Background: The cord blood hematocrit(Hct) is an important index of neonatal well-being, and it's estimation is necessary in the early detection of neonatal polycythemia and consequently the prevention of it's unwanted sequels. Objective: To predict peak levels of neonatal hematocrit. Subjects & Methods: The study was conducted on 202 live born in three different maternity hospitals in Baghdad, during the period(1st of February 2005 to 30th of May 2005). All neonates were delivered at term, their birth weight ranging in-between 2.5-4.6Kg. We excluded dysmorphic, congenitally anomalous neonates, infants of diabetic mothers or intrauterine growth retardation, infants of smoking mothers, neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid,. All mothers were healthy, non-anemic with uncomplicated pregnancies or emergency cesarean section deliveries. Case group was divided into; Group one which included vaginal delivered(VD) infants, group two included elective cesarean section(CS) delivered infants. Umbilical cord was clamped early with no stripping, umbilical vein blood and dorsal hand vein blood at 2-4 hours of age was collected. Samples of blood were tested for hematocrit and hemoglobin. Results: Mean birth weight of the study group was 3.345(+/-0.475) Kg, The males: females were 102:100 and male newborns were significantly heavier than female newborns(P value <0.001).Repeated CS was the commonest cause of elective cesarean section.The mean birth weight and median Apgar scoring at one and five minutes did not differ significantly in the two groups while there was a significant difference in gestational age between group one and two(P value <0.001) by approximately one week. Mean cord hematocrit and 2-hour hematocrit were significantly lower in (CS) group than (VD) group (P value <0.001). The rise in 2-hour hematocrit is significantly different in the two groups, 10.3(+/-4.8) in group one and 7.97(+/-5.4) in group two(P value <0.03). While sex, birth weight, gestational age or Apgar scoring had no significant influence on cord Hct. Conclusion: Mode of delivery is an important factor to be considered in the proper prediction of peak neonatal hematocrit levels.


This paper provides a new rationale for planned obsolescence based on imperfect information about the quality of durable goods. The source of the inefficient choice of durability lies in the fact that the frequency of repeat purchases and the future expected profit that can monitor the quality of the good is inversely related to the durability of the good. Since the repeat purchases are valued more for the high quality producer, the returns to reduced durability is also greater for the high quality producer. This asymmetry in the returns to reduced durabhilit y implies that planned obsolescence can be used as a signal of quality. With leasing, however, the durability choice incentive often runs in the other direction, and the monopolist tends to choose excessively long lives for his product. This is in sharp contrast to the durability literature where leasing restores the incentive for the efficient choice of durability. [L1, D8]


Cerebral cavernous angioma (cavernoma) has previously been treated by resection for all presentations when surgically resectable. In this retrospective series of 16 cases, it is demonstrated that, for those patients presenting with epilepsy alone, surgery is often unnecessary. Diagnosis can be made radiologically and excellent seizure control can be obtained with medications. In the authors' experience, those cavernomas symptomatic as epilepsy rarely cause major haemorrhage and the need for surgery as prophylaxis against bleeding in this group is unproven.


The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular interaction and complex stability of four major cow's milk (CM) proteins (α-LA, β-LG, αs1 -CA, and β-CA) with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) using computational methods. The results of molecular docking analysis revealed that hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction were the main binding forces to maintain the stability of the C3G-CM protein complexes. Molecular dynamics simulation results showed that all complexes except for C3G-αs1 -CA were found to reach equilibrium within 50 ns of simulation. αs1 -CA and β-CA switched to a more compact conformation after binding with C3G. Additionally, the radius of gyration, number of hydrogen bond, radial distribution function, and interaction energy showed that β-CA is the best C3G carrier protein among the four CM proteins. This study can provide valuable information for CM proteins to serve as C3G delivery carriers. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Anthocyanins (ACNs) are flavonoid-based pigments that play an important functional role in regulating human's health. Cow's milk (CM) proteins are the most representative protein-based carriers that can improve the short-term bioavailability and stability of ACNs. Thus, it is important to study the interactions between ACNs and CM proteins at the molecular level for the development of effective ACNs delivery carriers. Our study showed that caseins (αs1 -CA and β-CA) had more hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding sites with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) than whey proteins using computational methods. Among the four CM proteins, β-CA was the best C3G carrier protein showing the best interaction stability with C3G. Thus, it is helpful for us to screen effective ACNs carriers from multiple protein sources by computational methods.


— This paper focuses on the integration of hybrid renewable energy resources available in remote isolated islands of Sundarban-24 Parganas-South of Eastern part of India to National Grid of conventional power supply to give a Smart-Grid scenario. Before grid-integration, feasibility of optimization of hybrid renewable energy system is monitored through an Intelligent Controller proposed to be installed at Moushuni Island of Sundarban. The objective is to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the system to optimize the utilization of the hybrid renewable energy sources and also a proposition of how theses isolated Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems at remote islands can be grid-connected is analyzed towards vision of green smart-grid.


Quality control in MRI includes acceptance tests on the installation of a new scanner and tests representative of the system's performance during clinical practice. The first tests are time consuming and carried out to evaluate the agreement of the system with the prescribed procurement specifications. The second tests identify the equipment malfunction requiring maintenance are not time consuming and are suited to a busy clinical scanner. The paper evaluates the feasibility of the AAPM protocols (1,2) and proposes procedures and practical tools to achieve this purpose. The MRI images, captured from the scanner and transferred in DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format by a local network, are analyzed by computerized worksheets and commercial software.


Direct Acoustic Simulation (DAS) is a powerful Computational Aero Acoustics method that obtains hydrodynamic and acoustic solutions simultaneously by solving compressible Navier-Stokes equation together with state equation of ideal gas. Thus, DAS has advantages for cases with flow acoustic
 coupling and high Mach numbers (). With an increasing demand of massive-scale calculations, a robust numerical solver for DAS is required. ANSYS Fluent is a suitable CFD platform with proven robustness. However, there is no direct implementation of DAS in the current version of ANSYS Fluent.
 The present study, therefore, aims to investigate an approach for implementing DAS using ANSYS Fluent. Given the acoustic part of fluctuations is much smaller than the hydrodynamic part in amplitude, a DAS solver requires high accuracy and low dissipation. Based on these needs, proper solution
 methods, spatial discrete methods and boundary conditions are firstly determined through simple calculations of two dimensional propagating plane waves. Afterwards aeroacoustics of a two-dimensional cavity flow at 0.6 is calculated to verify the capability for solving separating flow with
 the aforementioned set-up. Finally, aeroacoustics of a cylindrical bluff body at a turbulent regime and 0.2 is calculated in three-dimensions to verify the capability for solving turbulent flow using Monotonically Integrated Large Eddy Simulation.


Real-time control software has been applied to a wide variety of real-world systems for diverse military, aerospace, industrial, medical, and civil applications. Most real-time systems are distributed and embedded applications, which are made up of heterogeneous components including sensors, microprocessors, and actuators. These components intensively interact with each other and with their environments. Thus, there are many dynamic and uncertain factors in these systems. Distinguished from software design for traditional industrial automation systems, real-time software is usually safety- or mission-critical, which requires high dependability during system operations. Such a system not only needs to satisfy all the functional requirements but also fulfill various end-to-end quality-of-service (QoS) demands such as timeliness, availability, fault tolerance, and so on. In such real-time systems, the available system resources such as central processing unit (CPU) cycles, communication bandwidth, and storage memory are usually restricted, and thus efficient resource allocation in different operation scenarios for QoS assurance is highly desired. As a result, the design of such types of complex real-time software is quite challenging and it is significantly distinct from the conventional non-real-time software design.


Background: Epilepsy is a common chronic illness in clinical practise, and some research suggests that the renin-angiotensin system in the brain may be involved in seizure upregulation.
Aims: The purpose of this investigation was to see if angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists have anticonvulsant activity in experimental mice.
Methods: Losartan (50 mg/kg), Telmisartan (30 mg/kg), and Candesartan (20 mg/kg) were given intraperitoneally to mice and their anticonvulsant activity was assessed using the maximal electroshock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazol induced seizures (PTZ) seizure techniques. For the MES method, phenytoin was used as the standard, while for the PTZ method, diazepam was used as the standard. Motor impairment of performance was assessed by the inverted screen test and spontaneous motor activity with digital actophotometer.
Results: Losartan's anticonvulsant effectiveness was demonstrated in MES and PTZ models. In MES-induced seizures, Telmisartan and Candesartan showed anticonvulsant effect, but not against Pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. Losartan at dose 50 mg/kg prolonged the mean latency to convulsion (p<0.01) and mean number of convulsions also significantly reduced (p<0.05) convulsions in the mice.  The mean latency to convulsion was significantly prolonged with Telmisartan and Candesartan at doses of 30 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively (p<0.05).  There was no substantial motor impairment with any of the test medicines, such as angiotensin receptor antagonists. Conclusions: Losartan, Telmisartan, and Candesartan are angiotensin receptor antagonists that have been shown to have anticonvulsant activity in PTZ and MES seizure models. Because the specific mechanism of action of its anticonvulsant activity is unknown, more research is needed to test it in a variety of other anticonvulsant animal models.


A two‐degree‐of‐freedom equipment‐structure system is studied to find its intrinsic properties which are needed for analysis of more general secondary systems. Perturbation theory is used to find closed form expressions for the modal properties of the system in terms of the properties of the individual subsystems. Three important characteristics of the system are identified: tuning, interaction, and nonclassical damping. Mathematical expressions are defined for each of these characteristics and criteria are developed to measure their influences on the response of the equipment. The expressions for the modal properties and the criteria for tuning, interaction, and nonclassical damping are new results for the two‐degree‐of‐freedom system. These results form the bases for analysis of multiply supported multi‐degree‐of‐freedom secondary systems.


A portable rainfall simulator must be calibrated before its application in field experiments. In order to calibrate a portable single nozzle rainfall simulator for a soil erodibility study in Afra Chal site in northern forests of Iran, the following rainfall parameters were assessed; rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF), kinetic energy, drop size and coefficient of uniformity. The results obtained show that for a given return period, the IDF curves decreased with increasing time interval. The velocity of raindrops with an average diameter of 3 mm was 780 cm/s. The simulated rainfall with intensity 32.4 mm/h had kinetic energy at the rate of 25.06 Jm-2mm-1. A rain event with this intensity occurs every 20 years for 20 min in the Afra Chal site and it was randomly selected for calibrating the simulator. Rainfall uniformities that was estimated by the coefficient of uniformity, fell within acceptable limit of 81 to 82%.

 Key words: Rainfall simulator, drop size, kinetic energy, coefficient of uniformity, intensity-duration-frequency.


Probation Approved Premises (hereafter referred to by their earlier and informal moniker; hostels) are a small, but vital part of the wider work of the probation service in which high risk offenders are provided semi-secure accommodation either on release from prison (as part of release license conditions) or on bail. Currently 100 hostels cater for a wide range of offenders including both male and female offenders, sexual, drug and violent offenders (HMI Probation et al. 2008). This paper explores what people either working or residing in a probation hostel understand the purpose of work in hostels to be.


Since the National Toxicology Program (NTP) identified 4(5)-methylimidazole [4(5)-MI] as a cancer causing chemical in 2007 and the State of California added it to the Proposition 65 list of compounds as a carcinogen on January 7, 2011, many researchers and regulatory agencies have become focused on the presence of 4(5)-MI in foods and beverages. 4(5)-MI has been known to form in the Maillard reaction system consisting of a sugar and ammonia-a typical caramel-color preparation method for beverages. 4(5)-MI is identified in various beverages and sauces, which are colored with caramel, as well as in caramel color itself. Analysis of 4(5)-MI is extremely difficult due to its high water solubility, but the analytical method for 4(5)-MI has progressed from conventional paper chromatography, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to the most advanced high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Various studies indicate that caramel colors and carbonated beverages contain 4(5)-MI in levels ranging from 0 to around 1000 ppm and from 0 to about 500 ppm, respectively. Reports of the toxicity of 4(5)-MI at relatively high levels suggest that it may cause some adverse effects on human consumers.


A technique has been developed to identify and quantitate unique plasmic degradation products of crosslinked fibrin in plasma. In this method, fibrin derivatives are extracted by heat precipitation and dissolved with disulfide bond reduction, after which the crosslinked gamma-gamma chain remnants are identified by SDS-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitated by densitometric analysis. A heterogenous group of gamma-gamma chains with molecular weights between 100,000 and 76,000 daltons was identified in lysates of crosslinked fibrin during plasmic degradation in vitro. Three stages of crosslinked fibrin degradation have been arbitrarily defined based primarily on the extent of degradation of these gamma-gamma polypeptide chains. As little as 20 microgram of crosslinked fibrin digests added to 1 ml of normal plasma could be detected by the heat-extraction--gel-electrophoresis technique, identifying the gamma-gamma derivatives with molecular weights of 96,000, 86,000, 82,000, and 76,000 daltons. Plasmic derivatives of gamma-gamma chains were not found in normal plasma, but they were identified in the plasma of patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation and deep-vein thrombosis, both before and in increased quantity during successful thrombolytic therapy.


The aim of this paper is to describe the essential elements of information, to assess the quality of content, to audit the referral practice and to identify the determinants of both good referral and practice from the general practitioners' referral letters received at a tertiary hospital. A cross-sectional descriptive and evaluative study was conducted at theOutpatient Department of the Dr. George Mukhari Hospital in Pretoria. A sample of 303 general practitioner (GP) referral letters was collected from 25 May to 25 June 2004. Univariate (chi-square test) and multivariate (logistic regression model) identified potential and independent determinants of Good referral and Good practice, respectively. The reason for the referral was reflected in 267 (88%) of the letters. 186 (61.3%) of the referral letters were entirely legible. Proportions of optimal referral letter and good practice were 24.9 (n=77) and 6.5% (n=20), respectively. Presence of past medical history (OR=4.2 95% CI 1.9 – 9.2; P<0.001), systemic examination (OR=13 95% CI 5.8-29.2; P<0.0001), involved system (OR=7 95% CI 3.2- 15.3; P<0.0001) and differential diagnosis (OR=11.7 95% CI 3.6 – 38.5; P<0.001) were the independent determinants of Good referral. Systemic examination (OR=4.8 95% CI 1.9 – 12.3; P<0.001) and side-room tests (OR=4.1 95% CI 1.2 – 14.6; P= 0.008) were the independent determinants of Good practice. There is an urgent need for improvement in the deficient areas to optimise patient care in Pretoria Region.

 Key words: General practitioners. Dr George Mukhari Hospital, referral letters, quality, legibility.


Dynamic pricing and on-line auctions are emerging as the preferred models for e-business. This multi-disciplinary 2001 book presents a framework of negotiation protocols for electronic markets. It was the first book to combine economics with computer science and the first to describe multidimensional auction mechanisms - i.e. automated negotiations on multiple attributes and/or multiple units of a product. In addition it summarises the introductory economics needed to understand electronic markets, and surveys the literature on negotiation and auction theory. Case studies include the trading of financial derivatives. For use in the design, implementation and upgrade of electronic markets, for researchers in: economics, information systems and operations management, computer science and all students of the e-commerce phenomenon.


The seasonal occurrence and vertical distribution of planktonic cnidarians (hydromedusae and scyphomedusae) were investigated over a 2 yr period in the Bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer. A total of 37 species were recorded, of which the meroplanktonic species were more specific and the holoplanktonic species were more abundant. The results suggest that although medusae were everpresent in the bay, the assemblage changed through time. These changes reflected species-specific responses to the environment and were linked to the thermal structure of the water column: the meroplanktonic species were most common during eutrophic periods of the year while the holoplanktonic species were present throughout the year. The dominant species of medusae partitioned vertical space and each occupied a characteristic depth. This segregation in the vertical dimension was maintained in the different seasons despite the fact that the exact species changed. It is suggested that the strong degree of structure to the medusoid assemblage in the Bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer might reflect the stability and age of the Mediterranean ecosystem.


Despite its apparent irrelevance as a scale or space of sociocultural organisation, the neighbourhood is back on the political agenda. At an international level, the neighbourhood—or, more specifically, the 'global neighbourhood'—is being promoted as a moral space through which to manage the complex economic, political, and ecological problems of the planet. Mirroring this process at a national level, in the United Kingdom the neighbourhood has been rediscovered and now provides the parameters through which a range of antipoverty, welfare, and local democracy programmes are being delivered. In light of its contemporary political popularity, this paper presents a critical reanalysis of the concept of the neighbourhood. In particular, the analysis explores the ideological and political uses of the ideal of neighbourhood, and how these processes relate to a particular 'politics of scale'. In order to unpack the various politics of scales associated with the neighbourhood, the analysis combines theories of scale with Lefebvre's work on the production of space. Drawing on these theoretical insights and the case of neighbourhood politics in the town of Walsall in the United Kingdom, I explore the political narratives and practices through which the neighbourhood scale is produced and contested, and question the ability of neighbourhoods, as they are currently being constructed in the United Kingdom, to offer locally empowering scales of political and social organisation.


The taxonomic and ecological positions of antibiotic producing actinomycetes are an integral part in antimicrobial agents' development program. Comprehensive understanding of the organisms give useful insight on the secondary metabolites been produced by them and other activities carried out by them in their habitat. Criteria for the identification of actinomycetes include morphological, physiological, ecological and molecular characterization. It is vital to identify the organism up to species level, since this will give an indication whether the antimicrobial agent being produced is novel or not. The suborder and habitat also act as pointers for possible secondary metabolites production and confer the need for further exploration.

 Key words: Taxonomy, ecology, actinomycetes, antimicrobial agents, characterization.


Ho Chi Minh is one of influential personages in the history of Vietnam. His thoughts became the crucial guideline in the anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and independence movements of Vietnam. So far, quite a few scholars have conducted in-depth analysis of Ho Chi Minh"s thoughts from the perspectives of politics, sociology and philosophy, but few scholars have studied Ho"s thoughts from the perspective of multiculturalism. Given that multiculturalism is a theory that firstly put forward by western scholars in the western world, whether the theory is applicable to traditional and communitarian oriental world has become a hot topic in academic circles. From the perspective of morality, the elements of liberty, equality and justice of multiculturalism have the function of anti-colonialism and antiimperialism in Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam. In the colonial times, French deliberately isolated Vietnamese ethnic groups through ideological control and geographical isolation, but under the guideline of Ho Chi Minh"s thought, the Vietnamese broken the barrier of colonial and successfully achieve national unity and ethnic unity. This paper intends to prove that multiculturalism has the function of anti-colonialism and antiimperialism by researching the Ho Chi Minh"s multicultural thoughts, which is the best practice of western multiculturalism in southeast Asia.


Great advances in science and technology have positive reflections on organizations. This brought competition between the organizations, with respect to their products and services. This competition brought positive results for the organizations, and differences occured in their management comprehension; because customer satisfaction is regarded as the most essential issue. Certainly Total Quality Management (TQM) is one of the most important differences. Today TQM is applied commonly in the organizations of developed countries. Information centers which aim to provide services to satisfy user (customer) needs are among these organizations. TQM applications in information centers are mentioned and discussed in the present study.


Objective To determine the course of cognitive deficits and the regional progression of brain atrophy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with and without visual hallucinations (VH). Methods The authors performed MRI and neuropsychological assessment at entry to the study and at follow-up (mean±SD=29.91±5.74 months) in a sample of initially non-demented 12 PD patients with VH, 14 PD patients without VH and 12 healthy controls (HC). Grey-matter changes over time were assessed by means of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and cognitive changes by an extensive neuropsychological battery. Results At follow-up, 75% of patients with VH developed dementia. The greatest decline was observed in verbal memory, semantic fluency, language comprehension and visuoperceptive functions. None of the patients without VH met criteria for dementia and did not show any worsening in cognitive functions over time. Patients with VH showed widespread limbic, paralimbic and neocortical grey-matter loss, whereas in the PD without VH group, grey-matter loss was restricted to a small region in the frontal cortex and cerebellum. The authors also found significant correlations between the changes in several cognitive functions and grey-matter loss over time in PD patients with VH. Conclusion The presence of VH in PD determines a different cognitive outcome and a different pattern of progressive brain atrophy. PD patients with VH, unlike PD without VH, frequently develop dementia and show a widespread atrophy involving limbic, paralimbic and neocortical areas.


Objectives Comprehensive surgical treatment field shelter are developed by our centre used in field support and disaster emergency rescue. Intervention, minimally invasive and conventional surgery as the main means of this system, to belly department, limbs and skull important viscera urgent heavy damage and disease can be effectively damage control treatment. But in the shelter within the intervention in the process of diagnosis and treatment, the radiation dose safety is also an important problem. We determine the dose level in different conditions, in order to provide scientific and reasonable measures and methods of protection to reduce radiation doses for subjects. Methods Measure DAP and ESD values with an Alderson phantom for the two types of different impulse frequency (4 fps/s, 8 fps/s, 12 fps/s) and different perspective voltage (80 kv, 90 kv, 100 kv) separated into fluoroscopy and digital acquisition. Results The group of different impulse frequency (4 fps/s, 8 fps/s, 12 fps/s): the fluoroscopy dose values of DAP in this serial measured respectively for5.86 ± 0.01 μGym2/s, 11.66 ± 0.17 μGym2/s, 13.97 ± 0.05 μGym2/s, and ESD was 8500.27 ± 23.86 μGy/s, 16849.30 ± 71.44 μGy/s, 24630.75 ± 135.20 μGy/s; the digital acquisition dose values of DAP was19.63 ± 0.02 μGym2(10frame), 38.98 ± 0.06 μGym2 (10 frame), 44.81 ± 0.06 μGym2 (10 frame), and ESD was 28753.70 ± 605.13 μGy (10 frame), 57451.23 ± 637.47 μGy (10 frame), 81950.62 ± 523.37 μGy (10 frame). The group of different perspective voltage (80 kv, 90 kv, 100 kv): the fluoroscopy dose values of DAP in this serial measured respectively for 13.97 ± 0.05 μGym2/s, 11.66 ± 0.17 μGym2/s, 13.97 ± 0.05 μGym2/s, and ESD was 24630.75 ± 135.24 μGy/s, 38847.94 ± 27.63 μGy/s, 24630.75 ± 135.20 μGy/s ; the digital acquisition dose values of DAP was 44.81 ± 0.06 uGym2 (10 frame), 57.09 ± 0.14 μGym2 (10 frame), 76.48 ± 0.21 μGym2 (10 frame), and ESD was 81950.62 ± 523.37 μGy (10 frame), 117842.01 ± 636.46 μGy (10 frame), 160025.91 ± 852.31 μGy (10 frame). There were statistical difference of dose DAP and ESD in different groups (p<0.01). Conclusions the higher the impulse frequency and perspective voltage, the higher the radiation dose. So in order to ensure the quality of image premise, As low as possible to reduce impulse frequency and perspective voltage, and take effective protective measures to reduce the subjects' radiation dose.


The assumption that hospitals must procure new technologies to recruit and retain physicians appears to be false, according to the study done by these authors.


The effects of aspirin on the contingent negative variation (CNV) of 16 healthy, right-handed volunteers were studied in accordance with a placebo-controlled double-blind crossover design. Early and late CNV factors were measured. Aspirin caused a statistically significant decrease of the early wave and an increase of mean amplitude of the late wave. A central action of aspirin, affecting noradrenergic and dopaminergic structures, may be responsible for the CNV changes.


A few years after their bilateral vestibular loss, patients usually show a motor repertoire that is almost back to normal. This recovery is thought to involve an up-regulation of the visual and proprioceptive information that compensates for the lack of vestibular information. Here, we investigated whether plantar tactile inputs, which provide body information relative to the ground and to the Earth-vertical, contribute to this compensation. More specifically, we tested the hypothesis that somatosensory cortex response to electric stimulation of the plantar sole in standing adults will be greater in humans (n = 10) with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (VH) than in an age-matched healthy group (n = 10). Showing significantly greater somatosensory evoked potentials (i.e., P1N1) in VH than in controls, the electroencephalographic recordings supported this hypothesis. Furthermore, we found evidence that increasing the differential pressure between both feet, by adding a 1 kg mass at each pendant wrist, enhanced the internal representation of body orientation and motion relative to a gravitational reference frame. The large decrease in alpha power in the right posterior parietal cortex (and not in the left) is in line with this assumption. Finally, behavioral analyses showed that trunk oscillations were smaller than head oscillations in VH and showed a reverse pattern for healthy participants. These findings are consistent with a tactile-based postural control strategy in the absence of vestibular input, and a vestibular-based control strategy in healthy participants where the head serves as a reference for balance control.


Elements of what we are calling a "hopeful pedagogy" emerged when faculty reflected on the question Do you think your current approach to develop CT in students is successful? Faculty across disciplines and institutions used the word "hope" to characterize the outcome of their efforts. While attempting to disentangle the "hopeful pedagogy", we found answers in (a) how faculty defined CT in disciplinary and nondisciplinary contexts; (b) a misalignment between faculty and institutional approaches to CT; (c) a disconnect between faculty and their own approaches to CT, and (d) logistical and curricular issues within general education programs that placed constraints on the ability of faculty to adequately focus on CT. The "hopeful pedagogy" brought to the forefront the serious implications of a misaligned system for student learning, faculty engagement, institutional improvement and accountability.


Orthodontics and periodontics are intricately linked since adult orthodontics often implicate the periodontium. Periodontal intervention is needed throughout all phases of orthodontic treatment, from orthodontic diagnosis to mid-treatment periodontal assessment and postoperative evaluation. Invariably, periodontal health affects orthodontic success. Conversely, orthodontic tooth movements may serve as adjunctive therapy in patients with periodontal disease. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the orthodontic-periodontic relationship for optimizing therapeutic strategies and achieving the best treatment outcomes in patients.


One way the International Finance Corporation (IFC) strengthens the overall business environment is by making excellent training programs available to small and medium businesses. Business Edge is a perfect example. Local partner firms use these interactive learning solutions to train and mentor small business owners and their staff, resulting in more efficient businesses, higher employment, and stronger local economies. This SmartLesson shows the process methodology, including tips on how IFC implemented Business Edge in Burkina Faso, offering key lessons learned in the process.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a gaming approach to making key theoretical ideas accessible, understandable and useful for security practitioners confronting "terrorism" in the real world.

Design/methodology/approach
The tool is instrumental "red-team" matrix gaming: a structured way to first build and then wargame instrumental "terrorist" attack plans. The working assumption is that "terrorist" violence is designed with purpose, and that it reflects Fromkin's understanding that terrorism is a form of jujitsu to manipulate more powerful opponents into politically and ideologically self-destructive behaviours. By designing and gaming attack plans with political objectives as the focus, practitioners quickly gain a deeper understanding of the processes of violent influence and the role of responders and decision makers. The paper is structured to, first, provide a theoretical explanation of contemporary conflict, focussing on the public support and how violence can be differently designed to political ends. On this foundation, the methods for learning are explained. A "playing-card" technique for setting students objectives in terms of psychological levers, vulnerabilities, political purposes and influence targets is described and options for participants generating scenarios outlined. Then the matrix-gaming approach, where play progresses according to the result of a dice roll applied to a probability based on the merit of participants' competing arguments is explained with an example.

Findings
The described method of creating and wargaming terrorist attack plans offers a new and engaging method of exploring and understanding the processes of terrorism while preparing practitioners by potentially developing both their decision making and resilience.

Practical implications
The method described has potential value for teaching about terrorism by generally improving student engagement, preparing practitioners to respond to terrorism and wider application (of matrix gaming) to other topics.

Originality/value
This is a novel application of matrix gaming in a simplified format suited for classrooms.


A compact transfer cell for surface analysis which avoids many of the difficulties of earlier designs has been designed and built. The cell may be opened and sealed within the sample entry/preparation chamber of the UHV system and allows transfer to and from glove boxes and other systems. Direct transfer of pre-prepared samples into an in situ reaction cell is also possible. Using this transfer cell, oxide-free iron surfaces have been observed using XPS after removal from organic acid-containing liquids.


To characterize cis‐acting elements controlling the expression of T cell receptor beta‐chains we generated a number of transgenic mouse lines harboring a rearranged T cell receptor beta‐chain with different extensions of 5′ and 3′ flanking sequences. Transcriptional analysis of transgenic mice carrying these clones showed that sequences located downstream of the polyadenylation signal of the C beta 2 region are indispensable for expression in transgenic mice. The sequences conferring enhancer activity in this fragment were further defined by transient CAT assays. Strong enhancer activity was found to reside in a 550 bp fragment located 5 kb downstream from C beta 2. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment revealed a number of oligonucleotide motifs characteristic for enhancer elements.


The development of highly performing serological tests to identify patients with coeliac disease (CD), allowed large scale screening studies to be carried out and the results transformed our understanding of the prevalence of the condition in the general population. The next logical step was to ask whether CD could be reliably diagnosed by these tests without the need for small intestinal biopsies. This was shown to be the case. Studies from Derby, UK, indicated that about half of adult patients can be diagnosed in this way and similar figures have been provided for children. When considering this approach, it is essential that laboratories only use highly performing test kits that they have validated to measure tissue transglutaminase antibodies because all kits do not function to the same high standard. There remains a place for biopsy when criteria for serological diagnosis are not met, if the diagnosis of CD is strongly suspected but serological tests are negative or in patients not showing the expected responses to gluten free diet or otherwise causing concern, when not only small bowel biopsy will be indicated but also other investigations. Those with refractory CD should not be compromised by this diagnostic strategy. As serological tests become more refined and information accumulates, it is likely that this mode of diagnosis will gather momentum for the benefit of patients and carers. This brief review looks at the evidence for making the diagnosis of CD in some cases by serological tests alone.


Concerns about the appropriate use of EBP with ethnic minority clients and the ability of community agencies to implement and sustain EBP persist and emphasize the need for community-academic research partnerships that can be used to develop, adapt, and test culturally responsive EBP in community settings. In this paper, we describe the processes of developing a community-academic partnership that implemented and pilot tested an evidence-based telephone cognitive behavioral therapy program. Originally demonstrated to be effective for urban, middle-income, English-speaking primary care patients with major depression, the program was adapted and pilot tested for use with rural, uninsured, low-income, Latino (primarily Spanish-speaking) primary care patients with major depressive disorder in a primary care site in a community health center in rural Eastern Washington. The values of community-based participatory research and community-partnered participatory research informed each phase of this randomized clinical trial and the development of a community-academic partnership. Information regarding this partnership may guide future community practice, research, implementation, and workforce development efforts to address mental health disparities by implementing culturally tailored EBP in underserved communities.


Oscillatory neural activity is closely related to cognition and behaviour, with synchronisation mechanisms playing a key role in the integration and functional organization of different cortical areas. Nevertheless, its informational content and relationship with behaviour - and hence cognition - are still to be fully understood.

This thesis is concerned with better understanding the role of neuronal oscillations and information dynamics towards the generation of embodied cognitive behaviours and with investigating the efficacy of such systems as practical robot controllers. To this end, we develop a novel model based on the Kuramoto model of coupled phase oscillators and perform three minimally cognitive evolutionary robotics experiments. The analyses focus both on a behavioural level description, investigating the robot's trajectories, and on a mechanism level description, exploring the variables' dynamics and the information transfer properties within and between the agent's body and the environment.

The first experiment demonstrates that in an active categorical perception task under normal and inverted vision, networks with a definite, but not too strong, propensity for synchronisation are more able to reconfigure, to organise themselves functionally, and to adapt to different behavioural conditions. The second experiment relates assembly constitution and phase reorganisation dynamics to performance in supervised and unsupervised learning tasks. We demonstrate that assembly dynamics facilitate the evolutionary process, can account for varying degrees of stimuli modulation of the sensorimotor interactions, and can contribute to solving different tasks leaving aside other plasticity mechanisms. The third experiment explores an associative learning task considering a more realistic connectivity pattern between neurons. We demonstrate that networks with travelling waves as a default solution perform poorly compared to networks that are normally synchronised in the absence of stimuli.

Overall, this thesis shows that neural synchronisation dynamics, when suitably flexible and reconfigurable, produce an asymmetric flow of information and can generate minimally cognitive embodied behaviours.


It may be argued that the PhD research process contributes to academic knowledge. However, the status and relative contribution of stakeholders in the research process may be both dynamic and debatable. The perceptions and conceptualization of the PhD process and the potential outcomes may be unclear and open to debate. Accordingly, this paper seeks to expose the relevant issues to further discussion. Some issues may be cognitive or instinctual in nature and may either facilitate or hinder the research processes. The experience of the authors helps to form the basis of the discussions and offers a grounded approach to the re-evaluation of the PhD and related research and the outcomes it may provide. Broadly speaking, it is suggested that the core process is 'service orientated'. Further it is suggested that there are a number of key stakeholders which include, the researcher, academia, employers, and professionals. However the paper challenges this view and posits that there is an additional stakeholder factor to be considered; this being labelled 'societal'. In addition, the paper poses the question "what is the purpose of the PhD in the modern world?", with particular reference to the internationalization of academia.


The fate of a 'correlational' approach to truth, which defines contemporary epistemological theories of knowledge, is described as inescapable by Quentin Meillasoux. If Meillasoux is right, then we are far from being able to hope in truth, if we are to follow the philosopher, Andrea Bellantone's identification of correlation with narcissism and melancholia in La métaphysique possible. In order to understand correlation as narcissism and melancholy, one needs to reconsider the ineluctability of a metaphysical perspective, which pivots around the ultimacy of both being or reality, and the disclosive power of mind. According to Bellantone, human existence is faced with the overwhelming, superabundant and inexhaustible circumstance of being and its multiplicity. In the face of this multiple donation, one cannot avoid offering a joyous response, an appropriate counter-gift. As to what this gift is to be, this depends upon one's intuitive and interpretative understanding of the import of being as such. Although this question is unanswerable, one cannot avoid it. Even a single being presents a saturated presence to one: a stone does not disclose all of itself, or all of its infinitely ramifying connections with other entities. A metaphysical answer to reality, a certain 'taking' of the real, even though one must ceaselessly modify this taking, is unavoidable.


This study describes a simulator as an educational tool for the course of Electromechanical Control Techniques (ECT). The course, ECT, and its counterparts with some other different names are available within the curricula of faculties and high schools, such as Technical Education Faculties in Turkey, Faculties of Engineering Technology in the USA and European Countries. Since single/three phase power system is generally used in the applications of this course, students are always faced with a high voltage and current. A simulator is developed to establish a safety study environment. In this environment, students easily implement their designs or assignments to get familiar with the real applications in the laboratory.


Although engagement and learning seem linked, quantitatively measuring this relationship is challenging. New technologies offer a window into studying the interactions among classroom activity, student engagement, and positive learning outcomes in computer-equipped classrooms. A Classroom Behavioral Analysis System (CBAS) was developed to measure student engagement in a college writing class, and to test the hypothesis that an interactive lesson would increase student engagement levels in a computer-equipped classroom. Student computer-based behaviors (off-task and on-task Internet visits) were compared during a traditional, lecture-based lesson (no-simulation condition) and an interactive simulation-based lesson (simulation condition). The dependent variable was student engagement as measured by the number of off-task and on-task Internet activities during the lesson. Off-task Internet activities were operationalized as website visits that were not part of the classroom activity; on-task Internet activities included websites that related to the assigned class activity. CBAS recorded all student computer actions during the observed instructional periods. Students attending a simulation-based lesson performed more on-task Internet actions, and significantly fewer off-task Internet actions than did students attending a lecture-based lesson. These findings support the hypothesis that interactive lessons increase student engagement levels in computer-equipped classrooms, and demonstrate that CBAS is a promising tool for studying student engagement.


William Harvey's famous quantitative argument from De motu cordis (1628) about the circulation of blood explained how a small amount of blood could recirculate and nourish the entire body, upending the Galenic conception of the blood's motion. This paper argues that the quantitative argument drew on the calculative and rhetorical skills of merchants, including Harvey's own brothers. Modern translations of De motu cordis obscure the language of accountancy that Harvey himself used. Like a merchant accounting for credits and debits, intake and output, goods and moneys, Harvey treated venous and arterial blood as essentially commensurate, quantifiable and fungible. For Harvey, the circulation (and recirculation) of blood was an arithmetical necessity. The development of Harvey's circulatory model followed shifts in the epistemic value of mercantile forms of knowledge, including accounting and arithmetic, also drawing on an Aristotelian language of reciprocity and balance that Harvey shared with mercantile advisers to the royal court. This paper places Harvey's calculations in a previously underappreciated context of economic crisis, whose debates focused largely on questions of circulation.


Cereal crops especially maize production in Ethiopian Central Rift Valley is affected by biotic and abiotic production. This study was conducted for two seasons (2015-2016) and the best cropping system was identified using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The experiment had six treatments (1) Continuous mono-cropping under conventional practice (CN), (2) continuous mono cropping under conservation agriculture (CA) (3) relay cropping (CA) with double bean planting within a season (maize bean inter-cropping: second round bean planting was conducted after immediate harvesting of the first bean), (4) Double cropping (CA) (maize bean inter cropping after sole lablab), (5) Double cropping (CA) (maize after bean) and (6) Double cropping (CA) (bean after maize). In 2016, the highest maize biomass yield and maximum water use efficiency were obtained from double cropping bean after maize with value of 16050 kg/ha and 31 kg mm-1, respectively. Maize-bean relay cropping outperformed the sole maize under CA and CN by 182 and 138% for maize grain yield. Water use efficiency of double cropping (maize after bean) and relay cropping was higher than double cropping (bean after maize) by 366 and 197% in 2015 for maize grain yield. For biomass, relay cropping under CA and sole maize under CN had similar water use efficiency of 18 kg mm-1. The CA practice with diverse crops planted together: double inter-cropping at different time (relay cropping) and double cropping under CA are good options for using the residual soil moisture and to sustainably improve crop productivity.

 Key words: Conservation; cropping system; lablab; water use efficiency.


The dynamic line rating system can dynamically increase the transmission capability of transmission line, the asset utilization efficiency ratio and reliability of power supply. All of these meet the development requirements of smart grid. A dynamic line rating system based on measuring the tension of strain section is designed in the paper. Dynamic line rating (DLR) system can accurately calculate the average conductor temperature between strain section and the operating statys data of every span sag, assure power system safety while increasing the transmission rating. In this paper, the operating data sampled in a typical week are mainly analyzed. The result demonstrated that the tension and sag were stable and accurate, while taking the ambient temperature, wind speed and wind direction into account. Comparison was drawn between actual transmission line capacity and rated capacity. With the consideration of the margin, it is safe to increase the transmission capacity of power system by 20%–30% on average.


Youth travel is of special interest because a considerable number of Filipinos belong to the youth population. By focusing on the youth market, tourism enterprises can maximize considerable business opportunities. This study, using several known motivations and activity preferences of travellers, identified major push motives of young students. Factor analysis of responses from 117 students revealed four push motives, namely, nature and wellness, education, meeting people and relaxation and unique experience. Young students have been found to travel from the hustle and bustle of city life and contemplate nature, learn, rest, interact with other people and acquire a different kind of experience. Cluster analysis of responses from 95 students resulted to two market segments, the "enthusiasts" and the "moderates". The "enthusiasts" score higher in the motivations and activity preferences used in the study. The two groups can also be distinguished in terms of age, gender and monthly family income. The young Filipino traveller is at least "midcentric" using Plog's typology. Product development efforts can be carried out using the findings of the study. INTRODUCTION Throughout the years, tourism has emerged as a major national income earner for the Philippines. Since the creation of the Ministry of Tourism in the 1970s, it has become a major contributor to the Philippine economy starting in the 1990s. It currently accounts for 4-5% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product and employs more than three million Filipinos. Experts of world tourism say that consumers are no longer the same consumer decades ago. The Fordian paradigm of mass tourism with its standardized vacations and rigid packages is becoming obsolete. It has been in force immediately after the Second World War until the early part of the 80s. We are now in what is dubbed as "the New Age of Tourism". Consumers have transformed from being homogenous, having basic motivations and without previous experience to heterogeneous consumers who are experienced, unpredictable and more demanding. Suppliers are realizing that the Fordian paradigm is no longer adequate to address the challenges of competition. This change in the nature of the consumer of tourism products can lead to many entrepreneurial opportunities. In terms of personality types, consumers can be classified as allocentrics, psychocentrics and midcentrics. Allocentrics, psychocentrics and midcentrics are personality types in Plog's psychographic typology (Weaver & Oppermann, 2000). The model is used for psychographic segmentation. Allocentrics and psychocentrics are extremes in Plog's bell curve. Allocentrics and near-allocentrics satisfy their intellectual curiosity by seeking adventures that allow them to immerse themselves in other cultures. In contrast, psychocentrics minimise risk by patronizing familiar destinations where usual goods and services are available. Midcentrics are between the psychocentric and allocentric characteristics. Today's traveller has been observed to be allocentric. An understanding of the tourism market is vital to the growth of the industry. The tourism market has to be understood if it is to be served well and its profit potentials are to be realized. Among the different tourism markets, the youth population of the Philippines is a good target market. There are more than 20 million Filipinos included in this market. Opportunity recognition, which consists of identifying possibilities for new profit potentials, is a critical task for tourism entrepreneurs. It usually entails significant improvements in product offerings. However, for product development to be effective, there is a need to understand the characteristics of the Filipino youth market. There is a need to look into their motivation and preferences on which their purchase of tourism products depends. Moreover, market segmentation is a powerful marketing tool to identify homogenous groups among the selected Filipino youth market in terms of their motivation and activity preference. …


Abstract. In July 2021 intense rainfall caused devastating floods
in western Europe and 184 fatalities in the German federal states of North
Rhine-Westphalia (NW) and Rhineland-Palatinate (RP), calling into question their flood
forecasting, warning and response system (FFWRS). Data from an online survey
(n=1315) reveal that 35 % of the respondents from NW and 29 % from
RP did not receive any warning. Of those who were warned, 85 % did not
expect very severe flooding and 46 % reported a lack of situational
knowledge on protective behaviour. Regression analysis reveals that this
knowledge is influenced not only by gender and flood experience but also by the
content and the source of the warning message. The results are complemented
by analyses of media reports and official warnings that show shortcomings in
providing adequate recommendations to people at risk. Still, the share of
people who did not report any emergency response is low and comparable to
other flood events. However, the perceived effectiveness of the protective behaviour was low and mainly compromised by high water levels and the perceived level of surprise about the flood magnitude. Good situational knowledge and a higher number of previously experienced floods were linked to performing more effective loss-reducing action. Dissemination of warnings,
clearer communication of the expected flood magnitude and recommendations on
adequate responses to a severe flood, particularly with regard to flash and
pluvial floods, are seen as major entry points for improving the FFWRS in
Germany.


Purpose: The σ-phase is the most serious of these secondary phases due to its impact on the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance or weldability of stainless steels among other properties. The purpose of this study is getting free σ-phase welding joints by using very novel welding method such a called friction stir welding. Design/methodology/approach: Both of fusion welding methods (MIG and TIG) and friction stir welding method were used to compare microstructure analysis of AISI 430 ferritic stainless steels. After welding, the formation of σ-phase was investigated by mechanical, chemical and micro structure analyses of welded joints. Findings: As a result, the formation of σ-phase have not been observed in FSW processes while compared to traditional fusion welding processes. Not only σ-phase have not been observed in metallurgical investigations but also micro hardness of all specimen have not been over 400HV on friction stir welded joints. Research limitations/implications: It is very difficult to be constant vertical force during friction stir welding. For keeping constant this force, hydraulic controlled welding machines could be used in further researches. Practical implications: This paper and its' results shown that the friction stir welding could be used for joining of ferritic stainless steels, when you select suitable welding parameters. Originality/value: This study was performed in the frame of the Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit project no 2009FBE022 "The research of the factors affecting the friction stir weldability of ferritic stainless steels".


This article describes development and introduction of protocol sheet for cardiopulmonary resuscitation that standardizes the reports of Moscow ambulance teams. There's a noticeable benefit from using protocol for composing a registry for cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.


The purpose of this study is to provide a model for the Intellectual Capital for Dey Bank staff for this purpose, 64 factors affecting intellectual capital have been identified by studying books, literature and opinions of experts. The population of this study consisted of 1,400 current bank employees. Sample size was estimated as 302 on the basis of Cochran and have been stratified using random sampling method. The data were collected through self made intellectual capital questionnaires using factor technique that the sample was used after ensuring the validity and reliability. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Ratio test was used to measure intellectual capital and confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to identify factors influencing the intellectual capital. LISREL software was used to confirm the proposed model of structural equation modeling. The results show that the factors affecting the subject are specified and divided in 5 groups (human, organizational, communicational, and constructional).


Various reports by the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS have indicated that, in 2017, only 75% of individuals who were living with HIV across the globe were aware of their HIV status. This calls for targeted interventions to ensure that more people get tested. To this end, different measures should be adopted to increase the uptake of HIV testing services, especially for populations with limited access, as well as those who are at higher risk and would otherwise not get tested, such as men. While HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a highly effective tool that can be used to increase the uptake of testing among men, various challenges are still being faced. The perspective herein examines the challenges being faced in Rwanda and recommends some key measures that can be put in place to ensure that these challenges are addressed effectively and efficiently. In this perspective, the author proposes several notable strategies that policy makers in Rwanda should consider for the effective implementation of HIVST programs: developing health education programs that aim to increase awareness among men; improving the usability of HIVST kits; establishing strategic distribution points for HIVST kits, such as distribution in communities and at voluntary male medical circumcision sites, as well as online purchasing options; and ensuring that there is a highly supportive climate that is conducive to successful implementation.


Industrial polyureas are typically synthesized using diisocyanates via two possible alternative pathways: the extremely quick and highly exothermal diamine–diisocyanate pathway and the relatively slow and mild water–diisocyanate pathway. Although polyurea synthesis via the water–diisocyanate pathway is known and has been industrially applied for many decades, there is surprisingly very little analytical information in the literature in relation to the type and extent of the occurring side reactions and the resulting chemical structures following this synthesis pathway. The synthesis of polyureas exhibiting very high concentrations of carbonyl-containing groups resulted in strong and accurate diagnostic analytical signals of combined FTIR and solid-state 13C NMR analysis. Despite the strictly linear theoretical chemical structure designed, the syntheses resulted in highly nonlinear and crosslinked polymers. It was analytically found that the water–diisocyanate pathway preferentially produced highly dominant and almost equal contents of both biuret structures and tertiary oligo-uret structures, with a very small occurrence of urea groups. This is in strong contrast with the chemical structures previously obtained via the diamine–diisocyanate polyurea synthesis pathway, which almost exclusively resulted in biuret structures. The much slower reaction and crosslinking rate of the water–diisocyanate synthesis pathway enabled the further access of isocyanate groups to the already-formed secondary nitrogens, thus facilitating the formation of complex hierarchical tertiary oligo-uret structures.


The current study investigates the temperature distribution, stress analysis and material removal of aluminum oxide work piece. Temperature distribution of Aluminum Oxide work-piece when a laser beam (of laser cutting machine) is focused on it to create a micro groove as a part of machining process. Present Demand of industry currently focus on ceramics because of its vast and potential use in many fields such as vehicle sector(automobile), aerospace and bio-medical engineering applications, etc. As part of machining process, a micro groove needs to be created on a crude design material. Aiming at this, a laser cutting machine is employed to create a micro groove which works on a principle that when a high power laser beam is focused on a surface of the body, material gets removed as a result of large amount of heat energy released by the laser beam. Achieving a desired groove of specific dimensions is possible by having control over process parameters of a laser cutting machine which in turn governs the amount of material removed. To tackle with this it is essential to study the temperature distribution (due to heat energy released by laser beam) in the body that is responsible for material removal. ANSYS FEA is used to simulate and analyze this temperature distribution. In this paper temperature graphs for 40W,50W, Material removal for 40W, 50W, Equivalent stress for 40W, 50W are shown.


In this article a new project is being presented from the National Széchényi Library about the Rákóczi Archive. In a project framework in 2019 by developing a demo app we could demonstrate the integration of digitized and digital-born contents. It is useful to find a historical event for this purpose that can represent our common past in the Carpathian Basin and can be represented by a multilingual digital interface. This Rákóczi project offering a good opportunity to present archived web content in the same context with digitized materials from other digital library collections. The target group is broad, it can be also useful for researchers, students, and librarians.


Platelet hyperactivity is the hallmark of diabetes, and platelet activation plays a crucial role in diabetic vascular complications. Recent studies have shown that upon activation, platelet-derived miRNAs are incorporated into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), regulating the phenotypic switch of VSMC. Under diabetes, miRNA deficiency in platelets fails to regulate the VSMC phenotypic switch. Therefore, manipulation of platelet-derived miRNAs expression may provide therapeutic option for diabetic vascular complications. We seek to investigate the effect of calpeptin (calpain inhibitor) on the expression of miRNAs in diabetic platelets, and elucidate the downstream signaling pathway involved in protecting from neointimal formation in diabetic mice with femoral wire injury model. Using human cell and platelet coculture, we demonstrate that diabetic platelet deficient of miR-223 fails to suppress VSMC proliferation, while overexpression of miR-223 in diabetic platelets suppressed the proliferation of VSMC to protect intimal hyperplasia. Mechanistically, miR-223 directly targets the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), which inhibits the phosphorylation of GSK3β and activates the phosphorylation of AMPK, resulting in reduced VSMC dedifferentiation and proliferation. Using a murine model of vascular injury, we show that calpeptin restores the platelet expression of miR-223 in diabetes, and the horizontal transfer of platelet miR-223 into VSMCs inhibits VSMC proliferation in the injured artery by targeting the expression of IGF-1R. Our data present that the platelet-derived miR-223 suppressed VSMC proliferation via the regulation miR-223/IGF-1R/AMPK signaling pathways, and inhibition of calpain alleviates neointimal formation by restoring the expression of miR-223 in diabetic platelet.


Abstract In the present study, the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds from contaminated soil with solar radiation was investigated. In this context, the effect of diethylamine (DEA) as a photo-sensitizer on the photodegradation of PAH was examined, and the ring distributions of the PAHs were determined. DEA was added to samples at the doses of 1%, 10%, and 20% of dry weight of soil, and samples were kept in ambient air for 24 hours. Concentrations of Σ12PAH in soil samples were detected with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) as 4382 ng/g dry matter (DM). The total PAH content of the soil decreased by 45% in the presence of sunlight without using DEA. Σ12PAH removal efficiency was at the maximum level of 76% with the addition of 1% DEA to the soil. The increase in the dose of DEA adversely affected the PAH elimination process, and minimum removal ratio (32%) was obtained in the sample containing 20% DEA. The use of DEA has contributed to the elimination of most 3-ring PAH species. Heavy species, 5-6 ring compounds, have not been removed in the presence of sunlight.


ABSTRACT Introduction: This review examines the potential for ultrasound to induce or otherwise influence cardiac pacing and rhythm modulation. Areas covered: Of particular interest is the possibility of developing new, truly non-invasive, nonpharmacological, acute and chronic, ultrasound-based arrhythmia treatments. Such approaches would not depend upon implanted or indwelling devices of any kind and would use ultrasound at diagnostic exposure levels (so as not to harm the heart or surrounding tissues). It is known that ultrasound can cause cardiomyocyte depolarization and a variety of underlying mechanisms have been proposed. Expert commentary: Questions still remain regarding the effect of exposure parameters and work will also be necessary to identify the optimal target regions within the heart if ultrasound energy is to be used to induce safe and reliable pacing in a clinical setting.


The enzyme Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) plays a very important role in the DNA damage response, but its role in numerous aspects is not fully understood. We recently showed that in the absence of DNA damage, PARP1 regulates the expression of the chromatin-modifying enzyme EZH2. Work from other groups has shown that EZH2 participates in the DNA damage response. These combined data suggest that EZH2 could be a target of PARP1 in both untreated and genotoxic agent-treated conditions. In this work we tested the hypothesis that, in response to DNA damage, PARP1 regulates EZH2 activity. Here we report that PARP1 regulates EZH2 activity after DNA damage. In particular, we find that EZH2 is a direct target of PARP1 upon induction of alkylating and UV-induced DNA damage in cells and in vitro. PARylation of EZH2 inhibits EZH2 histone methyltransferase (H3K27me) enzymatic activity. We observed in cells that the induction of PARP1 activity by DNA alkylating agents decreases the association of EZH2 with chromatin, and PARylation of histone H3 reduces EZH2 affinity for its target histone H3. Our findings establish that PARP1 and PARylation are important regulators of EZH2 function and link EZH2-mediated heterochromatin formation, DNA damage and PARylation. These findings may also have clinical implications, as they suggest that inhibitors of EZH2 can improve anti-tumor effects of PARP1 inhibitors in BRCA1/2-deficient cancers.


The professor of medical chemistry at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, who has been accused of ethical misconduct and dismissed as dean of research, has called the dismissal an "unnecessary over-reaction."

In a statement for the BMJ Karl Tryggvason, who is also a deputy trustee of the Nobel Foundation and a member of the Nobel Assembly, the body at the institute that awards the Nobel prize for physiology or medicine, verified as correct the facts of the case as listed in a press release issued by Sweden's top medical school.

However, referring to the institute's president, Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, he said, "I do not consider my conduct unethical to such an extent that it should have led to the president's forceful reaction. I do feel that there was an unnecessary over-reaction."

The Karolinska Institute alleged in its press release that Professor Tryggvason had exercised "undue …


Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between demographics, family exercise participation, family discouragement of exercise, and the children's physical and sedentary behaviors to identify specific areas of physical activity intervention for children with parents engaged in medical weight management (MWM). Methods: Parents (n = 294) of children aged 2–18 years old were recruited from two university MWM programs to complete a one-time survey. Bivariate analyses tested associations. Results: Parents reported that sedentary activity was higher for children who identified as racial minorities (t(141) = −2.05, p < 0.05). Mobile phone and tablet use was higher for adolescents compared to school age and young children (H(2) = 10.96, p < 01) Exercise game use was higher for racial minority children compared to white children (U = 9440.5, z = 2.47, p ≤ 0.03). Male children (t(284) = 1.83, p < 0.07), children perceived to have a healthy weight status (t(120) = 4.68, p < 0.00), and younger children (t(289) = 1.79, p < 0.08) all engaged in more strenuous physical activity. Family exercise participation (t(162) = −2.93, p < 0.01) and family discouragement of exercise (U = 7813.50, z = −2.06, p ≤ 0.04) were significantly higher for children in racial minority families. Conclusions: Future work should determine methods to engage children and their parents participating in MWM in physical activities together to ensure that the changes the parents are making with MWM are sustainable.


AIM: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of post contrast T1W sequence with post contrast FLAIR sequence of MRI brain for early detection of leptomeningitis. METHODS: A prospective comparative study was conducted for a period of 4 months. MRI brain examination was performed on 55 patients with suspicion of meningitis. Out of these, 48 patients were male and 7 were female. For those patients, contrast enhanced MRI brain with post contrast T1W sequence and post contrast FLAIR sequences were acquired. Then MRI findings were compared with CSF analysis results which was taken by lumbar puncture and considered as a "reference standard". RESULTS: On CSF analysis of 55 patients, 43 patients were diagnosed positive as having meningitis and 12 patients were negative. Out of these 43 patients, post contrast FLAIR sequence was positive in 41 patients and 33 patients were positive on post contrast T1W sequence. In the finding of meningitis, post contrast FLAIR sequence sensitivity was 95.3% and specificity was 83.3%. While, post contrast T1W sequence sensitivity was 76.7% and 75% was specificity. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity and specificity of post contrast FLAIR sequence is more as compared to post contrast T1W sequence in the diagnosis of meningitis. In suspected cases of meningitis post contrast FLAIR sequence should be used as a routine sequence for the diagnosis of meningitis.


To eliminate the possibility of cutting into the eyeball in surgical procedures on the extraocular muscles, guards were placed on a pair of Aebli muscle scissors. The points of the scissors were blunted with small spherical knobs. Elevator guards, 0.8 mm. high, 9.5 mm. long and 2.5 mm. wide, were placed on both blades halfway between the ball tips and the screw, as shown in the accompanying figure. 1 With the increasing amount of surgical work on the oblique muscles now being done, these guards add a special factor of safety. They are particularly useful in operations on the inferior oblique muscle, in which there is danger of injury to the long ciliary nerve, the vortex veins and the macular area. These scissors have proved useful in other ways. A uniform stump is left in muscle resections when the scissors are applied flush with the sclera. Sutures can be tied


Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a cell surface protein that was discovered as a tumour marker of epithelial origins nearly four decades ago. EpCAM is expressed at basal levels in the basolateral membrane of normal epithelial cells. However, EpCAM expression is upregulated in solid epithelial cancers and stem cells. EpCAM can also be found in disseminated tumour cells and circulating tumour cells. Various OMICs studies have demonstrated that EpCAM plays roles in several key biological processes such as cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation. Additionally, EpCAM can be detected in the bodily fluid of cancer patients suggesting that EpCAM is a pathophysiologically relevant anti-tumour target as well as being utilized as a diagnostic/prognostic agent for a variety of cancers. This review will focus on the structure-features of EpCAM protein and discuss recent evidence on the pathological and physiological roles of EpCAM in modulating cell adhesion and signalling pathways in cancers as well as deliberating the clinical implication of EpCAM as a therapeutic target.


Summary PyIOmica is an open-source Python package focusing on integrating longitudinal multiple omics datasets, characterizing, and classifying temporal trends. The package includes multiple bioinformatics tools including data normalization, annotation, classification, visualization, and enrichment analysis for gene ontology terms and pathways. Additionally, the package includes an implementation of visibility graphs to visualize time series as networks. Availability and implementation PyIOmica is implemented as a Python package (pyiomica), available for download and installation through the Python Package Index (PyPI) (https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pyiomica), and can be deployed using the Python import function following installation. PyIOmica has been tested on Mac OS X, Unix/Linux and Microsoft Windows. The application is distributed under an MIT license. Source code for each release is also available for download on Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3342612). Contact email@example.com


Oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an African palm that is distinguished by its elevated oil production per unit area, however, fitossanitary problems are one of its the main drawbacks. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution pattern of the Rhynchophorus palmarum (L) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in oil palm plantations with geo-statistical procedures in the south of the state of Roraima, Brazil. The 25 ha of experimental area is located in the municilaity of Sao Joao da Baliza, RR, where 24 samples were carried out in the period from September 2013 to August 2014. For the insects collection, a buckettype trap with food attractant (sugarcane) was placed in each one of the 100 sampling points. Analyses of spatial variability and spatial dependence were held by the incorporation of geo-statistical procedures based on spatial modeling techniques by semivariagrams. The spatial distribution of the R. palmarum is aggregated with spatial dependence described by the spherical model, forming clusters of 100 to 210 m radius. It was observed that R. palmarum infestation takes place both in the center just as on the edges of the plantation, with later dissemination to the entire area. The maximum range found in the study was of 210 m, with an area of influence of 13.9 ha.


Methods of synthesis, physicochemical and structural characteristics, and reactivity of 1,8-bis(dialkylamino)naphthalenes and some of their close analogues pertaining to the class of so-called 'proton sponges' are considered. The bibliography includes 154 references.


Background- Cardiovascular disease is the cause of one-third of deaths worldwide and this status is likely to progress because of increasing CVD's risk factors like intake of cholesterol and saturated fat. There is no clear evidence that a poor diet in childhood is associated with CVD risk factor development and adverse vascular health in adulthood. Hence, it is important to look at the effects of complementary foods. Therefore, this study assessed the cardioprotective effects of insect bee larvae (Apis Melifera) based complementary foods in young white albino miceMethods- The experiment was conducted using a randomized control design. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. A total of Seventy-five male white Albino mice were randomly assigned to five diets in triplicate. The diets were Diet 1= Casein diet; Diet 2= (57% Maize, 29% Teff, 14% Soybean); Diet 3= (58% Maize, 29% Teff, 13% Bee larvae); Diet 4=Commercial wean mix; and Diet 5= Basal diet alone. The study was conducted for 28 days with seven days of acclimatization. Diet and water were given ad libitum. The mice blood sample was collected from a cardiac puncture. Lipid profiles of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C evaluations were analyzed using automated pentra C400 made in France. Results- The results showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001) of lipid profiles between treatments. Biochemical (mg/dl) parameters showed Diet 3 were recorded high TG (167.79) and HDL-C (67.18) and low in LDL-C (71.73). Atherogenic indices of Diet 3 were low in CRI-I (1.84), CRI-II (1.07), and AC (0.84). LDL-C levels were positively correlated with all atherogenic indices, while HDL-C levels were negatively correlated. Atherogenicity indices showed significant positive associations (P<0.001) with one another; CRI-I vs CRI-II (r=0.919), CRI-I vs AC (r=1), CRI-II vs AC (r= 0.919). Nevertheless, AIP was positively correlated with CRI-I, CRI-II, and AC, however, this was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions- Intake of insect bee larvae-based diet could have the potential to protect from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in infants and young children. However, further studies on the adverse effects of the developed complementary foods on clinical and histopathological trials should be conducted.


A new method was developed and patented for the use of three types of wastes from the manufacture of porcelain tiles – fired wastes (FW), unfired wastes (UW) and wastewater treatment plant sludge (WTPS) – as the main raw materials for the production of new construction materials. The binder material used here was lime production waste (LPW), i.e., incompletely burned lime. The un-axial compressive strength of the new materials containing 15 wt% of LPW at one year of age increased up to 14.2 MPa and the materials with 5% LPW content increased up to 8.6 MPa, exceeding the specifications of Brazilian standards for hollow concrete blocks. The water absorption (W A ) coefficient of different compositions at the age of 28 days ranged from 17.9 to 24.6%, but this does not affect the values of the water resistance coefficient (0.71 to 0.85). X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses indicated that the strength of the new materials increases due to the synthesis of amorphous and crystalline compounds. The feasibility of the new materials is based on the use of four types of industrial wastes for the production of new construction materials with high mechanical properties, which meet the requirements of national health standards


Type I interferons (IFNs, including IFN-αβ) contribute to the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains that induce high IFN-αβ levels. In the current study we examined the role of IFN-αβ during infection with a Mycobacterium africanum strain that induces low IFN-β levels. We infected wild-type and IFN-αβ receptor knockout mice with M. africanum and monitored bacterial growth, lung disease, and survival over 292 days. We found reduced lung bacterial burdens and less severe histopathological findings in the absence of IFN-αβ signaling. We conclude that IFN-αβ is pathogenic during chronic M. africanum infection and that the pathogenic effects may be mediated through poorer control of bacterial growth.


Disturbances of the autonomic nervous system play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and clinical course of many diseases. Recently, rapid development has occurred in the clinical assessment of autonomic function. Various procedures have been described as diagnostic tools to monitor autonomic dysfunction. Some of them are mostly used for research purposes. Many, however, have found their place in routine clinical evaluation. Our paper presents selected methods of assessment of the autonomic nervous system with particular emphasis on those that are useful in diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system. We discuss multiple tests based on cardiovascular reflexes, methods of studying heart rate variability as well as direct catecholamine measurements. Moreover, we outline tests of sudomotor function and microneurography.


Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate safety evaluation studies of methanolic stem extract of A. indica (AIS-ME) through acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies in albino wistar rats. Methods: Acute toxicity test was carried out in albino wistar rats by single dosage administration of 500, 1000 and 1500mg/kg body weight of AIS-ME and observed for mortality and behavioural changes for a period of 24h. Sub-chronic toxicity studies were conducted by an oral administration of 100mg/kg body weight AIS-ME in albino wistar rats for a period of 30 consecutive days. Rats in sub-chronic toxicity studies were checked for body weight once in a week for 30 days and at the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical parameters. Organs (Liver and Kidney) were harvested and histological sections were made to examine for any organ damage after the treatment of AIS-ME. Results: Acute toxicity study resulted in no mortality and behavioural changes even at the post oral dosage of 1500mg/kg body weight of AIS-ME. Sub-chronic toxicity revealed no significant changes in body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters of treated groups in comparision with the control groups. Histological sections of treated groups resulted in similar architecture as that of nomal groups suggesting no morphological damages of the internal organs. Conclusion: This study concluded that AIS-ME is non toxic as per the results of acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies. Thus, it could be considered as a safe phytomedicine for oral administration in experimental rats.


Polymorphisms in fruit colour are common in nature, but mechanistic explanations for the factor(s) responsible for their maintenance are for the most part lacking. Past studies have focused on frugivore colour preferences and fruit removal rates, but until recently there has been no evidence that these factors are responsible for the maintenance of the polymorphisms. For other types of genetic polymorphisms, habitat heterogeneity has been shown to play a role in their maintenance. Here we test the habitat heterogeneity hypothesis for a polymorphic New Zealand mistletoe. We show that red-fruited and orange-fruited morphs of the mistletoe Alepis flavida (Hook. F) Tiegh. (Loranthaceae) differ in their growth, mortality and flowering on forest edges and in forest interior. Red-fruited morphs, which are preferred by dispersers, grew, survived and flowered as well as orange-fruited morphs on edges, whereas orange-fruited morphs had much greater growth, survival, and flowering than red-fruited morphs in the forest interior. This is the first evidence that habitat-specific differences in growth and survival may contribute to maintaining fruit-colour polymorphisms.


Broadband binary-pattern metasurface absorbers are designed and demonstrated in the mid-infrared wavelength range through the micro-genetic algorithm. The tungsten-based metasurface absorbers with the optimized binary-pattern nanostructures exhibit broadband near-perfect absorption due to the multiple plasmonic resonances supported within the unit cell. Furthermore, the influence of minor pixel modifications in the optimized binary-pattern nanostructures on the absorption performance is investigated in the experiment. This Letter presents a promising approach to design and optimize complex optical nanostructures with the desired properties for metamaterial and metasurface applications.


Summary New data about the mechanisms of formation of oil in carbonate reservoirs according to revealed characteristics of the composition and physico-chemical properties of the fluid of moving part (the extracted oil), and the stationary part that remains in the pore space of carbonate reservoirs. It is shown that the inflow of light oil in the reservoir of Bashkirian deposits of Tatarstan Republic takes place. Highviscous oils from carbonate reservoirs are shown to be capable to structure forming at higher temperatures. The phase transition temperatures are determined. The prevailing role of the A1 asphaltene fraction is defined. The results can be used to improve the hydrocarbon reserves of Bashkirian deposits in carbonate reservoirs of the Middle Carboniferous sediments, as well as the search for new industrial clusters in the underlay petroleum deposits.


The practice of awarding good time credits in United States prisons was developed early in the nineteenth century both to further public policy and to enhance prison management. Good time was seen as a method for alleviating prison crowding, controlling prison behavior, and rewarding rehabilitation efforts. Though parole policies eventually overshadowed good time as an early release tool, corrections administrators in virtually every state retained some form of credit-based release. Currently, overcrowded prisons, constraints over population control mechanisms, and the increased need to ensure effective prison management have combined to make good time an issue of growing importance in the criminal justice system. In this article the present state of good time policy and research is examined, and an agenda for systematic review of good time policies and practices is outlined. While the use of good time in U.S. prisons is found to be growing, policymakers and prison administrators continue to rely upon untested assumptions when defending good time practices. We propose a research agenda that would examine (a) how good time is understood by prison personnel, (b) the actual operation of good time systems, (c) the utility of good time as a prison management device, (d) its role in rehabilitation, and (e) the special risks that good time releases pose to the community.


The copper (Cu), an essential trace element to humans, is involved in numerous biological processes in our body. However, the excess Cu is equally detrimental as it produces hydroxyl radical ( OH) from H2O2 via Fenton-type reactions, and thereby causes oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

The intracellular Cu concentration is, thus, strictly maintained by proteins such as metallothioneines (MTs), ATP7A and ATP7B, ATOX1 and CCS, and endogenous thiol, glutathione (GSH).1

The majority of cytosolic Cu is bound to GSH, the most abundant intracellular Cu binding ligand of low molecular mass in living cells and is known to be a major contributor to Cu exchangeable pool in the cytosol.2 Mutation of ATP7B gene results non- functional of ATP7B protein causing Cu over-load in tissues including liver, brain of patients with Wilson's  disease (WD) and excess Cu has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.3 Medical therapy in WD involves lifelong treatment with Cu chelators (penicillamine, trientine) that bind Cu directly in blood and tissues and facilitate its excretion.4 However, chelation therapy is not always efficient for symptomatic neurological patients and has harmful side effects and,4 thus, efforts were made to discover tissue specific chelators


Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) is mainly focused on development, promotion and strengthening of micro, cottage and small enterprises with the technical and financial support. The rapid entry and growth of Small Enterprises (SEs) has constituted one of the most important aspects of development in Nepal. The Government of Nepal (GON), Department of Cottage and Small Industries (DCSI) and Cottage and Small Industries Development Board (CSIDB) under Ministry of Industry (MOI) are specially responsible for development of SEs. Growth rate of SEs is in increasing trends. It seemed that there is increment of about 332 number of cottage and small industries per year. On the basis of types of ownership of business firms, private firms (Sole trading concern) are increased by 264 each year between the periods of FY 1993/94 to FY 2011/12 i.e. in nineteen year time period. The result shows that 87.6 percent cottage and small industries are operated under private firms. It is seen that most of the entrepreneurs want to be self-employees and / or want to work independently. Out of five development regions, central development region has got highest position in the context of increase number of SEs as well as high increment i.e. 658 in each year. Out of total cottage and small industries, near about half i.e. 47.78 percent industries are conducted in central development region. Janapriya Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. III (December 2014), page: 16-22


Every one has so-called individual characteristics and definite susceptibilities to disease—susceptibilities which may be determined by endocrine or allergic reactions or by anatomic constitution and arrangements which make possible definite pathologic sequelae. In the respiratory, the cardiovascular, the gastrointestinal and the urinary system these susceptibilities are fairly well known, but the nose, the sinuses and the pneumatic temporal bone, although they may be considered adjuncts of the respiratory system, often present problems which are baffling and apparently not correlated with the patient's general constitution. Individual problems, then, arise in each case, and anatomic variations must be constantly kept in mind, even though they may not be extreme. Unusual anatomic arrangements which depart little from the so-called normal may place a nerve, an artery, a vein or a venous sinus in a vulnerable position. This abnormality may result in unusual or confusing symptoms, which may be interpreted accurately and correctly only


This paper presents a method for using high detail volumetric information, captured with a land based photogrammetric survey, to obtain information from individual trees. Applying LIDAR analysis techniques it is possible to measure diameter at breast height, height at first branch (commercial height), basal area and volume of an individual tree. Given this information it is possible to calculate how much of that tree can be exploited as wood. The main objective is to develop a methodology for successfully surveying one individual tree, capturing every side of the stem a using high resolution digital camera and reference marks with GPS coordinates. The process is executed for several individuals of two species present in the metropolitan area in San Jose, Costa Rica, Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf. and Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC., each one with different height, stem shape and crown area. Using a photogrammetry suite all the pictures are aligned, geo-referenced and a dense point cloud is generated with enough detail to perform the required measurements, as well as a solid tridimensional model for volume measurement. This research will open the way to develop a capture methodology with an airborne camera using close range UAVs. An airborne platform will make possible to capture every individual in a forest plantation, furthermore if the analysis techniques applied in this research are automated it will be possible to calculate with high precision the exploit potential of a forest plantation and improve its management.


Regarding activities taking place at sea, the applicability of EU law depends on the nature and geographic location of the activity as well as on the formulation of the geographical scope of the legal instrument. With Member States' ever-increasing activity at sea, the ECJ is confronted with various questions on the application of EU law at sea; its case law is analysed in this article. Firstly, the foundation of EU competence at sea in public international law and EU law is explored. Secondly, the line of ECJ case law is analysed. Thirdly, the interplay between the legislature's formulations and the Court's reasoning is addressed, as well as the validity of the latter in light of public international law. The article concludes by reflecting on the consequences of the Court's reasoning, with recommendations regarding alternatives.


Objectives. To examine the differences in adolescent birth rates by deprivation and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in rural and urban counties of the United States in 2017 and 2018.Methods. We analyzed available data on birth rates for females aged 15 to 19 years in the United States using the restricted-use natality files from the National Center for Health Statistics, American Community Survey 5-year population estimates, and the Area Health Resources Files.Results. Rural counties had an additional 7.8 births per 1000 females aged 15 to 19 years (b = 7.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.13, 8.55) compared with urban counties. Counties with the highest deprivation had an additional 23.1 births per 1000 females aged 15 to 19 years (b = 23.12; 95% CI = 22.30, 23.93), compared with less deprived counties. Rural counties with whole shortage designation had an additional 8.3 births per 1000 females aged 15 to 19 years (b = 8.27; 95% CI = 6.86, 9.67) compared with their urban counterparts.Conclusions. Rural communities across deprivation and HPSA categories showed disproportionately high adolescent birth rates. Future research should examine the extent to which contraceptive access differs among deprived and HPSA-designated rural communities and the impact of policies that may create barriers for rural communities. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 19, 2020: e1-e7. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305957).


Abstract Following the trends established in psychology and emerging in L2 research, we explain our support for an Open Science approach in this paper (i.e., developing, analyzing and sharing datasets) as a way to answer controversial and complex questions in applied linguistics. We illustrate this with a focus on a frequently debated question, what underlies individual differences in the dynamic system of post-pubertal L2 speech learning? We provide a detailed description of our dataset which consists of spontaneous speech samples, elicited from 110 late L2 speakers in the UK with diverse linguistic, experiential and sociopsychological backgrounds, rated by ten L1 English listeners for comprehensibility and nativelikeness. We explain how we examined the source of individual differences by linking different levels of L2 speech performance to a range of learner-extrinsic and intrinsic variables related to first language backgrounds, age, experience, motivation, awareness, and attitudes using a series of factor and Bayesian mixed-effects ordinal regression analyses. We conclude with a range of suggestions for the fields of applied linguistics and SLA, including the use of Bayesian methods in analyzing multivariate, multifactorial data of this kind, and advocating for publicly available datasets. In keeping with recommendations for increasing openness of the field, we invite readers to rethink and redo our analyses and interpretations from multiple angles by making our dataset and coding publicly available as part of our 40th anniversary ARAL article.


The human medial temporal lobe (MTL) is known to be involved in declarative memory, yet the exact contributions of the various MTL structures are not well understood. In particular, the data as to whether the hippocampal region is preferentially involved in the encoding and/or retrieval of associative memory have not allowed for a consensus concerning its specific role. To investigate the role of the hippocampal region and the nearby MTL cortical areas in encoding and retrieval of associative versus non‐associative memories, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity during learning and later recognition testing of novel face‐name pairs. We show that there is greater activity for successful encoding of associative information than for non‐associative information in the right hippocampal region, as well as in the left amygdala and right parahippocampal cortex. Activity for retrieval of associative information was greater than for non‐associative information in the right hippocampal region also, as well as in the left perirhinal cortex, right entorhinal cortex, and right parahippocampal cortex. The implications of these data for a clear functional distinction between the hippocampal region and the MTL cortical structures are discussed. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.