Reducing social exclusion through interventions designed to sustain school engagement is a key aim of the education and social policy of any government. This paper is a response to the call for there to be more focused empirical sports coaching research through examining the transformative potential of community-based sports coaches to support schools in arresting school disengagement. By embracing an understanding that challenges the definitional core of sports coaching as simply improving the sporting performance of an individual or team, and, drawing theoretically on the work of Carlisle et al. and Shields, the role of 'coach as transformative leader' is articulated. Analysis of data collected by means of semi-structured interviews with a group of community-based sports coaches (n = 8) revealed three factors salient to our understanding of re-engaging young people with formal education through sport. These were the impact of the community sport programme; the relationship between schools and community sports groups; and the implementation of transformative leadership qualities by sport coaching practitioners. Importantly, this paper explicates the pivotal function that coaching practice which embraces transformative leadership principles can have on reorienting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds towards more optimistic futures and educational objectives.


This thesis analyses the ancient travel notes'predicament, namely, the emaciated style and the inadequate moving beauty. Through an analysis of the travel notes' predicament, this article offers a further exposition of the conventional thinking predicament as well as the language predicament, pointing out the distinctive subject of conventional thinking controls the harmonious feelings in a dimmish way; the subjective thinking mode displays some subjective ideal pattern. The concise principle of the classical Chinese writings, the constraints of the antithetical couplet and the good logical reasoning or something constitute its specific expressions.


This research is aimed to improve the students' understanding of Introduction to Marine Technology Subject. The concepts developed and implemented in this research are encouraging and developing the objectives of the subject, syllabi, teaching and learning method, standard of competency, and assessment criteria. The chosen teaching and assessment method is Problem-Based Learning and Competency-Based Assessment. There were two main activities which should be taken by the students, namely, individual and group activities. After one semester's implementation, it was found positive and significant outcomes resulted from this research. The students' motivation and understanding increased significantly. 84.38% of students passed with good scores. 99.63% of students attended the class with high motivation, as seen from the average number of students' attendance in class.


Resting tumor cells represent a huge challenge during anti-cancer therapy due to their increased treatment resistance. Example given, during minimal residual disease remaining tumor cells might be non-cycling. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a putative future anti-cancer drug currently in phase I and II clinical studies. We recently showed that TRAIL is able to target leukemia stem cell surrogates (Blood 2012,119,4224). Here we tested the ability of TRAIL to target cell cycle arrested tumor cells. Primary tumor cells from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were amplified in immuno-compromised mice and used for in vitro knockdown studies, besides tumor cell lines. Cell cycle arrest was induced in G0, G1 or G2 using cytotoxic drugs, phase-specific inhibitors or RNA interference against cyclinB and E. Cell cycle was visualized by flowcytometry analysis including phosphorylation of Serine 10 in Histone H3 to discriminate G2 from M phase. Biochemical or molecular arrest at any point of the cell cycle increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis, independently from the tumor cell type, the cell cycle inhibitor used or the check point addressed. In contrast, when cell cycle arrest was disabled by addition of caffeine, the anti-tumor activity of TRAIL was reduced. Most importantly for clinical translation, tumor cells from three children with B-precursor or T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia showed increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis upon knockdown of either cyclinB or cyclinE arresting the cell cycle in G2 or G1, respectively. Taken together and in contrast to most conventional cytotoxic drugs, TRAIL exerts enhanced anti-tumor activity against cell cycle arrested tumor cells. Therefore, TRAIL might represent an interesting drug to treat static tumor disease, e.g., during minimal residual disease. Citation Format: Harald Ehrhardt, Franziska Wachter, Michaela Grunert, Irmela Jeremias. TRAIL induces apoptosis preferentially in cell cycle arrested tumor cells, e.g., in tumor cells from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia upon knockdown of cyclinE. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3326. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3326 Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 because the presenter was unable to attend.


the most lucrative organized crime; or that prostitutes fall prey to organized crime because of mental disorder and a propensity to use drugs. All of these are very much open to question and there is a real danger that these extravagant claims will prove counter-producrive. Such claptrap could quite properly be discounted as being of little value, and the authors would have failed to fire the public conscience and indignation of their readers. This would be a pity because their central thesis (organized crime control by means of heightened public consciousness) is sound. ANDREW WILLIS University College, Cardiff


The paper considers a problem of plagiarism in dissertation text. Using a particular case - the dissertation in religious studies, that contains a big portions of the borrowed text - it is shown that analysis of plagiarism will be deficient without understanding of the mechanisms of local textual order production. This constitutive order of dissertation text presupposes a particular ways of text's organization with respect to by whom, under what circumstances, and in which ways it will be read. The possibility of the successful defense of the dissertation containing plagiarism is connected not so much to the properties of the social context of dissertation text, as to the practices of competent reading that underlie scientific expertise. It is demonstrated that dissertation's author faces a number of contradictory requirements: firstly, he/she has to provide an original text, that simultaneously satisfies some formal requirements; secondly, he/she has to show his/her individual scientific contribution, indicating, at the same time, how it is connected to the previous studies; and thirdly, he/she has to display his/her knowledge of specific area and literature that nobody knows as good as him/her, but his/her text must, at the same time, make it possible to be evaluated by the competent colleagues. To reconcile these requirements, author creates text which should be credible, but which thereby opens a room for plagiarism. Plagiarism in dissertation text, in this case, can be understood as a way of using a number of constitutive expectancies underlying scientific communication and distribution of scientific knowledge.


Epidemiologic studies have shown that unrecognized myocardial infarctions are common and have serious prognostic implications. This study compared the psychosocial characteristics of 40 patients who sought treatment for a documented MI …


Purpose. Transport logistics is a very important area of activity for an industrial enterprise. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to determine the role of transport logistics at the current stage of operation of an industrial enterprise for the production of upholstered furniture, as well as to consider the basic logistics principles and their scope. Methodology. In the course of the study, the methods of scientific search, statistical analysis, synthesis, elements of the theory of system modeling were used to study the role of transport logistics in the operation of the enterprise. Findings. As an object of consideration the authors selected an industrial enterprise, whose main activity is the production of upholstered furniture. The structure of the enterprise's logistics system was developed and analyzed; the impact of transport logistics on the operation of the logistics chain was assessed. The option of using an innovative sales system based on the efficient use of transport logistics is proposed. The role, place and relevance of transport logistics as a subsystem of the logistics chain of this industrial enterprise were determined. The existing problems in the transport logistics of enterprises in this sector in the country require solutions due to the constant need to supply the channels with raw materials and semi-finished products, as well as distribution of manufactured products. The most important issue is the decision to determine the way of goods movement (produced upholstered furniture). This is the most acute problem faced in the delivery of products to the market. Originality. At the me-thodological level the role of transport logistics in the creation and functioning of the macrologistical system of enterprises of this type is formulated. The holistic approach to supplier relationship control, which allows you to link the supply strategy with its implementation, and enhances the participation of suppliers in the enterprise operation was developed. Practical value. The detailed study and analysis of possible ways to improve the transport and logistics activity opens up ways for the company to increase the overall efficiency of its production and business activities, since almost half of all costs incurred in logistics are transportation costs. And it is the proper use of transport logistics that allows for an enterprise to rationally manage its resources.


This paper analyses the direct impacts of extreme weather, high and low flow events, seasonality and other climate-related phenomena on river-based tilapia cage aquaculture in Northern Thailand. An interdisciplinary approach was taken, which included analysis of secondary water flow and meteorological data, quantitative and qualitative surveys of farmers' experiences with extreme events, and direct observations during critical periods. Findings show that extreme high and low flows adversely impact a substantial fraction of farms, causing damage to cages, fish deaths, slow growth and disease problems. Economic losses are significant and result in financial debt. Compensation and assistance following floods is modest relative to losses, and coverage is incomplete. Probability of extreme flows and impacts vary among locations, are highly seasonal, and vary inter-annually. These findings are important to improving management of climate-related risks, under both current and future climatic conditions.


Using a proprioceptive "straight-ahead" pointing task, we determined the position of the subjective sagittal middle in thirty unselected patients with unilateral vascular lesions in the right hemisphere and twenty-two normal controls. Patients with extensive right parietal damage (n = 16) showed an ipsilesional (rightward) deviation of their egocentric reference, whereas patients with lesions that substantially spared the right parietal lobe (n = 14) showed a contralesional (leftward) deviation. No significant correlation emerged between the position of the egocentric reference and the performance on a neglect battery. These results can help explain some dissociations between left neglect signs and ipsilesional deviation of the egocentric reference, and raise some questions about the links among lesion location, neglect signs and egocentric frame of reference.


Having invested heavily throughout the 1990s in physical infrastructure, the Shanghai Municipal Government (SMG) began a parallel investment in 2003 to strengthen human capital in the metropolis and move Shanghai towards becoming a global city. The SMG announced an integrated strategy of competitiveness building human capital development via four key themes: attracting Chinese overseas graduates, vocational training of on-the-job workers, training for local workers without jobs, and training of migrant workers. This strategy has had considerable success, largely through taking a balanced approach (attracting talent, upskilling the labour force and integrating the hard to reach) while also setting clear targets and achievable goals for local stakeholders.


This paper presents a high performance wideband amplifier and justifies the performance with the aid of measurement results. The amplifier consumes very low power about 6.8mW from a supply voltage of 1.8V. The amplifier is designed using a cross coupled cascode topology to improve the Gain and Bandwidth. The design is implemented in a 0.18μm SiGe BiCMOS process (ft = 200GHz) with 9.3dB small signal differential Gain and a flat 3dB Bandwidth from DC to 14GHz. The design size of the core amplifier is 230μm × 80μm.


The supermassive black hole candidate at the Galactic Center is surrounded by a parsec-scale star cluster, which contains a number of early type stars. The presence of such stars has been called a 'paradox of youth' as star formation in the immediate vicinity of a supermassive black hole seemed difficult, as well as the transport of stars from far out in a massive-star lifetime. I will recall 30 years of technological developments which led to the current understanding of the nuclear cluster stellar population. The number of early type stars known at present is sufficient to access the 3D structure of this population and its dynamics, which in turn allows discriminating between the various possible origins proposed along the years.


The hypocenter locations of the larger and better recorded earthquakes of the New Madrid seismic zone are examined in order to determine how closely the hypocenters lie along planar surfaces, thus relating the foci to active fault surfaces. For this purpose more than 500 earthquakes of the region have been selected for study, based on the number (7 or more) of observing stations used in the initial hypocenter location and on the quality of the P-wave onset. These events are relocated using a joint hypocenter-velocity-depth (JHVD) algorithm. The relocated earthquakes are separated geographically into three trends: ARK, the southwest trending zone from Caruthersville, Missouri, to Marked Tree, Arkansas; DWM, the northeast trending zone from New Madrid to Charleston, Missouri; and CEN, the central, left-stepping offset zone from Ridgely, Tennessee, to New Madrid, Missouri. Vertical profiles taken along and across the ARK and DWM trends verify the strike and dip of dominantly strike slip motion on near vertical active faults along these trends. These results agree with previously determined composite focal mechanism solutions for these trends. No coherent picture has been obtained for the CEN trend. As a by-product of the study, velocity models from the JHVD inversion are found to be reasonably uniform throughout the New Madrid seismic zone, and to offer supporting evidence for the presence of a shallow low velocity zone in the central portion of the Mississippi embayment.


Gula kelapa is a traditional and potencial comodity in Banyumas. Fortification with iodium in gula kelapa should be criteria were iodium in product over than 30 ppm bk. Fortification process was need a long thermal process. Stability of iodium in gula kelapa has been studied. The experimental method used Randomized Block Design. The factors analyzed were three kinds of fortification (fresh nira, nira prosessed, nira cristalization) and four kinds of iodium (control, NaI, KI, and KIO3) with 3 replications, and total were 36 unit. The result of the research showed that fortification when nira after endpoint with kalium iodida is the best interaction, iodium content is 34,89 ppm db. Key words : Brown sugar, fortification, iodine.


From the nonperturbative quantum electrodynamics theory, we derive the Landau-Dykhne formula which represents the quantum-mechanical formulation of the three-step model. These studies provide a basis for the classical-field approaches to high-order harmonic generation and justify some assumptions used in classical-field modelling.


Shunt capacitors are widely used in distribution systems to reduce power losses, improve voltage profile and increase system capacity. The benefits of compensation depend greatly on the placement and size of the added capacitors. In this book, the heuristic optimization techniques are used together with the backward/forward sweep power flow method and radial harmonic power flow for determining the optimal placement and sizing of capacitors in radial distribution networks for minimizing the power loss and total cost by considering mutual coupling, load unbalancing and harmonics. To implement the developed algorithms, the backward/forward sweep power flow and radial harmonic power flow methods in an open source environment, a Matlab based software tool named as Optimal Placement of Shunt Var Compensators has been developed.


Human-robot co-operation becomes increasingly frequent due to the widespread use of service robots. However, during such co-operation, robots have a high chance of colliding with humans, which may result in serious injury. Thus, many solutions were proposed to ensure collision safety, and among them, collision detection algorithms are regarded as one of the most practical solutions. They allow a robot to quickly detect a collision so that the robot can perform a proper reaction to minimize the impact. However, conventional collision detection algorithms required the precise model of a robot, which is difficult to obtain and is subjected to change. Also, expensive sensors, such as torque sensors, are often required. In this study, we propose a novel collision detection algorithm which only requires motor encoders. It detects collisions by monitoring the high-pass filtered version of the velocity error. The proposed algorithm can be easily implemented to any robots, and its performance was verified through various tests.


A smart-card run-time environment must provide proper transaction support for the reliable updating of data, especially on multi-application cards like the Java Card. The transaction mechanism must meet these demands by means of the applications and the system itself, within the minimal resources offered by current smart-card hardware. This paper presents the current transaction model implied by the Java Card 2.1 specification, highlights its shortcomings and presents a detailed discussion of possible implementation schemes and their optimizations. It especially addresses the problem of object instantiations within a transaction in the Java Card 2.1 specification and presents an effective solution.


An effective way of reducing acoustic noise in a motor supplied from an adjustable speed pulse width modulated (PWM) drive is described. The PWM patterns are selected to eliminate the most acoustically sensitive harmonics in the motor's vibration spectra. This permits the PWM drive to use more economical yet slower switching devices while maintaining quiet operation.<<ETX>>


The objective of this study was to perform an integrated analysis to gain insight for optimizing fracturing treatment and gas recovery from Marcellus shale. The analysis involved all the available data from a Marcellus Shale horizontal well which included vertical and lateral well logs, hydraulic fracture treatment design, microseismic, production logging, and production data. A commercial fracturing software was utilized to predict the hydraulic fracture properties based on the available vertical and lateral well logs data, diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT), fracture stimulation treatment data, and microseismic recordings during the fracturing treatment. The predicted hydraulic fracture properties were then used in a reservoir simulation model developed based on the Marcellus Shale properties to predict the production performance.
 In this study, the rock mechanical properties were estimated from the well log data. The minimum horizontal stress, instantaneous shut-in pressure (ISIP), process zone stress (PZS), and leak-off mechanism were determined from DFIT analysis. The stress conditions were then adjusted based on the results of microseismic interpretations. Subsequently, the results of the analyses were used in the fracturing software to predict the hydraulic fracture properties. Marcellus Shale properties and the predicted hydraulic fracture properties were used to develop a reservoir simulation model. Porosity, permeability, and the adsorption characteristics were estimated from the core plugs measurements and the well log data. The image logs were utilized to estimate the distribution of natural fractures (fissures). The relation between the formation permeability and the fracture conductivity and the net stress (geomechanical factors) were obtained from the core plugs measurements and published data. The predicted production performance was then compared against production history.
 The analysis of core data, image logs, and DFIT confirmed the presence of natural fractures in the reservoir. The formation properties and in-situ stress conditions were found to influence the hydraulic fracturing geometry. The hydraulic fracture properties are also impacted by stress shadowing and the net stress changes. The production logging tool results could not be directly related to the hydraulic fracture properties or natural fracture distribution. The inclusion of the stress shadowing, microseismic interpretations, and geomechanical factors provided a close agreement between the predicted production performance and the actual production performance of the well under study.


Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the effects of different intensity exercises on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max and levels of components, namely brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrKB), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC-1α), and irisin. Methods: Thirty-six male participants were divided into control (CNT), low-intensity (LIIT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) groups. LIIT and HIIT groups consisted of 8 exercises (20 s work and rest in each repetition, respectively) conducted for 4 weeks. VO2max and protein component levels were determined pre- and post-training. VO2max capacity was also determined using the Yo Yo Intermittent Recovery Test-1 (Yo Yo IR-1). Statistical analysis was conducted to determine significance of the differences observed. Results: According to the YoYo IR-1, VO2max, serum BDNF, VEGF, PGC1α, irisin, and TrkB data obtained in the study, a statistically significant difference between the groups was observed (p<0.05). While the interaction effect was found to be statistically significant in the study using PGC1α, VEGF, and TrkB data (p<0.05), it was not found to be statistically significant using YoYo IR-1, VO2max, serum BDNF, or irisin data (p>0.05). Conclusion: HIIT and LIIT improved all study parameters, while HIIT showed a greater effect than LIIT.


A 4-stage colon simulator and a cell culture-based human intestinal epithelial function model were combined to study the effects of a soluble fiber, polydextrose (PDX), on intestinal microbes and mucosal functions relevant to the risk of colon cancer. We observed sustained degradation of PDX throughout the different stages of the model. The fermentation was characterized by gradual degradation of PDX, production of short-chain fatty acids, and no increasing in putrefactive markers. We observed less marked effects in the microbial densities. When we applied colon fermentation metabolites obtained from the simulators with PDX to Caco-2 colon cancer cell line, a significant dose-dependent decreasing effect on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and an increasing effect on COX-3 expression levels were observed. PDX concentration appeared not to have effect on the expression levels of COX-1. Overexpression of COX-2 and decreased expression of COX-1 have been suggested to be characteristics of colon cancer. The exact physiological role of COX-3, an intron-retaining splice variant of COX-1, is not known, but it is suspected to play a role in transcriptional regulation of COX-1 and COX-2. In vitro modulation of COX expression by colon microbial fermentation products of polydextrose offers an interesting starting point for further studies on possible risk-decreasing effect of PDX on the development of colon cancer.


An immunocytochemical method for fixed and paraffin-embedded human breast biopsies is reported for the detection of myoepithelial and epithelial cells using antibodies to myosin and keratin, respectively, and of basement membranes using antibodies to laminin and type IV collagen. Using these markers, myoepithelial cells can be clearly distinguished in the normal breast and in the benign breast diseases sclerosing adenosis, epitheliosis, and fibroadenoma. In sclerosing adenosis, myoepithelial cells form a major cellular component. A stromally derived spindle cell is identified which stains with myosin but not with keratin antibodies (myofibroblast). These cells are seen in one-fifth of the fibroadenomas. Although cells staining with myosin antibodies are seen in the infiltrating component of all 18 carcinomas examined, elongated cells staining with both myosin and keratin antibodies (myoepithelial-like) are seen in only one infiltrating carcinoma where they are interposed at the stromal-epithelial junction of the infiltrating tumor cells. In contrast to the situation in benign breast diseases, mature myoepithelial cells form a very minor component of the majority of infiltrating ductal carcinomas. Basement membrane proteins, laminin, and type IV collagen are present in normal breast, benign breast disease, and grade I infiltrating ductal carcinomas but are absent in carcinomas of grades II and III.


In this chapter, we present a review of recent progress in the modelling of lightning strikes to tall structures. Since some tall structures are struck by lightning several tens of time per year, they can be used as ground-truth to measure and calibrate the location accuracy of lightning location systems. In addition, knowledge of the transient processes in tall objects when they are subjected to a lightning strike allows us to use them to calibrate the lightning return-stroke currents reported by lightning detection and location systems. Tall objects constitute also a primary source of data from which channel-base lightning current statistics are obtained. These statistics are in turn used to improve the design of lightning protection devices and systems.


We propose a novel scanning tunneling microscope (STM) device in which the tunneling tip is formed by a Majorana bound state (MBS). This peculiar bound state emerges at the boundary of a one-dimensional topological superconductor. Since the MBS has to be effectively spinless and local, we argue that it is the smallest unit that shows itself the properties of odd-frequency superconducting pairing. Odd-frequency superconductivity is characterized by an anomalous Green's function, which is an odd function of the time arguments of the two electrons building the Cooper pair. Interestingly, our Majorana STM can be used as the perfect detector of odd-frequency superconductivity. The reason is that a supercurrent between the Majorana STM and any other superconductor can only flow if the latter system exhibits itself odd-frequency pairing. To illustrate our general idea, we consider the tunneling problem of the Majorana STM coupled to a quantum dot placed on a surface of a conventional superconductor.


The magnetic aqueous micellar two-phase system (MAMTPS) has the advantages combined of magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) and aqueous micellar two-phase system (AMTPS). Thus, MAMTPS based on Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and a nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) was developed for the extraction, enrichment and removal of three dyes (Congo red, methyl blue, and methyl violet) from aqueous solutions in this study. The MNPs Fe3O4@NH2 was screened as the optimal MNPs benefiting the extraction. Then, the influencing factors of MNPs amount, TX-114 concentration, vibration time, and extraction temperature were investigated in detail. The results showed that the extraction efficiencies of three dyes almost reached 100% using MAMTPS under the optimal conditions; MAMTPS had higher extraction ability than the individual MSPE or AMTPS. Thus, MAMTPS had the advantages of simple operation, high extraction ability, easy recycling of MNPs, and short phase-separation time, which showspotential for use in the extraction and analysis of contaminants from water samples.


Machine learning is an important tool for analyzing large data sets, but its use on sensitive data may be limited by regulation. One solution to this problem is to perform machine learning tasks on encrypted data using homomorphic encryption, which enables arbitrary computation on encrypted data. We take a fresh look at one specific task: training a logistic regression model on encrypted data. The most important factor in the efficiency of a solution is the multiplicative depth of the homomorphic circuit. Two prior works have given circuits with multiplicative depth of five per training iteration. We optimize one of these solutions, by Han et al. [13], and give a circuit with half the multiplicative depth per iteration on average, which allows us to perform twice as many training iterations in the same amount of time. In the process of improving the state-of-the-art circuit for this task, we identify general techniques to improve homomorphic circuit design for two broad classes of algorithms: iterative algorithms, and algorithms based on linear algebra over real numbers. First, we formalize the encoding scheme from [13] for encoding linear algebra objects as plaintexts in the CKKS homomorphic encryption scheme. We also show how to use this encoding to homomorphically compute many basic linear algebra operations, including novel operations not discussed in prior work. This "toolkit" is generic, and can be used in any application based on linear algebra. Second, we demonstrate how generic compiler techniques for loop optimization can be used to reduce the multiplicative depth of iterative algorithms.


Morality and mental health are now inseparably linked in our view of character. Alcoholics are sick, yet they are punished for drunk driving. Drug addicts are criminals, but their punishment can be court ordered therapy. The line between character flaws and personality disorders has become fuzzy, with even the seven deadly sins seen as mental disorders. In addition to pathologizing wrong-doing, we also psychologize virtue; self-respect becomes self-esteem, integrity becomes psychological integration, and responsibility becomes maturity. Moral advice is now sought primarily from psychologists and therapists rather than philosophers or theologians. In this wide-ranging, accessible book, Mike W. Martin asks: are we replacing morality with therapy, in potentially confused and dangerous ways, or are we creatively integrating morality and mental health? According to him, it's a little bit of both. He surveys the ways in which morality and mental health are related, touching on practical concerns like love and work, self-respect and self-fulfillment, guilt and depression, crime and violence, and addictions. Terming this integrative development "the therapeutic trend in ethics," Martin uses examples from popular culture, various moral controversies, and draws on a line of thought that includes Plato, the Stoics, Freud, Nietzsche, and contemporary psychotherapeutic theories. Martin develops some interesting conclusions, among them that sound morality is indeed healthy, and that moral values are inevitably embedded in our conceptions of mental health. In the end, he shows how both morality and mental health are inextricably intertwined in our pursuit of a meaningful life. This book will be of interest to philosophers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and sociologists, as well as the general reader.


BACKGROUND
Ectoparasitism of ornamental birds, including captive species kept in zoos, represents a serious health problem. Up to 13 different species of lice have been reported to affect peacocks worldwide and heavy infestation may cause anaemia. Because of this, alternatives to the prevailing treatments have been sought including use of isoxazolines. This class of drugs has been used successfully in poultry without adverse effects on health or production.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of afoxolaner on the peacock louse (Goniodes pavonis).

ANIMALS
Twenty-three peacocks (Pavo cristatus) with naturally occurring infestation with G. pavonis.

METHODS AND MATERIALS
The peacocks were divided in two groups; one was treated once orally with 2.5 mg/kg afoxolaner and the other group received no treatment. Samples were collected using the acetate tape technique, for identification of lice by microscopy. Concomitantly, blood samples were taken to evaluate the haematocrit before and after the intervention.

RESULTS
Treatment with afoxolaner significantly decreased the number of peacocks positive for lice (P = 0.02) compared to the control group, in which the number of positive birds did not decrease. The haematocrit improved in the afoxolaner-treated group from a baseline of 46.4%-54.7% at 35 days post-treatment, whereas it decreased in untreated birds (44.6%-40.7%). No adverse effects attributed to afoxolaner treatment were observed.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Oral administration of afoxolaner is an effective treatment for G. pavonis infestation of peacocks.


Identifying argument components from unstructured texts and predicting the relationships expressed among them are two primary steps of argument mining. The intrinsic complexity of these tasks demands powerful learning models. While pretrained Transformer-based Language Models (LM) have been shown to provide state-of-the-art results over different NLP tasks, the scarcity of manually annotated data and the highly domain-dependent nature of argumentation restrict the capabilities of such models. In this work, we propose a novel transfer learning strategy to overcome these challenges. We utilize argumentation-rich social discussions from the ChangeMyView subreddit as a source of unsupervised, argumentative discourse-aware knowledge by finetuning pretrained LMs on a selectively masked language modeling task. Furthermore, we introduce a novel prompt-based strategy for inter-component relation prediction that compliments our proposed finetuning method while leveraging on the discourse context. Exhaustive experiments show the generalization capability of our method on these two tasks over within-domain as well as out-of-domain datasets, outperforming several existing and employed strong baselines.


Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) can be a fatal tumor because of difficulties in treating the related metastasis. Andrographolide is the bioactive component of the Andrographis paniculata. Andrographolide possesses the anti-inflammatory activity and inhibits the growth of various cancers; however, its effect on GBM cancer motility remains largely unknown. In this study, we examined the antimetastatic properties of andrographolide in human GBM cells. Our results revealed that andrographolide inhibited the invasion and migration abilities of GBM8401 and U251 cells. Furthermore, andrographolide inhibited matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity and expression. Real-time PCR and promoter activity assays indicated that andrographolide inhibited MMP-2 expression at the transcriptional level. Such inhibitory effects were associated with the suppression of CREB DNA-binding activity and CREB expression. Mechanistically, andrographolide inhibited the cell motility of GBM8401 cells through the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 pathway, and the blocking of the ERK 1/2 pathway could reverse MMP-2-mediated cell motility. In conclusion, CREB is a crucial target of andrographolide for suppressing MMP-2-mediated cell motility in GBM cells. Therefore, a combination of andrographolide and an ERK inhibitor might be a good strategy for preventing GBM metastasis.


ABSTRACT Purpose: This research investigated, for the first time, the presence of fire-related scripts and expertise in males who have set deliberate fires. Method: One hundred and twenty-seven participants (34 firesetters, 34 offender comparisons, 34 fire service personnel, and 25 community comparisons) were asked to solve problem scenarios (e.g. destroying evidence) using fire. These scenarios were designed to tap into fire-related scripts and expertise. Other known fire-related variables (e.g. serious fire interest) were also examined using the Four Fire Factor Scales (Ó Ciardha, C., Tyler, N., & Gannon, T. A. (2016). A Practical guide to assessing adult firesetters' fire specific Treatment Needs using the four Factor fire Scales. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 78(4), 293–304). Results: Firesetters held more scripts and were more expert in firesetting relative to Offender and Community Comparisons. However, firesetters' responses could not be differentiated from Fire Service Personnel. A multiple regression showed that identification with fire was an important predictor of firesetting scripts, and both identification with fire and serious fire interest uniquely predicted firesetting expertise. Conclusions: This study has empirically demonstrated for the first time that firesetters hold fire supportive scripts and expertise in fire misuse. Furthermore, the inclusion of Fire Service Personnel demonstrated that both those who misuse fire and those who interact with it pro-socially exhibit cognitive and behavioural characteristics associated with the presence of fire-related scripts and expertise.


Introduction: The pseudokinase Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) is known as a regulator in cellular responses to a variety of stresses such as glucose insufficiency and (ER) stress. TRIB3 has been described in some studies as a tumor suppressor due to its effect on inactivating PI3K/Akt pathway, but other studies suggest TRIB3 as a stimulator of tumor progression. In this study, we aimed to define the functions of TRIB3 in in non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: TRIB3 expression was altered using a lentiviral vector to overexpress TRIB3 in non-small cell lung cancer. A CRISPR-CAS9 construct with guiding sequence matching to TRIB3 gene was used to knock out its expression. Cell proliferation was evaluated using MTS and trypan blue assays. Boyden chamber assay was used to assess the cell migration while cell cycle phases were determined using flow cytometry. Heatmap analysis was performed to assess the changes in the expressions of genes in cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Results: TRIB3 overexpression led to reduced cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, it contributed to the increased of cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. QPCR analyses of cell cycle related genes showed an upregulation of CDK inhibitors in (NCI-H358) TRIB3 overexpression cells, while depletion of TRIB3 led to the down-regulation of CDK inhibitors. TRIB3 overexpression led to downregulation of LC3B and other autophagy markers while increasing the expression of apoptotic genes. Conclusion: Increased TRIB3 expression in non-small cell lung cancer cells inhibited proliferation by blocking cell cycle progression through the upregulation of CDK inhibitors, led to activation of cell death through apoptosis. Our study reveals a significant role of TRIB3 in regulating cell cycle progression, apoptosis and autophagy. Citation Format: Abeer Almiman, Daotai Nie, Jamila Adom. TRIB3 regulates cell cycle progression and programmed cell death in non-small cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 307. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-307


In recent literature radiation emitted or reflected from a body or surface has been modeled as equivalent radiation from a collection of individual discrete radiators. This model has application to the analysis of forward and backscatter from rough surfaces, clutter and chaff models for radar, and cavity emissions at optical frequencies. In this paper we investigate radiation using a generalization of the above radiator ensemble. We allow some degree of coupling to exist between individual radiators, and we assume each radiator emits random energy bursts as a Poisson process. Analysis is confined to power spectral densities and first-order statistics of the resulting scalar radiation fieid. The results indicate that the pulsed radiator model can account for many properties of radiation. A by-product of the analysis is a filter model for dispersive channels, applicable to radar design problems. Theoretical results are compared with previously reported experimental results wherever possible. Some consideration is given to a relativistic interpretation of the radiator ensemble.


Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is an endogenous neuropeptide also secreted by non-neural cells, including chondrocytes. PACAP signaling is involved in the regulation of chondrogenesis, but little is known about its connection to matrix turnover during cartilage formation and under cellular stress in developing cartilage. We found that the expression and activity of hyaluronidases (Hyals), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and aggrecanase were permanent during the course of chondrogenesis in primary chicken micromass cell cultures, although protein levels changed daily, along with moderate and relatively constant enzymatic activity. Next, we investigated whether PACAP influences matrix destructing enzyme activity during oxidative and mechanical stress in chondrogenic cells. Exogenous PACAP lowered Hyals and aggrecanase expression and activity during cellular stress. Expression and activation of the majority of cartilage matrix specific MMPs such as MMP1, MMP7, MMP8, and MMP13, were also decreased by PACAP addition upon oxidative and mechanical stress, while the activity of MMP9 seemed not to be influenced by the neuropeptide. These results suggest that application of PACAP can help to preserve the integrity of the newly synthetized cartilage matrix via signaling mechanisms, which ultimately inhibit the activity of matrix destroying enzymes under cellular stress. It implies the prospect that application of PACAP can ameliorate articular cartilage destruction in joint diseases.


Previously, we reported that repeated subcutaneous administration of bleomycin (BLM) to rabbits produced functional and structural endothelial damage with no evidence of interstitial fibrosis. In the present study, rabbits received intratracheally a single injection of BLM (6 units/kg, n = 6: "low dose" or 11 units/kg, n = 4: "high dose"); 6 additional animals received intratracheally an injection of saline and served as controls. Four weeks after BLM administration, the low-dose group demonstrated significant reduction in the single-pass pulmonary removal of 14C-5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (p less than 0.05; n = 4), whereas 3H-norepinephrine (NE) removal and 3H-benzoyl-phe-ala-pro (BPAP) substrate for lung angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) metabolism in vivo, as well as lung and serum ACE activity in vitro remained at control levels. No morphologic or biochemical evidence of fibrosis was observed. In contrast, the high-dose BLM group exhibited significant reductions in 14C-5-HT and 3H-NE removal and 3H-BPAP metabolism in vivo, but no significant changes in lung or serum ACE activity in vitro. Furthermore, there was evidence of fibrosis, as revealed by a 59% increase in lung hydroxyproline content and by light microscopic examination of lung tissue. We conclude that intratracheal administration of BLM to rabbits can produce endothelial dysfunction in the presence or absence of interstitial injury.


The European Union (EU) is facing a major test of its sincerity and commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Current and positive proposals from the European Commission designed to bring EU Structural Funds into alignment with the CRPD are under pressure from Council. Failure to take the CRPD seriously will needlessly expose the EU – and its member states – to international legal liability if the Funds are used to build new institutions. And such failure will amount to a wasted opportunity to harness the Funds to ease a major process of transition needed to embed the right to community living for all.


This study investigated net anthropogenic nitrogen inputs (NANI, including atmospheric nitrogen deposition, nitrogenous fertilizer use, net nitrogen import in food and feed, and agricultural nitrogen fixation) and the associated relationship with riverine dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) export in the Yangtze River basin during the 1980–2012 period. The total NANI in the Yangtze River basin has increased by more than twofold over the past three decades (3537.0 ± 615.3 to 8176.6 ± 1442.1 kg N km−2 yr−1). The application of chemical fertilizer was the largest component of NANI in the basin (51.1%), followed by net nitrogen import in food and feed (26.0%), atmospheric nitrogen deposition (13.2%), and agricultural nitrogen fixation (9.7%). A regression analysis showed that the riverine DIN export was strongly correlated with NANI and the annual water discharge (R2 = 0.90, p < 0.01). NANI in the Yangtze River basin was estimated to contribute 37–66% to the riverine DIN export. We also forecasted future variations in NANI and riverine DIN export for the years 2013 to 2030, based on possible future changes in human activities and the climate. This work provides a quantitative understanding of NANI in the Yangtze River basin and its effects on riverine DIN export and helps to develop integrated watershed nitrogen management strategies.


The boundary of good or bad and the grade division of ambient air quality is blurring. Through the collection of the content of main air pollutants in 7 cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, pollutant indicators that mainly affect air quality are determined. Combining with national air quality standard, urban air quality is graded by using of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation theory. It can be concluded that air quality is excellent in Wu Xi, good in Cheng Du, Wu Han and Shanghai, qualified in Nan Jing, while contaminated in Chong Qing, and only in Beijing the air quality is severely polluted. Through cluster analysis of more than 30 cities by using K-means clustering, the seven cities are classified into 5 categories, which is basically consistent with the results of fuzzy evaluation, proving the accuracy of fuzzy evaluation theory. In weight determination by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, only one indicator is involved in, but some other relations are not considered, therefore, entropy weight method is introduced in weight coefficient determination to reevaluate air quality grades of the seven cities.


Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a new and rapid technique to validate body composition. Several studies have used this technique to evaluate body compositions, such as muscle mass, in diabetic patients, but the results are very different. This may due the differences between diabetic patients and control group. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the muscle mass of diabetic patients with healthy matched adults using the BIA method.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 928 diabetic patients and 928 healthy individuals selected based on gender, age, height, weight, and closeness to demographic conditions. Body composition was measured by the BIA technique. Total body water, muscle mass in the trunk, legs, hands, and total body protein were measured by this method. The data were analyzed using t-test, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA methods.
Results: Diabetic women aged 50-60 years showed that their body weight, total protein, total muscle, right-hand muscle mass, left-hand muscle mass, right foot muscle mass, left foot muscle mass, and trunk muscle mass were higher than healthy matched women, and the differences were significant.
Conclusion: Diabetic women aged 50-60 years showed the most significant difference compared to other age groups. It seems that diabetes along with the changes in humeral status in this age group due to menopause affected their body weight, total muscle mass, hand and leg muscles, and trunk muscles mass, and total body protein compared to healthy matched women. However, diabetic men showed no significant difference in the studied variables compared to healthy male subjects.


The objective of this trial was to evaluate sources and magnitude of variation for pork cut weights. The weights of 5 primal and subprimal cuts were evaluated from 1,688 barrows and gilts of 3 sire and 2 dam lines at target market BW of 113, 127, or 141 kg. The cut-weight data were fitted to an allometric function of carcass weight (cut weight, kg = A · CWB), where A is a scalar parameter, B is the allometric coefficient, and CW = carcass weight. The equation was linearized as log10(cut weight, kg) = log10A + Blog10(CW) and included the fixed effects of sire line, dam line, and sex and their interactions with log10CW. The predicted values of the cut weights were included in a model including the random effects of replicate, room within replicate, and pig and fixed effect of side. Left-side weights were greater (P < 0.01) than right-side weights for bone-in loin, rough-cut belly, and trimmed belly weight. The allometric functions of CW accounted for 47 (rough-cut belly) to 68% (bone-in loin) of the total variance in the cut weights. The random effect of pig accounted for 7.9, 2.4, 22.3, 11.6, and 14.9% of the variance for bone-in ham, bone-in loin, boneless loin, rough-cut belly, and trimmed belly weight, respectively. The within-pig side-to-side variation accounted for 23.9, 27.1, 26.7, 15.2, and 17.2% of the total variance in the cut weights. Approximately 30 to 49% of the total variation in cut weights remained when pigs of the same population and CW were processed.


We consider undirected finite graphs that have no loops and no multiple edges. A graph
is denoted G = (VG, EG), where VG is the set of vertices and EG is the set of edges.
A graph containment problem is to decide whether one graph can be modified into
some other graph by using a number of specified graph operations. For example, by
allowing any combination of the four operations edge deletions, edge contractions, vertex deletions and vertex dissolutions the following containment problems are captured:
testing on (induced) minors, (induced) topological minors, (induced) subgraphs, induced
spanning subgraphs, dissolutions and contractions. Algorithms for detecting specific induced subgraphs such as paths and cycles have been proven to be useful in the design
of algorithms that solve more general graph containment problems. We will discuss one
open problem in this area and give a potential application afterwards.
We first state some terminology required. Two (not necessarily induced) paths P
and Q in a graph G are called mutually induced if the following two conditions are both
satisfied:
(i) P and Q are vertex-disjoint;
(ii) G has no edges with one end-vertex in P and the other one in Q.


Although immunotherapy can offer profound clinical benefit for patients with a variety of difficult-to-treat cancers, many tumors either do not respond to upfront treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or progressive/recurrent disease occurs after an interval of initial control. Improved response rates have been demonstrated with the addition of ICIs to cytotoxic therapies, leading to approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration and regulatory agencies in other countries for ICI−chemotherapy combinations in a number of solid tumor indications, including breast, head and neck, gastric, and lung cancer. Designing trials for patients with tumors that do not respond or stop responding to treatment with immunotherapy combinations, however, is challenging without uniform definitions of resistance. Previously, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) published consensus definitions for resistance to single-agent anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). To provide guidance for clinical trial design and to support analyses of emerging molecular and cellular data surrounding mechanisms of resistance to ICI-based combinations, SITC convened a follow-up workshop in 2021 to develop consensus definitions for resistance to multiagent ICI combinations. This manuscript reports the consensus clinical definitions for combinations of ICIs and chemotherapies. Definitions for resistance to ICIs in combination with targeted therapies and with other ICIs will be published in companion volumes to this paper.


INTRODUCTION
Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis resulting in measurable changes in hormone levels in blood or saliva in humans. We aimed to find out if professional divers expressed any change in salivary cortisol levels during a simulated dive to 608 kPa (50 metres' sea water) in a hyperbaric chamber. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of wearing a mask or modifying the breathing gas during decompression.

METHODS
We investigated 89 Navy and Coast Guard male divers. The divers were randomised into three groups for decompression by inspired gas and the use of a mask. The saliva samples were collected before and approximately 3 minutes after the hyperbaric test.

RESULTS
Salivary cortisol levels decreased from a mean (SD) of 16.0 (8.1) mmol per L pre-dive to 10.3 (5.0) mmol per L post-dive (P < 0.01). Cortisol values did not relate to the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of the divers or to increased pressure, variation in inspired gases or the use of a mask. The individual variation in cortisol values was large.

CONCLUSIONS
This finding is in line with previous studies demonstrating large individual variations in salivary cortisol. Our findings suggest that professional divers are well adapted to these hyperbaric conditions. However, there continues to be a need to identify divers sensitive to stress caused by diving and the hyperbaric environment.


ABSTRACT This is the first record of Ceratium furcoides in the Nova Avanhandava reservoir, São Paulo, whose samples were collected in three stations (S1, S2, S3) in March and October of the years 2015 and 2016. Physico-chemical analyzes of the water were performed. The reservoir was classified, according to the TSI, as mesotrophic. The first record of the species occurred in October 2015 at S3 and, the following year, the dispersion for the other stations was verified. The highest density of the species (28 org mL-1) was recorded in October 2016. Similar values were documented in Furnas (MG) and Ilha Solteira (SP). The low density values of C. furcoides and the presence of phytoplankton groups with higher densities (Cyanobacteria and Cryptophyceae) suggest that the colonization of the species is at an early stage. Thus, studies about dispersion, dynamics, and interaction of C. furcoides with phytoplankton and the potential impacts on aquatic communities are essential to understand the responses of this species to environmental conditions.


In recent work, Kamath et al. show that network code design for any k-unicast network reduces to network code design for a related 2-unicast network. The proof assumes that codes achieve their desired rates precisely (rather than approaching them asymptotically) and that error probability equals zero. We study two questions posed in but left unanswered by the Kamath et al. paper. The first asks whether the reduction for 0-error code design can be extended to show an equivalence in 0-error network capacity, which includes rates approached asymptotically. The second asks whether the reduction can be generalized to show an equivalence in Shannon capacity, which requires that error probability approach (but not necessarily hit) zero. While we do not solve these questions, we show that finding the k-unicast capacity reduces to finding the 2-unicast capacity under this reduction if and only if the so called "edge removal statement" is true for all networks. This equivalence holds under both 0-error and asymptotic notions of reliability.


A warped resolved conifold background of type IIB theory, constructed in hep-th/0701064, is dual to the supersymmetric SU(N) × SU(N) gauge theory with a vacuum expectation value (VEV) for one of the bifundamental chiral superfields. This VEV breaks both the superconformal invariance and the baryonic symmetry. The absolute value of the VEV controls the resolution parameter of the conifold. In this paper we study the phase of the VEV, which corresponds to the Goldstone boson of the broken symmetry. We explicitly construct the linearized perturbation of the 4-form R-R potential that contains the Goldstone boson. On general grounds, the theory should contain global strings which create a monodromy of the pseudoscalar Goldstone boson field. We identify these strings with the D3-branes wrapping the two-cycle at the tip of the warped resolved conifold.


Sir, We read with great interest the article by Bansi-Matharu et al. on the rate of subsequent surgery following endometrial ablation in patients with menorrhagia. We thought it an excellent choice of topic as it is a condition that constitutes a significant workload for the primary care physician and gynaecology doctor, alike. A number of questions were raised in our discussion. In our opinion, further clarification was needed on what the authors considered were English women. Rather, 'multi-ethnic population' would better define the population of NHS users. The significance of socio-economic factors in medicine in general is not to be understated; however, we felt the study could be improved by focusing on body mass index (BMI) as a single socio-economic factor, given that it is a known contributing factor to menorrhagia. We applaud the authors on the magnitude of the sample size and agree with their assessment of the study's limitations. Dividing the sample into subgroups or concentrating on high-risk groups would, however, give more clinically oriented data: for example, women over the age of 35 years with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. We would include women with fibroids and polyps in the exclusion criteria. The main conclusion that we made from this study is not that one in six women go on to have further surgery, as this claim is not supported by the data that suggest at least one in seven women have further surgery. What we have inferred is that the study suggests not offering ablation therapy to women below the age of 40 years, something that is not routinely practiced because of the risks involved with conception. The authors encourage clinicians to use the data presented to counsel women, but this is not possible as the hazard ratio in the age group of women to whom we would offer endometrial ablation is not significant, and we would not offer the procedure to younger women, for the aforementioned reasons.&


A near- to far-field transformation (NTFT) based on the Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) basis function is proposed for a 2-D triangular-grid FDTD method. The surface equivalence theorem is applied and the equivalent current density, J/sub z/ in the TM/sub z/ case or M/sub z/ in the TE/sub z/ case, on the radiation contour is interpolated by using RWG basis functions. The interpolation is valid for the NTFT in either the time or frequency domain. Formulations for the interpolation scheme and the NTFT are presented for the TM/sub z/ case. The scattering by an infinite dielectric circular cylinder due to an electric line source is simulated by using the triangular-grid FDTD as well as the proposed NTFT. Numerical results in both the time domain and frequency domain are demonstrated and verified by comparison with analytical solutions.


Because of intrauterine foetal death at 35 weeks, parturition in a woman aged 35 years was induced by intravenous sulprostone. A few hours after its start she sustained a myocardial infarction for which she was treated. Coronary angiography 4 weeks later showed normal coronary arteries and good left ventricular function. Mild cardiovascular reactions such as bradycardia and mild hypotension are frequently observed adverse effects. In some instances, sulprostone can induce myocardial ischaemia. However, the possibility of a myocardial infarction is not mentioned in the product information of sulprostone. As there was an obvious temporal relationship and other causative factors were sufficiently excluded, the causal relation between the administration of sulprostone and the occurrence of myocardial infarction can be regarded as almost certain. Several experimental studies provide support for the hypothesis that coronary spasms play a major role in the pathophysiology of a myocardial infarction during the administration of sulprostone.


Elizabeth Grange (MSc – University of Melbourne): 'A new interpretation of the Lachlan fold belt', Jesse Keegan-Osborne (Hons – Monash University): 'Emplacement of the Stawell granite', Andrew Pearson (MSc – University of Melbourne): 'The structural evolution of the Wentworth trough', Hamish Stein (MSc – University of Melbourne): 'Shallow elastic property models for the North-west Shelf', with Jesse and Hamish sharing the runner-up prize.


This study examines changes in the beliefs of a group of undergraduate students about learning and teaching English as a foreign language. Learners' beliefs are thought to shape students' language learning experience and often guide their future teaching practices. Thus, any mistaken beliefs could negatively affect student learning and teaching experience for decades (Peacock, 2001). While some studies suggest that students' beliefs are stable, inflexible and resistant to change, others show that students' beliefs are amenable to change with proper intervention. This study uses a questionnaire to collect data from 212 students in the English Department at Sultan Qaboos University. The results show that learners hold strong beliefs about the role of vocabulary, grammar and practice in learning a foreign language. Moreover, their beliefs did not undergo any significant changes during the duration of the program though slight shifts in their beliefs could be noticed in the final year of their training. The study suggests that special attention should be given to this area to eliminate any detrimental beliefs held by prospective teachers. Early intervention may steer students in the right direction and could equip them with the theoretical and pedagogical beliefs necessary to positively influence their future students.


Background: Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S. Studies have found an inverse relationship between acculturation and many aspects of healthy eating. Furthermore, Latinos have the highest prevalence of being overweight in the U.S. The Latino population in the U.S. presents a major health concern. Public health professional need to
identify the major cultural, psychological and environmental factors that propagate the worsening of Latinos diets when they embed themselves into the culture of the U.S. There have been many sociodemographic factors found to be associated with poor dietary intake. However, one area that there is a gap in literature is nutritional intake in regards to number of children in a household. It is important to explore if the factors associated with number of children in a household have an influence on the nutritional intake and psychosocial variables among Latino women in the U.S. Thus, public health professionals can help support families
that demonstrate poor diet.
Methods: One hundred and seventy nine adult Latino residents of North Carolina completed a questionnaire on their health behaviors, health status, and demographics at a tienda they regularly purchased food. Analyses of the secondary data used 68 Latino women from the original data set. These were households with mothers and their children. Nutritional intake and psychosocial variables of the Latino women were analyzed in regards to number of children in a household.
Results: Multiple Linear Regression and Multivariate Logistic Regression analyses were conducted. After adjusting for potential confounding variables of marital status, SES, years in the U.S., and hours worked, results suggest a significant positive association between number of children in a Latino woman's household and her fruit and vegetable
intake. Results for fat intake, soda intake, fast food consumption, level of social support for healthy eating she receives, barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption she faces, selfefficacy she has for fruit and vegetable consumption and behavioral strategies for fat she employs were not significantly related to number of children in her household in this present study.
Discussion: The positive correlation between family size and fruit and vegetable consumption was a surprising result. A number of possible explanations are provided in the discussion. Follow-up research should examine if the significant association between fruit and vegetable consumption and number of children in a household for Latino women is supported by other studies that have a larger sample size. If this association is confirmed, research should examine why this association holds true.


Objective To discern how the public in four countries, each with unique health systems and cultures, feels about efforts to restrain healthcare costs by limiting the use of high-cost prescription drugs and medical/surgical treatments. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Adult populations in Germany, Italy, the UK and the USA. Participants 2517 adults in the four countries. A questionnaire survey conducted by telephone (landline and cell) with randomly selected adults in each of the four countries. Main outcome measures Support for different rationales for not providing/paying for high-cost prescription drugs/medical or surgical treatments, measured in the aggregate and using four case examples derived from actual decisions. Measures of public attitudes about specific policies involving comparative effectiveness and cost-benefit decision making. Results The survey finds support among publics in four countries for decisions that limit the use of high-cost prescription drugs/treatments when some other drug/treatment is available that works equally well but costs less. The survey finds little public support, either in individual case examples or when asked in the aggregate, for decisions in which prescription drugs/treatments are denied on the basis of cost or various definitions of benefits. The main results are based on majorities of the public in each country supporting or opposing each measure. Conclusions The survey findings indicate that the public distinguishes in practice between the concepts of comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analysis. This suggests that public authorities engaged in decision-making activities will find much more public support if they are dealing with the first type of decision than with the second.


Introduction In 2016, under its new National Adherence Guidelines (AGL), South Africa formalized an existing model of fast-track HIV treatment initiation counselling (FTIC). Rollout of the AGL included an evaluation study at 24 clinics, with staggered AGL implementation. Using routinely collected data extracted as part of the evaluation study, we estimated and compared the costs of HIV care and treatment from the provider's perspective at the 12 clinics implementing the new, formalized model (AGL-FTIC) to costs at the 12 clinics continuing to implement some earlier, less formalized, model that likely varied across clinics (denoted here as early-FTIC). Methods This was a cost-outcome analysis using standard methods and a composite outcome defined as initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 30 days of treatment eligibility and retained in care at 9 months. Using patient-level, bottom-up resource-utilization data and local unit costs, we estimated patient-level costs of care and treatment in 2017 U.S. dollars over the 9-month evaluation follow-up period for the two models of care. Resource use and costs, disaggregated by antiretroviral medications, laboratory tests, and clinic visits, are reported by model of care and stratified by the composite outcome. Results A total of 350/343 patients in the early-FTIC/AGL-FTIC models of care are included in this analysis. Mean/median costs were similar for both models of care ($135/$153 for early-FTIC, $130/$151 for AGL-FTIC). For the subset achieving the composite outcome, resource use and therefore mean/median costs were similar but slightly higher, reflecting care consistent with treatment guidelines ($163/$166 for early-FTIC, $168/$170 for AGL-FTIC). Not surprisingly, costs for patients not achieving the composite outcome were substantially less, mainly because they only had two or fewer follow-up visits and, therefore, received substantially less ART than patients who achieved the composite outcome. Conclusion The 2016 adherence guidelines clarified expectations for the content and timing of adherence counseling sessions in relation to ART initiation. Because clinics were already initiating patients on ART quickly by 2016, little room existed for the new model of fast-track initiation counseling to reduce the number of pre-ART clinic visits at the study sites and therefore to reduce costs of care and treatment. Trial registration Clinical Trial Number: NCT02536768.


This paper is intended to describe the development of gramatical components in English such as item, order and suprasegmental by conducting a diachronic study of a language. It is found that the emergence of suprasegmental feature in English has brought about some changes in the development of the grammatical components.


1. During imposed tilt the eyecup or the crab tends to preserve an absolute position which depends upon the tonic activity of eight of the nine eyecup muscles. The detailed activity of all these muscles during imposed tilt in different planes has been recorded intracellularly. 2. The slow- and fast-motoneurone discharges to the eyecup muscles differ in that the former have intervals which are more variable at lower frequencies but the latter are more variable at higher frequencies. 3. The standard deviation of the interval between impulses is 20-30% of the mean interval for a wide range of frequencies of the tonic motoneurones. This large scatter is tolerable because the slow muscle fibres are sluggish and because the eyecup is also visually stabilized by a system of long time-constant. 4. In roll the two eyecups move in opposite directions relative to the midline of the animal. In pitch the two eyecups move in the same direction relative to the body of the animal, but in neither case is there a correlation between individual impulses to the muscles of the right and left eyecups which are active at the same time. 5. Possible mechanisms of linkage between the two eyecups are discussed.


Data-driven models analyze power grids under incomplete physical information, and their accuracy has been mostly validated empirically using certain training and testing datasets. This paper explores error bounds for data-driven models under all possible training and testing scenarios, and proposes an evaluation implementation based on Rademacher complexity theory. We answer key questions for data-driven models: how much training data is required to guarantee a certain error bound, and how partial physical knowledge can be utilized to reduce the required amount of data. Our results are crucial for the evaluation and application of data-driven models in power grid analysis. We demonstrate the proposed method by finding generalization error bounds for two applications, i.e. branch flow linearization and external network equivalent under different degrees of physical knowledge. Results identify how the bounds decrease with additional power grid physical knowledge or more training data.


Self-concept plays a vital role in one's life. It becomes essential for the teachers to have a better concept of self which helps them to provide better services and learning opportunities to their students. Study was conducted to find out the self-concept among teacher trainees pursuing B. Ed. general and special education. Teachers trainees doing special education (n=55) and general education (n=42) were selected using a cluster sampling technique. The SelfConcept scale developed by Deo (1998) was used. Finding revealed that B.Ed. Special Education teacher trainees showed lower self-concept compared to General B.Ed. teacher trainees with a significant difference between both group (t=8.45, p=0.000). Conclusion: The study focuses on the self-concept which is vital for developing interest, building character and succeeding according to individual differences.


A good preventive blindness program includes a strong program in genetic counseling. Optometrists can be of substantial assistance to a genetic counseling program by: 1) being informed of the various types of inherited ocular disorders, and their modes of transmission. 2) becoming aware of the presence of disorders in other members of the patient's family, and 3) encouraging the affected family members to seek genetic counseling prior to conception. This article is designed to serve as a guide for familiarizing the practicing O.D. with the various types of inheritance patterns, specific disorders which follow these inheritance patterns, and some of the ocular and systemic characteristics of the disorders. Only those anomalies of structure and/or function which have an identifiable (and therefore a predictable) genetic mode of transmission will be discussed. This article is intended to serve as a brief and general review of some of the more common ocular disorders, and not as a comprehensive text on the genetics of ophthalmic diseases. Emphasis is placed on the optometric management of each disease discussed.


The vaso-vagal syndrome, the most frequent accident may appear during dental treatments, can involve breve conscience loss. In case of important bradycardia, the medical treatment consists in an intravenous injection of atropine sulfate. Prevention of this syndrome consists in an anxiolytic and/or vagolytic premedication.


Twenty obese euthyroidian women followed an exclusively proteic diet for 18 days (74 g/day). Half received placebo, and half received 10 micrograms L-triiodothyronine. In the control group, as expected, mean weight loss was 7 percent of initial body weight; serum T3 and TSH decreased; rT3 increased; basal oxygen consumption diminished by 11 percent; nitrogen balance reached equilibrium at day 11. As compared to this group, the T3-treated group lost significantly more weight; serum T3 and TSH increased; rT3 decreased; oxygen consumption remained stable and nitrogen balance did not deteriorate. Thus, the physiological decrease in thyroid hormones provoked by a restricted diet is linked to energy expenditure but not to nitrogen balance equilibrium.


The interplay of rapid climate change and tectonics drives landscape development, sediment routing, and deposition in early‐stage continental rift systems. The Lake Malawi Rift, in the Western Branch of the East African Rift, is an archetype of a juvenile rift and an ideal natural laboratory for evaluating lacustrine source‐to‐sink systems on orbital or shorter timescales. We examine the interplay of these processes over the past 140 kyr using observations from nested seismic reflection data sets tied to scientific drill cores, which calibrate numerical forward models of this closed sedimentary system. Fault slip rates measured from seismic data drive tectonic displacements in the model. Satellite‐derived precipitation maps constrain modern precipitation and are scaled to previous hydrologic balance studies to reconstruct past climates. Our model reproduces known sediment thicknesses across the rift and accounts for 96% of the estimated siliciclastic sediment deposited over the past 140 kyr. The results demonstrate that the onset of arid climate conditions (140–95 kyr BP) causes extreme drainage adjustments downstream and the formation of mega‐catchments that flow axially into a shallow restricted paleo‐lake. Sedimentation rates during this time are twice the present values due to increased sediment focusing via these axial systems into a much smaller, hydrologically closed lake. As the climate became wetter (95–50 kyr BP), the lake rapidly expanded, decreasing both erosion and sedimentation rates across the rift. This closed‐loop approach allows us to evaluate the role of high‐frequency climate change in modulating basin physiography as well as sediment fluxes in juvenile rift systems.


The subject of the paper is the application of pulsating flow to the particles heat treating. Pulsation influence mechanisms are segregated by the author into two groups: quasi- steady- state (when, at every point in time, an instantaneous value of the heat transfer rate may be calculated with the equations obtained for steady-state conditions) and unsteady- state which includes the remainder. It is shown that, depending on the process parameters, pulsations can increase, not influence, or even reduce heat transfer. Resonance phenomena and large size particles, for which the influence of gravity is substantial, receive special attention. The heat transfer intensification may be achieved due to increases in both heat transfer coefficient and particle residence time. Longitudinal pulsations (when the pulsation and main flow velocities have the same direction) may be preferable in the unsteady-state range of parameters. Transverse pulsations (when the pulsation velocity is perpendicular to the main flow) can be more effective in the quasi-steady-state range. Nonuniformity of heat treating in pulsating flow, influence of the main flow turbulence, trigger effects, and different methods of pulsation generation, including pulsating combustion, are discussed. In conclusion some recommendations are given for designing practical processes.


This paper explores women's participation in parliamentary elections in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan. Using various methods, it offers an interdisciplinary perspective on factors that affect the likelihood of women participating successfully in parliamentary elections. This study supports the general literature on the effects of gender quotas and proportional representation, but its results on other factors are mixed. The factor of financial resources is significant, though its impact has been reduced with the introduction of gender quotas, while other factors—such as social status—may not be particularly important. The public perception of a woman in politics is not the greatest obstacle to women's representation, and a female candidate's professional status may often be attractive to party leaders.


We study a surface defect in the free and critical $O(N)$ vector models, defined by adding a quadratic perturbation localized on a two-dimensional subspace of the $d$-dimensional CFT. We compute the beta function for the corresponding defect renormalization group (RG) flow, and provide evidence that at long distances the system flows to a nontrivial defect conformal field theory (DCFT). We use epsilon and large $N$ expansions to compute several physical quantities in the DCFT, finding agreement across different expansion methods. We also compute the defect free energy, and check consistency with the so-called $b$-theorem for RG flows on surface defects.


Domain generalization approaches aim to learn a domain invariant prediction model for unknown target domains from multiple training source domains with different distributions. Significant efforts have recently been committed to broad domain generalization, which is a challenging and topical problem in machine learning and computer vision communities. Most previous domain generalization approaches assume that the conditional distribution across the domains remain the same across the source domains and learn a domain invariant model by minimizing the marginal distributions. However, the assumption of a stable conditional distribution of the training source domains does not really hold in practice. The hyperplane learned from the source domains will easily misclassify samples scattered at the boundary of clusters or far from their corresponding class centres. To address the above two drawbacks, we propose a discriminative domain-invariant adversarial network (DDIAN) for domain generalization. The discriminativeness of the features are guaranteed through a discriminative feature module and domain-invariant features are guaranteed through the global domain and local sub-domain alignment modules. Extensive experiments on several benchmarks show that DDIAN achieves better prediction on unseen target data during training compared to state-of-the-art domain generalization approaches.


When evaluating the effect of a modality such as exercise, maturation in children, the rate of progression of the disease, and the degree of weakness should be considered. The two major factors critical in producing overwork weakness are the degree of weakness at the time the exercise program is started and the intensity of the exercise training program. Exercise therapy is apparently not harmful and may be beneficial in patients with motor unit diseases if it is started early in the course of the diseases when muscle fiber degeneration is minimal, and is carried out at submaximal levels.


In this investigation, the genotoxic and oxidative effects of water soluble extracts of Heterometrus spinifer (Malaysian Forest Scorpion) has been assessed on cultured human blood cells. The extract was added to the cultures at 12 different concentrations (0-2000 mg/L). Micronucleus (MN) test was used to monitor the DNA and chromosomal damage produced by scorpion extracts in vitro. In addition, to assess the oxidative effects, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels were measured. Our results indicated that these extracts did not show genotoxic effects at the tested concentrations. However, the extracts caused dose dependent alterations in both TAC and TOS levels. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the studied scorpion can be consumed safely, but it is necessary to consider the cellular damages which are likely to appear depending on oxidative stress at higher concentrations. It has been also suggested that this in vitro approach for oxidative and genotoxicity assessments may be useful to evaluate the potential health risks of edible scorpion.


Abstract Problem, research strategy, and findings Many studies on transport equity have analyzed disparities in access to destinations between different population groups. In this study, we challenge this disparity approach and propose an alternative: analyzing accessibility insufficiencies. We argue that disparity analyses fall short on two accounts. First, they are based on group averages that inherently hide in-group variation. Second, they compare accessibility levels between groups without addressing whether these levels actually allow people to engage in daily activities. The proposed sufficiency approach avoids the former and addresses the latter by setting an explicit sufficiency threshold for accessibility. Empirical analyses for 49 of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas confirmed the problematic nature of disparity analyses. In line with most literature, our disparity analyses show that disadvantaged groups are virtually always better served by transit than their more advantaged counterparts. Yet a systematic sufficiency analysis reveals large inequities in accessibility, regardless of the exact sufficiency threshold employed. Takeaway for practice Our outcomes underscore the need for researchers and planning practitioners to move away from seemingly neutral disparity analyses toward equity analyses of insufficiencies. Though this move implies inevitably normative, and thus politically difficult, decisions, such analyses enable professionals to systematically identify transport inequities as input for regional transport plans. They may also be used to prioritize already proposed interventions based on their contribution to a reduction in accessibility insufficiencies.


Caffeine is thought to increase the antitumor effect of cisplatin or DNA-damaging agents because it is known that caffeine inhibits DNA repair. Caffeine-assisted chemotherapy has been used in the treatment of osteosarcomas. In addition, there are several reports about combination chemotherapy with caffeine for certain malignancies other than osteosarcomas. However, there are no reports that show the utility of combination chemotherapy with caffeine for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined the combined effects of caffeine and cisplatin in human HCC cell lines, and screened for a more effective administration method of caffeine in vitro. Human HCC cell lines (HepG2, HLF, HuH-7, and Li-7) were exposed to caffeine (0-0.5 mM) and cisplatin (0-1.2 μg/mL) for 72 h, either alone or in combination. Cell numbers were measured by WST-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was determined by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) binding assay. As a result, caffeine increased the antitumor effect of cisplatin on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis in the HCC cell lines. Moreover, this effect was dependent on the amount of exposure to caffeine. These results suggest that caffeine-assisted chemotherapy is useful for HCC treatment.


Background : Bacterial pneumonia is one of the most common causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide especially in adults. Objective : The purpose of this present study was to identify the aetiological agents and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of bacterial pneumonia in patients admitted at intensive care unit (ICU). Methodology : This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from August 2012 to July 2013. Blood and tracheal aspirates (TA) culture were done in clinically diagnosed pneumonia patients admitted in the ICU of BSMMU. PCR of TA was performed to identify Legionella species. Urine ICT of patients was done to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigens. Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated bacteria was done by disc diffusion method. Result : A total of 36 pneumonia patients admitted at ICU were recruited. The most common identified bacteria were Acinetobacter species (33.3%) followed by Pseudomonas species (30.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.1%), Escherichia coli (5.5%), Enterobacter aerogenes (5.5%), Legionella (8.3%), Citrobacterfreundii (2.8%) and Proteus mirabilis (2.8%). Majority of the bacteria were resistant to first line antibiotics and highly sensitive to carbapenems. Conclusion : Most common isolated bacteria are the Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas species and Klebsiella pneumoniae among the pneumonic patients with the resistant to first line antibiotics and sensitive to carbapenems. J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2015; 7(1):22-25


BACKGROUND
Lisfranc injury is rare and the diagnosis maybe easily missed. This study reviews the experience of a single centre.

METHODS
A prospective review of patients with Lisfranc injuries presenting to a single surgeon with a specialist interest in foot and ankle surgery over a one year period.

RESULTS
Five patients were identified--four men and one woman with a median age of 31 years (range 22-50 years). Presentation was a mean of 25 days after injury (range 3-56 days). The left foot was affected in three cases and the right in two. There was joint diastasis in four patients and fracture-dislocation in one. Three patients presented early and were treated by internal fixation and two presented late and were managed conservatively. Mean follow-up was eight months (range 4.5-12 months). Surgery resulted in a return to work by 6 months with no symptoms. The two patients managed conservatively continued to experience pain at 12 months and were unable to return to their original occupations.

CONCLUSION
Injury to the Lisfranc joint should be excluded in any foot injury. Early diagnosis and internal fixation appears to result in an earlier return to work when compared to non-operative management.


ABSTRACT DQ-113 is a new quinolone with potent activity against gram-positive pathogens. The in vivo activity of DQ-113 against Streptococcus pneumoniae was compared with those of gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin in a mouse model. For this purpose, two strains of S. pneumoniae were used: penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae (PSSP) and penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP). The survival rates of mice infected with PSSP and PRSP at 14 days after infection were 80% in the DQ-113-treated group and 0 to 10% in the other three groups. In murine infections caused by PSSP, the 50% effective doses (ED50s) of DQ-113, gatifloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were 6.0, 41.3, and 131.6 mg/kg, respectively. Against PRSP-caused pneumonia in mice, the ED50s of DQ-113, gatifloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were 7.6, 64.7, and 125.9 mg/kg, respectively. Compared with the other drugs, DQ-113 showed excellent therapeutic efficacy and eradicated viable bacteria in both PSSP- and PRSP-infected mice. The means ± standard errors of the means of viable bacterium counts in the lungs of gatifloxacin-treated, ciprofloxacin-treated, and untreated control mice infected with PSSP were 2.91 ± 0.34, 3.13 ± 0.48, and 3.86 ± 0.80 log10CFU/ml, respectively. The same counts in mice infected with PRSP treated with the same three agents were 6.57 ± 0.99, 6.54 ± 0.40, and 7.17 ± 0.43 log10 CFU/ml, respectively. DQ-113 significantly decreased the number of viable bacteria in the lungs compared with gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Of the drugs analyzed, the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameter of area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)/MIC ratio for DQ-113 was significantly higher than those for gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Our results suggest that DQ-113 has potent in vivo efficacy against both PSSP and PRSP.


We introduce a new signal transform for computing the spectrum of a signal given on a two-dimensional directional quincunx lattice. The transform is non-separable, but closely related to a two-dimensional (separable) discrete Fourier transform. We derive the transform using recently discovered connections between signal transforms and polynomial algebras. These connections also yield several important properties of the new transform.


Heuristic-based approaches are widely deployed in solving Spectrum Assignment problem. This causes the results to be unreliable in some test cases when the results are very far from the lowerbound. This paper presents an exhaustive search approach that starts with an initial seed of a solution achieved by a heuristic-based algorithm called "Longest First Fit" (LFF) and tries all possible permutations starting from this initial seed. The algorithm skips some branches and all its descendant permutations if it meets certain criteria that guarantees that those permutations will not lead to a better result. The experimental results show that the new algorithm has succeeded in achieving the lower-bound in 93% of the randomly generated test cases while the heuristic solver LFF can achieve 65%. The algorithm achieves these results in a reasonable running time of less than 10 seconds.


The rapid development of information technology as well as its wide application has produced a widespread impact on social and economic life. No industry can avoid participating in the process of "revolution", including tourism industry. Changes in the travel distribution system brought by information technology are the hot research fields. Substantial researches are concerned with the impact of e-Tourism and the changes of business model. However, how information technology can be used toimprove theperformance of tourism enterprises has not been concerned enough. Data-sharing model which is now widely used in large International Conglomerate is the product of the business expansion and information technology. This paper tries to find the tourism economy which has become to an important part of our national economy with the application of information technology.


A one-dimensional model for the low-pressure glow discharge in a transverse magnetic field is presented. Longitudinal confinement of electrons in the model is provided by a transverse magnetic field. The ion mean free path and ion gyro radius are assumed greater than the distance between the anode and the cathode, thus the influences of the magnetic field and collisions on movement of ions can be neglected. Based on these assumptions it is shown that existence of the self-maintained glow discharge without the cathode fall is possible. The numerical results for the case of a glow discharge in 1 mTorr argon gas are presented and discussed in order to investigate the dependencies of plasma parameters on the values of magnetic field. The condition under which the cathode fall in a glow discharge with a transverse magnetic field would disappear is also discussed for the case when the anode-cathode distance is much greater than the ion mean free path.


A 60-year-old man who had received aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation at 47 years of age developed sudden syncope and shock on Mar. 28, 1991. Close examination including CT scan and aortography revealed DeBakey type I aortic dissection with giant pseudoaneurysm which compressed superior vena cava and right pulmonary artery and caused superior vena cava syndrome. He underwent elective ascending aortic replacement under profound hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest on Jun. 17, 1991. The giant pseudoaneurysm was present posterolaterally to the ascending aorta. It communicated with the false lumen and contained massive thrombi. The intimal tear of the ascending aorta existed along the suture line of previous aortotomy.


This paper proposes a method for describing the distribution of observed temperatures on any day of the year such that the distribution and summary statistics of interest derived from the distribution vary smoothly through the year. The method removes the noise inherent in calculating summary statistics directly from the data thus easing comparisons of distributions and summary statistics between different periods. The method is demonstrated using daily effective temperatures (DET) derived from observations of temperature and wind speed at De Bilt, Holland. Distributions and summary statistics are obtained from 1985 to 2009 and compared to the period 1904–1984. A two‐stage process first obtains parameters of a theoretical probability distribution, in this case the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution, which describes the distribution of DET on any day of the year. Second, linear models describe seasonal variation in the parameters. Model predictions provide parameters of the GEV distribution, and therefore summary statistics, that vary smoothly through the year. There is evidence of an increasing mean temperature, a decrease in the variability in temperatures mainly in the winter and more positive skew, more warm days, in the summer. In the winter, the 2% point, the value below which 2% of observations are expected to fall, has risen by 1.2 °C, in the summer the 98% point has risen by 0.8 °C. Medians have risen by 1.1 and 0.9 °C in winter and summer, respectively. The method can be used to describe distributions of future climate projections and other climate variables. Further extensions to the methodology are suggested.


An analytic solution of the axisymmetric propagation in a fluid-saturated half-space produced by the concentrated load P oexp( iωt ) acting vertically at the surface is presented for the first time. We start with a derivation of the field equations in cylindrical coordinates on the basis of Biot's linear theory for porous, fluid-saturated media. The field equations are then reduced to Helmoholtz-type equations with the aid of four scalar potentials related to the solid and fluid constituents of the two-phased medium. Two uncoupled (dilatation-rotation) sets of equations are obtained, each of them consisting of two coupled (solid-fluid) equations. By solving the governing homogeneous wave equations, we obtain two complex eigenvalue problems which are associated with the propagation of free annular waves in a fluid-saturated, porous medium. Using the homogeneous solution, a boundary-value problem is formulated in the frequency-wavenumber ( f-k ) domain from which integral solutions for the surface displacements are obtained. It is shown that, in the absence of a saturating pore fluid, the results are reduced to known solutions of Lamb's problem for a conventional one-phased medium.

Consistent with the two-phased nature of the problem, our solution considers two types of dissipation. The first is due to intergranular energy losses in the solid phase, while the second is due to viscous resistance to the flow of the pore fluid. Plots of the surface displacements are presented in the f-k domain which compare "saturating" with "dry" cases. It is shown that the effect of the pore fluid is to reduce the amplitude and frequency of the dominant mode of the response. These effects, however, are found to be pronounced only when dissipation due to the flow of the pore fluid is considered in the solution. If the latter type of dissipation is omitted, then the conventional solution of Lamb's problem for one-phased half-space is sufficient for practical purposes.