Researchers previously have investigated the role of race in capital sentencing, and in particular, whether the race of the defendant or victim influences the likelihood of a death sentence. In the present study, we examined whether the likelihood of being sentenced to death is influenced by the degree to which a Black defendant is perceived to have a stereotypically Black appearance. Controlling for a wide array of factors, we found that in cases involving a White victim, the more stereotypically Black a defendant is perceived to be, the more likely that person is to be sentenced to death. Race matters in capital punishment. Even when statistically controlling for a wide variety of nonracial factors that may influence sentencing, numerous researchers have found that murderers of White victims are more likely than murderers of Black victims to be sentenced to death (Baldus, Pulaski, & Woodworth, 1983; Baldus, Woodworth, & Pulaski, 1985, 1990, 1994; Baldus,Woodworth, Zuckerman,Weiner, & Broffitt, 1998; Bowers, Pierce, & McDevitt, 1984; Gross & Mauro, 1989; Radelet, 1981; U.S. General Accounting Office, GAO, 1990). The U.S. GAO (1990) has described this race-of-victim effect as ''remarkably consistent across data sets, states, data collection methods, and analytic techniques'' (p. 5). In one of the most comprehensive studies to date, the race of the victim and the race of the defendant each were found to influence sentencing (Baldus et al., 1998). Not only did killing a White person rather than a Black person increase the likelihood of being sentenced to death, but also Black defendants were more likely than White defendants to be sentenced to death. In the current research, we used the data set from this study by Baldus and his colleagues (1998) to investigate whether the probability of receiving the death penalty is significantly influenced by the degree to which the defendant is perceived to have a stereotypically Black appearance (e.g., broad nose, thick lips, dark skin). In particular, we considered the effect of a Black defendant's perceived stereotypicality for those cases in which race is most salient—when a Black defendant is charged with murdering a White victim. Although systematic studies of death sentencing have been conducted for decades, noprior studies have examined this potential influence of physical appearance on death-sentencing decisions. A growing body of research demonstrates that people more readily apply racial stereotypes to Blacks who are thought to look more stereotypically Black, compared with Blacks who are thought to look less stereotypically Black (Blair, Judd, & Fallman, 2004; Blair, Judd, Sadler, & Jenkins, 2002; Eberhardt, Goff, Purdie, & Davies, 2004; Maddox, 2004; Maddox & Gray, 2002, 2004). People associate Black physical traits with criminality in particular. The more stereotypically Black a person's physical traits appear to be, the more criminal that person is perceived to be (Eberhardt et al., 2004). A recent study found that perceived stereotypicality correlated with the actual sentencing decisions of judges (Blair, Judd, & Chapleau, 2004). Even with differences in defendants' criminal histories statistically controlled, those defendants who possessed the most stereotypically Black facial features served up to 8 months longer in prison for felonies than defendants who possessed the least stereotypically Black features. The present study examined the extent to which perceived stereotypicality of Black defendants influenced jurors' death-sentencing decisions in cases with both White and Black victims. We argue that only in death-eligible cases involving White victims—cases in which race is most salient—will Black defendants' physical traits function as a significant determinant of deathworthiness. PHASE I: BLACK DEFENDANT, WHITE VICTIM Method Weused an extensive database (compiled by Baldus et al., 1998) containing more than 600 death-eligible cases from PhiladelAddress correspondence to Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Jordan Hall, Building 420, Stanford, CA 94305-2130, e-mail: email@example.com. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE Volume 17—Number 5 383 Copyright r 2006 Association for Psychological Science at AMHERST COLLEGE LIBRARY on September 6, 2010 pss.sagepub.com Downloaded from phia, Pennsylvania, that advanced to penalty phase between 1979 and 1999. Forty-four of these cases involved Black male defendants who were convicted of murdering White victims. We obtained the photographs of these Black defendants and presented all 44 of them (in a slide-show format) to naive raters who did not know that the photographs depicted convicted murderers. Raters were asked to rate the stereotypicality of each Black defendant's appearance and were told they could use any number of features (e.g., lips, nose, hair texture, skin tone) to arrive at their judgments (Fig. 1). Stanford undergraduates served as the raters. To control for potential order effects, we presented the photographs in a different random order in each of two sessions. Thirty-two raters (26 White, 4 Asian, and 2 of other ethnicities) participated in one session, and 19 raters (6 White, 11 Asian, and 2 of other ethnicities) participated in the second session. The raters were shown a black-and-white photograph of each defendant's face. The photographs were edited such that the backgrounds and image sizes were standardized, and only the face and a portion of the neck were visible. Raters were told that all the faces they would be viewing were of Black males. The defendants' faces were projected one at a time onto a screen at the front of the room for 4 s each as participants recorded stereotypicality ratings using a scale from 1 (not at all stereotypical) to 11 (extremely stereotypical). In both sessions, raters were kept blind to the purpose of the study and the identity of the men in the photographs. The data were analyzed for effects of order and rater's race, but none emerged. Results We computed an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using stereotypicality (low-high median split) as the independent variable, the percentage of death sentences imposed as the dependent variable, and six nonracial factors known to influence sentencing (Baldus et al., 1998; Landy & Aronson, 1969; Stewart, 1980) as covariates: (a) aggravating circumstances, (b) mitigating circumstances, (c) severity of the murder (as determined by blind ratings of the cases once purged of racial information), (d) the defendant's socioeconomic status, (e) the victim's socioeconomic status, and (f) the defendant's attractiveness. As per Pennsylvania statute (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, 2005), aggravating circumstances included factors such as the victim's status as a police officer, prosecution witness, or drug-trafficking competitor; the defendant's prior convictions for voluntary manslaughter or violent felonies; and characteristics of the crime, such as torture, kidnapping, or payment for the murder. Mitigating circumstances included factors such as the defendant's youth or advanced age, extreme mental or emotional disturbance, lack of prior criminal convictions, minor or coerced role in the crime, and impaired ability to appreciate the criminality of his conduct. The Baldus database of death-eligible defendants is arguably one of the most comprehensive to date; using it allowed us to control for the key variables known to influence sentencing outcomes. The results confirmed that, above and beyond the effects of the covariates, defendants whose appearance was perceived asmore stereotypically Black were more likely to receive a death sentence than defendants whose appearance was perceived as less stereotypically Black, F(1, 36)5 4.11, p< .05,Z 2 p 1⁄4 :10 (Fig. 2a). In fact, 24.4% of those Black defendants who fell in the lower half of the stereotypicality distribution received a death sentence, whereas 57.5% of those Black defendants who fell in the upper half received a death sentence. PHASE II: BLACK DEFENDANT, BLACK VICTIM Method Using the same database and procedures described earlier, we examined whether this stereotypicality effect extended to cases in which the victims were Black. Of all cases that advanced to penalty phase, 308 involved Black male defendants who were convicted of murdering Black victims. The photographs for all of these defendants were obtained. The death-sentencing rate for these 308 defendants, however, was only 27% (as compared with 41% for the cases withWhite victims). Given both the low deathsentencing rate and the large number of cases involving Black defendants and Black victims, we selected 118 of these 308 cases randomly from the database with the stipulation that those defendants receiving the death sentence be oversampled. This oversampling yielded a subset of cases in which the deathsentencing rate (46%) was not significantly different from that for the cases withWhite victims (41%; F5 1). Using this subset provided a conservative test of our hypothesis. We then preFig. 1. Examples of variation in stereotypicality of Black faces. These images are the faces of people with no criminal history and are shown here for illustrative purposes only. The face on the right would be considered more stereotypically Black than the face on the left. With the exception of defendant's attractiveness, all of the covariates employed here were included in the Baldus database and have been described in detail elsewhere (e.g., see Baldus et al., 1998). We added defendant's attractiveness, basing this variable on 42 naive participants' ratings of the defendants' faces using a scale from 1 (not at all attractive) to 11 (extremely attractive). 384 Volume 17—Number 5 Looking Deathworthy at AMHERST COLLEGE LIBRARY on September 6, 2010 pss.sagepub.com Downloaded from sented this subset of Black defendants who murdered Black victims to 18 raters (12 White and 6 Asian), who rated the faces on stereotypicality.


AIM
To determine the prevalence and the clinical-epidemiological and therapeutic characteristics of primary headaches in a rural population in Cuba.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural population of the Policlinica Mabay in the province of Granma, Cuba. The second International Headache Society classification was used. Sample size, which was calculated by means of the program EpiInfo 2002, was 360 adult workers over 18 years of age, who were selected by simple random sampling.

RESULTS
The prevalence of primary headaches was 44.72%. There was a predominance of females (71.4%). 31.1% of cases were between 50 and 59 years old. 36.6% had a family history of headaches. Onset of headaches occurred before the age of 15 years in 44.1% of patients. The most frequent location was occipital (45.3% of cases). The most frequent precipitating factors were stress (27.9%) and menstruation (27.3%). The predominant accompanying symptom was dizziness (26.1%). Tension-type headache was the most prevalent, with 92 patients (25.56%), followed by migraine, with 61 diagnoses (16.94%). 78.3% of the patients with tension-type headache and 70.5% of those with migraine tried self-medication with dipyrone and paracetamol. Patients with migraine made more frequent use of prophylactic treatment than those who suffered from tension-type headache (32.8% versus 16.3%; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of primary headaches is high in the rural population under study; the high rate of prescription drug abuse (mainly painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) has led to a significant number of headaches becoming chronic. This health problem is also seen to have an important effect on occupational affairs.


The statistical power of weak lensing measurements is principally driven by the number of high-redshift galaxies whose shapes are resolved. Conventional wisdom and physical intuition suggest this is optimized by deep imaging at long (red or near-IR) wavelengths, to avoid losing redshifted Balmer-break and Lyman-break galaxies. We use the synthetic Emission Line ("EL")-COSMOS catalog to simulate lensing observations using different filters, from various altitudes. Here were predict the number of exposures to achieve a target z ≳ 0.3 source density, using off-the-shelf and custom filters. Ground-based observations are easily better at red wavelengths, as (more narrowly) are space-based observations. However, we find that SuperBIT, a diffraction-limited observatory operating in the stratosphere, should instead perform its lensing-quality observations at blue wavelengths.


Today, collective competence is no longer an option, but rather an imperative in the face of unexpected crises. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the insufficiencies of individual skills to manage uncertainties. Collective competence as a source of added value, results in the combination of individual skills of a collective of work to face a situation that could not be assumed by each of its members alone. To negotiate the unforeseen events generated by COVID-19, managers will need an explicit matrix of individual skills in addition to the conditions required for the combination of these skills. However, is this notion of collective competence well defined by scientific research? how to improve the interconnections between the elements of the collective to combine them effectively? ... There are so many questions that will be addressed in this research, by mobilizing the related theoretical framework. The analysis of these theories conveys that the variables characterizing individual skills cannot respond to the interaction required to face the crisis and that the link between individual skills and collective skills has remained weakly explored to date. In our research, we propose a skills plan for the mitigation of the impacts of COVID-19, integrating the variables of individual skills and their links with the variables conditioning the combination of these skills.


1. Abstract Several numerical algorithms, developed in the computational-fluid-dynamics community for solving the Euler equations, are found to be equally effective for solving the Maxwell equations in the time domain. The basic approach of these numerical procedures is to achieve the Riemann approximation to the time-dependent, three-dimensional problem in each spatial direction. The threedimensional equations are then solved by a sequence of one-dimensional problems. This approach is referred to as a characteristicbased method. The basic algorithm can be implemented for both finite-difference and finite-volume procedures, and has the potential to eliminate the spurious-wave reflections from the numerical boundaries of the computational domain. The formulation and relative merit of the finite-difference and the finite-volume approximations are presented, together with numerical results from these procedures.


Despite the clear advantages of confinement of concrete structural elements with fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) for strength and deformability enhancement, concerns as to their performance at elevated temperature, or in fire, remain. The results of a series of elevated temperature experiments on FRP and textile reinforced mortar (TRM) strengthening systems for confinement of circular concrete columns are presented. The behaviour and effectiveness of the respective confining systems is studied up to temperatures of 400°C. A total of 24 concrete cylinders were wrapped in the hoop direction with different amounts of FRP or TRM, heated to steady-state temperatures between 20 and 400°C, and loaded to failure in concentric axial compression under a steady-state thermal regime. The results indicate that the effectiveness of the FRP confining system bonded with epoxy decreased considerably, but did not vanish, with increasing temperatures, in particular within the region of the glass transition temperature of the epoxy resin/adhesive. Conversely, the TRM confining system, bonded with inorganic mortar rather than epoxy, demonstrated superior performance at 400°C as compared against tests performed at ambient temperature. Additional research is needed to better understand the reasons for this.


The Minority Game is a physicist's attempt to explain market behaviour by the interaction between traders. With a minimal set of ingredients and drastic assumptions, this model reproduces market ecology among different types of traders. Its emphasis is on speculative trading and information flow. The book first describes the philosophy lying behind the conception of the Minority Game in 1997, and includes in particular a discussion about the El Farol bar problem. It then reviews the main steps in later developments, including both the theory and its applications to market phenomena. 'Minority Games' gives a colourful and stylized, but also realistic picture of how financial markets operate.


The article deals with the problematic issues of teaching Russian to students from the Republic of Angola. In particular, attention is drawn to the study of the topic of Russian prepositions. The author of the article conducts a comparative analysis of the meaning of prepositions «in/to» and «through/across» in Portuguese and Russian languages, highlighting their similarities and differences in speech. Among the reasons that cause difficulties in the perception of this topic, the author, among other things, points to extra-linguistic factors: national languages, place and method of resettlement of students, their social affiliation, cultural and linguistic features, and language picture of the world, worldview, culturally conditioned contacts, and the prevalence of the language. The presence of the above factors predetermines the teaching methods of this group of students. The article also discusses the impact of globalism on students and on the process of learning the Russian language. The features of syncretic cultures, the reasons of their origin and realization in modern cultural space of the world are noted.


The purpose of this study were: (1) analyzed the differences in students' mathematical reasoning ability improvement taught by metacognition approach aided probing technique (PMT-probing) and metacognition approach aided prompting technique (PMT-prompting); and (2) described the process of the students' responses in solving mathematical reasoning abilities. This study was a quasi experimentalresearch. The population in this study were all students of class VIII SMP Negeri 4 SeiSuka, with a purposive sampling techniques, the obtained sample was VIII-1 and VIII-2. The research instrument used a test of mathematical reasoning ability, and had qualified the criteria of content validity, and reliability coefficient of 0.819. Anova two ways was used to analyze the difference of mathematical reasoning ability improvement, while descriptive analysis was used to analyze students' answers process. The results showed that: (1) There were differences in students' mathematical reasoning skills improvement which were taught by metacognition approach aided probing techniques and the students taught by prompting technical approach; and (2) The process of the students' responses on students' mathematical reasoning abilitythrough learning with metacognition approach aided by prompting techniques was better than metacognition approach aided by probing techniques.


Abstract Objectives We compared cases of phenotypic female patients who presented with male karyotype and underwent prophylactic gonadectomy. Case presentation Five patients with female phenotypes presented in early adulthood with primary amenorrhoea with varying degrees of puberty. One was tall with breast development. Another was very short with clitoromegaly and multiple co-morbidities. The other three had no secondary sexual characteristics. They were examined, after which hormonal profile, karyotyping, ultrasound examination and magnetic resonance imaging were done to assess the site of gonads. Gonadectomy was performed once their 46 XY karyotype was confirmed. Results of histopathological examination of their gonads ranged from dysgenetic gonads to having testicular tissues and malignancy. Conclusion Female patients with 46 XY karyotypes require prophylactic gonadectomy performed at different timings depending on diagnosis due to the malignancy risk. Pre-operative assessment is essential to locate the gonads prior to surgery.


With technology shrinking, the interconnect effect has been a key challenge to improve the IC performance. The swift and accurate 3-D capacitance extraction plays a significant role in the VLSI design and verification. For exactly extracting the 3-D capacitance, numerical solution of the integral equations is entailed. Fast hierarchical method (FHM) has been proven to be an efficient acceleration algorithm for three-dimensional (3-D) capacitance extraction. In the FHM, however, the conventional preconditioning techniques for an explicit matrix are not applicable since no coefficient matrix is actually constructed. In this work, a preconditioning technique for the FHM is proposed by carefully examining inherent properties of the hierarchical data structure in the FHM. This preconditioning technique significantly enhances convergence of the iterative solution yet preserves the implicit nature of the matrix operations in the FHM.


Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) is today recognised as the surgical procedure of choice for corneal endothelial dysfunction.1 The triple procedure (either staged or combined), whereby cataract surgery can be performed at the same time as endothelial keratoplasty, is well suited for patients with Fuch's endothelial dystrophy with decreased vision due to endothelial guttata, early stromal oedema and cataract formation.2 Recognised complications of DSAEK include donor graft detachment/dislocation, primary graft failure and pupillary block by air.2–4 Intraocular lens (IOL) opacification is a complication that is becoming apparent in patients who have undergone DSAEK and, to date, no definitive mechanism of such opacification has been discovered. Primary postoperative optic opacification of hydrophilic acrylic IOL designs has been attributed to the formation of calcium phosphate deposits.5 6 This has led to changes in lens designs, manufacturing processes and packaging.7 Secondary calcification is thought to be caused by environmental factors unrelated to the IOL model, such as breakdown of the blood–aqueous barrier.8 In this report, four cases of IOL anterior surface opacification are described in patients who required both cataract surgery and DSAEK. Only one case had cataract surgery and DSAEK performed concurrently, with the remainder having DSAEK performed at variable timeframes after cataract surgery.


The radiation dose received by passengers during flight on conventional jet aircraft was determined as a function of exposure to cosmic radiation, solar radiation, flight time, and flight path. The dosimetric measurements were made with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD's) and with emulsions of three types sealed in plastic packets. These packets were sent by air mail back and forth from Berkeley, California to five cities and a dose sufficiently above background for a satisfactory measurement was accumulated by the TLD's on one round trip and by the emulsions on three round trips. It was concluded that both experiments and theory show that the total doses received at present day conventional jet aircraft altitudes are considerably higher than those encountered in supersonic flights at much higher altitudes, even though the dose rate is lower at these lower altitudes, when the longer time of exposure at the lower altitudes is taken into consideration. Computer programs used in the dose calculations are included. (CH)


ABSTRACT Introduction: Cell phones are essential for modern life and their usage becomes prevalent. Worries have increased concerning the harmful effects of their radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Liver X receptors (LXRs) are ligand-dependent transcription factors that have important roles in lipid metabolism and inflammation, plus several recently emerging roles. Whether it is useful to overcome the hazardous effects of cell phone radiation needs to be clarified. So, this study aimed to investigate the effect of LXRs activation on testicular changes in rats exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were subdivided into control group, experimental group: exposed to cell phone electromagnetic radiation, and treated group: as experimental group and received LXRs agonist T0901317. Serum testosterone (T), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and Luteinizing Hormone (LH), testicular tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and gene expressions of inflammatory and apoptotic markers were assessed. Seminal analysis and testicular histological examination were performed. Results: LXRs activation in rats exposed to cell phone radiation improved the decreased testicular and gonadotrophic hormones, semen quality parameters, tissue SOD, and anti-apoptotic gene expression as well as the elevated tissue MDA, apoptotic and inflammatory gene expressions, and the testicular histological changes induced by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Conclusion: Exposure to cell phone radiation leads to harmful effects on spermatogenesis and LXRs activation could improve these effects via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its endocrinal action.


Each year towards the end of January as directed by the Utah Constitution, 29 senators and 75 representatives convene for the 45-day session of the Utah State Legislature. A relatively short session compared with most other states, the Utah Legislature is unique in its efficiency, accessibility and ideology. It is efficient in that the Legislature passes far more bills in 45 days than U.S. Congress o en passes in an entire session. e Utah Legislature, for example, passed 528 bills in 2015, while the 113th Congress passed just 297.


The work is based on an analysis of 95 clinical observations of patients with primary and metastatic liver disease who were in the surgical department of tumors of the liver and pancreas of the State Research Institute named by N.N. Blokhin of RAMS from 1990 to 2011. All patients underwent two or more liver resections. Of all 95 patients included in this study, 64 underwent repeated interventions over a liver colorectal metastases. 10 patients had the operations, which were performed for primary hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver. In 21 patients re-resection were performed for metastatic lesions of other tumor nosology. Postoperative mortality in tumor lesions of the liver in patients who underwent repeat resection was 1.05%, postoperative complications occurred in 38.9% of patients. All patients with colorectal liver metastases who underwent repeat resection of various sizes, five-year survival rate was 53.3±8.8%. Median 35.9 months. The low level of mortality and acceptable level of postoperative complications in patients re-operated liver tumor, as well as high rates of long survival confirm the thesis about the need for such interventions as part of combined treatment of this difficult group of patients.


The traditional formula for calculating luminosity assumes an uncoupled lattice and makes use of one-degree-offreedom lattice functions, PH and ,&, for relating transverse beam widths to emittances. Strong coupling requires changing this approach. It is simplest to employ directly the linear normal form coordinates of the one turn map. An equilibrium distribution in phase space is expressed as a function of the Jacobian's eigenvectors and beam size parameters or emittances. Using the equilibrium distributions an expression for the luminosity was derived and applied to the Tevatron lattice, which was coupled due to a quadrupole roll.


Recently, the study on learned iterative shrinkage thresholding algorithm (LISTA) has attracted increasing attentions. A large number of experiments as well as some theories have proved the high efficiency of LISTA for solving sparse coding problems. However, existing LISTA methods are all serial connection. To address this issue, we propose a novel extragradient based LISTA (ELISTA), which has a residual structure and theoretical guarantees. Moreover, most LISTA methods use the soft thresholding function, which has been found to cause a large estimation bias. Therefore, we propose a thresholding function for ELISTA instead of soft thresholding. From a theoretical perspective, we prove that our method attains linear convergence. Through ablation experiments, the improvements of our method on the network structure and the thresholding function are verified in practice. Extensive empirical results verify the advantages of our method.


Achieving low load-to-use latency with low energy and storage overheads is critical for performance. Existing techniques either prefetch into the pipeline (via address prediction and validation) or provide data reuse in the pipeline (via register sharing or L0 caches). These techniques provide a range of tradeoffs between latency, reuse, and overhead. In this work, we present a pipeline prefetching technique that achieves state-of-the-art performance and data reuse without additional data storage, data movement, or validation overheads by adding address tags to the register file. Our addition of register file tags allows us to forward (reuse) load data from the register file with no additional data movement, keep the data alive in the register file beyond the instruction's lifetime to increase temporal reuse, and coalesce prefetch requests to achieve spatial reuse. Further, we show that we can use the existing memory order violation detection hardware to validate prefetches and data forwards without additional overhead. Our design achieves the performance of existing pipeline prefetching while also forwarding 32% of the loads from the register file (compared to 15% in state-of-the-art register sharing), delivering a 16% reduction in L1 dynamic energy (1.6% total processor energy), with an area overhead of less than 0.5%.


The time development of two-dimensional fluid motion induced by a line sink in a rectangular, density stratified reservoir with a free surface is given. It is shown that the initiation of such a sink gives birth to a spectrum of internal expanding shear fronts with a progressively decreasing vertical wavelength. These fronts move out from the sink and travel towards the far wall, where they are reflected. This process ceases once the front with a vertical wavelength equal to the steady withdrawal-layer thickness has reached the end wall. The fronts so introduced continue to move back and forth, expanding to standing waves if the viscosity of the fluid is small enough. The evolution and nature of the withdrawal layer are shown to depend critically on the relative magnitude of the convective inertia and viscous forces, the number of reflexions from the rear wall and the Prandtl number.


This report describes a patient who developed pulmonary hypertension 6 years after lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Evaluation with right heart catheterization followed by pulmonary angiography, however, demonstrated that the pulmonary hypertension was secondary to an anastomotic narrowing of the pulmonary artery, rather than a recurrence of her PPH. Vascular complications of lung transplantation should be considered in patients who experience exertional dyspnea after lung transplantation. The suggestion of pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography should prompt further evaluation, including meticulous hemodynamic measurements.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish the association between smallholder farmer perceptions toward climate change and adaptation strategies at the household level in Chimanimani District of Zimbabwe.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 284 households mainly using a structured questionnaire. The Heckman probit selection model was used to first identify the underlying socio-economic factors that affect households' recognition of climate change in the past 10 years, and the second model the factors that influence adaptation to the climate change phenomenon.

Findings
The majority of farmers (85 percent) perceived that climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and variability in rainfall patterns, has been occurring in the past ten years. As a response, farmers adapted using methods such as manuring and staggering of planting dates. Indigenous knowledge systems and non-governmental organizations increased the likelihood farmers' recognition of climate change (p<0.05). The probability of adopting multiple adaptation strategies was influenced by household head's education level, land tenure and access to public extension services.

Practical implications
Integrative extension methods that take into account socio-cultural values could be helpful in building resilience as farmers are better able to understand the climate change construct. There is a need to guarantee land tenure rights in resettlement areas to stimulate investment on farms.

Originality/value
This study showed that there is a link between farmers' prior knowledge of climate change and the number of adaptive investments. The analysis proposed an educational and extension approach that is embedded in the socio-cultural and traditional setting of farmers.


As Doctor Who approaches its fiftieth anniversary recent series have taken the show to new heights in terms of popular appeal and critical acclaim.The Doctor and his TARDIS-driven adventures, along with companions and iconic monsters, are now recognised and enjoyed globally. The time is ripe for a detailed analytic assessment of this cultural phenomenon.

Focussing on the most recent television output The Inner World of Doctor Who examines why the show continues to fascinate contemporary audiences. Presenting closely-observed psychoanalytic readings of selected episodes, this book examines why these stories of time travel, monsters, and complex human relationships have been successful in providing such an emotionally rich dramatization of human experience. The Inner World of Doctor Who seeks to explore the multiple cultural and emotional dimensions of the series, moving back and forth from behind the famous sofa, where children remember hiding from scary monsters, and onto the proverbial psychoanalytic couch. The approach that the authors take recognizes the richness that Doctor Who contains, episode by episode and in its culture and mythos, in order to show how Doctor Who adventures can be appreciated in the acknowledgement that both sofa and couch provide lively places from which to enjoy the stories as they continue to unfold for the next fifty years.


We report that 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde reacts rapidly with glutathione and its precursor, gamma-glutamylcysteine, to form highly fluorescent derivatives under physiological conditions. In contrast to previous accounts of 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde labeling of primary amines, no additional CN- ion or any other additional nucleophile is required. The fluorescence spectral properties of the chromophores (lambda exc max = 472 nm, lambda em max = 528 nm) make these derivatives amenable to excitation and detection by optical instrumentation that is optimized for fluorescein wavelengths. This selective labeling chemistry enabled quantitative determination and histochemical localization of glutathione in neurobiological samples. Intracellular glutathione was labeled by incubating cultured cells or cell suspensions in a 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde-supplemented, DMSO-containing physiological buffer (pH = 7.4) for 2-10 min. Applications include imaging of cultured NG 108-15 cells (mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma) and primary glial and neuronal cell cocultures (rat hippocampus) using epiluminescent and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Quantitative determination of glutathione in single NG 108-15 cells was accomplished using laser-induced fluorescence detection and capillary electrophoresis.


The irreversible nature of mitotic entry is due to the activation of mitosis specific kinases such as cdk1/cyclin B. Cdk1/cyclin B induces activation of mitosis by promoting phosphatases while suppressing inhibitory factors such as the tyrosine kinase wee1. Since wee1 keeps cdk1/cyclin B inactive during the S and G2 phases, its activity must be down-regulated for mitotic progression to occur. One mechanism of suppressing wee1 activity is ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. Cdk1/cyclin B1 phosphorylates wee1, targeting it for recognition by ubiquitin ligases and subsequent proteasomal degradation. One of the ubiquitin ligases promoting wee1 destruction during mitosis is the SCFβ-trcp complex. We demonstrate that this complex, and a second SCF complex containing the F-box protein Tome-1, regulate wee1 degradation during the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Therefore, redundant ubiquitin ligase activities promote efficient mitotic entry of eukaryotic cells.


The matrix suppression effect (MSE) can lead to high-quality MALDI mass spectra: strong analyte signals and weak or negligible matrix background peaks. Experiment and theory suggest that MSE should be widespread and, therefore, generally applicable to measurement of low molecular weight (LMW) substances. These are otherwise impractical with MALDI due to interference from matrix. Appropriate conditions for MSE were investigated and tested on a variety of LMW substances. Straightforward and semiautomated interpretation was possible for 87.7% of these. Another 3.5% gave poor MSE due to sodium cationization rather than protonation of the analyte, but interpretation was possible. MALDI imaging shows that MSE varies significantly across a typical sample. Selective data accumulation could further increase the utility of the method. Samples containing more than one analyte were also studied. Analyte-analyte suppression was not found to be excessive, and moderately abundant minority species can be adequately detected.


Abstract Microalgae biomass production and optimization is necessary to overcome food security problems and address environmental topic as well as high-value compounds production. In this investigation the influence of three culture media (BBM, BG-11 and Guillard f/2) on the growth and biomass production of the Picochlorum sp. RCC486 microalgae was evaluated. One- way ANOVA with Tukey's HSD and Fisher's LSD tests were used to test the effect of different culture media on optical density. Then the maximum optical density and biomass production by Picochlorum sp. RCC486 was evaluated using response surface methodology. A historical data of response surface methodology was used to find the optimum response, which yields the highest biomass production. Microalgal growth in Guillard f/2 medium reached highest cell count in the considered time period and the microalgae presented highest biomass production in comparison with other two culture media (BBM and BG-11). Additionally, biomass productivity(58 mg L-1d-1 ), specific growth rate (0.681d-1), dry weight (1.516 g L-1) and cell density(52.9 ×106 cells mL-1) were highest in comparison with other two culture media. The predicted optical density and biomass production using historical data design were close to their experimental values corresponding to 1.50313 and 1.976gL-1 respectively. while the concentrations of nitrogen source and phosphorus source were achieved in concentrations of 1345.55 mg L−1, 6.983 mg L−1 respectively. Under the optimum condition, the biomass yield was1.961 gL-1 which is 0.76% less than the predicted value. Also the study reported that the biomass production of Picochlorum sp. RCC486 improved from 1.516 g L-1 in defined Guillard f/2 medium to 1.961 g L-1 in modified Guillard f/2 medium resulting 22.69% increase. Thus, Picochlorum sp. RCC486 biomass content could be enhanced by optimizing nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations.


The application of the word 'dialogue' has a life as long as history and the old texts of religions are full of dialogues prevailing among different religious people. Reviewing and analysing the background and history of religious dialogue in the world, more than anything else, we understand the principle of necessity and position of dialogue as a common and public principle among religions, which in a broader view has been acceptable to most, if not all, religious people. This issue indicates that a spiritual and inherent sense is within the substantial core of all humans towards dialogue, which as a natural and inherent feature has been prevailing from the beginning of creation up to the present, and it will continue so. Firstly, employing the dialogue or saying and listening either to the inner self or the other people, when it is being formed with a commitment to human principles, will make human overpass a self-oriented attitude and recognition other persons. Secondly, it makes him/her listen and tolerate others' views. Thirdly, it makes him/her be committed towards the principle of tolerance and recognise of the other(s) as well. On this basis, the continuity of the principle of dialogue and emphasis on this innate tradition will cause the spread of the culture of tolerance, peace and tranquillity. Furthermore, distancing from dialogue will lay down grounds for a self-oriented attitude, prejudice, pride, omission of others and violence in human society. On this case, while giving originality to dialogue, Islam clearly and firmly puts dialogue forth as a basic principle in human relations and a base to achieve the common ideals of human communities, which are discussed in detail in this article.


Introduction:

Overall lung cancer survival is very low, and only in initial stages treated by surgery exceeds 50%. Therefore, one of our main aims at staging is the appropriate selection of patients for surgery, but even in some cases results are unfavorable

Objective:

Analyze futile thoracotomies defined as death/recurrence in the first year, or an intraoperative finding of N2/T4 unresectable; as well as survival data.

Material and Methods:

Revision of cancer resections in 2008-2009, excluding neoadjuvancy. Analysis of factors influencing survival and futile thoracotomies, using uni and multivariant analysis (Cox regresion) and Kaplan-Meier curves

Results:

166 patients (135 men, 31 women). Mean age 62 (39-82). General characteristics.

![Figure][1]

In multivariant survival analysis we found statistically significant influence of the factors : T>3 cm, SUV>8 and TNMq, in multivariant analysis only remains TNMq. Thoractomies data

![Figure][1]

Conclusions:

-Postoperative mortality at one month: 2,4% and at 3 months 3,6%

-3 year survival: 67,7% determined by TNMq

-Futile thoracotomies performed:36%, 28% if we exclude patients alive at 3 years

-Higher percentage of futile thoracotomies in stages II and III, and in adenocarcinomas.

 [1]: pending:yes


Purpose This study was designed to investigate the effects of voxel size, the oversampling technique, and the direction and area of measurement on modulation transfer function (MTF) values to identify the optimal method of MTF measurement. Materials and Methods Images of the wire inserts of the SedentexCT IQ phantom were acquired, and MTF values were calculated under different conditions (voxel size of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mm; 5 oversampling techniques; simulated pixel location errors; and different directions and areas of measurement). The differences in the MTF values across various conditions were evaluated. Results The MTF 10 values showed smaller standard deviations than the MTF 50 values. Stable and accurate MTF values were obtained in the 0.1-mm voxel images. In the 0.3-mm voxel images, oversampling techniques of 11 lines or more did not show significant differences in MTF values depending on the presence of simulated location errors. MTF 10 values showed significant differences according to the direction and area of the measurement. Conclusion To measure more accurate and stable MTF values, it is better to measure MTF 10 values in small-voxel images. In large-voxel images, the proper oversampling technique is required. MTF values from the radial and tangential directions may be different, and MTF values vary depending on the measured area.


The development of a progressive phenotype of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is still unpredictable. Whereas tools to predict mortality in ILD exist, scores to predict disease progression are missing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether baseline serum KL-6 as an established marker to assess disease activity in ILD, alone or in combination with clinical variables, could improve stratification of ILD patients according to progression risk at any time. Consecutive patients with fibrotic ILD, followed at our institution between 2008 and 2015, were investigated. Disease progression was defined as relative decline of ≥10% in forced vital capacity (FVC) or ≥15% in diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco)% from baseline at any time. Serum KL-6 was measured using an automated immunoassay (Fujirebio Europe, Gent, Belgium). A stepwise logistic regression was performed to select variables to be included in the score. A total of 205 patients (49% idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 51% fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)) were included, of them 113 (55%) developed disease progression during follow up. Male gender (G) and serum KL-6 strata (K) were significant predictors of progression at regression analysis and were included in the GK score. A threshold of 2 GK score points was best for discriminating patients at high risk versus low risk to develop disease progression at any time. Serum KL-6 concentration, alone or combined in a simple score with gender, allows an effective stratification of ILD patients for risk of disease progression at any time.


An analysis of the debate surrounding the art exhibit Almost There: A Portrait of Peter Anton at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art in 2010 reveals sets of actors with competing interests and claims on the term outsider art. I explore the public fascination with madness and outsider art, suggesting actors engage outsider art in three attitudes—aesthetic, instrumental and investigative. Aesthetic attitudes operate within an expanded definition of official 'Art' that allows outsider artwork, but not the outsider artist, to participate in the reproduction of fine art conventions. Instrumental attitudes engage outsider artwork and perceptions of madness as forms of cultural and social capital in the Bourdieuian sense. The curators of Almost There operated with an investigative attitude, seeking to understand the social conditions influencing the artist as well as the artist's sociality and intent. Investigative fields such as documentary production and psychiatry situate outsider art historically, as art practice, and subjective expression. I argue each attitude strategically engages the label of outsider art to both negotiate and question hierarchical relationships. The imperfect fit of the Almost There exhibit in the category of outsider art demonstrates the limitations of current conceptions of artistic merit and mental health.


In this work, we reported a facile reduction approach for fabrication of water-soluble and ultrabright Cu nanoclusters with core–shell structure. A certain amount of reducing agent as NaBH4 was introduced into the polyethyleneimine-stabilized Cu nanoclusters (CuNCs@PEI) system, which exhibited 4-fold fluorescence enhancement along with a blue shift of the emission peak. The variations of morphology, valence states and functional groups demonstrated that a Cu shell was formed surround CuNCs (defined as CuNCs-Cu@PEI), attributable to metal complex (PEI-Cu+ and PEI-Cu2+) reduction. The effect of core–shell morphology on luminous and electron relaxation mechanism of CuNCs-Cu@PEI was investigated via temperature-dependent steady and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. The CuNCs-Cu@PEI with a high fluorescence quantum yields of 22.59% were able to homogeneously disperse in aqueous phase, indicating their potential applications in biological labeling, sensing and in vivo imaging. Finally, the CuNCs-Cu@PEI was employed as a fluorescence probe to determine 4-nitrophenol, of which the detection limit was much lower than initial CuNCs@PEI.


Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of intraoperative skeletal traction for the surgical repair of pelvic fractures. Opposition and anchorage points for the application of traction were the same in all cadavers. Materials and Methods Cadavers from 10 adult dogs with a median body weight of 31.9 kg (range: 20–38 kg) were used. The fractures were experimentally created in all dogs to produce an oblique iliac fracture on the left side and a transverse fracture on the right (total of 20 fractures) at the same time. Dogs were positioned on an operating table in lateral recumbency and traction was applied first on the left side and then on the right after changing the position of the animal. Increasing amounts of traction were applied to each fracture and recorded until a distraction length of 2 cm was created between the bone fragments. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test confirmed normality of the data, and a paired t-test was used to compare traction of the two fracture types. Results The measurement of traction and distraction of the bone fragments was possible in all fractures. A distraction of at least 2 cm was obtained with a mean peak traction force of 15.4 kg for transverse fractures and 18.6 kg for oblique fractures. Conclusion Intraoperative skeletal traction provides a useful and reliable tool for the reduction in experimental oblique and transverse iliac fractures in dogs. There were strong correlations between body weight and the force required to obtain a distraction length of 2 cm in the fracture line; for oblique fractures, traction was related to the square of body weight, and for transverse fractures, the relationship between weight and required traction was near linear.


The analysis of complex mixtures is one of the most challenging areas of analytical chemistry. Within this thesis the composition of two complex mixtures of environmental and food origin, such as the light shredder waste fraction and caramel was studied, respectively. In the last few decades, the light shredder waste fraction has attracted much interest due to the scarcity of space and the toxicological properties of some of its contaminants. In this work, gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (FID) as well as coupled to mass spectrometry with electron impact (EI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) has been applied to study the composition of the light shredder waste fraction focusing on non-volatile hydrocarbons. GC-APCI with a time of flight mass analyzer was utilized for the first time in order to determine heavy hydrocarbons of n-alkanes standard and the light shredder waste fraction. Adducts, such as [(M-3H)+H2O]+ and [M-H]+ were found to be the most abundant ions up to n-nonadecane (C19H40) and for higher hydrocarbons established by APCI, respectively. In the second part of this thesis, the composition of caramel, one of the mankind'Engineering and Sciences well-known dietary materials, obtained by the heating of carbohydrates, have been studied. Caramel formed by heating of glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose as well as disaccharides, such as sucrose, lactose and maltose using a conceptually novel combination of mass spectrometric techniques have yielded for the first time an unprecedented account of its chemical composition. The analytical strategy employed uses high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify the most abundant molecular formulas followed by a van Krevelen and Kendrick analysis. A resulting structural hypothesis was further substantiated using targeted LC-tandem MS experiments. The caramelization products include oligomers with up to six carbohydrate units produced through an unselective glycosidic bond formation, dehydration products of oligomers losing up to eight water molecules, hydration products of sugar oligomers, disproportionation and aromatic products. In addition, the molecular formulas of compounds responsible for a brown color of caramel were also proposed. The investigation of thermal decomposition products of pure starch and cellulose as model systems followed by the investigation of bread obtained under comparable conditions has been performed. Commercial caramel products and caramel colors (E 150) were compared with studied carbohydrates. Furthermore, understanding of the composition of roasted coffee beans has been improved by the examination of their carbohydrates fraction.


A germination bioassay with radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeds was developed as a toxicological screening system for assessing the effects of new potential prodrugs of naproxen, as an alternative to animals and animal cell toxicity screens. Both enantiomers of naproxen (6-methoxy-α-methyl-2-naphthaleneacetic acid) and naproxol (6-methoxy-β-2-naphthaleneethanol), and their racemic mixtures, inhibited the radicle growth of R. sativus at a concentration of 1mM, while only (R)-(+)-naproxol and racemic naproxol inhibited the hypocotyl growth of R. sativus at the same concentration. Four novel combinatorial esters, naproxen naproxyl esters (6-methoxy-β-methyl-2-naphthaleneethyl 6-methoxy-α-methyl-2-naphthale-neacetate), resulting from the combinatorial chemistry of the esterification reaction between naproxen and naproxol, were synthesised and then tested in the germination bioassay, at a concentration of 0.5mM. It was found that they did not inhibit either the radicle or the hypocotyl growth of R. sativus.


Abstract Chromosomal rearrangements may play an important role in how populations adapt to a local environment. The gene arrangement polymorphism on the third chromosome of Drosophila pseudoobscura is a model system to help determine the role that inversions play in the evolution of this species. The gene arrangements are the likely target of strong selection because they form classical clines across diverse geographic habitats, they cycle in frequency over seasons, and they form stable equilibria in population cages. A numerical approach was developed to estimate the fitness sets for 15 gene arrangement karyotypes in six niches based on a model of selection–migration balance. Gene arrangement frequencies in the six different niches were able to reach a stable meta-population equilibrium that matched the observed gene arrangement frequencies when recursions used the estimated fitnesses with a variety of initial inversion frequencies. These analyses show that a complex pattern of selection is operating in the six niches to maintain the D. pseudoobscura gene arrangement polymorphism. Models of local adaptation predict that the new inversion mutations were able to invade populations because they held combinations of two to 13 local adaptation loci together.


An ICP-AES method for determining Mn, Si, Al, Ti, Nb, La in ultrahigh strength steel is presented. The spectral interference of matrix and coexist elements were studied and analytical lines were selected. Satisfactory linearity of working curve was obtained. The method was proved to be accurate and rapid through the accuracy and precision experiments.


In this article, I explore the ways in which discourses of 'professionalisation' and the psychological construction of 'femininity' operate to constrain and block activism amongst South African women psychology students. I use resources from discursive, postcolonial and feminist theory, to analyse extracts from a series of interviews with students about their professional training in psychology. I unpack students' talk about professionalisation and depoliticisation. I explore the construct of the 'caring psychologist' as a possible alternative to the construct of the 'professional psychologist', articulating both its potential as a base for resistance to professionalisation, and its limitations as a subject position embedded within constraining discourses of femininity. The article forms
part of a larger project, that questions the appropriateness of professionalisation and western models of psychology in the South African context.


The focus of the article is on Serbian composers' responses to the turbulent political developements and wars during the last decade of the 20th century in ex-Yugoslavia. Both their creative work and political activism are considered. There was a general mistrust that art music could make a strong impact on political events, so that composing was mainly felt to be a refuge from brutal reality. Certain authors, however, expressed protest through their works, usually in indirect ways.


Abstract Background: Noonan syndrome is a genetic disorder with high prevalence of congenital heart defects, such as pulmonary stenosis, atrial septal defect and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Scarce data exists regarding the safety of pregnancy in patients with Noonan syndrome, particularly in the context of maternal cardiac disease. Study design: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients at Yale-New Haven Hospital from 2012 to 2020 with diagnoses of Noonan syndrome and pregnancy. We analysed medical records for pregnancy details and cardiac health, including echocardiograms to quantify maternal cardiac dysfunction through measurements of pulmonary valve peak gradient, structural heart defects and interventricular septal thickness. Results: We identified five women with Noonan syndrome (10 pregnancies). Three of five patients had pulmonary valve stenosis at the time of pregnancy, two of which had undergone cardiac procedures. 50% of pregnancies (5/10) resulted in pre-term birth. 80% (8/10) of all deliveries were converted to caesarean section after a trial of labour. One pregnancy resulted in intra-uterine fetal demise while nine pregnancies resulted in the birth of a living infant. 60% (6/10) of livebirths required care in the neonatal intensive care unit. One infant passed away at 5 weeks of age. Conclusions: The majority of mothers had pre-existing, though mild, heart disease. We found high rates of prematurity, conversion to caesarean section, and elevated level of care. No maternal complications resulted in long-term morbidity. Our study suggests that women with Noonan syndrome and low-risk cardiac lesions can become pregnant and deliver a healthy infant with counselling and risk evaluation.


This paper uses the cult of Assunta Pallotta, an Italian Catholic nun who died in a north China village in 1905, to critique the existing literature on missionary medicine in China. She was recognized as holy because of the fragrance that accompanied her death, and later the incorrupt state of her body, and her relics were promoted as a source of healing by the Catholic mission hospital, absorbed into local folk medicine, and are still in use today. By focusing on Catholics, not Protestants, and women, not men, the paper suggests similarities between European and Chinese traditional religious and medical cultures and argues that instead of seeing a transfer of European biomedicine to China, we need to think of a single globalized process in which concepts of science and religion, China and the West were framed.


International migration mirrors contemporary society in all its complexity. What has not changed for centuries is the principal motif: people leave their country of origin hoping for a better life. Poland has a long history of emigration: Poles have been migrating for more than 200 years for political, economic and social reasons. In recent decades, Polish migration patterns have undergone dramatic changes. Using online survey data, this article explores new trends in Polish migration since the country's accession to the European Union in 2004. The survey was focused on Polish migrants who stayed abroad for some time, those who stayed abroad before the accession, those who returned to Poland or those who experienced multiple travels and have an ongoing migration project.

We conclude that new trends have emerged among Polish migrants. Contemporary migrants are aware of the benefits related to migration and are capable of implementing their migration project quite skilfully. Their high susceptibility to the economic setting proves their flexibility. Polish migrants highly value their new lifestyle abroad and consider friends their most important source of support.


The need for soybeans is increasing from year to year, while domestic soybean production is still very low. Therefore it is necessary to improve cultivation techniques in order to increase soybean production. One of the efforts that can be done is to improve fertility by providing compost and mycorrhizal bio-fertilizers. Mycorrhizae play a role in increasing plant growth by increasing the ability of the roots to absorb the nutrients needed and increasing plant resistance to other extreme conditions. The research was conducted in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture and Microbiology Laboratory of LITBANG Forestry Makassar. The experiment was designed in a randomized block design consisting of four treatments, namely: without compost (control), compost 2 tons / ha (8 g / plant), compost 4 tons / ha (16 g / plant) and compost 6 tons / ha (24 g / plant). The results showed that the application of compost as much as 8-16 g / plant on the mycorrhizal inoculated soil resulted in significantly higher soybean plant production. The application of compost 8-16 g / plant using soybean host plants obtained the percentage of mycorrhizal infections up to 100% and increased the availability of available-P nutrients.


The UK Stewardship Code is the latest in a lengthy series of reports and codes designed to foster good corporate governance. The Code, heralded as the first of its kind in the world, is not, unlike many other corporate governance codes, aimed at companies themselves, but is aimed primarily at fund managers and institutional investors. Commentators have argued that the failure of institutional investors to adequately engage with their investee companies was a significant contributory factor in the recent financial crisis, and so the UK Stewardship Code seeks to improve the quality of institutional investor engagement. This article will discuss the origins and scope of the Code before going on to discuss the Code's content. The principal argument advanced will be that while the Code is a worthwhile initiative, in its current form, its impact upon investor engagement is likely to be modest at best, and that expeditious publication triumphed over comprehensiveness and rigour.


Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the factors contributing to increased cases of malaria in children below five years in Moyo general hospital, Moyo District. Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional study with a simple random technique as a sampling technique. Data was collected from a sample of 50 respondents using a questionnaire written in the English language as a data collection tool; later analyzed manually by use of tally sheets presented in tables and figures for easy interpretation of findings. Results: Findings in regards to health facility-related factors showed that; (52%) had never acknowledged enough counseling services about malaria, (62%) reported that they don't get enough access to anti-malaria drugs at the health facility, (76%) reported > 5km as the distance from their homes to the nearby health facility, (68%) reported that they don't pay for access to health care services, (60%) visit a doctor when their children's health does not improve, and (54%) reported that the attitude of health workers towards the provision of health care services it is good. Conclusion: Poor health-seeking behaviors, low levels of employment, inadequate access to mosquito bed nets, irregular use of mosquito nets among those who had access to them, low uptake of interior spraying, location of respondents' homes, poor housing infrastructures, poor waste management behaviors, long distances and inadequate access to ant- malaria drugs were the major factors that contributed to increased cases of malaria among children below five years. Recommendation: Health workers at Moyo general hospital should intensively enhance access to information on signs and symptoms of malaria, consistent use of ITNs, and environmental management. So that suspicious cases can be quickly identified, improve on health-seeking behaviors of the people and hence minimize the burden of malaria.


INTRODUCTION
Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) is the standard for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but postoperative complications and pain are common in patients with severe neurological impairment (NI) and those undergoing reoperative procedures. Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is an endoscopic alternative to treat GERD. Long-term results in pediatric populations are unknown.

METHODS
Eleven patients who underwent TIF between January 2008 and September 2010 were included. A retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate long-term patient outcomes. Median follow-up was 5.6 years (range = 0.42-8.76 years).

RESULTS
Average patient age was 16.5 ± 5.1 years. Severe NI was present in 81.8% (9/11) of patients, and 63.6% (7/11) had undergone one or more prior fundoplication attempts. Overall, symptomatic reflux recurred or persisted in 54.5% (6/11) of patients. Recurrent symptoms were more common among those who had previous fundoplications than those who did not (71.4% [5/7] vs. 25% [1/4]). Four patients went on to require reoperation, including one laparoscopic Nissen and three disconnects. At last follow-up, 81.8% (9/11) of patients were still on antireflux medications.

CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of long-term outcomes for treatment of GERD using TIF in a pediatric population. The recurrence rate was high, likely related to the fact that the population treated was extremely high risk. Recurrence was higher in patients with a prior fundoplication, perhaps identifying prior antireflux operations as a relative contraindication to TIF. Nevertheless, complications were low, and a subset of patients did receive a durable benefit from the procedure.


This paper is concerned with the motion, due to differential heating, of a thin layer of viscous fluid on a rotating sphere; the results are compared with the general circulation of the atmosphere. The method of solution consists in writing the equations of motion in nondimensional form and then expanding the solution in ascending powers of a small nondimensional geometrical parameter. Particular attention has been paid to the non-linear terms; it is found that their effect in middle and high latitudes is negligible, but in lower latitudes their presence radically alters the character of the motion. The effect of these terms is to give, in low latitudes, a zonal flow from east to west, corresponding to the trade winds on the earth, and in addition a subtropical region of descending air, centred at 25° N. The solution also displays the necessity for a momentum-transfer process in the atmosphere which is required in order to maintain the belt of easterlies.


This paper describes our experience porting a transport-layer cryptography service to an embedded microcontroller. We describe some key development issues and techniques involved in porting networked software to a connected, limited resource device such as the Rabbit RMC2000 we chose for this case study. We examine the effectiveness of a few proposed porting strategies by examining important program and run-time characteristics.


INTRODUCTION
Point-of-care ultrasound can assess diaphragmatic function and rule in or rule out paresis of the diaphragm. While this is a useful bedside tool, established methods have significant limitations. This study explores a new method to assess diaphragmatic motion by measuring the excursion of the uppermost point of the zone of apposition (ZOA) at the mid-axillary line using a high-frequency linear ultrasound probe and compares it with two previously established methods: the assessment of the excursion of the dome of the diaphragm (DOD) and the thickening ratio at the ZOA.

METHODS
This is a single-centre, prospective comparative study on elective surgical patients with normal diaphragmatic function. Following research ethics board approval and patient written consent, 75 elective surgical patients with normal diaphragmatic function were evaluated preoperatively. Three ultrasound methods were compared: (1) assessment of the excursion of the DOD using a curvilinear probe through an abdominal window; (2) assessment of the thickening fraction of the ZOA; and (3) assessment of the excursion of the ZOA. The last two methods performed with a linear probe on the lateral aspect of the chest.

RESULTS
Seventy-five patients were studied. We found that the evaluation of the excursion of the ZOA was more consistently successful (100% bilaterally) than the evaluation of the excursion of the DOD (98.7% and 34.7% on the right and left sides, respectively). The absolute values of the excursion of the ZOA were greater than and well correlated with the values of the DOD.

CONCLUSION
Our preliminary data from this exploratory study suggest that the evaluation of the excursion of the ZOA on the lateral aspect of the chest using a linear probe is consistently successful on both right and left sides. Future studies are needed to establish the distribution of normal values and suggest diagnostic criteria for diaphragmatic paresis or paralysis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT03225508.


Sugars were analyzed in a total of 54 peach cultivars, selections and wild types. Fructose, glucose, sorbitol, inositol and sucrose were detected as the main sugars. In the sugar composition, sucrose was the major sugar and inostitol was the minor one in all the materials, accounting for 74% and 1.1% of the total sugar content, respectively. The percentage of fructose was higher throughout the season in eating peaches than in native and flowering peaches. The distribution of the sugar composition was evaluated by principal component analysis. The scatter diagram of peaches according to scores of 1st and 2nd principal components suggested the existence of 2 groups. These groups corresponded to the different groups for the ratio of fructose to total sugars of peaches.


More than 20,000 years of dedication to the art and the science of medicine are represented by the current membership of the Fifty-Year Club. The members have practiced the art of medicine, and with other physicians have studied, worked, appreciated, acquired, and utilized the science of medicine. Unfortunately, some people are under the impression that the art of medicine is gone and has been replaced by the science, leaving only a cold computer-like basis for medical care. The art is not lost and never will be lost, because the Doctor of Medicine and his patients are people. There is, however, the challenge of science to the usefulness and importance of the art of medicine. The art of medicine has many ramifications, and it works in many areas—family practice, surgery, medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, and research—as each uses scientific instruments and knowledge with skill. But regardless of the area to


Campylobacter jejuni is an emerging food-borne pathogen that poses a high risk to human health. Knowledge of the strain source can contribute significantly to an understanding of this pathogen, and can lead to improved control measures in the food-processing industry. In this study, slaughterhouse and surface-water isolates of C. jejuni were characterized and compared in terms of their antimicrobial resistance profiles and adhesion to stainless steel and chicken skin. Resistance of C. jejuni biofilm cells to benzalkonium chloride and Satureja montana ethanolic extract was also tested. The data show that the slaughterhouse isolates are more resistant to ciprofloxacin, and adhere better to stainless steel at 42 °C, and at 37 °C in 50% chicken juice. Additionally, biofilm cells of the isolate with the greatest adhesion potential (C. jejuni S6) were harvested and tested for resistance to S. montana ethanolic extract, benzalkonium chloride, and erythromycin; and for efflux-pump activity, as compared to their planktonic cells. The biofilm cells showed increased resistance to both S. montana ethanolic extract and erythromycin, and increased efflux-pump activity. These data indicate adaptation of C. jejuni slaughterhouse isolates to the chicken host, as well as increased biofilm cell resistance due to increased efflux-pump activity.


The influences of initial cold work conditions on the deformation characteristics and the current-carrying capability of Bi-2223 powder-in-tube conductors have been investigated by varying the working friction and the amount of reduction per pass. The results demonstrate that deformation of the conductors can be very inhomogeneous depending on the working parameters. Specifically, dead zones are found within the transverse cross-sections of the tapes close to the tools - sample interfaces such that the bulk of the deformation is restricted to the central portions of the conductors. Since the core of monofilamentary tape is located outside the dead zones, it is highly densified when deformed under high friction condition resulting in the largest . On the other hand, a large number of filaments in multifilamentary tape reside within the dead zones such that high working friction does not result in optimum . Instead, a combination of low friction and large reduction per pass resulted in the most homogeneous deformation and highest current capacity.


Selecting homes with energy-efficient infrastructure is important for renters, because infrastructure influences energy consumption more than in-home behavior.Personalized energy estimates can guide prospective tenants toward energy-efficient homes, but this information is not readily available. Utility estimates are not typically offered to house-hunters, and existing technologies like carbon calculators require users to answer (prohibitively) many questions that may require considerable research to answer. For the task of providing personalized utility estimates to prospective tenants, we present a cost-based model for feature selection at training time, where all features are available and costs assigned to each feature reflect the difficulty of acquisition. At test time, we have immediate access to some features but others are difficult to acquire (costly). In this limited-information setting, we strategically order questions we ask each user, tailored to previous information provided, to give the most accurate predictions while minimizing the cost to users. During the critical first 10 questions that our approach selects, prediction accuracy improves equally to fixed order approaches, but prediction certainty is higher.


Abstract. Open burning of agricultural crop residues is widespread across eastern China, and during certain post-harvest periods this activity is believed to significantly influence air quality. However, the exact contribution of crop residue burning to major air quality exceedances and air quality episodes has proven difficult to quantify. Whilst highly successful in many regions, in areas dominated by agricultural burning MODIS-based fire emissions inventories such as GFAS and GFED are suspected of significantly underestimating the magnitude of biomass burning emissions due to the typically very small, but highly numerous, fires involved that are quite easily missed by coarser spatial resolution remote sensing observations. To address this issue, we here use twice daily fire radiative power (FRP) observations from the 'small fire optimised' VIIRS-IM FRP product, and combine it with fire diurnal cycle information taken from the geostationary Himawari-8 satellite. Using this we generate a unique high spatio-temporal resolution agricultural burning inventory for eastern China for the years 2012–2015, designed to fully take into account small fires well below the MODIS burned area or active fire detection limit, focusing on dry matter burned (DMB) and emissions of CO2, CO, PM2.5 and black carbon. We calculate DMB totals 100 to 400 % higher than reported by GFAS and GFED4.1s, and quantify interesting spatial and temporal patterns previously un-noted. Wheat residue burning, primarily occurring in May–June, is responsible for more than half of the annual crop residue burning emissions of all species, whilst a secondary peak in autumn (Sept–Oct) is associated with rice and corn residue burning. We further identify a new winter (Nov–Dec) burning season, hypothesised to be caused by delays in burning driven by the stronger implementation of residue burning bans during the autumn post-harvest season. Whilst our emissions estimates are far higher than those of other satellite-based emissions inventories for the region, they are lower than estimates made using traditional 'crop yield-based approaches' (CYBA) by a factor of between 2 and 5 x. We believe that this is at least in part caused by outdated and overly high burning ratios being used in the CYBA approach, leading to the overestimation of DMB. Therefore we conclude that that satellite remote sensing approaches which adequately detect the presence of agricultural fires are a far better approach to agricultural fire emission estimation.


Unfortunately, most linguists take this equivalence to mean that one should adopt a model which is either rules-only or constraints-only, for the sake of theoretical sanitation. Thus, proponents of Optimality Theory (OT) employ only constraints, while proponents of classical generative phonology (see, for example, Kenstowicz & Kisseberth 1979) employ only rules. At last, someone recognizes that intertranslatability does not mean that a given phonological model must choose between rules and constraints and should have only one or the other. As Andrea Calabrese argues in this book, logical equivalence does not imply equivalent explanatory adequacy for a given phonological phenomenon (34). According to Calabrese, an ideal phonological theory should contain BOTH constraints and rules (119), each serving a different function:


The Ojibwe have transitioned over the past 100 years from a woodland people moving with the seasons, to forced confinement on rural reservations, to inner-city poverty. Traditionally, Ojibwe women's knowledge has been passed through the generations orally. Using ethnographic methods, data were gathered on traditional infant feeding practices from Ojibwe women (N = 44). Few of these traditions have been documented previously. Some traditions are similar to other indigenous cultures while others are culturally specific. Understanding traditional breastfeeding practices can provide valuable information for those working with indigenous people in a variety of settings, so that they create services that are consistent with traditional values.


We have observed superconductivity in platinum powder compacts with grain sizes in the submicrometer range at transition temperatures and critical magnetic fields as high as 20 mK and 18 mT. These values are more than one order of magnitude larger compared to our previous results for samples with larger (micrometer) grain size. For a better understanding of the superconducting properties of the granular platinum samples, we have also investigated various properties in the normal state. The submicrometer samples exhibit strong lattice strain and significantly smaller Debye temperatures compared to bulk platinum. Moreover, the ferromagnetic spin fluctuations of the conduction electrons are partially quenched in these compacts. On the basis of these results, we discuss the origin of superconductivity in granular platinum.


These Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne EPFL, n° 1301 (1994)Laboratoire de sociologie urbaine Reference doi:10.5075/epfl-thesis-1301Print copy in library catalog Record created on 2005-03-16, modified on 2016-08-08


One of the best-known dichotomies in neuroscience is the division of neurons in the mammalian primary visual cortex into simple and complex cells. Simple cells have receptive fields with separate on and off subregions and give phase-sensitive responses to moving gratings, whereas complex cells have uniform receptive fields and are phase invariant. The phase sensitivity of a cell is calculated as the ratio of the first Fourier coefficient (F1) to the mean time-average (Fo) of the response to moving sinusoidal gratings at 100% contrast. Cells are then classified as simple (F1/Fo >1) or complex (F1/Fo <1). We manipulated cell responses by changing the stimulus contrast or through adaptation. The F(1)/F(0) ratios of cells defined as complex at 100% contrast increased at low contrasts and following adaptation. Conversely, the F1/Fo ratios remained constant for cells defined as simple at 100% contrast. The latter cell type was primarily located in thalamorecipient layers 4 and 6. Many cells initially classified as complex exhibit F1/Fo >1 at low contrasts and after adaptation (particularly in layer 4). The results are consistent with the spike-threshold hypothesis, which suggests that the division of cells into two types arises from the nonlinear interaction of spike threshold with membrane potential responses.


During natural conditions cattle live in large herds, which are divided into subgroups of 10-15 animals. Humans have held cattle for over 9000 years. Today we mostly have cows for milk and meat production during more or less intensive forms. Most of the Swedish cattle have the opportunity to graze during the summer time. This partly arises from the Swedish Animal Protection law which stipulates that cattle must have the option to be outside and graze, also partly because it makes it easier for the farmer. During this period the animals has to have sufficient supervision everyday. This is to ensure that the cattle don't have any injuries. The supervision can take a long time if the farmer is unable to locate all of his/her cattle, for instance if they would escape. Most people agree that if we should rear animals then we should also protect them from unnecessary suffering, which makes good supervision a necessary requirement. Many studies have shown that cows can differentiate between people that treat them kind and gentle and those that are aversive towards them. It has also been shown that animals which have been treated in a kinder manner are easier to handle and produce more. With different learning techniques you can teach cows to do different tasks for a reinforcement.

The aim of this study was to see if it is possible to make the supervision more efficient. This was tested using four different treatment methods. These were regular supervision with reinforcement (RF), regular supervision (R), irregular supervision with reinforcement (OF) and irregular supervision (O). The regular supervision was made at the same time every day, while the irregular was made at different times. The reinforcement consisted of concentrate. Eight groups of cows, mostly heifers, were tested for five days for each treatment. All groups were tested with all treatments in a balanced order. The animals behaviour, if they came or not and the time it took until they were within ten meters from the observer, was registred.

The results showed that the supervision was quicker when concentrate was implemented (4.16 ± 0.58 min) compared to when no concentrate was given (7.62 ± 0.58 min) (p<0.001). When the time was registered from the time when the first animal was seen until the last animal was within ten meters from the observer there were significant differences between the treatments RF and R, RF and O, OF and R (p<0.001) and between OF and O (p<0.002). If the time instead was registered from start until the last animal was within ten meter from the observer we didn't see any differences between OF and O (p<0.075), all the other results were the same as above. A comparison of how many animals that came towards the observer showed that more animals came if concentrate was brought. A learning effect over the five days that the test was done was seen for RF treatment (p=0.005), but we could see a tendency to significance even for OF (p=0.063). Supervision of small groups were faster than for large groups (p=0.003).

These results show that the supervision becomes faster if you bring concentrate, and you also obtain a better learning effect. In this way you may be able to make the supervision of grazing animals more efficient. To have an efficent supervision can be a profit for both the animals and for the farmer, as a better welfare.


Background: Many entomological investigations of Culicoides have used the adult specimens as samples for their studies. This is because immature stages are poorly known in most Culicoides species. The lack of correct identification systems of Culicoides larvae has been one of the major obstacles to understanding the field ecology of Culicoides species. Materials and methods: Culicoides larvae stage was extracted from mud. Larvae stage 2 and 3 were placed in Petri dishes to continue their development to stage IV after pupation. Larvae stage IV showing the same morphology was divided into 2 groups. First group was grown up to reach the adult stage. Second group of larvae stage IV was used for molecular identification. Thus, DNA was extracted and used as a template for a genus-specific PCR. PCR products were then sequenced and analyzed. Results: This seems to be the first report identifying Culicoides larvae stage IV by molecular and morphological techniques. By using this method, the sequence of Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 of two Culicoides larvae: C. circumscriptus and C. Puncticollis are identified for the first time.


Wheat straw (WS) was first modified with water vapor plasma to enhance its interfacial bonding performance. The treatment effects during the entire exposing process were investigated in terms of surface wettability, physicochemical characteristics, and mechanical properties of glued test-pieces (three different forms) using contact angle analysis, free energy analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and shear strength analysis. The results showed that 180 s of plasma treatment time resulted in a low instantaneous and equilibrium contact angle of urea-formaldehyde (UF) – 40.8% and 46.5% lower, respectively, in comparison with that of the untreated WS exterior surface. Obvious etching morphology was observed on the WS surfaces and positive activation was detected, demonstrating a remarkable increase in the surface free energy and O/C ratio. With the water vapor plasma treatment, the use of electrochemical reaction to introduce polar groups and etching to produce glue nails, were effective methods for improving the bonding performance of the WS.


PURPOSE
To test the hematologic effects of low intensity 650 nm laser irradiation on hypercholesterolemia rabbits.

METHODS
Ten male big-eared rabbits were selected from hypercholesterolemia animal model-making and divided into model group and laser treatment groups. Five normal rabbits were selected as control group. Auricle root irradiation of 650 nm laser 100 mW in 30 min were applied on treatment group twice a day, treatment of 6 days in one week, 20 weeks course of treatment. Changes in blood lipid, microcirculation, rheological properties, and aggregation morphology of erythrocytes were observed every two weeks. Histopathological examination were performed in the end of experiments.

RESULTS
After 20 weeks' treatment, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of serum in hypercholesterolemia groups showed less changes in the first 4 weeks, butdifferent decreasing trends were shownin the next 16 weeks' therapy. Erythrocytes aggregation of model groups showed rouleau state, while red blood cells in control group showed fine homodisperse, erythrocytes in treatment group performed better dispersion than model groups. Erythrocyte deformation index (DI) and blood flow value showed a statistic improvement in treatment group than control and model group (P<0.01). Value of DI in treatment group decreased after 18 weeks than values before therapy (P<0.01). Varying degrees of Aorta plaque formation was observed for individual difference in model and treatment groups, while no plaque was found in control group.

CONCLUSIONS
Low energy laser improve microcirculation, rheological properties and blood lipid that might be related with erythrocytes aggregation and deformability.


Employing the formalism introduced by Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 1962 (1989)], we study the probability density functions (pdf's) of decaying passive scalars in periodic domains under the influence of smooth large scale velocity fields. The particular regime we focus on is one where the normalized scalar pdf's attain a self-similar profile in finite time, i.e., the so-called strange or statistical eigenmode regime. In accordance with the work of Sinai and Yakhot, the central regions of the pdf's are power laws. However, the details of the pdf profiles are dependent on the physical parameters in the problem. Interestingly, for small Peclet numbers the pdf's resemble stretched or pure exponential functions, whereas in the limit of large Peclet numbers, there emerges a universal Gaussian form for the pdf. Numerical simulations are used to verify these predictions.


In this paper, it is investigated how free field vibrations d ue to vibratory pile driving are affected by the soil stratification. Free field vibration s are calculated by means of a coupled FE-BE model, based on a subdomain formulation. Results are examined in the frequency range from 5 Hz to 100 Hz. RESUME- Dans cet article, on etudie comment les vibrations en champ libre dues au vibro- foncage sont affectees par la stratification du sol. Les vibrations en champ libre sont calculees a l'aide d'un modele couple FE-BE base sur une formulation de sous-structuration. Les resultats sont examines dans la gamme de frequences entre 5 Hz et 100 Hz.


The ability to mount adaptive immune responses is impaired with age. One important contributing factor is the dramatic decline in repertoire and number of naïve T cells, raising the possibility that the response to new infections relies largely on cross-reactive memory T cells. We have analyzed the CD8 T cell response to influenza virus in influenza-naïve aged mice and confirmed that memory phenotype cells do make a major contribution to the response to new infections. There are two possible origins of the responding memory T cells. The response may be mediated by fortuitously cross reactive memory cells that were generated by earlier heterologous infections, which can be defined as "true memory" (TM). This possibility is supported by the observations that T cell recognition is highly degenerate and many unexpected cross-reactivities have been defined. Alternatively, the response may be mediated by antigen-specific memory cells that have been generated in the absence of antigen exposure, termed "virtual memory" (VM) cells. This possibility is supported by the observation that the ratio of VM:TM increases dramatically with age. To determine whether TM or VM respond to influenza in aged mice we used dual adoptive transfer with VM and TM cells. The data show that the response to influenza virus is dominated by memory CD8 T cells with a VM phenotype. The ability of these cells to afford protective immunity and develop into long-lived memory cells is under investigation and has implications for our understanding of immune function in the aged.


We have developed a method of improving and controlling the accuracy of automated continuous speech recognition through linguistic postprocessing. In this approach, an output from a speech recognitio n system is passed to a trainable Correction Box module which attempts to locate and repair any transcription errors. The Correction Box consists of a text alignment program, a correction-rule generator, and a series of rule application and verification steps. In the training phase, the correction rules are learned by aligning the recognized speech samples with their original, fully correct versions, on sentence by sentence basis. Misaligned sections give rise to candidate context-free correlation rules, e.g., from ~ frontal ; there were made ~ the remainder, etc. Validation against a text corpus leads to context-sensitive correction rules, such as from view ~ frontal view. The system is applied to medical dictation in the area of clinical radiology.


Abstract Plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere are the determinants of plant health, productivity and soil fertility. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are bacteria that can enhance plant growth and protect plants from disease and abiotic stresses through a wide variety of mechanisms; those that establish close associations with plants, such as the endophytes, could be more successful in plant growth promotion. Several important bacterial characteristics, such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, ACC deaminase activity, and production of siderophores and phytohormones, can be assessed as plant growth promotion (PGP) traits. Bacterial inoculants can contribute to increase agronomic efficiency by reducing production costs and environmental pollution, once the use of chemical fertilizers can be reduced or eliminated if the inoculants are efficient. For bacterial inoculants to obtain success in improving plant growth and productivity, several processes involved can influence the efficiency of inoculation, as for example the exudation by plant roots, the bacterial colonization in the roots, and soil health. This review presents an overview of the importance of soil-plant-microbe interactions to the development of efficient inoculants, once PGPB are extensively studied microorganisms, representing a very diverse group of easily accessible beneficial bacteria.


Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) remains the most widely use and prescribed first line antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of patients infected HIV-infection but unfortunately it is possibly nephrotoxic especially on the kidney tubules. In this longitudinal study we evaluated the influence of TDF on the renal tubules, measuring urinary phosphate and protein. 57 patients infected with HIV were recruited and grouped as follows: TDF group (21 patients), Non-TDF group (21 patients) and treatment naive group (15 patients). Indicators of renal tubular injuriousness together with other common biomarkers of renal injury were evaluated. Phosphaturia was defined as urinary phosphate 20.0 mg/dl and the prevalence of phosphaturia after 12 weeks of follow-up were as follows: TDF group (8), Non-TDF group (1) and treatment naive group (3). Proteinuria was defined as positive protein on dip stick urine and the prevalence among the different ART regimen groups after 12 weeks were as follows: TDF group (4), Non-TDF group (1) and treatment naive group (1). CD4 count for the different regimen groups after 12 weeks were as follows: TDF (659.95 ul/cells/<50 copies/ml), non-TDF (363.24 ul/cells/<500 copies/ml) and treatment naive (276.63 ul/cells/<1000 copies/ml). This higher incidence in phosphaturia and proteinuria in the presence of increased CD4 counts in HIV patients exposed to TDF is believed to be progressive and may subsequently result in a generalized renal tubular toxicity before any rise in serum creatinine.


In event (de)composition, causative predicates are traditionally analyzed as complex predicates, that denote sets of causing events e leading to a result state s (e.g. open). The additional modification of the causing event by a manner predicate (e.g. push) derives a complex resultative predicate in which both sub-eventualities are specified by respective roots (e.g. push X open or open X by pushing; Beavers 2012, Rappaport Hovav & Levin 2001, Dowty 1979). In this paper, I address causative predicates in the underdocumented Oceanic language Daakaka (Vanuatu). Based on original fieldwork, I demonstrate that, whereas in most languages, manner modification is optional in the context of causative predicates (ase.g. in English or Romance), in Daakaka, it is obligatory. This paper provides a unified semantic analysis of three types of resultative compounds in Daakaka, and makes the argument that manner verbs modify the causing event denoted by causative verbs. To account for crosslinguistic variation, I propose that languages differ as to whether they license existential closure over covert event variables (e.g. English) or require their overt realization by lexical (orfunctional) material (e.g. Daakaka).


In Sri Lanka the ballasted rail tracks are the most preferred by the railway authority due to low initial investment and it continues using crushed rock as rail track ballast. Regardless of the frequent usage of these aggregates as track ballast in Sri Lanka, their shear strength characteristics have not been scientifically measured or used in design. The primary purpose of this paper is to present the investigation of shear strength properties of fresh and fouled rail track ballast in Sri Lanka using a large-scale direct shear device, which accommodates actual size ballast particles. The shear stress–strain and dilation behaviour of fresh and fouled ballast were obtained and the internal friction angle was estimated. The results showed that the shear strength of fresh ballast is higher than that of the fouled ballast and the shear strength envelope better resembled non-linear behaviour. Also it was revealed that the internal friction angle of ballast tends to reduce with age. More realistic shear strength parameters as proposed by the test results would promote state-of-the-art practice for the design of ballasted rail track foundations.