An African funeral is a very social event for the entire community in which the deceased lived. Regardless of whether the deceased was a Christian or not, death has always been a reunion for long-separated relatives, believers and non-believers. Nowadays, tents, cars and the gathering of multitudes of people demonstrate how death can bring people together, irrespective of distance and relationships. Of course, this is not to deny the fact that death can be a cause of division between relatives and friends. Nonetheless, the funeral itself is also a uniting factor; many people come together, regardless of distance, to pay their last tributes to the deceased and to provide the bereaved family with emotional support. In this article, I argue that death, amongst other things, is a uniting factor that is able to bring people, who are separated by distance and other factors, together. The aim of this article is to discuss how death invites people into a family, regardless of bad blood, flawed relationships and separation.


INTRODUCTION
Chronic granulomatous disease is a primary immunodeficiency that results from mutations in proteins of the NADPH oxidase system that affect the microbicidal activity of phagocytes. Immune reconstitution by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the only curative therapy for this disease.

OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical and molecular characterization of a patient with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease and the successful immune reconstitution by means of a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

METHODS
The respiratory burst was measured by flow cytometry using the dihydrorodamine 123 (DHR) oxidation test in neutrophils of peripheral blood. Mutational analysis of CYBB was performed by PCR amplification in complementary DNA, as well as sequencing and comparative genomic hybridization in genomic DNA. HLA-identical stem cells from the patient's younger brother were used for the transplantation and reduced intensity pre-transplantation conditioning was administered. Post-transplantation immune reconstitution was evaluated periodically by serial complete blood counts and DHR 123 in peripheral blood neutrophils.

RESULTS
The diagnosis of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease resulted from a hemizygous deletion affecting Xp21.1 that included the entire CYBB. Post-transplantation engraftment was documented in platelets and peripheral blood neutrophils at days 10 and 11, respectively. Total hematological reconstitution was achieved by day 30 post-transplantation and no complications or infections have been observed in the three years since the transplantation.

CONCLUSION
Hemopoietic stem cell transplantation allows for total reconstitution of the immune function related to microbicidal activity of phagocytic cells from patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease.


The article disclosesthe formation and organizationalprinciples of financial control by Russianoccupying authorities during the invasionof the territories of Galicia and Bukovynaduring the First World War. The competenceof all branches of the military andcivil occupying administration in the fieldof finance was revealed. The regulatorysupport of the establishment of the Administrationof Financial Affairs of Galiciaand Bukovyna as a special financial bodywas studied. The structure, tasks, rightsand administrative functions of the Administrationof Financial Affairs of Galicia and Bukovyna were analyzed. Theattention was paid to the personnel andpersonnel's qualification of the Administrationof Financial Affairs. A particularattention was paid to the financial competenceof the occupying authorities in theimplementation of the tax policy of theRussian Empire on the occupied territoriesof Western Ukraine during the war.The role, occupational structure, accountability,tasks and responsibilities, rightsand duties of district financial officerswere determined. The special features ofthe formation of financial bodies of thefirst and the second occupation of Galiciaand Bukovyna by Russian troops wereconsidered.The basic activities of the Administrationof the District Military Inspectorin the sphere of finance and cooperationwith the Administration of Financial Affairswere clarified.It was found out that by a separateinstruction of the Military Governor-General of Galicia the Administration ofFinancial Affairs was entrusted the controlof sequestrated plants and crafts. Thetasks and functions of financial inspectorsappointed by the Administration of FinancialAffairs in Galicia and Bukovyna wereconsidered. It was proved that the empowermentof the Administration of FinancialAffairs concerning financial and economiccompetence of sequestrated plants was aneffective and usable tool in the hands ofthe occupying authorities to control theenterprises on the controlled territories.Keywords: Galicia, Bukovyna, Administrationof Financial Affairs, First WorldWar, district financial inspectors, financialinspectors, military district inspector,sequestrate, tax policy.


It is not sufficient to merely publish regulations and strictly control them to improve the living conditions of farm animals. The farmer must receive precise information, understand the individual measures and be able to act with personal responsibility. A new animal welfare law has been in force in Austria since the 1st of January 2005. A system of self-evaluation is being developed for putting these new legal requirements into practice. The aim of this self-evaluation system is to enable every farmer to personally check his animal housing system against the given standards. This independent work motivates the farmer and makes him aware of animal welfare issues. This new strategy for the implementation of animal welfare law was originally developed, tested and found to be successful by the Federal Administration of the Austrian Province of Vorarlberg. Self-evaluation is to be carried out by means of specific checklists and manuals. Checklists and manuals are currently being drawn up for cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep and goats. The checklists and manuals will include all of the requirements of Austrian animal welfare legislation and will be formulated in easily understandable questions with 'yes' or 'no' answers. The manuals will describe the methods for assessing legal requirements on the farm as well as the conditions for compliance with legislation, and give advice on how to improve the state of animal welfare on the farm. This paper gives an example of the self-evaluation system for cattle farming.


This paper examines the impact of three distinct family structures (two-parent families, single-parent female-headed families, and female-headed subfamilies) on a mother's (or her proxy's) report of her child's health and medical care utilization. The results reveal that single mothers report poorer overall health of their preschool-aged children than do mothers in intact marriages. When controlling for demographic factors, however, single mothers in subfamilies report levels of health for their children that are comparable to those reported by married mothers. Not withstanding economic resources, the probability that a child will see a physician during the course of a year is similar for children in alternate caregiving arrangements, although the reasons for which medical attention is sought differ significantly. Our results suggest that both lack of social support and economic disadvantage affect a mother's report of her child's health and the type of care the child receives.


Abstract. The impact of a hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) treatment on the response of doped SnO2 sensors is investigated for acetone, carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The sensor was operated in temperature cycles based on the DSR concept (differential surface reduction). According to this concept, the rate constants for the reduction and oxidation of the surface after fast temperature changes can be evaluated and used for quantification of reducing gases as well as quantification and compensation of sensor poisoning by siloxanes, which is shown in this work. Increasing HMDSO exposure reduces the rate constants and therefore the sensitivity of the
sensor more and more for all processes. On the other hand, while the rate
constants for acetone and carbon monoxide are reduced nearly to zero already
for short treatments, the hydrogen sensitivity remains fairly stable, which greatly increases the selectivity. During repeated HMDSO treatment the
quasistatic sensitivity, i.e. equilibrium sensitivity at one point during
the temperature cycle, rises at first for all gases but then drops rapidly for acetone and carbon monoxide, which can also be explained by reduced rate
constants for oxygen chemisorption on the sensor surface when considering
the generation of surface charge.


It is essential to understand how ecological restoration (ER) improves human well‐being in order to justify more investments and upscaling in this emergent field of action. As part of a 22‐year‐old, 80 ha ER project being carried out around a water reservoir that supplies drinking water to the city of Iracemápolis (population 19,700), in the mega‐diversity Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil, we assessed local community perceptions of the tangible and intangible benefits expected to arise from this project. A detailed questionnaire was completed for 292 members of the local community to gauge perceptions of benefits arising from various cultural and provisioning ecosystem services (ESs; especially safe and clean drinking water) provided by the 80 ha forest restoration project. A striking 94% of those interviewed wanted more ER projects in their community. Participants reported an appreciation for cultural ESs such as esthetic landscape improvement, tourism, recreation, as well as various religious, spiritual, and educational services. In addition, 87% of interviewees believed that the restoration project improved the quality of their drinking water, and 63% said they would agree to an increase in water tariffs if the proceeds were to be invested in more forest restoration. Judging from this study, investigation and subsequent communication of popular perceptions of the various benefits of ER projects could promote consensus‐building and support for projects among stakeholders, and inform governmental and societal investments in restoration.


In the heated debate about marketing globalization, the issue of brand standardization has received much less attention compared with advertising standardization. When both issues have been addressed, empirically or conceptually, they have not been considered simultaneously. The current study develops and empirically tests a framework to simultaneously consider brand and advertising standardization strategies. A survey was conducted among brand managers in firms operating in Canada, with data collected on a brand level. The results revealed an independence of brand and advertising standardization practices. It was also found that brand standardization was practiced to a much higher degree than advertising standardization, with the most used combined strategy involving brand name standardization and non‐standardization of advertising. Effects of product type and brand age were also investigated. The findings clearly indicate that companies tend to "brand globally, advertise locally".


OpenCourseWare and Open Educational Resources comprise many types of assets including rich media. However dynamic rich media offer different opportunities and challenges for learners, teachers and higher education institutions alike than do more static items such as text. The Open University in the UK has been extensively developing and using rich media in its distance teaching programmes since it was established in 1969, often in partnership with the BBC. As new media technologies have arrived so has the capabilities of The Open University to create rich media. This paper describes these developments and then discusses the approaches required to guide them in a way that both serves the university and the wider higher education community. It concludes that rich media are an essential part of the developing OCW/OER landscape and that openly sharing them brings defined benefits to an HEI beyond their traditional student body.


At present the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) complex in diamond is the most promising defect for application in the area of quantum computing. This provides a stimulus for an extensive search of other defects in semiconductors with similar properties. Recently it was shown that the NCVSi defect complex in SiC is perspectively appropriate for this goal as well. In the present work we perform comparative ab initio studies of NV complexes in diamond and 3C-SiC. We focus both on radiospectroscopic characterization of these defects and on the calculation of the equilibrium concentration of complexes in irradiated crystals. In particular a full set of spin-Hamiltonian parameters including g-tensors, hyperfine tensors and the spin–spin part of zero-field splitting constant Dss were calculated for both negative and neutral charge states as well as for excited quartet states of neutral complexes. Comparison of calculated values with the available experimental data and results of other calculations show good agreement, especially in the case when hybrid and meta-hybrid functionals were used. This makes the unambiguous identification of negative NV complexes in both materials possible. Our calculations reveal that the ground states of neutral complexes are a difficult case for both DFT calculations and experimental observations. This is caused by multi-determinantal behavior of wave function for such complexes, which leads to a large amount of spin contamination and to the broken symmetry solution which appeared for single Slater determinant DFT calculations. Based on the calculated minimum of free energy of neutral and negative complexes in SiC and diamond we obtained the equilibrium concentrations of these complexes depending on the vacancy concentration produced by irradiation. We show that in some dose regions both negative and neutral complexes coexist, while in other regions only one charge state prevails. Comparison of the calculated and experimental dose dependencies for diamond shows good qualitative agreement.


The multi-tone CDMA is a spectrum-efficient multiuser transmission technique, and regarded as a promising platform for multimedia communications. We study the multi-rate physical-layer transmissions, based on multi-code (MC) and variable-spreading-length (VSL) access. A general and systematic system model accommodating both access methods with multiuser detection (MUD) is constructed, which is useful for programmable system integration. We investigate the system characteristics under multi-rate transmission, including multiple access interference (MAI) and intercarrier interference (ICI), and the performance comparisons between MC and VSL schemes in frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels are studied.


A robust and rapid ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of four endogenous hormones and exogenous contaminants including progesterone, bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and chloramphenicol (CAP) in infant formula powdered milk. After adding isotope internal standards, the samples were first extracted with ethyl acetate–cyclohexane and then extracted by a dissolution–salting out-ethyl acetate extraction method (anhydrous sodium sulfate was used as the salt) for enhanced extraction of target analytes. Subsequently, the extraction solution was concentrated and purified by using a HLB solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge (150 mg/6 mL, 30 μm, Waters Co., USA). Four target analytes were separated on a Phenomenex kinetex C18 column (100 mm × 3.0 mm, 2.6 μm) by gradient elution with methanol and water as mobile phases, detected by MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode and quantified by the internal standard method with progesterone-d9, BPA-d4, CAP-d5, and 4-n-NP-d4 as the isotope internal standards. The total time for the detection was 7 min. The developed method was validated in terms of sensitivity, linearity and range, recovery, matrix effect and precision. The results indicated that four target analytes displayed excellent linearity in their corresponding concentration ranges, with favorable correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) for these target analytes were in the range of 0.1–2.5 μg kg−1. The mean recoveries were calculated at three concentration levels spiked in negative infant formula powdered milk samples, and the values were found between 81.9% and 103% with relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranging from 2.9% to 7.0% for intra-day precision (n = 6) and ranging from 5.8% to 8.0% for inter-day precision (n = 5). The validated method was successfully applied to determine the concentrations of target analytes in real samples, and progesterone and 4-NP were respectively detected in 73 and 24 samples with concentrations in the range of 1.5–90.5 μg kg−1 and 13.5–36.8 μg kg−1, respectively. Fortunately, BPA and CAP were detected in none of the tested samples.


We show how the interbank payment system can become illiquid following wide-scale disruptions. Two forces are at play in such disruptions—operational problems and changes in participants' behavior. We model the interbank payment system as an n-player game and utilize the concept of a potential function to describe the process by which one of multiple equilibria emerges after a wide-scale disruption. If the disruption is large enough, hits a key geographic area, or hits a "too-big-to-fail" participant, then the coordination of payment processing can break down, and central bank intervention might be required to reestablish the socially efficient equilibrium. We also explore how the network topology of the underlying payment flow among banks affects the resiliency of coordination. The paper provides a theoretical framework to analyze the effects of events such as the September 11 attacks.


ABSTRACT The Marble Falls Group, a Lower Pennsylvanian limestone exposed at the margins of the Llano uplift in central Texas, was deposited on a carbonate shelf bordered by the Fort Worth basin. Outcrops near the basinward margin of the shelf reveal a depositional cycle containing a regressive sequence, a low-relief unconformity, and a transgressive sequence. Minor cycles within the transgressive and regressive sequences include inner shelf successions of facies capped by thin intervals of the outer shelf facies. Vertical progressions of inner shelf facies, algal bank to calcarenite bank to tidal bar-tidal flat, were clearly the product of regression. Thin capping intervals of the outer shelf facies contain open marine clay and carbonaceous matter mixed with siliceous sponge spicules, micrite and pellets. Incursions of the outer shelf facies onto inner shelf facies are judged to be a product of transgression. The regressive sequence exhibits a striking down-to-basin shift of progressively younger minor cycles, interpreted to indicate net regression interrupted by minor transgressions. The transgressive sequence exhibits similar cyclic tendencies and is interpreted to represent net transgression interrupted by minor regressive episodes. There is striking similarity between the interrupted patterns of transgression and regression in the Marble Falls cycle, and the discontinuous nature of ice sheet advances and retreats in Pleistocene climatic cycles. Estimates of relative sea level changes necessary to account for Lower Pennsylvanian facies patterns are in the same range as those resulting from Pleistocene climatic cycles. After carefully considering all cycle-generating mechanisms it is concluded that the Marble Falls cycle was most likely produced by glacio-eustatic changes.


Context. The influence of stellar activity on the fundamental properties of stars around and below 1 Mis not well understood. Accurate mass, radius, and abundance determinations from solar-type binaries exhibiting various levels of activity are needed for a better insight into the structure and evolution of these stars. Aims. We aim to determine absolute dimensions and abundances for the solar-type detached eclipsing binary V636 Cen, and to perform a detailed comparison with results from recent stellar evolutionary models. Methods. uvby light curves and uvbyβ standard photometry were obtained with the Stromgren Automatic Telescope, radial velocity observations with the CORAVEL spectrometer, and high-resolution spectra with the FEROS spectrograph, all at ESO, La Silla. State- of-the-art methods were applied for the photometric and spectroscopic analyses. Results. Masses and radii that are precise to 0.5% have been established for the components of V636 Cen. The 0.85 Msecondary component is moderately active with starspots and Ca ii H and K emission, and the 1.05 Mprimary shows signs of activity as well, but at a much lower level. We derive a (Fe/H) abundance of −0.20 ± 0.08 and similar abundances for Si, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Co, and Ni. Corresponding solar-scaled stellar models are unable to reproduce V636 Cen, especially its secondary component, which is ∼10% larger and ∼400 K cooler than predicted. Models adopting significantly lower mixing-length parameters l/Hp remove these discrepancies, seen also for other solar-type binary components. For the observed (Fe/H), Claret models for l/Hp = 1.4 (primary) and 1.0 (secondary) reproduce the components of V636 Cen at a common age of 1.35 Gyr. The orbit is eccentric (e = 0.135 ± 0.001), and apsidal motion with a 40% relativistic contribution has been detected. The period is U = 5 270 ± 335 yr, and the inferred mean central density concentration coefficient, log(k2) = −1.61 ± 0.05, agrees marginally with model predictions. The measured rotational velocities, 13.0 ± 0.2 (primary) and 11.2 ± 0.5 (secondary) km s −1 , are in remarkable agreement with the theoretically predicted pseudo-synchronous velocities, but are about 15% lower than the periastron values. Conclusions. V636 Cen and 10 other well-studied inactive and active solar-type binaries suggest that chromospheric activity, and its effect on envelope convection, is likely to cause radius and temperature discrepancies, which can be removed by adjusting the model mixing length parameters downwards. Noting this, the sample may also lend support to theoretical 2D radiation hydrodynamics studies, which predict a slight decrease of the mixing length parameter with increasing temperature/mass for inactive main sequence stars. More binaries are, however, needed for a description/calibration in terms of physical parameters and level of activity.


Our enquiry sets out to establish the contribution of households of the working class to the financial accumulation of English households. For the period 1800 to 1880 we follow the growth of financial institutions whose clients were predominantly members of the working class. After 1880 there were important changes in demography and in the institutional framework, with the reduction of the size of the family and the introduction of State intervention to protect workers experiencing hard times. Detailed, although limited, information on financial assets exists through statistical surveys on the working class. These surveys were made in various cities between 1899 and 1952. Assembling different statistical sources, it is possible to estimate the amounts of liquid assets and insurance assets held by the working class from 1880 to 1950. Furthermore, for the period from 1920 to 1950, it is possible to compare the entire financial assets of the working class and those of households. The information gathered shows that, in the period under examination, there was a noticeable increase of financial assets in the hands of the working class. In comparison with total households, at the end of the period the working class had 36 per cent of liquid assets and 46 per cent of insurance assets. Considering the entire range of financial assets the role of the working class was more modest; still, it grew to reach a share of 20 per cent by 1950. The main determinants of this continuous growth of the financial assets of the working class are to be found in a progressive evolution of the objectives for saving. Before World War I the main motivation for saving was to provide for insecurity, to avoid a worsening of life conditions. Later the main reason to save became the attempt to improve the quality of life, through the acquisition of durable goods. Furthermore the desired level of quality of life did not remain constant, but it kept growing over time.


Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, an uncommon cutaneous tumour of probable fibrohistiocytic derivation, has received little attention in the literature since the 1960s. The clinico-pathological features of twenty-nine cases have been reviewed. There were sixteen male patients and thirteen female patients; the age distribution was from 18 to 83 years (mean 434 years). While the topographical distribution varied, the majority of lesions were located on the trunk or lower extremities. All patients were treated surgically, and while seven tumours are known to have recurred, none metastasized. On review of the pertinent literature, these authors consider that it is likely that dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans has little, if any, metastatic potential if careful attention is paid to accurate histological diagnosis. Microscopically dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans has a classical appearance, being a well-differentiated spindle cell neoplasm typified by a prominent storiform pattern and showing minimal pleomorphism and little mitotic activity. It should be distinguished from atypical fibroxanthoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma: points of distinction are presented.


To estimate doses absorbed in organs of dental students in the exercises of dental radiography, we measured the average organ doses of the dental radiographic examinations and sent out questionnaires about the radiographic exposure of the dental students. We selected five organs in the head and neck regions: lens of the eye, parotid gland, submaxillary gland, thyroid and pituitary fossa. The dose determinations were made for the full mouth intra-oral radiography with 10 films, and panoramic radiography and cephalometric radiography. Doses for all organs, except for the parotid gland, were widely distributed with one peak. The highest average dose per dental student was about 5000 microGy for the parotid gland, about 2900 microGy for the submaxillary gland, about 900 microGy for the lens of the eye, about 480 microGy for the thyroid and about 140 microGy for the pituitary fossa. Dose limits for dental students in such exercises have not been yet established. But the organ doses, especially for the parotid gland, appear very high. To reduce exposure in the exercises and to protect the dental students from excess exposure, we need to reconsider the study of dental radiographic techniques.


A methodology for designing large multiunit, multipurpose ocean based systems is proposed. The methodology is in fact a disciplined procedure for selecting the system and its characteristics that will best satisfy the overall problem objective. The methodology addresses all stages of design of large systems from the design of a particular subsystem to the design of an overall system. Emphasis in this paper is on the exploratory phase of the proposed methodology.


This paper is the first to analyse the three-way relationship among money laundering, anti-money-laundering efforts and corruption. On the one hand, if we assume that the goal of criminals involved in corruption is to minimize the probability of being detected, then corruption represents a demand for money laundering (trigger effect), while money laundering can serve as an effective way to clean the revenue from corruption for re-investment (multiplier effect). On the other hand, criminals can try to maximize the likelihood that anti-money-laundering activities will be ineffective. Corruption can be an effective device for maximizing this likelihood, as organized crime may corrupt financial institutions – both regulators and regulated firms – in order to prevent crime detection (accelerator effect). The paper proposes a novel theoretical framework for these interconnections, which is then used to simulate the three effects in 101 countries for the period 1990 to 2040.


Colonial Latin America had the fame of being a land where lower-class people were forever suing their betters. To Latin America's popular classes, the law was an indispensable instrument for claiming rights, solving conflicts, and advancing interests. Fast-forward to the middle of the twentieth century, however, and Latin American law held a very different fame. The law was now something to be shunned. It was seen as an instrument of power, manipulated by the rich and influential. Public trust in the law was low, and support for alternative forms of justice, high. In comparison with the colonial era, we are faced with a baffling reversal. This article seeks to explain that reversal by elaborating three propositions: (P1) popular trust in the law declined because of the law's increasing formalism, particularly evident in the codification of civil and criminal law over the course of the nineteenth century; (P2) popular trust in the law declined because of the rise of patrimonial capitalism over the period of study; and (P3) popular trust in the law declined because a new generation of social rights became politicized, first under populist, corporatist regimes that arose in the region in the early and mid-twentieth century and then under the region's Cold-War military dictatorships.


The zygomaticus dental implant, designed by Nobel Biocare for the Brånemark System, is indicated primarily for the severely resorbed maxilla. Though the zygomaticus implant has had a remarkable success rate in a very difficult patient population, there are some shortcomings to the protocol for placement. The sinus slot technique described herein provides a simplified approach to zygomaticus implant placement, as compared to the currently recommended protocol.


A multi-dimensiona l assignment problem in which Students, Faculty and Subjects together as events are scheduled to suitable timeslots and available classrooms, is termed to be University Course Timetabling Problem (UCTP). Previous literature studies reveal that getting the best fitness function value with generating an optimized timetable is not considered to a great extent. This paper proposes a novel method of solving the UCTP through various Hybrid Search Optimization algorithms combined with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). This approach is implemented for the real time data taken from the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering of a typical Indian University. Our experimentation clearly confirms by giving promising results that, getting a near or sub optimal solution is highly feasible through various hybrid algorithms.


Foreign language learners encounter difficulties utilizing metaphorical expressions in everyday language, par- ticularly because the use of metaphors in the discourse context is inescapable. In this study, efforts have been made to provide an effective way for the Iranian language learners to acquire and employ conceptual and image metaphors. The instruction took place on 60 junior students studying at the University of Petroleum Engineering at Ahvaz, a southern city in Iran, who were selected on the basis of their high marks on an English proficiency test. Forty metaphors of both types were presented to the participants during 10 sessions of instruction. To collect data on the learners' performance, a 30- item sentence completion test requiring 'word-given' and 'recognition' type responses was prepared and administered. The results of a statistical t-test indicated no significant difference in the rate of acquiring conceptual and image meta- phors (P>.05). Therefore, both metaphors can be successfully taught concurrently with little difficulty.


Based on the immediate needs of emergency medical services provided by hospitals after strong earthquakes, this paper is to introduce a research program on assessment and improvement strategies for typical configuration of sprinkler piping systems in hospitals. The study involved component tests and subsystem tests. Cyclic loading tests were conducted to investigate inelastic behavior of components including concrete anchorage, screwed fittings of small bore piping and mechanical couplings. Parts of horizontal piping systems of the aforementioned seismic damaged sprinkler piping system were tested using shaking table tests. Furthermore, the horizontal piping subsystems with seismic resistant devices such as braces, flexible pipes and mechanical couplings were tested.The test results show that the main cause of the damaged case is the poor shear capacity of the screwed fitting of the small-bore tee branch. The optimum improvement strategy to achieve higher nonstructural performance level for the horizontal piping subsystem is to strengthen the main pipe with braces and to decrease shear demands on the tee branch by flexible pipes. The hysteresis loops and failure modes of components were further discussed and will be used to conduct numerical analysis of sprinkler piping systems in future studies.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Summary Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of different ultrasound devices in achieving an early diagnosis of pregnancy in dairy herds. Material and methods: A total of 1976 Holstein Friesian cows and heifers were artificially inseminated (AI) according to the herd manager's regime. Pregnancy diagnostics were performed between day 26 and 35 after AI using six different types of ultrasound systems (linear vs. sector scanners). Manual rectal palpation between day 45 and 60 after AI was used as the gold standard for pregnancy diagnostics. Sensitivity (SENS), specificity (SPEC), positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy (ACC) of the diagnostic measures were determined. Results: Average SENS was 82% (range 67.7–95.2%) with a mean SPEC of 73% (range 50.0–81.0%). ACC was 78.2% with a minimum of 64.6% and a maximum of 89.4%, depending on the ultrasound system. The PPV (ratio of the number of pregnant cows with a positive examination result to the number of cows actually pregnant) was 80.8% (range 59.1–88.1%), whereas the NPV (defined as the ratio of the number of cows correctly diagnosed negative to the number of cows actually open) was 74.4% (72.3–91.9%). Significant differences for these parameters were found depending on the ultrasound system used (p ≤ 0.01; Cramer's V. = 0.14). Conclusion and clinical relevance: Regardless of the ultrasound device used, early pregnancy diagnostics between day 26 and 35 show a moderate diagnostic efficiency. Comparing the accuracy of the different devices, there may be a significant influence of type and technical parameters. Even though ultrasound systems with mechanical sector probes are not as convenient to use as systems with linear probes, according to this study, sector scanners are a reasonable alternative.


Stimuli-responsive polymers are of crucial importance in the design of smart biomaterials. The thermo-responsive triblock copolymers of polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (P(NIPAAm)), or P(NIPAAm)- b-PCL- b- P(NIPAAm) copolymers, were synthesized in this work via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The P(NIPAAm)- b-PCL- b-P(NIPAAm) copolymers were cast by phase inversion in water into porous membranes with well-defined and uniformly distributed pores. The P(NIPAAm) content in the P(NIPAAm)- b-PCL- b- P(NIPAAm) copolymers and the temperature of the aqueous medium for phase inversion could be used to control the pore size and porosity of the membranes. The thermo-responsive characteristics of the membranes were illustrated in the controlled water uptake and temperature-dependent glucose transport through the membranes. These temperature-sensitive membranes with controllable morphology have potential applications in biomedical engineering, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.


1. The effect of PEITC on the expression of hepatic glutathione S-transferases (GST) and the glutathione (GSH) conjugation has been investigated in the Sprague-Dawley rat, and it has been determined whether hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen (AA) could be inhibited through the induction of GST expression in mouse. 2. The hepatic GST activity and protein levels of alpha class (Ya, Yc) and mu class (Yb1, Yb2) of GST were elevated in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with PEITC (0, 3.16, 10, 31.6, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o., 3 days). The mRNA levels of GST Ya and GST Yb1 were also markedly increased 1 day after treatment with PEITC at dosages ranging from 31.6 to 200 mg/kg. The hepatic GSH content was significantly increased to 200% of control at dose of 200 mg/kg PEITC. 3. Pretreatment with 100 mg/kg PEITC significantly enhanced the biliary excretion of glutathione conjugate of AA 2-fold, whereas treatment with 200 mg/kg did not affect it. 4. In mouse, PEITC (100 and 200 mg/kg, 3 days) decreased the lethality and hepatotoxicity caused by AA. 5. These results indicate that (1) the induction of GST by PEITC is presumably under transcriptional regulation, and (2) PEITC may have a protective function against AAinduced hepatotoxicity by induction effect on GST, in combination of enhancement of hepatic GSH.


The immense impacts of tsunamis can inflict substantial damage on coastal infrastructure systems during their lifetime and lead to considerable economic loss. However, with the increasing intensity and variability of sea‐level rise due to climate change, evaluations of the life‐cycle tsunami risk associated with cumulative loss have become increasingly complex since tsunami hazards are time‐dependent. In addition, the number of earthquake events and the corresponding arrival times are substantially uncertain. Therefore, an accurate life‐cycle tsunami risk assessment methodology should be established to appropriately develop disaster mitigation measures. This paper provides a novel life‐cycle risk assessment of building portfolios subjected to tsunami hazards under non‐stationary sea‐level rise effects due to climate change. The cumulative loss of a building portfolio is evaluated through a compound renewal process based on earthquake interarrival time uncertainties and time‐dependent risk. The earthquake interarrival times are modeled using a non‐Poisson process based on historical data. Tsunami hazard curves that consider the effects of sea‐level rise, estimated based on climate models, are obtained with tsunami propagation analysis. The time‐variant annual risk is estimated based on reliability and building unit loss. Finally, a numerical procedure is proposed to estimate the life‐cycle tsunami risk of building portfolios. An illustrative example is provided by applying the framework to several municipalities in the Kochi Prefecture of Japan to assess the effects of climate change on the life‐cycle tsunami risk.


Tracking a baby's health data such as feeds, diapers, medications and infections can help parents perform their parenting duties better and with diligence. Providers can use these statistics to monitor and predict baby's development patterns. 'Baby Feed' is an easy to use mobile application that offers all the tools necessary to effectively track and manage your infant's growth.


Background: Patients with heterotaxy, single ventricle and interrupted inferior vena cava are at risk of developing significant pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and cyanosis, and inequitable distribution of hepatic factor has been implicated in their development. We describe our experience with a technique for hepatic vein incorporation that reliably provides resolution of cyanosis and presumably equitable hepatic factor distribution. Methods: A retrospective review of a single-surgeon experience was conducted for patients who underwent this modified Fontan operation utilizing an extracardiac conduit from the hepatic veins to the dominant superior cavopulmonary connection. Preoperative characteristics and imaging, operative details, and postoperative course and imaging were abstracted. Results: Median age at operation was 5 years (2-10 years) and median weight was 19.6 kg (11.8-23 kg). Sixty percent (3/5) of patients had Fontan completion without cardiopulmonary bypass, and follow-up was complete at a median of 14 months (range 1-20 months). Systemic saturations increased significantly from 81% ± 1.9% preoperatively to 95% ± 3.5% postoperatively, P = .0008. Median length of stay was 10 days (range: 7-14 days). No deaths occurred. One patient required reoperation for bleeding and one was readmitted for pleural effusion. Postoperative imaging suggested distribution of hepatic factor to all lung segments with improved pulmonary arteriovenous malformation burden. Conclusions: Hepatic vein incorporation for patients with heterotaxy and interrupted inferior vena cava should optimally provide equitable pulmonary distribution of hepatic factor with resolution of cyanosis. The described technique is performed through a conventional approach, is facile, and improves cyanosis in these complex patients.


The following article provides a concise, clearly written discussion of the history of the well-known Aloha protocol by Prof. Norman Abramson, the key individual responsible for its invention, development, and initial deployments in a variety of applications involving joint use of a given medium by potentially interfering systems. He discusses the use of this protocol and its various incarnations, continuing to this day, in such disparate applications as wired Ethernet, satellite communications, and mobile wireless systems, among others. What is, in my mind, so amazing about this scheme is its basic simplicity, yet profound ability to find application in such a widespread range of communication systems. The protocol, in its most concise form, says transmit at will. If interference is detected, retransmit some random time later. What can be simpler? Yet, despite its apparent simplicity, such a protocol was not at all obvious at the time of its invention and initial deployment. Enjoy reading this article!


Abstract The DCF method or multiples are used to value companies in practice. Starting with the value additivity principle, the paper presents a general framework for DCF valuation. This framework allows defining stepwise and aggregated approaches to value risky cash flows and identifying inconsistent approaches. The framework helps to integrate sales, contribution margin, operating leverage, and financial leverage into valuation approaches and shows the assumptions implied when multiples are used.


As social creature, human being always connected with other such as in family, neighborhood, , school, and also same age friends. Human being need and always try to open new relation and interaction to other. Almost all time, used for met someone. One of human being tools to connect with other is communication. It's have a very important role to grow our intellectuals and social relationship or our self esteem will formed with communicate with other. Sometimes there is an individual conflict because of communication. To avoid conflict, it's need a communication openly and trustworthy to other. This research is qualitative research pointed to know the assertivity differences level between Javanese and Maduranese undergraduate. Tight variable of this research is assertivity level and
release variable is ethnic, that are Javanese and Maduranese. The research population is 755 undergraduate of Faculty of Physical Exercises Public University of Malang. Sample taken technique is purposive sampling with Likert Scale Method as a collect data method. The sample's research take 30 Javanese and 30 Maduranese. This research conduct in 24 – 27 May 2008 at Public University of Malang. The research using t – test statistical analysis method with SPSS for Windows version 13.0 program. The result research is there is significant differences of assertifity level between Javanese and Maduranese, showing with (t = 3.218 and p = 0.002) value, means that assertivity of Maduranese is higher than (X = 127.37) Javanese with (X = 118.07)


A kind of regression equations, which adequately describe the correlation between the error of braking of cuts, the slope of hump-yard tracks and the indices of hump yard work taking into account the influence of parameters of wagon stream processed, is determined.


The Shandong Canal Zone is located in the north of Shandong province, which is an important area for the connection between Yanzhao culture and Wuyue culture. The changes of factors in Shandong canal zone provide clues for research. In documents, the modern education in Shandong canal region has gone through the process of feudal traditional education, the beginning of early modernization, the institutionalization and evolution of early modernization. Then based on the predecessors' research, I analyzed its pattern in order to extend the range in the research.


With the ever-increasing demand for real-time video applications, a dedicated and efficient architecture for motion estimation has become a necessity. In this paper, we present an architecture for affine motion estimation which meets the real-time application requirements. The architecture employs a modular memory structure for efficient pipelined parallel implementation of affine motion estimation using the one-dimensional hierarchical search (IDHS) algorithm. Implementation results in terms of the number of clock cycles and PSNR values demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed architecture.


Toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent the immune link between the innate and the adaptive immune signals against various pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the TLRs3 and 7 as immune-markers in differentiating between hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected and -uninfected patients. Also, the use of the TLR3 and TLR7 as immune markers was compared with the prevalent bio and immune markers for autoimmune diseases in HCV-infected or -uninfected patients. The levels of GPT, GOT, B cell activated factors, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-10 were measured in plasma, while the levels of TLR3 and TLR7 were quantified in lysates of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors, HCV-infected patients, nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) patients without autoimmune diseases and with autoimmune diseases (HCV-infected patients with autoimmune diseases [HCV+auto], nonalcoholic fatty liver patients with autoimmune diseases [NAFL+auto]), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The relative expression of TLR3, TLR7, TNF, and IL-10 in cell lysates was assessed against glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results showed that TLRs 3 and 7 levels were significantly higher in SLE, RA, HCV, HCV+auto, and the NAFL patients compared to the normal control. The cell lysates from SLE patients expressed TLR3 at relatively significantly higher mRNA levels compared to normal subjects or other patient groups. The NAFL+auto patients expressed TLR7 at relatively significantly high mRNA levels compared to normal subjects or other patients. The RA patients expressed TLR7 at relatively significantly higher mRNA levels when compared to HCV, HCV+auto, and NAFL+auto patients. Conclusions: At the protein level, TLR7 can differentiate between HCV and NAFL patients. In addition, both TLRs3 and 7 can serve as potent markers in differentiating between NAFL and NAFL+auto.


By using Fourier transform infrared photolysis difference spectroscopy combined with temperature derivative spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures, we have measured infrared spectra of the stretching absorption on nitric oxide (NO) in the heme-bound and photodissociated states of ferrous and ferric nitrosyl myoglobin (MbNO) and a few site-specific Mb mutants. The NO absorption was utilized as a sensitive local probe of ligand interactions with active-site residues and movements within the protein. By comparison with results obtained in previous spectroscopic and structural studies of carbonmonoxy myoglobin (MbCO), the MbNO data were interpreted in structural terms. In the NO-bound state, conformational heterogeneity was inferred from the appearance of multiple bands, arising from different electrostatic interactions with active site residues, most importantly, His-64. In ferrous MbNO, a primary photoproduct site similar to site B of MbCO was found, as indicated by a characteristic NO stretching spectrum. In ferric MbNO, the His-64 side chain appears to interfere with trapping of NO in this site; only a very weak photoproduct spectrum was observed in Mb variants in which His-64 was present. Upon extended illumination, the photoproduct spectrum changed in a characteristic way, indicating that NO readily migrates to a secondary docking site C, the Xe4 cavity, in which the ligand performs librational motions on the picosecond time scale. This docking site may play a role in the physiological NO scavenging reaction. Surprisingly, NO cannot be trapped at all in secondary docking site D, the Xe1 cavity.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression feature of the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1) and its correlation with clinicopathology and prognostic significance after 252Cf radiotherapy in cervical cancer.

METHODS
The expression of APE1 was detected by immunohistochemistry technique in 89 cases of cervical cancer (treated by 252Cf), 15 cases cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 10 cases of normal cervical tissue, and its association with clinicopathological data as well as prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTS
The expression of APE1 in cervical cancer is higher significantly than that in normal cervical tissue and CIN (P < 0.01). In normal cervical tissue and CIN, the APE1 express was located in the nucleus. In cervical cancer, the APE1 express was located in the nucleus (59), cytoplasm (8) or nucleus and cytoplasm (22), the location of APE1 was related with FIGO stage and pathological grade (P < 0.01), and not related with lymph node metastasis. The level of APE1 express related with FIGO stage, pathological grade and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), and not related with age and pathological type. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the survival time of the group of APE1 nucleus expression (median survival time is 70.9 months) and the group of APE1 low expression (median survival time is 75.8 months) is longer significantly than that of the group of APE1 cytoplasm expression (median survival time is 57.8 months) and the group of APE1 high expression (median survival time is 56.5 months) (P = 0.025, 0.001).

CONCLUSION
The dystopic express of APE1 might play a pivotal role in carcinogenesis and progression of cervical cancer, and the express of APE1 might estimate the prognosis after 252Cf radiotherapy.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Infarct core volume measurement using CTP (CT perfusion) is a mainstay paradigm for stroke treatment decision-making. Yet, there are several downfalls with cine CTP technology that can be overcome by adopting the simple perfusion reconstruction algorithm (SPIRAL) derived from multiphase CTA. We compare SPIRAL with CTP parameters for the prediction of 24-hour infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients had admission NCCT, multiphase CTA, CTP, and 24-hour DWI. All patients had successful/quality reperfusion. Patient-level and cohort-level receiver operator characteristic curves were generated to determine accuracy. A 10-fold cross-validation was performed on the cohort-level data. Infarct core volume was compared for SPIRAL, CTP–time-to-maximum, and final DWI by Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: When we compared the accuracy in patients with early and late reperfusion for cortical GM and WM, there was no significant difference at the patient level (0.83 versus 0.84, respectively), cohort level (0.82 versus 0.81, respectively), or the cross-validation (0.77 versus 0.74, respectively). In the patient-level receiver operating characteristic analysis, the SPIRAL map had a slightly higher, though nonsignificant (P < .05), average receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (cortical GM/WM, r = 0.82; basal ganglia  = 0.79, respectively) than both the CTP–time-to-maximum (cortical GM/WM = 0.82; basal ganglia = 0.78, respectively) and CTP-CBF (cortical GM/WM = 0.74; basal ganglia = 0.78, respectively) parameter maps. The same relationship was observed at the cohort level. The Bland-Altman plot limits of agreement for SPIRAL and time-to-maximum infarct volume were similar compared with 24-hour DWI. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that perfusion maps generated from a temporally sampled helical CTA are an accurate surrogate for infarct core.


We explain the existence of neutrino masses and their flavour structure, dark matter relic abundance and the observed 3.5 keV X-ray line within the framework of a gauged U(1)Lμ − Lτ extension of the "scotogenic" model. In the U(1)Lμ − Lτ symmetric limit, two of the RH neutrinos are degenerate in mass, while the third is heavier. The U(1)Lμ − Lτ symmetry is broken spontaneously. Firstly, this breaks the μ−τ symmetry in the light neutrino sector. Secondly, this results in mild splitting of the two degenerate RH neutrinos, with their mass difference given in terms of the U(1)Lμ − Lτ breaking parameter. Finally, we get a massive Zμτ gauge boson. Due to the added Z2 symmetry under which the RH neutrinos and the inert doublet are odd, the canonical Type-I seesaw is forbidden and the tiny neutrino masses are generated radiatively at one loop. The same Z2 symmetry also ensures that the lightest RH neutrino is stable and the other two can only decay into the lightest one. This makes the two nearly-degenerate lighter neutrinos a two-component dark matter, which in our model are produced by the freeze-in mechanism via the decay of the Zμτ gauge boson in the early universe. We show that the next-to-lightest RH neutrino has a very long lifetime and decays into the lightest one at the present epoch explaining the observed 3.5 keV line.


Using a new parity-check matrix, a class of convolutional codes with a designed free distance is introduced. This new class of codes has many characteristics of BCH block codes, therefore, we call these codes BCH convolutional codes.


Background: Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience suboptimal disease control despite the use of disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab (OCR) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and suboptimal response to prior DMTs. Methods: Patients with RRMS and suboptimal responses (one clinically reported relapse and/or lesion activity) after ⩾ 6 months on another DMT were enrolled. OCR 600 mg was given intravenously every 24 weeks. The primary outcome was no evidence of disease activity (NEDA), defined as the absence of protocol-defined relapse, confirmed disability progression (CDP), T1 Gd-enhancing lesions, and new/enlarging T2 lesions. Results: The intention-to-treat (ITT) population included 608 patients; NEDA was analyzed in a modified ITT (mITT) population (n = 576 (94.7%)). Over 96 weeks, 48.1% of mITT patients achieved NEDA, and most were free from protocol-defined relapse (89.6%), CDP (89.6%), and T1 Gd-enhancing lesions (95.5%); 59.5% had no new/enlarging T2 lesions. Safety observations were consistent with findings in the pivotal trials. Conclusion: Consistent efficacy of OCR on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease activity measures and progression was shown in patients with RRMS and a suboptimal response to prior DMTs; no new safety signals were observed.


An alternative treatment is presented for late-onset Blount disease in a 14-year-old boy. The technique consists of asymmetric physeal distraction of the proximal tibial growth plate by using a modified Wagner fixator-distractor device that allows progressive angular correction. The patient had a 23 degrees varus deviation of the left tibia, and no physeal bone bridges were detected. Once the fixator was assembled, distraction started 24 h after surgery at a rate of 1.5 mm/day (2 x 0.75). Complete correction was achieved in 25 days. No osteotomy of the fibula was required. The Wagner device was removed in the outpatient clinic 10 weeks postoperatively. After a 4-year follow-up, there was no loss of correction, showing a satisfactory alignment of the operated-on lower extremity. As compared with acute conventional osteotomies, asymmetric physeal distraction entails several advantages for treatment of Blount disease such as less invasive surgery, progressive and adjustable correction taking place at the apex of the deformity, and the possibility of bone lengthening if needed. Furthermore, physeal distraction does not require a second surgical step for bonegraft harvesting or for removal of the internal fixation.


In Reply. —Drs Bass and Hass have raised some interesting questions related to the young men who came so close to death 22 years ago. Research into hyperthermia as a possible cause of cases reported as SIDS should be encouraged. One of the pleasant surprises here is the happy family. The mother has practically canonized those who she feels "saved" her boys. These young men are happy, well, and gainfully employed. Though retarded, they recently received high school diplomas and have worked for over 3 years at a fast-food restaurant operating the hamburger patty-making machine. The mother is proud that her boys were chosen to teach new employees how to operate the machine. The retardation in these cases raises another question about when and how. Was it the apnea during this episode or was it due to their prematurity and low birth weight (1400 g and 1288 g)? Alas, more


This chapter posits that Governance realignment from e-Government to e-Democracy constitutes a critical context for social and economic development in both developed and developing countries. E-Government and e-Democracy are not new phenomena in most developed countries and some developing countries in Asia and Africa. However, the degrees of political and economic variations between developed and developing countries poses a serious challenge to the efforts towards realignment of governance for social and economic development attainment. The findings in this chapter are that social and economic development lie at the intersection of e-Government and e-Democracy processes of governance realignment. Asymmetry in institutionalisation, and diffusion of e-Democracy amongst countries is widely attributed to economic and political variations in these countries. Unless these differences are skillfully identified and accommodated as such into the development and use models, e-Democracy efforts will not help achieve social and economic development goals, particularly those of developing countries.


In this paper we deal with fixed-priority scheduling of synchronous periodic task systems with variable execution times. The tasks have variable execution times given by independent discrete random variables (that we consider known) and we study the existence of an optimal priority assignment algorithm for such tasks. We provide a first result indicating that Rate Monotonic is not optimal and we prove that optimal priority assignment al- gorithms do exist. Moreover a first intuitive algorithm, that orders the tasks according to their probability of meeting the deadlines, is proved not optimal.


Fast moving groups containing three or more adult humpback whales are found in the winter on Silver Bank in the West Indies, and off Hawaii. Many of these groups have a definite structure: a central Nuclear Animal, with or without a calf, is surrounded by escorts who compete, sometimes violently, for proximity to the Nuclear Animal. This competition involves fluke thrashes, the blowing of bubblestreams, and physical contact, some of which appears designed to hurt an opponent: bleeding wounds are seen on the competing escorts. Escorts sometimes leave these groups and start singing, and singers sometimes stop to join large groups. The pattern of interactions strongly suggests that the escorts are males competing for access to a central female. Off Hawaii singers respond to such groups at ranges of up to approximately 7.5 km. On Silver Bank, Principal Escorts maintained a position of closest proximity to the Nuclear Animal for an average of 7.5 hours before replacement.


Abstract In the Ostrava part of the Upper Silesian Basin there are many geotouristic sites connected with the underground mining of Carboniferous bituminous coal. Text is focused on those related to the geology of the Basin and environmental issues connected to coal mining. Of great intrest are outcrops of Mississippian sediments of the paralic Ostrava Formation, as well as two most important museums with permanent geological exhibitions. Some interesting geological features conncted to younger periods of Quarternary glaciation are also mentioned. Two types of publicly accessible sites related to the environmental burdens (burning coal heaps, saline mine water drainage system) are also described.


Laura Wexler presents an incisive analysis of how the first American female photojournalists contributed to a "doctrine vision" that reinforced the imperialism and racism of America around the dawn of the 20th century. These women photographers, white and middle class, constructed images of war disguised as peace through a mechanism Wexler calls the "averted eye", which had its origins in the private domain of family photography. Wexler examines the work of Frances Benjamin Johnston, Gertrude Kasebier, Alice Austen, the Gerhard sisters and Jessie Tarbox Beals. The book includes over 150 photographs taken between 1898 and 1904, such as photos Johnston took aboard Admiral Dewey's flagship as it returned home from conquering Manila, Austen's photos of immigrants at Ellis Island, and Beal's images of the St Louis World's Fair of 1904. In a groundbreaking approach to the study of photography, Wexler raises up these images as "texts" to be analyzed alongside other texts of the period for what they say about the discourses of power. This study is relevant not only to the fields of history of photography and gender studies, but also to our growing understanding of US imperialism during this period.


This study focused on the effect of economic empowerment for women on family stability among families in Imenti North Sub-County. This study used the quantitative method for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. The descriptive design helped to describe, explain and validate the findings. The data collected was both primary and secondary data by use of a questionnaire. Data from questionnaires was analyzed using the descriptive techniques and inferential statistics with the help of data analysis software -Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). The study found out that a majority of the career women were working full-time and they have been engaged in their careers for a period of 5-10 years. Economic empowerment of women was found to reduce their reliance on their husbands and be able to take care of their needs and enjoy their rights. However, it was reported that there are instances of arguments among spouses over finances. Career women should seek professional counselling services to equip them with adequate skills of managing psychological stress emanating from their careers as well as family commitments. This will help them deal with the situations, thus reducing occurrences of depression and extreme stress that would lead to health complications as well as family stability.


Most software engineering research involves the development of a prototype, a proof of concept, or a measurement apparatus. Together with the data collected in the research process, they are collectively referred to as research artifacts and are subject to artifact evaluation (AE) at scientific conferences. Since its initiation in the SE community at ESEC/FSE 2011, both the goals and the process of AE have evolved and today expectations towards AE are strongly linked with reproducible research results and reusable tools that other researchers can build their work on. However, to date little evidence has been provided that artifacts which have passed AE actually live up to these high expectations, i.e., to which degree AE processes contribute to AE's goals and whether the overhead they impose is justified. We aim to fill this gap by providing an in-depth analysis of research artifacts from a decade of software engineering (SE) and programming languages (PL) conferences, based on which we reflect on the goals and mechanisms of AE in our community. In summary, our analyses (1) suggest that articles with artifacts do not generally have better visibility in the community, (2) provide evidence how evaluated and not evaluated artifacts differ with respect to different quality criteria, and (3) highlight opportunities for further improving AE processes.


Abstract. Mid-Oligocene to Early Miocene terrestrial palynomorphs from the New Jersey hinterland (eastern North America: IODP-Expedition 313) were analysed, using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, to infer altitudinal spatial and long-term temporal vegetation migration in context of global climate change. The mesophytic forest was the most widespread vegetation type in the hinterland, with Quercus (Group Quercus, Quercus/Lobatae and aff. Group Protobalanus) being the dominant taxon. Pollen grains of the extinct genus Eotrigonobalanus (Fagaceae) are documented. To infer possible topographic palaeovegetation movements during the selected time interval terrestrial palynomorphs were assigned to six vegetation units. Relative abundances of vegetation units show weak temporal and spatial fluctuations, with the sum of bisaccate pollen grains being most pronounced. Periodic changes in vegetation units suggest movements of the plant cover responding to orbital-scale glacial-interglacial changes of the Oligocene and early Miocene. Relative abundances of several taxa (e.g. Carya) did not change significantly during the Oligocene, but alterations are recognizable when compared with an already published late Middle Miocene record from the same area, probably indicating biotic responds to environment change. A pollen-based bioclimatic analysis with four standard parameters (mean annual temperature, mean temperatures of the coldest and warmest month, mean annual precipitation) was performed to reconstruct palaeoclimatic changes indicating weak fluctuations in temperature and precipitation.


This paper presents and compares two different approaches to the analysis and design of nonferrous shields for extremely low-frequency magnetic fields. The first method is based on a circuital approach where the shield is modeled by a set of conductors coupled with each other by a matrix of self and mutual inductances. The second technique is based on an algebraic formulation of electromagnetic fields and adapted by means of integral equations to the analysis of thin conductive sheets. The paper shows the accuracy of the two methods for calculating induced current density inside the shield and for evaluating magnetic flux density in the shielded region.


The influence of oxygen defects upon the electronic properties of Nb-doped TiO2 has been studied by using the general gradient approximation (GGA)+U method. Four independent models (i.e., an undoped anatase cell, an anatase cell with a Nb dopant at Ti site (NbTi), an anatase cell with a Nb-dopant and an oxygen vacancy (NbTi+VO), and an anatase cell with a Nb-dopant and an interstitial oxygen (NbTi+Oi)) were considered. The density of states, effective mass, Bader charge, charge density, and electron localization function were calculated. The results show that in the NbTi+VO cell both eg and t2g levels of Ti 3d orbits make contributions to the electronic conductivity, and the oxygen vacancies (VO) collaborate with Nb-dopants to favor the high electrical conductivity by inducing the Nb-dopants to release more excess charges. In NbTi+Oi, an unoccupied impurity level appears in the band gap, which served as an acceptor level and suppressed the electronic conductivity. The results qualitatively coincide with experimental results and possibly provide insights into the preparation of TCOs with desirable conductivity.


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 5th most prevalent and 3rd most lethal cancer worldwide, due to limited treatment options. The lack of tumor-specific membrane targets is one of the key challenges currently facing immunotherapy for solid tumors, where on-target/off-tumor activity can lead to severe adverse responses. Most HCCs overexpress Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), a secreted fetal glycoprotein rarely expressed in adult tissues, making AFP an ideal target for immunotherapy. However, since AFP is only expressed intracellularly and secreted, it cannot be targeted with traditional antibodies against cell-surface antigens. To overcome this limitation, we exploited the fact that intracellular antigens, including AFP, are processed into peptides and presented by class I major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) on the surface of tumor cells. Using an antibody discovery platform optimized for identifying candidates that bind peptide/MHC complexes, we developed ET1402L1, a fully-human scFv specifically targeting an immunogenic AFP peptide complexed with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02:01. ET1402L1 binds HLA-A*02:01/AFP with exquisite specificity and does not cross-react with naked HLA-A*02:01 molecules or with HLA-A*02:01 complexed with a panel of control peptides from endogenous human proteins. T cells engineered to express a second generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructed with ET1402L1 responded to HLA-A*02:01/AFP-expressing cells by degranulating and releasing IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, GM-CSF, and TNFα in an antigen-selective manner. In a cell killing assay, ET1402L1-CART selectively lysed HCC cells that expressed both HLA-A*02:01 and AFP, while sparing cells from multiple tissue types that were negative for either. In vivo, ET1402L1-CART demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in multiple HCC xenograft models. While intravenous administration of ET1402L1-CART significantly inhibited the growth of established subcutaneous (s.c.) Hep G2 tumors (an HCC cell line positive for HLA-A*02:01 and AFP), intratumoral delivery resulted in rapid and prolonged tumor regression with complete regression observed in 75% of animals. These effects were recapitulated in a s.c. tumor model using another liver-derived HLA-A*02:01-positive cell line (SK-HEP-1) engineered to express the AFP peptide. Lastly, intraperitoneal injection of ET1402L1-CART led to regression of tumors in a disseminated abdominal HCC xenograft model. Our data demonstrates that CAR-T cell therapy targeting intracellular antigens via peptide/MHC complexes can effectively eradicate solid tumors in vivo. This approach expands the spectrum of antigens available for redirected T cell therapy against solid malignancies and provides a promising future therapy for HCC. A phase I clinical trial testing ET1402L1-CART in HCC patients is expected to begin in 2016. Citation Format: Hong Liu, Yiyang Xu, Jingyi Xiang, Li Long, Shon Green, Zhiyuan Yang, Jingwei Lu, Neal Cheng, Lucas H. Horan, Bin Liu, Su Yan, Pei Wang, Juan Diaz, Lian-xing Liu, Vivien Chan, Cheng Liu. ET1402L1-CART, a T cell therapy targeting the intracellular tumor antigen AFP, demonstrates potent antitumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2299.


Higher-order topological phase as a generalization of Berry phase attracts an enormous amount of research. The current theoretical models supporting higher-order topological phases, however, cannot give the connection between lower and higher-order topological phases when extending the lattice from lower to higher dimensions. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a topological corner state constructed from the edge states in one dimensional lattice. The two-dimensional square lattice owns independent spatial modulation of coupling in each direction, and the combination of edge states in each direction come up to the higher-order topological corner state in two-dimensional lattice, revealing the connection of topological phase in lower and higher dimensional lattices. Moreover, the topological corner states in two-dimensional lattice can also be viewed as the dimension-reduction from a four-dimensional topological phase characterized by vector Chern number, considering two modulation phases as synthetic dimensions in Aubry-Andre-Harper model discussed as example here. Our work deeps the understanding to topological phases breaking through the lattice dimension, and provides a promising tool constructing higher topological phases in higher dimensional structures.


Abstract Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) with dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancies. Methods: This study was a retrospective study of women diagnosed with ICP and DCDA twin pregnancies in Chengdu's women and children's central hospital. These patients were subdivided into mild and severe ICP groups according to total bile acid (TBA) level. The clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes were collected and compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was developed to evaluate predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes. Results: About 134 cases were included in the study. Eighty-four cases were in the mild ICP group, and the other 50 cases were in the severe ICP group. Level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), and direct bilirubin (DBIL) in the severe ICP group were significant higher than those in the mild ICP group. The rate of delivery before 34 gestational weeks, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and composite adverse neonatal outcome were higher in the severe ICP group than those in the mild ICP group. After adjusting for confounders, ICP onset gestational age (GA) <30 weeks and AST >200U/l were associated with GA at delivery <34 weeks. ALP >400U/l was an independent risk factor of meconium-stained amniotic fluid. ICP onset GA <30 weeks was an independent risk factor of composite adverse neonatal outcome. Conclusion: ICP onset GA <30 weeks, TBA >40 µmol/l, AST >200U/l, and ALP >400U/l were associated with composite adverse perinatal outcomes in ICP with DCDA twin pregnancies. For those patients with these characteristics, fetal surveillance and treatment should be enhanced.


That inflammation of the optic nerve may be associated with influenza is definitely shown by the literature. But whether the optic neuritis is infectious, toxic or mechanical is uncertain. In the case here reported, apparently there was an acute hydrocephalus and one might conclude that the optic neuritis was due to increase of intracranial pressure, but it seems much more probable that the optic neuritis was a local acute inflammatory reaction to a toxemia which also produced the hydrocephalus and perhaps a more general low-grade encephalitis. REPORT OF CASE In September, 1918, influenza was widespread in Boston. L. F., a Jewess, aged 29, was taken acutely ill on September 14, with headache, malaise, chills and fever. The fever was never over 102 F., and lasted only four or five days, but there was marked prostration and she was still in bed at the end of two weeks when seen by


This article argues that the best way to pursue systematic normative ethical theorizing involves metaethical enquiry. My argument builds upon two central claims. First, I argue that plausible metaethical accounts can have implications that can help to resolve the methodological controversies facing normative ethics. Second, I argue that metaethical research is at least roughly as well supported as normative ethical research. I conclude by examining the implications of my thesis. Inter alia, it shows that the common practice of engaging in systematic normative theorizing uninformed by metaethical commitments offers a significant and troubling hostage to metaethical fortune.


The roles of accountant characters in a coherent genre of entertainment media, and over time, remain surprisingly under-researched. In this study, it is argued that the roles of accountants in society can be interpreted from longitudinal analyses of the roles played by accountant characters in entertainment media narratives depicting fictional worlds. Analysis is provided of narratives in which actantial and thematic roles are played by accountants in 178 US superhero comics' narrative sequences between 1938 and 2018. The sequences were those in which at least one character is presented as an accountant. The study reveals that accountants have increasingly been portrayed in more positive than negative roles since the beginning of the twenty-first century and have become symbolic superheroes. At the same time, this study also shows that individual accountants do not last long in these narratives, even though they have a positive role. This article shows how one genre of entertainment media has conveyed an improved image of accountants in fictional worlds, to give them progressively a place of importance comparable perhaps to the one that their professional bodies argue they occupy in modern society. Even if some negativity is still attached to the accountant, their image is progressively changing for a better one based on the roles they played because they are accountants.


Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche and M. tetraphylla L.A.S. Johnson) is an Australian native, evergreen nut tree adapted to the subtropics. Large tree size and slow maturity of the crop pose particular problems for breeding and selection. Funding for an industry breeding program commenced in 1996 and 20 elite seedlings were selected. A second generation of hybrid seedlings is planned for production using the elite selections identified from previous breeding as parents. Four breeding strategies were compared in terms of the time to commercial deployment of elite selections, cost of breeding and expected rates of genetic gain determined by stochastic modelling. A tandem selection strategy, which selected for kernel recovery in a seedling trial and nut-in-shell yield in a clonal trial, produced the highest gain to cost ratio but was limited in the number of genotypes assessed in the clonal trial. The full assessment and progeny cull strategies, which selected for nut-in-shell yield and kernel recovery in both a seedling and clonal trial were similar in terms of gain per unit cost and a cloned seedling strategy was intermediate in value.


Countries that are candidates for EU accession face a complex and urgent task to adopt and implement the acquis communautaireon food safety. For the food industries in Candidate Countries, this implies that EU standards of food production and processing, quality and safety have to be met in order to ensure a high level of consumer protection and satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to assess progress towards new levels of food safety performance in one Candidate Country, Hungary, in one food sector (fresh produce), and evaluate the capacity of the system to demonstrate quality assurance to the satisfaction of private customers and public regulators. The analysis of food safety performance has been undertaken using a novel application of the benchmarking methodology taking the UK fresh produce importing chain as the benchmark.


Fifteen tall, warm-season, native and ornamental grasses were subjected to a 3-year, low-input, and cold hardiness trial conducted from 2010 to 2013 in zone 4a at Fargo and Mandan, ND. Grasses tested were big bluestem [species (Andropogon gerardii)], 'Pawnee' big bluestem (A. gerardii), silver banner grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus), giant miscanthus (Miscanthus ·giganteus), hardy pampas grass, (Saccharum ravennae), and the following maidengrass (Miscanthus sinensis) cultivars: Silver Feather, Narrow Leaf, Blondo, Autumn Light, Condensatus, Grosse Fontaine, Morning Light, Gracillimus, Strictus, and Zebrinus. In addition to survival, the grasses were also rated for spring vigor and fall quality (0– 10 scale for both evaluations), fall leaf length, and fall flower height. The grasses received no management during the trial other than irrigation during the first season and weed control. The grasses were exposed to subsurface soil temperatures (at 6-inch depth) that reached as low asL8.6 C at the Fargo location andL6 C at the Mandan location. The study revealed that all big bluestem (species), 'Pawnee' big bluestem, and silver banner grass survived at both locations; silver banner grass scored the highest spring vigor ratings; silver banner grass and 'Pawnee' big bluestem scored the highest fall quality ratings; silver banner grass produced the longest fall leaf length; and 'Pawnee' big bluestem, big bluestem (species), and silver banner grass produced the tallest fall flowers.


by L. S. KLEJN Leningrad, U.S.S.R. 14 vi 71 Chang's general appeal (CA 8:227-43) for a combination of the efforts of archeology and ethnology, although not new, nevertheless does not and cannot cause objection. It is evident that cooperation between the two disciplines is still insufficient everywhere. The reasons for this, however, were not disclosed in the discussion. Chang's concrete proposals and concepts seem to be quite unacceptable. As for the comments of his opponents, some of them arouse objections, whereas others could be amplified and developed. The result is, at least in style and structure, critical rather than positive. I shall try here to offer some constructive proposals. I have not yet seen Chang's book Rethinking Archeology (1966), to which he refers his opponents for explanation, but I suppose that its strongest arguments, at least in a condensed form, are adduced in the article, intended for a broad and experienced audience. All the missing moot points will, I hope, be mentioned by Chang in his reply. Archeology, ethnology, and history. Before comparing two branches of one science, archeology and ethnology, and analysing their interrelationships, one must define precisely the tasks and domains of each. Chang evades this question on the ground that "the view is deliberately broad" and "when it is not necessary to define, it is necessary not to define." But when there are no rigorous definitions of the main objects a research worker has at his disposal, the view grows so broad that much of it lies beyond the limits of scientific consideration, the range of the latter being rather narrow. Ghosh (p. 237) mentions "ethnologists" with the excuse "to use Chang's term"; but Chang gives no terms, since he gives no definitions. How does Chang understand the term "ethnology," and what is the difference between it and "ethnography" and "ethnoscience" (two other terms that can be found in his article)? For Americans, these concepts may be familiar ones (although I am not atall sure that they are the same for all American scholars), but a great number of readers will expect explanation. Genna (CA 6:303) understands "ethnology" as the study of "the customs and behavior of the various peoples." Closs (CA 8:236) writes that ethnology is "the study of peoples and their migrations" ("special-historical" ethnology, ethnohistory), as well as "the systematic presentation and comparative investigation of the basic forms, particularly among non-literate peoples, of material, social, and symbolic culture" (general ethnology). In Soviet science, it is customary to assume that in the first case we deal with a part of history (ethnic history) and in the second mainly with ethnography. Closs's "general ethnology" and the "ethnography" of Soviet scholars coincide closely. Both lack the American division into a descriptive science ("ethnography") and a synthetic generalizing and comparative one ("ethnology"). (I shall not advance reasons for this, although reasons other than tradition and the state of research do exist.) Chang distinguishes between ethnology and ethnography, but draws no demarcation line in archeology between documentation and synthesis. This viewpoint lacks logic and leads to a discrepancy when the two disciplines are correlated. Moreover, it renders senseless the identification of archeology as "the ethnology" of past peoples (p. 233) that Chang is prone to assume. Kluckhohn (1957:46), whom Chang quotes (p. 231), at least shows more consistency in saying that "archaeology is the ethnography and culture history of past peoples." In Chang's interpretation, ethnology is much narrower than our ethnography; at the same time, it is much broader, for it seems (p. 229) to include ethnoscience, structural linguistics, kinship, and folklore (Soviet scholars differentiate linguistics and folklore). All this presents difficulties for understanding and demands rigid definitions. As far as I can see, when Chang speaks about collaboration between archeologists and ethnologists, he means by ethnologists the specialists we are accustomed to refer to as ethnographers, perhaps adding "generalizers" or "theoreticians." I shall here use the word "ethnologist" in this sense, inasmuch as the term "ethnographer" tends to have, for many readers of this journal, quite another meaning. Ethnography, as we know it, is the study of the culture and mode of life of all the present-day peoples of the globe (e.g., see Artanovskij 1967: 31-40). This definition requires additional limitations to distinguish ethnography from demography, sociology, and other sciences (Bromley and Skaratan 1969), but they are of no importance in this context and may be neglected for the sake of economy. Regularities observed in ethnographic materials may contribute to the history of material and spiritual culture and to social history. They may also be used to draw direct political conclusions or to apply in manufacture. But they do not all have analogies in archeology or relevance for the archeologist. Hence the definition of archeology as the ethnology (ethnography?) of extinct peoples would seem rather a risky metaphor. It is with obvious sympathy that Chang quotes Wheeler's remark that "as archaeological scientists, our subject is Man .... We dig up mere things, forgetful that our proper aim is to dig up people" (p. 233). Strictly speaking, we do first of all dig up things, although our aim ("proper aim") is to pass on to man, peoples, communities, and laws of their development. The whole point is to find ways of making this transition and to specify an ultimate end. Archeology as a science developed out of the mere collecting of material antiquities when the following principles, characteristic of all sciences, were applied to it: (1) the search for regularities as the main task and (2) the constant checking of all hypotheses and all conclusions against new evidence as a general method. Archeology would never have survived as a separate science had not the nature of its subject matter-the material antiquities-made it necessary to single it out as a special category and to apply to it a particular set of concrete methods. The specificity of our materials consists in their isolation from present-day life and their lacunary and fragmentary nature. Our experience shows that in reality there are certain regularities in the archeological material and that in the majority of cases they can be discovered-and discovered correctly-by the methods now in use. Integration for and through history. Chang assumes (p. 232) that "of all anthropological disciplines, archaeologv alone uses 'time' as a fact rather


Paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) is applied to a fast, sensitive and reproducible detection of forgery in signatures made with erasable pens that use a chemical method to remove inks (other than the usual physical methods). A forgery process was simulated by signing over a previously erased signature and triangular sections were cut out of the paper in order to perform the PS-MS analysis. No sample preparation was required as the analysis was conducted directly on the triangular paper by simply wetting it with methanol and applying high voltage. Analysis of the original, erased and forged signatures was made following the same procedure. The results show that the original and the forged signatures were promptly distinguished by their mass spectrometry profiles (fingerprints). Hence, the appearance of diagnostic ions (of m/z 172 and m/z 321) in the mass spectrum of the counterfeit signature can be used to quickly and reliably characterize this novel and potentially harmful type of forgery.


Zinc finger-homeodomains (ZF-HDs) are considered transcription factors that are involved in a variety of life activities in plants, but their function in regulating plant salt stress tolerance is unclear. The SL-ZH13 gene is significantly upregulated under salt stress treatment in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves, per our previous study. In this study, to further understand the role that the SL-ZH13 gene played in the response process of tomato plants under salt stress, the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method was applied to down-regulate SL-ZH13 expression in tomato plants, and these plants were treated with salt stress to analyze the changes in salt tolerance. The silencing efficiency of SL-ZH13 was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. SL-ZH13-silenced plants wilted faster and sooner than control plants under the same salt stress treatment condition, and the main stem bending angle of SL-ZH13-silenced plants was smaller than that of control plants. Physiological analysis showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and proline content in SL-ZH13-silenced plants were lower than those in control plants at 1.5 and 3 hours after salt stress treatment. The malondialdehyde content of SL-ZH13-silenced plants was higher than that in control plants at 1.5 and 3 hours after salt stress treatment; H2O2 and O2- accumulated much more in leaves of SL-ZH13-silenced plants than in leaves of control plants. These results suggested that silencing of the SL-ZH13 gene affected the response of tomato plants to salt stress and decreased the salt stress tolerance of tomato plants.


Recent research developments indicate that citizens' observatories, a novel approach for data collection, management and governance, can provide valuable contributions to strategic delta planning processes. Most citizen observatories are limited in spatial coverage during data collection, according to the citizens' availability and static locations. However, there are times in which citizens participate as trained volunteers during data collection field campaigns. In this later scenario, an important aspect in organising and maintaining citizen observatories is having a clear plan for data gathering activities, including determination of routes to be followed by these citizens. This article addresses the issue of determining such routes (called pathways) related to the specific problem of gathering data in deltaic areas, which are composed of intricate canals and wetlands. Data collection activities consist of citizens acquiring images and videos with mobile phones at predetermined locations (Points of Interest) that are only accessible by boats. A pathway selection approach is presented, supported by a hydrodynamic model, developed to capture the specific processes of the delta. The aim of the approach is to define: where to send the citizens to fulfil stakeholders' interest and planning goals, how to reach these points and which pathways should be selected (prioritised based on such interests), considering possible flood patterns. The developed methodology is part of an ongoing H2020 funded research. The proof of concept is carried out in the Sontea-Fortuna area, of the Danube Delta, which, similar to many wetlands, contains a large variety of unique, endemic species. With the developed approach, pathways to be followed by citizens during data collection campaigns were generated and scored considering local interests. Analysis of the boat's accessibility into the delta during different hydrological scenarios showed that the wetland is more accessible than expected, hence the proposed pathway approach was useful in prioritizing some canals over others. The determined pathways will be applied in field campaigns. The approach can be applied to other delta regions with different environmental problems, such as water quality or ecosystem assessment, contributing to the organisation of effective active citizen data collection.


T HE human race over the centuries has acquired a considerable capacity for successfully introducing foreign bodies into various body cavities through the many available orifices. Hamilton Bailey's statement with regard to one orifice, "the variety of foreign bodies which have found their way into it is hardly less remarkable than the ingenuity displayed in their removal," is very true. The successful self-introduction of a foreign body into the cranial cavity is more than usually difficult as it is a "closed box" and no ready means of ingress is available. But here, too, human ingenuity seems to have triumphed, as shown by the following case history.


A facile process was developed for synthesizing vanadium dioxide (VO2) by pyrolyzing ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) in nitrogen flow. The process was designed on the base of thermodynamic modeling of chemical reaction and thermal analyzing of NH4VO3 pyrogenation in N2 gas, and optimized by experiments. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to characterizing the product VO2. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG) and DSC were used for analyzing the process of NH4VO3 pyrogenation. The experimental results indicated that VO2 microcrystal particles were successfully synthesized. The product VO2 presents two kinds of micro morphologies, torispherical and pentagonal prism. The phase transition mainly takes place at 338.4 K and 341.9 K. The average enthalpy of the phase transition is 28.82 J/g.


This paper reports an empirical study that was aimed to explore community's evaluations of architecture and urban planning qualities and it's influence on place attachment. Place attachment is understood as emotional or affective connection that people develop with their places of residence, due to the meaning given to that site. This study used a survey research design which was conducted in two stages. The first stage of the surveys was to explore variables of architecture and town planning qualities using a combination of open-and-close-ended questions. Forty respondents selected randomly to participate in this phase of study. This resulted 28 variables of architecture and urban planning qualities, which were then used for the next stage of the survey. The second stage of the survey used questionnaire involving seven-point Likert scale to evaluate those qualities and unidimensional scale of place attachment consisted of five variables. There were 193 respondents from five different neighbourhoods in Malang chosen randomly to participate in the survey. Several multivariate data analysis, including factor analysis and regression analysis were used to explore effects of architecture and urban planning qualities on place attachment. Results indicated that, in general, perceived architecture and urban planning qualities are significant as predictors of place attachment. These predictors consist of four factors that are Built Environmental Aesthetics; Pedestrian Facilities; Street Network; and Green Open Space Availability. Those four factors influence 27.2% of the development of place attachment. Keywords: place attachment; community's evaluations; architecture; urban planning and design


The bandwidth of wireless networks needs to grow exponentially over the next decade, due to an increasingly interconnected and smart environment, driven by cloud applications operating on mobile devices. Low-cost, compact and broadband wireless transceivers operating over different frequency bands will be required. The current WiFi (low) frequency bands do not have enough capacity and wireless communication needs to move to the millimeter-wavelength or sub-terahertz range. Furthermore, millimeter-wavelength links offer a exibility solution for non-incumbent operators to lay down fiber-like capacity links when deploying fiber is not an option. Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) technologies have evolved from a blue sky academic topic in the 90s to a main driver within the current quest for the 5th generation mobile systems (5G). A twist in RoF technologies is that it has found along the way niches in areas non purely related to communication technologies (ICT) applications: distribution of highly pure clock signals for radio telescopes, photonic-based coherent radar and fiber optic sensing. It is however in the communication arena where RoF seems to be able to provide a technological edge; RoF techniques based on photonic technologies enable to generate, transport and radiate in a straight forward manner microwave and millimeter wave signals. Although electronic technologies are able to sustain an increase in frequency from a technology point of view, with current developments hitting the Terahertz regime, the complexity of fabrication and to integrate this solutions have to compete with the off-the-shelf solutions provided by RoF technologies. Technologically though, reconfigurable Radio-over-Fiber networks require a co-design effort involving tunable lasers, digital signal processing, high speed modulators and photodiodes and optical switching technologies. Furthermore, reconfigurability is key as future networks are expected to be malleable. An overview on the state-of-the-art and current efforts towards optical components enabling photonic reconfigurability and experiments demonstrating such feature will be given during the presentation.