and is the largest Arab state in Western Asia. The Kingdom has been categorized as a high-income nation, and is part of the "Group of Twenty" (G-20) of major economies. It has a total population of approximately 27 million, one-fourth of whom are expatriates, with the highest population density (per km2) of 101 in Jizan, and 38 in Makkah, and the lowest of 2.8 in Najran, and 3.6 in Al Jawf. In KSA, motor vehicles are the main means of transportation within, and in-between cities. According to a recent estimate, more than 6 million cars are found on the roads of KSA. According to the morbidity and mortality records in the Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals, 20% of beds are occupied by RTA victims, and 81% of deaths in the hospitals are due to RTIs. Over the past 2 decades, KSA has recorded 86,000 deaths, and 611,000 injuries in RTAs with 7% resulting in permanent disabilities. Road traffic accidents are a major health hazard with 19 killed daily, and 4 injured every hour in KSA. Al Naami et al, in his article mentioned the common reasons behind the soaring numbers of road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia, which included the human factor, the vehicle, and the road/environment (2). Among the human factor, Driver errors account for about 80% of all RTAs in Saudi Arabia. Overspeeding is responsible for 65% of all traffic accidents (3.5 times the incidence in the USA). Violation of traffic signals at urban intersections is responsible for about 50% of accidents (4.5 times more common than in the USA). Vehicles and road layouts contribute to accidents and account for 20% of RTAs in Saudi Arabia, Tire blowouts and poor roads are very "hot" safety issues in Saudi Arabia, particularly in rural areas. Environmental factors such as rain, fog, and dust have minimal effects on RTAs in Saudi Arabia. However, extreme heat is responsible for 39% of all accidents due to tire blowouts. Heat also contributes to driver stress levels, leading to reduced mental capacity. Traffic medicine in Saudi Arabia has focused more on the prevention approach rather than the rehabilitation, The evidence sufficiently supports that the action plans in KSA so far have mostly focused on the prevention of RTIs rather than RTAs, including seat belt laws, Saher system, emergency medical rescue services, and the role of the police in the documentation of RTAs. While the international recommendations emphasize on developing institutional framework, safer roads and vehicles, proper surveillance or data system, safer road users, and post-crash care. The MOH in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior launched a road safety program called Saher in 2009. It is an automated system that was developed to manage traffic via electronic systems in major cities in Saudi Arabia, this newly established system uses a digital camera network connected to the national information center to track any violations and to control traffic. However, data on its long term effects on accidents and death are not yet available(3). Another important aspect of traffic medicine is the implementation of Trauma Registry as part of the national trauma system project, trauma registries can provide information on injury pattern and allow statistical modeling of trauma related variables to identify public health threats and prioritize interventions. Additionally registries can help monitor the epidemiology of serious injuries, track hospital performance overtime, and benchmark outcomes between hospitals and regions(4). Education and training of Trauma Human resources is another important aspect, King Abdulaziz Medical City has took the lead in a lot of medical fields disciplinary including medical education and has given trauma a major importance were KAMC has the largest ER outside North America and the 4th largest in the world. KAMC has the lead nationally if not in the region in regard to trauma courses where the main office to those courses is in King Abdulaziz Medical City. 0 Language: en


BACKGROUND
Very limited information is available on epidemiology of falciparum malaria in Nepal. Such information is very important for malaria control programmes. It is believed that malaria in Eastern region is imported from border districts of India and local transmission follows whereas it is indigenous in Central region. Therefore, the characteristics and risk factors of malaria are believed to be different in Eastern and Central Nepal.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study is to describe and compare the characteristics and risk factors of falciparum malaria in Eastern and Central Nepal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted in falciparum malaria endemic districts of Eastern and Central Nepal, during the period 2007 to 2008. We identified and collected information from 106 patients (62 from Eastern and 44 from Central region). Patient examination, clinical and laboratory assessment were done and patients were interviewed using structured questionnaire for malaria related characteristics, risk factors and behaviours.

RESULTS
There were significant differences in risk factors and characteristics of falciparum malaria in the Central than the Eastern region. In the Central region, male, illiteracy and thatched roof hut were significant risk factors of falciparum malaria patients as compared to the Eastern region. Visits outside within three months, previous malaria within three months, taking antimalarial before confirmatory diagnosis were significantly higher in patients of the Eastern region as compared to the Central region.

CONCLUSION
Falciparum malaria in Nepal should not be seen as similar entity, and different strategies for prevention and control is needed for its diverse characteristics and endemicity.


The end of the second millenium is an appropriate moment to evaluate the legacy of one of the most vivid and controversial writings in the Christian canon, the Book of Revelation. The idea of an apocalypse that was both destructive and redemptive provided a rich vein of visual and literary imagery that remains a force in contemporary culture. This book examines the tradition as represented by illuminated manuscripts, books, prints, and drawings from the eleventh century up to the end of the Second World War, concentrating on particular episodes or apocalyptic phases, which have often occurred at the end of centuries and have always been rooted in historical and political circumstances.The defining moment in the development of the pictorial tradition was Durer's great Apocalypse cycle, published in 1498. Apocalyptic imagery was quickly appropriated as a vehicle for propaganda and satire, becoming secularised at the hands of artists such as the late eighteenth-century satirist James Gillray. Gillray's contemporary William Blake evolved a concept of Apocalypse and Judgement that responded to the millenarian currents and revolutionary upheavals of his time.In our own century, apocalyptic metaphor has been a powerful vehicle for many writers, artists, and film directors to convey their visions of worldly and spiritual destruction and regeneration.


During 1993-2003, incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States decreased 44% and is now occurring at a historic low level (14,874 cases in 2003). The Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis has called for a renewed commitment to eliminating TB in the United States, and the Institute of Medicine has published a detailed plan for achieving that goal. In this statement, the American Thoracic Society (ATS), CDC, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) propose recommendations to improve the control and prevention of TB in the United States and to progress toward its elimination. This statement is one in a series issued periodically by the sponsoring organizations to guide the diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of TB. This statement supersedes the previous statement by ATS and CDC, which was also supported by IDSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This statement was drafted, after an evidence-based review of the subject, by a panel of representatives of the three sponsoring organizations. AAP, the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association, and the Canadian Thoracic Society were also represented on the panel. This statement integrates recent scientific advances with current epidemiologic data, other recent guidelines from this series, and other sources into a coherent and practical approach to the control of TB in the United States. Although drafted to apply to TB control activities in the United States, this statement might be of use in other countries in which persons with TB generally have access to medical and public health services and resources necessary to make a precise diagnosis of the disease; achieve curative medical treatment; and otherwise provide substantial science-based protection of the population against TB. This statement is aimed at all persons who advocate, plan, and work at controlling and preventing TB in the United States, including persons who formulate public health policy and make decisions about allocation of resources for disease control and health maintenance and directors and staff members of state, county, and local public health agencies throughout the United States charged with control of TB. The audience also includes the full range of medical practitioners, organizations, and institutions involved in the health care of persons in the United States who are at risk for TB.


Asteroids are the leftover precursors to the terrestrial planets. Before the first images of them were sent from space, our knowledge of asteroids relied entirely on ground-based observations and meteorite analysis. Spacecraft images revolutionized our knowledge and geological understanding of their physical properties. They also showed us that asteroids are subjected to various kinds of processes and are incredibly diverse in size, shape, structure, composition, and rotational properties. Therefore, space missions remain necessary to enhance our knowledge of the various components of the asteroid population. In addition, numerical modeling is required to interpret spacecraft images and improve our understanding of the physical processes asteroids experience over their lifetime.


Iconographies of Occupation is the first book to address how the "collaborationist" Reorganized National Government (RNG) in Japanese-occupied China sought to visualize its leader, Wang Jingwei (1883–1944); the Chinese people; and China itself. It explores the ways in which this administration sought to present itself to the people over which it ruled at different points between 1939, when the RNG was first being formulated, and August 1945, when it folded itself out of existence. What sorts of visual tropes were used in regime iconography and how were these used? What can the intertextual movement of visual tropes and motifs tell us about RNG artists and intellectuals and their understanding of the occupation and the war?

Drawing on rarely before used archival records relating to propaganda and a range of visual media produced in occupied China by the RNG, the book examines the means used by this "client regime" to carve out a separate visual space for itself by reviving prewar Chinese methods of iconography and by adopting techniques, symbols, and visual tropes from the occupying Japanese and their allies. Ultimately, however, the "occupied gaze" that was developed by Wang's administration was undermined by its ultimate reliance on Japanese acquiescence for survival. In the continually shifting and fragmented iconographies that the RNG developed over the course of its short existence, we find an administration that was never completely in control of its own fate—or its message. Iconographies of Occupation presents a thoroughly original visual history approach to the study of a much-maligned regime and opens up new ways of understanding its place in wartime China. It also brings China under the RNG into dialogue with broader theoretical debates about the significance of "the visual" in the cultural politics of foreign occupation.


Since the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta region, the sector's contribution to Nigeria's economy came at a huge environmental cost involving recurrent spills resulting in the spewing of oil into sensitive ecosystems. In the process, gas flaring from the industry has accelerated at an alarming rate and degrading the fragile mangrove ecosystem. The problems are characterized by widespread pollution of water resources and threats to the surrounding ecology in the form of deforestation, loss of habitats, and damage to biodiversity. Yet very little has been done to fully assess the impacts on the Delta region. In that light, this research uses mix-scale methods of GIS and descriptive statistics to assess the environmental liabilities of petroleum activities in Southern Nigeria from 1963-2013. Emphasis is on the issues, ecological analysis of the impacts, factors and spatial analysis. While the results point to changes in production and ecosystem degradation prompted by the concentration of greenhouse gases, rise in CO2 emissions, widespread incidents of gas flaring and oil spills. GIS mappings show a gradual dispersion of various liabilities such as fire outbreaks at facilities all through 2002-2003 along with visible presence of gas flaring in the 2000s followed by a robust spread of oil spills across various states in the Delta between the periods of the 1980s-1990s and a reemergence in the 2000s. The spatial cluster of supply infrastructure stayed intact while oil shipments to different zones in Nigeria fluctuated in the South with slight increases in the North from 2007-2013. With the ecological liabilities linked to socio-economic factors of ineffective guidelines, local demands and oil exports, the paper proffered suggestions ranging from the strengthening of policy to continued impact assessment.


ABSTRACT

Background:

Hospitalization rates for persons with cognitive impairment are projected to increase in Taiwan. They are more likely to use inpatient services, psychotropic drugs, and have higher in-hospital mortality than persons without cognitive impairment. When this population is hospitalized, their family caregivers often experience strain, anxiety, and stress in their relationships with the care recipient and healthcare providers.

Objectives:

This study purposes were: (1) to explore experiences of family caregivers of persons with cognitive impairment during hospitalization, and (2) to develop a model explaining the patientcaregiver dyads' acute hospitalization and discharge process from the caregivers'perspectives.

Methods:

Grounded theory was used to generalize a model. We recruited 11 caregivers and 10 persons with cognitive impairment. Data were collected in individual semi-structured interviews with caregivers. Interviews occurred during patients' hospital stay or at home in the first year of discharge. Data were audio-taped and analysed by content analysis and constant comparative analysis.

Results:

The dyads' hospitalization and post-discharge experiences were captured by four main themes: 1) early planning, 2) hospitalization issues piling up, 3) preparing for discharge, and 4) post-discharge experiences. During early planning, caregivers prepared for postdischarge caregiving and performed health-related and support tasks for the patient. During hospitalization, issues piled up, e.g. i.e. patients' challenging behaviours, unfamiliar hospital environment, difficulty distinguishing patients' delirium from cognitive impairment, and dissatisfaction with nursing care. When preparing for discharge, caregivers were concerned about the patients' readiness for discharge and their self-efficacy for managing patients' needs. If patients were not adequately prepared to return home, after discharge the patients' condition rapidly spiralled down leading to unplanned re-admissions, which negatively affected caregivers' health.

Conclusions:

Caregivers and cognitively impaired patients were challenged by the patients' hospitalization due to factors that could have been minimized by skilled nursing dementia care. Nursing education to improve caregivers' self-efficacy in patient care, could also have reduced postdischarge challenges.


The COVID-19 pandemic has extensively changed the state of psychological science from what research questions psychologists can ask to which methodologies psychologists can use to investigate them. In this article, we offer a perspective on how to optimize new research in the pandemic's wake. Because this pandemic is inherently a social phenomenon—an event that hinges on human-to-human contact—we focus on socially relevant subfields of psychology. We highlight specific psychological phenomena that have likely shifted as a result of the pandemic and discuss theoretical, methodological, and practical considerations of conducting research on these phenomena. After this discussion, we evaluate metascientific issues that have been amplified by the pandemic. We aim to demonstrate how theoretically grounded views on the COVID-19 pandemic can help make psychological science stronger—not weaker—in its wake.


Background Accurate assessment of plaque accumulation near the carotid bifurcation is important for the effective prevention and treatment of stroke. However, vessel and plaque delineation using MRI can be limited by low contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and long acquisition times. In this work, a 10-channel phased-array receive coil design for bilateral imaging of the carotid bifurcation using 3T MRI is proposed. Methods The proposed 10-channel receive coil was compared to a commercial 4-channel receive coil configuration using data acquired from phantoms and healthy volunteers (N = 9). The relative performance of the coils was assessed, by comparing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), noise correlation, g-factor noise amplification, and the CNR between vessel wall and lumen using black-blood sequences. Patient data were acquired from 12 atherosclerotic carotid artery disease patients. Results The 10-channel coil consistently provided substantially increased SNR in phantoms (+77 ± 27%) and improved CNR in healthy carotid arteries (+62 ± 11%), or reduced g-factor noise amplification. Patient data showed excellent delineation of atherosclerotic plaque along the length of the carotid bifurcation using the 10-channel coil. Conclusions The proposed 10-channel coil design allows for improved visualization of the carotid arteries and the carotid bifurcation and increased parallel imaging acceleration factors relative to a commercial 4-channel coil design.


This study investigated the effects of a single dose of arginine (Arg) administration at the beginning of sepsis on CD4+ T-cell regulation and liver inflammation in C57BL/6J mice. Mice were divided into normal control (NC), sham (SH), sepsis saline (SS), and sepsis Arg (SA) groups. An inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) inhibitor was administered to additional sepsis groups to evaluate the role of NO during sepsis. Sepsis was induced using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The SS and SA groups received saline or Arg (300 mg/kg body weight) via tail vein 1 h after CLP. Mice were euthanized at 12 and 24 h post-CLP. Blood, para-aortic lymph nodes, and liver tissues were collected for further measurement. The findings showed that sepsis resulted in decreases in blood and para-aortic lymph node CD4+ T-cell percentages, whereas percentages of interleukin (IL)-4- and IL-17-expressing CD4+ T cells were upregulated. Compared to the SS group, Arg administration resulted in maintained circulating and para-aortic lymph node CD4+ T cells, an increased Th1/Th2 ratio, and a reduced Th17/Treg ratio post-CLP. In addition, levels of plasma liver injury markers and expression of inflammatory genes in liver decreased. These results suggest that a single dose of Arg administered after CLP increased Arg availability, sustained CD4+ T-cell populations, elicited more-balanced Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg polarization in the circulation and the para-aortic lymph nodes, and attenuated liver inflammation in sepsis. The favorable effects of Arg were abrogated when an iNOS inhibitor was administered, which indicated that NO may be participated in regulating the homeostasis of Th/Treg cells and subsequent liver inflammation during sepsis.


Adolescent obesity is a public health problem associated with significant immediate and long-term health complications (Kelly et al. 2013). Amongst obese adolescents, a third are severely obese (BMI >99.6th centile UK90 reference charts) (Ogden et al. 2012) with severe obesity the fastest growing classification in this age group (Wang et al. 2011). The evidence for managing and treating child and adolescent obesity generally is poor, with multidisciplinary lifestyle programmes failing to derive significant and sustained weight loss and often reporting high attrition (Luttikhuis et al. 2009). Furthermore, this evidence has predominantly focused on young people as a whole with little differentiation of treatment and outcomes by age and severity of obesity. As a result, successful treatments for severely obese adolescents are lacking with permanent bariatric surgery increasingly considered. This thesis aimed to enhance the understanding of the needs of obese adolescents, contribute to what is known about current treatment options for severely obese adolescents specifically and pilot a novel treatment approach within this population.
A qualitative enquiry (Study 1) of the lived experiences of obese adolescents (n = 12) reinforced the complexity of the impact of obesity on the lives of obese adolescents across social, emotional, behavioural and cultural contexts. All participants experienced low self-esteem and feelings of shame and there were frequent accounts of debilitating bullying. Adolescents required intensive support to develop skills for coping and managing emotional choices, and the importance of family-support within treatment was highlighted. Data confirmed weight loss programmes need to consider the complex experience of obese adolescents in their design, focusing on how to implement long-term lifestyle changes into their 'real' lives.
Informed by the findings from Study 1 and a comprehensive review of existing treatment options for severely obese adolescents, the use of an intra-gastric balloon alongside a lifestyle support programme (BOB; Study 2) to promote weight loss was piloted in 12 severely obese adolescents (5 males, 7 females; mean age 15 yrs; BMI >3.5 SD; puberty stage 4 or above). Mean weight loss at 12 months (n=9) was 3.05 kg ± 14.69; d=0.002 with improvements in psychosocial health, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness also maintained at 12 months. Although, the use of an intra-gastric balloon as an adjunct to a lifestyle programme was well tolerated by participants, large variations in outcome data suggest alternative treatment solutions in this population are warranted. That said, the comprehensive reporting of the intervention and the focus on validated behaviour change techniques to support change is a strength of this study.
The qualitative experiences of treatment for participants and their family members were captured throughout treatment (Study 3). All participants acknowledged the experience was harder than anticipated, but recognised the importance of creating shared ownership over making lifestyle changes. Single case data pointed to successful and sustained weight loss where the whole family were actively engaged in treatment, modelling positive lifestyle changes alongside the adolescent. Future studies are encouraged to explore the most effective methods for engaging family members in treatment.


An applied general equilibrium model with oligopoly and scale economies, based on detailed plant-level data, is used to contrast the impacts of the Morocco-EU free trade area (FTA) to multilateral trade liberalization on Morocco's economy. Simulation results show that the FTA agreement is likely to have adverse effects on Morocco due to: (a) deteriorating terms of trade, (b) reductions in output per firm in industries dominated by scale economies, (c) diversion of imports away from relatively low cost, non-EU suppliers, and (d) potentially adverse effects on the aggregate demand for labor which could exacerbate already high levels of unemployment. We contrast this FTA with a multilateral liberalization scenario along the lines of those proposed under the Doha Development Round and find this to be more beneficial to Morocco, despite the associated income transfer from the EU to Morocco. The difference may be attributed to: (a) lesser terms of trade losses, (b) positive scale effects, (c) non-preferential liberalization of imports into Morocco, and (d) a positive impact on aggregate labor demand and hence unemployment. We conclude that Morocco would be better off pursuing trade liberalization in the multilateral arena. JEL classification: F12, F14, F15 Keywords: Applied general equilibrium; Market Structure; Trade liberalization; Developing economies; Morocco


Millions of people use adblockers to remove intrusive and malicious ads as well as protect themselves against tracking and pervasive surveillance. Online publishers consider adblockers a major threat to the ad-powered "free" Web. They have started to retaliate against adblockers by employing antiadblockers which can detect and stop adblock users. To counter this retaliation, adblockers in turn try to detect and filter anti-adblocking scripts. This back and forth has prompted an escalating arms race between adblockers and anti-adblockers. We want to develop a comprehensive understanding of antiadblockers, with the ultimate aim of enabling adblockers to bypass state-of-the-art anti-adblockers. In this paper, we present a differential execution analysis to automatically detect and analyze anti-adblockers. At a high level, we collect execution traces by visiting a website with and without adblockers. Through differential execution analysis, we are able to pinpoint the conditions that lead to the differences caused by anti-adblocking code. Using our system, we detect anti-adblockers on 30.5% of the Alexa top10K websites which is 5-52 times more than reported in prior literature. Unlike prior work which is limited to detecting visible reactions (e.g., warning messages) by anti-adblockers, our system can discover attempts to detect adblockers even when there is no visible reaction. From manually checking one third of the detected websites, we find that the websites that have no visible reactions constitute over 90% of the cases, completely dominating the ones that have visible warning messages. Finally, based on our findings, we further develop JavaScript rewriting and API hooking based solutions (the latter implemented as a Chrome extension) to help adblockers bypass state-of-the-art anti-adblockers.


This paper seeks to analyse the evidence from policy experimentation in Nigerian agriculture, and to draw the lessons experience therefrom. This was based on participant observation techniques in collecting data and information on the agricultural transformation programme recently implemented, with particular reference to the delivery of price subsidy on fertilizer and seed to small-scale farmers nationwide, using mobile phone technology. Results indicated that the programme failed to improve upon the inherited poor structure, conduct and performance of the farm input market. While the quantity of fertilizer supplied increased by a paltry 27% during the period under study, the volume of subsidy paid increased by a whooping 785%. Thus, the use of mobile phone was not accompanied by any perceptible saving in in public fund deployed for subsidy provision on fertilizer and seed. Like the previous programmes, the use of mobile phone to deliver subsidy to farmers was not corruption free after all. Thus, in the light of the high opportunity costs involved, weighed against the political cost of its removal over the years, it appears that there is no end to corruption in the agricultural sector unless and until the fertilizer subsidy is removed entirely and alternative modes of supporting small-scale farmers is found in Nigeria.


We make a detailed investigation on guided waves propagating in asymmetric indefinite medium waveguides. The dispersion relation of such guided modes is derived by using the normalized waveguide parameters. It is shown that the fundamental guided mode does not exist, the first-order guided modes can either exist in a restricted region or coexist with high-order modes, and the double degeneracy phenomenon does not always appear. A special dispersion curve associated with even surface modes is found, which leads to four surface modes coexisting. We demonstrate that both guided and surface modes can be greatly modulated by adjusting the parameters of the indefinite medium and its structure. We also analyze the normalized energy fluxes and confirm that the double degeneracy reflected from the fact of two different directions of energy flux, namely, coexistence of forward and backward waves.


The objectives of this study is to investigate the effect of (Urea) and Polymer Coated Urea (Slow Release N - Fertilizer) on the growth and quality of turf Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon var. Tifdwarf.) and to find the optimum rate. Treatments are urea and PCU rate at 4.5 g, 9.0g and 13.5 g N/m2/application, respectively. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Block design with 3 replications. Fertilizers were applied 6 times in every 2 locals. The result showed that in the end of the experiment, the higher values of grass height. number of shoots resiliance. Fresh and dry weight were obtained with PCU /3.5 g N/m2/application. The highest dosage of PCU resulted d the highest quality of turf grass. Key words: Urea, Polymer Coated urea, Bermuda grass


There is an established need to measure soil salinity, and wireless sensor networks offer the potential to achieve this, coupled with a suitable sensor. However, suitable sensors, up until very recently, have not been available. In this paper we report on the fabrication and calibration of a new low-cost, robust, screen-printed sensor for detecting chloride ions. We also report on two experiments using this sensor. The first is a laboratory-based experiment that shows how sensors can be used to validate modeling results by installing several sensors in a soil column and tracking the vertical migration of a chloride pulse in real time. The second is a trial of multiple sensors installed in a fluvarium (stream simulator) showing that distributed sensors are able to monitor real time changes in horizontal chloride flux in an emulated natural environment. We report on results from both surface flows as well as from sensors at a depth of a few mm in the fluvarium sediment, and differences and trends between the two are discussed. As an example of how such sensors are useful, we note that for the flow regime and sediment type tested, penetration of surface chloride into the river bed is unexpectedly slow and raises questions regarding the dynamics of pollutants in such systems. We conclude that such sensors, coupled with a distributed network, offer a new paradigm in hydrological monitoring and will enable new applications, such as irrigation using mixtures of potable and brackish water with significant cost and resource saving.


We present Spitzer observations of 13 z ∼ 6 quasars using the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). All the quasars except SDSS J000552.34-000655.8 (SDSS J0005-0006) were detected with high signal-to-noise ratio in the four IRAC channels and the MIPS 24 μm band, while SDSS J0005-0006 was marginally detected in the IRAC 8.0 μm band and not detected in the MIPS 24 μm band. We find that most of these quasars have prominent emission from hot dust, as evidenced by the observed 24 μm fluxes. Their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are similar to those of low-redshift quasars at rest frame 0.15-3.5 μm, suggesting that accretion disks and hot-dust structures for these sources have already reached maturity. However, SDSS J0005-0006 has an unusual SED that lies significantly below low-redshift SED templates at rest frame 1 and 3.5 μm and thus shows a strong near-IR (NIR) deficit and no hot-dust emission. Type I quasars with extremely small NIR-to-optical flux ratios such as SDSS J0005-0006 are not found in low-redshift quasar samples, indicating that SDSS J0005-0006 has different dust properties at high redshift. We combine the Spitzer observations with X-ray, UV/optical, millimeter/submillimeter, and radio observations to determine bolometric luminosities for all the quasars. We find that the four quasars with central black hole mass measurements have Eddington ratios of order unity.


As NCAA Division I coaches feel greater pressure to produce winning teams while ensuring that athletes remain eligible and progress toward degrees to avoid sanctions under the NCAA's academic reform initiatives, concerns regarding the clustering of athletes into limited numbers of academic majors has increased. Academic clustering occurs when 25% or more of the members of one team share a single academic major (Case, Greer, & Brown, 1987). Recent studies have extended the analysis of clustering to include the disparate impact on white and minority football players in a single athletic conference (Fountain & Finley, 2009), as well as consideration of female basketball players throughout Division I (Paule, 2010). To date, these studies have provided a snapshot of teams for a given season. This study extends the understanding of clustering by examining one football program over a period of ten years, which allowed for greater understanding of the movement of players into and out of majors, especially the movement into a clustered major midway through their academic experience. Media guides from one BCS football program were used to track the listed majors of 349 players, from 2000 through 2009. Results indicated that players migrated into a single clustered major over time and that a significant number of touted recruits and National Football League draftees selected the clustered major. Further, players who had listed general education (University Studies) in their first media guide appearances frequently selected the clustered major.


Privacy-preserving sharing of sensitive information (PPSSI) is motivated by the increasing need for entities (organizations or individuals) that don't fully trust each other to share sensitive information. Many types of entities need to collect, analyze, and disseminate data rapidly and accurately, without exposing sensitive information to unauthorized or untrusted parties. Although statistical methods have been used to protect data for decades, they aren't foolproof and generally involve a trusted third party. Recently, the security research community has studied—and, in a few cases, deployed—techniques using secure, multiparty function evaluation, encrypted keywords, and private information retrieval. However, few practical tools and technologies provide data privacy, especially when entities have certain common goals and require (or are mandated) some sharing of sensitive information. To this end, PPSSI technology aims to enable sharing information, without exposing more than the minimum necessary to complete a common task.


Data from an infiltration and drainage experiment into and from a sand tank model of 5 by 3 m and 2 m deep were reevaluated. The uniform sand overlaid a 0.2‐m‐thick gravel layer from which five perforated pipes collected drainage flow. The data include time series of capillary potentials, ψ, volumetric water contents, θ, both from nine levels, and drainage flow, q, that resulted from sprinkler infiltration with a constant rate of 15.6 mm h−1 that lasted >16 h. The wetting and the pressure fronts (i.e., the increases of water content and of capillary potential) moved with the same constant velocity of 3.25 × 10−5 m s−1 The capillary potentials about 0.2 to 0.4 m behind the wetting front remained constant at about −2.5 kPa. The maximum degree of saturation during infiltration was <0.6 and the mobile water content involved in flow was about 0.15 m3 m−3 The constant velocity indicates a continuous and dynamic balance of forces acting on the mobile water. Thus, viscosity is considered to have balanced gravity as the driving force, and a momentum dissipation approach to infiltration evolved. Capillary and Bond numbers indicate that flow was subjected to considerable capillary potential, yet its gradient was only active throughout a depth range of 0.2 to 0.4 m behind the wetting front. The constant velocity prevailed despite local variations in the mobile water content. Constant velocity of wetting is proposed as the global key parameter during infiltration on which local features, like volume flux density and variation of water content, may depend.


During the late stages of stellar evolution in massive stars (C fusion and later), the fusion luminosity in the core of the star exceeds the star's Eddington luminosity. This can drive vigorous convective motions which in turn excite internal gravity waves. The local wave energy flux excited by convection is itself well above Eddington during the last few years in the life of the star. We suggest that an interesting fraction of the energy in gravity waves can, in some cases, convert into sound waves as the gravity waves propagate (tunnel) towards the stellar surface. The subsequent dissipation of the sound waves can unbind up to several M� of the stellar envelope. This wave-driven mass loss can explain the existence of extremely large stellar mass-loss rates just prior to core collapse, which are inferred via circumstellar interaction in some core-collapse supernovae (e.g. SNe 2006gy and PTF 09uj, and even Type IIn supernovae more generally). An outstanding question is understanding what stellar parameters (mass, rotation, metallicity and age) are the most susceptible to wave-driven mass loss. This depends on the precise internal structure of massive stars and the power spectrum of internal gravity waves excited by stellar convection.


Sjögren's syndrome (SS), a chronic immune mediated disease associated with xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, may occur alone (primary SS) or with other autoimmune diseases (secondary SS). The benefits of substitution treatment for dry eyes and mouth seem very variable. This survey assessed patients' experience of the wide variety of tear and saliva substitutes available. Patients with SS, from Cannock Chase Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham, City Hospital Birmingham, or Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull Hospitals, completed a questionnaire, returned at their clinic visit or by prepaid post. SS was defined by the presence of four from six EC diagnostic criteria, with the modification that patients with primary SS must have anti-Ro antibodies (by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis) and/or have had a lip biopsy demonstrating features typical of SS. The questionnaire asked patients to identify, from a comprehensive list, all tear and saliva substitutes that they had ever heard of, had ever used, or were currently using, to identify useful source(s) of information about substitute treatment, and to rate the eVectiveness of any treatments they had ever used, on 10 cm visual analogue scales (VAS). The duration of any substitute treatment was not recorded. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for each patient were obtained by chart review. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare results between groups. Research ethics committee approval was obtained for this survey. Fifty patients (two male), including 40 with primary SS, were included in the survey. Mean age (range) was 57 (33–82) years and disease duration 5 (0–14) years. Forty three patients had symptomatic dry eyes, 36 had gritty eyes, and 31 patients used tear substitutes three or more times each day. All complained of a dry mouth, 42 had diYculty swallowing dry food, and 23 patients had recurrent or persistent salivary gland swelling. Thirty two patients had positive anti-Ro antibodies and 39 patients had undergone a diagnostic labial salivary gland biopsy. On a 10 cm VAS, the mean rating of disease severity was 6.2 cm (range 0.0–9.8). Non-proprietary hypromellose eye drops and Viscotears were the most widely known and used tear substitute treatments (table 1). Four patients had never heard of any of the tear substitutes listed, despite two having symptomatic dry eyes; six had never used any and 11 were not currently using any. Oralbalance, Glandosane spray, Saliva Orthana spray and lozenges, and Salivix pastilles were the most widely known and used saliva substitute treatments. Eight patients had never heard of any of the saliva substitutes listed, despite all having a symptomatic dry mouth; nine had never used any and 22 were not currently using any. Patients' rated the eVectiveness of any replacement product they had used (fig 1). The median (range) VAS score for all tear products was 5.35 (0.25–9.8), which was significantly higher than for saliva products where the median (range was 3.15 (0.2–9.5) (p<0.002)). There was no significant diVerence between the eVectiveness ratings of any of the tear or saliva products, except that Salivix pastilles were rated significantly higher than Glandosane spray (p<0.05). Seventeen patients viewed their general practitioner as a good source of information about substitution treatments, 34 highlighted the important role of hospital staV, 16 nominated local and national patient support groups, and smaller numbers had received information from their dentist (seven subjects), optician (two), and pharmacist (three). This survey has shown that a relatively select number of replacement products are regularly used in SS. Only two tear replacement products were widely used, though most patients had heard of other products and had tried some. It seems likely that patients have continued to use the product that they found most eVective. Some patients were taking no tear replacement treatment, including two who denied ever hearing about such treatment, despite having dry eyes. In these patients, there is a concern that their health professionals might have failed to advise of potential symptom relieving treatments. A wider variety of saliva replacement products were used, but by a smaller proportion of patients. This may suggest that they were less helpful overall, because many were known to and tried by the patients though clearly not continued. Reports on the eVectiveness of these products comprise small placebo controlled studies and an occasional comparison of two active treatments. A survey of their use in routine clinical practice has not previously been described. Although it has limitations, this study suggests that patients need better information about the products available. There are few published guidelines even for medical personnel, though the internet may help to remedy this for doctors and patients (http://www.dry.org/ ss95gui.html). This study has also shown the gulf remaining between the many available tear and saliva replacement products and their use by patients.


In Brazil, in spite of over half a million students with special needs in primary education, little research has been conducted about ASD diagnostic practices. This involves learning about the training that professionals are receiving, what diagnostic practices are being implemented on the field, and whether those are being contextualized according to the Brazilian culture. Students with special needs are directly affected by the results of diagnostic practices, since identifying the individuals is one of the first steps. Lack of understanding about that stage may lead to the problematic realities of underidentification or overidentification, exclusion of children who should receive that special intervention and inclusion of some who do not need them. Precision in diagnosis, that considers cultural factors, is a highly desired and continuous goal for special educators. Therefore, students with ASD are directly affected by the results of this research. The purpose of this study is 1) to determine the knowledge and training of professionals that diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder in Brazil (Audiologists, Neurologists, Pediatricians, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and others), 2) to determine if those professionals are using diagnostic practices similar to the US, 3) to investigate which procedures and instruments are used in the diagnosis of a child suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder in Brazil; and 4) to determine what happens after diagnosis. This research can be placed within the context of studies focused on three complementary areas: conceptual, historical, and cross-cultural. The first area is related to the overall conceptual understanding of cultural factors in the diagnosis of ASD. The second one considers the historical influences in the diagnostic practices of children with ASD in Brazil, including government policies. The last one adopts a cross-cultural approach to the study of autism with emphasis on comparative studies. The survey instrument specifically designed for this study is The Autism Spectrum Disorders Assessment Survey comprised of thirteen questions (single and multiple choice items, and Likert-type items) designed to collect information in regards to demographic characteristics of the participant, description of the diagnostic team, procedures, instruments used for diagnosis, and knowledge about characteristics necessary to identify a child as having an ASD. The survey received 236 responses from professionals that diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorders from every state and the Federal District in Brazil. The results of this research suggest the need to invest in the training of professionals. Another related suggestion is to develop specific criteria and common diagnostic protocol for professionals in Brazil. Finally, providing access to inclusive education to people with autism would also provide them a more adequate opportunity for development.


The assessment of tissue-specific pharmacodynamics is desirable in the development of tumor-targeted therapies. Plasma deoxyuridine (dUrd) levels, a measure of systemic thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition, has limited application for studying the pharmacodynamics of novel TS inhibitors targeted to the high affinity A-folate receptor (FR). Here, we have evaluated the utility of [F]fluorothymidine positron emission tomography ([F]FLT-PET) for imaging the tissue pharmacodynamics of BGC 945, an FRtargeted antifolate TS inhibitor; the nontargeted antifolate BGC 9331 was used for comparison. TS inhibition by both drugs induced a concentration-dependent increase in [H]thymidine uptake in FR-positive human epidermoid KB cells. Membrane-associated equilibrative nucleoside transporter type 1 levels increased from 55,720F 6,101 to 118,700F 5,193 and 130,800 F 10,800 per cell at 100 Mg/mL of BGC 9331 and BGC 945, respectively, suggesting this as a potential mechanism of increased nucleoside uptake. In keeping with these in vitro findings, tumor [F]FLT accumulation in KB xenografts increased by z2-fold after drug treatment with maximal levels at 1 to 4 hours and 4 to 24 hours after BGC 9331 and BGC 945 treatment, respectively. Of interest to FR targeting, BGC 9331, but not BGC 945, induced accumulation of [F]FLT uptake in intestine, a proliferative and TS-responsive tissue. For both drugs, quantitative changes in tumor [F]FLT uptake were associated with increased tumor dUrd levels. In conclusion, we have validated the utility of [F]FLT-PET to image TS inhibition induced by antifolates and shown the tumor-specific activity of BGC 945. This imaging biomarker readout will be useful in the early clinical development of BGC 945. [Cancer Res 2008;68(10):3827–34]


Background: In many places, income and income inequality are studied as factors that influence people's health. Many of the theories that associate income with health outcomes analyze the individual, the environment, and how income influences health, but not the effects of income on health. Main text: We present a new theory that explains how income change influences people's health. We have based the example of breast cancer mortality and per capita income in Brazil, where the emerging socioeconomic development makes it a developing country with characteristics of developed countries. For this, we used two databases consolidated in scientific research: the atlas for human development in Brazil made available on the basis of the United Nations Development Program and the National Cancer Institute's base on cancer mortality in Brazil. Age-standardized breast cancer Mortality and per capita income in Brazilian rears was collected. Annual Percentual Change was used to estimate the variation in the period and Simple Linear Regression to estimate the relationship between mortality and mortality and the variation of mortality with income variation. The confidence level was 5%. The program used was Stata ® (StataCorp. LLC) 11.0. Conclusion: We find that change in income influences mortality differently, proving our theory. More studies are needed to better develop and understand this relationship.


The foreign trade has important implications on economic development. The most important implication in this regard is the development of exports towards reduction of the trade deficit and improving the terms of trade. In addition, when the national economy holds considerable agricultural resources, the foreign trade policies become key issues in the development program towards achieving considerable self-sufficiency rates for major food groups. In this context the study aimed at conducting an analytical study of the agricultural foreign trade performance over the past two decades through some major relevant indicators. The study relied on published data from relevant regional and international organizations and relevant studies. Low share of the Arab states' agricultural exports in the global market indicated that the vulnerability of the Arabic market with the global market was much higher than the degree of influence. The total value of commodity exports of 21 Arab countries was less than 5% of the total volume of world merchandise exports. Such value contained oil exports during the period 2004-2011. The Arabic States with large agricultural resources that had the highest share in the world merchandise exports, were also exporting oil. Such countries included Sudan, with a share of 0.52% and Egypt with a share of 0.2%. Therefore, the individual Arabic countries rush to join individually the World Trade Organization had made their economies prey to the rigid terms of trade liberalization. If they were joined the °organization as a common market, they would be able to get some privileges or ease the burden of the conditions that many of them have shown inability to meet them. The market share of agricultural commodity exports of Arab states did not exceed 1% of the agricultural commodity exports in the global market. While total merchandise exports had achieved on average a trade surplus of 45% (2004-2008), there was deterioration in such surplus to 13% in 2011, the average Arab agricultural exports covered only 24% over the period 2004-2008 and dropped to 20% in 2011. This low rate of coverage was consistent with the poor performance of the Arab agricultural trade in other measured indicators and as a result of the slow growth of II e Arabic agricultural exports versus accelerated world agricultural market growth. Fish and vegetable group, unlike the rest of the commodity groups, had achieved surplus during period (2004-2011), despite fluctuating in such surplus rate. There were two profound food commodities groups that achieved a surplus in exports value above imports. These were e fruits and tubers (potatoes). Although Arab self-sufficiency ratio above 100% in fruits and legumes, their exports value covered only 85%of their imports, indicating a failure of terms of trade, i.e. the average unit value of exports, were higher than the average unit value of imports,. The export policies succeeded partially in some food commodities, the agricultural policies of the Arab States have generally failed to develop the foreign trade performance. The empirical evidence was that the terms of trade indices gave a positive result in five years in only one country (Palestine), followed by Algeria (in three years), the remainder of the Arab countries have achieved this result just either in two separate years or only in one year


Skin cancer appears to be the most common among all tumors throughout the globe. The initial finding of skin cancer can be alleviated. Late detection leads to fatal. A human inquiry is thought-provoking. The biopsy procedure is agonizing, so computerized examination of skin cancer turns out to be noteworthy. A prevalent literature survey is carried out to study the State-of-art procedures for skin cancer diagnosis. Segmentation of skin lesion is a crucial task due to several features like the existence of hair, illumination difference, irregular skin color, and multiple unnatural skin regions. This paper recommends a comparison of various segmentation techniques and k-means clustering algorithms to segment the lesion. Several methodologies have been anticipated to determine skin cancer. The features can be resolved by familiarizing an advanced method for segmenting the skin lesion from macroscopic images based on the discrete wavelet transformation.


Marine organisms produce a vast diversity of metabolites with biological activities useful for humans, e.g., cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-microbial, insecticidal, herbicidal, anticancer, pro-osteogenic and pro-regenerative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, cholesterol-lowering, nutritional, photoprotective, horticultural or other beneficial properties. These metabolites could help satisfy the increasing demand for alternative sources of nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, food, feed, and novel bio-based products. In addition, marine biomass itself can serve as the source material for the production of various bulk commodities (e.g., biofuels, bioplastics, biomaterials). The sustainable exploitation of marine bio-resources and the development of biomolecules and polymers are also known as the growing field of marine biotechnology. Up to now, over 35,000 natural products have been characterized from marine organisms, but many more are yet to be uncovered, as the vast diversity of biota in the marine systems remains largely unexplored. Since marine biotechnology is still in its infancy, there is a need to create effective, operational, inclusive, sustainable, transnational and transdisciplinary networks with a serious and ambitious commitment for knowledge transfer, training provision, dissemination of best practices and identification of the emerging technological trends through science communication activities. A collaborative (net)work is today compelling to provide innovative solutions and products that can be commercialized to contribute to the circular bioeconomy. This perspective article highlights the importance of establishing such collaborative frameworks using the example of Ocean4Biotech, an Action within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) that connects all and any stakeholders with an interest in marine biotechnology in Europe and beyond.


We report on the observation of the forward degenerate four-wave mixing in four composite samples with Cu nanoclusters embedded in fused silica. The mean diameters of the copper particles in the four samples were 5, 7, 10, and 13 nm. The independent tensor elements of optical Kerr susceptibility were measured with different wave-mixing polarizations by use of 35-ps laser pulses from a mode-locked, frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. The measured third-order susceptibilities were on the order of 10−9–10−8 esu; the response time of the nonlinearity is faster than the laser pulse duration. The experimental results are consistent with a d−3 size dependence predicted for quantum-confined conduction band electrons in Cu nanoclusters.


Quantum-mechanical calculations are used to determine the temperature dependence of the Gibbs energy of vacancy formation in nickel. Existing data reveal a discrepancy between the high-temperature estimates from experiments and low-temperature approximations from density functional theory. Our finite-temperature calculations - which include the effects of magnetism and fully interacting phonon vibrations - demonstrate that this discrepancy is mostly caused by the previously neglected explicit anharmonic contribution.


Caspases play an important role as mediators of cell death in acute and chronic neurological disorders. Although peptide inhibitors of caspases provide neuroprotection, they have to be administered intracerebroventricularly because they cannot cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Herein, we present a nanocarrier system that can transfer chitosan nanospheres loaded with N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp(OMe)-Glu(OMe)-Val-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-DEVD-FMK), a relatively specific caspase-3 inhibitor, across BBB. Caspase-3 was chosen as a pharmacological target because of its central role in cell death. Polyethylene glycol-coated nanospheres were conjugated to an anti-mouse transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody (TfRMAb) that selectively recognizes the TfR type 1 on the cerebral vasculature. We demonstrate with intravital microscopy that this nanomedicine is rapidly transported across the BBB without being measurably taken up by liver and spleen. Pre- or post-treatment (2 h) with intravenously injected Z-DEVD-FMK-loaded nanospheres dose dependently decreased the infarct volume, neurological deficit, and ischemia-induced caspase-3 activity in mice subjected to 2 h of MCA occlusion and 24 h of reperfusion, suggesting that they released an amount of peptide sufficient to inhibit caspase activity. Similarly, nanospheres inhibited physiological caspase-3 activity during development in the neonatal mouse cerebellum on postnatal day 17 after closure of the BBB. Neither nanospheres functionalized with TfRMAb but not loaded with Z-DEVD-FMK nor nanospheres lacking TfRMAb but loaded with Z-DEVD-FMK had any effect on either paradigm, suggesting that inhibition of caspase activity and subsequent neuroprotection were due to efficient penetration of the peptide into brain. Thus, chitosan nanospheres open new and exciting opportunities for brain delivery of biologically active peptides that are useful for the treatment of CNS disorders.


This dataset contains MADFORWATER data relative to the wastewater (WW) treatment performances of the Domestic wastewater of Lamzar Agadir Morocco pilot. They were evaluated by a regular monitoring of the main physical, chemical and microbiological parameters at the inlet and outlet, and in particular biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH3, NO3-, P, Coliforms, and Nematodes. It also contains MADFORWATER data relative to the irrigation/treated wastewater (WW) reuse performances of the Domestic wastewater of Lamzar Agadir Morocco pilot.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of treated wastewater on olive trees and to examine the occurrence of essential elements (physical-chemical parameters), and pathogens in treated waste water, soil and olive leaves of an olive parcel in the Ocean Golf in Agadir , Morocco.
A comparison between 4 different treatments was done, each with 15 trees. A monitoring of olive plant growth, crop production and water consumption was done. The behavior of the irrigation system with treated WW was evaluated in terms of particle deposit in the system, variation with time of flowrate from specific calibrated nozzles and regular drippers.


Prosecutors, like most Americans, view the criminal-justice system as fundamentally race neutral. They are aware that blacks are stopped, searched, arrested, and locked up in numbers that are vastly out of proportion to their fraction of the overall population. Yet, they generally assume that this outcome is justified because it reflects the sad reality that blacks commit a disproportionate share of crime in America. They are unable to detect the ways in which their own discretionary choices — and those of other actors in the criminal-justice system, such as legislators, police officers, and jurors — contribute to the staggering and unequal incarceration of black Americans. In this article, I aim to undermine this color-blind assessment of criminal justice and explain why prosecutors should embrace a color-conscious vision of their professional duties. Color consciousness is complex and multi-dimensional. It involves understanding the ways in which America's long history of segregation generated the harsh socioeconomic conditions that lead so many young black males into a life of crime. It also demands awareness of the frequency of racial profiling and acknowledgment of widely shared stereotypes that lead so many Americans to automatically perceive black men as potentially dangerous, violent and criminal. Finally, color consciousness recognizes the exclusion of blacks from political power and how this exclusion shapes the substantive content of the criminal law. Prosecutors should not only strive to acquire insight into how race operates in the criminal-justice system, but also to allow these insights to guide relevant aspects of their practice, including the ways in which they interact with police, charge crimes, negotiate plea agreements, present their case to jurors, and more. Taking these steps, particularly when they redound to the benefit of criminal suspects and defendants, would depart from the adversarial norm that largely defines the professional ethics of American lawyers. Normally, attorneys are expected to zealously represent the interests of their clients and to leave ultimate decisions about what is fair and true to the judge and jury. Prosecutors are different. They have a dual obligation to serve both as vigorous advocates within adversarial relationships and as officers of justice. Currently, no uniform guidelines exist as to the relative weight of the two components of prosecutors' dual role, so they must make complex judgments about how to negotiate the intrinsic dissonance of their professional identity in a range of different situations. This article advances a context-specific argument that prosecutors and the institutions that supervise them should be more concerned with pursuing justice than with being a vigorous adversary when dealing with the subtle racial dimensions of their work.


Host preference determines which host will be bitten and therefore potentially be infected with vectored pathogenic microorganisms by hematophagous arthropods such as Culicoides. In Israel, the feeding behavior of 8 out of 60 Culicoides species was confirmed by using the precipitin tests. In the present study several morphometric parameters, which characterize bird and mammal feeders were used. By means of the number of antennomer bearing sensilla coeloconica, the following fourteen probable mammal feeders could be detected: Culicoides derisor, Culicoides fagineus, Culicoides fascipennis, Culicoides imicola, Culicoides montanus, Culicoides newsteadi, Culicoides obsoletus, Culicoides pulicaris, Culicoides punctatus, Culicoides puncticollis, Culicoides schultzei group, Culicoides shaklawensis, Culicoides pallidicornis, and Culicoides vitreipennis. In addition, the following eighteen probable bird feeders were identified: Culicoides begueti, Culicoides brunnicans, Culicoides cataneii, Culicoides circumscriptus, Culicoides kibunensis, Culicoides distinctipennis, Culicoides gejgelensis, Culicoides haranti, Culicoides indistinctus, Culicoides odiatus, Culicoides maritimus, Culicoides festivipennis, Culicoides pseudopallidus, Culicoides griseidorsum, Culicoides sejfadinei, Culicoides simulator and Culicoides univittatus. The probable bird feeders possessed a significantly larger third palpal segment. The values of the antennal ratio in probable feeders on birds were significantly higher than those in probable mammal feeders. The number of bulb-shaped sensilla in the pit of the third palpal segment was found unreliable for determining host groups.


Abstract. We aim to study the evolution of the upper atmosphere connectivity over the 20th century as well as to distinguish the oceanically forced component from the atmospheric internal variability. For this purpose we build networks from two different reanalysis data sets using both linear and nonlinear statistical similarity measures to determine the existence of links between different regions of the world in the two halves of the last century. We furthermore use symbolic analysis to emphasize intra-seasonal, intra-annual and inter-annual timescales. Both linear and nonlinear networks have similar structures and evolution, showing that the most connected regions are in the tropics over the Pacific Ocean. Also, the Southern Hemisphere extratropics have more connectivity in the first half of the 20th century, particularly on intra-annual and intra-seasonal timescales. Changes over the Pacific main connectivity regions are analyzed in more detail. Both linear and nonlinear networks show that the central and western Pacific regions have decreasing connectivity from early 1900 up to about 1940, when it starts increasing again until the present. The inter-annual network shows a similar behavior. However, this is not true of other timescales. On intra-annual timescales the minimum connectivity is around 1956, with a negative (positive) trend before (after) that date for both the central and western Pacific. While this is also true of the central Pacific on intra-seasonal timescales, the western Pacific shows a positive trend during the entire 20th century. In order to separate the internal and forced connectivity networks and to study their evolution through time, an ensemble of atmospheric general circulation model outputs is used. The results suggest that the main connectivity patterns captured in the reanalysis networks are due to the oceanically forced component, particularly on inter-annual timescales. Moreover, the atmospheric internal variability seems to play an important role in determining the intra-seasonal timescale networks.


Abstract. Over the past years, the algorithms for dense image matching (DIM) to obtain point clouds from aerial images improved significantly. Consequently, DIM point clouds are now a good alternative to the established Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) point clouds for remote sensing applications. In order to derive high-level applications such as digital terrain models or city models, each point within a point cloud must be assigned a class label. Usually, ALS and DIM are labelled with different classifiers due to their varying characteristics. In this work, we explore both point cloud types in a fully convolutional encoder-decoder network, which learns to classify ALS as well as DIM point clouds. As input, we project the point clouds onto a 2D image raster plane and calculate the minimal, average and maximal height values for each raster cell. The network then differentiates between the classes ground, non-ground, building and no data. We test our network in six training setups using only one point cloud type, both point clouds as well as several transfer-learning approaches. We quantitatively and qualitatively compare all results and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all setups. The best network achieves an overall accuracy of 96 % in an ALS and 83 % in a DIM test set.


Clustered failure time data occur when the failure times of interest are clustered into small groups, while interval censoring occurs when the event of interest cannot be observed directly and is only known to have occurred over a time interval. Clustered failure time data often arise together with interval-censoring, which leads to the clustered interval-censored failure time data. In this dissertation, we will focus on the regression analysis of such data. In the first part of the dissertation, a regression analysis under a Cox frailty model is discussed by employing a sieve estimation procedure. In particular, a two-step algorithm is developed for the regression parameter estimation and the asymptotic properties of the resulting sieve maximum likelihood estimates are established. The second part of this dissertation proposes an estimating equation-based approach for the additive hazards model. A major advantage of the proposed method is that it does not involve estimation of any baseline hazard function. Both asymptotic and finite sample properties of the proposed estimates of regression parameters are established and the method is illustrated by the data arising from a lymphatic filariasis study. The last part of the dissertation considers the regression analysis of the same type of data in the context of the linear transformation models. For the inference about the regression parameters, a marginal model approach based on within-cluster resampling (WCR) method is proposed and its large sample properties are also established.


Recent progress in deep learning for audio synthesis opens the way to models that directly produce the waveform, shifting away from the traditional paradigm of relying on vocoders or MIDI synthesizers for speech or music generation. Despite their successes, current state-of-the-art neural audio synthesizers such as WaveNet and SampleRNN suffer from prohibitive training and inference times because they are based on autoregressive models that generate audio samples one at a time at a rate of 16kHz. In this work, we study the more computationally efficient alternative of generating the waveform frame-by-frame with large strides. We present a lightweight neural audio synthesizer for the original task of generating musical notes given desired instrument, pitch and velocity. Our model is trained end-to-end to generate notes from nearly 1000 instruments with a single decoder, thanks to a new loss function that minimizes the distances between the log spectrograms of the generated and target waveforms. On the generalization task of synthesizing notes for pairs of pitch and instrument not seen during training, SING produces audio with significantly improved perceptual quality compared to a state-of-the-art autoencoder based on WaveNet as measured by a Mean Opinion Score (MOS), and is about 32 times faster for training and 2, 500 times faster for inference.


We present optical and near-infrared observations of the type IIb supernova (SN) 2011fu from a few days to similar to 300 d after explosion. The SN presents a double-peaked light curve (LC) similar to that of SN 1993J, although more luminous and with a longer cooling phase after the primary peak. The spectral evolution is also similar to SN 1993J's, with hydrogen dominating the spectra to similar to 40 d, then helium gaining strength, and nebular emission lines appearing from similar to 60 d post-explosion. The velocities derived from the P-Cygni absorptions are overall similar to those of other type IIb SNe. We have found a strong similarity between the oxygen and magnesium line profiles at late times, which suggests that these lines are forming at the same location within the ejecta. The hydrodynamical modelling of the pseudo-bolometric LC and the observed photospheric velocities suggest that SN 2011fu was the explosion of an extended star (R similar to 450 R-circle dot), in which 1.3 x 10(51) erg of kinetic energy were released and 0.15 M-circle dot of Ni-56 were synthesized. In addition, a better reproduction of the observed early pseudo-bolometric LC is achieved if a more massive H-rich envelope than for other type IIb SNe is considered (0.3 M-circle dot). The hydrodynamical modelling of the LC and the comparison of our late-time spectra with nebular spectral models for type IIb SNe, point to a progenitor for SN 2011fu with a Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS) mass of 13-18 M-circle dot.


This study compared the performance of four groups of children--two Indian groups and two non-Indian groups-on a test of commonly used idioms . The Indian subjects, all bilingual, were differentiated on the basis of school setting, uni-ethnic or multi-ethnic . The non-Indian subjects, all from multi-ethnic schools, were differentiated on the basis of linguistic background, bilingual or monolingual . The sample consisted of 465 children in grades five, six, and seven from six schools in Northern and Central Saskatchewan . The Yandell Idioms Test was administered to all the children . Differences among mean scores of the groups were tested with an analysis of variance . In addition, to minimize the effects on the Idioms Test results of very high or very low reading ability, a second analysis was done involving a selected sample identified from within the total sample by excluding all subjects who scored below the 4 .0 grade level or above the 7 .9 grade level on the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests . Analysis of Idioms Test scores revealed that Indian children in multi-ethnic schools scored higher than Indian children in uni-ethnic schools, but that non-Indian children, whether bilingual or monolingual, achieved significantly better than Indian children . in either multi-ethnic or uniethnic settings . Monolingual non-Indian children scored iv higher than bilingual non-Indian children, although for the selected sample, the differences were not statistically significant . In both analyses, there seemed to be few sex differences of importance . Between-group differences generally reflected the trend for the whole-group analyses, while within-group differences were not significant except for the bilingual . non-Indian group . In general, the study showed that not only did Indian children have difficulty with the comprehension of English idioms but that many English idioms used in basal readers were not familiar even to monolingual Englishspeaking children .


The importance of heroism in the life of Romain Rolland, French author, historian and musicologist has previously been investigated as has been his love of music. The fact that Rolland preferred composers he considered heroic such as Beethoven and Handel led the author of this thesis to believe that there may be a link, as yet unexplored, between Rolland's formulation of heroism and music. The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate that musical influences and the life of certain composers played a central role in the fashioning of Rolland's concept of heroism.

The first chapter, Rolland's musical formation covers the formative years of Rolland's life, outlining the development of his musical taste and also his interest in heroism. The influence of his mentor, Malwida von Meysenbug is examined, as is his search for a role model heroic figure.

Beethoven, the second chapter, discusses the influence of this composer in Rolland's life and enumerates the musician's heroic qualities which Rolland adapts for the formulation of his own fictional hero. The biography The Life of Beethoven written by the author is also examined.

The third chapter, Other heroic musicians investigates Rolland's musicological works in order to highlight heroic qualities found in other composers admired by Rolland.

In his most famous work Jean-Christophe, Rolland creates his own heroic figure based on characteristics gleaned from his study of musicians. The character of his protagonist is examined in detail in the fourth chapter, Jean-Christophe.

Many composers are criticised by the author for lacking an heroic nature. In order to develop fully the concept of Rolland's hero, a close examination of these 'non-heroic' composers is made in the fifth chapter, The insincerity of musicians.

So inspired was Rolland by Beethoven that in writing Jean-Christophe, the author endeavoured to write his own literary 'Heroic Symphony'. The sixth chapter, Rolland's heroic symphony investigates how the author 'musically' structured his novel.

The final chapter, Romain Rolland, the hero-prophet discusses how Rolland absorbed many of the heroic qualities that he read about, believing that it was his mission to lead an heroic life and to write inspirational works for his readers.


This was a multicentre study with risk perception as the theoretical framework, investigating if risk behaviours change when injecting drug users (IDUs) are aware of their hepatitis C virus (HCV) status and had assessed the health consequences with HCV infection. Two hundred and thirteen participants aged 15–40 y were analysed. Sharing of needles and of other injecting equipment were common both among participants who reported HCV-positive status (74%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 65.3–80.1%) and among those who reported HCV status unknown (68%, 95% CI 56.0–78.4%). Participants associating very severe health consequences with HCV infection and those who did not know of any health consequences with HCV infection shared needles at almost the same rate (78%, 95% CI 62.5–87.7 vs 69%, 95% CI 8.0–78.9, respectively). Sharing of other injecting equipment was most common among participants with verified HCV-positive status (adjusted risk ratio 5.64, 95% CI 2.64–12.07). Knowledge of HCV status and assessment of health consequences with HCV infection were not enough to change injecting risk behaviours. Sharing of other injecting equipment was a more important risk factor than sharing needles for participants with verified HCV-positive status. It is suggested that professionals engage IDUs in risk analysis and open a dialogue about assessment in order to identify, quantify and characterize risks.


The aim of the article is to study the problems of legal regulation of government procurement in Kazakhstan from the point of view of the latest domestic and foreign researches. The methodological basis of the study was the legislative acts, statutory documents on the theme of work, fundamental theoretical works, results of practical studies of prominent domestic and foreign scientists. According to the results, it is important to note that the closed competitive tender is characterized by the fact that the offer to participate in it, is drawn to a certain circle of persons at the discretion of the competition's organizer. The authors of the study came to the main conclusion that the law on state procurement is being improved, the Law "On State Procurement" is being updated, and orders are issued on topical issues, namely on combating corruption.


Fits, trances, visions, speaking in tongues, clairvoyance, out-of-body experiences, possession. Believers have long viewed these and similar involuntary experiences as religious--as manifestations of God, the spirits, or the Christ within. Skeptics, on the other hand, have understood them as symptoms of physical disease, mental disorder, group dynamics, or other natural causes. In this sweeping work of religious and psychological history, Ann Taves explores the myriad ways in which believers and detractors interpreted these complex experiences in Anglo-American culture between the mid-eighteenth and early-twentieth centuries.Taves divides the book into three sections. In the first, ranging from 1740 to 1820, she examines the debate over trances, visions, and other involuntary experiences against the politically charged backdrop of Anglo-American evangelicalism, established churches, Enlightenment thought, and a legacy of religious warfare. In the second part, covering 1820 to 1890, she highlights the interplay between popular psychology--particularly the ideas of "animal magnetism" and mesmerism--and movements in popular religion: the disestablishment of churches, the decline of Calvinist orthodoxy, the expansion of Methodism, and the birth of new religious movements. In the third section, Taves traces the emergence of professional psychology between 1890 and 1910 and explores the implications of new ideas about the subconscious mind, hypnosis, hysteria, and dissociation for the understanding of religious experience. Throughout, Taves follows evolving debates about whether fits, trances, and visions are natural (and therefore not religious) or supernatural (and therefore religious). She pays particular attention to a third interpretation, proposed by such "mediators" as William James, according to which these experiences are natural "and" religious. Taves shows that ordinary people as well as educated elites debated the meaning of these experiences and reveals the importance of interactions between popular and elite culture in accounting for how people experienced religion and explained experience.Combining rich detail with clear and rigorous argument, this is a major contribution to our understanding of Protestant revivalism and the historical interplay between religion and psychology.


The stromal compartment of adipose tissue harbors multipotent cells known as adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). These cells can differentiate into various lineages including osteogenic, chrondrogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic; this cellular fraction may be easily obtained in large quantities through a clinically safe liposuction procedure. Therefore, ASCs offer exceptional opportunities for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, current practices involving ASCs typically use fetal bovine serum (FBS)-based cryopreservation solutions that are associated with risks of immunological reactions and of transmitting infectious diseases and prions. To realize clinical applications of ASCs, serum- and xeno-free defined cryopreservation methods are needed. To this end, an animal product-free chemically defined cryopreservation medium was formulated by adding two antioxidants (reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid 2-phosphate), two polymers (PVA and ficoll), two permeating cryoprotectants (ethylene glycol and dimethylsulfoxide), a disaccharide (trehalose), and a calcium chelator (EGTA) to HEPES-buffered DMEM/F12. To limit the number of experimental groups, the concentration of trehalose, both polymers, and EGTA was fixed while the presence of the permeating CPAs and antioxidants was varied. ASCs suspended either in different versions of the defined medium or in the conventional undefined cryopreservation medium (10% dimethylsulfoxide+10% DMEM/F12+80% serum) were cooled to -70°C at 1°C/min before being plunged into liquid nitrogen. Samples were thawed either in air or in a water bath at 37°C. The presence of antioxidants along with 3.5% concentration of each penetrating cryoprotectant improved the freezing outcome to the level of the undefined cryopreservation medium, but the plating efficiency was still lower than that of unfrozen controls. Subsequently, increasing the concentration of both permeating cryoprotectants to 5% further improved the plating efficiency to the level of unfrozen controls. Moreover, ASCs cryopreserved in this defined medium retained their multipotency and chromosomal normality. These results are of significance for tissue engineering and clinical applications of stem cells.


Professor Chang's primary research interest is in the areas of multi-functional materials and intelligent structures with particular emphases on structural health monitoring, intelligent self-sensing diagnostics, and multifunctional energy storage composites for transportation vehicles as well as safety-critical assets and medical devices. His specialties include embedded sensors and stretchable sensor networks with built-in self-diagnostics, integrated diagnostics and prognostics, damage tolerance and failure analysis for composite materials, and advanced multi-physics computational methods for multi-functional structures. Most of his work involves system integration and multi-disciplinary engineering in structural mechanics, electrical engineering, signal processing, and multi-scale fabrication of materials. His recent research topics include: Multifunctional energy storage composites, Integrated health management for aircraft structures, bio-inspired intelligent sensory materials for fly-by-feel autonomous vehicles, active sensing diagnostics for composite structures, self-diagnostics for high-temperature materials, etc.