The incretin hormone glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) has been subject to substantial pharmaceutical research regarding the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, quantification of GLP‐1 levels remains complicated due to the low circulation concentration and concurrent existence of numerous metabolites, homologous peptides, and potentially introduced GLP‐1 receptor agonists. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) facilitates real‐time monitoring allowing a more detailed characterisation of the interaction compared with conventional enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In this paper, we describe the development of the first SPR assays for characterisation of anti‐GLP‐1 antibodies for ELISA purposes. Binding responses were obtained on covalently immobilised anti‐GLP‐1 antibodies at 12°C, 25°C, and 40°C and fitted to a biomolecular (1:1) interaction model showing association rates of 1.01 × 103 to 4.54 × 103 M−1 s−1 and dissociation rates of 3.56 × 10−5 to 1.56 × 10−3 s−1 leading to affinities of 35.2 to 344 nM, depending on the temperature. Determination of thermodynamic properties revealed an enthalpy driven interaction (ΔH < ΔS < 0) with higher affinities at lower temperatures due to the formation and stabilisation of hydrogen bonds within the binding site primarily composed of polar amino acids (ΔCp < 0). Pair‐wise epitope mapping was performed on captured anti‐GLP‐1 antibodies followed by subsequent interaction with GLP‐1 (7‐36) and other anti‐GLP‐1 antibodies. A global evaluation of every binding response led to an epitope map elucidating the potential of various anti‐GLP‐1 antibody pairs for sandwich ELISA and hence pinpointing the optimal antibody combinations. The SPR assays proved capable of providing vital information for ELISA development endorsing it as a useful optimisation tool.


Analysis of ten east-west and two north-south regional seismic transects across the whole of Iraq using Kingdom programme involving more than 150 seismic lines showed at least two phases of folding separated by angular unconformities influencing the Palaeozoic sequence. Extensional phases followed; one during the Triassic, the other one during the late Cretaceous influencing the Mesozoic sequence along the eastern parts and the Zagros folded belts. These two extensional phases are very well imaged by the seismic data. Further, compression phases followed; the first one during the early Tertiary and the other during the late Miocene-Pliocene. These resulted in a positive basin and structure inversion. The positively inverted structures were interpreted using the Kingdom programme. Data from deep wells were incorporated in the interpretation using time, interval time, velocity, thickness and depth maps were generated from different parts of Iraq. The results showed very detailed picture of the geometry of the major and minor structures. Pre folding restoration and flattening of some horizons allowed the construction of the spatial configuration of the sedimentary basin through time. Isopach and facies maps were produced for each Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary cycle.


Born 1942 in Vienna, Andreas Laun knew Dietrich von Hildebrand personally through his father, Hellmut Laun. Hildebrand played a significant role in Hellmut Laun's journey into the Catholic Church, resulting in a lifelong friendship between the two men. So it was that as a child Andreas Laun already came to know Hildebrand and that he began reading some of Hildebrand's works during his youth. Later, in the context of his


This book examines the previous World Bank co-sponsored housing projects in Zimbabwe as an instrumental case study of low cost housing. It applies a qualitative research approach, based on the theory of social construction, to explain the persistence of low-income urban housing problems. The selected case study was a partnership between an international agency, the state, local authorities, the private sector and the households involved. Despite this array of "participants" the project was unsuccessful as it failed to meet its targeted poor households of low-income earners. The socially constructed nature of the housing problem reflects the trading of power between interacting agencies. The more powerful agencies apply their dominating influences to interpret the concept of housing need, including the interpretation of affordability and the associated risk phenomena, in a manner that satisfies their corporate interests resulting in policies that may superficially appear pro-poor yet tacitly excluding them. Contrary to views that advocate minimal state direct funding the study argues that the state still has a crucial role to play beyond so-called facilitation.


Visual inspection of a part from its image is always affected by image errors. Understanding how image errors affect measurement precision is therefore critical for accurate inspection. In this paper we lay out a statistical framework that allows one to explicitly handle image errors and characterize their impact on measurement precision. A hierarchical model is also proposed to model manufacturing and measurement errors. Based on the model, a Bayesian technique is introduced to statistically infer the geometric tolerances of a manufactured part.


textabstractTinbergen (1988) describes his method of conducting economic research. In contrast to Dopfer (1988), the subject of mechanics is avoided, and the method deals only with economics. The purpose of economic research is seen as either: 1. an attempt to explain an economic phenomenon, or 2. the recommendation of an economic policy or structure. No use is made of any philosophy of science concepts. An important characteristic of Tinbergen's views is that he deals with qualitative and quantitative aspects of economic research. The difference between quantitative and qualitative problems is that the former are solved completely only after measurement and mathematical solution with the aid of a model, whereas the latter do not require the tools of measurement and mathematical solution. In a reply, Dopfer comments on Tinbergen's belief that both quantitative and qualitative research is important in economics. He notes that such an insight can have various interpretations, depending on the viewpoint of the researcher.


pH-sensitive nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized using immature seeds of elm trees as a carbon source and ethylenediamine as a coreactant through a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The N-CDs were characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime, ultraviolet–visible absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy. The N-CDs displayed excellent fluorescence properties and responded to pH changes. The N-CDs exhibited low toxicity and good biocompatibility and had the potential to be used for the biological imaging of HeLa cells and mung bean sprouts. Utilizing the mechanism of fluorescence resonance energy transfer, ratiometric fluorescent probes were prepared by simple mixing of N-CDs and fluorexon in a Britton–Robinson buffer solution. The ratiometric fluorescent probe was used to detect Cu2+ and Fe2+. The linear equations were RCu = −0.0591[Q] + 3.505 (R2 = 0.992) and RFe = −0.0874[Q] + 3.61 (R2 = 0.999). The corresponding limits of detection were 0.5 and 0.31 μM, respectively. The good results had been obtained in the actual samples detection.


This paper deals with the changes in the urban hierarchy of Khuzestan during a period of 50 years (1956-2006) determining the extent of changes in urbanization and the potential spatial differences between the cities in this province from the perspective of sustainable development. Adopting a descriptive-analytic approach and employing various models such as tensile modulus, primate city indicators, urban concentration index (three-city and four-city), the rank-size rule, the present paper analyzes the factors influencing the urban networks in Khuzestan. It follows from the results of the study that the urban networks of the province, have been heavily affected by developments so that Abadan which used to have the first rank in Khuzestan has lost its rank to Ahwaz due to the administrative, political, and commercial centrality of Ahwaz. The imposed war (of Iraq against Iran) has also caused abrupt changes in the population and urban hierarchy. Therefore, urban networks of Khuzestan influenced by factors such as immigration do not have a spatial balance (and hence stability) currently. Interestingly, the results suggest that the spatial distance between the first city Ahwaz with other cities is growing exponentially. Finally, in order to achieve the optimal spatial urban hierarchy, the following measures are proposed: land use planning, development of mid-sized cities, creation and strengthening of new cities as well as small towns, and giving variety to activities and functional roles of cities.


In this modern era of globalization, energy is regarded as a precious resource. In
Malaysia, the domestic sector is the third largest consumer of energy and it has an
impact on energy consumption in the country. Thus, energy efficiency and cost
effectiveness are the key factors in maintaining economic growth. The purpose of this
study is to develop the Energy Efficiency Estimation System (EEES) that considered
the consumer needs. In the preliminary stage of this study, the response from 408
respondents about their energy awareness in terms of two components: i) knowledge,
and ii) practice, was determined through the use of questionnaires in a survey on
energy. The results showed that consumers have the highest knowledge about energy
awareness, but they do not put that knowledge into practice. Testing and measurements
of energy efficiency were also carried out to prove that the use of highly efficient
electrical appliances can reduce electricity consumption at home. The tests were
conducted on five types of electrical appliances for which it is mandatory to have the
Energy Star Rating in Malaysia. Next, the Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
approach was adopted in the system design in order to develop the system. The QFD
approach focuses on the consumer's opinion on how the system should be developed.
The selection of consumers was based on the residential areas in four main zones
(South, North, East, and West) in Peninsular Malaysia. 184 respondents participated
in this survey. The database for the developed system was related to the energy usage
of electrical appliances based on the data obtained from the relevant ministry/agencies
such as the Energy Commission, and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The developed
system was verified by means of its implementation in 30 houses in Larkin, Johore.
The results showed that 66.7% of the respondents who fully applied the EEES were
able to reduce their energy consumption by up to 30% within a month. By considered
the knowledge and practice among consumers, the EEES was successfully developed
by using the QFD approach and this system allow users to self-manage energy
consumption by estimating energy efficiency and the energy saving percentage.


BACKGROUND
Pakistan adopted the malaria control strategy with provincial commitment in 1998. Pakistan joined the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative in 2001. This led to development of a 5 year roll back malaria strategy. The aim of the paper is to audit whether the malaria control programme in NWFP was able to implement strategies suggested by RBM initiative in the year 2002-2005, and its subsequent effect on the number of cases of malaria confirmed by peripheral blood smear/slide (confirmed cases), confirmed cases of plasmodium Falciparum (P. Falciparum) and annual parasite incidence (API).

METHODS
Data was obtained from the malaria control programme (MCP), directorate general health services, Peshawar. We examined budget allocation and its breakdown for financial years 2002-2005 and standard surveillance proformae (data sheets) containing summated data. Data had been totalled from all first level care public health facilities (outpatient facilities) in 24 districts for 2001-2005. This was further totalled by the malaria control programme to give annual figures for the entire province. The data from the province contained information on, the total no of slides examined by active case detection, (ACD) passive case detection, (PCD) cases of malaria confirmed by peripheral blood slide examination, total number of cases of plasmodium Falciparum (API) confirmed by peripheral blood slide examination and annual parasite incidence (API) for 2001-2005.

RESULTS
budget allocation fell from rupees 5.043 million in 2002 to rupees 3.3 million in 2005. In 2002 malaria control programme purchased 400,000 blood lancets and 437 kg more insecticide than the consecutive years, but all other items purchased were the same. By the end of 2005, 925 medical officers and 67 microscopists had been trained in case management and diagnostic techniques (according to who guidelines) in 16 districts of NWFP in a phased manner. Budget for training was not allocated from the provincial malaria control programme. The total number of slides examined in 2005 was 62% more than 2001. the number of slides collected by active case detection increased by 68% and passive case detection increased by 55.7% from 2001 to 2005. Total number of malaria cases confirmed by peripheral blood smear peaked in 2002 and 2003 and then fell in 2004. In 2005, the number of malaria cases confirmed by peripheral blood smears were similar to those reported in 2001. Annual parasite incidence (API) peaked in 2002 and 2003 to 3.01 and 3.57 per 1000 respectively, it fell in 2004 and in 2005. API was reported to be 2.01 per 1000 in 2005, this was double the rate reported in 2001, i.e., 1.09 per 1000. The confirmed cases of plasmodium Falciparum peaked in 2002 and 2003, the number of cases decreased in 2004, and by 2005, the number of cases reported were similar to 2001.

CONCLUSION
NWFP was committed to roll back malaria initiative but it appears that it was unable to implement the strategy, because of the lack of a parallel commitment in resources. Although annual figures illustrate activity in the malaria control programme, inferences have not been drawn from the data. There is no evidence to suggest that information is disseminated or any feedback is given to the districts and the first level health care facilities. The malaria control programme does not appear to have capacity or resources to change policy or implement change based on evidence depicted by the data.


The absorption spectrum, refractive index, and relief of the surface of a germanosilicate glass film are studied upon the non-destructive action of the 216-nm (5.75-eV) fifth harmonic of a repetitively pulsed Nd:YAP laser. It is shown that laser irradiation of films induces a strong photorefractive effect despite the relatively low absorption coefficient. For the 100-mJ cm-2 energy density and above, two-photon process make a noticeable contribution to the absorption of laser radiation at 216 nm. The diffraction efficiency of photoinduced phase gratings achieved ~7×10-3 for the exposure dose ~6 kJ cm-2, which corresponds to the induced refractive index 1.5×10-3. At higher exposure doses, a relief appears on a film surface and the diffraction efficiency of a phase grating is reduced.


There's content everywhere, but not the information you need. Content analysis can organize a pile of text into a richly accessible repository. This article explains two key technologies for generating metadata about content - automatic categorization and information extraction. These technologies, and the applications that metadata makes possible, can transform an organization's reservoir of unstructured content into a well-organized repository of knowledge. With metadata available, a company's search system can move beyond simple dialogs to richer means of access that work in more situations. Information visualization, for example, uses metadata and our innate visual abilities to improve access. Besides better access, metadata enables intelligent switching in the content flows of various organizational processes - for example, making it possible to automatically route the right information to the right person. A third class of metadata applications involves mining text to extract features for analysis using the statistical approaches typically applied to structured data. For example, if you turn the text fields in a survey into data, you can then analyze the text along with other data fields. All these metadata-powered applications can improve your company's use of its information resources.


Premorbid social-sexual competence and the process-reactive dimension, as assessed by the Phillips Scale, were investigated as predictors of posthospital adjustment in a prospective study of two samples of 141 young, early phase schizophrenics (a private hospital sample and a state hospital sample). The Phillips Scale predicted subsequent outcome at significant levels for one of the two samples of DSM-II schizophrenics (a "broad" construct of schizophrenia). It did not predict outcome as well for DSM-III schizophrenics (a "narrow" construct of schizophrenia). Mixed results emerged from separate analyses of first-admission schizophrenics only and for male schizophrenics only. The data indicated that marital status accounts for some of the positive relationship between the Phillips Scale and later outcome. A more focused measure of prehospital social adjustment successfully predicted social functioning at followup for both DSM-II and DSM-III schizophrenics (p less than .05). There were some significant and near-significant relationships, but overall results suggest that when the influence of chronicity and marital status is reduced, the relationship between the Phillips Scale and subsequent outcome is less robust than was once thought.


This report describes in detail the fine structure of a unique granular cell, termed "granulocyte," which populates the endometrium of the monkey uterus under certain physiological conditions. Morphological evidence is presented which establishes that this cell is similar, if not identical, to granular cells found in the uteri of a wide variety of vertebrate species, including the human. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that these cells secrete relaxin is reviewed.

The granulocyte is nearly spherical, approximately 10 μ in diameter, and contains an eccentrically located, kidney-shaped nucleus approximately 6 μ × 8 μ in size. Opposite the concave surface of the nucleus is located a cluster of specific granules. The granules vary in diameter, but they rarely exceed 0.5 μ. Each granule is surrounded by a unit membrane, and often a space is present between the enveloping membrane and the granule proper. Smaller vesicles and dense bodies (approximately 0.1 μ in diameter) are found within this space. The morphology of these small vesicles and dense bodies suggests that they have their origin in the Golgi complex and are involved in transporting some material to the specific granules.

Similarities of the granulocyte to other cells types found in uterine endometrium, particularly eosinophilic leucocytes, are pointed out, but it is argued that the fine structure of the granulocyte provides good evidence that this is a distinct uterine cell type.


The ability to fly is crucial for migratory insects. Consequently, the accumulation of damage on the wings over time can affect survival, especially for species that travel long distances. We examined the frequency of irreversible wing damage in the migratory butterfly Vanessa cardui to explore the effect of wing structure on wing damage frequency, as well as the mechanisms that might mitigate wing damage. An exceptionally high migration rate driven by high precipitation levels in their larval habitats in the winter of 2018–2019 provided us with an excellent opportunity to collect data on the frequency of naturally occurring wing damage associated with long‐distance flights. Digital images of 135 individuals of V. cardui were collected and analyzed in Germany. The results show that the hindwings experienced a greater frequency of damage than the forewings. Moreover, forewings experienced more severe damage on the lateral margin, whereas hindwings experienced more damage on the trailing margin. The frequency of wing margin damage was higher in the painted lady butterfly than in the migrating monarch butterfly and in the butterfly Pontia occidentalis following artificially induced wing collisions. The results of this study could be used in future comparative studies of patterns of wing damage in butterflies and other insects. Additional studies are needed to clarify whether the strategies for coping with wing damage differ between migratory and nonmigratory species.


Aims: To determine the occurrence of incidental pathological and anatomical findings in CBCT scans. Study Design: Retrospective cross sectional descriptive study which was done at a private imaging center from 2010 to 2012. Methodology: 97 CBCT scans of the oral and maxillofacial area were reviewed. Results: Scans of the maxilla were the commonest 60 (62%) and only 37 (38%) were mandibular scans. There were 55 (57%) scans whose indication for imaging could be ascertained. These were used to study the incidental findings. Majority (36, 65%) of the examinations were done on female patients while 19 (35%) were for males. Most 32 (58%) of the scans were required for implant site Original Research Article Kihara et al.; BJMMR, 5(11): 1349-1360, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.2015.153 1350 assessment. There were incidental findings in 40 (73%) scans, 35 (64%) had pathologies while 9 (16%) had significant anatomical findings. The highest overall rate of incidental pathological finding was in the airway area (18, 33%), followed by dental (16, 29%), periapical (13, 24%), periodontal lesions (7, 13%) and foreign bodies (2, 4%). Scans with incidental anatomical findings included variations in root canal morphology (6, 11%), nerve foramina (2, 4%) and dental roots protruding into the maxillary antrum (2, 4%). Conclusion: Various incidental findings in CBCT images are to be expected. Pathological findings were the commonest while airway findings were the majority. A thorough review of CBCT scans will ensure early diagnosis and management of incidental pathologies while a good documentation of significant anatomical variations will provide important pre-operative information.


A general phase-transfer-catalyzed asymmetric (n+1) (n = 4 or 5) annulation reaction, featuring the direct coupling of simple oxindoles with alkyl dihalides that are allylic/benzylic and non-allylic/benzylic, has been developed to provide previously inaccessible cyclopentane- and cyclohexane-fused spirooxindole scaffolds with high yields and enantioselectivities (88-95% ee). Along with a broad scope and mild conditions, the new protocol also enables a two-step and gram-scale synthesis of the core of the drug ubrogepant.


The progressive land exploitation, increasingly related to exurban development and urban sprawl, produces the consumption of soil, particularly degraded when it is permanently covered with impervious materials as the asphalt, with environmental as well as economic implications. The present study illustrates a procedure developed by the Italian National Institute for Environmental Research and Protection, for assessing soil consumption in Italy. This procedure reconstructs the evolution of the phenomenon from 1956 to the present day, integrating data derived from a detailed monitoring of sample plots with earth observation data at European level. The indicators, produced for relevant administrative areas at six points in the investigated time (1956, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2010), showed an increasing sealed area over the years, both on local and national scale. Interestingly, on the basis of our results, soil consumption rose from 2.8% in 1956 to 6.9% in 2010 in Italy and this increase, occurring mainly at the expense of peri-urban landscapes, is not only due to population growth. Therefore, a more efficient regulation of the urban development is


The first aim of this thesis was to investigate the fundamental properties in the local environment around Ge in extra-large pore acidic ITQ-33 zeotype and large pore acidic ITQ-7 zeotype with in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The second aim of this thesis was to synthesize and investigate the catalytic properties of large pore acidic ITQ-24 zeotype with in-situ Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) for the Methanol to hydrocarbons (MTH)-reaction. Of the synthesis experiments, three of the most promising ITQ-24 samples were investigated. The first sample contained Al in its composition, while second contained B. The third also contained Al, but was synthesized with hydrofluoric acid (HF). The in-situ XAS measurements for ITQ-33 and ITQ-7 were conducted during two separate beamtimes at the Swiss-Norwegian Beamline (SNBL) at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France. As-synthesized samples of both zeotypes were submitted to an oxygen-helium (O2/He) atmosphere and heated insitu.The ITQ-33 sample was studied with XAS during heating, while ITQ-7 was studied with a combination of XAS and high resolution powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). In both samples it was investigated for changes in parameters such as multiplicity andbonding length in the local environment surrounding Ge, during stages such as water desorption and template decomposition in both materials. For the in-situ FT-IR investigation of ITQ-24 species for the MTH-reaction, three different samples of calcined ITQ-24 was compared based on the way they were synthesized and their composition.The FT-IR experiments were conducted in-house at NTNU, Trondheim. The result of the in-situ XAS analysis of ITQ-33 and the in-situ XAS/PXRD analysis of ITQ-7 revealed that Ge was present in tetravalent coordination and in oxidation state +4at room temperature for both materials. It also revealed that the second shell environment in these zeotypic materials depend on Ge-concentration. The in-situ XAS andXAS/PXRD experiments on Al-ITQ-33 and Al-ITQ-7 respectively revealed that the local environment around Ge behaved differently during stages such as water desorption and template removal for the two zeotypes. These changes were due to how the different templates of Al-ITQ-33 and Al-ITQ-7 affected the zeotype structure during template decomposition. The in-situ FT-IR experiments showed that the Al-containing ITQ-24sample functioned as an active catalyst for the MTH-reaction. The B-containing sampleshowed no presence of acidic sites and was not tested for the MTH-reaction. The Alcontaining ITQ-24 sample synthesized with HF showed signs of acidity and was tested for the MTH-reaction, but showed no catalytic activity.


This paper studies contagion and market freezes caused by uncertainty in financial network structures and provides theoretical guidance for central banks. We establish a formal model to demonstrate that, in a financial system where financial institutions are interconnected, a negative shock to an individual financial institution could spread to other institutions, causing market freezes because of creditors' uncertainty about the financial network structure. Central bank policies to alleviate market freezes and contagion, such as information policy, bailout policy and the lender of last resort policy, are examined.


Purpose
Historically, the school effectiveness and improvement movement has focussed its attention on "within school" factors associated with effectiveness and improvement and on the individual school as the primary unit of analysis for improvement and scrutiny purposes. More recently, research has focussed on school-to-school collaboration and engagement with a broader range of services and providers has highlighted the need for more adaptive and nuanced forms of collaboration and partnership. The purpose of this paper is to explore this complex landscape from the perspective of educational reform of the middle tier in Scotland.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper draws on perspectives associated with socio-cultural theory, its application to public service settings and insights gained from research and evaluation outcomes over a five-year period.

Findings
This paper focusses on the establishment of Regional Improvement Collaboratives in Scotland; an example of an attempt to generate system-wide change and a shift from the hierarchical cultures characterised by bureaucratic organisations to more egalitarian cultures characterised by mutualistic, laterally networked organisations. It highlights the importance of structure and cultural change, identity and agency, leadership capacity, outward perspectives, primacy of learning and teaching and variations and complexities in creating a more networked and collaborative education system. It offers cautions concerning potential unintended consequences in the quest to develop a "self-improving" or "learning system".

Practical implications
This paper highlights the importance of maintaining and building social cohesion between different stakeholders within educational systems in order to support the implementation of educational reform.

Originality/value
This is the first documentation and reflective analysis for an ambitious reform agenda for the middle tier in Scotland. Its value lies in the lessons and considerations it offers to other systems embarking on reforms that endeavour to build more cohesive and agile education systems, without opening them up to neo-liberal approaches to education.


Organic fruit and vegetable growing is increasing world-wide, but knowledge concerning best practice is generally empirical rather than field-based. This thesis extends knowledge concerning best practice in Swedish organic strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa (Duch)) production, which is usually based on a two-year crop. A series of four field experiments were conducted at Ranna Experimental Station (58°27'N, 13°51'E) on the strawberry cultivars 'Honeoye', 'Cavendish' and 'Korona'. Specific objectives were to investigate: the effects of different organic fertilisers combined with degradable plastic mulch on plant establishment, yield and nitrogen mineralisation in soil; the efficiency of biological pest control using a predatory mite against strawberry mites (Phytonemus pallidus); innate within-field dispersal capacity of strawberry mite; the effects of pyrethrum combined with fleece covering on damage by strawberry blossom weevil (Anthonomus rubi). Plant establishment measured as fruit yield was improved by 60% when degradable plastic mulch was used, probably through more flowers being initiated. Additional applications of organic fertiliser during the cropping period had little effect on yield. Biological control using the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris reduced strawberry mite populations by up to 50% but there was no increase in yield. It was difficult to draw clear conclusions from the strawberry mite dispersal pilot study, but mites tended to move more easily along planted rows than between rows. Pyrethrum alone had no visible effect on flower bud damage by strawberry blossom weevil but when combined with fleece covering it reduced the number of 'Honeoye' buds damaged by weevils by approximately 10%. This was followed by a corresponding increase in cultivar yield. Similar effects were not recorded in the other cultivar examined. The study identified the following practical consequences for organic strawberry production: • Choice of pest-resistant cultivars is extremely important for success. • Use of clean plants and an efficient predatory species is essential in controlling mite infestations. • Use of degradable plastic mulching is recommended. • Fleece covering is recommended for protecting some cultivars against strawberry blossom weevils. • Only an initial starter fertilisation is required. • Use of pyrethrum is not recommended.


Introduction Although this book is devoted mainly to the classic Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and its relation to behavioral economics, it is worthwhile to discuss briefly the other related risk–return models, particularly the various extensions of the CAPM. The Sharpe–Lintner CAPM was derived under a set of assumptions, some of which are very restrictive and some of which are in sharp contradiction to what one observes in practice. There are two basic courses one can take to handle these restrictive and unrealistic assumptions. The first course relies on the positive economics approach suggested by Milton Friedman, asserting that in some models, although the underlying assumptions clearly do not hold in practice, it is still justifiable to use these models as long as investors behave "as if" these assumptions hold. The procedure to examine whether investors behave as if the assumptions are intact is done by examining the empirical fit of the data to the estimates predicted by the model under scrutiny. If there is a good fit between the theoretical estimates of the model and the observed data, then the theoretical model can be safely used despite the unrealistic assumptions made to derive it.


Abstract Governments in Australia have deployed Aboriginal specific positions within government departments which focus on health, education and welfare services. This small-scale study uses a qualitative interpretive interview approach to explore the relative value of these targeted positions to service provision. The paper reveals that Aboriginal practitioners use a range of communication strategies that enable them to act as mediators and to traverse cultural distance between the bureaucracy and Aboriginal communities. The paper points out that Aboriginal practitioners experience unique types of professional pressures, which may not be evident in the wider public service. The paper concludes that the uses of particular communication strategies have the affect of creating distance and building solidarity between the practitioners and the communities they engage with. Although focused on Australia, the findings may have implications for other intercultural communication contexts that involve interaction between indigenous people and government bureaucracies.


I n the beginning there was the American Political Science Review. The first issue of the APSR appeared in 1906—exactly 110 years ago. The early issues of the journal make interesting reading today. The journal was in so many ways very different, in format, style, and substance, than it is today. It contained articles and essays, book reviews, professional news, and also a special section called "Notes on Current Legislation." In preparing to write this Introduction, I decided to peruse the journal's first few issues, to see if any of the themes covered in this issue of Perspectives received any attention there. Three items in the "Current Legislation" section of issue 3, published in May 1907, caught my eye. They are worth quoting:


The Upper Cambrian Potsdam Formation (orthoquartzitic sandstone and conglomerate) in eastern Ontario, southwestern Quebec, and northern New York State, was deposited during an early Paleozoic transgression over the Precambrian surface of the Canadian shield. Rock types and sedimentary structures indicate three distinct environments: (1) Terrestrial, talus sheet wash fan (quartzite breccia), Frontenac arch, Thousand Islands region; (2) marine and (or) fluvial channel (cross laminated sandstone), Ontario and northern New York; and (3) low-energy, littoral to nearshore (laminated sandstone and some siltstone) Quebec and New York State. Reference outcrops are cited; bibliography is comprehensive.


Measuring patch use of a forager can reveal not only its cost and benefits from foraging, but also the importance of environmental factors and the significance of energy, nutrients and predation risk to its fitness. In order to assess the effects of various variables that may affect the foraging behavior of free-ranging Nubian ibex in the Negev Desert, Israel, giving-up densities (GUD) in artificial food patches were measured following Kotler et al. In particular, we tested the effects of food quality and water availability on Nubian ibex foraging behavior. To do so, we (1) tested whether the tannic acid content of food affected diet preferences, (2) assayed their diet selection strategy, (3) tested if the foraging decisions of the Nubian ibex were affected by the availability of water and (4) determined the nutritional relationship between food resources and water. Nubian ibex had lower GUDs and used resources patches more intensively where water was available, the food quality was higher and the location was closer to the escape terrain. Nubian ibex showed an expanding specialist diet selection when exploiting resource patches with a mix of items that differ in quality. Overall, food and water were complementary resources for Nubian ibex, and tannins reduced food quality. These factors help to determine patch foraging behavior decisions in Nubian ibex and contribute to habitat quality.


When an induction motor experiences a momentary discontinuity in source power, the motor shaft is subjected to potentially damaging re-energization transients caused by transient electromagnetic torques from the motor, and by the dynamic mechanical shaft response. Source discontinuities may be the unavoidable result of supply dips and outages, or of planned motor bus transfers. Although it is possible to estimate the reconnection electromagnetic torque peak by general principles, without detailed simulation, there is currently no simple way to estimate the shaft reclosure torque peak in the worst case of a resonant shaft and load. In this paper, a general result on the magnitude of resonant shaft torque is given and the effect of reclosure delay and stator damping is shown.


The panel will provide an overview and an analysis of the ongoing joint ACM/AIS IS undergraduate model curriculum revision project, which is proposing significant changes to both curriculum content and structure and the process that is used to develop and maintain IS model curricula. The panel members represent universities in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and thus, the panel creates an excellent opportunity for an in-depth discussion regarding the regional differences in perspectives to curriculum development and the feasibility of a truly global IS model curriculum. The panel is structured to encourage active audience participation, and one of its purposes is to solicit feedback that will used to guide the curriculum development effort.


Reported in this paper is the DC magnetic field and frequency dependence of the surface resistance of a thick-film high-Tc superconducting material measured using a microstrip ring resonator with split mode features. The mode splitting phenomenon is shown to be due to the non-uniformity of the film. The measured surface resistance follows the dependence of omega alpha B0.5, where alpha approximately=1, on frequency in the range between 900 MHz and 1800 MHz and on DC magnetic field in the range between 60 mT and 390 mT. This dependence indicates that Abrikosov fluxons distribute uniformly on the film. The linear frequency dependence, instead of omega 0.5, is understood to be due to the inhomogeneity of the film.


The purpose of this study was to investigate why some individuals who read refutational text demonstrate conceptual change learning, whereas others do not. Middle school students were asked to complete a pretest, read a refutational text while thinking aloud, complete a posttest, and participate in an interview. The data were analyzed in two phases. In the first phase, pretest and posttest data were analyzed, which showed that readers had acquired knowledge about fitness in evolutionary biology. In the second phase, readers who did and did not demonstrate conceptual change learning were purposively selected, and their think-aloud and interview data were analyzed to explore their online discrepancy resolution strategies. Differences in conceptual change learning were related to readers' resolution strategies. Although readers in both groups were aware of the inconsistencies between their knowledge and the to-be-learned information in the text, those who demonstrated conceptual change learning were more effective at resolving these inconsistencies during reading.


In 2004, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) commissioned a piece of work called Growing the desert The final report provided a summary of the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data as it related to the uptake of education and training among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the desert region of Australia. This paper revisits that work in the light of the subsequent mining boom and an array of policy changes and interventions that have had significant impacts on the local populations of the desert region. How did the desert grow since 2004? Based on the analysis of 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census data and publicly available NCVER students and courses data it is clear that the mining boom has changed the industrial landscape of the desert. But what impact has it had on the lives of local Aboriginal people? The paper examines the education, training and employment landscape for these Aboriginal people. It considers the implications of the new analysis for education and training providers and for the various industry groups that provide employment in the desert regions of Australia. The analysis draws on research being conducted in the Pathways to Employment project by the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation.


Background The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging the public health response system worldwide, especially in poverty-stricken, war-torn, and least developed countries (LDCs). Methods We characterized the epidemiological features and spread dynamics of COVID-19 in Niger, quantified the effective reproduction number (Rt), evaluated the impact of public health control measures, and estimated the disease burden. Results As of 4 July 2020, COVID-19 has affected 29 communes of Niger with 1093 confirmed cases, among whom 741 (67.8%) were males. Of them 89 cases died, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 8.1%. Both attack rates and CFRs were increased with age (P <  0.0001). Health care workers accounted for 12.8% cases. Among the reported cases, 39.3% were isolated and treated at home, and 42.3% were asymptomatic. 74.6% cases were clustered in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The Rt fluctuated in correlation to control measures at different outbreak stages. After the authorities initiated the national response and implemented the strictest control measures, Rt quickly dropped to below the epidemic threshold (<1), and maintained low level afterward. The national disability-adjusted life years attributable to COVID-19 was 1267.38 years in total, of which years of life lost accounted for over 99.1%. Conclusions Classic public health control measures such as prohibition of public gatherings, travelling ban, contact tracing, and isolation and quarantine at home, are proved to be effective to contain the outbreak in Niger, and provide guidance for controlling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in LDCs.


The present study aimed to investigate the marketing orientation of firms active in the shipping sector. The methodology of work is based on the collection of secondary data, collected through books journal articles and through official websites. Shipping companies today because of competition are primarily focused on B2B marketing, which deals with the satisfaction shipper - shipper for transporting goods by sea, mainly for profit enterprise. To satisfy this factor, it is provided that on the one hand the correct diagnosis of the market for the better understanding of the transport needs of the client and on the other, the proper planning and control for the proper organization of the shipping company. The findings showed that the shipping companies studied apply marketing based on the type of ship and cargo, sea routes and the type of charter, with the understanding that marketing is the key to their success.


The bone marrow of three intact male mice of C57Bl/6 line, fixed by perfusion of isotonic fixative of Karnovsky, has been studied by means of the scanning electron microscopy method. The surface of erythroid cells, that are immediately connected with macrophages of the erythroblasts islets, is analysed. According to the surface form, the erythroid cells are devided into 5 types. Every maturation stage of the erythroid cells is characterized by a certain type of surface. For identification of basophilic and polychromatophilic proerythrocytes the combined method of light and electron scanning microscopy of the cells in suspension is used. The bone marrow cells, obtained from the two male mice of C57Bl/6 line are fixed with the same fixative on special glasses with grids traced on them, stained after Romanovsky-Giemsa method and in moist preparations are examined in the light microscope. After further treatment the surface of the same cells in studied in the scanning electron microscope.


Fifty-nine lymph node biopsies from homosexual men with serum antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV were the subject of a detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical study. The histological findings were correlated to the patients clinical status, and the T4/T8 ratios in blood and lymph nodes. Four histological patterns predominated and were defined as follicular hyperplasia (FH), follicular fragmentation (FF), follicular atrophy (FA), and follicular depletion (FD). Immunocytochemical studies indicated that destruction of follicular dendritic cells is related to the initiation of follicular involution from FH to FF, but the possible role of follicular infiltrating T-cells cannot be excluded. Marked individual variations in lymph node angiogenesis increasing during involution were observed, which suggests that the degree of angiogenic host response may predispose for evolution of Kaposi's sarcoma. The majority of the patients with the clinical diagnosis of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) were morphologically staged as FH or FF (89%), whereas most of the AIDS patients showed lymph node changes compatible with FA and FD (89%). Patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC) had a wider spectrum of morphological lymph node changes but a majority of cases (62%) were also classified as FA or FD. Clinical follow-up showed progression from PGL to ARC in seven of 21 cases with the FF pattern and only in three of 19 cases with FH, indicating a possible prognostic value in differentiating between FH and FF. Three cases with FD and one with FA progressed to AIDS during the time of observation. T4/T8 ratios in blood and lymph nodes were significantly lower in patients with FD histology compared to patients of the other histological groups. At autopsy, all AIDS cases showed the FD pattern of lymphadenopathy. Autopsy findings in seven patients emphasized the importance of post-mortem studies in clarifying the spectrum of opportunistic diseases, including tumors which afflict the AIDS patients.


In this paper were analysed the recent publications about the investigations on experimentation as a strategy of Physics teaching, with the objective of improving the understanding about the different possibilities and tendencies of these activities with an eye to subsidise the teachers and researchers activities at the high school level. The data analysis were based on the articles published between 1992 and 2001 in the Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Fisica (SBF), in its annex Fisica na Escola and also in the Caderno Catarinense de Ensino de Fisica (UFSC). The themes and some methodological aspects related with the proposals of experiments, as the applied mathematical emphasis, the intensity of directivity, the employment of new technologies and the relation to the quotidian were investigated. The results obtained show that the experimentation remain been of great interest of researchers, presenting this strategy a wide range of approaches and objectives to the Physics teaching.


The oceans have taken up approximately half of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This uptake reduces climate change but also lowers ocean pH, with the potential to disrupt ecosystems. Climate change affects ocean biology and physics and could lead to reduced efficiency of the carbon sinks, a process that atmospheric data and ocean models indicate is already occurring in the Southern Ocean. Attempts to set a baseline stabilization target for the atmospheric CO2 concentration will ultimately depend on our understanding and prediction of oceanic CO2 sinks. While we are now close to monitoring oceanic CO2 uptake on decadal and regional scales, meaningful predictions of its future behavior are difficult. There is a critical and urgent need to better understand the ocean processes regulating CO2 uptake and to identify research and observational priorities for the future.


The Safety Technology Authority (TUKES) organized EMC market surveillance tests on 36 energy-saving lamp models, according to the standard EN 55015. First of all, conducted disturbance emissions at mains ports were tested for. The first test results showed that 10 lamps out of 36 did not pass the tests and that there were serious defects in three lamp types. Surprisingly, defects were found to be equally distributed between inexpensive and expensive lamp models. Following this, 10 lamps were selected to undergo a magnetic disturbance test, but none failed. As well as this, the harmonic current emissions caused by energy-saving lamps are going to be tested in the near future. In the product family standard for electrical lighting and similar equipment (EN 55015), there are no measuring methods available for testing radiated emissions. However, we intended to make radiated interference tests on some energy-saving lamps, according to the standard EN 55022. Our aim was to analyze the radiated interference levels of energy-saving lamps and to compare these with the interference levels permitted for other electrical products. Also, four halogen floor lamps were tested and analyzed as a point of comparison.


The prevalence of perfectionism among university students has been reported particularly high, and new theories have been presented to explain its impacts. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism on psychological well-being in undergraduate and graduate university students. 668 university students (386 undergraduate and 282 graduate students) who studied at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz and Shiraz University participated voluntarily in this study. They completed the Revised Almost Perfect Scale (APS-R) questionnaire and Ryff's Well-Being Scale. The results showed that the mean scores of adaptive perfectionist students in the psychological well-being and its sub-scales, autonomy, purpose in life, positive relations with others, and environmental mastery, were higher than the group of students with maladaptive perfectionist and nonperfectionist. The statistically significant difference was found (P <0.01). As a result, it can be said that adaptive perfectionist is accompanied by better and higher performance and consequently leads to a higher psychological well-being.


ABSTRACT The Mountain Rain Forest Vegetation Analysis in Ciremai Mountain National Park, Majalengka, West Jawa. Vegetation study on some different altitude in Ciremai Mountain National Park has been carried out with a quadrat methode. Ten plots were set up in altitude at 1600– 2050 m. The results of a floristic inventory of 1.2 hectare sampled plot show that there were 57 species of 42 genera in 28 families, represented by 1069 individuals. The two leading families in terms of number of species were Euphorbiaceae and Fagaceae while according to the most prominent species were Engelhardia spicata (Juglandaceae). There are differences of both zonation and altitudinal forest disturbance. The zone of 1600–1700 m asl. dominated by secondary species such as Saurauia nudiflora, Glochidion arborescens, Glochidion rubrum, Ficus fistulosa, Vernonia arborea and Villebrunea rubescens. In altitude of >1900 m asl. dominated by primary species such as Macropanax dispermum, Astronia spectabilis, Turpinia spaerocarpa, Elaeocarpus oxypyren and Syzygium laxiflorum. The forest structure could be seen by diameter and height stem classes distribution. Although the most of trees are small in size, but there have been still some largest trees were Engelhardia spicata, Turpinia sphaerocarpa and Astronia spectabilis. Key words: West Java, Ciremai Mountain National Park, forest zonation, structure and species composition


Recently, generative steganography that transforms secret information to a generated image has been a promising technique to resist steganalysis detection. However, due to the inefficiency and irreversibility of the secret-to-image transformation, it is hard to find a good trade-off between the information hiding capacity and extraction accuracy. To address this issue, we propose a secret-to-image reversible transformation (S2IRT) scheme for generative steganography. The proposed S2IRT scheme is based on a generative model, i.e., Glow model, which enables a bijective-mapping between latent space with multivariate Gaussian distribution and image space with a complex distribution. In the process of S2I transformation, guided by a given secret message, we construct a latent vector and then map it to a generated image by the Glow model, so that the secret message is finally transformed to the generated image. Owing to good efficiency and reversibility of S2IRT scheme, the proposed steganographic approach achieves both high hiding capacity and accurate extraction of secret message from generated image. Furthermore, a separate encoding-based S2IRT (SE-S2IRT) scheme is also proposed to improve the robustness to common image attacks. The experiments demonstrate the proposed steganographic approaches can achieve high hiding capacity (up to 4 bpp) and accurate information extraction (almost 100% accuracy rate) simultaneously, while maintaining desirable anti-detectability and imperceptibility.


A Michelson-type interferometer with two-mode squeezed coherent state input is considered. Such an interferometer has a better phase sensitivity over the shot-noise limit by a factor of e2r, where r is the squeezing parameter [Phys. Rev. A 102, 022614 (2020)]. We show that when photon loss and noise in the two arms are asymmetric, an optimal choice of the squeezing angle can allow improvement in phase sensitivity without any increase in input or pump power. In particular, when loss occurs only in one arm of the interferometer, we can have improvement in phase sensitivity for photon loss up to 80%. Hence, a significant improvement can be made in several applications such as LiDAR, gyroscopes, and measuring refractive indices of highly absorptive/reflective materials.


We give new bounds on the cosystolic expansion constants of several families of high dimensional expanders, and the known coboundary expansion constants of order complexes of homogeneous geometric lattices, including the spherical building of $SL_n(F_q)$. The improvement applies to the high dimensional expanders constructed by Lubotzky, Samuels and Vishne, and by Kaufman and Oppenheim. Our new expansion constants do not depend on the degree of the complex nor on its dimension, nor on the group of coefficients. This implies improved bounds on Gromov's topological overlap constant, and on Dinur and Meshulam's cover stability, which may have applications for agreement testing. In comparison, existing bounds decay exponentially with the ambient dimension (for spherical buildings) and in addition decay linearly with the degree (for all known bounded-degree high dimensional expanders). Our results are based on several new techniques: * We develop a new"color-restriction"technique which enables proving dimension-free expansion by restricting a multi-partite complex to small random subsets of its color classes. * We give a new"spectral"proof for Evra and Kaufman's local-to-global theorem, deriving better bounds and getting rid of the dependence on the degree. This theorem bounds the cosystolic expansion of a complex using coboundary expansion and spectral expansion of the links. * We derive absolute bounds on the coboundary expansion of the spherical building (and any order complex of a homogeneous geometric lattice) by constructing a novel family of very short cones.


This major paper examines the implications of urban planning with respect to the built environment and public participation. It specifically analyzes the racialization of urban space and spatialization of race in marginalized communities through a case study of Lawrence Heights, a social housing neighbourhood in Toronto. The aim of this research is to flesh out the theories and processes related to the construction of identities through race, space, and the importance of place. I argue that the poorly built environment and barriers to public participation have contributed to the substandard conditions in the neighbourhood, which, ultimately have led to the current revitalization process. This community has been plagued with issues of crime, a deteriorating infrastructure, and the stigmatization stemming from a low-income neighbourhood. These factors have compounded, resulting in a space that has been reproduced as degenerate. My research is concerned with the relationship between identity and space and the role that the implications of planning have played in cementing this connection.


Understanding the context, structure, activities, and content of software development processes found in practice has been and remains a challenging problem. In the world of free/open source software development, discovering and understanding what processes are used in particular projects is important in determining how they are similar to or different from those advocated by the software engineering community. Prior studies however have revealed that the requirements processes in OSSD projects are different in a number of ways, including the general lack of explicit software requirements specifications. In this paper, we describe how a variety of modeling perspectives and techniques are used to elicit, analyze, and validate software requirements processes found in OSSD projects, with examples drawn from studies of the NetBeans.org project.


The process of oscillating drilling holes in polymeric composite materials (PCM) was investigated in this paper. Using the group method of data handling (GMDH) the multifactor empirical dependence of drilling process parameters such as the magnitude and the rate of wear, temperature, and geometric parameters of the instrument and the correction coefficients of the model, were obtained. According to the methodology, based on a mathematical method of least squares, was evaluated the quality of received holes (deviation from a circular shape). We measured the temperature of cutting by natural thermocouple and with a laser pyrometer. The results obtained by both methods were compared. The processing of inclined surfaces was investigated.


Synopsis of the following thesis: Detecting accounting irregularities: A  study of specific transactions indicative of inappropriate practices , El Puerto de las Americas: Gateway to the future of Puerto Rico, The short-term effect on price of a capital share by a bank holding company in Puerto Rico when the campaign announces a share repurchase, Remote work and the economic benefits for companies, Transaction costs in the secondary capital market in Puerto Rico.


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis because of its limited drug responses in clinical trials. Therefore, it is crucial to clarify the molecular mechanisms of HCC progression to identify new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. Here, we report that brachyury, which regulates the gene encoding the non-SMC condensin II complex subunit G2 (NCAPG2), promotes tumorigenesis in HCC. Knockdown of brachyury led to inhibition of cancer progression in vitro and in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing data indicated that the oncogene NCAPG2 is a direct target of brachyury. Furthermore, NCAPG2 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and migration of HCC cells and attenuated brachyury-induced tumorigenesis. Overexpression and decreased DNA methylation of NCAPG2 were associated with a poor prognosis, and NCAPG2 was positively correlated with various immune cell infiltrates, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and immune checkpoint molecule expression levels in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade was decreased in the high NCAPG2 expression group. Together, these findings demonstrated a coregulatory effect of the brachyury/NCAPG2 axis during HCC progression.


ASEAN countries have long been an important international market for US agricultural exports. The United States, in 2011, exported almost $9.6 billion of agricultural products to ASEAN, making it the sixth-largest export destination for US farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses—behind Japan ($14 billion) and just behind the European Union ($9.6 billion), but well ahead of South Korea ($7 billion). Moreover, the value of agricultural trade between the United States and ASEAN almost doubled between 2007 and 2011, with the top four ASEAN markets in 2011 for the United States being Indonesia ($2.8 billion), the Philippines ($2.1 billion), Vietnam ($1.7 billion), and Thailand ($1.3 billion). With a population of 614 million and strong economic growth, it is expected that ASEAN will continue to be an important market for US agricultural products. However, the United States is likely to face increasing competition, particularly from China, Australia, and New Zealand, all of which have free trade agreements (FTAs) with ASEAN.


Motherhood differentially affects learning and memory performance and this effect depends on reproductive experience. In turn, evidence suggests that the effects of oestradiol on learning and memory are mediated through binding to oestrogen receptors in the hippocampus and that this is related to hippocampal neurogenesis. The present study investigated the effect of pregnancy and reproductive experience on ERα expression throughout the hippocampus, as well as cell proliferation, new cell survival and cell death (as measured by pyknotic cells) in the granule cell layer of the hippocampus. Three groups of female Sprague‐Dawley rats were used: virgin, primigravid and multigravid. All rats were injected with 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine (BrdU; 200 mg/kg) on the afternoon of impregnation and at matched time‐points in virgins. Rats were perfused either during early pregnancy (gestation day 1) or late pregnancy (gestation day 21) after BrdU injection. The results obtained show that, during late pregnancy, females, whether first or second pregnancy, have fewer ERα‐positive cells in the CA3 region of the dorsal hippocampus than virgin females. In addition during early pregnancy, females have significantly fewer pyknotic cells in the granule cell layer than virgin females. There were no other differences between groups in the number of ERα‐positive, BrdU‐positive or pyknotic cells. Future studies will aim to investigate the mechanisms and consequences of the alteration in ERα expression in the hippocampus during late pregnancy, as well as the possible changes in ERβ expression at this time.


1 Ingestion of 12 g of endrin by a 49-year-old man caused convulsions persisting for 4 days, hypersalivation, hyperthermia, renal insufficiency, thrombocytopenia and recurrent hypotension. Death followed after 11 days, due to pulmonary complications (infection and haemorrhage) and hypoxaemia causing bradycardia and cardiac arrest. 2 Endrin and dieldrin concentrations in blood 4 hours, 6 and 11 days after ingestion were respectively 450, 86 and 71 μg/l for endrin and 60, 19 and 19 μg/l for dieldrin. Dieldrin was also present, possibly because the endrin preparation contained traces of dieldrin. 3 Endrin concentrations 11 days after ingestion were 0.071 mg/l in blood, in adipose tissue 89.5 mg/kg, in the heart 0.87 mg/kg, in the brain 0.89 mg/kg, in the kidneys 0.55 mg/kg and in the liver 1.32 mg/kg.


Clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained during a half-year screening period of five different wards of the La Rabta Hospital (Tunis). Distinct clinical isolates (N= 82) were obtained from patients, 40 (48%) of which originated from the Department of Otolaryngology. In order to define the local epidemiology of this opportunistic organism, all strains were serotyped, analysed for pyocin production and genetically characterized with the help of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The data show that, despite the frequent occurrence of identical serotypes, most of the isolates represent unique pyocin types (N= 53) and genotypes (N= 64). A combination of the pyocin and PFGE data showed that nearly all strains were of unique types, except for two pairs of strains. A limited number of strain clusters was observed on the basis of DNA typing data alone. This involved eight genotypes, some of which were clustered with respect to clinical environment or time. Genotype 22 occurred most frequently (6/83, 7%) and independently of time and locale, indicating that it may represent either a clonal type constituting a major fraction of all P. aeruginosa isolates in the region or a more prevalent organism. Despite a relatively high incidence of P. aeruginosa infections, the polyclonality of these strains shows that, in La Rabta Hospital, pseudomonal infections are not primarily due to excessive spread of a single bacterial genotype.


Breast cancer survivorship guidelines recommend at least annual follow-up visits, yet the degree to which this occurs in clinical practice is uncertain. Claims data from a U.S. commercial insurance database (OptumLabs) were used to identify women treated with curative intent surgery for newly diagnosed breast cancer between 2006 and 2014. In 25,035 women, median follow-up was 3 years. In the second year after surgery, 9.6% of the patients did not visit a primary care provider, an oncologist, or a surgeon ("guideline-nonadherent"). The guideline-nonadherent proportion increased from 7.8% in women diagnosed in 2006 to 12.2% in those diagnosed in 2014 (two-sided Wald p < 0.001). During years 2-6, guideline-nonadherence was also associated with older age, non-white race, no radiation, no chemotherapy, no endocrine therapy, and increasing time after surgery. There is a substantial and increasing rate of inadequate follow-up among breast cancer survivors. This has the potential to impair outcomes.


RICHARD WISEMAN, Of wounds, ofgun-shot wounds, offractures and luxations, facsimile of 1676 edition with introduction etc., by John Kirkup, Bath, Kingsmead Press, 1977, 4to, pp. xxi, facsimile (6 11., 339-498), xxiii-xli, illus., £10.00. Richard Wiseman (b. between 1621 and 1623, d. 1676) published his Severall chirurgicall treatises in 1676, and Mr. Kirkup here presents an excellent facsimile reproduction of a section of its 600 pages. His introduction deals with Wiseman and contemporary surgery, but unfortunately it is inadequate and in parts erroneous. British surgery is referred to almost exclusively, and only English sources, some of them now discredited, have been used, with none of the more recent literature on seventeenth-century medicine. Nevertheless, this strives to be one of the better types of reprints, for in addition to the introduction there is a 'Biographical appendix' and a 'Glossary'. Again. however, our faith in the author is much weakened by his inclusion of "Galen, Claudius" in the former. He is clearly entirely dependent upon secondary sources and even these he is not able to evaluate critically.


Introduction: Lung cancer constitutes the most common cause of cancer death. Phase angle (PhA) has been related to lung cancer prognosis, which implies that the identification of dietary or other factors that could predict or modify PhA may have beneficial effects. Νutritional interventions have been linked with positive changes in PhA in certain types of cancer. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between dietary habits/nutrition and PhA in NSCLC patients. Methods: The sample consisted of 82 male patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stage IV) from the 'Theageneio' Cancer Hospital (Thessaloniki, Greece). Several parameters were assessed, such as body mass index (BMI), lean mass, PhA, Mediterranean diet score (MedDietScore), dietary patterns, smoking, resting metabolic rate, resting oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilation rate, and physical activity. Results: According to our results, a dietary pattern rich in potatoes and animal proteins (meat and poultry) was a significant determinant of PhA (B ± SE, p: 0.165 ± 0.08, p = 0.05) in multiple linear regression models after adjusting for age, smoking, lean tissue, and MedDietScore. Conclusion: In conclusion, dietary patterns may affect PhA, suggesting the crucial role of protein in cancer management and the prevention of sarcopenia.


Chimeric RNAs are often associated with chromosomal rearrangements in cancer. In addition, they are also widely detected in normal tissues, contributing to transcriptomic complexity. Despite their prevalence, little is known about the characteristics and functions of chimeric RNAs. Here, we examine the genetic structure and biological roles of CLEC12A-MIR223HG, a novel chimeric transcript produced by the fusion of the cell surface receptor CLEC12A and the miRNA-223 host gene (MIR223HG), first identified in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Surprisingly, we observed that CLEC12A-MIR223HG is not just expressed in CML, but also in a variety of normal tissues and cell lines. CLEC12A-MIR223HG expression is elevated in pro-monocytic cells resistant to chemotherapy and during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. We observed that CLEC12A-MIR223HG is a product of trans-splicing rather than a chromosomal rearrangement and that transcriptional activation of CLEC12A with the CRISPR/Cas9 Synergistic Activation Mediator (SAM) system increases CLEC12A-MIR223HG expression. CLEC12A-MIR223HG translates into a chimeric protein, which largely resembles CLEC12A but harbours an altered C-type lectin domain altering key disulphide bonds. These alterations result in differences in post-translational modifications, cellular localization, and protein–protein interactions. Taken together, our observations support a possible involvement of CLEC12A-MIR223HG in the regulation of CLEC12A function. Our workflow also serves as a template to study other uncharacterized chimeric RNAs.


SUMMARY: Damage to living organisms by X-rays (but not by ultraviolet radiation) is generally enhanced by the presence of oxygen, which probably acts at a physico-chemical level. Sensitivity to both u.v.- and X-radiation may also be related to the presence of oxygen acting as a metabolic factor during the growth of micro-organisms before or after irradiation. Anaerobic growth of Escherichia coli strain B after u.v. or X-rays decreased lethal damage, the treatment being most effective after u.v.-and more effective after X-rays delivered in the absence than in the presence of oxygen. In this respect anaerobic growth corresponded with a variety of inhibitory conditions after irradiation, and rescue by anaerobic growth was about as effective as chloramphenicol treatment; but when these two treatments were used together, the effectiveness of each was decreased. The effects of u.v.- and X-radiation on Escherichia coli B/r were unchanged by anaerobic growth after irradiation; but anaerobic growth beforehand resulted in survival curves which were much more sigmoid in shape than those pertaining to aerobically grown organisms. This tendency was noted with all strains tested. Anaerobic growth before X-irradiation did not alter the effect of oxygen during irradiation.


We report on a comparison of methods based on XRD patterns for calculating crystal size. In this case, XRD peaks were extracted from hydroxyapatite obtained from cow, pig, and chicken bones. Hydroxyapatite was synthesized through the thermal treatment of natural bones at 950 °C. XRD patterns were selected by adjustment of X-Pert software for each method and for calculating the size of the crystals. Methods consisted of Scherrer (three models), Monshi–Scherrer, three models of Williamson–Hall (namely the Uniform Deformation Model (UDM), the Uniform Stress Deformation Model (USDM), and the Uniform Deformation Energy Density Model (UDEDM)), Halder–Wanger (H-W), and the Size Strain Plot Method (SSP). These methods have been used and compared together. The sizes of crystallites obtained by the XRD patterns in each method for hydroxyapatite from cow, pig, and chicken were 1371, 457, and 196 nm in the Scherrer method when considering all of the available peaks together (straight line model). A new model (straight line passing the origin) gave 60, 60, and 53 nm, which shows much improvement. The average model gave 56, 58, and 52 nm, for each of the three approaches, respectively, for cow, pig, and chicken. The Monshi–Scherrer method gave 60, 60, and 57 nm. Values of 56, 62, and 65 nm were given by the UDM method. The values calculated by the USDM method were 60, 62, and 62 nm. The values of 62, 62, and 65 nm were given by the UDEDM method for cow, pig, and chicken, respectively. Furthermore, the crystal size value was 4 nm for all samples in the H-W method. Values were also calculated as 43, 62, and 57 nm in the SSP method for cow, pig, and chicken tandemly. According to the comparison of values in each method, the Scherrer method (straight line model) for considering all peaks led to unreasonable values. Nevertheless, other values were in the acceptable range, similar to the reported values in the literature. Experimental analyses, such as specific surface area by gas adsorption (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), were utilized. In the final comparison, parameters of accuracy, ease of calculations, having a check point for the researcher, and difference between the obtained values and experimental analysis by BET and TEM were considered. The Monshi–Scherrer method provided ease of calculation and a decrease in errors by applying least squares to the linear plot. There is a check point for this line that the slope must not be far from one. Then, the intercept gives the most accurate crystal size. In this study, the setup of values for BET (56, 52, and 49 nm) was also similar to the Monshi–Scherrer method and the use of it in research studies of nanotechnology is advised.


Search for possible violation of combined charge, parity, and time-reversal symmetries is yet another approach for a test of New Physics, therefore a bound state of electron and positron (positronium) as the lightest matter-antimatter system and at the same time an eigenstate of the C and P operators is an unique probe in such endeavour. The test is performed by measurement of angular correlations in the annihilations of the lightest leptonic bound system. With the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) we have collected an unprecedented range of kinematical configurations of exclusively-recorded annihilations of the positronium triplet state (ortho-positronium) into three photons. Employing a novel technique for estimation of positronium spin axis on the basis of a single event, we determined the complete distribution of an angular correlation between spin and annihilation plane of ortho-positronium. We present recently published result of determined expectation value of this correlation at the precision level of 10 − 4 , with an over three-fold improvement on the previous measurement. We discuss also the prospects for reaching the precision level of 10 − 5 with the CPT symmetry test at the J-PET detector.


Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant growth–promoting natural products required for plant growth and development. Physiological studies have demonstrated that exogenous BR, alone or in combination with auxin, enhance bending of the lamina joint of rice. However, little is known about the function of endogenous BR in rice or other grass species. We report here the phenotypical and molecular characterization of a rice dwarf mutant, d61, that is less sensitive to BR compared to the wild type. We cloned a rice gene, OsBRI1, with extensive sequence similarity to that of the Arabidopsis BRI gene, which encodes a putative BR receptor kinase. Linkage analysis showed that the OsBRI1 gene is closely linked to the d61 locus. Single nucleotide substitutions found at different sites of the d61 alleles would give rise to amino acid changes in the corresponding polypeptides. Furthermore, introduction of the entire OsBRI1 coding region, including the 5′ and 3′ flanking sequences, into d61 plants complemented the mutation to display the wild-type phenotype. Transgenic plants carrying the antisense strand of the OsBRI1 transcript showed similar or even more severe phenotypes than those of the d61 mutants. Our results show that OsBRI1 functions in various growth and developmental processes in rice, including (1) internode elongation, by inducing the formation of the intercalary meristem and the longitudinal elongation of internode cells; (2) bending of the lamina joint; and (3) skotomorphogenesis.


BACKGROUND
exact mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in diabetes mellitus (DM) remain unclear. Imaging studies of the brain could help to identify possible structural brain lesions underlying cognitive dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE
to describe a detailed neuropsychological profile in patients functioning independently with type 2 DM. Secondly, correlations were studied between cognitive impairment and brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), i.e. periventricular hyperintensities (PVH), deep white matter lesions (DWML), medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), cerebral atrophy and lacunar infarcts. In addition, the influence of relevant disease variables of DM was studied.

METHODS
92 patients with type 2 DM (mean age 73.2 +/- 5.7 years, mean duration 13.8 +/- 10.8 years) and 44 control subjects (mean age 72.9 +/- 5.3 years) were included and underwent an extensive neuropsychological test battery and an MRI of the brain.

RESULTS
neuropsychological scores were worse for each cognitive domain except for memory functions after adjustment for hypertension in a group of elderly patients with type 2 DM compared to healthy control subjects. Only PVH were independently associated with motor speed, whereas all other MRI measures were not independently associated with cognitive impairment. Interactions between the different MRI measures were not present. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and duration of DM were significantly associated with cognitive dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS
the data of this cross-sectional study show that type 2 DM is associated with diminished cognitive function in different cognitive domains, while memory is less affected after adjustment for hypertension. The association of cognitive impairment with MRI measures is equivocal, whereas HbA(1c) and duration of DM were significantly associated with cognitive dysfunction.


Template matching is one of the techniques in digital image processing function to match each part of an image with an image into a template (reference). Template matching method is often used to identify the image of the character of letters, numbers, fingerprints, and other matching applications. In this final project will be made on the damage detection applications PCB track, this is due to PCB circuit paths that are too small and tight, so the detection manually, by using on the human eye will take a long time and a high degree of exhaustion. Making an application is intended to speed up the process detection of damage to the PCB track. The method used in this application is a method of Template Matching with Delphi programming language. Algorithms method Template Matching will classify the object, by comparing the image with a reference PCB with PCB input image. The results of applications  showed that PCB track damage detection method can detect with Template Matching damage on  the PCB track, which is marked by a red rectangular box if there is damage on  the PCB. If there is no damage on the PCB, then a warning box appears informing the PCB in good condition, without any defects. Keywords: PCB, Template Matching Method, Image Processing, Delphi


This report is the fifth in a series concerning English language proficiency (ELP) assessments for English learners (ELs) in kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States. The series, produced by Educational Testing Service (ETS), is intended to provide theory- and evidence-based principles and recommendations for improving next-generation ELP assessment systems, policies, and practices and to stimulate discussion on better serving K–12 EL students. The first report articulated a high-level conceptualization of next-generation ELP assessment systems (Hauck, Wolf, & Mislevy, 2016). The second report addressed accessibility issues in the context of ELP assessments for ELs and ELs with disabilities (Guzman-Orth, Laitusis, Thurlow, & Christensen, 2016). The third report focused on critical policy and research issues of summative ELP assessments that state use for accountability purposes (Wolf, Guzman-Orth, & Hauck, 2016). The fourth report dealt with one of the major uses of ELP assessments—the initial identification and classification of ELs (Lopez, Pooler, & Linquanti, 2016). The present report discusses approaches to using automated scoring technology for the evaluation of student-spoken responses on K–12 ELP assessments. As many states have begun to use computer-based ELP assessments, there is a growing interest in automated scoring of spoken responses to increase the efficiency of scoring. This report delineates major areas to consider in using automated speech scoring for K–12 ELP assessments (i.e., assessment construct and task design, scoring and score reporting, and artificial intelligence (AI) model development and test delivery) and makes recommendations for states on how to evaluate these considerations and determine a path forward.


【In this paper, we proposed the fabrication process of the stable e-beam evaporation and the patterning of metals layer on the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The metal layer was deposited under the various deposition rate, and its effect to the electrical and mechanical properties (e.g.: adhesion-strength of metal layer) was investigated. The influence of surface roughness to the adhesion-strength was also examined via the tape test. Here, we varied the roughness by changing the reactive ion etching (RIE) duration. The electrode patterning was performed through the conventional photolithography and chemical etching process after e-beam deposition of $200{\AA}$ Ti and $1000{\AA}$ Au. As a result, the adhesion strength of metal layer on the PDMS surface was greatly improved by the oxygen plasma treatment. The e-beam evaporation on the PDMS surface is known to create the wavy topography. Here, we found that such wavy patterns do not effect to the electrical and mechanical properties. In conclusion, the metal patterns with minimum $20{\mu}m$ line width was produced well via the our fabrication process, and its electrical conductance was almost similar to the that of metal patterns on the silicon or glass substrates.】


We have studied the neurogenic response of small mesenteric arteries from the rat to evaluate the involvement of possible co-transmitters under various modes of stimulation. Segments of small branches of the mesenteric artery were mounted in a myograph and the intramural nerves were activated with transmural electrical stimulation. A single stimulation of the nerves caused a contraction that was reduced by only 20% in the presence of adrenergic blocking agents (prazosin or phenoxybenzamine), whereas the steady-state response to continuous nerve stimulation of high frequency was reduced by 90-95%. In contrast, all responses to applied noradrenaline in doses up to at least 1 mM were eliminated by phenoxybenzamine treatment. The stable ATP analogue, alpha,beta-methylene ATP, reduced the response to a single nerve stimulation by 70%, but reduced the contraction caused by continuous high-frequency nerve stimulation by only 10%. None of these agents affected the response to applied neuropeptide Y (NPY). The response of relaxed vessels to nerve stimulation was totally blocked by the combination of an adrenoceptor-blocking agent and alpha,beta-methylene ATP, although even in this situation a further neurogenic response could be revealed in vessels precontracted with vasopressin. Responses to either single stimuli or brief burst stimulations were potentiated after high-frequency stimulation. Both the adrenergic and non-adrenergic components were enhanced to roughly the same extent. Also the potentiated response was eliminated by the combined application of prazosin and alpha,beta-methylene ATP. The non-adrenergic transmitter in the sympathetic nerves of small arteries thus appears to be the dominant transmitter during low-frequency nerve stimulation, causing rapid but phasic activation. Noradrenaline is the most important transmitter for higher frequencies, exerting slower but sustained contractions. The post-stimulatory potentiation affects both the adrenergic and the non-adrenergic part of the neurogenic response.


Explosions in the sky (Skyquake) like an earthquake are still mysterious. The main purpose of this research is to to provide an overview of the source of the explosion that occurred with a geophysical approach, based on both earthquakes, thunderstorms and earth magnets. In this case, we used the geophysical approach to evaluate and analysis the skyquakes based on the spectral density and magnetic field. The result indicates that the earthquake sequences that occurred simultaneously were not related to crash events at different times, 11 April 2020 and May 11, 2020, as well as the electrical activity of the air and the earth's magnet, the assumption of the 11 April 2020 explosion originating from lightning and magnetic activity is still very weak.


The Garrison Institute on Aging (GIA) is an established institute within Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, whose mission is to promote healthy aging through cutting-edge research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other diseases of aging through innovative educational opportunities for students, clinicians, researchers, health care professionals, and the public. The GIA has multiple programs, including both research and education on healthy aging and AD, community outreach, caregiving, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Healthy Lubbock, the GIA Brain Bank, healthy aging seminars, research seminars, and collaborations and scholarships. The GIA programs connect basic and clinical researchers and health care professionals, and provide a unique environment to help our growing elderly population and patients with AD and their families.


In this paper, we propose a machine learning algorithm for shallow semantic parsing, extending the work of Gildea and Jurafsky (2002), Surdeanu et al. (2003) and others. Our algorithm is based on Support Vector Machines which we show give an improvement in performance over earlier classifiers. We show performance improvements through a number of new features and measure their ability to generalize to a new test set drawn from the AQUAINT corpus.


Background: DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) was demonstrated to increase the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the animal models, but there are no clinic studies to verify this. We aimed to explore the effect of NBP on improving cerebral hypoperfusion caused by cerebral large-vessel stenosis. Methods: In this single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 120 patients with severe carotid atherosclerotic stenosis and cerebral hypoperfusion in the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) were included and randomly assigned into the NBP or placebo group as 1:1 radio. Patients in NBP and placebo group received 200mg and 20mg of NBP capsules three times daily for four weeks respectively. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were used to assess regional CBF (rCBF) in four regions of interest (ROIs) corresponding to MCA before and 12 weeks after the treatment. The rC BF change for every ROI and the CBF change in whole MCA territory for every patient after therapy were classified into amelioration, stabilization and deterioration respectively. Results: 48 NBP patients (6 with bilateral stenosis) and 46 placebo patients (8 with bilateral stenosis) completed the trial. Both groups had 54 stenotic carotid arteries and 216 ROIs for rCBF change analysis. After therapy, the rCBF in ROIs increased in NBP group (83.5%±11.4% vs. 85.8%±12.5%, p=0.000), but had no change in placebo group (86.9%±11.6% vs. 87.8%±11.7%, p=0.331). There was higher percentages of ROIs with rCBF amelioration and stabilization in NBP group than in placebo group (93.1% vs. 79.2%, p=0.000). Ordinal regression analysis showed that NBP independently made more patients to have whole CBF amelioration in ipsilateral MCA than placebo (Wald-χ2=5.247, OR=3.31, p=0.022). Conclusions: NBP may improve the cerebral hypoperfusion in the patients with carotid artery atherosclerotic stenosis. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900028005, registered December 8th 2019- Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=45490&htm=4.


The chemotactic peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) stimulates leukocyte functions through binding and activation of a specific G-protein-coupled formyl peptide receptor (FPR). Recent studies have shown that stimulation of neutrophils with fMLP induces the activation of two members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) family, ERK1 and ERK2, through mechanisms that are not completely understood but may involve the phosphorylation of the adapter protein SHC by the Src-related kinase Lyn. In this study, transfected fibroblasts expressing the rabbit FPR were used to investigate further the role of Lyn and SHC phosphorylation in fMLP-stimulated MAP kinase activation. Stimulation of transfected cells with fMLP resulted in the time- and dose-dependent increase in tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of ERK1 and ERK2 and the activation of MEK, the MAP kinase/ERK kinase. The activation of both ERKs and MEK was inhibited by preincubation of the cells with pertussis toxin, indicating that activation was dependent upon a Gi/Go-like protein that couples to the receptor. Our data also show that, unlike neutrophils, FPR-transfected fibroblasts do not express the Src-related kinase Lyn. In the absence of Lyn, fMLP stimulation did not result in an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the adapter protein SHC, whereas it was still able to induce MAP kinase activation. These data suggest that Lyn and SHC are not the only upstream signals for activation of the MAP kinase/ERK pathway by fMLP and demonstrate the potential application of the FPR-transfected cells for the delineation of additional signaling mechanisms stimulated by fMLP.


Control of cell growth by cell to cell contact is reviewed with particular emphasis on two systems--contact inhibition of growth observed with Swiss 3T3 cells and the mitogenic stimulation of Schwann cells by dorsal root ganglia neurites. In both cases the biological effect can be reproduced by the addition of surface membranes to the corresponding cells. In the case of contact inhibition of 3T3 cells, biological activity appears to correlate with membrane binding to the cells. An octylglucoside extract of 3T3 plasma membranes retains the biological activity (growth inhibition) of the original membranes.


A new rotation version of the Curzon-Chazy metric is found. This new metric was obtained by means of a perturbation method, in order to include slow rotation. The solution is then proved to fulfill the Einstein field equations using a REDUCE program. Furthermore, the applications of this new solution are discussed.


One of the greatest challenges for English language arts teachers today is the call to engage students in more complex texts. Tim Gillespie, who has taught in public schools for almost four decades, has found the lenses of literary criticism a powerful tool for helping students tackle challenging literary texts. Tim breaks down the dense language of critical theory into clear, lively, and thorough explanations of many schools of critical thought - reader response, biographical, historical, psychological, archetypal, genre based, moral, philosophical, feminist, political, formalist, and postmodern. Doing Literary Criticism gives each theory its own chapter with a brief, teacher-friendly overview and a history of the approach, along with an in-depth discussion of its benefits and limitations. Each chapter also includes ideas for classroom practices and activities. Using stories from his own English classes - from alternative programs to advanced placement and everything in between - Tim provides a wealth of specific classroom-tested suggestions for discussion, essay and research paper topics, recommended texts, exam questions, and more. The accompanying CD offers abbreviated overviews of each theory (designed to be used as classroom handouts), examples of student work, collections of quotes to stimulate discussion and writing, an extended history of women writers, and much more. Ultimately, Doing Literary Criticism offers teachers a rich set of materials and tools to help their students become more confident and able readers, writers, and critical thinkers.


Synthetic conduits and bioprosthetic valves are used in the treatment of patients with congenital heart disease involving the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary valve. In-situ time-dependent degradation uniformly results in conduit and valve dysfunction. The abnormal hemodynamics imposed by valve and conduit dysfunction have been linked to exercise intolerance, arrhythmia, right heart failure, and sudden death. Starting in childhood, affected patients are subjected to repeated open-heart surgeries to restore valve function and potentially reduce morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement with the Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) has been performed in ≈8000 patients worldwide. The valve and implant procedure provide a far less invasive means of restoring valve and conduit function and allow patients to forego multiple operations. Recent clinical trials have shown excellent and durable results in terms of valve function, relief of obstruction, and improvement in functional class up to 7 years from implant.


This paper analyzes and discusses the interface models of the three real-time smart transducer networks COSMIC, LIN, and TTP/A. The COSMIC architecture follows a publish/subscribe model, where the producing smart devices broadcast their event data on the basis of a push paradigm. Subscribers receive data in form of a message-based interface. LIN follows a strict pull principle where each message from a device node is requested by a respective message from a master. Applications have a message-based interface in order to receive and transmit data. The nodes in a TTP/A network derive its sending instants from predefined instants in time. TTP/A maps communicated data into an Interface File System (IFS) that forms a distributed shared memory.


Data mining is the process of extracting hidden patterns of data. Association rule mining is an important data mining task that finds interesting association among a large set of data item. It may disclose pattern and various kinds of sensitive information. Such information may be protected against unauthorized access. Association rule hiding is one of the techniques of privacy preserving data mining to protect the association rules generated by association rule mining. This paper adopts data distortion technique for hiding sensitive association rules. Algorithms based on this technique either hide a specific rule using data alteration technique or hide the rules depending on the sensitivity of the items to be hidden. In the proposed technique, positions of sensitive items are altered while maintaining the support. The proposed technique uses the idea of representative rules to prune the rules first and then hides the sensitive rules.


This study examines elements of the power of financ ial institutions, emphasizing control over capital flow ‐ characterized as financial hegemony ‐ the co nstitution of economic or financial groups, the structure of representation of the segment's class interests, and its participation in the political p rocess and in State decision-making mechanisms. Considering the economic restructuring undergone by Brazil in the 1990s, the work draws a profile of th e ten largest private banks based on selected economic and sociopolitical indicators. Beyond thei r stance as mere financial intermediaries, it indicates the degree to which those banks become ec onomic groups and, especially, larger organizational units, which is shown in connections with the State and in the class's actual organization and actions in the corporate and polit ical realms.


Except for hardware design, the user interface of mobile devices creates the first impression for users. Mobile devices such as cellular phones are used to expose users' characters and preferences. Sounds, fonts, colors, and background images are used to reveal users' personalities. The demand for means of expressing one's character via mobile devices has been raised by advanced display technology, higher resolution and many more colors. Flash Lite of Adobe Systems, Inc and uiOne of Qualcomm, Inc reflect these requirements, and achieve good results. But Flash Lite and uiOne have weakness as other solutions do. Users cannot exceed the functionality that each user interface system provides. This paper introduces new downloadable user interface which overcomes the disadvantages of other solutions. The downloadable user interface includes multiple UI Engines which supports different types of user interface. The downloadable user interface has been deployed on the Linux based smartphone of ETRI.