Hexagonal nanopillars with a single InGaAs/GaAs quantum well (QW) were fabricated on a GaAs (111)B substrate by selective-area metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy. The standard deviations in diameter and height of the nanopillars are about 2% and 5%, respectively. Zincblende structure and rotation twins were identified in both the GaAs and the InGaAs layers by electron diffraction. The excitation-power-density-dependent micro-photoluminescence (μ-PL) of the nanopillars was measured at 4.2, 50, 100 and 150 K. It was shown that, with increasing excitation power density, the μ-PL peak's positions shift to a higher energy, and their intensity and width increase, which were rationalized using a model that includes the effects of piezoelectricity, photon-screening and band-filling. It was also revealed that the rotation twins significantly reduce the diffusion length of the carriers in the nanopillars, compared to that in the regular semiconductors.


Mathematics has an age-old relationship with physics and other natural sciences. It is the foundation of science and technology and the functional role of mathematics to science and technology is multifarious, that no area of science, technology and business enterprise escapes its application. This study interrelate the performance of students' in mathematics and physics in senior secondary schools. The paper highlighted two pertinent points; first to determine the relationship between mathematics and physics, and second is to see whether success in mathematics can be used to predict succ ess in physics and visa-visa. One null hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. Research data were extracted from 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 WAEC examination results from three secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi local government area of Kebbi state. The study adopted a descriptive survey design that employs simple linear correlation regression analysis in order to test the null hypothesis. The R values of 0.384, 0.104, 0.022 and 0.158 for the year 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively indicated moderateto weak correlation. A test of significance, F -ratio was applied to the results. Since the calculated values of F were less than the critical valuesof F (F=1.62) at 5% level of significant, the null hypothesis was accepted. The result of the study therefore showed no significant correlation between students' performance in physics and their performance in mathematics.


Quantum chemical calculations using molecular orbital (HF, CASSCF) and density functional theory (B3LYP) methods, in conjunction with the 6–311 + + G(d,p) basis set, have been applied to investigate the molecular and electronic structure of two diamino-meta-quinonoid molecules 1a and 2a, each containing a six-membered ring coupled with two exocyclic C = O bonds situated in a meta position, along with two amino substituents (NH2 and NH-CH3). It is confirmed that these substituted meta-quinone systems exhibit a zwitterionic structure in which the positively charged N-C-C(H)-C-N subunit, containing the two amino-groups, forms two chemical bonds with the negatively charged O-C-C(H)-C-O subunit. The negative charge amounts to about half of an electron. The charge separation has been approached in terms of geometries, vibrational frequencies, and electronic distribution. The ionization energy for molecule 1a is about 7.8±0.3eV. The quinonoid systems are essentially non-aromatic characterized by the NICS(+1) values of around 1.2 ppm.


Infrared (IR) hyperspectral imaging is a powerful approach in the field of materials and life sciences. However, for the extension to modern sub-diffraction nanoimaging it still remains a highly inefficient technique, as it acquires data via inherent sequential schemes. Here, we introduce the mathematical technique of low-rank matrix reconstruction to the sub-diffraction scheme of atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), for efficient hyperspectral IR nanoimaging. To demonstrate its application potential, we chose the trypanosomatid unicellular parasites Leishmania species as a realistic target of biological importance. The mid-IR spectral fingerprint window covering the spectral range from 1300 to 1900 cm−1 was chosen and a distance between the data points of 220 nm was used for nanoimaging of single parasites. The method of k-means cluster analysis was used for extracting the chemically distinct spatial locations. Subsequently, we randomly selected only 10% of an originally gathered data cube of 134 (x) × 50 (y) × 148 (spectral) AFM-IR measurements and completed the full data set by low-rank matrix reconstruction. This approach shows agreement in the cluster regions between full and reconstructed data cubes. Furthermore, we show that the results of the low-rank reconstruction are superior compared to alternative interpolation techniques in terms of error-metrics, cluster quality, and spectral interpretation for various subsampling ratios. We conclude that by using low-rank matrix reconstruction the data acquisition time can be reduced from more than 14 h to 1–2 h. These findings can significantly boost the practical applicability of hyperspectral nanoimaging in both academic and industrial settings involving nano- and bio-materials.


Venographic studies preoperatively and postoperatively in patients being treated for fracture of the hip were utilized to show occlusion of the deep leg venis. This investigation points to the effectiveness of elevation of the lower extremities in reducing the rate of venous thrombosis in these patients. An incidence rate of 20 per cent in this group of patients is compared with an incidence rate of 52 per cent in patients from an earlier series who did not have the foot of the bed elevated. Although the series is small, the reduction in the rate of venographic evidence of venous thrombosis with elevation of the foot of the bed recommends this simple maneuver in patients with fracture of the hip.


Every project delivery involves significant amount of repeatable and replicable work, for example Customer Requirement Document(CRD), High Level Design(HLD), Low Level Design(LLD), Network Implementation Plan(NIP) and Network Ready For Use(NRFU) documentation. Repeatable work constitutes over 20% of the total transactional project efforts. Depending on the Service Contract the individual Network Consulting Engineer (NCE) may be responsible for network Prepare, Planning, Design, Implementation, Operation and Optimization (PPDIOO) [1]. This may include remote or onsite: infrastructure design, implementation planning, proofof-concept testing, network auditing/sizing, preconfiguration, deployment planning and acceptance of product in execution or advisory/assistance or support models. For this there is a large potential for automating the low intellect works and to provide more bandwidth for NCE for high value work [2]. Since NCE works in all the phases of the project documentation there is a need for end to end flow of huge amount of information without any errors. There is a need to automate the generation of dynamic contents and to replicate the contents in all phase documents. The main intention is to reduce NCE hours for an organizational benefit. The aim of this paper is to introduce an innovative Plan Design Implement tool. The tool uses the business intelligence to auto generate the dynamic contents in the CRD, HLD, LLD and NIP documents. Keywords-customer requirement document; intellect; template; Implementation plan; network ready for use;


How and why people choose which communication medium to use is an important issue for both behavioral researchers and software product developers. Little is yet known about how and why people in organizations choose amongnewmedia like electronic mail and voice mail, although the availability and use of new media are increasing dramatically. Media richness theory (MRT) is the most prominent, if contested, theory of media choice. It is concerned with identifying the most appropriate medium in terms of "medium richness" for communication situations characterized by equivocality and uncertainty. From this theory, we derived hypotheses about how and why individuals will choose between electronic mail and voice mail and tested them among users of both media in the corporate headquarters of a large company. The data are analysed using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The results fail to support MRT, but they do support alternative explanations of people's media choice behavior. While the concept of media richness is too poor to explain the richness of people's media use behavior, our behavioral findings and explanations should prove useful to those building the next generation of integrated multimedia communication tools.


Objectives: Histiocytic hyperplasia with hemophagocytosis (HP) is relatively uncommon condition that has often been mistaken in the past for neoplastic disorders. This study was conducted to investigate the possible etiology of HP, its intensity in the bone marrow (BM), and also its effect on hematological parameters with the extent of disease activity. Methods: Blood samples were collected and BM examination was performed in 250 patients with varied etiology showing HP. Complete blood counts, reticulocyte count, and red blood cell morphology were determined. HP was examined in the BM smears by Leishman staining. The severity of HP was determined by grading of its intensity in the BM smears. Results: Our data showed variable degree of HP (mild, moderate, and severe) in the BM smears of patients having different underlying disorders. HP syndrome (HPS) with clinical and biochemical derangements was found in 24 (9.6%) patients. HPS was mostly associated with infection. The etiological distribution in different group of disorders was nonmalignant hematological conditions (56.80%), infections (24.80%), storage disorders (4.40%), malignant hematological conditions (4.40%), autoimmune disorders (1.20%), and miscellaneous group (8.40%). Distribution of patients in different grades of intensity of HP was Grade I (35.50%; mild), Grade II (45.50%; moderate), and Grade III (19.60%; severe). Conclusion: We conclude that severe degree of HP has profound effect on hematological parameters particularly hemoglobin and platelet counts. This phenomenon may present as HPS with fatal outcome. We also conclude that there was no effect of age on either intensity of HP or on blood counts.


Background and Objective Over 165 million cases of shigellosis occur in the world each year, mostly in developing countries. Outbreaks of shigellosis are associated with poor sanitation, natural calamities, contaminated food and crowded living conditions. In late summer 2006, during the final stage of an outbreak of shigellosis at a vast region of Isfahan province, Naein & Ardestan, our laboratory was assigned to investigate the outbreak in order to determine the causative agent. Materials and Methods A total of 146 rectal swabs which had been collected from the patients by local laboratories on separate days were screened using a battery of conventional and molecular tests. Results Thirteen specimens tested positive for Shigella spp. They were identified as S. sonnei (6, 46.1%), S. dysenteriae (4, 30.8%), S. flexneri (2, 15.4%) and Shigella spp (1, 7.7%) by conventional and molecular microbiological tests. According to ribotyping results the isolates were grouped into 3 distinct clusters encompassing the majority of isolates and a single line of descent representing isolate S122 which was nonreactive with any Shigella polyvalent antisera. Conclusion This diarrheal outbreak appeared to be the result of shigellosis. Despite the fact that Shigella sonnei was the predominant organism isolated from patients, the causative agent of outbreak diarrhea remains obscure, since other Shigella species were also involved. The serologic testing supports this conclusion, as do the molecular patterns of the Shigella isolates. Having considered the time of investigation which was in the late stage of the outbreak, it was very likely that a collection of endemic and epidemic clinical samples was screened resulting in isolation of various Shigella species.


For a finite $\mathbb{Z}$-algebra $R$, i.e., for a $\mathbb{Z}$-algebra which is a finitely generated $\mathbb{Z}$-module, we assume that $R$ is explicitly given by a system of $\mathbb{Z}$-module generators $G$, its relation module ${\rm Syz}(G)$, and the structure constants of the multiplication in $R$. In this setting we develop and analyze efficient algorithms for computing essential information about $R$. First we provide polynomial time algorithms for solving linear systems of equations over $R$ and for basic ideal-theoretic operations in $R$. Then we develop ZPP (zero-error probabilitic polynomial time) algorithms to compute the nilradical and the maximal ideals of 0-dimensional affine algebras $K[x_1,\dots,x_n]/I$ with $K=\mathbb{Q}$ or $K=\mathbb{F}_p$. The task of finding the associated primes of a finite $\mathbb{Z}$-algebra $R$ is reduced to these cases and solved in ZPPIF (ZPP plus one integer factorization). With the same complexity, we calculate the connected components of the set of minimal associated primes ${\rm minAss}(R)$ and then the primitive idempotents of $R$. Finally, we prove that knowing an explicit representation of $R$ is polynomial time equivalent to knowing a strong Gr\"obner basis of an ideal $I$ such that $R = \mathbb{Z}[x_1,\dots,x_n]/I$.


Background Research has led to improvements in the effectiveness of interventions for substance use disorders (SUD), but for the most part progress has been modest, particularly with regard to longer‐term outcomes. Moreover, most individuals with SUD do not seek out treatment. Argument/analysis This paper presents two recommendations on how to improve treatment engagement and long‐term outcomes for those with SUD. First, treatments should go beyond a focus on reducing or eliminating substance use to target greater access to and more time spent in experiences that will be enjoyable or otherwise rewarding to clients. Secondly, there must be sufficient incentives in the environment to justify the effort needed to sustain long‐term abstinence for individuals who often have limited access to such incentives. Conclusions To increase rates of long‐term recovery from substance misuse, treatments should link clients to reinforcers that will make continued abstinence more appealing. This work needs to extend beyond interventions focused on the individual or family to include the local community and national policy in an effort to incentivize longer‐term recoveries more strongly.


Breast cancer is currently the most prevalent malignancy among women in industrialized countries, and 1 in 8 women living in the United States will develop the disease at some point in her lifetime. Although the incidence of breast cancer has increased 0.3% per year since 1990, the mortality rate has decreased by 2% per year since 1990 due to improvements in treatment and early detection. New treatment strategies and a better molecular understanding of the disease will be important to continue the progress science has made against this disease. The aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has been traditionally associated with activation by environmental contaminants, acute toxicity, and cancer risks associated with exposures. However, the AhR has been highly conserved throughout evolution suggesting an important biological role for the receptor independent of its response to environmental contaminants. There is a significant body of evidence indicating the AhR plays a role in breast epithelial cell differentiation and that receptor agonists can inhibit breast cancer growth. A 50% reduction in estrous-induced terminal end buds was observed in the mammary glands of AhR knockout animals when compared to wild type suggesting a role for the AhR in mammary development. In 2 independent rodent cancer bioassays, treatment with the AhR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin (TCDD) significantly reduced the incidence of spontaneous rat mammary tumors. These and other studies support the premise that the AhR plays a fundamental role in breast epithelial cell differentiation. This review provides a brief summary of the current evidence that the AhR may be an important pharmacological target for treating human breast cancer.


In this paper it is shown that modest calculations combining first principles evaluations of the molecular properties with electrostatic interaction schemes to account for the crystal environment effects are reliable for predicting and interpreting the experimentally measured electric linear and second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of molecular crystals within the experimental error bars. This is illustrated by considering two molecular crystals, namely: 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline and 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3-acetamidonitrobenzene. Three types of surrounding effects should be accounted for (i) the polarization due to the surrounding molecules, described here by static electric fields originating from their electric dipoles or charge distributions, (ii) the intermolecular interactions, which affect the geometry and particularly the molecular conformation, and (iii) the screening of the external electric field by the constitutive molecules. This study further highlights the role of electron correlation on the linear and nonlinear responses of molecular crystals and the challenge of describing frequency dispersion.


Decompression of the carpal canal is the most common hand surgery performed in the United States. Hand surgeons perform 460,000 carpal tunnel releases (CTR) each year, which cost the medical industry in excess of two billion dollars per year. The focus of this investigation was to identify the changes, which occur in the flexor tenosynovium of patients undergoing CTR at the connective tissue level. The connective tissues determine the amount and arrangement of macromolecules (fibers, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins) in the extracellular matrix. The proteoglycans are soluble macromolecules that have both structural and metabolic roles. Glycoproteins help to form the interstitial space, basement membrane and function as cell surface receptors. The mechanical function of the proteoglycans includes stabilization of the collagen fibers as well as function in the hydration of the tissues. It has been previous shown that changes in the oxygen concentration at the tissue level can alter the proteoglycans profile of the tissue. During periods of hypoxia, such as those obtained during repetitive motion CTS; the glycolytic pathway acts as the energy source for the tissue. Productions of chondroitin sulfates are a process consumes NAD and would be potentially toxic to the cells under anaerobic conditions. Production of keratan sulfate is NAD sparing product, and may act as a survival pathway for cells under adverse conditions. The disruption in the proteoglycan balance will allow for alterations in the ECM and changes in hydration status of the tissues may have serious implication in CTS because the carpal canal is anatomically very narrow and increases in volume within the canal can result in further compression of the nerve. Flexor tenosyioum was obtained from patients undergoing CTR and compared with control tissue for dermatan, keratan and chondroitin sulfate. The results show a greater density of keratan reactivity in CTS tissues identified by immunostaining. In addition to changes in proteoglycan content there was also an increase in new vessel formation in the CTS tissues. The data obtained suggests that the shifts in the proteoglycan ratios may render the tissues less able to withstand the compressive forces and therefore allow for more force to be placed on the median nerve within the carpal canal.


An analysis of the frequency and duration of spells of poor visibility and of low loud ceiling over Palam, New Delhi, below certain specified limits has been presented using the data for the period 1949-53.Below minima condition prevailing, simultaneous over neighbouring airfield at Safdarjung are also presented.  Simultaneity of weather conditions below specified limits over Agra, Allahabad, Lucknow and Jodhpur have also been studied with a view to assess their comparative suitability as alternates for Palam.

It has been found that on occasions of poor visibility over Palam, Safdarjung too may be affected simultaneously on nearly 60-pre cent of the occasions. Agra is affected on 30 per cent and Allahabad, Lhcknow and Jodhpur on only less than 12 per cent of the total number of occasions over Palam. Among these, Allahabad and Lucknow are India more suitable as alternates for Palam during May and June while Jodhpur is better during the winter month .In regard to low clouds, Safdarjung is generally affected simultaneously with Palam on nearly 70 per cent of the occasions. On occasions of 'below minima' conditions of visibility or of low clouds. or both over Palam the suitability or aerodromes mentioned above as diversionaries stands in the following order of preference--(l) Jodhpur,(2) Lucknow, (3) Allahabad and (4) Agra.


Summary
Jaundice complicated the course of disease in 11 (41%) of 27 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma. In only one patient was myeloma cell infiltration of the liver the sole cause of jaundice. One patient was found to have carcinoma of the pancreas. In nine jaundice developed during therapy with the bone marrow stimulant oxymetholone. Liver histology in six of the nine showed cholestatic hepatitis or a predominantly cholestatic reaction; clinical events were consistent with oxymetholone-induced cholestasis in the remaining three. In addition to oxymetholone all patients were receiving intermittent therapy with melphalan, prednisolone and procarbazine, but such therapy was not temporally related to the onset of jaundice. All jaundiced patients were HBsAg negative. Of the 19 patients treated with oxymetholone for refractory anaemia, nine (47%) developed jaundice. The reason for such a high complication rate is obscure. Three of these patients, who showed a severe cholestatic hepatitis, died in acute liver failure. These results indicate that high doses of oxymetholone should be used with great care in the therapy of refractory anaemia in multiple myeloma.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress, dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and health-related behavior of nurses. Method: The subjects of this study were 161 nurses studying at a cyber university. The general characteristics, stress, dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and health-related behavior of the subjects were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire in October, 2010. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the working pattern: shift workers (n = 110) and non-shift workers (n = 51). Results: In the general characteristics, there were significant differences in marriage, monthly income, employment type, and job satisfaction between the two groups. Total stress score did not differ significantly between the two groups. In dietary habits, significant differences in meal regularity, skipping meals, skipping reasons, having regular mealtimes, frequency of snack and the snack time between shift workers and nonshift workers (p<0.05). Total score of dietary behaviors in shift workers was significantly lower than that in non-shift workers (p<0.05). Score of shift workers in taking three meals per day regularly was significantly lower than that of non-shift workers. In health-related behavior, a significant difference in sleeping time was observed between shift workers and nonshift workers. Dietary behavior showed negative correlation with shift work (r = 0.176) and positive correlation with health consciousness (r = 0.210) and perceived health status (r = 0.198) in subjects after adjustment for age, marriage, monthly income, and employment type (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that shift work, health consciousness, and perceived health status affected dietary behavior in subjects. Conclusion: These results indicate that shift working nurses had poor dietary habits and dietary behaviors, and these dietary behaviors are affected by their shift work, health consciousness, and perceive health status.


Optical Burst Switching (OBS) networks rely on complex and costly contention resolution strategies to reach reasonable bandwidth utilization efficiency. Recent research efforts have suggested that proactive contention minimization strategies based on selectively delaying bursts at the ingress edge nodes, exploiting their inexpensive electronic buffers, can assist in the task of relaxing the hardware requirements of the network core nodes. This paper considers the main strategies of selectively delaying bursts at the ingress nodes, establishing their similarities and differences. The performance of these strategies is evaluated and compared by means of network simulation. The results show that a contention minimization strategy using the selective ingress delays to increase the degree of isolation on different wavelengths of burst traffic going through overlapping paths achieves the largest reduction of burst losses. Moreover, this performance improvement can be attained while at the same time reducing the number of wavelength converters required at the core nodes and slightly relaxing the number of transmitters and receivers needed at the edge nodes, provided that tuneable devices are employed.


This study compared the gastrointestinal parasites of captive and wild Olive Baboon (Papio anubis). A total of 15 and 50 fresh faecal samples were collected in both Federal College of Wildlife Management Mini Zoo and Kainji Lake National Park (Borgu Sector). The study covered a period of 5 months (January to May, 2018), the faecal sample were taken to the laboratory for examination using floatation method to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites. Out of 65 samples collected, 51(78.46%) were infected with one or more gastrointestinal parasite. The highest prevalence was recorded amongst Baboons in captivity (100%). All the parasites encountered in the different samples were nematodes for both captivity and wild Olive baboons. Parasite ova recovered in captive Baboons are Trichuris trichuria, Ascaris lumbricoides and Haemonchus contortus while that of the wild includes Hookworm spp, A. lumbricoides and Strongyle stercolaris. The study advocates periodic monitoring of the health status of the animals in order to reduce the high prevalence of parasites observed.Keywords: Comparative; olive baboon; gastrointestinal parasites; wild; captive.


A steady-state IR measurement is described and demonstrated for a leading edge crossover impingement configuration. Thin-walled leading edge models are used, with a constant heat flux boundary condition generated. This approach allows for rapid and low-cost hardware manufacture while simultaneously providing improved measurement quality. Test time is heavily reduced relative to traditional liquid crystal tests, and data processing is substantially simplified from transient methodologies. The thin walls minimize the impact of lateral conduction and simplify the conduction corrections. The methodology is demonstrated on a test for a blade-relevant leading edge impingement geometry, with a detailed uncertainty analysis provided.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


The use of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in predicting motor and functional outcome represents the central issue of this thesis. The thesis is divided into 3 parts. Two pilot studies are described in part I. Part II consists of 2 systematic reviews, and the prospective cohort studies are described in part III. Both pilot studies indicated that evoked potentials predict the occurrence of motor recovery of upper extremity paralysis in acute stroke patients. The first systematic review focuses at motor recovery after stroke. The purpose of the study was to collect and integrate existing data concerning the occurrence, extent, time course and prognostic determinants of motor recovery after stroke. The initial grade of paresis is the most important predictor for motor recovery (ORs, > 4). Objective analysis of the motor pathways by motor evoked potentials (MEPs) showed even much higher ORs (ORs, >20). We concluded that our knowledge of motor recovery after stroke in more accurate, quantitative and qualitative terms is still limited and a precise prediction of motor recovery in an individual acute stroke patient is not possible. MEPs seem to be promising within this context. In the second systematic review we addressed specifically the use of MEPs in predicting motor and functional outcomes. We concluded that evidence exists for the prognostic value of MEPs with respect to motor and functional recovery. The specificity was consistently very high for subgroups of patients with paralysis or severe paresis, and this test property might be used in clinical practice. The predictive value of MEPs with respect motor recovery of the upper and lower extremity, and functional recovery, was obvious in the 3 prospective cohort studies (last part of the thesis), which agrees with the paradigm that postinfarctional motor recovery is strongly dependent on a critical residual sparing of corticospinal function


It has recently been shown that under severe plastic deformation processing bi-metal fcc/bcc composites develop a mechanically stable heterophase interface that joins the {112}fcc//{112}bcc planes in the Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship. In this article, we study variations in the relaxed equilibrium atomic structure of this interface with changes in fcc stacking fault energy (SFE) and lattice mismatch between the two crystals. Using molecular statics/dynamics simulations for three fcc/bcc systems, Cu-Nb, Al-Fe, and Al-Nb, we find that the number of distinct sets of intrinsic interfacial dislocations and their core structures vary significantly among these three systems. The impact of these atomic-scale structural differences on interfacial properties is demonstrated through their interactions with point defects. The interfaces studied here are shown to exhibit a wide variation in ability, ranging from being a poor to an excellent sink for vacancies.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether pain thresholds to electrical stimulation of the skin change in the response to treatment in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP).

METHODS
Fifty-eight women with persistent pelvic pain for at least 6 months, from a tertiary care setting, were included in this study. All women were evaluated before the therapeutic intervention and at 6 months of multidisciplinary treatment. To estimate the pain threshold, we used transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the anterior surface of the nondominant arm. The intensity of clinical pain was estimated by a visual analog scale and by the McGill questionnaire.

RESULTS
The mean of pain threshold increased from 14.2 to 17.4 after 6 months of treatment (P < 0.0001). The effect sizes of the increase of electrical pain threshold were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.38 to 1.34) in the group with pain reduction and 0.53 (95% CI, -0.08 to 1.15) in the group without pain reduction.

CONCLUSION
The sensitivity to experimental pain was reduced after 6 months of multidisciplinary treatment for CPP. Our data provided additional evidence of central sensitization in women with CPP.


Serpentinized peridotites and gabbros were dredged from the axial zone of the Parece Vela Basin during a cruise of S/V Takuyo in 1995. The central zone of the Parece Vela Basin is characterized by the NS trending chain of depressions forming right-step en-echelon alignment. Our petrological studies suggest that the peridotites are residues of extensive partial melting of primitive mantle peridotites. Presence of hydrous phases in the peridotites indicates that the peridotites were subjected to metasomatic event in the upper mantle beneath the Parece Vela Rift.


A detecting system, which alerts when a target elder falls down in selected area without offending his/her privacy, is necessary to lighten the taking care burden of elders. In this paper, we propose a detecting method using two pyroelectric sensors not only to report in falling down situations, but also to measure the position of the target person in certain area. The person's position can be detected according to the ratio of output voltages of two pyroelectric sensors. We implemented a group of experiments to measure the position in 3 distances by 3 Fresnel lens for confirming the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the person's positions can be detected according to the ratio of output voltages in different distance conditions.


Fishing is Bagamoyo's second biggest industry after agriculture. Artisanal fishing is dominant and engages numerous fishing vessels. However, artisanal fishing is mainly in the very shallow waters while trawlers, mostly foreign owned, fish in areas ranging from coast to more than 20m deep. The trawlers scoops all types and sizes of fish, and ultimately retain only those aspired for markets, while artisanal fisheries in their old, worn out dugout canoes resort to dynamite fishing and coral mining for quick production. In addition to normal nets, the seine nets which destroy much of species and coastal reefs are also in wide use due to economic hardships. These trends contribute towards the degradation of coral reef ecosystem and pose as environmental challenges including loss of valuable natural habitat, reduction in biodiversity and marine lives. This paper discusses the state of affairs of artisanal fisher people that derive environmental and economical challenges in fishing industry, and looks at the actions necessary to save the industry from over-fishing and the juvenile fishing, and to protect the unique and fragile reefs.


Aknowledging the complexity of local–global interconnections, the author argues for the adoption of a global polity perspective in adult education, here applied to study mobilisation processes that occur through UNESCO. The findings point to three processes that cross geopolitical borders and professional interests: 'landmarking', by which a shared sense of a common past is created; 'brokering', which helps shape a common future direction; and 'framing', which is used to convert ideational landscapes into material government-led actions. The theoretical perspectives and analytical insights presented could be used in analogous studies in other areas of education or with a focus on different political actors.


The present study sought to evaluate the effect of resin shades on the degree of the polymerization. To this end, response variables affected by the degree of polymerization were examined in this study - namely, microhardness, polymerization shrinkage, and color change. Two commercial composite resins of four different shades were employed in this study: shades A3, A3.5, B3, and C3 of Z250 (Z2) and shades A3, A3.5, B3, and B4 of Solitaire 2 (S2). After light curing, the reflectance/absorbance, microhardness, polymerization shrinkage, and color change of the specimens were measured. On reflectance and absorbance, Z2 and S2 showed similar distribution curves regardless of the resin shade, with shade A3.5 of Z2 and shade A3 of S2 exhibiting the lowest/highest distributions. Similarly for attenuation coefficient and microhardness, the lowest/highest values were exhibited by shade A3.5 of Z2 and shade A3 of S2. On polymerization shrinkage, no statistically significant differences were observed among the different shades of Z2. Similarly for color change, Z2 specimens exhibited only a slight (DeltaE*=0.5-0.9) color change after immersion in distilled water for 10 days, except for shades A3 and A3.5. Taken together, results of the present study suggested that the degree of polymerization of the tested composite resins was minimally affected by resin shade.


ABSTRACT DNA replication must be tightly regulated to ensure accurate duplication of the genome and its transfer to the daughter cells. When these regulatory mechanisms fail, replicative stress and DNA damage ensue, eventually leading to cell cycle inhibition or cell death. We have recently uncovered that MYCN-dependent expansion of neuroprogenitor cells is accompanied by replication stress, which is restrained by the MRN complex, a direct transcriptional target of the MYCN proto-oncogene.


In modern powerful logistics the courier express and parcel market (CEP) is of special interest. Same-day and onehour-delivery are demanding for providers to efficiently handle large piece goods volumes nowadays even in bulk form. Loading and unloading of vehicles within the CEP-sector is the most crucial part in the whole process, with sorting and conveying working sufficiently nowadays. The authors describe a completely new solution to unload vehicles, developed by simulation, tested in laboratories and implemented in real processes. The device is to be installed in trailers/trucks with minimal effort and connects automatically to a stationary device within a typical CEP-hub at a loading/unloading bay. Identifying bulky amounts of piece goods therein was proven with RFID. Furthermore the within this bmvit funded project developed prototype "EAGLE" was realized within the laboratories at Graz University of Technology. Project partners from RFID-business (TAGpilot) as well as from parcel business (Österreichische Post AG) were engaged in the whole project. Lab tests showed great performance and a decreasing unloading time, compared to the actual manual unloading, by 70%. The contribution outlines main steps within the development, where an extensive use of simulation methods powered a broad variation in design. Specially engineered methods for simulating motion behaviour of large amounts of piece goods were the scientific output of the project. The lab tests are described by depicting innovative measuring methods for bulky piece goods. Furthermore broad fields of different parcels and piece goods were used to analyse their behaviour at the virtual prototype for DoE. A performance analysis concludes the paper outlining possible fields of installation in the CEP-sector.


When a laser wake field passes a sharp downward plasma density transition, a significant amount of plasma electrons are trapped and accelerated to relativistic high energies over a distance of the plasma wavelength. Phase space area of the plasma electrons remains constant during acceleration in the ion channel, but it was found that the phase space area, which is related with emittance, increases rapidly by the nonlinear space-charge field when the electron beam moves out of the plasma. As a result, the emittance of the accelerated electron beam grows severely during propagation in free space, and ultimately this limits the beam intensity. The emittance growth problem is investigated with two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, and several methods are suggested to suppress such a rapid emittance growth.


Near-infrared (NIR) emitting lanthanide cations have a great potential for practical applications such as fluoroimmunoassays, polymer-based optical signal amplifiers, active materials in lasers, and bioimaging. In the recent years, the quest for new lanthanide-based NIR compounds has been one of the most active research areas in lanthanide coordination chemistry and spectroscopy. The first part of this dissertation describes the discovery of tropolonate, a novel and efficient sensitizer for five different NIR emitting lanthanide cations (Yb3+, Nd3+, Er3+, Tm3+, and Ho3+). The detailed structural and photophysical properties of the lanthanide complexes formed with tropolonate were investigated. On the basis of this initial work, four different approaches have been initiated with the goal to explore the possibilities to gain more control and to improve the luminescence properties of NIR emitting lanthanide compounds. 1) By the attachment of four tropolonate units to a common backbone to form octadentate ligand in order to increase the thermodynamic stability and increase the protection for Ln3+. 2) By the substitution of the tropolonate ligand by six different functional groups to modify the electronic structure of tropolonate sensitizer to control the photophysical properties of the resulting complexes. 3) By the use of a ligand that incorporates azulene as a novel sensitizer, which is structurally similar to tropolonate; 4) By capping tropolonate ligands on the surface of inorganic nanocrystals doped with NIR emitting Ln3+. This approach allows the efficient sensitization of the NIR emitting lanthanides and eliminates the intrinsic non-radiative quenching from the ligand.


The utilization of a composite service has been substantially increased due to the wide usage of web services in various fields. However, composing existing web services automatically and dynamically according to user's request is a difficult task. But this can be achieved by adding the semantics to a service which can be done with the help of ontologies. In order to effectively utilize a composite service, the users require a convenient user friendly interface to invoke services which is natural language interface. But there are some issues like ambiguity of natural language expressions, handling negative sentences in user request. The proposed work aims to parse the user request and the extracted keywords are mapped to the ontology. Based on the IO concept in ontology the services are selected and are to be matched using Service matching algorithm and then matched services are to be composed.


Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that involves the lungs or intrathoracic lymph nodes in more than 90% of patients. The clinical spectrum of sarcoidosis is protean, but pulmonary manifestations often dominate. Chest radiographs are abnormal in 90 to 95% of patients with sarcoidosis; the most characteristic feature is bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL), present in 50 to 80% of patients. Pulmonary parenchymal infiltrates are present in 25 to 50% of patients. In this article, we review the radiographic features of sarcoidosis (both typical and atypical), and the impact of chest radiographic stage on long-term prognosis. Computed tomographic (CT) scans are more sensitive than chest radiographs in delineating parenchymal, mediastinal, and hilar structures, and distinctive CT patterns may be virtually pathognomonic for sarcoidosis in some patients. Routine CT scan is not appropriate to diagnose or manage sarcoidosis, but CT may be invaluable in patients with atypical clinical or chest radiographic findings or specific complications of sarcoidosis (pulmonary or extrapulmonary), or to assess prognosis. High-resolution thin-section CT scans (HRCT) may be helpful in selected patients with stage II or III sarcoidosis to discriminate active inflammation from irreversible fibrosis. This article discusses the salient HRCT features of sarcoidosis, accuracy of CT in the differential diagnosis, and correlations of HRCT with disease extent and activity, pulmonary function, and lesion reversibility.


From California to British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest coast bears an omnipresent earthquake and tsunami hazard from the Cascadia subduction zone. Multiple lines of evidence suggests that magnitude eight and greater megathrust earthquakes have occurred ‐ the most recent being 321 years ago (i.e., 1700 A.D.). Outstanding questions for the next great megathrust event include where it will initiate, what conditions are favorable for rupture to span the convergent margin, and how much slip may be expected. We develop the first 3‐D fully dynamic rupture simulations for the Cascadia subduction zone that are driven by fault stress, strength and friction to address these questions. The initial dynamic stress drop distribution in our simulations is constrained by geodetic coupling models, with segment locations taken from geologic analyses. We document the sensitivity of nucleation location and stress drop to the final seismic moment and coseismic subsidence amplitudes. We find that the final earthquake size strongly depends on the amount of slip deficit in the central Cascadia region, which is inferred to be creeping interseismically, for a given initiation location in southern or northern Cascadia. Several simulations are also presented here that can closely approximate recorded coastal subsidence from the 1700 A.D. event without invoking localized high‐stress asperities along the down‐dip locked region of the megathrust. These results can be used to inform earthquake and tsunami hazards for not only Cascadia, but other subduction zones that have limited seismic observations but a wealth of geodetic inference.


Cities impact on the environment was always been visible and a serious matter of issue. Megacities or megaregions, with the overcrowding population and the uncontrollable destruction of the natural environment due to economic growth and the need of mega-amounts of energy, have not only regional but a global environmental impact. Even if the concept of environmental security is not yet well defined and properly promoted as the proper environmental protection security mechanism, it is more than ever appropriate to be the problem-solver and practical solution of the unmanageable and irresistible environmental disruption in megacities. This paper establishes and analyses the perspectives of two megacities' inhabitants such as Cairo and London with the aims to understand the public's needs and viewpoints and find out reasonable solutions of the megacities impacts on the environment. By applying Q methodology (a new research method for security studies) in two concepts such as megacities and environmental security, we open the discussion on the sensitive topic of 'mega environmental crisis' with the view of encouraging the further concentrate at the solutions in the subject matters. The purpose and motivation of this paper is to provide a brief overview of Q methodology and the connection between environmental security and megacities based on the impact that the last ones have on the environment and the solutions coming directly from the people living in these megacities.


Degradation of phenol by microwave irradiation was carried out to study effect of pH, initial phenol concentration and irradiation time. The effects of two different catalysts such as Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) on phenol degradation was investigated. At pH 7, percentage phenol degradation was 37% and 27% for 50 mg/l and 75 mg/l respectively in 90s.In absence of catalyst the experimental data showed steady decreases in percentage degradation as initial phenol concentration increases from 5 mg/l to 100 mg/l. In the presence of catalyst percentage degradation increased from 19% to 44% for same concentration of phenol in 90s. The degradation follows zero order kinetics with rate constant of ko= 0.17225 s-1.


The chapter deals with the historic and contemporary Catholic pilgrimages in Europe. Modern religious practices of European pilgrims are presented. Author applies different typologies to classify European pilgrimage sites. Catholic sacred places divided into categories related with Virgin Mary, Jesus and saints. Analysis includes historic background, and contemporary challenges of pilgrimage traditions in relation to the themes of valuistic journeys, globalization, virtualization and development of modern tourism. Author identifies and analyzes the six most important religious practices performed at the pilgrimage places (participation at the Holy Mass and receiving indulgence, praying, processions and the Way of Cross, usage of water, leaving votive amulets, and buying souvenirs and devotionalias). Chapter also presents significance of values and identity in traveling. Valuistic journeys could help to express lifestyle and manifest values of the individuals. The chapter tries to answer the question – what are the challenges of pilgrimage traditions in Europe?


The combination of tobramycin and ticarcillin is an established regimen used to empirically treat patients with granulocytopenia and fever. However, the clinician now has a plethora of newer alternative antibiotic combinations from which to choose. In this retrospective study of 25 granulocytopenic patients recently treated with tobramycin and ticarcillin, a combined favorable or partial response rate of 78% was achieved, without loss of efficacy over time as a result of emerging resistance of organisms. Our reevaluation of this antibiotic regimen emphasizes that it continues to be as efficacious and safe as newer antibiotic combinations, and supports its continued use until a newer regimen is shown to have significant advantages. This study also emphasizes the significance of staphylococci as pathogens in granulocytopenia, and suggests the need to add specific antistaphylococcal coverage whenever catheter-related infection is suspected.


This study was conducted to investigate susceptibilities of clinical isolates to different antibacterial agents at 123 hospital laboratories throughout Japan from September to December of 1991. In this study, identifications and susceptibility testings were carried out at each hospital laboratory. The susceptibility testing were performed using the disk dilution method recommended by NCCLS. Staphylococcus aureus and CNS showed high or moderate resistance rates to methicillin (DMPPC). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus mirabilis were highly susceptible to many agents including beta-lactam antibiotics. Though Enterococcus faecalis was highly susceptible to ampicillin (ABPC), piperacillin (PIPC), imipenem (IPM), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (ST) compounds, Enterococcus faecium was resistant to almost all antibacterial agents but to ST compounds. High susceptibility rates were observed for strains of Enterobacter cloacae to IPM, gentamicin (GM) and ofloxacin (OFLX) and for strains of Proteus vulgaris to latamoxef (LMOX), IPM, aztreonam (AZT), GM and OFLX. Serratia marcescens and Bacteroides fragilis group were highly susceptible only to IPM. Pseudomonas aeruginosa were sensitive to ceftazidime (CAZ), IPM, amikacin (AMK) and tobramycin (TOB). Pseudomonas cepacia was relatively susceptible only to CAZ. IPM showed strong antibacterial activity to many species except for S. aureus and CNS.


This article discusses how interactive media threaten informational privacy, especially in a legal environment that fails to protect individuals' right to receive and use content without being scrutinized by private and government institutions.The article observes that as information about media consumption habits make up an increasingly large share of the stock of data that institutions can use in order to make inferences about individuals, it becomes increasingly more difficult for individuals to determine which types of behaviors would cause them to be assigned to a high-risk category. In the light of this observation, the article concludes by proposing that in order to address the uncertainty that individuals face in trying to figure out how institutions use personal information to categorize them into different risk groups, a privacy protection scheme that increases the accountability of these automated and manual interpretation processes is needed.


Computer Science is in deep trouble. Structured design is a failure. Systems, as currently engineered, are brittle and fragile. They cannot be easily adapted to new situations. Small changes in requirements entail large changes in the structure and configuration. Small errors in the programs that prescribe the behavior of the system can lead to large errors in the desired behavior. Indeed, current computational systems are unreasonably dependent on the correctness of the implementation, and they cannot be easily modified to account for errors in the design, errors in the specifications, or the inevitable evolution of the requirements for which the design was commissioned. (Just imagine what happens if you cut a random wire in your computer!) This problem is structural. This is not a complexity problem. It will not be solved by some form of modularity. We need new ideas. We need a new set of engineering principles that can be applied to effectively build flexible, robust, evolvable, and efficient systems.


Attachment is a point of interest in psychosomatic research since it influences a wide array of biopsychosocial phenomena. Data from literature highlights the role of this concept in the context of Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD), still, there is a lack of data regarding attachment among parents of children with chronic gastrointestinal diseases. The main hypothesis for the current study is that parents of children with IBD will have a more insecure attachment than parents of children with celiac disease (CD) and parents of healthy children. The second hypothesis is that insecure attachment among parents of sick children will be associated with lower parental quality of life (QoL). 46 parents of children with IBD, 42 parents of children with CD and 43 parents of healthy children completed the validated modification of the Brennan's Experiences in Close Relationship Inventory. Results were categorized as secure and insecure attachment. In order to assess parental QoL, the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used. The Total QoL was calculated as a sum of all domain items. Secure attachment was found in 45.7% parents of children with IBD, in 35.7% parents of children with CD and in 32.6% parents of healthy children. Surprisingly, the lowest rate of secure attachment was found in parents of healthy children. However, significant differences among groups do not exist. For all groups of parents the attachment style is associated with Total QoL, although only among parents of children with IBD, the secure attachment independently and significantly predicts higher parental Total QoL. According to results, we might say that parental attachment style does not have a role that exclusively belongs in the context of paediatric chronic gastrointestinal diseases. However, parents of children with IBD who have insecure attachment represent target group for psychosocial support in order to improve their QoL.


This article outlines the present land system in the People's Republic of China. It explains the difference between land ownership and land use rights. It also discusses problems related to land use rights over state-owned land.


A production learning system (PLS) based on the tool model was constructed as a decision support and real-time information update system to forecast the cycle time. A tool model includes a waiting model and a processing model. Each of the waiting and processing models uses a backpropagation neural network to establish the relationship between the input and output (time) of the model. Hence, cycle time estimation, tool group move and confirm line item performance (CLIP) value can be obtained based on the memory stored in the neural network. The result shows that the forecasting ability of the PLS has an error rate below 8% on average.


The article aims to explore the implementation of al-wasathiyyah concept as a way towards achieving moderatism, as well as to see the discourse of Islam and moderation in Indonesia. The method is qualitative with religious sociological approach. Religious sociological approach is used because the wasathiyyah concept is tightly tied to the religion and society. The results of the research show that wasathiyyah Islam has the correlation to ethics and moderate traditions which are considered as a form of virtue. Moderate tradition in Islam in Indonesia includes several aspects of life, including: first, moderate in its thought and movement, which is reflected by the belief that is in line with the nature and ibadah that promotes world prosperity. Second, moderate in aqidah that is in line with the fitrah or nature of mankind, including in tolerance, consistence, and balance. Third, moderate in practicing Islamic teachings that is in accordance with human ability and not burdensome. Fourth, moderate in its method (manhaj). Fifth, moderate in reform and ijtihad. Through wasathiyyah Islam, Indonesian muslims are accustomed to a set of thoughts, behaviors, and actions that promote the spirit of moderation. Moreover, Indonesian Muslims are willing to consciously let go of their primordial religious bonds in favor of moderation. Therefore, waasathiyyah Islam is a concrete realization of a socio-political structure that is deeply rooted since the beginning, not a new diction that is used to describe the mindset of a certain group


We investigate the interaction between two filaments and the subsequent filament eruption event observed from different viewing angles by Hinode, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory. In the event, the two filaments rose high, interacted with each other, and finally were ejected along two different paths. We measure the bulk-flow velocity using spectroscopic data. We find significant outflows at the speed of a few hundreds of km s−1 during the filament eruption, and also some downflows at a few tens of km s−1 at the edge of the eruption region in the late stage of the eruption. The erupting material was composed of plasmas with a wide temperature range of 104–106 K. These results shed light on the filament nature and the coronal dynamics.


A statement of the problem is presented and numerical modeling of plasma-gas-dynamic processes in the capillary discharge plume is performed. In the developed model, plasma dynamic processes in a capillary discharge are determined by the intensity, duration of plasma formation processes in the capillary discharge channel, and thermodynamic parameters in the surrounding gaseous medium. The spatial distribution of temperature, density and pressure, radial and longitudinal velocities of pulsed jets of several capillary discharge channels is presented.


The system of peridontal screening and recording was developed by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology to simplify early detection of periodontal pathology. The authors evaluated the results of PSR against those of a conventional periodontal examination in 24 subjects, each of whom had a minimum of 18 natural teeth. The results of this study suggest that the PSR examination, while a useful screening tool, could be improved to further enhance its identification of patients with peridontal diseases.


In this study, ordinary Portland cement was used and the air void was minimized by using minute quartz as the filler. In addition, steel fibers were used to mitigate the brittle failure problem associated with high strength concrete. This study is in progress to make an Ultra-high strength powdered concrete (UHSPC) which has compressive strength over 300 ㎫. To increase the strength of concrete, we have compared and analyzed the compressive strengths of the concretes with different mix proportions and curing conditions by selecting quartz sand, dolomite, bauxite, ferro silicon which have diameters less than 0.6 ㎜ and can increase the bond strength of the transition zone. Ultra-high strength powdered concrete, which is different from conventional concrete, is highly influenced by the materials in the mix. In the study, the highest compressive strength of the powdered concrete was obtained when it is prepared with ferro silicon, followed in order by Bauxite, Dolomite, and Quartz sand. The amount of ferro silicon, when the highest strength was obtained, was 110%, of the weight of the cement. SEM analysis of the UHSPC showed that significant formation of C-S-H and Tobermorite due to high temperature and pressure curing. Production of Ultrahigh strength powdered concrete which has 28-day compressive strength upto 341㎫ has been successfully achieved by the following factors; steel fiber reinforcement, fine particled aggregates, and the filling powder to minimize the void space, and the reactive materials.


We propose an approximate model for the 2D Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equations (KSE) of flame fronts and crystal growth. We prove that this new ``calmed'' version of the KSE is globally well-posed, and moreover, its solutions converge to solutions of the KSE on the time interval of existence and uniqueness of the KSE at an algebraic rate. In addition, we provide simulations of the calmed KSE, illuminating its dynamics. These simulations also indicate that our analytical predictions of the convergence rates are sharp. We also discuss analogies with the 3D Navier-Stokes equations of fluid dynamics.


In his teachings the Buddha continuously emphasized the positivist spirit of "observing things as they really are", and there were definite Buddhist standards to uphold. However, in modern academic researches on Buddhism, not only the traditional positivism in Buddhism no longer exists, but the standards of Buddhist research are not upheld any more. This paper thinks that the scientific positivist principle of three-valid-cognition-ways in traditional Buddhism is the academic standard that should be adopted in modern Buddhist academia. According to this principle of three-valid-cognition-ways, the origin and the correct meanings of Noble Dharma-seal, as the Buddhist standard, are studied in this paper. Hence the important criterion is established and can be followed to judge whether the content of a demonstration is correct or not. This study finds that the core doctrine of Buddhism is to fully possess both "neither-arising-nor-ceasing dharma" (emptiness-nature) and "arising-and-ceasing dharma" (dependent-arising dharma), and to differentiate between them. Respectively, Noble Dharma-seal is composed of "fundamental dharma-seal" and "correction dharma-seal." "Fundamental dharma-seal" is precisely "neither-arising-nor-ceasing dharma." It is the only and unchangeable dharma-seal. "Correction dharma-seal" is changeable, with its number from none to countlessness. Among them, the real existence of "neither-arising-nor-ceasing dharma" (fundamental dharma-seal) has philosophically the definite significance of personal realization and logics. All that violate this point will make a logical mistake of contradicting the principle of three-valid-cognition-ways, and will be wrong discourses on the Buddhist doctrines. The three dharma-seal sutras of Agamas all point out that "neither-arising-nor-ceasing dharma" is precisely the origin of dharma-seal, the Mahayana seal of One Ultimate Reality. It proves that, during the Buddha's lifetime, the Hinayana saints had personally heard the doctrines of Mahayana One Ultimate Reality from the Buddha; and then, those doctrines were collected in The Four Agama Sutras by the Hinayana saints. This is the direct documentary evidence that Mahayana teachings had been expounded during the Buddha's lifetime, which is the earliest, most direct and reliable documentary evidence in Buddhist history; all the more, it is an undeniable truth. This paper thinks the historic view of Buddhism is actually "that of neither-arising-nor-ceasing dharma." It takes "neither-arising-nor-ceasing dharma" as the crucial core doctrine of Buddhism. This view accords with the principle of three-valid-cognition-ways and documentary evidence, provides the best interpretation, and is also in accordance with the ultimate meaning of "Noble Dharma-seal being the Buddhist standard."


This study aimed to determine the training method to improving long jump results
of two training methods. Research conducted on 24 students of SMAN-2 Mengwi Badung
and divided by into two groups. One group was given run-jump obstacle training and two
groups was given run-jump ahead training. The data obtained were analyzed by paired ttest
to determine the difference between before and after training in both groups and
independent t-test to test the difference in long jump results between groups after training.
The results of statistical test, an increase in the long jump results between before and after
training in group-1 of 441.67 ± 34.40 cm to 507.50 ± 34.08 cm with a value of p < 0.05
(significantly different) and on -second group increased from 444.58 ± 31.58 cm to 478.33
± 32.64 cm with a value of p <0.05 (significantly different). Long jump results after
training showed significant difference is p <0.05. Thus, training to run-jump the obstacle
and run-jump the ahead will increase the long jump results. Run-jump obstacle training
more effective than run-jump ahead training to increasing the long jump results. For that
is expected to coach and gym teacher who trains the long jump branches to apply to runjump
obstacle training in providing training.


The light emitted during the different stages of the spark development in nitrogen has been observed with spectroscopic methods. The first detectable light is emitted with sufficient intensity just after the critical amplification. This type of radiation continues till the start of the heating of the plasma in the predischarge channel. It allows one to determine the electron density and to calculate the current in the predischarge channel. At about 170 ns after the start of the avalanche the dissociation of the molecules and the ionization of the atoms takes place near xcrit in times of a few ns. This causes a rapid increase of the current and the emission of a strong continuum intensity as well as the emission of atom and ion lines. Now the predischarge channel transforms into a plasma channel at a current of about 10 A. Applying plasma diagnostic methods in the spectral range of 3000-8600 AA the temperatures and the electron densities as function of time and radius of the channel can be derived in the plasma channel.


Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience and associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Acute pain response of neonates can be evaluated from the response behavior, physiological, and  facial expressions by using a pain scale: premature infant pain profile (PIPP). The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of 24% oral sucrose solution in acute pain response during IV insertion procedure. This study used a pre- experimental design with one-group pretest-posttest design with a sample of 10 mature infants ( ≥ 37 weeks gestation ). Administration of 1 ml of sterile water 2 minutes before IV insertion is done when the pretest and administration of 1 ml of 24% oral sucrose solution  2 minutes before the infusion is done when the posttest. The study was conducted at  Ibu Sina Hospital Pekanbaru. Sampling using probability sampling technic with the purposive sampling type. Analysis of the data using univariate and bivariate analysis (test wilcoxon). The results showed 24 % oral sucrose solution is effective  against acute pain response of neonates during IV insertion with p value of 0,020 (p < 0,05). Recommendation of this study is: administration of 24 % oral sucrose solution needs to be applied in providing nursing care to infants as a non-pharmacological therapy to reduce acute pain response during IV insertion. Keywords : acute pain response , IV  insertion, sucrose.


When a clinical trial is conducted at more than one centre it is likely that the true treatment effect will not be identical at each centre. In other words there will be some degree of treatment-by-centre interaction. A number of alternative approaches for dealing with this have been suggested in the literature. These include frequentist approaches with a fixed or random effects model for the observed data and Bayesian approaches. In the fixed effects model, there are two common competing estimators of the treatment difference, based on weighted or unweighted estimates from individual centres. Which one of these should be used is the subject of some controversy and we do not intend to take a particular methodological position in this paper. Our intention is to provide some insight into the relative merits of the indicated range of possible estimators of the treatment effect. For the fixed effects model, we also look at the merits of using a preliminary test for interaction assuming a 10 per cent significance level for the test. In order to make comparisons we have simulated a 'typical' trial which compares an active drug with a placebo in the treatment of hypertension, using systolic blood pressure as the primary variable. As well as allowing the treatment effect to vary between centres, we have concentrated on the particular case where one centre is out of line with the others in terms of its true treatment difference. The various estimators that result from the different approaches are compared in terms of mean squared error and power to reject the null hypothesis of no treatment difference. Overall, the approach that uses the fixed effects weighted estimator of overall treatment difference is recommended as one that has much to offer.


Ten cases of lung cancer with brain metastasis who received simultaneous surgery for the primary lung tumor and for the metastatic intracranial tumor between 1990 and 1994 are reported. There was no death due to operation, nor were serious complications. With follow up until Feb. 1995, four patients died and its mean survival period was 8.25 months. Six patients are still alive with a mean survival period of 16 months, the longest one being nearly 3 years. The authors hold that, if the primary tumor is located at the periphery of the lung, the brain metastasis is solitary and patient's general condition is good, simultaneous thoraco-cranial operation is indicated and feasible. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is needed to achieve better treatment results.


The output gap is one of the basic indicators of the used determination of the inflation. It refers to the difference between the actual output and the potential output. If the output value is positive, there is inflationary pressure in the economy. If it's valued negative, there is deflationary pressure in the economy. The correct representation of the output gaps is of particular importance under the inflation targeting regime. In the literature, it is seen that industrial production index is highly used as output indicators. In the study is search answer the "The manufacturing capacity utilization rate is more effective indicator than industrial production index indicator of determining the output gap in Turkey,? question. This study is examined the relationship between work, capacity utilization rate, industrial production index and consumer-based inflation, using theVector Autoregressive Model (VAR) and Relative Sensitivity Analyzes for the period2002-2016. As a result of the study, it is seen that the capacity utilization rate of the manufacturing industry is an effective indicator as output gap on inflation compared to the industrial production index.


One of the most fundamental unknowns about pulsars is the mechanism bywhich they radiate. Although many steps have been taken towards understandingthis in the 48 years since their discovery, there is still much to learn. The recentlaunch of the Fermi ?-ray satellite has led to an astonishing increase in thenumber of pulsars detected in ?-rays, making this an ideal time to consider theemission at both low energies (radio) and high energies (?-rays).In this thesis we use radio polarisation data and a novel method to determine the viewing geometries of two samples of pulsars, one consisting of youngpulsars which have been detected in ?-rays and the other consisting of comparable young pulsars which are not detected in ?-rays. We find that the magneticinclination angle distribution of the ?-ray-detected pulsars does not match thecommonly-expected random distribution for such young pulsars as these, insteadbeing skewed towards lower values. We find two possible explanations for this.The first is that the expectation of a random distribution is erroneous, a situationwhich will have important consequences for pulsar population studies, considerations of the origins of magnetic fields in neutron stars and models of the supernovaprocess. The alternative is that the radio beams are larger than expected by afactor which depends on the magnetic inclination, which would have implicationsfor the magnetic field structure.We also find that the ?-ray- and non-?-ray-detected pulsars differ in radioprofile width. This leads us to present a unified model of these young pulsarswhere the ?-ray detectability is highly dependent on magnetic inclination, whichdetermines if our line of sight samples the ?-ray emission. We report for the firsttime ever a significant correlation between the radio and ?-ray profile morphology. This is independent confirmation that the existing models of the radio and?-ray emission regions are, at least qualitatively, realistic, although significantquantitative problems are reported.


In the group FNA, research is focussed primarily on magnetic tunnel junctions, because first of all the fundamental aspects behind tunnelling through an Alüx barrier still need much investigation. Also, a new class of tunnel junctions, based on spin filtering, has recently emerged. In this report these two different aspects of magnetic tunnelling will be discussed. For the first time we will show evidence of the relation between transport properties and the crystal structure of the electrodes in Co/ AIOx/Co magnetic tunnel junctions. As expected, when both electrodes have the same crystal phase (hep), the conductance spectrum is symmetrie in voltage. Strikingly, when the electrodes have a different crystal phase (Jee and hep), the spectrum is strongly asymmetrie. The presence and characteristic features of this asymmetry can be explained by a theoretica! model by Davis et al. [29]. Additionally, the role of annealing will be discussed. In the second part, spin filtering with europium sulfide (EuS) is reported. Below 16.6 K the semiconductor EuS becomes ferromagnetic, and its conduction band is exchange split. This splitting causes a difference in barrier height for spin-up and spin-down electrons when EuS is used in a junction, leading to a highly polarized electron current (spin filtering). Al/EuS/Gd tunnel junctions have been successfully grown, and with these devices an almost 100% polarized tunnel current could be achieved, observable by a drop in junction resistance below 16.6 K. It has been found that tunnelling through EuS is mediated via defect-states in the barrier. Furthermore, a new magnetoresistance effect has been discovered in these junctions, the so-called Spin Filter Injection Magnetoresistance (SFIM), which is more than 100% at 2 K.


The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of social and technical aspects
of the work of Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) operators. VTS operators monitor maritime
traffic in order to promote safety in narrow waters and around major ports. The task of the
VTS operator is to support and direct ships that sail through the monitored area, primarily
making the navigating officer of each ship aware of the current traffic situation, local weather
and geographical conditions. When performing this task, it is crucial that the VTS operator
builds a mental model of the situation in the monitored area. To understand this process, we
need to explore what type of information VTS operators use as well as when, why and how
they use available information. We also need to understand what factors affect the work of
VTS operators and the influences of these factors on the work process.
Applied Cognitive Task Analysis (ACTA) was used to study how VTS operators work with
anomaly detection and pattern recognition from a holistic perspective. In addition, a midfidelity
simulation was used as a knowledge eliciting tool to explore the work situation of
VTS operators. The combination of methods was assessed using Hoffman's (1987) method
evaluation criteria.
The results indicate that VTS operators build their mental models by combining their
experiences, previous nautical experience, local area knowledge and information from
technical support systems. In particular, voice communication was identified as an important
source of information for creating these mental models and factors behind non-technical
miscommunication were investigated, since the latter may lead to negative effects on
navigational safety. As for the miscommunication, the results indicate that regulation and
technical systems are not sufficient to combat miscommunication within VTS systems. For
doing this, it is also necessary to consider social aspects.


Our visual perception is not veridical. Numerous visual illusions have been reported, and their ongoing analysis reveals important principles of visual perception and cognition chapter 27) proposed a taxonomy of physical, physiological, and cognitive illusions , distinguishing between ambiguities, distortions, paradoxes, and fictions at each of these levels of visual processing. According to this taxonomy, the present paper deals with a new cognitive distortion pertaining to the perception of print. It will be shown that special cognitive operations seem to be involved in the perceived spatial extent of words. Only few studies have assessed how we perceive the spatial extent of printed material. Biases in letter perception were investigated by Skottun and Freeman (1983) and by Carrasco and Sekuler (1993). Skottun and Freeman reported that the height of letters is overestimated by a constant proportion of about 20% once the spacing between letters is larger than a critical value of about 3 min of arc. Carrasco and Sekuler presented Navon stimuli (1) to their subjects and found that viewers overestimated the horizontal extent of the local letter components, contrary to what one might expect from the well-known horizontal ^ vertical illusion. With regard to words, our knowledge about the perception of their spatial properties is mostly indirect. For example, Mapelli et al (1996) suggested that the spatial extent of words is part of their cognitive representation because letter detection times showed a spatial compatibility effect: When asked to press a button with their left hand in response to target letters embedded in horizontally presented words, subjects responded faster to target letters in the beginning of a word, compared to targets in the end of a word, which were responded to faster with the right hand (see also Nicoletti et al 1992). Several neuropsychological studies assessing the representational consequences of hemispatial neglect have found that words are neglected to a lesser extent than other visual materials. For example, in a line bisection study by Brunn and Farah (1991), prior to each line bisection their patients reported words, pseudowords, or nonwords that


A method of applying high-speed, non-destructive testing technologies to the inspection process of UO2 (uranium dioxide) fuel pellets is presented. The scanning process examines the surface of each pellet for correct manufacturing parameters. In this work, three inspection technologies have been investigated: laser scanning of surface roughness, 2D laser scanning of surface cross-section, and CCD camera inspection of surface integrity. The complete circumferential surface of each pellet is inspected using a combination of these three technologies. Both static and non-static test results on pseudo pellets are presented. The results show that the proposed technologies are capable of performing the necessary inspections.


The current article aims to evidence the virtualities of the gift that subsist in the commercial system, especially in the receptive tourism, considering tourism as a product of the overlapping of these two systems of exchange: the commercial and the gift; the first one, more recent and socially visible prevailed for the written laws of the commerce and the defense of the consumer; the second one ancestral and more difficult of being reached by the empirical observation prevailed by the non-written laws of the gift. Our observation will be guided for what happens beyond the combined exchange, beyond the monetary value of a rendered service, for what people and spaces give beyond the established contract. Many local communities see the tourists as "invaders" of their area, producing a kind of resistance during the act of receiving; therefore, there is no hospitality without sacrifice, but is primordial to understand the tourist load not as the volume of visitors that a place may receive, but as a space and a life which live in it, accepting that tourism planning is, actually, the planning of the hospitality that a territory can and wants to provide.


This paper explores the differential legitimating strategies pursued by three 'invented religions' with roots in the 1930s 'cultic milieu'. Each of these new formations sought to legitimate itself to contemporary 'seekers' through appeals to the authority of a 'hidden transmission'. The formative appeal was made by the Rosicrucian Order, Crotona Fellowship (ROCF) and was in turn adapted in the historiography of two of the most influential new religious formations of the second half of the twentieth century, Wicca and Findhorn, which shaped the later Pagan and New Age movements. However, while Wicca and Findhorn duly flourished, the ROCF disappeared. Based on primary source analysis of ROCF documents, and analysis of emic historiographies of Wicca and Findhorn, this paper argues that these differential outcomes amongst 'Rosicrucians at large' reflect the adaptive fitness of qualified over radical 'invention of tradition' in the cultic milieu.


Many studies and reports indicated that Malaysian graduates did not possess
the required problem solving skills to meet the societal and industrial demand with the
increase in complexity of problems nowadays. The crux of Operational Research is to
equip students with problem solving skills. It also helps people to make better and
informed decisions. Solving OR problems hinges on principles of cognitive
psychology, but there is a dearth of research on cognitive processes in the domain of
OR. This study explored the cognitive processes and pathways used by Malaysian
undergraduate business degree students (UBD) in solving well-structured (WS) and
ill-structured (IS) OR problems. The similaritioures and differences in these problem
solving processes between the successful and unsuccessful problem solvers were
identified.
Forty-two UBD students from six tertiary institutions were selected for the
case study. In-depth observations and interviews were conducted. The problem
solving sessions using the 'think aloud' approach were audio- and video-recorded.
For both OR problems, the cognitive processes were determined from behaviour and
performance exhibited by participants while they were delineating the concepts,
proposition and strategies in their solution paths. All written responses and transcripts
of video-recordings and interviews in the problem solving sessions were transcribed,
analysed and classified into episodes of strategies for the interpretations of the
cognitive processes.
The findings from this study reveal that the performance on the wellstructured
problem was different from, and independent of, the ill-structured problems.
For the well-structured problem, the cognitive processes of participants did not exhibit a straightforward linear pattern, while no non-linear pattern of cognitive processes
was found in the cases of the ill-structured problem.
This study also found similarities and differences in cognitive processes
between successful and unsuccessful solvers. For the well-structured problem,
successful solvers could recall, retrieve and relate the relevant concepts to the
problem. For the unsuccessful solvers, they could not fully comprehend the problem
although they indicated that they had learnt the relevant concepts and knowledge. For
the ill-structured problem, both successful and unsuccessful solvers could recall,
retrieve and relate concepts, knowledge and experiences relevant to the problem. The
difference between the successful and unsuccessful solvers was the varying degrees in
understanding and analysing the problem. Successful solvers spent more time in
solving both the well- and ill-structured problems than the unsuccessful solvers. It
was also found that pathways to solving well- and ill-structured problems influenced
the individual's decision-making outcomes. When the problem did not conform to
certain patterns, participants had a freer hand to use their own preferred method(s) to
solve (whether successful or otherwise) the problem and made the decision
accordingly.
Emanating from these findings, a (6+1)-Rs problem solving heuristic model
has been proposed to ameliorate the cognitive processes of students in solving OR
problems and the quality of decision making. The findings suggest significant
implications for the development of effective OR pedagogy and improvement in the
design of instructional materials.


A harmonic oscillator is an indefinite-frequency one if the parameter $\omega$ is replaced by an operator. An ensemble of $N$ such oscillators may be regarded as a toy model of a bosonic quantum field. All the possible frequencies associated with a given problem are present already in a single oscillator and $N$ can be finite. Due to the operator character of $\omega$ the resulting algebra of creation-annihilation operators is non-canonical. In the limit of large $N$ one recovers perturbation theory formulas of the canonical quantum field theory but with form factors automatically built in. Vacuum energy of the ensemble is finite, a fact discussed in the context of the cosmological constant problem. Space of states is given by a vector bundle with Fock-type fibers. Interactions of the field with 2-level systems, including Rabi oscillations and spontaneous emission, are discussed in detail.


In the mid 00's Iceland was ranked as the least corrupt country in the world by Transparency International and enjoyed top positions in most comparative indices of governance and development. In 2008 the banking system collapsed and the country found itself in a serious financial crisis, a crisis which some observers believe to have been caused by clientelism and other forms of behaviour related to corruption This article sets out to analyse how the crisis affected general political support, and in particular the importance of perceptions of corruption in that process. Using survey data we show that political support plummeted after the crisis and that public evaluations of the extent of corruption became the most important determinant of support. The results have implications for how we ought to approach the issue of corruption even in so called 'least corrupt' settings. The findings also call into question the validity and reliability of frequently used measures of corruption and governance. Gissur Ó Erlingsson Centre for Municipal Studies Linköping University email@example.com Jonas Linde Department of Comparative Politics University of Bergen firstname.lastname@example.com Richard Öhrvall Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Stockholm email@example.com


This study aims to predict the performance of PT. Aneka Tambang Tbk during the Covid 19 conditions, as a consideration whether to maintain share ownership to continue investing in 2020. The research method used in this study is a descriptive study method. In this study the author used secondary data by taking  PT Aneka Tambang, Tbk Financial Report published from 2015-Q32019. The result could be seen that the net profit margin of PT Aneka Tambang Tbk is low. It causes the company's net profit to be unstable. The decrease in sales it will impact PT Aneka Tambang Tbk's net profit. The volatility of net income makes equity growth not very good. Besides that, the company has an ROE which is still below 10%, which illustrates the company is not very profitable. With the current condition of Covid 19, it is not the right time for shareholders to sell their shares. The author's view is that shareholders should still hold the shares of PT Aneka Tambang Tbk in the hope that nickel prices will increase and will give a positive response to the company.  Therefore, shareholders can consider continuing to invest in the long term


The increase in energy demand due to increase in population and reduction of fossil fuels has led to the search of alternative energy sources. Solar energy, which is an alternative source of energy, has been in the fore front of this research. Various methods of converting solar energy into electricity has been attained by silicon solar cells, thin film solar cells, dye sensitized solar cells and perovskite solar cells. Unlike dye sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells based on lead halide perovskite or organic-inorganic halide perovskite have had a significant impact on photovoltaic devices. A power conversion efficiency of approximately 20.1% has been attained by perovskite solar cells compared to organic solar cells. Also, several fabrication techniques, hole and electron transport materials have been developed for high performance. Although, some issues need to be addressed before commercialization is possible. Issues like stability of the cells under moisture and temperature. In this review, fundamental aspects of the perovskite device and recent breakthroughs are illustrated.


Meteors typically are small particles, normally no larger than a microscopic of sand, that enter our atmosphere at speeds of up to around 70 kilometers per second. Meteoroids are thought to originate in asteroids or comets, though some may be remnants from the early days of the Solar System. When a meteoroid striking the upper atmosphere, these meteors are produced by the streams of cosmic debris at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories. Radio meteor scatter by forward scattering is a technique for observing meteors. A forward scattering technique for radio meteor detection has been well-known for over 50 years ago. The Gray-Hoverman antenna has been designed by Doyt R. Hoverman and was invented in the 1950s covers from 300 to 3000 MHz and shows high performance for most Digital / HD channels broadcasting. The data obtained from the special software named 4nec2. From the results, the high gain obtained by the antenna is around 14.4 dBi at targeted range frequencies of 500MHz to 700MHz. it can be clearly observed that the designed antenna structure provides good amount of gain 14.4 dB, which is highly desirable for various applications. In future, the current Gray Hoverman's antenna can be improved by adding 2 or more antennas which are structured in series or parallel depending on compatibility.


Botrytis fragariae was recently described causing gray mold of strawberry in Germany and the United States. The goal of the present study was to determine its prevalence, distribution, and sensitivity to fungicides in strawberry fields of five states. In total, 188 Botrytis isolates were obtained from flowers and fruit collected from the states of Maryland (n = 35), Virginia (n = 38), North Carolina (n = 46), South Carolina (n = 41), and Georgia (n = 28). Only 13 of these were fruit samples and came from South Carolina (n = 5) and Georgia (n = 8). B. fragariae made up 35.1% of the entire collection, and composed close to half of the Botrytis population in North Carolina (43.4%), South Carolina (61.0%), and Georgia (42.9%). One isolate of B. mali was also found, and the rest of the isolates were B. cinerea (sensu lato). B. fragariae and B. cinerea were found coexisting in 11 fields, while other field samples consisted of only B. fragariae (n = 3) or only B. cinerea (n = 10) isolates. B. fragariae isolates with resistance to one or more fungicides were found, and resistance profiles differed from those of B. cinerea, in that no resistance to cyprodinil (FRAC 8) or boscalid and other FRAC 7 botryticides was detected. We detected B. fragariae resistance to the active ingredients thiophanate-methyl, iprodione, fludioxonil, and fenhexamid. We also detected B. fragariae isolates with resistance to up to four chemical classes of fungicides, though most isolates were resistant to one or two chemical classes. In conclusion, isolates of the newly detected species B. fragariae were commonly found on strawberry flowers in the Mid-Atlantic United States, and have developed resistance to many of the most commonly used botryticides. Though the relevance of this species to pre- and postharvest fruit infections is unknown, fludioxonil applications may give this species a competitive advantage over B. cinerea. Controlling this fungus with FRAC 7 fungicides may be an effective way of limiting its spread in strawberry fields.


In the Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery of Military Medical Academy, 134 injured with mandibular defects were treated, as well as a significantly larger number of injured from the territory of former Yugoslavia, with dominant injuries of the head and neck regions. Until June 1994, smaller defects were treated using bicortical osteotransplant of the iliac bone. Due to its only partial successfulness in reconstruction of mandibular defects, monocortical osteotransplant of the iliac bone was selected for reconstruction of the mandibular defects and the results were much better compared to the other free osteotransplants.


An improved understanding of how ecosystems function is important for effective natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. Recent research suggests that top-order predators have important ecological roles in many ecosystems through controlling populations of smaller predators. This thesis examined how the management of Australia's apex predator, the dingo (Canis lupus dingo), influenced the activity and behaviour of two introduced mesopredators, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus) and select prey species. The aim was to increase our understanding of the role dingoes may play in the conservation of endangered fauna through the trophic regulation of exotic mesopredators. The study monitored the activity and behaviour of dingoes, foxes, feral cats and select prey species at five sites in arid Australia. Dingo management varied between the study sites. Sites included areas where dingoes remained uncontrolled, where dingoes were controlled through exclusion fencing and where 1080 poison baiting was conducted. At each site the activity of predators and prey, including macropods, rabbits and small vertebrates was monitored over two summers. Sampling times included prior to, three months post and one year post a significant rainfall event. Transects and scent stations were used to measure activity while behaviour was monitored through direct observation and the use of a thermal imaging camera attached to a remote recording system. Results showed the management of dingoes to be a key determinant of the activity of foxes and select prey, including macropods, rabbits and small mammals. Feral cat activity showed a positive response to both dingo and fox control through poison baiting. Dingo management also affected the activity of mesopredators around shared resources, particularly in proximity to water resources. Both feral cats and foxes showed an avoidance response to the presence of dingoes around water points, and again feral cats displayed an increased response to the removal of both canids. Habitat use by mesopredators did not appear to be affected by dingo management, and while foxes showed a behavioural avoidance response, limited data was collected on the response of feral cats to dingoes at shared food and water resources so results were inconclusive. The results of this study supported the presence of top-down regulation occurring in the arid ecosystems under some conditions and that behavioural mechanisms, such as avoidance, are important in the ability of dingoes to regulate smaller predator populations. While arid ecosystems are traditionally viewed as "bottom-up" or productivity driven, evidence from this research showed that while the strength of trophic regulation by dingoes may fluctuate, topdown effects occurred both prior to and post significant rainfall events at the study sites. In particular, strong relationships were found between dingo management, fox activity and fox behaviour at the study sites regardless of rainfall. In conclusion, it may be that dingoes provide a net benefit to prey populations, particularly medium-sized and small mammals, through reducing predatory impacts of foxes and under some conditions, feral cats. Thus retaining dingo populations in some ecosystems may assist in the management of biodiversity over the long term, including the conservation of native fauna populations susceptible to fox and feral cat predation. While further research into the trophic effects of dingoes in other bioregions is recommended, through improving our understanding of such trophic interactions, results from this research could assist managers in making more ecologically informed decisions about control of top-order carnivores in arid areas.


Until today, a routinely applicable method is not available for intraoperative imaging of the coronary vessels. Our experience with the first 23 patients is discussed to show whether high-frequency echocardiography (HFE) is able to close this gap and to image the coronary arteries intraoperatively in a manner which can be evaluated. After thoracotomy and connecting the heart-lung machine as well as insertion of a transatrial left ventricular vent, ultrasonography was carried out with a 12 MHz linear scanner with a water prerun in the LAD in all cases, and also in the RCA and circumflex branch in 12 cases using sterile ultrasound gel on the fibrillating heart. The results proved that the method is able to image the coronary arteries with good resolution in the transverse section and in the longitudinal course. HFE can be used in particular to locate the intramyocardial course of coronary vessels and in reoperations, for localization of stenoses and occlusions, for determination of optimal sites for anastomoses, for measuring of vessel diameter and degree of stenosis, and for imaging of anastomoses. It will be possible in the future to image and to check intraoperative dilatation and laser angioplasty with HFE.