Biodiversity loss due to changes in climate and land use has been assessed recently. The earliest biodiversity assessments already showed that species are declining faster than at any time in the past and that ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating. Moreover, these assessments indicated that the projected changes in climate and land use likely drive further biodiversity losses in the 21st century, both directly and in synergy with each other. This accumulated evidence positions climate change and land-use change among the major human-induced direct drivers of biodiversity loss. Climate change affects biodiversity as climate variables, such as temperature and precipitation, largely determine the geographical distributions of species. Hence, in areas where climate is less suitable, species shift their geographical ranges and go extinct locally. Land-use change poses immediate threats to biodiversity as the conversion of natural habitats (e.g. forests, wetlands and grasslands) into agricultural land results in populations decline and extinctions become more likely. These adverse effects consequently change ecosystems functioning and potentially affect the supply of ecosystems services and thus human well-being. Although research on climate and land-use change impacts on biodiversity and the consequent implications was repeatedly conducted, the range of estimates for these impacts remains disturbingly large. Moreover, such research relied on climate-change scenarios that depict relatively small increases in global mean temperatures (i.e. My PhD thesis therefore aimed to explore future biodiversity trends under projected direct and synergistic changes in climate and land use and to advance understanding of climate-change mitigation consequences for biodiversity. In this thesis, climate change was indicated by global mean temperature increase (°C) and land-use change by land-use intensity levels (i.e. grazing and cropland levels) and land-cover type transitions. In Chapter 2, I assessed the magnitude of expected changes of biodiversity by systematically reviewing studies and performing a meta-analysis of the responses of species distributions to climate change. I proposed two indicators to quantify the local response of terrestrial biodiversity to climate change: the fraction of remaining species (FRS) and the fraction of remaining area (FRA) with suitable habitat for each species. The FRS and FRA calculate deviations from the original biodiversity state and both they indicate biodiversity intactness. The biodiversity response was quantified for different intervals of global mean temperature increase and for different taxonomic groups and ecosystems. The results showed that projected climate-change impacts likely cause changes to the distribution of many plants and animals and this leads to severe range contractions and local extinction of some species (i.e. decreasing biodiversity). The FRS and FRA were projected to gradually decrease with significant reductions of 14% and 35% between 1°C and 2°C increases in global mean temperature, and 32% and 54% beyond 4°C increase. This chapter showed that already at moderate temperature increases the original biodiversity significant decreased. In Chapter 3, I estimated biodiversity decline from changes in climate and land use in grassland ecosystems, which are among the most extensive ecosystems in the world. The analysis was conducted in the Central Asian grasslands, which are nowadays transforming by changes in land use and climate. I used a scenario analysis based on the latest Shared Socio-Economic Pathways (SSPs) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) (i.e. SSP-RCP scenario framework) and further detail land-use scenarios for the region. I selected contrasting socio-economic and climate conditions (i.e. SSP1-RCP4.5, SSP3-RCP8.5, SSP4-RCP4.5 and SSP5-RCP8.5). In this analysis, the climate-change impact for the selected RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 was indicated by the FRS for grasslands as estimated in Chapter 2; the land-use change impact was indicated by changes in land-use intensity derived from the land-use scenarios; and the future biodiversity was indicated by the Mean Species Abundance (MSA). The MSA expresses the mean abundance of originally occurring species in disturbed conditions (e.g. after climate change) relative to their original abundance in undisturbed habitats. The contrasting scenario combinations showed that grasslands' biodiversity remained under continuous threat and will further decline under each scenario. The strongest impact on biodiversity was projected in SSP5-RCP8.5, where half of the grasslands will likely undergo a large decrease in their species abundance by 2100. This chapter stressed the potential vulnerability of the Central Asian grasslands to increasing land-use intensity and climate change. In Chapter 4, I explored interaction mechanisms between climate and land-use change effects on biodiversity. Climate change and land-use change are often addressed as drivers that interact synergistically in several ways and alter their mutual effects on biodiversity. I identified interaction mechanisms in which species in heavily modified landscapes may respond differently to climate change than species in pristine landscapes. These interactions arise if 1) species adapted to modified landscapes differ in their sensitivity to climate change from species adapted to natural landscapes and if 2) land-use composition restricts climate-change induced dispersal of species in fragmented landscapes. To verify these conditions, I performed systematic reviews and a meta-analysis of bioclimatic studies on species distributions in landscapes with varying proportions of cropland (first condition) and species' dispersal under climate change in fragmented landscapes (second condition). I used the FRS as the effect-size metric in this meta-analysis. Based on the results of this analysis, I found no significant interaction effect for the first condition. This indicates that the influence of global mean temperature increase on the FRS did not change with different cropland levels. No quantitative studies were found to verify the second condition for climate-change induced dispersal of species. This chapter emphasized the need to assess interactions between land-use and climate-change effects on biodiversity, integrating other conditions, such as spatial location, adaptive capacity and time lags. In Chapter 5, I assessed carbon-dioxide-removal options in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use sectors (i.e. land-based mitigation options) implemented in different mitigation pathways that keep global temperature increase to well-below 2°C for their biodiversity impacts using the MSA indicator. Land-based mitigation options may preserve, increase or deteriorate biodiversity, because of their land-use impact. In this chapter, I reviewed climate change mitigation studies that assessed each of the selected land-based mitigation options and indicated the land transition needed to achieve a significant climate change mitigation (i.e. potential land-cover and/or land-use change). I found that reforestation of cultivated and managed areas together with restoration of wetlands deliver the largest increase of MSA, if provided the opportunity to reach mature states over time. Contrary, intensification of agricultural areas and bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration decreased MSA locally. Options such as afforestation and reduced deforestation, either positively or negatively affect MSA. This depends on their spatial implementation and the precise forest conservation schemes. This chapter provided insights on possible synergies that emerge from certain scenarios and their benefits for current and future biodiversity conservation in regions with large land-based mitigation potential. My PhD thesis advanced scientific understanding of climate and land-use change impacts on biodiversity that can feed into the current UN Conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change agendas. It showed future biodiversity trends and proposed methods that translate relevant information of socio-economic and climate-change drivers to assess interactions between climate and land-use change effects on biodiversity. Such knowledge is quickly becoming an important element to develop strategies for regional and global biodiversity conservation and thus to minimize biodiversity loss. I stress the importance of holding climate change well-below 2°C as this helps to maintain the composition of local communities and their climatically suitable areas, while seeking for the desired combinations that will reduce the use of detrimental land-based mitigation options to biodiversity.


BACKGROUND
Although hypercalcemia causes diuresis and natriuresis, the molecular mechanisms of these effects are not well established. Recently, the important role of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) in hypercalcemia-induced polyuria was reported. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) that is locally produced in the nephron has been suggested to have the natriuretic and/or diuretic effects in the kidney. Therefore, we hypothesized that ET-1 expression could be increased through the activation of CaR in the kidney in hypercalcemia.

METHODS
Rats were made hypercalcemic by dihydrotachysterol (DHT) treatment. The urinary concentration of ET-1 and the mRNA expression of ET-1 in the kidney were determined. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine types of the cells that produce ET-1. CaR and ET-1 promoter luciferase constructs were co-expressed in COS-7 cells and the ET-1 promoter activity following the addition of extracellular calcium was measured by the luciferase assay.

RESULTS
In hypercalcemic rat, urinary ET-1 excretion was increased by twofold, and ET-1 mRNA expression was increased in the kidney cortex by threefold. In cortical collecting duct (CCD), both principal cells and intercalated cells synthesized ET-1. In cells that express CaR, ET-1 promoter was activated in a dose-dependent manner by extracellular calcium over the range of 0.5 to 3.0 mmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS
First, activation of CaR increases ET-1 transcription in a dose-dependent manner. Second, hypercalcemia increases ET-1 production in the kidney cortex. These data suggest the possibility that CaR might play an important role in hypercalcemia-induced increase in ET-1 production.


In our plant, sulphur is recovered from gas in Sulphur Recovery Units and stored in Liquid Sulphur tanks, before granulation and pelletizing for shipment. Underground concrete storage pits form an important element of the Sulphur Recovery, Treatment / export cycle, providing an intermediate containment to ensure that molten sulphur temperature is maintained within the operating range. These concrete pits tend to deteriorate rapidly due to high temperatures and contact with concentrated sulphur. This paper discusses the pit design and construction practices, and efficient repair/maintenance techniques of ageing containments to ensure improved service life while optimizing maintenance costs.
 The structure consists of reinforced concrete walls, base and top slab, which supports the Sulphur transfer pumps and associated piping / instrumentation. At bottom, steam coil system is provided where Low Pressure steam is used as heating medium to maintain molten Sulphur at high temperatures.
 Primarily two concepts are followed for protecting Sulphur pits: (a) Internal surface lining with acid resistant / refractory bricks and insulation, and external waterproofing, or (b) Externally applied waterproofing and thermal insulation, with no internal coating or lining.
 Since exposure to high Sulphur concentration and high temperature renders the concrete susceptible to sulphate attack and deterioration, it is essential to carry out periodic inspection and maintenance works in these pits. The top slab is susceptible to higher corrosion due to contact with vapours.
 Evaluation of existing pits with above designs revealed contrasting conditions. Refractory / brick lined pits indicated severe deterioration of lining, with traces of corrosion in concrete surfaces. Underside of slabs also showed deterioration of tiles, however, slab concrete was relatively in better condition. Unlined pits revealed the concrete surfaces of walls and base slab to be in reasonably good condition. However, underside of top slab was found to have severe deterioration, beyond repair mandating replacement. Physical and chemical tests indicated reasonably good condition of reinforcement steel, retention of concrete strength, and no loss of concrete cover. However, sulphate content near the surface was found to exceed code permissible limits.
 Repair procedures for lined and unlined pits vary, with primary focus in lined pits being selection of appropriate lining for Sulphur resistance and thermal insulation, while for unlined pits, the main concern is selection of suitable concrete mix design and ensuring proper compaction and curing.
 Deterioration of concrete in process critical structures like liquid sulphur pits is an important issue, which could potentially impact the Sulphur recovery and export process. Both lined and unlined pits are found to be suitable for the purpose, however, each has its own pros and cons. Maintenance and repair procedures need to be in place specific to the type of design and construction of these pits, to improve service life.


In 101 normotensive healthy pregnant women, the left ventricular ejection time (LVET) was estimated. The examinations were performed in intervals of 14 days and 6 weeks after child-birth in left-side and in upright position. The LVET-values are closely frequency-related. Therefore the LVET-values were corrected with regression equations ascertained in 129 healthy non-pregnant women. The curve of the uncorrected LVET has a continuous shift downwards till to the end of pregnancy. However, after correction with the frequency the curve increases in the course of pregnancy till to the time of the 26th-30th week of pregnancy. After this time there is diminishing tendency. In orthostasis in upright position the curves have a similar shift but on a lower level. In the course of pregnancy the heart-frequency increases till to the 31st-35th week. After that it decreases slightly. It has to be assessed that the increase of the frequency-corrected LVET is related to the increasing loading with intravascular volume. On the other hand this increase can be the expression of the improved cardiac performance showing the adaptation to the increase charge of the cardiovascular system. The LVET is to be seen as a indirect destination value of the hearts contractility.


The aim of this study was to examine the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in butter samples marketed in the Black Sea Region of Turkey with two complementary analytical methods to improve accuracy. A total of 40 samples were analysed by enzyme-linked immuno absorbent assay (ELISA) as the screening test and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD) after immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up as the confirmatory method. Results indicated that butter samples in the Black Sea region were of good quality with respect to AFM1, with no contamination detected. Furthermore, the accurate and sensitive IAC/HPLC-FLD method was confirmed as being appropriate for the detection of AFM1 in butter.


A synthetic analogue of hainanensine 2a was further modified in order to improve its antitumor activity. Six compounds 3-8, were obtained, and among these compounds 8 showed significant activity. The diastereomer (+/-)8B was resolved by (+) tartaric acid and (-)benzoyl-tartaric acid to the corresponding enantiomers (-)8B and (+)8B, respectively and their optical purities were determined by isotope dilution method as 93% and 96%. The antitumor activity of the newly obtained compounds were tested in vitro, and (-)8B was found to have an IC50 of 1.9 mol/L, eighteen times higher than the original compound 2a.


This paper focuses on labor market transitions and especially on those involvingfixed-term contracts. Our contribution is twofold: first, we provide an accuratemeasure of labor market transitions; second, we analyze the potential incentive effectof fixed-term contracts on "effort". To deal with unobserved heterogeneity, we use adynamic multinomial logit with fixed effects. We construct an indicator of effort forfixed-term workers, which is basically "working more than siblings". Using Frenchdata, we find that a fixed-term contract provides significantly better perspectivesthan unemployment, but no evidence of any significant impact of exerting effort onthe probability of getting an open-ended contract.


BACKGROUND
Pneumonia is responsible for 50% of antibiotics prescribed in ICUs. Treatment failure, ie, absence of improvement or clinical deterioration under antibiotic therapy, presents a dilemma to physicians. BAL is an invasive method validated for etiologic diagnosis in pneumonia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in ICU patients the impact of BAL in the etiologic diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of pneumonia with treatment failure.

DESIGN
Prospective clinical study.

SETTING
Nonsurgical, medical ICU of a university hospital in Brazil.

PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS
Sixty-two episodes of pneumonia treated for at least 72 h without clinical improvement in 53 patients hospitalized for diverse clinical emergencies. Mean duration of hospitalization was 14.2 days. Mean duration of previous antibiotic therapy was 11.4 days.

INTERVENTIONS
Bronchoscopy and BAL were performed in each episode. BAL fluid was cultivated for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria; the cutoff considered positive was 10(4) cfu/mL; 10(3) cfu/mL was also analyzed if under treatment. Pneumocystis carinii, fungi, Legionella spp, and Mycobacterium spp were also researched.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS
Fifty-eight of 62 BAL were performed under antibiotics. The results showed positivity in 45 of 62 (72.6%); 42 of the 45 positive episodes (93.3%) had > 10(4) cfu/mL. The three cases with between 10(3) and 10(4) cfu/mL were considered positive and were treated according to BAL cultures. The main agents were Acinetobacter baumannii (37.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.7%), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; 16.1%); 46.7% of the episodes (21 of 45) were polymicrobial. BAL results directed a change of therapy in 34 episodes (54.8%). Overall mortality was 43.5%. There was no difference in mortality among positives, negatives, and patients who changed therapy guided by BAL culture.

CONCLUSIONS
(1) BAL fluid examination was positive in 45 of 62 episodes (72.6%), with 58 of 62 BAL performed under antibiotics. This suggests that BAL may be a sensitive diagnostic method for treatment failures of clinically diagnosed pneumonias, even if performed under antibiotics; (2) the main pathogens in our study were A baumannii, P aeruginosa, and MRSA, and approximately 45% of infections were polymicrobial; (3) BAL culture results directed a change of therapy in 75.6% of positive episodes (34 of 45) and in 54.8% of all episodes of treatment failure (34 of 62); and (4) there was no difference in mortality among positives, negatives, and patients who changed therapy guided by BAL culture.


During 23 years of civil war in Afghanistan, there has been a continuous flow of more than 5 million refugees out of the country. Iran has hosted about 40% of all refugees. The majority have resided outside of camps with opportunities to integrate locally, having access to the Iranian labor market and government services, such as dialysis and transplantation. Iran also has adopted a compensated living unrelated donor renal transplantation program in which foreigners can receive transplants from living related donors or volunteer living unrelated donors of the same nationality. In June 2004, among 241 refugees with end-stage kidney disease in Iran, 179 were on hemodialysis and 62 underwent renal transplantation. Nine patients received kidneys from living related donors, 1 from a spouse, 50 from Afghani living unrelated donors, and 1 from a cadaveric donor. No refugee had been used as a kidney donor to an Iranian patient. Transplantation of all Afghan refugees in need and the absence of their use as kidney donors to Iranian patients proffer strong evidence against commercialism and a reason to believe that the Iran Model transplantation is practiced with ethical standards. In the last 2 years since the civil war has ended, returning these patients to Afghanistan has raised important ethical concerns. Repatriation of dialysis patients and transplant recipients may be tantamount to their deaths. It is expected that The Transplantation Society and the World Health Organization will establish links with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee Offices to provide humanitarian assistance to these patients.


Traditional African Vegetables (TAVs) form a significant component of many families' diets in Tanzania. Traditional African Vegetables contribute to reduction of malnutrition, stunting and poor health among consumers by providing vitamins and essential minerals in family diets. However, the consumption of vegetables is still below the per capita per day intake level recommended by World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization, causing millions of deaths annually due to nutrientdeficiency related diseases. This study examined the factors that influence the nutrition knowledge, frequency intake and farming households' attitudes towards consumption of traditional vegetables. The Standard Poison and the Generalized Poison models were used for analysis. Factor analysis was used to assess the attitudes towards TAVs consumption. Data were collected from randomly selected 63 households in Arumeru District of Tanzania in the months of July to November 2015. Generalized Poison model results showed that gender of the respondent, years of schooling, age of the respondent, household size and TAVs farm size influenced farmers' nutrition knowledge. Frequency intake of TAVs is influenced by the farmers' age, annual household income, household size, TAVs farm size and market price of TAVs. Factor analysis results indicated that medicinal properties of traditional vegetables positively influenced farmers' intake of vegetables. The "health factor" accounted for 31.4% of the total variance in the principal components analysis. 'Personal perception factor' accounted for 13.79% whereas 'personal taste factor' accounted for 12.71% of the total variance. It was concluded that rural farming households consume traditional vegetables majorly because of their health attributes. Thus, there is need to improve medicinal and nutritional knowledge of these crops among households. These findings imply that consumption of TAVs can be enhanced by educating households on nutrition importance and medicinal attributes of TAVs. Besides, farmers need training on simple but user-friendly technologies that could prolong storage and preserve freshness as well as nutritional contents of traditional vegetables. Keywords: Traditional vegetables, nutrition knowledge, frequency intake, farmers' attitude, Arumeru District


Polarized IR spectra of the hydrogen bond in 2-thiophenic acid crystals, isotopically neat and of mixed H/D isotopic content, are measured at 298 and 77 K in the "residual" nuO-H and nuO-D band frequency ranges. This crystalline system provides spectra in these band frequency ranges that differ considerably in intensity distribution from the spectra of other H-bonded centrosymmetric dimeric species. This change in the spectral properties of the crystals is probably due to the influence of the sulfur atoms from the thiophene aromatic rings, which are directly linked to the (COOH)2 or (COOD)2 cycles. The magnitude of this effect correlates with the net electronic charge distribution at the 2- and 3-positions of substituted thiophene rings, which in a different way influences the electron charge density in the hydrogen bonds of the two thiophenic acid isomers. The experimental results for spectral structures are compared to predictions obtained with theoretical calculations involving the combined effects of anharmonicities, Davydov coupling, Fermi resonances, and direct and indirect relaxations within the framework of the linear response theory. Numerical results show that mixing of all these effects allows satisfactory reproduction of the main features of the experimental IR line shapes of crystalline H- and D-bonded 2-thiophenic acid at room and liquid-nitrogen temperatures.


Broadband access network planning strategies with techno-economic calculations are important topics, when optimal broadband network deployments are considered. This paper analyzes optimal deployment combination of digital subscriber line technologies (xDSL) and fiber to the home technologies (FTTx), following different user bandwidth demand scenarios. For this reason, optimal placement of remote digital subscriber line multiplexer (RDSLAM) is examined. Furthermore, the article also discusses the economy of investments, depending on certain investment threshold and the reach of different xDSL technologies. Finally, the difference between broadband network deployment in a characteristic urban and rural area in Republic of Slovenia, in terms of required optical cable dig length per household is shown. A tree structure network model of a traditional copper access network is introduced. A dynamic programming logic, with recursion as a basis of a tree structure examination and evaluation of optimal network elements placement is used. The tree structure network model considers several real network parameters (e. g.: copper cable lengths, user coordinates, node coordinates). The main input for the optimization is a local loop distance between each user and a candidate node for RDSLAM placement. Modelling of copper access networks with a tree structure makes new extensions in planning optimization of broadband access networks. Optimization of network elements placement has direct influence on efficiency and profitability of broadband access telecommunication networks.


Since the first publication of Economics of Shortage in 1980, an entire economist generation has grown up, whose members are well-versed in numerous sub-themes of the economic sciences. They find their way around the most modern methodological schools, yet they know significantly less about the workings of the social systems. To the younger generations, the socialist system, whose heritage still lives with us and whose characteristic behavioural forms and attitudes have not yet disappeared at all from the economic practices of the post-socialist countries, seems like the distant past, just like the Turkish occupation or the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.The target audience of Kalligram Publishing House is this generation, to the majority of whom Janos Kornai's works will probably come as a revelation. The years of crisis — whose end is still far off — has made even those uncertain about the workings of economic systems, who have personal experiences of the decades of socialism. Therefore, it would be quite important for them to re-read Kornai's works written during the socialist era in order to be able to grasp the workings of economic systems through the help of balanced and objective analyses. Moving beyond the momentary shocks and nostalgias, the older ones also have a great need to evaluate the roles of the market and the state in a bias-free manner resting on a solid theoretical foundation, to realistically see the mechanisms of shortage and surplus economies. This way it is perhaps possible to avoid "going down the same river twice", which disappears somewhere underground and never reaches the sea.


The tool indexing problem is one of allocating tools to slots in a tool magazine so as to minimize the tool change time in automated machining. This problem has been widely studied in the literature. A genetic algorithm has been suggested in the literature to solve this problem, but its implementation is non-standard. In this paper we describe a permutation based genetic algorithm for the tool indexing problem and compare its performance with an existing genetic algorithm.


Background: Amisulpride is a second generation atypical antipsychotic drug. The management of psychosis exacerbation in late pregnancy or during lactation is often hampered by inadequate knowledge of risk to the baby from placental transfer or breast milk transfer of drugs. There is no specific information on adverse effects from amisulpride. To gather guiding information from one mother–baby pair, we conducted a drug concentration study on the fourth post-natal day and developed a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method with application to the very small plasma volumes obtainable from a neonate, requiring 15 &mgr;L of plasma, and with application to human breast milk. Methods: Plasma and breast milk extracts, spiked with deuterated internal standard (amisulpride-d5) were separated isocratically with a buffered water–methanol–acetonitrile mobile phase. A tandem mass spectrometer in positive electrospray ionisation mode with multiple reaction monitoring was used for detection. Results: Method linearity, sensitivity, imprecision, matrix effects, recovery, and overall process efficiency were satisfactory for milk and plasma. No interferences were found from a broad range of psychotropic and general drugs. The breast milk area under the concentration–time curve for the interval 0–12 hours was 10,726 mcg·h·L−1, corresponding to a mean breast milk concentration of 894 mcg/L. Breast milk amisulpride was 12-fold higher than the simultaneous plasma concentration. The baby's plasma amisulpride concentration was 10.5% of the maternal plasma concentration. Conclusions: An assay was developed that is suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring of amisulpride. Its application to breast milk and neonate plasma showed that amisulpride partitioned strongly into breast milk and that the neonate reached plasma levels that were more than desirable for a psychotropic drug.


Kava-kava is an herbal medication, most commonly used to treat anxiety. It is derived from the roots of the pepper plant, Piper methysticum. A 47-year-old white woman presented with a rash and proximal muscle weakness 2 weeks after ingestion of kava-kava. Her creatine kinase level was elevated at 8654 U/L, and an electromyogram showed a myopathic pattern. Skin biopsy and muscle biopsy samples showed changes consistent with dermatomyositis. The patient improved with prednisone and discontinuation of the kava-kava. No similar association between kava-kava ingestion and dermatomyositis has been reported previously.


We propose the framework of a Machine Translation (MT) bootstrapping method by using multilingual Wikipedia articles. This novel method can simultaneously generate a statistical machine translation (SMT) and a sentence-aligned corpus. In this study, we perform two types of experiments. The aim of the first type of experiments is to verify the sentence alignment performance by comparing the proposed method with a conventional sentence alignment approach. For the first type of experiments, we use JENAAD, which is a sentence-aligned corpus built by the conventional sentence alignment method. The second type of experiments uses actual English and Japanese Wikipedia articles for sentence alignment. The result of the first type of experiments shows that the performance of the proposed method is comparable to that of the conventional sentence alignment method. Additionally, the second type of experiments shows that we can obtain the English translation of 10% of Japanese sentences while maintaining high alignment quality (rank-A ratio of over 0.8).


A number of retailers offer gambling or lottery type of price promotions with a chance to receive one's entire purchase for free. While these retailers seem to share the intuition that probabilistic free price promotions are attractive to consumers, it is unclear how they compare to traditional sure price promotions of equal expected monetary value. We compared these two risky and sure price promotions for planned purchases across six experiments in the field and in the lab. Together, we found that consumers are not only more likely to purchase a product promoted with a probabilistic free discount over the same product promoted with a sure discount but that they are also likely to purchase more of it. This preference seems to be primarily due to a diminishing sensitivity to the prices. In addition, we find that the zero price effect, transaction cost, and novelty considerations are likely not implicated.


The combinatorial influence of a biophysical cue (substrate stiffness) and biomechanical cue (shear flow) on the osteogenesis modulation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) is studied for bone regenerative applications. In this work, we report stem cell differentiation on an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based hybrid nanobiocomposite [reinforced with a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and/or nanohydroxyapatite (nHA)] under a physiologically relevant shear flow (1 Pa) in a custom-built microfluidic device. Using a genotypic assessment with qRT-PCR and phenotypic assessment through analysis of cytoskeletal remodelling and marker proteins, the role of shear on the progression of osteogenesis modulation has been quantitatively established with statistically significant differences between nHA-reinforced and MWCNT-reinforced UHMWPE. Early-stage (alkaline phosphatase activity at day 8), middle-stage (matrix collagenation at day 14), and late-stage (matrix calcification at day 20) events were analyzed using mRNA expression changes of a limited cell volume after microfluidic culture experiments. The conventional Petri dish culture (static) exhibited an increased osteogenesis for nanoparticle-reinforced UHMWPE, irrespective of the type of nanoparticle. The shear-mediated culture experiments resulted in noticeable differences in the degree of osteogenesis with MWCNT being more effective than nHA reinforcement. The shear-mediated osteogenesis has been attributed to the skewed cellular morphology with a higher cell adhesion (vinculin expression) on UHMWPE and nHA than that of UHMWPE and MWCNT. The signatures of the cytoskeletal changes are reflected in terms of left-to-right (L-R) chirality as well as alignment and pattern of actin fibers. Moreover, stemness (vimentin expression) was found to be decreased because of differentiation. The electrophysiological analysis using patch clamp experiments also revealed a higher inward calcium current and intracellular calcium activity for the cells grown on the UHMWPE and nHA nanobiocomposite under shear. Overall, the present study conclusively establishes the synergistic role of substrate stiffness and shear on osteogenesis of hMSCs, in vitro.


Blast-induced traumatic brain injury is a complex of impairments caused by the rapid transfer of energy from the explosion to the brain. The main pathogenic factor is the blast wave, which leads to primary diffuse damage. The question of the biometals participation in the pathogenesis of secondary damage in various structures of the brain, in particular in the forebrain in the early period of mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury, is attracting considerable interest at present. The experiment carried out on 36 sexually mature male Wistar rats weighing 220-270 g in the laboratory of the Department of Pathological Anatomy, Forensic Medicine and Pathological Physiology of the Dnipro State Medical University in compliance with current legislation on ethical treatment of animals. Rats were kept in standard vivarium conditions and were randomly divided into 2 groups: experimental (subjected to anaesthesia and exposure to a baroacoustic wave of 26-36 kPa) and intact groups. On the 14th, 21st, and 28th days of the post-traumatic period, the animals were euthanized with halothane followed by removal of the brain and separation of the forebrain. Spectral research was carried out using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis. The analysis of the results showed an intragroup increase in the level of Fe by 3% and Cu by 36% and a decrease in Zn by 36%, but all these biometals and their ratios (Cu/Fe, Cu/Zn, Zn/Fe) were more in the experimental rats. We consider that these biometals lead to oxidative stress, damage to the neurons and mitochondria membranes, development of energy deficit, excitation of neurons, disruption of axonal conduction and synaptic transmission. The obtained data can be suggested as factors of secondary damage and used as diagnostic and prognostic markers of this injury type; they can also be used as the foundation for developing pathogenetically validated neuroprotection.


Background Mixing different drugs for use in continuous infusion systems is a common practice in palliative care, but the analytical study of compatibility and stability is not always available. Purpose To evaluate the compatibility and stability of two admixtures of ondansetron and haloperidol at different temperatures (25°C, 37°C). The concentrations of the admixtures are: 0.15 mg/ml – 0.25 mg/ml and 0.3 mg/ml – 0.4 mg/ml of haloperidol and ondansetron respectively in NaCl 0.9% stored in elastomeric infusors protected from light. Material and methods The samples were prepared and diluted in NaCl 0.9% in elastomeric infusors in triplicate to obtain four different conditions of concentration and/or temperature of storage (concentration: 0.15 mg/ml – 0.25 mg/ml and 0.3 mg/ml – 0.4 mg/ml of haloperidol and ondansetron respectively: temperature of storage 25°C and 37°C). The concentration of each constituent drug into different mixtures was periodically determined using a HPLC-UVmethod. The drugs were chromatographed on a C18 reverse phase column: the mobile phase was methanol:KH2PO40.05 M, adjusted to pH 3 with H3PO3 (60:40, v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1. The sample injection volume was 20 µL, and triplicate injections were performed for every sample. The signal was recorded during 8 min and the retention times were 3.6 min for ondansetron and 6.6 min for haloperidol. Ondansetron and haloperidol concentrations were determined at 254 nm by interpolation from the calibration curves prepared from the standards. The Statgraphics centurion XVI program has been used for data treatment. Results All solutions were initially clear and colourless but visible particles appear, in all cases, in the infusers after 2 days since their preparation. Chemical stability of the admixtures diluted in NaCl 0.9% are as follows: haloperidol-ondansetron (0.15 mg/ml – 0.25 mg/ml) is stable (retained >90% of their initial concentration) 2 days at 25°C and 37°C; and (0.3 mg/ml 0.4 mg/ml) is stable two days at 25°C and 37°C. Conclusion The mixture of haloperidol and ondansetron stored in infusor devices is not stable because visible particles appear in less than 48 hours. Physical pressure by the elastomeric infusor may have a role in the instability, since precipitate is not appreciated when stored in flasks. No conflict of interest


This paper explores social computing from the perspective of sociology and its effect on social networks. We focus on traditions of symbolism, personalization, and gift culture to better understand the lived experience of participants engaging in social networking tasks. Our review reveals the importance of symbolic communication, creating strong emotional ties through personalization, and creating bonds through gift exchange. These key factors can be incorporated into machine interaction in order to create socially intelligent computing that considers emotion and personalization essential in strengthening meaningful experiences. We exemplify their use through the design and creation of Patches, a wearable social networking system.


As technology scales, fault tolerance is becoming a key concern in on-chip communication. In this paper we present a methodology to design fault-tolerant routing algorithms for regular direct interconnection networks. It supports fully adaptive routing, does not degrade performance in the absence of faults, and supports a reasonably large number of faults without significantly degrading performance. Consequently, this work examines fault tolerant communication algorithms for use in the NoC domain. Before two different flooding algorithms, a random walk algorithm and an Intermediate Node Algorithm have been investigated. The first three algorithms have an exceedingly high communication overhead and cause huge congestion in usual traffics. The fourth is a static fault model which focuses on the faults knowing in advance where they are located. We have developed a new dynamic algorithm based on intermediate node concept and stress value concept to overcome all of mentioned constraints.


The temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of the concentrations of dissolved gases (He, Ar, Kr, N2, O2, and CO2) in an infiltrating groundwater system fed by the peri‐alpine river Thur (Switzerland) were analyzed before, during and after a single, well‐defined flood event. The analysis was based on measurements taken in five different groundwater observation wells that were located approximately 10 m apart and tapped the same groundwater body, but were situated in three different riparian zones. The input of O2 into the groundwater as a result of the formation of excess air was found to be of the same order of magnitude as that resulting from the advection of river water, although the amount of excess air formed and the amount of O2 delivered varied significantly among the riparian zones. The results suggest that the input of O2 into groundwater as a result of excess air formation is controlled not only by the hydraulic conditions prevailing in the river and the groundwater, but also by the thickness of the confining bed at the top of the aquifer. The sandy gravel aquifer itself is too coarse to trap a significant amount of air during the water level rise. The clay layer confining the aquifer, however, acts as a barrier hindering the escape of air from the subsoil to the surface, and hence is likely to be a key factor controlling the trapping and dissolution of air in groundwater.


Task‐based systems have become popular due to their ability to utilize the computational power of complex heterogeneous systems. A typical programming model used is the Sequential Task Flow (STF) model, which unfortunately only supports static task graphs. This can result in submission overhead and a static task graph that is not well‐suited for execution on heterogeneous systems. A common approach is to find a balance between the granularity needed for accelerator devices and the granularity required by CPU cores to achieve optimal performance. To address these issues, we have extended the STF model in the StarPU runtime system by introducing the concept of hierarchical tasks. This allows for a more dynamic task graph and, when combined with an automatic data manager, it is possible to adjust granularity at runtime to best match the targeted computing resource. That data manager makes it possible to switch between various data layout without programmer input and allows us to enforce the correctness of the DAG as hierarchical tasks alter it during runtime. Additionally, submission overhead is reduced by using large‐grain hierarchical tasks, as the submission process can now be done in parallel. We have shown that the hierarchical task model is correct and have conducted an early evaluation on shared memory heterogeneous systems using the Chameleon dense linear algebra library.


The idea which includes the five dimensions of personality has strong dominant in the field of personality studies. In this way, it has enjoyed wide spread popularity in applied organizational context. Although five factors were found in various studies, but its structure has not been accepted generally. The present study aims to explore the current studies regarding nature of five dimensions of personality, its application, its limitations, and the other related characteristics in order to revalue it. The current study confirms the suggested structure of such traits for the study of personality.


The focus concerning controlled drug release requires the growth of appropriate drug carriers that could move adequate amount of the drug to injured area with controlled and sustained manner. A variety of nanoparticles including magnetic nanoparticles, the staes, liposomes, polymers dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and porous silicon have been investigated as drug carriers in drug delivery cases. Nanocarriers have achieved significant importance in the stabilization of proteins and peptides, anti-cancer drug camptothecin (CPT) and bone tissue engineering offering improved buccal access and protection according to the desired function. Moreover, tailored formulation along with functionalization and bio- compatibility has importance in fabrication of nanoparticles for proteins or peptides via oral delivery systems, which has advantage over parenteric delivery systems because of their comfort running and  observance to treatment. The review summarizes interesting approaches on existing publications for drugs such as proteins or peptides carrier nanoparticles with special focus on porous silicon for delivery systems. Fabricatioan of nanoparticles e.g. porous silicon nanocarriers for oral delivery, advantages and disadvantages, prospective use of porous silicon in drug delivery systems will be addressed.


UNLABELLED
This article highlights the fundamental issues which the primary care team should consider when developing preventive dental advice for their patients. Although it is important to have a clear understanding of the carious process, this knowledge must take account of social influences on health when assessing the preventive strategy for individuals. A key factor is that caries is a lifelong process involving fluctuations in demineralization and remineralization. The dental team should ensure that the oral environment favours remineralization and avoids irreversible loss of enamel and dentine. An understanding of this'see-saw' process will influence not only our preventive philosophy but how we, as health professionals, diagnose and treat dental caries.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Preventing dental caries is an essential skill for all dental professionals. This article brings together the scientific basis of the appropriate advice.


BACKGROUND
The authors conducted an in vitro study to test the hypothesis that undercuts prepared in old composite restorations could improve the strength between the restoration and a flowable composite as repair material.

METHODS
The authors used three composites to fabricate cylinders as repair substrates. The etched-only group was ground, etched, dried and built up with a flowable composite. For the undercut group, the authors introduced arrays of fissures on the surfaces before preparing the specimens for subsequent buildup in the manner described for the etched-only group. They made nonrepaired cylinders for baseline measures of strength. They sliced all finished cylinders into slender bars with a diamond saw. Flexure strength values were determined by a three-point-bending test.

RESULTS
Nonrepaired bars exhibited statistically significantly higher flexure strength values than did repaired bars, as determined by Wilcoxon rank sum test. Two-way general linear model showed that both material (P < .0001) and undercut (P = .0207) exhibited a statistically significant influence on the repaired flexure strength. Repair substrate with elastic modulus close to that of repair material exhibited a greater percentage of recovery of the respective cohesive strength. Compared with the etched-only group, the undercut group yielded a higher mean flexure strength with one composite but a lower mean flexure strength with the other two. Examination of the fractured surfaces showed that a significant number of undercuts were filled only partially.

CONCLUSION
Flexure strengths of repaired specimens always were lower than the cohesive flexure strengths of the materials being repaired. Undercuts did not generally improve repair strength.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
Small undercuts on the surface of composite often are difficult to fill completely, resulting in areas of stress concentration that result in no improvement in the repair strength.


We performed excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on 10 undercorrected myopic eyes of nine patients with residual myopia, (N = 2, > -6.00 D, N = 8, -2.00 -5.75 D) after radial keratotomy. Patients' mean age was 32.1 years. The time interval between radial keratotomy and PRK ranged from 12 to 90 months (mean 35). All patients after PRK were followed 9 months or more. Nine months following PRK, uncorrected visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to 20/50 in all cases. Mean manifest refractive changed from -5.06 D preoperatively to -0.66 D after surgery, and the mean keratometric power changed from 41.40 +/- 1.56 D to 38.48 +/- 1.77 D. Persistent corneal haze (grade 1) was noted only in one eye at 9 months and no other significant complications occurred. Therefore, excimer laser PRK appears to be a good method to correct residual myopia after radial keratotomy.


In 1900, the Swedish writer and social commentator Ellen Key published a book called "The Century of the Child," presenting changes she believed were necessary in the care of children in the twentieth century. This article examines the reality of childhood and child care in Sweden, comparing Key's wishes to both actual changes and current attitudes. It concludes that the conditions of children's lives have changed so profoundly that it is questionable whether the ideals of "the century of the child" have any relevance when discussing childhood today. For example, although corporal punishment and mandatory Christian education have been abandoned, the number of mothers working outside the home--and consequently, the number of day care facilities--has grown enormously, contrary to Key's hopes, and there is no indication that people would reverse the trend. The article claims that childhood today is more public and more participatory; that children are less dependent on parents and more dependent on other adults; and that they are less irresponsible and mentally segregated from the adult world (due largely to the mass media). The article also discusses the conflict of values when childhood is regarded as a transition to "future adulthood," as opposed to a culture unto itself, and advocates that adults allow children a free space to use childhood cultural products and experiences as they will. Finally, the article urges a reconsideration of the definition of childhood and adulthood as opposite states (a model of relations in which one party is weak and the other strong), adopting instead a view of human relations as siblinghood. Contains nine references. (EV) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. * ***********************************************************************


In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a dynamic window management technique that changes the perception of windows as fixed‐sized rectangles. The primary goal of self‐organizing windows is to automatically display the most relevant information for a user's current activity, which removes the burden of organizing and arranging windows from the user. We analyze the image‐based representation of each window and identify coherent pieces of information. The windows are then automatically moved, scaled and composed in a content‐aware manner to fit the most relevant information into the limited area of the screen. During the design process, we consider findings from previous experiments and show how users can benefit from our system. We also describe how the immense processing power of current graphics processing units can be exploited to build an interactive system that finds an optimal solution within the complex design space of all possible window transformations in real time.


Stress fractures of the foot and ankle are common injuries in athletes. Management differs considerably based on fracture location and predisposing factors. Repetitive loading of the foot and ankle in athletes should result in physiologic bone remodeling in accordance with Wolff's law. However, when there is not sufficient time for complete healing to occur before additional loads are incurred, this process can instead lead to stress fracture. Assessment of the athlete's training regimen and overall bone health is paramount to both the discovery and treatment of these injuries, although diagnosis is often delayed in the setting of normal-appearing initial radiographs. While most stress fractures of the foot or ankle can usually be treated nonoperatively with a period of activity modification, fractures in certain locations are considered "high risk" due to poor intrinsic healing and may warrant more proactive operative management.


Sri Lankan Medical manuscripts offer a wealth of information on the practice of Ayurveda. The significant of these manuscripts in the various speheres of medical research in presented in this communication.


Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity—in a VUCA world the moment of surprise is everywhere, making things extremely unpredictable and planning and strategizing far more challenging. The healthcare industry is witnessing seismic shifts as medicine becomes more personalised, health data becomes valuable, and data sharing becomes essential, demanding the healthcare sector to re-strategise.
This research aims to understand the various innovations and change-management techniques based on technology that have been adopted by healthcare industries in today's VUCA world while exploring the innovations needed to drive the Indian healthcare sector in the years to come. Thus, it examines and highlight the implications of the rising emphasis being placed on innovations in the healthcare industry - helping the sector to re-strategise and face the changes in today's VUCA world with greater clarity. This paper is also designed to call attention to and discuss contemporary perspectives taken by top healthcare organisations in India before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This research is based on secondary data, including intensive analysis of research papers, media articles and grey literature reports, along with examining the recent innovations undertaken by the top healthcare companies and hospitals in India. The findings suggest that moving away from a supply-driven healthcare system toward a patient-centred system is necessary, and therefore organisations in India have to embrace innovation, agility, and adaptability in unison to brave the VUCA times.


Biomarker genes of human skin-derived cells were identified by new simple bioinformatic methods and DNA microarray analysis utilizing in vitro cultures of normal neonatal human epidermal keratinocytes, melanocytes, and dermal fibroblasts. A survey of 4405 human cDNAs was performed using DermArray DNA microarrays. Biomarkers were rank ordered by "likelihood ratio" algorithms and stringent selection criteria that have general applicability for analyzing a minimum of three RNA samples. Signature biomarker genes (up-regulated in one cell type) and anti-signature biomarker genes (down-regulated in one cell type) were determined for the three major skin cell types. Many of the signature genes are known biomarkers for these cell types. In addition, 17 signature genes were identified as ESTs, and 22 anti-signature biomarkers were discovered. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to verify nine signature biomarker genes. A total of 158 biomarkers of normal human skin cells were identified, many of which may be valuable in diagnostic applications and as molecular targets for drug discovery and therapeutic intervention.


In Brazil, two pathogenic Rickettsia species have been identified causing tick‐borne spotted fever (SF). The aetiological agent Rickettsia rickettsii causes serious illness, particularly in the south‐eastern region of the country. Moreover, the Rickettsia sp. strain Atlantic Rainforest cause milder clinical manifestations in south‐eastern, south and north‐east regions. This study has sought to analyse predictive factors for fatal SF. A case–control study was performed using disease notification records in Brazil. The cases included were individuals with laboratory confirmation and fatal progression of SF, while the controls included individuals with SF who were cured. A total of 386 cases and 415 controls were identified (1 : 1.1), and the cases and controls were similar in age. The factors identified as being protective against death were reported presence of ticks (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41–0.88), residing in urban areas (OR, 0.47, 95% CI, 0.31–0.74) and presenting lymphadenopathy (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23–0.82). Males exhibited a greater chance of death (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.13–2.18), as did patients who were hospitalized (OR, 10.82; 95% CI, 6.38–18.35) and who presented hypotension or shock (OR, 10.80; 95% CI, 7.33–15.93), seizures (OR, 11.24; 95% CI, 6.49–19.45) and coma (OR of 15.16; 95% CI, 8.51–27.02). The study demonstrates the severity profile of the SF cases, defined either as the frequency of hospitalization (even in cases that were cured) or as the increased frequency of the clinical complications typically found in critical patients. Opportune clinical diagnosis, a careful evaluation of the epidemiological aspects of the disease and adequate care for patients are determining factors for reducing SF fatality rates.


Acne vulgaris is recognized as an androgen dependent disorder. The historical concept of the polycystic ovary syndrome is of an uncommon association of infertility, obesity and hirsutism, with occasional acne. However, using modern high resolution ultrasound, it has been shown that polycystic ovaries occur in 95% of cases of hirsutism and 85% of cases of oligomenorrhoea.' Indeed, the polycystic ovary pattem is seen in up to 20% of the normal population. We have, therefore, determined the prevalence of ultrasonically defined polycystic ovaries in a group of acne patients. A total of 100 consecutive female patients with acne (mean age 25 years, range 14 to 40 years), and 10 clinically normal controls who denied a history of acne (mean age 33 years, range 24 to 39 years) were recruited. The severity of the acne was graded and patients were examined for other features of the polycystic ovary syndrome. High resolution ultrasound scans of the pelvis were performed between days 6 and 10 of the menstrual cycle (mid follicular phase), and polycystic ovaries were diagnosed according to the criteria of Adams et al.^ Estimation of LH, FSH, testosterone, prolactin and thyroxine were performed on the same day. A total of 66 acne patients attended for scans. Fifty-two (79%) showed a definite polycystic pattem, and 10 had a borderline anomaly. The presence of the polycystic pattern was not restricted to patients with severe acne, clinical features of the polycystic ovary syndrome, or marked hormonal abnormality. Of the 10 controls, only three had a polycystic pattem on ultrasound scan. This study indicates a very high prevalence of polycystic ovaries in women with acne vulgaris.


Objectives : This study was carried out to evaluate whether the water extract from cause the cellular damage in HepG2 cell line. It was reported that Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz(DDT) intake induce poisoning symptoms in human population. These symptoms was closely related to liver toxicity, however, mechanisms for liver toxicity caused by DDT have not been elucidated exactly. Here, hepatotoxicity caused by DDT was evaluated using HepG2 cell line. Methods : Water extract of DDT was treated into HepG2 cell with various doses such as 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 ㎎/㎖. In order to cell viability, both MTT and LDH assay were carried out. Also, apoptosis array kit was used to identify whether cell death caused by DDT is due to apoptosis or not. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured after treatment of water extract. Results : We found out significant changes in the apoptosis related factors of hepatocyte. The cell viability of HepG2 treated with DDT water extract was decreased in dose-dependent. Also most of the apoptosis related factors were significantly increased. We found out that Caspase 3, Cytochrome C and ROS had increased in dose-dependent. In addition, other apoptosis related factors Bcl 2 and Bax, which were also constant changes. However, there was no significance. Conclusions : These results suggest that water soluble extract of DDT is expected to have oral toxicity, including hepatocellular damage Therefore, it is suggested that DDT could cause various side effects and toxicity of clinical conditions.


Cloud computing and network slicing are essential concepts of forthcoming 5G mobile systems. Network slices are essentially chunks of virtual computing and connectivity resources, configured and provisioned for particular services according to their characteristics and requirements. The success of cloud computing and network slicing hinges on the efficient allocation of virtual resources (e.g., VCPU and VMDISK) and the optimal placement of virtualized network functions (VNFs) composing the network slices. In this context, this paper elaborates issues that may disrupt the placement of VNFs and virtual machines (VMs). This paper classifies the existing solutions for VM placement based on their nature, whether the placement is dynamic or static, their objectives, and their metrics. This paper then proposes a classification of VNF placement approaches, first, regarding the general placement and management issues of VNFs, and second, based on the target VNF type.


A standard view in contemporary moral philosophy is that a naturalistic account of human nature cannot be normative because there is an unbridgeable gap between explanations of what is the case and accounts of what ought to be. However, in Hume's account of the passions, specifically the passion of pride, he offers an account of our passional life that is descriptive yet value-laden. This enables what is a naturalistic account of human nature to, in fact, be normative.


This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimization Problems, CPAIOR 2012, held in Nantes, France, in May/June 2012. The 26 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 64 submissions. The papers are focused on both theoretical and practical, application-oriented issues in combinatorial optimization and feature current research with a special focus on inference and relaxation methods, integration methods, modeling methods, innovative applications of CP/AI/OR techniques, and implementation of CP/AI/OR techniques and optimization systems.


Genistein may improve vascular function, but the mechanism of this effect is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that genistein directly regulates vascular function through stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Genistein activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in intact bovine aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells over an incubation period of 10 min. The maximal eNOS activity was at 1 microm genistein. Consistent with this activation pattern, 1 microm genistein maximally stimulated the phosphorylation of eNOS at serine 1179 at 10 min of incubation. The rapid activation of eNOS by genistein was not dependent on RNA transcription or new protein synthesis and was not blocked by a specific estrogen receptor antagonist. In addition, inhibition of MAPK or phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase/Akt kinase had no affect on eNOS activation by genistein. Furthermore, the genistein effect on eNOS was also independent of tyrosine kinase inhibition. However, inhibition of cAMP-dependent kinase [protein kinase A (PKA)] by H89 completely abolished the genistein-stimulated eNOS activation and phosphorylation, suggesting that genistein acted through a PKA-dependent pathway. These findings demonstrated that genistein had direct nongenomic effects on eNOS activity in vascular endothelial cells, leading to eNOS activation and nitric oxide synthesis. These effects were mediated by PKA and were unrelated to an estrogenic effect. This cellular mechanism may underlie some of the cardiovascular protective effects proposed for soy phytoestrogens.


Method of and apparatus for operating an electro-optical system for producing high quality images from a liquid crystal light valve. A polarized projection beam is directed to the reflective surface of a liquid crystal light valve for polarization modulation by means of an input image. The beam is polarization analyzed to thereby generate an output image which typically suffers from color and brightness defects caused by economically unavoidable tolerance variations in the electro-optical system. A second beam of light is generated having a light of a selected color different from the projection beam, is spatially varied in intensity by a spatially graded filter, and super-imposed on the output image so as to eliminate the color and brightness defects as well as enhance color contrast and brightness of the image. The color of the second beam is selected so as to mask background color variations and improve color contrast on the output image while the graded intensity filter is selected to additively compensate for background brightness variation of the output image.


Historically, it has been negative to be dependent on only one resource, in the current situation this resource represents oil. The oil dependence is primarily in the transport sector. From a Swedish perspective oil is an energy resource mainly used in the transport sector. Much of the oil that Sweden imports has its origin in the North Sea. The oil production in the North Sea has however begun to decline, which highlights that oil is a finite resource. This also means that Sweden has to start importing oil from other countries, which may affect the Swedish energy security as these countries may be geographical further away and also be more political instable. It also implies that a transition from oil to renewable fuel within the transport sector is essential.The aim of this thesis is to study how Swedish energy security is affected by the oil production volumes in The North Sea. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part consists of updating historical data from recent analyses on North Sea oil production (i.e. Hook and Aleklett, 2008 and Hook et al., 2009a), and also create updated forecasts of future oil production for both Denmark and Norway. The second part investigates how production declines in the North Sea affect the Swedish oil imports. The final section examines how a shift to renewable fuels within the transport sector is possible, with a focus on natural resources. Finally some recommendations are presented on how Sweden could increase their energy security regarding the transport sector by introducing renewable fuels.


Nurses are being asked by the RCN if they want to consider industrial action - including going on strike - in response to low NHS pay.


SUMMARY. The current study was undertaken to assess the vaccine efficacy of Eimeria tenella EF-1α/chicken IL-7 (chIL-7) DNA vaccine when administered with Montanide Gel 01 adjuvant against live Eimeria acervulina challenge in commercial broiler chickens. The criteria used for the evaluation of vaccine efficacy were weight gain, duodenal lesion scores, oocyst counts, humoral antibody response, and duodenal proinflammatory cytokine gene expression. Chickens vaccinated with EF-1α (100 µg)/chIL-7 (20 µg) in Gel 01 PR adjuvant showed body weight gain similar to the uninfected control and higher oocyst shedding, a lower gut lesion score, and higher proinflammatory cytokine gene expression than did the infected controls. Moreover, chickens vaccinated with chIL-7 (20 µg) in Gel 01 PR adjuvant shed fewer oocysts with reduced gut lesion scores and produced higher levels of anti-EF-1α serum antibody than did the infected control. Chickens vaccinated with EF-1α (50 µg)/chIL-7 (20 µg) in Gel 01 PR adjuvant showed higher weight gains than did the infected control and shed significantly fewer oocysts than the infected control. Furthermore, chickens vaccinated with EF-1α (100 µg) in Gel 01 PR adjuvant demonstrated the lowest anti-EF-1α serum antibody levels. This study demonstrated the beneficial effects of using EF-1α and/or host cytokine chIL-7 DNA vaccine together with Gel 01 PR adjuvant to improve T-cell-mediated effector function in broiler chickens challenged with live E. acervulina.


Protruding ears is a common abnormality sometimes causing psychological problems. The most common type of prominent ears shows failure of the anthelix to fold, conchal widening and overcupping of helical margin. Psychological programs are indications to correction. The goal of surgical treatment is restore conchoscaphal angle and/or anthelical fold. In our experience, Stenström otoplasty and/or recession of conchal cartilage by suture the concha to mastoid periostium are effective in 95% of the patients. These technique are, in our opinion, easy and rapid procedures, have very few complications, and give excellent aesthetic results.


BACKGROUND
Although mindfulness-based interventions have been widely examined in patients with non-metastatic cancer, the feasibility and efficacy of these types of programs are largely unknown for those with advanced disease. We pilot-tested a couple-based mediation (CBM) relative to a supportive-expressive (SE) and a usual care (UC) arm targeting psycho-spiritual distress in patients with metastatic lung cancer and their spousal caregivers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Seventy-five patient-caregiver dyads completed baseline self-report measures and were then randomized to one of the three arms. Couples in the CBM and SE groups attended four, 60 min. sessions that were delivered via videoconference. All dyads were reassessed 1 and 3 months later.

RESULTS
A priori feasibility benchmarks were met. Although attendance was high in both groups, dyads in the CBM group indicated greater benefit of the sessions than those in the SE group (patients, CBM mean=2.63, SE mean=2.20, P=.003; spouse, CBM mean=2.71, SE mean=2.00, P=.005). Compared with the UC group, patients in the CBM group reported significantly lower depressive symptoms (P=.05; d=.53) and marginally reduced cancer-related stress (P=.07; d=.68). Medium effect sizes in favor of the CBM compared with the SE group for depressive symptoms (d=.59) and cancer-related stress (d=.54) were found. Spouses in the CBM group reported significantly lower depressive symptoms (P<.01; d=.74) compared with those in the UC group.

CONCLUSION
It seems feasible and possibly efficacious to deliver dyadic interventions via videoconference to couples coping with metastatic lung cancer. Mindfulness-based interventions may be of value to managing psychological symptoms in the palliative care setting.


Understanding customer buying patterns is of great interest to the retail industry. Association rule mining is a common technique for extracting correlations such as people in the South of France buy rosé wine or customers who buy paté also buy salted butter and sour bread. Unfortunately, sifting through a high number of buying patterns is not useful in practice, because of the predominance of popular products in the top rules. As a result, a number of "interestingness" measures (over 30) have been proposed to rank rules. However, there is no agreement on which measures are more appropriate for retail data. Moreover, since pattern mining algorithms output thousands of association rules for each product, the ability for an analyst to rely on ranking measures to identify the most interesting ones is crucial. In this paper, we develop CAPA (Comparative Analysis of PAtterns), a framework that provides analysts with the ability to compare different rule rankings. We report on how we used C A PA to compare 34 interestingness measures applied to patterns extracted from customer receipts of more than 1,800 stores for a period of one year.


International manufacturing organizations face the challenge of implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris (COP21) commitments within the context of their global value networks. Networks that are increasingly fuelled by mergers and acquisitions (M&A), which in 2015 hit a record $4.28 trillion in deal value (Dealogic, 2015). While M&As produce mixed results, they fundamentally change the economic, social and environmental footprint of an organization, and its product supply chain. Merger synergies can change supply chain activities. In this paper we consider the factors that determine how green is the deal? and argue that sustainable supply chain management is a key consideration during pre-merger due-diligence, and in deal selection, assessment and execution. The objective of this paper is to test this argument by reviewing sustainability, mergers & acquisitions, and supply chain management literature published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2016. This paper's contribution lies in identifying the key theoretical questions relevant when assessing sustainability within the context of M&A.


Typical implementations of standard video compression algorithms use variance-based perceptual masking to adaptively vary the degree of compression noise to video content; the idea being that the human visual system is more sensitive to errors in low variance regions of the image. On a similar note, quality assessment algorithms employ similar spatial-frequency adaptive measures to judge compressed video quality. Such simplistic analysis leads to problems when we encounter "clean edges" in video (for example, text) which although classified as high frequency areas, are still very sensitive to compression noise. Such discrimination between "good" and "bad" texture is particularly important for low bit rate, internet video transmission. In this paper we will propose a novel, computationally simple scheme which further distinguishes between "clean" and "random" edges. By comparing the proposed algorithm with other standard texture classification schemes in literature, we will show that we obtain a substantial improvement in discriminatory ability, albeit at a much lower computational cost. Further more, we will show that the proposed scheme can be applied on a per macro-block basis, thus making it particularly suitable to drive standard, block based video compression algorithms such as H.261/3 or MPEG-1/2 which are quite popular.


Trichoderma species , isolated from different producer regions of cocoa (Bahia, Brazil), were evaluated as for their capacity of usage in the biocontrol of the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa subgroup 1441, which causes the witches' broom in cocoa . The isolates of Trichoderma were evaluated through individual indices so called %AP (Antagonistic Potential to Moniliophthora perniciosa subgroup 1441), %PG (Potential Growth in vitro ) and %PSPr (Potential of Spore Production on rice) These indices were evaluated together, also they were used for the determination of Biological Control Potential (%BCP) of each antagonistic specie to the evaluated pathogen. Afterwards, the ability of the antagonistic to colonize and to produce spores on sterilized dry brooms was also evaluated. Some of the isolates Trichoderma spp showed a high %AP to the pathogen and high %PG, but did not present a significant %PSPr, turning impossible the spore production for biocontrol at commercial level. Significant differences were found within the individual indices among the species and isolates of the same species of Trichoderma spp, pointing out a great genetic variability among them. Trichoderma harzianum 911 showed to have the best biocontrol potential to the pathogen when compared to the other isolates, presenting a %BCP de 91.86% (mainly by the high %AP of 97,76%) a %PSPr of 99.53%, also producing 22.67 spores x 10 9 . mL -1 by dry broom segment. Trichoderma harzianum 911 showed to be as promising isolate for future researches on biocontrol of cocoa witches' broom.


An Asymmetric Coplanar Strip (ACS) fed uniplanar antenna for wide band applications is presented. The resulting antenna offers a 2:1 VSWR bandwidth greater than 100% from 1.65 GHz to 5.06 GHz covering the DCS/PCS/IEEE 802.11a/WiMAX bands. The antenna has an overall dimension of 44 mm X 35 mm when printed on a substrate of dielectric constant 4.4 and height 1.6 mm. The wide band width is obtained by combining three individual resonances excited by various current paths. The antenna exhibits good radiation characteristics and moderate gain in the entire operating band.


Abstract: Mammography is currently the established method in breast cancer screening, although the sensitivity is known be affected by overlapping tissue concealing tumours. Breast tomosynthesis takes advantage of multiple exposures at different angles reducing the negative effect of obscuring tissue. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the use of tomosynthesis in breast imaging with a special focus on the role of tomosynthesis in screening. Papers I and II was based on 7,500 women comprising the first half of the Malmo Breast Tomosynthesis Screening Trial (MBTST): a prospective population-based single arm study including randomly invited women 40–74 years old eligible for the screening programme in the city of Malmo. Women underwent one-view tomosynthesis with reduced compression force and mammography. The images were read and scored separately in a blinded double-reading procedure. The increase in cancer detection rate (6.3 to 8.9/1,000) and recall rate (2.6% to 3.8%) using tomosynthesis was significant (p<0.0001). The additional cancers detected were mainly invasive, with a tendency of downstaging (Paper I). Findings of stellate distortion simulating malignancy increased the false positive rate with tomosynthesis. The false positive rate was reduced over time, suggesting a learning curve (Paper II). Paper III was a human observer study designed to study the effect of different viewing procedures (free scroll volume browsing and initial cineloops at three different frame rates) and image orientations (vertical and horizontal) on reading performance. 40 three-dimensional simulations of breast malignancy were inserted in 55 normal tomosynthesis image volumes, creating four unique image sets, one for each viewing procedure. Detection accuracy was similar for the different reading conditions but reading time and visual attention were improved for horizontally oriented images. In Paper IV, 26 breast cancers subjected to discrepant detection in tomosynthesis and mammography in a previous reader study with 185 cases with normal and diseased breasts (95 cancer lesions), were analysed in a side-by-side review to assess factors related to lesion visibility and possible reasons for detection error. Breast cancers imaged with tomosynthesis were found to be more conspicuous with a higher proportion of discernable lesion periphery. Missing a cancer in tomosynthesis seemed to be related to interpretative error of visible lesions. In conclusion, one-view tomosynthesis, with reduced compression force, might be sufficient as a stand-alone screening modality. (Less)


We studied the response of each ascorbate peroxidase (APX) isoenzyme in spinach leaves under stress conditions imposed by high light intensity, drought, salinity, and applications of methyl viologen and abscisic acid. The steady-state transcript level of cytosolic APX remarkably increased in response to high-light stress and methyl viologen treatment, but not in response to the other stress treatments. The transcript levels of the chloroplastic (stromal and thylakoid-bound) and microbody-bound APX isoenzymes were not changed in response to any of the stress treatments. To explore the responses of the APX isoenzymes to photooxidative stress, the levels of transcript and protein and activities of each isoenzyme were studied during high-light stress and following its recovery. The cytosolic APX activity increased in parallel with transcript abundance during high-light stress, while the protein level was not altered. The other isoenzymes showed no significant changes in transcript and protein levels and activities, except for the gradual decrease in chloroplastic isoenzyme activities.


Wellman and colleagues' meta-analysis of performance on the false-belief task is methodologically useful, but it does not lead to any theoretical progress concerning the nature of the mechanisms that underlie the existence and development of "theory of mind." In particular, the results of this meta-analysis are perfectly compatible with "early competence" accounts that posit a specific, innate, and possibly modular basis for theory of mind. The arguments presented by Wellman and colleagues against such views stem not from their meta-analytic data, but from mistaken assumptions regarding the requirements of such theories (e.g., that there exist manipulations that improve performance only, or to a greater degree, in young children). Contrary to what Wellman and colleagues claim, their meta-analysis, while consistent with conceptual change, does not lend any new support for such theories.


In anticipation of current and future needs for the Particle Beam Program and other programs at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we are continuing efforts in the development of high-repetition-rate magnetic pulse compressors that use ferromagnetic metallic glasses, both in the linear and very high saturation rates. These devices are ideally suited as drivers for linear induction accelerators, where duty factor or average repetition rates (hundred of hertz) requirements exceed the parameters that can be achieved by pulse compression using spark gaps. The technique of magnetic pulse compression has been with use for several decades, but relatively recent developments in rapidly quenched magnetic metals of very thin cross sections, has led to the development of state-of-the-art magnetic pulse compressors with very high peak power, repetition rates, and reliability. This paper will describe results of recent experiments and the relevant electrical and mechanical properties of magnetic pulse compressors to achieve high efficiency and reliability.


Introduction Link4Health, a cluster-RCT, demonstrated the effectiveness of a combination strategy targeting barriers at various HIV continuum steps on linkage to and retention in care; showing effectiveness in achieving linkage to HIV care within 1 month plus retention in care at 12 months after HIV testing for people living with HIV (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.19–1.96, p = 0.002). In addition to standard of care, Link4Health included: 1) Point-of-care CD4+ count testing; 2) Accelerated ART initiation; 3) Mobile phone appointment reminders; 4) Care and prevention package including commodities and informational materials; and 5) Non-cash financial incentive. Our objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a scale-up of the Link4Health strategy in Swaziland. Methods and findings We incorporated the effects and costs of the Link4Health strategy into a computer simulation of the HIV epidemic in Swaziland, comparing a scenario where the strategy was scaled up to a scenario with no implementation. The simulation combined a deterministic compartmental model of HIV transmission with a stochastic microsimulation of HIV progression calibrated to Swaziland epidemiological data. It incorporated downstream health costs potentially saved and infections potentially prevented by improved linkage and treatment adherence. We assessed the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of Link4Health compared to standard care from a health sector perspective reported in US$2015, a time horizon of 20 years, and a discount rate of 3% in accordance with WHO guidelines.[1] Our results suggest that scale-up of the Link4Health strategy would reduce new HIV infections over 20 years by 11,059 infections, a 7% reduction from the projected 169,019 cases and prevent 5,313 deaths, an 11% reduction from the projected 49,582 deaths. Link4Health resulted in an incremental cost per infection prevented of $13,310 and an incremental cost per QALY gained of $3,560/QALY from the health sector perspective. Conclusions Using a threshold of <3 x per capita GDP, the Link4Health strategy is likely to be a cost-effective strategy for responding to the HIV epidemic in Swaziland.


In this paper, we consider the implications of spectrum heterogeneity on connectivity and routing in a Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Network (CRAHN). We study the Laplacian spectrum of the CRAHN graph when the activity of primary users is considered. We introduce the cognitive algebraic connectivity, i.e., the second smallest eigenvalue of the Laplacian of a graph, in a cognitive scenario. Throughout this notion we provide a methodology to evaluate the connectivity of CRAHNs and consequently introduce a utility function that is shown to be effective in capturing key characteristics of CRAHN paths. This model provides a unique metric that captures network connectivity, path length, and impact of primary users. Moreover, the proposed metric penalizes paths where spectrum band switchings are highly probable. We design all the components of our routing framework, named Gymkhana, and we present a twofold performance verification: one from a topological perspective to show all the potentialities of the proposed routing approach, and the other considering network traffic to evaluate the performance in terms of end-to-end delay and packet delivery ratio.


Shear wave imaging is a technique with ultrasound that estimates tissue stiffness by measuring shear wave induced by Push Beam, which is generated by acoustic radiation force. However, the technique requires Push Beam for a duration of several hundred micron seconds to deform tissue, and a decay of estimate accuracy may be attributed to out-of-focus Push Beam generated by motions of pulsation and heartbeat. In this presentation, the propagation velocity of thyroid was measured by ultrasound spatial compound imaging with a high temporal resolution. In this proposal method, two components of particle velocity can be obtained by using spatial compound imaging, and two kinds of propagation velocity can be also estimated from the propagation appearance of each component. Verasonic ultrasound scanner (30 MHz, 16 bit, Redmond, WA) and 7.5 MHz UST-5412 Linear Probe (Hitachi Aloka Medical. Ltd.) were used to acquire RF data. Each plane wave was transmitted at 5 different angles, -18, 18, -9, 9, 0, with each time interval of 200μs to acquire echo data for making one spatial compound image. The data of each angle was processed by parallel beamforming, and a spatial compound image was obtained by superposing five B-mode images. Time interval between each spatial compound image is 1 ms. Therefore, the frame rate of the imaging was 1 kfps. A measurement area was thyroid of a 22-year-old healthy male at short axis view. An appearance of the propagation from the artery to thyroid area induced by pulsation was visualized with high-frame-rate ultrasound imaging. There were obvious difference between the shear waves along lateral direction. It's considered that mechanical properties of tissue can be observed from the propagation. According to our past research, the shear wave along muscle fibers was 7.43 ± 0.30 m/s at the frequency of 15 Hz. The muscle fiber direction can be distinguished by the proposal method. These results showed possibility of estimation of tissue stiffness by measuring the shear wave induced by pulsation.


Multiple-performance-measure agency models predict that optimal contracts should place greater reliance on performance measures that are more precise and more sensitive to the agent's effort. We apply these predictions to CEO retention decisions. First, we develop an agency model to motivate proxies for signal and noise in firm-level performance measures. We then document that accounting information appears to receive greater weight in turnover decisions when accounting-based measures are more precise and more sensitive. We also present evidence suggesting that market-based performance measures receive less weight in turnover decisions when accounting-based measures are more sensitive or market returns are more variable.


Analyses of samples of the Havensville Shale, collected from six localities in Kansas and northern Oklahoma, showed that the distribution of clay minerals and chemical variations in the clay minerals were related to changes in the sedimentary facies. The major clay minerals assemblages were: (1) illite, mixed-layer illite—montmorillonite, and regularly interstratified chlorite-vermiculite in the shaly facies of northern and central Kansas, (2) montmorillonite, illite and mixed-layer illite-montmorillonite in the calcareous shale and algal limestone facies of southern Kansas, and (3) kaolinite, illite and mixed-layer illite—montmorillonite in the sandy facies of northern Oklahoma. Differential settling and transportation of clay detritus were the major factors in the pattern of distribution of the clay minerals. Regional differences were noted in the abundance of 2m illite polymorphs, the K/Rb ratio and the illite 001/002 intensity ratio. Some structural variations and chemical differences among the clay minerals were consequences of modifications during deposition in different environments and diagenesis.


Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 102-1 Tomino, Oshamanbe, Hokkaido 049-3514, Japan Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan Department of Frontier Materials and Functional Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate 020-8551, Japan Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan


To achieve effective antioxidation of on-site repair coating for C/C brake materials in the full temperature range (500–900 °C), lead glass and bismuth glass were introduced into the borosilicate glass to acquire the protective coatings. Before preparing coating samples, the thermal gravity characteristics of the lead/bismuth–borosilicate glass powders were analyzed by TG/DSC. The results revealed that the temperature at which weight gain begins was 495 °C and 545 °C, respectively. The oxidation behaviors of the lead- and bismuth-modified borosilicate glass coatings were compared at 500 °C, and the antioxidation properties of the former were further examined from 500 to 900 °C. The oxidation results indicated that mixing lead glass with borosilicate glass realized effective oxidation resistance in the full temperature range. With a lead content of 20%, the lead–borosilicate glass coating was able to protect C/C substrates from oxidation. The corresponding weight loss of the lead-glass-coated samples was −1.89% when oxidized at 500 °C for 10 h, while the weight loss was −2.55% when further oxidized at 900 °C for 10 h. However, mixing bismuth glass with borosilicate glass was difficult to achieve the oxidation resistance of the coating at 500 °C due to the significant phase separation.


Modern IoT and 5G applications are driving the growth of Internet traffic and impose stringent requirements to datacenter operators for keeping pace with the increasing bandwidth and low-latency demands. At the same time, datacenters suffer from increasing number of interconnections dictating the deployment of novel architectures and high-radix switches. The ratification of 400 GbE standard is driving the market of optical transceivers nevertheless, a technology upgrade will be soon necessary to meet the tremendous traffic growth. In this paper, we present the development of 800 Gb/s and 1Tb/s optical transceivers migrating to 100 Gbaud per lane and employing wafer-scale bonding of InP membranes and InP-DHBT electronics as well as advanced co-packaging schemes. The InP membrane platform is also exploited for the development of novel ultra-fast optical space switches based on a modular architecture design for scaling to large number of I/O ports.


The analysis of trends in the development of the automotive industry and well-known methods of automating vehicle control served the basis for us to propose an approach to organizing the transfer of vehicle control from an automated driving system to a person. The approach involves monitoring the vehicle performance and the systems that provide automated driving, the state of the environment and the driver's psychophysiological state, as well as road conditions on the upcoming path, predicting the place and time of transition of control to the driver, determining and regulating his/her readiness to take control if necessary. This approach is peculiar for in time of automated driving, the minimum level of the driver's readiness to operate the vehicle is constantly maintained, which is brought to optimal within a certain time before the scheduled transition to manual control. This two-level monitoring of the condition of drivers of highly automated vehicles will improve road safety both in cases of predicted and unexpected need for an emergency transition from automated to manual driving. The aim of the work is to develop a methodology for improving road safety with highly automated vehicles involved.


Mesenteric lipoma's are a rare and benign mesenchymal tumour originating from mature adipocytes within the gastrointestinal tract. In most cases, they do not cause symptoms. A search of English literature revealed less than 100 reported cases. In those who are symptomatic, presenting symptoms are variable. We present an unusual case of a mesenteric lipoma aiding in the diagnosis of a colorectal cancer.

 A 77 year old lady presented to her GP with chronic abdominal pain. On examination she appeared to have lost weight. Her initial investigations showed a new anaemia. Her FIT was negative. A CT Colon showed a 3.5cm flat lesion in the caecum. Histology, obtained via colonoscopy, proved this to be an Adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent a Laparoscopic converted to open right hemicolectomy. Intraoperatively the caecum was found in the pelvis with a pedunculated lipoma originating from the mesentery overlying the ileocolic artery. Post-operative histology showed a fully resected Adenocarcinoma as well as a 200mmx90mmx20mm giant mesenteric lipoma.

 We hypothesis that this patient' presenting symptom of abdominal was unlikely to be due to the colorectal cancer. It is feasible that her pain was secondary to the compressive effect of the lipoma on the caecum and terminal ileum. Without symptoms, it is unlikely the patient would have presented to her GP and the malignancy would likely not have been found at such an early (and resectable) stage.

 The mesenteric lipoma was likely the unsung hero for this patient.


This study explored the effect of intelligence, temperament, and self-perceptions on children's recall and suggestibility. The relationship between recall and suggestibility was also examined. A total of 134 children, 63 preschoolers and 71 second graders, were exposed to a staged event involving an argument between two adults in their classrooms and were interviewed approximately 1 week later. Children were then administered verbal and performance intelligence tests and a self-perception measure assessing perceived general competence and social acceptance. Additionally, teachers completed a questionnaire to evaluate children's shyness and emotionality. Results revealed that children with higher verbal intelligence recalled more information spontaneously than those with lower verbal intelligence and that children who provided more accurate cued recall were less suggestible than those who gave less accurate cued recall. There was also a significant interaction effect of verbal intelligence×age on suggestibility, with verbal intelligence being associated with suggestibility for younger children, but not for older children. The effect of individual difference factors on recall and suggestibility differed across age groups. Possible explanations for the results and implications for future studies are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Two stable thermohaline circulation states were produced in simulations of the last glacial maximum (LGM) ocean, both forced by the same prescribed atmosphere. Direct application of this atmosphere led to an equilibrium state with strong North Atlantic Deep Water formation (northern sinking state (NSS)). Upon applying a weak freshwater flux anomaly to the North Atlantic for a short time a state was entered with little North Atlantic, but significant Southern Ocean, Deep Water formation (southern sinking state (SSS)). A fully dynamic and thermodynamic iceberg trajectory model was developed, and icebergs were seeded into both states. Distinctly different pathways were found, particularly in the eastern Atlantic where the SSS icebergs tend to move south along the European coast while they move north in the NSS. While neither ocean state is claimed to be a definitive model for the LGM ocean, paleoclimate data are more consistent with the characteristics of the NSS.