This study provides suggestions of cultural product design contents by using the cloud-shaped gong in traditional temple culture in order to find a high value-added approach. The research herein is part of cultural design contents projects embedded with the spiritual value and symbolic connotation of temple culture. This would be meaningful to enhance its degree of utilization. This can also be a way to find a strategic alternative to a high value addition of temple stay and dissemination of temple culture. For the research methodology, literature was reviewed over temple stay and Bulgeonsamul. For motive design and development of cultural product design, both Adobe Illustrator CS3 and Adobe Photoshop CS3 were used as computer design program. The template image of cloud-shaped gong for basic motive design was selected from those available at the domestic temples for accurate depiction of its head and body. Finally, samples were adopted from those temples of Gounsa, Songgwangsa, Guinsa, Hwaeomsa, and Naesosa. For each motive, different colors were applied and ten basic motives were practiced in total. By repeating the process for these motives, three types of textile design were prepared. T-shirt designs used a round neckline as basic form, and it was designed for sleeved and sleeveless styles. Apron designs stressed V-neckline and two types were processed: one for the back seam line and the other for side seam line. Pendants were designed with modern and luxurious image so that so that it could be used in various types of accessories. Designs for the bedding applied pattern design of the motives and this was done in a way that gave the images a sense of stability and splendor.


Surveys of capital budgeting practices in the UK and USA reveal a trend towards the increased use of more sophisticated investment appraisals requiring the application of discounted cash flow (DCF) techniques. Several writers, however, have claimed that companies are underinvesting because they misapply or misinterpret DCF techniques. Such claims have been made on the basis of observations in only a few companies, or anecdotal evidence, without any supporting statistical evidence. Reports on a recent survey conducted by the authors which suggests that many UK firms are guilty of misapplying DCF techniques. Also provides evidence relating to some issues that have not been thoroughly examined in previous studies, namely the impact of company size and the relative importance that firms attach to different investment appraisal techniques.


Polycrystalline of (La1-xPrx)0.67Ba0.33MnO3 with x = 0, 0.167, 0.33, 0.5, 0.67, 0.833, 1 have been prepared using solid state reaction. The effect of substituting praseodymium at La-site on magnetoresistance (MR) effect has been investigated. The electrical property, was determined by using standard four-point probe resistivity measurement in a temperature range of 30 K to 300 K. Metal-insulator transition temperature (Tp) shifted to lower temperatures with the increases of Pr doping with the value of >300, 270, 250, 226, 202, 186 and 158 K for x = 0, 0.167, 0.33, 0.5, 0.67, 0.833, 1, respectively. Overall, MR drops slowly when temperature rises. All doping concentration give small variation range (5% to 25%) except for x=1.0, where this sample show significantly higher MR value at all temperature as compared to other samples. The highest MR value of 38% is observed at 270K. In the semiconducting portion, activation energy (Ea) has been investigated. The Ea increases as the doping concentration increases.


Neutron scattering, specific heat and magnetisation measurements on both powders and single crystals reveal that Dy$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$ realizes the fragmented monopole crystal state in which antiferromagnetic order and a Coulomb phase spin liquid co-inhabit. The measured residual entropy is that of a hard core dimer liquid, as predicted. Inclusion of Coulomb interactions allows for a quantitative description of both the thermodynamic data and the magnetisation dynamics, with the energy scale given by deconfined defects in the emergent ionic crystal. Our data reveal low energy excitations, as well as a large distribution of energy barriers down to low temperatures, while the magnetic response to an applied field suggests that domain wall pinning is important; results that call for further theoretical modelling.


Gastric polyps are rare and largely asymptomatic, but attract importance because of their strong potential to progress to carcinoma. Rarely, pedunculated polyps arising in the antrum may prolapse through the pylorus, causing intermittent gastric outlet obstruction. We describe here our experience of four cases collected over a ten-year period, each presenting dissimilarly with this phenomenon. We review the literature referring to the pathogenesis of gastric polyps and their association with malignancy and other disorders. We proceed to discuss the efficacy of barium studies versus gastroscopy in detecting these lesions, the relative roles and merits of endoscopic polypectomy and surgery, and the importance of prolonged follow-up of patients harbouring gastric polyps.


The theory for quantitative measurement of linear and nonlinear dielectric constants using scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy is explained in this paper. Using this theory, quantitative measurements for linear and nonlinear dielectric constants of dielectric materials were performed successfully.


Aims The impact of left ventricular dysfunction on clinical outcomes following revascularization is not well established in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (ULMCA). In this study, we evaluated the impact of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on clinical outcomes of patients with ULMCA requiring revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods The details of the design, methods, end points, and relevant definitions are outlined in the Gulf Left Main Registry: a retrospective, observational study conducted between January 2015 and December 2019 across 14 centres in 3 Gulf countries. In this study, the data on patients with ULMCA who underwent revascularization through PCI or CABG were stratified by LVEF into three main subgroups; low (l-LVEF <40%), mid-range (m-LVEF 40–49%), and preserved (p-LVEF ≥50%). Primary outcomes were hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and mortality and follow-up MACCE and mortality. Results A total of 2137 patients were included; 1221 underwent PCI and 916 had CABG. During hospitalization, MACCE was significantly higher in patients with l-LVEF [(10.10%), P = 0.005] and m-LVEF [(10.80%), P = 0.009], whereas total mortality was higher in patients with m-LVEF [(7.40%), P = 0.009] and p-LVEF [(7.10%), P = 0.045] who underwent CABG. There was no mortality difference between groups in patients with l-LVEF. At a median follow-up of 15 months, there was no difference in MACCE and total mortality between patients who underwent CABG or PCI with p-LVEF and m-LVEF. Conclusion CABG was associated with higher in-hospital events. Hospital mortality in patients with l-LVEF was comparable between CABG and PCI. At 15 months' follow-up, PCI could have an advantage in decreasing MACCE in patients with l-LVEF.


In order to behave autonomously, it is desirable for robots to have the ability to use human supervision and learn from different input sources (perception, gestures, verbal and textual descriptions etc). In many machine learning tasks, the supervision is directed specifically towards machines and hence is straight forward clearly annotated examples. But this is not always very practical and recently it was found that the most preferred interface to robots is natural language. Also the supervision might only be available in a rather indirect form, which may be vague and incomplete. This is frequently the case when humans teach other humans since they may assume a particular context and existing world knowledge. We explore this idea here in the setting of conceptualizing objects and scene layouts. Initially the robot undergoes training from a human in recognizing some objects in the world and armed with this acquired knowledge it sets out in the world to explore and learn more higher level concepts like static scene layouts and environment activities. Here it has to exploit its learned knowledge and ground language into perception to use inputs from different sources that might have overlapping as well as novel information. When exploring, we assume that the robot is given visual input, without explicit type labels for objects, and also that it has access to more or less generic linguistic descriptions of scene layout. Thus our task here is to learn the spatial structure of a scene layout and simultaneously visual object models it was not trained on. In this paper, we present a cognitive architecture and learning framework for robot learning through natural human supervision and using multiple input sources by grounding language in perception.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether Helicopter-Mobile Medical Teams (H-MMTs or HEMS) are optimally deployed in all emergency dispatch centres.

DESIGN
Descriptive, retrospective.

METHOD
Initially, we assessed whether data from different ambulance regions could be compared effectively if they were related to the number of inhabitants per region. Data concerning the number of inhabitants, number of deaths caused by trauma, number of traffic accidents with injury, number ofemergency call-outs by ambulance services and H-MMT deployment were collected from several governmental databases for the period 2002-2005. The correlation coefficients between these data and the number of inhabitants were calculated. Subsequently, we determined the number of H-MMT deployments per 100,000 inhabitants per year per emergency dispatch centre. The number of H-MMT dispatches from the 4 H-MMT coordinating dispatch centres was compared to the number of dispatches from the 17 other emergency dispatch centres.

RESULTS
There was a strong correlation between the number of deaths caused by trauma, the number of traffic accidents with injury, emergency call-outs from ambulance services, and the number of inhabitants per region (correlation coefficients: 0.90-0.98). On average there were 2664 H-MMT calls per year. The average number of H-MMT calls per emergency dispatch centre per year was 110 (range: 2-403). The number of H-MMT deployments per 100,000 inhabitants per year was 10.5 (0.9-27.8). Emergency dispatch centres coordinating H-MMTs conducted significantly more H-MMT calls with a lower cancellation rate.

CONCLUSION
By relating the deployment of H-MMTs with the number of inhabitants per region, a comparison can be made of the deployment frequencies in different emergency dispatch regions. The deployment of H-MMTs proved to differ significantly between emergency dispatch centres.


This paper examines the effects of permanently repealing the estate tax on capital accumulation and output using two different approaches to modeling the economic distortions resulting from the estate tax. In the first approach, the estate tax acts as an additional tax on capital income. The estate tax rate can be converted into an annual accrual tax rate on capital income that leaves a household with the equivalent amount of after-tax bequest. Assuming the economy-wide marginal accrual estate tax rate equals 1.7 percent, repeal of the estate tax leads to a long-run increase in the capital stock of 1.8 percent when repeal is combined with contemporaneous reductions in lump-sum transfer payments. The capital stock increases by 0.9 percent if repeal is financed by increasing income tax rates in every year. The long-run increase in the capital stock would rise to 3.3 percent if the marginal accrual rate equaled 2.6 percent and lump-sum transfer payments declined annually with repeal of the estate tax. In the second approach, bequests are taxed directly and the after-tax bequest is included in the household's utility function in a manner consistent with what is known as the "joy of giving" bequest motive. Under this approach, the long-run capital stock declines when the estate tax is repealed, even when financed by contemporaneous reductions in lump-sum transfer payments. This decline is 0.7 percent when the initial marginal bequest tax rate equals the average rate of 20 percent, and the decline is 0.4 percent when the initial marginal bequest tax rate equals 41 percent.


The electrowetting process is commonly used to handle very small amounts of liquid on a solid surface. This process can be modelled mathematically with the help of the shape optimization theory. However, solving numerically the resulting shape optimization problem is a very complex issue, even for reduced models that occur in simplified geometries. Recently, the second author obtained convincing results in the 2D axisymmetric case. In this paper, we propose and analyze a method that is suitable for the full 3D case. © EDP Sciences, SMAI, 2010.


Twenty-two-day-old fetal and five-day-old newborn rats were pretreated with phenobarbital and its hydroxylated metabolites. Drug-metabolizing enzymes (cytochrome P450, epoxide hydrolase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, and glutathione-S-transferase) and microsomal ribonuclease were not modified in fetuses treated with 80 or 400 mg . kg-1 of p-hydroxyphenobarbital, in spite of its accumulation in fetal liver. At fetal age, phenobarbital was a poor inducer of drug-metabolizing enzymes. In five-day-old newborns, p-hydroxyphenobarbital provoked a proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum without enzyme induction, whereas phenobarbital induced some drug-metabolizing enzymes. Thus, the effects of p-hydroxyphenobarbital and phenobarbital are retained in five-day-old rats, but undetectable in the fetuses.


The virB gene products of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid have been proposed to mediate T-DNA transport through the bacterial cell wall into plant cells. Previous genetic analysis of the approximately 9.5-kilobase-pair virB operon has been limited to transposon insertion mutagenesis. Due to the polarity of the transposon insertions, only the last gene in the operon, virB11, is known to provide an essential virulence function. We have now begun to assess the contribution of the other virB genes to virulence. First, several previously isolated Tn3-HoHo1 insertions in the 3' end of the virB operon were precisely mapped by nucleotide sequence analysis. Protein extracts from A. tumefaciens strains harboring these insertions on the Ti plasmid were subjected to immunostaining analysis with VirB4-, VirB10-, and VirB11-specific antisera to determine the effect of the insertion on virB gene expression. In this manner, avirulent mutants containing polar insertions in the virB9 and virB10 genes were identified. To carry out a complementation analysis with these virB mutants, expression vectors were constructed that allow cloned genes to be expressed from the virB promoter in A. tumefaciens. These plasmids were used to express combinations of the virB9, virB10, and virB11 genes in trans in the virB insertion mutants, thereby creating strains lacking only one of these three virB gene products. Virulence assays on Kalanchoe daigremontiana demonstrated that in addition to virB11, the virB9 and virB10 genes are required for tumorigenicity.


Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005

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Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) have recently been identified as promising targets for cancer therapy. Butyric acid (BA), an HDACI, induces cell cycle arrest and differentiation in a wide variety of tumor cells but possesses low in vivo efficacy due to rapid metabolism. To overcome this limitation, acyloxymethyl esters of BA were synthesized and characterized. These compounds efficiently deliver BA, resulting in higher intracellular concentrations. Among them, pivaloyloxymethyl butyrate (AN-9), which upon hydrolysis releases BA, formaldehyde and pivalic acid, is the best characterized. AN-9 results in low toxicity, increased survival and improved well-being of non-small lung carcinoma patients. Anti-neoplastic activity has been demonstrated for additional BA-prodrugs, including butyroyloxymethyl butyrate (AN-1), which releases two equivalents of BA and one of formaldehyde. Our goal is to examine the potential of this family of drugs as glioma therapy. The anticancer activity of AN-9 and AN-1 in glioma cell lines and in primary astrocytes was evaluated. Human glioma cell lines were sensitive to both AN-1 and AN-9. The IC50 values (measured by MTS and colony formation assays) of both drugs were higher in glioma cells expressing wild type p53 than in those harboring p53 mutations. Apoptosis was evident within 24-48 hours of administration of clinically relevant doses of the drugs. Apoptosis contributes to the cytotoxic effects of AN-9 and AN-1, reflected in drug-induced cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and accumulation of Annexin-V FITC- and/or propidium iodide-positive cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Combination treatment with HDACI and radiation produced additive anti-neoplastic effects that were evident in MTS, flow cytometry and colony formation assays. Experiments assessing potential clinical relevance of AN-1 and AN-9 in glioma therapy demonstrated that after oral administration the drug readily crossed the blood brain barrier (BBB). Treatment with AN-1 (100 mg/kg) increases H4 acetylation in murine brains within 30 minutes of oral administration, and maintains elevated acetylation levels for more than 19 hours. Efficient apoptosis induced by clinically-relevant doses of AN-1 and AN-9, and rapid traversing of the BBB merit further in vivo and in vitro studies of these compounds as potential agents for glioma therapy.


In late 2010, Jean-Paul Clozel, CEO of the Swiss biotech pharmaceuticals firm Actelion, looks back on a successful decade. The small venture that he had started with a few of his scientist colleagues in the late 1990s to discover novel medicine in a research-driven organisation had grown into one of Europe's largest biotech firms by revenues. Their success was mainly founded on their orphan indication drug Tracleer, which Actelion sold and marketed worldwide. However, Tracleer's looming patent expiry in a few years and recent late-stage pipeline setbacks had put the company under pressure from investors. While Clozel was confident in their ability to deliver future drugs that could secure further growing revenue streams, he wondered how to maintain their entrepreneurial culture that he saw as a prerequisite for this -- particularly their lean hierarchy and researchers' freedom to follow innovation where it led them -- in a company of more than 2,400 people which continued to grow.Learning Objective: To analyze the leadership, business model, and operational challenges of a rapidly growing enterprise.


Because of the difficulties faced by engineers, planners, and geomorphologists involved in the prediction of very large floods, the use of stratigraphic, morphologic, and pedalogic evidence for recognition of large floods in humid environments is helpful. Coarse gravel lenses in fine-grained alluvium, inverse grading, and clay balls are stratigraphic records of large floods, best preserved in valley reaches with wide cross sections. Alluvial fans and stepped or benched flood plains are landforms observed to form in lowlands following catastrophic floods. Mappable alluvial soils delineate only areas affected by moderate floods with recurrence intervals of less than 50 yr.


A Make-to-Order (MTO) set-up is one in which production starts only on receiving confirmed orders, and there is no inventory. An enterprise is a group of production sites that may be geographically separated. This paper considers enterprises that operate on the MTO principles. Upon receiving orders for products, the orders are assigned to the different production sites that are geographically distributed. In order to have an efficient production plan, the decision support system must address challenges at the enterprise level, as well as at the individual production site level. In this paper our interest is in an optimal distribution of orders across sites while exploiting individual capacities at those sites. The enterprise level decisions are referred to as routing decisions, while the site level decisions are called scheduling decisions. The planning horizon for these decisions is typically short, that is, a day or a week and hence the proposed solution approach falls under short term capacity planning. A central router is assumed to receive orders on behalf of the enterprise, and is then expected to divide the order workload amongst the sites, in order to minimize the overall costs (production as well as transportation). At each site, an optimal schedule is determined to minimize the maximal completion time, as well as maximize remaining capacity on each machine, after satisfying the workload assigned to it. A framework for cost efficient routing and scheduling while ensuring job deadlines is proposed which allows iterative interaction of routing and scheduling modules. The feedback on capacity based on deadline violations at each site is used to iteratively optimize routing of jobs while ensuring job deadlines, along with the objective of cost efficient capacity planning. We present two iterative frameworks one using Mixed Integer Program (MIP) and the second using MIP and discrete event simulation model. The proposed frameworks have been implemented and computational results are presented to compare their performances.


The most general contact in mechanical transmission is the elliptical one. In particular, a toroidal continuously variable transmission (CVT) has an elliptical shape in the contact area under the elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime, where the shearing of the fluid subjects to high contact stress and transmits the power. Many parameters affect the contact service performance of the half toroidal CVT, which include the properties of the contacting material (Young's modulus), operating parameters (input torque and maximum traction coefficient) and geometrical parameters (aspect cavity ratio, curvature ratio and half cone angle of the power roller). In this paper, the contacts between the input disk, the power roller and the output disk are formulated using the classical Hertzian contact theory. Based on the formulated equations, different system parameters, which affect the maximum Hertzian stresses, are compared. The comparative results will provide some observations of the relations between the maximum Hertzian stresses and transmission ratios in the form of graphs. These graphs give useful information for designer to know the maximum Hertzian stress during operation in such systems.


On the basis of a nonempirical pair potential, the temperature dependencies of the long-range-order parameter of NiTi and AuPd are calculated. The suggested effective potential approach allows one to describe the changes in phase relations. The evaluation of the internal mixing energy of alloys is carried out in the framework of the static concentration waves theory of Khachaturyan. The model outlines the technique to calculate the values of the energy parameters of the ordering process from first principles. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Introduction. Developments in the field of magnetic-pulse treatment of metals (MPTM) are increasingly used in the modern technologies of production and repair of the aviation, automotive and other machinery, as they are environmentally friendly and energy-efficient in comparison with classical approaches. One of the main components of the device MPTM is a tool – inductor or the inductor system with an attractive screen (ISAS). The calculated dependences to calculate the inductor system with an attractive screen were taken from previous works. The ratios were obtained for the low-frequency mode of the excited fields, when is place their significant penetration through a thin-walled metal screen and a deformed workpiece. As it was shown earlier this mode is the most efficient from point of view of a force action on the object of a processing. Purpose . The theoretical analysis of the spatial-temporal distributions of the induced currents and forces of an attraction in the inductor system with an attractive screen excited by a flat circular solenoid located on the outside of the auxiliary screen. Methodology . The calculations are shown that the induced currents both in the screen and the workpiece are unidirectional and their interaction, in accordance with the law of Ampere determines the amplitudes of excited forces of attraction. Let's note the effective validity of the considered inductor system excited by an external circular solenoid. With sufficient simplicity of the design take place rather high values of the developed forces of attraction and their averages. Results . Physically, a higher power efficiency of the system with an «external» coil in comparison with a system where coil is located in the internal cavity, can be accounted for lade of «failure» in the radial distribution of the excited forces. This «failure» in the design with a coil between the sheet metal is caused by its screening action against the forces of attraction between the induced currents. Practical value. It is shown that the inductor system with an attractive screen when it is excited by outer circular solenoid with a current of 50 kA ~ provides attractive power rates to about 1400 N on an area of sheet metal ~ 0.004 m 2 . The sufficiently high efficiency of the proposed options of an inductor system allows us to recommend it as a tool of the external straightening dents in the bodycar surfaces of vehicles.


Background: Currently, there are no guidelines regarding the optimal daily timing of inpatient warfarin administration. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether dosing warfarin in the morning will have a significant impact on therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) achievement compared with evening administration in mechanical mitral valve patients initiated on warfarin following cardiac surgery. Methods: This was a single-center, pre- and post-retrospective cohort conducted between 2014 and 2018. One-hundred fifty-four adult patients who underwent a mechanical mitral valve replacement or alternative cardiac surgery with a history of a mechanical mitral valve were enrolled. The primary outcome was achievement of therapeutic INR at any time point after initiation of warfarin. Pre-intervention administration timing was 6 pm and post-intervention timing was 10 am. Results: Baseline characteristics including age, sex, and race were similar between the 2 groups (P = NS for each characteristic). Therapeutic INR achievement was significantly improved at all time points following 10 am warfarin administration compared with 6 pm (hazard ratio = 1.69; P = .005). Mean time-to-therapeutic INR was 7.37 days in the post-intervention group and 8.39 days in the pre-intervention group (P = .073). There were no significant differences in INR >4, bleeding, or thrombotic complications between groups. Conclusion and Relevance: This retrospective analysis suggests that there may be a postoperative benefit in therapeutic INR achievement in mechanical valve patients when dosing warfarin in the morning compared with evening administration. Large-scale studies should be conducted to further elucidate the potential benefit across more heterogeneous populations.


Objective: Amelogenesis imperfecta is a common oral disease. In this study, ALC cells were cultured in vitro to study the factors affecting the growth and development of enamel to explore the influencing factors of amelogenesis imperfecta.Methods: The effects of melatonin on the proliferation and differentiation of ALC cells were detected by CCK8, qRT-PCR, and alizarin red staining, etc. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR were used to identify the differentially expressed genes in ALC cells after melatonin treatment. Then, we focused on observing the important factors of the signaling pathway.Results: Melatonin inhibited the proliferation of ALC cells in a dose-dependent manner and promoted the production of actin fibers. High concentration of melatonin significantly promoted the expression of enamel development related proteins and the formation of mineralized nodules. RNA-seq data showed that melatonin may induce transcriptional changes of Wnt signaling pathway in ALC cells.Conclusion: This study suggests that melatonin plays a regulatory role in the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of the enamel, which may be one of the causes of enamel hypoplasia. Moreover, the main factors of the Wnt signaling pathway may play an important role in the process of melatonin in the growth and development of ALC lines.


Removal of the striate area in tree shrews results in increased distractibility, which prevents the animals from learning to discriminate form when hue is an irrelevant and distracting cue. Removal of the extrastriate visual cortex results in the reciprocal deficit: an increase in perseveration manifested by an inability to shift attention when irrelevant dimensions are made relevant.


In order to study the effect of middle ear malformations on energy absorbance, we constructed a mechanical model that can simulate the energy absorbance of the human ear based on our previous human ear finite element model. The validation of this model was confirmed by two sets of experimental data. Based on this model, three common types of middle ear malformations, i. e. incudostapedial joint defect, incus fixation and malleus fixation, and stapes fixation, were simulated by changing the structure and material properties of the corresponding tissue. Then, the effect of these three common types of middle ear malformations on energy absorbance was investigated by comparing the corresponding energy absorbance. The results showed that the incudostapedial joint defect significantly increased the energy absorbance near 1 000 Hz. The incus fixation and malleus fixation dramatically reduced the energy absorbance in the low frequency, which made the energy absorbance less than 10% at frequencies lower than 1 000 Hz. At the same time, the peak of energy absorbance shifted to the higher frequency. These two kinds of middle ear malformations had obvious characteristics in the wideband acoustic immittance test. In contrast, the stapes fixation only reduced the energy absorbance in the low frequency and increased energy absorbance in the middle frequency slightly, which had no obvious characteristic in the wideband acoustic immittance test. These results provide a theoretical reference for the wideband acoustic immittance diagnosis of middle ear malformations in clinic.


A new and simple endoscopic treatment procedure of external urethral sphincters is described. The external urethral sphincter was dilated with a balloon catheter 25mm in diameter in a multiple sclerosis patient; the sphincter spasticity made intermittent catheterization impossible. Post dilatation, the resistance to catheterization completely disappeared and the urethral pressure profile showed a dramatic fall in sphincteric pressure. This fall in sphincteric pressure has remained at a normal post dilatation level at the time of submission of this article (7 months).


Travelling at illegal and/or inappropriate speed continues to be the single biggest factor in road traffic crashes and fatalities in Nigeria. Existing evidence suggests that drivers, particularly those who work in companies with a strong safety culture exhibit different sets of speeding attitudes and behaviours in work and private driving. This research is based on the premise stated above, and the lack of speed-related research in Nigeria. Using Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB: Ajzen, 1991), this thesis investigates the socio-cognitive determinants of speeding behaviour of drivers' in their work and personal vehicles. It also sought to test and evaluate the efficacy of two speed limit compliance interventions on driver behaviour and safety. Using a multi-method approach, four independent but related studies were carried out. Study 1, a qualitative study hinged on the TPB, elicited the salient beliefs drivers' held towards speeding. Study 2, a quantitative study inspired by the TPB was used to investigate differences in drivers' attitudes, and self-reported behaviour in their work and private vehicles. It also measured the effects of the interventions on the TPB constructs. Study 3, an experimental study, tested the efficacy of a smartphone-based advisory Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) application, and TPB-based Speed Awareness Course (SAC) on drivers' speed choice. Study 4, a prospective survey, examines the acceptability of ISA using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT: Venkatesh et al., 2003).
The results provided greater understanding into a range of salient beliefs influencing the speeding behaviour of Nigerian drivers which are peculiar to the socio-cultural context. The findings show the TPB model explained up to 24% of the variance in Intention to comply with speed limits. As predicted, participants reported a higher Intention to comply with speed limits in their work than private vehicle. Drivers' attitude emerged as the most significant predictor and strongest correlate with Intentions to comply with the speed limit in both work and private vehicle. The TPB was also applied to evaluate changes in drivers' speeding cognition following experience with the ISA and the speed awareness course. There was no evidence of any substantial changes to any of the TPB constructs following short-term experience with the ISA, and speed awareness course. Also, investigation of the relationship between TPB variables and observed speeding behaviour suggests that higher levels of drivers' Intentions toward speed limit compliance and Strong Perceived Behavioural Control are correlated with lower levels of objectively measured speeding behaviour. Further, the dichotomous groups of low Intenders and high Intenders had significant differences in their observed speed, with the former more likely to engage in speed limit violations.
Findings from the ISA and SAC intervention with regards to speed choice and safety revealed significant reductions in speed violation, reduced mean speeds, and speed variability. The findings have important theoretical and applied implications for the development of better speed limit compliance interventions to improve driving behaviour, and general road safety.


ERYTHROMYCIN, a derivative of Streptomyces erythreus, is effective chiefly against Gram-positive bacteria, and in this respect it resembles penicillin. 1 Perhaps the most promising attribute of this antibiotic is its effectiveness against strains of staphylococci which are penicillin-resistant. Pneumococci and streptococci are also highly sensitive to erythromycin, and blood levels which are highly effective against these organisms are readily obtained following oral administration of the drug. 2 Side-reactions are rare and consist for the most part of mild gastrointestinal disturbances. The present study was undertaken to evaluate erythromycin in the treatment of adult patients with pneumonia caused by Gram-positive bacteria. METHODS AND MATERIALS Seventy-five adult patients admitted to the infectious disease ward of King County Hospital from July, 1952, to July, 1953, with bacterial pneumonia were treated with erythromycin. The patients were predominantly in the older age groups. Many were suffering from the multiple concomitant diseases which are so common


Cadastres are argued as an essential tool to support land tenure security. Low cadastral coverage in developing countries creates a driver for innovative methods to expedite the mapping processes. As a human construct, the morphology of parcel boundaries is a diverse and complex topic: there are limited generalized rules for identifying, describing, and classifying them. This paper studies both the institutional and spatial aspects of cadastral boundaries, in order to provide more contemporary knowledge about the morphology of cadastral boundaries. This study inspects the relationship between topographic objects and general boundaries in the case context of Port Vila, Vanuatu. Statistical analysis reveals that under a dialectical error tolerance, large percentages of cadastral boundaries coincide with topographic objects. Specifically, in dense urban regions, road edges and building walls coincide with the majority of cadastral boundaries, with proportions of 49% and 35%, respectively. In suburban regions, the fence (25%), instead of buildings, plays an important role in marking a parcel border. The landscape is observed to have significant impact on parcel morphology. Therefore, constructing a map based on automatic or semi-automatic identification and classification of these features could significantly contribute to cadastral mapping in developing countries.


Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common post-renal transplant complications. During the first month post-transplantation, bacterial septicemia due to UTIs is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The incidence, risk factors and causative bacteria of UTIs were assessed in 27 renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Bacterial UTI was diagnosed based on urine culture that was positive for bacterial growth greater than 105 colony-forming unit (CFU)/ml. The average age of the participants was 41.3±16.2 years, ranging from 16 to 73 years. Male RTRs were 51.9% (N = 14) and females were 48.1% (N = 13). Patients who received kidneys from living-related donors were 63.0% (N = 17) and those who received cadaveric kidneys were 27.0% (N = 10). Incidence of urinary tract infections post-renal transplant was 55.5% (N = 15). Gender (69.2% of the female RTRs developed UTI versus 30.8% of the males) and age (66.7% of the RTRs ≥ 50 years developed UTI) seemed to be risk factors for post-renal transplant UTIs. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (53.3%, N = 8) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%, N = 3). Most of the UTIs (73.3%) were detected within one month post-renal transplant. Recurrent infection was observed in 40.1% of the patients. The implication of this study is the need to implement a new prophylaxis regimen that takes into consideration the causative bacteria and its antibiotic sensitivity.

 Key words: Urinary tract infection, kidney, transplant, incidence, Escherichia coli.


: Regulation of GM crops prior to their commercial release requires research under controlled conditions, either in confined field trials, in green -houses, and/or in the laboratory. Authorizations in Argentina can be obtained for experimental or confined field trials and "counter-season" production of regulated seed. These trials represent the first controlled introduction of GM crops in the environment. The goal is to prevent dissemination of GM pollen, seed, or plant parts outside the growing area and avoid consumption by humans and animals. During the trials, data is also collected on agronomic performance and potential environmental impacts. The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of the regulatory requirements governing contained and confined field trials of GM crops in Argentina.


Abstract The new species Miriquidica invadens Hafellner, Obermayer & Tretiach is described and reported from Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland, France and Spain. From a morphological point of view the species belongs to the M. griseoatra group, in which it is, so far, the only constantly lichenicolous taxon. Chemically it is characterized by the regular presence of miriquidic acid, stictic acid, and constictic acid (in variable amounts). It starts its ontogenetic life cycle as an obligate youth parasite on Sporastatia, usually S. polyspora. Morpho-anatomical treatments of other species of the Miriquidica griseoatra group occurring in Europe, based on the examination of type material, are also presented. According to the characters exhibited by the lectotype of Lecidea contigua var. griseoatra Flot., M. griseoatra (Flot.) Hertel & Rambold is the correct name for a montane species with subdivided areoles and immersed, laterally adnate apothecia with a pigmented hypothecium. Specimens exhibiting this set of characters were usually named M. obnubila auct. According to the characters observed on the lectotype of Lecidea (Biatora) obnubila Th. Fr. & Hellb., M. obnubila (Th. Fr. & Hellb.) Hertel & Rambold is a species with sessile apothecia with a hyaline hypothecium. Lecidea subplumbea Anzi does not constitute a heterotypic synonym of Lecidea griseoatra (Flot.) Schaer. but is the legitimate name at the species level for Miriquidica griseoatra sensu auct., and therefore M. subplumbea (Anzi) Cl. Roux is the correct name for that taxon. Lecidea inserena Nyl. is confirmed as a heterotypic synonym of Lecidea subplumbea Anzi. Lecidea plumbea Garov. ex A. Massal. is an earlier heterotypic synonym of Miriquidica limitata Hertel & Rambold and, therefore, the new combination M. plumbea (Garov. ex A. Massal.) Hafellner, Obermayer & Tretiach is introduced. Lectotypes are designated for Lecidea contigua var. griseoatra Flot., Lecidea inserena Nyl., Lecidea obnubila Th. Fr. & Hellb., Lecidea plumbea Garov. ex A. Massal., and Lecidea subplumbea Anzi. A key to the taxa of the M. griseoatra-group and other Miriquidica taxa with a grey thallus is provided.


PurposeEmergence of COVID-19 has posed a big challenge around the world demanding responsible behavior at all levels for effective mitigation of its adverse effects on humanity. Despite deadly nature of the pandemic, people yet tend to violate the lockdowns, social distancing, and related protective measures. This study presents a critical view and identifies underlying causes of the deviant behavior of masses. It highlights specific areas where responsible leadership can make a difference in fighting the pandemic from organizational perspective.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data collected through in depth interviews from three different countries - Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia. The data was collected thrice with time lags and integrated view has been presented in this study.FindingsThe study finds that perceptual dissonance, cost of protective behavior, reactive attraction and perceived triviality of protective measures are some of the main causes of deviant behavior.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the data have been collected from three countries, yet smaller sample size remains a limitation of the study. Similarly, the longitudinal data was collected once in each wave of COVID-19 and its increased frequency could make findings more reliable.Practical implicationsThe findings provide an "analysis template" for responsible leaders to analyze any crisis situation in future. In the light of findings, leaders can locate causes of deviant behavior and the way they can influence behavior of employees in a crisis.Social implicationsThe study is highly valuable in analysis of social dimension of COVID-19 crisis at organizational level. It clearly highlights the significance of social and financial support by responsible leaders for influencing the protective intentions of employees in an emergency situation.Originality/valueThe organizational perspective and the responsibilities of leaders for fighting the pandemic has not been adequately explored. This study has investigated the likely causes of deviant behavior of employees in adoption of protective measures. It also highlights the areas where responsible leaders can make a difference in inducing protective behaviors.


Abstract "Rethinking Sovereign Debt: Politics, Reputation, and Legitimacy in Modern Finance" by Odette Lienau convincingly challenges the notion that the norm of debt continuity is a "stable and inevitable market principle" by providing a thorough analysis of the historical and political contexts surrounding this norm. The author's approach which goes beyond the "market narrative" on the norm of debt continuity provides significant insights into the difficult issues of debt repudiation. This approach reveals the politically and historically variable nature of the norm of debt continuity. As such, the author demonstrates the openness and the possible development of sovereign debt practices towards accepting a more flexible and non-statist approach to sovereign debt management.


Johne's disease is becoming increasingly important to the UK cattle industry.The epidemiological features of the disease, such as a high subclinical prevalence causing significant economic loss (Whitlock and Buergelt 1996), make control and diagnosis a challenge to the cattle practitioner. A large number of farms are likely to be suffering economic losses due to a disease they are unaware of in their herds. Herd prevalence estimates vary, but recent work in the UK suggests the prevalence may be as high as 20% (Caldow and others 2003), while studies in the USA (Wells and Wagner 2000) and the Netherlands (Muskens and others 2000) produced estimates of 22% and 55% respectively.


A process for realisation of SiGe Esaki diodes in layers grown by ultra-high vacuum chemical vapour deposition has been developed and the first Esaki diodes are reported for this growth method. Intrinsic SiGe-layers are grown on highly boron-doped p(+)-Si layers, while post-growth proximity rapid thermal diffusion of phosphorous into the SiGe is employed to form an n(+)-layer. Tunnel diodes with a depletion layer width of about 6 nm have been realised in Si0.74Ge0.26, showing a peak current density of 0.18 kA/cm(2) and a current peak-to-valley ratio of 2.6 at room temperature.


-Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is a key event in neointimal formation and atherosclerosis that may be linked to the accumulation of inflammatory cells and release of chemotactic cytokines. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induces chemotaxis of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts, but little is known about chemotactic signaling by TNF-alpha in VSMC. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TNF-alpha in VSMC migration and to elucidate the chemotactic signaling pathways mediating this action. TNF-alpha (50 to 400 U/mL) induced migration of cultured rat aortic VSMC in a dose-dependent manner. Because activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is known to be required in platelet-derived growth factor-directed and angiotensin II-directed migration of these cells, we used the MAPK-inhibitor PD98059 to determine if chemotactic signaling by TNF-alpha involves the MAPK pathway as well. We found that TNF-alpha-directed migration was substantially inhibited by PD98059. TNF-alpha (100 U/mL) transiently activated MAPK with a maximal induction 10 minutes after stimulation that returned to baseline levels by 2 hours after treatment. Only a single peak of increased MAPK activity was seen. PD98059 also blocked TNF-alpha-stimulated MAPK activation in a concentration-dependent manner, which is consistent with its inhibition of TNF-alpha-directed migration. To identify which TNF-alpha receptor is involved in TNF-alpha-induced MAPK activation, antibodies against the p55 TNF-alpha receptor-1 (TNF-R1) and the p75 TNF-alpha receptor-2 (TNF-R2) were used. VSMC express both receptors, but TNF-alpha-induced MAPK activation was inhibited only by the TNF-R1 antibody. The TNF-R2 antibody had no effect. Thiazolidinediones are known to inhibit TNF-alpha signaling in adipose tissue and attenuate platelet-derived growth factor-directed and angiotensin II-directed migration in VSMC. We therefore investigated the effects of the thiazolidinediones troglitazone (TRO) and rosiglitazone (RSG) on TNF-alpha-induced migration. Both TRO and RSG inhibited migration, but neither attenuated TNF-alpha-induced MAPK activation, indicating that their antimigration activity was exerted downstream of MAPK. These experiments provide the first evidence that early activation of MAPK is a crucial event in TNF-alpha-mediated signal transduction leading to VSMC migration. Moreover, inhibition of TNF-alpha-directed migration by the insulin sensitizers TRO and RSG underscores their potential as vasculoprotective agents.


In 1636 the Superiorities of the Canongate fell into the hands of the city of Edinburgh. This meant that the barbers of the Canongate who had been free traders up until then came under the jurisdiction of the Surgeons and Barbers of the city of Edinburgh. The dispute concerned Robert Preist of Canongate who started operating as a barber within the city walls without permission. He was finally forced to move back to the Canongate in 1654 by order of George Monck who was a lieutenant of Oliver Cromwell.


ABSTRACТ. The paper treats the contents and distribution of characteristic micro and macro elements (Ni, Co, In, Ga, Tl, Au, As, Cu, Pb, Sb, Ag and Zn) in different generations and phases of pyrite formation as well as their geochemical characteristics. The polymetallic hydrothermal Pb - Zn deposit Kizevak is located on the northwest slopes of the Kopaonik mountain, east of the town of Raska. Geotectonically it belongs to Serbo - Macedonian Mass (SMM), and metallogenic to the Serbo - Macedonian metallogenic Province (SMP). The content of micro and macroelements in the monomineral pyrite was determined by a semi quantitative spectrohemical method. The pyrites are characterized with a low content of Ni up to 0.0045% and Co up to 0.0055%. The content of Tl in pyrite ranges from 0.0001 up to 0.031%. Gold is present up to 0.0019%, in younger generation of pyrite. Microelements (Co, Ni and Tl) are present in concentrations that are characteristic for low temperature Pb - Zn deposits, and reflect paragenetic intergrowth of ore minerals in the deposit.


 Pulsed EPD improved the coating layer by degreasing the bubbles and cracks.  Using an FTIR test, major chemical bonds were found to the HAP and CS.  Little frequency in the PEPD causes degreasing distortion in the coating layer. This research studies the coating layer properties from chitosan and nano – hydroxyapatite made by pulsed electrophoretic deposition (PEPD) for biomedical applications. The 316L SS alloys were coated with hydroxyapatite in different solutions in 100 mL of suspension at a 30 V continuous voltage. To characterize the deposited coatings, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Contact Angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX),Yield deposition and Optical microscopy structural (OM) was used for coating layer, in addition to being calculated Zeta potential for suspensions. The aim of this study is to show that using the Pulsed EPD method at room temperature, a simple and low-cost solution for in situ synthesis of Nano -HAp within a chitosan matrix for biomedical applications can be demonstrated. A R T I C L E I N F O Handling editor: Jawad K. Oleiwi


The paper explores whether critical realism, a recent meta-theory, is an effective way in integrating the scientific method of Commons and North. Critical realism objects to orthodox positivism, stresses the importance of socioeconomic ontology and advocates the approach of retroduction. This paper finds that critical realism is not only consistent with the institutionalism of Commons and North but also contributes to the integration of their scientific methods. Moreover, critical realism is helpful to eliminate traditional sources of confusion in institutionalism and offers a theoretical foundation of employing orthodox scientific tools and theories for institutionalism. Based on the commonalties in methodology of Commons and North, it is possible to develop a new scientific perspective by virtue of critical realism.


Crassulacean acid metabolism is an adaptation of certain plants to the lack of water or carbon dioxide and it is related to anatomical, morphological, and physiological response mechanisms to cope with long drought periods. High light can affect metabolic, physiological, and structural processes in plants and, in changing environments (such as those of a seasonally dry forests), plant leaves show anatomical and physiological photoprotection responses. The objective of this study was to determine those responses in two light microenvironments and in two seasons for a terrestrial bromeliad (Bromelia karata) from the tropical dry deciduous forest of Dzibilchaltun National Park in Yucatan, Mexico. The morphological characteristics of the leaves of B. karatas refl ected the infl uence of the environmental factors and allowed maintaining high diurnal water potentials and diminishing water loss to maintain photosynthesis. These foliar characteristics, along with the foliar spines and asexual growth of this species, can help to explain its high ecological importance value in this tropical dry deciduous forest.


This paper includes results centered around three topics, all of them related with the nonlinear stability of equilibria in Poisson dynamical systems. Firstly, we prove an energy-Casimir type sufficient condition for stability that uses functions that are not necessarily conserved by the flow and that takes into account certain asymptotically stable behavior that may occur in the Poisson category. This method is adapted to Poisson systems obtained via a reduction procedure and we show in examples that the kind of stability that we propose is appropriate when dealing with the stability of the equilibria of some constrained systems. Finally, we discuss two situations in which the use of continuous Casimir functions in stability studies is equivalent to the topological stability methods introduced by Patrick et al. [Paal02].


Antimicrobial peptides, including synthetic ones, are becoming increasingly important as a promising tool to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. We examined the effect of cationic peptides H2N-Arg9-Phe2-C(O)NH2 and H2N-(Lys-Phe-Phe)3-Lys-C(O)NH2 on Staphylococcus aureus, which remains one of the most harmful pathogens. Antiseptic chlorhexidine served as reference preparation. We studied viability of S. aureus and examined its ultrastructure under treatment with 100 µM of R9F2 or (KFF)3K peptides or chlorhexidine using transmission electron microscopy of ultrathin sections. Bacterial cells were sampled as kinetic series starting from 1 min up to 4 h of treatment with preparations. Both peptides caused clearly visible damage of bacteria cell membrane within 1 min. Incubation of S. aureus with R9F2 or (KFF)3K peptides led to cell wall thinning, loss of cytoplasm structure, formation of mesosome-derived multimembrane structures and "decorated fibers" derived from DNA chains. The effect of R9F2 peptides on S. aureus was more severe than the effect of (KFF)3K peptides. Chlorhexidine heavily damaged the bacteria cell wall, in particular in areas of septa formation, while cytoplasm kept its structure within the observation time. Our study showed that cell membrane damage is critical for S. aureus viability; however, we believe that cell wall disorders should also be taken into account when analyzing the effects of the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).


Fiber-optic dispersion-managed solitons can form stable molecules. Systematically mapping out parameter space using a flexible pulse shaper, we investigate the binding mechanism and confirm predictions. Phenomena off equilibrium are also described and explained.


Flood risk assessments predict the potential consequences of flooding, leading to more effective risk management and strengthening resilience. However, adequate assessments rely on large quantities of high-quality input data. Developing regions lack reliable data or funds to acquire them. Therefore, this research has developed a flexible, low-cost methodology for mapping flood hazard, vulnerability and risk. A generic methodology was developed and customized for freely available data with global coverage, enabling risk assessment worldwide. The default workflow can be enriched with region-specific information when available. The practical application is assured by a modular toolbox developed on GDAL and PCRASTER. This toolbox was tested for the catchment of the river Moustiques, Haiti, for which several flood hazard maps were developed. Then, the toolbox was used to create social, economic and physical vulnerability maps. These were combined with the hazard maps to create the three corresponding flood risk maps. After creating these with the default data, more detailed information, gathered during field work, was added to verify the results of the basic workflow. These first tests of the developed toolbox show promising results. The toolbox allows policy makers in developing countries to perform reliable flood risk assessments and generate the necessary maps.


Purpose of review Nonoperating room anesthesia (NORA) procedures continue to increase in type and complexity as procedural medicine makes technical advances. Patients presenting for NORA procedures are also older and sicker than ever. Commensurate with the requirements of procedural medicine, anesthetic monitoring must meet the American Society of Anesthesiologists standards for basic monitoring. Recent findings There have been improvements in the required monitors that are used for intraoperative patient care. Some of these changes have been with new technologies and others have occurred with software refinements. In addition, specialized monitoring devises have also been introduced into NORA locations (depth of hypnosis, respiratory monitoring, point-of care ultrasound). These additions to the monitoring tools available to the anesthesiologist working in the NORA-environment push the boundaries of procedures which may be accomplished in this setting. Summary NORA procedures constitute a growing percentage of total administered anesthetics. There is no difference in the monitoring standard between that of an anesthetic administered in an operating room and a NORA location. Anesthesiologists in the NORA setting must have the same compendium of monitors available as do their colleagues working in the operating suite.


Hip fractures are one of the most frequent operated fractures procedures in orthopedics, with a worldwide annual incidence of approximately 1.7 million. These fractures are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. As populations' age and life expectancy increase worldwide, the incidence of these fractures is likely to increase, and is expected to triple in the next 50 years. The use of fluoroscopy and resultant exposure to radiation is an integral part of surgical procedures aiming to reduce and fixate the fractured femur. The risk of contracting cancer is significantly higher for an orthopedic surgeon, as hip surgery is a major slice of the total radiation dose. Optimal positioning and control of the imaging intensifier device may result in significant reduction of radiation dose and time and in substantial shortening of the procedure. We describe a technique using 2 fluoroscopy apparatus simultaneously, placed in a perpendicular manner. This method eliminates the need to alternate a single device between anteroposterior and lateral views during surgery. Our hypothesis is that this technique would substantially shorten procedure time and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure for both the patient and the medical staff. Furthermore, by using this technique, we can eliminate the need for fluoroscopy technician during the surgery, as there is no need to alternate fluoroscopy views.


Lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies are commonly found in sera from kidney dialysis patients, where they interfere with interpretation of the crossmatch test. We have produced a monoclonal lymphocytotoxic autoantibody by EBV transformation of PBLs from a dialysis patient, followed by fusion of the transformed cells with a heteromyeloma. The autoantibody derived, called FWE, was IgM kappa class and its pattern of reactivity against T and B lymphocytes, cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and K562, was similar to that described for lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies found in sera. It was absorbed by fetal but not adult human erythrocytes, suggesting the antigenic determinant might be the blood group antigen i. cDNA encoding the variable domain of FWE was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned into the vector M13 mp18, and sequenced. The variable region of the kappa light chain (V kappa) was 98.8% identical over a 260-bp stretch with a known germ line sequence and the junctional (J kappa) region was identical over 16 bp with the germ line sequence J kappa 2. The variable region of the heavy chain (VH) was 99.3% identical over a 268-bp overlap with the germ line gene VH4.21, a member of the VHIV family, and the junctional region of the heavy chain (JH) was identical with the germ line JH gene JH5 over 46 bp, with a truncated 5' end. The diversity region was not identified. These data suggest that the genes required to produce human lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies are encoded within the germ line and, therefore, that all dialysis patients may be able to produce them under certain circumstances.


The purpose of the present work is fourfold: (1) to offer a range of definitions of three broad concepts of interest to many sociolinguists and other social scientists: language attitude, language choice and language shift; (2) to present a critical review of these definitions and the literature on language attitude surveys; (3) provide selected online resources related to these topics; and (4) to elaborate a language attitude survey designed to measure the attitudes of Hispanic immigrants in the US towards Spanish, towards English, and towards their own bilingualism. This survey can be easily adapted to any other speech community as well.


The dispersibility of graphene is modeled as a mathematical function of the molecular structure of solvent represented by simplified molecular input-line entry systems (SMILES) together with the graph of atomic orbitals (GAO). The GAO is molecular graph where atomic orbitals e.g. 1s1, 2p4, 3d7 etc., are vertexes of the graph instead of the chemical elements used as the graph vertexes in the traditionally used molecular graph (hydrogen suppressed molecular graph or hydrogen filled molecular graph). The optimal descriptors calculated with the Monte Carlo method were used to build up one variable correlations "descriptor- dispersibility". The CORAL software is used as a tool to build up the model. Based on the results of calculations the structural features which are promoters of increase or those which are promoters of decrease of the dispersibility are detected and discussed. The predictive potential of the used approach is checked up with three random and non identical splits of available data into the training, calibration, and validation (invisible during building up the model) sets. The statistics for external validation sets are the following: n=11, r2=0.6379, s=0.392 (split 1); n=8, r 2 =0.7308, s=0.378 (split 2); and n=5, r 2 =0.7797, s=0.504 (split 3).


In 2011, Save the Children India launched a project for the disadvantaged population of Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha. As a baseline activity, neonatal deaths during January-December 2012 were investigated using modified verbal autopsy tool in six sub-district-level administrative units (blocks) adopting 30-cluster sample survey approach. Our study reported a total of 189 neonatal deaths of which 50% occurred at home and 39% happened on Day 1. About half of the deaths occurred in blocks from Bihar. High number of neonatal deaths belonged to households that were below poverty line (64%) and other disadvantaged classes (46%); among mothers who were illiterate (65%), <20 years of age (54%) and during their first-order births (36%). Birth asphyxia was a major cause of neonatal deaths across all blocks. These findings indicate need for easy and early access to transport services, specialized neonatal care and advocacy targeted towards increasing community awareness.


In this paper, we numerically evaluated an optically switched multi-user Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network for the end-to-end secure signal transmission with the metropolitan area network (MAN) applications. The multi-user network performance can be enhanced via MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology to get the maximum secure key rates due to the less insertion loss and crosstalk for switching operation. We have analyzed a four-state, quadrature-phase shift keying (QPSK) transmitter to generate quantum keys, i.e. Alice, while a classical coherent receiver aided by the digital post-processing unit is being used as Bob. To route the secure QKD traffic to the end-users, 1x2, 1x4, 1x8 and 1x12 switching configurations have been analyzed for the transmission distance ranging from 0 to 60 km. We have achieved the secure key rates of 30 Mbit/s and 100 Mbit/s for the 1x12 and 1x2 switching configurations, respectively. We have also compared the performance of routed QKD traffic with a simple point-to-point QKD system and the classical DV-QKD protocol. The QKD networks need an effective low-loss fibre channel and a distribution system to enhance the transmission distance of the secure keys and applications. This paper provides multi-user used case as an important paradigm with the corresponding scheme and simulation performances.


Any lingering doubts that the AHVLA might yet have a change of heart and decide not to proceed with the introduction of competitive tendering for the procurement of TB testing services in England are likely to be dispelled by an update posted on the agency's website last week. Summarising feedback obtained during its consultation on the issue last autumn (see VR, September 24, 2011, vol 169, pp 320, 321) and outlining what might happen next, the AHVLA sets out the situation in fairly blunt terms. Essentially, having considered the feedback, and continued to explore whether there are any other legally acceptable approaches which would assure quality and value for money, the AHVLA believes that 'it has now explored all possible options for TB testing and has identified a limited number of options that are both legal and practical'. One of the options is the 'delivery partner' model outlined during its consultation exercise. These options have been presented to the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE), which will make recommendations to ministers. The AHWBE considered the options at a meeting earlier this month and will consider them further at its meeting in March. The options presented to the AHWBE have not been made public. However, the information on the AHVLA's website makes clear that, despite concerns quite evidently raised during the consultation exercise (see p 191 of this issue), plans to introduce tendering continue apace. An updated question and answer document on the AHVLA's website answers some questions but raises quite a few more. Cattle Veterinary Association expressed concern that the tendering programme could significantly change the farm animal practice infrastructure in the UK and result in less contact between farmers and their vets. This, in turn, would reduce the ability of practitioners to contribute to nationally important activities such as disease control and surveillance. Emphasising that TB testing could not be considered in isolation, they also expressed concern about the speed with which the changes were being implemented, suggesting that these could weaken, rather than strengthen, the relationship between the AHVLA, vets and other stakeholders, which is precisely the opposite of what everyone intends. Quite what the EFRACom will make of this and the other evidence presented to its inquiry remains to be seen but, in the meantime, the fact that options on procuring TB testing services have already been put to the AHWBE gives an indication both of the significance of this new strategic body in determining future animal health policy in England and of the AHVLA's determination to push ahead with its plans. Established last year to increase the involvement of stakeholders in government decision making, the AHWBE has been charged, among other things, with encouraging partnership working and developing proposals for responsibility and cost sharing (VR, May 7, 2011, vol 168, pp 468, 469470). It, more than any other body, needs to be fully aware of the likely consequences of the changes being made, and to consider the issues in the round. However, it leaves little room for doubt that tendering in some shape or form will happen, and could happen pretty soon. The update on the AHVLA's website also summarises the results of its consultation on opportunities for working in partnership with veterinary practices, which was carried out at the same time as the consultation on tendering for TB testing. In addition, it notes that the proposals on tendering for TB testing are being considered alongside proposals for improving surveillance, in which veterinary practices play an important role. The arrangements for surveillance are also under review, with the recommendations from an independent review group expected in March (VR, January 14, 2012, vol 170, pp 34, 35). The concern must be that the AHVLA is considering these issues separately, when in reality they are interdependent and need to be considered as a whole. There is a danger, reflected in the feedback to the two consultations, that, by dealing with TB testing separately, and pushing ahead with its plans to introduce tendering, the AHVLA could be putting prospects for improved surveillance and more effective partnership working at risk. Such concerns have been brought to the attention of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRACom), which is currently conducting an inquiry into the AHVLA's plans for competitive tendering as well its rationalisation of its laboratory services. Giving evidence to the committee earlier this month, the presidents of the BVA and the British doi: 10.1136/vr.e1337


The 1996 Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) 'Guidelines on the Precautionary Approach to Fisheries and Species Introduction' raise important issues for fisheries managers, but fail to prescribe an approach for risk management. The distinguishing characteristics of the 'precautionary approach' are the inclusion of uncertainty and 'an elaboration on the burden of proof'. The FAO precautionary approach emphasizes that managers should be risk-averse, but does not provide tools for determining the appropriate degree of risk aversion. Consequently, application of the precautionary approach often leads to decision-making based on ad hoc safety margins. These safety margins are seldom chosen with explicit consideration of trade-offs. If the emphasis was shifted to choosing between competing uncertainties, then managers could manage risk. By attempting to avoid risk, managers may gain exposure to other risks and perhaps miss valuable opportunities. We place fishery management problems within the rubric of 'real investment' problems, and compare and contrast the consideration of risk by alternative investment frameworks. We show that traditional investment frameworks are inappropriate for fishery management, and furthermore, that traditional precautionary approaches are arbitrary and without basis in decision theory. Quantitative decision-making techniques, such as formal decision analysis (FDA), enable integration of competing hypotheses that help alleviate burden-of-proof issues. These techniques help analysts consider sources of uncertainty. FDA, however, can still be subject to arbitrary safety margins because such analyses often focus on determining which strategies best achieve, or avoid, targets that have been established without complete consideration of trade-offs. A managerial finance approach, real options analysis (ROA), is an alternative and complementary decision-making technique that enables managers to compute precautionary adjustments that couple the size of the 'safety margin' with the amount of uncertainty, thereby optimizing risk exposure and avoiding the need for arbitrary safety margins. We illustrate the advantages of an approach that combines FDA and ROA, using a heuristic example about a decision to re-introduce Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) into Lake Ontario. Finally, we provide guidance on applying ROA to other fishery problems. The precautionary approach requires that managers consider risk, but considering risk is not the same as managing it. Here ROA is useful.


How effective is your risk management process? Risk management return on investment is the ratio of savings to cost that indicates the value of performing risk management. This paper presents a standard definition for measuring risk management return on investment: ROI(RM). Application of this measure on two case studies provides examples of large programs with excellent risk management results. Both case studies report ROI(RM) at over 20 to 1, which is risk management nirvana. To achieve these results, the people worked hard—risk management does not make difficult work go away.


Background: Low left ventricular ejection fraction and renal insufficiency are factors that increase the risk of coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to group patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery according to the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and to evaluate postoperative changes in serum creatinine levels and postoperative outcomes. Methods: A total of 93 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were included in this single-centre, retrospective, cohort study. Patients with a pre-operative low left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 35% were included in the study. Patients were divided into diabetic and non-diabetic groups and intra-and intergroup values were compared. Pre-operative, and postoperative days 2 and 5 serum creatinine levels of the patients were measured and compared. Results: Of the 93 patients included in the study, 60 were in the diabetic group (group 1) and 33 were in the non-diabetic group (group 2). Postoperative 2-and 5-day creatinine levels were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 ( p = 0.033 and p = 0.005, respectively). Postoperative 2-and 5-day creatinine levels were significantly higher than pre-operative creatinine levels in group 1 ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.001, respectively). The intensive care unit stay was significantly longer in the diabetes mellitus group than in the group without diabetes mellitus ( p = 0.031). Conclusion: Following coronary artery bypass graft surgery in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction, which is already a risk factor, creatinine levels were found to have increased in the


SIR. I enjoyed the review hy H;ill et (il^ with its clear definition of the pre-requisites regarding image analysis of rnelanocytic lesions. However, some studies investigating the benefits and pre-requisites of this image analysis in detail are missing. One study, based on the use of colour and texture image analysis in a data set of 350 malignant melanoma and benign melanocytic lesions, demonstrated a classification rate higher than 9()%.~ Most of the requirements for image acquisition, image segmenletion. colour analysis, and classification, mentioned by Hall el iii. were met in this article. In addition. a subsequent study showed that the combination of conventional and dermatoscopic (skin surface microscopy at lOx magnification! images leads to a further improvement in diagnostic accuracy.


The thermal structure of planetary atmospheres is an essential input for predicting and retrieving the distribution of gases and aerosols, as well as the bulk chemical abundances. In the case of Jupiter, the temperature at a reference level—generally taken at 1 bar—serves as the anchor in models used to derive the planet's interior structure and composition. Most models assume the temperature measured by the Galileo probe. However, those data correspond to a single location, an unusually clear, dry region, affected by local atmospheric dynamics. On the other hand, the Voyager radio occultation observations cover a wider range of latitudes, longitudes, and times. The Voyager retrievals were based on atmospheric composition and radio refractivity data that require updating and were never properly tabulated; the few existing tabulations are incomplete and ambiguous. Here we present a systematic electronic digitization of all available temperature profiles from Voyager, followed by their reanalysis, employing currently accepted values of the abundances and radio refractivities of atmospheric species. We find the corrected temperature at the 1 bar level to be up to 4 K greater than the previously published values, i.e., 170.3 ± 3.8 K at 12°S (Voyager 1 ingress) and 167.3 ± 3.8 K at 0°N (Voyager 1 egress). This is to be compared with the Galileo probe value of 166.1 ± 0.8 K at the edge of an unusual feature at 6.°57N. Altogether, this suggests that Jupiter's tropospheric temperatures may vary spatially by up to 7 K between 7°N and 12°S.


A supervisory control system operating entirely on alternating current and possessing great reliability is described in this article. With a suitable switchboard arrangement, the operator is said to be able to visualize switching conditions at a glance; the system has the further advantage of employing only equipment with which operators are familiar.


Arbitrary systems, will it be biological, physical, cybernetical, etc. may be described by a mathematical function, namely by a graph extension function, which we also call hierarchical function (and which mathematically shows hierarchical nature of science). This function can be also used to describe mathematical objects themselves, which in the paper is shown on the example of the action of the graph extension function on the set of integers. A new theory of graph extensions, similar to group extension theory, is outlined. A theorem about the equivalence of different extension functions is proved. There exists an isomorphism between the modified functional graph of the cell (functional block-scheme) and the morphological graph of the cell (the graph expressing topological membrane intertransformations of the cell) which expresses the most essential features of for the biology of the cell and captures one of the specific differences between living and non-living systems. It is shown that the construction of the graph of a complex organism from the primordial graph given by Rashevsky is nothing but an extension of the primordial graph by the graph extension function. It is described that there exist morphisms from biological graphs described by various authors to our functional graph. ! 2014 Trade Science Inc. INDIA


Because of their important role in the maintenance of self-tolerance, CD4+ regulatory T cells prevent autoimmune diseases but also curtail the efficacy of T cell immune responses against cancers. We now show that this suppressive action of CD4+ regulatory T cells is not limited to cancers displaying tumor-associated self antigens, such as melanomas, but also extends to human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cervical cancers that express foreign tumor antigens. HPV-specific CD4+ T cells isolated from lymph node biopsies of cervical cancer patients were found to suppress proliferation and cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-2) production by responder T cells. The capacity of HPV-specific CD4+ T cells to exert this suppressive effect depended on their activation by cognate HPV antigen and on close-range interactions with responder T cells. HPV-specific CD4+ regulatory T cells were also retrieved from cervical cancer biopsies, suggesting that they interfere with the anti-tumor immune response at both the induction and effector levels. Our findings offer a plausible explanation for the observed failure of the tumor-specific immune response in patients with cervical carcinoma.


Abstract Using an anti-Fos family member antibody, we have previously described in Rana esculenta testis the presence of a nuclear, 43 kDa protein that we hypothesized to be Fra1. With the assistance of an antibody against Fra1 that does not cross-react with other Fos family members, here we report data on Fra1 expression, localization, and putative activity in Rana esculenta testis during its annual reproductive cycle. Western blot analysis confirms that the nuclear, 43 kDa protein is Fra1. Immunocytochemistry validates the Western blot results and shows cytoplasmic and nuclear immunostaining of Fra1 in peritubular myoid cells, efferent ducts, and blood vessels. We report for the first time in a vertebrate, experimental evidence showing that the expression of Fra1 is related to peritubular myoid cells during sperm transport from the tubular compartment to efferent ducts.


Abstract. We present the Copernicus in situ ocean dataset of temperature
and salinity (version 5.2). Ocean subsurface sampling varied widely
from 1950 to 2017 as a result of changes in instrument technology and the
development of in situ observational networks (in particular, tropical moorings for the
Argo program). Thus, global ocean temperature data coverage on an annual
basis grew from 10 % in 1950 (30 % for the North Atlantic basin) to
25 % in 2000 (60 % for the North Atlantic basin) and reached a plateau
exceeding 80 % (95 % for the North Atlantic Ocean) after the deployment
of the Argo program. The average depth reached by the profiles also
increased from 1950 to 2017. The validation framework is presented, and an
objective analysis-based method is developed to assess the quality of the
dataset validation process. Objective analyses (OAs) of the ocean variability are calculated
without taking into account the data quality flags (raw dataset OA), with
the near-real-time quality flags (NRT dataset OA), and with the delayed-time-mode quality flags (CORA dataset OA). The comparison of the objective
analysis variability shows that the near-real-time dataset managed to detect
and to flag most of the large measurement errors, reducing the analysis
error bar compared to the raw dataset error bar. It also shows that the
ocean variability of the delayed-time-mode validated dataset is almost
exempt from random-error-induced variability.


Plants and insects share a long evolutionary history characterized by relationships that affect individual, population, and community dynamics (Gatehouse, 2002). Plant-herbivore interactions are a prominent feature of this evolutionary history; it is by plant-herbivore interactions that energy is transferred from primary producers to the rest of the food web (Agrawal, 2004). On average, more than 10% of plant production is consumed by herbivores annually (Coley et al., 1985). This initial interaction between plants and their herbivores establishes the amount of energy available to the rest of the community. Consequently, the nature and extent of plant- herbivore interactions can significantly impact community structure, diversity, and function (see Silliman et al., 2005). Not only are plant-herbivore food webs important to community dynamics, but these webs also constitute a significant portion of the world's biodiversity. A recent study estimated that plant-herbivore food webs represent more than 40% of the global terrestrial biodiversity (Novotny & Basset, 2005). Consequently, it is important to understand the concepts central to these interactions as well as the processes that might influence the evolution of plant and herbivore species. Back Off Bugs! Plant Defenses Plant-herbivore relationships pit the insect against the plant in a race to maximize fitness. Maximizing fitness is the general goal for both plants and insects; however, in the case of plant-herbivore interactions, the insect maximizes its fitness by consuming plant tissues. Reduced biomass and tissue damage can negatively impact plant growth and fecundity, which ultimately decrease plant population growth rate. Individual plants that can somehow prevent or tolerate herbivory have a higher fitness than their more vulnerable neighbors; thus, these individuals contribute more genes to future generations. Not all plant-herbivore interactions are equal; rather, the type and amount of herbivore damage varies greatly among plant species and populations (Coley et al., 1985). This variation in consumption is likely a reflection of variation in plant palatability. Plants employ a variety of mechanical and chemical defenses that affect palatability and deter herbivores (Lerdau et al., 1994; Mauricio, 1998; Gatehouse, 2002; Siemens et al., 2002; Kliebenstein, 2004). Leaf toughness and trichome production are two ways in which plants mechanically protect themselves from herbivores (Feeny, 1970; Mauricio, 1998). These defenses act as physical barriers, preventing or slowing herbivores from accessing and handling plant tissue. In contrast, chemical defenses make it difficult for herbivores to process plant material once it is ingested. Chemicals, including glucosinolates, monoterpenes, and tannins, are generally produced through secondary metabolism (Lerdau, 1994; Mauricio, 1998; Gatehouse, 2002; Siemens et al., 2002; Kliebenstein, 2004). These compounds may have several functions that make them important to the plant's survival. In terms of defense, these compounds are often toxic or lethal to herbivores, causing a suite of problems that deter herbivores from foraging on the defended plant (Gatehouse, 2002). Operation Adaptation: Herbivore Offenses Plant defenses are important to insect herbivore populations because of their effect on insect growth and reproduction (Agrawal, 2004). The direction and magnitude of these effects depend on the evolutionary relationship of the insect herbivore to the plant; in particular, the effects of plant defenses on herbivore populations depend on whether the insect is a specialist or generalist herbivore on a specific host plant (Traw & Dawson, 2002a,b). In general, specialist herbivores tend to be unaffected by chemical defenses, many of which are lethal to generalist herbivores (Agrawal et al., 1999; Agrawal, 2000; Traw & Dawson, 2002). In some cases, chemical defenses are actually positively correlated with feeding by specialist herbivores, indicating that specialist herbivores use the chemical defenses as a cue to locate their preferred prey or exploit the defense in their own interactions with predator species (Ehrlich & Raven, 1964; Agrawal et al. …


Purpose of reviewTo discuss the recent work examining the importance of taurine in skeletal muscle and outline the discrepancy that exists between research findings in rodent vs. human skeletal muscle. Recent findingsThere is clear evidence that a normal taurine level is important for the normal functioning of skeletal muscle. Taurine is believed to be involved in many cellular functions, but in skeletal muscle its main roles are to facilitate Ca2+ dependent excitation–contraction processes, contribute to the regulation of cellular volume, and aid in antioxidant defense from stress responses. Most research has studied the importance of taurine in rodent skeletal muscle by downregulating and upregulating the muscle taurine content and examining the effects on the functioning of skeletal muscle at rest and during the stress of contractions (exercise). One successful research approach is to supplement the diet with taurine, which leads to increases in muscle taurine content and contractile function in rodents. However, this approach does not work in human skeletal muscle as the processes involved in the transport of taurine into the muscle are resistant to large and prolonged increases in plasma taurine following oral taurine supplementation. At present, attempts to influence muscle function with taurine supplementation can only occur through interactions outside the muscle cell in humans. SummaryFuture research should target the mechanisms responsible for the transport of taurine into human skeletal muscle and determine why the muscle defends the normal taurine content in the face of elevated plasma taurine levels, as opposed to the results in rodent muscle. This may lead to more fruitful usage of taurine as a skeletal muscle enhancing nutrient in athletic and clinical populations.


School is a place of formal education. All activities that occur within the school are directed and planned in such a way as to achieve a quality output. Quality output in education can be realized if supported by environmental components that work together and are responsible. Dirto Hadisusanto (2003: 157) states that education lasts a lifetime and is implemented within families, schools and communities, so that education is a shared responsibility between family, government and society. One indicator to know the level of quality of education conducted in schools is the achievement of student learning. Efforts to improve student achievement have been done by educational institutions either through the addition of learning facilities, curriculum improvement, teacher competency improvement, research, seminars and others.             Implementation of class actions that have been implemented with rounds and based on observations, collect data and evaluate the results can be summarized as follows: 1) The language game method with fast quiz right, quiz figures and quiz Who He was able to engage students actively in the learning process, and grade 6 students of SDN 02 Teratak Teleng Sub District IV Nagari Bayang Utara Pesisir Selatan District Lesson Year 2015/2016 is very prominent. 2) The language game method is very effective to increase the courage of the students of class VI SDN 02 Teratak Teleng Sub District IV Nagari Bayang Utara Pesisir Selatan District Lesson Year 2015/2016 in expressing opinions. This can be seen from the results of each round which indicates an increase in student activity. From the first round the correct answer is 77.3%, while the punishment is 19.1%. 3) the ability of language game methods in increasing courage in expressing opinion very well, because it can be seen actively in teaching and learning process so that learning many with smooth and live.


In the above-mentioned paper (Wang and Mau, 1997), the authors have developed a criterion to guarantee the robust stabilization and state estimation of a class of discrete-time interconnected systems. They have claimed that the developed criterion is independent of the time delay and that the unknown delay is constant but unknown. This paper highlights an error in the paper which can only be remedied by stating that the delay factor is a known constant.


OBJECTIVE: To report a case of bifid left ureter with a blind-ending branch in a 35 year-old female patient who complained of poorly defined abdominal pain. METHODS: Clinical features, radiologic findings, differential diagnosis and therapeutic approach are discussed and the literature reviewed. RESULTS: Bifid ureter with a blind branch is not an uncommon anomaly as generally believed. There are at least a hundred and seventy-five cases reported in the literature reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis is most commonly made by intravenous urography (IVU) with oblique views showing the blind-ending segment filled by retrograde uretero-ureteral reflux. However blind segment does not always fill on excretory urography and retrograde pyelography is required for diagnosis (an ectopic kidney at the distal end of the blind-ending branch should be easily seen on CT scan or ultrasonography). A voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) may be needed to demonstrate an ureteral branch with coexistent vesicoureteral reflux. Treatment is initially conservative although complications or severe symptoms require surgical excision of the blind branch together with antireflux reimplantation of the normal ureter when vesicoureteral reflux is present.


This instructional case provides four different scenarios that illustrate the inconsistent treatment of various executory contracts under current generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The purpose of the case is threefold. First, it provides students an opportunity to use the Financial Accounting Research System (FARS) to resolve several accounting issues related to long‐term executory contracts. Familiarity with FARS is essential, both for "real‐world" use when students enter the accounting profession and for success on the computerized CPA exam, which includes case research. Second, as the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) attempts to move toward principles‐based standards (as opposed to rules‐based standards), the case provides students an opportunity to observe that GAAP seems to be rules‐based and theoretically inconsistent in the case of executory contracts. Third, the case can be used as a premise for discussing the standard‐setting process and exploring differences between the ...


Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive, degenerative disease of the macula that threatens central vision. It initially occurs in a "dry" form, and can progress to choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or geographic atrophy. It is the leading cause of blindness among European-descended people older than 65 years, with a prevalence of 1.5%. The treatment of CNV in developed nations in 2007 is substantially different than it was in 1997. Focal, photocoagulating, laser therapy was replaced by intravenous verteporfin and then by intravitreal pegaptanib, which is now being replaced by intravitreal ranibizumab and off-label use of bevacizumab. Other than a ranibizumab versus verteporfin trial, there are no published comparative studies of the three approved pharmacological treatments for CNV. Although frequent intravitreal injections are accepted as a current standard of care, their use is still far from ideal. Thus, there is an opportunity for improving therapy of CNV with respect to mechanism-targeted treatments, efficacy, and route of administration.


HCI engages with data science through many topics and themes. Researchers have addressed biased dataset problems, arguing that bad data can cause innocent software to produce bad outcomes. But what if our software is not so innocent? What if the human decisions that shape our data-processing software, inadvertently contribute their own sources of bias? And what if our data-work technology causes us to forget those decisions and operations? Based in feminisms and critical computing, we analyze forgetting practices in data work practices. We describe diverse beneficial and harmful motivations for forgetting. We contribute: (1) a taxonomy of data silences in data work, which we use to analyze how data workers forget, erase, and unknow aspects of data; (2) a detailed analysis of forgetting practices in machine learning; and (3) an analytic vocabulary for future work in remembering, forgetting, and erasing in HCI and the data sciences.


Recently, Vontobel showed the relationship between Bethe free energy and annealed free energy for protograph factor graph ensembles. In this paper, annealed free energy of any random regular factor graph ensembles are connected to Bethe free energy. The annealed free energy is expressed as the solution of maximization problem whose stationary condition coincides with equations of belief propagation since the contribution to partition function of particular type of variable and factor nodes has similar form of minus Bethe free energy. It gives simple derivation of quenched free energy by using the replica method. It implies equivalence of the replica and cavity methods for any random irregular factor graph ensembles. As consequence, it is shown that the replica symmetric solution and annealed free energy are equal for regular ensemble.


The CERN Health, Safety and Environment Unit is mandated to provide a Radiation and Environment Monitoring SCADA system for all CERN accelerators, experiments as well as the environment. In order to face the increasing demand of radiation protection and continuously assess both the conventional and the radiological impact on the environment, CERN is developing and progressively deploying its new supervisory system, called REMUS Radiation and Environment Monitoring Unified Supervision. This new WinCC OA based system aims for an optimum flexibility and scalability, based on the experience acquired during the development and operation of the previous CERN radiation and environment supervisory systems (RAMSES and ARCON). REMUS will interface with more than 70 device types, providing about 3,000 measurement channels (approximately 500,000 tags) by end 2016. This paper describes the architecture of the system, as well as the innovative design that was adopted in order to face the challenges of heterogeneous equipment interfacing, diversity of end users and non-stop operation.


Educators' experiences of racism in education
Act 4 of 2000, The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (RSA 2000, Act no. 4), the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996 [RSA 1996a: Section 4(1), (2), (3)] as well as the South African Constitution [RSA 1996b: Section 29(2)] prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race. Yet, from a report of the Human Rights Commission, it appears that 60% of all South African learners are of the opinion that there is racism in their schools (Die Volksblad, 2001:4). Against this background an investigation was undertaken of the opinions, as well as experiences and/or observations of education related racism. By way of introduction this article presents a report about the opinions of a group of educators about racism. The definitions of the term given by the group of educators reflect the complex nature of racism. The educators identified phenological, cultural and institutional racism at individual, cultural and institutional levels. In the article the personal experiences and/or encounters of a group of educators with racism are also reported.