Size limits for surface flaws in pipeline girthwelds are calculated on the basis of fracture mechanics analysis. Parameters for the analysis were selected from data on a 1.22-m-diameter (48 in.), 12-mm-thick (0.46 in.) pipe welded by the shielded metal-arc process. The minimum fracture toughness of the welds as determined by the crack opening displacement (COD) method was 0.1 and 0.18 mm (0.004 and 0.007 in.), depending on the flaw location. The yield strength of the welds was 413 MPa (60 ksi). Because the toughness to yield strength ratio was high, elastic-plastic fracture mechanics analysis methods were required to determine critical flaw sizes. Four approaches were employed: (1) a critical COD method based on the ligament-closure-force model of Irwin; (2) the COD procedure of the Draft British Standard Rules for Derivation of Acceptance Levels for Defects in Fusion Welded Joints; (3) a plastic instability method based on a critical net ligament strain developed by Irwin; and (4) a semi-empirical method that uses plastic instability as the fracture criterion developed by Kiefner on the basis of full-scale pipe rupture tests. Allowable flaw sizes determined by the Draft British Standard method are compared with the critical flaw sizes calculated using critical-COD and plastic instability as the respective fracture criteria. The results for both axial- and circumferential-aligned flaws vary significantly depending on the analysis model chosen. Thus, experimental work is needed to verify which model most accurately predicts girthweld behavior.


OBJECTIVE
To compare mechanical ventilation weaning based on a protocol using the spontaneous breathing trial against mechanical ventilation weaning without a standardized protocol in heart patients.

METHODS
Prospective, open, randomized study. In 2006, 36 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for over 24 hours were randomized into two groups: control group - eighteen patients whose mechanical ventilation weaning was performed according to the different procedures adopted by the multidisciplinary team; and experimental group - eighteen patients weaned according to previously established protocol.

RESULTS
Control group patients started the weaning process sooner than experimental group patients (74.7 ± 14.7 hours vs. 185.7 ± 22.9 hours, P=0.0004). However, after the experimental group patients were ready for weaning, the extubation was carried out more rapidly than in the control group (149.1 ± 3.6 min vs. 4179.1 ± 927.8 min, P < 0.0001) with significantly lower reintubation rates (16.7% vs. 66.7%, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION
The use of a specific protocol based on the spontaneous breathing trial for mechanical ventilation weaning in heart patients had better outcomes than weaning carried out without a standardized protocol, with shorter weaning times and lower reintubation rates.


Although the main activity of postgraduate students is research, many also have significant teaching roles and responsibilities. These individuals are known as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs). Their role is particularly significant in research-intensive institutions (Travers, 1989). For example, one recent estimate reported that 85 percent of the undergraduate courses within a school at a research-intensive Canadian university were taught by non-faculty staff, many of whom were postgraduates (Hickson and Fishburne, 2007).
GTAs support undergraduate student learning in various different teaching contexts, and their roles vary in relation to disciplinary contexts, opportunities and constraints. Typical responsibilities of GTAs include facilitating student learning and helping students prepare for assessments (Morss and Murray, 2005). In some higher education institutions, particularly in the United States, the role of GTAs is officially recognised with employee status, whereas in others the role is not as formalised (Park, 2004). Even within an institution, support and recognition may vary from department to department.
Postgraduates' motivations for becoming involved in teaching vary considerably, and may include the need to supplement their incomes as well as a desire to gain experience in teaching as preparation for developing their career prospects (Park, 2004; National Postgraduate Committee, 1993).


Abstract. To improve the accuracy of polarimetric rainfall relations for heavy rainfall, an extreme rainfall case was analysed and some methods were examined. The observed differential reflectivity (ZDR) quality check was theoretically investigated using the relation between the standard deviation of differential reflectivity and cross correlation, and the light rain method for ZDR bias was also applied to the rainfall estimation. The best performance for this heavy rainfall case was obtained when the moving average of ZDR over a window size of 9 gates was applied to the rainfall estimation using horizontal reflectivity (ZH) and ZDR and to the calculation of ZH bias. The differential reflectivity calculated by disdrometer data may be an alternative to the vertical pointing scan for calculating ZDR bias. The accuracy of the combined rainfall relation, R(Z,ZDR,KDP,AH) was relatively insensitive to ZDR and ZH biases in both observations and simulations.


For buses which covers long distances in a single stretch, improved aerodynamic design with good aesthetics attracts customers besides saving fuel consumption. Ergonomic design of interiors for increased comfort of the passengers also plays a vital role. In the present work emphasis is given on the redesign of an intercity bus with enhanced exterior styling reduced aerodynamic drag and increased comfort for the passengers. Extensive product study and market study are carried out. Existing intercity bus is benchmarked and analyzed for styling, aerodynamic performance and comfort. Fluent, a CFD code is used to evaluate the aerodynamic performance. Principles of product design are used to analyze the styling and comfort. The benchmarked high- floor bus is redesigned with low - floor for reduced aerodynamic drag. The exterior of the chosen bus is redesigned with emphasis on improvised aerodynamic performance and appealing looks. The interior was modified to meet aspirations of the commuters. The results of the redesigned exterior body showed a reduction of Cd from 0.581 to 0.41 at a speed of 100 km/hr and overall aerodynamic drag reduction by about 30% due to combined effect of reduced C d and frontal area.


This study was carried out to simulate the extrusion channel of a biomass pelleting machine. The numerical model developed by Nielsen was used. In order to obtain a simulation of the pelleting process, a number of assumptions for the material properties were made. These include Poisson's ratio (υ = 0.02), Young modulus (E = 20) and Friction coefficient (μ = 0.4). Other variables (dimensions) used for the pelleting channel in the model are the active press length (l =70mm), diameter of pellets (50mm), inlet angle (30o) and chamfer depth (z = 2mm). MATLAB was used for the simulation analysis. Based on the sensitivity analysis, it was observed that the pressure increases at the inlet, which is mainly caused by the decreasing cross sectional area of the elements. The density also increases at the inlet, until it reaches its final value between the inlet and the cylindrical channel. An offset of the accumulated energy was observed at the start of pellet channel which is caused by the amount of energy used for compressing the pelleting material to the density. The peak pressure is found at the interface between the inlet section and the cylindrical channel. The maximum pressure in the die decreases when the inlet depth increases and also, the pressure gradients in the inlet increases, when the inlet angle increases. The highest pressure is 35MPa for compatibility of the pellets thereby increasing its durability. Keywords: Pressure, Density, Energy consumption, Pelletizer


Convergence of access technologies potentially enables new mobile business scenarios. To enable them, trust between the stakeholders is a prerequisite, e.g., in the form of a cross-domain authentication infrastructure. Service architectures provide solutions for some of these needs. This paper proposes a use case combining the well understood techniques from the mobile domain with the upcoming new possibilities of trusted computing.


According to eCAADe's mission, the exchange and collaboration within the area of computer aided architectural design education and research, while respecting the pedagogical approaches in the different schools and countries, can be regarded as a core activity. The current session follows up on the first Contextualised Digital Heritage Workshop (CDHW) held on the occasion of eCAADe 2016 in Oulu (D. di Mascio et.al.) This event was thought to represent the first of a series of future contextualized digital heritage workshops and hence, the name Oulu interchangeable with the name of any other city or place. The second CDHW took place in the framework of CAADRIA 2017 in Suzhou (D. di Mascio & M.A. Schnabel) and focussed on sharing and dissemination of heritage information and personal experiences, such as narratives.The primary objective for the 2018 digital heritage session is to engage participants in an active discussion, not the longer format presentation of prepared positions. The round table itself is limited to short opening statements so as to ensure time is allowed for viewpoints to be exchanged and for the conference attendees to join in on the issues discussed. The panel will review past practices with the potential for guiding future direction.


Interleukin (IL)-4 is a key cytokine in T-helper type 2 (Th2) immune response. We have constructed a dimeric IL-4 molecule consisting of the murine IL-4 and the murine Fc part of IgG2a. We first tested the biological activity of the chimeric protein by in vitro studies using isolated murine spleen cells. IL-4-Ig was found to downregulate LPS-induced IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production. The immunomodulatory potential of the fusion protein was also analyzed in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an animal model for human type 1 diabetes. Female NOD mice aged 10 weeks were treated once with cyclophosphamide to accelerate and synchronize the progression of insulitis. Treatment with IL-4-Ig induced strong modulation of the pancreatic cytokine balance. Expression was downregulated for both Th1-specific cytokine IFN-gamma and the Th2-specific cytokine IL-10. IL-12p40 expression was only slightly affected. Interestingly, infiltration increased in the islets of IL-4-Ig-treated animals, and therefore did not correlate with the decreased IFN-gamma expression. Hence, IL-4-Ig did not prevent the progression from peri- to intra-insulitis, but suppressed inflammatory cytokine production. In most experiments, the biological activity of IL-4-Ig and IL-4 was comparable. We conclude that treatment with the chimeric protein IL-4-Ig effectively downregulates Th1 responses but simultaneously augments intra-islet infiltration.


Within computational chemistry, the NWChem package has arguably been the de facto standard for running high-accuracy numerical simulations on the most powerful supercomputers. In order to better address the challenges presented by emerging exascale architectures, the decision has been made to rewrite NWChem. Design of the resulting package, NWChemEx, has been driven by exascale computing; however, significant additional design considerations have arisen from the team's involvement with the Molecular Sciences Software Institute (MolSSI). MolSSI is a National Science Foundation initiative focused on establishing coding and data standards for the computational chemistry community. As a result, NWChemEx is built upon a general computational chemistry framework called the simulation development environment (SDE) that is designed with a focus on extensibility and interoperability. The present manuscript describes the modular approach of the SDE and how it has been used to implement the self-consistent field algorithm within NWChemEx.


ABSTRACT Background: Adolescent substance use (SU) remains a serious problem. Inpatient, primary care, and self-treatment models for chemical dependency (CD) yield varying degrees of success impacting the sequelae of chronic or episodic SU. Relational engagement among adolescent substance users is a long known influential factor in the development, maintenance and transformation of addictive behaviors. Objectives: Following tenets of Relational-Cultural Theory and using the Relational Health Indices for Youth (RHI-Y), a validated survey tool for adolescents, we sought to measure relational health (RH) during times of transitions during CD treatment. This article addresses use of the tool and its potential for improving addictions research and practice. Methods: During 2015–2017 we explored differences in RH scores in adolescent girls entering inpatient CD treatment at three points: 51 at admission, 39 at discharge, and 13 at 3 months post-discharge. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model to compare changes in domain scores of RH. Results: Changes in RH scores were significant in the friend domain, but not the mentor and community domains. The RHI-Y shows promise in discerning RH change during transitions in CD treatment.


This work investigates the kinetics of a pyrolysis reactor. Pyrolysis is demarcated as a two-step process that is the primary and the secondary decomposition of hardwood in the presence of nitrogen. The qualitative aspect of the analysis is performed by allowing the heterogeneous characteristics of the initial distribution function of volatile content. The temperature inside the reactor varies from 19 °C to 363.761 °C. The pressure of producer gas changes from 6 Pa to 26.8 Pa during the pyrolysis of hardwood, which affects the conversion of biomass with respect to temperature. The weighted fraction of the Weibull and the Rayleigh models is used for modeling the mass variation of the biomass inside the rector. The dimension of the reactor used for the experimental work has a length of 400 mm and a cross-sectional area of 9498.5 mm2. The pyrolysis test rig is programed for the cubical form of thermal history [T = (at3 + bt2 + ct − d)].


ABSTRACT Background: Certain electromagnetic fields (at extremely low frequency) have been recognized as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Given the use of radiofrequency technology in cell phones, the rapid increase in the number of cell phones has generated concerns about the existence of a potential health hazard. Use of cellular telephones is increasing exponentially and has become part of everyday life.  Concerns about possible carcinogenic effects of radiofrequency signals have been raised, although they are based on limited scientific evidence. Thus, a scoping systematic review was to ascertain this. Materials and Methods: Full-text articles on Cohort studies and/or randomized controlled trials published from 1st January 2000 to 8th June 2016 were searched using Proquest and other sources. People of all age group and cellular phones users were the type of participant and exposure used for the search strategy, respectively. Data collection was done by 1 reviewer and checked by 2 reviewers for discrepancies. All the papers were critically appraised using the STROBE statement. Qualitative synthesis was done by descriptive comparison, risk of bias comparison and effect of exposure comparison.  Result: 5 out of 15 articles met the eligibility criteria and were selected. Four articles showed low risk of bias due to low confounding bias. One article had high risk of bias due to information bias. All five articles showed low quality evidences using GRADE. There was no evidence for a dose–response relationship for these cancers based on number of years as a subscriber. Analyses by anatomic location of the brain tumors within the head revealed no unusual clustering that could be related to increased exposure to RF radiation from cellular telephones. The absence of statistically significant increases in cancer risks applied equally to analogue and digital systems. Therefore, it can be said that there is no association of exposure with the studied cancers.  Conclusion: T here were no insufficient evidence to implicate and suggest that the usage of cell phones exposure towards cancer occurrence. All studies showed that exposure to cell phone usage, regardless the time of exposure, the onset or the duration can give a significant results of association towards cancer. However, due to small number of studies obtained from this scoping systematic review, results from this review should be interpreted with caution Keywords: Cellular phone, electromagnetic field, cancer, cohort studies, EMF.


The 2013 European-wide issue involving the undeclared presence of horse meat in beef products emphasised the need for the development of accurate analytical approaches for the quantitative detection of meat adulteration. As part of a UK Government, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) project, a real-time PCR method was developed for the quantitation of horse DNA relative to the total amount of mammalian DNA present in raw meat samples. Single copy nuclear DNA targets were chosen and assays selected that targeted an equine growth hormone receptor and a mammalian/poultry myostatin gene. The method was challenged against a range of gravimetrically prepared raw horse meat in raw beef ad-mixtures, and demonstrated good performance characteristics, including high mean r-squared values (>0.995) and PCR efficiencies (>90%). The limit of detection was estimated at less than five horse genome equivalents, and the limit of quantitation to be ≤0.1% w/w gravimetric preparation of raw horse meat in a raw beef meat background. Assessment of multiple 1% w/w raw gravimetric samples estimated the mean and analytical measurement uncertainty (based on a 95% confidence interval) to be 1.58 ± 0.54% w/w, thereby demonstrating good trueness and precision. The method was validated for DNA extracted from samples that consisted of raw horse meat in a raw beef meat background. The development and publication of this non-proprietary novel real-time PCR method for the quantitation of horse DNA will inform and strengthen the decision making processes of food companies and regulators.


In official statistics, manufacturing is the top contributor to U.S. productivity growth despite its shrinking share of employment. However, official numbers tend to understate growth among new producers that improve on existing producers, which is more prevalent outside of manufacturing. Accounting for such missing productivity growth shows that it plays a larger role in sectors such as retail trade and services. Also, the relative contribution of manufacturing to productivity growth has dropped significantly. These findings suggest that nonmanufacturing may be an increasingly important engine of U.S. growth.


The problem identified at the Nurul Hidayah PAUD in Aceh Besar was that the learning process to develop mathematical ability was not yet organized through games or play activities. In addition, the introduction of mathematics was done based on figures and numbers. As a result, the student's didn't develop other creative abilities such as forming patterns, making comparisons, and estimating. Mathematical ability needs to be developed in early childhood because it will be the foundation for mastery of mathematical concepts at higher levels of educational. The object of mathematics is abstract. In order to develop early childhood student mathematical ability, the applications of methods that are fun and stimulating are necessary. This can be accomplished by using games. One solution to the problem mentioned above was trialed through classroom action research. The formulated problem was how to develop early childhood student mathematical ability using games at the Nurul Hidayah PAUD in Aceh Besar. The data was collected using classroom observations. Games were introduced and played in three cycles consisting of playing patterns, playing classifications, and playing numbers. The data were analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. The results from the study show that games were effective to develop early childhood mathematical ability in students at Nurul Hidayah PAUD in Aceh Besar: Teaching-learning was done using storytelling, task-giving, demonstrations and contests


Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has been identified as a potentially important atherogenic factor. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the accumulation of lipid and calcium in the vascular wall. OxLDL plays a significant role in altering calcium homeostasis within different cell types. In our previous study, chronic treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) with oxLDL depressed Ca2+(i) homeostasis and altered two Ca2+ release mechanisms in these cells (IP3 and ryanodine sensitive channels). The purpose of the present study was to further define the effects of chronic treatment with oxLDL on the smooth muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pump. One of the primary Ca2+ uptake mechanisms in VSMC is through the SERCA2 ATPase calcium pump in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. VSMC were chronically treated with 0.005-0.1 mg/ml oxLDL for up to 6 days in culture. Cells treated with oxLDL showed a significant increase in the total SERCA2 ATPase content. These changes were observed on both Western blot and immunocytochemical analysis. This increase in SERCA2 ATPase is in striking contrast to a significant decrease in the density of IP3 and ryanodine receptors in VSMC as the result of chronic treatment with oxLDL. This response may suggest a specific adaptive mechanism that the pump undergoes to attempt to maintain Ca2+ homeostasis in VSMC chronically exposed to atherogenic oxLDL.


BACKGROUND
The frequency of glomerular diseases is dynamic and varies according to geographic area.

AIM
To evaluate the frequency of primary and secondary glomerulopathies, their demographic profile and main clinical characteristics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Renal biopsies from native kidneys performed between 1999 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, most relevant laboratory tests, frequency of primary and secondary glomerulopathies were analyzed.

RESULTS
We analyzed 550 kidney biopsies from patients with a median age of 48 years (64% females). Nephrotic syndrome was the main indication for renal biopsy. Primary and secondary glomerulopathies occurred with similar frequency. Within the primary glomerulopathies, membranous nephropathy (34.1%) was the most common, followed by IgA nephropathy (31.1%) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (14.1%). Among the secondary glomerulopathies, lupus nephropathy was the most common (41.7%), followed by pauciimmune glomerulonephritis (27.1%) and diabetic nephropathy (6.4%). When comparing the results with other regions, significant differences were observed with reported frequencies in United States, Europe, Asia and the rest of Latin America.

CONCLUSIONS
The most common primary glomerulopathies were membranous nephropathy and IgA nephropathy. Among the secondary glomerulopathies lupus nephropathy and pauci-immune glomerulonephritis were the most common. Compared to international registries, we observed a high proportion of membranous nephropathy and pauci-immune glomerulonephritis.


The emotional reaction in the analyst occurs in shared analytic work under the influence of the patient's transference phantasies and is the analyst's creation and contribution. The idea that the analyst has emotions introduced directly into the analyst by the patient such that the analyst contains somebody else's feelings is refuted. Examples have been offered to show how the analyst's working theory influences the countertransference. If the analyst is unaware of this, the analyst may mistakenly attribute negative countertransference to the patient's projection.


In the title 1:2 adduct, [SnCl4(H2O)2]·2C6H14O3, the SnIV atom (site symmetry 2) adopts a cis-SnO2Cl4 octahedral geometry. In the crystal structure, O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds lead to associations of one metal complex and two diglyme molecules.


Abstract The nature of undesirable and unfilterable haze particles observed by craft breweries remains nebulous and presents a challenge when the aim is the production of bright beer. A commercial beer was studied in which the brewery had sporadically encountered unfilterable haze. In this study, it was hypothesized that unfilterable haze particles were formed due to increased concentrations of proteins, polyphenols, and/or beta-glucans. Samples of a high haze and low haze India Pale Ale were degassed and digested with enzymes amyloglucosidase, pepsin, and UltraFlo Max (NovozymesTM). Additionally, the protein, polyphenol, and beta-glucan content of each sample was measured. When comparing protein, polyphenol, and beta-glucan concentrations substantial differences between high haze and low haze protein concentrations were observed. Due to the unfilterable nature of these hazes, combined with experimental findings, it was hypothesized that yeast cell-wall proteins were responsible for this haze. Understanding of the source of these hazes offers brewers the opportunity to mitigate against their formation by adjusting brewing practices.


Monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR) isoforms exist in mitochondria, chloroplasts, cytosol and microbodies. Two putative MDAR sequences with an extended N-terminal region are found in Arabidopsis. They differ in the length of the extension by 21 bp. We have shown that these two isoforms arise from a single gene by the use of multiple transcription starts. Green fluorescent protein was fused to each extension, revealing that the longer and shorter fusion proteins were imported into mitochondria and chloroplasts, respectively. These results demonstrate that putative MDAR is a dual-targeting protein transported into both mitochondria and chloroplasts. Although there have been several reports of dual targeting of proteins to mitochondria and chloroplasts, this is the first example in which the dual targeting of the protein to mitochondria and chloroplasts is achieved by the use of multiple transcription initiation sites.


The main purpose of this paper is conduct survey study so as to reveal extent to which Dejen Wereda, which is one of the Weredas of East Gojjam Administrative Zone, has numerous tourist attraction sites. This study uncovers that the absence of research works in this Wereda, however, affected the development of tourism in the area. It recommends the preservation of the precious resources in Wereda so that they could be used as a source of income that would be generated from tourists visiting the area. Due to its geographical location, in and around Abay Gorge, Wereda has many potential tourism sites. Unfortunately, findings of the paper uncovers, having such and other vital tourism sites, Wereda hardly managed to generate good income. This is due to the reason that no adequate researches are conducted in the area and eventually most of these areas are not made public both to national and foreign tourists. In addition to this, there are lack of infrastructural facilities in the area. No attempt is made to create good awareness among the local people to preserve the potentials of tourism development in Wereda. The regional and national governments, employers of culture and tourism office of Dejen Wereda, the local people and other concerned bodies should actively involve in protecting the area from damages.

 Key words: Tourism, resources, development.


Introduction: The anatomical collapsibility of the upper airway, neuromuscular tone and function, sleep–wake and ventilatory control instability, and the arousal threshold all interact and contribute to certain pathophysiologic features that characterize different types of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A model of qualitative phenotypizationallowsus to characterize the different pathophysiological traits in OSA patients.Methods: A narrative review was performed, to analyze the available literature evidence, with the purpose of generating a model of qualitative phenotypization to characterize pathophysiological traits in patients with OSA.Results: 96 out of 3829 abstracts were selected for full-text review. Qualitative phenotyping model of OSA:Data concerning the OSA qualitative pathophysiological traits' measurement can be deducted by means of clinical PSG, grade of OSA severity, and therapeutic level of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and are reported in the text. This approach would allow qualitative phenotyping with widely accessible methodology in a routine clinical scenario and is of particular interest for the sleep specialist, surgical treatment decision-making, and customized OSA multimodality treatment.


Abstract:Scholarly consensus holds that the Matthean version of Peter's denial contains reference to a distinctive Galilean accent, which is the traditional understanding of λαλιά in Matt 26:73. Indeed, this understanding is so widely assumed that its very ubiquity has been described as rendering citation unnecessary. However, a survey of linguistic evidence indicates that this common assumption is far from the most plausible understanding of the passage, which is that λαλιά refers not to Peter's accent but rather to the excessive nature of his speech in denying association with Jesus. More intriguing than merely establishing the correct meaning of this passage, though, is appreciating the manner and means by which this view has become so regnant as to require neither thorough documentation, nor careful attention to the scholarship that is cited in its support.


Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and isothermal approximation were applied for the interpretation of experimental measurements of the C10H7Br pyrolysis efficiency in the high-temperature microreactor and of the pressure drop in the flow tube of the reactor. Applying isothermal approximation allows the derivation of analytical relationships between the kinetic, gas flow, and geometrical parameters of the microreactor, which, along with CFD simulations, accurately predict the experimental observations. On the basis of the obtained analytical relationships, a clear strategy for measuring rate coefficients of (pseudo) first-order bimolecular and unimolecular reactions using the microreactor was proposed. The pressure- and temperature-dependent rate coefficients for the C10H7Br pyrolysis calculated using variable reaction coordinate transition state theory were invoked to interpret the experimental data on the pyrolysis efficiency.


The aim of this work is to study the responses to post weld artificial aging (PWAA) of friction stir welds of aluminum alloy 6061-T6 welded at low traverse speed of 125 mm/min and at high traverse speed of 710 mm/min. During welding of either the low traverse speed or high traverse speed weld, the transverse profile of peak temperatures and the local thermal cycles at various distances from the weld center were measured. The transverse hardness profile of the low traverse speed and high traverse speed weld were measured one day after welding and after PWAA. Both immediately after welding and after PWAA the transverse profiles of tensile properties, and strain hardening parameters were determined. Special attention was given to the local properties within the weld weakest region, which greatly affect the overall strength and ductility of the welded joints. The results show that PWAA greatly improve the tensile properties of the high traverse speed weld. For the low traverse speed weld, while PWAA slightly improves yield and ultimate tensile strength, it deteriorates the uniform elongation due to the severe mismatch in local mechanical properties between the various zones of the weld.


There is a lack of evidence about burnout syndrome among Lithuanian dentists; as a reliable instrument to examine the syndrome in this professional group has not yet been tested. The study aimed to investigate the performance of the items and the subscales of the Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) by validating its factorial structure and analyzing its variance between demographic and workload groups of dental professionals in Lithuania. The survey was conducted among practicing dentists online or during the scientific conferences for dentists using an anonymous questionnaire. To evaluate the level of burnout the MBI was chosen. Reports of a total of 380 respondents were examined. Three-factor structure of the MBI with cross-loading of two items suggested a good fit to data (χ2/df = 1.67; CFI = 0.93; TLI = 0.93; IFI = 0.93; and RMSEA = 0.059) and was invariant across demographic and workload groups of dentists. Multigroup factorial analysis revealed that females as compared to males had higher average emotional exhaustion; and the respondents up to 30 years as compared to respondents over 30 years of age had higher averages of the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization components. Highly specialized dentists (oral surgeons, prosthodontists, orthodontists, endodontists and poedodontists) were particularly less prone to burnout syndrome than dentists of general practice. It was concluded that the MBI offers factorial validity and demonstrates its invariant structure and variance of burnout dimensions across demographic and workload groups. These findings are informative for burnout prevention and intervention programs among dentists in Lithuania. Such information may contribute to lessen professional burnout among dentists in Lithuania.


We study the expansion law of the universe dominated by the oscillating scalar field with non-minimal derivative coupling to gravity as Gμν∂μϕ∂νϕ. In this system the Hubble parameter oscillates with a frequency of the effective mass of the scalar field, which formerly caused a difficulty in analyzing how the universe expands. We find an analytical solution for power law potentials and interpret the solution in an intuitive way by using a new invariant of the system. As a result, we find marginally accelerated expansion for the quadratic potential and no accelerated expansion for the potential with higher power.


Background While reduction of accumulated body fluid using loop diuretics is a commonly used therapeutic option for acute heart failure (AHF), some patients, especially those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), show significantly poor treatment response to loop diuretics. Tolvaptan (TLV) has shown effectiveness against AHF in several studies. We have been using TLV for AHF treatment, and it displayed favorable outcome even in patients with CKD. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of TLV in AHF patients. Methods Ninety-nine AHF patients who were hospitalized were assessed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: TLV treatment (TLV group, n = 39) and conventional treatment (non-TLV group, n = 60). We retrospectively examined the efficacy of TLV combination therapy for renal insufficiency complications and loop diuretic-resistant AHF patients, and the detail analysis was performed for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in patients. Results Changes in serum electrolyte levels before and after the treatment were similar in both groups. Although the patients in the TLV group at baseline displayed significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) indicating renal insufficiency probably due to higher dose of loop diuretics, the incidence of worsening renal function (WRF) was significantly lower than those in non-TLV group in HFpEF (TLV: 2.5% vs. non-TLV: 15.4%, P = 0.01). We performed logistic regression analysis and found that TLV was an independent contributing factor for reducing WRF (odds ratio: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.98, P = 0.04). Conclusions Our results suggest that TLV application in acute stage may be renoprotective for AHF patients with CKD, especially in HFpEF.


Experimental information on the spatial extent of the putative p and conduction band states of the hydrated electron (eeq) has been obtained by monitoring and controlling the electron/hole spatial separation of a photogenerated eeq/hole pair using a femtosecond laser pulse sequence. Optical excitation of eeq with two photons is observed to dramatically alter its spatial distribution and geminate recombination yield with the hole. One-photon excitation, in contrast, has no effect on the spatial distribution. The results strongly confirm theoretical predictions on the size and location of excited states of eeq.


Adversity, including malnutrition, has had irrefutable effects on child development and mental health. India, for example, has approximately 160 million children in poverty: The growth of up to 59% of rural and 48% of all children is stunted. Hundreds of thousands of nongov- ernmental organizations (NGOs) work with these disadvantaged children to increase their life skills and ameliorate effects of adversity. Yet a simple effective measure of program impact has remained elusive. We used observational data from 1,136 disadvantaged children aged 8 to 16 years to construct a simple 5-item impact assessment scale. Although the scale was developed in India, we envisage that it could be used with disadvantaged children worldwide.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics of gene structure in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)-related 4q35 subtelomere, to analyze the distribution of 2 alleles (4qA and 4qB) distal to D4Z4 of this locus, and to further elucidate the genotype-phenotype correlation in Chinese Han FSHD patients.

METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were collected from 52 unrelated families including 62 FSHD-affected and 57 unaffected members. Genomic DNA was extracted from the lymphocytes according to the specific procedure designed to minimize DNA shearing, then digested with EcoRI or HindIII, or double digested with EcoRI and BlnI. The cleaved DNA was separated by pulsed field electrophoresis (PFGE) and Southern blotting with the probes p13E-11, 4qA, and 4qB. The size of FSHD-causing 4qA allele and its distribution was analyzed by "curve fitting". Then the characteristics of translocation and mosaicism, the frequencies of two allelic variants of chromosome 4q and their genotypes were calculated to analyze the genotype-phenotype correlation.

RESULTS
It was found that 69 patients carried a short chromosome 4-type allele of 4qA origin with the length 10-38 kb. The mean length of these pathogenic EcoRI/4qA arrays was 20 kb+/-7 kb, without significant difference between the sporadic cases and familial cases (t=1.413, P>0.05). Three different translocation types were observed with a translocation rate of 14.49%. The rate of 4q-->10q translocation was 13.04%, significantly higher than that of 10q-->4q translocation (1.45%, chi2=6.900, P<0.05). Somatic mosaicism was detected in a male sporadic case and a female asymptomatic familial case. In 57 cases with standard configuration distribution, the frequency of 4qA/4qB heterozygote was 61.40%, significantly higher than that of 4qA/4qA homozygote (38.60%, (chi2=5.930, P<0.05). There were not significant differences in the repeat size distributions and assessment of clinical severity between the sporadic and familial cases (t=-0.039, P>0.05; H=0.693, P>0.05).

CONCLUSION
About 95% of Chinese FSHD patients carry a pathogenic 4-type allele of 4qA origin less than 30 kb long. The frequent translocations between chromosome 4q and 10q may play an essential role for FSHD mechanism. The frequency of 4qA/4qB heterozygote is significantly higher than that of 4qA/4qA homozygote, while the allelic variant genotypes do not contribute to modify FSHD manifestations.


In this paper, we propose a novel millimeter-wave-band radio-over-fiber (RoF) system with a dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) bus architecture. Two lasers with a small wavelength difference, phase locked and polarization aligned, are allocated at a central station (CS) for connecting the CS and each base station (BS), one laser for transmitting and the other for detection (the remote local oscillator). For the conceptual illustration, we consider a DWDM RoF system with a channel spacing of 12.5 GHz and RF of /spl sim/30-GHz millimeter-wave band. In the downlink system, a single-sideband (SSB) subcarrier is used with low RF imposed on an optical carrier at the CS, and an millimeter-wave-band RF signal is obtained at each BS using direct photodetection by the SSB subcarrier beat with the remote oscillator. In the uplink system, the received millimeter-wave-band RF signal at each BS is imposed on the two optical carriers simultaneously, one optical carrier with the closest SSB subcarrier is optically filtered out and fed into in the uplink transmission fiber without frequency interleaving; the electrical signal with a low IF can be photodetected directly at the CS. Such an RoF system has simple, cost-effective, and maintenance-reduced BSs, and is immune to laser phase noise in principle.


This article began out of many train journeys from the author's home in Eastern Sydney to various parts of the Western suburbs where she was working with young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. These young people are redefining what it means to be Australian, negotiating their sense of self in the friction of boundary clashes with sites of power such as family, peers, local authorities, and the state itself. There is a realization in their construction of popular culture that even where social constraint is strong, there are still possibilities, still interstitial spaces in the city where they can create their own sense of place and maybe even reinvigorate wider cultural institutions in Australia.


Scanning young children while watching short, engaging, commercially-produced movies has emerged as a promising approach for increasing data retention and quality. Movie stimuli also evoke a richer variety of cognitive processes than traditional experiments – allowing the study of multiple aspects of brain development simultaneously. However, because these stimuli are uncontrolled, it is unclear how effectively distinct profiles of brain activity can be distinguished from the resulting data. Here we develop an approach for identifying multiple distinct subject-specific Regions of Interest (ssROIs) using fMRI data collected during movie-viewing. We focused on the test case of higher-level visual regions selective for faces, scenes, and objects. Adults (N=13) were scanned while viewing a 5.5 minute child-friendly movie, as well as a traditional experiment with isolated faces, scenes, and objects. We found that just 2.7 minutes of movie data could identify subject-specific face, scene, and object regions. While successful, the movie approach was still less effective than a traditional localizer. Having validated our approach in adults, we then used the same methods on movie data collected from 3–12-year-old children (N=122). Movie response timecourses in 3-year-old children's face, scene, and object regions were already significantly and specifically predicted by timecourses from the corresponding regions in adults. We also found evidence of continued developmental change, particularly in the face-selective posterior superior temporal sulcus. Taken together, our results reveal both early maturity and functional change in face, scene, and object regions, and more broadly highlight the promise of short, child-friendly movies for developmental cognitive neuroscience.


Post-Keynesian Institutionalist economists like Wallace Peterson and John Kenneth Galbraith recognized that the impact of uncertainty on economic well-being depends in part on the degree of control people have over the sources and consequences of it. Given the inability of government and other large institutions to reduce uncertainty or to provide citizens with the ability to manage it, mediating structures are considered as an alternative means of promoting economic security. The paper concludes by describing and evaluating several of these alternatives.


This paper proves an important equation for the Anderson model. Then, using this equation we deal exactly with the Anderson model and obtain the exact analytical expression for the ground-state energy. This result coincides with the result of the Bethe ansatz.


The main goal of work was to quantify the nitrogen and phosphorus loads transported by small streams to the
Gulf of Gdańsk. The research aims to determine wastewater release volumes over time, instead of focusing only on spatial
distributions. Another aim is to identify the main determinants potentially affecting water quality in rivers flowing across
the city of Sopot. The study area consists of six small river catchments located in the city of Sopot, each with an open flow
channel, which lies along the bay. Studies were conducted 12 times per year in the period from March 2014 to February
2015. Laboratory analyses were performed to determine the concentration of both total nitrogen and total phosphorus. In
order to calculate pollutant loads, discharge was also measured in each of studied rivers. Conducted research has shown
that all analyzed streams were characterized by low total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations. The mean annual
values ranged from 0.60 to 1.28 mg·dm-3 in case of total nitrogen and from 0.066 to 0.100 mg·dm-3 in case of total phosphorus.
In 2012, the total nitrogen load from Poland to the Baltic Sea was 210.768.000 kg N while the total phosphorus
load was 15.269.000 kg P, which means that streams analyzed in this paper supplied barely 0.002 % of the biogenic load
supplied to the Baltic Sea by Poland as a whole.


Measurements and CFD simulations from four systems are compared using the air change index and a new Ventilation Parameter (VP). VP combined with thermal comfort and indoor air quality indices gives a good index for comparison of four systems. Impinging Jet is capable of achieving better air distribution in the space than the other systems (mixing, wall displacement and floor displacement) particularly at higher heat loads.


Groups of 18 hens, 230 days of age, were housed in each of three climatic chambers with light schedules of 14L:10D. One was maintained at a constant temperature of 23.9 C, the second was cycled between 15.6 and 37.7 C (mean, 26.7 C), and the third was cycled between 21.1 and 37.7 C (mean, 29.4 C). In Experiment 1, the high temperature peaked during the dark period at 0200 hr and in Experiment 2, the high temperature peak was at 1400 hr during the light period. The birds had free access to a commercial breeder feed in these two experiments. The results from three 2-week observation periods indicated no significant differences in percent hen-day production, grams of feed per gram of egg mass, or overall body weight change but feed intake per day, egg weight, and shell thickness were significantly reduced by mean temperatures of 26.7 and 29.4 C in cycling chambers. The pair-feeding of birds in the 23.9 C constant chamber compared with those in the cycling 29.4 C chamber resulted in production of significantly heavier eggs with thicker shells without significantly influencing any of the other parameters. The reductions in egg weight and shell thickness observed at cyclic temperatures were not simply a result of a reduction in nutrient intake at high temperatures but also the direct effect of heat stress on the hens. In the 23.9 C constant temperature chambers, a reduction in AME of the feed for the hens fed ad libitum was observed but not for hens pair-fed to hens in the 29.4 C cyclic chamber.


The effect of incorporation of the different percentage of green gram split dehusked flour, GGSF in rice flour (RF) + whey protein concentrate (WPC) blend in comparison with wheat flour, WF + WPC blend for the production gluten‐free eggless pancake was studied. The effects of the additives such as xanthan gum, XAN (0.25 and 0.5%), sodium stearoyl‐2‐lactylate SSL, (0.25 and 0.5), and psyllium husk, PH in RF + WPC on the rheological characteristics of pancake with the optimum level of 20% GGSF inclusion were also analyzed. The results showed that the amylograph peak viscosity of RF + WPC (1046 BU) was higher than WF + WPC (897 BU) while the addition of 10%–30% GGSF to RF + WPC impacted a significant reduction. However, there was an observed increase in the addition of additives and 20% optimized level of GGSF to RF + WPC. The batter density value was higher, and the overall quality score was lower for pancake of RF + WPC when compared to a pancake of WF + WPC. Addition of XAN, SSL, and PH decreased the batter density and brought about the highest increase in the overall quality score of pancakes of RF + WPC when compared to individual additives. The developed pancakes were gluten‐free as indicated by immunochemical validation and it may be included in the diet of wheat and egg sensitive population. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present study demonstrated the successful utilization of rice flour as a basic raw material along with green gram split dehusked flour, whey protein concentrate and the incorporation of additives namely xanthan gum, sodium stearoyl‐2‐lactylate, psyllium husk for the development of gluten‐free eggless pancake. The study will help the baking industry to meet the increasing demand for the production of a newer version of gluten‐free products such as gluten‐free eggless pancakes. This product will also be of health advantage to people with celiac disease.


The soil monitoring network plays an important role in detecting the spatial distribution of soil attributes and facilitates sustainable land-use decision making. Reduced costs, higher speed, greater scope, and a loss of accuracy are necessary to design a regional monitoring network effectively. In this paper, we present a stochastic optimization design method for regional soil carbon and water content monitoring networks with a minimum sample size based on a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm equipped with multiobjective optimization technique. Our effort is to reconcile the conflicts between various objectives, that is, kriging variance, survey budget, spatial accessibility, spatial interval, and the amount of monitoring sites. We applied the method to optimize the soil monitoring networks in a semiarid loess hilly area located in northwest China. The results reveal that the proposed method is both effective and robust and outperforms the standard binary particle swarm optimization and spatial simulated annealing algorithm.


Describes an automated, retrospective approach to register CT and MR brain images, using patient related image properties only. Mathematically well founded differential operators in scale space are applied to 2D or 3D image data, resulting in feature images depicting "ridgeness" The CT and MR feature images show similarity which can be used for matching using a fully automatic hierarchical correlation scheme. Results of 2D and 3D matching experiments are presented.<<ETX>>


As a marine ichthyotoxic dinoflagellate, Margalefidinium polykrikoides, previously named Cochlodinium polykrikoides, have caused mass mortalities of fish worldwide during blooms. Rapid detection of target species is a prerequisite for the timely monitoring and early warning of harmful algal blooms (HABs). However, it is difficult to achieve rapid identification with traditional methods. The technology of using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to detect and quantify microalgae is relatively mature. Based on the accuracy, rapidity, and sensitivity of qPCR technology, it can be used in the monitoring and development of early warning systems for HABs. From 2017 to 2020, samples were collected from 15 locations off the Chinese coast or from local sea areas. Based on the qPCR detection and analysis, the target species, M. polykrikoides (East Asian ribotype, EAr), was found in samples from Tianjin, Yangtze River estuary, and offshore Fujian (East China Sea). This is the first time that M. polykrikoides (EAr) was detected in the coastal waters of Tianjin. The results reveal a distributive pattern of M. polykrikoides (EAr) along Chinese coastal waters. It is helpful to predict the future diffusion trend of M. polykrikoides (EAr) in the China Sea and provides a practical case for the future construction of monitoring and warning systems for M. polykrikoides and HABs.


BACKGROUND
Motor neuron diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS] and spinal muscular atrophy [SMA]) have been rarely associated with mitochondrial respiratory chain defects.

OBJECTIVES
To describe a patient with typical ALS and the finding of ragged-red fibers in muscle biopsy specimens and to review the literature on respiratory chain defects in ALS and SMA.

DESIGN
Case report and review of the literature.

SETTING
Collaboration between tertiary care academic hospitals.

PATIENT
A 65-year-old man with typical ALS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The patient had 10% ragged-red fibers and 3% cytochrome-c oxidase-negative fibers in muscle biopsy specimens but no biochemical defects of respiratory chain enzymes or alterations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

RESULTS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with ragged-red fibers has been reported in 5 families and is associated with mtDNA mutations in some subjects. Spinal muscular atrophy without mutations in the survival motor neuron gene (SMN; OMIM 600354) has been associated with mtDNA depletion or with mutations in the cytochrome-c oxidase assembly gene (SCO2; OMIM 604377).

CONCLUSION
Respiratory chain defects can mimic ALS or SMA and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.


This article analyses from a social-cultural standpoint, how dreams ('lapü') forecast the acquisition or not of a habitat, and interprets the symbols and messages that the 'lapü' indicates for the treatment of an evil spell cast on a house among the Wayuu from the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela. With the theories of Goulet (1992) and Perrin (1991) as starting point, the ethnographic method was used to interview four key informants from the "23 de Marzo" neighbourhood in the city of Maracaibo. It was evident that the oneiric narrations of the Wayuu are fully related to the quarters in which they live and follow the expectations of their daily lives in the urban context, The 'lapü' influences the conduct and actions of the living ('anasü' world) with regard to the sacred ('pulasü' world), allowing the Wayuu to superimpose their primary beliefs with the rituals and beliefs of the catholic and evangelical religions and with the marialionza rituals in order to adapt them to their material culture. PALABRAS CLAVE |


Deep subsurface rock samples from Upper Ordovician strata in the Michigan Basin were analyzed for the presence of microbial communities. High concentrations of biogenic methane were observed in the Upper and Middle Ordovician formations. Total porosity values for the shale, shale hard bed and limestone samples were 7.4%, 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Hydrocarbon presence ranged from petroliferous shale, to bituminous layering in shale hard beds, to hydrocarbon odour in limestone. Organic carbon content ranged from 0.5 to 2.5%, highest amount being present in the shale. Environmental DNA was extracted from core samples and PCR amplified using 16S rDNA bacterial primers. PCR performed with archaeal 16S rDNA and methanogen-specific (mcrA) primers did not yield DNA amplification. Gene analysis indicated that bacterial sequences similar to Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were present. Most sequences were not related to known cultivated species. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phyla at all depths and included heterotrophic, lithotrophic, acidophilic, radiotolerant, and sulphate-reducing species of bacteria. This study concludes that the observed biogenic methane is a product of ancient methanogenesis.


As a supporter of investment decisions, a private investor or even a corporate entity should be able to analyze exchange-diversified shares. Several factors, such as fundamental and macroeconomic factors, influence stock returns. The current study used a purposive sampling method with a sample of 21 targeted real estate companies. Data were analyzed using the coefficient of determination (R2), multiple regression analysis, paired t-test, and last classics assumption test. The results indicated that (i) inflation, (ii) market price, (iii) profitability, and (iv) leveling do not significantly affect the share price.
Keywords: inflation, market value, profitability, leverage, stock price


In this paper, we discuss the development of a 3-D time-domain formulation and simulation code for modeling inductive output tubes (IOTs). This formulation relies on the integration of equivalent circuit equations in time coupled with the Lorentz force equations for particle trajectories. In the case of IOTs and klystrons, the equivalent circuit is a simple inductance-resistance-capacitance model. The same formulation using the equivalent circuit equations for Curnow cavities has been used to simulate coupled-cavity traveling-wave tubes. The connection between the equivalent circuit equations and the forces on the electrons used in the Lorentz force equations is through a scaling of a radio-frequency (RF) field model in which the amplitude is proportional to the cavity voltage. The RF field model can be obtained analytically [as derived in two dimensions by Kosmahl and Branch] or by means of a field map generated by electromagnetic structure simulators. The electron trajectories are integrated in these RF fields as well as using magnetostatic focusing fields and the space-charge fields. The space-charge fields are obtained by mapping the charge to a grid and then solving Poisson's equation. The new code is called NEMESIS, and we discuss the presently implemented IOT model and future development plans. Data on an IOT under development at Communications and Power Industries (CPI; K5H90W-2) have been provided for benchmarking the simulation. Comparison of NEMESIS with both anticipated performance predictions developed using scaling laws developed in-house at CPI and with actual tube performance has been good, and these comparisons are discussed in detail.


In this work, theoretical and experimental analyzes of input impedance of a coaxial probe located in a rectangular cavity are presented. The technique of dyadic Green function (DGF) and the method of moments (MM) are applied in the theoretical analysis. For the magnetic equivalent source with a y-directed discontinuity, two alternative representations of magnetic DGF for a rectangular cavity are derived in this paper. Numerical input reactance and phase of the reflection coefficient at the base of the probe obtained using both the conventional form and the alternative representations of the DGF are compared with the experimental data collected. It is found that the computed results obtained utilizing alternative DGF's agree better with the measured data.


The Internet has led to a large number of third-party sources that offer high-quality information about firms's products at little or no cost to consumers. As a result, many of these sources have grown in popularity, extending well-beyond the usual reach of traditional third parties such asConsumer Reports andKelly's Blue Book. For example, the online version ofEdmunds offers, at no cost to consumers, information about new products, existing products, long-term tests, and buyers' guides, all relating to the automotive industry. AvWeb.com delivers weekly aviation news and new product reviews to its readers, and a large number of websites follow developments on computer platforms such as the Apple Macintosh.In this paper we analyze how the provision of third-party information affects the division of profits in a multiproduct distribution channel. To illustrate, consider the competition between Microsoft and Apple in the operating systems (OS) market and their channel relationship to CompUSA, a retailer that sells both Macs and Windows-based PCs. Consider two pieces of thirdparty information. First, suppose that CNET, an Internet technology site, reviews the newest upgrade of the MacOS and writes that the new user interface is even easier to use than previously. Second, suppose that an article in the technology section of theWall Street Journal notes that changes in Apple's networking support now enable Macs to be better integrated into PC networks. These two pieces of information are similar in the sense that they both express good news about the MacOS and thus they both can be expected to benefit Apple by increasing consumer demand for Macs. One might also expect that in both cases CompUSA will capture some of the gains that come from the increased demand for Macs and that Microsoft will lose because the good news about the MacOS will induce some consumers to choose Macs over Windows-based PCs. However, we will show that this intuition is incorrect. The two reviews can have surprisingly different implications for the profits of Microsoft and CompUSA.The reason is that the two reviews differ on one crucial dimension: the group of customers for whom they are primarily relevant. The CNET review talks about improvements in the customer interface--precisely what Apple'score consumers care about. TheWall Street Journal review talks about compatibility with prevailing PC standards--important to consumers who care relatively more about compatibility and who are thus more likely to prefer Windows (Apple'snoncore consumers). We show that good news about the MacOS that is more relevant to Apple's core consumers (the CNET review) benefits Microsoft but harms CompUSA, while good news about the MacOS that is more relevant to Apple's noncore consumers (theWall Street Journal review) has the opposite effect. It harms Microsoft but benefits CompUSA.Stated more generally, our main result is that when third-party information affects consumers' product valuations, the type of information that induces the change is critical to understanding which firms gain and which firms lose. In particular, depending on the type of third-party information, we find that (1) a retailer can be harmed by good news about a product that it carries; (2) a manufacturer can gain from good news about a rival's product; and (3) good news about a product category need not benefit all the manufacturers in that category.There are three novel features of the analysis. First, we derive the equilibrium division of profit among firms when a retailer sells the products of competing manufacturers, and we have done so while placing few restrictions on the feasible set of contracts. Second, we show how this equilibrium division of profit lends itself to a simple graphical interpretation that depicts which firms gain and which firms lose from third-party information. Third, we provide a taxonomy of information types and identify the key features of each type that cause profit incentives to vary. In particular, we conceptualize information as having three components, namely (1) the products to which the information pertains, (2) whether the information is positive or negative, and (3) the consumers to whom the information is relevant. We show that all three information components play a role in determining the change in each firm's profit.Our framework can also be used to analyze a variety of other settings of interest; for example, it can be used to analyze profit incentives when the retailer has bargaining power, when there is downstream competition, and when there are non-information-based changes in consumers' valuations. In addition, our framework may be used both to analyze the effects on profits of persuasive advertising and to predict advertising content.


Which coping strategies helped unemployed people in Bradford during times of recession?

This research explores the mental health impacts of unemployment. Researchers spoke to 16 focus groups in Bradford that included 73 unemployed people to find out how job losses affected everyday well-being and which personal coping strategies and financial support opportunities were helpful. Participants revealed how financial losses could affect mental health and how aspects such as the loss of a previously valued social role and a lack of structure during the day also played a part.

The study:

- examines the impact of involuntary unemployment across different groups;
- identifies the dangers to mental health associated with unemployment; and
- presents the different coping strategies used by men and women and by different age groups.

It identifies five main issues that require further policy attention to ensure that people who are unemployed do not also suffer from mental ill-health.


This paper investigates the processes behind the double ITCZ phenomenon, a common problem in Coupled ocean-atmosphere General Circulation Models (CGCMs), using a CGCM-FGCM-0 (Flexible General Circulation Model, version 0). The double ITCZ mode develops rapidly during the first two years of the integration and becomes a perennial phenomenon afterwards in the model. By way of Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) for SST, sea surface pressure, and sea surface wind, some air-sea interactions are analyzed. These interactions prompt the anomalous signals that appear at the beginning of the coupling to develop rapidly. There are two possible reasons, proved by sensitivity experiments: (1) the overestimated east-west gradient of SST in the equatorial Pacific in the ocean spin-up process, and (2) the underestimated amount of low-level stratus over the Peruvian coast in CCM3 (the Community Climate Model, Version Three). The overestimated east-west gradient of SST brings the anomalous equatorial easterly. The anomalous easterly, affected by the Coriolis force in the Southern Hemisphere, turns into an anomalous westerly in a broad area south of the equator and is enhanced by atmospheric anomalous circulation due to the underestimated amount of low-level stratus over the Peruvian coast simulated by CCM3. The anomalous westerly leads to anomalous warm advection that makes the SST warm in the southeast Pacific.The double ITCZ phenomenon in the CGCM is a result of a series of nonlocal and nonlinear adjustment processes in the coupled system, which can be traced to the uncoupled models, oceanic component, and atmospheric component. The zonal gradient of the equatorial SST is too large in the ocean component and the amount of low-level stratus over the Peruvian coast is too low in the atmosphere component.


1 Rat hepatic cytochrome P450s induced by dipyrone were studied enzymatically, immunochemically and immunohistochemically. 2 Dipyrone administered to male Wistar rats increased pentoxyresorufin O-depentylation (PROD), ethoxyresor ufin O-deethylation (EROD) and 7-ethoxycoumarin O- deethylation (ECOD) activities up to 44-, 1.9-, and 2.6-fold, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activ ity was not affected. 3 Immunoinhibition with the monoclonal antibody (Mab) 2-66-3 (to CYP2B1/2) markedly decreased PROD and EROD activities, but not AHH activity. The Mab 1-7-1 (to CYP1A1/2) was without effect. 4 Histochemically, the Mab 2-66-3 gave a strong and uniform staining in livers from dipyrone-treated rats, whereas the Mab 1-7-1 gave a positive reaction in a narrow perivenous strip. 5 The induction pattern as well as inhibition by the Mabs convincingly demonstrate the predominant production of CYP2B1/2 in the induction spectrum of dipyrone. The increase in enzyme activities other than PROD may be due to the overlapping substrate specificity of CYP2B1/2 enzymes. The immunohistochemical analysis also indi cated the participation of CYP1A1/2.


Active oxygen forms (AOF) are of great importance in pathogenesis of lung inflammation. The efficacy of Ambroxol (A) in patients with lung diseases may be attributed to its potential influence on the production AOF by inflammatory cells. The aim was to study the efficacy of A in complex therapy of patients with COPD. Methods: The study included 52 patients with exacerbations of COPD. The production of AOF in the blood of patients was studied by registration of luminol dependent chemiluminescence (ChL). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained during bronchofiberoscopy was examined for the determination of cell composition. The patients were divided into 2 groups. 25 patients with COPD received standard therapy (antibiotics, bronchodilators, glucocorticosteroids) and A inhalations. The other 27 patients received standard therapy and inhalations with placebo (sodium chloride solution). Results: ChL intensity of blood in patients with COPD exacerbations was found to be increased by 1.5 times. It indicated increased production of AOF by blood cells. In comparison to normal findings in BALF of patients the content of alveolar macrofages was reduced and the content of neutrofiles was high. The use of A in patients decreased generation of AOF in blood and the intensity of clinical symptoms, improved cellular composition of BALF. In the case of standard therapy high ChL intensity of blood and disorders in the cell composition of BALF were maintained, the duration of exacerbation period was longer. Conclusion: A administration in COPD exacerbations reduced AOF generation, improved the cell differential of BALF, increased the treatment efficiency.


The Ocsigen framework offers a new way to develop sophisticated client-server Web applications. It makes it possible to write as a single program both the server and client sides of a Web application, thus simplifying a lot communications and data transfers, and avoiding code duplications. It also proposes a wide set of high level concepts to program traditional Web interactions in a very concise way while mixing them seamlessly with client side features. The use of a powerful type system improves a lot the reliability of programs , reducing debugging time, and making the code easier to maintain.


iv Abstract The growing complexity of System-on-Chip (SoC) designs motivates both academic and industrial researchers to find better solutions for the complexity of the chip-interconnect. For SoC designs that have hundreds of Processing Elements (PEs), a single shared bus can no longer be accepted as an efficient communication scheme. To address this problem, the Networks-on-Chip (NoC) concept is proposed as a new paradigm, which provides an integrated solution for achieving efficient interconnection scheme for complex SoC applications. NoC-based designs are composed of computational resources in the form of PE cores, and switching nodes (routers) that allow PEs to communicate with each other. For different applications, this research work: 1) proposes new analytical models for various NoC design parameters, 2) performs comparative analyses of the commonly used network architectures, and 3) presents novel methodologies for efficiently designing the NoC-topology. The proposed methodologies are developed to help NoC-designers better achieve minimum power consumption and delay, and maximum performability for their applications. Graph-theoretic concepts are adopted to study the topological architecture of NoCs and propose a new topology-based models for network power, performability, and delay. The proposed models take into consideration important design parameters, which significantly affect the power, performability, and delay of a NoC-based system; such as network topology architecture, traffic distribution, noise power, voltage swing, probability of edge failure, router design and number of ports, clock frequency, and target technology. In this dissertation, we show how the proposed models could be used to optimally design the network topology so that it achieves the target design requirement for a given application. After studying each design metric individually, a joint considerAbstract v ation of NoC power, performability, and delay is carried out simultaneously. We use Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to find the optimum network topology, that achieves minimum delay, maximum performability, and minimum power consumption, for a given NoC application. Real case studies are presented to validate the proposed theoretical concepts. This validation is carried out through experimental work, targeting various real NoC applications. Experimental results show that using the proposed design methodologies, designers can improve the overall system efficiency in terms of power, delay, and performability, by choosing the design parameters (i.e., network topology architecture, PEs' mapping, etc.) efficiently at early design phases. This improvement is measured in some cases by an order of magnitude, compared to the worst case scenario of choosing wrong design parameters for the target application.v ation of NoC power, performability, and delay is carried out simultaneously. We use Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to find the optimum network topology, that achieves minimum delay, maximum performability, and minimum power consumption, for a given NoC application. Real case studies are presented to validate the proposed theoretical concepts. This validation is carried out through experimental work, targeting various real NoC applications. Experimental results show that using the proposed design methodologies, designers can improve the overall system efficiency in terms of power, delay, and performability, by choosing the design parameters (i.e., network topology architecture, PEs' mapping, etc.) efficiently at early design phases. This improvement is measured in some cases by an order of magnitude, compared to the worst case scenario of choosing wrong design parameters for the target application. vi Table of


We here report a facile one-step approach to construction of antifogging and frost-resisting coatings on flexible substrates from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Excellent antifogging and frost-resisting properties were observed, and are derived from the hydrophilicity and hygroscopicity of coatings. The coatings are highly transparent, and the average transmittance of coatings increases with increase of the concentration of PVA aqueous solution.


This scientific review analyses the potential for applying the psychosemantic approach in researching semantic perception within the context of family relationships. The growing number of dysfunctional families leads to an increased divorce rate, with high-conflict spousal relationships often accompanied by parenting disagreements. This, in turn, increases the frequency of court-ordered psychological evaluations due to parenting disagreements in civil cases. There are many theoretical pathways when it comes to studying dysfunctional families and conflicts within families, as well as numerous practical approaches to dealing with them. However, both Russian and international research on dysfunctional family structures is mostly confined to predominantly phenomenogical analysis, as well as identifying formal characteristics, whereas the semantic analysis of family structures is largely neglected. We believe that one of the promising avenues in researching the family relationship system is the psychosemantic method: that is, the study of the semantic component of psychological relations: the emotional and semantic constructs underlying the semantic perception by the parents of each other and of their child.


The implementation and application of diffused ceiling ventilation (DCV) is gradually gaining momentum, especially in Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands. In countries such as Sweden, the application is limited despite the favorable conditions for implementation. The current study investigates the performance of DCV and mixing ventilation in a pre-occupancy field study for newly renovated classrooms in Southern Sweden. Two classrooms at the school were installed with diffuse ceiling ventilation while the rest had mixing ventilation. The objective of the study was to compare and evaluate the ventilation performance in terms of indoor environmental quality parameters such as thermal comfort, air quality indexes, airflow, and temperature distribution. Pre-occupancy measurements were performed in two classrooms with similar room characteristics, with one room running under mixing ventilation and the other under DCV. Constant temperature anemometers, thermocouples, and INNOVA thermal comfort were used to measure the indoor air speeds, temperature, and thermal comfort, respectively. Tracer gas measurements, with SF6, were performed to assess air quality. Additionally acoustic measurements were conducted to assess the acoustic benefits of DCV on reducing ventilation noise. The results demonstrate that DCV offers similar indoor environmental conditions to mixing ventilation but has better acoustic performance especially on reducing the ventilation noise. Indoor environmental conditions were very homogeneous under DCV with mixing ventilation showing tendencies for short circuit ventilation. This study demonstrates that DCV has a potential for implementation in Swedish schools with minimal system modification on existing ventilation and air distribution systems.


Abstract : Honduras faces significant challenges in the areas of crime and human rights and improving overall economic and living conditions in one of the hemisphere's poorest countries. In November 2005, Hondurans elected Manuel Zelaya of the Liberal Party as president in an election marred by technical difficulties that delayed the official count. The United States has a close relationship with Honduras, characterized by significant foreign assistance, an important trade partnership, a U.S. military presence in the country, and cooperation on a range of transnational issues. Honduras is a party to the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), which was approved by the Honduran Congress in March 2005 and by the U.S. Congress in July 2005 (P.L. 109-53). The agreement entered into force with Honduras on April 1, 2006. In February 2006, the Department of Homeland Security announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for some 75,000 eligible Hondurans in the United States until July 5, 2007; TPS had been scheduled to expire on July 5, 2006.


Engineers are called upon to balance and adapt to the competing demands of industry, the environment, and society to develop sustainable and equitable solutions to modern problems. While traditional engineering programs provide students with the technical skills required of their profession, students often lack the knowledge and resources on how to incorporate complex environmental and social factors into decision-making so that they are prepared to face society's evolving challenges. As part of a larger initiative to integrate traditional technical skills with enhanced social awareness into the engineering curriculum, a two-part module emphasizing the environmental and social design considerations of sustainability was added to an existing module series in a third-year Materials Science course. This paper will describe the design, implementation, and assessment of one part of this module entitled "The Final Straw" that was focused on accessibility of straw materials within the disability community. For this module, groups of students considered the unique design needs of a marginalized stakeholder who relies on the material properties of single-used plastic straws (e.g., individuals with strength and mobility issues) to recommend an alternative material for the straw (e.g., paper, metal, silicone). In doing so, they must consider the larger economic, environmental, and social impacts of their material recommendation, and also consider how engineering design and public policy can unintentionally exclude vulnerable populations. Curricular content (e.g., homework, midterm questions) as well as researcher reflections were used to assess this module. Students were able to describe and synthesize the needs of multiple users with varying disabilities into a hierarchy of materials. While environmental considerations were not explicitly asked for, students could not detangle the environmental from the social aspects of this problem. However, framing the issue through the lens of accessibility could have allowed students to not consider the economic costs as primary and instead reframe them into a social consideration (i.e., cost to the consumer).


Embryonic stem (ES) cells are totipotent stem cells, which can differentiate into various kinds of cell types, including neurons. They are widely used as a model system for investigating mechanisms of differentiation events during early mouse development. In this study, proteomic techniques were used to approach the protein profile associated with the early‐stage differentiation of ES cells into neuronal cells induced by all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in vitro. In comparison of the protein profile of parent ES cells with that of ES‐derived neural‐committed cells, which was induced by ATRA for four days, 24 differentially displayed protein spots were selected from two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE) gels for further protein identification by pepide mass fingerprinting (PMF). Nine proteins were known to being involved in the process of neural differentiation and/or neural survival. Of those, α‐3/α‐7 tubulin and vimentin were downregulated, while cytokeratin 8, cytokeratin 18, G1/S‐special cyclin D2, follistatin‐related protein, NEL protein, platelet‐activating factor acetylhydrolase IB α‐subunit, and thioredoxin peroxidase 2 were upregulated during differentiation of ES cells to neural cells. Additionally, other 12 protein (five upregulated and seven downregulated) spots associated with ES cell differentiation into neuronal cells were not matched to known proteins so far, implicating that they might be novel proteins. The results above indicated that the molecular mechanisms of differentiation of ES cells to neural cells in vitro might be similar to those of other neural systems in vitro and identified that proteomic analysis is an effective strategy to comprehensively unravel the regulatory network of differentiation.


A newly developed solid-state repetitive high-voltage (HV) pulse modulator topology created from the mature concept of the d.c. voltage multiplier (VM) is described. The proposed circuit is based in a voltage multiplier type circuit, where a number of d.c. capacitors share a common connection with different voltage rating in each one. Hence, besides the standard VM rectifier and coupling diodes, two solid-state on/off switches are used, in each stage, to switch from the typical charging VM mode to a pulse mode with the d.c. capacitors connected in series with the load. Due to the on/off semiconductor configuration, in half-bridge structures, the maximum voltage blocked by each one is the d.c. capacitor voltage in each stage. A 2 kV prototype is described and the results are compared with PSPICE simulations.


ABSTRACT Fungal secondary metabolites (SM) are bioactive compounds that are important in fungal ecology and, moreover, both harmful and useful in human endeavors (e.g., as toxins and pharmaceuticals). Recently a nuclear heterocomplex termed the Velvet complex, characterized in the model ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans, was found to be critical for SM production. Deletion of two members of the Velvet complex, laeA and veA, results in near loss of SM and defective sexual spore production in A. nidulans and other species. Using a multicopy-suppressor genetics approach, we have isolated an Aspergillus nidulans gene named rsmA (remediation of secondary metabolism) based upon its ability to remediate secondary metabolism in ΔlaeA and ΔveA backgrounds. Overexpression of rsmA (OE::rsmA) restores production of sterigmatocystin (ST) (a carcinogenic SM) via transcriptional activation of ST biosynthetic genes. However, defects in sexual reproduction in either ΔlaeA or ΔveA strains cannot be overcome by OE::rsmA. An intact Velvet complex coupled with an OE::rsmA allele increases SM many fold over the wild-type level, but loss of rsmA does not decrease SM. RsmA encodes a putative bZIP basic leucine zipper-type transcription factor.


OBJECTIVE
To assess prospectively the incidence and course of depressive symptoms among pregnant and postpartum adolescents and explore the roles of stress and social support as influencing factors.

METHODS
Pregnant teenagers attending a comprehensive adolescent pregnancy and parenting program were enrolled during their third trimester of pregnancy and followed up through 4 months post partum. Depressive symptoms and social support were measured with validated, self-administered instruments during the third trimester and at 2 and 4 months post partum. Stress was measured during the prenatal and postpartum periods.

RESULTS
Study participants (N=125) were predominantly black (93%), and wee aged 12 to 18 years. Completed assessments were obtained from 114 subjects at 2 months post partum and 108 at 4 months. Forty-two percent had significant depressive symptoms in the third trimester, with 36% and 32% having scores that indicated depression at 2 and 4 months post partum. Stress levels increased significantly from the third trimester to the postpartum period (P < .01) and were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Receiving social support from the adolescent's mother or the infant's father, especially in the postpartum period, was significantly associated with lower rates of depression. Reporting conflict with the infant's father was strongly associated with increased rates of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that depressive symptoms are common among pregnant teenagers and postpartum adolescents. Stress and social support appear to be important mediators. Identifying those teenagers with high stress and conflict and low levels of support will help identify those who are at particular risk for depressive symptoms.


Different versions of the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic isotope exchange as well as catalytic substitution of a halogen by tritium are examined from the standpoint of their use for the introduction of a tritium label into compounds of biological interest (aminoacids, peptides, proteins, nucleotides, carbohydrates, steroids, medicinal agents, etc.). The bibliography includes 214 references.


. The article is dedicated to research of the impact of the court decisions on the process of applying the norms of administrative legislation. The author emphasised the importance of determining the newest system of administrative law sources with the aim to formulate the role of court decisions for the dynamics of administrative-legal relations. It is analysed the correlation of such concepts as ''law enforcement'', ''court decision'' and ''judicial legislation''. It is established that complexity of the interconnection between judicial legislation and administrative-legal relations consists in the special impact of the acts of judicial bodies on the public administration functioning. The legal nature of public dispute touches upon the public order in the state, the necessity for proportional correlation of public and private interests, public administration functioning, etc. It is concluded that the efficiency of connection between judicial legislation and administra - tive legal relations depends on such a phenomenon as a judicial error since under such conditions the relevant impact can have a destructive nature regarding the field of public administration.


Ovarian yolk sac tumors are germ cell tumors that usually present in children and young women. Rarely, these tumors can arise in older women, usually in conjunction with surface epithelial tumors, suggesting divergent differentiation from the latter. The combination of mixed ovarian yolk sac tumor and high-grade serous carcinoma is rare, with only one case documented in the literature. We present a case of mixed ovarian yolk sac tumor and high-grade serous carcinoma in a postmenopausal woman, including a brief discussion of the immunohistochemical findings and differential diagnosis. Despite the rarity of mixed ovarian yolk sac tumor and surface epithelial tumors, it is important to recognize the biphasic nature of the tumor, which should prompt a thorough immunohistochemical evaluation. The therapeutic and prognostic implications of proper diagnosis cannot be overemphasized.


The soil microbial biomass of soil is being increa sing recognized as sensitive indicator of soil quality. Its knowledge is fundamental for sustainab le environment management. The soil microbial biomass C, N and P were studied in four different l a d uses of dry tropical forest of Udaipur, Rajasth n, Western India to assess the influence of abiotic, p hysico-chemical variables and difference in differe nt land uses (mixed forest, butea plantation, grasslan d and agricultural lands) on the seasonal variation in soil microbial biomass. Microbial biomass C, N and P were highest during rainy season and lowest durin g winter in all the four different land use with the exception of microbial N which was lowest in summer in mixed forest and butea plantation. Microbial biomas s C and N were shown to be significantly correlated to the abiotic and physico-chemical variables of th e soil, such as soil temperature, relative humidity , soil moisture, organic C, total N, clay, and pH. Present study clearly shows that land use has a significan t effect on microbial biomass C, N and P in soil by a ltering natural soil characteristics under the same ecological conditions.


The development of multivariate calibration model with back-propagation neural network using calibration sets constructed from the spectral data of pure components is proposed for the simultaneous estimation of active components, losartan potassium and hydrochlorothiazide in tablet dosage. The calibration sets were designed such that the concentrations were orthogonal and span the possible mixture space fairly evenly. The back-propagation neural network model was optimized with respect to the spectral input, training parameters and topology including transfer functions for each layer so as to yield accurate and precise estimations on model validation. The optimized model showed sufficient robustness even when the calibration sets were constructed from different set of pure spectra of components thus enabling periodical validation of model rapidly and economically. Although the components showed significant spectral overlap, the model could accurately estimate the drugs, with satisfactory precision and accuracy, in tablet dosage with no interference from excipients as indicated by the recovery study results.


A number of pre-Columbian textiles, most discovered in northern Peru and dating to the Late Intermediate Period (ca. 1050-1200 AD), were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometric detection (LC-DAD-MS), after extraction of the dyes with formic acid and methanol. The focus of this work was yellow dyes, most of which are present as glycosides of flavonoids and related compounds, with the objective of identifying the plants originally used for dyeing. Two major types of dyes were found in this set of specimens. The first type is characterized by the presence of flavonol 3-O-sulfates (never before reported as being present in dyes) and 3-O-glycosides; this type was probably derived from the plant Flaveria haumanii or a close relative. The second type is characterized by the presence of both chalcone (heretofore not reported in pre-Columbian textiles) and luteolin glycosides, though a specific plant source could not be identified. Two other yellow dye types appeared to be present, but there were not enough examples to allow conclusions to be drawn. Also present in some extracts were various hydroxybenzoic acids, which appear to be oxidation products of the respective unsubstituted flavonol (3-hydroxyflavone) dyes. Most yellow dyes are synthesized in plants as glycosides (or other derivatives), which are incorporated more or less intact into textile fibers during dyeing. Extraction of these derivatives and analysis by LC-DAD-MS yields distinctive profiles that, with appropriate plant reference materials, can aid in the identification of the original plant dyestuffs.


The current article makes a comparative analysis between the biodegradation of natural and synthetic polyethylene by three different species of Pseudomonas. The three Pseudomonas spp. (P1, P2, and P3) were indigenous to locations: (1) domestic waste disposal site dumped with household garbage and vegetable waste; (2) soil from textile effluents drainage site; and (3) soil dumped with sewage sludge, respectively. The ability of these species in degrading natural and synthetic polyethylene was investigated. Pure culture shake-flask incubation for 8 weeks was performed for the purpose of biodegradation. The natural or biodegradable polyethylene used in the study was disposable plastic bags containing 6% vegetable starch. The initial and final dry weights of plastic bags before and after incubation in the culture medium were compared and the percentage of degradation was calculated. Among all the treatments, Pseudomonas sp. from sewage sludge dump (P1) was found to degrade polyethylene efficiently with 46.2% for natural and 29.1% for synthetic polyethylene. In contrast, Pseudomonas sp. from household garbage dump (P2) gave the lowest biodegradability of 31.4% and 16.3% for natural and synthetic polyethylene, respectively. However, Pseudomonas sp. isolated from textile effluents drainage site gave an intermediate biodegradability of 39.7% and 19.6% for natural and synthetic polyethylene, respectively. Overall, natural polyethylene gave a rapid biodegradation within the same duration than the synthetic ones. The active enzymes produced by the bacteria caused mechanical denting and weight loss in polyethylene.


ABSTRACT Throughout the western world a leading example of the educational reforms that have been implemented in the late twentieth and twenty-first century is School-Based Management (SBM), a system designed to improve educational outcome through staff teamwork and self-governance. This research set out to examine the efficacy of teamwork in ten SBM-designated Arab-Bedouin elementary schools in Israel. Two explicit issues were examined: (1) What impact did SBM have on the development of teamwork among the schools' staff? (2) Does the Arab-Bedouin social-cultural context influence implementation of teamwork in SBM schools? The research method consisted of a questionnaire to which 361 teachers/school principals replied, and a semi-structured interview with 30 of the respondents. Results of this study demonstrate that true teamwork does not exist in the schools studied, despite their SBM official status, primarily because the concept of teamwork clashes with the social/cultural norms of traditional Arab-Bedouin society and thus exacerbates conflicts among staff, which then impedes implementation of SBM. In conclusion, this research recommends that for SBM to enable traditional Arab-Bedouin society to benefit from managing its own schools, broad educational changes such as this must be introduced gradually, in a customised, culturally sensitive manner.


This thesis presents an analysis of visual cues and environmental hints gathered from computer games and cinematic theory. These cues can help users of interactive virtual worlds to navigate and understand them in a comprehensive context, in an integrated manner. This can be applied to most interactive virtual environments. It is also viewed in a perspective of virtual heritage; reconstructions of historical locations. There is currently not much research documenting such cues. Here, the sampled cues are split into visual, environmental and interface categories. The techniques are analyzed both from a general standpoint and for potential use in virtual heritage. Most of the cues' analyses indicate that they could be very useful in virtual heritage or similar applications. One such application, a high-fidelity re-creation of the medieval city of Nidaros, is made using the Unreal Engine 3 graphics- and game-engine. Construction of the environment mimics the needs of a comprehensive virtual heritage project, and provides an easily extensible test case. Many technical aspects of the construction are described in detail. Selected cues and design techniques are successfully applied to the re-created interactive environment. Users of the program are able to walk freely in the city. A discussion of the results is provided, and many ideas for further expansion are suggested. The results suggest that the presented combination of techniques constitute a new and promising perspective to any type of virtual environment. The use of a game engine could also help cut production costs and provide a fully interactive, high quality learning experience.


A series of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for anticonvulsant activity against intracerebro-ventriculas (i.c.v.) N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced seizures in mice. Among these compounds, (+)-1-methyl-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride ((+)-1a, FR115427) was the most effective anticonvulsant, and also protected CA1 hippocampal neurons from ischemia-induced neuronal degeneration in rats at 32 mg/kg i.p. In addition, (+)-1a showed anti-hypoxic activity in mice at 3.2-32 mg/kg i.p. The absolute configuration at the C-1 position of the isoquinoline ring was determined to be S by a single-crystal X-ray analysis of (+)-1a (+)-di-p-toluoyl-D-tartrate. Structure-activity relationships with regard to the anticonvulsant activity of this series of compounds are discussed, and the three-dimensional structures of (S)-(+)-1a and MK801 are compared.


Since 2006, the National Cyber Defense Initiative (NCDI), an ad hoc group of cyber professionals, has been working behind the scenes to help inform the US research agenda for strategic cyber defense. These activities have been in anticipation of the country and its leadership developing the will to aggressively invest in the area to reduce the significant risk the country faces. An important part of the NDCI's activities has been sponsorship of three workshops so far: the 2006 Safe-Computing Workshop, the 2007 Opening-Moves Workshop, and the 2008 Industry Workshop. Here we look at them and their results.