Biological agriculture serves as an example on an endeavour to achieve durability. Government policies offer possibilities for the further development of biological animal husbandry. Biological veterinary practice places emphasis on the promotion of animal health, rather than on the treatment of disease. Because the aim is to reduce medication, this goal is consistent with the approach of biological animal husbandry. These new developments are of interest to veterinary practitioners and require professional knowledge to be adapted to the biological way of thinking.


Abstract The aim of this paper is to make processes of co-constructing, negotiating, defining, legitimizing, and justifying inclusion/exclusion in European Union (EU) organizations transparent, both on a structural and on a discursive level. Moreover, individual experiences from migrants present everyday exclusionary practices. In this attempt, I use research on EU organizations and on discrimination in eight EU countries (focus-group discussions) as illustrative examples. I propose a 'discourse-historical' framework, which relates different discursive and structural forms of inclusion and exclusion to each other. I assume that many contradictions come into play, while discursive shifts in inclusion and exclusion are decided upon. These contradictions imply—inter alia—value conflicts (conflicts between values of tolerance, democracy, etc.), conflicts of ideologies and beliefs, and power conflicts. Another theoretical assumption implies that managing 'inclusion' and 'exclusion' is a question of 'grading' and 'scales', ranging from explicit legal and economic restrictions to implicit discursive negotiations and processes of decision making. Finally, the paper illustrates the fluidity of membership categorization when defining exclusion and inclusion.


68 Addressing Uncertainty his chapter addresses issues and approaches for dealing with uncertainty specifically within the context of conducting climate change vulnerability assessments (i.e., uncertainties related to identifying and modeling the sensitivities, levels of exposure, and adaptive capacity of the assessment targets). The following chapter (Chapter VI) discusses how to develop adaptation management and planning activities in light of those uncertainties.


Objective To determine whether the GNAQ R183Q mutation is present in the forme fruste cases of Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) to establish a definitive molecular diagnosis. Methods We used sensitive droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect and quantify the GNAQ mutation in tissues from epilepsy surgery in 4 patients with leptomeningeal angiomatosis; none had ocular or cutaneous manifestations. Results Low levels of the GNAQ mutation were detected in the brain tissue of all 4 cases—ranging from 0.42% to 7.1% frequency—but not in blood-derived DNA. Molecular evaluation confirmed the diagnosis in 1 case in which the radiologic and pathologic data were equivocal. Conclusions We detected the mutation at low levels, consistent with mosaicism in the brain or skin (1.0%–18.1%) of classic cases. Our data confirm that the forme fruste is part of the spectrum of SWS, with the same molecular mechanism as the classic disease and that ddPCR is helpful where conventional diagnosis is uncertain.


This project is designed to develop methods for pre-combustion coal remediation by implementing recent advances in enzyme biochemistry. The novel approach of this study is incorporation of hydrophilic oxidative enzymes in reverse micelles in an organic solvent. Enzymes from commercial sources or microbial extracts are being investigated for their capacity to remove organic sulfur from coal by oxidation of the sulfur groups, splitting of C-S bonds and loss of sulfur as sulfuric acid. Dibenzothiophen (DBT) and ethylphenylsulfide (EPS) are serving as models of organic sulfur-containing components of coal in initial studies.


The hypoxic ventilatory response during hypocapnia has been studied with divergent results. We used volume-cycled ventilation in spontaneously breathing normal subjects to study their hypoxic ventilatory response under conditions of stable hypocapnia. Subjects were studied at three different levels of end-tidal (partial) carbon dioxide pressure (PETCO2), eucapnia and 6 and 12 mm Hg below eucapnia (mild and moderate hypocapnia, respectively). The response to hypoxia was assessed by changes in muscle pressure output (Pmus) and respiratory rate. Compared with the Pmus response at eucapnia (0.53 +/- 0.59 cm H2O/percentage oxygen saturation [% O2sat]), the response at mild hypocapnia was attenuated (0.26 +/- 0.33 cm H2O/% O2sat), whereas the response at moderate hypocapnia was negligible (0.003 +/- 0.09 cm H2O/% O2sat). Similar reductions were seen with the respiratory rate (eucapnia, 0.17 +/- 0.2 breaths/minute/% O2sat; mild hypocapnia, 0.11 +/- 0.11 breaths/minute/% O2sat; moderate hypocapnia, 0.01 +/- 0.06 breaths/minute/% O2sat). The Pmus and respiratory rate responses at the three levels of PETCO2 were significantly different (p < 0.05, analysis of variance). The responses at moderate hypocapnia were not significantly different from zero. We conclude that when apnea occurs under conditions in which central PCO2 is well below the CO2 setpoint, subjects are at risk of developing dangerous hypoxemia due to absence of a hypoxic ventilatory response.


A change in chromosome number, known as aneuploidy, is a common characteristic of cancer. Aneuploidy disrupts gene expression in human cancer cells and immortalized human epithelial cells, but not in normal human cells. However, the relationship between aneuploidy and cancer remains unclear. To study the effects of aneuploidy in normal human cells, we generated artificial cells of human primary fibroblast having three chromosome 8 (trisomy 8 cells) by using microcell-mediated chromosome transfer technique. In addition to decreased proliferation, the trisomy 8 cells lost contact inhibition and reproliferated after exhibiting senescence-like characteristics that are typical of transformed cells. Furthermore, the trisomy 8 cells exhibited chromosome instability, and the overall gene expression profile based on microarray analyses was significantly different from that of diploid human primary fibroblasts. Our data suggest that aneuploidy, even a single chromosome gain, can be introduced into normal human cells and causes, in some cases, a partial cancer phenotype due to a disruption in overall gene expression.


The report presents popular cyber threats targeting the financial and banking sectors. It presents the main steps, stages, and characteristics of known cyberattacks carried out in the last decade, as well as an assessment of the damage caused by them. A comparison is made between the attacks examined. Emphasis is placed on key elements targeted by cyber threats today. Possible ways are summarized in which users can protect themselves from cyber threats or prevent them.


both men and women. In short, she proposes that differences in genderspeciac work patterns arose "from individual decisions about how to use one's time" (13). These decisions inevitably occurred within a "framework of constraints," among which were technology, cultural norms, and institutions (13). After setting the stage through a careful examination of the social and demographic makeup of her selected area, two districts in Württemberg, she applies her time-allocation analysis to four groups of women—daughters and maidservants, married women, widows, and independent unmarried women. She usually prefers socioeconomic and social-institutional explanations rather than cultural or technological ones. She maintains, for instance, that "the retention of offspring in the household was not determined . . . by technological considerations" but was strongly inouenced by the socioeconomic characteristics that her econometric analysis uncovered (55). Household structure was never "a faithful expression of either technological efaciency or cultural norms" (55). Broader and more provocative is her assessment of the overall economic results of inequality in male–female work. Preindustrial societies placed restrictions on women's work, consumption, and productivity, thereby hurting not only women (and children) but also wider society in "terms of reduced welfare and stioed growth" (351). The costs were high. One of the great strengths of Ogilvie's study is the rigorous testing of each interpretation against the others. By employing qualitative and quantitative materials for Wildberg and Ebhausen and by drawing comparisons from secondary literature on other areas, she weaves an intricately patterned cloth of inouences and results. Hers is not an easy book to read, requiring close attention to the structure of her subtle and complex arguments. But the effort will be well spent by anyone interested in the role of women in early modern times, in how economies grew (or did not), and in how various methodological approaches can be convincingly combined.


The Project Northland peer participation program tested the feasibility of involving students in the planning and promotion of alcohol-free social activities for their peers and to determine whether such participation was associated with reduced alcohol use. The peer program was offered in 20 northeastern Minnesota schools when the study cohort was in seventh grade; students completed a survey in the beginning of sixth grade and at the end of sixth grade and seventh grade. Nearly 50% of the study cohort participated in the program. At the end of seventh grade, after controlling for confounders, an association was observed between student involvement with planning activities and a lower rate of alcohol use. This association was strongest among students who had reported alcohol use at the beginning of sixth grade. This cohort study suggests adolescent involvement in planning their own alcohol-free activities may be an efficacious strategy to prevent or reduce the prevalence of alcohol use among youth. Future studies are warranted to evaluate this association using experimental research designs.


We study the effects of nonmagnetic impurities on the phase diagram of a system of interacting electrons with a flat Fermi surface. The one-loop Wilsonian renormalization group flow of the angle dependent diffusion function D(theta;(1),theta;(2),theta;(3)) and interaction U(theta;(1),theta;(2),theta;(3)) determines the critical temperature and the nature of the low temperature state. As the imperfect nesting increases, the critical temperature decreases, and the low temperature phase changes from the spin-density wave (SDW) to the d-wave superconductivity (dSC) and finally, for bad nesting, to the charge-localized state. Both SDW and dSC phases are affected by disorder. The pair breaking depends on the imperfect nesting and is the most efficient when the critical temperature for superconductivity is maximal.


Experimental research was conducted to determine the strength of deep beam designed by using strut –and –tie method. The work was done in two phases. The first phase consists of design of simply supported deep beams by using Strut and Tie Method for various shear span to depth ratios. In the second phase several R.C. deep beams were cast and tested in heavy structures Lab. Experimental results were compared with the theoretical results obtained by finite strip method.


The present study aimed to identify the factors that independently contribute to disease recurrence among women first-time treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) during 4–6 years of follow-up. Overall, 529 of 530 eligible patients participated; these patients all attended a 1st follow-up appointment ~6 months post-conization, at which time high-risk human-papillomavirus (HPV) testing, liquid-based cytology and colposcopy were performed. Full data on margin excision status, other aspects of initial treatment and comorbidity were obtained. At least one subsequent follow-up was attended by 88% of patients. A total of 22 recurrent cases were detected during follow-up. Detected recurrence was the outcome of focus for multiple logistic regression analysis, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) computed. Four significant independent risk factors were identified: Age 45 years or above (OR=3.5, 95% CI=1.3–9.9), one or both unclear or uncertain margins (OR=5.3, 95% CI=2.0–14.2), positive HPV at 1st follow-up (OR=5.8, 95% CI=2.0–16.8), and abnormal cytology at 1st follow-up (OR=3.9, 95% CI=1.4–11.0). Bivariate analysis revealed that persistent HPV positivity was associated with recurrence (P<0.01). These findings indicated that incomplete excision of the CIN lesion may warrant more intensive subsequent screening, regardless of early post-conization HPV findings. Although early post-conization positive HPV was a powerful, independent predictor of recurrent high-grade CIN, over one-third of the patients with detected recurrence had a negative early post-conization HPV finding. These patients returned for routine screening, at which time, in most cases, HPV status was positive, thus indicating the need for repeated HPV evaluation. Especially during the on-going pandemic, home vaginal self-sampling is recommended. Particular attention is required for women aged ≥45 years. In addition, although not statistically significant, relevant comorbidities, especially autoimmune conditions, warrant consideration in clinical decision-making. Women who have been treated for high-grade CIN are at risk for recurrent disease and progression to cervical cancer; therefore, they require careful, individualized follow-up to avoid these adverse consequences.


Spirituality is an essential influence in a child's development. However, an age-appropriate measure of child's spiritual sensitivity is not currently available in the literature. This paper describes the development of a measure of children's spiritual sensitivity, the Spiritual Sensitivity Scale for Children (SSSC). Statistical analyses identified two semantically meaningful and psychometrically reliable clusters, titled Outward Focus and Inward Reflective Focus. Significant relationships were also found between spiritual sensitivity, self-esteem and hopefulness. These findings suggested that the SSSC provides a robust indication of the strength of a child's spirituality as well as a useful companion measure alongside other measures of mental and emotional well-being.


Natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) have in recent decades appeared as sustainable reinforcement alternatives to replace synthetic fibers in polymer composite material applications. In this work, for the first time, the periquiteira (Cochlospermum orinocense), a lesser known NLF from the Amazon region, was analyzed for its density and, by X-ray diffraction (XRD), to calculate the crystallinity index as well as the microfibrillar angle (MFA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron analysis (SEM) and tensile strength. The apparent density found for the periquiteira fiber was 0.43 g/cm3, one of the NLF's lowest. XRD analysis indicated a crystallinity index of 70.49% and MFA of 7.32°. The TGA disclosed thermal stability up to 250 °C. The FTIR analysis indicated the presence of functional groups characteristic of NLFs. The SEM morphological analysis revealed that the periquiteira fiber presents fine bundles of fibrils and a rough surface throughout its entire length. The average strength value of the periquiteira fiber was found as 178 MPa. These preliminary results indicate that the periquiteira fiber has the potential to be used as a reinforcing agent in polymeric matrices and can generate a lightweight composite with excellent mechanical properties that can be used in various industrial sectors.


Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in the development and physiology of the cardiovascular system while they have been associated with multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Several cardiac miRNAs are detectable in circulation (circulating miRNAs; c-miRNAs) and are emerging as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for CVDs. c-miRNAs exhibit numerous essential characteristics of biomarkers while they are extremely stable in circulation, their expression is tissue-/disease-specific, and they can be easily detected using sequence-specific amplification methods. These features of c-miRNAs are helpful in the development of non-invasive assays to monitor the progress of CVDs. Despite significant progress in the detection of c-miRNAs in serum and plasma, there are many contradictory publications on the alterations of cardiac c-miRNAs concentration in circulation. The aim of this review is to examine the pre-analytical and analytical factors affecting the quantification of c-miRNAs and provide general guidelines to increase the accuracy of the diagnostic tests in order to improve future research on cardiac c-miRNAs.


Lingonberry leaves are the subject of numerous studies because of antioxidant properties, positive influence on the health and potential use in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. In this work, the radical scavenging, reducing, chelating activities, and phenolic composition of ten lingonberry leaves cultivars, one subspecies, and one variety were investigated. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of individual phenolic compounds, that can be found in lingonberry leaves, were analyzed, and structure-activity relationship was determined. Wide diversity for phenolic profile and antioxidant properties of lingonberry leaves has been observed in the present material. Cultivars 'Kostromskaja rozovaja', 'Rubin', and Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. leucocarpum surpassed all others tested cultivars and lower taxa by contents of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Leaves of lingonberry cultivars and lower taxa are rich in arbutin, flavonol glycosides, proanthocyanidins, and the latter were considered to be the major contributor to antioxidant properties of lingonberry leaves.


Adult peripheral nerve pathology is quite extensive, it comprises traumatic injuries (closed and open), compressive neuropathies and lesions secondary to other medical procedures. It is important to have a well established protocol for diagnosis, as in some lesions time is a key factor for recovery. This is important for the primary care physician that makes the diagnosis, regardless of who will treat the patient. When proposing a management plan it is important to set goals, as some lesions may be completely resolved, but in other cases all we can offer is palliative treatment due to the evolution and severity of the case.


Multi-agent systems (MAS) are efficient solutions for commercial applications such as information retrieval and search. In a MAS, agents are usually designed with distribution of functionality and control. Lack of central control implies that the quality of service of MAS may be degraded because of possible unwanted behavior at the runtime, commonly known as emergent behavior. Detecting and removing emergent behavior during the design phase of MAS will lead to huge savings in deployment costs of such systems. An effective approach for the MAS design is to describe system requirements using scenarios. A scenario, commonly known as a message sequence chart or a sequence diagram, is a temporal sequence of messages sent between agents. In this paper a method for detecting emergent behavior of MAS by detecting incompleteness and partial description of scenarios is proposed. The method is explained along with a prototype MAS for semantic search that blends the search and ontological concept learning.


Energy security of natural gas supplies in Europe is becoming a key concern. As demand increases, infrastructure development focuses on extending the capacity of the pipeline system. While conventional approaches focus mainly on source dependence, we argue for a network perspective to also consider risks associated with transit countries, by borrowing methods from ecological food web analysis. We develop methods to estimate exposure and dominance of each country, by using network datasets of the present pipeline system, and future scenarios of 2020 and 2030. We found that future scenarios will not increase the robustness of the system. Pipeline development to 2030 will shift the relative weight of energy security concerns away from source to transit countries. The dominance of politically unstable countries will increase. The exposure will be slightly redistributed by improving the security of already secure countries, and increasing the exposure of those countries that are already in a vulnerable position.


Background M-phase phosphoprotein (MPP-1), also termed kinesin interacting protein (KIF20B), is a 210 kDa protein that is highly expressed during cell division. Autoantibodies to MPP-1 were first described in approximately 25% of patients with idiopathic ataxia, but recent studies have indicated that they are also found in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The goals of this study were to determine the frequency of anti-MPP-1 in a local SLE cohort and then identify demographic, clinical, and serologic correlations. Methods Patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) or Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Classification Criteria for SLE were enrolled in the SouThern Alberta Registry for Lupus EryThematosus (STARLET) cohort (Calgary, Canada). Demographic, clinical information (disease activity – SLEDAI-2K; damage – SLICC/ACR DI), and sera were collected at time of enrollment. Antibodies to MPP-1 were determined by an addressable laser bead immunoassay (ALBIA) utilizing an in vitro expressed MPP-1 cDNA construct inserted into a GFP vector (Clontech Laboratories Inc., Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France). ALBIA results were expressed as median florescence units (MFU) and a dilution of ≥1:500 MFU was considered highly positive. Univariable analysis was performed to determine associations between the prevalence of high positive anti-MPP-1 and demographic (age, sex, race/ethnicity), clinical features (SLEDAI-2K and SLICC/ACR DI total scores and subscales and neurological subscale of the ACR and SLICC Classification Criteria), medications, other autoantibodies (anti-dsDNA, extractable nuclear antigens, and anti-phospholipid antibodies). Results One hundred and forty SLE patients were included; 89.3% were female with a mean age of 47.3 years (SD 16.3) and disease duration of 13.9 years (SD 11.6). The prevalence of high titre anti-MPP-1 was 15.0% (21/140) respectively. Univariable analysis demonstrated that high anti-MPP-1 positivity was associated with a higher total SLEDAI-2K score (Odds Ratio (OR), 1.1 [95% CI 1.0 to 1.3]), particularly with the serositis (OR 3.0, [95% CI 1.4 to 6.6]) and immunological subscales (OR 2.0, [95% CI 1.4 to 2.9]). High anti-MPP-1 positivity was also associated with anti-dsDNA (OR 5.5 [95% CI 1.8 to 16.6]), anti-SSA/Ro60 (OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.0 to 8.9]) and anti-phosphotidylserine/prothrombin complex (aPS/PT)-IgG (OR 3.6 [95% CI 1.1 to 11.5]). Conclusions High titer anti-MPP-1 antibodies were common in this SLE cohort (15.0%) and may be associated with greater clinical and serologic SLE disease activity. A larger study is currently underway to more clearly delineate its role as a biomarker in SLE. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful for the technical assistance of Ms. Haiyan Hou and Meifeng Zhang (Mitogen Advanced Diagnostics, University of Calgary).


We investigate the infrared behaviour of the gluon propagator in Quantum Chromo- dynamics (QCD). A natural framework for such a non-perturbative study is the complex of Schwinger-Dyson equations (SDE).The possible infrared behaviour of the gluon, found by self-consistently solving the approximate boson SDE, is studied analytically. We find that only an infrared enhanced gluon propagator, as singular as 1/p(^4) as p(^2) → 0, is consistent and demonstrate why softer solutions, that others have found, are not allowed. Reassuringly the consistent, enhanced infrared behaviour is indicative of the confinement of quarks and gluons, implying, for example, area-law behaviour of the Wilson loop operator and forbidding a Kāllen-Lehmann spectral representation of both quark and gluon propagators. We then briefly consider the implications of these results for models of the pomeron. The enhancement of the gluon propagator does however introduce infrared divergences in the SDE and these need to be regularised. So far model forms of the enhanced gluon propagator have been used in studies of dynamical chiral symmetry breaking and hadron phenomenology. Though very encouraging results have been obtained, one might hope to use the gluon propagator obtained directly from non-perturbative QCD to calculate hadron observables. We therefore attempt to eliminate the infrared divergences in the SDEs in a self- consistent way, entirely within the context of the calculational scheme. To do this we introduce an infrared regulator λ in the truncated gluon SDE in quenched QCD. We find that this regulator is indeed determined by the equation and bounded by the QCD-scale Aqcd- Thus it is possible to perform the regularisation within the SDEs. However, we have not been able to choose λ < Aqcd.


Colloids and proteins alike can bind to lipid bilayers and move laterally in these two-dimensional fluids. Inspired by proteins that generate membrane curvature, sense the underlying membrane geometry, and migrate to high curvature sites, we explore the question: Can colloids, adhered to lipid bilayers, also sense and respond to membrane geometry? We report the curvature migration of Janus microparticles adhered to giant unilamellar vesicles elongated to present well defined curvature fields. However, unlike proteins, which migrate to minimize membrane bending energy, colloids migrate by an entirely different mechanism. By determining the energy dissipated along a trajectory, the energy field mediating these interactions is inferred to be linear in the local deviatoric curvature, as reported previously for colloids trapped at curved interfaces between immiscible fluids. In this latter system, however, the energy gradients are far larger, so particles move deterministically, whereas the colloids on vesicles move with significant fluctuations in regions of weak curvature gradient. By addressing the role of Brownian motion, we show that the observed curvature migration of colloids on bilayers is indeed a case of curvature capillary migration, with membrane tension playing the role of interfacial tension. Furthermore, since this motion is mediated by membrane tension and shape, it can be modulated, or even turned "on" and "off", by simply varying these parameters. While particle-particle interactions on lipid membranes have been considered in many contributions, we report here an exciting and previously unexplored modality to actively direct the migration of colloids to desired locations on lipid bilayers.


British people have become increasingly concerned about the risk of violence from patients with severe mental illness who have been discharged into the community. A few incidents have received considerable media attention and left a strong impression of the potential dangerousness of psychotic patients. Subsequent inquiries have revealed serious shortcomings both in the clinical management and supervision of these patients, with failures in liaison and cooperation between agencies being coupled with inadequate service provision, particularly of secure inpatient beds.1 2 3 The government has become increasingly vulnerable to opposition or pressure groups that will seize any opportunity to criticise its programme of care in the community. Health ministers may now be questioning whether current policies are adequate to deal with a growing crisis of public confidence and whether the proposed new mental health legislation will deal with the problem.4

No evaluation of current policy for dangerous patients can be undertaken without knowing whether the general public is genuinely at increased risk of harm from mentally ill patients. Unfortunately, the Department of Health is not helped by lack of research in this subject and the recent shift of position by academics.5 6 It is widely feared that bed closures mean predisposed patients are spending longer periods at risk of offending in the community. But earlier research suggesting that cohorts of patients discharged from public mental hospitals showed increasing rates of offending over time is now seen as inadequate.5 7 The progressive reduction in beds has itself altered the picture. Inadequate data and poor methodology still continue to confuse debate on clinical management. For example, the risks that mentally disordered people will commit homicide have been claimed to be both higher and lower than the risks for the general population but without adequate data to support either assertion. …


The current article presents the building-scale experimental validation of a new model for walls equipped with phase change materials. The one-dimensional conduction heat transfer equation is solved using an explicit finite-difference method coupled with an enthalpy method to consider the variable phase change materials thermal capacity. The model is implemented in the transient system simulation tool simulation tool and referred to as Type 3258, and the method used to couple this component to the multi-zone building (known as Type 56) is discussed. The experimental investigation is performed in two identical full-scale test-cells (only one with phase change materials) exposed to the ambient environment. Experimental data are first used to benchmark a transient system simulation tool simulation model of the test-cell without phase change materials. After calibration, the phase change materials model is experimentally validated with data from the phase change materials-equipped test-cell. Compared to the benchmarking procedure (without phase change materials), the root mean square deviation values between the experiments and the simulations (with phase change materials) are lower or in the same order of magnitude. Simulation accurately reproduces the impact of adding phase change materials to the test-cell as observed in the experiments, such as mitigation and time-shift effects. A discussion about computation time concludes the present study.


A brand-new environmental-friendly magnetic cellulosic adsorbent MnFe2O4@Cel-g-p(AA-DMC) was synthesized by natural cellulose and easy-recovered magnetic particles MnFe2O4. Magnetic cellulose composites were characterized by SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD, BET, VSM, TGA and FTIR. The MnFe2O4NPs could activate the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to produce various reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accordingly, magnetic cellulose composites can synergistic adsorption degradation of dyes from organic wastewater. The Congo red (CR) removal efficiency by MnFe2O4@Cel-g-p(AA-DMC) via PMS activated by MnFe2O4 reached a maximum of 96.9% and only 9% reduction after four adsorption-desorption cycles, indicating the stability and recoverability of adsorbent. It is worth noting that adsorbents can be quickly recovered from aqueous solution by external magnet owing to superior saturation magnetization (35.44 emu·g-1). A possible degradation mechanism of CR on the MnFe2O4@Cel-g-p(AA-DMC) composite was proposed. The results suggest that adsorbent display strong potential for the removal of CR dyes from organic wastewater.


A fourth-order model is developed for a crane-load system. From this model a time optimal control scheme with input constraints is investigated for transferring the crane load with swing angle regulation. Rather than following a conventional numerical method approach for solving the two point boundary value problem, a rule-based approach inspired by the manual crane operation is proposed. It is shown that the time optimal control problem becomes the determination of the switching times. Based on the heuristics obtained, a set of expert rules is generated for the adjustment of the switching times. A simple iteration method for obtaining the optimal switching times is presented which provides an alternative solution when there is no analytical expression for a solution. From collected data a lookup table is generated. By incorporating an interpolation algorithm it is possible to transfer the crane load an arbitary distance without load pendulation at the destination in minimum time.


Abstract. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have been widely used in various fields such as archaeology, agriculture, mining, and construction, can acquire high-resolution images at the millimetre scale. It is possible to obtain realistic 3D models using high-overlap images and 3D reconstruction software based on computer vision technologies such as Structure from Motion and Multi-view Stereo. However, it remains difficult to obtain key points from surfaces with limited texture such as new asphalt or concrete, or from areas like forests that may be concealed by vegetation. A promising method for conducting aerial surveys is through the use of UAVs equipped with laser scanners. We conducted a fundamental performance evaluation of the Velodyne VLP-16 multi-channel laser scanner equipped to a DJI Matrice 600 Pro UAV at a construction site. Here, we present our findings with respect to both the geometric and radiometric aspects of the acquired data.


The goal of this research undertaking is to provide illuminating insights on the phenomenon of business ethics in Islamic finance. The paper offers insight into the ways that Islamic finance can enhance the upholding of utmost business ethics in diverse settings. For this, the study employees a meticulous literature review that covers an array of credible primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. This research dissemination finds that many players in the Islamic finance segment observe business ethics in general.  Scores of Islamic finance practitioners observe the business ethics laid out in the Shari'ah . However, there are quite a few notable cases of wayward participants who have not been true to business ethics. The results of deviation from ethical business practices have been catastrophic. To deepen the observance of business ethics, it is important for the Islamic finance industry to deploy pragmatic and objective models that can be timely applied to warn of possible deviation from the observance of the ethical ideals laid out in the Shari'ah and avert the possible adverse consequences. The paper is tentative in nature. There is a need for further empirical research.


In this work, we theoretically study the optical properties of a multilayer Fabry-Perot narrow band transmission fllter containing a metamaterial negative-index defect. As in the usual Fabry-Perot fllter design, the negative-index defect is sandwiched by two quarter- wave dielectric mirrors. Some useful design rules on selecting value of the negative-index of the defect have been numerically elucidated. Such narrow band transmission flltering is achieved when the refractive index of defect is either a negative even integer if the thickness is taken as a quarter of design wavelength; or a negative odd integer if the thickness is taken as a half of design wavelength.


The QED renormalization is restudied by using a mass-dependent subtraction which is performed at a time-like renormalization point. The subtraction exactly respects necessary physical and mathematical requirements such as the gauge symmetry, the Lorentzinvariance and the mathematical convergence. Therefore, the renormalized results derived in the subtraction scheme are faithful and have no ambiguity. Especially, it is proved that the solution of the renormalization group equation satisfied by a renormalized wave function, propagator or vertex can be fixed by applying the renormalization boundary condition and, thus, an exact S-matrix element can be expressed in the form as written in the tree diagram approximation provided that the coupling constant and the fermion mass are replaced by their effective ones. In the one-loop approximation, the effective coupling constant and the effective fermion mass obtained by solving their renormalization group equations are given in rigorous and explicit expressions which are suitable in the whole range of distance and exhibit physically reasonable asymptotic behaviors. PACS: 11.10Gh, 12.20Ds


The transformation of vast amount of information through the network channels appeared widely from one site to another and these information may be disclosed to the third party or the attackers. Thus, the protection process of transformed information is a complex process that can be established through the Intrusion Detection System (IDS).  Concealment and unity of information are the most important issues achieved through the intrusion detection system. The process of intrusion detection can be used with wireless or wired networks via making use of hardware or software techniques. Consequently, this caused to have lots of new techniques for IDS in various environments and different levels of network. Unfortunately, most of these techniques do not implemented together for increasing the security of the network. This leaded us to provide a review of the recent papers including a general view of intrusion detection in various environments through the networking and using various techniques. As a result, the most important intend for this paper is to embrace the most new progressions in this region. This may help the researchers to have a general knowledge on different techniques for protection through IDS and various types of intrusion and its detection techniques.


ABSTRACT Uracil DNA glycosylases (UNG) are highly conserved proteins that preserve DNA fidelity by catalyzing the removal of mutagenic uracils. All herpesviruses encode a viral UNG (vUNG), and yet the role of the vUNG in a pathogenic course of gammaherpesvirus infection is not known. First, we demonstrated that the vUNG of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) retains the enzymatic function of host UNG in an in vitro class switch recombination assay. Next, we generated a recombinant MHV68 with a stop codon in ORF46/UNG (ΔUNG) that led to loss of UNG activity in infected cells and a replication defect in primary fibroblasts. Acute replication of MHV68ΔUNG in the lungs of infected mice was reduced 100-fold and was accompanied by a substantial delay in the establishment of splenic latency. Latency was largely, yet not fully, restored by an increase in virus inoculum or by altering the route of infection. MHV68 reactivation from latent splenocytes was not altered in the absence of the vUNG. A survey of host UNG activity in cells and tissues targeted by MHV68 indicated that the lung tissue has a lower level of enzymatic UNG activity than the spleen. Taken together, these results indicate that the vUNG plays a critical role in the replication of MHV68 in tissues with limited host UNG activity and this vUNG-dependent expansion, in turn, influences the kinetics of latency establishment in distal reservoirs. IMPORTANCE Herpesviruses establish chronic lifelong infections using a strategy of replicative expansion, dissemination to latent reservoirs, and subsequent reactivation for transmission and spread. We examined the role of the viral uracil DNA glycosylase, a protein conserved among all herpesviruses, in replication and latency of murine gammaherpesvirus 68. We report that the viral UNG of this murine pathogen retains catalytic activity and influences replication in culture. The viral UNG was impaired for productive replication in the lung. This defect in expansion at the initial site of acute replication was associated with a substantial delay of latency establishment in the spleen. The levels of host UNG were substantially lower in the lung compared to the spleen, suggesting that herpesviruses encode a viral UNG to compensate for reduced host enzyme levels in some cell types and tissues. These data suggest that intervention at the site of initial replicative expansion can delay the establishment of latency, a hallmark of chronic herpesvirus infection.


ABSTRACT Material generated during industrial activities that do not have further use in the production process are often categorised as refused industrial byproducts. This paper briefly discusses the utilisation of such refused byproducts in the cement manufacturing process and evaluates their use at different stages of the cement manufacturing process. The evaluation was based on the byproducts' physicochemical properties without affecting the quality of the final cement product. Dealing with hazards caused by byproduct mismanagement and storage is a tremendous task; however, such production continues to rise. The worldwide diminishment of raw materials offers ample opportunities to replace these materials with refused byproducts. Many refused byproducts remain unexplored even though they might be used in cement production and to develop newer types of cement. Using refused byproducts as alternatives to more traditionally used raw materials will help maintain the world's ecological balance while contributing to society's development.


Assume a hierarchical cluster of servers is composed of logical groups, and each logical group is further made up of physical servers. Based on certain assumptions and the generalized supermarket model (GSM) scheduling, we present a hybrid scheduling based approach to dynamic load balancing in a hierarchical cluster of servers, GSM-R. From the viewpoint of probability, this model is analyzed in detail and a dramatic result is achieved: for the large scale of hierarchical cluster of servers, at the steady state of the system, the average time consumed for tasks converges to the theoretical limit by use of the GSM-R strategy of dynamic load balancing; this means that the total time consumed for a task is almost completely spent on its necessary service fraction without extra waiting time.


Making a Promised Land examines the interconnected histories of African American representation, urban life, and citizenship as documented in still and moving images of Harlem over the last century. Paula J. Massood analyzes how photography and film have been used over time to make African American culture visible to itself and to a wider audience and charts the ways in which the "Mecca of the New Negro" became a battleground in the struggle to define American politics, aesthetics, and citizenship. Visual media were first used as tools for uplift and education. With Harlem's downturn in fortunes through the 1930s, narratives of black urban criminality became common in sociological tracts, photojournalism, and film. These narratives were particularly embodied in the gangster film, which was adapted to include stories of achievement, economic success, and, later in the century, a nostalgic return to the past. Among the films discussed are Fights of Nations (1907), Dark Manhattan (1937), The Cool World (1963), Black Caesar (1974), Malcolm X (1992), and American Gangster (2007). Massood asserts that the history of photography and film in Harlem provides the keys to understanding the neighborhood's symbolic resonance in African American and American life, especially in light of recent urban redevelopment that has redefined many of its physical and demographic contours.


Background

HBV infection affects millions of people globally and this can be partly attributed to its high degree of transmissibility. This study was aimed at identifying some prevailing epidemiological factors associated with HBV infection and uptake of HBV testing in South West region of Cameroon.
Methods

This was a hospital-based case-control study which enrolled HBV infected participants and "healthy" controls ≥ 18 years old. Venous blood collected from participants was used to conduct HBV panel test. Data on demographic and behavioral risk factors as well as reasons for doing the HBV test for the first time were collected using a questionnaire.
Results

 A total of 424 participants were enrolled (212 "healthy" controls and 212 HBV infected cases). Male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.08, p = 0.010), ≤ secondary education level (OR = 4.83, p < 0.001), low income level (OR = 3.79, p < 0.001), rural settlement (OR = 2.17, p = 0.031), history of sexually transmitted infections (STI) (OR = 4.24, p < 0.001) and ignorance of sex partners HBsAg status (OR = 2.70, p = 0.003) all had an independent and significant association with HBV infection. Top 3 reasons for doing HBsAg test were free screening (40.3%), Blood donation (15.0%) and administrative requirements (14.9%). Seven (1.7%) participants got tested for the first time after symptoms were identified by a doctor.
Conclusion

Male sex, low income level, ≤ secondary education level, rural settlement, history of STI and ignorance of sex partners HBsAg status were significantly associated with HBV infection. Free screening, blood donation and administrative requirements were the most common reasons for doing HBsAg test. Uptake of HBsAg testing and early detection can be improved if more sensitization and free/opportunistic screenings are carried out. A significant drop in the cost of the test could encourage more people to get tested as well.


The Fourier transform of the X-ray diffraction pattern of a crystal is the electron density of the crystal averaged over space and time. In the determination of the structure of a crystal this electron density is modeled by a set of spheres of electron density representing the atoms together with a »smearing function«, the atomic displacement parameters, representing the motion (translation and libration) of those atoms. Studies of the deuterium and 1 3 C NMR of these solids show that these XRD parameters give a less than full picture of the motional behavior in crystals. In particular XRD parameters do not give information about infrequent activated processes in the crystal or about some motional behavior related to phase changes. A number of examples of the synergy of XRD and solid state NMR will be given. These examples include phenyl ring flips in phenoxypenicillin salts, whole molecule rotations in ansatitanocene halides, guest molecule tumbling, spins and flips in thiourea clathrates cycloheptane and cyclooctane guests, cation flips and spins in thiourea pyridinium halides, wobbles, spins and phase changes in the deoxycholic acid ferrocene clathrate and motion, phase changes and chiral selectivity in the deoxycholic acid clathrates with R and S camphor, with reference to how solid state NMR gives information about the mechanism of the phase change.


The Institute of Postcolonial Studies is an autonomous educational institution located in Melbourne, Australia. It has linkages to major universities and research bodies both in Australia and internationally. The Institute's book series Writing Past Colonialism aims to communicate the unique intellectual excitement and academic excellence that characterize the Institute to a broader global constituency. The leitmotiv of the series is the idea of difference--"differences between culture and politics, as well as differences in ways of seeing and the sources that can be drawn upon. In this sense, the series is postcolonial. Yet the space the Institute hopes to open up is one resistant to new orthodoxies, one that allows for alternative and contesting formulations.Though grounded in studies relating to the formerly colonized world, the series seeks to extend contemporary global analyses. Wide-ranging and engaging, Selves in Question considers the various ways in which auto/biographical accounts situate and question the self in contemporary southern Africa.


[Data Acquisition and Processing in Biology and Medicine Proceedings of the 1961 Rochester Conference edited by Kurt Enslein pp viii+ 191 50s Oxford &c: Pergamon Press 1962 This is, according to the author of the introduction, the first conference on 'biomedical data processing' to be held in a medical school in the United States. As might be expected of a conference devoted to a technique rather than a subject, -there is conflict between enthusiasm and scholarship. At one end it is seriously suggested that eventually 50% of research projects will require computers, and that the remedies for the reputed delay in computer utilization in America should be sought. Some 13 pages later the use of such -facilities to do a x2 test of independence between 'signs and symptoms' suggests that such facilities ,as are available are not always wisely used. A conference on the use of lenses in biology -could hardly have produced a greater scope for a setting in which such a medley of brilliance, irrelevance, and gadgetry could coexist. Anyone -who expects to find such subjects as punch cards, magnetic tape, record linking, tabulation procedures, &c., will be disappointed. That is old stuff. Newcombe's work, perhaps the most important application of electronic computers, is not mentioned. In the reviewer's opinion this book reports a conference which was probably extremely'valuable to those attending, but whose publication has only burdened the confused lines of communication in research.


The Comment on our paper introducing "a symmetric method to obtain shear moduli from microrheology" proposes an interpolation method to generate oversampled data from an original time series that are then used to approximate shear moduli at frequencies "beyond the Nyquist frequency." The author states that this can be done without the use of "preconceived fitting functions," implying that the results are unique and reliable. We disagree with these assertions. While it is possible to generate reasonable looking transforms at frequencies above the Nyquist limit by interpolation, any results obtained above the Nyquist limit will be questionable at best. Moreover, while the cubic spline interpolation the author uses may be standard, it constitutes a particular "preconceived" fit and produces oversampled data that are not unique.


While often defined in informal ways, software cohesion reflects important properties of modules in a software system. Cohesion measurement has been used for quality assessment, fault proneness prediction, software modularization, etc. Existing approaches to cohesion measurement in software are largely based on the structural information of the source code, such as attribute references in methods. These measures reflect particular interpretations of cohesion and try to capture different aspects of cohesion and no single cohesion metric or suite is accepted as standard measurement for cohesion. The paper proposes a new set of measures for the cohesion of individual classes within an software system, based on the analysis of the semantic information embedded in the source code, such as comments and identifiers. A case study on open source software is presented, which compares the new measures with an extensive set of existing metrics. The differences and similarities among the approaches and results are discussed and analyzed.


Student community-based projects are a natural tool for achieving diverse public history outcomes, yet these types of projects are challenging to organize and manage. Focusing on two undergraduate community-centered oral history projects, this article serves as a guide for those interested in developing manageable service-learning projects that facilitate meaningful community partnerships. It explores lessons learned during the projects' organization and execution including how to keep them manageable in terms of scope, scale, and structure and how to maximize available resources (both human and material). It also advances methods for developing student skills in new media technologies and platforms.


Abstract Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of lipid emulsion as antidotal therapy in severe calcium channel blocker (CCB) and β-blocker (BB) intoxications. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study in which we have summarized data of patients who were admitted to a university-based emergency department in a period of 3 years and were given intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) to manage cardiogenic shock due to CCB and BB overdose. Results: We identified 15 patients who received ILE therapy for CCB and BB toxicity. Hospitalization durations variated between 3 and 33 days (mean 7.46 ± 7.41 days). Drug exposures included CCBs (n = 8, 53.3%), CCBs and paracetamol (n = 1, 6.6%), and BBs (n = 6, 40%). ILE therapy was effective in 12 patients (80%). Three patients (20%) had resistant hypotension, one of whom progressed to pulmonary edema. Adverse effects of ILE therapy were seen in three patients (20%). Two patients underwent mechanical ventilation. Two patients developed hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, one patient died, and 14 patients (93.3%) were discharged from hospital. Conclusion: There was 93.3% survival in patients receiving ILE for drug-induced cardiovascular collapse. Clinically significant adverse effects were uncommon. We suggest ILE administration for the treatment of cardiogenic shock due to CCB and BB overdose.


English: Nanotechnology is enabling the development of devices in a scale ranging from one to a few hundred nanometers, known as nanomachines. How these nanomachines will communicate is still an open debate. Molecular communication is a promising paradigm that has been proposed to implement nanonetworks, i.e., the interconnection of nanomachines. The peculiarities of the physical channel in diffusion-based molecular communication require the development of novel models, architectures and protocols for this new scenario, which need to be validated by simulation. With this purpose, N3Sim, a simulator for diffusion-based molecular communication has been developed. N3Sim allows simulating scenarios where transmitters encode the information by releasing molecules into the medium, thus varying their local concentration. N3Sim models the movement of these molecules according to Brownian dynamics, and it also takes into account their inertia and the interactions among them. Receivers decode the information by sensing the particle concentration in their neighborhood. The benefits of N3Sim are multiple: the validation of channel models for molecular communication and the evaluation of novel modulation schemes are just a few examples.


Article Info Background: The growing interest in workplace spirituality has led to the development of a new paradigm in organizational science. The present study aims to provide a structural model for workplace spirituality, occupational ethics, and organizational loyalty among nurses at Ardabil hospitals. Materials and Methods: The statistical population, in this cross-sectional descriptive study, was composed of nurses working at Ardabil hospitals, from which 200 employees were selected by the random sampling technique, who responded to the research instruments. The research instruments included questionnaires about workplace spirituality, occupational ethics, and organizational loyalty. Data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling using SPSS-25 AMOS-24 software. Results: Results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the variables of workplace spirituality and organizational loyalty (P < 0.001). In addition, an indirect effect was confirmed between these variables as mediated by occupational ethics (P <0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the appropriateness of the model for workplace spirituality, occupational ethics, and organizational loyalty among nurses at Ardabil hospitals. Upon an improvement in the spirituality climate, managers would be able to promote organizational loyalty as well as individual and organizational performance.


The inception of the Rio Grande rift in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado was accompanied by voluminous mafic volcanism preserved in part as erosional remnants on an intrarift horst within the current axial rift graben of the San Luis Valley. Oligocene (∼26 Ma) volcanic rocks of the Hinsdale Formation at San Luis Hills range from 49 to 57 wt % SiO2 and include nepheline and hypersthene normative lavas. A mildly alkalic series consisting of trachybasalt, basaltic trachyandesite, and trachyandesite is volumetrically dominant, olivine tholeiites are subordinate, and xenocrystic trachyandesites containing abundant quartz and plagioclase xenocrysts occur only locally. Relative to the San Luis Hills olivine tholeiites which have La/Smn ∼ 2, the more alkaline series are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) and have La/Sm ratios that increase in the trachybasalt-basaltic trachyandesite suite (La/Smn ∼ 3) to xenocrystic trachyandesites that are the most LREE enriched (La/Smn ∼ 4). Chondrite-normalized, trace element patterns for the lavas in the San Luis Hills are similar in shape within the mildly alkaline to transitional series; they have characteristic Nb and Ta depletions and high K and Th relative to Ta, Nb, and LREE. Major and trace element constraints support a petrogenetic model of fractionation plus lower crustal assimilation for petrologic suites within the San Luis Hills rocks, although the model cannot relate lavas for the entire series to a common parent. Most mafic lavas of the San Luis Hills were evolved (Mg # <60) and contaminated by LREE-enriched silicic partial melts of granulitic lower crust depleted in Rb, Th, and U. Pb isotopes are the most sensitive indicators of crustal contamination, whereas shifts in Nd and Sr isotope ratios are associated with large amounts of assimilation. However, relatively noncontaminated lavas can be identified and indicate at least two mantle source regions were involved.


The extensive use of modern low probability-of-intercept digital communication signals, such as frequency hopping signals, requires development of new theory and algorithms for their reconnaissance for the purpose of constructing an electronic order of battle. This paper presents some principles and advances in signal processing and analysis technology for the signal interception, characterization, identification and exploitation in the context of electronic warfare.


Impaired handling of apoptotic cells has been suggested as an important factor in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and a role for complement in the removal of apoptotic cells was shown recently. We studied the in vitro function of macrophages from 40 patients with SLE and their matched controls in the removal of heterologous apoptotic cells opsonized by iC3b. Interaction index of apoptotic cells opsonized by iC3b was significantly lower in patients with SLE and averaged 71% ± 37 of that of healthy individuals (p < 0.002) and 69% ± 35 of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.007). SLE patients had increased apoptosis of both freshly isolated monocytes (p < 0.001) and maturing macrophages (p < 0.04) that led to decreased density of monocyte-derived macrophages. Apoptosis was inhibited by adding soluble Fas receptor indicating Fas-mediated apoptosis. As demonstrated in both healthy controls and patients with SLE, decreased macrophage density by itself caused significant decreased uptake of apoptotic cells by the remaining macrophages. Maintaining normal density in SLE patients either by an increased initial density or by using soluble Fas restored the interaction capacity of the individual macrophages in the majority of patients. We concluded that impaired in vitro interaction of iC3b-opsonized apoptotic cells with macrophages from patients with SLE was mainly associated with Fas-dependent accelerated apoptosis of the monocytes/macrophages. Accelerated apoptosis of phagocytes may represent a novel in vitro mechanism of impairment of interaction with apoptotic cells that, apart from reducing the number of professional phagocytes, alters the function of the remaining macrophages.


in which A, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the description, the processes for the preparation of these compounds, the uses thereof for the treatment of dyslipidaemia, atherosclerosis and dia-betes, and the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.


Recently, highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.617.1 (Kappa), B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.618 were identified in India with mutations within the spike proteins. The spike protein of Kappa contains four mutations E154K, L452R, E484Q and P681R, and Delta contains L452R, T478K and P681R, while B.1.618 spike harbors mutations Δ145-146 and E484K. However, it remains unknown whether these variants have altered in their entry efficiency, host tropism, and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies as well as entry inhibitors. In this study, we found that Kappa, Delta or B.1.618 spike uses human ACE2 with no or slightly increased efficiency, while gains a significantly increased binding affinity with mouse, marmoset and koala ACE2 orthologs, which exhibits limited binding with WT spike. Furthermore, the P618R mutation leads to enhanced spike cleavage, which could facilitate viral entry. In addition, Kappa, Delta and B.1.618 exhibits a reduced sensitivity to neutralization by convalescent sera owning to the mutation of E484Q, T478K, Δ145-146 or E484K, but remains sensitive to entry inhibitors-ACE2-lg decoy receptor. Collectively, our study revealed that enhanced human and mouse ACE2 receptor engagement, increased spike cleavage and reduced sensitivity to neutralization antibodies of Kappa, Delta and B.1.618 may contribute to the rapid spread of these variants and expanded host range. Furthermore, our result also highlighted that ACE2-lg could be developed as broad-spectrum antiviral strategy against SARS-CoV-2 variants.


The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationships between dimensions of internationalisation on balanced scorecard (BSC), among Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Internationalisation covers the dimensions of knowledge, trust and commitment. Internationalisation can benefit the firm performance of SMEs in Malaysia which is measured using balanced scorecard, by increasing the involvement of SMEs in international business. A sample of 404 data was considered as the final sample size for this study. By using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the dimensions of internationalisation were observed to test the hypotheses. The results indicate that internationalisation as a whole does not have a role in the results of BSC among Malaysian SMEs. However, this also indicates that internationalisation is useful to reach the firm performance mostly in larger organisations because they require more strategic internationalisation to be more triumphant over their rivals which the larger organisations have. Furthermore, most SMEs in Malaysia are relatively new and being mostly family enterprises, these SMEs in Malaysia are more knowledgeable to perform domestic business. Therefore, this research conveys an understanding to the owners and managers to quickly achieve BSC results. Finally, this study brings some conclusions to the policy makers and regulators as well


HEM6 (HEM12) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, the fifth enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway. The HEM6 (HEM12) gene was cloned by complementation of heme auxotrophy of a hem6 mutant. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1086 nucleotides. The predicted amino acid sequence of HEM6 (HEM12) shows extensive homology to those reported for uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase from mammalian sources. Expression of HEM6 (HEM12) was investigated and was found to increase two‐fold in a non‐fermentable carbon source. However, HEM6 (HEM12) transcription was unaffected by heme or by intermediates in the heme biosynthetic pathway. In addition, HEM6 (HEM12) expression is not regulated by the transcriptional activator complex HAP2–3–4, as has been shown for some genes encoding heme biosynthetic enzymes.


ABSTRACT A hybrid method for estimation of atmospheric concentrations of multiple radionuclides was developed and applied to NaI(Tl) pulse height records measured in Ibaraki Prefecture in the morning of 15 March 2011 when three radioactive plumes from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident passed. The method is based on the simple principle for separation from deposited radionuclides' contribution and the concentration estimation for multiple radionuclides. Difficulty in the concentration estimation due to complexity of surrounding terrains and geometry was overcome to obtain spatiotemporal variations in atmospheric concentrations of Xe-133, Te-132, I-131, I-132 and I-133 in the three plumes at 21 monitoring stations. The plume axis with higher I-131 concentration of 5.40 kBq m-3 than the previous estimations during the second plume was found in the northwestern inland area. A substantially lower Xe-133/I-131 concentration ratio of the first plume than those of the others was again recognized. The details of non-uniform spatial distribution of the radionuclide composition were found for each of the three plumes.


Theoretical indications of the magnitude of horizontal spread resulting from the interaction between vertical diffusion and the wind profile are briefly reviewed. Assuming a fairly realistic form for the spectrum of turbulence the effect of this interaction is evaluated from a treatment by F. B. Smith, and this is combined with the theoretical growth arising directly from the horizontal component of turbulence to give a total crosswind growth curve. Two series of field experiments on dispersion in stable conditions are examined, one in Sweden using an elevated source of smoke puffs, the other in the U.S.A. using a continuous ground release of a fluorescent tracer. Both indicate that distortion of the plume by the turning of the wind became significant beyond 2-3 km downwind, but that the immediate transference of the effect to enhance the spread at a given level was not important within about 5 km for the elevated source or about 12 km for the ground source.


ABSTRACT Much research on public communication campaigns has shown that the negative appeals (e.g. fear, guilt appeals) commonly used may not be effective for encouraging prosocial behaviors, as they can facilitate defensive processing. Self-affirmation theory suggests that self-affirmation may be a useful strategy for mitigating defensive responses to potentially self-threatening messages. This cross-national study explored the effect of self-affirmation on the persuasiveness of a threat appeal message in the context of climate change. An experiment with a 3 (no affirmation versus message-integrated affirmation versus message-separate affirmation) × 2 (high self-threatening versus low self-threatening message) × 2 (U.S. versus Korea) factorial design (N = 225, U.S.; N = 255, Korea) was employed to test this postulation. The results suggested that self-affirmation has a positive effect on perceived risk, attitude toward message, and intention to engage in environmentally-friendly behaviors, although this effect is limited to high self-threat conditions. Additionally, a statistically significant interaction between self-affirmation and culture was found for the effect on behavioral intention. Finally, message-integrated affirmation manipulation was found to be as effective as message-separate affirmation manipulation. The implications of these findings for public communication campaigns in terms of promoting prosocial behaviors are discussed.


Modular component exchange is one of several viable options for treating instability after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Recently, we reported that polyethylene liners retrieved from stable THAs had significantly deeper cup articular geometry than liners retrieved from dislocated THAs. Modular liner exchange with implantation of a deeper cup articulation for the treatment of THA instability may be an option in certain cases. We describe the use of modular liner exchange with implantation of a custom polyethylene liner with a deepened articular geometry for surgical treatment of recurrent dislocation after primary THA in a 70 year old patient. The patient did not feel unstable and no symptoms of subluxation or dislocation have been experienced in the 3 years of follow-up subsequent to treatment. Surgeons should consider the articular geometry of the polyethylene liner as an important design parameter, and we recommend that deeper polyethylene liners be considered for treatment of recurrent dislocation after primary THA.


1. The original theory of the food supply of aquatic animals put forward by Putter, and based upon the results of certain experiments and analyses, claimed that the chief source of food of such animals was organic matter dissolved in the sea, in lakes, rivers, etc., and that this was absorbed directly and indeed often by the gills, if present. The position he took up may be emphasised by his statement regarding fishes: "There is no doubt that a nutrition without dissolved foodstuffs is possible, and it is not impossible that cases of this kind are realised in nature. But the experiments at Naples show that the fish in the Naples aquarium under approximately natural conditions obtain one-half to threequarters or more of their food requirements by the absorption of dissolved food." 2. It is quite possible that small quantities of organic matter in solution in water are absorbed by aquatic animals, and in some cases (particularly amongst protozoa living under special conditions) this may be an important, perhaps the most important, source of food. It is also possible that very small quantities of organic matter in solution may eventually be found to exercise a very profound influence (acting like vitamines, for example) on the life of aquatic animals. Evidence for such is not evidence for the main thesis set up by Putter on the results of his own experiments. 3. The food requirements of many aquatic animals as calculated by Putter on the basis of oxygen consumption are often remarkably high and need further investigation. It is quite possible that there is an unknown factor at work here. In connection with these calculations we consider that purely theoretical computations based upon the measurement or estimation of the active surface area of the body are not permissible, and that the application of the law of surface area in connection.with metabolism must not be allowed to supplant experiment. 4. Experiments on goldfish similar to those made by Putter, show that specimens kept in tap water without any particulate food live for varying periods (which are often of considerable duration) dependent upon the original condition of the fish, and the freedom of the experimental tanks from parasites. The addition of the organic compounds, glycerine and asparagine, makes no difference to the duration of life, and the consumption of oxygen by the fish living in tap water with these compounds does not exceed that of the control fish in tap water only. Gradual starvation takes place, and sections show that the mass of muscle tissue becomes gradually reduced. 5. The cessation of feeding on particulate food makes the fish particularly susceptible to the attacks of parasites ( Chilodon cyprini and Gyrodactylus , sp.), if there is any chance of such infection. 6. The consumption of oxygen by plaice eggs during their development agrees fairly well with the amount computed from analyses of the composition of young eggs and eggs shortly before hatching, but the results are only approximate, although they fit in with the assumption that such floating eggs have their own food stores and absorb nothing from the sea water. 7. Aquatic organisms are not to be grouped in one class in so far as nutrition and metabolism are concerned. 8. It had frequently been noted that when the oxygen consumption of aquatic animals is measured, and the determination extends over several hours there is a gradual falling off during the experiment. It is necessary to look for this in every case before estimating the normal oxygen consumption over long periods. The variation may be due to handling the specimens at the beginning of the experiment, to the gradual reduction of the oxygen available, to the accumulation of waste products, or to time of feeding. We have found that goldfish, axolotls, and Anodon used in our experiments are to a certain extent independent of the oxygen pressure, which may fall considerably (until a certain minimum is reached) before the oxygen consumption of the animals per hour is affected.


Phagosomal proteome characterization has contributed significantly to the understanding of host–pathogen interaction and the mechanism of infectious diseases caused by intracellular bacteria. The latex bead‐containing phagosome has been widely used as a model system to study phagosomal proteomes at a global level. In contrast, the study of bacteria‐containing phagosomes at a similar level has just begun. A number of intracellular microbial species are studied for their proteomes during the invasion of a host, providing insight into their metabolic adaptation in host cells and interaction with host‐cell antimicrobial environments. In this review, we attempt to summarize the most recent advancements in the proteomic study of microbial phagosomes, especially those originating from mouse or human cells. We also briefly describe the proteomics of latex bead‐containing phagosomes because they are often used as model phagosomes for study. We provide descriptions on major biological and technological components in phagosomal proteome studies. We also discuss the role of phagosomal proteome study in the broader horizon of systems biology and the technological challenges in phagosomal proteome characterization.


Multi-level micro-electrode structures have been produced using excimer laser ablation techniques to obtain devices for the electro-manipulation of bioparticles using traveling electric field dielectrophoresis effects. The system sued to make these devices operates with a krypton fluoride excimer laser at a wavelength of 248 nm and with a repetition rate of 100Hz. The laser illuminates a chrome-on-quartz laser at a wavelength of 248nm and with a repetition rate of 100Hz. The laser illuminates a chrome-on-quartz mask which contains the patterns for the particular electrode structure being made. The masks then imaged by a high-resolution lens onto the sample. Large areas of the mask pattern are transferred to the sample by using synchronized scanning of the mask and workpiece with sub-micron precision. Electrode structures with typical sizes of approximately 10 micrometers are produced and a multi-level device is built up by ablation of electrode patterns and layering insulators. To produce a traveling electric field suitable for the manipulation of bioparticles, a linear array of 10 micrometers by 200 micrometers micro- electrodes, placed at 20 micrometers intervals, is used. The electric field is created by energizing each electrode with a sinusoidal voltage 90 degrees out of phase with that applied to the adjacent electrode. On exposure to the traveling electric field, bioparticles become electrically polarized and experience a linear force and so move along the length of the linear electrode array. The speed and direction of the particles is controlled by the magnitude and frequency of the energizing signals. Such electromanipulation devices have potential uses in a wide range of biotechnological diagnostic and processing applications.


Recently, several studies have explored the use of neural network to solve different routing problems, which is an auspicious direction. These studies usually design an encoder-decoder based framework that uses encoder embeddings of nodes and the problem-specific context to produce node sequence(path), and further optimize the produced result on top by beam search. However, existing models can only support node coordinates as input, ignore the self-referential property of the studied routing problems, and lack the consideration about the low reliability in the initial stage of node selection, thus are hard to be applied in real-world. In this paper, we take the orienteering problem as an example to tackle these limitations. We propose a novel combination of a variant beam search algorithm and a learned heuristic for solving the general orienteering problem. We acquire the heuristic with an attention network that takes the distances among nodes as input, and learn it via a reinforcement learning framework. The empirical studies show that our method can surpass a wide range of baselines and achieve results close to the optimal or highly specialized approach. Also, our proposed framework can be easily applied to other routing problems. Our code is publicly available.


A10 Telomere length plays a very critical role in the maintenance of genome integrity. The shortening of telomeres may cause genetic instability and thus promote cancer development. Previous studies mainly shaded light on the overall telomere shortening. However, the association between the chromosome-specific telomere shortening and tumorigenesis of a certain type of cancer has yet to be established. Therefore, in the present study, we measured both the overall telomere length and individual telomere lengths of XpYp, 17p,2p, 11q and 12q with quantitative real-time PCR in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from an esophageal cancer case-control study consisting of 92 cases and 92 controls matched on age (±1 year), gender and ethnicity. The results showed that, compared with matched controls, EC patients had significantly shorter overall telomere length [case vs. control (mean ± standard deviation): 1.19±0.39 vs. 1.36±0.42; p=0.001] and individual telomere lengths of 17p (case vs. control: 1.08±0.27 vs. 1.23±0.38; p=0.018) and 12 q (case vs. control: 1.44±0.99 vs. 2.14±2.08; p=0.008). No significant differences of the individual telomere length were observed between cases and controls for chromosome XpYp (case vs. control: 0.91±0.31 vs. 0.85±0.23; p=0.08), 2p (case vs. control: 1.20±0.58 vs. 1.20±0.54; p=0.988) and 11q (case vs. control: 0.77±0.83 vs. 0.75±0.68; p=0.834). We further categorized the overall telomere lengths using the 50% value in the controls as cutoff points and found that short overall telomere length was associated with significantly increased EC risks [adjusted odds ration (OR) = 4.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.85-12.05]. In a tertile analysis, a dose response association was noted between the short overall telomere length and increased EC risk (p for trend = 0.004).The joint effect on EC risk between telomere length and smoking status was also identified. Using never smokers with long telomere length as the reference group, we found that ever smokers with long telomere length, never smokers with short telomere length and ever smokers with short telomere length exhibited significantly increased EC risk with ORs (95% CI) of 3.83 (1.06-13.85), 4.93 (1.21- 20.14), and 10.65 (2.94-38.56), respectively. Our findings provide the first evidence linking short overall and individual telomere lengths of 17p and 12q in PBLs to elevated EC risk, which warrants further investigation in large-size studies.


Despite of swift advancements happening in digital technology, financial institutions like banks still rely upon conventional medium of processing the bank cheques by humans. The process is cumbersome and takes couple of days for actual transfer of money which involves verification by the intermediaries. This leads to high time and costs. In this paper, we propose an automated system which extracts relevant details of a bank cheque like Payee Name, Amount, Date, Bank Name using Optical Character Recognition and Deep Learning and verifies the signature on the cheque with the existing signature stored in the database using feature extraction and principal component analysis. The signature for a new user is stored using it's hash value for security purposes. The proposed system uses modified convolution neural network to extract the handwritten content on cheque leaf where in IAM dataset is used to train the model and get the optimized results. This system will facilitate the process and lead to reduction in time and costs. The efficiency and performance is measured on the self generated data set of bank


An algorithm is developed to determine the `8275 Programmable CRT Controller' timing parameters for a given CRT monitor requirements and the desired display format. This algorithm has been implemented in BASIC language and executed on the TRS-80 computer. There may not always exist a set of 8275 parameters satisfying simultaneously the monitor and display format requirements. This is allowed for by leaving the choice of modifications in requirements to the programmer. When the choice of modification in requirements works out to be obvious, program execution continues after indicating to the programmer the decision taken. The flow chart and the program are shown.


Method: The infants in the original cohort were contacted and offered a follow-up appointment, which included allergy testing to the previous triggering nut. They were instructed to introduce the triggering nut at home if the last reaction was >12 months and there was no sensitisation. If sensitisation was present, an in-hospital food challenge was offered. If the child had already consumed the nut at home, they were encouraged to continue to eat the nut.


We report what is to our best knowledge the first holographic recording in photosensitive polymer optical fibers by guided beams. The fibers are made of poly(methyl methacrylate) doped with Disperse Red 1 dye. We also demonstrate what we believe is the first recording of Fourier-transform images in these fibers.


This article considers the implications for a costs assessment in Queensland of a failure to comply with the disclosure requirements of division 3 of part 4 of the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld).


Multi-messenger astronomy is a vast and expanding field as electromagnetic observations (EM) are no longer the only way of exploring the Universe. Due to the new messengers, astrophysical events with both gravitational waves (GWs) and EM emission are no longer a dream of the astronomical community. A breakthrough for GW multi-messenger astronomy came when the LIGO-Virgo network detected a GW signal of two low-mass compact objects consistent with a binary neutron star (BNS, GW170817) an event that generated a short gamma-ray burst (GRBs) and a kilonova. While GW170817 represents the testimony to BNS mergers being the progenitor of at least some GRBs, a wide range of highly energetic astrophysical phenomena is expected to be accompanied by the emission of GWs and photons. Here we present an unmodelled method to search for GWs having gamma and radio counterparts, using the LIGO-Virgo data and observations of partner telescopes. We also discuss the most recent results of the unmodelled coherent searches targeting astrophysical events during the first part of the LIGO-Virgo third observing run (O3a): 105 GRBs detected by the Fermi and Swift satellites.


Introduction: Hemoglobinopathies are a group of genetic disorders of hemoglobin in which there is abnormal production or structure of the hemoglobin molecule. Aim: The present study attempted to find out the occurrence of hemoglobinopathies and the spectrum of different types of hemoglobinopathies in the study population. Material & Method: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study based on records of screening program for hemoglobinopathies in the hematology unit of the pathology department of our hospital. The study population comprised of all the women attending antenatal clinics in their first trimester, who were screened for hemoglobinopathies in our hospital from January 2013 to August 2013. Primary screening is done by naked eye single tube osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT) to screen β thalassemia and solubility test with sodium metabisulfite for sickle cell abnormality in all cases. The diagnosis is verified by HPLC in suspected positive cases. The results of RBC Indices, NESTROFT and solubility tests are compared. Result: Majority of our patients are 21-25 years age group (60 %). Out of all patients 51.03 % patients have microcytic hypochromic anemia. Sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of NESTROFT and solubility tests are counted. . Sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of NESTROFT is 100 %, 83.16 % and 84 % while for solubility tests they are 50 %, 86.55 % and 86.4 % respectively. Conclusion: Although NESTROFT and solubility tests are less reliable, they are cheaper and easier to perform. As per cost effectiveness study, it is better to use them as a primary screening tool.


Introduction The detailed examination by the U. S. Geological Survey of the Idaho Phosphate Reserve has made necessary the mapping of considerable areas occupied by igneous rocks. Such rocks are abundant in southeastern Idaho and present many interesting features. The igneous rocks of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation have already been described.[3][1] In the present paper it is proposed to summarize the igneous geology of the Cranes Flat, Henry, and Lanes Creek quadrangles, which lie in a group 15 miles or more east of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and are shown in the accompanying map, figure l.[4][2] A more extended account will be presented in a forthcoming detailed report on a larger region, which includes the quadrangles named.

Figure 1.—General geological Map of the Cranes Flat, Henry, and Lanes Creek Quadrangles, Idaho

General Distribution and Character of Rocks

The southeastern corner of Idaho is composed of folded and faulted . . .

 [1]: #fn-2
 [2]: #fn-3


It has been suggested that hypothalamic regulation of GH secretion in children may differ from that in adults. On the other hand, there is evidence that oral glucose administration affects GH secretion through hypothalamic mechanisms. Therefore, we investigated spontaneous and GHRH-stimulated (1 microgram/kg BW) GH responses after oral glucose administration (children, 1.75 g/kg BW; adults, 75 g) in peripubertal normal children (13 girls and 13 boys, aged 11.7 +/- 0.4 yr; range, 8-13) and healthy adults (12 males and 14 females, aged 25.7 +/- 1.2 yr; range, 18-39). Three studies were carried out. In study 1, serum GH levels in 8 children were suppressed (< 1 microgram/L) for 135 min after oral glucose administration. Afterward, there was a rise in serum GH levels. In 8 adults, the suppressive effect of glucose persisted throughout the 210-min study period, and no GH rebound appeared. In study 2, the GH responses to iv GHRH boli in 10 adults and 10 children were, respectively, inhibited, unchanged, or augmented by an oral glucose load administered 30, 60, or 120 min before GHRH challenge. In study 3, oral glucose administration to 8 adults greatly enhanced the GH response to GHRH given 180 min after the glucose, whereas in 8 children, the GH response to GHRH was unchanged. In conclusion, glucose affects basal and GHRH-stimulated GH release in a similar manner in adults and children, indicating that neuroregulatory influences of glucose on the GH axis may not differ in the two age groups. In children, however, the duration of both the initial inhibitory and subsequent stimulatory effects of glucose administration on GH secretion is shorter.


The purpose of studies on the regulation of histone gene expression is to explain, for instance, how histone proteins arise in defined stoichiometric relationships in the chromatin, how transcription of histone genes is regulated in the cell cycle and how during the development of some species, histone variant genes are activated sequentially. The control of histone gene expression has m any interesting facets. One is struck by the major differences in balance and importance of the various regulatory mechanisms as they become apparent from investigations in m any laboratories. For example, in yeast, histone gene transcription is tightly coupled to the cell cycle, and the amounts of histone synthesized are determined largely by regulation of histone m RN A turnover (Hereford & Osley 1981). At the other extreme, there is the example of the maturing frog oocyte where histone m RN A synthesis is uncoupled from DNA synthesis and yields pools of histone 1000-fold in excess of nuclear DNA mass (reviewed by Woodland 1980). Recent reports suggest that even the details of histone gene transcription may vary during the development of the species. The tandem histone gene clusters of sea urchin (G. Spinelli, unpublished results) and frog oocytes are transcribed polycistronically at least at some stages of their development (J. Gall, personal communication), whereas histone gene clusters of the cleaving sea urchin embryos appear to be transcribed monocistronically (Mauron et al. 1981). Finally, in the early embryo the partitioning of the m RN A between nucleus and cytoplasm may be also a regulative process (DeLeon al. 1983).


By inoculating into the tail vein of mice 40 samples of culture positive bacilli obtained from different kinds of the excised pulmonary foci and by the estimation culture of the viscera of these test animals, the author studied the virulency of the tubercle bacilli, and also carried out observations on the relationship between the color reaction and the ability of cord formation. 1. Tubercle bacilli in the excised pulmonary focus generally tend to show a less potent virulency that that of H(37)Rv, human F strain, and ones isolated from human sputum. 2. However, the tubercle bacilli from the cavity expelling becilli up to the time of operation show the virulency almost as potent as the tubercle bacilli isolated from sputum. The longer the time after the cessation of bacillus expulsion the weakeer the virulency tends to be. In the caseous focus the virulency of bacilli tends to be less potent than in the case of the cavity. In addition, the softer the contents of the focus the weaker is the bacilli. 3. Tubercle bacilli in sll kinds of foci show no fixed relationship between the virulency on one hand and the size of focus, the kind and amount of drug administered befoer operation, and collapse therapy or no collapse theapy on the other hand. 4. Of various stainings, neutral red reaction in the case of extremely strong or extremely weak stain coincides well with the degree of virulency in the animal experiment, but in the case staining in an intermediate degree, although coinciding well with the potency of virulency, it does not necessarily agree with the results of animal experiment. It seems that this method is fairly useful for a rough estimatiou of the virulency of tubercle bacilli but it is not adequate enough for a precise analysis. Furthemore, P-K reduction test will yield the degree of virulency to a certain extent for the virulent strain, but for the determination of the degree of virulency in human infected bacilli, irrespective of the potency observed in animal experiment, no maked discoloration can be observed by this thst and it seems to possess no great significance. 5. No fixed relationship between the resistance against SM and PAS and the virulency toward mice, but in the case of INAH-resistant strain that acquired the resistance of over 10 γ, a weakening tendency can be recognized in their virulency. Such a tendancy has also been observed in the N-R reduction test. In addition, no decrease in the coloration can be recongized by the N-R reaction in SM-highly-resistant strain. 6. The cases showing the colony formation even after a long period of culture carried over 8 weeks amount to 12.7 per cent, but the number of colonies is small in all cases, snggesting a fall in the power of subsistence. However, the virulency is not necessarily diminished. Judging from the fact that with an exeption of the bacilli in the cavity expelling bacilli np to the operation, the potencyof the virulency and the power of subsistence in the majority of badillido not coincide with one another and that the virulency grows less potent along with the encapsulation and hardeniog of the foci, it is not difficult to understand that most of tubercle bacilli found in foci undergo physiological and bacteriological changes to a greaert extent than those tubercle bacilli usually found in the sputum of patient. Furthermore, in two caseous foci whose diamater is under 0.5 cm and whose contents are caseously hardened, the bacilli, though weak in viruleucy, have beeu found to be positive to the estimation culture. It is not reasonably impossible to say that such characteristic trait of tubercle bacilli may recover the virulency, and from such a reasoning there remains a problem to be solved before deciding definitively that the bacilli proving to be smear-positive and culture-negative are all dead.


Growing evidence indicates a link between changes in the medial prefrontal cortex and the pathophysiology of chronic pain. In particular, chronic pain is associated with altered medial prefrontal anatomy and biochemistry. Due to the comorbid affective disorders seen across all pain conditions, the medial prefrontal cortex is a region of significance as it is involved in emotional processing. We have recently reported that a decrease in medial prefrontal N‐acetylaspartate and glutamate is associated with increased emotional dysregulation, indicating there are neurotransmitter imbalances in chronic pain. Therefore, we compared medial prefrontal neurochemistry in 24 people with chronic pain conditions to 24 age and sex‐matched healthy controls with no history of chronic pain.


With new requirements being placed on the distribution grid, the cost to consumers of poor supply quality and low reliability is increasing. Consumers are starting to demand higher levels of supply quality from distribution network operators. This paper will discuss various Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) strategies with increasing CAPEX investment potential that can be used to improve the quality of supply.


The poor performance of pupils in reading comprehension tasks has caught the attention of all stakeholders in the education industry in recent times. Efforts at tackling this problem have often always focused on linguistic, psychological and sociological factors, neglecting pedagogical factors. While schools may not be able to do much to change a child's socio-linguistic background for instance, much could be achieved by altering the methodologies of teaching. The findings reported in this book are geared towards upgrading the quality of reading instruction at the primary and secondary levels. The Direct-Reading-Thinking-Activity-Approach discussed in this book, is aimed at encouraging pupils to make use of their natural abilities to make and confirm predictions as they read. Teachers, teachers-in-training, curriculum planners, policy makers, parents and the society in general will find this book useful in improving reading comprehension pedagogy.


Neurotoxic methylmercury causes adverse effects to ecosystem viability and human health. Previous studies have revealed that ponding alters natural organic matter (NOM) composition and increase methylmercury concentrations in rivers, especially in the first years after flooding. Here, we investigate the influence of NOM composition (i.e., sources and degradation status) on mercury methylation rate constants in nine boreal beaver ponds of different ages across Sweden. We show that increased methylmercury concentrations in surface waters is a consequence of enhanced mercury methylation in the pond sediments. Moreover, our results reveal that during the first years after the initial flooding, mercury methylation rates are fueled by the amount of fresh humic substances released from the flooded soils and by an increased production of algal‐derived NOM triggered by enhanced nutrient availability. Our findings indicate that impoundment‐induced changes in NOM composition control mercury methylation processes, causing the raise in MeHg levels in ponds.


Poetry and Violence: The Ballad Tradition of Mexico's Costa Chica. By John H. McDowell. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2000. Pp. xi + 251, photographs, maps, notes, bibliography, index, CD. $39.95 cloth) Both Vicente T. Mendoza and Americo Paredes, noted Mexican ballad scholars, predicted in their writings the impending demise of corridos (ballads). John H. McDowell took this as a challenge and traveled to the interior of Mexico in the early 1970s in a Quixotic quest to find a living corrido tradition. He struck gold in the state of Guerrero, in the Costa Chica area near Acapulco. There, in the rancherias (villages) between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, McDowell found a thriving ballad tradition among a heavily Afro-Mexican population. He proceeded to make friends and to listen attentively to the lyrics of the songs that narrated tales of valor, of love, of betrayal, of friendship, and of violence. He became fascinated with what he perceived to be a disjuncture between poetic expression and violent behavior. Fortunately for us, this fascination led him to the writing of the book Poetry and Violence: The Ballad Tradition of Mexico's Costa Chica. In this superb study, McDowell sets out to examine the production of corridos in the aforesaid Afromestizo community. His scholarly enterprise began with fieldwork in the early 1970s and continued up until 1996. Through a series of interviews with corrido composers, singers, and men in the community in general, he was able to structure three central theses in corrido production: the celebratory thesis, the regulatory thesis, and the therapeutic thesis. The celebratory thesis examines the ballad in its celebratory mode of honoring the valiant deeds of the protagonist(s). However, in celebrating these valiant deeds there is an element of "celebrating" violent, aggressive acts. The regulatory thesis tries to "regulate" this apparent celebration of violence by encoding messages within the text that serve to moralize against violent be havior. Finally, the therapeutic thesis posits the psychological benefits for family and friends of recording the deeds of ballad protagonists who meet a violent death. Poetry and Violence is divided into eight chapters. It includes an "Introduction" and a "Note on the Recording." In addition, McDowell has included a CD with eleven samples of the songs recorded in situ. These samples are but a few of the hundreds of performances he witnessed. The photographs included in the book of composers and musicians add an extra dimension to the scholarly study since much of the text is devoted to interviews or conversations with these men and women. Placing a face to a voice certainly adds to the enjoyment of the book and humanizes the interviewees and subjects of study. …