The sharing economy is an emerging niche for innovation capable of disrupting established socio-technical and economic regimes. Because of this potential to cause radical changes in a wide array of domains, research in multiple disciplines addressing various aspects entailing this phenomenon is proliferating. In this emerging body of literature, the understanding and framing of the sharing economy are often different. Without knowledge about the current state of the research related to the sharing economy, delineating research trends, gaps, and needs for directing effectively primary research are not possible. This study aimed to synthesize the state and distribution of existing publications related to the sharing economy in multiple disciplines. We used the systematic mapping technique to scope, identify, and classify the publications at a fine level of granularity. We reviewed 589 journal articles (published from 1978 to 2017), and 454 met the selection criteria. The journal articles reviewed were published in 284 different journals. Intriguingly, 15 journals published five to 13 publications each and 221 journals had a single article about the topic. Journals belonging to the subject areas "business, management and accounting" (42.1%) and "social sciences" (35.2%) published more than 70% of the reviewed publications. Accommodation (19.8%) and car and ridesharing (17.2%) were the two most prominent sectors; 50.2% of the publications addressed C2C transactions (10.6% B2C, 24.4% more than one type); 62.3% were about accessing resources, and 5.1% concerned transfer of ownership (i.e., second-hand or donation); and 19.2% covered access and transfer of ownership simultaneously. While empirical studies were the majority (53.1%, when comparing with conceptual ones), qualitative approaches were most common (51.5% against 24.9% quantitative and 17.4% mixed methods). Literature review (22.9%), survey (13.2%), case study (7.3%) and interview (7%) were the most frequently used methods. User behavior (26.4%), business models and organizational aspects (22.7%), institution and governance system (18.7%), conceptualization matters (17%), and sustainability evaluation (15.3%) are research clusters identified from a grounded approach. The link between user behavior and net environmental impacts of sharing options was the largest gap found in the research needing attention from a sustainability perspective. Accordingly, multidisciplinary investigations quantifying behavioral root causes, magnitude, and likelihood of environmental rebound effects using real-world data are strongly encouraged.


Trans Jogja is a public transport facility in special region of Yogyakarta that was formed based on partnership between local government special region of Yogyakarta and PT. Jogja Tugu Trans. It provides road transport facility in special region of Yogyakarta with predetermined route. The purpose of establishing Trans Jogja by local government special regions of Yogyakarta is to create a public service that brings great benefits in road transport. Trans Jogja was formed by local government special region of Yogyakarta since 2007 because Yogyakarta was a city with rapid population growth also is a favorite destination for tourist both from Indonesia or foreign. In the beginning Trans Jogja was very consistently providing good service. Until now, reduction in Trans Jogja service provided was perceived by
service user (customer), even cause cases which is caused damages for service user (customer). Based on cooperation agreement between local government special region of Yogyakarta and PT. Jogja Tugu Trans have agreed that compensation of services user (customer) is charged to PT. Jogja Tugu Trans. Operationally, PT.Jogja Tugu Trans is the main operator of Trans Jogja that responsible for all operation and local government provide supervision authority to department of transportation. Compensation payment procedure from Trans Jogja management was accordance with the law of customer protection and the law of traffic and road transport which is compensation will be given by regard to error element that who cause the damages. This is accordance liability based on risk principle.


The ash stand in Wolica reserve (Poland), affected with ash dieback, was studied. Isolations performed from collected ash tissues and rhizosphere soil samples revealed 28 isolates of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus and 27 isolates of Phytophthora spp., respectively. The vitality and defoliation of 198 and 176 trees were studied, respectively in 2012 and 2013. In 2013 only one tree was completely vital, while 83 trees were within the degeneration phase. These results suggested that trees being classified in this class are the most vital and the natural genetic resistance should be sought among this vitality class in the future. In total, 112 trees were classified to the stage 2 of vitality, for which large deformation of shoots is typical. Further, monitoring of defoliation in 2013 revealed that the largest number of trees in the stand (126) were moderately damaged trees (defoliation 26-60%), while 47 trees had over 60% of defoliation. The synthetic damage index was 1.58 in 2012 and 1.66 in 2013 indicating that advanced disease processes are occurring in this stand. In addition, sampling, isolation, morphological and molecular identifications of Phytophthora species were performed. After the isolation tests, P. megasperma, P. sp. hungarica, and P. plurivora were obtained. These results were confirmed after the PCR and ITS sequencing. This is the first report of P. sp. hungarica and P. megasperma in the stands of common ash in Poland. The natural genetic variation of the Fraxinus excelsior genome was studied to improve understanding of its role in the adaptation and tolerance processes facing ash dieback phenomenon. Six nuclear microsatellite markers and four chloroplast microsatellite markers have been used in order to assess the genetic diversity of Fraxinus excelsior stand in Poland, categorized into three different Roloff' classes of vitality 0+1, 2 and 3. We demonstrated lack of correlation between three different vitality classes of ash trees and their nuclear or chloroplast genetic differentiation. Nevertheless, the observed heterozygosity (HO) value was significantly different between vitality classes 2 and 3 assessed with nuclear SSR markers (p = 0.000183 in HSD Tukey test, p < 0.05). Also private (Ap) alleles distribution of chloroplast SSR markers significantly differ (p = 0.000 in HSD Tukey test, p < 0.05) between the vitality classes 0+1 and 3 of ash trees. Those data suggest that DNA differentiation of F. excelsior at local spatial scale may be driven by gene based tolerance.


This paper presents the 2nd place solution to the Google Universal Image Embedding Competition 2022. We use the instance-level fine-grained image classification method to complete this competition. We focus on data processing, model structure, and training strategies. To balance the weights between classes, we employ sampling and resampling strategies. For model selection, we choose the CLIP-ViT-H-14 model pretrained on LAION-2B. Besides, we re-moved the projection layer to reduce the risk of overfitting. In addition, dynamic margin and stratified learning rate training strategies also improve the model's performance. Finally, the method scored 0.713 on the public leaderboard and 0.709 on the private leaderboard. Code is available at https://github.com/XL-H/GUIE-2nd-Place-Solution .


Metabolically healthy or unhealthy obesity is closely related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). To validate a more accurate diagnostic method for obesity that reflects the risk of metabolic disorders in a pre‐clinical mouse model, C57BL/6J mice were fed high‐sucrose–high‐fat and chow diets for 12 weeks to induce obesity. MRI was performed and analysed by chemical shift‐encoded fat–water separation based on the transition region extraction method. Abdominal fat was divided into upper and lower abdominal regions at the horizontal lower border of the liver. Blood samples were collected, and the glucose level, lipid profile, liver function, HbA1c and insulin were tested. k‐means clustering and stepwise logistic regression were applied to validate the diagnosis of hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and MetS, and to ascertain the predictive effect of MRI‐derived parameters to the metabolic disorders. Pearson or Spearman correlation was used to assess the relationship between MRI‐derived parameters and metabolic traits. The receiver‐operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic effect of each logistic regression model. A two‐sided p value less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance for all tests. We made the precise diagnosis of obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and MetS in mice. In all, 14 mice could be diagnosed as having MetS, and the levels of body weight, HbA1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher than in the normal group. Upper abdominal fat better predicted dyslipidaemia (odds ratio, OR = 2.673; area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve, AUCROC = 0.9153) and hyperglycaemia (OR = 2.456; AUCROC = 0.9454), and the abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was better for predicting MetS risk (OR = 1.187; AUCROC = 0.9619). We identified the predictive effect of fat volume and distribution in dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and MetS. The upper abdominal fat played a better predictive role for the risk of dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia, and the abdominal VAT played a better predictive role for the risk of MetS.


Heat, if it could be applied properly and controlled adequately, might be of value in the amelioration of symptoms, and perhaps to some degree arrest the progress in certain diseases. Theoretically, the application of the high frequency electric current offers a possibility in this respect. The therapeutic use of this type of electric current has become popularized under the name of "medical diathermy." This has been used in the treatment of certain cardiovascular diseases, especially angina pectoris, and because of its possibilities in the latter condition the study here reported was undertaken. In spite of the fact that this type of electric current has been used in the treatment of disease for more than thirty years, there are relatively few scientific investigations of a clinical nature reported in the literature. The work presented here, which was started in 1925, is an experimental study of the application of medical diathermy to


While most epidemiologic cohort studies are preceded by some sort of feasibility study, details of such prior investigations are rarely reported. Yet it is during such feasibility studies that critical decisions are made, such as site selection and definition of exposure. Here we present the details on one such feasibility study, conducted to determine the possibility of a cohort mortality study of workers exposed to ethylene oxide. Issues discussed include methods for estimating sample size and power, for estimating levels of exposure, and for assessing the adequacy of personnel records.


Ferroelectric domain walls, agile nanoscale interfaces of polar order, can be selectively controlled by electric fields for their position, conformation, and function, which is ultimately the key to realizing novel low-energy memory and computing structures. LiNbO3 single-crystal domain wall memory has the advantages of high operational speed, high integration density, and virtually unlimited endurance cycles, appearing as a good solution for the next generation of highly miniaturized low-energy memories. However, the etching process poses significant challenges in the nanofabrication and high-density integration of LiNbO3 domain-wall memories. Here, we employed a hybrid etching technique to achieve smooth sidewalls with a 90° inclined angle, leading to a 24% reduction in the coercive field and a 2.5-fold increase in the linear domain wall current density with a retention time of more than 106 seconds and endurance of over 105 writing cycles. Combined with the results of X-ray diffraction patterns and X-ray photoelectric spectra, it is concluded that the excellent electrical performance is related to the formation of an oxygen-deficient LiNbO3-x layer on the sidewall surface during the wet chemical etching process, which is a conductive layer that reduces the thickness of the "dead" layer between the side electrodes and the LiNbO3 cell and rectifies the diode-like wall currents with an onset voltage reduced from 1.23 to 0.28 V. These results prove the high-density integration of ferroelectric domain-wall memories at the nanoscale and provide a new strategy applicable to the development of LiNbO3 photonic devices.


The objective of this paper is to present the state of art in iris indexing. The potential raise of accurateness along with enhanced robustness beside forgeries makes in fact iris recognition a promising field for research. The performance of a biometric system is evaluated based on the retrieval time and error rate which are dependent on the size of the database and hence the need for indexing. Iris indexing can be categorized based on the texture analysis, color and SFIT key point. Further the paper discusses the description of some databases used for indexing techniques to prove the efficiency. The performance evaluation metrics are also discussed.


In addition to classical cholinergic and adrenergic neural mechanisms, a third division of autonomic control has been recognised in human airways. Non-adrenergic inhibitory nerves are the dominant inhibitory neural pathway in human airway smooth muscle and there is increasing evidence that VIP and a related peptide, PHM, may be the neurotransmitters. These peptides are probably cotransmitters of acetylcholine in the airways and may modulate cholinergic effects. A defect in this system could occur in asthma because inflammation may more rapidly inactivate these neurotransmitter peptides. Non-cholinergic excitatory nerves have also been described in animal airways, although their existence in human airways is less certain. The neurotransmitter may be substance P or a related peptide neurokinin A, which could be released by axon reflex. Another peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, is colocalized with substance P and appears to be much more potent in human airways. Non-adrenergic non-cholinergic mechanisms may also regulate mucus secretion and the bronchial microvasculature. The role of this nervous system in health and disease is still uncertain as there are no specific blockers available.


Male youths ages 13-18 incarcerated at two minimum security detention facilities participated in a program to determine if Alfred Adler's concept of social interest could be developed through group interactions led by non-professionals.
The youths answered a self-report attitudinal scale, the Sulliman Scale of Social Interest and were rated by their classroom teachers on the Behavior Dimensions Rating Scale as pre-test measures. Volunteers from a liberal arts college sociology classes were randomly assigned to work in male-female pairs over a ten week period of time with the experimental population. These pairs led their constant group of incarcerated youths in ninety minute discussion sessions once per week for the duration of the program. Structured human relations exercises specifically designed to encourage elements of social interest; belonging, cooperation, and significance were assigned for each of the sessions. At the end of ten weeks, the youths in the experimental groups and the control population were tested again on the two scales.
The results of Pearson Product Moment Correlations Test indicated no relationship between attitude and behavior for either the experimental or control groups on the pre-test and the post-test.
A Mann Whitney U t-test indicated a highly significant increase in the social interest of the experimental group at the end of the program. While the control group showed no change over the course of the ten weeks, those who participated in the developmental groups increased their scores on the Sulliman Scale of Social Interest by an average of 12 points. Another Mann Whitney U t-test indicated that there was no difference between the social interest of Caucasian and non-Caucasian youths.


For CO2 emission reduction, a cold recycling process of sheet metal wastes has been proposed. In this process, a bent sheet of sheet metal waste is unbent into a sheet metal with a triangular residual corner, and this residual corner is incrementally flattened. The thinned bent corner can be thickened during the incremental flattening. However, this flattened sheet has a groove on the center of the thickened region, i.e., the thickness of the bent corner after flattening is thinner than the thickness of the surroundings. In the cold recycling, this groove should influence on the forming limit of the flattened sheet metal. Here, we focused on this groove and experimentally investigated the possibility of cold recycling of 5052 aluminum alloy sheets. Although the forming limit of the flattened 5052 aluminum alloy sheet was decreased in that of uniform 5052 alloy sheet, this flattened sheet can be formed into conical shells by incremental forming. Furthermore, it was found that the groove on the thickened region was shallow because of shortening the length of the triangular side of the residual corner, and then the forming limit of this flattened sheet was increased. These experimental results suggest that the forming limit of the flattened 5052 aluminum alloy sheet should be close to that of a uniform 5052 alloy sheet as the groove is shallower.


OBJECTIVE
To assess use of the Bon Saint Côme device for axial postural rehabilitation in hemiplegic patients, a technique based on voluntary trunk control during exploratory retraining.

DESIGN
A 3-month randomized controlled trial.

SETTING
A public neurorehabilitation center.

PATIENTS
Twenty consecutive hemiplegic patients with axial postural disturbance resulting from recent stroke were randomly assigned to a device group (DG) or control group (CG). The 2 groups of 10 patients were similar.

INTERVENTION
For 1 month, the DG patients followed an experimental program for 1 hour daily and conventional neurorehabilitation for 1 hour daily, whereas CG patients had conventional neurorehabilitation for 2 hours daily. For the next 2 months, all 20 patients had conventional neurorehabilitation for 2 hours daily.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Patients were assessed on days 0, 30, and 90 by using a battery of postural tests, gait evaluation, the Bells neglect test, and the FIM instrument.

RESULTS
On day 30, postural and neglect tests improved significantly more in DG than in CG. The benefit remained at day 90. Gait improved earlier in DG than in CG. FIM scores improved equally.

CONCLUSIONS
Voluntary trunk control retraining during spatial exploration with the Bon Saint Côme device appears to be a useful approach for rehabilitation of postural disorders in hemiplegic patients. Treatments designed to improve spatial cognition deficits probably enhance postural disorder recovery in hemiplegia.


Organizational commitment is part of a tool in human resource management. The results obtained by the company in realizing its objectives are determined by the commitment of an employee to the company. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of employee empowerment and job satisfaction on organizational commitment. This research was conducted at PT. Raditya Dewata Perkasa. The number of samples taken as many as 88 employees, with the method of saturated samples. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. Analytical techniques used are multiple linear regression, confirmatory analysis techniques and classical assumption test. Based on the results of the analysis found that employee empowerment and job satisfaction have a positive effect on organizational commitment. This shows that the increasing employee empowerment and job satisfaction hence increasing organizational commitment of employees at PT. Raditya Dewata Perkasa.
Keywords: Employee Empowerment, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment


Activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in pancreatic β-cells potentiates insulin production and is a current therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Like other class B G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the GLP-1R contains an N-terminal extracellular ligand binding domain. N-terminal truncations on the peptide agonist generate antagonists capable of binding to the extracellular domain, but not capable of activating full length receptor. The main objective of this study was to use Hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) to identify how the amide hydrogen bonding network of peptide ligands and the extracellular domain of GLP-1R (nGLP-1R) were altered by binding interactions and to then use this platform to validate direct binding events for putative GLP-1R small molecule ligands. The HDX studies presented here for two glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) peptide ligands indicates that the antagonist exendin-4[9-39] is significantly destabilized in the presence of nonionic detergents as compared to the agonist exendin-4. Furthermore, HDX can detect stabilization of exendin-4 and exendin-4[9-39] hydrogen bonding networks at the N-terminal helix [Val19 to Lys27] upon binding to the N-terminal extracellular domain of GLP-1R (nGLP-1R). In addition we show hydrogen bonding network stabilization on nGLP-1R in response to ligand binding, and validate direct binding events with the extracellular domain of the receptor for putative GLP-1R small molecule ligands.


Milrinone and dobutamine were compared in 15 patients with New York Heart Association functional class III and IV congestive heart failure. Dobutamine and milrinone were administered intravenously according a graded titration schedule up to maximum doses (14 micrograms/kg/min and 75 micrograms/kg, respectively) or until increased ventricular ectopy or a reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure to 10 mm Hg or less occurred. Although both agents markedly increased cardiac index, milrinone caused a significantly greater reduction in left and right heart filling pressures and mean arterial pressure than did dobutamine, and for any given increase in dP/dt, milrinone caused a greater reduction in systemic vascular resistance than did dobutamine. Thus, the hemodynamic effects of milrinone are best represented by a combination of the actions of dobutamine, a positive inotropic agent, and a vasodilator such as nitroprusside, which causes both arterial and venous dilation. The positive inotropic responses of individual patients to dobutamine (5 micrograms/kg/min) and milrinone (25 micrograms/kg) were compared. The increases in dP/dt with both agents were variable, and correlated poorly (r = .50; p = .059). Patients were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of eight patients in whom the ratio of the increase in dP/dt with dobutamine vs milrinone was greater than 1.0 (good dobutamine responders); group II consisted of seven patients in whom this ratio was less than 1.0 (poor dobutamine responders).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The South African Interprovincial Eventing Championships took place at the picturesque Nelson's Creek wine estate in the heart of the Boland on 12 and 13 November 2011. Four provinces attended: Western Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng, providing one-star or open teams with Western Province, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng sending E90 (novice) teams. This event also included the 2011 Western Province Adult Eventing Championship, the 2011 WP Junior Eventing Championship, and the 2011 Western Province Pony Rider Eventing Championship.


Introduction: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in which cerebral hypoxia and ischemia happen is one of the most important causes of disability and mortality in adults, however, it is not treated properly yet. Since the main reason of neural death in this disease is the release of excitatory substances like glutamate, inhibition of neurons with GABA receptor mimetics may reverse the excitotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the anti-hypoxic and anti-ischemic effects of diazepam and phenobarbital (GABA-A allosterics) and baclofen (GABA-B agonist) in comparison to phenytoin (sodium channel blocker and positive control) and normal saline (negative control).
Materials and Methods: The mentioned medicines were injected intra-peritoneally to mice in different doses before the hypoxia. For inducing hypoxia, we put mice individually in a sealed glass container in presence of soda lime and recorded their survival time. In order to create ischemic stress in rats for histopathological evaluation of the hippocampus, we used four-vessel occlusion method. 15 minutes after the ischemic period, 0.6-1cc normal saline, phenytoin 50mg/kg, diazepam 10mg/kg and phenobarbital 40mg/kg were then administered into the rats' peritoneums.
Results: There was a significant increase in the survival time of mice receiving 2mg/kg (PV< 0.01), 5mg/kg, 10mg/kg, 15mg/kg (PV< 0.001) of diazepam, 40mg/kg (PV< 0.01) and 60mg/kg (PV< 0.001) of phenobarbital, and 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, 30mg/kg and 40mg/ kg of baclofen (PV< 0.001) compared to the negative control group (23.03 ± 0.78 minutes), while, the figure for phenytoin 100mg/ kg (positive control) was 55.3 ± 3.21 minutes (PV< 0.001). Based on histopathologic examinations, diazepam had no noticeable antiischemic effect, however, the preventive effects of phenytoin and phenobarbital was prominent in comparison to the control group.
Conclusion: This study reveals that these compounds may be of great benefit in treating hypoxic-ischemic diseases of CNS.


The TaRL approach was developed by Pratham. In his video entitled How to Teach Kids to Read in as Little as 50 Days he says: "All over the world a growing belief is that if you open a school the children will (successfully) learn. But children are not studying, for example in India 97% are enrolled in schools but 50% of children cannot read paragraphs for 2nd graders". The stages in the implementation of SAC consist of 3 stages: assessment, grouping, and learning according to level/ability. After going through these three stages by carrying out literacy learning for 2 weeks, then a reassessment is carried out. The results of the SAC program assessment can improve children's abilities, namely at the beginner level, letters, words, and paragraphs decreased from 55% to 50%, and at the story level increased from 45% to 50%. The students who progressed to level up reached 30%. The data on increasing students' literacy skills were obtained using the Naturalistic Research method. Grade 1 to grade 6 children are assessed individually. The instrument used is a test. The tests used are letter cards, word cards, paragraph texts, and short story texts equipped with questions about the content of the story.


BACKGROUND
Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)- 1B, encoded by the PTPN1 gene, negatively regulates insulin signaling by dephosphorylating the phosphotyrosine residues of the insulin receptor kinase activation segment. Several rare single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have been linked to diseases accompanying insulin resistance such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia in different populations.

AIM
To investigate whether PTP-1B SNP are associated with hypertension and hypertension-related metabolic traits in Chinese subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 239 Chinese patients with hypertension and 141 non-hypertensive subjects were screened. The genotypes of PTP-1B gene polymorphisms were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods.

RESULTS
The case-control study showed associations between the frequencies of T allelic g54281 T>A and A allele of I5/37C>A and hypertension (p<0.0001, p=0.0371, respectively). In addition, significant associations were observed between the IVS6+G82A polymorphism and waist circumference, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels in hypertensive patients (p=0.0005 approximately 0.0260). And g54281 T allele was associated with higher plasma triglyceride (p=0.0390) and LDL-cholesterol concentration (p=0.0141), while g58585 T>C was associated with body mass index (BMI) (p=0.0308), waist circumference (p=0.0216), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (p=0.047). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that T allele carriers of g54281T>A and A allele carriers of I5/37C>A had higher risks of hypertension independent of age, gender, BMI, glucose levels, and lipids profiles [odds ratio (OR): 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09- 2.96, p=0.02; OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.13-2.44, p=0.01, respectively].

CONCLUSIONS
PTP-1B polymorphisms contribute to pathogenesis of hypertension in Chinese subjects and PTP-1B SNP may be involved in the development of several features including dyslipidemia and obesity in hypertensive subjects.


Primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is an important cortical structure involved in receiving and relaying sensory inputs to condition primary motor cortex (M1). The functional interaction between SI and M1 is important for motor control by providing surround inhibition, which is the inhibition of muscles not involved in the movement and in learning new motor skills. This interconnection is known as short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and may be probed using Transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation. SAI is dependent on the afferent volley as increasing the nerve stimulation intensity increases the depth of SAI. Individuals with spinal cord injury show reductions in SAI evoked in lower limb and this may be a contributing factor to the impairments in motor control seen within this population. SAI has yet to be investigated in the upper limb in individuals with chronic cervical SCI and this thesis examines these alterations. Two experiments were performed examining M1 excitability (motor evoked potentials), SI excitability (somatosensory evoked potentials) and the interconnection between SI and M1 (SAI). The first Experiment investigated alterations in these measures in individuals with SCI while the second Experiment investigated these measures as a function of the afferent volley. The collective results from Experiment 1 indicate that motor evoked potentials and SAI are reduced but somatosensory evoked potentials are similar to controls. Further data from Experiment 2 indicate that SAI and SEPs increase as a function of the afferent volley and indicate that alterations seen in individuals with SCI may be due to cortical plasticity in the synapses from SI to M1 or within M1. The novel findings of this thesis have indicated aberrant cortical circuits in individuals with !


Many connectives, such as but and although, can be used to mark very similar sets of relations, see Table 1. Fraser 1999 proposes that each connective has a core meaning and that a more specific discourse relation will be inferred from the content of the involved clauses. This implies that connectives which can mark the same relations have the same core meaning, and that alternating between two such connectors should not change the meaning of the discourse. A fully distributional account (Asr & Demberg 2013), on the other hand, describes the information content of a connective based on its usage patterns. This means that a connective may even have different meanings in different sentence positions (i.e. when used sentenceinitially vs. between its arguments). This study shows how the fine-grained differences in the distribution of but vs. although vs. sentence-initial although affect text coherence. We created stories consisting of three sentences (see below) and normed them such that the first two sentences were equally acceptable in all conditions. The design was fully counter-balanced.


Abstract. Ground water is a distinguished component of the hydrologic cycle. Surface water storage and ground water withdrawal are traditional engineering approaches which will continue to be followed in the future. The uncertainty about the occurrence, distribution and quality aspect of the ground water and the energy requirement for its withdrawal impose restriction on exploitation of ground water. The main objective of the study is assessment of underground water potential zones of Jhansi city and surrounding area, by preparing underground water potential zone map using Geographical Information System (GIS), remote sensing, and validation by underground water inventory mapping using GPS field survey done along the parts of National Highway 25 and 26 and some state highway passing through the study area. Study area covers an area of 1401 km2 and its perimeter is approximate 425 km. For this study Landsat TM (0.76–0.90 um) band data were acquired from GLCF website. Sensor spatial resolution is 30 m. Satellite image has become a standard tool aiding in the study of underground water. Extraction of different thematic layers like Land Use Land Cover (LULC), settlement, etc. can be done through unsupervised classification. The modern geometics technologies viz. remote sensing and GIS are used to produce the map that classifies the groundwater potential zone to a number of qualitative zone such as very high, high, moderate, low or very low. Thematic maps are prepared by visual interpretation of Survey of India topo-sheets and linearly enhanced Landsat TM satellite image on 1 : 50,000 scale using AutoCAD, ArcGIS 10.1 and ERDAS 11 software packages.


Infants with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. Forty-three neonates with CHD underwent multi-shell high angular resolution diffusion MRI (HARDI) on a 3T scanner before surgery. At 22 months parents completed a questionnaire characterising internalizing and externalizing behaviours. Network-based statistics were used to characterise the relationship between internalizing and externalizing symptoms and structural connectivity. Reduced neonatal structural connectivity in fronto-limbic regions before surgery was associated with increased externalizing symptomatology in toddlers with CHD.


Tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography (LC-MS/MS) allows identification of proteins in a complex mixture without need for protein purification ("shotgun" proteomics). Recent progress in LC-MS/MS-based quantification, phosphoproteomic analysis, and targeted LC-MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) has made LC-MS/MS a powerful tool for the study of cell physiology.


Background Concomitant fibromyalgia syndrome is a common problem in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its recognition is important for optimal management of AS. There is a concern that validated tools of disease activity, function and patient reported outcomes in AS may be measuring fibromyalgia pain and symptoms in patients with concomitant AS and fibromyalgia. Objectives We studied the relationship between the validated AS measures of disease activity, functional index, and markers of inflammation and ACR fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Methods Study was approved by our IRB. We prospectively recruited 51 subjects ≥18 years of age with AS (meeting modified New York criteria with grade 3 or 4 sacroiliitis and high disease activity (BASDAI ≥3). Demographic and clinical data were collected and stored in Redcap data base. Various validated Questionnaires to assess disease, functional activity and patient reported outcomes in AS were administered to the patients. The frequency of FMS was determined using validated 2010 ACR diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia [1]. The patient met the fibromyalgia criteria if (i) widespread pain index (WPI) of ≥7 & symptom severity score (SS) ≥5 or WPI 3–6 & SS score ≥9,(ii) symptoms were present at a similar level for at least 3 months and (iii) the pain was not attributed to AS by the clinician. ESR and CRP was measured using routine laboratory methods. Descriptive analysis included continuous variables (the mean ± SD) and the categorical variables percentage. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association between BASDAI, BASMI, ASDAS, Rapid 3 and fibromyalgia status Results There 34 males and 17 females with mean age of 49.8 ± 12.2; 30.6% African-Americans, 63.2% whites and 4.0% Asians, with 47.0% HLA-B27 positive, 29.4% negative and 23% unknown.18/47 (38.3%) have had acute anterior uveitis. 45% of the patients had been on TNF-α inhibitors. Mean BASDAI was 5.23 (±2.5); BASFI 4.7 (± 2.8); PGA 5.1 (±2.4); ASDAS-CRP 3.4 (±1.13); and RAPID 3 score 13.76 (± 7.21), ESR 22.4 mm/hr (±22.0) and CRP 1.3 mg/dl (±1.9).21 AS patients (41.2%) satisfied the diagnostic criteria of fibromyalgia. No statistically significant relationship was found between WPI score (Figure 1) with BASDAI (p=0.56), ASDAS (p=0.19), BASFI (0.50), RAPID 3 (p=0.70), CRP (p=0.25), and ESR (p=0.30). Also, no statistically significant relationship was found between SS score (Figure 1) with BASDAI (p=0.12), ASDAS (p=0.87), BASFI (0.73), RAPID 3 (p=0.75), CRP (p=0.79), and ESR (p=0.90). Conclusions Despite high frequency of fibromyalgia prevalence in our patients with AS and active disease, the validated tools of disease and functional activity in AS did not measure fibromyalgia pain and symptoms. Disclosure of Interest None declared


We present results from a study examining how visual selection feedback and map layout impact interaction when expressing spatial queries on paper maps using handheld devices. A sequence analysis of gaze patterns indicates that efficient queries involved a progression of visual attention from the paper map to the handheld device for a city street map with a grid layout, and a more balanced split of attention for a landmark-heavy city tourist map. Selection feedback emphasizing the most prominent aspects of a map's visual layout yielded a large cluster of trials employing the more efficient approach for each map: a dynamic iconic list-view did this for the tourist map, versus a magic-lens map-view for the street map. Map layout correspondingly influenced the interaction technique chosen, such that continuous path selections were more frequent for the street map, while regional and discrete selections were more frequent for the tourist map.


The piano as an instrument, pianist, piano works and concert halls have been in interaction with each other throughout the history and almost have developed each other. While a piece had been played with three fingers before, afterwards, all fingers, wrist, arms and even whole of the body participated in playing. To examine from the direction of piano playing of natural movements and anatomic structure of these organs (pianistique organs) have contributed to the efforts for easier and qualified playing. This research can be regarded a brief look at the long adventure of the pianist and the piano technique.


PURPOSE
The Mobius3D system was validated as a modern secondary check dosimetry system. In particular, our objective has been to assess the suitability of the M3D as pre-treatment patient-specific Quality Assurance (QA) tool for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) HyperArc (HA) treatments. We aimed to determine whether Mobius3D could safely replace the measurements-based patient-specific QA for this type of treatment.

METHODS
30 SRS HA treatment plans for brain were selected. The dose distributions, calculated by Mobius and our routinely used algorithm (AcurosXB v.15.6), were compared using gamma analysis index and DVH parameters based on the patient's CT dataset. All 30 plans were then delivered across the ionization chamber in a homogeneous phantom and the measured dose was compared with both M3D and TPS calculated one. The plans were delivered and verified in terms of PSQA using the electronic portal imaging device (EPID) with Portal Dosimetry (PD) and myQA SRS (IBA Dosimetry) detector. Plans that achieved a global gamma passing rate (GPR) ≥ 97% based on 2%/2 mm criteria, with both Mobius3D and the conventional methods were evaluated acceptable. Finally, we assessed the capability of the M3D system to detect errors related to the position of the Multi-Leaf Collimator (MLC) in comparison to the analyzed measurement-based systems.

RESULTS
No relevant differences were observed in the comparison between the dose calculated on the CT-dataset by M3D and the TPS. Observed discrepancies are imputable to different used algorithms, but no discrepancies related to goodness of plans have been found. Average differences between calculated (M3D and TPS) vs measured dose with ionization chamber were 2.5% (from 0.41% to 3.2%) and 1.81% (from 0.66% to 2.65%), for M3D and TPS, respectively. All plans passed with a gamma passing rate > 97% using conventional PSQA methods with a gamma criterion of 2% dose difference and 2 mm distance-to-agreement. The average gamma passing rate for the M3D system was determined to be 99.4% (from 97.3% to 100%). Results from this study also demonstrated Mobius has better error detectability than conventional measurement-based systems.

CONCLUSION
Our study shows Mobius3D could be a suitable alternative to conventional measured based QA methods for SRS HyperArc treatments.


The authors evaluate the potential of a brushless doubly fed generation system for wind power applications. A 1.5 kW proof-of-concept laboratory prototype is used to investigate the feasibility of the proposed variable-speed generation principle. Experimental results show that the prototype system can achieve high efficiency over a range of speeds. The system efficiencies achieved at the power levels considered compare favorably with conventional squirrel cage induction machines. It is experimentally demonstrated that the brushless double fed system achieves variable-speed operation with a power converter of reduced rating. For the prototype under consideration, a 2:1 speed range can be covered with a converter rated at approximately 25% of system capacity. While reactive power control can be realized with the proposed system, the magnitude is limited by the desired low converter rating. The prototype system is also shown to exhibit excellent output current waveforms.<<ETX>>


UNLABELLED
Cardiovascular mortality is still high and many risk factors are inadequately controlled in patients on conventional chronic hemodialysis. Recent studies on intensified treatment schedules by either increasing length or frequency of dialysis sessions have shown promising results with better control of blood pressure, reduction of left ventricular hypertrophy and easier control of calcium/phosphate metabolism.

AIM
The present observational study compared the effect of different forms of "intensified dialysis treatment" i.e. either long nightly intermittent (LNHD, 3 x 7.5 - 8 h) or short daily dialysis sessions (DHD, 6 x 2.5 - 3 h) on cardiovascular parameters, phosphate and anemia control in comparison to standard treatment schedules (SHD, 3 x 4 - 5 h).

METHODS
All patients stable on hemodialysis between 18 and 80 years of age and with either uncontrolled hypertension and/or left ventricular hypertrophy and/or frequent intradialytic hypotension, were asked to participate in intensified dialysis therapy by either LNHD or DHD. Patients not willing to change their dialysis regime were asked to participate as control group (SHD). Primary end point was 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, secondary end points were predialysis blood pressure, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and fractional shortening (FS), control of calcium, phosphate and anemia. Patients were followed up for 1 year.

RESULTS
17 patients opted for LNHD, 8 for DHD, 19 patients served as control group. After 1 year of treatment 24-h blood pressure was unchanged in all groups. Predialysis systolic blood pressure decreased in LNHD and DHD, but increased in SHD. Mean LVMI decreased in all treatment groups (DHD -20.1 +/- 24.0%, SHD -13.6 +/- 33.4%, LNHD -6.1 +/- 32.2%). The mean number of antihypertensive tablets/day was reduced in DHD by 3.3 tablet units, in LNHD by 1.2 tablet units, but increased in SHD patients. FS improved in patients on LNHD and DHD, but decreased in patients on SHD. Regression of LVMI was independent of dry weight which was unchanged in LNHD and SHD but increased in DHD. In contrast to SHD, phosphate control and Ca x P product improved in DHD and LNHD with less phosphate binding tablets. Intact PTH did not change in SHD, but decreased in DHD and LNHD. Hemoglobin increased in groups on intensified treatments, but fell in SHD. EPO resistance index fell in LNHD, but increased in DHD and SHD.

CONCLUSION
While reduction in 24-h blood pressure was not achieved by intensified dialysis, both schedules showed favourable effects on LVMI and FS with less antihypertensive medication. This was independent of reduction in dry weight. These effects were more pronounced in DHD patients. In contrast, in SHD patients, stable 24-h blood pressure and reduction in LVMI were achieved on the expense of an increasing amount of antihypertensive medication and with worsening of FS.


In this work, we propose a novel video representation for activity recognition that models video dynamics with attributes of activities. A video sequence is decomposed into short-term segments, which are characterized by the dynamics of their attributes. These segments are modeled by a dictionary of attribute dynamics templates, which are implemented by a recently introduced generative model, the binary dynamic system~(BDS). We propose methods for learning a dictionary of BDSs from a training corpus, and for quantizing attribute sequences extracted from videos into these BDS code words. This procedure produces a representation of the video as a histogram of BDS code words, which is denoted the bag-of-words for attribute dynamics (BoWAD). An extensive experimental evaluation reveals that this representation outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches in temporal structure modeling for complex activity recognition.


Biogeochemical transformation (inclusive of dissolution) of iron (hydr)oxides resulting from dissimilatory reduction has a pronounced impact on the fate and transport of nutrients and contaminants in subsurface environments. Despite the reactivity noted for pristine (unreacted) minerals, iron (hydr)oxides within native environments will likely have a different reactivity owing in part to changes in surface composition. Accordingly, here we explore the impact of surface modifications induced by phosphate adsorption on ferrihydrite reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens under static and advective flow conditions. Alterations in surface reactivity induced by phosphate changes the extent, decreasing Fe(Ill) reduction nearly linearly with increasing P surface coverage, and pathway of iron biomineralization. Magnetite is the most appreciable mineralization product while minor amounts of vivianite and green rust-like phases are formed in systems having high aqueous concentrations of phosphate, ferrous iron, and bicarbonate. Goethite and lepidocrocite, characteristic biomineralization products at low ferrous-iron concentrations, are inhibited in the presence of adsorbed phosphate. Thus, deviations in iron (hydr)oxide reactivity with changes in surface composition, such as those noted here for phosphate, need to be considered within natural environments.


A theory of the transition within the superconducting phase of UPt3 is formulated using the Ginzburg-Landau theory of an E1 superconductor. The solution for field in the basal plane is given as an example. The transition is second order, and the discontinuities in specific heat and susceptibility are calculated. The flux lattice is centered rectangular on both sides of the transition, but the form factor undergoes a second-order change, as do signatures for nuclear magnetic relaxation and muon spin relaxation.


Plastic flow is shown to be generated by a shear and a deviatoric stresses analytically and numerically from the view point of the deformation theory. Not only a traction but also an unsymmetric force free from the traction with respect to the center of load are numerically shown to generate the plastic flow.


This article examines a commonly used micromechanics approach to evolution of damage in composites. In this approach an initial crack pattern is assumed and on the basis of the local stress fields and a (brittle) fracture criterion, further evolution of the same crack pattern is determined. We question this assumed self-similarity in the damage mode by considering two alternative crack modes, one of which would result in deviation from the assumed crack pattern. Using a simple maximum stress criterion for formation of brittle cracks, it is found that the self-similarity breaks down before saturation of cracking in the assumed crack pattern. This seemingly inherent inadequacy in the damage evolution analysis is discussed.


In this case, a male Terrier dog, 14-year-old evaluated with a history of cardiac arrhythmias, coughing, rhinorrhagia and exercise intolerance for six mounths. The dog was died upon worsening of clinical signs. At necropsy, two masses of various sizes were observed in the heart-base region. Microscopically, cells from masses were atypic and polyhedral with eosinophilic-granular cytoplasm and basophilic nucleus with round to oval shape. The neoplastic cells were divided into lobules by connective tissue forming nests. In addition to these findings, metastasis to the left kidney was observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells from both primary and metastatic tissues showed immunoreactivity to monoclonal mouse anti-neuron specific enolase antibody but were negative for cytokeratin, vimentin, chromogranin A, α smooth muscle actin and S-100. Based on the clinical, histological and immunohistochemical findings, malignant aortic body tumor with left kidney metastasis was diagnosed in the present case.


Background : Isoniazid (INH), used in the standard treatment of tuberculosis, competes against vitamin B6 (VB6) and decreases its plasma levels. In the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline on administration of INH, pyridoxine supplementation is recommended to prevent neuropathy for tuberculosis patients with nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, HIV infection, renal failure and alcoholism as well as for pregnant and breastfeeding women. However, the guideline is based on a study conducted in the 1960s in India. Aim : To analyse changes in plasma VB6 (pyridoxal) levels during tuberculosis treatment in Japan because of the limited availability of such data. Methods & Results : Among 66 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis at the Nishi-Kobe Medical Centre in Japan, 10 were eligible for this study. All patients consumed a standard hospital diet during the study period. The diets included the standard amount of VB6 required for the Japanese population. Seven patients were >75 years old. Six were malnourished. Plasma VB6 levels were below normal in 6 patients before INH administration, and these levels decreased further at 2 and 4 weeks after administration (Figure 1). However, no signs or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were observed in any patient. Conclusion : Further randomized controlled studies should be conducted to clarify the need for supplemental VB6 during tuberculosis treatment using INH.


Using matching experiments with hand-collected data on unionization from 1977-2010 from the NLRB, this paper empirically investigates the relation between unionization and corporate governance. Appealing to the game theory literature, we develop two competing perspectives. Overall, we find that unionized firms are significantly less likely to have a classified board, are more likely to have CEO-chair separation, and are more likely to have a completely independent nominating and compensation committee. Further, unionized firms exhibit smaller Entrenchment Index scores. We find that this is consistent with the notion that value-maximizing shareholders are concerned with the CEO shirking on her negotiating duties.


Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is about 20-25% in Korean adults population. Obesity is strongly associated with NAFLD and the prevention of obesity is a major public issue. Unfortunately, pharmacological treatment of obesity and NAFLD remains uncertain. Only weight loss by dietary changes been shown to lead to histological improvement in fatty liver. So the nutrition therapy is a cornerstone of treatment for NAFLD. Epidemiologic studies show that saturated fat, trans-fatty acid, carbohydrate, and simple sugar have strong correlation with intrahepatic fat accumulation. But, true associations with specific nutrients still remain unclear. Recently, fructose consumption has been rising in many countries and several epidemiologic studies show that fructose consumption has strong correlation with metabolic diseases. The consumption of excessively added sugar in the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis has received attention. Most clinicians agree with lifestyle modification are effective in histologic improvement. Total energy intake restriction is the most important action to reduce intrahepatic fat accumulation. Macronutrient composition may also have correlation with the development of NAFLD. To reduce the incidence of NAFLD, public statements on optimal dietary education program have been issused. Various specific dietary programs are suggested. Among them low fat diet and low carbohydrate diet are suggested in patients with NAFLD. However, there is no ideal diet to obtain the histological improvement in NAFLD. Further randomised controlled studies about specific diet are needed to determine the long-term benefit and histological improvement by ideal diet. Tailoring diet therapy to a patient's lifestyle is more important than universal specific dietary program.


This chapter explores paths toward emotion-focused coping among typically developing young children and their more or less average parents-portraying characteristic developmental patterns, demands, and stresses. Emotion-focused coping strategies are effortful and aim to decrease negative emotions in stress-inducing interpersonal contexts. The themes here highlight developmental changes of the early years and related parent and child hassles; likely cognitive, social, and linguistic antecedents and correlates of emotion-focused coping; and some self-regulatory processes that enable coping. The chapter concludes by noting that new directions in the study of young children's coping involve returning to well-crafted, short-term longitudinal research.


Twelve patients with recurrent supratentorial gliomas were treated with implanted 125I seeds. The interval from initial surgery to interstitial radiation ranged from 3 months to 9 years. The techniques for brachytherapy included volume implantation by craniotomy in one, stereotactic implantation with low-activity seeds in 7 and high-activity seeds in 4 patients. The total dose received ranged from 5,500 to 27,000 cGy. CT scans performed sequentially on all patients showed progressive attenuation in areas previously enhancing, suggestive of tumor necrosis produced by the interstitial sources. The mean and median survival of these patients was 23 and 22 weeks, with the 4 most recent patients still alive.


Histochemical, biochemical, microfluorometric and electron microscopic studies were made of the spleen of a patient with type I hyperlipoproteinemia. Foam cells were observed that contained a material identified as ceroid on the basis of its autofluorescence, acid-fastness, sudanophilia, PAS-positivity and insolubility in organic solvents. Electron microscopy showed that the ceroid was organized in the form of granules with concentric lamellae of irregular periodicity. The process of formation of these granules is described in detail. The ceroid was considered to represent nondigestible end products of the metabolism of chylomicrons taken up by macrophages in splenic sinusoids.


An algorithm for one-way Hash function construction based on tangent-delay ellipse reflecting cavity-map system (TD-ERCS) is proposed in this paper. In the algorithm, the plaintext dealt with is first transformed into a systemic parameter sequence linearly, and then TD-ERCS is iterated in order of the parameter sequence directly, the final Hash value of 160 bits is obtained by means of the nonlinear transform on the iteration sequence, and no padding of calculation is added. Users' keys of the algorithm can be chosen in the region[2 64 , 2 160 ] arbitrarily. Theoretical analysis and basic security tests indicate that our Hash function has good one-way, weak collision property, better security than other chaotic Hash functions, and it can be realized easily with great rapidity. Our algorithm of Hash function is an ideal substitution for conventional Hash function. And also, a natural criterion (theoretical value of 85.33) to evaluate collision property of Hash function is educed in this paper.


From two areas in the Province of Padova, we selected 2,283 male farmers who worked either in cattle raising or in crop/orchard cultivation. There were 422 cohort deaths from 1970 to 1992. Using the regional population as a reference, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) based on the Poisson distribution. Cancer mortality was significantly reduced among the 1,561 dairy farmers (SMR = 0.65; CI = 0.53-0.81); there was a significant decrease in lung cancer (SMR = 0.49; CI = 0.31-0.74), whereas a significant increase from brain tumors was found (SMR = 2.83; CI = 1.04-6.17). Neither overall cancer mortality nor the lung cancer SMR deviated significantly from unity for the 722 crop/orchard farmers. Among dairy farmers, moreover, lung cancer SMRs showed a significant downward trend across the quartiles of increasing length of work, 0.96 in the first quartile, and 0.48, 0.40, and 0.25 in the second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively. Moreover, lung cancer risk decreased with increasing farm land area, with SMRs in the quartiles of 0.89, 0.37, 0.41 and 0.19. This decrease cannot be attributed to either a selection (healthy worker effect) or a confounding (lower percentage of smokers) bias. Nor was it due to an artifact introduced by differences in age distribution among the quartiles. Dairy farmers are known to be exposed to higher airborne endotoxin concentrations; reasonably, this cumulative exposure increases further with years of work and area of farm. Endotoxins may have protected the dairy farmers against lung cancer through the tumor necrosis factor produced by alveolar macrophages.


Pre-stopping is a widespread and usually non-contrastive phenomenon in Australian languages. Contrastive pre-stopping is rare and materials on it are limited. Based partly on original phonetic data, this paper provides evidence that Arabana, a language of northern South Australia, has contrastive pre-stopping of both laterals and nasals. Current analyses of pre-stopping, both contrastive and non-contrastive, model pre-stopped sequences as complex segments, and relate their diachrony to perceptual motivations favouring the enhancement in the discrimination of place oppositions. We provide evidence that pre-stopped sequences in Arabana are best analyzed as heterosyllabic clusters, and that their diachrony centrally involves perceptual motivations favouring the augmentation of phonologically strong constituents, specifically stressed syllables.


Past research on collectivist-democratic organizations has attributed their distinctiveness to their socio-political goals and democratic decision-making and largely ignored their work processes. This ethnographic study examines how such organizations resist alienating forms of work even in the face of direct competition with for-profit companies. It focuses on Scopix, a French cooperative sheet-metal factory where the first author spent one year as a shop-floor worker. Cooperators there developed various practices to retain an emancipatory dimension to their work, regularly putting forward "craft ethics" as a counterweight to the sheet-metal industry's drive to rationalize work processes. Drawing on the sociology of worth, the authors analyze how these practices emerged from the arrangements that workers made between the industrial world on the one side and the domestic and inspired worlds on the other. This study contributes to the literature into two main ways. First, the authors refine the sociology-of-worth framework by conceptualizing the emancipatory dimension of work as the result of ad hoc arrangements between different worlds. Second, the authors highlight the need for the literature on collectivist-democratic organizations to increase its focus on work, introducing the concept of work degeneration as a step in that direction.


The article is dedicated to the problem of effectiveness of the guarantees ensuring professional rights of advocates during investigative actions in their residential and office premises. The authors analyze standards developed by the European Court of Human Rights for the protection of the advocates' right to private and family life and assess the conformity of domestic legal regulations with these standards. Reviewing the provisions of Article 450.1 of the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure, the authors come to the conclusion that the difficulties in practical application of the mentioned guarantees in the Russian law are caused by the imperfection of legislation under consideration, including by unclear conditions for the application of relevant provisions, insufficient detailing of the powers of representatives of lawyers' associations taking part in the investigative actions, etc. Furthermore, it appears that the shortcomings of regulation governing the sphere in question condone violations not only by the investigative authorities but also by the advocates themselves. Hence, the authors maintain that the legal provisions under consideration require further amendments, including those proposed in this article.


BACKGROUND
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare form of male pseudohermaphroditism that is characterized by the persistence of Mullerian derivatives in otherwise normally virilized males. Mutations of the Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) gene or the MIS type II receptor (MISRII) gene have been identified in PMDS patients with autosomal recessive transmission. We analyzed a compound heterozygote PMDS patient who had a 27-bp deletion in exon 10 in one allele and a novel mutation in intron 5 in the other allele of the MISRII gene.

METHODS
Whole blood and tissue samples were obtained from a one-month-old 46,XY male with persistent PMDS and the MISRII gene was sequenced and compared to his mother's genomic DNA and that of 22 normal individuals. Serum MIS and the reproductive hormones were measured by standard immunoassays.

RESULTS
The patient's hormone levels were normal but the gene for MISRII contained several mutations, a 27-bp deletion in exon 10 on one allele (one of the most common mutations in PMDS) and a novel mutation in intron 5 in the other allele that altered splicing, resulting in retention of the intron and a frameshift, introducing a stop codon. Other mutations in introns 6 and 9 and in exon 11 might not be functionally significant.

CONCLUSIONS
This case reveals a novel mutation in the MISRII gene involving intronic sequences, which when coexisting with the already identified 27-bp deletion in exon 10, leads to PMDS.


Here, we report that polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated copper(II) sulfide nanoparticles (PEG-CuS NPs) with their peak absorption tuned to 1064 nm could be used both as a contrast agent for photoacoustic tomographic imaging of mouse tumor vasculature and as a mediator for confined photothermolysis of tumor cells in an orthotopic syngeneic 4T1 breast tumor model. PEG-CuS NPs showed stronger photoacoustic signal than hollow gold nanospheres and single-wall carbon nanotubes at 1064 nm. MicroPET imaging of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice showed a gradual accumulation of the NPs in the tumor over time. About 6.5% of injected dose were taken up in each gram of tumor tissue at 24 h after intravenous injection of (64)Cu-labeled PEG-CuS NPs. For both photoacoustic imaging and therapeutic studies, nanosecond (ns)-pulsed laser was delivered with Q-switched Nd:YAG at a wavelength of 1064 nm. Unlike conventional photothermal ablation therapy mediated by continuous wave laser with which heat could spread to the surrounding normal tissue, interaction of CuS NPs with short pulsed laser deliver heat rapidly to the treatment volume keeping the thermal damage confined to the target tissues. Our data demonstrated that it is possible to use a single-compartment nanoplatform to achieve both photoacoustic tomography and highly selective tumor destruction at 1064 nm in small animals.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the frequency of bacterial vaginosis in women with preterm labour.

METHODS
Descriptive cross sectional study carried out in department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Military Hospital and Army Medical College Laboratory, Rawalpindi. Non-probability convenience sampling was used and the study was completed in 12 months (from 1st January 2007 - 1st January 2008). Hundred patients in preterm labour were included in the study. An objective diagnosis of the type of discharge was made. The vaginal pH of the discharge was measured. Samples for bacterial culture were obtained. A wet smear of the vaginal secretions was made and examined under the microscope for clue cells followed by Whiff test. All information was recorded on a specially designed proforma and the frequency of patients with bacterial vaginosis was estimated.

RESULTS
A diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made in 21% of the patients by the Amsels criteria. However, culture report suggested bacterial vaginosis in 18% of cases with most of the cases (56%) having normal flora. Overall, incidence of infection was 44% in patients with preterm labour.

CONCLUSION
The frequency of bacterial vaginosis in our study was found to be 21% in preterm labour


The aim of CABAC, is to provide to the LSST camera CCDs the necessary parallel and serial clocks, the power supply of the output amplifiers (OD) and most of the biases, excluding the HV substrate bias. The LSST focal plane is made of 189 large (4k*4k pixels) and highly segmented (16 outputs) CCDs. Each pixel will be read at a speed of 550kHz for a total readout (3.2 Gpixels) of 2s. To achieve this speed, each CCD will be driven by two CABAC in order to provide the necessary large current to move the 4004 lines of the sensor. CABAC will be implemented on a large REB (Raft Electronics Board) located inside the cryostat, the nominal operating temperature will be -26C. One CABAC is designed to provide : 4 parallel clocks of more than 15V amplitude, rise and fall time of less than 2us on a 66nF capacitive load, and a 8 bit programmable output current capability of 300mA max. 4 serial clocks with more than 15V amplitude, rise and fall time of 60ns on a capacitive load of 300pF, and a 8 bit programmable output current capability of 16mA max. 2 output drains, 8 bit programmable voltage from 13 to 36V with a nominal output current of 16mA each. 3 high level biases, 8 bit programmable from 13 to 36V 2 low level biases, 8 bit programmable from 0 to 5V Finally, for monitoring purpose, an internal dual multiplexer can provide 2 of any CABAC output, including the temperature sensor, and 6 external inputs. A deactivable internal pulser can inject pulse inside the CCD RD (reset drain) allowing electronic calibration of the readout chain. In order to save power during the 15s exposure, CABAC can be put in standby mode. This mode reduces the supply current by a factor of 10 for the clocks circuitry, and can set the OD voltages to a programmable value in order to reduce the glow inside the CCDs. Programation of CABAC is done via a SPI bus. CABAC is designed in CMOS H35 from AMS vendor, encapsulated in a QFN100 package with bottom pad, it is currently under tests.


Catalytic filters (CFs) were fabricated
by coating manganese and
ceria oxides on mullite filters with a high porosity and a relatively
low pressure drop and were used in the selective catalytic reduction
of NOx by NH3 (NH3-SCR). The influences of Mn/Ce ratios and loading weights were investigated.
The CF with a Mn/Ce molar ratio of 6/4 can achieve >90% NO conversion
in the temperature range of 120–250 °C, owing to abundant
surface oxygen species, Ce3+, and Mn4+ on it.
NO conversion in the temperature range of 120–250 °C increased
when the loading weight increased from 1.05 to 4.18%; however, when
the loading weight was further increased, the catalytic activity remained
unchanged. A possible growth mechanism of catalyst particles on mullite
filters was proposed: the active species tended to disperse finely
when the loading weight was lower than ∼4.00%; however, when
the loading weight was more than 4.00%, the particles tended to grow
at the conjunction of fibers, leading to a considerable pressure drop
increase. The CFs showed a dust removal ability of more than 99% in
a pilot experiment, which may provide a chance for the coprocessing
of dust and NOx in practical use.


THE3 CACAL FOLDS AND FossA AND THE TOPOGRAPHICAL ANATOMY OF THE VERMIFORM APPENDIX. By RICHARD J. A. BERRY, M.D., F.R.C.S., F.R.S.Edin. Edinburgh: William F. Clay. 1897. (Demy 8vo, pp. 76, 17 plates with letterpress. 6s.) THE author has attempted in this book to give a comparative account of the work which has been published on the subject of the peritoneal folds and fossee in the neighbourhood of the vermiform appendix, together with the results which he has obtained from an examination of Ioo bodies. He has produced a very interesting book, which will be read with interest both by the anatomist and by the surgeon. The peritoneal folds and fossse in the region of the junction of the ileum and csecum are divided by BERRY into two groups-first, the pericaecal or primary fossoe, which are those produced by means of peritoneal folds raised from the enteric mesentery by the vessels to and from the appendix. These maintain their form and situation both before and after their removal from the body. The second group includes the retrocoecal or secondary fosste, which are situated behind the cecum and ascending colon, and depend for their existence upon the secondary coalescence, sometimes wanting, of the colon, coecum, and mesentery to the posterior abdominal wall. These are only visible with the parts in situ, and are destroyed by removal of the organs concerned in their formation. Three periesecal folds are recognised; these are the ileocolic, ileo-cecal, and the meso-appendix. These folds give rise to the formation of two fossae-the ileo-colic fossa and the ileo-c&-cal fossa. The author concludes that the pericaecal folds are primary in origin and vascular in function. He thinks that these folds together represent the mesentery of the caecum, and that the meso-appendix is the true appendicular mesentery. It appears from the constancy of the existence of the meso-appendix and the frequent absence of the pericaecal folds that the appendix is gradually replacing the caecum in functional activity. The meso-appendix is constantly present, and is normally situated in 75 per cent. of cases. When normal it is quadrilateral in shape, but when abnormal it may assume any shape and any position. In 6 per cent. of abnormal cases Berry states that the meso-appendix is so situated as anatomically to predispose the subject to appendicitis. Both the periceecal folds and fossee are inconstant, and are of little importance. Two retroceBcal or retrocolic fosse are described. They are best described as internal and external retrocolic fossee. They are secondary in origin, and are met with in only a small percentage of cases, but when present they may play an important part in the production of appendicitis. This is due to the fact that one of these fossae when present frequently lodges the vermiform appendix. Fifteen full-page reproductions of photographs of the various folds and fossoe in the ceecal region are given. These are of great interest, especially the series which illustrates the different types of the meso-appendix. A bibliography of the important works which have been published on the subject completes the volume.


With the new and upcoming technologies in semiconductor industry, packages like the ball grid array (BGA) are getting more challenging to process due to inherent issues that come along. Process improvement through modification in the design of indirect material is one key direction to improve the productivity during assembly manufacturing. In this paper, an enhanced design of dipping plate is presented to solve the issue of flux shorting due to out-of-specs dipping plate at ball attach process. The study used a side by side comparison to prove that the new design is better than that of the out-of-specs indirect material. With the new enhanced design of dipping plate and the optimized flux depth parameter, flux shorting occurrence was successfully mitigated.


Background: SOD2 converts intracellular superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and acts as an antioxidant enzyme. Low expression levels of SOD2 have been associated with smooth muscle cell activation and proliferation. We have identified low SOD2 expression in pulmonary fibroblasts from SSc and IPF fibrotic lung, in which fibro-proliferation is an early desease hallmark. A BRD4 inhibitor, JQ1 is being investigated for its inhibitory effects on cell proliferation in cancer. Here we investigate the effect of TGF-β on SOD2 expression, and the potential beneficial effects of JQ1 on SOD2 expression and proliferation in adult lung fibroblasts.

Methods: Human primary adult lung fibroblasts where quiesced for 24 hrs in serum free DMEM and pre-treated with DMSO (0.1%), 300nM JQ1+, or its enantiomer JQ1-, for 2 hrs before stimulation with TGF-β1 at 2ng/ml for a further 24 hrs. SOD2 mRNA expression was determined in cell extracts by qRT-PCR. Proliferation assays were performed in 3% serum, with or without JQ1 for 24 hrs and 48 hrs, by assessing BrdU incorporation (Roche) during a 5 hr period before the time point. Cell toxicity was assessed by LDH assay.

Results: Expression of SOD2 was reduced by approximately 70% (p<0.01) by TGF-β1 in the presence of the JQ1 enantiomer, which had no effect on expression. TGF-β suppressed SOD2 expression was enhanced 2 fold (p<0.01) by JQ1+ at 300 nM. This concentration of JQ1+ (but not of its enantiomer JQ1-) inhibited BrdU incorporation by 77% (p<0.01) and 43% (p<0.01), respectively.

Conclusion: The data suggests bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 enhances SOD2 expression and inhibits proliferation in activated human pulmonary fibroblasts.


In the reservoir which contains randomly distributed impermeable shale, the shale density and the size of each shale affect the production performance of a horizontal well.In general, the oil recovery by water injection decreases with the increase of shale density and the shale correlation length. On the other hand, for the reservoir which has a bottom water, shale is considered to act as a barrier to the water encroachment, and the high shale density and large shale correlation length keep the oil production rate high.For the practical reservoir simulation, not the explicit reservoir model, which is the realization describing in detail all the shale position and size, but the implicit reservoir model, which is a homogeneous and anisotropic reservoir model characterized by the effective vertical permeability, is in use. In this case, the implicit model should be the one that reproduces the production performance of the corresponding explicit model correctly.In this study, three methods to construct the implicit model from the realizations which contain random shale ditribution are compared for both water injection and bottom water drive cases.


To quantitate the effects of biliary decompression on hepatic functional reserve before operation in patietns with obstructive jaundice, we developed a new method of maximal hepatic removal of indocyanine green in the bile (ICG Bmax). This was calculated from the peak ICG concentration in the bile and the peak concentration time after its administration via antecubital vein using regression analysis. This study involved 13 normal controls and 26 jaundiced patients. ICG Bmax of the normal controls indicated more than 0.5. Among the jaundiced patients. 17 showed an ICG Bmax value of more than -0.5 early during biliary decompression and 87% of them satisfactorily tolerated further radical operation. The remaining patients in whom ICG Bmax initially showed less than -0.5, but 67% of them had an unfavorable outcome postoperatively. Six of the nine patients whose ICG Bmax was less than -0.5 prior to operation suffered severe postoperative complication, and three of whom died from hepatic failure. These results indicated that ICG Bmax evaluation during an early period of biliary decompression provided a reliable asseessment of the effects and a prediction of biliary drainage. ICG Bmax evaluation is also useful to the timely decision of radical operation.


Research distribution the rolling moments symmetrical and asymmetrical report presents great importance both in theory and to introduce clarifications to the calculation of rolling resistance line assemblies. Clarifying individuals of metallic material deformation between the rolls single cylinder diameters act of any difference of work and analysis of advance and delay phenomena. Torque drive value for each of the rolling cylinders was done by reducing the thickness of the laminate samples, an experimental facility located in the laboratory of plastic deformation of the Faculty of Engineering Hunedoara. The analysis of research results show that in terms of power consumption for deformation and safety equipment in operation is rational for mills which require such a difference between the work rolls to execute about one cylinder operated.


CRISPR/Cas9 is a programmable genome editing tool that has been widely used for biological applications. While engineered Cas9s have been reported to increase discrimination against off-target cleavage compared with wild type Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) in vivo, the mechanism for enhanced specificity has not been extensively characterized. To understand the basis for improved discrimination against off-target DNA containing important mismatches at the distal end of the guide RNA, we performed kinetic analyses on the high-fidelity (Cas9-HF1) and hyper-accurate (HypaCas9) engineered Cas9 variants. While DNA unwinding is the rate-limiting step for on-target cleavage by SpCas9, we show that chemistry is seriously impaired by more than 100-fold for the high-fidelity variants. The high-fidelity variants improve discrimination by slowing the rate of chemistry without increasing the rate of DNA rewinding—the kinetic partitioning favors release rather than cleavage of a bound off-target substrate because chemistry is slow. Further improvement in discrimination may require engineering increased rates of dissociation of off-target DNA.


Background: Tinea capitis is dermatophytic infection of scalp and associated hair. Incidence of the disease remains unknown. It commonly occurs in children between 3-14 yrs of age group. Etiological agents vary from time to time and place to place. Aim: To delineate the various patterns of Tinea capitis observed in Karimnagar district and to assess for any correlation between the clinical, microscopic and microbiologic findings in the patients seen. Also, to identify the common fungal species responsible for producing Tinea capitis. Material and Methods: Clinical morphology and KOH findings were studied in 65 patients who attended DVL OPD at Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical College, Bommakal, Karimnagar with the suspected diagnosis of Tinea capitis. Fungal culture was performed for all the cases. The epidemiological factors associated with the disease were also assessed. Results: Out of 65 children,36 (55.4%) belonged to 5-10yrs of age with a slight male predominance (1.4:1). Most of the children were living in crowded conditions 52(80%). Hair loss was the commonest symptom in 100% followed by itching in 41(62.9%) of cases. Greypatch variety was the commonest 24 (36.9%) followed by black dot 18(27.7%), kerion 12(18.5%) and agminate folliculitis 11(16.9%). KOH mount was positive in 78.4% and culture in 57.4% of cases. T.violaceum was the commonest 16(37.5%) species isolated followed by T.mentagrophyte 11(25.5%), T.tonsurans 8(18.6%), T.rubrum 6(13.9%) and M.gypseum was the least 2(4.6%). Conclusion: In the present sudy, clinical examination and microscopic findings along with epidemiological factors were considered which attributed that the most common group affectedis the lower socioeconomic population. Though the causative fungi was found to vary between different regions and time, T.violaceum was the most common organisum isolated in our study.


Way Samal river is one of the rivers in district of Central Maluku which is intended for agricultural activities. But when its rainy season, there are many problem caused by overflowing of river Way Samal. So, we need to find the right solution to overcome this problem. In general the best solution is technical engineering, by planning the building control and normalization of the river. It needs to be analyzed how much flood discharge that occurs in the Way Samal river flow. In this study a flood discharge planning analysis was conducted using annual maximum rainfall. This rainfall is analyzed for rainfall plans by using probability distributions Gumbel, Normal, Log-Normal, and Log-Pearson Type III. Furthermore, the distribution is tested for compatibility by using Chi-Square test and Kolmogorof Smirnov Test. After that based on the match test results, the design flood discharged was calculated by using the synthesis hydrograph method of Snyder and Nakayasu. Then these two synthesis methods are compared and select the closest to trend based on the linear average approach. Keywords— Rainfall, probability distribution, synthesis hydrograph.


Introduction : The case report shows a sick nine-year-old girl whose disease initially manifested as infectious mononucleosis. Encountering infectious mononucleosis in pediatrics is quite common and it is estimated that as much as 50% of children are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus before the age of 5. Suspicion of mononucleosis emerges every time there is a patient with swollen neck lymph nodes, fever, painful and difficult swallowing. However, the laboratory findings in the second month of the onset of the disease raised suspicion for autoimmune disease. Case report : Based on the clinical manifestations, the patient underwent a series of examinations such as biochemical analyses, blood count, and Epstein-Barr virus serology, as well as abdominal ultrasound and testing of ceruloplasmin and Alpha-1 antitrypsin values. The autoimmune disorder was confirmed after detecting elevated IgG levels, the presence of anti-LKM antibodies, and interface hepatitis as a pathoanatomic substrate of liver bioptates. C onclusion : The case report presents the Epstein-Barr virus as a direct trigger of autoimmune hepatitis. This DNA virus known for its cytopathic effect on B lymphocytes induced the swelling of lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Its overall impact on B lymphocytes and the liver led to producing specific autoantibodies and infiltrating hepatic nodes with lymphocytes.


Public expenditure in Portugal has been growing in recent years and approached values close to the EU average. Social expenditure, namely with health and education, increased in relative terms. Also, recent growth in public employment resulted greatly from new hirings in these two sectors. Taxation is the dominant source of financing education and health costs. Evaluating efficiency in these sectors is of great importance for public policy - an inefficient situation will imply the possibility of a better performance without increasing allocated resources. Increased health expenditure has been accompanied by a better health status of the Portuguese. Nevertheless, efficiency frontier estimation results provide evidence in favour of inefficiency. A more detailed analysis points towards a structure where nurses and hospital beds are relatively scarce, resources are asymmetrically distributed in geographical terms, and expenditure in pharmaceuticals and ancillary diagnostic services is excessively high. Suggested policy implications include the promotion of cost effectiveness in the public provision of health, a better coordination and integration between hospitals and health centres, a review of personnel management and payments policy, and induced changes in the pharmaceutical market, in users behaviour and in formation policy. In what concerns education, enrollment rates have progressed along with expenditure growth, school expectancy in Portugal being close to EU average values. Even if average expenditure per student is lower than the EU average, results presented here point towards inefficiency in this sector. Graduation rates at the end of secondary education are too low and Portuguese student performance is disappointing at an international level. It is suggested that promoting efficiency in this sector should include a careful examination and reassessment of teaching standards in secondary schools, namely in key knowledge areas, a careful and open assessment of school performance, a review of personnel management and payments policy, a review of the breakdown of educational expenditures by resource category and the development of a life-long education program.


Knowledge of cerebral metabolic variables increases the information available for managing the head-injured patient. This article reviews normal cerebral metabolism and describes the derangement of metabolism observed in patients with head trauma. Cerebral metabolism is globally decreased by one third to one half in the severely head-injured patient, usually because of the lower metabolic expenditure associated with coma, but sometimes because of superimposed hypoxia/ischemia, primarily due to secondary insults. Measurement of jugular venous oxygen saturation has become the most useful method for monitoring cerebral metabolism in the ICU. Although jugular venous oxygen saturation does not provide quantitative information about either cerebral blood flow or cerebral metabolism, it reflects the ratio between these two variables. To maintain a sufficient level of available oxygen and energy production at the cellular level, there are two therapeutic strategies: a) hemodynamic and b) metabolic. Treatments can be directed at both increasing oxygen delivery and integrating hemodynamic handling, and at various pharmacologic or physical methods intended to reduce the cerebral metabolic demand. The latter strategy is designed to depress either the basal or activation components of cerebral metabolism. This strategy includes manipulations of brain temperature and the use of central nervous system-depressant, barbiturate, and similar drugs.


Tikno Jaya is a shop engaged in furniture sale and marketing, the sale process carried out is still through catalog media and displaying furniture in store so it needs a system that can provide and share information to the public quickly through the website. The process of making a new system is done by analyzing the existing system in the store, then making DFD and ERD and it proceed with web designing with structured programming techniques using the PHP programming language and MySQL database. The result of the implementation of the new system is expected to overcome the problems that exist in the information system for furniture sale in the tiknojaya store.


Conventional screen printed two pack solder resists have served the industry well for many years, and will continue in their present form into the foreseeable future. However, with the introduction of newer printed circuit board technologies, such as PTH boards with 4 thou tracks and gaps, and less, hot air solder levelling and the use of SMD and VLSIs require a solder mask to be applied with definitions and specifications not easily achieved. Exciting developments in resin technology have opened new horizons in UV setting and photo‐imaging which allow the advantages of screen printing to be retained with considerable improvements in efficiency and definition. Photo‐imaging also opens up new ways of coating solder mask onto printed circuit boards and these will also be discussed with their implications on future trends. The introduction of these new solder masks and novel applications will be for specific areas in the market and these will be identified and coupled with predictions for market growth into the 1990s.


The effect of pectins' molecular weight (MW) and degree of esterification (DE) on apparent digestibility (D), net protein utilization (NPU) and biological value (BV) of casein were tested. The pectins prepared differed in MW and DE respectively as follows: P-1 (180,000, 73%); P-2 (300,000, 28%); P-3 (60,000, 74%) and P-4 (75,000, 40%) and were fed as 10% of a purified diet containing 10% casein to growing male rats for 10 days. All preparations decreased D, with P-2 and P-4 showing milder effects than P-1 or P-3. Increased NPU was observed with pectins of low NW and/or DE, being significant only with P-4. Diets containing P-2, P-3 or P-4 had higher BV for casein than the pectin-free diet. Feeding these pectins in a protein-free diet did not cause a significant change in the rats' body N content. Thus, the increase in the BV of casein was attributed to improvements in the pattern of amino acids absorbed by rats fed pectins with low MW and/or low DE.


- This study was conducted to select native ground cover plants for sod culture in an organic apple orchard by estimating the effect of three native ground cover plants, Glechoma hederacea , Thymus magnus , and Ixeris stolonifera , on the soil coverage, time-periodic weed occurrence, fruit characteristics, and soil chemical properties. The plant height of G. hederace , T. magnus and I. stolonifera were 15.0 ㎝ , 13.4 ㎝ and 7.2 ㎝ , respectively. The dry weight of G. hederace , T. magnus and I. stolonifera were 463 ㎏ /10a, 247 ㎏ /10a, and 255 ㎏ /10a, respectively. The plant height and dry weight of G. hederacea were higher than in the other species. T. magnus and I. stolonifera having relatively lower soil cover rate during their life cycle produced a lot of weeds in the orchard as compared with the control. In contrast, G. hederacea showed 100 percentage of ground cover in the first year, and maintained high percentage of ground cover in the growing season of 'Tsugaru' apple for another 2 years. When the soil was covered with G. hederacea in the orchard for 3 years, the amount of weed was only 114 ㎏ /10a and number of weeding was also reduced about 33% compared with control as well as the other species. There were no differences in the tree growth and fruit characteristics between the native ground cover plants and the control; however, positive effects of native ground cover plants on soil chemical properties were found. In G. hederacea , available P 2 O 4 content in soils remarkably increased and was a significant difference among native species. In addition, cation (Ca, Mg and K) content in soils increased by 39% in Ca, 6% in Mg, and 11% in K at G. hederacea compared with control. These results suggest that G. hederacea could be advantageous in terms of reducing the amount of herbicide applied and the labor required for weed control, and controlling soil chemical properties; therefore, it is a good candidate for sod culture in an organic apple orchard.


About the Book: Organizational Behaviour has assumed greater importance due to globalised economy, technical change and changed social and demographic environment. The book explains in detail the concepts of individual, group and organizational behavio Description: Print version: ; Kondalkar, V.G. ; Organisational Behaviour ; New Delhi : New Age International Pvt. Ltd., Publishers,c2007 ; 9788122420111. ; Table Of


Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is a highly conserved protein family responsible for producing branched chain amino acids. In Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, two ALS proteins, MJ0277 and MJ0663 exist though variations in features between them are noted. Researchers are quick to examine MJ0277 homologs due to their increased function and close relationship, but few have characterized MJ0663 homologs. This study identified homologs for both MJ0277 and MJ0663 in all 15 Methanococci species with fully sequenced genomes. EggNOG database does not define four of the MJ0663 homologs, JH146_1236, WP_004591614, WP_018154400, and EHP89635. BLASTP comparisons suggest these four proteins had around 30% identity to MJ0277 homologs, close to the identity similarities between other MJ0663 homologs to the MJ0277 homologous group. ExPASY physiochemical characterization shows a statistically significant difference in molecular weight and grand average hydropathy between homologous groups. CDD-BLAST showed distinct domains between homologous groups. MJ0277 homologs had TPP_AHAS and PRL06276 while MJ0663 homologs had TPP_enzymes super family and IlvB domains instead. Multiple sequence alignment using PROMALS3D showed the MJ0277 homologs a tighter group than MJ0663 and its homologs. PHYLIP showed these homologous groups as evolutionarily distinct yet equal distance from bacterial ALS proteins of established structure. The four proteins EggNOG did not define had the same features as other MJ0663 homologs. This indicates that JH146_1236, WP_004591614, WP_018154400, and EHP89635, should be included in EggNOG database cluster arCOG02000 with the other MJ0663 homologs.


Clinical and biochemical data likely to constitute prognostic factors were investigated in a retrospective study of 32 cases of tuberculous meningitis. Age appeared to be a much more important factor than the initial clinical severity of the disease and the delay of treatment. Over the age of 50 years, the mortality rate was doubled. There was no correlation between age and initial severity of the clinical picture. The number of cells and level of glucose in the CSF on admission were of no prognostic significance. CSF protein levels were higher in patients who died or developed complications than in those who made an uneventful recovery (p less than 0.05). The time required for temperature and CSF protein and glucose levels to return to normal had no prognostic value. An unfavourable or complicated course should be feared when CSF protein levels are higher than 7 g/l and in the presence of persistently low CSF glucose levels.


OF THE THESIS Status and the "Lower" Class: A Bio-Cultural Examination of the Non-Elite Classic Maya Suburb Community of Guerra, Buenavista del Cayo, in the Western Belize Valley by Erin Corinne Blankenship-Sefczek Master of Arts in Anthropology San Diego State University, 2011 The non-elite segment of the ancient Maya civilization has long been considered a homogenous social stratum. However, recent studies have begun to reveal the true, complicated, and hierarchical organization found within the non-elite social group. This thesis takes a bio-cultural perspective on skeletal and archaeological material of the 23 non-elite Maya individuals recovered from Guerra, Belize. Four residential structures within Guerra, Gypsy, Tatu, Dart, and Sara, were excavated as part of the San Diego State University Mopan-Macal Triangle Archaeological Project (MMTAP). The goal of the project is to gain a comprehensive understanding of Maya social structure and daily life, therefore, excavation of both large urban centers and small, rural Maya communities was undertaken. Guerra is the small rural suburb community located outside the urban site of Benavista del Cayo in the western Belize Valley. The site was occupation throughout the Classic period (AD 200-900). An analysis of the mortuary practices, and skeletal indicators of health and genetic markers reveals the complicated, hierarchical organization of this non-elite community and its relationship to the residents of the adjacent urban center. Differences in burial practices and architectural types indicate Guerra was a ranked community throughout its occupation. Overall the health of this community is good for both high and low status non-elite individuals. Dental pathology indicates there was a greater divide in access to resources between high and low status non-elites during the Early Classic than the Late Classic. A high frequency of childhood stressors is found in Guerra. Compared to the low frequency of childhood stressors found within the high status elites and sub-elites of Buenavista reveals the impact was greater for the non-elites than elites. This conveys that within the western Belize Valley there was social inequality when it came to access to certain resources. Statistical analyses of dental morphology and metrics show Guerra shares more biological affinity within the community than to the high status sub-elites of Archangel-Angel residing in Buenavsita. However, results indicate these two communities do share distant affinity, probably through marriage. A fictive kinship tie between Guerra and the ruling elites of Buenavista-Cahal Pech is highly probable based on the presence of identical caches at both sites. The current evidence suggests Maya community structure, organization, and membership was based primarily on biological affinity.


How do consumers evaluate the prestige of a person or an object? This paper proposes an empirical exploration of this question from a symbolic interactionist point of view. On the basis of in-depth interviews with consumers, a conceptual model is proposed. The findings highlight the key role of (1) the perception of unique human achievement; (2) the interpretation of socially shared symbols and (3) reference group influence in the formation of subjective prestige judgments. The informant's expertise, self-monitoring style and socio-cultural factors moderate the relationships between these constructs. The results point to similar mechanisms for the perceived prestige of people and inanimate objects. The paper ends with a discussion of the limits of the study and future research directions.