Since the pioneering work of David Scott and others in the 1970s and 1980s, foraminifera have been used to develop precise sea-level reconstructions from salt marshes around the world. In New Zealand, reconstructions feature rapid rates of sea-level rise during the early to mid-20th century. Here, we test whether infaunality, taphonomy, and sediment compaction influence these reconstructions. We find that surface (0–1 cm) and subsurface (3–4 cm) foraminiferal assemblages show a high degree of similarity. A landward shift in assemblage zones is consistent with recent sea-level rise and transgression. Changes associated with infaunality and taphonomy do not affect transfer function-based sea-level reconstructions. Applying a geotechnical modelling approach to the core from which sea-level changes were reconstructed, we demonstrate compaction is also negligible, resulting in maximum post-depositional lowering of 2.5 mm. We conclude that salt-marsh foraminifera are indeed highly accurate and precise indicators of past sea levels.


ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Renal function assessment is the most important part of donor evaluation. The Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is considered to be optimal test for overall assessment of renal function. We aimed to estimate GFR by prediction equations namely COCKCROFT-GAULT, MDRD and CKD-EPI, among live related kidney donors and to analyse how closely the GFR calculated by these equations correlate with that of DTPA renal scan.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A total of 50 individuals attending Nephrology OPD over a period of 6 months (April 2011- September 2011), for undergoing donor evaluation at the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Nephrology, Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India, were included. They underwent basic investigations and GFR was estimated using prediction equations namely COCKCROFT-GAULT, MDRD and CKD-EPI. Then as a part of routine donor evaluation, they were subjected to DTPA renal scan.
RESULTS: In our study on 50 potential donors, all the three prediction equations namely COCKCROFT-GAULT, MDRD and CKD-EPI were found to correlate with DTPA scan values, the correlation though weak, was statistically significant for MDRD and CKD-EPI, and statistically not significant for COCKCROFT-GAULT equation. However they underestimated GFR by 27.65%, 27.17% and 22.42% for COCKCROFT-GAULT, MDRD and CKD-EPI respectively when compared to DTPA renal scan.
CONCLUSION: DTPA scan cannot be substituted by the GFR prediction equations in special situations like renal transplantation. Further studies are required to find newer ways of estimating GFR which can be applied in all clinical settings.


To increase the scanning speed of cone-beam CT, a scanning configuration with three pairs of x-ray sources and panel detectors was proposed. In this paper, we apply the M-line-based backprojected filtration algorithm to this scanning configuration and propose a fast implementation for this algorithm. Compared with existing implementations, the advantages of our implementation are as follows: (1) it can directly reconstruct horizontal slices (i.e. the slices perpendicular to the rotation axis), without 3D interpolation; (2) it does not need to calculate the backprojection intervals for any point; (3) it has a high degree of parallelism and is suitable for acceleration on graphic processing units or other parallel systems.


Abstract Surface and sub-surface expressions of shallow gas in the Netherlands part of the southern North Sea are described, using standard E&P 2D and 3D seismic surveys, as well as higher frequency acoustic surveys. Surface expressions observed are pockmarks, which are geomorphologic features at the seabed indicative for venting of gas, and cemented sandstones. The subsurface expressions found comprise both phenomena indicating efficient trapping of gas in reservoir sands, such as shallow bright spots and flat spots, and phenomena, which are indications of migration or leakage to the seabed. We refer to the latter as 'seismic anomalies indicating leakage'. These anomalies include gas chimneys or seismic chimneys. All chimneys found in the area have in common, that they belong to a seepage style, which is called 'small and localised'. Much of this seepage is situated over salt domes, with the accompanying normal fault above the domes acting as pathways for the gas or fluids. Although there is admixture of biogenic gas, it is believed that many of the features observed relate to thermo-genic gas.


A stakeholder survey was conducted in Ghana to assess the level of public perceptions and acceptance of agricultural biotechnologies. A total of 100 respondents drawn from academia, Non-governmental organizations, business community, government and other stakeholders were interviewed on their views on self-protection attitudes, health and economic benefits, skepticism and optimism about agricultural biotechnologies as well as the level of confidence in existing government regulatory systems to protect society against any negative effects of biotechnological issues. Although half of the sample interviewed did not accept biotechnologies in general and GM foods in particular, there was rather high approval of some specific health and economic benefits. About 80 percent of the sample interviewed lack confidence in existing government regulatory systems probably due to inadequate capacity. Upgrading of the existing regulatory system with adequate capacity to regulate the ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnologies and GM foods was recommended


The present invention provides a control device for a power generation system, a steam turbine (9) from the diesel engine is currently operating state can be obtained as the output of the steam turbine can be supplied to the supply output is obtained, the output of the steam turbine (9) is defined as required the difference between the power mode and the power turbine and diesel generators a minimum output of the minimum output, thereby to close the steam turbine can be supplied to the output decision steam turbine output, in order to compensate for the steam turbine (9) manner and a desired output power difference determines output power turbine (7).


BACKGROUND
Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a newly discovered biomarker for various inflammatory conditions. We measured plasma PTX3 levels in patients with febrile neutropenic lung cancer and examined the utility of PTX3 levels as a biomarker for febrile neutropenia.

METHODS
Fourteen patients with febrile neutropenic lung cancer were enrolled in the study. In addition, 10 untreated lung cancer patients and 12 healthy adults were enrolled as a disease control group and a healthy control group, respectively. On the day of onset of febrile neutropenia (day 1) and days 3 and 7, PTX3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. In the control groups, PTX3 and CRP levels were measured once.

RESULTS
On day 1, plasma CRP levels in febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer (FN/LC) patients (8.11 ± 6.42 mg/dL) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (HC) and chemotherapy/chemoradiotherapy-naïve lung cancer (CN/LC) patients (p < 0.05). However, CRP levels of the CN/LC group (0.33 ± 0.02 mg/dL) were also significantly higher than those of the HC group (0.07 ± 0.09 mg/dL) (p < 0.05). In contrast, plasma PTX3 levels of the FN/LC group (6.14 ± 5.28 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those of the HC and CN/LC groups on day 1 (p < 0.05), but PTX3 levels of the CN/LC group (1.60 ± 0.64 ng/mL) were not significantly higher than those of the HC group (1.05 ± 0.25 ng/mL). In the FN/LC group, PTX3 levels peaked immediately on day 1.

CONCLUSIONS
PTX3 may be a useful biomarker for diagnosis of FN in patients with LC.


Involuntary childlessness can be a devastating experience for many women and men. The true prevalence of infertility is difficult to determine. However, an estimated one in seven couples in the UK will seekhelp in conceiving a child at some point in their lives. New reproductive technologies have dramatically changed the prospects for many subfertile couples, with the range of treatments increasing substantially in the past 20 years. Little is known, however, about ethnic differences in attitudes to fertility treatment. This paper discusses some findings from the first major study of ethnicity and infertility to be carried out in the UK, which explored the experience of infertility in British South Asian communities. The emphasis in this article is on community understandings of fertility and infertility and its causes; knowledge of and attitudes towards medical treatments for infertility; and 'alternative' sources of help for sub-fertile couples. In contrast to a 'deficit' model of the public understanding of science/technology, the data demonstrate the existence of a range of knowledges about potential causes of infertility and abouttreatments available to help sub-fertile couples. A case is made for raising the profile of infertility treatment within South Asian communities. At the same time, health professionals would benefit from an awareness of the broader social context of reproductive technologies. Public space needs to be created for the development of a relationship of dialogue between practitioners of the technologies and members of the lay public in a diverse range of sociocultural settings.


Airborne mobile wireless networks (AMWNs), which use spacecrafts and aircrafts such as satellites, airships, airplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other high/medium/low-altitude platforms (HAPs/MAPs/LAPs) can efficiently support high dynamic network topologies and weakly connected communication links. Due to the dramatic dynamics of the AMWNs, it is very difficult to provide the deterministic delay-bounded quality of service (QoS) provisioning for time-sensitive real-time traffics (such as video and audio) over the AMWNs. Alternatively, the statistical delay-bounded QoS provisioning provides an efficient way for guaranteeing delay-bounded QoS requirements for real-time traffics over the AMWNs. On the other hand, because of the diversity of real-time traffics, it is highly demanded to consider the heterogeneity of delay-bounded QoS requirements for distinct real-time services under different HAPs/MAPs/LAPs in the AMWNs. In this paper, we establish the heterogeneous statistical QoS provisioning framework to support the diverse real-time services over the AMWNs. In particular, we formulate the optimization problem to maximize the aggregate effective capacity subject to heterogeneous statistical delay-bounded QoS requirements for both downlink and uplink transmissions-based AMWNs groups (AMWNGs) in the AMWNs. We solve the aggregate effective capacity maximization problems and derive the optimal heterogeneous statistical QoS-driven power allocation schemes for the AMWNs. The numerical analyses we obtained verify that our developed optimal heterogeneous statistical QoS-driven power allocation schemes can significantly increase the aggregate effective capacity for the AMWNs than the other existing schemes.


Recently, the limitations of the exercise (stress) ECG test in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) have been overemphasized, particularly in the asymptomatic population. 1-3 Nevertheless, many physicians who have extensive and clinical investigative experience with the exercise ECG test are fully convinced that the test provides great value in the diagnosis of CAD and in the assessment of functional capacity. 4.5 Some physicians who are skeptical about the value of the exercise ECG test for the screening of presumably healthy individuals are constantly disturbed by the high incidence (35% to 36%) of "false"-positive tests—ST segment responses. 6.7 They criticize that a false-positive exercise ECG test frequently leads to psychological trauma (production of "cardiac neurosis") for the individual who has no CAD. It should be emphasized, however, that psychological trauma is usually physician-induced and by no means test-induced. The psychological reaction will largely depend on the physician's approach to a given individual


The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antitumor activity and the safety of paclitaxel combined with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients affected by advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium (TCC). Eighty-five patients affected by advanced TCC and measurable disease were randomized to receive either paclitaxel at dosage of 70 mg/m2, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 and cisplatin 35 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks (GCP) or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15 and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 2 every 4 weeks (GC). All enrolled patients were considered evaluable for response and toxicity (intention to treat). The observed response rate was 43% for GCP and 44% for GC combination, respectively. Median time to treatment failure was 32 weeks for GCP and 26 weeks for GC and overall survival 61 vs 49 weeks, respectively (p-value not significant). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 49% of patients treated with GCP vs 35% of those treated with GC (P=0.05) and grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia was observed in 36% of GCP treated patients as compared to 21% of those treated with GC (P=0.01). Seven patients over 70 years old or with poor PS were removed from the study: 6 patients from GCP group (2 toxic deaths, 2 grade 4 myelotoxicity and 2 grade 3 asthenia) and 1 from GC group was lost to follow-up after the first cycle. The combination of paclitaxel, gemcitabine and cisplatin is effective in the treatment of TCC. However, the addition of paclitaxel to the combination of gemcitabine plus cisplatin seems to increase toxicity, therefore it seems not suitable for poor PS patients and those over 70 years old. Larger and more powered studies are needed to exactly define the role of paclitaxel in this combination.


Hair tourniquet syndrome (HTS) is a condition, where a strand of hair encircles the base of an appendage. We report a rare case of HTS of the uvula and review relevant literature.


Provides current evidence about opportunities for younger people to become home owners. Executive summary There has been considerable media exposure in recent years to the contracting opportunities for younger people to become home owners, just as there was at the turn of the millennium. Rising dwelling prices were a problem then as they are now. The language of crisis often flavours such writing, with commentary linking the problematic housing future of the young with the more favourable environment faced by their parents, the baby boomers. This short report is designed to provide current evidence around the topic, with the particular research objectives of identifying: 1. The degree to which younger households, particularly the cohorts aged 25–44 years, have experienced a contraction in home purchase over the last 30 years. 2. The adaptive responses this generation has made to circumvent obstacles to ownership, particularly that of declining housing affordability. 3. Which younger households have been most disadvantaged in terms of home purchase opportunity—and whether factors such as income and household type, have been influential in this regard. This paper is a quantitative study and relies for its findings on 30 years of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, most notably from the census.


Single-crystal, X-ray examination of Mg,Fe-rich chlorites that were heated at 650°C for 24 hours in air and have undergone dehydroxylation of the interlayer shows that two product phases result with a topotactic relationship, with the c axis of both phases parallel. One phase ("modified chlorite" or "14-A phase") has relatively sharp reflections with a 14-A c-axis repeat, indicating that it is well crystallized and maintains the 2:1 layer from the parent. Cell parameters are a = 5.368(1)A, b - 9.297(2)A, c = 14.215(6)A, a = 89.86(3)°, ß = 97.15(3)°, γ = 89.98(2)°, and it crystallizes in CĪ symmetry. A structure refinement, details of which will be reported later, indicates that the interlayer consists of two planes, each containing (M + O), where M is the interlayer cation species. These planes show about ±0.5A positional disorder along the [001] direction. There is no evidence for scattering material at z = 0.5 between the 2:1 layers. The second phase in the topotactic relationship is based on a 27-A unit c axis ("27-A phase"). The diffraction data are limited with about 15 diffuse reflections observed, indicating that it is poorly crystallized. The 27-A spacing suggests that both octahedral sheets in the parent chlorite contribute to the formation of this phase.Heating Mg,Fe-rich chlorite powder in a closed system to 550°C, under either reducing or oxidizing conditions, prevents the formation of the 27-A phase. Because the 27-A phase forms in an open system, we infer that water fugacity is an important factor in its formation. Heating experiments involving samples with different polytypes and octahedral "type" (dioctahedral vs trioctahedral) of the 2:1 layer suggests that these two variables are important. However, the results are equivocal, and an ill-defined B-rich chlorite from Madagascar breaks the observed trends for both variations in stacking sequence and octahedral type. However, B-content may be a factor in the transformation also for those chlorites that contain B.


This study evaluated the characteristics of suicidal behavior (suicide attempt or suicidal ideation) among 230 consecutively admitted inpatients with schizophrenia and mood disorders in a university hospital in China. The rate of lifetime suicidal behavior was found to be significantly higher in patients with mood disorders (62.4%) than in patients with schizophrenia (38.6%). The rate of suicidal behavior was significantly higher in patients with major depressive disorder (86.8%) than those with bipolar disorders (42.6%). Patients with schizophrenia attempted suicide for the first time earlier in life than the patients with mood disorders. Mood disorder patients, especially those with major depressive disorder, had more and more serious suicide attempts than the patients with schizophrenia.


WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The potential benefits of introducing technological innovation into all types of health services are recognized internationally. There are few studies exploring the use of technology in inpatient mental health settings, or the views of staff and patients regarding such developments. "Early warning systems" are increasingly used in inpatient mental health services to detect physical deterioration in patients and prompt staff to take appropriate action. We have identified no peer-reviewed publications concerning this development. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Using a questionnaire survey, this project gathered views from staff and patients on a planned change from a paper-based "early warning system" to one using handheld electronic devices (tablets). This study adds to the existing evidence by reporting specific staff and patient concerns about a technological development in an inpatient mental health setting. Some patients were concerned about confidentiality of data entered onto tablets. Whilst were either positive or neutral in attitude to the planned change some staff raised concerns that electronic devices could be used as weapons, and also that patients or visitors might misinterpret their use. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Views of staff and patients must be considered when introducing new technology into clinical practice, in order to make the change successful and sustainable. Inadequate or unclear information about the use and purpose of electronic devices may lead to misunderstandings as to their purpose and the security of their data, particularly in mental health settings. Further exploration across a range of services and countries would be useful in determining whether attitudes towards implementing similar technological change in mental health practice are commonly shared. ABSTRACT: Introduction Technological innovation offers opportunities to improve mental health care; however, little evidence exists regarding attitudes of inpatient staff and patients to such changes. We present a survey of staff and patients prior to introduction of a digital version of the National Early Warning Score (eNEWS) system for identifying physical deterioration. Aim To collate views of staff and inpatients related to prospective use of eNEWS, to inform the plan for implementation. Method Paper questionnaires were distributed to both groups in six wards prior to eNEWS implementation. Two discussion groups were then held. Results Eighty-two staff and 26 inpatients completed questionnaires. Some inpatients expressed concerns about data confidentiality. Most staff were neutral or positive about the planned change, but raised possible safety risks and the risk of electronic recording being misinterpreted by patients. The implementation plan was modified in response to this information, principally by improving communication processes with patients. Discussion This study adds to the existing evidence by reporting specific staff and patient concerns towards a form of information technology. Further evaluations would help determine the transferability of these findings. Implications for practice Listening to patient and staff views about planned technological innovation is essential for effective implementation.


Near-field communications (NFC) promises to create a whole new paradigm for the vast majority of cell phone users and is emerging as a near-term reality. What has been described as the confluence of RFID and cellular telephony will bring with it a wealth of new applications. The applications space, security mechanisms, and human interface are maturing; the service providers and payment companies are working to keep pace with these new capabilities; and it is starting to be incorporated into the new generation of cell phone designs. With NFC, our favorite electronic companion essentially becomes our magic wand. The basic ¿wand¿ premise is that it indicates intent. When you point, where you point, or at whom you point, tells the machine piece of the human-machine interface much about what it is supposed to do.


We construct finite element Stokes complexes on tetrahedral meshes in three-dimensional space. In the lowest order case, the finite elements in the complex have 4, 18, 16, and 1 degrees of freedom, respectively. As a consequence, we obtain gradcurl-conforming finite elements and inf-sup stable Stokes pairs on tetrahedra which fit into complexes. We show that the new elements lead to convergent algorithms for solving a gradcurl model problem as well as solving the Stokes system with precise divergence-free condition. We demonstrate the validity of the algorithms by numerical experiments.


We studied the magnetic properties of atomic layer superlattices of (LaMnO3)N/(SrTiO3)N (N = 1,2,8) fabricated by ozone-assisted atomic layer-by-layer molecular beam epitaxy. Compared to a reference LaMnO3 thin film, the N = 8 superlattice exhibits enhanced magnetization, while the N = 1 and 2 superlattices exhibit suppressed magnetization. The onset temperature of the ferromagnetic transition is lowered in all superlattices. Moreover, the Brillouin function fits to the magnetic hysteresis curves indicate that the ground state of the superlattices consists of non-uniform spin interactions. The electric transport measurements suggest a very small variation of Mn valence (∼±0.015) that may not be enough to induce the observed large change in the magnetic property.


The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), an oxidative stress indicator, occur or not, and how psychological reactions change, after one night of sleep deprivation (SD) and after 7 hour recovery sleep opportunities during three recovery days. Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. We measured their urinary 8-OH-dG levels and psychological reactions using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) for 5 days: on the baseline day, the post-vigil day, and on 3 recovery days after SD. The urinary 8-OH-dG levels and subscale scores of POMS were analyzed using repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA). In the psychological reactions, the values of Vigor on the post-vigil day and 2nd recovery day were significantly lower than on the baseline day. Fatigue and confusion on the post-vigil day were significantly higher than on the baseline day, and on the 1st and 2nd recovery days were relatively higher compared to the baseline day but returned to baseline level on the 3rd recovery day. The urinary 8-OH-dG levels did not change significantly after SD, on the post-vigil day or on the 3rd recovery days. These results suggest that the effect of one night of SD on psychological reactions continued for 2 or 3 days, and SD might not influence urinary 8-OH-dG levels despite marked changes in psychological reactions.


The article analyses the problems arising at the stage of private indictment connected with the protection of citizens' right and legal interests. In this connection the most actual are the questions of legal proceedings on criminal cases affecting more private interests but not public. The perfection of the judicial activity requires the further development of the private charge institution. This allows to protect the rights of private persons suffering from crimes.


State tax revenues have become far more sensitive to changing economic conditions since the turn of the century. The authors document this increasing volatility and offer suggestions for what state governments might do to better manage their tax revenues to avoid or minimize dramatic fiscal downturns.


Proper maintenance can help vehicles perform as designed, positively affecting fuel economy, emissions, and overall driveability. This paper addresses the issue of whether air filter replacement improves fuel economy. Described are measured results for increasing air filter pressure drop in turbocharged diesel-engine-powered vehicles, with primary focus on changes in vehicle fuel economy but also including emissions and performance. Older studies of carbureted gasoline vehicles have indicated that replacing a clogged or dirty air filter can improve vehicle fuel economy and, conversely, that a dirty air filter can be significantly detrimental to fuel economy. In contrast, a recent study showed that the fuel economy of modern gasoline vehicles is virtually unaffected by filter clogging due to the closed loop control and throttled operation of these engines. Because modern diesel engines operate without throttling (or with minimal throttling), a different result could be anticipated. The effects of clogged air filters on the fuel economy, acceleration, and emissions of three late model turbocharged diesel-powered vehicles were examined. The vehicles were powered by turbocharged diesel engines with different displacements and engine designs. The results reveal rather low sensitivity of these modern diesel vehicles to air filter condition.


Considering the increasing environmental pollution, it is necessary to analyze the activities in the manure chain, from collection to the application. The use of manure as fertilizer is one of the oldest practices in agriculture; however, continuous application increases the risk of contamination. The approach is mainly empirical, and combines fieldwork with the analysis of the regulatory framework in Mexico. A common practice in the Comarca Lagunera is the application at doses up to 150 ton/ha, without pretreatment. Regarding the regulation, manure management is very punctual. Have not been generated incentives to dimension and reduce the environmental impact derived from livestock activities. Take measures established in other countries is a good choice, since proper treatment and manure management to decrease the problems caused.


Neuro-Sweet disease (NSD) is Sweet disease with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. To the best of our knowledge, the present case report is the first to describe NSD complicated by endogenous infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The present case report describes a male patient who developed NSD-induced meningitis, which initially manifested as a fever, headache and neck stiffness. Painful erythematous plaques subsequently developed on his face, neck and upper trunk. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed and the results were normal, whereas modified acid-fast stain analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) provided a positive result. The patient was thus diagnosed with viral meningitis and tuberculosis. However, subsequent skin biopsy results demonstrated neutrophilic infiltration into the dermis without vasculitis, and subsequent human leukocyte antigen typing was positive for Cw1 and negative for B51 and the patient was diagnosed with NSD. Following treatment with corticosteroids, and antiviral and anti-tuberculotic agents, the clinical symptoms were reduced and the previously abnormal findings in the CSF examinations and associated laboratory data were improved. The present case indicates that the diagnosis of NSD is not easily achieved, and early skin biopsy is vital to ensure a fast and effective diagnosis. In addition to systemic corticosteroids, comprehensive treatment is also recommended for patients with NSD complicated by additional complex medical problems.


This paper discusses the implementation of the Ujian Nasional (UN) in terms of internal control. Reviewing the implementation of the UN 2013 from the achievement of the purposes of the application of control systems because the UN in 2013 has gotten a bad image on the implementation. Also examines the efforts of the government in making changes in implementation of the UN Model 2014, an effort to improve the quality of national education. This paper written based on the review of documents and literature related to control systems and procedures for implementation of UN Keywords: UN, review, internal control systems


Ocean sustainability is a widespread public concern in Europe, and the issue of fisheries discards is one that is now widely known. With this increase in public awareness comes the need to adapt fisheries management policies to manage issues like fisheries discards that were not previously taken into account. In this context, this study analyses the evolution of the European Union's discard policy since its inception in 2006 until the present day and the events that shaped its current format. It analyses the policy's advantages and disadvantages, and its political, environmental and scientific consequences. It argues that an increase in public awareness, due to public campaigns against fisheries discards, has focused managers' attention onto a symptom of fisheries mismanagement, rather than on its underlying causes of over-exploitation and lack of fisheries control. This has distorted the discussion of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and potentially undermined its provisions relating to discards.


Determining effects of drought on prairie grasses could help us understand shifts in plant distributions and abundances with altered precipitation. The mixed grass prairie of North America is the zone where tallgrass prairies of the east intermingle with shortgrass prairies of the west. Species transitions in the mixed grass prairie reflect precipitation gradients, but little is known regarding how dominant grasses respond physiologically to water availability. We measured the performance of Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans in three precipitation treatments (ambient rainfall, drought, irrigated) in a southern mixed grass prairie near Hays, Kansas, USA. Photosynthesis and water potential were measured monthly in June and July of 2010 and 2011. Phenology and height measurements were collected semimonthly in June, July, and August of 2011. Growth increased under irrigated treatments in all four species. Conversely, leaf &dgr;13C became lower in drought treatments. The highest photosynthesis rates were measured in irrigated S. nutans, but S. nutans was the most impacted by drought. No individuals of S. nutans remained in drought treatments by August 2011, leaf &dgr;13C and water potentials were significantly higher than in other species, and individuals of S. nutans only reached reproductive stage in irrigated treatments. The most drought tolerant species were B. curtipendula and S. scoparium, as indicated by lower leaf &dgr;13C and water potentials and an ability to maintain higher stomatal conductance and photosynthesis with low water availability. Moreover, individuals of B. curtipendula and S. scoparium reached reproductive stage in ambient and irrigated treatments. Andropogon gerardii had intermediate drought tolerance, as indicated by intermediate photosynthesis, leaf &dgr;13C, and water potential, and individuals only reaching reproductive stage in irrigated treatments. Physiological differences among dominant prairie grasses under decreased water availability could help us understand mechanisms of drought tolerance and how climate change might impact native grasslands.


Chapter 1 is available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3345976 Through selective case studies, The Cambridge Handbook on Public-Private Partnerships, Intellectual Property Governance, and Sustainable Development (forthcoming September 2018) contributes to a better understanding of public-private partnerships (PPPs) relating to intellectual property (IP), including their roles in innovation, capacity-building, technological learning, and technology sharing. Considered within a global knowledge governance framework that connects these various purposes of IP to other development goals, the book is the first to examine PPPs at the nexus of IP and sustainable development. Chapter 1 canvasses relevant aspects of the triple interface of IP, PPPs, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and the significance of this growing connection within a knowledge governance framework: whether and how PPPs encourage innovation, build innovation capacity, engage in technology transfer or sharing, or otherwise ensure wide dissemination and diffusion of innovation results across borders to advance the progress of the SDGs. It then examines more closely each of the "P"s in PPPs, flagging the many unresolved issues and questions about this type of joint governance arrangement or collaborative partnership, at the practical, policy, and conceptual levels. Finally, it previews and situates each of the other chapters in the book, by providing brief synopses and locating their diverse perspectives within an emerging conceptual map of the triple interface. The final chapter (Chapter 19) summarizes findings according to four thematic sections: aligning with public policy objectives; coordinating with other knowledge governance efforts; managing the partnership boundaries; and enhancing sustainable development. It situates these findings within a global knowledge governance framework - that is, by evaluating whether and how PPPs encourage innovation, build innovation capacity, engage in technology transfer or sharing, or otherwise ensure wide dissemination and diffusion of innovation results across borders to advance the progress of the SDGs. After this summary, which is illustrated with references to specific chapters, the book concludes with suggestions for a future policy and research agenda.


In programmes for development of contraceptives, the general health aspect of the proposed contraceptive attack has been generally underestimated. With the increasing evidence that inhibition of ovulation as such may be beneficial, the strategy of contraceptive development has to be rearranged. Subdermal implants of capsules releasing steroids at a constant rate has the advantage that ovulation can be inhibited during a long period of time. The main problems are dosage and bleeding control. The intrauterine devices have gradually been improved to facilitate insertion and diminish discomfort due to distension of the uterine cavity. The medicated copper i. u. ds have in this respect been a great step forward. On the other hand ovulation is not inhibited, bleeding irregularities occur and the blood loss at menstruation is increased. In addition, the intrauterine devices do not protect women from extrauterine pregnancies or functional cysts of the ovaries.


Today major changes of energy transmission systems are significantly demanded due to the integration of intermittent energy sources. For this purpose, high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is seen as a promising approach. As a key component, polymeric insulated cable systems are increasingly used in this transmission technology. Operational and research results indicate that technical construction and design are a challenging part as electric field distribution in HVDC cable systems results from multiple influencing factors. For instance, the electric field distribution is related to the geometric design and to the varying electrical conductivity of the applied materials. Moreover, the conductivities of the used materials are affected by electric field strength and temperature distribution. Therefore, a simulation model considering the possibility of generic time-dependent numerical simulations is presented. In particular, the influences of changing material characteristics in combination with different geometric constructions are simulated. Against this background, cable accessory modelling, especially focusing on cable joints, is implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics. The major benefit of the simulation lies in its parametrisation allowing an adaption of thermal and electrical conductivities and operating parameters as required for the intended simulation.


ED02-01 There have been several examples where copy number aberrations has proven to be significant clinically. Over the past few years technology for genome wide assessment of copy number has become available. One important drawback for many of these technologies is their ability to obtain high quality data from samples that have been Formaldehyde Fixed and Paraffin Embedded (FFPE). We have utilized the Molecular Inversion Probes (MIP) technology for the study of copy number in cancer samples. MIP probes are circularizable oligonucloetides, where the two ends carry two sequences that are complementary to two sequences on the genome separated by one nucleotide (exactly where the variant to be genotyped is). After hybridization to the genomic DNA, the reaction is split into 4 tubes where a single nucleotide is added to each tube. Upon the addition of the nucleotide (only in the tube with the nucleotide that is complementary to the allele on the genome) the MIP probe is then ligated turning the probe into a circle. This structure can be selected for by the use of exonucleases allowing for minimal "cross talk" between probes and the ability to obtain high quality data from highly multiplexed assays (>50,000 plex). Ultimately these products are amplified and hybridized onto an Affymetrix microarray to identify the present products. We have shown the use of MIP to get copy number data with excellent precision and dynamic range in cancer samples. In addition the relatively small genomic footprint it requires (~40 bp) suggested that MIP may be able to adequately assess FFPE samples. We have recently tested several sets of FFPE samples for different tumor types from multiple institutions, and demonstrated excellent copy number performance.


SIRT3 is a mitochondrial deacetylation protein that can promote the invasion and migration of cancer cells. We explored the effects of SIRT3 regulation of the AMPK/PPAR signaling pathway on triglycerides and the invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer cells. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect SIRT3. The expression of AMPK and PPAR proteins in different cervical lesions was analyzed in combination with clinicopathological parameters. qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine the expression levels of SIRT3 in the C33a and SiHa cervical cancer cell lines. To observe the effects of altering SIRT3 levels by lentivirus transfection and the consequent changes in AMPK and PPAR protein expression, oil red O staining was used to determine intracellular triglycerides, and scratch assays and Transwell chamber experiments were performed to evaluate cervical cancer cell migration and invasion. Our data indicate that SIRT3, AMPK, and PPAR protein expression levels show an increasing trend with cervical lesion severity and are related to the degree of lymph node metastasis and differentiation; moreover, increased expression of SIRT3 can promote the expression of AMPK and PPAR proteins, is beneficial to the formation of intracellular neutral fat, and enhances the ability of cells to metastasize and invade. Our results suggest that SIRT3 activates AMPK/PPAR signaling pathways involved in cancer lipid metabolism and promotes metastasis and cell invasion.


This study was carried out to isolate Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from cats as well as human. Nasal, ear and skin swabs were collected from 50 cats either diseased or apparently healthy animals as well as 50 swabs were obtained from diseased and apparently healthy individuals with or without cats' contact. Swabs were streaked on Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (a selective medium for detection of MRSA). It was found that the overall rate of isolation of MRSA from cats was 20% with significant association between the rates of isolation from diseased cats (21.4%) and apparently healthy cats (18.4%). In addition, the highest rate of isolation was recorded in the age group from 1 to 2 years (29.4%) followed by the age group > 2 years (26.7%) and finally, the age group ≤ 1 year (5.6%) with non-significant association between the rates of isolation. On the other side, the overall rate of isolation of MRSA from human was 32% with significant association between the rates of isolation from diseased individuals (28.6%) and apparently healthy individuals (40%). Moreover, individuals exceed 60 years old showed the highest rate (40.9%) followed by those of the age group extend from 30 to 60 years (30.8%) and lastly the age group less than 30 years old (20%) with significant association between the rates of isolation. Molecular characterization of MRSA strains recovered (n=26) from cats and human for detection of nuc and mecA genes by PCR was performed. It was recorded that nuc gene was detected in 65.4% of isolates while mecA gene was detected in 80.8% of the recovered isolates. Finally, it was found that the presence of human with animals in the same community and in close contact increases the opportunity of zoonotic transmission of MRSA between cats, humans, and the environment.


Contamination in water supplies can occur and it results in the distribution of inappropriate water, affecting greatly the community well-being. Monitoring water
utilities is key to avoiding possible health problems from this scenario. A conventional parameter to evaluate the quality of water is the concentration of Escherichia
coli, a bacteria commonly present in sewage. Nowadays, the standard procedures
for the counting of such micro-organisms are reliable but very laborious and time-consuming. Therefore they are not suitable for the demands of fast evaluation, which
is necessary to circumvent any potential distribution of contaminated water. This
masters thesis proposes to improve and automate the operation of a sensor system
developed by Acreo ICT to monitor the water quality in water facilities. This sensor
uses a quantum dot-based immunoassay for targeting the E. coli present in the water,
and flow cytometry as a technique to detect and transform the obtained fluorescent
signals into an estimated concentration value of the E. coli. First, immunoassay
was performed by using IgY-conjugated quantum dots and IgY-conjugated organic
fluorophore, which are used to label E. coli from lab strain and from sewage. The
immunoassay was subjected to different solutions. Results of these immunoassay
tests showed that the antibody-antigen reaction needs to take place in a saline environment for stronger binding. Furthermore, the combination of Triton X-100, BSA
and EDTA in this system improved the specificity of the immunoassay and increased
the signal strength. The increase of temperature up to 40°C accelerated the reaction
rate, reducing the necessary time for the binding reaction. The sensor system was
automated by the implementation of a proposed design of a mixing structure based
on continuous flow. Furthermore, an improvement in the flow cytometry was made
by replacing the former flow cell made of plastic to one made of quartz, which also
has a smaller optical path. Lastly, tests using tap water and sewage showed that the
final assembled sensor can be used to detect contamination of drinking water with
sewage. With these improvements, the sensor system is, at the time of publication of
this thesis, being subject to in situ tests in water facilities in Jerusalem and Zurich.


Low reverse leakage silicon carbide pin rectifier diodes with a breakdown voltage reaching 1100 V are experimentally shown to have acceptably low forward voltage drops, dominated by the built-in voltage. Numerical simulations of the experimental structure, using a measured carrier lifetime of 25 ns, validate the existence of a conductive plasma in the lowly doped base layer, despite a poor injection efficiency, related to the incomplete ionization of the aluminium acceptor. Simulation also indicates the need for a lifetime of ~ 100 ns in a 3.0 kV device.


This study investigated the factors important in older individuals' attraction to and satisfaction with apartment complexes that become naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). Quantitative measures examining the relative importance of various apartment complex attributes in attracting older and younger people to apartments that have and have not become NORCs were obtained by using a multiattribute scaling procedure. Results are presented from two main perspectives: a comparison of the factors attracting older residents to NORCs and non-NORCs; and a comparison of the factors attracting older and younger residents to NORCs.


Primary intrapulmonary spindle cell thymomas (PISCT) are rare lesions that may be mistaken for a variety of benign and malignant epithelial or mesenchymal tumors. It is thought as one subtype of primary intrapulmonary thymomas (PIT). To the best of our knowledge, no bilateral multiple primary intrapulmonary spindle thymomas and treatment had been reported in literature. We fortunately diagnosed and managed this unique case, which might provide some experience for physicians who were interested in this disease.


In this paper we describe a product dissection activity that has been developed for a graduate course on product family design to improve students' understanding of platform commonality. Last spring, the product dissection activity served a second purpose, namely, it provided an opportunity to engage students in product family design research in the classroom by having them participate in a study to evaluate the variability in the Product Line Commonality Index (PCI), a commonality index from the literature. The product dissection activity consisted of five teams dissecting and analyzing three different families of products, each containing four products. Based on their results, we identified three main sources of the variability that occur during the dissection of the products and calculation of the PCI: different levels of dissection, parts omitted from the analysis, and different values for the factors used to compute the PCI. Recommendations for reducing the variability are given based on our findings. Finally, an assessment of the students' learning reveals that the activity significantly improved their understanding of platform commonality.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


In this paper we present results from a 10‐year (1997–2006) longitudinal study in which we, by interviews once or twice every year, followed how students, throughout the compulsory school, developed their understanding of three situations in which transformations of matter occur. We believe that students have to meet scientific ideas early in order to gradually, in social cooperation with classmates, friends, teachers, and other grown‐ups, elaborate the meaning of a concept. We followed 23 students all born in 1990. In 1997 we introduced the idea of the particulate nature of matter. We have conducted interviews allowing students to explain the transformation of matter in fading leaves left lying on the ground, burning candles, and a glass of water with a lid on. In the interview at 16 years of age, less than one‐fifth of the students use molecular ideas in scientifically acceptable ways. The overall conclusion is that most students do not connect the knowledge they gain in school about the particulate nature of matter to these everyday situations. On the other hand, the students seem capable of using a simple particle model and the model can help them understand the invisible gas state. The question of how to use this capability in order to develop students' scientific ideas is still not solved and more research is argued for.


In this paper, we conduct pricing and hedging experiments in order to check whether simple stochastic volatility models are capable of capturing forward volatility and forward skew risks correctly. As a reference, we use the Bergomi model, which treats these risks accurately. The results of our experiments show that the cost of poor volatility modeling in the Heston model, the Barndorff-Nielsen–Shephard model and a variance-gamma model with stochastic arrival is too high when pricing and hedging cliquet options.


Background & Objectives: Epidemiological and experimental evidences suggest that oxidative stress is elevated in children with Down syndrome (DS). Some studies show that consumption of diets with a high content of fruits and vegetables result s in a significant reduction in ma rkers of oxidative stress. We investigated the frequency of fruits and vegetables intake in children with DS and the influence of variations in the level of this consumption on biomarkers of oxidative stress. Methods: Frequency of consumption of fruit and vegetables by children with DS were recorded by interview with the children€s parents. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and urinary 8 -hydroxy2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were also measured as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Data analysed using ANOVA and Student€ s t-tests. Results: Mean consumption of fruits and vegetables was 4.6 and 0.74 servings per week, respectively. No significant relationships were found between consumption of fruits and vegetables with markers of oxidative stress. Based on our findings, the 65.9 % of the children did not eat any vegetables and the rest of the children consumed less than one serving per day. There was a significant correlation between the frequency of fruits and vegetable consumption (r=0.212; p <0.04). Conclusion: There wasn€t any significant relationship between fruits and vegetables consumption and indicators of oxidative stress in children with DS. This lack of correlation could be due to low consumption of fruits and vegetables in children with DS.


Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis, and particularly the presence of musculoskeletal complications of the disease, may require chronic corticosteroid therapy. In five patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis and presenting recalcitrant forms of the disease, we introduced low-dose oral methotrexate (MTX) [10 mg/week (7.5-15)] for 30 months (16-34) to control the clinical and biological symptoms as well as to try to reduce the intolerated steroid posology. Beneficial effects were observed within 8-12 weeks in all patients, which allowed a reduction of 59% (35-75) of the corticosteroid posology, and maintained with a follow-up of 3 yr in 4/5 patients. No significant toxicity was observed. MTX appears to be an efficient, safe and corticosteroid-sparing therapeutic agent for the treatment of recalcitrant musculoskeletal manifestations of sarcoidosis.


Membrane fouling is a major challenge for long-term oil/water separation. The incomplete degradation of organic pollutants or membrane damage exists in the common methods of membrane regeneration. Herein, a dual-responsive nanofibrous membrane with high water-in-oil emulsion separation efficiency and smart cleaning properties is reported, which shows complete restoration of its original separation performance. The pH-responsive and upper critical solution temperature (UCST)-type thermoresponsive nanofibrous membrane with a micro/nanosphere structure was developed via a one-step-blending electrospinning strategy. The membrane displays high hydrophobicity/oleophilicity at pH 7 and 25 °C and hydrophilicity/oleophobicity at pH 3 and 55 °C. As a result, it exhibits an ultrahigh permeability of 60528.76 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and a separation efficiency of 99.5% for water-in-D5 emulsions at room temperature (25 °C). Moreover, the contaminated membranes could be easily reclaimed by being rinsed with warm acidic water (pH 3 and 55 °C). The membrane maintained high separation performance after being used for multiple cycles, indicating its scalable application for purifying emulsified oil. This study provides a facial method of constructing membranes with multiscale hierarchical structures and a new idea for the design of recyclable oil/water separation membranes.


In a quantitative and qualitative study, we investigated mediators' behaviors, disputants' behaviors (i.e., plaintiffs' and defendants'), and the concessions and agreements in sixty-two authentic civil court mediations. We predicted mediators would apply more assertive techniques whenever these disputants indicated their goals were high. We also predicted that plaintiffs would make larger concessions than defendants, that mediators would perceive they have more leverage on plaintiffs, and that mediators would apply more of the assertive techniques to them. All of these predictions were supported. In closing, we delineated the implications of our results for scholars and practitioners.


Purpose: Immunosuppressive regimen based on reduced-dose Tacrolimus (TAC) is widely accepted in the field of renal transplantation. However, optimal targetsfor TAC whole blood trough concentrations during the early period after kidney transplantation remain uncertain. Methods: A total of 184 consecutive adult renal transplant recipients with triple immunosuppression (TAC/Mycophenolate/corticosteroid) were included in this study. According to the trough level of TAC at day 7 after transplantation, patients were classified as low TAC concentration (LT, <10 ng/㎖, n=85), intermediate TAC concentration (IT, 10∼15 ng/㎖, n=75), and high TAC concentration (HT, >15 ng/㎖, n=24) groups. Rate of acute rejection, graft function and side effects of TAC within 1 yr after transplantation were evaluated. Results: There was no difference in trough concentrations of TAC at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after transplantation among the three groups. Significantly higher incidence of acute rejection within 2 weeks after transplantation was observed in LT group compared with IT and HT groups (17.4%, 5.6% and 4.8%, respectively, P=0.037). HT patients showed significantly better estimated glomerular filtration rates until 6 months after transplantation than IT and LT patients (75.5±24.8 vs. 63.8±12.8 and 64.3±15.2 ㎖/min at 6 months, P=0.03). There was no significant difference in TAC toxicity in terms of post-transplant diabetes and renal toxicity. Conclusion: Short-term high TAC exposure immediately after kidney transplantation may provide lower incidence of acute rejection and better restoration of graft function compared with low or intermediate TAC exposure.


Purpose: Areca nut use is the major cause of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in Southern Asians. Areca nut contains a high level of free copper ions. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a copper-activated enzyme critical for extracellular matrix organization. Contradictory evidence has been put forward to suggest that LOX may be either an oncogenic or a suppressive element. This study investigated the oncogenic significance of LOX in areca-associated OSCC. Experimental Design: The expression assays and polymorphism analysis were done to know the clinicopathologic implications of LOX status in OSCC. Knockdown and overexpression experiments were conducted to know the phenotypic effects of LOX on OSCC cells. Results: Up-regulation of LOX mRNA and LOX protein expression in OSCCs relative to adjacent oral mucosa was found. Precancerous lesions had the highest LOX mRNA expression. Areca nut extract up-regulated LOX expression in oral epithelial cells. Knockdown of LOX induced cellular migration and invasion, but it reduced the anchorage-independent growth and xenographic tumorigenesis of OSCC cells. The reduction of migration and invasion by LOX overexpression was partially rescued by blockage of LOX activity. The Arg158Gln polymorphism was associated with earlier clinical stage of OSCC. Wild-type LOX overexpression induced anchorage-independent growth in OSCC cells, but this was not for LOXArg158Gln overexpression. Conclusion: LOX exerts oncogenic roles in areca-associated OSCC. This potential could be affected by the existence of LOX propeptide domain or genetic polymorphism.


This paper first proposes a method of formulating model interpretability in visual understanding tasks based on the idea of unfolding latent structures. It then presents a case study in object detection using popular two-stage region-based convolutional network (i.e., R-CNN) detection systems (Girshick 2015; Ren et al. 2015; Dai et al. 2016; He et al. 2017). We focus on weakly-supervised extractive rationale generation, that is learning to unfold latent discriminative part configurations of object instances automatically and simultaneously in detection without using any supervision for part configurations. We utilize a top-down hierarchical and compositional grammar model embedded in a directed acyclic AND-OR Graph (AOG) to explore and unfold the space of latent part configurations of regions of interest (RoIs). We propose an AOGParsing operator to substitute the RoIPooling operator widely used in R-CNN. In detection, a bounding box is interpreted by the best parse tree derived from the AOG on-the-fly, which is treated as the qualitatively extractive rationale generated for interpreting detection. We propose a folding-unfolding method to train the AOG and convolutional networks endto-end. In experiments, we build on R-FCN (Dai et al. 2016) and test our method on the PASCAL VOC 2007 and 2012 datasets. We show that the method can unfold promising latent structures without hurting the performance.


In the hydraulic fracturing process, the velocity model of traditional inversion is usually constructed by well logs, seismic data or calibration shots. The variation of pore pressure and fractures in this process has a major influence on the velocity. However, this influence is usually ignored in the velocity estimation model. In this paper, we propose a new microseismic location method that accounts for the influence of hydraulic fracturing on velocity. Firstly, we simulate the 3D hydraulic fracturing process based on mass conservation, the seepage equation and fracture mechanics. Then the equivalent velocity model is constructed using the Coates–Schoenberg method and fracture compliances. The 3D ray-tracing method is applied to forward-model the microseismic data and traditional inversion methods are applied to locate events and analyse the inversion error. Finally, we introduce a new method, called the equivalent velocity inversion method (EVIM), taking into account the influence of the fracturing process. The simulation results show that the hydraulic fracturing process affects the velocity and thus makes the inversion accuracy of the same receiver array vary considerably with the sources in the traditional methods. The new EVIM can effectively reduce the inversion error.


In today's industrial expansion of the chemical products, the liver is becoming increasingly important. Furfural (C4C3OCHO) is a colorless liquid with pleasant aroma and it is partially soluble in water (8, 3% of weight). The elimination of furfural is done slowly through the kidneys and lungs, while the liver oxidizes it into pyromucic acid (C4C3OCOOH). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a multi-component system of gluconeogenesis. Biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, glucose, γ-GT and alkaline phosphatase) are important markers of liver damage. The aim of our study was to analyze the function of hepatocytes using biochemical parameters and to show the dynamics and topography in the development of changes in enzyme activity. The experiment was conducted on Wistar rats aged 6 weeks. The animals were divided into three groups. The control group received pure drinking water, the second group received a 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) dose of furfural for seven days and in the third group the dose was progressively increased after which the animals were sacrificed. Biochemical methods were used to determine the parameters of liver damage. Enzyme-histochemical tests were performed on 8nm WKF 1150 cryostat cross sections which were stained according to Pearse (1968). The results are presented tables and graphs. The amount of enzymes and biochemical parameters in the control group were normal. In the group treated for 7 days, the activity of the enzymes was diffusely decreased while the biochemical parameters were increased. In the group of rats treated for 90 days, the periportal G6PD was constantly preserved. Biochemical parameters were different. The differences in all parameters were statistically significant (p<0.05) both in the group treated for 7 days and the group treated for 90 days. The same goes for the control group and the group treated for 7 days. Acute treatment with furfural causes damage to liver functions. The synthetic liver function is restored in chronic tests. Acta Medica Medianae 2011;50(2):34-38.


Sharia-compliant financial inclusion represents the confluence of two rapidly growing sectors: microfinance and Islamic finance. With an estimated 650 million Muslims living on less than $2 a day (Obaidullah and Tariqullay 2008), finding sustainable Islamic models can be the key to providing financial access to millions of Muslim poor who strive to avoid financial products that do not comply with Sharia (Islamic law). Consequently, Sharia-compliant financial inclusion has recently galvanized considerable interest among regulators, financial service providers, and other financial inclusion stakeholders. However, despite a four-fold increase in recent years in the number of poor clients using Sharia-compliant products (estimated at 1.28 million) and a doubling in the number of providers, the nascent sector continues to struggle to find sustainable business models with a broad array of products that can meet the diverse financial needs of religiously observant poor Muslims. A lesser known tenet is the encouragement of wealth creation through equity participation in business activities, which requires risk-sharing by financial service providers that do not guarantee returns. The authors conclude that despite impressive increases in the number of Islamic microfinance providers and clients, the sector is still largely dominated by a few providers in a few countries that rely primarily on only two products. The Islamic microfinance sector needs a concerted, evidence-based effort by all stakeholders to harness current momentum to promote greater diversity in service providers and sustainable products, better tailored to meet the needs of the religiously observant Muslim poor.


Pregnancy complications were studied in the following groups of pregnancies with structurally and chromosomally normal fetuses: 1) 216--with elevated free beta-hCG above 2 MoM and 134--above 2.5 MoM; 2) 37--with elevated alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] above 2 MoM; 3) 67 screen-positive patients below the age of 35. The following complications were compared in the studied and the control groups: preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes [PROM], preeclampsia (in general and severe one), IUGR without preeclampsia, delivery of small for gestational age [SGA] and low birth weight [LBW] infants and perinatal fetal loss. Pregnancy outcome in cases with free beta-hCG above 2 MoM was not different from that in the control group. With 2.5 cut-off level the incidence of preeclampsia and of LBW infants was higher in the studied than in the control group. Elevated AFP above 2 MoM alone was associated with more frequent preeclampsia including severe one (in all the latter cases--IUGR present). In the screen-positive group the incidence of preeclampsia (in general and severe one with IUGR), SGA and LBW infants and perinatal mortality rate were significantly higher than in the control group. No difference was found between the studied and the control groups regarding subsequent development of IUGR without preeclampsia, preterm delivery and PROM. Abnormal second trimester serum screening test results (elevated free beta-hCG or AFP alone above 2.5 and 2 MoM respectively) in pregnancies with normal fetal karyotype indicate higher risk for subsequent development of preeclampsia. Screen-positive patients, being a heterogeneous group (including ones with elevated free bb-hCG alone and ones with elevated both free beta-hCG and AFP), are at increased risk for other pregnancy complications too.


Introduction : This study provides essential antioxidant potentialities of the plant Oxalis corniculata Linn (creeping wood sorrell) indigenous from Tanzania and the associated precursors of biochemical compounds responsible for its folkloric pharmacological rationales. Methodology and Results : Extracts were made from the whole plant using methanol and ethanol solvents. DPPH assay was used to evaluate its antioxidant potentials while phytochemical screening for precursors of biochemical compounds responsible for its pharmacological rationales was qualitatively determined. Total antioxidant necessary to decrease the initial DPPH radical concentration by 50% (EC 50 ) value, were obtained from the linear regression plots of Sigma Plot R (2001). Results showed significant activities in all antioxidant assays compared to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid in a dose dependent manner. In DPPH scavenging assay the EC 50 value of the crude extract was found to be 0.04 mg/ml while that of the reference standard ascorbic acid was 0.59 mg/ml. Likewise the highest iron chelating ability of 97.31% was obtained at a higher crude extract concentration of 0.4 mM while the lowest ability of 23.25% was obtained at the lowest crude extract concentration of 0.001mM. It also portrayed high antiradical activities of up to EAU515 = 1.868 number of antiradical unit and several precursors of biochemical compounds including Flavonoids, Terpenoids, Coumarins, Glycosides, as well as Steroids and Phytosteroids. Conclusion and application of results: The results indicated that Oxalis corniculata could be an important dietary source of antioxidants with high scavenging abilities as well as rich in biomolecules that are precursors of most biologically active chemicals of medical importance. These findings may thus, justify their wide usage in traditional medicine and envisage a purposeful thoroughly study for possible developments into nutraceutical and drugs. Key words : antioxidants, antiradical, folk medicine, Oxalis corniculata , DPPH


Stealing confidential information from a database has become a severe vulnerability issue for web applications. The attacks can be prevented by defining a whitelist of SQL queries issued by web applications and detecting queries not in list. For large-scale web applications, automated generation of the whitelist is conducted because manually defining numerous query patterns is impractical for developers. Conventional methods for automated generation are unable to detect attacks immediately because of the long time required for collecting legitimate queries. Moreover, they require application-specific implementations that reduce the versatility of the methods. As described herein, we propose a method to generate a whitelist automatically using queries issued during web application tests. Our proposed method uses the queries generated during application tests. It is independent of specific applications, which yields improved timeliness against attacks and versatility for multiple applications.


Background: The syndrome of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is characterized by preserved lung volume indices contrasted by markedly impaired diffusion capacity. Methods: A cohort of 48 consecutive patients (43M/5F) with both emphysema of the upper zones and diffuse parenchymal lung disease with fibrosis of the lower zones of the lungs on chest computed tomography is reported. Demographic and clinical characteristics, past medical history, respiratory profile (spyrometric and arterial blood gasanalysis values, meters walked at 6 MWT), management and outcomes were prospectively recorded. All patients performed a HRCT and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTE). Results: The mean age was 72.5years (range 63-80), 40/48 patients were smokers. Pulmonary function tests were FVC 92 ± 26 % , FEV1% 90 ±22 , DLCO 34 ±15, carbon monoxide transfer coefficient 48 ±19% . All patients were hypoxemic with mild hypocapnia, pO 2 58 ± 15mmHg, pCO 2 35.5 ± 4.7 mmHg, and had an important exercise functional limitation (6 MWT mt 300 ± 150). Pulmonary hypertension, as calculated by TTE, was present in 73% of patients (PAPs 62 ±18 mmHg). Nine pts underwent right heart catheterization with PAPm 42 ± 8 mmHg. Conclusions: The indirect correlation (r = -0,61) between PAPs and DLCO/VA and PAPs and pO 2 (r = -0,40 ) confirms the onset of pulmonary hypertension and reflects the deterioration of the respiratory function.


Cellular membranes serve in the separation of compartments, recognition of the environment, selective transport and signal transduction. Membrane lipids and membrane proteins play distinct roles in these processes, which are affected by environmental chemical (e. g. pH) or physical (e. g. pressure and temperature) changes. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) affects fluidity and integrity of bacterial membranes instantly during the ramp, resulting in a loss of membrane potential and vital membrane protein functions. We have used the multiple drug transporter LmrA from Lactococcus lactis and ToxR, a membrane protein sensor from Photobacterium profundum, a deep-sea bacterium, and Vibrio cholerae to study membrane protein interaction and functionality in proteolioposomes and by the use of in vivo reporter systems, respectively. Both proteins require dimerization in the phospholipid bilayer for their functionality, which was favoured in the liquid crystalline lipid phase with ToxR and LmrA. Whereas LmrA, which resides in liposomes consisting of DMPC, DMPC/cholesterol or natural lipids, lost its ATPase activity above 20 or 40 MPa, it maintained its active dimeric structure in DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol liposomes up to 120 MPa. By using a specific indicator strain in which the dimerisation of ToxR initiates the transcription of lacZ it was demonstrated, that the amino acid sequence of the transmembrane domain influences HHP stability of ToxR dimerization in vivo. Thus, both the lipid structure and the nature of the protein affect membrane protein interaction. It is suggested that the protein structure determines basic functionality, e.g. principle ability or kinetics to dimerize to a functional complex, while the lipid environment modulates this property.


T day is quickly coming to an end when we could incarcerate the mentally ill in a barbaric "out-ofsight—out-of-mind" fashion; when we could plunge helpless human beings into asylum-oriented infernos whose programs are characterized by overcrowding, under-staffing, and penurious appropriations; and for the patient and his relatives alike, stigma, derision, shame, and ridicule. Instead of the hopelessness of yesterday's mental institution and its multitude of patients needlessly deteriorating beyond current hope of recovery because of lack of personnel for treatment programs . . . instead of this, we are coming to the "house of hope"—the therapeutic center in which an enlightened society will provide enlightened attitudes and enlightened treatment for sick human beings. A prophetic document has been presented to this Conference It is the report on the mental health programs of the forty-eight states prepared by the Council of State Governments. It was prepared by this agency at our unanimous request of a year ago—a request we made to furnish us guidance on steps we each can take in our own states. The data collected in the report— official data submitted by each one of our states—represent the conditions of more than a year ago. Despite this, and despite differences in reporting


In this study, a new type of multifunctional sensor is designed, applied for monitoring the temperature, refractive index (RI) or gas pressure. The proposed sensor is composed of a waveguide and a multiple-resonant cavity in two-dimensional photonic crystal with hexagonal lattice. And characteristics simulation analysis has been demonstrated by finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The results of the numerical analysis show that the RI sensitivity is about 1000 nm/ RIU with the range from 1.0 to 1.03 RIU and the temperature sensitivity is 35 pm/°C. In addition, according to the linear dependence between the RI and gas pressure, the proposed sensor can also be applied to gas pressure measurement. Using the difference between the sensitivities of different resonances, the mutual interference between the different measurements can be eliminated. The proposed multifunctional sensor has distinct advantages, such as simultaneous multiple signal sensing ability, high sensitivity, small size, and linear response, which make the device attractive to the applications of physical, chemical and biological sensing technology.


Estimates of the effective dose to adult patients from computed tomography (CT) head scanning can be calculated using a number of different methods. These estimates can be used for a variety of purposes, such as improving scanning protocols, comparing different CT imaging centers, and weighing the benefits of the scan against the risk of radiation-induced cancer. The question arises: What is the uncertainty in these effective dose estimates? This study calculates the uncertainty of effective dose estimates produced by three computer programs (CT-EXPO, CTDosimetry, and ImpactDose) and one method that makes use of dose-length product (DLP) values. Uncertainties were calculated in accordance with an internationally recognized uncertainty analysis guide. For each of the four methods, the smallest and largest overall uncertainties (stated at the 95% confidence interval) were: 20%-31% (CT-EXPO), 15%-28% (CTDosimetry), 20%-36% (ImpactDose), and 22%-32% (DLP), respectively. The overall uncertainties for each method vary due to differences in the uncertainties of factors used in each method. The smallest uncertainties apply when the CT dose index for the scanner has been measured using a calibrated pencil ionization chamber.


The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a trend for automobiles in the world because the oil is more and more hard up for providing, and it makes our environment polluted badly. For our motherland, along with the increasing automobile industry, she is becoming a badly pollution and lean-oil country. The demand for hybrid electric vehicle is especially urgent. Chongqing Changan automobile group makes a series of HEV such as CV8 and CV11. This demands the research and development of power train electronic control unit (HCU). The paper introduces the method and system of HCU for its R&D as well as its industrialization. We focus not only on the hardware and software, the development and the methods of R&D, but also its manufacture and quality management.


The design and development of user interfaces to interactive computer systems has suffered from the inability of designers to easily express their design concepts in concrete, comprehensive, and comprehensible working models. An effort is underway to improve the process of man-machine dialogue design and implementation by developing prototyping and simulation tools to be used as an integral part of the specification and design process. These include an interactive display building utility and a syntax-driven interactive dialogue controller.


A principle for secondary instrumental spinal distraction by a rod appliance of the Knodt and Harrington types is described. The principle entails of the rotation of the screw rod by wire traction. The wire is, in a secondary procedure, unwound from a wire barrel mounted onto the screw rod in the primary operative procedure. The study describes the devices employed, modified according to the wire traction--instrument distraction principle. Previous results from intra-vital studies of the Harrington instrumentation have been reported from experiments performed. Thus, a final distraction force of 18 kp effected for correction of a scoliosis curvature, was taken as a value of distraction prior to secondary instrumental distraction by wire traction. In the extra vital study, the wire traction was adjusted to surmount a compressive force of 20 kpby means of a Bessmann weight scale. Wire traction created a distraction force of 39.5 kp, and a metric distraction, from the position resulting from 20 kp distraction to that resulting from 39.5 kp distraction, of 2.8 mm, which was considered to affect the prevailing scoliosis geometry to a considerable and sufficient extent.


We report a rare case of an elderly woman presented with right renal mass with invasion of renal vein and several small lymphadenopathy in the hilar area. The diagnosis of kidney cancer is suspected and the patient underwent open radical nephrectomy, surrenalectomy and lymphadenectomy dissection. The pathologic examinations find a rosai dorfman disease. This unusual benign entity is uncommon in the kidney, but in medical imaging, it may simulate an infiltrative renal neoplasm, especially a lymphoma or leukemia or even renal cell carcinoma. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to summarize the clinical and pathologic features of this disorder.


This book was written to make accessible in one volume, the products of the clinical application of learning theories, published since 1960. This was the year that Eysenck's book, Behavior Therapy and the Neurosis , was published. The current volume differs from Eysenck's work in that he presented a theoretical frame of reference in the form of several historically important articles, whereas the present editors have written their own introduction. The book is intended for the undergraduate student in psychology. In addition it hopes to reach fellow professional workers, teachers, psychiatrists, social workers as well as clinical psychologists. The introduction takes up one sixth of the bulk of the book. The remainder consists of 50 articles written by a variety of authors who are identified by name but not by their profession or place of their professional activity. These authors, according to the editors, would generally categorize themselves as influenced


Micromobility services hold substantial potential in terms of promoting shared and electric-powered mobility modes, however, little is known about their accessibility and what shapes their spatial coverage. These two issues are important to understand how socially equitable these modes can really be and how public policies should manage their implementation in urban areas. Hence, this study examines the determinants of the spatial coverage of four moped-style scooter sharing services (MSS) in Barcelona. The article examines the socio-territorial characteristics of the coverage areas of each MSS, as defined in 2019, together with the minimum area that operators had to provide service in 2020 according to the local regulation. For each MSS, a binomial generalized linear mixed model is employed to predict the odds of each cadastral parcel being covered by the service and analyzed the main spatial determinants associated with it. The results suggest that territorial coverage is defined by centrality, household disposable income, and topography, with low-accessibility areas consistently omitted from services. The conclusions underline the need for the public sector to participate in the design of spatial coverage areas of MSS to guarantee spatial equity and transportation justice and avoid private sector designs that systematically exclude less attractive areas.


A mercapto derivative of diacetylene was used as the hydrophilic ligand to prepare Janus nanoparticles by using hydrophobic hexanethiolate-protected gold (AuC6, diameter 5 nm) nanoparticles as the starting materials. The amphiphilic surface characters of the Janus nanoparticles were verified by contact angle measurements, as compared to those of the bulk-exchange counterparts where the two types of ligands were distributed rather homogeneously on the nanoparticle surface. Dynamic light scattering studies showed that the Janus nanoparticles formed stable superstructures in various solvent media that were significantly larger than those by the bulk-exchange counterparts. This was ascribed to the amphiphilic characters of the Janus nanoparticles that rendered the particles to behave analogously to conventional surfactant molecules. Notably, because of the close proximity of the diacetylene moieties on the Janus nanoparticle surface, exposure to UV irradiation led to effective covalent cross-linking between the diacetylene moieties of neighboring ligands, as manifested in UV-vis and fluorescence measurements where the emission characteristics of dimers and trimers of diacetylene were rather well-defined, in addition to the monomeric emission. In contrast, for bulk-exchange nanoparticles, no trimer emission could be identified, and the intensity of dimer emission was markedly lower (though the intensity increased with increasing diacetylene coverage on the particle surface) under the otherwise identical experimental conditions. This is largely because the diacetylene ligands were distributed on the entire particle surface, and it was difficult to find a large number of ligands situated closely so that the stringent topochemical principles for the polymerization of diacetylene derivatives could be met. Importantly, the cross-linked Janus nanoparticles were found to exhibit marked enhancement of the structural integrity, which was attributable to the impeded surface diffusion of the thiol ligands on the nanoparticle surface, as manifested in fluorescence measurements of aged nanoparticles.


Multiphoton ionization rates for H2 immersed in an intense linearly polarized laser field are calculated using the recently developed R-matrix Floquet theory of molecular multiphoton processes. We assume that the H2 molecule is aligned along the laser polarization direction and we adopt the fixed-nuclei approximation, in which the motion of the target electrons is calculated in the laser field and in the field of the nuclei, which are assumed to be fixed in space. An accurate multi-state wavefunction is employed to calculate one-, two- and four-photon ionization rates for H2 at several internuclear separations over a range of frequencies and intensities. Analysis of the ionization rates reveals the important role played both by resonances corresponding to Rydberg bound states converging to the H2+ ion ground state and by doubly excited states converging to the H2+ ion first excited state. These resonances give rise to resonant enhanced multiphoton ionization peaks in many of the ionization rates studied in this paper, and their possible role in controlling the vibrational population of the final H2+ ion is discussed.


Abstract Vojvodina is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in Europe where, according to the latest census in 2011, Hungarians are the largest non-Serb national minority group. In recent decades, this northern province of Serbia has faced continuous depopulation, forcing schools and nurseries to face an uncertain future. We argue that despite the decreasing population in general, the nature of Serbia's minority rights regime currently produces social inequality, as policies that seek harmony by accepting ethnic separation may give rise to future conflict. In these challenging times, we focus on the political culture that is currently functioning in Serbia, in which the Hungarian national minority is (re)positioning itself to secure its own identity. In this paper, we will cover the history and function of the nurseries (bölcsőde) and kindergartens (óvoda) of the Hungarian national minority in Serbia. We will cover the early years curriculum and qualification requirements of the early childhood workforce. Furthermore, we will explain the influence of educational and cultural traditions and values through early childhood education and care (ECEC), giving specific attention to the usage of the native language that is fundamental to cultural identity.


OBJECTIVES
This study examined factors associated with emergency department use among homeless and marginally housed persons.

METHODS
Interviews were conducted with 2578 homeless and marginally housed persons, and factors associated with different patterns of emergency department use were assessed in multivariate models.

RESULTS
Findings showed that 40.4% of respondents had 1 or more emergency department encounters in the previous year; 7.9% exhibited high rates of use (more than 3 visits) and accounted for 54.5% of all visits. Factors associated with high use rates included less stable housing, victimization, arrests, physical and mental illness, and substance abuse. Predisposing and need factors appeared to drive emergency department use.

CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to reduce emergency department use among the homeless should be targeted toward addressing underlying risk factors among those exhibiting high rates of use.


To the Editor:— The controversy between the clinician Sagebiel and the psychologist Cattell concerning the definition of anxiety (LETTERS, JAMA 190 :859 [Nov 30] 1964) is of epistemological rather than semantic interest. It demonstrates the epistemological inferiority, even uselessness, of the psychologists' approach. Anxiety and fear belong to so-called general feelings ( Gemeingefuhle ). Fear is an atavistic emotional heritage serving protective purposes against a threatening event, impending danger, or risky performance. This psychological emotion is a cortical function with repercussion on the diencephalic autonomic nervous system. Alteration of respiration, pulse rate, or blood pressure; blushing or pallor; inhibition of salivary secretion; or weeping are witness thereof. Anxiety is fear without extrinsic cause, without a substratum, not fear of something. It is an autonomous feeling aroused by intrinsic cortical processes, conscious or subconscious memories and associations originating from past experiences and life situations. It is a pathological outlet of mental processes involved


This paper aims to propose natural interactive technique those using biometrics which do not require direct contact or physical engagement with user's input device. One of the natural motion that can be used as a tool is palm tracking. A prototype palm tracking madeto control mouse pointer (left click) and cursor keys (left and right arrows) use Haar Cascade to detect movement or shifting of each pixels an object in real -time video. The method is using haar-like features which need to be training first to get a dec ision tree (cascade classifier) as a determining of whether there is a palm object or not in each frame which being processed. The prototype has been made to run in real time.


OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of antiarrhythmic drugs on the timing of arrhythmic death.

BACKGROUND
Sudden cardiac death remains a problem of epidemic proportions. Delineating its pathophysiology is an important step in devising preventive measures. Previous studies have shown a circadian pattern of onset of sudden cardiac death. The effect of antiarrhythmic drugs on this pattern has not been systematically studied.

METHODS
The Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST) was a multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to determine whether suppression of ventricular ectopic activity by means of antiarrhythmic drugs (encainide, flecainide or moricizine) after acute myocardial infarction would reduce the incidence of arrhythmic death.

RESULTS
The trial was terminated prematurely because of an unexpectedly high mortality rate in the active treatment group. The onset of arrhythmic death in this group (in patients not receiving beta-adrenergic blocking agents) displayed a bimodal variation, with significant peaks in midmorning and late afternoon/early evening. More than half of the symptomatic events were accompanied by anginalike symptoms. Approximately 30% of all events occurred within 2 h of awakening.

CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest the possibility of a complex interaction among antiarrhythmic drugs, sympathetic nervous system activation and acute myocardial ischemia. Planning of future antiarrhythmic drug trials will need to take this information into account.


Introduction: The role of bronchoscopy in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not clearly defined and the etiologic diagnosis of CAP is still a common medical problem. In more than 40% of CAP the causative organism remains unidentified. Since proper treatment is crucial, the use of early bronchoscopy can modify the prognosis of this disease. Aims: Investigate the contribution of flexiblebronchoscopy in CAP concerning etiologic diagnosis, treatment strategy, hospitalization length and in-hospital mortality. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of adult patients with CAP, admitted to our Pulmonology ward in 2014 and submitted to flexiblebronchoscopy. Standard evaluation including medical history, chest radiograph, laboratory findings, specifically the microbiology of broncoscopic aspiration and lavage was carried out. Results: This study included 48 patients, 36 men and 12 women (mean age 69 vs 67 years). The cultures of bronchoscopic aspiration were negative in 73% and identified a pathogen in 27%. Broncoscopic lavage was performed in 37 patients and identified one organism in 24% of the cases. Only 3 patients have done the bronchoscopy prior to antibiotic treatment. The therapy was changed in 13 patients according to the microbiology results and all cases showed overall improvement. There were no statiscally differences in days of hospitalization. The only 2 patients who died had Haemophilus influenza and SAMR identified but no therapeutic change was made. Conclusions: Flexiblebronchoscopy has had a limited value in the identification of a specific microorganism in CAP in our patients. In this phew patients, the bronchoscopy has led to an antibiotic change with better outcome.


The century following the collapse of Chaco is often viewed as a time of cultural backsliding. However, imposing sites with Chaco-inspired public architecture provide evidence of large communities, dating between A.D. 1200 and 1275, that laid the organizational foundations of well-known Pueblo IV towns. This article reports on excavations at one such Zuni-area settlement, the Hinkson site. In this site, 32 residential room blocks surround a great house complex that includes an unroofed, oversize great kiva, a nazha, and roads. The Hinkson site appears to be the center of a 250 square kilometer community with 70 room blocks and nearly 900 rooms. Recognition of these multi-room block communities with public architecture permits a reformulation of current concepts of post-Chacoan, Anasazi social integration and provides a more plausible bridge between the Chacoan and Pueblo IV periods.


The burden of proof is an essential mechanism to ensure that cases are decided fairly. Our existing form of proof burdens, unfortunately, has a number of surprising downsides. Conventional burdens of proof are mathematically discontinuous. This means that a tiny shift in a jury's confidence in guilt can lead to a dramatic change in consequences for the parties in a case.

This article explores the costs and benefits of an alternative approach to deciding cases, the continuous burden of proof, and concludes that adopting the right kind of continuous burden would help make our justice system fairer, more equitable, and more effective at deterring wrongdoing. Existing scholarship has analyzed one type of continuous burden of proof, the linear burden, which scales the amount of damages in direct proportion to a jury's confidence level that the defendant has engaged in the charged offense. Unfortunately, the choice between linear continuous burdens and traditional burdens involves a hard-to-reconcile tradeoff between the values of deterring wrongdoing and reducing the expected rate of errors at trial.

I offer two ways in which we might move beyond this apparent stalemate. First, I enumerate previously unexplored advantages of continuous burdens, including their ability to minimize the impacts of biases and other forms of structural unfairness at trial. Second, I offer the first exploration of the logistic continuous burden of proof. This novel means of deciding cases strikes a better balance between deterrence and expected errors than either a traditional burden or a linear continuous burden does. After making the case for the adoption of a logistic continuous burden of proof, this article will consider some challenges that would stand in its way and some reasonable steps we could take towards the continuous approach.


The database of agrobiotechnology, which included 155,000 of internal and external literatures (datum) published, is composed of Chinese database and English database, a record is linked with 6 access words (Chinese) or 10 ones (English), anyone of which can be alone or composed with others served as the access of first and second data searching.


The Nogoa–Belyando survey was the last of three surveys encompassing brigalow lands of interest for agricultural development. The survey covered an area of 90,650 km2 with 43 land systems ranging in area from 285 km2 to 9,635 km2 with between two and seven land units in each. The survey team recognised and described the relative area and distribution, landforms, soils, vegetation and land capability class of 201 land units (but see Report No. 39 for revisions to these findings) with their position in the landscape shown on block diagrams. The report has seven individual chapters: Geology — describing geological history and the relation of lithology to land systems Geomorphology — recognising eight physical regions with distinctive relief and 'broadly related complexes of soil and vegetation' and describing geomorphic history and the relationship between geomorphic categories, relief categories and the lithology of land systems Soils — identifying the proportion of each land system within a catenary sequence of eight major soil groups and 35 families of soils Vegetation — described in terms of various woodland, scrub and grass communities Pasture lands — described in terms of the proportion of six recognised grass communities in each land system with the land systems allocated to seven types of pasture lands and with comments on factors affecting their carrying capacity Climate — describing principal climatic controls and general characteristics of rainfall, temperature, evaporation and other parameters Land Use — with further assessment of the relationships of climate and soils to present and potential use Map 1 — Land Systems of the Nogoa–Belyando area, Queensland, Australia by RW Galloway, RH Gunn and L Pedley. Scale 8 miles to 1 inch. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 18, 1967. Map 2 — Nogoa–Belyando area, Queensland, Australia. Two maps on sheet, each scale 16 miles to 1 inch: Geology and Geomorphology by RW Galloway; Soils by RH Gunn. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 18, 1967. Map 3 — Vegetation of the Nogoa–Belyando area, Queensland, Australia by L Pedley. Two maps on sheet, each scale 16 miles to 1 inch; Grass Communities; Tree Communities. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 18, 1967. Map 4 — Pasture Lands of the Nogoa–Beylando area, Queensland, Australia by L Pedley. Scale 16 miles to 1 inch. CSIRO Land Research Series No. 18, 1967. The maps were digitised by the Queensland Government with permission of CSIRO. Access to the digital files can be obtained from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water. Editor's Note: Since the survey, the population of its main town, Emerald, has grown from about 2,000 to over 12,000 in 2011 with the development of irrigated agriculture, mining and tourism.


G protein‒coupled receptors (GPCRs), including olfactory receptors, account for the largest group of genes in the human genome and occupy a very important position in signaling systems. Although olfactory receptors, which belong to the broader category of GPCRs, play an important role in monitoring the organism's surroundings, their actual three-dimensional structure has not yet been determined. Therefore, the specific details of the molecular interactions between the receptor and the ligand remain unclear. In this report, the interactions between human olfactory receptor 1A1 and its odorant molecules were simulated using computational methods, and we explored how the chemically simple odorant molecules activate the olfactory receptor.


Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems as a means to combat fading in wireless channels. MIMO allows higher throughput, diversity gain and interference reduction. In this paper, we analyze the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of the Alamouti Space Time Block Code with V-BLAST (Vertical Bell Laboratories Layered Space-Time) over MIMO system. Basic idea in this scheme is to improve the BER performance of systems. V-BLAST algorithm offers highly better error performance than conventional linear receivers and still has low complexity. The simulated results are based on different modulations, such as BPSK, 4-QAM and 16-QAM over Rayleigh fading channels. KeywordsBER, Rayleigh fading, MIMO system, ZF, BPSK, QAM, Alamouti Scheme and V-BLAST. __________________________________________________*****_________________________________________________