In this article are reviewed available experimental and clinical studies and vitamin D analogs, and molecular and cellular mechanisms of their antineoplastic activity. In more detail are discussed the antiproliferative and pro-differentiative effects, inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis and induction of apoptosis. The use of vitamin D analogs is however hampered by their toxicity. In various experimental systems it was shown that the activities of vitamin D analogs can be enhanced by combined application with retinoids or other biological active compounds such as cytokines and growth factors. Retinoids and vitamin D analogs were found to have synergistic inhibitory effects on tumor cell proliferation and angiogenic capability, and both agents applied simultaneously are efficacious in small doses. Thus combined therapy could find application in clinical practice. There are up to now only very limited data on the treatment of cutaneous malignancies with vitamin D analogs and it appears that a combined therapy, preferably with retinoids, could be more beneficial. The new synthetic, more potent and less calcemic analogs might find wide application in chemotherapy of premalignant and early malignant cutaneous tumors and could be especially useful for chemoprevention in the high-risk groups, e.g., xeroderma pigmentosum, organ transplant recipients, arsenical keratoses and others.


microRNAs (miRNAs) are posttranscriptional regulators of the proteome. We have identified CD28-responsive miRNAs in human CD4+ T cells. Among others, the miR-17-92 cluster was of particular interest because abnormal miR-17 levels have been reported in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with multiple sclerosis. When activated with low CD28-costimulation the miR-17-92 cluster was necessary to drive maximal proliferation in conventional mouse CD4+ T cells (Tconv) in vitro. However, the miR-17-92 cluster was largely dispensable for total T cell numbers in secondary lymphoid tissues and for antigen-response in vivo. Since FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are strongly co-stimulation dependent we deleted the miR-17-92 cluster specifically in Treg. Preliminary data suggest that as for Tconv the miR-17-92 cluster was dispensable for Treg numbers and function under homeostatic conditions, even in aging mice. By contrast, mice with miR-17-92-deficient Treg develop much more severe experimental autoimmune encephalitis than control mice. Preliminary results suggest that miR-17-92-deficient Treg numbers are significantly reduced in the spinal cord while antigen-specific effector cells are present in normal numbers. We are currently investigating how miR-17-92 mediates this crucial function. Our results demonstrate that miRNAs are critical for optimal T cell co-stimulation via CD28. The miR-17-92 cluster is essential for Treg function under inflammatory conditions in vivo.


This work presents a simple, low‐cost method to fabricate semi‐circular channels using solder paste, which can amalgamate the cooper surface to form a half‐cylinder mold using the surface tension of Sn–Pd alloy (the main component in solder paste). This technique enables semi‐circular channels to be manufactured with different dimensions. These semi‐circular channels will then be integrated with a polymethylmethacrylate frame and machine screws to create miniaturized, portable microfluidic valves for sequential liquid delivery and particle synthesis. This approach avoids complicated fabrication processes and expensive facilities and thus has the potential to be a useful tool for lab‐on‐a‐chip applications.


Multiple-strain pathogens often establish mixed infections inside the host that result in competition between strains. In vector-borne pathogens, the competitive ability of strains must be measured in both the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector to understand the outcome of competition. Such studies could reveal the existence of trade-offs in competitive ability between different host types. We used the tick-borne bacterium Borrelia afzelii to test for competition between strains in the rodent host and the tick vector, and to test for a trade-off in competitive ability between these two host types. Mice were infected via tick bite with either one or two strains, and these mice were subsequently used to create ticks with single or mixed infections. Competition in the rodent host reduced strain-specific host-to-tick transmission and competition in the tick vector reduced the abundance of both strains. The strain that was competitively superior in host-to-tick transmission was competitively inferior with respect to bacterial abundance in the tick. This study suggests that in multiple-strain vector-borne pathogens there are trade-offs in competitive ability between the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector. Such trade-offs could play an important role in the coexistence of pathogen strains.


Recent observations of giant ellipticals and brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) provide tentative evidence for a correlation between the luminosity of the Hα-emitting gas filaments and the strength of feedback associated with the active galactic nucleus (AGN). Motivated by this, we use 3D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations with the code Enzo to examine and quantify the relationship between the observable properties of the Hα filaments and the kinetic and radiative feedback from supermassive black holes in BCGs. We find that the spatial extent and total mass of the filaments show positive correlations with AGN feedback power and can therefore be used as probes of the AGN activity. We also examine the relationship between the AGN feedback power and velocity dispersion of the Hα filaments and find that the kinetic luminosity shows a statistically significant correlation with the component of the velocity dispersion along the jet axis, but not the components perpendicular to it.


Objective Investigating the molecular basis of bipolar disorder (BD) is crucial in terms of developing effective treatment strategies as well as objective laboratory-based diagnostic tools for the disease. Methods We examined the urine samples of BD patients both in manic episode and after remission and compared their urinary protein profiles with the controls. Twelve patients and twelve controls (C group) included to the study. Urinary samples of patients were first collected during manic episode (M group) and then after remission (R group). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled to MALDI-TOF/TOF massspectrometry approach and Western blot analysis were used. Results Alphα-1-microglobulin and bukinin precursor (AMBP), Mannan-binding lectine serin protease-2 (MASP-2), and Ig gamma-1-chain displayed significant increases in their abundance in the urine protein pool of M group in comparison to the C and R groups. Alpha-1B glycoprotein and prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase (PGD2) levels were significantly higher in the urine protein pool of the M and R groups in comparison to the C group. Annexin A1 was downregulated significantly in the urine protein pool of the M group in comparison to the C group. Conclusion Intensities of MASP-2 and AMBP proteins discriminated manic episode from remission period and healthy controls indicating that these proteins may be candidate biomarkers for manic episode. The decrease in Annexin A1 and increase in Ig gamma-1 chain levels appeared to be associated with "Manic Episode" while the increase in PGD2 and alpha-1B glycoprotein levels appeared to be associated with "Bipolar Disorder".


ABSTRACT This article analyses the political relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt. It aims to provide an analytical framework to unpack this complex relationship and assess the impacts that the Nile River has on the nature of this relationship. It further identifies geopolitical factors determining the impacts of the Nile River on frameworks of actions and political opportunity structures in which political actors operate. Accordingly, the different combinations of these determinants lead to the formation of political actors and ensuing actions that can fuel conflict, sustain the status quo or build peace. The article seeks to provide tentative answers to the following questions: what can be done or what mechanisms might be used to reduce the risk of conflict? What parties should participate and what will be their roles? And how can modern technology and science contribute to a possible solution?


Methylmercury (Me-Hg) is widely distributed through freshwater and saltwater food chains and human consumption of fish and shellfish has lead to widespread exposure. Both the U.S. EPA Reference Dose (0.3 micrograms/kg/day) and the FAO/WHO Permissible Tolerable Weekly Intake (3.3 micrograms/kg/week) are currently based on the prevention of paraesthesia in adult and older children. However, Me-Hg exposure in utero is known to result in a range of developmental neurologic effects including clinical CNS symptoms and delayed onset of walking. Based on a critical review of developmental toxicity data from human and animal studies, it is concluded that current guidelines for the prevention of paraesthesia are not adequate to address developmental effects. A dose of 0.07 micrograms/kg/day is suggested as the best estimate of a potential reference dose for developmental effects. Data on nationwide fish consumption rates and Me-Hg levels in fish/seafood weighted by proportion of the catch intended for human consumption are analyzed in a Monte Carlo simulation to derive a probability distribution of background Me-Hg exposure. While various uncertainties in the toxicologic and exposure data limit the precision with which health risk can be estimated, this analysis suggests that at current levels of Me-Hg exposure, a significant fraction of women of childbearing age have exposures above this suggested reference dose.


The Current work to assess the capacity of water potability samples for that, we used seven different brands of mineral water, bought locally, and also collected seven samples of public drinking fountains located in different places on campus headquarters of the State University of Maringa. The parameters analyzed were presence of fecal and total coliform, turbidity, color and compounds with UV-absorption at 254 nm. On the analysis of coliforms, two brands of mineral water and four samples of drinkers showed presence of total coliform, but no analysis indicated the presence of fecal coliforms. In the turbidity parameter, all samples were within the limits allowed by law, for both cases. No apparent color attribute, two samples of mineral water and a sample of drinking were outside the range required by law. Finally, the determination of UV showed the values of light absorption of each sample at a wavelength of 254nm, however, does not yet exist in Brazil a regulation on this parameter. With such analysis, it was possible to compare the results with current legislation. After these findings, it appears that more stringent hygienic practices should be adopted throughout the processing of mineral water as drinking in public. It is also necessary for greater oversight over the other parameters for determining the quality of water.


One of the consequences of European integration is the increasing permeability of national borders. This development has major effects on the position of border regions. According to many these previously peripheral (in context of the nation state) regions will become linking regions in an integrating Europe. To make most of these opportunities, new claims on the region's infrastructure, physical planning and environment will have to be met (e.g. provision of adequate cross-border infrastructure). These new challenges require co-ordinated action by the local and regional governments in European border regions. The EU has recognised the importance of regional crossborder co-operation and has reserved substantial funds to provide regional and local governments with incentives to set up networks of cross-border co-operation and help these regions in developing regional policies to compensate for their relative isolation.


This paper presents two memetic algorithms to solve multi-objective min-max problems, such as the ones that arise in evidence-based robust optimization. Indeed, the solutions that minimize the design budgets are robust under epistemic uncertainty if they maximize the belief in the realization of the value of the design budgets. Thus robust solutions are found by minimizing with respect to the design variables the global maximum with respect to the uncertain variables. A number of problems, composed of functions whose uncertain space is modelled by means of Evidence Theory, and presenting multiple local maxima as well as concave, convex, and disconnected fronts, are used to test the performance of the proposed algorithms.


BackgroundYoung adults with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions (LLTCs) are ordinarily extremely challenged in terms of health and wellbeing and especially vulnerable to social isolation and exclusion (Johnson & Hodgson, 2018;Knighting K, Bray L, Downing J, et al., 2018). Society's response to COVID-19 poses an additional threat to this group who are at risk of being further left behind, creating long-lasting consequences for their mental wellbeing.AimsTo examine the unintended consequences of (COVID-19) epidemic-control decisions on young adults with LLTCs to (a) understand the needs of this group (b) develop guidance and support and, (c) determine how consequences could be mitigated.MethodsThis inclusive research project, underpinned by an interpretive qualitative framework (Denzin, 2003) draws on the principles of co-design (Nind, 2014). Research participants were recruited using purposive and theoretical sampling using a variety of methods including advertising for participants, existing networks and snowballing. During July-September 2020, in-depth interviews were conducted via video-conference with 28 young adults aged 18-40. Data were analysed iteratively using constructivist Grounded Theory Method (cGTM) (Charmaz, 2006) and using the qualitative software analysis package QSR NVivo.ResultsParticipants experienced a decline in mental wellbeing with those with pre-existing mental health issues showing the most significant decline;in these cases, participants spoke about suicidal ideation, depression and anxiety and an increased need for medication and therapy. Many participants described a 'rollercoaster' of emotions and said that they had felt 'petrified' 'overwhelmed, 'worried' and 'forgotten'. Key themes included (a) the constant management of risk to avoid (physical) harm from COVID-19 while protecting mental health (b) the desire to 'keep busy' as a means of 'thinking less' in order stay mentally well (c) a re-evaluation of what matters in life.ConclusionMain learning points: (1) acknowledgement that although people with LLTCs are typically isolated and excluded that the pandemic has magnified and exacerbated this;(2) the need for regular communication;(3) enhanced mental health support.


In 1995, a significant change was made in Turkish Citizenship Law in order to ensure the integration of the Turkish citizens to the countries where they live currently. It aimed to regulate the situation of the foreigners who were Turkish citizens at birth and then had to leave the Turkish citizenship. Regard to this amendment, these foreigners have opportunity to  benefit as Turkish citizens in some situations which determined in Turkish Citizenship Law. With this change, new statue, privileged foreign group, has been established in Turkish Foreigners Law except Turkish, foreigners. This new statue called blue card because of colour of the card. The purpose of amendment is clear enough to integrate the foreigners who were Turkish citizens at birth, have connections in Turkey as family ties,business,etc. Wide application and legal uncertainty of the amendment and administrative practices are criticized by scholars. This study aims to clarify the subject, point out  problematic topics through the historical development, legal natures and scope of blue card in the light of judgements and in comparison with EU Law.


It was the strangest shop she had ever seen and she couldn't recall having seen it before. As she pushed open the narrow door, she was greeted with the sight of every possible present. But will there be anything left once the shopper in front is finished? The audiobook is narrated by actress Imelda Staunton.


A 71-year-old man presented with sudden onset of vertigo and a 77-year-old man suffered consciousness disturbance. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging on admission showed hyperintense areas in the left cerebellar hemisphere in the first patient and in the brainstem in the second patient. Both patients were treated with argatroban and edaravone, and the neurological deficits markedly improved one month after admission. T2-weighted MR imaging one month after the onset showed much smaller hyperintense areas compared with the findings on admission in both patients. These results indicate that findings of hyperintense areas by diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the acute stage of ischemic cerebrovascular disease indicate not only the ischemic core but also parts of the reversible incomplete ischemic lesion and suggest that intensive treatment in the acute stage might reverse ischemic brain damage in some patients.


The blue copper protein azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been covalently labelled with the fluorescing dye Cy5. The optical spectrum of the azurin changes markedly with its redox state. These changes are reflected in the fluorescence intensity of the dye through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). This provides a sensitive way to monitor biological redox events. The method shown to work in the nanomolar range of protein concentrations, can be easily extended into the sub-nanomolar regime and holds promise for single-molecule detection.


For more than 50 years, the oil and gas industry has funded and conducted research to improve oil spill response technologies and methodologies with industry, government, academia, and stakeholders jointly involved. This research has included hundreds of studies, laboratory and basin experiments and field trials, specifically in the United States, Canada and Scandinavia. Recent examples include the SINTEF Oil in Ice JIP (2006-2009) http://www.sintef.no/Projectweb/JIP-Oil-In-Ice/Publications and research conducted at Ohmsett The National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility www.ohmsett.com/activities.html. This sustained and frequently collaborative effort is not commonly known and recognized by those outside the field of oil spill response. To build on this existing research and continue improving the technologies and methodologies for arctic oil spill response, nine international oil and gas companies (BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Eni, ExxonMobil, North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC), Shell, Statoil, and Total) are working collaboratively in the Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology Joint Industry Programme (JIP). The goal is to advance arctic oil spill response strategies and equipment as well as to increase understanding of potential impacts of oil on the marine environment. The programme is coordinated by an Executive Steering Committee comprising representatives from each company. The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) is providing project management expertise. The world's foremost experts on oil spill response, development, and operations from across industry, academia, and independent scientific institutions are being engaged to perform the scientific research. The JIP has completed phase one that included technical assessments and state of knowledge reviews in the following six areas: dispersants, environmental effects, trajectory modelling, remote sensing, mechanical recovery, and in situ burning (ISB). Nine research reports are available on the JIP website (www.arcticresponsetechnology.org) that identified and summarized the state-ofknowledge and regulatory status for using dispersants, remote sensing and ISB in the Arctic. Phase two activities are now underway including laboratory, small and medium scale tank tests, and field research. Eleven projects are in progress ranging from dispersant effectiveness testing; modelling the fate of dispersed oil in ice; assessing the environmental effects of an arctic oil spill; advancing oil spill modelling trajectory capabilities in ice; extending the capability to detect and map oil in darkness, low visibility, in and under ice; improving efficiency of mechanical recovery equipment in ice; chemical herder fate and effects; and expanding the 'window of opportunity' for ISB response operations. This paper presents recent JIP progress.


We consider linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) games in large population systems where the agents evolve according to nonuniform dynamics and are coupled via their individual costs. A state aggregation technique is developed to obtain a set of decentralized control laws for the individuals which possesses an epsiv-Nash equilibrium property. A stability property of the mass behavior is established, and the effect of inaccurate population statistics on an isolated agent is also analyzed by variational techniques.


Nurses must assume a transformational leadership role in increasing the quality, safety, access, and value in the health care system. To lead effectively in this transformation process, nurses must be prepared for leadership roles. A strong leadership knowledge based acquired through education provides the springboard for nursing leadership competency development. This metasynthesis of 27 studies provided a broad understanding of the contribution and effectiveness of education for leadership competency from the perspective of nurses who have experienced it. Four overarching themes emerged: evidence-based relevant content, optimized learning strategies, benefits to the learner and others, and tensions and threats to the application of learning. This study affirms the value of a strong educational foundation for nursing leadership. With the support of a firm, yet flexible, educational platform, nurses will be positioned to more effectively lead and partner in health care transformation.


This paper explores the spectrum of business philanthropy, by considering what happens after success in family business, with a specific focus on the dynamics of giving through philanthropic family foundations (PFFs). PFF giving can emerge from profits accrued by family firms and these independent organisations often remain loosely associated with the commercial side of the businesses, thus linking both wealth creation with wealth redistribution and private sector with not-for-profit activities.  Research on business philanthropy remains under-developed (Agius Vallejo, 2015; E. Shaw, Gordon, Harvey, & Maclean, 2013). Campopiano et al (2014), posit that, beyond corporate and individual giving, there is a third approach; family firm philanthropy. This paper extends prior work on entrepreneurial philanthropists (Shaw, et al 2013) and corporate social responsibility (Wang & Qian, 2011) by addressing a tertiary aspect of this third type of business giving – PFF giving. Primary data was collected by undertaking multiple semi-structured interviews with key decision makers (family and non-family) across 15 PFFs supplemented by related material for each PFF in order to form multiple case studies. Findings were analysed and interpreted using both existing literature on business (Yin, 2009) and framing the research within Bourdieu's capital theory framework (1986).  The findings highlight and reinforce the important role played by PFFs in the philanthropic landscape. The paper provides insights into the dynamics of PFFs and the role of altruism; enhancing our understanding of PFFs but also the spectrum of private giving as a whole. Extending existing knowledge of entrepreneurial philanthropy and CSR, we suggest that conceptualisations of success in grant-making may be different for PFFs; their processes and giving styles are likely to be distinct, and the expectation of return also contrasts across all three highlighted approaches to giving.  The paper proposes that PFFs have varied and complex dynamics, motivations and influences that can be aligned to family interests, but are often independent of these. PFFs tend to both act and operate differently to other actors and institutions within the philanthropic landscape. This suggests that existing understanding of private giving is incomplete.  The value of this study is threefold. First, it enhances existing understanding of private giving. Second, it explores an emerging area of interest in philanthropy literature; expectation of return. Finally, it extends family business research by considering related organisations emerging from successful family businesses; PFFs.


In late 2006, CDC began receiving requests from numerous state public health departments for information about a perceived increase in the number of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis (AGE), especially those involving person-to-person transmission in long-term--care facilities. No national surveillance system exists for AGE outbreaks, including those caused by norovirus, unless foodborne transmission is suspected. In the absence of national surveillance data, CDC attempted to better characterize the outbreaks of AGE by analyzing information from the following sources: 1) detailed data on recent AGE outbreaks in three of the states that had contacted CDC about a possible increase (North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New York); 2) emergency department (ED) syndromic surveillance data from Boston, Massachusetts; 3) basic epidemiologic data on AGE outbreaks from a CDC survey of state health departments; and 4) laboratory data from CDC. The analysis suggests that a national increase has occurred in the frequency of AGE outbreaks caused by norovirus (including fatal cases in long-term-care facilities). Two new cocirculating GII.4 norovirus strains emerged nationwide in 2006 and likely accounted for this increase in activity. Improved national surveillance of outbreaks, including those with person-to-person transmission; development of accessible, affordable, and timely clinical tests; and increased access to a norovirus strain sequencing database at CDC will lead to more accurate assessment of the morbidity and mortality associated with norovirus and more rapid identification of newly emerging norovirus strains.


Inheritance and fruit production studies were carried out with an Abelmoschus esculentus cultivar, Okpa mkpe (P1), which expresses a mutant trait that produces multiple small fruits per node (msfpn) and two elite A. esculentus cultivars, Awgu early (P2) and Mpi ele (P3), as well as a high yielding A. callei cultivar, Ogolo (P4); all of which produce the conventional solitary fruit per node (sofpn). The aim was to meet consumer's need for small sized fresh marketable okra fruits in the region. The inheritance studies showed that the mutant trait was controlled by a pair of dominant genes. The fruit morphometric studies showed that the A. esculentus cultivars and their hybrids differed significantly in length of fruit (LOF), diameter of fruit (DOF), circumference of fruit (COF), area of fruit (AOF) and volume of fruit (VOF). The direct cross of the mutant parent to the two elite A. esculentus cultivars showed that all the F1 hybrids produced small sized fruits. On the average, multiple small sized marketable fruits were produced on 61% of fruit-bearing nodes of P1, 58% of P1 x P2 hybrid and 52% of P1 x P3 hybrid fruit-bearing nodes, respectively. The percentage reduction in fruit parameters of the msfpn fruits in comparison with the sofpn fruits ranged from 14.28 to 23% for LOF, 10.47 to 15.12% for DOF and 11.18 to 18.89% for COF fruit parameters. Attempts to cross the msfpn parent (P1) with an A. callei (late okra) elite cultivar, P4, proved inconclusive. The discovery of the msfpn trait on an A. callei cultivar, Ojo ogwu, creates a possible opportunity for transferring the trait among A. callei cultivars. It is concluded that exploitation of the msfpn mutant trait could result to meeting okra consumers' need for small sized fruits in the region and pave the way for exporting small sized fruits; which are in great demand by okra canning industries overseas.

 Key words: Abelmoschus species, mutant trait inheritance, multiple fruits per node, smallsized fruits.


OBJECTIVE
Disasters, such as a school shooting or a global pandemic, harm psychological health and necessitate recovery. To complement adult-led disaster recovery and trauma-specific approaches, we propose a Youth-Led Resilience Promotion (YLRP) framework focusing on: (a) multitiered change, (b) resilience goals, (c) a promotion mindset, (d) youth strengths, (e) prosocial behaviors, and (f) capacity building through partnerships. The YLRP framework guided the development of a YLRP program in the aftermath of the Chardon High School shooting in Chardon, OH, which is detailed in a case study.

METHOD
As part of a Community-Academic Partnership, 20 college student trainers delivered a multitiered, multicomponent resilience promotion intervention: universal resilience promotion to 1,070 high school students; targeted resilience promotion to 200 student leaders through workshops; and indicated resilience promotion to 30 student leaders through mentoring.

RESULTS
Student leaders formed a youth-led, afterschool club to advance relational resilience through prosocial strategies. Lessons learned from implementing the YLRP program for 6 years (2012-2017) are provided to guide YLRP program developers and program implementers.

CONCLUSION
A youth-led program equipping youth leaders to engage in prosocial strategies may contribute to the psychological resilience and recovery of students after a school shooting, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and other potentially traumatic events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).


At a single temperature, the macroscopic irreversible magnetic behaviour of a superconductor can be described fully by the relationship between the electric field E, the current density J and the magnetic induction B. We show that this relationship can be readily visualized as a three-dimensional E-J-B surface. The utility of this surface is that it is model and parameter independent, and so obviates the need to define the 'critical current density', and the 'irreversibility' field by arbitrarily imposed criteria. Furthermore, the flux creep rate corresponds directly to a gradient of this surface. Data from magnetic studies can be used to generate the surface, but some care with experimentation is needed to avoid distortion by artefacts, such as self-field effects and anisotropy. Transport studies map the surface too, but in a rather different (and limited) region of E-J-B space. The shape of the surface and its dependence on temperature reflect the underlying physics of vortex behaviour, and we discuss briefly the limitations on theoretical models imposed by its form.


The methods used and the results, including estimates of ghost catches present at the time of retrieval, from Irish and UK (England and Wales) gillnet retrieval exercises carried out in deep-water gillnet fisheries west of the British Isles are described. Summaries of the exercises are currently found only in the grey literature, and there is a need to make them more widely available to the scientific community. The fisheries are currently principally for anglerfish (mainly Lophius piscatorius), along with a small bycatch of deepwater sharks [mainly leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorous squamosus) and Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis)]. The methods used and the results from retrieval exercises in the Norwegian Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossus) gillnet fishery are also presented. It is suggested that the efficiency of the Norwegian retrieval gear (which was used in all but one of the retrieval exercises described) be investigated under a range of conditions using an attached underwater camera. The outcomes from this could be used to improve the design of retrieval gear and future gillnet retrieval survey/mitigation exercises. Suggestions are made to improve the format and interpretation of results from future retrieval surveys and to enhance their value to fishery managers and stock assessment scientists. The importance of the continued need for structured gillnet retrieval exercises in deep-water gillnet fisheries is emphasized, and suggestions are made for conducting future studies.


In a gas mixture consisting of 99.5% of helium and 0.5% of molecular hydrogen, dielectric barrier discharges are generated by applying AC voltage to two electrodes, deposited on the outward surfaces of the ceramic plates. The two ceramic plates made of BaTiO3 form a slit-like discharge gap of 0.5 mm (distance between the inward ceramic surfaces). The radiation of the hydrogen Hα spectral line emitted from this gas gap is studied, applying gas pressures from 4 kPa to 60 kPa. The Hα line shapes emitted from this gap are measured with spectral and spatial resolution (in the direction perpendicular to the ceramic surface). The light detection system, equipped with a chopper (synchronized with the feeding voltage) allows light polarization sensitive measurements to be performed. The observed large broadening of the Hα profile is attributed mainly to the linear Stark effect. On the basis of analyzed Hα line shapes the electric field strengths in the gas gap at different pressures are determined.


This paper presents an orbital analysis of six southern single-lined spectroscopic binary systems. The systems selected were shown to have circular or nearly circular orbits (e < 0.1) from earlier published solutions of only moderate precision. The purpose was to obtain high-precision orbital solutions in order to investigate the presence of small non-Keplerian velocity effects in the data and hence the reality of the small eccentricities found for most of the stars.

The Hercules spectrograph and 1-m McLellan telescope at Mt John Observatory, New Zealand, were used to obtain over 450 CCD spectra between 2004 October and 2007 August. Radial velocities were obtained by cross-correlation. These data were used to achieve high-precision orbital solutions for all the systems studied, sometimes with solutions up to about 50 times more precise than those from the earlier literature. However, the precision of the solutions is limited in some cases by the rotational velocity or chromospheric activity of the stars.

The data for the six binaries analysed here are combined with those for six stars analysed earlier by Komonjinda, Hearnshaw and Ramm. We have performed tests using the prescription of Lucy on all 12 binaries, and conclude that, with one exception, none of the small eccentricities found by fitting Keplerian orbits to the radial-velocity data can be supported. Instead we conclude that small non-Keplerian effects, which are clearly detectable for six of our stars, make impossible the precise determination of spectroscopic binary orbital eccentricities for many late-type stars to better than about 0.03 in eccentricity, unless the systematic perturbations are also carefully modelled. The magnitudes of the non-Keplerian velocity variations are given quantitatively.


In the conceptual design of EU-DEMO, damage to plasma-facing components under disruption events is planned to be mitigated by specific sacrificial limiter components. A new limiter concept has been proposed using lattice structures fabricated with tungsten powder by additive manufacturing techniques. The major potential benefits of using a lattice structure for limiters are the possibility to customise the thermal conductivity and structural compliance of these components to manage temperatures and stress within material limits and lower the sensitivity to crack propagation. This paper presents the results of the first investigations into the production, characterisation, and high heat flux testing of these lattices to assess their suitability for DEMO limiters. First stage prototypes have been manufactured from tungsten and tungsten tantalum mixed powder with two distinct laser power bed fusion processes, namely pulsed laser and continuous laser with heated bed. The samples are characterised in terms of mass, volume, density, extent of microcracks and voids, level of un-melted or partially melted particulates, texture and grain size, as well as tantalum segregation when applicable. High transient (0.25 ms) heat load testing, with hydrogen plasma of energy density up to ∼ 3 MJ m − 2 was carried out at Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology on the quasi-stationary plasma accellerator Kh-50. These tests have shown that the energy absorbed by latticed targets preheated at 500 ◦ C is close to that absorbed by solid tungsten, suggesting that they may be used for limiter applications with the added advantage of adjustment of the heat transfer and stiffness performance by geometry design or material properties.


2 Abstract: The study investigated the effects of Aloe vera as leaf protein concentrate for cockerels. It was conducted with 72 - day old cockerels which at 3 weeks of age were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments of 24 birds each with 3 replicates per treatment. The rations were standard commercial feed 0% (T1), 5% (T2) and 10% (T3) inclusion levels of Aloe vera respectively. The design of the experiment was a completel y randomized design and the birds were fed for 42 days with their respective experimental diets. Records were kept on feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality trend to the end of the experiment. Results showed that there were significant differences (p 0.05) on feed intake. Highest overall profit was obtained from the T2 group. The inclusion of Aloe vera at 5% level supports feed absorption and growth in cockerels. This can therefore be used as a good leaf protein concentrate in cockerel nutrition for improved productivity and therefore, profitability.


Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) is involved in multiple signaling pathways and plays an important regulatory role in a variety of malignant tumors. However, its role in the prognosis and immune invasion of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) remains unclear. This study investigated the expression of PVT1 in tumor tissue and its relationship with immune invasion, and determined its prognostic role in patients with BLCA. Patients were identified from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA). The enrichment pathway and function of PVT1 were explained by gene ontology (GO) term analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), and the degree of immune cell infiltration was quantified. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression were used to analyze the correlation between PVT1 and survival rate. PVT1-high BLCA patients had a lower 10-year disease-specific survival (DSS P < 0.05) and overall survival (OS P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that PVT1 (high vs. low) (P = 0.004) was an independent prognostic factor. A nomogram was used to predict the effect of PVT1 on the prognosis. PVT1 plays an important role in the progression and prognosis of BLCA and can be used as a medium biomarker to predict survival after cystectomy.


We present a data-driven method for determining the veracity of a set of rumorous claims on social media data. Tweets from different sources pertaining to a rumor are processed on three levels: first, factuality values are assigned to each tweet based on four textual cue categories relevant for our journalism use case; these amalgamate speaker support in terms of polarity and commitment in terms of certainty and speculation. Next, the proportions of these lexical cues are utilized as predictors for tweet certainty in a generalized linear regression model. Subsequently, lexical cue proportions, predicted certainty, as well as their time course characteristics are used to compute veracity for each rumor in terms of the identity of the rumor-resolving tweet and its binary resolution value judgment. The system operates without access to extralinguistic resources. Evaluated on the data portion for which hand-labeled examples were available, it achieves .74 F1-score on identifying rumor resolving tweets and .76 F1-score on predicting if a rumor is resolved as true or false.


In humans, to reduce deviations from a perfect upright position, information from various sensory cues is combined and continuously weighted based on its reliability. Combining noisy sensory information to produce a coherent and accurate estimate of body sway is a central problem in human balance control. In this study, we first compared the ability of the sensorimotor control mechanisms to deal with altered ankle proprioception or vestibular information (i.e., the single sensory condition). Then, we evaluated whether successive stimulation of difference sensory systems (e.g., Achilles tendon vibration followed by electrical vestibular stimulation, or vice versa) produced a greater alteration of balance control (i.e., the mix sensory condition). Electrical vestibular stimulation (head turned ∼90°) and Achilles tendon vibration induced backward body sways. We calculated the root mean square value of the scalar distance between the center of pressure and the center of gravity as well as the time needed to regain balance (i.e., stabilization time). Furthermore, the peak ground reaction force along the anteroposterior axis, immediately following stimulation offset, was determined to compare the balance destabilization across the different conditions. In single conditions, during vestibular or Achilles tendon vibration, no difference in balance control was observed. When sensory information returned to normal, balance control was worse following Achilles tendon vibration. Compared to that of the single sensory condition, successive stimulation of different sensory systems (i.e., mix conditions) increased stabilization time. Overall, the present results reveal that single and successive sensory stimulation challenges the sensorimotor control mechanisms differently.


Species of the ecological opportunistic, avirulent fungus, Trichoderma are widely used in agriculture for their ability to protect crops from the attack of pathogenic fungi and for plant growth promotion activity. Recently, it has been shown that they may also have complementary properties that enhance plant defense barriers against insects. However, the use of these fungi is somewhat undermined by their variable level of biocontrol activity, which is influenced by environmental conditions. Understanding the source of this variability is essential for its profitable and wide use in plant protection. Here, we focus on the impact of temperature on Trichoderma afroharzianum T22, Trichoderma atroviride P1, and the defense response induced in tomato by insects. The in vitro development of these two strains was differentially influenced by temperature, and the observed pattern was consistent with temperature-dependent levels of resistance induced by them in tomato plants against the aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, and the noctuid moth, Spodoptera littoralis. Tomato plants treated with T. afroharzianum T22 exhibited enhanced resistance toward both insect pests at 25°C, while T. atroviride P1 proved to be more effective at 20°C. The comparison of plant transcriptomic profiles generated by the two Trichoderma species allowed the identification of specific defense genes involved in the observed response, and a selected group was used to assess, by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), the differential gene expression in Trichoderma-treated tomato plants subjected to the two temperature regimens that significantly affected fungal biological performance. These results will help pave the way toward a rational selection of the most suitable Trichoderma isolates for field applications, in order to best face the challenges imposed by local environmental conditions and by extreme climatic shifts due to global warming.


In their recently published article, Scott et al. summarize the recent guidance on hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state produced by the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care [1]. When discussing insulin timing and dosing, the authors suggest that if significant ketonaemia (> 1 mmol/l) is present insulin should be started at time zero. However, fluid administration alone causes a marked decrease in serum glucose concentration as a result of dilution, improved renal perfusion leading to glucosuria, and increased tissue glucose uptake with improved circulation. The osmotic pressure that glucose exerts within the vascular space contributes to the maintenance of blood volume. Unless fluid replacement is adequate, a rapid fall in glucose concentration and osmolality after insulin administration may lead to circulatory compromise and thrombosis. Patients with hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state also have extreme potassium deficits. Therefore, a rapid insulin-induced potassium reduction to the intracellular space may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, as suggested by the 2014 International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes guidelines for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, insulin treatment should be postponed until serum glucose concentration is no longer declining at a rate of at least 50 mg/dl (3 mmol/l) per hour with fluid administration alone or in case of severe ketosis (> 1.5 mmol/l) [2].


Abstract This study investigated the relationship of political instability with the stock prices. Results of the study indicated the negative relationship of stock prices with political instability. Moreover, results of suggested that instable political system ultimately leads decline in stock prices. Inflation has shown negative relationship with stock prices whereas, industrial production and Exports have positive relationship with stock prices.


Abstract. The environmental impact assessment system and the environmental plan for the preservation of the land environment are carried out with the aim of preventing damage to the environment caused by human activities, improving the quality of life and creating a pleasant environment. However, despite these various systems, the natural resources have been continuously damaged, and the system to cope with them has been advanced, but there has been a limit to fully conserve natural resources from development. The total amount of natural resources is being promoted as a part of the purpose of supplementing the system, but the evaluation method of the total amount of natural resources suitable for domestic situation is not presented yet. Natural resources are diverse and complicated in their categories and elements, and their measurement units are also diverse, making it difficult to synthesize them into one unit. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a method to calculate the total amount by using the evaluation map of the Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map (ECVAM) which derives the final achievement with 5 grades using 65 evaluation items. However, we consistently applied the weight twice as much as the grade and did not utilize any information other than the map of ECVAM. The results of this study can be applied to the Total Natural Resources Management System through follow-up study such as application of various environmental information and weighting method.


This study focused on the influence of job rotation on employee productivity in federal university libraries in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design using 653 academic librarians and library officers in Southern Nigeria. Total  enumeration method was used because the entire population (342 Librarians and 311 library officers which gave a total of 653 staff in the eighteen (18) federal university libraries in Southern Nigeria) was considered appropriate for this study. The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire, and 621 responded to the questionnaire which gave a total return of 95% used for the research. The study revealed that job rotation enhances employee productivity in library operation and also enhances increase in productivity in a particular task. The study therefore recommends that University librarians and management of institution should ensure that job rotation is encouraged in library operation by allocating of special fund to the exercise. In addition, rotation of library staff should be done on a yearly basis before such a staff is deployed to other sections of the library. Key Words : Job, rotation, library, operation, academic, employee, productivity,.


With government stimulus money becoming available to encourage healthcare facilities to adopt electronic health record (EHR) systems, the decision to move forward with implementing an EHR system has taken on an urgency not previously seen. The EHR landscape is evolving rapidly and the underlying technology platform is becoming increasingly interconnected. One must make sure that an EHR decision does not lock oneself into technology obsolescence. The best approach for evaluating an EHR is on the basis of:usability, interoperability, and affordability.


Several common inflammatory dermatoses, such as rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis (SD), discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and granulomatous skin diseases manifest as erythematous macules or plaques on the facial skin. Although clinical examination represents the cornerstone of diagnosis, the broad variety of clinical features and uncommon presentations of these diseases may cause at times diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainty. Dermoscopy, in addition to its well‐documented value in evaluation of skin tumours, is continuously gaining appreciation also in the field of general dermatology.


We study the Kinetically Constrained Model on the polluted square lattice, with two-neighbor constraints. For a quenched polluted environment with low pollution density we give bounds on the infection time of the origin.


At large N, the 7l @6 theory is shown to possess a nontrivial ultraviolet fixed point. A new phase is found where asymptotic scale invariance is spontaneously broken and a dynamical mass is generated through dimensional transmutation. At the tricritical limit, the spontaneous breaking of an exact scale invariance at leading N results in the formation of a massless composite Goldstone mode, the dilaton. We compare these results to standard 1/N expan-sion and emphasize the nonperturbative nature of these phenomena.


Reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) mediated injury has been implicated in several inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). NADPH oxidases (NOXs) are the major source of endogenous ROS. Here, we investigated the role of NOXs derived-ROS in a mouse model of colitis induced by the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Intraperitoneal injection of TNFα (10 μg · kg−1) induced an acute inflammation of the colon and a marked increase in expression of NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1), a colon specific NADPH oxidase isoform. TNFα-induced colitis was also characterized by high production of keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) and mucosal infiltration of neutrophils, NOX2-expressing cells. Concomitantly, ROS production and lipid peroxidation were significantly enhanced while catalase activity and glutathione level were reduced indicating a redox imbalance in the colon. Furthermore, the redox-sensitive MAP kinases, ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, were activated during TNFα-induced colitis. Pretreatment of mice with apocynin, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor with antioxidant properties, before TNFα challenge, prevented all these events. These data suggest that ROS derived from NADPH oxidases (mainly NOX1 and NOX2) and MAP kinase pathways could contribute to the induction and expansion of oxidative lesions characteristics of IBD and that apocynin could potentially be beneficial in IBD treatment.


Stem cells proliferate through symmetric division or self-renew through asymmetric division whilst generating differentiating cell types. The balance between symmetric and asymmetric division requires tight control to either expand a stem cell pool or to generate cell diversity. In the Drosophila optic lobe, symmetrically dividing neuroepithelial cells transform into asymmetrically dividing neuroblasts. The switch from neuroepithelial cells to neuroblasts is triggered by a proneural wave that sweeps across the neuroepithelium. Here we review recent findings showing that the orchestrated action of the Notch, EGFR, Fat-Hippo, and JAK/STAT signalling pathways controls the progression of the proneural wave and the sequential transition from symmetric to asymmetric division. The neuroepithelial to neuroblast transition in the optic lobe bears many similarities to the switch from neuroepithelial cell to radial glial cell in the developing mammalian cerebral cortex. The Notch signalling pathway has a similar role in the transition from proliferating to differentiating stem cell pools in the developing vertebrate retina and in the neural tube. Therefore, findings in the Drosophila optic lobe provide insights into the transitions between proliferative and differentiative division in the stem cell pools of higher organisms.


Fractal theory postulates that geological materials possess a noninteger, fractal dimension describing length-surface-volume relations and particle-size distribution. We examined sand grains, composed largely of quartz, from several horizons of Wisconsin soils derived from glacial outwash for fractal dimension using image analysis of reflected light micrographs with NIH Image software. No evidence was found to support other than a Euclidean, i.e., regular dimension, relating the geometric properties of : (i) measured particle perimeter as a function of magnification or (ii) particle area and perimeter. In addition, particle-size distributions were better fit by lognormal distribution than by a fractal fragmentation dimension. Fractal theory would not appear to provide a useful description for these soil materials.


Exogenous glucagon increases hepatic glucose synthesis in part by increasing hepatic extraction of amino acids from blood for conversion to glucose. To examine the role of glucagon in orchestrating gene expression of gluconeogenic and ureagenic enzymes, we determined the mRNA concentrations of key hepatic ureagenic and gluconeogenic enzymes at d 11, 15, and 22 postpartum in multiparous Holstein cows that received 0 or 5 mg of glucagon in 60 mL of saline by subcutaneous injection every 8 h for 14 d starting on d 8 postpartum. On d 11 postpartum, glucagon increased the hepatic mRNA concentrations for all measured ureagenic enzymes (carbamoylphosphate synthetase I, ornithine transcarbamylase, and argininosuccinate synthetase) and gluconeogenic enzymes (pyruvate carboxylase and cytosolic and mitochondrial forms of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) and increased or tended to increase mRNA concentrations of gluconeogenic enzymes on d 15 postpartum but not on d 22. The effect of glucagon to increase mRNA concentrations of ureagenic and gluconeogenic enzymes was limited to times when concentrations of plasma insulin were not increased. Our results suggest that hepatic gene expression of key ureagenic and gluconeogenic enzymes in early-lactation dairy cows is responsive to hormonal regulation by glucagon.


Mature skeletal muscle cells cannot be expanded in culture systems. Therefore, it is difficult to construct an in vitro model for muscle diseases. To establish an efficient protocol for myogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs), we investigated whether addition of IL-6 and/or myocyte-conditioned media (CM) to conventional differentiation media can shorten the differentiation period. hADSCs were differentiated to myocytes using the conventional protocol or modified with the addition of 25 pg/mL IL-6 and/or C2C12 CM (25% v/v). The expression of MyoD and myogenine mRNA was significantly higher at 5–6 days after differentiation using the modified protocol than with the conventional protocol. mRNA and protein expression of myosin heavy chain, a marker of myotubes, was significantly upregulated at 28 and 42 days of differentiation using the modified protocol, and the level achieved after a 4-week differentiation period was similar to that achieved at 6 weeks using the conventional protocol. The expression of p-STAT3 was significantly increased when the modified protocol was used. Similarly, addition of colivelin, a STAT3 activator, instead of IL-6 and C2C12 CM, promoted the myogenic differentiation of ADSCs. The modified protocol improved differentiation efficiency and reduced the time required for differentiation of myocytes. It might be helpful to save cost and time when preparing myocytes for cell therapies and drug discovery.


Effects of Substance P on spontaneous contractions of the circular muscle of the flexure region of guinea pig colon were studied by mechanical tension recording. Substance P (3 nM-10 nM) produced tonic contraction associated with phasic activities but the contraction was found stronger at higher concentration. Verapamil (3 microM), a voltage dependent L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker completely blocked the spontaneous activities and also Substance P induced contraction. These results suggest that Substance P produce contraction by Ca(2+) influx and the Ca(2+) influx occurs by activating verapamil sensitive Ca(2+) channel.


Real-time auralisation systems are increasingly being used by researchers aiming to observe how particular stage and auditorium configurations affect a musician's performance technique. These experiments typically take place in controlled laboratory conditions equipped with auralisation systems capable of reproducing the 3D acoustic conditions of a performance space in response to a performing musician in real-time. This paper compares the performance of First Order Ambisonics and Spatial Impulse Response Rendering in terms of both objective measurements and subjective listening tests. It was found that both techniques spatialised single reflections with similar accuracy when measured at the sweet spot. Informal listening tests found that the techniques produced very similar perceived results both for synthesised impulse responses and for measured stage acoustic impulse responses.


Description of the subject. Today, the dairy sector is facing economic, social and environmental challenges. Agroecology seems to be one way of meeting those challenges. However, dairy market demand in terms of volume and supply periods may not be in line with an agroecological transition. Breeders must respond to the production conditions fixed by dairies. Objectives. We analyzed to what extent dairy farming practices are changing in two agropastoral territories after a change in the dairy process or supply period, and whether changes in practices induce a stronger uptake of agroecological practices or, on the contrary, a shift towards more conventional intensification of those practices. We were thus able to see if and how these livestock farming system dynamics contribute to and fashion agroecological transition in dairy production, in response to changes in local contexts. Method. To highlight the evolution of breeders' practices, we interviewed 41 dairy ewe farmers in the South of France and dairy cattle farmers in Western Burkina Faso. We then proposed a normative approach to evaluate to what extent changes in practices corresponded to an agroecological transition. For that purpose, we proposed a grid to analyze local practices in combination with agroecological principles. We evaluated practices before and after changes to the supply period or the dairy market. Results. In each of the territories studied, four trajectories emerged, some of which were part of an agroecological transition. The results showed that the market plays an important role as a driver of transition, in particular in situations of organic production, or limited access to inputs. Other drivers, such as resource management schemes, lead to changes in practices on rangelands towards a reduced use of pastoral resources. Conclusions. In these highly contrasting contexts with different issues, such as food security and land accessibility, farmers bring into play practices according to agroecological principles that appear to respond to the local situation.


The chapter analyses how backstage service employees may rise from invisibility to active agency when they are at risk of loosing their jobs during the digitalization of services. We conducted an intervention process aimed at envisioning future digital services and new work. The analysis is based on employee interviews regarding their future work horizons, interviews of management and HRD, and two workshops organized to support the co-creation of future service and work. The approach derives from the literature on human agency. Invisible back-stage service workers may face a similar developmental pattern to that of "Cinderella" when finding their way in the digital era. The interviews of the managers and HRD indicate how difficult it is to foresee and develop the future competencies of employees, before deciding upon the path on how to organize the service between human beings and technology. The study contributes to the understanding of backstage service employee's perspectives and makes visible their attempts to have an agency in technological transition, which previous studies have rarely analysed in depth.


BACKGROUND
Three studies carried out in educational settings examined determinants of teacher's instructional styles and students' degree of satisfaction with the learning climates created by such styles.

AIMS
Based upon regulatory mode theory, Studies 1 and 2 tested the hypotheses that teachers' locomotion orientation will be positively related, and their assessment orientation will be negatively related, to autonomy supportive (vs. controlling) instructional styles. Study 3 tested the hypothesis that students' regulatory mode will exhibit a fit effect with the prevalent learning climate in their school.

SAMPLES
Participants for Study 1 were 378 teachers (278 females); for Study 2 were 96 teachers (65 females); and for Study 3 were 190 students (all males).

METHOD
Participants completed questionnaires that included measures of teaching styles (Studies 1 and 2), perceived learning climate and satisfaction (Study 3), and regulatory mode orientations (Studies 1 and 3). In Study 2 regulatory mode orientations were experimentally induced.

RESULTS
Results confirmed that teachers' autonomy supportive versus controlling styles were positively related to their locomotion orientations and negatively related to their assessment orientation, and that students with a stronger locomotion (vs. assessment) orientation reported a higher level of satisfaction when the learning climate was perceived as autonomy supportive (vs. controlling).

CONCLUSIONS
The present studies show that teachers' preference for adopting an instructional style is influenced by their regulatory mode orientations, and that the effects of a learning climate on students' satisfaction are contingent on a fit between type of learning climate and students' regulatory mode orientations.


We have claimed that truth norms cannot provide genuine guidance for belief formation (Gluer and Wikforss 2009, pp. 43–4). Asbjorn Steglich-Petersen argues that our 'no guidance argument' fails because it conflates certain psychological states an agent must have in order to apply the truth norm with the condition under which the norm prescribes forming certain beliefs. We spell out the no guidance argument in more detail and show that there is no such conflation.


While there is a large body of work devoted to interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup conflict, little has been written about the dimension of the intrapersonal or intrapsychic conflict in the negotiating process. This article introduces the psychodynamic concepts of transference and countertransference and describes how these phenomena play a role in the negotiation situation. By describing the negative transference and how this gives rise to resistance, the author presents an explanation of what works and why in negotiating. The model is then applied to different current models of negotiation, and considers the implications for the organization of the negotiating team and team leadership. With a knowledge of transference and countertransference, the psychodynamic model may provide another perspective that can be used to understand the negotiation process.


Recently d-dimensional spherically symmetric charged Vaidya black hole solution has been constructed. We observe that this nonstationary solution admits extremal limit and study its near horizon geometry. We show that the symmetry of the near horizon geometry is SO(2, 1) ×SO(d − 1). Our analysis shows that the theorems for the near horizon geometry of stationary extremal black holes, may be extended to nonstationary cases.


Alzheimer is one of the most common causes of dementia that influence nerve cells in various parts of the brain. Pathologically it is caused because of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular amyloidal protein and results in the deposition of plaques which obstruct the communication between the nerve cells resulting in this neurodegenerative disease. The genetic risk factor found to be associated with this disease is mutation in APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes. Also, the diet and nutrition play quite an important role in the development as well as prevention of Alzheimer Disease. The biomarker used for the detection of the disease should be able to differentiate between different causes of dementia and should be able to detect it at early stage. Further the use of Induced pluripotent stem cells has proven to be an effective treatment for the cure of this disease. The objective of this review is to highlight about the pathway that lead to this disease and stem cell treatment of this disease.


Aim: In an attempt to move toward exploration of the antibacterial properties of herbal products, this study evaluated the effect of how the addition of Moringa would affect the physical properties of the commercial Endofil sealer. Materials and Methods: An experimental in vitro study was performed using three experimental sealers. There were four groups in this study: Group A (ZnO/E sealer alone), Group B (ZnO/E and Moringa root), Group C (ZnO/E and Moringa leaf), and Group D (ZnO/E and Moringa leaf extract liquid). Measurements were carried out according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standardization 6876:2012. Moringa oleifera was added to Endofil's powder and liquid and the physical properties of the new sealer were tested according to ISO 6876:2012 and compared to those of Endofil alone. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey post hoc test was used to compare between more than two groups in non-related samples. Results: All groups showed varying degrees of shrinkage with Group B having the lowest shrinkage and setting time, whereas Groups A and D experienced the highest shrinkage. All groups experienced solubility; Group B had the highest mass loss and Group D showed the lowest. Group A showed the lowest film thickness. Radiopacity of all groups satisfies the ISO recommendations for root canal sealers. Conclusion: Moringa added to ZnO/E sealer showed acceptable physical properties of the commercial Endofil sealer.


Thermal comfort is of great importance in preserving body temperature homeosta- sis during thermal stress conditions. Although the thermal comfort of horses has been widely studied, there is no report of its relationship with surface temperature (TS). This study aimed to assess the potential of data mining techniques as a tool to associate surface temperature with thermal comfort of horses. TS was obtained using infrared thermography image processing. Physiological and environmental variables were used to defi ne the predicted class, which clas- sifi ed thermal comfort as "comfort" and "discomfort". The variables of armpit, croup, breast and groin TS of horses and the predicted classes were then subjected to a machine learning process. All variables in the dataset were considered relevant for the classifi cation problem and the decision-tree model yielded an accuracy rate of 74 %. The feature selection methods used to reduce computational cost and simplify predictive learning decreased model accuracy to 70 %; however, the model became simpler with easily interpretable rules. For both these selection methods and for the classifi cation using all attributes, armpit and breast TS had a higher power rating for predicting thermal comfort. Data mining techniques show promise in the discovery of new variables associated with the thermal comfort of horses.


Background: Dengue fever is a mosquito borne tropical disease caused by dengue virus. Clinical features of dengue fever are varied and ranges from asymptomatic to life threatening shock and death. A set of investigations is used in the monitoring of the disease apart from the tests done for confirmation. No single test is the gold standard in the evaluation of dengue patients that can be used as marker of clinical severity
and fatality. Aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of band form count as a marker of severity in dengue fever.
Materials and Methods: Peripheral smears are made for all dengue cases confirmed with Immunochromatography test for NS1, IgM and IgG. The cases were categorised in to clinically stable dengue fever patients and severe dengue based on their clinical findings. The band form count was done by manual differential count. The correlation between band form count and clinical severity was assessed. A total of 124 cases were studied that included 23 cases of severe dengue.
Results: A significant relationship between band form count and clinical severity was obtained. 22/23 cases of severe hemorrhagic fever had significant increase in band form count of above 20%. All the other cases diagnosed as dengue fever had band form count
Conclusion: Hence, band form count can be used in the set of investigations used in the evaluation of patients with dengue fever to assess the severity of the disease. Considering its role in assessing the severity, further research is required to evaluate the usefulness in the evaluation and management of patients with severe dengue.

Keywords: Dengue, Severe dengue, Severe dengue hemorrhagic fever, Bandemia, Band forms.


The incidence of anal cancer in HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) is increasing and screening is advo-cated. In a cross-sectional study anal cytology specimens from 58 HIV-infected MSM were analyzed for adequacy, cy-tology and HPV DNA testing results and compared to findings on anoscopy. The adequacy of cytology specimens was high. In 34 (63%) of anal swab samples any grade of dysplasia was observed compared to 41 (71%) of biopsy speci-mens. The cytology specimens revealed high-grade dysplasia in 4 (7%) compared to 29 (50%) of biopsy specimens. The prevalence of high-risk HPV types was 90% by using the SPF10 PCR and 81% by using the Hybrid Capture II assay. Because of the high HPV prevalence, HPV DNA testing alone is not a suitable diagnostic screening tool for detecting anogenital lesions in this specific MSM population. Screening should include both anal cytology and anoscopy.


The saying "mens sana in corpore sano" has a particular resonance these days because, for the majority who have a very sedentary occupation, the everyday rhythms of life do not compel us to do much physical exercise. Recently published data indicate that exercise can counteract the effects of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and have prompted research on the beneficial effects of movement on the brain and brain neurogenesis. This might lead us to hypothesize that the absence or reduction of movements, especially those with antigravity effects, could induce a deterioration of the brain. This Review discusses current knowledge of the relationship between neurogenic capacity and the lack of motor activity in human and animal models. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Developed organs display strict spatial organization of differentiated cells which is required for proper organ function. One important device that prevents tissue disorganization is the death of cells that lose anchorage to their native matrix, a signal that indicates potential loss of proper tissue context. Termed anoikis (Greek for Homelessness), this form of cell death is a specialized form of apoptosis. Interestingly, at certain stages of development and tissue repair, cells are required to migrate in an unanchored state, suggesting that anoikis must be strictly regulated at some level. Likewise, cellular transformation is often accompanied by an inappropriate loss of anoikis and subsequent acquisition of a metastatic phenotype. Despite its importance, the molecular pathways involved in the regulation of anoikis and the proximal signals reporting loss of anchorage are poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that attachment may be reported by a mechanosensory testing of the cell's physical environment.


This paper considers academic identity and sensemaking at the nexus of New Public Management within the digital education arena to understand what it means to teach in this neoliberalised context. Precarity of HE lecturers with fixed and short-term contracts is an increasingly dominant factor internationally, driving uncertainties. Disruptive developments of digitally innovative paradigms accompany and further enable parallel growths of managerialism, metrics and accountability. The impact of such measures provokes sensemaking activities and resultant 'sticky' behaviour from digital teachers in order to manage feelings of insecurity.
Our research design uses photographic ethnography and in-depth interviewing to gain insight into micro routines, identity legitimations and practices of participants. This paper then focusses on the impact of these transitions considering how implementation is being experienced by teaching lecturers. We explore teaching cultures within UK and UAE teaching institutions at different points on the continuum of digitisation, finding discourses of alienation and liminality.


Background. Enterococcus spp. has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen. The epidemiology and outcomes of Enterococcal infections (EI) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients is poorly defined. We describe the incidence, clinical epidemiology and outcomes of EI in KT recipients at our institution. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was done of EI in patients who received a KT between 2009 and 2012 at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit Michigan. Clinical information including demographics, clinical, laboratory, treatment and outcome data were collected. Frequency analysis was performed using chi-square test for dichotomous variables and student's t-test for continuous variables. Logistic regression analysis was done of risk factors that could contribute to adverse outcomes resulting from EI namely, clinical failure, graft loss or death. Clinical failure was defined as lack of clinical resolution of infection or microbiological eradication after≥ 7 days of specific antibiotic therapy. Results. The incidence of Enterococcus isolated in our cohort of 478 KT recipients, followed up for a minimum of 1 year after KT, was 16.1 per 100 (77/478). Of the isolates 47% were E. faecalis, 28% E. faecium and 42% vancomycin-resistant enterococci. In 10/77 (13%) patients the enterococci represented colonization and were not treated. EI in the remaining 67 patients developed at a median of 30 days after KT (mean: 113.04 days; range: 5-1362). Of the EIs 78% (52/67) were UTIs and 16% were intra-abdominal infections. The mean duration of antibiotic therapy for EIs was 18.0 ±13 days. Clinical failure occurred in 34% of patients with EIs. There was 1 graft failure, and 6 deaths of which 1 was attributable to Enterococcal bacteremia. Logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-transplant antibiotic use was predictive of adverse outcomes after EI (OR = 5.05, CI = (.94, 27.21), p = .042). Conclusion. EIs especially UTIs are common after KT, but mortality and graft loss is rare. VRE was isolated in half the EIs, necessitating VRE-specific antibiotic treatment. Clinical failure occurred in about third of patients with EIs and was associated with pre-KT antibiotic exposure. Disclosures. All authors: No reported disclosures.


With the economic growth and increasing improvements of supporting measures, the innovation, as well as research and development (RD) exhibit apparent output and spillover effects. By taking the patent grand in environment-friendly innovation and RD as a dependent variable, and the factors such as personnel and innovation capital of RD as independent variables, the empirical comparison and validation based on regional spatial econometric model were conducted. The results showed that environment-friendly RD presents a prominent positive implicative effect on the RD innovation output with spatial spillover. Meanwhile, the spatial error model is proved to be more convinced than spatial lag model and ordinary least square methods. Besides, this research also provides some suggestions and countermeasures for promoting further environment-friendly innovation RD and economic growth.


A prospective study was undertaken in 100 patients with diarrhoea to identify the causes and to better define the prevalence of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to determine if there was a diagnostic symptom complex evident in patients with IBS. A diagnosis of IBS was made in 28 patients and in this group the prevalence of lactase deficiency was found to be 40%. Pain in association with urgency was usual and urgency occurring in the absence of pain was more likely to be found in association with an organic colonic lesion. The two most important symptoms which distinguish IBS from other causes were blood in the motions and weight loss. Giardia lamblia were found in nine patients and 15 patients responded to an empirical course of either metronidazole or tinidazole, without a positive diagnosis of giardiasis being made. Fourteen patients had inflammatory bowel disease and a variety of drugs were responsible for diarrhoea in 10% of patients. Sigmoidoscopy and small bowel biopsy were the most valuable diagnostic investigations.


Volcanic arc magmas can be defined tectonically as magmas erupting from
volcanic edifices above subducting oceanic lithosphere. They form a coherent
magma type, characterized compositionally by their enrichment in large ion
lithophile (LlL) elements relative to high field strength (HFS) elements. In
terms of process, the predominant view is that the vast majority of volcanic arc
magmas originate by melting of the underlying mantle wedge, which contains
a component of aqueous fluid and/or melt derived from the subducting plate.
Recently, opinions have converged over the key aspects of the physical model
for magma generation above subduction zones (Davies & Stevenson 1992),
namely:
1. that the mantle wedge experiences subduction-induced corner flow (e.g.
Spiegelman & MacKenzie 1987);
2. that the subduction component reaches the fusible part of the mantle wedge
by the three-stage process of (i) metasomatism of mantle lithosphere, followed
by (ii) aqueous fluid release due to breakdown of hydrous minerals at
depth (e.g. Wyllie 1983, Tatsumi et al 1983) and (iii) aqueous fluid migration,
followed by hydrous melt migration, to the site of melting;
3. that slab-induced flow may be locally reversed beneath the arc itself, allowing
mantle decompression to contribute to melt generation (e.g. Ida 1983).
The simplified model in Figure 1 highlights the physical and chemical processes
that have been invoked as being important in controlling the composition of
volcanic arc magmas. Magma compositions (coupled with experimental data
on element behavior) can help us gain further understanding of these physical
and chemical processes. In this review, we first summarize knowledge of the
behavior of elements in the subduction system. We then focus on compositional
evidence for the processes illustrated in Figure 1, which we group as follows:
1. derivation of the subduction component,
2. transport of the subduction component to the melting column,
3. depletion and enrichment of the mantle wedge, and
4. processes in the melting column.


Large-scale column experiments were undertaken to evaluate the potential of in situ polymer mats (installed in series) to be used as permeable reactive barriers for delivery of oxidants and reductants to induce sequential bioremediation of ammonium-contaminated groundwater (approximately 120mg L(-1) NH4+-N), without bioaugmentation. The strategy was for the first group of polymer mats to deliver oxygen to induce bacterial nitrification of the ammonium to nitrite/ nitrate as the groundwater moved past and for the second group of polymer mats to deliver hydrogen or ethanol, to induce bacterial denitrification of the nitrite/nitrate to produce nitrogen gas. Once purging of the first polymer mat commenced, ammonium concentrations decreased downgradient from the polymer mats. Nitrification rates increased and stabilized over the 6-month experiment, with stable nitrification half-lives in the range 0.07-0.25 days. Nitrification most likely occurred in a biologically active zone at the polymer wall/aqueous interface. With hydrogen delivery via the polymer mats, a denitrification half-life (nitrate plus nitrite removal) of 3.5 days was induced. Denitrification rates were significantly enhanced when ethanol was delivered via a polymer mat, with denitrification half-lives in the range of 0.12-0.34 days. Nitrification/ denitrification rates were maintained for groundwater flow rates up to 300 m yr(-1), suggesting oxygen and ethanol delivery rates via the polymer mats were sufficient not to limit nitrification or denitrification. In soil columns, the polymer mat delivery system provided an effective and reliable technique for delivery of oxygen and hydrogen or ethanol for sequential nitrification/denitrification of ammonium-contaminated groundwater. Scale-up of this concept to a field pilot-scale is currently underway.


Background Since the introduction of randomised controlled trials (RCT) in clinical research, there has been discussion of whether enrolled patients have worse or better outcomes than comparable nonparticipants. Objective To investigate whether very preterm infants randomised to a placebo group in a RCT have equivalent neurodevelopmental outcomes to infants who were eligible but not randomised (eligible NR). Methods In the course of an RCT investigating the neuroprotective effect of early high dose erythropoietin on the neurodevelopment of very preterm infants, the outcome data of 72 infants randomised to placebo were compared with those of 108 eligible NR infants. Our primary outcome measures were the mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) developmental indices of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II at 24 months corrected age. The outcomes of the two groups were considered equivalent if the confidence intervals of their mean differences fitted within our ± 5 point margin of equivalence. Results Except for a higher socioeconomic status of the trial participants, both groups were balanced for most perinatal variables. The mean difference (90% CI) between the placebo and the eligible NR group was -2.1 (-6.1 and 1.9) points for the MDI and -0.8 (-4.2 and 2.5) points for the PDI (in favour of the placebo group). After adjusting for the socioeconomic status, maternal age and child age at follow-up, the mean difference for the MDI was -0.5 (-4.3 and 3.4) points. Conclusions Our results indicate that the participation of very preterm infants in an RCT is associated with equivalent long-term outcomes compared to non-participating infants.


In a book loaded with metaphors of assault and retaliation, Andrew Dickson White's A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom saved one of the best for Darwin. "Darwin's Origin of Species," we are told, came "into the theological world like a plough into an ant-hill. Everywhere those thus rudely awakened from their old comfort and repose had swarmed forth angry and confused." For White, the sometimes frenzied post-Darwinian controversies over providential design and divine creation were simply the latest episodes in an all-out struggle between theology and science that stretched back beyond Galileo's cheerless encounters with the Catholic Church. Though the voices may have been different, the song remained the same. Despite its continuing presence in the popular media, contemporary historians of religion and science now regard White's warfare thesis as an artifact of the constantly shifting relationships between these two cultural fields rather than a viable analysis of their engagement. The fundamental problem with the conflict model is that it is a bit like performing heart surgery with a Phillips head screwdriver: it is simply too blunt of an instrument for getting at the all-too-crucial particulars. As a result, it is likely to do more harm than good. To see why, consider what James Moore has called the "religious filiation" of Charles Darwin's evolutionary thought.


The recent evolution of Italian capitalism shows the increasing relevance of medium-sized enterprises (MSE) at three levels: the economic and institutional environment, the ownership structure and the financing policy. A comparison of the financial structure of Italian MSEs with some European countries, using BATCH data, shows their financial fragility, where the prevalence of debt over equity justifies the still strong and close relationship between control and management and the ancient bank-firm relationship based on short-term external finance and multiple business lending. These factors slow down firms' expansion and consequently the need for companies to grow so as to face the new global market. Finance is confirmed as a determinant of growth both in size and in organisation. Using Mediobanca data we verify that, as long as firms expand mainly by means of self-financing, growth will be limited and the organisation remains strongly family-based. We conclude that a pivotal role for the Italian firms' growth lies in a "revised" relationship between size, governance and firms' financial structure, especially in the perspective of the new rules introduced by the New Basel Accord. We show that their current asset and financial distress could be solved by promoting an adequate economic and institutional environment that really develops a market of firms' control.


Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) belongs to a group of rare vascular disorders. It refers to compression of the left renal vein (LRV) generally between the abdominal aorta (AA) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). It is one of the most unknown causes of chronic abdominal pain. Herein, we present the case of a young patient who came to the emergency department for acute abdominal pain. Patient's history revealed an uncharacterized chronic epigastric pain evolving for 13 years. The imaging showed acute appendicitis and NCS; the latter finding was the principal explanation for the patient's chronic pain. We hope that the concise and synthetized structure of this case report will help physicians acquire the necessary reflexes to notice and diagnose this already underdiagnosed syndrome.


Recent development and application of a novel electromagnetic technique, to reposition the coolant tube spacers (garter springs) in the fuel channels of CANDU nuclear reactors, has created the need for a pulse power cable that has very low ac resistance at a frequency range of 700 to 1500 Hz. The technique involved discharging a 200 kJ capacitor bank into an electromagnetic coil, inserted inside the fuel channel, via a transmission line at least 11 m long. The electrical resistance of the transmission line, made of commercially available cables, was found to cause excessive damping of the discharge current waveform which was required to have an exponentially decaying sinusoidal shape. This paper describes the design, development and performance of a new compact cable that has been successfully used to carry repetitive current impulses generated by capacitor banks operating in the oscillatory mode at high current levels. Various dimensional and operational constraints, assembly of the cable terminations by an electromagnetic method and mechanical behaviour of the cable are also discussed.


In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, components of the High Osmolarity Glycerol (HOG) pathway are important for the response to diverse stresses including response to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress), which is produced by the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the lumen of this organelle. Accumulation of unfolded proteins may be due to the inhibition of protein N-glycosylation, which can be achieved by treatment with the antibiotic tunicamycin (Tn). In this work we were interested in finding proteins involved in the ER stress response regulated by Hog1, the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) of the HOG pathway. A high gene dosage suppression screening allowed us to identify genes that suppressed the sensitivity to Tn shown by a hog1Δ mutant. The suppressors participate in a limited number of cellular processes, including lipid/carbohydrate biosynthesis and protein glycosylation, vesicle-mediated transport and exocytosis, cell wall organization and biogenesis, and cell detoxification processes. The finding of suppressors Rer2 and Srt1, which participate in the dolichol biosynthesis pathway revealed that the hog1Δ strain has a defective polyprenol metabolism. This work uncovers new genetic and functional interactors of Hog1 and contributes to a better understanding of the participation of this MAPK in the ER stress response.


When customers are faced with the task of making a purchase in an unfamiliar product domain, it might be useful to provide them with an overview of the product set to help them understand what they can expect. In this paper we present and evaluate a method to summarise sets of products in natural language, focusing on the price range, common product features across the set, and product features that impact on price. In our study, participants reported that they found our summaries useful, but we found no evidence that the summaries influenced the selections made by participants.


Abstract In cases of high-level radioactive waste repositories, heat load is apparent by radioactive waste decay. The safety of a waste repository would be influenced by changing circumstances caused by heat transfer through rock. Thus, a ventilation system is necessary to secure the waste repository. The first priority for building an appropriate ventilation system is completing a computer simulation research with thermal rock properties and a heat transfer coefficient. In this study, the heat transfer coefficient in KURT was calculated using the measurement of inner circumstance factors that include dry bulb and wet bulb temperature, rock surface temperature, and barometric pressure. The heater that is 2 m in length and 5 kw in capacity heats the inside of rock in the research module by 90°C. As a result of determining the heat transfer coefficient in the heating section, the changes of heat transfer coefficient were found to be a maximum of 7.9%. The average heat transfer coefficient is approximately 4.533 w/m


Brightness temperature simulations were used to assess the information loss due to the coarse spatial sampling of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) microwave imager (TMI). While the high‐resolution simulation of a three‐dimensional rain cloud clearly identifies the 10.7‐GHz channel to be superior for surface rainfall measurements, its comparably poor spatial resolution reduces the dynamic range of observable brightness temperatures and associated area‐averaged rain rates considerably. This problem can be partly overcome by applying deconvolution techniques as demonstrated by Robinson et al. [1992]. When the sensitivity of resolution enhancement to noise amplification is investigated, an optimum configuration of key parameters was identified. Using an 11×11 matrix of neighboring pixels and noise reduction parameter of γ = 0.5° provides a 42×26 km resolution, compared with the original resolution of 63×38 km. Thus a noise amplification by a factor of 3 is introduced. Although this method does not match the resolution of the 19.35‐GHz channel, the dynamic range of brightness temperatures and area‐averaged rain rates could be increased by a factor of 2.7 and 2.2, respectively. Further resolution enhancement leads to noise levels which seem unacceptable with respect to the retrieval of geophysical parameters.


The paper is concerned with the problem of short-term hydrothermal scheduling for hydro-dominated power systems. The problem is to determine hydro and thermal generation scheduling for a day or a week ahead, usually on an hourly basis, simultaneously satisfying hydraulic, thermal and electrical operational constraints while optimizing a criterion of performance. Reservoir release targets suggested by mid/long-term operational planning models are also considered. The paper presents a case study based on a hybrid optimisation-simulation approach. The procedure consists of hydraulic system simulation on an hourly basis, with release decisions based on optimal DC power flow. Reservoir release targets are enforced through a dual-penalty approach which assigns shadow costs to hydro generation. The case study was conducted using part of the Brazilian interconnected power system and progressively developed through the use of various scripts. The study provides an insightful analysis of the nature of the problem and reveals a practical and efficient technique for its solution.


In order to model geographic space, we should consider obviously anything qualifies that might appear on a paper map for example, states, cities, mountains, rivers, highway networks, hospitals, police stations etc. These varied entities can be modeled by using geometric modeling concepts. In many Internet applications and geographical information systems (GIS) digital maps are used to indicate locations of interested static or moving objects which change their futures in spatial and temporal domain. In this paper, we visualized a spatial map which stores its data according to geometric modeling concepts and retrieves its data from database. Then, we simulated moving objects on a digital map according to predefined scenario.


Fitting whole spectra at intermediate spectral resolution (R= 1000–3000), to derive physical properties of stellar populations, appears as an optimized alternative to methods based on spectrophotometric indices: it uses all the redundant information contained in the signal. This paper addresses the validation of the method and it investigates the quality of the population models together with the reliability of the fitting procedures. Our method compares observed optical spectra with models to derive the age, metallicity and line broadening due to the internal kinematics. It is insensitive to the shape of the continuum and the results are consistent with Lick indices but three times more precise. We are using two algorithms: steckmap, a non-parametric regularized program and nbursts a parametric non-linear minimization.

We compare three spectral synthesis models for single stellar populations (SSPs): Pegase-HR, Galaxev and Vazdekis/Miles, and we analyse spectra of Galactic clusters whose populations are known from studies of colour–magnitude diagrams (CMD) and spectroscopy of individual stars.

We find the following. (1) The quality of the models critically depends on the stellar library they use, and in particular on its coverage in age, metallicity and surface gravity of the stars. Pegase-HR and Vazdekis/Miles are consistent, while the comparison between Pegase-HR and Bruzual & Charlot shows some systematics reflecting the limitations of the stellar library (STELIB) used to generate the latter models. (2) The two fitting programs are consistent. (3) For globular clusters and M67 spectra, the method restitutes metallicities in agreement with spectroscopy of stars with a precision of 0.14 dex. (4) The spectroscopic ages are very sensitive to the presence of a blue horizontal branch (BHB) or of blue stragglers. A BHB morphology results in a young SSP-equivalent age. Fitting a free amount of blue stars in addition to the SSP model to mimic the BHB improves and stabilizes the fit and restores ages in agreement with CMDs studies. This method is potentially able to disentangle age or BHB effects in extragalactic clusters. Full spectrum fitting is reliable method to derive the parameters of a stellar population.


Many rural North Carolina streams are degraded due to historic channelization, dredging, and loss of riparian vegetation. The resulting incised channels have poor habitat and unstable bed features and streambanks. Stream restoration options for incised channels include constructing a new stable channel at the floodplain elevation, enhancing the floodplain at the existing channel elevation, or stabilizing streambanks in place. This paper describes three North Carolina stream projects completed since 2000 that make use of a variety of techniques to restore incised streams. Components of each project include channel geometry modification, in-stream structures, streambank stabilization, and riparian corridor restoration. Project objectives are to improve water quality and habitat, reduce streambank erosion, and enhance floodplain functions. The Stone Mountain project is a Priority 1 restoration in which an incised stream was relocated at a higher elevation on the adjacent floodplain. The South Fork Mitchell River project is a Priority 2 restoration in which channel geometry was modified at the existing elevation to create a new meandering stream with enhanced floodplain. The Mitchell River project is a Priority 3 restoration in which the floodplain of an incised straightened channel was widened and boulder structures were used to protect streambanks. The planning, design, construction, and monitoring of these projects are described along with lessons learned about effective restoration techniques.