Background Anacardic acid (AA) is a mixture of 2-hydroxy-6-alkylbenzoic acid homologs. Certain antitumor activities of AA have been reported in a variety of cancers. However, the function of AA in ovarian cancer, to date, has remained unknown. Methods Ovarian cancer cell lines were exposed to AA, after which cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration assays were performed. Phalloidin staining was used to observe lamellipodia formation. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and caspase 3. Results Our results showed that AA promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation, inhibits late apoptosis, and induces cell migration and invasion, as well as lamellipodia formation. AA exposure significantly up-regulated PI3K and VEGF mRNA and protein expression, while, in contrast, it down-regulated caspase 3 mRNA and protein expression in comparison to untreated control cells. Conclusion Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that AA may potentiate the proliferation, invasion, metastasis and lamellipodia formation in ovarian cancer cell lines via PI3K, VEGF and caspase 3 pathways.


Within the framework of FUNK Lab – a virtual laboratory for natural language processing inspired on a functionally-oriented linguistic theory like Role and Reference Grammar-, a number of computational resources have been built dealing with different aspects of language and with an application in different scientific domains, i.e. terminology, lexicography, sentiment analysis, document classification, text analysis, data mining etc. One of these resources is ARTEMIS ( A utomatically R epresenting TE xt M eaning via an I nterlingua-Based S ystem), which departs from the pioneering work of Perinan-Pascual (2013) and Perinan-Pascual & Arcas (2014).  This computational tool is a proof of concept prototype which allows the automatic generation of a conceptual logical structure (CLS) (cf. Mairal-Uson, Perinan-Pascual and Perez 2012; Van Valin and Mairal-Uson 2014), that is, a fully specified semantic representation of an input text on the basis of a reduced sample of sentences. The primary aim of this paper is to develop the syntactic rules that form part of the computational grammar for the representation of simple clauses in English. More specifically, this work focuses on the format of those syntactic rules that account for the upper levels of the RRG Layered Structure of the Clause (LSC), that is, the core (and the level-1 construction associated with it), the clause and the sentence (Van Valin 2005). In essence, this analysis, together with that in Cortes-Rodriguez and Mairal-Uson (2016), offers an almost complete description of the computational grammar behind the LSC for simple clauses.


The ability to determine the global location of transcription factor binding sites in vivo is important for a comprehensive understanding of gene regulation in human cells. We have developed a technology, called serial analysis of binding elements (SABE), involving subtractive hybridization of chromatin immunoprecipitation-enriched DNA fragments followed by the generation and analysis of concatamerized sequence tags. We applied the SABE technology to search for p53 target genes in the human genome, and have identified several previously described p53 targets in addition to numerous potentially novel targets, including the DNA mismatch repair genes MLH1 and PMS2. Both of these genes were determined to be responsive to DNA damage and p53 activation in normal human fibroblasts, and have p53-response elements within their first intron. These two genes may serve as a sensor in DNA repair mechanisms and a critical determinant for the decision between cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. These results also demonstrate the potential for use of SABE as a broadly applicable means to globally identify regulatory elements for human transcription factors in vivo.


Remittance inflows have been a key stimulus to economic growth of many developing countries. There is scant literature available on the impact of remittance inflows and outflows on the economic growth of the large developed countries. For instance, there is little literature on the impact of remittance inflows and outflows on the economic growth rate of Japan. Hence this research objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between 'remittance inflows' and 'outflows' on the 'economic growth rate' of Japan. The paper by utilizing the World Bank data set and the econometric model namely the Granger Causality Model to test and analysis the impact of remittance inflows and outflows on the economic growth rate of Japan. The findings show that in the long run, a 1% increase in remittance outflows will decrease GDP growth rate by 0.000793%. In the short run, a 1% increase in remittance outflows and inflows will decrease GDP growth rate by 0.000599% and 0.000327% respectively. The Japanese government should encourage retired Japanese workers to return to the labour market and effectively contribute to the workforce and retired workers can be re-trained so that less foreign migrant workers are needed and this will reduce remittance outflow.


Classical ecological theory predicts that ecological communities should only contain as many species as there are resources. Many ecosystems, however, seem to contain many more species than classical theory allows. Understanding this paradox is central to community ecology and biogeography. Niche-based models consider that differences and trade-offs between species' life history traits stabilise species interactions and so allow coexistence. In stark contrast, neutral models assume that individuals at the same trophic level interact identically with conspecifics and heterospecifics (i.e. all species are equivalent), and this equivalence allows coexistence. Despite it seeming unlikely that species are equivalent, neutral models do predict some of the macroscopic properties of ecological communities surprisingly well. Although there are many neutral models, the best-known neutral model in the context of community ecology is that described by Hubbell (2001) in the Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity. We review the development of neutral theory in ecology and biogeography, consider its predictions and how they can be evaluated, and look at how neutral theory may develop in the future. This article focuses on species-rich plant communities, as they are, for the most part, the test-bed for the recent development and application of neutral models, but we also consider the application of neutral approaches to other taxonomic groups and ecosystem types.


The still stubbornly high maternal mortality ratio challenges Indonesia to improve health program strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 target of a maternal mortality ratio below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Indonesia has already adopted maternal-neonatal health experts' recommendation of four core program strategies to reduce maternal mortality: (1) family planning with related reproductive health services; (2) skilled care during pregnancy and childbirth; (3) timely emergency obstetric care; and (4) immediate postnatal care (WHO, 1996). These four core strategies would reduce maternal mortality through reduced high-risk births. To be effective, however, these four core program strategies require continued strong quality assurance and central and local government support to ensure program effectiveness yielded towards widely accessible, sustained, quality family planning and maternal and neonatal emergency services. This paper provides evidence for the importance of family planning to help health program strategies to accelerate maternal mortality reduction.


A series of rare earth (RE) metal doped tin-based RE–Sn alloys, Y–Sn, Ce–Sn and Gd–Sn have been successfully prepared by arc-melting and high energy ball milling techniques. X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirm that the as-prepared RE–Sn alloys with an RE : Sn atomic ratio close to 1 : 3 have the same main phase of RESn3 corresponding to the AuCu3-type structure and the RE–Sn solid solution. As anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, the RE–Sn alloys exhibit enhanced specific capacity and cycling performance compared with the pure Sn anode. In particular, the Gd–Sn alloy exhibits the best cycling performance. A high initial discharge capacity of 787 mA h g−1 and a reversible capacity of 333 mA h g−1 are obtained after 40 cycles at a current density of 50 mA g−1. The improved cycling stability can be attributed to the buffer effect of Gd with good elastic properties. Based on the charge–discharge curves, cyclic voltammetry curves and ex situ XRD patterns, our experiments suggest that the lithium insertion/extraction mechanisms of RE–Sn alloys occur via a displacement mechanism.


Recently there has been a noticeable paradigm shift in educational assessment where assessment and student learning are viewed as inseparable and assessment is perceived as a tool for supporting student learning. This study was designed to investigate Turkish teachers' preferences of common assessment methods in the English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom, their Assessment for Learning (AFL) practices, and determine whether they differed in their AFL practices according to some variables such as years of teaching experience, gender, and public vs. private school context. 120 EFL teachers completed the online self-report Assessment for Learning Questionnaire for Teachers (TAFL-Q) consisting of 28 statements on a 5-point (ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree) Likert scale (α = .92). The findings revealed that most Turkish EFL teachers rely on conventional methods of assessment rather than formative assessment processes. While they generally reported high levels of perceived monitoring (82.86%) and scaffolding practices (86.94%) of AFL, they had significant differences in their assessments, especially monitoring in support of student learning, according to years of teaching experience, gender, and private vs. public schools variables (p<0.05). To practice AFL, teachers need to appraise their current assessment practices and develop AFL strategies and feedback procedures. Their perceptions of AFL cannot change overnight, nor do they can do it individually and independently. They need support from different sources to recognize the effect of their previous perspectives on their practices and weigh them against the insights offered by the new assessment culture. Through self-report and observational data from both teachers and students to get better insights into monitoring and scaffolding practices, further research could be conducted to explore probable mismatches between teacher and student perceptions of AFL in EFL classrooms.


We measure glueball masses and the string tension in twelve–flavour QCD, aiming at comparing the emerging gluonic spectrum to the mesonic one. When approaching the critical surface at zero quark mass, the hierarchy of masses in the different sectors of the spectrum gives a new handle to determine the existence of an infrared fixed point. We describe the details of our gluonic measurements and the results obtained on a large number of gauge configurations generated with the HISQ action. In particular, we focus on the scalar glueball and its mixing with a flavour–singlet fermionic state, which is lighter than the pseudoscalar (would–be pion) state. The results are interesting in view of a light composite Higgs boson in walking technicolor theories.


This paper reports on a robust RGB-D SLAM system that performs well in scarcely textured and structured environments. We present a novel keyframe-based continuous visual odometry that builds on the recently developed continuous sensor registration framework. A joint geometric and appearance representation is the result of transforming the RGB-D images into functions that live in a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS). We solve both registration and keyframe selection problems via the inner product structure available in the RKHS. We also extend the proposed keyframe-based odometry method to a SLAM system using indirect ORB loop-closure constraints. The experimental evaluations using publicly available RGB-D benchmarks show that the developed keyframe selection technique using continuous visual odometry outperforms its robust dense (and direct) visual odometry equivalent. In addition, the developed SLAM system has better generalization across different training and validation sequences; it is robust to the lack of texture and structure in the scene; and shows comparable performance with the state-of-the-art SLAM systems.


Accounting practices differ across geographic and political boundaries, across sectors of the economy within these boundaries, and across types of organizations. Globalization exerts a homogenizing force across the political and jurisdictional boundaries with mixed consequences. The development of markets for various factors of production exerts a similar integrative force across sectors of the economy, including business, government and not-for-profit (NFP) sectors. This paper presents an overview of the sources, consequences, and limits of these forces as they relate to accounting. Prepared for International Conference on General Accounting Theory, Krakow Academy of Economics, Krakow, Poland, April 24-25, 2003. This paper is also available from www.som.yale.edu/faculty/sunder.


This lavishly illustrated catalogue accompanies an exhibition of the same name at the Huntington Art Collections that runs from September 28, 2013 to January 13, 2014. Co-curator and scholar Paula Nuttall explores the transmission of ideas, techniques, and modes of artistic rendering that first developed in the Burgundian court and became hugely influential in southern Europe - notably painting in Florence, usually considered the artistic epicenter of Renaissance Europe. Nuttall treats thematic groupings of the exhibition, exploring the diptych as an art form, the portrayal of the face of Christ, the development of portraiture, and the virtuosic renderings of materials and textures.


Students who study problem solving and programming (in a language such as Python) at University level encounter a range of challenges, from low-level issues with code that won't compile to misconceptions about the threshold concepts and skills. The current study complements existing findings on errors, misconceptions, difficulties and challenges obtained from students after-the-fact through instruments such as questionnaires and interviews. In our study, we analysed the posts from students of a large cohort (1500) of first-year University distance learning students to an online 'Python help forum' - recording issues and discussions as the students encountered specific challenges. Posts were coded in terms of topics, and subsequently thematically grouped into python-related, problem solving/generic programming related, and module specific. This report documents the full set of topics and the statistics for each of them. We also provide examples from the forum discussions which illustrate the topics that were identified.


Purpose of Project To reduce preventable fatal and nonfatal bicycle injuries by increasing bicycle helmet ownership and providing bicycle safety instruction to parents and children through a community bike safety event. A windshield survey and discussions with local law enforcement revealed that a large number of children in Hailey were not wearing helmets and did not follow basic bicycle safety rules. Methods Through local sponsorship, free helmets were provided to participants with concurrent instruction on how to wear helmets properly. Bicycle safety, maintenance, and rules were taught by the bilingual Hailey Police Department on a bike "rodeo" course, which highlighted the most prominent causes of bicycle accidents. Several booths provided additional information to parents about local safe routes to school and bike trails, as well as bicycle safety instructional materials. Results Helmets were provided to 70 children and approximately 125 parents and children attended the event. Parents overwhelmingly expressed gratitude for the instruction provided by the police department and regional organizations and several indicated the need for ongoing instruction. Conclusion The bicycle rodeo benefited a significant number of children and parents in the Hailey community. Surplus helmets and other items from the Bike Rodeo were donated to an upcoming bike safety event. These efforts in conjunction with ongoing local efforts to teach parents and children bike safety are critical in potentially reducing fatal and nonfatal bicycle injuries.


We consider the best asymptotic accuracy that can be achieved when estimating the parameters of a random-amplitude sinusoid from its sample covariances. An estimator based on matching in a weighted least-squares sense the sample correlation sequence to the theoretical sequence is presented. The asymptotic properties of the estimator are analyzed. A lower bound on the estimation of the parameters from sample covariances is derived. This bound is shown to be attainable by appropriately choosing the weighting matrix. However, the unweighted nonlinear least-squares estimate performance is shown to come close to the lower bound. The influence of the number of samples, the number of correlation samples, and the lowpass envelope characteristics are studied. Finally, a comparison with Yule-Walker (YW) methods is given.


Apni mandi was launched by Punjab Mandi Board where producer come directly to sell their produce in retail. It was first initiative, directly linking vegetable producers and consumers. Farmer producers bring the produce for sale directly to the buyers or consumers. After a successful start these failed to serve the objectives ultimately. The findings revealed that only 9.7 percent of the vendors in apni mandis, were farmers and rest of them were traders, rehriwalas, phariwalas or agents of the traders. Majority of farmers belonged to small category, use tractor trailer and two wheelers for carrying the produce, selling their produce of their own by taking family members help and travelling from 10–20 km for selling the produce. Further, participating farmers too were not selling all types of agricultural produce and almost all the farmers were selling seasonal vegetables only, whereas fruits, off season vegetables, mushrooms, honey and mustard oil selling was wholly done by traders, rehriwalas, or agents of the traders. Consumers also hardly found any price difference prevailing at apni mandis and retail markets. For helping the farmers and consumers the various measures are suggested to be taken-up by the government, like ensured participation of only farmers, provide various infrastructural and training facilities, encourage farmers interest-groups and more storage facilities at cheaper rates were the important requirements.


The Indonesian situation did not begin as a typical foreign exchange crisis. Instead, it was a financial crisis sparked by a loss of market confidence in the country and its banking system, and it was deepened by capital flight. The resulting insolvencies were worse than anticipated because of the close connections between debtors and their creditors. Between 50 and 66 percent of the total lending portfolio was concentrated in a few public banks. It is not clear how the IMF could have addressed ethnic issues and other political concerns in its precrisis work with Indonesia. The IMF was aware that the government granted special privileges to its supporters. It was also aware that this arrangement contributed to ethnic and social tensions in the country. In hindsight, it is probably true that the IMF could have done more to publicize its views and to encourage measures that would have produced a more level playing field. However, it is not clear that this would have actually prevented the crisis. The current IMF program seeks to remove the privileges and restrictions that prevent a free-market economy from operating and to clean up the problems in the banking system. The IMF is interested in ensuring that the banking reforms are applied evenhandedly and equitably to all groups. This is relevant to the question of ethnicity because of the disproportionate role that the Chinese play in the country's economy. One challenge for the IMF, therefore, is to make sure that the structural reforms it is supporting do not promote a populism that seeks to favor the pribumi over the Chinese. In conclusion, while Indonesia is going through a deep crisis, it is important to recognize that the resulting social tensions are not caused by an increase in poverty. The limited available information suggests that the crisis has affected the rich and the middle class most, and that poverty has only increased slightly.


BACKGROUND
Most peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) patients have a poor outcome and the identification of prognostic factors at diagnosis is needed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The prognostic impact of total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV0), measured on baseline [(18)F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography, was evaluated in a retrospective study including 108 PTCL patients (27 PTCL not otherwise specified, 43 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas and 38 anaplastic large-cell lymphomas). All received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. TMTV0 was computed with the 41% maximum standardized uptake value threshold method and an optimal cut-off point for binary outcomes was determined and compared with others prognostic factors.

RESULTS
With a median follow-up of 23 months, 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 49% and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 67%. High TMTV0 was significantly associated with a worse prognosis. At 2 years, PFS was 26% in patients with a high TMTV0 (>230 cm(3), n = 53) versus 71% for those with a low TMTV0, [P < 0.0001, hazard ratio (HR) = 4], whereas OS was 50% versus 80%, respectively, (P = 0.0005, HR = 3.1). In multivariate analysis, TMTV0 was the only significant independent parameter for both PFS and OS. TMTV0, combined with PIT, discriminated even better than TMTV0 alone, patients with an adverse outcome (TMTV0 >230 cm(3) and PIT >1, n = 33,) from those with good prognosis (TMTV0 ≤230 cm(3) and PIT ≤1, n = 40): 19% versus 73% 2-year PFS (P < 0.0001) and 43% versus 81% 2-year OS, respectively (P = 0.0002). Thirty-one patients (other TMTV0-PIT combinations) had an intermediate outcome, 50% 2-year PFS and 68% 2-year OS.

CONCLUSION
TMTV0 appears as an independent predictor of PTCL outcome. Combined with PIT, it could identify different risk categories at diagnosis and warrants further validation as a prognostic marker.


A knowledgeable observer of a game of football (soccer) can make a subjective evaluation of the quality of passes made between players during the game, such as rating them as Good, OK, or Bad. In this article, we consider the problem of producing an automated system to make the same evaluation of passes and present a model to solve this problem. Recently, many professional football leagues have installed object tracking systems in their stadiums that generate high-resolution and high-frequency spatiotemporal trajectories of the players and the ball. Beginning with the thesis that much of the information required to make the pass ratings is available in the trajectory signal, we further postulated that using complex data structures derived from computational geometry would enable domain football knowledge to be included in the model by computing metric variables in a principled and efficient manner. We designed a model that computes a vector of predictor variables for each pass made and uses machine learning techniques to determine a classification function that can accurately rate passes based only on the predictor variable vector. Experimental results show that the learned classification functions can rate passes with 90.2% accuracy. The agreement between the classifier ratings and the ratings made by a human observer is comparable to the agreement between the ratings made by human observers, and suggests that significantly higher accuracy is unlikely to be achieved. Furthermore, we show that the predictor variables computed using methods from computational geometry are among the most important to the learned classifiers.


This slim volume can be linked to a Journal issue that has a specific area of focus. It contains five research studies representing work by Naomi Katz as principal or co-investigator. Editor of the book, Claudia Kay Allan also authors the Preface. ' The main thrust of the collection is one of combination. The studies point out the similarities and differences between two major theoretical concepts popular in recent occupational therapy literature: The Model of Human Occupation and Cognitive Disability Theory. The researchers note that the cognitive and biological bases of Allan's work, complement the psychosocial basis of Kielhofner's Model. They see similarities in that both approaches conceive the human organism as a system and an individual's occupational performance as the "core of the profession's domain of concern". Similarly both concepts require a therapist to assess a patient's interests, functional abilities and activities. This book presents a critical analysis of some of the prominent assessment tools recommended for use by occupational therapists in mental health and as such is invaluable as a resource for the teaching of assessment content in an occupational therapy curriculum. The final study examines the cognitive patterns of psychiatric outpatients in relation to the concrete and formal operations of Piagetian Theory. It is suggested that the findings have relevance for occupational therapists in carrying out assessments and activity analysis. Through the combination of assessment instruments and the comparison and explanation of results, the studies emphasize the impo rtance of addressing both the cognitive and psychosocial aspects of a patient's occupational performance. In addition Katz includes revised formats for the Occupational History Questionnaire and the Interest Checklist. Although each study includes a discussion section, a final chapter presenting a summary of the interrelationships of the findings across the studies would have added to the books value as a text. Barbara W. Posthuma Basic neuroscience for the health professions Elizabeth H. Littel Slack Incorporated, 6900 Grove Road, Thorofare, NJ. 08086 1990 282 p.


Clustering is an important method for customer segmentation, and there are lots of clustering methods in literature and most of them are similarity-based. However, there are also some remarkable dissimilarity-based approaches that should be compared with others to analyze their practical benefits. In this study, we apply two different clustering techniques to figure out what differences can be observed between similarity and dissimilarity-based clustering techniques. To provide this, we have conducted a study on customer database with 8000 customers from automotive industry. We have chosen self-organizing maps, the most popular and acceptable similarity-based method, and dissimilarity-based heuristic method that is using game theory and evolutionary algorithm. Experimental results show that dissimilarity-based heuristic method has achieved better performance in determining more specified clusters and these two methods should be used for different goals because of the final clusters specifications. At the same time, a successful example of new emerging method using game theory in clustering has been completed.


This study explores ways of using Facebook as a tool to improve the pragmatic competence of students of German as a foreign language in Japan. Nine students of a textbook-based German class (CFER level A2) voluntarily participated in this blended learning approach, in which they were assigned weekly online tasks aimed at eliciting speech acts commonly used in online interaction. The tasks required the students write posts concerning their daily routines onto the timeline of a dedicated Facebook Group page and to comment on each other's posts. In order to find out what difficulties learners face when producing certain speech acts, the students' posts and comments were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively by determining the frequency, accuracy, and appropriateness of speech acts performed per task. The results suggest that the tasks developed seemed to be appropriate for eliciting a large number of speech acts, while types, frequency, and appropriateness of the speech acts produced varied significantly. As was revealed, difficulties in task performance did not only stem from a lack of L2 (socio-pragmatic) knowledge, but also from inexperience in the use of the network itself. For task performance, students strongly relied on the expressions provided in pre-task activities. As the results of a post-course students' survey indicate, most students agreed that using Social Networking Sites (SNS) is an appropriate tool for language learning, and that they were able to increase their knowledge and use of German speech acts significantly during this course. However, only those students who frequently used SNS in their everyday lives seemed to be able to reap the full benefits of the project.


Determining the satisfiability of Boolean constraint-satisfaction problems with different types of constraints, that is hybrid constraints, is a well-studied problem with important applications. We study a new application of hybrid Boolean constraints, which arises in quantum computing. The problem relates to constrained perfect matching in edge-colored graphs. While general-purpose hybrid constraint solvers can be powerful, we show that direct encodings of the constrained-matching problem as hybrid constraints scale poorly and special techniques are still needed. We propose a novel encoding based on Tutte's Theorem in graph theory as well as optimization techniques. Empirical results demonstrate that our encoding, in suitable languages with advanced SAT solvers, scales significantly better than a number of competing approaches on constrained-matching benchmarks. Our study identifies the necessity of designing problem-specific encodings when applying powerful general-purpose constraint solvers.


Background Periprosthetic bone loss is a well-docu-mented phenomenon after uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA); however, little is known about how bone mineral density (BMD) changes after 2 years. Patients and methods 14 patients with hip arthrosis (group A) were operated with a proximally porous- and hydroxyapatite-coated stem and followed for 10 years with DEXA, radiographs and Harris hip score (HHS). Another group of 14 patients (group B) was evaluated at 6 and 14 years using the same prosthesis and protocol. Results No stem was revised and all stems were well-Fixed. At final follow-up, HHS was 97 points in group A after 10 years and 94 points in group B after 14 years. Bone mineral changes in group A were greatest in Gruen zones 1 and 7, where the losses were 31% and 26%, respectively, after 2 years on the operated side. The decrease in BMD continued after 2 years and in Gruen zone 7 it was faster than the rate of bone loss on the control side. In group B, the annual change in BMD on the operated side was not significantly different from the bone loss in group A. Interpretation Up to 14 years after implantation of a tapered uncemented stem, the BMD in the calcar region continues to decrease faster than would be expected from normal ageing.


This papers presents an experience of specifying and implementing an XML format for text to image alignment at word and character level within the TEI framework. The format in question is a supplementary markup layer applied to heterogeneous transcriptions of medieval Latin and French manuscripts encoded using different " flavors " of the TEI (normalized for critical editions, diplomatic or palaeographic transcriptions). One of the problems that had to be solved was identifying " non-alignable " spans in various kinds of transcriptions. Originally designed in the framework of a research project on the ontology of letter-forms in medieval Latin and vernacular (mostly French) manuscripts and inscriptions, this format can be of use for all kinds of projects that involve fine-grain alignment of transcriptions with zones on digital images.


Human telomeres, which consist of repeated TTAGGG sequences, have recently become the focus of intense and highly competitive biological research. This scientific interest lies in their unique biological functions: telomeres are essential for genome integrity and appear to play an important role in cellular aging and cancer. As telomerase appears to be selectively expressed in tumors versus normal cells, this enzyme represents a good target for inhibition. Different types of telomerase inhibitors have recently been described. We will present briefly the different strategies that have been proposed to achieve efficient telomerase inhibition, with a special emphasis on G-quartet ligands.


The need for the reduction of energy consumption and size of microelectronic circuits is increasingly in demand. To support this request, this paper presents a comparison study on two integrated technologies: FDSOI 28nm and CMOS 350nm. The aim of this work was to compare the performance of these two technologies for the design of a rectifier and a Dickson charge pump for rectenna application. The results showed an improved 22%-output voltage gain for a given simple rectifier and a 16%-output voltage gain for a Dickson charge pump in FDSOI technology compared to CMOS, for an input voltage and power as low as 0.5 V and 0 dBm. Those results allowed to prove that FDSOI 28nm is a better technology choice for Energy Harvesting and Low-Power applications.


Crowd density monitoring is crucial to many applications, such as guiding tour and crowd control in commercial environments. Video or image-based solutions are high cost and cannot be applied in low-light environments. For some Radio Frequency (RF) based technologies, some people have to carry certain wireless transceivers, others also need to collect abundant fingerprint. These approaches are high cost and impractical. In this paper, we propose a crowd monitoring approach using mobile phone. Our design of crowd detection adopts clustering methods. Feature sets derive from Wi-Fi signal strength measurements. We use Bluetooth readings analyzing to estimate crowd density. We implement our design on off-the- shelf smartphones and evaluate its performance via extensive experiments in typical realworld scenes. Results of experiment verify the feasibility and the effectiveness of our proposed approach.


All professional researchers are from time to time asked to carry out some reviewing. Although it is impossible from a practical point of view to achieve perfect reviewing, it is certainly mandatory for a responsible professional to try to do it in a good way. Good practices in peer-reviewing are of paramount importance for a proper operation of the research communities. In this paper an effort has been devoted to identify a series of criteria that can guide unexperienced reviewers to produce their first reviews in a way as objective and constructive as possible. Some parts of the paper are especially focused on the specific characteristics of engineering-related research areas. The paper discusses how important it is to have a constructive attitude, describes the main aspects to be analyzed when assessing the correctness and quality of a paper, discusses an important difference between the reviewing process of journal and conference papers, and finally makes some practical suggestions on the structure that a review report should have.


It is required to develop innovative materials technology for environmentally benign manufacturing toward dematerialization. Recently, some barrier-free processes in a variety of materials such as steels, light metals, polymers, woods have been studied from the viewpoint of recycling for scraps and materials selection for poison-free materials, and forming for high performance materials. The present paper reviews the contents of the barrier-free processing. The key technologies of the barrier-free processing are the synthesis of harmless materials from scraps by dispersion control and the simultaneity of forming and microstructural control by in-process control.


This paper presents an approach to detect small breast cancer features in mammograms such as microcalcifications, employing wavelet based methods. Microcalcifications can be difficult to locate, especially in low contrast mammographic images, such as those from younger women which have denser breast tissues. The aim is to improve contrast in mammographic images, in order to facilitate its interpretation by radiologists. The methods used involve image de-noising, wavelet image analysis and image enhancement by local adaptive operators integrated in the wavelet domain. The image is decomposed in sub-bands, the low-frequency sub-band is suppressed and than we reconstruct the image from the high-frequency sub-bands. Preliminary results indicate that the performance of this approach is acceptable. However, further studies are needed, namely to investigate the possibility of automatic or semi-automatic detection and classification of microcalcifications and image processing for regions of interest.


The Koktokay No. 1 pegmatite in northwestern China is a highly fractionated Li-Cs-Ta (LCT) - type granitic pegmatite. As main Nb - Ta oxides in this pegmatite, columbite-group minerals (CGMs) not only display variations in Nb/Ta and Fe/Mn, but also are typified by noticeable Zr, Hf, and U contents. Here, we report on the chemical evolution and late-stage re-equilibration of CGMs in the processes of crystallization and evolution of this pegmatite. Columbite-group minerals record large variations in Ta/(Nb + Ta) values (0.06–0.98) and moderate variations in Mn/(Fe + Mn) values (0.58–0.99), which could be a result of fractional crystallization of pegmatite magma. The concentrations of ZrO 2 , HfO 2 , and UO 2 in CGMs from the contact zone inwards to zone II of this pegmatite are uniformly less than 0.35 wt.%. However, primary tantalite-(Mn) with Ta/(Nb + Ta) and Mn/(Fe + Mn) values of 0.63–0.98 and 0.86–0.99, respectively, show relatively high contents of ZrO 2 , HfO 2 , and UO 2 , up to 1.68, 0.73, and 1.25 wt.%, respectively. The contents of ZrO 2 , HfO 2 , and UO 2 are positively correlated with variations in Ta/(Nb + Ta) values within different grains and single grains of primary tantalite-(Mn). Crystal-chemical considerations suggest that Zr, Hf, and U are possibly present in the tantalite-(Mn) structure due to the substitution 3(Zr,Hf,U) 4+ = 2(Nb,Ta) 5+ + (Fe,Mn) 2+ . In some areas within the primary tantalite-(Mn) crystals in zone III, specific tantalite-(Mn) has been identified with sharp but irregular contacts with the host tantalite. Such tantalite-(Mn) is chemically depleted in Zr, Hf, and U, but contains many small inclusions of zircon, the MnZrTa 2 O 8 phase, uraninite, and U-rich member of the microlite group of minerals. In a similar way, the primary Zr-Hf-U-bearing tantalite-(Mn) experienced late-stage local re-equilibration, giving rise to the formation of secondary Zr-Hf-U-depleted tantalite-(Mn) and other Zr- or U-rich mineral inclusions in an open fluid-mediated system. The behaviors of Zr, Hf, and U in CGMs in the Koktokay No. 1 pegmatite are indicative of Zr, Hf, and U enrichment during fractional crystallization of a highly fractionated pegmatite magma on one hand and imply late-stage activities of fluids on the other. Considerable enrichment of U and Hf in CGMs indicates that this type of mineral may act as a target for in situ LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotope measurements, which may provide key information for understanding the source of the magma and the evolution mechanism of the Nb-Ta mineralization.


The ICU Book, by Paul L. Marino, Blackwell Scientific Publications (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., 54 University Street, Carlton South, Vic. 3053; $71.00; 235 X 150; pp. 713. This is an excellent book, quite the best text on intensive care that I have recently encountered. Its theme is to be a 'generic' book, which tackles those principles and concerns common to all types of intensive care unit. It is 'problem-oriented' rather than 'disease-oriented'. As such, it deals for example with the principles of shock and resuscitation rather than with the details of AMI or GI bleeding. It specifically does not cover individual topics such as trauma, burns, asthma, drug overdose, obstetrics, etc., as these subspecialties have their own experts and texts. It is thus a genuinely different book in its emphasis on fundamentals and problem-solving in critical care. The text is divided into 47 chapters in 12 sections, viz. Critical Care Physiology, Common Problems and Practices, Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring, Clinical Shock Syndromes, Resuscitation Practices, Cardiac Arrhythmias, Acute Respiratory Failure, Mechanical Ventilation, Acid-Base Disorders, Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders, Nutrition and Metabolism, and Infectious Disease. There are 45 appendices, grouped as reference tables, pharmacotherapy, resuscitation, scoring systems, infection control and hemodynamic profile, together with a comprehensive index. It is a clearly written and very readable book. It is particularly well laid out, with first-class tables and figures, and pertinent references. It presents a nice balance, based on the modern consensus view, the author's personal experience and the scientific literature. The book is not without blemish, however. Sadly, as is common with many American texts, it is quite parochial in many ways rather than international, especially notable being the use of 'old' units of measurement. There are numerous errors of proofreading, mostly merely annoying but some more serious (e.g. on P.417, Table 31-2. for Metabolic Acidosis, Expected PC02 = 1.5 X HCO) + 0.8 ( ± 2)}, where 0.8 should be 8. In summary, this book is more than just a valuable departmental or library reference. Any clinician with a significant interest in intensive care would find it worthwhile to have a personal copy. J. F. CADE Trauma; Anesthesia and Intensive Care, L. M. Capan, S. M. Miller, H. Turndorf, J. B. Lippincott Company, 227 East Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3780, U.S.A.; $U.S.125.00; 220 X 285; pp. 884. This is a superb textbook offering a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of trauma management and with particular emphasis on anaesthesia and intensive care. The textbook is divided into four sections. The first, Basic Considerations, outlines the general principles of trauma management including epidemiology, care priorities and support of major organ systems. The second section deals with specific injuries and includes information on basic anatomy and physiology, mechanisms of injury, diagnosis as well as anaesthetic and surgical management. The third section details complications oftrauma such as pain, ARDS, acute renal failure and sepsis. The final section covers organised aspects including pre-hospital care, trauma care systems and disaster planning. Most chapters are multi-authored, predominantly by anaesthetists although adequate and appropriate surgical input is incorporated. Chapters are filled with many excellent tables, diagrams, algorithms and illustrations. A comprehensive list of up-to-date references is included in this 1991 first edition. The book is highly recommended to all those involved in acute trauma care. A. DUNCAN Princess Margaret Hospital Perth, W.A.


Field research requires openness to unforeseen insights and opportunities, especially when designing for complex and dynamic workplaces, such as a ship bridge. In this paper, we investigate how serendipitous outcomes may be facilitated in design-driven field research. We present a case study of two field research trips onboard Arctic-going vessels, during which we investigated the premises of designing augmented reality (AR) systems for navigators. We describe how an explorative and opportunistic mixed-methods approach facilitated serendipity and analyse which specific aspects led to serendipitous outcomes in three examples. Last, we discuss how practical support for designers and design researchers conducting design-driven field research can be developed and suggest how strategies to employ approaches that facilitate serendipity can increase the likelihood and awareness of serendipitous outcomes.


Psychotherapy that regularly yields liberating, lasting change was, in the last century, a futuristic vision, but it has now become reality, thanks to a convergence of remarkable advances in clinical knowledge and brain science. In Unlocking the Emotional Brain, authors Ecker, Ticic and Hulley equip readers to carry out focused, empathic therapy using the process found by researchers to induce memory reconsolidation, the recently discovered and only known process for actually unlocking emotional memory at the synaptic level. Emotional mem-ory's tenacity is the familiar bane of therapists, and researchers have long believed that emotional memory forms indelible learning. Reconsolidation has overturned these views. It allows new learning to era se, not just suppress, the deep, unconscious, intensely problematic emotional learnings that form during childhood or later in tribulations and generate most of the symptoms that bring people to therapy. Readers will learn methods that precisely eliminate unwanted, ingrained emotional responses—whether moods, behaviors or thought patterns—causing no loss of ordinary narrative memory, while restoring clients' well-being. Numerous case examples show the versatile use of this process in AEDP, Coherence Therapy, EFT, EMDR and IPNB. Bruce Ecker and Laurel Hulley are the originators of Coherence Therapy and co-authors of Depth Oriented Brief Therapy: How To Be Brief When You Were Trained To Be Deep and Vice Versa; the Coherence Therapy Practice Manual & Training Guide; and the Manual of Juxtaposition Experiences: How to Create Transformational Change Using Disconfirming Knowledge in Coherence Therapy. Ecker is co-director of the Coherence Psychology Institute, has taught for many years in graduate programs, and has been in private practice near San Francisco since 1986. Hulley is director of education and paradigm development of the Coherence Psychology Institute and co-founder of the Julia Morgan Middle School for Girls in Oakland, California. Robin Ticic is director of training and development of the Coherence Psychology Institute and is in private practice near Cologne, Germany, specializing in trauma therapy and clinical supervision of trauma therapists. She has served as a psychologist for the Psychotraumatology Institute of the University of Cologne for many years, provides a low-fee counseling service for parents, and is author of the parenting guide How to Connect with Your Child, published in English and German. The right of the editors to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 …


Binding of ligand FasL to its receptor Fas triggers apoptosis via the caspase cascade. FasL itself is homotrimeric, and a productive apoptotic signal requires that FasL be oligomerized beyond the homotrimeric state. We generated a series of FasL chimeras by fusing FasL to domains of the Leukemia Inhibitory Factor receptor gp190 which confer homotypic oligomerization, and analyzed the capacity of these soluble chimeras to trigger cell death. We observed that the most efficient FasL chimera, called pFasL, was also the most polymeric, as it reached the size of a dodecamer. Using a cellular model, we investigated the structure-function relationships of the FasL/Fas interactions for our chimeras, and we demonstrated that the Fas-mediated apoptotic signal did not solely rely on ligand-mediated receptor aggregation, but also required a conformational adaptation of the Fas receptor. When injected into mice, pFasL did not trigger liver injury at a dose which displayed anti-tumor activity in a model of human tumor transplanted to immunodeficient animals, suggesting a potential therapeutic use. Therefore, the optimization of the FasL conformation has to be considered for the development of efficient FasL-derived anti-cancer drugs targeting Fas.


The purpose of this study was to examine changes in select anaerobic and aerobic dependent physical performance tasks in U.S. Marines exposured to field operations at moderate altitude. The subjects (N = 16) completed Wingate anaerobic power, submaximal aerobic cycle ergometry, hand grip strength, and push-up tests on three separate occasions. Testing sessions occurred at sea level, at altitude after a 10-day acclimatization period (immediately before field operations), and at altitude immediately after 4.5 days of field operations. Anaerobic power was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after the field operations at altitude. In contrast, the aerobic cost of doing submaximal exercise was slightly elevated (p < 0.05) after the altitude field operations. No physiologically significant effect was noted for hand grip or push-up results. The findings of this study indicate that field operations at moderate altitude do result in slight, but significant, anaerobic-aerobic performance decrement in U.S. Marines.


A placebo-controlled, double-blind multicenter trial was conducted in 123 patients with severe hypertension to examine the efficacy and safety of intravenously administered nicardipine hydrochloride in controlling blood pressure. Seventy-three patients were initially randomized to receive nicardipine treatment. This group had an initial blood pressure of 213 +/- 3/126 +/- 2 mm Hg. Sixty-seven patients achieved the therapeutic goal (diastolic blood pressure less than or equal to 95 mm Hg; systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 160 mm Hg). Fifty patients were randomized to receive placebo solution. Blood pressure in these patients was 216 +/- 3/125 +/- 2 mm Hg. No patient in this group achieved the therapeutic goal during the "blinded" portion of the study. Forty-four of 49 patients who did not respond to placebo administration responded to subsequent treatment with nicardipine. Patients with end-organ damage were included in the study. These included patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, retinopathy, and renal insufficiency. Patients with and without end-organ damage responded equally well to nicardipine treatment. Serious adverse experiences were infrequent, the most common adverse reaction being headache in 24% of the patients studied.


This paper investigates the closed-loop dynamics of the Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy using a new mathematical model based on the averaging method in Cartesian coordinates. Experimental and numerical observations show that the emergence of chaos in conventional tapping mode AFM strictly limits the imaging speed. We show that, if the controller of AFM is tuned to be faster than a certain threshold, the closed-loop system exhibits a chaotic behavior. The presence of chaos in the closed-loop dynamics is confirmed via bifurcation diagrams, Poincare sections, and Lyapunov exponents. Unlike the previously detected chaos due to attractive forces in the AFM, which can be circumvented via simple changes in operation parameters, this newly identified chaos is seemingly inevitable and imposes an upper limit for the closed-loop bandwidth of the AFM.


In this paper, we propose a framework to convert American Sign Language (ASL) to English and English to ASL. Within this framework, we use a deep learning model along with the rolling average prediction that captures image frames from videos and classifies the signs from the image frames. The classified frames are then used to construct ASL words and sentences to support people with hearing impairments. We also use the same deep learning model to capture signs from the people with deaf symptoms and convert them into ASL words and English sentences. Based on this framework, we developed a web-based tool to use in real-life application and we also present the tool as a proof of concept. With the evaluation, we found that the deep learning model converts the image signs into ASL words and sentences with high accuracy. The tool was also found to be very useful for people with hearing impairment and deaf symptoms. The main contribution of this work is the design of a system to convert ASL to English and vice versa.


The report which. I have the honour to lay before the Society to-night on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Silchester Excavation Fund deals with the excavations carried on during the fifth year of the systematic exploration of the site.


Introduction Restricting available e-cigarette flavours to only tobacco and menthol may reduce appeal among youth; it is unknown how flavour restrictions impact adults using e-cigarettes to quit smoking cigarettes. Methods Online US survey data were collected in summer 2021 from 857 adults who reported using e-cigarettes in a recent attempt to quit smoking. Survey items assessed e-cigarette flavours used during their quit attempt, whether e-cigarette flavour bans restricted access to flavours they like, and what impact the restrictions had on e-cigarette behaviour. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of flavour bans with success quitting smoking for 1 month or longer. Results 30.2% (N=259) reported restricted access to e-cigarette flavours they like. During their quit attempt, 64.9% (N=168) used tobacco or menthol-flavoured e-cigarettes, and 90.7% (N=235) used another flavour that could be affected by restrictions, most commonly fruit, mint, and candy/dessert. Responses to flavour restrictions included switching devices to continue using preferred flavours (39.4%), using the same device only with available flavours (35.9%), buying preferred flavours elsewhere (eg, online) (19.3%), making flavours (3.5%) and 'other' (eg, no longer using e-cigarettes) (1.9%). The odds of quitting smoking for 1 month or longer were not significantly different between those experiencing flavour restrictions (vs not), preferring tobacco/menthol (vs restricted) flavour, or switching flavours in response to the bans (vs finding another way to obtain restricted flavours) (p>0.11). Conclusion Experiencing e-cigarette flavour restrictions was not associated with success quitting smoking among adults using e-cigarettes to try to quit.


The petitioner had been arrested under the Bangladesh Dowry Prohibition Act, 1980, after he refused to take Mst. Taslima Begum, whom he had married under Moslem shariat, to his home unless her family paid him Tk. 10,000 in return. At the beginning of the marriage, Mst. Taslima Begum had lived at the home of her father and was visited there often by the petitioner as husband, with the result that she conceived and gave birth to a child. The petitioner demanded that the proceeding be quashed, arguing that the demand for money did not come within the definition of dowry under the Act, that is, demanding money in consideration for marriage. The Court disagreed, holding that the demand for money by a husband after marriage in exchange for giving the wife the status of a wife, maintaining and supporting her as a wife, and providing her with shelter as a wife amounts to a demand for dowry.


Hazard stocks are opposite of lottery stocks. We proxy hazard stocks with the minimum daily idiosyncratic return over the past month, a negative shock labelled IMIN, and examine the relation between hazard stocks and expected returns. The literature on lottery-stocks implies that investors should discount hazard stocks. However, we find that investors under-react to hazard stocks, with negative return continuations for up to 24 months without subsequent reversals. An IMIN-based long-short arbitrage portfolio strategy generates monthly alphas of 0.52% to 0.75%. We find consistent results using Fama-MacBeth (1973) regressions and controlling for characteristics such as MAX (Bali et al., 2011), idiosyncratic volatility, and corporate events such as earnings announcements. Furthermore, we find that both firm-level information uncertainty and limits to arbitrage, but not limited investor attention, contribute significantly to the documented under-reaction to hazard stocks.


PHYSICAL AND HYGIENIC-SANITARY CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTY SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN THE WESTERN REGION OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATE, BRAZIL. The conditions of the county slaughterhouses of the western region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, were evaluated taken into account hygienic-sanitary aspects, the physical conditions of the facilities, the slaughter procedures, staff hygiene, atmosphere, equipment and utensils. Visits were made to each of 15 municipal slaughterhouses, where an epidemiological questionnaire was completed and an interview was made with the person in charge of the establishment. It was observed that 66.7% of the slaughterhouses were located in urban areas. In 80% of the establishments there was no routine sanitary inspection. The slaughterhouses did not follow the recommendations for humane slaughter. The whole slaughter procedure (stunning, bleeding, skinning and evisceration) was carried out on the floor of the slaughterhouses. In light of the findings, it was perceived that the hygienic-sanitary conditions were extremely precarious, and the physical facilities were inappropriate. The handlers of the meats did not comply with the minimum demands of hygiene. An important and neglectful problem of public health was evidenced, indicating that corrective measures should be implemented urgently by the relevant agencies and by the people in charge of the establishments.


The left inferior frontal cortex (LIFC) is a key region for spoken language processing, but its neurocognitive architecture remains controversial. Here we assess the domain-generality vs. domain-specificity of the LIFC from behavioural, functional neuroimaging and neuromodulation data. Using concurrent fMRI and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) delivered to the LIFC, we investigated how brain activity and behavioural performance are modulated by task domain (naming vs. non-naming), cognitive challenge (low vs. high), and tDCS (anodal vs. sham). The data revealed: (1) co-existence of neural signatures both common and distinct across tasks within the LIFC; (2) domain-preferential effects of task (naming); (3) significant tDCS modulations of activity in a LIFC sub-region selectively during high-challenge naming. The presence of both domain-specific and domain-general signals, and the existence of a gradient of activation where naming relied more on sub-regions within the LIFC, may help reconcile both perspectives on spoken language processing.


Corpus callosum agenesis, retardation, adducted thumbs, spastic paraparesis, and hydrocephalus (CRASH syndrome) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the neuronal cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1 CAM) gene. L1 plays a key role in axon outgrowth and pathfinding during the development of the nervous system. We describe the case of a boy from the United Arab Emirates who presented with CRASH syndrome. Scanning the L1 gene of the patient resulted in the discovery of a novel missense mutation: transition of a G (guanine) to T (thymine) at position 604 (G604→T), which results in conversion of aspartic acid to tyrosine at position 202 (D202Y) of the L1 protein. It is very likely that the cerebral dysgenesis is due to the abnormal structure and function of L1. (J Child Neurol 2000;15:239-243).


Grain yield of rice plants grown in outmost first and second rows in paddy field blocked by 50 cm wide levee was averaged 30 percent more than that in center rows, but yield increased percents in border rows were significantly different between varieties. Average border effect through 3 varieties were recognized only in first and second rows from levee, but most vigorous variety, Hangangchal, showed border effect up to fourth rows from levee. Rice plants grown in border rows had more number of panicles per hill and more number of spikelets per panicle. Total dry matter weight and average leaf area of rice plants in border rows differed with those in center rows from 30 to 60 days after transplanting. Early maturing variety showed the difference between border and center rows quickly concerning to total dry matter weight and leaf area. Rice plants grown in border rows showed higher values of CGR, RGR, NAR, and LAR through the growth duration except 1 or 2 growing periods.


Serum prolactin has been measured in blood samples collected daily during 51 menstrual cycles using an homologous human radioimmunoassay for 17 cycles and an homologous ovine radioimmunoassay for 34 cycles. There was a progressive and significant increase in serum prolactin during the late follicular phase, with a maximal value concomitant to the LH peak. Serum prolactin levels were also significantly higher during the luteal phase than during early follicular phase. In some 70% of the individual cycles, the highest serum prolactin level was found at mid-cycle. Similar patterns were obtained with both radioimmunoassays. However, when using the same laboratory serum standard, the average serum prolactin level calculated for the entire cycle was 1.6 times higher with the homologous ovine assay than with the homologous human assay. The overall pattern of serum prolactin during the menstrual cycle resembles that reported for circulating 17beta-estradiol.


Introduction India formulated an anti-tobacco and anti-smoking law in 2003 in response to its resolutions in the United Nations' bodies. This law has been detailed subsequently to make it focussed on educational institutions, which are supposed to perform on-ground action in a decentralized manner. The first step is to put up signboards prohibiting the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products within 100 yards, the second is prohibiting smoking within the campus, and the third is implementing the law related to collecting fines from the offenders as well as the presence of vendors within 100 yards. Additional information on awareness activities was also sought. The focus of this paper is on India's premier educational institutions called the "Institutions of National Importance" by the Indian legislature. These are India's premier public institutions which have the maximum focus of the Indian government by making them of high quality, and non-compliance with the tobacco control law in these institutions should be taken seriously. Methods The paper checked for compliance with the Indian Tobacco Control Law in 79 of these Institutions of National Importance. The requirement for information to be collected from institutions was first derived from the legal act and the rules. Then, the Right to Information Act of 2005, India's transparency law, was used to file applications for information, and certified information from the institutions was collected and reported. Results Only 39.2% of the institutions had the requisite boards prohibiting sales within 100 yards of the institutions. The requirement of having boards prohibiting smoking fared a little better at 73.4% of institutions complying but was not universal. A total of 43% of institutions denied the information pertaining to the collection of fines, either by not providing a requisite reply or stating that this was not part of the record. The information regarding the presence of vendors was not universally supplied with 65.8% of institutions stating the same to not in record or not within the purview. With respect to the awareness activities though, 72.2% of the institutions stated to have some awareness activity for tobacco control and cessation. Conclusion The results show an overall weak compliance with the law. India's health regulators and educational watchdogs must implement anti-smoking and anti-tobacco laws strictly in Indian educational institutions as this is where young people are found. Something as simple as the installation of signboards by educational institutions cannot be overlooked by them. The law must become stricter with deterrence. This must be most intense in the Institutions of National Importance which form the premier institutions in India and become the role model for other institutions in India.


Beginning as early as 450 B.C., if an ordinary Greek or Roman citizen of the educated class had a legal dispute, he could, based on his extensive training in the art of rhetoric, argue his own case before an assembly of citizens (or a judge) with lawyer-like thoroughness. For nearly 1,000 years, the study of legal, legislative and ceremonial rhetoric was at the core of both Greek and Roman education and, in one form or another, has been part of formal education in the Western world since that time. The rhetorical principles developed by Greco-Roman philosophers (Aristotle), legislators/politicians (Cicero) and advocate/teachers (Quintilian) were modified and applied in the Middle Ages to canon law and sermon writing, in the Renaissance to analysis and teaching of literature, in 17th and 18th century England to the training of clergymen. In 19th century America the art of rhetoric became part of the curriculum at Harvard College and was taught by John Quincy Adams, the first Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory. From that time to the present, the art of rhetoric, modernized and adapted for the 20th and 21st centuries, is featured prominently in undergraduate and post-graduate courses such as Speech, Communications, Rhetoric, English and Law.As its 2,500-year history reveals, the art of Greco-Roman rhetoric is the most comprehensive, adaptable, coherent and practice-based analysis of legal reasoning, legal methodology, and legal argument ever devised. Most of its principles are as applicable to modern legal discourse as they were to ancient rhetoricians.


In this paper, a management system for smart electric vehicle is introduced using software engineering models and installed Sensor Network (SN). Two software engineering models are proposed to construct information exchange and available resource management algorithms, in which the required performance of vehicles is obtained. The resource management algorithm adopts the LeNet-5 deep-learning model in choosing the best driving mode. The datset is achieved from the simulated sensor Network (SN). The results show the satisfied performance of the electric cars in terms of information exchange and resource management. The MQTT broker server is employed for monitoring the information exchange algorithm, where the delay time is less than 1 sec for transmitting 1000 message. The proposed system saves power by 1-8 Kwh and a storage capacity by 9-95 MB for driving 100Km.


The rapid development of new communication technologies has facilitated an increase in student academic support. This descriptive study examines how the modes students use to communicate student academic support have evolved since the proliferation of smartphones. The findings indicate that students have shifted away from phone calls and computer-mediated modes of communication (e.g., email, Facebook, Blackboard, and Skype/FaceTime) toward text messaging to communicate academic support. Results also suggest overall increases in the frequency and perceived importance of student academic support. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed and suggestions for how smartphones can facilitate academic support among students are outlined.


Human leukocyte interferon (hIFN-alpha) preparations contain immunologically and biologically recognizable endorphin and corticotropin-like (ACTH-like) activities. The ACTH bioactivity was demonstrable only after pepsin or acid treatment. Highly purified hIFN-alpha was composed of two molecular species of interferon (18,500 and 23,000 daltons). Endorphin activity was associated with both of these molecules. Pepsin treatment of the 23,000-dalton but not the 18,500-dalton hIFN-alpha generated ACTH activity. In acid, the 23,000-dalton hIFN-alpha broke down into the 18,500-dalton form and ACTH (4500 daltons). The ACTH derived from hIFN-alpha by pepsin digestion comigrated with a purified ACTH standard in NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. hIFN-alpha-producing lymphocytes showed positive immunofluorescence after staining with highly specific antisera to ACTH alpha-(1-13) and gamma-endorphin. Essentially 100% of the human peripheral lymphocytes were capable of producing both ACTH and gamma-endorphin-related substances, presumably associated with hIFN-alpha. These results strongly suggest a circuit between the immune and neuroendocrine systems which involves neuroendocrine hormone-like substances, some of which are associated with hIFN-alpha


The Healthcare Quality Educational Foundation (HQEF), in its quest to identify formal educational opportunities for healthcare quality leaders, determined that academia lacked a standardized curriculum for healthcare quality management. Because a majority of the members of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) expressed a need for master's degree programs, the foundation appointed a committee composed of academicians and quality management professionals to define a curriculum appropriate for a master's degree program with a concentration in healthcare quality management. This article identifies the HQEF's goals and outlines the activities undertaken by the committee to define guidelines for colleges and universities interested in developing master's degree programs.


Device-associated infections comprise a significant proportion of all nosocomial infections. In this prospective, observational pilot study the incidence of infections in 89 peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) was documented on a general surgical ward employing an infection data sheet developed by the Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Greifswald in adherence to CDC standards for infections. 16 of 20 infections were documented during a four-week time period when medical students in the first four months of their practical year performed their compulsory rotation on the general surgical ward. Insufficient knowledge of adequate hygienic measures as well as non-compliance to aseptical procedural measures prior to and following insertion of a peripheral venous catheter are the assumed instigators of these infections. In order to ensure a uniform hygienic standard in the performance of applied procedures, it is essential that medical students during this practical year receive not only theoretical, but also hands-on schooling prior to initiation of their subsequent official residency.


Rare-earth ions (REIs) doped into solid-state crystal hosts offer an attractive platform for realizing quantum interconnects that can function as quantum memories and quantum repeaters. The 4f valence electrons of REIs are shielded by 5s and 5p electrons and undergo highly coherent transitions even when embedded in host crystals. In particular, Er3+ has an optical transition in the telecom band that is suitable for low-loss communication. Recently, REIs in thin film systems have gained interest due to potential advantages in providing a flexible host crystal environment, enabling scalable on-chip integration with other quantum devices. Here, we investigate the structural and optical properties of Er-doped anatase TiO2 thin films on LaAlO3 (001) substrates. By choosing a system with minimal lattice mismatch and adjusting Er-dopant concentration, we achieve optical inhomogeneous linewidths of 5 GHz at 4.5 K. We show that 9 nm-thick buffer and capping layers can reduce the linewidth by more than 40%, suggesting a pathway to further narrowing linewidths in this system. We also identify that Er3+ ions mainly incorporate into substitutional Ti4+ sites with non-polar D2d symmetry, which makes Er dopants insensitive to the first order to local electric fields from impurities and is desirable for coherence properties of Er3+ spins.


Background Nosocomial Candida infections (NCI) with dominant C. albicans account for 6–18% of lateonset sepsis in NICU, with mortality rate 22–32% and increase health care costs. Aim Evaluation morbility and mortality rate of neonatal NCI, considering sex, GA, BW, perinatal risk factors, occurence of other diseases, types of Candida, number of NCI episodes. Material and Methods The analysis involved 70 newborns (41 boys, 29 girls), 27 ELBW, 20 VLBW, 11 LBW and 12 >2.5 kg, treated wihin 2002–7 years (4.2% of all), all with flukonazole prophylaxis. Mycological examination was based on Sabouroud medium and using Vitek 2 apparatus. Results 103 cases of NCI (46 single, 4 double, 7 ³ 3) were diagnosed between 8 and 117 day of hospitalization (27% £15th, 32% between 16th and 30th, 41% >30th day). Eighteen types of C. were isolated (44% in blood), most often albicans (26%), sake (25%) and lusitaniae (18%). The significant dependence was stated between newbons' death and their GA and number of C. episodes. Presence of central catheters, MV, bacterial sepsis and ventilator associated pneumonia, total parenteral nutrition and severe RDS, BPD, IVH, NEC were founded as major risk factors for neonatal NCI. Conclusions Fetal maturity and number of NCI episodes determine the prognosis in newborns infected due to Candida. Risk factors must be evaluated carefully in all sick newborns, because of longer NICU stay and necessity of invasive procedures.


High surface area mesoporous titania has been synthesized using ordinary salts (chlorides) for morphology control during the sol–gel process. Applying Ti-alkoxide (TTIP) as a titania precursor and a highly-concentrated hypersaline medium, different results have been obtained according to the dispersing medium selected. By working in an acid environment, the hypersaline medium controls the oxide network growth, since different salts (and different salts amount) influence the surface area, porosity, crystallinity and polymorphs rearrangement of the final material, favoring the formation of acicular-like rutile at mild conditions. Nevertheless, it has been verified that, according to the Hofmeister series, salting-in ions induce an increase in the titania surface area, going from 79 (for the reference, without any salts) up to 253 m2 g−1 (for the Li-templated titania). By working in alcoholic media, the hypersaline environment favors the gelification process and the formation of amorphous titania aerogels or highly-porous monoliths, according to the drying conditions selected (respectively supercritical CO2 or ambient pressure air drying). Two different alcoholic media (ethanol and 2-propanol) have been compared. Such salt-templated titania aerogels are mesoporous (with BET surface area comprised between 322 and 490 m2 g−1). Besides the surface area, even the pore volume and the pore size can be controlled by both the reaction medium and the drying step: in particular, air-dried monoliths are small mesoporous (BET surface area between 419 and 518 m2 g−1). Reference materials synthesized in alcoholic media without using any salts do not gelify (thus confirming the importance of the hypersaline medium), whereas titania particles precipitate, inducing aggregation into small mesoporous powders. In general, the hypersaline-mediated titania production seems to be an interesting chemical toolbox, sustainable, highly efficient and also potentially suitable for industrial scaling-up.


A method of microalgae-templated spray drying to develop hierarchical porous Fe3O4/C composite microspheres as anode materials for Li-ion batteries was developed. During the spray-drying process, individual microalgae serve as building blocks of raspberry-like hollow microspheres via self-assembly. In the present study, microalgae-derived carbon matrices, naturally doped heteroatoms, and hierarchical porous structural features synergistically contributed to the high electrochemical performance of the Fe3O4/C composite microspheres, enabling a discharge capacity of 1375 mA·h·g−1 after 700 cycles at a current density of 1 A/g. Notably, the microalgal frameworks of the Fe3O4/C composite microspheres were maintained over the course of charge/discharge cycling, thus demonstrating the structural stability of the composite microspheres against pulverization. In contrast, the sample fabricated without microalgal templating showed significant capacity drops (up to ~40% of initial capacity) during the early cycles. Clearly, templating of microalgae endows anode materials with superior cycling stability.


Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) is a gyrate erythema, which is typically characterized by annular, erythematous plaques with trailing scale. It is considered to be a reactive condition with a wide variety of inciting causes but unclear pathophysiology. The mean duration of the eruption is 11 months. We present a patient with a 50-year history of recurrent EAC with no known cause. Although it does follow a previously reported pattern of seasonal recurrence, this case represents the longest reported duration of EAC.


Abstract As a consequence of escalating costs of healthcare and aging populations, developed countries are moving away from institutional care and towards home healthcare where possible, in situations where visiting healthcare providers can provide regular support for patients in a home environment. In this paper, we discuss a project to develop a system that supports mobile wireless devices for visiting nurses, in place of an existing paper-based system. The wireless system allows nurses to securely access, update and query a central database containing patient information. One of the applications developed for this project is supplies management, where nurses can, during regular client visits, order replenishment stock to be delivered to the site by a supplier. We describe the detailed development of an "As-Is" business process map, leading to a significantly improved "To-Be" process to realize the expected benefits. A model of the ordering/logistics process was also developed, to evaluate supply service policy options that could further optimize supplies management.


Transcription regulation in development is a complex process involving many elements tightly co-operating to achieve highly reproducible expression patterns. One of the key types of interactions are between tissue-specific enhancers and target gene promoters. While it was previously assumed that the majority of such interactions are defined by chromosomal proximity, new results from chromosome interaction studies indicate that the situation is more complex. I will present some results of our efforts to uncover the mechanisms of formation of regulatory domain boundaries: functional elements responsible for limiting the interactions between promoters and enhancers. L11.2


Single amino acid variation (SAV) is an amino acid substitution of the protein sequence and might influence the whole protein structure, binding affinity, or functional domain and related to disease, even cancer. However, to clarify the relationship between SAV and cancer using traditional experiments is time and resource consuming. Though there are some SAVs predicted methods using the computational approach, most of them predict the protein stability changed caused by SAV. In this work, all of the SAV characteristics generated from protein sequences, structures, and micro-environment would be converted into feature vectors and fed into an integrated predicting system by using Support Vector Machine and genetic algorithm. The critical features were used to estimate the relationship between their properties and cancer caused by SAVs. In the results, we have developed a prediction system based on protein sequence and structure, which could distinguish the SAV is related to cancer or not, and the accuracy, the Matthews correlation coefficient, and the F1-score yield to 90.88%, 0.77 and 0.83, respectively. Moreover, an online prediction server called CanSavPre was built (http://bioinfo.cmu.edu.tw/CanSavPre/), which will be a useful, practical tool for cancer research and precision medicine.


Polypeptide growth and differentiation factors (GDFs) are a class of biological mediators which have been shown to play a critical role in the stimulation and regulation of the wound healing process. Growth factors involved in repair and regeneration regulate several key cellular processes such as mitogenesis, chemotaxis, differentiation, and metabolism. The sequence of events necessary for periodontal regeneration relies on the above processes for osteogenesis, cementogenesis, and connective tissue formation. Numerous preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that certain growth factors modulate putative components of periodontal wound healing resulting in substantial regeneration of the periodontium in animals. However, these therapies are currently considered to be in the experimental stage of development and no growth factor therapy to treat periodontitis in humans has received approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This informational paper reviews the various aspects of GDFs on cells and tissues involved in periodontal wound healing. This paper was prepared by the Committee on Research, Science and Therapy of The American Academy of Periodontology and is intended for members of the dental profession.


Background: Work-related accidents and their associated costs have been a serious concern for management, especially as statistics show that there is no clear relationship between the frequency of injuries and the costs of accidents. Methods: A systematic appraisal of available literature was conducted to identify the best approaches to the classification and estimation of insured and uninsured components of work-related accident costs. The appraisal seeks to identify meaningful components and predictors of the cost of accidents. Results: The selected publications introduced different methods to aggregate the cost of accidents but failed to provide an explanation of the relationship between the nature of accidents and their associated cost. Only three studies explored both insured and uninsured components and only four utilized incidence-based models. Conclusions: There is a need to move beyond linear ratios as predictors of the uninsured cost of accidents. An incidence-based method would best represent the nature of accidents.


Twinfilin is a ubiquitous and abundant actin monomer-binding protein that is composed of two ADF-H domains. To elucidate the role of twinfilin in actin dynamics, we examined the interactions of mouse twinfilin and its isolated ADF-H domains with G-actin. Wild-type twinfilin binds ADP-G-actin with higher affinity (K(D) = 0.05 microM) than ATP-G-actin (K(D) = 0.47 microM) under physiological ionic conditions and forms a relatively stable (k(off) = 1.8 s(-1)) complex with ADP-G-actin. Data from native PAGE and size exclusion chromatography coupled with light scattering suggest that twinfilin competes with ADF/cofilin for the high-affinity binding site on actin monomers, although at higher concentrations, twinfilin, cofilin, and actin may also form a ternary complex. By systematic deletion analysis, we show that the actin-binding activity is located entirely in the two ADF-H domains of twinfilin. Individually, these domains compete for the same binding site on actin, but the C-terminal ADF-H domain, which has >10-fold higher affinity for ADP-G-actin, is almost entirely responsible for the ability of twinfilin to increase the amount of monomeric actin in cosedimentation assays. Isolated ADF-H domains associate with ADP-G-actin with rapid second-order kinetics, whereas the association of wild-type twinfilin with G-actin exhibits kinetics consistent with a two-step binding process. These data suggest that the association with an actin monomer induces a first-order conformational change within the twinfilin molecule. On the basis of these results, we propose a kinetic model for the role of twinfilin in actin dynamics and its possible function in cells.


Background: Although several candidate-gene association studies have been conducted to investigate noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in humans, most are underpowered, unreplicated, and account for only a fraction of the genetic risk. Mouse genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revolutionized the field of genetics and have led to the discovery of hundreds of genes involved in complex traits. The hybrid mouse diversity panel (HMDP) is a collection of classic inbred and recombinant inbred strains whose genomes have been either genotyped at high resolution or sequenced. To further investigate the genetics of NIHL, we report the first GWAS based on distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) measurements and the HMDP. Methods: A total of 102 strains (n = 635) from the HMDP were evaluated based on DPOAE suprathreshold amplitudes before and after noise exposure. DPOAE amplitude variation was set at 60 and 70 dB SPL of the primary tones for each frequency separately (8, 11.3, 16, 22.6, and 32 kHz). These values provided an indirect assessment of outer hair cell integrity. Six-week-old mice were exposed for 2 h to 10 kHz octave-band noise at 108 dB SPL. To perform local expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis, gene expression microarray profiles were generated using cochlear RNA from 64 hybrid mouse strains (n = 3 arrays per strain). Results: Several new loci were identified and positional candidate-genes associated with NIHL were prioritized, especially after noise exposure (1 locus at baseline and 5 loci after exposure). A total of 35 candidate genes in these 6 loci were identified with at least 1 probe whose expression was regulated by a significant cis-eQTL in the cochlea. After careful analysis of the candidate genes based on cochlear gene expression, 2 candidate genes were prioritized: Eya1 (baseline) and Efr3a (post-exposure). Discussion and Conclusion: For the first time, an association analysis with correction for population structure was used to map several loci for hearing traits in inbred strains of mice based on DPOAE suprathreshold amplitudes before and after noise exposure. Our results identified a number of novel loci and candidate genes for susceptibility to NIHL, especially the Eya1 and Efr3a genes. Our findings validate the power of the HMDP for detecting NIHL susceptibility genes.


In this thesis, we describe Schensted's algorithm for finding the length of a longest increasing subsequence of a finite sequence. Schensted's algorithm also constructs a bijection between permutations of the first N natural numbers and standard bitableaux of size N. We also describe the Hillman-Grassl algorithm which constructs a bijection between reverse plane partitions and the solutions in natural numbers of a linear equation involving hook lengths. Pascal programs and sample output for both algorithms appear in the appendix. In addition, we describe the operations on standard bitableaux corresponding to the operations of inverting and reversing permutations. Finally, we show that these operations generate the dihedral group D_4


This paper presents novel results from computer simulations for different hybrid multiplexing direct sequence spread spectrum systems operation in an indoor wireless environment. Prominent hybrid multiplexing direct sequence spread spectrum proposals using code, frequency and time diversity approaches have been analysed and compared to novel approaches proposed by the authors using sequency diversity. The results in this paper have shown that under certain practical wireless scenarios, the proposed sequency majority multiplexing direct sequence spread spectrum schemes exhibit very significant improvements over the compared current prominent hybrid multiplexing multiple access schemes.


The influence of non-coaxial magnetic and electric fields on radioactive nuclei embedded as impurities in ferromagnetic materials is considered. The attenuation factor G22(t), as defined in perturbed angular correlation theory [1], is calculated for different angles β0 between the directions of the magnetic field and the electric field gradient and for different ratios of the magnetic and electric frequencies. The method has been tested for Cd in ferromagnetic gadolinium.


Protective effect of sodium selenite (Se) on the nephrotoxicity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) was studied in mice. The administration of CDDP alone at doses of 50 mumols/kg caused the increase of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urinary N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and the degeneration of proximal tubule cells pathologically. The co-administration of Se, especially at doses of 20 mumols/kg/day, inhibited the increase of BUN and urinary NAG and depressed the degeneration of proximal tubule cells. The administration of CDDP at doses of 20 mumols/kg caused a mild reduction of transplanted Lewis lung carcinoma and a decrease of metastasis to lung. The co-administration of Se at doses of 8 mumols/kg didn't inhibit the antitumor effect of CDDP against Lewis lung carcinoma. Co-administration of Se didn't influence concentration of CDDP in plasma, blood cells, kidney and liver. In mice fed Se deficient diet, the nephrotoxicity of CDDP increased and activities of glutathione peroxidase (G-Px) in blood and kidney decreased. In mice co-administered with Se, G-Px activities didn't increase. These results suggest that co-administration of Se may allow use of CDDP at higher doses in cancer chemotherapy. Interaction between CDDP and Se differs from that between mercury and Se, and cadmium and Se(formation of compound). Intake of Se is related to appearance of the nephrotoxicity of CDDP. G-Px may be related to a part of the protective effect of Se on the nephrotoxicity of CDDP.


This article contends that the interaction between domestic circumstances in the USSR and the radical change in the international environment occasioned by the advent of the first Reagan administration played a substantial part in the early emergence of 'New Political Thinking' in the Soviet Union. That process had begun shortly after Brezhnev's death. The Reagan factor loomed large in an internal Soviet debate over the direction of Soviet foreign policy. Four types of causal association are identified. While the Reagan administration was not the sole cause of the Soviet crisis that brought new thinking to the fore, it certainly contributed to a climate that strengthened the position of advocates of this perspective within the Soviet ruling elite.


UNLABELLED Pancreatic pseudocyst develops as a complication in some cases of pancreatitis. Endoscopic drainage is one of the available therapies, but it has limitations when a visible compression over the gastric or duodenal wall is not present, or when portal hypertension exists. Endoscopic ultrasonography allows for a guided approach even in cases where external compression over the gastrointestinal tract is barely visible or non-existent, and it also helps to prevent vascular injury during puncture of the fluid collection. The most frequent early complications related to cystogastrostomy and cystoduodenostomy are bleeding and pneumoperitoneum, and late complications are stent migration or occlusion, and infection. We report the case of a patient who developed tense pneumoperitoneum immediately after endoscopic ultrasound guided drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst, and was treated conservatively. This is a severe event, and can be managed by emergency decompression through paracentesis as first line therapy. Most cases of pneumoperitoneum can be managed without surgery,but close observation is mandatory in order to timely detect and treat conditions needing surgical intervention. KEY WORDS pancreatic.


Virtual Reality (VR) technology has great potential as a tool for training. Remote haptic virtual environments (VE) allow multiple users to interact in the same virtual space to accomplish tasks. Combining these ideas, it is possible to apply a remote VE to connect skilled trainers with remote trainees for training. In this paper we examined guided haptic training as an interaction method where one user guides another user through a VR simulation. We considered interaction with virtual soft objects, which were pressed and deformed. Within a remote VE for guided haptic training, network factors such as delay could influence how the guided user perceives object softness. In this paper, we examined how incongruent delays between the streams of visual and haptic information affect this perception. We found that when haptic information was delayed 133.33 ms beyond visual information there was a statistically significant difference in the perception of object softness. These preliminary observations can be used to locate a threshold for applying to future remote guided VE training tools.


Instrumental variables (IV) estimates show strong class size effects in Southern Italy. But Italy's Mezzogiorno is distinguished by manipulation of standardized test scores as well as by economic disadvantage. IV estimates suggest small classes increase manipulation. We argue that score manipulation is a consequence of teacher shirking. IV estimates of a causal model for achievement as function of class size and score manipulation show that class size effects on measured achievement are driven entirely by the relationship between class size and manipulation. These results show how consequential score manipulation can arise even in assessment systems with few accountability concerns.


Abstract:Music educators and music education researchers often rely on the use of story when advocating for social change. We may use story to illustrate a need for resources, point to a systemic injustice, illustrate a need for policy change, or identify an exclusion. Allies often utilize stories of oppression to demonstrate the untenability of situations or dehumanization experienced by particular people or groups. Stories shared, in other words, typically describe difficult, oppressive, or traumatic situations that may accomplish advocacy or social change goals but may also inadvertently reinscribe oppressive relations. This paper considers several questions in relation to this practice: What does it do for dominant group members to hear stories of marginalization? How can telling stories ultimately reinscribe oppression? How could individuals who offer their stories benefit from sharing? What educational value does telling stories offer? If storytelling carries potential for reinscribing oppression, how else might educators advocate to meet the needs identified? To theorize this type of storytelling, I put Martin Buber's work on I-Thou in conversation with work of Homi Bhabha. Buber's theorizing allows the consideration of different types of relations, while Bhabha provides ways to explore the effects of what Buber terms an I-It relationship on individuals subject to systemic oppression. Ultimately, I explore ways to recenter minoritized voices and examine how it might be possible to consider oppressive systems without acquiescing to the demand for story.


A new photoluminescence band corresponding to the 1T2g(D) implies 3T1g(F) electronic transition of Ni2+ ions has been obtained in nickel-doped RbCaF3 and RbCdF3. The structure of this band together with those of the other two previously reported emissions from the 1T2g(D) level to the 3A2g(F) and 3T2g(F) levels have been measured at 10 K and discussed in terms of spin-orbit and phonon interactions. The EPR spectrum of Ni2+ ions has also been measured in RbCaF3 as a function of temperature. Above the cubic-tetragonal phase transition temperature (Tc=195 K) a cubic signal is observed with an isotropic g-factor (g=2.36+or-0.01). Below Tc the signal becomes tetragonal with G/sub ///=2.32+or-0.01, gperpendicular to =2.30+or-0.01 and D=25.3+or-0.5 GHz at 80 K. The crystal field parameter D shows the temperature dependence D(T)=D0 mod T-Tc mod 0.48. From these results a value for the critical exponent of the transition beta =0.24 has been derived in good agreement with those obtained using other techniques.


We investigated arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) and pH (pHa) responses in ponies during 6-min periods of high-intensity treadmill exercise. Seven normal, seven carotid body-denervated (2 wk-4 yr) (CBD), and five chronic (1-2 yr) lung (hilar nerve)-denervated (HND) ponies were studied during three levels of constant load exercise (7 mph-11%, 7 mph-16%, and 7 mph-22% grade). Mean pHa for each group of ponies became alkaline in the first 60 s (between 7.45 and 7.52) (P less than 0.05) at all work loads. At 6 min pHa was at or above rest at 7 mph-11%, moderately acidic at 7 mph-16% (7.32-7.35), and markedly acidic at 7 mph-22% (7.20-7.27) for all groups of ponies. Yet with no arterial acidosis at 7 mph 11%, normal ponies decreased PaCO2 below rest (delta PaCO2) by 5.9 Torr at 90 s and 7.8 Torr by 6 min of exercise (P less than 0.05). With a progressively more acid pHa at the two higher work loads in normal ponies, delta PaCO2 was 7.3 and 7.8 Torr by 90 s and 9.9 and 11.4 Torr by 6 min, respectively (P less than 0.05). CBD ponies became more hypocapnic than the normal group at 90 s (P less than 0.01) and tended to have greater delta PaCO2 at 6 min. The delta PaCO2 responses in normal and HND ponies were not significantly different (P greater than 0.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)