The success or failure of an enterprise is dependent on many factors, none of which are more important than the choice of a leader. Peer-review journals are no exception. Publishers, editorial boards, societies and advertisers all have their role in the smooth running of a journal. But it is the true leader – the Editor-in-Chief – who bears the responsibility for the reputation of the journal.

The Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology has been successfully published for 23 years. A key reason for its success is the leadership provided by the various Editors-in-Chief who have served at the helm. It was not only their ability to steer the Journal through challenges but to consistently advance its stature.

The founding Editors-in-Chief, Drs Alan Thomson and Noel Williams struggled to get the Journal off the ground, have it accepted as a legitimate entity and, finally, to have it recognized internationally.

The second leader was Dr Lloyd Sutherland, who, while continuing to heighten the international profile of the Journal, worked tirelessly to solidify support for the Journal from the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver here in Canada.

Dr Sutherland passed the leadership to Dr Paul Adams who, similar to his predecessors, threw himself into the battle for the ever important higher Impact Factor and readership, and succeeded beyond anyone's expectations. He also launched new sections in the Journal and collaborated closely with us on our on-line review system put into place during his tenure.

Now, the torch is passed (being an Olympic year) to another very capable individual: Dr Subrata Ghosh, Head of the Division of Gastroenterology at the Teaching, Research and Wellness Centre at the University of Calgary (Alberta). Dr Ghosh differentiated himself from other applicants by having, in addition to stellar scientific qualifications, extensive experience in peer-review journal editing, most notably as an Associate Editor with Gut. He is also a member of the editorial boards of several other important gastroenterology journals.

Because Canada is a relatively small country, publishing a peer-review journal here is no easy task. The number of published pages is always limited by available funds, and there are times when authors of breakthrough studies choose to publish in other journals. However, I have every confidence that Dr Ghosh, like his predecessors, will rise to the occasion and lead The Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology to still greater heights and greater success.

Here's to the future of The Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology under Dr Ghosh. May he hold the torch higher and may it shine brighter for all of us!


The influence of high‐energy electron irradiation (Ee = 1.8 MeV) on the structure and the vibration properties of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in a width range of absorption doses (3–10) MGy were investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. It has been observed that the radiation promotes the weakness of the interlayer interactions as well as the damage of the cross‐linking along a radial direction, due to occurrence of the sp3‐hybridized states. The filling of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by nanotubes, in low content (0.2 and 0.5 wt%), leads to an amplification of the microhardness. This can be attributed to the existence of donor‐acceptor interactions between polymeric macromolecules and nanotubes, which promotes a reduction of infringements in the conjugation chain of the polyene consistencies. However, the corresponding Raman spectrum cannot explain such enhancement of the microhardness.


This dissertation consists of four related, sole-authored chapters. It considers the microeconomic mechanisms for gains from trade in the presence of quality investments by firms. It shows within the framework of a quality-augmented heterogeneous firms model that the quality dimension matters for welfare gains from trade. It also provides novel empirical evidence on adjustment mechanisms of aggregate quality as a consequence of globalization. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first contribution to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of endogenous product quality in the determination of gains from trade. I first offer an explanation for observed industry heterogeneity in trade-induced productivity gains and show that results depend on whether or not firms have the option to invest in quality. I then take a broader view of welfare gains from trade, looking beyond productivity improvements. I find that globalization can imply a quality-variety trade-off when consumer quality preference is strong - a finding which holds under firm heterogeneity and symmetry. Nevertheless, overall gains from trade are positive. With quality being itself an important channel for gains from trade, I also investigate the detailed mechanisms by which aggregate quality changes as a consequence of globalization. This is done within the same theoretical heterogeneous firms framework as well as empirically using firm-level export data matched with firm-level quality ratings. I argue that firm heterogeneity matters for gains from trade by giving rise to an additional welfare channel in the presence of variable elasticity of demand preferences: high quality firms expand sales disproportionately in a larger market, thereby raising aggregate quality. This theoretical prediction is confirmed by the data. Furthermore, I study the mechanisms for gains from trade in a symmetric firms version of the baseline model. This allows me to isolate the role of firm heterogeneity in driving earlier results. In addition, I analyse the efficiency properties of the market equilibrium for the symmetric firms case.


It is a well known fact that transfer functions of scattering conservative systems and impedance conservative system are the analytic contractive function in the unit disk and functions with positive real part on the upper half plane, respectively. In this case, the interplay between the transfer functions is via the Moebius transformation. In the system representation the interplay is by the so called diagonal transformation on the system variables. The functional models of these systems lead to two reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. In the case of real positive functions in the upper half-plane, Carathéodory integral representation plays a major role. In this talk, we consider these phenomena and relations in the setting of 2D conservative systems (or vessels). First, we present the Carathéodory integral representation for real compact Riemann surfaces and study the corresponding reproducing kernel space. The 2D scattering conservative systems or equivalently the corresponding quasi–hermitian vessels are well studied. For the 2D impedance conservative systems we introduce a new notion, the Hermitian vessel. The interplay between these two type of systems is by a generalized diagonal transform and the joint transfer functions are related by the Moebius transformation. In this case, two functional models arise. The first is a reproducing kernel Hilbert space with reproducing kernel T (q)Kζ(q, r) + Kζ̃(q, r)T (r) ∗ where Kζ(q, r) is a Cauchy kernel. The second functional model is a L space (with respect to a specific measure) of sections of a vector bundle over the fixed point (with respect to the involution) of a real compact Riemann surface X. These results are based on joint work with Daniel Alpay and Victor Vinnikov. Talk time: 07/18/2016 4:00PM— 07/18/2016 4:20PM Talk location: Cupples I Room 113 Special Session: State space methods in operator and function theory. Organized by J. Ball and S. ter Horst.


ABSTRACT "My Sister's Keeper" is one of the Jodie Picoult's masterpieces that was chosen as the object of the writer's research. This research entitled, "Anna Fitzgerald's Conflicts in the Novel My Sister's Keeper by Jodie Picoult aims to identify Anna Fitzgerald's inner and physical conflicts in the story, and the cause and effects to Anna Fitzgerald. The writer used Buehler's theory (1998) dealing with conflict style to analyze the inner and physical conflicts of Anna Fitzgerald in the novel. In addition to Wellek and Warren's theory (1964) was used to find the relation of literature and psychological aspect by analyzing the causes of the conflict and effects to Anna Fitzgerlad which are successfully depicted by Jodie Picoult in her novel My Sister's Keeper . The data were collected from the novel focusing on conflicts by identifying inner and physical conflicts, and the cause and effects to Anna Fitzgerald. The identified data were analyzed by using intrinsic and extrinsic approaches. The Intrinsic approach was used to analyze the plot of the story and the character of Anna Fitzgerald. The extrinsic approach was used to analyze the psychological aspect in this case cause and effect to Anna Fitzgerald. The result of this research reveals that Anna Fitzgerald as the main character in the novel My Ssiter's Keeper experiences two types of conflicts; inner conflict and physical conflict that affected her life; this inner and physical conflicts are caused by her sister's illness that leads to physical, psychological, or mental effects on Anna Fitzgerald and also her behavior.


The f-invariant is a higher version of the e-invariant that takes values in the divided congruences between modular forms; it can be formulated as an elliptic genus of manifolds with corners of codimension two.
In this thesis, we develop a geometrical interpretation of the f-invariant in terms of index theory, thereby providing an analytical link between the stable homotopy groups of the spheres and the arithmetic of modular forms. In particular, we are able to establish a formula that allows us to compute the f-invariant from a single face. Furthermore, we apply our results to the situation of cartesian products and principal circle bundles, performing explicit calculations.


Background Evidence-based practice (EBP) education is important to overcome barriers to evidence use in practice. Method The authors conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the EBP knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of RNs and midwives who had participated in an EBP workshop and compared their results with those of nonparticipants. Results A total of 198 nurses and midwives responded to the survey, 91 who had received EBP education and 107 who had not. There was a significant difference in terms of mean total KAP score which was significantly higher in the education group, indicating greater KAP in those respondents than those who had not received education (p = .004). Conclusion This study has shown that participation in a single day of EBP education covering the basic steps of EBP results in nurses who have more positive attitudes, and greater knowledge and practice abilities in EBP than those who had not participated.


In the Romanian forest ecosystems, the first measurements of ambient ozone (O(3)) concentrations started in 1997 in 6 of 26 locations established in a trans-Carpathian Network. Furthermore, three additional ozone and other phytotoxic pollutant (NO(x), SO(2) and NH(3)) monitoring networks were installed in 2000 in Retezat (11 locations) and during 2006-2009 in Bucegi-Piatra Craiului (22 locations) LTER Sites. Since 2007, in four Intensive Forest Monitoring plots (level II), measurements of ozone concentrations were developed. Measurements were made using the Ogawa® passive sampler system during the growing season (April to October). In the Bucegi LTER Site, the seasonal means of 42.5-47.2 ppb in 2006 and 2008 were higher than those determined in the Carpathian Network in the 1997-1999 period (39.0-42.0 ppb), while the 2009 mean of 40.0 ppb was in the range of these values. The O(3) levels were slightly higher than those measured in Retezat LTER Site. In the Intensive Forest Monitoring Network (level II), no significant differences in ozone concentrations between individual core plots were noticed. The seasonal means for each plot range between 36.8 and 49.8 ppb in 2008. An influence of ozone concentrations on crown condition and tree volume growth was not determined.


Abstract Two hundred and fifty‐three patients with bleeding peptic ulcer underwent therapeutic endoscopy using local ethanol injection and were evaluated to determine the need for surgery and outcome. Permanent endoscopic haemostasis was achieved in 178 (70.4%) cases. Pulsatile arterial bleeding in ulcers and shock on admission (respectively, P < 0.01, P < 0.05) were significantly more frequent in patients with unsuccessful endoscopic treatment. Postoperative stay was significantly longer (P < 0.05) for patients with bleeding peptic ulcer than for patients requiring surgery for intractable ulcer without bleeding. Surgery was recommended if three attempts at endoscopic treatment did not achieve permanent haemostasis. The need for more than three such treatment sessions and the presence of a large excavated ulcer with an exposed vessel in an elderly patient were considered to indicate the necessity for surgery. Surgical procedures to which the operator is accustomed and intensive management were recommended for emergency cases to optimize the likelihood of survival.


BACKGROUND
Successful performance of implantable glucose biosensors for metabolic monitoring is dependent on tissue compatibility. Negative immunostimulatory tissue reactions that occur due to implantation-induced tissue injury and the prolonged presence of such sensors can lead to a loss of functionality and device failure. The use of novel poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microsphere/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel composite coatings for implantable biosensors to control localized inflammation and fibrosis at the sensor/tissue interface is reported.

METHODS
Dexamethasone-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique. Composites were fabricated by dispersing microspheres in PVA solution and performing freeze-thaw cycling. Composites were implanted into subcutaneous tissue of rats. In vitro and in vivo drug release kinetics were studied. Immunostimulatory response was determined through histopathological evaluation of excised tissue.

RESULTS
PLGA microsphere/PVA hydrogel composites achieved localized dexamethasone delivery with approximate zero-order release kinetics. A linear level A in vitro-in vivo correlation was observed (R2 = 0.97). Dexamethasone released at a steady rate of 0.17 microg/day was sufficient to control acute and chronic inflammation as well as fibrosis. Implantation of composites containing no drug led to significant infiltration of inflammation-mediating cells at the implant site characteristic of acute inflammation followed by proliferation of a fibrotic band surrounding the implant by week 3.

CONCLUSIONS
PLGA microsphere/PVA hydrogel composites eluting dexamethasone were successful in controlling negative tissue reactions at the sensor-tissue interface by reducing the level of inflammation-mediation cells to those observed in normal tissue. These composites show promise as coatings for implantable biosensors to improve biocompatibility and prolong sensor lifetime.


The Anthropocene epoch is associated with the spreading of metals in the environment increasing oxidative and genotoxic stress on living organisms1,2. Once regarded as a curiosity, plants hyperaccumulating metals are now envisioned as an opportunity to remediate metal contaminated soils. About 500 plant species adapted to metalliferous soils acquired the capacity to hyperaccumulate (>0.1% of dry weight) nickel in their shoot3. The phylogenetic distribution of these hyperaccumulators in 50 families suggest that this complex trait evolved multiple times independently from basic mechanisms involved in metal homeostasis. However, the exact nature of these mechanisms and whether they are shared between various lineages is not known. Here, using cross-species transcriptomic analyses in different plant families, we have identified convergent functions that may represent major nodes in the evolution of nickel hyperaccumulation. In particular, our data point out that constitutive high expression of IREG/Ferroportin transporters recurrently emerged as a mechanism involved in nickel hyperaccumulation.


This study examines the effects of big - box stores on the change in the number of retail stores operating in a market area. Our econometric results suggest that the presence and growth of big - box retailers has a positive net effect on retail establishment growth in Maine. We found no evidence that big - box stores have any impact on the net change in hardware stores, but did find a positive impact on the net change in the number of restaurants. An additional noteworthy finding of this study is that there appears to be a "saturation point" at which the effect of an additional big - box store becomes negative, a likely result of too much competition in a community's overall retail sector.


This study was based on a Master's dissertation which investigated the knowledge and use of library resources by academic staff at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg (UKZNP) campus. The specific objectives of the study were to determine academic staff knowledge of the library's resources and capabilities; to determine the extent to which academic staff used the UKZNP Library; to determine what information and library resources were used by academic staff and to determine whether communication takes place between academic staff and librarians and the nature and extent of such communication. The survey research method was used and the data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. All 131 academic staff of the Faculty of Human and Management Sciences were surveyed. Significant findings revealed that the vast majority of staff used the library mainly on a weekly basis. The majority of respondents had received library instruction either as a student or as a member of staff. Communication between academic staff and subject librarians was taking place but not to any great extent. The study recommended that more academic staff should undergo formal library instruction and communication between academics and librarians should be improved.


Multimedia annotation is of benefit to many multimedia applications in the enhancement of presentation, instruction, and communication. In the present paper, we make use of voice and electronic pen as annotation media in the designing of a multimedia annotation and playback system. Our contributions are as follows: 1) a time-based synchronization mechanism is developed which takes care of not only voice and electronic pen movement temporal synchronization issue but also electronic pen movement spatial synchronization problem; and 2) file storage and replay mechanisms are devised to handle multimedia storage process and to facilitate interactive presentation process during replay phase. We implemented the proposed system on the Microsoft Windows 95 platforms in the Multimedia Information Networking Laboratory (MINE) at the Tamkang University.


Most protocols wireless sensor network use the shortest path (distance), the minimal energy or a kind of combination of both as their key component. However, due to some energy or security restrictions, a node might be constrained to backward data to farther nodes instead of forwarding data to an intermediate node located between the source node and the destination. This work investigates on the effect of this ineluctable parameter on major routing protocols. We propose an alternative solution for this problem for LEACH and ARPEES protocols.


We present N-body simulations of globular clusters including gravitational field of the Galaxy, in order to study effects of tidal field systematically on the shape of outer parts of globular clusters using NBODY6. The Galaxy is assumed to be composed of central bulge and outer halo. We mvestigate the cluster of multi-mass models with a power-law initial mass function (IMF) starting with different initial masses, initial number of particles, different slopes of the IMF and different orbits of the cluster. We have examined the general evolution of the clusters, the shape of outer parts of the clusters, density profiles and the direction of tidal tails. The density profiles appear to become somewhat shallower just outside the tidal boundary consistent with some observed data. The position angle of the tidal tall depends on the location in the Galaxy as well as the direction of the motion of. clusters. We found that the clusters become more elongated at the apogalacticon than at the pengalacticon. The tidal tails may be used to trace the orbital paths of globular clusters.


We investigated the effect of entrepreneurial satisfaction on personal initiative using a sample of 581 entrepreneurs in China. Entrepreneurial satisfaction was classified into 2 dimensions: satisfaction with income and satisfaction with firm size. The moderating roles of institutional trust and industry attractiveness were examined. We found that entrepreneur's personal initiative was lower for those who were more satisfied with their entrepreneurial progress, particularly satisfaction with firm size. Regarding the contingency effect, industry attractiveness assuaged the negative relationship between entrepreneurial satisfaction and personal initiative, but institutional trust did not. The study promotes understanding about Chinese entrepreneurial behaviors and has relevant practical implications for policymakers and new venture management.


The equilibrium nature of viscosity and fluidity is discovered on the basis of the Boltzmann distribution within the framework of the concept of randomized particles as a result of the virtual presence of crystal-mobile, liquid-mobile and vapor-mobile particles. It allows one to consider the viscosity and fluidity of solutions, in particular, melts of metal alloys, from the point of view of the equilibrium partial contributions of each component in the total viscosity and fluidity, despite the kinetic interpretation of natural expressions for these properties of the liquid. A linearly additive partial expression of viscosity is possible only for perfect solutions, in this case, for alloys with unrestricted mutual solubility of the components. Alloys with eutectics, chemical compounds and other features of the state diagram are characterized by viscosity dependencies that repeat the shape of liquidus curve over entire range of the alloy composition at different temperatures, with an increase in smoothness and convergence of these curves at increasing temperature. It was established that these features of viscosity temperature dependence are completely revealed within the framework of the concept of randomized particles and the virtual cluster model of viscosity in calculating the fraction of clusters determining the viscosity of the alloy. That viscosity of the alloy is found by the formula in which thermal energy RTcr at liquidus temperature is the thermal barrier of chaotization, characterizing the crystallization temperature of the melt Tcr, as well as the melting point of pure substances. On this basis, a method is proposed for calculating the alloys viscosity by phase diagrams using the temperature dependences of pure components viscosity to change the alloy's viscosity in proportion to ratio of the clusters fractions at any temperature above liquidus line and for the pure component, taking into account the mole fraction of each component. As a result, a three-factor model of the liquid alloy viscosity has been obtained in which the thermal barrier of chaotization RTcr is used as variable for the first time. It determines the fraction of clusters for both pure substances (at RTcr  =  RTm ) and for alloys. This thermal barrier reflects the essence of the virtual cluster theory of liquid and adequacy of the concept of randomized particles.


This chapter extends the Rieman-nian wavefield extrapolation (RWE) approach developed in Chapter 2 to 2D prestack migration using elliptical coordinate systems. I show that the corresponding 2D elliptical extrapolation wavenumber introduces only an isotropic slowness model stretch to the single-square-root operator. This enables the use of existing Cartesian finite-difference extrapolators for propagating wavefields on elliptical meshes. A post-stack migration example illustrates the advantages of elliptical coordinates for imaging with turning waves. A 2D imaging test using a velocity benchmark data set demonstrates that the RWE prestack migration algorithm generates high-quality migration images that are more accurate than those generated by Cartesian operators of the equivalent accuracy. I note that even in situations where RWE geometries are employed, a high-order implementation of the one-way extrapolator operator is required for accurate propagation and imaging. The results of this chapter are published as ?.


Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) consume large quantities of energy to convert light information into a neuronal signal, which makes them highly susceptible to hypoxic injury. This study aimed to investigate the potential protection by baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist of RGCs against hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) was applied to mimic hypoxia. Primary rat RGCs were subjected to CoCl2 with or without baclofen treatment, and RNA interference techniques were used to knock down the GABAB2 gene in the primary RGCs. The viability and apoptosis of RGCs were assessed using cell viability and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays, Hoechst staining, and flow cytometry. The expression of cleaved caspase-3, bcl-2, bax, Akt, phospho-Akt, protein kinase RNA (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), phospho-PERK, eIF2α, phospho-eIF2α, ATF-4 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) were measured using western blotting. GABAB2 mRNA expression was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Our study revealed that CoCl2 significantly induced RGC apoptosis and that baclofen reversed these effects. CoCl2-induced reduction of Akt activity was also reversed by baclofen. Baclofen prevented the activation of the PERK pathway and the increase in CHOP expression induced by CoCl2. Knockdown of GABAB2 and the inactivation of the Akt pathway by inhibitors reduced the protective effect of baclofen on CoCl2-treated RGCs. Taken together, these results demonstrate that baclofen protects RGCs from CoCl2-induced apoptosis by increasing Akt activity and by suppressing the PERK pathway and CHOP activation.


A distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) is used for load voltage regulation, and its performance mainly depends upon the feeder impedance and its nature (resistive, inductive, stiff, nonstiff). However, a study for analyzing voltage regulation performance of DSTATCOM depending upon network parameters is not well defined. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive study of design, operation, and flexible control of a DSTATCOM operating in voltage control mode. A detailed analysis of the voltage regulation capability of DSTATCOM under various feeder impedances is presented. Then, a benchmark design procedure to compute the value of external inductor is presented. A dynamic reference load voltage generation scheme is also developed, which allows DSTATCOM to compensate load reactive power during normal operation, in addition to providing voltage support during disturbances. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.


Under increasing pressure, Krenz desperately tried to find a solution for loosening the travel restrictions because, as he stated at a Politbüro meeting, "the Czech comrades" were complaining bitterly. At the time, more than 4,000 East Germans were in the West German embassy in Prague. Krenz asked a small working group to draft a statement in the name of the GDR Council of Ministers, and it was discussed in the SED Politbüro in the early afternoon of 9 November. "While these discussions were taking place, the peaceful revolution in East Germany kept going from strength to strength" (p. 95). Sarotte describes how a SED Politbüro member, Günter Schabowski, was supposed to clarify the loosening of travel restrictions during a televised press conference on 9 November. He was supposed to use the text approved at the SED Politbüro meeting a few hours before. But he had missed most of the meeting and did not have the text immediately at hand. Unprepared, he instead read out routine agenda matters from the Politbüro meeting protocol, almost forgetting to mention the text until an Italian journalist asked a simple question about travel possibilities for East Germans. Schabowski then "accidentally" said, "[the] party has decided to issue a regulation that will make it possible for every citizen . . . to emigrate." The next question was: "When does this go into force?" Schabowski, who had finally found the text he was supposed to have used earlier, hurriedly spotted a phrase and read it out, "Right away." One more decision was needed. The Stasi officer in charge of the checkpoint at Bornholmer Strasse, Harald Jäger, had to decide how to interpret Schabowski's comment. "Should we shoot all these people or should we open up," he wondered (p. 146). A crowd numbering in the tens of thousands was awaiting his decision in the streets of East Berlin. At 11:30 p.m. Jäger called his commanding officer, Rudi Ziegerhorn, and said he was going to let the people out. Ziegerhorn disagreed, but Jäger did not care and opened the gate—an act of defiance that vindicates the main finding of The Collapse: namely, that a single individual can matter during the turning points of history.


Eriosema comprises c. 150 species and has a pantropical distribution and two centres of diversity, Africa and America. The species occur in tropical savannas and grasslands, including the cerrado in Brazil. They have adapted to these environments by developing specialized underground organs, and an abundance of trichomes. Here we present the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of Eriosema, including species from its entire distribution range and generating 391 new DNA sequences. We sampled 140 species from nine genera of Cajaninae, of which 94 (60% of the genus) were Eriosema. Our analyses were based on the nuclear ITS and plastid rpl32 and trnQ regions, and used maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of individual and combined data sets. In all analyses, Eriosema was resolved as monophyletic, but its interspecific relationships are not well resolved. Rhynchosia is not monophyletic, and some African Rhynchosia spp. emerged together as sister to Eriosema. Our study supports the monophyly of Adenodolichos, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Cajanus, but Chrysoscias and Bolusafra formed a clade that is sister to a group of Rhynchosia spp. Paracalyx was resolved as paraphyletic and nested among African Rhynchosia spp. Divergence time analysis suggested that the Eriosema lineages diverged 6.5–10.7 Mya. Two major lineages have diversified in Eriosema, one including most of the African species (4.41–6.68 Mya), the other mainly composed of the South American cerrado species (3.56–5.78 Mya). These results revealed that Eriosema is a recent and tropical savanna-adapted group, and its diversification occurred in the late Miocene in parallel with the expansion of C4 grasslands.


INTRODUCTION:
Sexually transmitted infections, which includes HIV infection continue to be major health problem in many parts of the world, although effective preventive interventions are available. The distribution of STI in a community is not uniform, as behavioral aspects tend to differ between individuals as well as between sub groups of a population. Multiple sexual partnerships are an important risk behavior
for STIs. Female sex workers are regarded as a core group for transmission of HIV due to their high infection rate and more number of sexual partners.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
1. To study the pattern of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Female Sex Workers.
2. To study about the age distribution, socio economic back ground, educational level and marital status among the FSWs.
3. To study the sexual behaviour pattern among Female Sex Workers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study.
SAMPLE:
During the study period a total of 100 FSWs attending RGGGH were registered and observed.
METHODS:
The study patients were interviewed regarding their age, educational status, marital status, presenting complaints, sexual history, past history of venereal diseases and their condom use.
RESULTS:
Bacterial vaginosis (37%) was the commonest STI among the FSWs followed by trichomonas vaginalis vaginitis (12%) and Vulvo vaginal candidiasis (11%). 2% of the FSWs were HIV positive.The FSWs belong to the lower socio economic status was 61%. 75% of FSWs belong to 21 – 30 years age group. 52% of them were uneducated. FSWs using condom consistently with their clients was 18%. 61% of FSWs used condoms irregularly with their clients. 21% of FSWs were never used condoms with their clients.
CONCLUSION:
Sexually transmitted disease management in FSWs requires expert clinician to be well versed with risk assessment, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of infections and
has to be familiar with new therapeutic agents. Successful eduction of STI in FSWs can be achieved because many infections are easily diagnosed and curable which paves way
to reduce the HIV transmission in the community.


The simulation of structural changes in the surface region of Al crystallite during self-ion bombardment was carried out. The calculations were performed on the base of the molecular dynamics method. A many-body potential calculated in the approximation of the embedded atom method was used to describe the interatomic interactions. It is shown that atomic displacement cascades in the near-surface region were generated under ion irradiation. At relatively low energies the impact of the atomic displacement cascades not only lead to the generation of Frenkel pairs, but also to the nucleation of plastic deformation. That is due to the high-rate heating of the grains, causing their expansion and deformation in the stained conditions with the formation of stacking faults. Melting of surface layers takes place at high energies of irradiation. A crystallization process and a formation of a grain structure of the surface layers will be determined by the characteristics of the propagation of the crystallization front, which shape depends on the relative location, size and orientation of grains on the boundary of the liquid and solid phases.


Anaphylatoxins mobilize leukocytes to the sites of inflammation. In the present study we investigated the impact of GM-CSF, IL-4, and IFN-γ on anaphylatoxin receptor expression in monocytes and dendritic cells (DC). IL-4 was identified as the strongest down-regulator of the receptors for C5a and C3a in monocytes and monocyte-derived DC (MoDC). To study the impact of IL-4 on anaphylatoxin-induced chemotaxis, an in vivo migration model was established. For this purpose, human monocytes and MoDC were injected i.v. into SCID mice that at the same time received anaphylatoxins into the peritoneal cavity. A peritoneal influx of human monocytes could be demonstrated by 4 h after injections of C5a and C3a. In line with receptor down-regulation, IL-4 treatment inhibited in vivo mobilization of human monocytes and MoDC in response to C5a and C3a. In addition to its effects on human cells, IL-4 reduced C5a receptors in murine bone marrow-derived DC and impaired recruitment of labeled bone marrow-derived DC in syngeneic BALB/c mice to i.p. injected C5a. Overall, these data suggest that inhibition of a rapid anaphylatoxin-induced mobilization of monocytes and DC to inflamed tissues represents an important anti-inflammatory activity of the Th2 cytokine IL-4.


A prime pathogenic agent associated with periodontitis is lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis. This study investigated the effects of P. gingivalis LPS on osteoblasts, which are responsible for alveolar bone repair. Bone cells were obtained from explants of rat alveolar bone chips and cultured with 0–200 ng ml−1 of P. gingivalis LPS. Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS significantly increased cell proliferation and inhibited osteoblast differentiation, as judged by reduced alkaline phosphatase activity. Analysis of biglycan mRNA and protein levels indicated that P. gingivalis LPS significantly delayed the normally high expression of biglycan during the early stages of culture, which are associated with cell proliferation and early differentiation of progenitor cells. In the presence of P. gingivalis LPS, decorin expression by the alveolar bone cells was reduced during periods of culture relating to collagen fibrillogenesis and mineral deposition. Analysis of glycosaminoglycan chains conjugated to these proteoglycans suggested that in the presence of P. gingivalis LPS, dermatan sulfate persisted within the matrix. This study suggests that P. gingivalis LPS influences the expression and processing of decorin and biglycan in the matrix, altering alveolar bone cell activity and osteoblast phenotype development. The consequences of this altered expression in relation to hindering bone repair as part of the cycle of events during periodontal disease are discussed.


SRd variables are semiregular pulsating variable giants or supergiants of spectral type F, G, or K. But why are they not regular? This paper presents a detailed study, using light curve analysis, and Fourier and wavelet analysis, of data from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), on 37 arbitrarily-selected SRd variables to examine the possible causes of their non-regularity. Of the 37 variables, 30 showed significant variations in pulsation amplitude, 11 showed significant "wandering" of the period, 6 showed abrupt period shifts, 7 showed a possible long secondary period (LSP), 8 showed possible bimodal pulsation, and 4 showed otherwise complicated behavior. Variable pulsation amplitude is therefore the most common of several phenomena which lead to their non-regularity. It also occurs in RV Tauri variables and pulsating red giants, but its physical cause is not known, nor is the cause of period wandering. Because there was some previous evidence that LSPs were rare among SRd variables, 13 SRd stars with the longest ASAS-SN periods were similarly analyzed. That analysis, and examination of the light curves of several dozen other SRd variables with long ASAS-SN periods showed clearly that LSPs are common in SRd variables. In longer-period SRd variables in the ASAS-SN variable star catalog, the catalog period is usually the LSP, rather than the pulsation period. LSPs in RV Tauri variables and in red giants have been ascribed to binarity; that may be the case in SRd variables also. A dozen W Virginis variables and 30 RV Tauri variables were also analyzed to study the overlap and possible relationship between CW, RV, and SRd stars. There is considerable overlap between these types.


This paper starts from a premise that critical thinking is a threat to the owners of capital in the media, but that a critical view of the world is also an essential need of journalists and wide public. That is why there are so many changes in the work of modern journalists. The paper, through empirical insight, points out the inevitable pitfalls that stand in the way of the development of critical thinking among journalists employed in new media. The main goal of the paper is to investigate survival of the role of critical thinking in the digital environment media, which keep developing faster and faster in the (never clearly stated) conditions where critical thinking remains foreign to most Internet users. Possible strategies of resistance against exclusively market-oriented media are also pointed out at the end of the paper.


In Wireless Sensor networks, on demand routing protocols play a very important role for communication between sensor nodes using WSNs Protocol stack. This paper presents substantial study and analysis of WSNs protocol Stack using Bellman-Ford routing algorithm to check the flow of data between the layers. In this paper we compare the existing on-demand routing protocols like AODV, DSR, DYMO, FSR, IARP are made on the basis of performance matricesthroughput (bits/s) and average end to end delay(s) in order to find the Quality of Service routing which can meet requirement of users in WSNs. The result shows that AODV satisfies QoS requirement as the numbers of packet transmitted in a given time is more as compared to others routing protocols.


This paper presents a 120 dB Stacked analog to digital (A/D) converter dedicated for radio astronomy. The design of the chain of cascaded amplifiers preceding the A/D converters was performed in a 1.2 V 65 nm CMOS process. Simulation results showed that the designed chain of three cascaded amplifiers has an overall gain of 90 dB (30 dB each) over 100 MHz of bandwidth. The paper proposes also a calibration technique that copes with the phase and gain mismatches between channels allowing thereby to reach the minimum required SNR of 30 dB over all the input range.


Recently proposed quantum-chaotic sensors achieve quantum enhancements in measurement precision by applying nonlinear control pulses to the dynamics of the quantum sensor while using classical initial states that are easy to prepare. Here, we use the cross-entropy method of reinforcement learning (RL) to optimize the strength and position of control pulses. Compared to the quantum-chaotic sensors with periodic control pulses in the presence of superradiant damping, we find that decoherence can be fought even better and measurement precision can be enhanced further by optimizing the control. In some examples, we find enhancements in sensitivity by more than an order of magnitude. By visualizing the evolution of the quantum state, the mechanism exploited by the RL method is identified as a kind of spin-squeezing strategy that is adapted to the superradiant damping.


PurposeAs society becomes ever more reliant on Internet technology for everyday communications, this paper explores the use of instant messaging (IM) in qualitative research. Discussed within the context of sensitive topic research with potentially hidden and hard-to-reach groups, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the value of adaptive and contemporary research approaches which facilitate participation on the terms of the participant.Design/methodology/approachReflecting on the data collection process from the primary authors' PhD research, this paper critically considers some of the issues raised by IM-facilitated at semi-structured interviews.FindingsThis paper raises a number of issues, including how the perceived depth of participant response is influenced by their brevity, resultant of the space between parties which allows for considered and concise communication. This disconnect, created by the use of technology, also has implications for the power relations between researcher and participant and the ability to identify the non-verbal cues which communicate emotion and sentiment.Originality/valueThis paper highlights that whilst limited in some respects, an IM-facilitated interview provides a unique platform through which hidden and hard-to-reach groups may be empowered to participate in research, which they may usually avoid.


Summary The analysis and results presented in this paper are the first steps of a larger doctoral research based on the hypothesis that the impact assessment (IA) procedure of the European commission (EC) might be a "framing tool". This internal ex-ante integrated evaluation applies on almost all Commission initiatives and is meant to address "all" significant economic, social and environmental impacts of these proposals (EC, 2002, 2009). IA's have widely been studied as evidence-based tools aiming at rationalizing decision-making. However, some authors haves stressed the political effects of these meta-instruments and what they call the "politics of policy appraisal" (Turnpenny et al. 2009; Radaelli and Meuwese 2010). Following such an effort to step back from a linear approach of decision-making, our research aims at highlighting the system of representation(s) and the framing of environmental issues which are crystallized in this public policy instrument (Lascoumes and Le Gales 2007) and the performative effects it might have on the policy process and actors through cognitive approach and discourse analysis (Hajer 2006:67). Relying on this research perspective, this paper presents the results of a first comprehensive (rather than explanative) phase 1) focusing on IA reports of DG ENV only and 2) with the help of a lexical analysis software called Iramuteq. Results of this first analysis are related to the environmental discourse literature and links are made with green governmentality and ecological modernization which, notably, but not surprisingly, can be highlighted from the analysis of the impact assessment of DG ENV policy proposals.


Hyperferritinemia in various diseases, mainly hematological, was confirmed by immunological methods. For ferritin detection, anti-human placental ferritin antiserum, anti-human hepatic ferritin antiserum, and anti-human leukemia cell ferritin antiserum were used and the result was compared with each other. Leukemia, malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and aplastic anemia are hematological diseases which showed a positive reaction in this test, among which leukemia showed the highest positivity. Cases of hepatic diseases and non-hematological malignant neoplasms also showed a positive reaction. The positivity was quite low and almost negligible in other diseases and healthy individuals. Anti-human placental ferritin antiserum seemed to be suitable for cancer diagnosis and, antihuman hepatic ferritin antiserum for hepatic diseases. The results of analysis of purified human hepatic and placental ferritins highly suggested the presence of immunological heterogeneities between them. Also, a possibility was pointed out that one of the components of the so-called leukemia-specific antigens might sometimes be the isoferritin of leukemia cells.


Background Elevated rates (1.5 to 3.0 times) of musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries in the first year post-concussion have been recently identified in diverse athletic populations; however, clinically feasible risk factors have received limited attention. Objective To identify clinical predictors of post-concussion subsequent musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries. Design Prospective longitudinal. Setting U.S. Intercollegiate Athletics. Patients (or Participants) We enrolled 66 student-athletes (53.0% Female, Age: 20.0±1.1 years old, Height: 1.75±0.11m, Weight: 78.7±20.9 kg) from 16 sports who were diagnosed with sports-related concussions. Interventions (or assessment of risk factors) Electronic medical records were tracked for a year following the concussion for diagnosed lower extremity MSK injuries. Main outcome measurements All participants completed a multifaceted concussion baseline consisting of 1) 22-item 0–6 self-reported symptom checklist with outcomes including, 1) number of symptoms endorsed, 2) total symptom score, 3) Standard Assessment of Concussion, 4) Balance Error Scoring System, 5) Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing composite scores, 6) clinical reaction time, and 7) the King-Devick test. The concussion participants completed the same exam acutely post-concussion (<48 hours) and binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of subsequent MSK from the change scores (Acute minus Baseline). Results The participant demographics and injury characteristics (p=0.318,. Exp(B)=1.020) and concussion clinical outcomes (p=0.461, Exp(B)=1.200) did not predict subsequent MSK. Exploratory analysis failed to identify any individual predictive variable from the clinical measures inclduing total symptoms (Δ=9.3, p=0.738), symptoms severity (Δ=21.1, p=0.738), BESS (Δ=-0.6 errors, p=0.474), SAC (Δ=-0.7, p=0.938), Verbal Memory (Δ=1.6, p=0.064), Visual Memory (Δ=5.1, p=0.724), Motor Speed (Δ=0.6, p=0.297), Reaction Time (Δ=0.04 s, p=0.642), CRT (Δ=15.8 ms, p=0.446), King-Devick (Δ=6.9 s, p=0.792). Conclusions None of the standard concussion assessments significantly predicted MSK injury in the year following concussion. Thus, clinicians are not able to utilize common neurological measures or participant demographics to identify those at risk for subsequent LE MSK suggesting injury prevention programs should be implemented for all post-concussion athletes.


Development of gilts that conceive early and continue to produce offspring is a primary objective of swine production. The objective of this study was to determine the degree of feed restriction during development required to optimize reproductive performance and efficiency in gilts. The effects that various patterns of growth had on reproductive development and performance of gilts through d 30 of gestation were investigated. At 13 wk of age and 41 kg BW, 192 white crossbred gilts were penned individually and assigned to receive 87.5%, 75%, 62.5%, and 50% of predicted ad libitum energy intake. The study was replicated in two seasons. At 25 wk of age, gilts were moved to group pens and allowed ad libitum access to feed, and estrous detection was initiated. Gilts were inseminated at first observed estrus and those recycling were remated. Post-mating gilts were fed 1.5x maintenance in stalls. Gilts that did not return to estrus 17 to 30 d after mating were slaughtered at 30 d of gestation. Reproductive tracts were collected and numbers of corpora lutea and live embryos were recorded. Feed restriction during development resulted in differences in BW and backfat thickness at the start of the breeding period and differences in feed intake during breeding. Gilts subjected to the greatest feed restriction during development consumed the greatest quantity of feed during breeding. Feed intake during breeding was associated with BW and backfat gain during breeding. The treatment group that entered breeding lightest and leanest (50% of predicted ad libitum intake) had the least number of days to first estrus, followed by the fattest, heaviest group (87.5% of predicted ad libitum intake). Treatment groups did not differ (P > 0.38) in ovulation rate or live embryo numbers. Significant relationships between quantity of GE consumed during development and variables considered important in reproductive development and performance were evident, such as BW and fatness at start of breeding and first detected estrus, and ovulation rate. Variation in dietary energy during the development period impacted many aspects of reproductive development and performance. However, coupling restricted energy intake during development with ad libitum intake during breeding negated many of the effects of feed restriction during the development period.


Whilst the early e-government efforts focused on e-enabling front-office processes, now the e-government is emphasising the reengineering of back-office processes. These efforts are commonly branded as Transformational stage e-government (or t-government). This paper seeks to explore what the transformational stage of e-government means to local authorities in the UK and what process-related challenges have to be overcome to successfully implement transformational change in local government. Although a number of broader issues of organisational, socio-cultural and technical origin are identified in the literature as presenting a considerable challenge for this goal, using two case studies this paper shows that more obvious process and information systems related issues pose an even more significant challenge in practice. The findings and issues raised in this paper are of importance to the UK public sector and can aid to enable the identification of objectives, priorities and barriers to t-government, and options for successful implementation thereof.


The results of investigations of the laser radiation interaction with low-density foamy materials are presented. When such materials are used as the energy absorber in spherical targets with thermonuclear fuel in the laser-driven fusion (LF) problem, the physics of energy absorption and transfer in these media permits a significant reduction of the number of irradiating laser beams (down to two beams) in the implementation of spherical target compression. Traditional irradiation (direct and indirect) schemes involve the use of a large number (100 – 200) of irradiating beams, which is extremely difficult to realize in a fusion reactor.


A 16-year-old Mexican-American boy presented with acute brucella sacroileitis. The diagnosis was based on a significantly elevated agglutination titer and confirmed by the growth of B. melitensis after four weeks incubation in blood culture. The patient recovered completely after six weeks of Tetracycline therapy. Because Brucella infection responds to treatment well, this infection is important in the differential diagnosis of arthritis, especially in an area endemic for Brucella. The readily available serologic techniques should be used to support the diagnosis, while recognizing that because of the slow growth rate of B. melitensis, the appropriate laboratory procedure is essential.


It is widely accepted that in today's competitive world, rapid changes in the field of industrial, economic, and commercial activities, as well as the complexity of the competitive environment between public and private companies have induced them to use new tools and models to improve the performance and efficiency of their supply chain. Assessing and selecting efficient suppliers is one of the critical issues in this regard. The special problem examined in this study is a particular status of suppliers in the supply chain, which includes a multi-stage system. Such system consists of several sections, so that the sectors have a number of inputs and outputs that are producing separately and independently. Each one of the inputs is also created from several different status, and outputs have several indicators. The purpose of the paper is to provide a new method for selecting the most suitable suppliers in the supply chain by means of data envelopment analysis. The basis of the work is that, considering the supply chain as a parallel network, we consider each possibility of occurrence in this network as a DMU. So, the space of supply chain will be transformed to DEA space and having the DMUs, as required, from DEA solutions, we choose the most efficient suppliers.


The escalating demand for meat, driven by global population growth, necessitates sustainable solutions for animal feed production. This study investigated the effects of substituting conventional protein resources in sow and piglet dietary regimens with black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) meal on reproductive efficiency, blood profile, piglet growth, and intestinal tissue morphology. The results indicate that substituting animal-derived and soy proteins with BSF meal does not compromise sow reproductive performance. Although no notable disparities were observed in piglet growth, the feed conversion ratio from the 28- to 35-day age marks were lower in the BSF-fed groups. This suggests that the animal protein-BSF substitution rate may require optimization, potentially involving chitin removal from BSF meal to enhance digestibility. Minor variations in the hematological composition and properties in piglets, with elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the high BSF group at the 28-day mark, were potentially attributable to the unique fatty acid composition of BSF meal. Moreover, this study potentiates future exploration into the efficacy of complete animal protein substitution with BSF meals on piglet nutrition and physiology, particularly in fattening pigs. The practical implementation of BSF meals in animal feed production holds promise for enhancing the sustainability of the swine industry.


Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks Ben Goldacre. New York: Faber and Faber, 2010. 288 pp. $15.00There is little science and big science and also good science and bad science: very bad, distorting, dissimulating, misleading, and fraudulent science: skin treatments, homeopathy, supplements*-all advocated for by legitimate, serious, perhaps even well- intentioned scholars, doctors, and marketing people who cause waste and distress and real physical, emotional, and financial harm. Ben Goldacre is a medical doctor and author who has written an extremely popular account debunking the very things in which his ostensible audience places its faith. He gears his work to the lowest common denominator, at times condescending intellectually. For example, he overexplains in great detail, offering innumerable examples of the placebo effect. Even if one had been unable to distinguish a placebo from an arroya, the description of two or three simple clinical trials would have adequately clarified matters. But I will presume here that virtually every serious reader of this book has at least a working knowledge of placebos. (He fails to mention the research that indicates that the placebo effect is a myth; he too has his sacred cows.) The bottom line seems to be that more concise articulation would not have produced a 300 page diatribe, one that conceivably could have become a bestseller.Goldacre allocates chapter after chapter to debunking various pseudoscientific scams that charlatans but also true believers perpetrate and foist on the credulous. Some of the "victims" do have serious problems and grasp at anything to relieve them; others are faddists who enjoy trying various things perhaps for their own sake: detoxing footbaths; Brain Gym; extremely expensive cosmetics that make big promises based on esoteric ingredients but have very little real therapeutic value; homeopathic medicine, which is ineffective but may cause real harm. Goldacre is very hard on these practitioners but for good reason: More than half of surveyed UK homeopaths advised against the MMR vaccine; others advised against "medical malaria prophylactics." The strong implication here is that people sicken and die unnecessarily because of this advise. Some treatments may have a real salutary effect; some of them are hoaxes, tricks, and Goldacre explains, for example, how and why footbath water changes color; it has nothing to do with purging toxins. The bottom line is that the only valid medical and pharmacological treatments that work are those for which evidence can be adduced. If a complementary therapy is successful, it is no longer alternative. It becomes part of evidence- based medicine. There is no such thing as alternative medicine.Goldacre lambastes nutritionists, especially those who make outlandish claims concerning curry, antioxidents, or calcium, for example: "...nutritionism has perverted and distorted our common sense about food." The chapter on nutritionists, people advocating for their own beliefs and products, is revelatory, if overly detailed. …


This paper reports on the ESPRIT OVID project. It describes the objectives behind the project, and the results up till now. The OVID project deals with the task of phone based home banking services. The findings of the requirements capture process are reported in detail. Most notably a number of requirement interviews uncovered that almost identical requirements exist for all the OVID banks. This was the case even though the banks have very different profiles and market strategies. This observation suggests that the conclusions may be extended to cover voice controlled home banking services in general.


This study wants to know the development of applications created by Islamic banking in order to be able to utilize FinTech in an effort to accelerate the financing process. This technology is expected to facilitate services to customers in terms of financing products in Islamic banks. The variety of financing products in Islamic banking requires a more applicative system to make it easier for customers to understand, understand, and use these financing products with an application. But the development of this fintech application turned out to have several disadvantages. One of them is the need for an internet network that supports the efficiency of financing activities in Islamic banks and also the existence of cyber crime activities that make the interest of customers to use this application to be reduced. This type of research is qualitative research using the SWOT analysis method on 4 Islamic banks in Medan City. Based on the results of the research analysis, it is suggested that from the outset prepare regulations relating to FinTech financing. The risk can be minimized and customers increase their understanding and knowledge for transaction convenience and security in Islamic banking.


Abstract In this paper we study a stochastic differential game between two insurers whose surplus processes are modelled by quadratic-linear diffusion processes. We consider an exit probability game. One insurer controls its risk process to minimize the probability that the surplus difference reaches a low level (indicating a disadvantaged surplus position of the insurer) before reaching a high level, while the other insurer aims to maximize the probability. We solve the game by finding the value function and the Nash equilibrium strategy in explicit forms.


In this study, we chose two isolated intersections to collect traffic volume per minute, queue length, and signal timing in Taipei City traffic control network. There are two queue-length estimation equations, the system method of vehicle scanning and the regression method. In order to verify the said models, another data set was collected to compare with the traffic performance of the said models. From the results of a field test, it is found that the regression model performs better than the other one in traffic estimation efficiency based on the existing traffic control system framework in Taipei City. Therefore, this model may be employed to represent traffic congestion, to evaluate signal timing plans, to generate suitable paths in vehicle route guidance systems, to detect traffic incidents, and to act as performance index of timing alternatives in the adaptive signal control systems.


The "screening" trend of modern society has been a progressively increasing burden on the human visual system, and visual fatigue problems are attracting growing attention. Nowadays, subjective testing is the most widely used measure for visual fatigue; however, the low accuracy of subjective testing has been hindering its further improvement. Motivated by the idea of weighted scoring, this study investigated the effects of two weighted scales for measuring visual fatigue in screening tasks. Specifically, a questionnaire with 10 items collected from the classic scales was performed with eye-tracking testing in two typical screen visual fatigue experiments, i.e., searching and watching. Then the subjective scores were factor-analyzed into three subscales before attempting linear regression analyses, which set the dependents to two previously validated eye-tracking parameters, i.e., fixation frequency and saccade amplitude. Finally, two weighted scales were obtained in assessing visual fatigue of varying levels, which demonstrated the potential to improve testing accuracy of visual fatigue with the calibration of objective measurement.


In the pig, conceptus-derived oestrogens (days 11 and 12 of pregnancy) seem to be a critical component of the signalling mechanism for maternal recognition of pregnancy. Embryonic oestrogens can mediate effects on endometrial function by interactions with epithelial and stromal oestrogen receptors (ER). Recent data demonstrate that cell membrane ER interacts with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway in several types of cells. The protein kinase Akt is involved in the control of cell growth, survival and proliferation. One distinct function of the Akt signalling cascade is its ability to phosphorylate the eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E)-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). This phosphorylation suppresses the inhibitory effect of 4E-BP1 on the translation initiation factor eIF4E and in such a way potentially stimulates gene expression at the level of translational initiation. The aim of the present study was to examine if embryonic oestradiol (E(2)) transmits its effect by such a mechanism. Endometrial cells of cyclic gilts (day 13 of the oestrous cycle, n = 4) were cultured and supplemented with vehicle (control), E(2) (50 and 100 pm/l) or with the selective ER modulator raloxifen (10 and 1000 nm/l), and incubated for 24 h. The cell viability was detected by MTT assay, the abundance and phosphorylation of Akt, 4E-BP1 and ERalpha was analysed by Western blotting. Incubation with E(2) or raloxifen did not alter endometrial cell viability. The phosphorylation of Akt at Ser(473) seems to be increased by E(2) (p < 0.05) and decreased by raloxifen (p > 0.05). Raloxifen (1000 nm/l) induced a band shift in 4E-BP1 to the highest electrophoretic mobility which reflects a decrease in phosphorylation (p < 0.05), whereas an influence of E(2) on 4E-BP1 phosphorylation could not be detected. The decrease (p < 0.05) of the abundance of the 80 kDa ERalpha form both by E(2) and raloxifen indicates that the E(2)-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and the inhibition of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation by raloxifen is an E(2) ER-transmitted process. Therefore, embryonic oestrogens can potentially transmit their effect by influencing signalling cascades which modulate gene expression at the level of translational initiation.


We propose and construct a new class of full-rate full-diversity quasi-orthogonal space-time block code (QO-STBC), namely four-group QO-STBC (4Gp-QOSTBC), which can support any number of transmit antennas. 4Gp-QOSTBC can linearly separate the symbols into four independent groups, such that symbols within a group is orthogonal to all other symbols in another groups, and the maximum-likelihood (ML) decoder of the code only needs to jointly decode the symbols within the same group. The number of symbols required for joint detection of the newly proposed 4Gp-QOSTBC is half of that required by the existing QO-STBCs with the same code rate, and their full-diversity decoding performances are comparable. We also extend the proposed code construction to obtain 6Gp-QOSTBC and 8Gp-QOSTBC, which have even lower decoding complexity, albeit at a slight loss in code rate


Increasing evidence shows that cognitive impairment and brain abnormalities can appear early in the first episodes of schizophrenia, but it is currently debated how brain changes can correlate with clinical presentation of schizophrenic patients. Of note, this report describes the case of a young schizophrenic male presenting parietal magnetic resonance/positron emission tomography abnormalities and cognitive impairment, documented by specific neuropsychological tests. In our knowledge only few studies have investigated if neuropsychological abnormalities could be concomitant with both structural and functional neuroimaging. This case shows that impairment in specific cognitive domains is associated with structural/functional brain abnormalities in the corresponding brain areas (frontal and parietal lobes), supporting the hypothesis of disconnectivity, involving a failure to integrate anatomical and functional pathways. Future research would define the role of cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration in psychiatric nosography and, in particular, their role in the early phases of illness and long-term outcome of schizophrenic patients.


The paper presents results of a sub-task of the STYLE project currently running within the 7th Framework EU programme by way of an overview of deterministic engineering assessment methods (EAM) used for evaluation of flawed nuclear plant components, as used in various European countries (Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Finland and Sweden).Within STYLE, several mock-up experiments are being performed on specimens containing structural features. Structural features being considered include (1) dissimilar metal welds, (2) repair welds, and (3) austenitic cladding on a ferritic pipe. The overview thus focuses on the evaluation of flaws contained within each of these three types of features.Information on the procedures and codes applied in the various countries are given: KTA standard, ASME Code in Germany; ZG Appendix of RCC-M, A16 Appendix of RCC-MRx, and App. 5.4–5.6 of RSE-M in France; R6 in the UK; BS7910, R6 in the Netherlands; VERLIFE, ASME Code in the Czech Republic; ASME Code in Spain; SSM Handbook, ASME Code in Finland; and SSM Handbook, ASME Code, ProSACC in Sweden.An overview and brief description of the different methods is included in the paper, highlighting the commonalities and differences among the various approaches.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


This letter presents a novel configuration for return-to-zero (RZ) differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK), carrier-suppressed (CS) RZ DPSK, and chirped nonreturn-to-zero (CNRZ) signal generation, which only requires a single-stage dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulator (DE-MZM). RZ-DPSK, CSRZ-DPSK, or CNRZ signals can be generated via the same configuration by changing the DE-MZM operating conditions. Analytical derivation and simulation on signal generation and wavelength-division-multiplexed transmission was also carried out to justify the equivalence of the proposed scheme and conventional methods. The proposed scheme is expected to be more cost-effective due to the reduction in required modulator number.


Thirteen patients undergoing lower abdominal gynaecological surgery were allocated to general anaesthesia (halothane and nitrous oxide) or general anaesthesia plus extradural analgesia (T8-S5). I.v. glucose tolerance tests were performed on the day before surgery and 8 h after skin incision. All patients having extradural analgesia (T8) were pain-free following surgery. Extradural analgesia blocked the hyperglycaemic response to surgery but not the late postoperative cortisol response, although values were significantly less than in the group receiving general anaesthesia alone. Impairment of glucose tolerance and of insulin response to the glucose load in the period after operation were not influenced by extradural analgesia and this may have resulted from insufficient inhibition of the stress-induced release of catecholamines or cortisol, or both, or from blockade of stimulatory efferent sympathetic pathways to pancreatic islets.


This article is part of a larger treatment system study entitled Women and Men in Swedish Alcohol and Drug Treatment carried out in Stockholm County. The goal is to analyse and describe the reasons people have for not entering the health-based addiction treatment system in Stockholm County. The following questions were raised: What reasons for not seeking treatment did the patients have prior to treatment entry? What are the differences between females and males and alcohol and drug abusers with regard to reasons for not seeking help? The material analysed consists of 942 face-to-face interviews with patients entering alcohol and drug treatment units. The analysis is based on nine items about various things that might get in the way of people getting help for an alcohol or drug problem. The majority of the patients (90 %) endorsed at least one of the statements. The three most prevalent reasons for not entering treatment among the patients were that they did not want to stop drinking or using drugs; they were concerned about what others would think; and thought they could handle their problem themselves. Approximately half of the respondents agreed with each of these items. Forty-four per cent did not think their problem was that serious, and therefore had not sought treatment earlier. Treatment scepticism constituted a barrier for 36 per cent of the respondents that did not think treatment would help them. Responsibilities at work are not considered an important barrier to entering treatment as only 22 per cent agreed with this statement. However, when focusing on those who had a job nearly 45 per cent of the respondents agreed with the statement. Thirty-one per cent of the respondents did not enter treatment since they felt they had too many responsibilities at home. Only 7 per cent indicated the reason for not seeking treatment as there was nobody to take care of their children (among those who had children). A present threat to abusers with children seems to be fear of losing custody of their children. Nearly 30 per cent considered this a reason for not entering treatment. The females support five out of nine statements to a significantly greater extent than the men do and also support three of the four remaining statements to a greater extent than the males, although not to a significant degree. There is no doubt that women experience more home- and child-related barriers to entering treatment. The only difference between alcohol and drug abusers was that alcohol abusers reported unwillingness to stop usage more frequently as a reason for not entering treatment than the drug abusers.


We consider the following budgeted online assignment (BOA) problem motivated by crowdsourcing. We are given a set of offline tasks that need to be assigned to workers who come online from the pool of types {1, 2, ..., n}. For a given time horizon {1, 2, ..., T}, at each instant of time t, a worker j arrives from the pool in accordance with a known probability distribution [pjt] such that ∑j pjt ≤ 1; j has a known subset N(j) of the tasks that it can complete, and an assignment of one task i to j (if we choose to do so) should be done before task i's deadline. The assignment e = (i,j) (of task i ∈ N(j) to worker j) yields a profit we to the crowdsourcing provider and requires different quantities of K distinct resources, as specified by a cost vector ae ∈ [0, 1]K; these resources could be client-centric (such as their budget) or worker-centric (e.g., a driver's limitation on the total distance traveled or number of hours worked in a period). The goal is to design an online-assignment policy such that the total expected profit is maximized subject to the budget and deadline constraints.

We propose and analyze two simple linear programming (LP)-based algorithms and achieve a competitive ratio of nearly 1/(l + 1), where l is an upper bound on the number of non-zero elements in any ae. This is nearly optimal among all LP-based approaches.


In this article we focus on clustering techniques recently proposed for high-dimensional data that incorporate variable selection and extend them to the modeling of data with a known substructure, such as the structure imposed by an experimental design. Our method essentially approximates the within-group covariance by facilitating clustering without disrupting the groups defined by the experimenter. The method we adopt simultaneously determines which expression patterns are important, and which genes contribute to such patterns. We evaluate performance on simulated data and on microarray data from a colon carcinogenesis study. Selected genes are biologically consistent with current research and provide strong biological validation of the cluster configuration identified by the method.


Information and Communications Technology Self-efficacy is an essential factor in promoting technopreneurial interest and fostering technopreneurial competence. This study focuses on the impact of Information and Communications Technology Self-Efficacy on technopreneurial Intention, which technopreneurial Learning mediates. The researchers used an explanatory survey as the research method and gathered 200 selected participants from engineering students in the Philippines during COVID-19 Pandemic. The collected data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results show that Information and Communications Technology Self Efficacy has a positive and significant effect on both technopreneurial Intention and technopreneurial Learning. Additionally, this study established that technopreneurial Learning mediates the relationship between Information and Communications Technology Self Efficacy and technopreneurship Intention. The result indicates that boosting Information and Communications Technology Self-Efficacy and technopreneurship Intention Learning will be more successful in improving technopreneurship Intention.


We propose a novel scheme for delay-optimal scheduling in multi-user multi-relay cellular wireless networks. The cell area is divided into several sectors, each serviced by an individual relay station (RS). In order to have simultaneous transmissions by the users in neighbouring sectors, we assume that users of each individual sector use separate set of orthogonal channels to communicate with the RS and the base station (BS). Moreover, a separate orthogonal channel is shared among relays for transmission to the BS. For uplink communication, users are allowed to choose between two modes of transmission, namely, direct transmission mode and relayed transmission mode through a simple transmission mode selection algorithm. Users are allocated fractions of the time-slot for the first phase of transmission (from the users to the BS and the RSs) in a time-division multiple access (TDMA) fashion. For the second phase of transmission (from the RSs to the BS), each RS is allocated a fraction of the time-slot. We model the problem of end-to-end (e2e) delay-optimal scheduling as an infinite-horizon average reward Markov decision process (MDP) for users and relays in two separate stages. An online learning approach is then employed to solve the problem in a distributed manner for both users and relays in each phase of transmission. The proposed online stochastic learning solution converges to the optimal solution almost surely (with probability 1) under some realistic conditions. Simulation results show that the proposed approach outperforms the conventional scheduling schemes.


The full functional role of RNA in all domains of life is yet to be explored. Deep sequencing technologies generate massive data about RNA transcripts with functional potential. To decipher this information, bioinformatics methods for structural analysis are in demand. With this thesis at hand, we want to improve current secondary structure prediction in different respects.
The introductory chapter explains ADP with a focus on its comfortable, but atypical style of specifying algorithms. Then, we present five contributions to the analysis of RNA secondary structures.
1. It is the nature of models to abstract and simplify reality in order to master its complexity. Chapter 3 is an in depth analysis of four popular computational models of RNA secondary structure (Programs RNAshapes and RNAalishapes).
2. The secondary structure of RNA is too dynamic to be described by a single structure and in turn, there is no single optimal secondary structure. Thus, we compute the most likely abstract shape of a given RNA sequence. Improvements of the algorithms for computing the likelihood of abstract shapes are discussed in Chapter 4, specifically with regards to computational speed (Program RapidShapes).
3. For computational complexity reasons, models of RNA structures commonly exclude crossing base-pairs, the so-called "pseudoknots", from the secondary structure. In Chapter 5, we introduce a heuristic for mastering a frequent type of pseudoknots: "kissing-hairpins" (Program pKiss).
4. In Chapter 6 we revisit the old algorithmic idea of outside-in computation for the new programming framework Bellman's GAP. This broadens the arsenal of rapid prototyping algorithms for RNA and other sequential problems. It adds "outside" and "MEA" functionality to RNAshapes and RNAalishapes.
5. Covariance Models representing RNA families assume a single consensus secondary structure for a set of related RNAs and serve as statistical tools to search for additional members. In Chapter 7, we evaluate CM scorings that are more structurespecific than the standard sequence-to-model alignments. Furthermore, we introduce a technique to incorporate "ambivalent" consensus structures into covariance models (Program aCMs).
The results of this work are available at the Bielefeld Bioinformatic Server. The RNA Studio (http://bibiserv.cebitec.uni-bielefeld.de/rna) supports ready to use web-submissions, web-services and cloud computing for the programs developed in this thesis. debian packages foster a simple way to install our software on your local machine. Developers can benefit from our algorithmic analyses or use our sources for rapid prototyping as a primer for new implementations: http://bibiserv.cebitec.uni-bielefeld.de/fold-grammars.


This doctoral research, conducted through both practice-based and theoretical inquiry, is located
within the field of psychophysical performance practice, informed by and intersected with philosophical
and architectural approaches to diagramming. The aim of the research is to develop ways of
approaching and understanding how affectivity emerges and transforms in a particularly diagrammatic
manner within a performative event. In particular, this is considered through the experience of an
individual person, between people as intersubjective and collective bodies, and within the built
environments they occupy. The research begins with the problem of attaining a condition of
'openness': a condition whereby performer(s) produce an affective, collectively held state of embodied
presence. Affective openness may be recognized as moments in which we feel 'moved' by a
performance - or when an inexplicable sense of potential seems to emerge that transforms our
habitual perceptions of time, space and subjectivity. This opening to affectivity is a double-edged
sword. It radically de-centers the subject, but in doing so allows a sense of shared constraint to act like
an intangible glue, connecting individuals and even nonhuman or inanimate elements within the
environment.
This approach is very different to other performance practices such as Ballet or Contemporary Dance,
especially in the way specific methods deal with sensation and movement, form and intention, memory
and the image. A performer may enact a sense of openness between selves and/or things when the
boundary conditions by which these qualities are habitually expressed become tentative or
indeterminate. Because of the importance of objects, artifacts, and built environments as
'intermediaries' within these performances, a comparison with theories of architectural diagramming
and situated cognition provides a broader context for the research practice. In particular, I draw on a
Deleuzian notion of 'the diagram' - not in the conventional sense of a design document but rather as
an abstract device for generating processes of transformation. In working through the experience of
developing my own performance practice, alongside theories of diagramming and affect, I develop
specific principles and procedures for generating openness. I draw on my training in Butoh dance and
Grotowski physical theatre method to consider how bodies and selves are affected by the way they
situate themselves within a given site. Objects, artifacts, and built environments are seen to stand in
as intermediaries for holding open a tentative disposition and through which collective shifts in
affectivity may occur.


The coastal composite fishery has the highest rate of around 30.0% in registered fishing vessels of Korea for the last three years. The risk analysis for the fisher's safety of coastal composite fishing vessels was conducted to serve as a basic data for improving the healthy and safe working environment of fisher using fisher's occupational accidents of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives (NFFC) from 2016 to 2018 (n = 1,105). As a result, the occupational accident occurrence rate of coastal composite fishery was 3.76% in all industries, 7.8 times the rate of that. In addition, death and missing rate was found to have a serious level management to 10.10‱. Among the accidents, 76.0% occurred at sea. The slipping, others and contact with machinery or fishing gear occurred more frequently in order in the frequency of accident occurrence pattern. In the risk assessment using frequency and severity, slipping, contact with machinery and others showed high risk during fishing. The results are expected to contribute to identification and assessment of safety hazard occurred in coastal composite fishing vessels.


The work-hardening rate versus temperature and the hot-working range of Ni-base alloys were investigated. It was found that the high-speed resistance heated tensile test can be used to develop a work-hardening coefficient that, in conjunction with traditional measurement of reduction-of-area and tensile strength, provides a more complete description of an alloy's hot-working characteristics. Work-hardening coefficients developed for two different compositions, Inconel alloys 600 and 718, agree with the observed behavior of the materials during commercial hot-working operations. The coefficients indicate that alloy 600, a solid-solution alloy, work hardens at temperatures up to 80 percent of its nil ductility temperature. For alloy 718, a complex age-hardenable superalloy, the coefficients indicate significant work hardening at temperatures up to 95 percent of the nil ductility temperature.


Direct measurement techniques have recently been employed by some statistical agencies for the government output components in the SNA. These methods use proxies and indictator for outputs due to the inherent lack of market valuations. This article investigates the pros and cons of these new approaches and compares them with the traditional input method. This leads us to take a deeper look at the purposes, objectives, and uses of the SNA. The current method can be justified from a collective household point of view, but the lack of direct output data frustrates students of productivity analysis. By taking the economic approach in index number theory, some direct measurement methods can be compatible with the cost-of-living approach in the CPI. JEL Classification: C43, H50, O47, P44


The present study investigated the length-weight relationships and meat yield of narrow-clawed crayfish, Pontastacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823), in Kocahıdır Irrigation Reservoir. Between July 2015 and June 2016, a total of 653 individuals (255 females and 398 males) were sampled, and their carapace lengths (CL), total lengths (TL), and total weights (TW) were measured. The female-to-male ratio for the entire population was found to be 0.64:1.00. The results showed that the CL of the narrow-clawed crayfish ranged between 37 and 90 mm (39-79 mm for females and 37-90 mm for males), while the TW ranged from 10.10 to 165.61 g (11.13-90.01 g for females and 10.16-165.61 g for males). The TL of female individuals was 114.09 mm, with a weight of 40.43 g, while the TL of male individuals was 116.32 mm, with a weight of 53.45 g. The ratio of individuals above the minimum legal-size limit of 100 mm was determined to be 80.70% for the crayfish population in Kocahıdır Irrigation Reservoir. Regression analysis indicated that the TL-TW and CL-TW relationships for female narrow-clawed crayfish exhibited negative allometric growth, while males showed positive allometric growth in terms of the TL-TW relationship and isometric growth in terms of the CL-TW relationship. Isometric growth was observed in the whole population for both male and female individuals in terms of TL-TW and CL-TW characteristics. Female individuals with carapace lengths ranging from 43-82 mm had a chelae meat yield of 2.48%, an abdomen meat yield of 11.38%, and a total meat yield of 13.85%. Male narrow-clawed crayfish with carapace lengths ranging from 35 to 90 mm had a chelae shear meat yield of 4.13%, an abdomen meat yield of 10.52%, and a total meat yield of 14.64%.


Tree growth is key to species performance. However, individual growth variability within species remains underexplored for a whole community, and the role of species evolutionary legacy and local environments remains unquantified. Based on 36 years of diameter records for 7961 trees from 138 species, we assessed individual growth across an Amazonian forest. We related individual growth to taxonomy, topography and neighbourhood, before exploring species growth link to functional traits and distribution along the phylogeny. We found most variation in growth among individuals within species, even though taxonomy explained a third of the variation. Species growth was phylogenetically conserved up to the genus. Traits of roots, wood and leaves were good predictors of growth, suggesting their joint selection during convergent evolutions. Neighbourhood crowding significantly decreased individual growth, although much of inter-individual variation remains unexplained. The high intraspecific variation observed could allow individuals to respond to the heterogeneous environments of Amazonian forests.


Rapid response to changing environmental challenges plays a crucial role in maintaining competitiveness. For HR, achieving employee loyalty is one of the essential tasks that can solve the difficulties of the labour shortage. Retaining key workers is a growing problem today while attracting the right talented workforce to the organisation is critical. Employee satisfaction influences the level of loyalty, with the necessary recognition and appreciation of the individual's work, clear goals and expectations and the existence of a supportive organisational culture. Organisations' workforce retention capabilities are often linked to managerial attitudes, to the quality and systematic development of HR systems. The purpose of this study is to summarise and support, based on international literature and research, the importance of two key functions, career and knowledge management, for retention. As a result of the research, it is possible to determine the advantage of applying the two critical functions in retention management, and the difficulties and risk factors arising during the process can be defined. If the company does not focus on motivating its employees, it will significantly increase its costs as well as the time and energy invested in recruiting and selecting new employees. In conclusion, in addition to expanding the use of HR functions, successful loyalty increasing techniques include a career plan that supports both individual and organisational goals and an organisational culture that encourages knowledge sharing.


Background/Aims: Lipid accumulation, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Targeting inhibition of these features may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for ALD. Baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to exert a hepatoprotective effect. However, its effects on ALD remain obscure. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin on alcohol-induced liver injury and its related mechanisms. Methods: For in vivo experiments, rats were supplied intragastrical administration of alcohol continuously for 4 or 8 weeks, and then received baicalin treatment in the latter 4 weeks in the presence / absence of alcohol intake. Liver histology and function, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative mediators, and the components of the Sonic hedgehog pathway were evaluated. For in vitro experiments, alcohol-stimulated human normal liver cells LO2 were used. Results: Baicalin treatment significantly alleviated alcoholic liver injury, improved liver function impaired by alcohol, and inhibited hepatocytes apoptosis. In addition, baicalin decreased the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px. Furthermore, baicalin modulated the activation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. Administration of baicalin upregulated the expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh), patched (Ptc), Smoothened (Smo), and Glioblastoma-1(Gli-1). Blockade of the Shh pathway in cyclopamine abolished the effects of baicalin in vitro. Conclusion: Both in vivo and in vitro experimental results indicate that baicalin exerts hepatoprotective roles in alcohol-induced liver injury through inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and the regulation of the Shh pathway.


Spark Plasma Sintering – new technology for obtaining tool materials. Cemented carbides are a valued tool material used for tools to process, among others, wood-based materials. They are traditionally obtained using high temperatures and long periods. New electric current activated sintering methods make it possible to obtain sinters with good mechanical properties in a short time and low temperature. This paper presents a comparative analysis of conventional and advanced SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) technology of obtaining cemented carbides.


The 1974 article by my colleagues and me describing studies of coronavirus infection in hospitalized infants with acute lower respiratory–tract disease (LRTD) [1] takes on a particular interest in light of the 2002–2003 epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus infections, with the wider perspective provided by that event on emerging epidemics, acute respiratory infections in general, human coronaviruses, and viruses that appear to have jumped barriers between species. The study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases described a collaboration between our group in Denver (pediatric virologists familiar with the diagnosis and study of coronaviruses) and Maurice Mufson and his colleagues who, at the time, were working in the pediatric wards of Cook County Hospital in Chicago. The objective of the study was to investigate the role that coronaviruses might play in LRTDs in hospitalized infants in an urban environment. The serosurvey we conducted was a supplement to a previous, more-extensive study at Cook County Hospital of traditional respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae conducted by Dr. Mufson and his colleagues [2]. Both studies used serum and respiratory samples obtained from infants !18 months of age hospitalized from 1967 to 1970. At that time, the known human coronaviruses comprised several viruses recovered from the respiratory tracts of patients with colds. The first human corona-


With the help of thorough literature survey, the present study proposes that formal financial services by commercial banks in the developing countries are primarily suitable for the non-poor population and hence acts as a medium-direct channel of financial development to affect the poor whereas the semi-formal financial services by microfinance institutions specifically target the poor in developing countries and thus act as a direct channel. The paper also documents the divergent outcomes of lending through MFIs on the poor in rural areas and explains the coexistence of formal/semi-formal and informal financial markets. The paper further suggests that the future research in the area of finance-poor nexus may focus on providing comparative empirical evidence with respect to the effect of formal, semi-formal and informal finance on the poor in developing countries including the South Asian region. The result of such comparative studies would be of interest to all the key stakeholders in the development finance arena.


Although the correct diagnosis of inguinal hernias can often be made by clinical examination, there are several situations in which imaging methods represent the best option for evaluating such hernias, their content, and the possible complications. In addition, bulging of the inguinal region is not always indicative of a hernia, because other lesions, including tumors, cysts, and hematomas, also affect the region. The objective of this pictorial essay is to demonstrate what can be identified within inguinal hernias. Differentiating the types of herniated structures is of absolute importance for planning the appropriate treatment.


Commercial banks are banks engaged in classic business of accepting deposits and giving loans as against merchant banking, where the primary responsibility is to help business by raising loans. NPA's in banks have reduced their profitability and goodwill in the eyes of customers. Leadership styles of Managers' in banks at various levels provide a sound background to the banking industry. Trait, behavioural and situational leadership studies, ability, dynamism, perceptions, attitudes of bank managers are helpful to manage problems in the banks and hence improvement in their performance. The study suggests that to adopt participative leadership style to emphasize state development by infusing at each level of management with a serve of belonging and involvement. Senior level managers should develop work place relationship, which is one of the critical skills, every leader in today's work environment and need to possess.