Background: Although many young adults with early psychosis desire to engage in a romantic relationship, many report having difficulties in engaging in such a relationship. However, almost no research has been conducted on factors potentially explaining impairments in their ability to form romantic relationships. Aim: To compare an early psychosis (EP) single young adult sample with single students or students in stable romantic relationships on factors that can cause difficulties in romantic relationship initiation processes Methods: Cross-sectional study comparing these three groups (N= 83) on self-esteem, attachment, social functioning and perceived difficulties in dating. Results: No significant group differences were found on self-esteem, although lack of confidence was the second most frequent reason evoked by EP participants when asked why they were single. EP participants had greater attachment preoccupation than students involved in a relationship. Single EP individuals rated their social interaction abilities higher compared to single students, but did not engage in social interactions more often. Both single EP participants and single students had more negative perceptions of their intimacy abilities and fewer intimacy behaviours compared to participants involved in a relationship. Conclusions : Potential interventions to improve EP young adult's capacity to engage in romantic relationships could target perception of their interaction skills, preoccupation about being loved, negative perception of their intimacy abilities, frequency of intimacy related behaviours and lack of confidence.


Background In patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), aggressive treatment of disease activity with non-biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (nbDMARDs) and biologics is recommended in order to reduce the long-term consequence of inflammation (1). We sought to estimate time from use of first nbDMARD to first biologic initiation in RA patients, as well as investigate factors associated with biologic initiation. Methods We identified early RA patients (disease duration <1 year) within a national disease-based registry (CORRONA) with visits between 1/1/06 to 10/1/12. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves estimating time from nbDMARD initiation to first biologic initiation. Median times to first biologic initiation were calculated. Cox proportional hazards models examined factors at nbDMARD initiation associated with time to biologic initiation including age, gender, baseline disease activity based on the clinical disease activity index [CDAI], insurance, disability (using the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire [mHAQ]) and prior nbDMARD use. We adjusted for clustering of patients by physician using the sandwich estimator for variance. Results There were 2403 nbDMARD initiators who met inclusion criteria. Most were female (71.5%) with a mean age of 56.1 yrs, mean mHAQ of 0.5 and mean CDAI 19.9 with 73.8% having moderate or high disease activity (CDAI >10) at nbDMARD initiation. The median time between first nbDMARD and first biologic was 4.24 years.In univariate analyses, factors associated with time to biologic initiation include patient age (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99), private insurance (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.18-1.90), moderate/high disease activity with low disease activity the reference (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.27-3.17), greater disability (mHAQ; HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.08-2.00) and year of enrollment/diagnosis (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.12-1.3). In multivariable models, only moderate/high disease activity (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04) and patient age (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.98-0.99) were associated with time to biologic. Conclusions In this real world cohort of RA patients, biologic therapy was started on average 4 ¼ years after initiation of a nbDMARD. Higher disease activity and younger patient age were associated with a reduced time to biologic initiation. References Singh JA, Furst DE, Bharat A, et al. 2012 update of the 2008 American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis care & research. May 2012;64(5):625-639. Acknowledgements The CORRONA RA registry has been supported through contracted subscriptions in the last two years by Abbvie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Genentech, Horizon Pharma, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Vertex and UCB. The design, study conduct, and financial support for the study was provided by AbbVie. AbbVie participated in the interpretation of data, review, and approval of the abstract. Disclosure of Interest : L. Harrold Grant/research support: CORRONA, J. Greenberg Shareholder of: CORRONA, Consultant for: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Employee of: CORRONA, Y. Bao Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, S. Grant Employee of: Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, J. Kremer Shareholder of: CORRONA, Employee of: CORRONA, G. Reed Employee of: CORRONA, S. Florentinus Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, C. Karki Employee of: CORRONA, A. P. Lacerda Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, A. Ganguli Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.1161


Background Altered thyroid function and increased N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are prognostic factors in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study aims to investigate whether free triiodothyronine (fT3) and NT-proBNP are prognostic factors for long-term outcomes in patients with AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This was an observational, prospective, single-center study of consecutive patients enrolled at Fuwai Hospital between January, 2013 and December, 2013. The patients were divided into two groups according to fT3 levels: low fT3 (<2.5 pg/mL) and normal fT3 (2.50–4.09 pg/mL). The primary outcome of this study was the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Results There were 252 patients with low fT3 and 561 patients with normal fT3. After >2 years of follow-up, patients with low fT3 levels had higher rates of MACEs than those with normal fT3 (27.0% vs. 7.8%, P<0.001). Univariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses showed that NT-proBNP >802.7 pg/mL [hazard ratio (HR) =5.063, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.176–8.071, P<0.001] and fT3 <2.5 pg/mL (HR =3.867, 95% CI: 2.646–5.651, P<0.001) were the strongest predictors of MACEs. After adjustment for traditional risk predictors, fT3 <2.5 pg/mL (HR =2.570, 95% CI: 1.653–3.993, P<0.001) was one of the most important independent predictors of MACEs. Patients with NT-proBNP ≤802.7 pg/mL and fT3 ≥2.5 pg/mL had the best prognosis, while patients with NT-proBNP >802.7 pg/mL and fT3 <2.5 pg/mL had the worst outcomes (P<0.001). Conclusions Low fT3 is a strong predictor of poor prognosis after AMI. The fT3+NT-proBNP combination might be a valuable predictor of the long-term outcomes of PCI after AMI.


Zika virus, which originated from a forest in Uganda, has affected countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Most people infected with Zika are asymptomatic and present with clinical manifestations ranging from mild fever to severe neurological disorders. Recent outbreaks in Southeast Asian countries, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned pregnant woman to avoid nonessential traveling to 11 Asian countries. Reports about the sexual transmission route of Zika have pushed the World Health Organization to declare it a 'public health emergency'. Having this current warning status, it has become mandatory to consider where second highly populated country India stands in terms of spreading awareness and taking precautionary measures against the Zika virus infection. Therefore, this paper aims to highlight the importance of Zika in Indian population by considering several indicators such as the population size and ratio, rates of mortality, closely related diseases, government initiatives, and other micro-level factors which are prone to Zika effects.


In order for a profession to maintain its relevancy it must be aware of the times, interpreting its contribution to mankind in accordance with the needs of the times. When social change was slower it was possible for a profession to make this transition gradually; to proceed in a process of evolution, with new ideas and methods slowly replacing formerly held concepts and practices. However, in our era in history, this process of adjustment has had to be accelerated in order to keep pace with the rapidity with which our society is changing. In today's world, the demand to act is often presented to us before we have had sufficient time to understand and assimilate the meaning and significance behind the demanded actions. This is a tenuous position in which to be placed. One is presented with the need and the pressure to respond to that need but without the time to reflect on the knowledge and skills required to respond effectively. Reality, today, is continually outdistancing our preparation to respond to it. Until the twentieth century, the pace of change allowed the average person the opportunity to incorporate change while feeling a sense of stability. But during this century the scope, the scale, and above all, the pace of change have been accelerated: Change in our society has developed a visibility it did not possess in former times. C. P. Snow comments, "Until this century social change was so slow that it could pass unnoticed in one person's lifetime."1 Such is no longer the case. Alvin Toffler in his book, Future Shock, addresses himself to the current phenomenon of accelerated change and its impact on man's ability to adapt. Toffler reflects on the exhaustion which can engulf the individual as he reaches an overload in his capacity to adjust to the new.2


SUMMARY A lithospheric tomography experiment was conducted in the Adelaide Fold Belt of South Australia, to elucidate the 3-D velocity structure down to depths of several hundred kilometres in a region of major geological and tectonic significance. The data comprised arrival times for compressional waves from 148 teleseismic events recorded on a temporary array of 40 digital seismographs spanning an area of 200 × 300 km. A new irregular shortest path ray tracer and non-linear inversion scheme were used to map the crust- and upper-mantle structure. Synthetic 3-D imaging tests were first performed to validate the procedure and establish resolution limits for the particular earthquake distribution and recording geometry. Wave speed anomalies of up to 4 per cent relative to the IASP91 layered earth model were found. The boundary between a prominent velocity high and a prominent velocity low in the shallow (crustal) depth slices seems to coincide with the synclinal axis of Adelaidean and Early Palaeozoic sediments. Other velocity features at shallow depths correlate with gravity highs and lows, and compare favourably with structure revealed from explosion seismic profiles recorded in the area. At depths greater than 60 km, the tomographic images reveal isolated velocity highs enclosed by regions of lower velocity within the fold belt. These features, of dimensions tens of kilometres, could indicate the existence of fragments of old mantle broken off from the thick subcontinental lithosphere beneath the Gawler Craton and scattered in the Rodinian break-up rift zone.


Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) rarely manifests with complications of the optic nerve. The traditional standard of care for sight-threatening HZO infection involves intravenous hospital administration of the antiviral medication acyclovir. This case report entails an HZO complication invading the optic nerve, effectively treated by oral administration of the antiviral medication valacyclovir in an immunocompetent patient. Intravenous administration of antiviral medication may be undesirable for some patients with HZO due to comparative cost, stronger associations to nephrotoxicity, increased dosing frequency, and the need for hospitalization. Oral antiviral tablets have an efficacious route of administration to be considered over intravenous hospital administration when devising treatment for HZO with the rare complication of optic neuritis in immunocompetent patients.


The squares originated in Brazil in the colonial period are frequently associated with administrative or religious. However, with the implementation of railways, this model underwent transformations and gardens began to be constructed in front of Railway Stations, as public squares. Nevertheless, the records of origins, histories, and factors involved in creating such spaces, as well as their evolution, are not enough known. Therefore, the objective was to understand their evolution by identifying the characteristics, highlighting the urban and landscape aspects that these gardens presented from their emergence until the present, using as a model four cases from cities in the state of Minas Gerais. The research was centered between the 19th century until nowadays, and the method applied was an interface between inventive and subjective analyses, associated with a bibliographical and iconographic survey, in addition to interviews. In all the analyzed situations, the gardens complemented, besides the station itself, buildings of eclectic architecture, where commercial, industrial activities and structures of support to the railroad operated. It was found that the gardens were built in these spaces mainly to provide a good aesthetic impression of the city for visitors that arrive through the railway. Although these gardens were references to the city where they were implanted, most of these spaces transformed over time, considering their uses and aspects, breaking the strong relationship between space and building.


Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) suffer from chronic relapsing inflammatory skin lesions accompanied by insatiable itching, dryness, excoriated skin, or even (super‐)infections. This burden impairs the quality of life of affected children and their families. Due particularly to the recurrent course of the disease, patients often lose confidence in treatment and fear side effects of steroids. Family education programs for AD have been established in the last decades to provide appropriate education and psychosocial support. However, the need for long‐lasting strategies in treatment and prevention has even increased. Recent findings not only underline the importance of an intact skin barrier in regard to acute therapy but also suggest that an impairment of skin barrier integrity promotes the development of subsequent atopic diseases in the course of the atopic march. Moreover, in addition to the psychosocial burden due to stigmatized appearance or sleep disturbance, new observations document an increased presence of psychosomatic comorbidities in patients with AD. We reviewed recent educational interventions regarding the theoretical background and here will discuss the heterogeneous approaches of existing programs in childhood. Despite high variations of educational strategies, an overriding aim should be the broader integration of supporting programs in the treatment of children with AD to empower the affected child and its caregiver's to obtain the best possible care, quality of life, and to promote (secondary) prevention.


In Imbabura Quechua, accusative case occurs on core arguments that are patient-like to some degree, including patient, theme, causee, goal, and experiencer. There are double-accusative causative and transfer-ofpossession constructions that have the kind of typical asymmetrical objectf properties that are handled straightforwardly in Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG) by the distinction between primary object (OBJ) and secondary object (OBJ†). The accusative case marker can be analyzed as going on both kinds of object because it is constrained to occur on NPs with the GF feature specification [+o]. In addition, there is a desiderative construction that can have no apparent subject and the experiencerargument realized with accusative case, possibly in addition to another patient-like accusative argument. In this case, the more patient-like accusative argument behaves like an OBJ† and the experiencer like an OBJ in some ways and like af subject in others. In earlier analyses (Jake 1985, Hermon 1985), the experiencer is analyzed as an object at some level and a subject at another. The properties of this construction can be accounted for in LFG by analyzing the experiencer as OBJ and attributing its subject-like properties to its status as pivot (PIV) in the sense of Falk (2006).


This paper focuses on the shift that occurred in the spatial representation of states in the eighteenth century. This shift will be considered as a combination of institutional reforms and of a new social awareness of space. A consideration of the case of the Italian Piedmont will demonstrate how "national" space was created through antiquarian research and how a larger political confrontation took place in the guise of a learned debate. The diverse accounts of Piedmontese history under examination all employed methods derived from previous ages, relying upon a concept of space as historically continuous, embedded in time immemorial.


The cross connecting mode is widely used by the long XLPE cable. However, it is difficult to monitor the cable insulation because of the complex way of connection. This paper puts forward an on-line monitoring system for the cross connecting cable based on virtual instrument. The system adopts synchronous sampling and vector calculation as the maily analytical method. This system has the advantages of excellent anti-interference ability, good stability, powerful analysis, friendly interface, and convenient operation. It offers a good platform for the centralized monitoring and centralized management for the cables on urban power network.


This study aims to reveal how financial managers succeed in managing companies in the light of the present crises caused by Corona pandemic, which negatively affected most companies and organizations through methods of smart negligence to ensure the continuity of the truthfulness of accounting information based those surrounding crises, and the continuity of growth of the companies before the challenges and risks that surround them. They incorporated a sample comprising financial managers in companies and organizations in Jordan. (80) questionnaires were distributed to the members of the sample. (74) questionnaires were used for the purposes of research and analysis, with a rate of (92%) of the distributed questionnaires. The study concluded the following: the commitment of the financial managers to the behavior of smart negligence in providing appropriate information to be relied upon to serve decision users in the light of the current crises, in addition to the application of the financial managers to the method of smart negligence in providing useful information with a high degree of confidence to serve the accounting processes in the company. The study recommended the need for the financial manager to strive to give honest and appropriate information in light of the current crises. Also, the financial manager should consider the reliability and credibility of accounting information in the light of the current crises, and for the financial manager to be keen on his efficiency, skill, and impartiality in providing information so that it does not serve one party at the expense of another one.


BACKGROUND: In rectal surgery, some situations can be critical, such as anterior topography of locally advanced low tumors with a positive predictive radial margin, especially in a narrow pelvis of men who are obese. Transanal proctectomy is a new laparoscopic technique that uses the transanal endoscopic microsurgery device. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the technical feasibility of laparoscopic transanal proctectomy in patients with unfavorable features. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: This is a single-center, prospective analysis of selected patients with rectal cancer operated on from January 2009 to June 2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraoperative details and short-term postoperative outcome were described. RESULTS: Thirty men with advanced or recurrent low rectal tumors associated with unfavorable anatomical and/or tumor characteristics underwent a sphincter-sparing transanal endoscopic proctectomy. Twenty-nine patients had received preoperative treatment. We report a 6% conversion rate, no postoperative mortality, and a 30% morbidity rate. At the beginning of our experience, a urethral injury was diagnosed in 2 patients and easily sutured intraoperatively, without postoperative after-effect. The mesorectal resection was graded as "good" in all patients. R0 resection was achieved in 26 patients (87%). The short-term stoma closure rate was 85%. After a median follow-up of 21 months, 4 patients experienced locoregional recurrence alone. Overall survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 96.6% (95% CI, 78.0–99.5) and 80.5% (95% CI, 53.0–92.9). Relapse-free survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 93.3% (95% CI, 75.9–98.3) and 88.9% (95% CI, 69.0–96.3). LIMITATIONS: Although the transanal endoscopic proctectomy was performed by trained surgeons, we report a slight increase in early postoperative morbidity and relatively poor early outcome. There was a clear selection bias related to the study cohort exclusively composed of high-risk patients, but we need to be cautious before generalizing this technique. CONCLUSION: The transanal endoscopic proctectomy is a feasible alternative surgical option to conventional laparoscopy for radical rectal resection in selected cases with unfavorable characteristics. Further investigations with larger cohorts are required to validate its safety and to clarify its best indication.


The rotation speed of a turbogenerator is disturbed by its shaft torsion. Obtaining a filtered measure of this speed is a problem of a great practical importance for turbine governors. A solution to this problem is explained in this paper. The proposed filter is designed using Kalman's theory. The principles of the design, simulations and tests on the Electricite de France Micro-Network laboratory are presented showing several improvements over the current filter. Moreover, the described solution could be used profitably in all applications where it is necessary to substantially reduce a signal at given frequencies without causing too great a phase shift in the pass-band.


An association between outcome and case volume has been demonstrated for selected complex operations. The relationship between trauma center volume and patient outcome has also been examined, but no clear consensus has been established. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has published recommendations on optimal trauma center volume for level 1 designation. We examined whether this volume criteria was associated with outcome differences for the treatment of adult blunt splenic injuries. Using a state trauma database, ACS criteria were used to stratify trauma centers into high-volume centers (>240 patients with Injury Severity Score >15 per year) or low-volume centers, and outcome was evaluated. There were 1,829 patients treated at high-volume centers and 1,040 patients treated at low-volume centers. There was no difference in age, gender, emergency department pulse, emergency department systolic blood pressure, or overall mortality between high- and low-volume centers. Patients at low-volume centers were more likely to be treated operatively, but the overall success rate of nonoperative management between high-and low-volume centers was similar. These data suggest that ACS criteria for trauma centers level designation are not associated with differences in outcome in the treatment of adult blunt splenic injuries in this regional trauma system.


Since November 2014, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft has been collecting data from Mars's upper atmosphere and induced magnetosphere (Jakosky et al., 2015). Evidences of escaping planetary ions have been reported from earlier missions as Mars-Express (Barabash et al., 2007) and more recently from MAVEN (e.g. Dong et al., 2015, Brain et al., 2015). Our goal is to determine the acceleration mechanism responsible for the energization of planetary ions in the Martian plasma sheet. MAVEN has a full plasma package with a magnetometer and plasma particles instruments, which allow to address the question of plasma particle acceleration.
According to Dubinin et al. (2011), the j x B force due to magnetic shear stresses of the draped field lines is expected to play a major role in such energization process. On MAVEN data, we have first identified and characterized current sheet crossings taking place in Mars' magnetotail and then tested the Walen relation to infer the significance of the j x B force in the particle's energization. To characterize the plasma sheet crossing we have worked with MAVEN magnetometer (MAG, Connerney et al., SSR, 2015) and mass spectrometer (STATIC, McFadden et al., SSR, 2015) data, focusing on a particular event. We have performed a minimum variance analysis, on the magnetic field observations which allows to characterize the current sheet. We present results of the Walen test and our conclusions on planetary plasma acceleration in the plasma sheet region.


As both the quantity and the variety of published material continue to grow over the years, keeping track of the different publications available and of their respective versions and editions has become a complex task. Besides, given the malleability of digital content, identifying the copy of a work consistently over time has become increasingly difficult. An ontological framework capable of identifying the different aspects of a work should therefore be developed in order to determine the extent to which the terms and conditions of a copyright license may or may not apply to the various instances of a work.


In this paper, we use the notion of affordances, proposed in cognitive science, as a framework to propose a developmental method that would enable a robot to ground symbolic planning mechanisms in the continuous sensory-motor experiences of a robot. We propose a method that allows a robot to learn the symbolic relations that pertain to its interactions with the world and show that they can be used in planning. Specifically, the robot interacts with the objects in its environment using a pre-coded repertoire of behaviors and records its interactions in a triple that consist of the initial percept of the object, the behavior applied and its effect, defined as the difference between the initial and the final percept. The method allows the robot to learn object affordance relations which can be used to predict the change in the percept of the object when a certain behavior is applied. These relations can then be used to develop plans using forward chaining. The method is implemented and evaluated on a mobile robot system with limited object manipulation capabilities. We have shown that the robot is able to learn the physical affordances of objects from range images and use them to build symbols and relations that can be used in making multi-step predictions about the affordances of objects and achieve complex goals.


Economic challenges of the contemporary world focus the attention of economic researchers on such ideological debates that can provide solutions to the current economic crisis. A fundamental question is the normative origins of these solutions. This paper aims to analyze the impact of Keynesian policies governing the management of the current economic crisis and to identify a model of Keynesian solutions for destabilized economy. Taking cyclical perspective of economics, economic depression is inherent in any system, because, in a heterodox meaning, instability is more probable than stability. Adhering to the perspective of Hyman Minsky, Keynesian solution is intended as an answer to the question: "How to stabilize an unstable economy?" How viable is the answer and how states have used interventionist policies in their economy.


Summary Objective: We proposed a modification of thyroid surgery and have reported two operations carried out with sutureless surgery and local anesthesia. Our study setting was Unit 305 of the General Hospital of Mexico in Mexico City. With regard to study design, two patients are presented with sutureless thyroid surgery in what we believe is the first publication of its kind in Mexico and probably the first publication in the world that reports the combination of both sutureless technique and local anesthesia. Material and methods: Patient number 1 is 41 years of age with a 10-year history. Fine-needle biopsy denoted nodular goiter but definitive diagnosis was Hashimoto thyroiditis, for which we performed subtotal resection. Patient number 2 is 46 years of age, and has a history of 1 year of thyroid mass; final diagnosis was colloid goiter. Lobectomy and isthmus resection was done. We proceeded under local anesthesia plus sedation with the patient conscious, in combination with no stitches for hemostasia using a tissue-sealing system ligasure. Results: Both patients had good results without postoperative complications. Surgical time was 120 min in first case and 71 min for the second. Patient 1 had transient hoarseness for 3 weeks, and the healing was spontaneous. Conclusion: Outcome was adequate in these two cases with local anesthesia and no stitches.


We propose a linear time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurement model to improve distributed estimation performance for localized target tracking. We design distributed filters over sparse (possibly large-scale) communication networks using consensus-based data-fusion techniques. The proposed distributed and localized tracking protocols considerably reduce the sensor network's required connectivity and communication rate. We, further, consider κ-redundant observability and fault-tolerant design in case of losing communication links or sensor nodes. We present the minimal conditions on the remaining sensor network (after link/node removal) such that the distributed observability is still preserved and, thus, the sensor network can track the (single) maneuvering target. The motivation is to reduce the communication load versus the processing load, as the computational units are, in general, less costly than the communication devices. We evaluate the tracking performance via simulations in MATLAB.


Abstract We calculate optimal driving motions for a fin ray in a two-dimensional inviscid fluid, which is a model for caudal fin locomotion. The driving is sinusoidal in time, and consists of heaving, pitching and a less-studied motion called 'shifting'. The optimal phases of shifting relative to heaving and pitching for maximum thrust power and efficiency are calculated. The optimal phases undergo jumps at resonant combinations of fin ray bending and shear moduli, and are nearly constant in regions between resonances. In two examples, pitching- and heaving-based motions converge with the addition of optimal shifting. Shifting provides an order-one increase in output power and efficiency.


Deep neural networks (DNNs) are known as black-box models. In other words, it is difficult to interpret the internal state of the model. Improving the interpretability of DNNs is one of the hot research topics. However, at present, the definition of interpretability for DNNs is vague, and the question of what is a highly explanatory model is still controversial. To address this issue, we provide the definition of the human predictability of the model, as a part of the interpretability of the DNNs. The human predictability proposed in this paper is defined by easiness to predict the change of the inference when perturbating the model of the DNNs. In addition, we introduce one example of high human-predictable DNNs. We discuss that our definition will help to the research of the interpretability of the DNNs considering various types of applications.


Resistance, resilience, and patterns of succession were evaluated for periphyton and macroinvertebrates of Sycamore Creek, Arizona, between 1984 and 1987. During this period, 35 flash-flood disturbances occurred, ranging in magnitude (peak discharge) from 0.2 m3/s to 58 m3/s; peak discharge of the largest flash floods exceeded base flow by 3-4 orders of magnitude. Macroinvertebrates and algal assemblages dominated by diatoms were more resistant, i.e., showed less change in response to spates, than macroalgae (filamentous Chlorophyta) and cyanobacterial mats, but resistance of all groups declined with increasing disturbance magnitude. Biota showed little resistance to events large enough to move substrata. Twenty sequences of postflood succession were analyzed to characterize resilience and patterns of recovery. Resilience was very high compared with other streams and other ecosystems, because of high rates of biotic production in this desert stream. Resilience of periphyton (as indicated by recovery of total chlorophyll a) was highest in summer and autumn, while macroinvertebrate resilience (in terms of density or biomass) did not differ among seasons. In many sequences, recovery curves of macroinvertebrate and algal standing crops were linear or asymptotic; however, macroinvertebrates declined precipitously during later stages of five successional sequences, primarily because of declines in the dominant collector-gatherers. These organisms reproduce continuously and have short life cycles, so declines cannot be explained by synchronous emergence. We propose instead that declines are caused by food quality limitation. Sustained high rates of macroinvertebrate consumption and use of autochthonous detritus are possible only if bacterial conditioning (and immobilization of nitrogen) can increase the N content of this material, which is halved with each gut passage. During many sequences, bacterial conditioning is probably limited by nitrogen, which is known to limit autotrophic processes in this stream. This suggests that productivity at higher trophic levels may be influenced by availability of a limiting nutrient not only to primary producers but to microconsumers.


Abstract : Heat acclilmation-induced sweating responses have the potential of reducing heat strain for soldiers wearing chemical protective garment. However, this potential benefit is strongly affected by the properties of the garment. If the clothing ensemble permits sufficient evaporative heat dissipation, then heat acclimation becomes helpful in reducing heat strain. On the other hand, if the garment creates an impenetrable barrier to moisture, no benefit can be gained from heat acclimation as the additional sweating cannot be evaporated. We studied 10 subjects exercising on a treadmill while wearing two different U.S. military chemical protective ensembles. Skin heat flux, skin temperature, core temperature, metabolic heat production, and heart rate were measured. We found that the benefit of heat acclimation is strongly dependent on an unimpeded ability of evaporative heat loss from skin areas. The evaporative potential (EP), a measure of thermal insulation modified by moisture permeability, of the clothing ensemble offers a quantitative index useful to determine whether heat acclimation is helpful while protective clothing system. Our data show that when EP is less than 15%, heat acclimation affords no benefit. An evaporative potential graph is created to aid in this determination.


Multidrug use is well documented among nonmedical users of prescription stimulants. We sought to provide insight into the drug use patterns of those reporting nonmedical use of prescription attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stimulants in an attempt to discern whether such use is a first step in a pattern of drug-abusing behavior or, conversely, is a later development accompanied or preceded by a history of drug abuse. A cross-sectional, population-based survey of the U.S. civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 12 years and older was analyzed for lifetime nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants, lifetime nonmedical use of another prescription drug, illicit drug use, and drug use initiation patterns. This included 443,041 respondents from the 2002–2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Lifetime nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants was reported by 3.4% of those aged 12 years and older. Of these, 95.3% also reported use of an illicit drug (i.e., marijuana, cocaine/crack, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants) or nonmedical use of another prescription drug (i.e., tranquilizers, pain relievers, or sedatives), and such use preceded nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants in 77.6% of cases. On average, 2.40 drugs were used prior to the first nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants. These data suggest that nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants is not commonly an initiating factor leading to the nonmedical use of other prescription medications or abuse of illicit drugs. Rather, nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants appears to be adopted by individuals already engaged in broader patterns of drug abuse and misuse.


Organizational transformation is an interesting topic in theory and practice. Achieving organizational transformation is seen as a huge challenge for managers as there are many aspects that the organization needs to deal with. During the COVID-19 lockdown, organizations faced an urgent need to radically transform in order to survive. Moreover, the economic and social context of the Mexican economy makes it even more important to understand how organizations can radically transform as, in theory, such a context seems to be detrimental for organizational transformation. This study analyzed 21 organizations based in Mexico and pays special attention to 5 organizations that achieved radical organizational transformation. The main takeaway point from this study is that the five organizations that achieved radical transformation had at least four things in common. First, senior managers were strongly convinced that without radical transformation the firm would perish before the end of the year. Second, these five organizations quickly reshaped their management control systems. Third, the five organizations that achieved a radical change hired specialized consultants to achieve the transformation. Finally, these organizations also outsourced to external firms to complete processes where they themselves did not have any previous experience. This article contributes to a better understanding of organizational transformation.


In this paper, based on the Lyapunov stability theory, the impulsive synchronization asymptotic stability condition for different hyperchaotic systems with time delay and parameter uncertainty is first presented by using the linear feedback of state variable error between the slave system and the master system as the impulsive control signal. After the synchronization, a digital communication system with time delay is provided to achieve secure communication. This scheme is of high security and robustness. Moreover, computer simulations show that in the communication system, the synchronization of the systems could be achieved quickly, and by using chaotic cipher sequence to encrypt the digital signal, the useful information signal can be recovered effectively from the receiver.


Objectives The aim of this study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of two models (face-to-face vs online teaching) of clinically integrating evidence-based medicine (EBM) teaching in an undergraduate medical school. Design and setting A pilot study of face-to-face versus online EBM teaching. Participants This study focused on undergraduate medical students who entered the University of Buckingham Medical School MBChB course in 2016 (n=65). Of the 65 students, 45 received face-to-face teaching, while 20 received online teaching. Main outcome measures Feasibility was assessed by the ability to deliver the content, students' engagement during teaching and their completion rates in formative assessments—Assessing Competency in EBM (ACE) tool, and educational prescriptions (EPs). Effectiveness of teaching for the two models was compared by evaluating students' performance in the formative assessments and in the summative final professional examination and final year EBM objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Results We had similar students' engagement and completion rates in formative assessments in both models. Students receiving face-to-face teaching performed better in EPs (mean difference=−2.28, 95% CI: −4.31 to –0.26). There was no significant difference in performances in the ACE tool (mean difference=−1.02, 95% CI: −2.20 to 0.16); the written final professional exams (mean difference=−0.11, 95% CI: −0.65 to 0.44) and the EBM OSCE station (mean difference=−0.81, 95% CI: −2.38 to 0.74). Conclusions It was feasible to deliver both models of clinically integrated EBM teaching. While students in the face-to-face model scored higher in EPs; there was no significant difference between the two models of teaching as measured by performances in the ACE tool or the summative assessments.


With the development of technology and equipment's reliability, more and more accidents are caused by human error, so it is very important to do some research for analyzing the aviation accidents due to human factors. The appearance of Support Vector Machines(SVM) provides a new way to solve the problem. However, human factors accidents have great uncertainty in aviation, traditional SVM showed some limitations in solving the aviation accidents due to human factors. So, this paper proposes improved SVM based on kernel density estimation, it can estimate the whole distribution of probability density using samples when the whole data distribution is unknown. After investigating pilot, air traffic control, repair personnel, we analysis it carefully and get index system including 22 index layers. Firstly, using AHP to calculate weights, the importance of each index can be known. What's more, we give the model of calculating human factors accidents based on improved SVM in kernel density estimation. Finally, the model was verified by examples.


In order to investigate the heavy metal concentrations and their potential ecological risks in surface sediments of lower reaches and estuary of Pearl River, 21 bottom sediment samples were collected from lower reaches and estuary of Pearl River. Total contents of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Pb and Hg in these samples were measured by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and using the index of geoaccumulation and the potential ecological risk index to evaluate the pollution degree of heavy metals in the sediments. Results indicated that the concentration of total Fe and total Mn were 41658.73 and 1104.73 mg x kg(-1) respectively and toxic trace metals, such as Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Pb and Hg were 86.62, 18.18, 54.10, 80.20, 543.60, 119.55, 4.28, 10.60, 20.26, 104.58 and 0.520 mg x kg(-1). The descending order of pollution degree of various metals is: Cd > As approximately Zn > Hg > Pb approximately Cu approximately Cr, while the single potential ecological risk followed the order: Cd > Hg > As > Cu > Pb > Zn > Cr. The pollution extent and potential ecological risk of Cd were the most serious among all heavy metals. The distribution pattern of Cd individual potential ecological risk indices is exactly the same as that of general potential ecological risk indices for all heavy metals. Clustering analysis indicates that the sampling stations may be classified into five groups which basically reflected the characteristics of the heavy metal contamination and sedimentation environments along the different river reaches in lower reaches and estuary of Pearl Rive. In general, the serious heavy metal pollution and the high potential ecological risk existed in three river reaches: Chengcun-Shawan, Chengcun-Shundegang and Waihai-Hutiaomen. The pollution degree and potential ecological risk are higher in related river reaches of Beijiang than that in other lower reaches and estuary of Pearl River.


Neuropeptide Y (NPY) acts at the hypothalamus to stimulate LH secretion through increased LHRH secretion. NPY is also cosecreted into the portal system in a pulsatile manner with LHRH and may act at the anterior pituitary to increase LH secretion through potentiation of LHRH responsiveness and possibly through direct stimulation; however, controversy exists concerning this direct action of NPY at the pituitary. Utilizing dispersed anterior pituitary monolayer cell cultures, the first goal of this study was to determine the effects of vehicle, 10(-10) M LHRH, 10(-7) M NPY, 10(-6) M NPY, 10(-10) M LHRH + 10(-7) M NPY, and 10(-10) M LHRH + 10(-6) M NPY on LH and FSH responsiveness. Under these conditions, 10(-6) M NPY alone significantly stimulated LH secretion (630% above basal) and both 10(-7) M NPY and 10(-6) M NPY significantly potentiated LHRH-induced LH secretion (195 and 244% above LHRH alone, respectively). Neither 10(-7) M NPY nor 10(-6) M NPY alone stimulated FSH secretion; however, both 10(-7) M and 10(-6) M NPY significantly potentiated LHRH-induced FSH secretion (130 and 135% above LHRH alone, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Background— Late potentials (LP) detected with signal-averaged ECGs are known to be useful in identifying patients at risk of Brugada syndrome (BS) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Because the pathophysiology is clearly different between these disorders, we clarified the LP characteristics of these disorders. Methods and Results— This study included 15 BS and 12 ARVC patients and 20 healthy controls. All BS patients had characteristic ECG changes and symptomatic episodes. All ARVC patients had findings that were consistent with recent criteria. Three LP parameters (filtered QRS duration, root mean square voltage of the terminal 40 ms of the filtered QRS complex, and duration of low-amplitude signals [<40 µV] in the terminal, filtered QRS complex) were continuously measured for 24 hours using a novel Holter-based signal-averaged ECG system. The incidences of LP determination in BS (80%) and ARVC (91%) patients were higher than in healthy controls (5%; P<0.0001 in both) but did not differ between BS and ARVC patients. In BS patients, the dynamic changes of all LP parameters were observed, and they were pronounced at nighttime. On the contrary, these findings were not observed in ARVC patients. When the SD values of the 3 LP parameters (filtered QRS duration, root mean square voltage of the terminal 40 ms of the filtered QRS complex, and duration of low-amplitude signals [<40 µV] in the terminal, filtered QRS complex) over 24 hours were compared for the 2 patient groups, those values in BS patients were significantly greater than those in ARVC patients (P<0.0001 in all). Conclusions— LP characteristics detected by the Holter-based signal-averaged ECG system over 24 hours differ between BS and ARVC patients. Dynamic daily variations of LPs were seen only in BS patients. This may imply that mechanisms of lethal ventricular arrhythmia in BS may be more correlated with autonomic abnormality than that of ARVC.


This paper presents the occurrence and damage characteristics of the rice leaf-folder populations in the paddy fields of Dangsu-dong, Suwon from 2004 to 2007, and also reports the insecticide response of rice leaf-folder populations, which were collected from 2005 to 2006 in Korea and Vietnam. Laboratory measurements of the head capsule width and body length data enabled the identification of the rice leaf-folder larva stages collected in the field. The rice leaf-folder population in Suwon from 2004 to 2007 has a clear pattern consisting of two different group: the low and high density years. During the low density years (2004 and 2006), only one adult peak was noted in late August, with the damaged-hill percent less than 10% in late July, and the damaged-leaf percent around 2% in September. In contrast, during the high density years (2005 and 2007), two adult peaks were noted in early August and mid-September, with the damaged-hill percent was around 30% in late July, and the damaged-leaf percent 15 to 30% in September, which was beyond the economic injury level of rice leaf-folder. High correlations existed between the occurrence of rice leaf-folder in late July and early August and damages to rice during September. Based on these results, we suggest that the information on the rice leaf-folder population monitored by the adult density or damaged-hill percent in late July and early August would be very useful for predicting the damages later in the season for aiding in decision-making for timely control. In addition, the regional populations of rice leaf-folder showed the similar responses to the insecticides tested: high susceptibility to IGRs (tebufenozide and methoxyfenozide) and organophosphates (chlorpyrifos-methyl, pyridaphenthion), but relatively low to cartap.


Defect-driven transport of impurities plays a key role in the microstructure evolution of alloys, and has a great impact on the mechanical properties at the macroscopic scale. This phenomenon is greatly enhanced in irradiated materials because of the large amount of radiation-induced crystal defects (vacancies and interstitials). For instance, the formation of nanosized solute clusters in neutron-irradiated reactor pressure vessel (RPV) ferritic steels has been shown to hinder dislocation motion and induce hardening and embrittlement. In Swedish RPV steels, this mechanical-property degradation is enhanced by the high content of manganese and nickel impurities. It has been suggested that the formation of Mn-Ni-rich clusters (which contain also Cu, Si, and P) might be the outcome of a dynamic process, where crystal defects act both as nucleation sites and solute carriers. Solute transport by point defects is therefore a crucial mechanism to understand the origin and the dynamics of the clustering process.The first part of this work aims at modeling solute transport by point defects in dilute iron alloys, to identify the intrinsic diffusion mechanisms for a wide range of impurities. Transport and diffusion coefficients are obtained by combining accurate ab initio calculations of defect transition rates with an exact mean-field model. The results show that solute drag by single vacancies is a common phenomenon occurring at RPV temperature (about 300 °C) for all impurities found in the solute clusters, and that transport of phosphorus and manganese atoms is dominated by interstitial-type defects. These transport tendencies confirm that point defects can indeed carry impurities towards nucleated solute clusters. Moreover, the obtained flux-coupling tendencies can also explain the observed radiation-induced solute enrichment on grain boundaries and dislocations.In the second part of this work, the acquired knowledge about solute-transport mechanisms is transferred to kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) models, with the aim of simulating the RPV microstructure evolution. Firstly, the needed parameters in terms of solute-defect cluster stability and mobility are calculated by means of dedicated KMC simulations. Secondly, an innovative approach to the prediction of transition rates in complex multicomponent alloys is introduced. This approach relies on a neural network based on ab initio-computed migration barriers. Finally, the evolution of the Swedish RPV steels is simulated in a "gray-alloy" fashion, where impurities are introduced indirectly as a modification of the defect-cluster mobilities. The latter simulations are compared to the experimental characterization of the Swedish RPV surveillance samples, and confirm the possibility that solute clusters might form on small interstitial clusters.In conclusion, this work identifies from a solid theoretical perspective the atomic-transport phenomena underlying the formation of embrittling nanofeatures in RPV steels. In addition, it prepares the ground for the development of predictive KMC tools that can simulate the microstructure evolution of a wide variety of irradiated alloys. This is of great interest not only for reactor pressure vessels, but also for many other materials in extreme environments.


This research study will endeavour, in principle, to make a significant contribution to the field of zakat management. It basically aims at suggesting a unique approach that would be practical and effective in managing the zakat sector through blockchain technology. The paper additionally deals with several current challenges encountered in the adopted approaches of managing zakat in Muslim societies; including, inter alia, inefficiency, lack of transparency in terms of fund collection, managing and distribution. In the meantime, it is hoped that blockchain technology would be adoptable effectively to address such relevant problems in a transparent and immutable manner in effect. This article will basically adopt the qualitative and data collection method. Main data will be collected through articles and dissertations because related data mainly exists in the articles and thesis rather than books. This study assumes certain fiqhi (Islamic jurisprudence) issues of using blockchain for managing zakat distribution such as establishing full-possession or tamlīk (Ownership), transporting zakat funds, and transferring zakat funds directly without ruler or government interference. The findings of this paper indicate that providing a novel method, which would contribute to reducing routine procedures and playing an effective role to put an end to the administrative and financial inefficiencies that have paralysed zakat institutions. The main significant aspect of this research will be establishing an active Technological Department for the purpose of serving charitable projects and reconstructing the trust between groups managing zakat and donors.


The efficient management of working capital is crucial for small firms to ensure their prosperity and the survival. This paper aims to identify the working capital management practices in small firms. The study uses qualitative research approach by selecting five manufacturing firms with assistance of in-depth semi-structured interview. The data analysis utilized a set of qualitative techniques such as content analysis, pattern matching and explanation building techniques. The results show that working capital decisions of the small firms are heavily based on owner managers past experience, advices of specialists and shared norms and practices within the business sector. No specific methods based on calculating cost benefits of the decisions were found. The lack of awareness and knowledge about the importance of managing cash flows and liquidity and record keeping were further identified as some of weaknesses in the working capital process of the selected firms. In light of the findings of the study, it is recommended among other things that, they should avoid mixing business transactions with other transactions. The findings, further stress that neediness of establishing proper network between business firms and other helping and assisting organization to improve owner manager's experience and access to information sources.


The vexed issue of the need to reach consensus on a just and equitable basis for the imposition of charges levied on airlines by airports for services rendered has been the subject of discussion at many International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conferences. Part of the problem has been that airports have, over the years, been privatized and commercialized, necessitating them to be operated in a businesslike manner. However, some core issues have remained unchanged, the first being that after everything is said and done, there is only one product in the air transport business and that is air transport, which is provided by the airlines. The second is that it is an immutable principle that the State is ultimately responsible for meeting the needs of the people of the world for safe, regular, economic, and efficient air transport services, working through ICAO, as per the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The blurring of concepts that has arisen in meshing these fundamental principles brings to bear a need to critically appraise one area that exemplifies the confusion – airport charges for services provided to airlines. This article critically appraises the issue and identifies certain anomalies that exist.


ABSTRACT The life cycle of the Leishmania parasite in the sand fly vector involves differentiation into several distinctive forms, each thought to represent an adaptation to specific microenvironments in the midgut of the fly. Based on transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) results, we describe the first high-resolution analysis of the transcriptome dynamics of four distinct stages of Leishmania major as they develop in a natural vector, Phlebotomus duboscqi. The early transformation from tissue amastigotes to procyclic promastigotes in the blood-fed midgut was accompanied by the greatest number of differentially expressed genes, including the downregulation of amastins, and upregulation of multiple cell surface proteins, sugar and amino acid transporters, and genes related to glucose metabolism and cell cycle progression. The global changes accompanying post-blood meal differentiation of procyclic promastigotes to the nectomonad and metacyclic stages were less extensive, though each displayed a unique signature. The transcriptome of nectomonads, which has not been studied previously, revealed changes consistent with cell cycle arrest and the upregulation of genes associated with starvation and stress, including autophagic pathways of protein recycling. Maturation to the infective, metacyclic stage was accompanied by changes suggesting preadaptation to the intracellular environment of the mammalian host, demonstrated by the amastigote-like profiles of surface proteins and metabolism-related genes. Finally, a direct comparison between sand fly-derived and culture-derived metacyclics revealed a reassuring similarity between the two forms, with the in vivo forms distinguished mainly by a stronger upregulation of transcripts associated with nutrient stress. IMPORTANCE The life cycle of Leishmania parasites in the sand fly vector includes their growth and development as morphologically distinct forms of extracellular promastigotes found within the different microenvironments of the gut. Based on RNA-Seq, we provide here the first high-resolution, transcriptomic analysis of Leishmania insect stages during their cyclical development in vivo, from tissue amastigotes ingested with the blood meal to infective, metacyclic promastigotes that initiate infection in the mammalian host. The most extensive genetic reprogramming occurred during the early transformation of amastigotes to rapidly dividing procyclic promastigotes in the blood-fed midgut, with major changes in the abundance of mRNAs for surface proteins and metabolism. The post-blood meal-adapted nectomonad stage was characterized by the downregulation of cell cycle-related genes and the upregulation of stress- and starvation-related genes. Finally, the transcriptome of metacyclic promastigotes shifted to a more amastigote-like profile, suggesting their preadaptation to the intracellular host environment. IMPORTANCE The life cycle of Leishmania parasites in the sand fly vector includes their growth and development as morphologically distinct forms of extracellular promastigotes found within the different microenvironments of the gut. Based on RNA-Seq, we provide here the first high-resolution, transcriptomic analysis of Leishmania insect stages during their cyclical development in vivo, from tissue amastigotes ingested with the blood meal to infective, metacyclic promastigotes that initiate infection in the mammalian host. The most extensive genetic reprogramming occurred during the early transformation of amastigotes to rapidly dividing procyclic promastigotes in the blood-fed midgut, with major changes in the abundance of mRNAs for surface proteins and metabolism. The post-blood meal-adapted nectomonad stage was characterized by the downregulation of cell cycle-related genes and the upregulation of stress- and starvation-related genes. Finally, the transcriptome of metacyclic promastigotes shifted to a more amastigote-like profile, suggesting their preadaptation to the intracellular host environment.


Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) (von Recklinghausen's disease) is one of the most common human autosomal dominant disorders. In a survey of 374440 17 year old Jewish recruits for military service, 390 cases of NF1 were discovered, with a prevalence of 1.04/1000 (0.94/1000 for males and 1.19/1000 for females), or two to five times the reported prevalence of this disease. NF1 was more common in youngsters whose parents were of North African and Asian origin (1.81/1000 and 0.95/1000, respectively) and less common in those of European and North American origin (0.64/1000). All these differences were statistically significant and may be partially explained by the more advanced parental age of the NF group (as suggested by the larger number of children in the North African and Asian families) or by founder effect or both. The height and weight of the NF1 subjects was significantly lower than those of the controls. The intelligence score of persons with NF1 was similar to that of the control group when corrected for gender and ethnic origin. No significant increase in epilepsy or mental illnesses was found. This study provides evidence of the high overall prevalence of NF1 among Jews in Israel, with significantly increased prevalence in certain ethnic groups.


Monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies are at increased risk of several complications including acute or chronic twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS). Both TTTS and TAPS result from inter-twin fetofetal transfusion through the placental vascular anastomoses. In addition, MC twin pregnancies are at increased risk of having a velamentous cord insertion, which has been linked with poor perinatal outcome due to risk of rupture of the velamentous vessels. In sporadic cases, these vascular connections may have a positive effect instead of a deleterious effect. We present a case of acute fetal distress in a MC twin pregnancy caused by acute hemorrhage following rupture of velamentous vessels. An emergency cesarean section delivery was performed at 29+2 weeks' gestation. One infant was severely anemic at birth and required immediate treatment with volume expansion and blood transfusion. Acute fetal blood loss through the ruptured vessels led to an acute fetofetal transfusion from the co-twin through the placental vascular anastomoses. Delayed intervention could have resulted in severe hypovolemic shock and acute anemia in both fetuses. Instead, in the current case, placental vascular anastomoses had a transient protective role and allowed transfusion of blood from one co-twin into the circulation of the anemic twin.


Sri Lanka has made substantial progress in reducing poverty over the past decade. However, important social and economic development needs persist at a time when revenue collections have been disappointing, reducing the government's ability to expand spending. In this context, this paper has sought to evaluate the effectiveness of fiscal policy in addressing inequality and accelerating poverty reduction. The exercise consisted of undertaking incidence analysis of the major tax and transfer programs individually, and then combining them to evaluate the incidence of fiscal policy as a whole. Although we could not carry out incidence analysis of all budget items, we have analyzed the major tax and spending items for which individual tax and benefits can be assigned to households using microdata. The analysis finds that taxes and social spending were redistributive and poverty-reducing overall. However, given the country's relatively low revenue and the limited fiscal space, overall social spending was small, leading to very limited impacts. On the spending side, direct transfers are absolutely progressive, so that their marginal contribution is both equalizing and poverty-reducing. In contrast, spending on indirect subsidies increased with a large part of the resources benefiting nonpoor households. Finally, the analysis found that in kind transfers in the form of education and health are equalizing. Going forward, any efforts to reform taxes could usefully include distributional analysis to assess their impact.


Tristagma is a South American genus distributed in Argentina and Chile. Species circumscription in Tristagma has been a source of confusion for various reasons; e.g., generic concepts, nomenclatural inconsistencies, and doubtful species. As a first step towards a revision of Tristagma , the nomenclatural history is reviewed. Following an extensive review of specimens in various American and European herbaria, a generic description and a list of names and their types are here provided. Thirteen names are lectotypified, seven are synonymized, three holotypes are identified for the first time, one neotype is designated, a new combination is made, and 12 species are recognized: T . ameghinoi , T. anemophilum , T. berteroi , T. bivalve , T. circinatum , T . gracile , T. graminifolium , T. nivale , T. patagonicum , T. poeppigianum , T. porrifolium , and T. violaceum . A new record of the flora of Chile: T. circinatum is also reported. Additionally, five doubtful species are mentioned and three are excluded from Tristagma . Another five species names referred in the literature to Tristagma have already been transferred to other genera. We also provide conservation assessments, distribution maps and an identification key to species.


Abstract In this article, we demonstrate the applicability of a 3-I (interests, institutions, and ideas) framework to alcohol policy research. The analysis uses literature from political science research to provide a core theoretical framework. To help illustrate the argument, we draw on relevant examples from alcohol policy in the UK as well as initial findings from an ongoing research study on minimum-unit pricing in Wales. The Welsh case study provides an opportunity to examine the value of the framework in generating testable hypotheses in alcohol policy research. We find that several interrelated factors promoted policy change in Wales, including the government's power to legislate on matters of public health (institutionally), a relatively weak alcohol industry (a key interest group), and a public health community with specific policy arguments on why and how to tackle alcohol-related harms (ideas). Our analysis has important implications for public health research and evidence-based policymaking. It suggests that the uptake of new ideas depends on the existing configuration of interests, institutions and ideas. This analysis provides alcohol policy researchers with a portable framework for analysing the policy context.


The nature of the irradiation-induced precipitates in the VVER-440-type steel 15Kh2MFA has been investigated by the combination of small angle neutron scattering and anomalous small angle X-ray scattering. Information about the chemical composition of the irradiation-induced precipitates was obtained by the method of contrast variation. ASAXS experiments with variation of the X-ray energy near the energy of the vanadium K-absorption edge prove the content of vanadium within the irradiation-induced precipitates. The scattering density of the precipitates is lower than the scattering density of the iron matrix. The chemical shift of the vanadium-K α -absorption-edge and the results of the variation of the contribution of the magnetic scattering in the SANS experiment show, that vanadium does not precipitate in an elementary state. These results can be explained by assuming the precipitates are vanadium carbide.


Abstract The Western Tianshan orogenic belt is essential for understanding the evolution of the Central Asian orogenic belt. However, no agreement exists among geologists about its tectonic environment during the Late Palaeozoic. The volcanic rocks of the Yishijilike and Wulang Formation in the Yili Block, Western Tianshan, formed in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian, mainly consist of a bimodal suite of basalts – basaltic andesites and rhyolites, with only some intermediate rocks. Mafic rocks are slightly enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) and depleted in Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf, suggesting a subduction-modified depleted mantle source. Some mafic samples in the Early Permian bimodal volcanic rocks have high Ti contents with relatively high concentrations of Nb and high field strength elements (HFSE) and low contents of heavy rare earth elements (HREE). These rocks are similar to the continental flood basalts, which suggests that they formed from an asthenospheric mantle. This paper indicates that mafic members were created by the partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle material and subduction-modified lithospheric mantle mixture. Some rhyolites and dacites in the Wulang formation were enriched in Ga, Nb, Zr, Ce and Y and depleted in Sr and Eu. Additionally, they showed fractionation of rare earth elements (REE) with negative Eu anomalies, which is indicative of an A-type affinity of felsic rocks. The genesis of mafic members and an A-type affinity of felsic members indicate that the Late Carboniferous – Early Permian magmatism in the Western Tianshan area formed as a result of an extensional setting. This study also reveals bimodal magmatism produced by delamination in an extensional tectonic setting.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To describe the cues and factors that nurses use in their decision-making when responding to clinical alarms.

BACKGROUND
Alarms are designed to be very sensitive, and as a result, they are not very specific. Lack of adherence to the practice standards for electrocardiographic monitoring in hospital settings has been observed, resulting in overuse of the electrocardiographic monitoring. Monitoring without consideration of clinical indicators uses scarce healthcare resources and may even produce untoward circumstances because of alarm fatigue. With so many false alarms, alarm fatigue represents a symptom of a larger problem. It cannot be fixed until all of the factors that contribute to its existence have been examined.

DESIGN
This was a qualitative descriptive study.

METHOD
This study was conducted at an academic medical centre located in the Northeast United States. Eight participants were enrolled using purposive sampling. Nurses were observed for two three-hour periods. Following each observation, the nurse was interviewed using the critical decision method to describe the cognitive processes related to the alarm activities. Qualitative data from the conducted interviews were analysed via an a priori framework founded in the critical decision method.

RESULTS
This study reveals information, experience, guidance and decision-making as the four prominent categories contributing to nurses' decision-making in relation to alarm management. Managing technology was a category not identified a priori that emerged in the data analysis.

CONCLUSION
Nurses revealed a breadth of information needed to adequately identify and interpret monitor alarms, and how they used that information to put the alarms into the particular context of an individual patient's situations.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
Understanding the cues and factors nurses use when responding to cardiac alarms will guide the development of learning experiences and inform policies to guide practice.


Granular cell tumours of neurohypophysis are rare. These tumours are more often encountered as incidental autopsy findings seen in up to 17% of unselected adult autopsy cases. There are few reports of parasellar granular cell tumours large enough to cause symptoms. We present three cases of neurohypophysis granular cell tumour and a review of the literature. In one patient, the asymptomatic granular cell tumour was incidentally discovered at surgical removal of a corticotroph microadenoma. The remaining 2 patients had a symptomatic tumour which caused neurological symptoms such as visual disturbance and headaches and endocrine disorders such as hypopituitarism or hyperprolactinaemia. In these 2 cases, computerized tomography showed a well-circumscribed, contrast-enhanced, intrasellar and suprasellar mass. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an isointense gadolinium-enhanced mass in T1-weighted images. Transsphenoidal partial resection was performed and histology was interpreted as a granular cell tumour. The immunohistochemical study was positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in 1 of the 2 tumours and positive for S100 protein and vimentin in both tumours but negative for CD68. The histogenesis of neurohypophysis granular cell tumours is still controversial but ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies support the theory that they may arise from pituicytes, the glial cells of neurohypophysis. Management of these benign, slow-growing, tumours is based mainly on neurosurgical resection. Data from the literature do not support a beneficial effect of postoperative radiation therapy on postoperative recurrences.


This paper presents a parallel all-solution extension of Prolog integrating AND parallelism and a restricted form of OR parallelism, both explicitly declared by the user. Parallel sub-goals may share variables and incrementally communicate partially instantiated terms via their common variables, thus allowing stream AND parallelism. Furthermore, the communication direction does not need to be declared by the user or deduced by a static analysis. The resolution model is detailed and its completeness proven. Then we describe a Transputer nehvork implementation.


This paper examines whether there has been a significant trend towards longer working hours in Australia, and whether working arrangements involving long hours are unreasonable. Recent years have seen growing concern with the number of hours many Australians are spending in paid employment. While average hours worked per week have remained relatively stable since the early 1980s, the incidence of both long and short workweeks has increased. Overall, the conclusion is that working long hours is on many criteria, far from unreasonable. It would appear that the majority of long hours workers prefer such arrangements. Attempts to interfere with such preferences through regulation will thus, in most instances, either lead to workers feeling worse off or fail to have any affect on worker behaviour. It is recognised that there are many instances where the hours being worked by individuals are having serious adverse impacts on health and family life and hence may sensibly be judged unreasonable. Nevertheless, it seems that such cases are best dealt with on a case by case basis and not through the imposition of across-the-board limits on hours, which may make far more people worse off than it makes better off.


Background: Spinal anaesthesia is widely used for transurethral resections of prostate (TURP) because it allows early recognition of symptoms caused by over hydration, TURP syndrome, and bladder perforation. Patients undergoing TURP surgery have coexisting pulmonary or cardiac disease.
Objective: To evaluate the outcome of the two anaesthetic agents – levobupivacaine and bupivacaine in TURP surgery when they are combined with fentanyl.
Method: Total eighty patients were selected by inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then the selected patients were randomly divided into 2 groups (40 in each). levobupivacaine group (1) was received intrathecal 0.5% levobupivacaine 5mg (1 ml) + 25 micro gram fentanyl (0.5ml) and in bupivacaine group (2) was received intrathecal 0.5% bupivacaine heavy 5 mg(1ml) +25 micro gram fentanyl(0.5ml) slowly @1ml/10sec. Heart rate, noninvasive systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded immediately before intrathecal injection and every 3 min for 15 min after intrathecal injection and there after every 5 minutes upto 40 minutes and at the end of surgery.
Results: All the haemodynamic variables except heart rate were almost statistically matched. Half of levobupivacaine group and 30% of the bupivacaine group achieved a sensory block up to the level of T10. Sixty percent of the levobupivacaine and 15% of the bupivacaine group at the beginning of the surgery had modified Bromage score '1'. None of the levobuppivacaine and 15% of the bupivacaine groups had a Bromage score '3'. The recovery from motor block was significantly earlier in the levobupivacaine group compared to that in the bupivacaine group. Over half (55%) of the former group exhibited complete recovery at the end of surgery as opposed to only 20% of the latter group.
Conclusion: For TURP surgery, a low dose of levobupivacaine with fentanyl can provide an adequate sensory blockade and can be used as a good alternative to bupivacaine.
Sir Salimullah Med Coll J 2022; 30: 115-122


To generate volumetric underwater acoustic images a planar array of sensors is required to collect the signals coming from a 3-D scene. The method most frequently used to perform the spatial elaboration of the acquired signals is the beamforming algorithm. In general, owing to the huge number of sensors and the massive number of beam signals, computational load becomes prohibitive for real-time image generation. An efficient frequency beamforming implementation based on the use of the Chirp Zeta Transform (CZT) has been proposed in the literature for the case of a scene placed in the far-field and involving linear arrays. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to perform CZT beamforming on the wideband signals collected by a planar array and generated by a scene placed in the near-field. This extension becomes simpler and feasible thanks to (i) a non-conventional method of defining the azimuth and elevation angles; (ii) the Fresnel approximation in the delay computation; (iii) an adequate organization of the different operations. In terms of computational complexity, the analysis compares the solution developed with traditional beamforming techniques, showing several advantages of the proposed method.


In the fall of 1996, the Rochester Institute of Technology (USA) began admitting students to the nations first baccalaureate program in software engineering. One of the curriculum's primacy themes is software design, ranging from the very concrete (e.g., code, data structures and algorithms) to the more abstract (e.g., subsystems, architectural designs). At each of these levels the authors are able to address the variety of software quality issues that arise at different points in the software development process. This paper describes the structure of their introductory course in software architectures and their experience teaching it. They also speculate on how the course could evolve over time.


A typical social networking service contains huge amounts of data, and analyzing this data at the level of the sentence is important. In this paper, we describe our system for a SemEval2015 semantic textual similarity task (task2). We present our approach, which uses edit distance to consider word order, and introduce word appearance in context. We report the results from SemEval2015.


This paper describes the application of the data analysis tool InfoZoom to a database of Formula One racing results of the last 20 years. No automatic method for data mining is used. Instead, InfoZoom enables the user to interactively explore different visualisations of the data. In this way, the user gets a feeling of the data, detects interesting knowledge, and gains a deep understanding of the data set. InfoZoom displays database relations in tables with attributes as rows and objects as columns. In our example, each column corresponds to the participation of a driver in a certain race. The table has about 8000 columns. The attributes include the name of the driver, his team, the date and location of the race, and the starting and final position. InfoZoom compresses this table by reducing the column width until all the 8000 columns fit on the screen. The column width is then about 0.1 pixels. Special techniques are used to make such highly compressed tables readable. The most important is that neighbouring cells with identical values are combined into one larger cell. The width of each cell indicates the number of subsequent objects with this value. If a cell is to small to display a numeric value, a short horizontal line still indicates its relative height. In this way the value distribution of each attribute can be seen at a glance. Correlations can be found by subsequent sorts by different attributes and by animated zooms into interesting areas of the table. Like the formula-cells in a spreadsheet program, derived summary attributes (like average, maximum etc.) can be defined which are automatically updated by InfoZoom when necessary. InfoZoom was initially developed at GMD and is now extended and marketed by the spin-off company humanIT.


Secondhand smoking (SHS) or passive smoking is environmental exposure to tobacco smoke by non-smokers against their will (Alanazi,A 2015). SHS and active smokers experiences the same tobacco smoke toxins but at different levels (Leonardi-Bee, 2011) and most of the diseases caused by active smoking can be caused by passive smoking as well (Barnoya J, 2005) (Ding D, 2009) (Lippert W, 2012).Yet, a study showed that passive smokers are 2.5 at more risk of exposure to cancerous substances than active smokers (Anderson L, 2012)( Louie K,2011). Worldwide study of 192 countries conducted in 2004 revealed that 33% of male non-smokers, 40% of children, and 35% of female non-smokers were exposed to SHS. It has been estimated that this exposure caused 65 thousands deaths from lower respiratory infections, 379 thousands from ischemic heart disease, 21400 from lung cancer and 36900 from asthma (Öberg, M, 2011) . More precisely, SHS is associated with increased risk of stroke, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory symptoms(Kim, Y, 2015). Regarding the cardiovascular system, negative smoke exposure rise the risk of coronary heart disease up to 2530%(Heidrich J,2007) .In comparison with lung cancer, the single major different in the relation between passive smoke exposure and ischemic heart disease: for lung cancer, carcinogenic effect caused by chronic exposure, whereas for ischemic heart diseases, the adverse effects can be developed by acute (brief) exposure .(Davis J,1989)( Wells A,1994)(Callinan J,2010)(Dinas P,2014)( Dacunto P,2014). Exposure to smoke trigger atherosclerosis which lead to the development of acute coronary syndrome( Dunbar, A,2013). In non-smokers, women are at more risk of exposure to SHS than men at home, and they have a higher chance of experiencing depression symptoms due to SHS (Jung, S. 2015). Also, they have higher chance of developing breast cancer especially post-menauposal according to a study held in china(Li, Bin, 2015). In non-smokers, there are inequalities in the risk of diseases from second-hand smoke according to sex. Women have the greatest risk of deaths resulted from SHS as 47% of the total deaths from SHS occurred in women (Öberg, M, 2011). A study about correlation between SHS and infertility and abortion showed that childhood and adolescents experience of exposure to SHS will increases the risk of infertility and abortion (Amirkhani, J, 2014). According to WHO (2014) in Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of adult tobacco smokers is 23.7% among male and 1.5% among female. ( WHO ). another study in Madinah, Saudi Arabia about SHS among intermediate and secondary school students showed that the prevalence of exposure to SHS was 49.3% outside households compared to 32.7% at home, with the overall exposure of 25%. (Al-Zalabani, A. 2015). However, no study has been performed to estimate the prevalence of SHS among female at different ages in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as a vulnerable group at risk. The objective of our study is to determine the prevalence of exposure to SHS among female in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.


Background: In COPD research little consideration is currently given to the impact of co-existing comorbidities, which is partly due to the absence of an index that would quantify their impact. We developed a COPD comorbidity index that quantifies the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL).

Methods: Using data from 411 Swiss and Dutch COPD patients with GOLD stages ≥2 we used the non-COPD specific Feeling Thermometer (FT, scores 0-100) as a valid and reliable instrument to measure HRQL. We ascertained the presence of comorbidities that may impact on HRQL through self-report and chart review. In the analysis, we used specific comorbidities if their prevalence was ≥5% and summarized rarer comorbidities by disease groups (e.g. psychiatric disease). We included theses diseases in multivariate linear regression models if their association with the FT was ≥3 points (=0.5 minimal important difference) in univariate analysis adjusted for FEV1.

Results: Coronary heart disease (p=0.018), diabetes (p=0.009), psychiatric disease (p=0.017) and urogenital disease (p=0.018) were most strongly associated with HRQL in the final multivariate model, which was then transformed into an index ranging from 0-4 where each disease counted equally. An increase of one disease count was associated with a decrease in HRQL of -4.54 on the FT (95% CI -6.34 to -2.74, p<0.001).

Conclusion: A simple index that counts the presence of four comorbidities can be used to quantify the impact of comorbidities in COPD patients in research and practice.


Following the 1915 riots in Ceylon, a campaign for redress of grievances resulting from the colonial government's actions in suppressing the riots brought to prominence a new group of Western-educated, middleclass Ceylonese political leaders and led to the growth of the Ceylonese independence movement. The principal demand of the campaign, carried on in Ceylon and Britain, was for an inquiry by a Royal Commission into the government's handling of the riots. The agitation took the form of memorials, deputations, and lobbying intended to bring pressure on the Colonial Office to sanction an investigation. The campaign secured the support of many individuals and organizations in Britain and obtained the release of prisoners held for riot offenses and the exoneration of some prominent Ceylonese. However, the Colonial Office resisted the demand for an inquiry, which was strongly opposed by the colonial administration in Ceylon. Although unsuccessful in their immediate purpose, the Ceylonese spokesmen in the campaign gained experience in agitation and leadership and a zeal for political action. The nationalist movement of Ceylon, which had been dilettante, became focused and purposeful.


For the first time, a dynamic surface control approach is proposed for a class of stochastic non-linear systems with the standard output-feedback form using neural network. The proposed approach is a stochastic vision of the existing dynamic surface control approach which can overcome the problem of 'explosion of complexity' in the backstepping design of stochastic systems. Moreover, all unknown system functions are lumped into a suitable unknown function which is compensated for using only a neural network. The proposed control approach is simpler than the existing backstepping control methods for stochastic systems. Two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.


The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) assessment is an international comparative study of reading skills of Grade Four learners. South Africa's "rst participation in the study took place in the 2006 cycle (Mullis et al., 2007), with repeat participation planned to take place for PIRLS 2011. PIRLS 2006 results pointed to serious issues of under achievement among South African Grade Four learners, resulting in the adoption of the National Reading Strategy (Department of Education,2008) and the Foundations for Learning Campaign. While some time has passed since the release of the PIRLS 2006 results, participation in PIRLS 2011 would highlight trends and possible progress made since the PIRLS 2006 study. !is paper reports on the analysis of the Grade Four learner achievement in the PIRLS 2006 assessment into the teacher characteristics, use of resources and instructional practices and analyses of the PIRLS 2006 Teacher Questionnaire data. The main findings outlined by this paper reflects the need for teachers' continued professional development at Intermediate Phase, the need to employ strategies to retain young teachers and the importance of making available good quality reading materials to schools.


AIMS
The mitochondrially expressed manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, SOD2) is an essential antioxidative enzyme that is necessary for normal heart function. In this study, we investigated the heart function of mice that were exposed to increased oxidative stress for time periods of up to 6 months due to decreased MnSOD activity caused by heterozygous deletion of the MnSOD gene.

METHODS AND RESULTS
We generated a mouse strain in which the gene encoding MnSOD was exchanged against a cassette containing the SOD cDNA under the control of the tetracycline response element. After breeding with mice carrying the tetracycline receptor, compound mice express MnSOD depending on the presence of tetracycline. Without tetracycline receptor the MnSOD gene is fully inactivated, and animals show an MnSOD-deficient phenotype. Using echocardiographic recordings, we found an impairment of left ventricular functions: MnSOD+/- mice displayed a decrease in fraction shortening and ejection fraction and an increase in left ventricular internal diameter in systole. Furthermore, MnSOD+/- mice developed heart hypertrophy with accompanying fibrosis and necrosis revealed by immunhistochemical analysis. Although we did not find an increase in apoptosis in MnSOD+/- hearts under normal conditions, we observed an increase of the number of apoptotic cells and vascular senescence after treatment with doxorubicin.

CONCLUSION
Our study demonstrates that lifelong reduction of MnSOD activity has a negative effect on normal heart function. This animal model presents a valuable tool to investigate the mechanism of heart pathology reported in patients bearing different polymorphic variants of the MnSOD gene and to develop new therapeutic strategies through manipulation of the antioxidative defence system.


The authors have developed compact soft x-ray, extreme ultraviolet (EUV), and far-ultraviolet (FUV) multilayer coated telescopes for the study of the solar chromosphere, corona, and corona/solar wind interface. Because these systems operate at short wavelengths ({approximately}40 {angstrom} {lt} {lambda} {lt} 1550 {angstrom}), the modest apertures of 40 to 127 mm allow observations at very high angular resolution (0.1 to 0.7 arcsec). In addition to permitting traditional normal incidence optical configurations to be used at soft x-ray/EUV wavelengths, multilayer coatings also allow a narrow wavelength band ({lambda}/{Delta}{lambda} {approximately} 15 {minus}100) to be selected for imaging. The resulting telescopes provide a very powerful and flexible diagnostic instrument for the study of both the fine-scale structure of the chromosphere/corona interface and the large-scale structure of the corona and corona/solar wind interface. In previous papers, the authors have described a new solar rocket payload, the Multi-spectral Solar Telescope Array (MSSTA), which is composed of 17 of these compact telescopes. In this paper, the authors report on the ability of the MSSTA payload to obtain temperature diagnostic information about the optically thin solar plasma. The authors also discuss applications of this information to studies of coronal structure.


We describe a compiler which translates a set of HPSG lexical rules and their interaction into definite relations used to constrain lexical entries. The compiler ensures automatic transfer of properties unchanged by a lexical rule. Thus an operational semantics for the full lexical rule mechanism as used in HPSG linguistics is provided. Program transformation techniques are used to advance the resulting encoding. The final output constitutes a computational counterpart of the linguistic generalizations captured by lexical rules and allows ``on the fly'' application.


This research examined the effects of instruction on experiential knowledge, fitness, self-efficacy, and adherence to strength training of a university weight lifting activity course. Participants (n = 35) were enrolled in two introductory-level university strength training activity courses, which met for 85 min twice a week for 15 weeks. The intervention group was exposed to student-centered instructional strategies based on the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI), which included personalized feedback on each student's individualized fitness plan. The control group experienced traditional activity course instruction with direct instruction to the whole group. Pre- and posttest assessments were collected and statistical analyses were conducted (p < .05). One-way repeated-measures ANOVA tests revealed univariate statistical differences in fitness measures (push-up, curl-up, and flexed-arm hang), perceived knowledge scores, and the weight management motivation factor of the Exercise Motive and Gains Inventory. Additional differences were observed between groups; however, due to the low number of participants, these differences were not statistically significant. The findings suggest that student-centered instruction in a strength training activity course can benefit student knowledge, fitness, and adherence to a strength training plan. Further research in this area should replicate this study with a greater sample size to determine if the observed differences are statistically significant within a larger research population. Subscribe to TPE


The biogeographic and phylogenetic relationships of six of the eight Australian genera of freshwater shrimp from the family Atyidae were investigated using mitochondrial 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase I sequences. Previous studies on two of the epigean genera (Caridina, Paratya) indicate that Australian species have strong links to congenerics from outside, with Australian members of Paratya being monophyletic and Caridina polyphyletic. The present study found that the endemic Australian epigean genus Australatya forms a strong clade with Pacific 'Atya-like' genera (Atyoida, Atyopsis), and that the endemic Australian epigean genus Caridinides falls within a clade containing Caridina species from the Australian 'indistincta' group. The two hypogean genera included in this study (Parisia, Pycnisia) form a strong clade in all analyses, implying an Australian subterranean speciation. The possibility of a relationship between Parisia/Pycnisia and an Australian Caridina species may have implications for the monophyly of the highly disjunct genus Parisia (Australia, Madagascar, Philippines). Parisia may descend from local Caridina species and represent convergent morphologies.


The paper analyzes Russian fiscal policy toward Siberian regions. The assessment of efficiency of intergovernmental relations set in the spirit of fiscal federalism, in the author's opinion, should be connected, first of all, with a balance between fiscal revenues and expenditures in regions. It is a matter of correlation of the demand for fiscal expenditures in time and opportunities to meet them by tax and non-tax revenues located in regions (without external resources). In general the SFD showed a good balance of regional demand and local resources to meet them except the recession years. The District could be considered as a self-sufficient region which can maintain its balance, although extremely vulnerable, of the regional revenues and spending. The opportunities to cover the demands by their own revenues significantly differ in the different regions, and a lack of own revenues is reimbursed through outer support. The question is a scope of such support to regions since any centralized support should take into account what appropriate share the region contributes to the total revenues of the country. To what degree our current fiscal policy meets these conditions is in focus of this paper. Our conclusions are: fiscal capacities of region-outsiders could not be less than their contributions to the total revenues of the country; and region-leaders' contributions could not be an upper limit of their fiscal capacities due to the social and political requirements


In this paper, the author explores the development and influence of the language of physicalism on the understanding of the mind and body problem. Firstly, we will address the early development and, later, the transformation of physicalism from a language methodology to a metaphysical theory, which will receive its final form in the philosophy of mind. The chapter will be concluded with a short review of the identity theory, and consequently, the question about the legitimacy of the identification of philosophical and scientific concepts will arise. Afterwards, in the second chapter, the author will use the so-called problem picture in order to provide a conceptual analysis of the language of physicalism. That way, we will demonstrate how the transformation of crucial philosophical notions emerges from a wider linguistic and contextual background. In this case, philosophical concepts, or language, are influenced by the metaphysics of scientism. Finally, instead of a summary, the last chapter will provide a short sketch of the ontogrammatical method, whose task is to shed light upon ontological transformations via conceptual and linguistic analysis.


This chapter discusses methods to study entrepreneurial behavior, practice, and process and advocates the use of personal diaries to capture entrepreneurial action and processes from within. It describes the diary research method, its origins and main references, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. An illustration of a study on networking actions serves to show possibilities but also challenges that come with using diaries in this type of research. We come to the conclusion that personal diaries are ideally suited, but underexploited data source for investigating entrepreneurial processes, especially in its early phases.