The study analyses the welfare performance of banks' lending services in the Ghanaian banking industry with emphasis on the role of market power and efficiency. We made use of pooled OLS regression with fixed effect model. For robustness, we adopted Prais–Winsten (1954) regression and two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variables procedures on an unbalanced panel data of 24 banks for years 2009 through 2017. The results reveal that during our study period, there was a welfare loss of about 0.433 percent of observed total loans. Encouragingly, cost efficiency in the banking system fits well within the world's mean efficiency but has been decreasing over time. Further, there is evidence that prices have not moved toward a competitive level. Cost efficiency estimates are found to be negatively associated with loss of consumer surplus estimates. Market power is found to be positively related to a loss in consumer surplus. Additional analysis shows that the market power effect is dominant in both domestic and large banks. Overall, the results indicate that market power and bank efficiency are competing interests for policymakers in their consideration of policy reforms geared toward an efficient and well-functioning banking system. An additional implication of these results suggests that antitrust enforcement may be socially beneficial to provide an incentive for competitive pricing in the lending business segment of banking. Other implications are also discussed.


ABSTRACT Environmental toxicants such as insecticides are able to provoke epigenetic alterations which can be inherited to future generations. The aim of the current study was to assess whether the insecticide Trebon 10F (containing the active ingredient etofenprox) causes multigenerational and/or transgenerational effects on the egg traits of the collembolan Folsomia candida. The parent generation was kept in soil treated with three concentrations of the insecticide. The hatched offspring from each treatment were divided into two groups and were treated in the same manner as their parents (multigenerational effect), or remained untreated (transgenerational effect). The parents reacted with smaller eggs to the insecticide in a concentration dependent manner. Both multigenerational and transgenerational effects were detected in the offspring generations. While neither the number of eggs nor the ratios of the egg diameters (shortest/longest diameter) changed, the egg size increased as the Trebon 10F concentration increased. This is an indication that parents living under insecticide stress transmit this information to their offspring, who react with higher quality egg production. Such alterations in egg traits may have important consequences on the F. candida population dynamic.


Execution management systems (EMS) certainly have a place in today's richly varied investment landscape. Today's leading order management system (OMS) providers, however, can deliver a fully integrated, onsite, broker-neutral trading platform, with built-in algorithms, portfolio modeling capabilities, a flexible and scalable architecture, and FIX-based connectivity to critical liquidity sources, from sell-side desks to dark pools. For many firms seeking to reduce the tools on their desks without compromising their trading capability, that may be just the algorithmic ticket.


Studies performed in absence of gravitational constraint show that a living system is unable to choose between two different phenotypes, thus leading cells to segregate into different, alternative stable states. This finding demonstrates that the genotype does not determine by itself the phenotype but requires additional, physical constraints to finalize cell differentiation. Constraints belong to two classes: holonomic (independent of the system's dynamical states, as being established by the space‐time geometry of the field) and non‐holonomic (modified during those biological processes to which they contribute in shaping). This latter kind of "constraints", in which dynamics works on the constraint to recreate them, have emerged as critical determinants of self‐organizing systems, by manifesting a "closure of constraints." Overall, the constraints act by harnessing the "randomness" represented by the simultaneous presence of equiprobable events restraining the system within one attractor. These results cast doubt on the mainstream scientific concept and call for a better understanding of causation in cell biology.


AIM
To prepare and characterize the mouse monoclonal antibodies against human PON2 (paraoxonase 2).

METHODS
A fragment of human PON2 gene of low homology with mice but of strong hydrophilicity and immunogenicity was selected for recombinant expression. Mice were immunized with the purified HIS fusion protein 3 times. The specificity and sensitivity of the anti-human PON2 monoclonal antibodies were characterized by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence.

RESULTS
HIS-PON2 and GST-PON2 fusion protein was highly expressed in E.coli with a molecular weight of 40 kDa and 46 kDa. Western blot analysis proved that the established monoclonal antibodies could specifically recognize the target proteins expressed in E.coli expression system. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis confirmed that PON2 protein was located in the cytoplasm of HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSION
The monoclonal antibodies against human PON2 can specifically recognize natural protein expressed in human cells, Which can be used for further functional study of PON2 protein.


This papyrus was acquired, with some others, for the Egypt Exploration Society in 1914 at Medînet-el-Faiyûm by Dr. John Johnson. It consists of five large pieces; of these four join and together measure 37 × 24·5 cm.; they contain remains of three adjacent columns. Another piece measures 5 × 13·5 cm., and a small unplaced scrap (Fr. A) 4·5 × 3·7 cm. The writing of the recto, which runs along the fibres, is large, regular, rounded, and clear, but not elegant; I would assign it to the second century B.C. The verso was written across the fibres; the hand may be the same, but seems more cursive; the surface is very damaged and no whole word is legible. A certain irregularity in the spacing of letters and lines suggests that the papyrus was used again for a document.


Our living spaces are increasingly augmented by smart things, which can sense our locations, identities, activities, and thus enable seamless interaction between the physical environment and us. Ultimately, the smart things will transform the ordinary environments into "smart spaces" that can automate human life. However, to date, the smart spaces vision has been heavily relying on dedicated infrastructures or sensors, which incur non-negligible cost and require heavy human intervention, breaching the key promise of smartness. In this talk, I will introduce a new line of ubiquitous sensing techniques that realize smart spaces through legacy infrastructures and smartphone sensors. These techniques employ novel sensor processing algorithms to extract intelligent observations that are invisible to human or conventional sensors. As an example, I will first introduce LiTell, a system that transforms incumbent lighting infrastructure into location landmarks, in order to provide accurate and reliable location information in indoor environment. I will further introduce LiShield, which protects the visual privacy of physical environment against unwanted camera photographing. These systems open up new possibilities for realizing smart spaces based on ordinary low-profile things. Finally, I will conclude the talk with future research challenges and opportunities in embracing everyday objects into the smart spaces. INFORMATICS, COMPUTING, AND ENGINEERING


Subjective age-associated changes in sleep (AACS) and sex differences in AACS have never been prospectively investigated in elderly populations. We compared the AACS every 2 years over a total of 6 years between 4,686 community-dwelling healthy men and women aged 60 years or older who participated in the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia. Sleep parameters including sleep duration, latency, and efficiency, mid-sleep time, daytime dysfunction, and overall subjective sleep quality were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at baseline and at each follow-up. The effects of time and sex on subjective sleep parameters were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. During the 6 years of follow-up, we observed that overall, sleep latency increased, while daytime dysfunction and sleep quality worsened. Significant sex differences in AACS was found, with women showing shortened sleep duration, delayed mid-sleep time, and decreased sleep efficiency over 6 years. Sleep quality worsened in both groups but a more pronounced change was observed in women. Clinicians should be cautious in determining when to treat declared sleep disturbances in this population.


Height is an important indicator of Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess nutritional status in elderly. BMI can be used to assess risk of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) and obesity. However, measurement of stature in elderly cannot be conducted perfectly due to kyphosis and scoliosis. It may be more appropriate to estimate stature from measurement of other skeletal segments such as knee height, arm span and sitting height. Aging process does not influence length of arm, leg (knee) and vertebral bone. Arm span is less influenced by aging. Reduction of arm span on elderly is slower than height, so that it is recommended as a parameter for stature prediction. Sitting height can also be used to predict the stature of elderly, but tend to decrease along with aging. The predicted height in elderly is considered as quite valid in developing anthropometry index and taking interpretation of the measurement of body composition. The Indonesian elderly can use the three predictors to estimate their height which put in the Nutritional Status Assessment of Elderly.


This article positions the eighteenth-century novel alongside contemporary developments in the modeling of complex systems, including Leonhard Euler's solution to the Königsberg bridge problem and William Hogarth's serial engravings. Unlike studies that apply network theory to literary forms like the early novel, it instead identifies a strain of network thinking in the arts characteristic of the British eighteenth century. At this junction between network-style thinking and the rise of complex forms of affiliation in the emerging middle classes, art forms appear that this article risks calling the "graphic" novel. While we generally think of the novel's rise as paralleling the development of depth psychology or modern individualism, this account of the novel instead forges an argument for its development as a means of cataloging the complex systems of relationships characteristic of the "middling sort." Its exemplary author is William Hogarth, whose Marriage A-la-Mode offers a signal instance of the forms of network-style visualization seeking to make sense of the urban everyday, and whose Analysis of Beauty includes a surprisingly thorough account of the network-like aesthetics that characterize midcentury literary form.


As inhibitors of chitin synthase, nikkomycins have attracted interest as potential antibiotics. The biosynthetic pathway to these peptide nucleosides in Streptomyces tendae is only partially known. In order to elucidate the last step of the biosynthesis of the aminohexuronic building block, we have heterologously expressed a predicted aminotransferase encoded by the gene nikK from S. tendae in Escherichia coli. The purified protein, which is essential for nikkomycin biosynthesis, has a pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate cofactor bound as a Schiff base to lysine 221. The enzyme possesses aminotransferase activity and uses several standard amino acids as amino group donors with a preference for glutamate (Glu > Phe > Trp > Ala > His > Met > Leu). Therefore, we propose that NikK catalyses the introduction of the amino group into the ketohexuronic acid precursor of nikkomycins. At neutral pH, the UV‐visible absorbance spectrum of NikK has two absorbance maxima at 357 and 425 nm indicative of the presence of the deprotonated and protonated aldimine with an estimated pKa of 8.3. The rate of donor substrate deamination is faster at higher pH, indicating that an alkaline environment favours the deamination reaction.


The endothelial dysfunction is considered to be an initial step of atherosclerosis. Additionally, it was reported that the smooth muscle, which constructs the media of the artery, changes its characteristics due to early-stage atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is essential to develop a method for assessing endothelial function and mechanical property of arterial wall. There is a technique to measure the transient change in diameter of the brachial artery caused by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) after release of avascularization. For more sensitive and regional evaluation, we developed a method to measure the change in elasticity of the radial artery due to FMD. In this study, the transient change in the mechanical property of the arterial wall was further revealed by measuring the stress-strain relationship during each heartbeat. The minute change in thickness (strain) of the radial arterial wall during a cardiac cycle was measured using the phased tracking method. At the same time, the waveform of blood pressure at the radial artery was continuously measured with a sphygmometer. Transient change due to FMD in the stress-strain relationship during a cardiac cycle was obtained from the measured strain and blood pressure to show instantaneous viscoelasticity. From the stress-strain relationship, we estimated the viscoelasticity by using least-square method. In this study, the repeated in vivo measurement for 10 minutes shows the deviation of this method. The temporal decrease of static elasticity after recirculation due to FMD is much larger than maximum difference from the mean. These results show a potential of the proposed method for thorough analysis of the transient change of viscoelasticity due to FMD.


Seran YN, Sudarto, Hakim L, Arisoesilaningsih E. 2018. Sandalwood (Santalum album) growth and farming success strengthen its natural conservation in the Timor Island, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 1586-1592. Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) is a unique plant of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province of Indonesia and locally known as the unity symbol woody fragrance (hau meni). The study aimed to compare growth quality of trees grown in plantations and forests in the districts of North Central Timor (TTU) and South Central Timor (TTS). Vegetation analysis was held by purposive sampling in eight sites comprising 87 plots. Plots sizes were 20x20 m2 for trees, 10x10 m2 for poles, and 5x5 m2 for saplings. Variables observed in each plot included density, trunk diameter, height, crown quality, and vitality. Data were analyzed by descriptive and multivariate statistics. The results showed that the growth of sandalwoods varied spatially in all study sites and was classified into five groups. Two plantations in TTS District showed better trees growth quality compared to those in TTU. Higher saplings and poles density were found in two sites, a plantation and a forest in TTU plantation, and in a forest in TTS. However higher vitality were found in two plantations, each one in TTS and TTU. Inferior growth was observed in Nununamat plantation. Farmers had a significant role in strengthening sandalwood conservation in two districts as shown by their successful farming and trees growth quality that was similar to those in the forests.


Feeding initiation after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion might occur anywhere from 4 to 24 hours after insertion in the practice setting. A review and appraisal of the literature reveals that feeding initiation is both safe and prudent within 4 hours of placement. Early feeding initiation allows for medications and nutrition to be given by enteral means earlier, resulting in a cost benefit for facilities and allowing patients to be discharged home or transferred to long-term care sooner. Nursing theory supports early feeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement. Early feedings provide patients with relief of their hunger and allow the patients and caregivers to move forward with the next level of care in their recovery.


Clindamycin use in dental infections is reviewed in this article. A broad spectrum against most strains associated to odontostomatological pathology (caries, pulp and periodontal infections) is emphasized, as soon as the high levels in gingival fluid, bone and saliva with clindamycin obtained.


The objective is to analyze the structure of narratives of subjective rebuilding in the reality show What Not to Wear. The scope in this case is to investigate, under the greimasian discursive semiotics beliefs, how this television broadcast, a current phenomenon, creates its storyline, the expressive resources it uses and then verify the sensibility and interaction raised and how they become systems of an underlying presence in building patterns within the construction of the contemporary subjective narrative.


The use of drugs and supplements to enhance performance has become a part of mainstream athletics. Many team physicians and sports medicine practitioners are unfamiliar with the benefits and risks of these products and thus are unable to educate young athletes on this topic. In spite of numerous reports on the health risks of anabolic steroid use, 1 to 3 million Americans have used them. Human growth hormone has been tried by up to 5% of 10th graders, although no scientific study has shown that it is an effective performance-enhancing drug. Amphetamines and similar compounds may be the most widely abused drug in baseball; recently, they have come under increased scrutiny in sport. Erythropoietin is a highly effective aerobic enhancer that has been linked to multiple deaths in cyclists and other endurance athletes. The neutraceutical industry, led by supplements such as creatine, ephedra, and androstenedione, remains unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration and has serious issues with quality and side effects. An understanding of these products is essential for the sports medicine practitioner to provide sound, safe advice to the athlete.


In view of the applications of Forster resonant energy transfer (FRET) in biological systems which especially require FRET in the infrared region, we investigate the great advantage of graphene plasmonics in such studies. Focusing on the fundamental aspects of FRET between a donoracceptor pair on a graphene platform showing that FRET mediated by the plasmons in graphene is broadband and enhanced by six orders of magnitude. We briefly discuss the impact of phononpolaritonic substrates.


This Special Issue of Higher Learning Research Communications is dedicated to selected papers from the 4th International Conference on Teaching and Learning (ICTL), held in Bangkok during November 13-15, 2013. The papers reflect the exciting changes occurring in ASEAN countries, especially in Higher Education. As the 21st century brings about new social changes and economic challenges, many Higher Education institutions seek to prepare students to face a constantly changing and globalized world. In that regard, the papers selected reflect how some Higher Education institutions are preparing to achieve this goal: internationalizing their curricula and incorporating technology into the classrooms.


The biggest news was the "baseline"—defined as the CBO's projections of federal revenues and spending assuming current laws remain unchanged. As has happened annually since 2010, the CBO lowered its forecast of federal health spending growth, independent of any policy action. Medicare and Medicaid costs combined are expected to be 15% lower in 2020 than was forecast just 3 years previously. In dollars, the savings for Medicare over the next 7 years are nearly $400 billion, about two-thirds as much as the revenue from the expiration of some of the high-income tax cuts that happened this January.


This Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Sao Paulo Integrated Urban Transport Project, covers mainly the reallocation impacts resulting from the construction of the subway's Yellow Line, segment Morumbi - Luz, which will link two important commercial areas: Pinheiros and Faria Lima, currently isolated by the natural barrier of the River Pinheiros. The RAP stipulates that although massive expropriations will be minimized, resettlement will occur, not only for project affected families (PAF), but also for local enterprises. Based on a survey conducted by the Companhia do Metropolitano de Sao Paulo (CMSP), to promote consultation with affected populations, the RAP assumes the following mitigating measures: resettlement will be minimized as possible, aiming at maintaining, or recovering living conditions, through either household, and enterprise reconstruction, or relocation as needed, to uphold community ties, and productive capacity. Compensation will be available for household, and enterprise losses, based on market values, to include moving expenses, while, income losses will be compensated for a period of one year following reallocation.


OBJECTIVES
To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the diagnosis of peri-implant bone defects of titanium (Ti), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2 ), or titanium-zirconium (Ti-Zr) alloy implants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ti, Ti-Zr or ZrO2 implants with two diameters (3.3 mm, 4.1 mm) and one length (10 mm) were inserted in the angle of the mandible of six fresh defrosted pig jaws. Out of the 12 implants inserted, 6 served in the test group with standardized buccal peri-implant bone defects, whereas 6 served as control without bone defects. CBCTs were performed with three acquisition protocols (standard, high, low dose) using two devices. Four observers analysed CBCTs as follows: 1) presence of a peri-implant defect; 2) presence of peri-implant artefacts and impact on defect diagnosis; 3) linear measurements of buccal peri-implant defect including height and width (in mm).

RESULTS
CBCT device, CBCT settings, implant material, implant diameter, and observer background did not significantly influence diagnostic accuracy. The sensitivity and specificity values were high for defect detection. ZrO2 led to a lower than average diagnostic accuracy (0.781). The linear measurements of peri-implant defect were underestimated by <1 mm on average. The subjective impact of artefacts on defect diagnosis was significantly affected by implant material and observer background.

CONCLUSIONS
CBCT showed high diagnostic accuracy for peri-implant bone defect detection regardless of the device, imaging setting, or implant material used. If CBCT is indicated to assess per-implant bone disease, low dose protocols could be a promising imaging modality.


Abstract Encapsulation of a multimeric alcohol oxidase (AOx) in giant vesicles (GVs) was prepared by rapid evaporation method. The specific activity (477 U/mg-protein) of the GV encapsulated AOx was 3.5 fold higher than the free AOx. The half-life (˜59.4 hours) of the encapsulated AOx was 20-fold higher than the free enzyme at 30°C. Further, the GV was used to encapsulate AOx and HRP together as coupled reaction catalyst for chromogen-based optical detection of alcohols. The results confirmed potential application of the GV as micro-dimensional container for enhancing stability, activity and biosensing applications of AOx.


Abstract– Whether a target is penetrated or not during hypervelocity impact depends strongly on typical impactor dimensions (Dp) relative to the absolute target thickness (T). We have therefore conducted impact experiments in aluminum1100 and TeflonFEP targets that systematically varied Dp/T (=D*), ranging from genuine cratering events in thick targets (Dp << T) to the nondisruptive passage of the impactor through very thin films (Dp >> T). The objectives were to (1) delineate the transition from cratering to penetration events, (2) characterize the diameter of the penetration hole (Dh) as a function of D*, and (3) determine the threshold target thickness that yields Dh = Dp. We employed spherical soda‐lime glass (SLG) projectiles of Dp = 50–3175 μm at impact velocities (V) from 1 to 7 km s−1, and varied target thicknesses from microns to centimeters. The transition from cratering to penetration processes in thick targets forms a continuum in all morphologic aspects. The entrance side of the target resembles that of a standard crater even when the back of the target suffers substantial, physical perforations via spallation and plastic deformation. We thus suggest that the cratering‐to‐penetration transition does not occur when the target becomes physically perforated (i.e., at the "ballistic limit"), but when the shock pulse duration in the projectile (tp) is identical to that in the target (tt), i.e., tp = tt. This condition is readily calculated from equation‐of‐state data. As a consequence, in reconstructing impactor dimensions from observations of space‐exposed substrates, we recommend that crater size (Dc) be used for the case of tp < tt, and that penetration hole diameter (Dh) be used when tp > tt. The morphologic evolution of the penetration hole and its size also forms a continuum that strongly depends on both the scaled parameter D* and on V, but it is independent of the absolute scale. The condition of Dh = Dp is approached at D* > 50. The dependence of Dh on T and V, however, is very systematic. This has led to new and detailed calibration curves, permitting the reconstruction of Dp from the measurement of either crater diameter or penetration‐hole size in Al1100 and TeflonFEP targets of arbitrary thickness. We also placed witness plates behind penetrated targets to intercept the down‐range debris plume, which is generally a mixture of both target and impactor fragments and melts. These witness plates also reveal that the debris plume systematically and diagnostically depends on D*. Thick targets shed spall debris only, and target thickness must be less than crater depth (Tc) to allow projectile material on the witness plate. Concentric plume patterns, accented by characteristic "hole saw" rings, characterize penetrated Al‐targets at D* = 1–10, but they give way to distinctly radial geometries at D* = 10–20. Most of the target debris occupies the periphery of the plume, while the projectile fragments or melts reside in its central parts. The periphery of the plume is also typically more fine‐grained than its center. At D* > 50, the exit plume is dominated by solid projectile fragments that progressively coagulate and overlap with each other, giving rise to compound craters. The latter have irregular crater interiors on account of the heterogeneous mass distribution of a collisionally produced, aggregate impactor. Similarly, complex craters are observed on LDEF and Stardust and they are produced by aggregate cosmic‐dust particles containing large, dense components within a relatively low‐density, fine‐grained matrix. The witness‐plate observations can also be used to address the enigmatic clustering of impact sites observed on Stardust's aerogel and aluminum surfaces. We suggest that this clustering is difficult to produce by the collision of particles from comet Wild 2 with the Stardust spacecraft, and that it is more likely due to particle disaggregation in the comet's coma.


Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymer composed of four bases denoted A, C, G, and U. It generally is a single-stranded molecule where the bases form hydrogen bonds within the same molecule leading to structure formation. In comparing different homologous RNA molecules it is important to consider both the base sequence and the structure of the molecules. Traditional alignment algorithms can only account for the sequence of bases, but not for the base pairings. Considering the structure leads to significant computational problems because of the dependencies introduced by the base pairings. In this paper we address the problem of optimally aligning a given RNA sequence of unknown structure to one of known sequence and structure. We phrase the problem as an integer linear program and then solve it using methods from polyhedral combinatorics. In our computational experiments we could solve large problem instances--23S ribosomal RNA with more than 1400 bases--a size intractable for former algorithms.


Sudden Stops in emerging economies are characterized by large, sudden current account reversals, severe recessions, and corrections in relative prices. This phenomenon is a puzzle for a large class of business cycle models in which the current account is a vehicle for consumption smoothing and investment financing. Models in this class explain Sudden Stops as the result of large, unanticipated shocks to credit market access, but this explanation is at odds with the history of Sudden Stops and is grossly incomplete because the current account reversal is obtained by assumption. Why economies in which agents know that Sudden Stops can happen become vulnerable to these crises? Can equilibrium business cycle theory explain infrequent Sudden Stops nested within "normal" business cycles without recurring to large, unexpected shocks? This paper answers these questions by constructing a model in which typical realizations of the underlying exogenous shocks driving business cycles trigger credit constraints on foreign debt and working capital financing. These constraints depend on endogenous equilibrium outcomes, and they bind only when agents are highly indebted. These high debt positions are reached with positive probability in the long run. Sudden Stop dynamics are driven by endogenous financing premia on foreign debt and working capital and Fisher's debt-deflation mechanism. The latter amplifies the real effects of adverse shocks hitting the economy and increases their persistence because the price affected by the Fisherian deflation is the Tobin Q.


Reduction of referees' physical performance in the second half of the game has been observed in previous research on football referees. There is very little research addressing Futsal referees. The aim of the present thesis was to investigate physiological, physical and cognitive performance of Futsal and football referees in field and laboratory studies.
The 1st experimental study (Chapter 4) analysed the activity profile and physiological demands of 18 Futsal referees and referee decision-making performance at different stages of the match (e.g. 1st vs 2nd half). In addition, it explored relationships between physical fitness/performance on the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) fitness tests, activity profile and decision-making performance. The main findings were that total distance and average heart rate were higher in the first compared to second half but lactate and session RPE were similar. The proportion of correct decisions decreased in the second half (1st half, 91.1 ± 14.9% correct vs 2nd half, 73.3 ± 17.4%, p = 0.002). No correlations were evident between FIFA fitness tests and activity profile but the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test - Level 2 (Yo-Yo IET-2) performance and total distance (clock time) were correlated (r = 0.720, p = 0.019). Further motion analysis studies are needed to collect data for referees and players during the same matches. The present study also suggests that the traditional FIFA fitness test (and 1000 m run) were poor for assessing Futsal referee-specific fitness, and tests that involve intermittent and/or direction changes, such as the Yo-Yo test or Assistant Referee Intermittent Endurance Test (ARIET), may be more appropriate, although further research is needed on the ARIET in this context.
The 2nd experimental study (Chapter 5) examined whether undertaking a 10-min Psychomotor Vigilance test (PVT) before a match would influence referees' cognitive performance, especially decision-making (DM) to determine the suitability of using it in field-based studies involving real matches. The results showed that the PVT did not affect referees' decision-making or cognitive performance. Hence, the 10- min PVT can be safely used with referees before real competition/in the field.
The 3rd experimental study (Chapter 6) assessed referees' performance on the PVT before and after competitive Futsal matches. The findings showed that, despite changes in BRUMS parameters indicative of a fatigue profile, psychomotor performance was improved after a single match (PVT mean reaction time 248.3 ± 26.2 ms pre- vs 239.7 ± 22.4 ms post-match, p = 0.023). It is possible that a more strenuous overall demand would cause different effects, however, the post-match improvement observed here could be used to inform warm-up practices (e.g. optimal duration and intensity) geared towards optimising cognitive performance of referees during matches.
The 4th experimental study (Chapter 7) examined the effect of mental fatigue on referees' physiological responses and cognitive performance during a lab-based intermittent protocol. The main findings were that mental fatigue had a significant negative effect on referees' cognitive performance as assessed by a referee-specific decision-making task (correct decisions, 76.7 ± 7.2% at the beginning of exercise vs 64.6 ± 7.8% at the end, p < 0.001), which did not occur in the control trial. PVT performance was also significantly reduced to a greater extend in the mental fatigue, compared to control, condition. This may have implications for optimising referees' preparation and cognitive performance in real matches, which should be explored further.
Overall this thesis has demonstrated that referee performance decreases in the second half in both Futsal and football referees. Further, it provides evidence that this is influenced by mental fatigue. Further investigations on referees' performance and related factors are warranted, along with interventions directed towards improving performance (cognitive and physical) via reducing mental fatigue.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of childhood experience on adolescent emotional expression conflict and psychological adjustment. In order to examine this, t test, correlation analysis, regression was administered. The Results of this study were as follows. First, there was a meaningful difference in the response of the primary caregiver on the supportive emotional expression of the childhood, in accord with the sex of the youth. Second, minimization responses (for the male high school student) and punitive responses (for the female high school student) had a significant effect upon the ambivalence of the emotional expression of the childhood. Third, both the male and female high school student was influenced by the non-supportive response of the primary caregiver, in terms of their negative emotional expression of the childhood, and especially by distress reactions of the primary caregiver. Fourth, the non-supportive response of the primary caregiver had effect on the internalization problem and externalization of the male high school students, and in particular, distress reactions of the primary caregiver had a significant effect on their adaptation; on the other hand, punitive response had an impact on the female students. But, unlike the male students, in the case of the female students, the response of primary caregiver who encouraged them to express and recognized their negative emotion played a part as a protective factor in their internalization problem. In addition, the emotionally oriented response of the primary caregiver had an effect on lessening the stress of adolescents. The implications and limitation of this study were discussed for future research were suggested. (Korean J Str Res 2009;17:425∼434)


In this study, the morphological and biochemical properties of local sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) populations which are widely cultivated in Kilis and its districts, collected from 12 different fields were determined. Sesame oil content and protein content varied between 25.59 to 35.23% and 19.81 to 24.45%, respectively. Main components of seed fatty acids were found to be oleic acid (43.51 to 49.05%), linoleic acid(36.10 to 39.80%), palmitic acid (7.83 to 9.46%), stearic acid (5.40 to 6.09%) and arachidonic acid (0.31 to 0.57%). Branch number per plant (4.20 to 9.40), capsule number per plant (38.0 to 163.8), seed number per capsule (42.00-72.80), 1000 seed weight (2.76-3.96 g) and seed yield per plant (6.37 to 35.15 g) showed vast variation among populations in terms of morphological properties.

 Key words: Sesamum indicum L., protein content, crude oil content, fatty acid composition.


BACKGROUND
People who consume psychoactive substances may experience situations of social stigma on the part of the society in general, and also situations of internalized-stigma derived from their own consumption of substances. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale has been shown to be valid and reliable to evaluate the internalized-stigma in people with severe mental disorders, but in Argentina there is no a Spanish version of this scale for use with people who use psychoactive substances. The objective of this work was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness instrument adapted for people who use psychoactive substances.

METHOD
The work was carried out on a sample of 200 patients older than 18 years under treatment of rehabilitation by consumption of psychoactive substances in a public institution of the city of Córdoba (Argentina) between the years 2014 and 2016. The instrument used was the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) previously adapted for use in these groups of patients. It was determined the reliability of the scale through Cronbach's coefficients α and factorial structure was analyzed through an exploratory factor analysis.

RESULTS
The obtained coefficients showed a high reliability, while in the factorial structure emerged the 4 theoretical dimensions described by Ritsher, namely: social isolation, perceived discrimination, alienation and stereotyping.

CONCLUSION
It is concluded that the scale adapted for people who use psychoactive substances is reliable and with an adequate factorial structure.


Background Despite strong evidence for health benefits from active travel, levels in the UK remain low. Changes to the physical and social workplace environment might encourage active travel but there is little high quality evidence for this. Methods Data come from 419 participants in the Commuting and Health in Cambridge study, who completed postal questionnaires in 2011 and 2012. Participants lived and worked in the Cambridge area and were predominantly recruited through their workplaces. Each participant's workplace environment was summarised using the number of physical characteristics from eight potential options (e.g. bicycle parking, shower facilities) and their level of agreement with five statements about workplace social norms around commuting (e.g. colleagues walk to work). We used a natural experimental approach to explore associations between changes in the physical and social workplace environment over time and changes in the proportion of commute trips i) exclusively by private motor vehicle, ii) exclusively by active modes and iii) including active modes, using fractional response logit regression in Stata 15, StataCorp. We additionally examined whether these associations differed between men and women. Results In adjusted analyses, an increase of one physical characteristic was associated with a 2% (95% confidence interval 0 to 4) reduction in the proportion of commute trips by private motor vehicle and a 2% (95% CI 0 to 4) increase in the proportion of commute trips which included active modes. In sex stratified analyses these associations were only seen in males, with a 3% (95% CI 1 to 6) reduction in commute trips by private motor vehicle and an increase in commute trips including active travel of 5% (95% CI 3 to 8). A change to more favourable social norms for walking or cycling among workplace management was associated with an increased percentage of commutes including active modes in women (4%, 95% CI 1 to 7) but not men. However, in both genders a change to more favourable social norms around colleagues' cycling was associated with reduced commuting by exclusively active modes (-3%, 95% CI -5 to -1). Conclusion This study provides robust longitudinal evidence for sex differences in the associations between workplace environment and commute mode. Physical factors were associated with more active commuting in men, while the social environment appeared to have more complex associations that were stronger among women. Although this study was small and geographically circumscribed, its findings propound larger studies in more diverse contexts.


The present paper reports the results of a mineralogical and petrographic study focused on the archaeometric characterization of Early Bronze Age pottery from the archaeological site of Khirbet al-Batrawy (Jordan), dated between 3000 and 2000 BC. Optical microscopy (OM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analyses are used to define the nature of the raw material, the technology of the ceramic production and their developing during the centuries. The results allow us to identify 12 petrographic fabrics in which the nature of the inclusions  is consistent with the geological surrounding of Khirbet al-Batrawy. The variability observed in the fabrics suggests a technological evolution during the centuries, characterized by a first start-up phase in the ceramic production, followed by a diffuse experimentation in the choice of the starting raw material and a last standardization phase. The co-occurrence of primary calcite, illite, gehlenite and diopside allows hypothesizing a firing temperature lower than 950 °C. A moderate increasing in the firing temperature is observed in the last phases of Batrawy history, suggesting a development of knowledge connected to the firing process.


The reductive removal of U(VI) by nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) was enhanced by using Na(+)-saturated bentonite (Na-bent) as the support, and the mechanism for the enhanced removal were investigated comprehensively. Under the same experimental conditions, NZVI supported on the negatively charged Na-bent showed much higher removal efficiency (99.2%) of cationic U(VI) than either bare NZVI (48.3%) or NZVI supported on the positively charged bentonite (Al-bent) did. Subsequent experimental investigations revealed the unique roles of bentonite on enhancing the reactivity and reusability of NZVI. First, Na-bent can buffer the pH in reaction media, besides preventing NZVI from aggregation. Second, Na-bent promoted the mass transfer of U(VI) from solution to NZVI surface, leading to the enhanced removal efficiency. Third, the bentonite may transfer some insoluble reduction products away from the iron surface according to X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) study. Finally, Na-bent as the adsorbent to Fe(II) makes it more reactive with U(VI), which enhanced stoichiometrically the reduction capacity of NZVI besides accelerating the reaction rate.


We have developed a 3-D packaging technology called SMAFTI (SMArt chip connection with FeedThrough Interposer), which enables the implementation of a new memory/logic-interconnect hierarchy. Through experiments, we were able to confirm practical performance of this technology. We implemented a new die bonding process and the multilayer interconnect technology to form over a thousand parallel interconnects between memory and logic dies. Implementation of the new process was achieved with high productivity and low process costs. We characterized the interlaminar horizontal wiring by S-parameter measurement up to 40 GHz and confirmed its potential for high-speed signal transmission at over 10 Gb/s.


High-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT), a marker of CVD, and N-Terminal pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP), a marker of heart failure, have not been widely studied in type 1 diabetes. We thus assessed the ability of these markers to independently predict CVD and MACE in a cohort with childhood-onset T1D (n=583, mean age 29 and duration 21 years) during a median follow-up of 21 years. CVD was defined as CVD death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, angina, or ischemia, and MACE as CVD death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. hsTnT and NT-proBNP were assessed with electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Median hsTnT was 5.0 ng/L (IQR: 2.0, 10.0) and median NT-proBNP was 22.0 pg/mL (7.0, 61.0). In Cox proportional hazards models allowing for diabetes duration, gender, BMI, smoking status, HbA1c, hypertension status, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol, white blood cell count, estimated glomerular filtration rate and albumin excretion rate, both log hsTnT (HR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.06-1.59) and log NT-proBNP (HR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.13-1.48) independently predicted CVD. However, the prediction of CVD between models with and without these two markers improved only marginally (Uno's concordance statistic p=0.06). Furthermore, log hsTnT was a slightly weaker predictor of MACE (HR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.97-1.55) compared with log NT-proBNP (HR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.11-1.47). The addition of these two markers to models already including traditional risk factors did not enhance MACE prediction (p=0.39). In conclusion, although hsTnT and NT-proBNP independently predicted both CVD and MACE, they marginally increased the area under the curve only for CAD in this type 1 diabetes cohort. Disclosure T. Costacou: None. A.K. Saenger: None. T.J. Orchard: Consultant; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. Funding National Institutes of Health (DK34818); Rossi Memorial Fund


The end face of a cylinder cavity resonant in the H{sub 011} mode is a semiconductor n-n{sup +} structure. Formulas for the resistivity and thickness of the n-layer in terms of measurements of the cavity length and Q-factor with the semiconducting structure turned up and down are suggested. Experimental tests of the techniques are reported.


Purpose: The Cerecyte Coil System (Micrus Endovascular, San Jose, California, USA) is a polyglycolic acid loaded coil that can deliver a stable aneurysm framing while delivering a bioactive copolymer. Here we report our mid-term results on the use of this coil system for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Materials and Methods: From July 2005 to August 2008, 62 patients with 67 aneurysms were treated using Cerecyte coils exclusively or in combination with bare platinum coils. We compared this cohort with 65 patients with …


Purpose: Video assisted laryngoscopy has been rapidly incorporated into the anesthesiologist's arsenal for challenging adult airway management. The development of pediatric video airway equipment presents an opportunity to expand upon the previous reliance on direct laryngoscopy alone. This study utilized the Storz DCI® Video Laryngoscope which consists of a standard straight 0 and 1 blade combined with a 2.8 mm fiberoptic light bundle built into the left side of the blade. Method: The ease of use, best direct and video-assisted glottic view was documented for 50 infants and children less than 2 years of age. Direct laryngoscopy was performed with the naked eye (direct view). The best views obtained with and without external laryngeal manipulation were graded by the laryngoscopist without looking at the video monitor. The views on the video monitor, located in front of the intubator and to the right of the patient, were simultaneously graded independently by another pediatric anesthesiologist. Results: Fifty infants and children, ages ranging from one day to 22 months, were enrolled in the study. There were 37 males, and 13 females. The average age was 10.5 months. ASA physical status ranged from I to III, with the vast majority of patients being either class I or II. The grade of laryngeal view on the video monitor was significantly improved when compared with that of direct laryngoscopy (p<0.05). Conclusion: In our study the view on the monitor screen was, on average, one grade better than the direct view. In only one instance was the view obtained with the video laryngoscope worse than that obtained under direct vision. The magnified view provided by the video laryngoscope allows for better visualization of airway structures in difficult airways and further help in facilitating securing the airway.


1. The Great Reform Act and the reformed electoral system, 1830-1867 2. The extension of the franchise and its results,1867-1914 3. The apparent achievement of democracy 4. Power in the state 5. The rule of the state, 1830-1867 - an age of laissez faire? 6. The interventionist state, 1867-1914 7. The growth of corporatism and welfare provision, 1914-1945 Conclusion Select bibliography Chronology Index.


Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether unenhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography using repetitive arterial or vein labeling (RAVEL) is feasible to visualize effectively the intrahepatic portal vein (PV) at 3.0 T. Methods Forty patients underwent liver MR imaging (MRI) with unenhanced MR portography using RAVEL. Two radiologists performed a consensus review of unenhanced MR portography and portal-phase MRI with regard to anatomic type of PV, vessel conspicuity, and image quality. Results For determination of the anatomic type of PV, the 2 techniques were equivalent. There were tendencies toward increased conspicuity for right segmental PV and its branches with unenhanced MR portography and for left PV with conventional MRI, although significant differences were not found between MRIs (P > 0.05). Image quality for unenhanced MR portography was poor in 1, moderate in 8, and good in 31 patients. Conclusions Unenhanced MR portography using RAVEL at 3.0 T is feasible and provides effective visualization of intrahepatic PV.


Many areas of science are generating large volumes of digital image data. In order to take full advantage of the high‐resolution and high‐cadence images modern technology is producing, methods to automatically process and analyze large batches of such images are needed. This involves reducing complex images to simple representations such as binary sketches or numerical summaries that capture embedded scientific information. Using techniques derived from mathematical morphology, we demonstrate how to reduce solar images into simple 'sketch' representations and numerical summaries that can be used for statistical learning. We demonstrate our general techniques on two specific examples: classifying sunspot groups and recognizing coronal loop structures. Our methodology reproduces manual classifications at an overall rate of 90% on a set of 119 magnetogram and white light images of sunspot groups. We also show that our methodology is competitive with other automated algorithms at producing coronal loop tracings and demonstrate robustness through noise simulations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining, 2013


Introduction Macro aspartate aminotransferase (macro-AST) has rarely reported as benign cause for increased plasma AST activities (ASAT). Highly specialized chromatography or electrophoresis were proposed for diagnosing macro-AST. We aimed to present a easy method for macro-AST. Case Report We report here three cases of 18-month-old and 11-year-old two girls and 5-year-old boy with an isolated chronic asymptomatic elevation of the plasma ASAT. Our patients had no relevant past medical history and no family history of liver pathologies. They have high AST levels respectively 64 IU/L(0–40), 123 IU/L, 75 IU/L. They did not have hepatomegaly or splenomegaly. Several and regular controls of the liver function tests confirmed the asymptomatic isolated elevation of ASAT with values varying between 50 and 120 IU/L. The viral serologies for hepatitis were always unremarkeble. ASMA, LKM, ceruloplasmine, anti-gliadin antibodies, TSH, FT4, alpha-1 antitripsin and abdominal sonographic imaging were normal. We took blood two tubes of 1 ml of blood samples from each patients and from 3 healthy controls. We studied AST levels of one tubes and other tubes were studied after 6 days of refrigerated storage (4° C). We reported 1–3% of loss of AST activity in our patients and 30–35% of loss of AST activity in control group (Table 1). As a result very low loss of AST activity of our patients supported that our patients have macro AST. Abstract 700 Table 1 Conclusion Physicians should be aware of macro-AST as a cause of plasma AST activity elevations. Several laboratory techniques were proposed for diagnosing macro-AST. Some require highly specialized chromatography or electrophoresis. Other have more simple prosedures based on immunoprecipitation of macroenzymes by polyethyleneglycol. There was a simple method as we reported in our three patients.


The Gulf Coast is an important province for photogeologic applications even though much of it is of low dip and low relief and commonly covered by Pleistocene terrace deposits. The Gulf Coast is a very active and dynamic province, characterized by clastic sediments that were laid down very rapidly. As a result the sediments are out of equilibrium and considerable compaction and settling have occurred, and many structures have formed. It is this movement and adjustment, acting throughout geologic time, that allow a subsurface structure to continually extend toward the surface, where it can be detected by subtle photogeologic techniques. Photogeologic or photogeomorphic techniques, including analyses of drainage, topography, vegetation, deposition, and lineation, can definitely locate surface structures. Many of the Gulf Coast oil and gas fields have surface expression. Fields with good expression include those located in areas of current exploration interest, such as Sunniland and Felda in South Florida, Flomaton and Blackjack Creek in the Alabama-Florida Jurassic play, Edgewood and Fruitvale in East Texas, and Big Wells and Los Tiendos in Southwest Texas. Many other fields have good expression including Citronelle, Blacklake, Neale, Reyes, Mathis, and North Government Wells. Normally, photogeologic interpretation must terminate at the coastlines, but a relatively new sonar-subsea mapping device allows exploration to continue onto the shelf areas. The Institut Francais du Petrole has developed a wide-range scanning sonar that can provide sea-bottom sonar images that rival aerial photographs. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1899------------


infection, some of which is duplicated in the chapter on hair loss, is disappointing, at times inaccurate, and often parochial. In many parts of the world fungus species other than those named are a main cause of scalp ringworm. It would have been better to stress the characteristic features of anthropophilic as distinct from zoophilic infections, and as in the rest of the book, to have emphasised general principles. These are minor criticisms; this useful, practical book is to be recommended.


Purpose. To evaluate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for assessing the effect of different soft contact lenses on corneoscleral morphology. Methods. Ten subjects had anterior segment OCT B-scans taken in the morning and again after 6 h of soft contact lens wear. For each subject, three different contact lenses were used in the right eye on non-consecutive days, including a hydrogel sphere, a silicone hydrogel sphere, and a silicone hydrogel toric. After image registration and layer segmentation, analyses were performed of the first hyper-reflective layer (HRL), the epithelial basement membrane (EBL), and the epithelial thickness (HRL to EBL). A root mean square difference (RMSD) of the layer profiles and the thickness change between the morning and afternoon measurements were used to assess the effect of the contact lens on the corneoscleral morphology. Results. The soft contact lenses had a statistically significant effect on the morphology of the anterior segment layers (p < 0.001). The average amounts of change for the three lenses (average RMSD values) for the corneal region were lower (3.93 ± 1.95 &mgr;m for the HRL and 4.02 ± 2.14 &mgr;m for the EBL) than those measured in the limbal/scleral region (11.24 ± 6.21 &mgr;m for the HRL and 12.61 ± 6.42 &mgr;m for the EBL). Similarly, averaged across the three lenses, the RMSD in epithelial thickness was lower in the cornea (2.84 ± 0.84 &mgr;m) than the limbal/scleral (5.47 ± 1.71 &mgr;m) region. Post hoc analysis showed that ocular surface changes were significantly smaller with the silicone hydrogel sphere lens than both the silicone hydrogel toric (p < 0.005) and hydrogel sphere (p < 0.02) for the combined HRL and EBL data. Conclusions. In this preliminary study, we have shown that soft contact lenses can produce small but significant changes in the morphology of the limbal/scleral region and that OCT technology is useful in assessing these changes. The clinical significance of these changes is yet to be determined.


We demonstrate genuine multipartite quantum entanglement of four photons in their orbital angular momentum degrees of freedom, where a high-dimensional discrete Hilbert space is attached to each photon. This can encode more quantum information compared to the qubit case, but it is a long-standing problem to entangle more than two such photons. In our experiment we use pulsed spontaneous parametric down-conversion to produce the photon quadruplets, which allows us to detect about one four-photon event per second. By means of quantum state reconstruction and a suitable witness operator we find that the photon quadruplets form a genuine multipartite entangled symmetric Dicke state. This opens a new tool for addressing foundational questions in quantum mechanics, and for exploration of novel high-dimensional multiparty quantum information applications such as secret sharing.


In order to standardize the surgical care and perioperative management for patients with cervical spondylosis, the Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Surgery has organized the several meetings with certain experienced spine surgeons regarding prevent complications related to surgical procedure, ensure the treatment safety as well as in improving the outcome efficacy. In the meantime, the relevant focused issues and repeated consulting have been reviewed and presented on a larger spectrum. By 2 years efforts, the consensus has been developed for patients with different types of cervical spondylosis. The principle of surgical treatment, including surgical approach, operating procedures, technical consideration, the patient selection and evaluation criteria of cervical spondylosis have been elucidated. The decision-making and management have been also recommended during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative respectively. For the controversies of surgical strategy and related clinical issues of cervical spondylosis, the principled and guided advices have been addressed. Due to certain limitation, this consensus is only attempted to provide a recommend conclusion either for the clinical practice or related studies in treatment strategy for patients with cervical spondylosis. This consensus only provides academic guidance.


The effects of preventive education and birth order on IQ scores of 95 economically disadvantaged children at risk for retarded intellectual development were studied. Experimental first- and later-born children participated from birth in a 5-year programme of systematic educational intervention. An equal number of children served as controls and received no systematic intervention. First-borns prevailed as the brighter children in both the educational treatment group and the control group when Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) full scale and verbal IQ scores were compared. Furthermore, mothers of first-borns (70% of whom were only-born at age 5) achieved significantly higher WAIS scores than did mothers of later-born children. Results suggest that later-born disadvantaged children are at greatest risk for developmental retardation.


The necessary unequivocal and generally accepted definitions of normal and abnormal milk are not available. A precise definition is needed in order for companies to develop sensors to detect and sort abnormal milk at the time of milking. Experts at a workshop defined abnormal milk to be that from cows whose foremilk had changed in homogeneity or was coloured by blood. The objectives of this paper were: firstly, to explore how different groups of people scored the appearance of foremilk; and secondly, to develop a method suitable as an objective reference for testing of manual and automatic detection systems. Consumers, farmers and advisors did not agree on the visual appearance of normal, watery, clotty milk, or milk with blood, and experience is needed to score the visual appearance of foremilk correctly. It seems reasonable to expect a sensitivity of at least 70% for detection of abnormal milk during foremilking. Filter sizes 0·05, 0·07, 0·1, 0·2, 0·5, 1·0, and 2·0 mm were used to filter milk from cows with visually abnormal foremilk. If clots appeared in the foremilk, clots appeared on all size filters, but the filter with pore size 0·1 mm was the easiest to read and work with. The filter method is not reliable in identifying quarters with watery, yellowish, or bloody milk, whereas the method seems consistent, and at least as good as scoring of visual appearance in finding clots in the milk. Clots should show clearly on the filter to be counted as abnormal milk. All clinical cases with clots in the foremilk can be found on the filter and such cases have high somatic cell count (SCC). Both trained and untrained persons using the filter method can score normal and abnormal foremilk with a high specificity (>90%) and a high sensitivity (>80%). The filter method is recommended as a reference for scoring the homogeneity of foremilk.


The conditions for the generation of autowaves of localized plasticity during the elastic-plastic transition in solids are considered. The similarity and difference between the deformation processes according to the Luders and Portevin--Le Chatelier mechanisms are analyzed and an explanation of these regularities is proposed, based on the introduction of concepts of active deformable media capable of generating switching autowaves and excitation autowaves. The conditions for the formation of such autowaves and the quantitative characteristics of the processes responsible for the transition to plastic deformation are considered. The relationship between the autowave characteristics and the rate of stretching during mechanical tests has been elucidated. Keywords: plasticity, dislocations, autowaves, Luders front, Portevin--Le Chatelier band.


The authors investigated the evaluative consequences of sequential performance judgments. Recent social comparison research has suggested that performance judgments may be influenced by judgments about a preceding performance. Specifically, performance judgments may be assimilated to judgments of the preceding performance if judges focus on similarities between the two. If judges focus on differences, however, contrast may ensue. The authors examined sequential performance judgments, using data gathered from the 2004 Olympic Games as well as data gathered in the laboratory with students or experienced gymnastics judges as participants. Sequential performance judgments were influenced by previously judged performances, and the direction of this influence depended on the degree of perceived similarity between the successive performances.


This study aims to analyze the factors that influence the preference of producers and processors for paddy production contracts in Benin. Unlike previous research, this study estimates a global model using pooled data of producers and processors. In addition, it compares producers' willingness to accept contracts' attributes to processors willingness to pay for the same attributes. Data were collected in Benin from 300 producers and 140 processors of rice selected randomly. An estimation of the conditional logit model indicates that producers prefer contracts specifying cash payment, prefinancing, and quality agreement. Processors, on the other hand, prefer contracts specifying technical assistance for both harvest and all the production activities, and quality agreements. The latent class logit model shows that there is heterogeneity among the preferences of both producers and processors across the classes. However, producers prefer cash payment and processors assistance for harvesting across all the classes. This suggests that cash payment and assistance for harvesting are pivotal for contract selection by producers and processors, respectively. Producers are willing to accept a lower price for their paddy (reduction of 25.86 and 6.64 FCFA/kg) in exchange for specifying a cash payment mechanism and prefinancing in the contract. Processors are willing to pay an additional amount of 5.58 CFA/kg of paddy to secure good quality rice.


Exposure to cosmic radiation in operation of a jet aircraft is considered to be a part of the occupational exposure. Cosmic radiation doses received in aviation are generally evaluated by numerical model simulations. The precision of the model calculation should be verified by measurements. From the viewpoint of radiological protection, neutrons are the most contributing radiation component and have to be precisely measured. Neutron measurements were thus performed in a long-haul flight using a relatively new transportable neutron monitor (WENDI-II) which responds fairly well to the cosmic-ray neutrons. The in-flight measurement was carried out on 5-6 November 2009 on a polar route flight from New York/John F. Kennedy airport to Seoul/Incheon airport. The flying time was ~14 h. The observations obtained as 1 cm ambient dose equivalent were compared with model calculations using a computer program developed by the authors for the calculation of aviation route doses 'JISCARD EX'. Good agreements between the measured and calculated values were observed over the polar route where the geomagnetic cut-off rigidity is the lowest.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objective: Carotid bifurcation geometry has been believed to be a risk factor for the initiation of atherosclerosis because of its influence on hemodynamics. However, the relationships between carotid bifurcation geometry and plaque vulnerability are not fully understood. This study aimed to determine the association between carotid bifurcation geometry and plaque vulnerability using magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. Approach and Results: A total of 501 carotid arteries with nonstenotic atherosclerosis were included from the cross-sectional, multicenter CARE II study (Chinese Atherosclerosis Risk Evaluation). Four standardized carotid bifurcation geometric parameters (bifurcation angle, internal carotid artery planarity, luminal expansion FlareA, and tortuosity Tort2D) were derived from time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography. Presence of vulnerable plaque, which was characterized by intraplaque hemorrhage, large lipid-rich necrotic core, or disrupted luminal surface, was determined based on multicontrast carotid magnetic resonance vessel wall images. Vulnerable plaques (N=43) were found to occur at more distal locations (ie, near the level of flow divider) than stable plaques (N=458). Multivariable logistic regression showed that the luminal expansion FlareA (odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.25–0.81]; P=0.008) was associated with plaque vulnerability after adjustment for age, sex, maximum wall thickness, plaque location, and other geometric parameters. Conclusions: Smaller luminal expansion at carotid bifurcation is associated with vulnerable plaque. The finding needs to be verified with longitudinal studies and the underlying mechanism should be further explored with hemodynamics measurement in the future.


Immunocompromised hind limb ischemia (HLI) murine models are essential for preclinical evaluation of human cell-based therapy or biomaterial-based interventions. These models are used to generate proof of principle that the approach is effective and also regulatory preclinical data required for translation to the clinic. However, surgical variations in creation of HLI models reported in the literature introduce variability in the pathological manifestation of the model, in consequence affecting therapeutic endpoints. This study aims to compare the extent of vascular regeneration in HLI-induced immunocompromised murine models to obtain a stable and more reproducible injury model for testing. Athymic and Balb/C nude mice underwent HLI surgery with single and double ligation of femoral artery (FA). The recovery from surgery was observed over a period of 2 weeks with respect to ischemia reperfusion using laser Doppler and clinical signs of necrosis and ambulatory impairment. Double ligation of the FA results in a more severe response to ischemia in Balb/C with endogenous perfusion recovery up to 50% ± 10% compared with 75% ± 20% in athymic nude mice. Single iliac artery (IA) and FA lead to creation of mild ischemia compared with femoral artery-vein (FAV) pair ligation in Balb/C. Microcirculatory parameters indicate significantly lower capillary numbers (26 ± 3/mm(2)) and functional capillary density (203 ± 5 cm/cm(2)) in the FAV group. In this study, we demonstrate a reproducible, arterial double ligation in an immunocompromised Balb/C nude mouse model that exhibits characteristic pathological signs of ischemia with impaired endogenous recovery.


Abstract. After nearly 2 centuries of being negatively impacted, primarily by introduced mainland vertebrates, the unique flora and vegetation of the Islands of the Californias archipelago have been severely degraded. The botanical conservation challenges that lie ahead include the near extinction or extirpation of rare, endemic, and even common plant taxa; invasion of nonnative plants; near loss of unique island vegetation communities; and the degradation of a host of sites. These challenges are too large for any one entity to remedy alone. Many of the botanical resources impacted are found on multiple islands and cross political boundaries. The Islands of the Californias managers and their mainland partners have formalized a binational collaboration, the Islas de las Californias, Colaboración Botánica, or Islands of the Californias Botanical Collaborative (ICBC), to address these challenges more effectively and efficiently and thus achieve greater conservation success. The ICBC has identified and prioritized challenges in botanical resource management, taken actions to recover plant populations at risk and prevent future extinctions, developed tools to evaluate plant reintroductions, implemented quarterly meetings to share professional experiences, begun to develop tools for information and data sharing, and leveraged multi-island efforts for botanical resources funding. Herein we present our rationale for this collaborative and detail our progress toward creating archipelago-wide groups comprising the Invasive Plant Management Network, Plant Extinction Prevention Program, Native Plant Restoration Program, Integrated Biodiversity Information System, and Work Share Program.


The number of functionalities, sensors and control units in modern vehicles is increasing permanently. In spite of this, the OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] aim to minimize these numbers to reduce complexity, effort and cost. Thus it is very important to find the most suitable electronic/electrical (E/E)-architecture jointly with the OEM in order to cope with these challenges. Furthermore, the repartitioning of content in the safety domain offers great opportunities for the OEM. First of all, it can reduce the overall costs, since the trend towards increasing active and passive safety systems offers synergies of components and functions: Driven by legislation, the installation rates of safety features like electronic stability program (ESP) will rise significantly in some regions. Together with the fact that airbag systems in the triad markets have a take rate of almost 100% it is clear that there will be high potential in developing cost effective E/E-architectures. Consequently two main steps are necessary to cope with these challenges: The first step is finding a suitable integration concept for inertial sensors on the vehicle architecture level. The second step is cost optimization by using maximum synergies or high-integration concepts. Beyond cost reduction, the current functionality can be improved since the inertial sensors are directly connected on the same PCB-board with the airbag-algorithm controller in some integration concepts. This gives the possibility to feed the airbag-algorithm with inertial sensor data like for example the yaw rate. This yaw rate can be used in a yaw rate based airbag algorithm to further improve the performance. This paper gives an overview about the architectures and functions, discusses the pros and cons of the different concepts and gives an outlook for future systems. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0177.pdf For the covering abstract see ITRD E145407.


The principal objective of this paper is to investigate the dilemma between the female labour force participation rate and total fertility rate for the Asian - 6 countries from the period 1995 to 2013 using panel cointegration and long - run structural estimation. The cointegration results confirm that the female labour force participation rate and to tal fertility rate are cointegrated for the panel of Asian - 6 countries. Whereas, long - run Granger causality authenticate the causality run from the total fertility rate to the female labour force participation rate. Moreover, the results show that 1percent increase in the total fertility rate cause in a 0.44 percent decrease in the female labour force participation rate for the Asian - 6 countries. The TFR highest negative effect observed in Indonesia and smallest observed in Thailand. The results of fully mo dify ordinary least square confirm the long run panel relationship between female labour force and total fertility rate. (Nor Aznin Abu Bakar, Muhammad Haseeb, Nira Hariyatie Hartani. The Dilemma of Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) and Fertility r atio in Asian - 6 Countries: A Panel Cointegration Approach. Life Sci J 2014;11( 8s ):58 4 - 5 90 ) (ISSN:1097 - 8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 120


We analyze the extreme value dependence of independent, not necessarily identically distributed multivariate regularly varying random vectors. More specifically, we propose estimators of the spectral measure locally at some time point and of the spectral measures integrated over time. The uniform asymptotic normality of these estimators is proved under suitable nonparametric smoothness and regularity assumptions. We then use the process convergence of the integrated spectral measure to devise consistent tests for the null hypothesis that the spectral measure does not change over time. The finite sample performance of these tests is investigated in Monte Carlo simulations.


The Telescope Array Low Energy Extension (TALE) is a series o f detectors to be added to the Telescope Array (TA) experiment to extend its energy covera g to lower energies and increase its aperture at high energies. The combination of TA and TALE will be able t o measure the spectrum of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays from10 to 10 eV, and study all three features of the spectrum: the second knee, the ankle, and the GZK cutoff. At each energy in this ran ge, TA/TALE will be able to measure, in a model independent way, the average depth of shower maximum and hence the composition of cosmic rays. TA/TALE will have excellent pointing resolution for a nisotropy studies. The TALE detectors will consist of two fluorescence detector s l cated 6 km from two TA fluorescence detectors (6 km spacing produces a flat stereo aperture in the region of the ankle), a third fluorescence detector with larger mirrors observing at higher elevation angles (which will observe cosmic rays at lower energies), and an infill array.


CONTEXT
Prompt percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can significantly reduce mortality and morbidity, although its effectiveness may be limited by delays in delivery. In March 2008, our hospital implemented a Heart Alert protocol to rapidly identify and treat patients with STEMI presenting to our Emergency Department (ED) with PCI, using strategies previously described to reduce door-to-balloon times. Before the Heart Alert protocol start date, patients with STEMI presenting to our ED were treated with thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE
We evaluated data from patients with STEMI after one year of use of our Heart Alert protocol to determine protocol success on the basis of the percentage of patients for whom the recommended door-to-balloon times of ≤90 minutes were met. We examined factors involved in implementation of the protocol that contributed to these results.

DESIGN
We conducted a retrospective data and chart review for patients in the ED with STEMI who underwent PCI after a Heart Alert protocol activation between March 17, 2008, and March 17, 2009.

RESULTS
During the study period, our staff met the recommended door-to-balloon time of ≤90 minutes (mean door-to-balloon time, 57.3 ± 17.6 minutes) for 70 of 72 patients (97%) presenting to our ED with STEMI. Sixty-five of the 72 patients (90.3%) survived to hospital discharge.

CONCLUSION
Initiation of a Heart Alert protocol at our hospital resulted in achievement of door-to-balloon times of ≤90 minutes for 97% of patients with STEMI. This achievement was obtained through careful preparation, training, and interdepartmental collaboration and occurred despite immediate conversion from a previous thrombolytic protocol.


In a previous report 1 attention was called to the direct uptake of radioactive tryptophan by metastatic carcinoid tumor in vivo, demonstrated in a patient known to harbor this tumor prior to laparotomy. An opportunity to obtain additional data in a similar case was recently afforded us, and it seems worthy of recording these in the light of the rarity of these tumors and their pharmacological significance. This patient was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of small-intestine obstruction. Laparotomy was performed and revealed the presence of a tumor in the terminal ileum which was narrowing the lumen of the small bowel. The tumor and adjacent small bowel were resected and intestinal continuity reestablished. Palpation of the surface of the liver at the time of surgery disclosed a small solitary nodule, thought to represent metastatic tumor. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and the pathologist reported the primary tumor


<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$ </tex-math></inline-formula> Nearest Neighbor (kNN) method is a simple and popular statistical method for classification and regression. For both classification and regression problems, existing works have shown that, if the distribution of the feature vector has bounded support and the probability density function is bounded away from zero in its support, the convergence rate of the standard kNN method, in which <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is the same for all test samples, is minimax optimal. On the contrary, if the distribution has unbounded support, we show that there is a gap between the convergence rate achieved by the standard kNN method and the minimax bound. To close this gap, we propose an adaptive kNN method, in which different <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is selected for different samples. Our selection rule does not require precise knowledge of the underlying distribution of features. The proposed adaptive method significantly outperforms the standard one. We characterize the convergence rate of the proposed adaptive method, and show that it matches the minimax lower bound.


Instructions in civil proceedings have an important role in the possibility of the parties to exercise their rights. The legislator paid attention to the importance of instructions, while striving to create templates for instructions, which will ultimately not happen. It is similar in the enforcement proceedings. It will be paid attention to the nature and significance of instructions in this proceeding, with particular emphasis on the refusal to award the bid, which affects the property relations of the parties.


Phasor measurement units (PMUs) have recently been widely studied for smart grid power systems. However, the setup time of a PMU is slow because a conventional phase lock loop (PLL) needs a long settling time to synchronize its first trigger pulse for measuring a synchrophasor. In addition, the user interface of a PMU is poor because most of PMUs have no GUI design. This current work thus presents a new Android-based PMU, which contains a new digital phase lock loop (DPLL) and versatile user interfaces. Using the proposed DPLL, the time synchronous trigger pulses can be rapidly generated from the 1PPS pulses. An Android platform is then designed to receive the time synchronous measurements. To accelerate phasor computations, the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) was directly coded by C language and communicate with Java codes by the Java native interface (JNI). Finally, the proposed PMU was realized on a test system which consists of a DE2 FPGA board, a PIC board, and an ARM-11 6410 board. A simple user interface was also designed on the Android platform for setting and observing some features of the PMU. Hardware evaluations were conducted to prove the effectiveness of the proposed PMU.


Adult rabbits with experimental glaucoma were used in this study. We studied glutamate and glutamine levels and glutamine synthetase, glutamate oxidase and glutaminase activity in the eye tissue during glaucoma process. Results suggest increase of both glutamate level and glutaminase activity, as well as decrease of both glutamine level and glutamine synthetase and glutamate oxidase activity compared to normal ranges over all period of observation. This influence was significally prevented using neuroprotective drugs.


OBJECTIVES
Feeding difficulties after congenital heart surgery are a common concern for caregivers of children with CHD. Insight into the intricacies of their experience is lacking. With a better understanding, healthcare providers can continue to optimize the approach and support mechanisms for these families. This study will explore the psychosocial impacts on caregivers, define barriers to care, and identify areas to improve their care.

STUDY DESIGN
This mixed-methods study combined semi-structured interviews with surveys. Purposive sampling targeted caregivers of a child who underwent heart surgery and was discharged with alternative enteral feeding access. A hybrid inductive-deductive methodology was used to analyse interview transcripts. Survey scores were compared to interview content for concordance.

RESULTS
Fifteen interviews were conducted with socio-demographically diverse caregivers. Feeding difficulties were often identified as their greatest challenge, with the laborious feeding schedule, sleep deprivation, and tube management being common contributors. Most caregivers described feeling overwhelmed and worried. Time-intensive feeding schedules and lack of appropriate childcare options precluded caregivers' ability to work. Barriers to care included imperfect feeding education, proximity of specialist clinics, and issues with medical supply companies. Caregiver proposals for improved care addressed easing the transition home, improving emotional support mechanisms, and intensifying feeding therapy for expedited tube removal.

CONCLUSION
This study describes the psychosocial toll on the caregiver, typical barriers to care, and ideas for improved provision of care. These themes and ideas can be used to advance the family-centered approach to feeding difficulties after heart surgery.


We study the post nonlinearity compensation of differential-phase-shift-keying links employing pure soliton transmissions over a large number of spans. In addition to the distributed amplified spontaneous noises added by the inline amplifiers, lumped intensity noises initially resulting from transmitter imperfections are also considered. Based on the soliton perturbation theory, we derive simple and accurate formulae for the optimum operating phase, the variance of the residue phase noise, and the phase Q-factor improvement of the post nonlinearity compensation. We validate these derived formulae by comparing their results with numerical simulations built upon the split-step Fourier method.


Ab s t r Ac t Background: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a potentially fatal disease occurring all over the world. It affects predominantly young children, adolescents and young adults. However, even today cases are missed and there may be a delay in diagnosis and treatment leading not only to a fatal outcome but also to large scale epidemics. Materials and methods: An extensive review of literature was done to describe the history, microbiology, global epidemiology, transmission and risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical features, management, prognosis, care of relatives and close contacts, prevention by the current vaccines available in the world and in India. Results: Invasive meningococcal disease was first described in 1805 in Sweden. Subsequently periodic epidemics continue to occur all over the world. Globally it is present in more than 80 countries. Currently 12 known serotypes are described with a complex microbiology which helps the bacteria to not only survive in the human nasopharynx but also to adhere to and invade the meninges and the blood stream and present as meningitis, meningococcaemia or both. Due to its capacity to produce various toxins and ability to survive destruction by the host immune system, it produces a number of clinical manifestations in a short time. Being potentially fatal, death in such patients can occur in a matter of hours. Microbiological diagnosis is difficult as the organism is fastidious and requires special conditions for growth and can explain the poor microbiological results worldwide. However attempts to culture the bacteria should be made from all available sites such as cerebrospinal fluid, blister fluid, blood and even skin biopsy specimen. The cornerstone of management is aggressive treatment with antibiotics, and other supportive care. Complications are common during the course of the infection and one must anticipate and tackle them aggressively and at the appropriate time. A large number of sequelae can occur in spite of optimal management. Prophylactic antibiotics in the care-givers and relatives is extremely important for short term protection. Long term protection of the community as well as of care-givers and close relatives is by vaccination. A number of effective vaccines have been developed over the years for the prevention of this deadly infection. Vaccine cost remains a major hindrance to universal vaccination. Conclusion: Invasive meningococcal disease exists all over the world. It is important to be able to correctly recognize these patients for early and aggressive management. Prevention by vaccination remains the best public health measure to tackle this deadly infection.


This paper presents a survey of the Visual Information Environment Prototype (VIEP), a system which demonstrates the next generation of Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (C31) systems. In particular, VIEP provides a novel integration of user interaction techniques including wireless input and largescreen output to facilitate the task of collaborating with media such as large images, audio, and video. The prototype has been implemented and demonstrated over both local and wide area networks.


This study explored declarative knowledge about children's rights in 67 South African children between 9 and 14 years old, using semi-structured interviews addressing the following questions:What is a right? Who has rights? Do children have rights? What rights do children have? Why should children have rights? Can anyone take away your rights? Who can take away your rights?Data were analysed quantitatively to examine age and gender differences. Qualitative content analyses explored salient themes. There were no gender differences for any of the questions and significant age differences only for the question: What rights do children have? Although the children's responses shared some similarities with other research findings, their perspectives on rights strongly reflected their specific social context, especially the prevalence of crime and child abuse. The findings are discussed in relation to previous research and specific features of the South African socio-cultural landscape.


PURPOSE
This study evaluated a slightly modified extraoral approach to removing the symptomatic elongated styloid process. A brief description of this surgical technique and its comparison to the intraoral approach is provided.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Four patients in whom an extraoral approach was used to expose and remove the elongated calcified stylohyoid complex were evaluated. Five sides were treated and reviewed individually. All patients were interviewed preoperatively and postoperatively, and their records were thoroughly examined. Patients were objectively evaluated for pain, function, sensory and motor nerve deficits, and aesthetics.

RESULTS
Follow-up time ranged from 6 to 39 months with an average of 21 months. Improvement in the original symptoms was reported for 4 of the 5 operated sides. Three of 5 procedures resulted in more than an 80% reduction in pain and improvement in function. All patients had a satisfactory cosmetic result and no paresthesia.

CONCLUSIONS
The advantages of the extraoral approach are reflected in this small retrospective study by the absence of perioperative complications and the minimal blood loss, surgical morbidity, and hospital stay.


Smoking and tobacco use have acquired the dimensions of an epidemic. Recently, a decision by the European Parliament due to health concerns, calls for an elimination of production subsidies within five years. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the economic implications of the reduction of protection levels and to examine whether this policy change will act as an effective tool for less consumption. To this end, two scenarios are examined; namely, a Baseline Scenario, which assumes continuation of current policy measures, and a Policy Scenario where production support is eliminated. According to the results by 2010, EU tobacco consumption in the Baseline scenario is expected to show a modest decline and a more significant decrease in the Policy scenario. In addition, the EU self-sufficiency ratio is projected to decrease in the Policy scenario by almost 14% compared to the Baseline. Therefore, with increasing liberalization of international trade, reducing EU tobacco supply would mostly shift tobacco production to other, mainly, developing countries. Therefore, public policy that aims to reduce tobacco use may need to focus on demand.


Teaching Pelvic Floor Muscle (PFM) contraction is a challenging task for clinicians and patients, as these muscles cannot be directly visualized. Thus, this study's objective is to compare the effectiveness of six verbal instructions for contracting the PFM among young men, as observed with transabdominal ultrasound imaging. Thirty-five male physiotherapy students, mean age 25.9 ± 1.9 years, participated in the study. A 6 MHz 35-mm curved linear array ultrasound transducer (Mindray M5) was placed in the transverse plane, supra-pubically, and angled 15–30° from the vertical plane. During crook lying, participants received six verbal instructions for contracting the PFM, with bladder base displacement and endurance evaluated. Following the instructions, "squeeze your anus", "shorten the penis", and "elevate the scrotum", over 91% of the participants performed a cranial (upward) bladder base displacement. During instruction six, "draw in", which involves breathing, the PFM, and the transversus abdominis, only 25% performed cranial bladder base displacement (p < 0.001), and the endurance was the lowest (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that several simple verbal instructions can be used for teaching PFM contraction to young males. Moreover, two instructions should be avoided: "draw in" and the general instruction "squeeze your PFM", as they did not produce effective elevation of the bladder base.


We present a retrospective study of 68 esophageal cancer patients treated with surgery between 1975 and 1991. Results showed a resectability of 73.5% with the most frequent surgical approach being a Lewis esophagectomy. The mean hospitalization time was 24.7 days with a postoperative mortality of 7.3%. Other complications included anastomotic leakage, wound infection, sepsis and pulmonary disorders. Over-all survival at 3 years was 17.3%, reaching 24% in resected patients. Survival according to lymph node involvement was 13.4% for lymph node positive patients and 34.5% for node negative patients. According to histopathologic stage, survival rates were 34.6% and 8.59% for early and advanced tumor respectively, the difference being statistically significant using the Mantel-Haenszel test.


The paper discusses some elements of the tradition of martyrdom among Muslims in northern Nigeria. It describes the basic frameworks of the concept of martyrdom in Islam with special reference to its contemporary usage. Then it discusses the shape of the idea of martyrdom during the times of Usman ɗan Fodio's jihad. It further examines the concept of martyrdom as presented in the speeches of Muhammad Yusuf, the ideologue of the Boko Haram organisation, as well as its practical implementation in the times of the current rebellion in northern Nigeria.


Canada's forest and peatland ecosystems are globally significant carbon stores, whose management will be influenced by climate change mitigation policies such as offset systems. To be effective, these policies must be grounded in objective information on the relationships between land use, ecosystem carbon dynamics, and climate. Here, we present the outcomes of a workshop where forest, peatland, and climate experts were tasked with identifying management actions required to maintain the role of Canada's forest and peatland ecosystems in climate regulation. Reflecting the desire to maintain the carbon storage roles of these ecosystems, a diverse set of management actions is proposed, incorporating conservation, forest management, and forest products. Key words: forests, peatlands, carbon, Canada, climate change, management, forest products, conservation


The knowledge of the cellular events occurring in the aging heart has dramatically expanded in the last decade and is expected to further grow in years to come. It is now clear that impaired function and loss of cardiomyocytes are major features of cardiac aging, but other events are likewise important. In particular, accumulating experimental evidence highlights the importance of fibroblast and cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) dysfunction. The Notch pathway regulates cardiomyocyte, fibroblast, and CPC activity and, thus, may be critically involved in heart disease associated with advanced age, especially heart failure. In a translational perspective, thorough investigation of the Notch system in the aging myocardium may lead to the identification of molecular targets for novel therapies for age‐related cardiac disease.


The economic theory recognizes the necessity of fusion, as an important action of agrarian policy, through which it should be realized the fusion of the land ownership in the peasant households, but in a legislative plan, there is no own disposition, which could norm it as it was done with the other actions which have in view the movement of the land ownership, as are buying, sale, leasing, association and cooperation. From this reason, all efforts in the last period, made for the parcels fusion, have pertained exclusively to the farmers, and they were done through the actions mentioned above. The land fusion, in a conceptual plan, legislative and practical, is presently approached in a diffuse manner, superficial, and, mostly timidly and distortedly. That is why, through this study, even it is synthetic, we are addressing ourselves to the professional readers, but especially to the deciders in the agrarian policy, in the goal of forming up a favorable opinion current, to energize the actions of coagulating the land ownerships in our agriculture The agrarian policy, in an imperative formulation, must put into law, and at the same time, apply the fusion, which should have as finality the solving up of the land parceling problem in the peasant households, in a reasonable time period.


QUALITY PROBLEM
Despite its success in other industries, process standardization in health care has been slow to gain traction or to demonstrate a positive impact on the safety of care.

INTERVENTION
The High 5s project is a global patient safety initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) within a global learning community to achieve measurable, significant and sustainable reductions in challenging patient safety problems.

GOALS
The project seeks to answer two questions: (i) Is it feasible to implement standardized health care processes in individual hospitals, among multiple hospitals within individual countries and across country boundaries? (ii) If so, what is the impact of standardization on the safety problems that the project is targeting?

METHOD
The two key areas in which the High 5s project is innovative are its use of process standardization both in hospitals within a country and in multiple participating countries, and its carefully designed multi-pronged approach to evaluation.

STATUS
Three SOPs-correct surgery, medication reconciliation, concentrated injectable medicines-have been developed and are being implemented and evaluated in multiple hospitals in seven participating countries. Nearly 5 years into the implementation, it is clear that this is just the beginning of what can be seen as an exercise in behavior management, asking whether health care workers can adapt their behaviors and environments to standardize care processes in widely varying hospital settings.