Professors who administer the differential and integral calculus classes in the hard sciences courses and in the most diverse kinds of engineering, not rarely, are faced by the lack of motivation to learning and difficulties in absorbing the concepts of the discipline. With the purpose of contributing to the teaching-learning process related to calculus classes, this paper looks for synthesizing a process of elaboration and trial of an artwork destined for coloring, which content is specifically related to the discipline "Calculus with Applications IV", from the Biosystems Engineering course, of the University of Sao Paulo (USP)-Brazil. The material, always prepared in the form of pairs of pages, one displaying the picture to be colored (the artwork) and the other one like its twin (the text), was individually rated by the apprentices students. The obtained results point to the possibility of facing the paradigm and showing that projects like "calculus for coloring" are not only possible, but also a quality complement in the learning-teaching process.


Tule Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons elgasi (Tule Geese) may be the least abundant of North American goose subspecies and thus are a conservation concern.  However, existing Tule Goose abundance estimates are either outdated, unpublished or lack estimates of precision.  Annual estimates of Tule Goose abundance were derived by expanding estimates of radio-marked goose abundance by the ratio of total to radio-marked geese from mark-resight data.  Tule Geese ( n = 1,160) were captured and ringed during 2003–2019 primarily at an autumn migration stopover area in eastern Oregon, and 505 were also marked with plastic collars with unique codes and VHF radios.  About 19,900 resightings (live encounter by radio telemetry or visual sightings) of radio-marked Tule Geese were made, primarily during autumn and winter in Oregon and California.  The mean (± s.e.) annual abundance of Tule Geese in the autumn was 14,703 ± 1,455 (95% CI = 11,852–17,555, n = 17).  There was no evidence of a trend in Tule Goose abundance during this period; the annual growth rate was ‑1.89 ± 1.84% (95% CI = -5.63–2.0, t 16 = 1.05, P = 0.311, n.s.).  Point estimates of annual abundance were variable (range = 6,992–33,342) and lacked precision (mean CV = 26%, range = 19–41%).  The uncertainty was primarily associated with the variance of total to marked goose ratio estimates compared to estimates of radio-marked goose abundance.  Winter distribution of Tule Geese generally appears to be unchanged from information from the 1980s and 1990s.  Mean annual survival probability was lower for female (0.724 ± 0.038, 95% CI = 0.643–0.792) than for male (0.823 ± 0.029, 95% CI = 0.758–0.874) leg-ringed only geese, and for radio-marked geese (0.610 ± 0.028, 95% CI = 0.553–0.664) compared to leg-ringed only geese (0.786 ± 0.027, 95% CI = 0.727–0.834).  The mark-resight method provides a means to monitor abundance of Tule Geese; however, improvements are needed to increase the precision of estimates, particularly regarding estimation of the ratio of total to marked geese.  The stable trend in abundance and the moderate survival rates suggest that managers may need to assess current management strategies carefully if Tule Geese abundance is to be maintained or increased.


We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of a 2 387 bp chromosomal SalI-EcoRI fragment, which contains the structural gene (gltD) for the small subunit of Rhodobacter sphaeroides glutamate synthase, as well as the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions. An open reading frame of 1 242 base pairs was identified as the R. sphaeroides gltD gene. The MW of the small subunit, as deduced from the nucleotide sequence, was estimated to be 44 kD. A comparison of the nucleotide sequence revealed a high similarity among gltD genes of R. sphaeroides, Azospirillum brasilense and Escherichia coli. The deduced amino acid sequence of R. sphaeroides GltD showed a high similarity with that of A. brasilense GltD. The analysis of the binding domains of R. sphaeroides GltD was also carried out. The gltD-lacZ fusion was observed in the presence of 15 mM leucine.


Different combinations of kraft cooking and oxygen delignification stages were studied, with respect to the quality as well as the economics of the fully bleached pulp. A brighter pulp at the same kappa number and viscosity can be achieved after oxygen delignification if the cook is ended at higher kappa number levels (30 instead of 17). When using the investigated TCF-bleaching sequence, this is a major advantage, since the bleachability in a Q-OP-Q-PO-sequence is shown to be dependent on the brightness rather than the kappa number of the pulp entering the bleach plant. Considering the economics of the different alternatives studied, the yield as well as the bleaching chemical costs of the fully bleached pulp were taken into account. The combination of cooking to kappa number 30 instead of 17 followed by oxygen delignification to kappa number 9 results in a cost effective pulp of high quality regarding both ECF- and TCF-bleaching. However, for the TCF-sequence it is important to keep in mind, that the yellowing tendency (heat induced), of the fully bleached pulp increases with increasing kappa number after cooking, probably due to a higher hexenuronic acid content in the pulp.


It is clear that the number of distinct representations of a number n as the sum of two primes is at most the number of primes in the interval n=2; n?2]. We show that 210 is the largest value of n for which this upper bound is attained.


Changes in low-level moisture alter the convective parameters [e.g., convective available potential energy (CAPE), lifted index (LI), and convective inhibition (CIN)] as a result of alterations in the latent and sensible heat energy exchange. Two sources for low-level moisture exist in the southern Great Plains: 1) moisture advection by the low-level jet (LLJ) from the Gulf of Mexico and 2) evaporation and transpiration from the soils and vegetation in the region. The primary focus of this study is to examine the spatial distribution of soil moisture on a daily basis and to determine the effect it has on the convective parameters. The secondary objective is to investigate how the relationship between soil moisture and convective parameters is altered by the presence of an LLJ. The soil moisture data were obtained through newly developed procedures and advances in technology aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager. The convective parameter data were obtained through the North American Regional Reanalysis dataset. The study examined seven warm seasons (April‐September) from 1998 to 2004 and found that the convective environment is more unstable (CAPE . 900 J kg 21 ,L I ,2 28C) but more strongly capped (CIN . 70 J kg 21 ) on days with an LLJ present. Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed a less stable atmosphere with increased soil moisture, after soil moisture reached 5%, on most days. Additional analysis determined that on all synoptic-type days the probability of reaching various thresholds of convective intensity increased as soil moisture values increased. The probabilities were even greater on days with an LLJ present than on the days without an LLJ present. An examination of four days representing each synoptic-type day indicates that on the daily scale the intensity of the convective environment is closely related to the high soil moisture and the presence of an LLJ.


The present paper deals with the plant fossils and the miospores recovered from the coal-bearing beds of the Daltonganj Coalfield. On basis of these plant fossil evidences the stratigraphical positions of these beds in the Lower Gondwana succession are discussed.


Contemporary subsistence hunting practices of North American Indians have been questioned because of hunters' use of modern technologies and integration of wage-based and subsistence livelihoods. Tribal traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has been questioned on similar grounds and used as justification for ignoring tribal perspectives on critical natural resource conservation and development issues. This paper examines hunting on the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation in North Central Wisconsin, USA. The study used semi-structured interviews with hunters from the reservation to document their contemporary hunting practices and the traditional moral code that informs their hunting-related behaviors and judgments. Subsistence hunting is framed in the context of TEK and attention focused on the interplay between TEK's practical and moral dimensions. Results indicate the importance of traditional moral codes in guiding a community's contemporary hunting practices and the inseparability and interdependence of epistemological, practical, and ethical dimensions of TEK.


The name Cathedral Cliffs Formation is proposed for the rocks in the Clarks Fork area of northwestern Wyoming that have long been known by the informal designation "early acid breccia." In the Clarks Fork area the Cathedral Cliffs Formation is composed of tuffs, with lesser amounts of volcanic sedimentary rocks and breccias. Its thickness ranges from less than 100 feet to about 1500 feet but more commonly is 500–900 feet. The formation is tentatively considered to be late early Eocene or early middle Eocene. It is underlain by rocks ranging from Precambrian to early Eocene(?) and is overlain unconformably by the early basic breccia of middle Eocene age. Low-angle detachment faulting, which involved the Cathedral Cliffs Formation but not the overlying early basic breccia, has made recognition and correlation of the formation difficult. Blocks and masses of Madison Limestone of Mississippian age were emplaced locally on its upper surface by the Reef Creek detachment fault. The Cathedral Cliffs Formation and the Paleozoic carbonate rocks beneath it, as well as the Reef Creek fault masses on its surface, were then transported southeastward by the Heart Mountain detachment fault. As movement on the Heart Mountain detachment proceeded, the large fault mass broke up into smaller blocks, which separated as movement continued. Consequently the Cathedral Cliffs Formation was distributed in a pattern which gives the appearance of isolated occurrences and erosional remnants. The detached blocks of the Reef Creek fault on the upper surface of the Cathedral Cliffs also were scattered more widely than by their original movement on the Reef Creek fault. Soon after the fault-transported segments of the Cathedral Cliffs Formation ceased moving they were buried beneath the early basic breccia. The unconformity between the early acid breccia and the early basic breccia is thus substantiated in the Clarks Fork area; in the time interval represented, the Reef Creek and Heart Mountain fault masses were emplaced. The Cathedral Cliffs Formation is correlated with the early acid breccia in northern Yellowstone National Park and the upper part of the Reese Formation as mapped by Calvert west of Gardiner, Montana. The volcanic-source area probably is not in the central Yellowstone Park region, but somewhere to the north.


The main purpose of this study is to examine teacher efficacy levels of English language teachers who work in secondary schools. Also, teachers' self -reported English proficiency level and use of pedagogical strategies were investigated. Based on a quantitative study, the data were collected through three different questionnaires from 28 English language teachers. Results showed that teacher efficacy has an impact on teaching English. The data indicated that teachers' beliefs in their ability were correlated with their self-reported English proficiency. It was found that most of the teachers use communicatively oriented instructional strategies in the classroom. This study provides necessary and useful information to understand teachers' needs to develop their efficacy.


Questions
How does fire severity, measured as depth of burn of ground layer fuels, control the regeneration of understorey species across black spruce-dominated stands varying in pre-fire organic layer depths? Are successional shifts from evergreen to deciduous understorey vegetation more likely to occur with greater depth of burn? Does a shift in understorey vegetation community towards more deciduous species influence carbon accumulation in vegetation biomass?

Location
Northern boreal forest, interior Alaska.

Methods
We sampled 32 stands in interior Alaska that burned in 2003 and 2004 in which depth of burn had been recorded soon after fire. In 2014 we characterized tree density, understorey vegetation composition, above- and below-ground vegetation carbon pools, and a suite of environmental variables. We used ANOVA and multivariate redundancy analysis models to analyse the dominant controls on vegetation composition and carbon pools.

Results
Fire severity was a strong control on post-fire tree and non-vascular species composition. Ten years post-fire, sites that experienced deeper burning of organic layers had a higher abundance of deciduous tree species, fire-adapted mosses, forbs and graminoids, and lower abundances of evergreen shrubs and Sphagnum mosses. Environmental variables (elevation, soil bulk density and mineral soil pH, moisture and temperature) served as important controls on tree and vascular understorey species composition. We found no evidence that carbon pools associated with recovering vegetation biomass were influenced by landscape position, fire severity or environmental variables.

Conclusions
Both fire frequency and depth of burn are projected to increase with a warmer climate in interior Alaska. These shifts in fire regime are expected to favour the regeneration of deciduous species over conifers, which have the potential to regulate successional pathways and large-scale trends in albedo, which both ultimately could influence ecosystem–climate feedbacks and dampen future fire cycles. Our results show that understorey species composition is controlled by fire severity, suggesting that more severe burning causes a decline in the self-replacement of conifer communities across a range of hydrologic settings. Overall, our results suggest a loss of resilience in black spruce forests in the face of a changing fire regime. However, we found no evidence that fire severity influences vegetation carbon pools 10 yrs post-fire, suggesting that there is less landscape variation in biomass carbon pools than in vegetation composition and succession during early post-fire succession.


Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of aerobic and strengthening exercise combination on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), muscle strength, balance, and sleep quality in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).
Material and Methods: Fifty individuals aged between 30 and 65 years and diagnosed with type 2 DM were included in this study. Anthropometric measurements, HbA1c, quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, balance, and sleep quality of the included individuals were evaluated. Aerobic and strengthening exercises were applied to the participants 3 days a week for 12 weeks. All evaluation measurements were repeated at the end of 12 weeks.
Results: Of the 50 individuals included in this study and diagnosed with type 2 DM, 64% (n=32) were male and 36% (n=18) were female. The mean age of the participants was 50.12±10.81 years, the mean body mass index was 29.97±3.12 kg/m2, the waist/hip ratio was 0.91±0.08, and the mean HbA1c was 9.19±2.39. When the pre and post-treatment HbA1c, muscle strength, balance, and sleep quality measurements of all participants were compared, there were statistically significant differences (p<0.001).
Conclusion: It was determined that the combination of long-term aerobic and strengthening exercise decreased the HbA1c value and also significantly improved muscle strength, balance, and sleep quality in individuals with type 2 DM. A structured exercise program that includes strengthening and aerobic exercises would be beneficial in developing the most effective and appropriate exercise prescriptions in terms of exercise efficiency and sustainability for individuals with type 2 DM.


We present a study on perceptions and adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Healthcare Services. The paper regards ICT as tools that facilitate communication, processing, storage and transmission of information by electronic means. This includes a range of ICT tools, from radio and television to telephones (fixed and mobile), personal computers, and the Internet. ICT has a potential to impact every aspect and activity in health sector. However, the adoption of ICT tools can be greatly affected by perceptions of community members. In addition, perceptions can enormously differ from one country to another necessitating carrying out a study in a particular country. In this regard it was important to establish the perceptions and adoption of ICT among community members. The findings show that ICT tools that are positively perceived, in descending order, include Radio, Mobile phones and Television. Although there was no significant difference in terms of percentage of users for Radio and Mobile phones, analysis show that there is a statistical evidence that the proportion of community members that have adopted ICT as a major source of healthcare information significantly differ (p < 0.001) between urban and neighbouring rural areas.


Two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) is a novel architecture for magnetic recording systems proposed to achieve densities towards 10 Tb/in2. TDMR differs from other solutions in that it does not require a complete redesign of the head or medium for its gains, relying instead on powerful 2-D codes and signal processing to reliably store and retrieve the information. To explore the viability of TDMR via simulation, models for the 2-D medium, writing, and readback are needed. In this paper, we propose models for these processes and discuss ongoing progress in 2-D experimental waveform retrieval that will be used to validate the models. We show some initial results achieved using these models which demonstrate the viability of TDMR and that will provide an indication of what densities may be possible with TDMR, when the 2-D codes and detectors are completed.


The 13-15 trisomy syndrome (also called D-trisomy and Patau syndrome 1 ) comprises an entity in which an extra chromosome is associated with the 13-15 or D group of paired chromosomes. Its clinical features consist of multiple congenital abnormalities that commonly include ocular defects. The most frequent systemic abnormalities are harelip, cleft palate, umbilical hernia, polydactyly, cardiac defects, and malformations of the central nervous system. Although born full term, infants with this syndrome rarely live more than a few days or weeks. Approximately 15 individual case reports have included references to the eye defects. 2-12 Microphthalmia, iris colobomas, cataracts, and retinal dysplasia have been especially noted in recent reviews of the subject. 11,8,10 It is our purpose to document the pathologic abnormalities in the eyes of three additional patients and to emphasize the presence of intraocular cartilage as being a particularly characteristic feature of the syndrome. Report of Cases Case 1.


Primary male genital lymphomas may appear rarely in testis, and exceptionally in the penis and prostate, but there is not previous evidence of a lymphoma arising from the corpora cavernosa. We report the first case in the literature of a primary diffuse cell B lymphoma of the corpora cavernosa presented with low urinary tract symptoms, perineal pain and palpable mass. Diagnosis was based on trucut biopsy, histopathological studies and computed tomographic images.


The objective of the study was to document the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the communities surrounding the Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) in Sto. Domingo, Albay. Specifically, it aimed to 1) map the significant tangible immovable cultural heritage associated with MVNP; 2) map the significant tangible movable cultural heritage associated with MVNP; and 3) map the significant intangible cultural heritage related to MVNP such as, but not limited to, oral traditions, social practices, rituals, festive events and performing arts. The study employed a qualitative approach that used descriptive survey of research, utilized the standard method of survey of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and focus group discussion. Findings showed that MVNP is very significant to the people of Sto. Domingo, Albay. Though it is dangerous, MVNP's fertile soil helps them to grow rice, vegetables and fruit-bearing trees. In addition, the gravel and sand which came from the volcano are a major source of livelihood. All tangible and intangible cultural heritage such as practices and beliefs of the people were also associated with MVNP.


This paper describes a theoretical study on the integration of tilt and active lateral secondary suspension control issues relate to the system performance requirements, controller assessment approaches, modelling process and dynamics interaction analysis. Two dual-actuator control system configurations with classical decentralized controllers are presented. The work aims to improve the performance of a tilt controller based only upon local vehicle measurements by integrating the lateral active secondary suspension with the roll (tilt actuator). The effectiveness of the integrated control is illustrated via simulations and comparisons with previous modified nulling tilting control as well as the commercial precedence equivalent.


Negotiations among leaders were compared with negotiations among delegates in order to investigate the effect of role in the reference group on intergroup bargaining behavior. The negotiations of ten groups of leaders and ten groups of delegates matched on initial positions were examined. Because of their greater flexibility and authority, leaders were expected to spend less time negotiating and have fewer deadlocks than delegates. Neither of these hypotheses was supported. Leaders and delegates, however, were found to resolve their conflicts in different ways. While delegates more often reached agreement through compromise, leaders were more likely to choose one party's position. Thus, delegates tended to converge upon the average of their initial positions while leaders showed a significant change in the risky direction. Leaders' and delegates' reactions to their negotiations were also analyzed. In general, the results suggested that leaders can be influenced more by other leaders than delegates can by other delegates.


The author reports a patient, treated with tranylcipromine as antidepressant (a MAO inhibitor), who underwent an operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm. The antidepressant was stopped five days only, for neurological problems. The anesthesia was a combination among general anesthesia (Diprivan and Tracrium), epidural anaesthesia (lidocaine and clonidine) and electro-acupuncture. The cardio-circulatory, ventilatory and metabolic parameters were very stable both in the perioperative and in the postoperative period.


Objectives To investigate the predictive value of synovitis detected by Doppler ultrasound (DUS) in relation to successful tapering of BT in RA patients in sustained clinical remission. Methods Seventy-seven RA patients (52 women, 25 men) treated with BT were prospectively recruited from the Biologic Therapy Unit of our hospital. Inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) being in treatment with stable doses of BT and synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the previous 12 months; 2) being in sustained clinical remission judged by their usual consultant rheumatologist and according to Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) or Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) criteria in the previous 12 months; 3) being in treatment with ≤5 mg/day of prednisone in the previous 6 months; 4) having needed neither nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for more than 1 week nor local corticosteroid injections in the previous 6 months. BT was tapered at baseline according to an agreed strategy implemented in clinical practice (i.e. increasing the interval between doses for subcutaneous BT and reducing the dose for intravenous BT). Patients underwent clinical and laboratory assessment every 3 months. DUS investigation of 42 joints for the presence and grade (0-3) of B-mode synovitis and synovial power Doppler (PD) signal (i.e. Doppler synovitis) was performed at baseline by a rheumatologist blinded to therapy, clinical and laboratory data. A global index for B-mode synovitis (BSI) and a global index for Doppler synovitis (DSI) were calculated. Hand and foot radiographs were obtained at baseline and at 12-month followup. BT tapering failure was assessed at 6 and 12 months. BT tapering failure was defined as an increase in BT doses by their usual consultant rheumatologist and/or the presence of clinical disease activity according to both DAS28 and SDAI criteria. Results Twenty-three (29.9%) patients were treated with adalimumab, 21 (27.3%) with etanercept, 18 (23.4%) with infliximab, 7 (9.1%) with tocilizumab, 6 (7.8%) with abatacept, and 2 (2.6%) with golimumab. Thirty-five (45.5%) patients presented tapering failure at 12 months, 23 (29.9%) of them before 6 months of BT tapering. Longer duration of RA (p=0.009), higher number of previous synthetic DMARDs (p=0.003), higher DAS28 at baseline (p=0.011), higher SDAI at baseline (p=0.003), higher DSI at baseline (p<0.0005) and DSI >0 at baseline (p<0.0005) were associated with BT tapering failure at 12 months. Longer duration of RA (p=0.020), higher number of synthetic DMARDs (p=0.049), higher DAS28 at baseline (p=0.002), higher SDAI at baseline (p=0.003), higher DSI at baseline (p<0.0005) and DSI >0 at baseline (p<0.0005) were associated with TB tapering failure at 6 months. No patient showed radiographic progression. Conclusions Our results suggested that the presence and grade of Doppler-detected synovitis may predict BT tapering failure in RA patients in sustained clinical remission. Disclosure of Interest : E. Naredo Grant/research support: UCB and MSD, Consultant for: Abbvie, Roche Farma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, UCB, General Electric Healthcare, and Esaote, L. Valor: None declared, I. De la Torre: None declared, M. Montoro: None declared, N. Bello: None declared, J. Martínez-Barrio: None declared, L. Martínez-Estupiñán: None declared, J. C. Nieto: None declared, J. G. Ovalles-Bonilla: None declared, D. Hernández: None declared, C. M. González: None declared, J. Lόpez-Longo: None declared, I. Monteagudo Consultant for: Abbvie, Roche Farma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, UCB, L. Carreño: None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.3013


A key goal of software engineering research is to improve the environments, tools, languages, and techniques programmers use to efficiently create quality software. Successfully designing these tools and demonstrating their effectiveness involves engaging with tool users—software engineers. Researchers often want to conduct user studies of software engineers to collect direct evidence. However, running user studies can be difficult, and researchers may lack solution strategies to overcome the barriers, so they may avoid user studies. To understand the challenges researchers face when conducting programmer user studies, we interviewed 26 researchers. Based on the analysis of interview data, we contribute (i) a taxonomy of 18 barriers researchers encounter; (ii) 23 solution strategies some researchers use to address 8 of the 18 barriers in their own studies; and (iii) 4 design ideas, which we adapted from the behavioral science community, that may lower 8 additional barriers. To validate the design ideas, we held an in-person all-day focus group with 16 researchers.


This thesis provides empirical studies on important issues concerning child labour in
 developing countries. It aims at contributing to the literature on (1) the impact of
 poverty on the prevalence of child labour, (2) the effect of child labour prevalence on
 the rate of school enrolment and (3) the child labour impact on the economic growth.
 These objectives were achieved using both Difference generalised method of moments
 (D-GMM) and system generalised method of moments (S-GMM) estimators. The first
 objective evaluate the extent to which poverty of parents explains the prevalence of
 child labour in 55 developing countries and found that poverty is positively related to
 child labour prevalence in selected developing countries. This is an indication that
 increase in the level of household's poverty tends to stimulate the extent of children
 participation in employment prematurely in the countries selected for the study. The
 second objective examined the impact of child labour on school enrolment as an
 important yardstick determining human capital development in 57 developing
 countries. The finding indicated that children participation in labour activities, results
 to decrease in the rate of their enrolment in schools, an action which consequently
 affects human capital development in the affected countries. Lastly, the third objective
 assess the influence of child labour in stimulating economic growth of 56 developing
 countries. Existence of an inverted U shape relation i.e. 'growth child labour Kuznets'
 curve was established between child labour and economic growth. This signifies that
 at the initial level of development of the countries studied, increase in child labour
 prevalence up to about 1.273 percent tends to positively stimulates growth of the
 selected developing countries. However any further increase in child labour
 prevalence beyond the threshold value of 1.273 percent, eventually leads to a decrease
 in the economic growth of the sample countries. The selection of sample countries to
 achieve the three objectives was based on the evidence of the existence of child labour
 in the developing countries studied and the study period was from 2009 to 2013. It
 was recommended that policies and programmes aimed at poverty alleviation should
 be pursued vigorously by governments of the developing countries so as to deter the
 chances of parent engaging their children in child labour. Similarly, flexible school system should be encourage to allow children some liberty to engage in works
 particularly after school hours or during holidays. This will in a away leads to
 improvement in the rate at which children enrolled in schools, so as to provide
 necessary improvement in human capital development which is seen as a necessary
 stimulant of economic growth. Lastly, governments of developing countries should
 strive to ensure that child labour prevalence did not exceed the threshold level, as this
 could impede their economic growth.


PurposeIn the African context, the threat of the disruption of traditional business value-creation processes, currently facilitated by the growing information technology (IT) ecosystem, came with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on interfirm relationships within the context of the digital ecosystem in Africa.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs an explanatory–exploratory qualitative approach from an interpretivist stance to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on interfirm relationships. The authors conducted seven in-depth interviews with top management executives in a Nigerian technology company, together with the company's archival data that provided the pre, during and post pandemic (2018–2021) business-to-business (B2B) relationship structures, to determine how these relationships have been affected.FindingsThe results suggest that the pandemic had a minimal effect on partnership relationships in the B2B ecosystems of the case company but affected only non-partnership relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors' qualitative study is interpretive and the sample size is limited. Hence, there is a need for caution in generalizing the findings. The framework can be further validated across a wider population.Practical implicationsPartnerships can help organizations weather business crises. Consequently, organizations should maintain a healthy number of partnership relations to deal with periods in which challenges emerge in the business landscape. In other words, with tight contracts and a strategic focus on goals and objectives, partnership relations can help organizations weather business crises.Originality/valueThis study builds upon the burgeoning body of literature on digital ecosystems within the African context, which is a relevant contextual contribution.


Fully two-dimensional gamma-ray imaging with simultaneous high-resolution spectroscopy using an externally segmented germanium sensor has been demonstrated in the laboratory with a calibrated radioactive source. The system employs a single high-purity coaxial detector with its outer electrode segmented into five distinct charge collection regions and a lead coded aperture, with a uniformly redundant array (URA) pattern. A series of one-dimensional responses was collected around 511 keV while the system was rotated in steps through 180/spl deg/. A nonnegative, linear least-squares algorithm was then employed to reconstruct a two-dimensional image. Corrections for multiple scattering in the detector, and the finite distance of source and detector are made in the reconstruction process. >


The problem of aggressive behavior of adolescents remains unresolved, and arouses great interest among psychologists, sociologists, criminologists. This is confirmed by a large number of articles and reports devoted to this problem, which appear annually in collections of scientific conferences. However, despite excessive quantity of theoretical literature devoted to adolescent psychology, there is a significant gap between theory and practice. The article attempts to move the problem of aggressive behavior of adolescents beyond individual external (social) and internal (characterological) factors to the global personological level and to consider it in the aspect of self-identity problems.


Olive leaf extract (OLE) has been increasingly recognized as a natural and effective antimicrobial against a host of foodborne pathogens. This study attempts to predict the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of OLE against Listeria monocytogenes F2365 by utilizing the asymptotic deceleration point (PDA) in a logistic model (LM), namely MIC-PDA. The experimental data obtained from the inhibitory rate (IR) versus OLE concentration against L. monocytogenes were sufficiently fitted (R2 = 0.88957). Five significant critical points were derived by taking the multi-order derivatives of the LM function: the inflection point (PI), the maximum acceleration point (PAM), the maximum deceleration point (PDM), the absolute acceleration point (PAA), and the asymptotic deceleration point (PDA). The PDA ([OLE] = 37.055 mg/mL) was employed to approximate the MIC-PDA. This MIC value was decreased by over 42% compared to the experimental MIC of 64.0 mg/mL, obtained using the conventional 2-fold dilution method (i.e., MIC-2fold). The accuracy of MIC-PDA was evaluated by an in vitro L. monocytogenes growth inhibition assay. Finally, the logistic modeling method was independently validated using our previously published inhibition data of OLE against the growths of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enteritidis. The MIC-PDA (for [OLE]) values were estimated to be 41.083 and 35.313 mg/mL, respectively, compared to the experimental value of 62.5 mg/mL. Taken together, MIC-PDA, as estimated from the logistic modeling, holds the potential to shorten the time and reduce cost when OLE is used as an antimicrobial in the food industry.


BACKGROUND
The objective of this study is to determine age-specific PSA reference ranges in Japanese healthy men and investigate the effectiveness of these ranges as the cut-off values in the mas screening for prostatic cancer.

METHODS
The study included a total of 5,206 male aged from 55 to 89 years old who wished to submit the mass screening for prostatic cancer in an urban area of Kyoto in 1995-1997, but had no evident prostatic cancer. We measured serum PSA levels by the filter paper method (Delfia PSA kit).

RESULTS
We found the increase in serum PSA levels with the advancing age. With the 95th percentile for serum PSA as the upper limit, the age-specific PSA reference ranges were determined to be 2.1 ng/ml for patients aged 55 to 59 years old, 3.2 ng/ml for 60 to 69 years old, 4.4 ng/ml for 70 to 79 years old, 6.5 ng/ml for 80 to 89 years old. If we used these ranges as the cut-off values in the mass screening this time, five cases from 76 to 89 years old of prostatic cancer were overlooked.

CONCLUSIONS
We found the increase in serum PSA levels with advancing age. But the positive proof of using this range to a mass screening for prostatic cancer was not certified, because time incidence of prostatic cancer in the examinees was uncertain and there is a possibility of overlooking some cases.


In this work, we learn jointly how to sense and reconstruct a class of signals such as images through a deep learning structure within the compressive sensing (CS) framework. We develop a data driven approach and learn both the measurement matrix and the inverse reconstruction scheme instead of utilizing random linear projections as measurements and reconstruction via convex optimization with a given known sparsity in conventional CS framework. To achieve this goal, we have designed an end to end deep neural network structure consisting of fully connected layers with cascaded convolutional layers to be trained and tested over a publicly available image dataset. Results show that the proposed technique provides higher peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) levels and hence learns better measurement matrices than that of the randomly selected or specifically designed for a known sparsity basis to reduce average coherence. The reconstruction performance on the test dataset also gets better as more train samples are utilized. We also observe that the learned measurement matrices achieve higher PSNR compared to random or designed cases when they are used in l 1 based recovery. Proposed reconstruction scheme has much less computational complexity compared to l 1 minimization based reconstruction with comparable results.


In most reported cases, a posterior approach to the cervical spine was used to remove an endodermal cyst or to place a shunt for cyst drainage. The authors performed partial excision, shunt insertion, and anterior spinal fusion in a patient with endodermal cyst of the cervical spine. Symptoms resolved after surgery and magnetic resonance images indicated morphologic restoration of the spinal cord.


In this paper, several classes of parallel, synchronous adders are surveyed based on their power, delay and area characteristics. The adders studied include the linear time ripple carry and Manchester carry chain adders, the square-root time carry skip and carry select adders, the logarithmic time carry lookahead adder and its variations, and the constant time signed-digit and carry-save adders. Most of the research in the last few decades has concentrated on reducing the delay of addition. With the rising popularity of portable computers, however, the emphasis is on both high speed and low power operation. In this paper we adopt a uniform static CMOS layout methodology whereby short circuit power mininization is used as the optimization criterion. The relative merits of the different adders are evaluated by performing a detailed transistor-level simulation of the adders using HSPICE. Among the two's complement adders, a variation of the carry lookahead adder, called ELM, was found to have the best power-delay product. Based on the results of our experiments, a large adder design space is formulated from which an architect can choose an adder with the desired characteristics.


In many cases it is possible to identify the sources from which Jan de Bisschop copied his Italianate landscapes and town views. A Map of Rome, drawn by Jan de Bisschop and engraved by J. Lamsvelt (fig. i), is likewise based on an earlier example, Matteo Gregorio De Rossi's map of I668. One of the items in the exhibition devoted to Jan de Bisschop at the Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam, from December I9 I992 to February 28 I993, was a Panorama of Rome from the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York (fig. 3). The author, Michiel Plomp, asserts that Jan de Bisschop based this work on the Panorama of Rome by Theodoor Matham, who was active in Rome between I633 and I637. Hitherto only two sections of Matham's panorama were known in the Print Room of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (figs.4a and b). For a proper comparison of the two panoramas, Matham's third, right-hand section showing a View of Castel S. Angelo and S. Pietro, should be taken into consideration (figs.2 and 4c). This drawing is kept in the Kennemerland Archive Office at Haarlem. Matham's panorama can be dated to I637-I645, after his return to Amsterdam. In the catalogue of the sale of the Neyman collection planned for late June I776 in Paris, the three sections of Matham's panorama are still listed as a single lot. Compositionally, the two panoramas are very similar. Both extend from the Villa Medici to S. Pietro, and both are seen from two different viewpoints north of the Porta del Popolo. However, a few differences can also be observed. Some of the topographical elements are more distinct in Jan de Bisschop's panorama than in Matham's: the shape of Bernini's belfry, the position of the Obelisco Flaminio on the Piazza del Popolo, and the course of the Tiber. It is therefore highly unlikely that Jan de Bisschop based his panorama on the sections of Theodoor Matham's in Amsterdam and Haarlem. Did Jan de Bisschop perhaps consult Matham's preliminary, on-the-spot sketches? Or are we to assume that a third draughtsman is involved, and that both Matham and De Bisschop based their panoramas on his work?


This paper presents an overview on the wide-ranging track structure studies at the Tampere University of Technology (TUT), Finland dealing with the key aspects of track geotechnics related to high-speed passenger traffic on ballasted tracks. Special attention is paid to ballast and sub-ballast, while also considering frost action, embankment stability, track stiffness, track geometry and transition zones. As a result, this paper states that understanding the ballast degradation mechanism and its consequences and assessment of its condition occupy an important role in the construction and maintenance of a smooth high-speed rail line. The choices related to building the sub-ballast also have a dramatic impact on later track deformations and maintenance needs. In cold climate, especially where seasonal frost occurs, understanding and taking into account the frost action mechanism is crucial. Especially in the maintenance and rehabilitation planning of existing tracks, high-class analyses of ground penetrating radar data and its integrated analysis with other data can yield considerable benefits.


The method of the antennas near field amplitude-phase distribution (APD) measurements accuracy improvement using a linear probe is examined. It is suggested to use linear phased antenna array (PAA) with discrete-commutation phase-shifter (PS) as a probe. For the exception of phasing errors influence on the measurement accuracy of the equivalent APD it is offered to average out the results of near field measurements by the reference phase constant (identical for all elements of probe) and to take into account this phase at the measurement results treatment.


A substantial part of Ethiopia's surface is covered by volcanic rocks ranging in age from 30 Ma to the present day though a significant volume of volcanic rocks as old as 45 Ma are also found in southern part of the country. These volcanic rocks have yielded fertile soils, which are the richest farmlands in Ethiopia. The volcanic terrains provide magnificent landscapes, which are a natural sanctuary of the country. Ethiopia is a country prone to volcanic eruptions. Yet the actual eruptive processes are catastrophic and can claim life and property. This paper documents the activity that preceded the 2005 eruptions in Afar and discusses them as potential volcanic forecast tools that can serve to raise public awareness of the volcanism.


Abstract Introduction Obesity contributes to the pathogenesis of diverse metabolic diseases, yet the mechanism underlying metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) remains elusive. Thyroid hormones and sensitivity to them have a major impact on metabolism. Our study aimed to investigate the association between MHO and thyroid hormone sensitivity. Methods Thyroid hormone indices, including the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) index (TSHI), the Thyrotroph Thyroxine Sensitivity Index (TTSI), the Thyroid Feedback Quantile-Based Index (TFQI), and the Parametric Thyroid Feedback Quantile-Based Index (PTFQI), were calculated based on a non-institutionalized US sample in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2007–2012). Participants were divided into four groups (metabolically healthy non-obesity [MHNO], metabolically unhealthy non-obesity [MUNO], MHO, and metabolically unhealthy obesity [MUO]) according to their body mass index and metabolic profiles. Linear regression, logistic regression, and restricted cubic splines were employed to analyze the association between thyroid hormone indices and metabolic phenotypes. Results A total of 4,857 participants (49.6% men; mean age, 42.6 years) were included, with 1,539 having obesity and 235 identified as MHO. Participants in the MHO group exhibited lower levels of TSH, TSHI, TTSI, TFQI, and PTFQI compared with the MHNO group (all p < 0.05), while the differences among MHNO, MUNO, and MUO groups were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). Among participants with obesity, TSH, TSHI, TTSI, TFQI, and PTFQI were positively associated with metabolic abnormality (all p < 0.05). Conclusion Participants with MHO exhibited higher thyroid hormone sensitivity among various obesity phenotypes, even when compared with those with MHNO. A positive association was observed between metabolic abnormality and thyroid hormone sensitivity, while the trend of TSH was observed to be consistent with sensitivity to thyroid hormone indices in discriminating metabolic abnormality. Hence, TSH has the potential to serve as a convenient index for detecting sensitivity to thyroid hormones and further metabolic conditions.


Discloses a variety of biological activities graft and its manufacturing method. In one embodiment, the bone material is harvested from a donor. The harvested bone material is exposed to a lysing agent, dissolving agent is constructed to release of growth factors and biologically active bone material from the cellular material of the harvested material. Subsequently, harvested bone material rinsed with the rinsing agent. pH harvested bone material may be substantially neutralized.


Since mumps virus seems to be one of the most likely candidates in viral etiology of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) we studied the possible relationship of glucose tolerance (75 g oGTT), beta cell function, diabetes associated HLA antigens, haptoglobin phenotype, islet cell antibodies (ICA) and islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA) in 125 subjects with antecedent mumps infection. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was diagnosed in 3.2% (n = 4) but onset of diabetes did not appear within 14 months after mumps infection. There was no relationship between glucose tolerance and complications of antecedent mumps infection (e.g. pancreatitis, meningitis, orchitis). The prevalence rate of ICA was 76%. ICSA were detectable in about 36% of children and 62% of the adults tested (p less than 0.01). There was no relationship between ICA/ICSA and diabetes-associated HLA antigens, haptoglobin phenotype or beta cell function (fasting C-peptide and insulin response to 75 g oGTT). However, adults with circulating ICA were characterized by a significantly lower insulin response to glucose. Fifty two "risk" subjects characterized by IGT, diabetes associated HLA antigen(s), ICA or ICSA either alone or combined were studied again 26 months after mumps infection. No symptomatic diabetes appeared and IGT was diagnosed in one case only. ICA and ICSA persisted in more than 50% of subjects in whom ICA or ICSA were present 14 months after mumps infection. Since the used immunological techniques do not clearly distinguish organ-specific from non-organ-specific antibodies the results must be interpreted with caution. To summarize, the preliminary results do not support a close temporal relationship between mumps infection and the onset of IDDM. The pathogenetic role of mumps virus and ICA/ICSA and their possible relation to a slow progressive beta cell destruction has still to be determined.


The behaviour of queues in ENT out-patients has been simulated by a computer program. This allowed various appointment systems to be studied and improved to allow a smooth flow of patients through the clinic, in such a way that the idle time of the clinic staff is reduced without increasing patient waiting times.


The results of a study conducted in India to determine the R&D manpower requirements toward the end of the century in for the country's chemical industries are presented. For 1981-1987 data, projections are made for short-term and long-term manpower requirements. To account for environmental changes, variable parameter regression is used for ten years and exponential smoothing is used for subsequent years. The explanatory variables for the manpower requirements are established and are partitioned into time-dependent and time-independent variables. >


This paper discusses the analysis and modelling of a control network organisation for telecommunication battery management. The battery network is managed by distributed control nodes that communicate through the local CAN network. The proposed management solution addresses the issues of local area network limitations, the distribution of intelligence at the process level, integration between the local and wide area networks and transparency between the process and user levels. Analysis of the system is crucial in estimating the capacity of the network. The key criteria of the simulation model organisation and model block design are well defined. Modelling and simulation of the proposed architecture reflects the potential capacity for managing battery requirements and network traffic.


Background : A survival benefit was observed in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients that underwent operation. But no evidence to support whether lobectomy would further prolong these patients' live than sub-lobar resection.Methods: Patients that underwent primary tumor resection with metastatic NSCLC were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and then divided into lobectomy and sub-lobar resection groups. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance characters. Cancer specific survival (CSS) was estimated.Results: A total of 24,268 patients with metastatic NSCLC were identified; 4,114 (16.95%) received primary tumor surgery, of which 2,045 (49.71%) underwent lobectomy and 1,766 (42.93%) underwent sub-lobar resection. After PSM, 644 patients in each group were included. Lobectomy was independently correlated with longer median CSS time (HR=0.70, 95% CI 0.61-0.80, P<0.001). The 1, 2 and 3-year survival rate after PSM also favored the lobectomy group. However, no significant survival difference was found in wedge resection and segmentectomy (HR=0.96, 95% CI 0.70-1.31, P=0.490). The 1, 2 and 3-year survival rate after PSM also showed no difference within the sub-lobar group. We explore whether lymph node dissection would provide a further survival benefit for stage IV NSCLC patients. According to the multivariate Cox analysis of the matched population, lymph node dissection was independently associated with better CSS (HR=0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.88, P<0.001) and OS (HR=0.74, 95% CI 0.65-0.86, P<0.001). We confirmed this result in different types of surgery and found lymph node dissection group persist to have better survival outcomes both in lobectomy group and sub-lobar resection population. According to subgroup analysis, except for stage T4 and brain metastasis patients, all subtype of patients would benefit more from lobectomy than sub-lobar resection.Conclusions: Lobectomy brings survival benefit in metastatic NSCLC patients compared with sub-lobar resection.


The extraction of triglycerides (TG) by the working forearm was determined in eight healthy fasting men, both by the measurement of chemical arterial-deep venous (a-dv) TG differences and by the a-dv differences in TG radioactivity after endogenous labeling with tritiated palmitate. Measurements were made before and then during nicotinic acid infusion. Correction for plasma water shift in the forearm vasculature was made by estimating the (125I)albumin activity after an intravenous injection. The overall mean value +/- S.E.M. without and with nicotinic acid was for TG arterial concentration (mumol/1) 713 +/- 153 and 695 +/- 140, TG a-dv concentration difference (mumol/1)-14 +/- 7 and -6 +/- 4, TG arterial radioactivity (cpm/ml) 1650 +/- 469 and 1471 +/- 342, TG a-dv radioactivity difference 12 +/- 24 and -2 +/- 13. The average standard errors for the determinations of triglycerides were 0.85% and 1.5% for the chemical and the isotope methods, respectively. In conclusion, no significant average a-dv difference in TG concentration as determined by either the chemical or the isotope method was detected. With the standard errors achieved, however, a-dv differences of less than around 20 mumol/lcould not be discovered. Such an extraction of endogenous plasma TG could, if oxidized, account for about 25% of the oxygen extraction by the eercising forearm.


We retrospectively examined the cases of renal tumors experienced between 1993 and 2002 to evaluate the rates of incidence and preoperative identification by imaging techniques, mainly CT, of retroperitoneal venous abnormalities. Among a total of 178 renal cell carcinomas and 13 renal benign tumors, the incidence of multiplicity of renal veins was 5.3%, restricted to operatively confirmed cases (9 out of 170 cases). None of these multiplicities could be detected by preoperative radiological examinations. Other major venous abnormalities included duplications of inferior vena cava and retroaortic left renal vein and spontaneous splenorenal shunt which were all correctly diagnosed preoperatively. The incidence of these abnormalities was 0.52% (1 out of 191 cases for each). A retroperitoneal venous anomaly is common, but urologists must have sufficient knowledge about acquired retroperitoneal venous abnormalities, which seem rather uncommon, to be prepared for the potential hazards which may occur during urological operations.


Makhana is a seed produced from an aquatic crop, which is normally grown in water bodies like ponds. In traditional way of harvesting, a worker goes deep into the bottom surface of pond, lies down, hold his breath and drag the mud with both hands towards the bamboo pole called "Khara" which is later sieved with bamboo screen called "Ganjaa". During this operation mud enters into the worker's ears, eyes, nose and mouth. Also, the workers get affected from skin related diseases due to unhygienic working environment. Therefore, an intervention was made and an improved system was developed. The improved system consists of a floating platform supported by 10 letre cylinder having compressed breathing air, 10 m hose pipe with regulator and a mini diving suit with cap, mask and content gauge. A comparative study was made for both traditional system (T1) as well as improved system (T2) for harvesting Makhana seeds from ponds. The results indicated that the average output was only 3.8 kg/h T1 system whereas it was 11.3 kg/ha with T2 system. The ODR was 8.3 in case of T1 system whereas it was 4.2 in case of T2 system. Also, the BPDS was higher with T1 (78.8) system as compared to T2 (48.2) system. The harvesting of Makhana seeds using the improved system involve less drudgery in comparison to traditional system with significantly higher work output.


PD-L1 is a ligand for PD-1 and its expression has been shown to be upregulated in neutrophils harvested from septic patients. However, the effect of PD-L1 on neutrophil survival and sepsis-induced lung injury remains largely unknown. Here we show PD-L1 expression negatively correlates with rates of apoptosis in human neutrophils harvested from patients with sepsis. Using co-immunoprecipitation assays on control neutrophils challenged with IFN-γ and LPS, we show PD-L1 complexes with the p85 subunit of PI3-K to activate AKT-dependent survival signaling. Conditional CRE/LoxP deletion of neutrophil PD-L1 in vivo further protected against lung injury and reduced neutrophil lung infiltration in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) experimental sepsis animal model. Compared to wild-type animals, PD-L1-deficient animals presented lower plasma levels of plasma TNF-α and IL-6 and higher IL-10 following CLP, and reduced seven-day mortality in CLP PD-L1 knockout animals. Taken together, our data suggest that increased PD-L1 expression on human neutrophils delays cellular apoptosis by triggering PI-3K-dependent AKT phosphorylation to drive lung injury and increase mortality during clinical and experimental sepsis.


Thermal finite element models are used to simulate the temperature distribution of a body under a certain set of boundary conditions. When short calculation times are necessary (i.e., for parametric study, active control loops, temperature monitoring algorithms, etc.) detailed FE models cannot be used and reduced-order models must be developed. Reduced-order models may have both generalized and physical degrees of freedom (dofs), according to the scope of the reduction. The use of generalized dofs is more suitable to simulate full-field temperature distribution of the body, while inclusion of physical dofs can be advantageous when temperature must be only computed at a small number of locations. In this paper a new reduction technique is proposed for applications where only a small set of temperatures must be computed; it is based on the Guyan reduction method and overcomes the limitations of the original Guyan reduction when applied to thermal models with a fluid network, characterized by non-symmetric matrices. The new technique is applied to a case study, consisting of a dummy turbine disk and its secondary air system in order to show the improvement with respect to the original Guyan approach.


The inverse problem of fluorescence diffusse optical tomography (FDOT) is often highly ill-posed, which needs regularization techniques. In this paper, we propose a combined l1-l2-norm regularization method to address the ill-posed FDOT inverse problem. Compared with the traditional Tikhonov regularization, the proposed method is able to effectively remove the noise in the reconstructed image without much over-smoothness. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated in 3D numerical simulation.


ABSTRACT Through empirical research on academics and veterinary surgeons, this article focuses on identity and how it is reflected in, and reproduced by, anxiety and insecurity at work. Three analytical themes – perfection, performativity and commodified service – each of which generates anxiety indicates a loss of autonomy as academics and vets are subjected to competitive market forces as well as an intensification of masculine managerial controls of assessment, audit and accountability. We see these pressures and their effects as reflecting a commodification of service provision where the consumer (student or client) begins to redefine the relationship between those offering some expertise and those who are its recipients, partly achieved through the performative gaze of constant and visible rating mechanisms. Our empirical research also identifies sources of anxiety concerns in their attempts to achieve perfection against this background of uncertain knowledge and precarious contexts of the performative nature of professional expertise.


The basic physical aspects of atoms and isotopes, as well as the physical and chemical processes responsible for variations in isotopic ratios are overviewed. The major techniques in current use for isotope ratio measurements are stable isotope mass spectrometry (MS), noble gas MS, thermal ionization MS, inductively coupled plasma MS, secondary ion MS, and accelerator MS. The types of ion sources suitable for use in isotope ratio MS are electron ionization for gases, thermal ionization for non-volatile elements, inductively coupled plasma ionization for the majority of elements, and sputtering ionization by means of a high energy positive or negative ion beam for solid target elements. A variety of ion detection methods using a Faraday cup, a Daly collector system, and an ion counting system with a secondary electron multiplier are capable of covering a wide dynamic range of ion beam intensity, from ∼10-8 to ‹10-19 A. Methods used for data processing and for evaluating the reliability of data for the isotope ratios that are obtained using MS are described.


The notion of argumentation and the one of belief stand in a problematic relation to one another. On the one hand, argumentation is crucial for belief formation: as the outcome of a process of arguing, an agent might come to (justifiably) believe that something is the case. On the other hand, beliefs are an input for argument evaluation: arguments with believed premisses are to be considered as strictly stronger by the agent to arguments whose premisses are not believed. An awareness epistemic logic that captures qualified versions of both principles was recently proposed in the literature. This paper extends that logic in three different directions. First, we try to improve its conceptual grounds, by depicting its philosophical foundations, critically discussing some of its design choices and exploring further possibilities. Second, we provide a (heretofore missing) completeness theorem for the basic fragment of the logic. Third, we study, using techniques from dynamic epistemic logic, how different forms of information change can be captured in the framework.


The purpose of this study is to clarify the neck injury mechanism during low speed rear impact. Low speed rear impact tests on human volunteers were conducted using a mini-sled apparatus with a mass production car seat. Head/neck/torso behavior and cervical vertebral motion were analyzed and strains on the cervical facet joint were determined. The effect of differences on gender, seat back angle, sled acceleration and muscle condition to the head/neck/torso behavior and the cervical vertebral motion were also discussed. Moreover, the risk of neck injury in a mass production car seat environment was evaluated by comparing the strain values to the results from a previously reported test that used a rigid seat environment. For the covering abstract see ITRD E141762.


Summary. A method has been developed for the simultaneous isolation of spermatozoa and cytoplasmic droplets from bull, boar and ram semen. The glycolytic enzymes, hexokinase (HK), glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were demonstrated in both types of particle: on a per particle basis compared with spermatozoa, droplets contained similar quantities of GPI, less HK and only one-tenth the amount of LDH. The HK was partly bound while the GPI was entirely soluble in both. The LDH was partly bound in spermatozoa but soluble in droplets. Suspensions of spermatozoa and cytoplasmic droplets were subjected to sudden cooling, freezing or hypo-osmotic shock, and leakage of GPI, HK and LDH into the extracellular medium was measured. Both spermatozoa and droplets released glycolytic enzymes during the treatments, but the droplets were more fragile than the spermatozoa. The proportion ofloss varied between enzymes, as well as between droplet and spermatozoon; considerable GPI and little HK was released from both, whereas much LDH was lost from droplets but hardly any from spermatozoa. The activities of these three glycolytic enzymes were also measured in seminal plasma from bull, boar and ram. The ratios of the activities found were compared with those in droplets or spermatozoa from the same species. It is suggested that much of the glycolytic enzyme activity in seminal plasma arises from disintegrated cytoplasmic droplets rather than from spermatozoa.


Sub-acutesclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is chronic encephalitis of childhood and young adolescents due to persistent measles virus infection of the central nervous system. In majority of cases, onset occurs from 5-15yrs of age. In a non-immunise population, the average onset is 8yrs.SSPE generally occurs 510years after measles infection. In the early stage of the disease, behaviour and personality changes is followed by myoclonic jerks and convulsion. In late stages dementia, stupor and coma develops. Diagnosis is achieved by typical clinical finding, increase measles antibody titre in cerebrospinal fluid and serum, high amplitude slow sharp waves in EEG. Prognosis is poor and death ensues in about 3 yrs. after the diagnosis.Atypical form of SSPE occurs in about 10% of patients and a high index of suspicion is needed to detect these atypical cases. We report a patient of SSPE who presented to us as ADEM. Effectiveimmunisation against measles is the only solutionpresently available to the problem of this dreadeddisease.


-Bi2O3 is the thermodynamically stable phase of Bi2O3 at room temperature. We have performed a theoretical and experimental investigation of its electronic structure using a combination of gradient corrected density functional theory DFT , along with x-ray photoemission and O-K shell x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies. We examine the nature of bonding in -Bi2O3 and in particular explore the nature of the stereochemically active Bi electron lone pair. The Bi 6s states are found to be concentrated at the bottom of the valence band but the states contributing to the lone pair on Bi are derived from the top of the valence band. Mixing between O 2p and Bi 6s states is found to be crucial in producing the asymmetric density on Bi. The role of the lone pair in the fast ion conductor -Bi2O3 is also investigated, through calculation of the electronic structure with 100 , 110 , and 111 alignment of oxygen vacancies. Alignment of the vacancies along 100 results in the most energetically favorable configuration of the phase, contrary to previous force field calculations and electrostatic arguments which favor the 111 alignment.


Family care givers providing a major portion of care giving often experience stress related to the negative consequences for their health. Female care givers often more heavily involved care giving activities than males. Care givers' gender studies have seldom conducted in Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of demographic factors and coping on health of female care givers of older adults with dementia in Taiwan. In addition, whether coping mediated or moderated the relationship between stress and care giver's health was also examined. Lazarus and Folkman's Stress model guided this study. Using a secondary data analysis method, this study examined data collected from the family care givers of older adults with dementia (2002). One hundred and three female care givers were analyzed by applying Pearson correlation, simple and multiple regression analysis. The findings showed care givers who are younger, more income, and with helpers had better health. Care givers who had less income, without helpers, and caring for care recipients with more behavioral problems had more depressive symptoms. In addition, mediating effect of avoidance coping was supported in this study. The data analysis from this study will provide a basis for nurses to develop interventions that minimize the negative impacts on female care givers.


Statistical, Gradient, Block and Graft Copolymers by Controlled/Living Radical Polymerizations Kelly A. Davis 2007-11-02 The design and the realisation of well defined polymer architectures has become an important goal in macromolecular science. The prerequisite for achieving this goal is the availability of controlled polymerisation reactions. Living anionic polymerisation was the first reaction fulfilling these requirements. Cationic polymerisation only came into play when it was realised that it was possible to create an equilibrium between active and dormant species with the fraction of the dormant species being far superior to that of active ones. A corresponding principle applies to controlled radical polymerisation per formed in quite a number of modes such as nitroxide mediated polymerisation (NMP), atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP), reversible addition frag mentation chain transfer (RAFT) or catalytic chain transfer (CCT) reactions. All of these variants of controlled radical polymerisation lead to well defined archi tectures with the particular advantage that a much larger number of monomers are suitable and the reaction conditions are much less demanding than those of living ionic polymerisation reactions. Although in controlled radical polymerisation, termination reactions cannot be excluded completely, they are limited in their extent and consequently the mol ecular weight is controlled, the polydispersity index is small and functionalities can be attached to the macromolecules. These features are indicative of the real isation of well defined polymer architectures such as block copolymers, star shaped and comb shaped copolymers.


Abstract : Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in the United States. One major obstacle in the clinical management of the disease is the high incidence of recurrence after cytotoxic chemotherapy and the development of platinum resistance. Given the crucial importance to overcome chemotherapy resistance to platinum therapy, we hypothesize that miRNA profiling in EOC cell lines and surgical specimens with varying chemosensitivities will uncover a potential predictive fingerprint for individualized therapy, while further biological validation of these miRNAs signatures will allow for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to enhance chemosensitivity. Through mircoarray analysis of miRNAs differentially expressed in an in vitro model of acquired carboplatin resistance consisting of EOC cell lines sensitive to carboplatin, A2780, and its resistant variants, CP20 (moderately resistant) and CP70 (resistant), we identified a panel of miRNAs that correlate with carboplatin response. We uncovered four miRNAs (miR-23b, miR-132, miR-183 and miR-203) that are significantly upregulated in both platinum-resistant cell lines. Additionally, we have also correlated their expression with several clinical parameters in a cohort of ovarian tumor specimens from women diagnosed with stage III, grade 3, papillary serous adenocarcinoma all treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Through this analysis we found that miR-183 correlated with patient survival. The median survival for patients with high expression of miR-183 was 27.2 months versus 53.8 months for those who have low miR-183 expression. In summary, in the 5 months period which we had this grant we were able to validate the dysregulation of several miRNAs in platinum resistant cell lines as well as uncover a novel miRNA that correlates with ovarian cancer patient survival.


Body size is often assumed to determine how successful an individual can lead others with larger individuals being more likely to lead than smaller ones. However, direct evidence for such a relation is scarce. Furthermore, even if larger individuals are more likely to lead, body size correlates often with specific behavioral patterns (e.g., swimming capacity) and it is thus unclear whether larger individuals are more often followed than smaller ones because they are larger or because they behave in a certain way. To control for behavioral differences among differentially-sized leaders, we used biomimetic robotic fish – Robofish – of different sizes. Robofish is accepted as a conspecific by live guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and provides standardized behaviors irrespective of its size. We specifically asked whether larger leaders are preferentially followed when behavior is controlled for and whether the preferences of followers depend on their own body size or their risk taking behavior ('boldness'). We found that live guppies followed larger Robofish leaders closer than smaller ones and this pattern was independent of the followers' own body size as well as risk-taking behavior. This is the first study that shows a 'bigger is better' pattern in leadership in shoaling fish that is fully independent of behavioral differences between differentially-sized leaders and followers' own size and personality.


Intracellular pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, obtain iron from the host for their survival. Ferroportin 1 (FPN1; SLC40A1) is the sole iron exporter from mammalian cells and is expressed in the duodenum and macrophages. In the present study, we show that FPN1 mRNA levels in the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 are synergistically induced by treatment with live or γ‐irradiated M. tuberculosis and IFN‐γ. FPN1 mRNA levels were also induced by Mycobacterium avium and IFN‐γ in RAW264.7 cells and the mouse alveolar macrophage cell line AMJ2‐C8. Treatment of mouse resident peritoneal macrophages with M. tuberculosis and IFN‐γ resulted in a sixfold increase in FPN1 mRNA expression. In contrast, M. tuberculosis and IFN‐γ inhibited FPN1 mRNA expression in bone marrow‐derived macrophages and lung macrophages, which have high basal levels of FPN1 mRNA expression. Using confocal microscopy, FPN1 protein localized rapidly to M. tuberculosis phagosomes after infection in RAW264.7 macrophages. In RAW264.7 cells expressing wild‐type natural resistance‐associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1Gly169), FPN1 and Nramp1 partially colocalized in late endosomes/lysosomes prior to infection. After 2 h of infection, Nramp1 and FPN1 were present in M. tuberculosis phagosomes. Our studies provide evidence for transcriptional regulation of FPN1 by pathogenic mycobacteria and IFN‐γ, which is dependent on the macrophage type. The trafficking of FPN1 to the M. tuberculosis phagosome suggests that it is involved in regulating iron availability to the mycobacteria in this locale.


In a previous study, we have demonstrated that S-methylmethionine sulfonium (SMMS) confers wound-healing and photoprotective effects on the skin, suggesting that SMMS can be used as a cosmetic raw material. However, it has an unpleasant odor. Therefore, in the present study, we synthesized odor-free SMMS derivatives by eliminating dimethyl sulfide, which is the cause of the unpleasant odor and identified two derivatives that exhibited skin-protective effects: one derivative comprised (2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)-2-phenylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and the other comprised (2S,4R)-, (2S,4S)-, (2R,4R)-, and (2R,4S)-2-phenyl-1,3-thiazinane-4-carboxylic acid. We performed in vitro proliferation assays using human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) and an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The two SMMS derivatives were shown to increase hDF and HaCaT cell proliferation as well as improve their survival by protecting against ultraviolet exposure. Moreover, the derivatives regulated the expression of collagen type I and MMP mRNAs against ultraviolet exposure in hDFs, suggesting that these derivatives can be developed as cosmetic raw materials.


Sales is one of the activities undertaken by many people as a promising business field. Prediction of the number of items to be sold must be in accordance with stock at the store so that demand and sales can be fulfilled. Therefore, we need a system to find out the amount of stock of herbal products so they do not experience problems in determining stock in each month. By using the Fuzzy Mamdani method as an algorithm for solving the problem, and the criteria are changed in the form of weighting so that the system can do calculations that provide the speed of information in the form of a computerized system. The results of this study aim to apply the Mamdani fuzzy logic method in predicting the amount of herbal product stock based on sales data and the number of requests. Provides results in the form of information printed in a report containing order data for the number of subsequent stock orders


Hemoglobin Djelfa beta98 (FG 5) Val leads to Ala is a neutrally substituted unstable hemoglobin, exhibiting the same gross features as hemoglobin Köln beta98 (FG 5) Val leads to Met. In addition to the presence of a deheminized fraction, a heme saturated abnormal hemoglobin was visualized and isolated by high resolution electrofocusing. By functional studies of the fully heminized form, a slightly increased oxygen affinity, an impairment of heme-heme interaction and a decreased response to organic phosphates were demonstrated. These functional perturbations point out the importance of the beta98 invariant valyl residue, in the quaternary contacts. They can account for the poor oxygen delivery of erythrocytes.


doctrine, even in the inner circle of his disciples, is hardly p0ssible, for it is strongly Hellenistic in character, and rests on assumptions which are quite foreign to the Synoptic teaching. " He rightly denies that the apocalyptic background dominates the teaching of Christ and has some words about non-resistance. Prof. Scott holds that the appeal of the teaching of .Jesus is no longer because of the value of his Person and relation to God, but because of its own worth. But the Messianic claims of Jesus do not rest alone on the Fourth Gospel. They appear in the Synoptics and even in Q. A. T. ROBERTSON.


Black holes are the most compact objects in the Universe. According to general relativity, black holes have a horizon that hides a singularity where Einstein's theory breaks down. Recently, gravitational waves opened the possibility to probe the existence of horizons and investigate the nature of compact objects. This is of particular interest given some quantum-gravity models which predict the presence of horizonless and singularity-free compact objects. Such exotic compact objects can emit a different gravitational-wave signal relative to the black hole case. In this thesis, we analyze the stability of horizonless compact objects, and derive a generic framework to compute their characteristic oscillation frequencies. We provide an analytical, physically-motivated template to search for the gravitational-wave echoes emitted by these objects in the late-time postmerger signal. Finally, we infer how extreme mass-ratio inspirals observable by future gravitational-wave detectors will allow for model-independent tests of the black hole paradigm.


14 patients suffering from Bechterew's disease with a marked kyphotic deformity of their spine have been subject to extension osteotomy. Follow-up of 12 patients ranges from 7 to 33 months. Results have been good in 10 and satisfactory in 2 cases. Increase in body length has been between 2 to maximally 26 cm. Surgical procedure, results and complications have been demonstrated. Possibility of early spondylodesis in Bechterew's disease for elimination of pain and avoidance of progressing deformity is discussed.


Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. Breast cancer kills more than 40,000 women every year in the United States. Taxanes and epothilone B are used to treat breast cancer, but cellular resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is a major obstacle. Therapy-induced overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug efflux pumps promotes resistance in many drug-treated cancers. While early studies focused on overexpression and activity of the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) pump, a structurally distinct group of ABC efflux pumps, known as the Multidrug Resistance Proteins (MRPs), have been gaining increasing attention as alternative sources of resistance. There are 9 MRP family members (MRP1-9), with each family member preferentially transporting somewhat overlapping groups of substrates. We have previously shown that MRP7 is distinct from other MRPs because MRP7 confers resistance to a wide variety of anticancer agents including taxanes, vinca alkaloids and nucleoside-based analogs. We also have evidence that Mrp7 null mice are sensitized to taxanes (submitted). We bred a mammary tumor model to our Mrp7 null mouse to investigate Mrp79s in vivo activities regarding breast cancer resistance mechanisms. To better understand the resistance mechanisms of MRP7 the expression level of Mrp7 and expression levels of other transporters was determined in these cell lines using qRT-PCR. In addition, cell lines derived from mammary tumors are being evaluated to determine the impact Mrp7 has on sensitization to agents used in the treatment of breast cancer: epothilone B, docetaxel and paclitaxel. Further, the growth properties of these mammary tumor cell lines will be characterized. Lastly, to better understand the physiological role of this efflux pump, MRP7 cellular localization and polarity are being investigated. Further research into previously mentioned aims and specific MRP7 inhibitors will aid in combating cellular resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1693. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1693


We studied the kinetic response and concentration of bone marrow (BM) progenitor cells of patients with lymphoid malignancies submitted to autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), treated with a granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)/interleukin-3 (IL-3) combination. The results were compared with those of lymphoma patients receiving the same pretransplant conditioning regimen followed by G-CSF alone. Recombinant human (rh)G-CSF was administered as a single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection at the dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day from day + 1 after reinfusion of autologous stem cells, while rhIL-3 was added from day +6 at the dose of 10 micrograms/kg/day s.c. (overlapping schedule). In both groups (i.e. G-CSF- and G-CSF/IL-3-treated patients), cytokine administration was discontinued when the absolute neutrophil count was > 0.5 x 10(9)/l of peripheral blood for 3 consecutive days. Following treatment with the CSF combination, the percentage of marrow CFU-GM and erythroid progenitors (BFU-E) in the S phase of the cell cycle increased from 9.3 +/- 2 to 33.3 +/- 12% and from 14.6 +/- 3 to 35 +/- 6%, respectively (p < 0.05). The number of actively cycling megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-MK and BFU-MK) also increased. Conversely, G-CSF augmented the proliferative rate of CFU-GM (22.6 +/- 6% compared to a baseline value of 11.5 +/- 3%; p < 0.05) but not of BFU-E, CFU-MK or BFU-MK, and the increase in S-phase CFU-GM was significantly lower than that observed in the posttreatment samples of patients receiving IL-3 in addition to G-CSF. The absolute number of both CFU-GM and BFU-E/ml of BM was significantly augmented after treatment with G-CSF/IL-3 but not G-CSF alone. Similarly, administration of the cytokine combination resulted in a higher number of CD34+ cells and their concentration was significantly greater than that observed in the posttreatment samples of G-CSF patients. We also investigated the responsiveness to CSFs, in vitro, of highly enriched CD34+ cells, collected after priming with G-CSF in vivo (i.e. after 5 days of G-CSF administration). Our results demonstrated that pretreatment with G-CSF modified the response of BM cells to subsequent stimulation with additional CSFs. When the hematological reconstitution of patients treated with G-CSF/ IL-3 was compared to that of individuals receiving G-CSF alone, the addition of IL-3 resulted in a significant improvement in granulocyte and platelet recovery, a lower transfusion requirement and shorted hospitalization. In conclusion, our results indicate that in vivo administration of two cytokines increases the proliferative our results indicate that in vivo administration of two cytokines increase the proliferative our results rate and concentration of BM progenitor cells better than G-CSF alone and support a role for growth factor combinations for accelerating hematopoietic recovery after high-dose chemotherapy.


We construct examples of Lefschetz fibrations with prescribed singular fibers. By taking differences of pairs of such fibrations with the same singular fibers, we obtain new examples of surface bundles over surfaces with non-zero signature. From these we derive new upper bounds for the minimal genus of a surface representing a given element in the second homology of a mapping class group.


Bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) in patients with AIDS are characterized by bacteremia and persistence of the pathogen. Infections with Salmonella typhi murium are common. Infections with atypical mycobacteria (Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex) mimic Whipple's disease both clinically and histologically; at present no established therapy is available. Among the parasitic diseases of the GI tract, cryptosporidial infection in AIDS patients, predominantly in tropical countries, plays an important role for epidemiological reasons. It leads to profuse watery diarrhea that does not respond to drug treatment. The AIDS-specific Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may have manifestations in the GI tract. Rare complications of these tumors are bleeding, diarrhea and ileus.


The inorganic sulfur oxidation by obligate haloalkaliphilic chemolithoautotrophs was only recently discovered and investigated. These autotrophic sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB), capable of oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds at moderate to high salt concentration and at high pH, can be divided into three genera belonging to the I³ subdivision of the Proteobacteria: Thioalkalimicrobium, Thioalkalivibrio and Thioalkalispira. Their taxonomy, metabolic diversity and the potential application in biological removal of toxic sulfur compounds of haloalkaliphilic SOB were reviewed in Chapter 1 (Introduction) of this thesis. The scope of this thesis was to characterize the physiology and growth kinetics of the newly isolated haloalkaliphilic chemolithotrophic SOB with respect to their potential use in the biotechnology of H2S removal under haloalkaline conditions. A second aim of this thesis was to obtain more information about the specific adaptation to high salt and alkaline conditions from the population level down to the biomolecular level. The growth physiology of representatives of the genus Thioalkalimicrobium and Thioalkalivibrio is compared in Chapter 2. The competitive interaction between these two groups of organisms and their survival strategy with direct implications in their ecology is also described. The Chapter 3 describes the sodium salt requirement for the growth and sulfur-oxidizing potential at alkaline conditions in Thioalkalivibrio versutus strains isolated from soda lakes. The comparative growth kinetics at different Na+ concentration (Chapter 4) showed that Thioalkalivibrio versutus strain ALJ 15 is capable of relatively high rates of sulfur oxidation as compared to the neutrophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The growth physiology of an extremely salt-tolerant and facultative alkaliphile, Thioalkalivibrio halophilus sp. nov., is presented in Chapter 5. The research concerning the salt-dependent compatible solutes production and membrane lipid composition of haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria is the subject of Chapter 6 of this thesis. In the last chapter (Chapter 7) the results are integrated and general conclusions are presented, pointing to the uniqueness and importance of the chemolithoautotrophic haloalkaliphilic SOB for fundamental as well as for applied research. Overall, alkaliphilic SOB isolated from soda lakes proved to be highly specialized for the doubly extreme conditions of high salt concentration and high pH. They can be isolated from soda lake environments only. Some strains tolerate the entire possible range of pH and salt concentrations that might transiently appear in their natural habitat. Based on these properties, the haloalkaliphilic SOB from soda lakes can be usefully exploited in bioreactors with stable soda alkalinity and supplied with inorganic sulfur compounds for sulfur removal from waste streams.


Emerging video technologies like 3DTV and Free Viewpoint Video require to transmit more information than just 2D color data. To allow rendering of arbitrary viewpoints of a video scene a new data format including 2D color and an accompanying depth map has been proposed. Consequently this new technique requires an efficient coding method not only for color information, but also for depth data. Depth maps are characterized by segments describable by piecewise linear functions bounded by sharp edges. Preserving these depth discontinuities is a crucial requirement for high quality view synthesis. To adapt to these characteristics we propose a novel algorithm for depth map compression explicitly signaling the location of discontinuities. Experimental results show that the proposed method yields up to 9dB PSNR gain compared to a JPEG-2000 encoder in high-bitrate scenarios. Subjective quality assessment of synthesized views using compressed depth maps can prove the superior visual quality originating from less geometric distortions.


Today, more than a century after its first performance, Richard Wagner s "The Ring of Nibelung" endures as one of the most significant artistic creations in the history of opera. This monumental work not only altered previously accepted concepts of music and drama but also inspired creative and intellectual efforts far beyond the field of opera. Previous studies of the "Ring" have appealed only to those already acquainted in some way with the Wagnerian art. For the uninitiated, Wagner and his landmark creation have seemed forbidding, and those eager to learn about the masterpiece have faced a vast and frequently esoteric body of commentary. Professor Cord addresses the interests of the non-specialist by taking the reader first into Wagner's unique intent, and then through the complete history of the "Ring." Cord, who has attended forty performances of the "Ring," considers the conception of the poem, its development into a music-drama exemplifying Wagnerian thought, its introduction to the world, and the reactions and interpretation it elicits."


We augment a RBC model with capital and labor market frictions. We follow the approach of Wasmer and Weil (2004) which model market imperfections as search processes: firms must sequentially find a match with a bank first and then with a worker in order to start production. We show that the interactions between labor and capital market frictions may generate a financial accelerator or decelerator, depending on a parameter condition. We compare our model with US National Accounts data and with the empirical findings of Dell'Ariccia and Garibaldi (2005): we find that the financial accelerator as well as real wage rigidities help in improving the statistical properties of the model.


pAM373 of Enterococcus faecalis deviates from the various other representatives of sex pheromone plasmids in that it encodes a clumping‐mediating adhesin, Asa373, unrelated to the highly conserved aggregation substances typical of this plasmid class. The use of a new general cloning strategy and sequencing of the corresponding gene has confirmed that Asa373 represents a novel type of adhesin embedded in a DNA sequence very similar to sex pheromone plasmid pPD1. To prove the specific function of the relatively small protein (75.6 kDa vs 137 kDa for pAD1‐encoded Asa1) in cell aggregation, an expression vector, pERM‐ex1, was constructed, allowing reliable and stable expression of proteins in E. faecalis. The expression of Asa373 in E. faecalis indeed resulted in constitutive clumping, whereas non‐polar disruption of the gene in the original pAM373 abolished clumping capacity. Expression in a strain (INY3000) defective in binding substance — which for the other aggregation substances constitutes the attachment site on the mating partner — did not alter Asa373‐dependent clumping; this implies a separate mechanism in cell–cell interaction for this adhesin. Some amino acid motifs of Asa373 link the protein to adhesins of oral streptococci and other cell surface proteins. Comparison of the leader sequence of asa373 with those of several other aggregation substances revealed a highly conserved translational unit possibly involved in the regulation of asa373 expression.


In the present work, design of circularly polarized microstrip patch antenna is presented in S-band of centre frequency 2.29 GHz. This microstrip patch antenna is considered to be the basic element of an array consisting of eight microstrip patches distributed and mounted on eight surfaces of cylindrical structure of octagonal shape. The field of radiation pattern of the antenna array is calculated for E and Hplanes and it seems to be an omnidirectional pattern. A 90°-hybrid feed for each element is designed to excite the antenna with circular polarization within suitable matching for patch antenna and the hybrid.


Socio-cultural constructivism views reading as a holistic experience in which readers actively seek identity and make meaning of the world. Socio-cultural constructivist reading instruction recognizes the impact of one's socio-economic background on comprehension and interpretation of a text. It also acknowledges one's ability to identify, deconstruct and reconstruct self-positioning by critically examining the text's messages. Although receiving more well-deserved attention in Western language education, such a constructivist notion has not yet seemed to be equally appreciated or practiced in Taiwanese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms. Accordingly, this paper describes a five-phase inquiry project which applies essential elements of a socio-cultural constructivist instructional approach. Through various literacy activities, participating young adult students engage in extensive reading of illustrated books about the issue of exclusion and hopefully will learn to proactively mitigate bullying – a common problem at Taiwanese schools and worldwide (Wei & Huang, 2009). The ultimate objective of this focused study is to promote literature-based literacy instruction which values language learners' personal connections, multiple perspectives and critical reflections.


The present unicentric, hospital based, non-interventional, cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the iodine status of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at a medical college in Kolkata, India, during the different trimesters of pregnancy and to compare their iodine status with those of age-matched non-pregnant control women. Assessment of the iodine status was based on urinary iodine excretion (UIE). Serum levels of free triiodithyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were assayed as an indirect measure of iodine status. A statistical comparison between the median values for UIE, TSH, fT4 and fT3 in pregnant women and non-pregnant controls revealed a significant difference between the median values for UIE (p < 0.0047), TSH (p < 0.00001) and fT4 (p < 0.001). UIE and fT4 were significantly lower and TSH was significantly higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant controls. However, no significant difference in median values for fT3 concentration between the groups was seen (p = 0.4). Only 4 cases out of 200 pregnant women had an UIE of less than the lower cut-off value for UIE recommended by the WHO corresponding to optimal iodine intake. The results indicate most pregnant subjects attending the antenatal clinic at Medical College Kolkata, India, a tertiary care institution, did not suffer from significant iodine depletion. This may be ascribed to increased awareness of this condition and the accessibility of iodized salt among the study population.


The research presented here, attempts to review a range of techniques commonly categorized under the umbrella of artificial intelligence (A.I.) that could be applied when developing agents with emotions in a range of applications. The paper focuses on anger (and its related emotions), an emotion strongly linked with aggression which of course forms the basis of many computer games where killing or attacking other players or in-game agents is often central to the game's purpose. The paper begins with a psychology focused review of anger and its related emotions, before presenting techniques to encode some of these elements using Finite State Machines and Fuzzy Logic.


The environmental knowledge of inhabitants residing in a highly biodiverse mountainous region of western Mexico with an important economic forestry sector was investigated. Indices of environmental knowledge, by average and through a factor analysis, were developed and characterized using survey data collected in 2018 and 2021. These indices showed high levels of correlation, and followed similar patterns of distributions. Ordinary least squares and quantile regressions were used to examine social, economic, demographic, and perceptions as determinant factors of the generated indices. Age and education were repeatedly found as important factors influencing environmental knowledge, while income and gender were consistently not significant factors. Furthermore, environmental knowledge was related to quality of life. The index developed by factor analysis generated more significantly stable parameter results across percentiles of environmental knowledge. The indices were recommended for monitoring environmental knowledge in long term studies.


A simple numerical method of constructing orthogonal fine structure parameters is suggested. The possibility of estimating the parameters from experimental energy levels is discussed. Parametric fitting to the 2p53d configuration in A1 IV is carried out as a numerical example.