Introduction Recently prolonged catheter-free pH monitoring (Bravo®, Given Imaging, Yoqeam, Israel) up to 96 hours has become possible which enables more physiological evaluation of oesophageal acid exposure and its response to therapeutic interventions. This study applied this technology to measure acid reflux, and reflux related symptoms in patients with proven gastro-oesophageal reflux disease on and off high-dose PPIs. The potential utility of this methodology in guiding medical therapy was assessed. Methods Patients with reflux symptoms were recruited prospectively from Mar.2012 to Oct.2012. PPI was stopped for 7 days prior to the Bravo capsule insertion. The 1st 48hr pH recording was performed off PPI and the 2nd 48hr was on twice daily PPI. The 48hr pH and symptom data for the two periods were compared, including percentages of acid exposure in total, upright and supine periods and symptom–reflux association for which heartburn (HB), chest pain (CP) and regurgitation (RG) were analysed. Data were expressed as median & interquartile. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann Whitney tests were used for statistical analysis (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; *** < 0.001). Results Data from prolonged pH monitoring up to 96 hours were available from 89patients of whom 36 (22 males, mean age 50, range 26–76 years old) with complete studies and pathological acid exposure in the 1st 48 hours were studied in detail. Acid reflux measurements on PPI therapy were greatly reduced when compared to those recorded off therapy (Table). 27/36 (75%) patients had normal acid exposure on PPI therapy. The overall number of HB and CP reported in the 2nd 48hr period was reduced by almost two thirds (13 (4–26) vs.5 (2–14)**); however the number of these symptoms that were actually associated with acid reflux events was almost completely abolished (4 (2–14) vs.1 (0–3)***). No effect on volume RG was present. Abstract PTU-140 Table The effects of PPI on oesophageal acid reflux and symptoms (Off PPI/On PPI) Fraction time pH < 4(%): Total10.45(7.2–15.5)/1.9 (0.6–4.9) *** Upright9.4(6.1–15.6)/2.5(0.9–5.3)*** Supine9.7(5.0–16.1)/0.1(0–2.2)*** No. of reflux events associated with symptoms: HB8(2–15)/1(0–3)*** RG2(1–8)/1(0–3)(P = 0.0975) CP3(2–6)/1(0–3)* Conclusion Sequential 48hrs recording off/on PPI therapy using Bravo pH test is feasible in routine clinical practise. This technique documents the physiological and clinical response to PPI therapy on acid reflux and acid reflux associated symptoms (i.e. heartburn, chest pain). These preliminary findings suggest that this methodology could be of value in distinguishing symptoms related to acid reflux that respond to acid suppression and guiding medical therapy in reflux disease. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and histology were used to study growth in species of the pedunculate barnacle genus Octolasmis (O. angulata, O. cor, O. californiana, O. mülleri). These species are epizoic in the gill chamber of portunid crabs and have highly reduced capitular shell plates, with large areas of general cuticle in between. The external integument grows by means of a system of narrow growth zones, one encircling the peduncle and a Y‐shaped system on either side of the capitulum. Growth is by a regular series of molts, but shedding of old cuticle and production of new layers is entirely restricted to the growth zones. Just prior to ecdysis, the new cuticle lies in a highly folded fashion beneath the old cuticle that is about to be shed. At ecdysis, the old cuticle breaks along the margins of the growth zones and the resulting scars remain as a system of "ecdysial lines" along either side of the zone. Once exposed after ecdysis, the new cuticle remains as a part of the permanent external integument. The growth zones divide the externa into five cuticular areas, two on the peduncle and three on the capitulum. The calcareous shell plates (carina, paired scuta, and, when present, paired terga) all lie within the capitular regions and the ecdysial lines pass across, not around, these mineralized areas. The number, relative spacing, and topology of the ecdysial lines form a record of the growth history of the specimen. These and other growth patterns demonstrate that size increase is due to the formation of new cuticle by molting in the growth zones, while expansion of the shell plates by mineralization follows only after production of the new cuticle. Thus, although specialized, growth in Octolasmis still complies with the general crustacean model, complicated only by the mineralization of parts of the capitular cuticle into shell plates. The results are compared with the very scarce information on molting in other barnacles. We argue that at least the circular peduncular growth zone is omnipresent in the Cirripedia Thoracica. J. Morphol. 260:154–164, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


A striking finding of the human and mouse genome sequencing projects is that, although there are many differences between the two species, they have similar numbers of genes. The differences arise during development and are driven, in part, by changes in gene expression. The MRC-Wellcome Trust Human Developmental Biology Resource (HDBR) is a unique resource that provides human embryonic and foetal tissues to the scientific community, enabling gene-expression studies at these crucial periods of development.


Summary We tested for plague (Yersinia pestis) in a puma population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) over 9 years, overlapping a case when a boy in the area became infected with plague. Antibodies to Y. pestis were detected in 8 of 17 (47%) pumas tested by complement-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the organism itself was detected in 4 of 11 (36%) pumas tested after necropsy. Neither puma sex nor age was significantly associated with Y. pestis exposure or mortality, although our sample size was small. The overall prevalence of exposure we recorded was similar to that found along the western slope of Colorado, which is adjacent to the Four Corners region, a known plague hotspot in the USA. This suggests that: (1) Y. pestis may be present at higher levels in the GYE than previously assumed; (2) plague is a significant source of mortality for local pumas (6.6% of sub-adult and adult mortality); and (3) pumas may be a useful sentinel for potential risk of plague exposure to humans throughout the West. We would also emphasize that hunters and others handling pumas in this region should be made aware of the possibility of exposure.


OBJECTIVE A double-blind placebo controlled study investigated long-term effects of Ergoset, a new quick release formulation of bromocriptine, on body weight, body fat, and glucose tolerance in a group (n = 17) of obese subjects who were instructed to follow a moderate hypocaloric diet. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Obese individuals (> 25% body fat for men and > 30% body fat for women) were instructed to follow a calorie-restricted diet (70% of weight maintaining based on study entry weight) and were randomized to daily treatment with Ergoset (1.6–2.4 mg/day) or placebo at 0800 over an 18-week treatment period. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on subjects before initiation and again at termination of treatment. Body weight and body fat (determined by skinfold measurements) were quantified every 2 weeks during the course of treatment. RESULTS Ergoset treatment for 18 weeks significantly reduced body weight and body fat versus placebo (6.3 ± 1.5 and 5.4 ± 1.1 kg vs. 0.9 ± 1.0 and 1.5 ± 0.6 kg. respectively, P < 0.01). Ergoset, but not placebo, also improved glucose tolerance (P < 0.02); the stimulated area under the oral glucose tolerance curve was reduced by 46% (from 121 ± 23 to 64 ± 32 mg · h−1 · dl−1), while the stimulated area under the insulin curve was reduced by 30%. CONCLUSIONS When combined with instruction to follow a moderate hypocaloric diet, Ergoset, but not placebo, improves glucose tolerance and promotes significant weight and body fat loss in obese subjects over an 18- week treatment period.


The study sought to understand and analyze students' perception towards MBS semester system taking a case of Nepal Commerce Campus with regard to (a) academic resources, (b) course organization and planning, (c) physical resources, (d) governance and image, and (e) overall perception of students. It followed descriptive research design with using questionnaire survey instrument. The population of this study comprised all 668 MBS semester students and the sample consisted 246 students selected through random sampling techniques. The survey questionnaire was set in seven sections with 30 questions of various types to collect data. Collected data were analyzed with the help of SPSS software (version 23). The research result revealed that the perception of the students towards all aspects is quite satisfactory except toilets and canteen facilities of Nepal Commerce Campus. The study drew some feedback and suggestions from students for the betterment of the college. It covered those students who were studying MBS semester system since the last five out of 48 month's course cycle therefore it didn't cover the aspects of semester system. It enhances the understanding of stakeholders about the issues of semester system at master's level.Pravaha Vol. 24, No. 1, 2018, Page: 181-195


Background The impact of Clostridium difficile colonization in C. difficile infection (CDI) is inadequately explored. As a result, asymptomatic carriage is not considered in the development of infection control policies and the burden of carrier state in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is unknown. Purpose To explore the epidemiology of C. difficile colonization in LTCFs, identify predisposing factors and describe its impact on healthcare management. Data Sources PubMed, Embase and Web of Science (up to June 2014) without language restriction, complemented by reference lists of eligible studies. Study Selection All studies providing extractable data on the prevalence of toxigenic C. difficile colonization among asymptomatic residents in LTCFs. Data Extraction Two authors extracted data independently. Statistical Methods The pooled colonization estimates were calculated using the double arcsine methodology and reported along with their 95% random-effects confidence intervals (CIs), using DerSimonian-Laird weights. We assessed the impact of patient-level covariates on the risk of colonization and effects were reported as odds ratios (OR, 95% CI). We used the colonization estimates to simulate the effective reproduction number R through a Monte Carlo technique. Results Based on data from 9 eligible studies that met the specified criteria and included 1,371 subjects, we found that 14.8% (95%CI 7.6%-24.0%) of LTCF residents are asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. difficile. Colonization estimates were significantly higher in facilities with prior CDI outbreak (30.1% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.01). Patient history of CDI (OR 6.07; 95% CI 2.06–17.88; effect derived from 3 studies), prior hospitalization (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.08–4.13; derived from 3 studies) and antimicrobial use within previous 3 months (OR 3.68; 95% CI 2.04–6.62; derived from 4 studies) were associated with colonization. The predicted colonization rate at admission was 8.9%. Conclusion Asymptomatic carriage of toxigenic C. difficile represents a significant burden in LTCFs and is associated with prior CDI outbreaks in the facility, a history of CDI, prior hospitalization and antimicrobial use. These findings can impact infection control measures at LTCFs.


The duration of ICU (intensive care unit) stay in cardiac surgery patients has an important role in the rate of complications and costs. The aim of this study was to determine the role of perioperative risk factors in clinical outcome based on the time of ICU discharge. In this descriptive study, 219 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery in Afshar Hospital in Yazd, an Iranian city, were divided into early (≤24 hrs) and late (>24 hrs) ICU discharge groups according to the duration of ICU stay. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors, the complications and the outcome were evaluated. Age, sex, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, previous myocardial infarction, renal failure, cerebrovascular accident, and level of hematocrit and creatinine were not significantly different between the two groups. Patients with hemodynamic instability, respiratory dysfunction, ejection fraction <35%, hypertension, inotrope administration, left main coronary artery involvement, use of intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) and arrhythmia had significantly higher mortality and longer ICU stay (>24 hrs) compared to others (P value <0.05). The duration of intubation was significantly lower in the early discharge group (7.8 ± 3.8 hrs compared to 17 ± 9.9 hrs) than in the late discharge group. Time of ICU discharge depends on perioperative risk factors, and risk factor modification may improve clinical outcome.


This article examines the difference between cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and the cognitive behaviour approach (CBA) in relation to its use in health visiting practice and school nursing. Two areas of practice are illustrated: support in postnatal depression; and support with positive parenting. The 'Five Areas' approach to assessment and intervention is discussed alongside behavioural activation, cognitive restructuring and problem solving to reduce avoidance strategies.


: Tapping screws of the Medicon system were checked for their mechanical strength by a time-torque curve and a new measurement system. To simulate a real situation three types of screws were applied. The predrill was 80% of the kernel diameter. The percentage of demolition was significantly higher with longer screws because there was a typical tilting of screws in aluminium. All tested screws had double the minimum fracture moment of 43 Ncm. Fracture of the screws occurred at about triple the torque of the maximal moment in the bones.


This chapter considers how law is made in the UK, who makes it, and the constitutional principles which give them the authority for making it and imposing it on society. There is a detailed account of the legislative procedure of the UK Parliament, and the different types of legislation enacted by Parliament. The legislative functions of the devolved administrations are mentioned. The law-making functions of judges, particularly through case law and the interpretation of statutes, are also considered, as is the impact of the Council of Europe on human rights. Finally, an outline of the law-making processes of the European Union is given.


A simple, easy-to-use and physically meaningful analytical (mathematical) model has been developed for the prediction of thermal stresses in an elastic bonded elongated cylindrical tri-material body of finite length. The model has been developed in application to an optical silica fiber embedded (soldered) into Silicon. The body is fabricated at an elevated (soldering, curing) temperature and is subsequently cooled down to a low (room, operation or testing) temperature. Thermal stresses arise because of the thermal contraction mismatch of the dissimilar materials in the body. The addressed stresses include radial, tangential and axial normal stresses acting in the body's mid-portion, as well as the interfacial shearing stresses that concentrate at the body's ends. The numerical example is carried out for the case of a "soft" (silver-tin) solder in application to structures, in which an optical silica fiber is soldered into a silicon chip (silicon photonics technology). It is concluded that the appropriate solder material and its thickness should be selected based on the predictions obtained on the basis of the developed model, so that the radial and the longitudinal interfacial stresses in the solder ring are sufficiently low.


Objective: To evaluate the effect of tear after passive ROM exercise during distension arthrography in patients with frozen shoulder. Method: Fifteen patients (male: 7, female: 8, mean 57.5 years old) who had complained of shoulder pain with decreased ROM at least 3 months prior were enrolled. Distension arthrogrphy of 35 ml of fluid which contained 10 ml of 1% lidocaine, 1 ml of depomedrol (40 mg), 19 ml of normal saline, and 5 ml of radiocontrast material was injected by a single physician. Then if there was no capsular tear, passive ROM exercise was performed for two minutes. Results: In seven of the thirteen patients, the occurrence of capsular tear was observed after only distension arthrography. In five of the six patients without capsular rupture, the occurrence of capsular tear was observed by passive ROM exercise after distension arthrography. Two patients were interrupted because of severe pain. Clinical outcomes of occurrence of capsular tear by conventional distension arthrography and by passive ROM exercise after distension arthrography were similar. Conclusion: Passive ROM exercise after distension arthrography could serve as an effective method of capsular tear in patients with frozen shoulder. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 324-326)


For techniques and apparatus for obtaining user input through the stylus which is configured to act as an interface for supplying user input to the computing device will be described. The computing device may acquire the rotation-related information indicating a rotational position or rotational movement of the stylus around the longitudinal axis of the stylus. Computing device identifies the operation in response to the rotation-related information, may perform the specified operation.


First, I must tell you of my great appreciation for the good will and honor you have shown me in making me Chairman of this Section. My gratitude for your confidence is tempered, however, with considerable humility in recognizing the contribution made by so many over a period of so many years to the success of the Section. Special thanks must go to the Secretary of the Section, Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, who is responsible for the continuity in the activity of the Section; to Frederick C. Blodi, MD, our Delegate to the Scientific Exhibit, who is responsible for the splendid display of exhibits now at the Exhibit Hall at the Coliseum; to the Delegate, Harold F. Falls, and the Alternate Delegate, George S. Tyner, who are responsible for representing the viewpoint of ophthalmology in the policymaking body of the American Medical Association; and to the trustees of the Knapp


Abstract Dialogue about race-based topics is essential to combat prejudice, foster mutual understanding, and improve race relations. This study describes the extent to which political conversations—especially those about race-related topics—are taking place within and across racial and political groups. This national survey with a Black oversample found racially diverse discussion networks to be more likely among Blacks than Whites, but politically diverse networks to be more likely among Whites than Blacks. Blacks were more likely than Whites to talk about race-related topics such as police treatment of Blacks (and less likely about several topics not explicitly tied to race), but by no means did Whites entirely avoid race-related topics, even in their same-race discussions. Moreover, there was evidence that discussion in cross-race dyads affected the mix of topics Whites and Blacks discussed, revealing the potential for cross-race interaction to alter political agendas. Rather than being less likely to talk about police treatment of Blacks with Blacks, Whites were more likely to discuss this topic when in mixed-race dyads, while Blacks talked about it less often with Whites than with other Blacks. Findings are discussed in the context of political disagreement and intergroup contact theory.


A computer-aided homology search of the GenBank nucleotide database using the amino acid sequence of human acyl CoA-binding protein (ACBP)/diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI)-endozepine as a probe revealed that a genomic fragment containing the gene encoding the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) S-acyl fatty acid synthase thioesterase also contains sequences which encode the duck homolog of ACBP/DBI. The duck ACBP/DBI gene is positioned downstream of the thioesterase gene in a tail-to-tail orientation separated from the 3' end of the thioesterase gene by only several hundred nucleotides. Three exons were identified that have strong homology to the published cDNA sequences of human and bovine ACBP/DBI. These exons define all of the coding region except for the amino-terminal domain, which was subsequently cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The encoded amino acid sequence of the duck ACBP/DBI is 62-68% homologous to mammalian ACBP/DBI sequences. While the mammalian ACBP/DBI is expressed mainly in the liver, with smaller amounts in the brain and heart, mRNA transcripts of duck ACBP/DBI were detected only in the brain with no evidence for expression in the liver or heart. The close proximity of the genes for ACBP/DBI and S-acyl fatty acid synthase thioesterase raises the possibility of co-regulation of expression.


Background : Prevalence of stunted adolescents is important because related with the cardiometabolic risk factor. Control of risk factors reduces the comorbidity including body mass index (BMI) control. Improvement of environmental factors such as energy and fiber intake contribute to reducing disease risk. Objective : This study aimed to analyze the relationship of a stunted adolescent with BMI, energy and fiber intake. Method : This study used cross-sectional design. The subject consisted of early adolescents with 10 to 14 years old in Jatinangor district, West Java. Determination of short stature and BMI refers to the WHO Growth Chart 2005. Data collection by the measure of height, weight, BMI calculation, and interviewed food intake by 3x24 hour food recall and analyzed with Nutrisurvey program. Statistical analysis by Mann-Whitney U test. Results : A total of 212 participants (106 stunted and 106 non-stunted) were enrolled. The proportion of stunted girls is 58 (54,9%) and stunted boys 48 (45,1%). Average of BMI in stunted is 17,15 (2,59) kg/m 2 and 18,38 (3,33) kg/m 2 in non-stunted, energy intake is 1.488,83 (513,52) kcal in stunted and 1 .704,32 (663,49) in non-stunted,  fiber intake is 4,36 (1,18) g in stunted and 4,53 (2,15) g in non stunted. There are significant differences in all variables between stunted and non-stunted with a p value for BMI 0,017, in energy intake 0,034 and fiber intake 0,032 . BMI showed the correlation with disease risk. including cardiometabolic diseases in stunting. Energy intake and low fiber in growth age increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases because in stunting have a low metabolic adaptation in protein synthesis and fat oxidation. Conclusion: The study shows there is a difference between BMI, energy intake and fiber in the stunted adolescent and non-stunted adolescent. Further research needs to analyze another risk fctor and intervention to improve nutrition status and metabolic condition.


ODL institutions have often been seen as possessing an innovative and technology-driven delivery approach in teaching and learning practices. The key is in the online delivery of instruction for working learners. Online delivery would require e-tutoring and the use of learning materials to faciltate instruction across diverse groups of learners in a ubiquitous learning environment. This study focuses on Open University Malaysia's approach in leveraging online learning for its stakeholders via its academic programmes. This study attempts to ascertain factors which affect the learning outcomes in ODL. The study was conducted via web survey on 397 learners enrolled at Open University Malaysia from 2012 to 2015. The sample consisted of learners aged between 18 to 64 years. The measurement of learning outcomes was determined via a 5-point Likert rating scale questionnaire. In addition, open-ended responses were also elicited to confirm quantitative findings. Three key constructs emerged from factor analysis, i.e. i. teaching and materials, ii. e-tutoring, and iii. learning experiences. These 3 factors were then confirmed using Structural Equation Modeling techniques to determine model fit derived from exploratory factor analysis. The results show a good fit of the hypothesised model with the structure of the data. As ODL institutions enrol learners from various demographic groups, this study attempted to look into whether demographic differences such as gender, age categories, experience in online learning, learners' CGPA results and time spent on online learning had a significant bearing on learning outcomes. The findings show that female learners perceived teaching and materials, e-tutoring and learning experiences better than male learners but these differences are statistically not significant. From the perspectives of age groups, the study found that age maturity results in slight differences in teaching and outcomes, i.e. the older the learners the more positive the outcomes. However, across the different age groups, no statistical differences exist (p > .05). This study also found no significant differences (p > .05) in the perception of outcomes between learners who had previous experience in online learning compared to those who had not. Based on the learners' CGPA scores, this study shows a general tendency for learners who score high in CGPA to also perceive positively in the 3 constructs, viz. teaching and materials, e-tutoring and learning experiences. However, no significant differences (p > ,05) existed across the different CGPA groups. An interesting finding of this study is that the time learners spent in logging-in to the online sessions this had a significant effect on the outcomes (p < .05). The study concluded that the more time expended in logging-in online, the better would be the outcomes on teaching and use of the materials, e-tutoring and learning experiences. Based on the empirical evidence of the study, this paper puts forth a proposition that ODL is an effective delivery system for working learners leading to good learning outcomes. ODL can guide learners towards the acquisition of desired knowledge and skills needed to excel in academic pursuits among working learners.


We are here to help you -- AskCirc when you are having problems with your library card, can't find a book on the shelf, need to renew a book online or suggest a new book to purchase. BCharlot


We study asymmetric dark matter (ADM) in the context of the minimal (fraternal) twin Higgs solution to the little hierarchy problem, with a twin sector with gauged SU(3)^{'}×SU(2)^{'}, a twin Higgs doublet, and only third-generation twin fermions. Naturalness requires the QCD^{'} scale Λ_{QCD}^{'}≃0.5-20  GeV, and that t^{'} is heavy. We focus on the light b^{'} quark regime, m_{b^{'}}≲Λ_{QCD}^{'}, where QCD^{'} is characterized by a single scale Λ_{QCD}^{'} with no light pions. A twin baryon number asymmetry leads to a successful dark matter (DM) candidate: the spin-3/2 twin baryon, Δ^{'}∼b^{'}b^{'}b^{'}, with a dynamically determined mass (∼5Λ_{QCD}^{'}) in the preferred range for the DM-to-baryon ratio Ω_{DM}/Ω_{baryon}≃5. Gauging the U(1)^{'} group leads to twin atoms (Δ^{'}-τ^{'}[over ¯] bound states) that are successful ADM candidates in significant regions of parameter space, sometimes with observable changes to DM halo properties. Direct detection signatures satisfy current bounds, at times modified by dark form factors.


We prove that the geometric Bogomolov conjecture
for any abelian varieties
is reduced to that for nowhere degenerate abelian varieties
with trivial trace.
In particular,
the geometric Bogomolov conjecture
holds
for abelian varieties whose maximal nowhere degenerate abelian subvariety
is isogenous to a constant abelian variety.
To prove the results, we
investigate closed subvarieties of
abelian schemes over constant varieties,
where constant varieties are varieties over
a function field which can be defined over the constant
field of the function field.


Thymol ester of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) − 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenyl 4-aminobutyrate hydrochloride − was synthesized via Steglich esterification and characterized by 1H NMR, IR and mass spectral studies. The anticonvulsant activity of obtained compound was estimated over a wide range of doses 5-80 mg/kg by determining the minimum effective doses of pentylenetetrazole inducing clonic-tonic convulsions and tonic extension. Present findings indicate that thymol ester of GABA is not a classical prodrug and possesses its own pharmacological activity. Prolonged antiseizure action of thymol derivative (20 mg/kg) was revealed at 24 hours after oral administration. Furthermore, orally co-administered gidazepam (1 mg/kg) and thymol ester of GABA (20 mg/kg) produce synergistic effect in seizures prevention.


Our paper credits Gilman for creating a utopian environment where tolerance, interdependence and mutual respect characterize intergender relationships. The premises of this utopia are drawn from Darwin's observations of social evolution which Gilman thinks refute the biological inferiority of women and alternately relate their oppression and subordination to socio-economic determinants. The paper also dramatizes Foucault's theorization of the panoptic powers of surveillance and discipline, and historicization of the genealogical relations between knowledge and power on account of which Gilman provokes women to unlearn the dominant discourse of patriarchy and initiate an inclusive reconciliatory discourse that recognizes men and women as equal human beings and gives equal value to both of them. Likewise, we recognize Gilman as a socialist for desexualizing paid and domestic labor and considering women as equal partners in terms of productivity and performance. Building on these presumptions, we conclude that the interdisciplinary resonances in Gilman's Herland enrich feminist studies and help reform social and gender relations. Key words: Reformed feminism; Reformed socialism; Social evolution; Gender reconciliation; Interdependence.


Background Children with problematic severe asthma (PA) may have genuine therapy-resistant disease, or may be difficult-to-treat because of unaddressed potentially modifiable factors. Objectives Evaluate the long-term efficacy of a structured protocol including a nurse-led assessment1 (Stage 1) in identifying modifiable factors and differentiating difficult asthma (DA) from severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA) in children with PA. As a secondary aim, we determined whether DA and STRA could be identified without the detailed assessment. Methods 78 children, median age 11.8 years (range 5–17 years), that underwent Stage 1 assessment between 2005 and 2008 were included. Lung function, medications, symptoms and exacerbations were obtained at 1 year, 2 years, and up to 6 years (current status) after initial assessment. Children in whom modifiable factors were identified were classified as DA and those that progressed to further investigations (Stages 2 & 3) as STRA. Results Median duration of follow-up was 3.9 years (range 2.5–6.1 years). 31/78 (40%) children were classified as DA, and did not proceed to Stages 2 & 3. Children with DA had significantly lower dose inhaled corticosteroids prescribed at follow-up compared to STRA (DA vs STRA: median [IQR] 800 μg [400 μg–1425 μg] vs 1600 μg [800 μg–2400 μg], p<0.05), and significantly fewer oral corticosteroid bursts per year (DA vs STRA: median [IQR] 1 [0–2] vs 4 [1.5–8], p<0.001). DA children had improved lung function at follow-up compared to baseline (median [IQR] FEV1 % predicted: 91% [86.5%–102.5%] vs 80% [73%–86%], p<0.01) despite lower dose inhaled corticosteroids. DA and STRA had different characteristics at baseline: DA children had a higher FEV1 % predicted (p<0.01), less bronchodilator reversibility (p<0.05), lower fractional exhaled nitric oxide (p<0.05), and less sensitisation to food and aeroallergens (both p<0.05) compared to STRA. However, there was considerable overlap between the groups and the two could not reliably be distinguished in advance of the detailed Stage 1 assessment. Conclusion As a result of our assessment, 40% of children with PA did not undergo invasive investigations and escalation of therapy. Up to 6 years later, children with DA had a significant improvement in lung function and fewer exacerbations despite reduced maintenance medication.


Computational fluid dynamics models of RF-ICP are useful in understanding the basic transport phenomenon in an ICP torch under a wide variety of operating conditions. However, these models lack the ability to evaluate the effects of the plasma condition on the RF generator. In this paper, simulation of an induction plasma generator has been done using state space modelling by considering inductively coupled plasma as a part of RF network .The time dependent response of the RF-ICP generator circuit to given input excitation has been computed by extracting the circuit's state-space variables and their constraint matrices. MATLAB 7.1 software has been used to solve the state equations. The values of RF coil current, frequency and plasma power has been measured experimentally also at different plate bias voltage. The simulated model is able to predict RF coil current, frequency, plasma power, overall efficiency of the generator. The simulated and measured values are in agreement with each other. This model can prove useful as a design tool for the Induction plasma generator.


A series of wet braking tests has been performed using two different pad materials. Brake tests were conducted in different operating conditions i.e. dry, humid air and wet environment in which both pad samples were tested against grey cast iron disc at certain sliding speed and contact pressure. Wear analysis was performed to find correlation between presence of water and changes in brake pad wear characteristics. The results revealed that regardless of the frictional behaviour, wear rate for both pad materials tested at humid air and wet braking is significantly lower than in dry results.


The cohort of menopausal women has dramatically increased in size. Along with the drop in endogenous estrogen during this transition, there is also a drop in endogenous testosterone. This drop in endogenous testosterone is particularly marked in women experiencing chemical and surgical menopause and can lead to diminished sexual desire and lack of feelings of well-being. The nurse practitioner is in an ideal position to identify these quality-of-life problems and provide appropriate androgen therapy as needed.


"There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water badly – such that billions of people and the environment suffer." (World Water Vision 2000).The management of water resources is becoming increasingly challenging in India with accelerating growth and development. Scarcities are becoming frequent and managing the distribution across vast areas of the country, and amongst millions of users, in a way that is sustainable, is becoming a major problem. Irrigation is crucial for agriculture and rural incomes in India. The technical solutions to the difficulties are typically known and are often implemented, but the institutional issues of control, organization and management within the political economy of democracy and small farm agriculture are becoming exceedingly difficult and pose the most serious challenge. This paper presents some preliminary results of recent field-based research supported by ACIAR which examines institutional issues in water resource management in India's agriculture. Among different approaches, it focuses on the new institutional economics framework for studying the subject. The effort is to draw lessons and suggest an effective institutional framework for improving water resource management institutions in India. The paper is based on primary data collected from a variety of settings in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.


People adopt a variety of approaches to practice their religion, but to date there has been no examination as to how identification with one's community, with Americans, and with all humanity may relate to different religious orientations. Two studies tested the hypotheses that 1) intrinsic religious orientation would be associated with all three levels of ingroup identification, 2) extrinsic religious orientation would be associated with community-level identification only, 3) quest religious orientation would be associated with humanity-level identification only, and 4) orthodox religious orientation would be associated with communityand country-level identification only. Study 2 controlled for several individual difference variables. In both studies, participants (n = 285 for Study 1, n = 507 for Study 2) completed online surveys. The results across both studies showed that identifying with country was associated with orthodox Christianity, and identifying with all humanity was associated with intrinsic Christianity. Implications for research on religion and outgroup prejudice are discussed.


OBJECTIVES
To estimate the burden of disease due to vaccinable diseases and the relative importance of these diseases in the health of the Spanish population aged less than 15 years old.

METHODS
Disease burden was measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). DALYs were computed by adding years of life lost (YLL) to years lived with disability (YLD). The DALYs of the Spanish population aged less than 15 years old were estimated for 1999 and were stratified by diseases according to the classification system of the Global Burden of Disease (adapted to the aim of the study), age group and gender. Diseases included in the childhood vaccination schedule, varicella, and pneumococcal disease were targeted for this study. The sources used were: the national mortality register to compute YLL, the Epidemiologic Surveillance National Network, hospital discharge data (CMBD) and the scientific literature to compute YLD due to vaccinable diseases, and World Health Organization estimates (Euro-A) or, when these were lacking, morbidity hospital data (Hospital Morbidity Survey) to compute the YLD due to non-vaccinable diseases.

RESULTS
The burden of disease due to vaccinable diseases was 1.2% of global DALYS (the overall DALYs rate was 46,57/1,000 habitants): excluding meningococcal disease (0.5% to 3.3%), diseases included in the vaccination schedule represented 0.00% to 0.03%, depending on age groups, except meningococcal infection (between 0.5% and 3.3%). Pneumococcal meningitis represented 0.06% to 0.65% and varicella 0.00% to 0.15%, also depending on age groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Disease burden due to vaccinable diseases is a good indicator of the health of the young population in Spain. This measure summarizes and combines information on mortality, morbidity and disability caused by diseases. The DALYs attributable to diseases included in the vaccination schedule demonstrate that immunization programs have achieved their goals.


Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been licensed in Australia for thrombolysis in selected patients with acute ischaemic stroke since 2003. The use of tPA is low but is increasing across Australia and national audits indicate efficacy and safety outcomes equivalent to international benchmarks. Implementing tPA therapy in clinical practice is, however, challenging and requires a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to acute stroke care across prehospital, emergency department and inpatient care sectors. Stroke care units are an essential ingredient underpinning safe implementation of stroke thrombolysis. Support systems such as care pathways, therapy delivery protocols, and thrombolysis‐experienced multidisciplinary care teams are also important enablers. Where delivery of stroke thrombolysis is being planned, health systems need to be re‐configured to provide these important elements. This consensus statement provides a review of the evidence for, and implementation of, tPA in acute ischaemic stroke with specific reference to the Australian health‐care system.


Contrasts the free exchange and substitution of Williams's principle of co-inherence with the forced exchange of magic, as practiced by Simon the Clerk in All Hallows' Eve. Previously appeared as "Grace and Goetia: Magic as Forced Compensation in Charles Williams' All Hallows' Eve." Mythcon XVI, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, 1985. Ed. Diana Pavlac: Mythopoeic Society, 1985. 15–30.


This paper presents the outer-round only pipelined architecture for a FPGA implementation of the AES-128 encryption processor. The proposed design uses the Block RAM storing the S-box values and exploits two kinds of Block RAM. By combining the operations in a single round, we can reduce the critical delay. Therefore, our design can achieve a throughput of 34.7 Gbps at 271.15 Mhz and 2389 CLB Slices with 200 BRAM. We can get the much higher efficiency than any other implementation reported in the literature.


Object recognition is consistently impaired in human amnesia and animal models thereof. Results from subjects with permanent brain damage have revealed the importance of the perirhinal cortex to object recognition memory. Here, we report evidence from rats for interdependent but distinct stages in object recognition memory (encoding, retrieval, and consolidation), which require glutamate receptor activity within perirhinal cortex. Transient blockade of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission within perirhinal cortex disrupted encoding for short- and long-term memory as well as retrieval and consolidation. In contrast, transient NMDA receptor blockade during encoding affected only long-term object recognition memory; NMDA receptor activity was also necessary for consolidation but not retrieval. These results further demonstrate the importance of perirhinal cortex for object recognition memory and suggest that, as in the hippocampus, AMPA and NMDA receptors mediate synaptic transmission and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, respectively, in several stages of memory processing.


An amino-functionalized terphenyl-tetracarboxylic acid, 2'-amino-[1,1':4',1″-terphenyl]-3,3″,5,5″-tetracarboxylic acid (H4tpta), was used as an adaptable linker to synthesize, under hydrothermal conditions, eight coordination polymers (CPs). The obtained products were formulated as [Co(μ6-H2tpta)]n (1), [Co(μ3-H2tpta)(2,2'-bipy)]n (2), [M3(μ6-Htpta)2(2,2'-bipy)2]n (M = Mn (3), Cd (4)), [Ni2(μ4-tpta)(phen)2(H2O)4]n (5), [Zn2(μ6-tpta)(phen)2]n (6), {[Zn2(μ6-tpta)(μ-4,4'-bipy)]·H2O}n (7), and [Zn2(μ6-tpta)(μ-H2biim)(H2O)2]n (8), wherein 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bipy), 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), or 2,2'-biimidazole (H2biim) are present as additional stabilizing ligands. The structural types of 1-8 vary from one-dimensional (1D) (2, 5) and two-dimensional (2D) (3, 4, 6) CPs to three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (1, 7, and 8) with a diversity of topologies. The products 1-8 were investigated as catalysts in the Knoevenagel condensation involving aldehydes and active methylene derivatives (malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, or tert-butyl cyanoacetate), leading to high condensation product yields (up to 99%) under optimized conditions. Various reaction conditions, substrate scope, and catalyst recycling were investigated. This work broadens the application of H4tpta as a versatile tetracarboxylate linker for the generation of diverse CPs/MOFs.


: Accurate and timely information on the spatial distribution of crops is of great significance to precision agriculture and food security. Many cropland mapping methods using satellite image time series are based on expert knowledge to extract phenological features to identify crops. It is still a challenge to automatically obtain meaningful features from time-series data for crop classification. In this study, we developed an automated method based on satellite image time series to map the spatial distribution of three major crops including maize, rice, and soybean in northeastern China. The core method used is the nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique. However, the existing nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique cannot handle missing data, and it is not designed for subsequent classification tasks. Therefore, the nonlinear dimensionality reduction algorithm Landmark–Isometric feature mapping (L–ISOMAP) is improved. The advantage of the improved L–ISOMAP is that it does not need to reconstruct time series for missing data, and it can automatically obtain meaningful featured metrics for classification. The improved L–ISOMAP was applied to Landsat 8 full-band time-series data during the crop-growing season in the three northeastern provinces of China; then, the dimensionality reduction bands were inputted into a random forest classifier to complete a crop distribution map. The results show that the area of crops mapped is consistent with o ffi cial statistics. The 2015 crop distribution map was evaluated through the collected reference dataset, and the overall classification accuracy and Kappa index were 83.68% and 0.7519, respectively. The geographical characteristics of major crops in three provinces in northeast China were analyzed. This study demonstrated that the improved L–ISOMAP method can be used to automatically extract features for crop classification. For future work, there is great potential for applying automatic mapping algorithms to other data or classification tasks.


When the human brain manifests the birth of organised communication among local and large-scale neuronal populations activity remains undescribed. We report, in resting-state EEG source-estimates of 100 infants at term age, the existence of macro-scale dynamic functional connectivity, which have rich topological organisations, distinct spectral fingerprints and scale-invariance temporal dynamics. These functional networks encompass the default mode, primary sensory-limbic system, thalamo-frontal, thalamo-sensorimotor and visual-limbic system confined in the delta and low-alpha frequency intervals (1-8 Hz). The temporal dynamics of these networks not only are nested within much slower timescale (¡ 0.1 Hz) but also correlated in a hierarchical leading-following organisation. We show that the anatomically constrained richly organised spatial topologies, spectral contents and temporal fluctuations of resting-state networks reflect an established intrinsic dynamic functional connectome in the human brain at term age. The graph theoretical analysis of the spatial architectures of the networks revealed small-world topology and distinct rich-club organisations of interconnected cortical hubs that exhibit rich synchronous dynamics at multiple timescales. The approach opens new avenues to advance our understanding about the early configuration organisation of dynamic networks in the human brain and offers a novel monitoring platform to investigate functional brain network development in sick preterm infants.


This Article considers the process by which electoral reform ought to take place, focusing in particular on the democratic and constitutional constraints that bear on electoral reform. It outlines a number of possible process options — including a citizens' assembly, a commission, a referendum, and a parliamentary committee — and it argues that although no single mechanism is mandated, the process must visibly follow the norms of political neutrality, consultation, and deliberation in order for the proposed reform to be democratically legitimate.This Article also addresses the question of whether a constitutional amendment involving provincial consent is required for electoral reform. The Supreme Court has recognized in many of its cases that the electoral system is political in nature but nonetheless subject to certain constitutional limits. The Court has also stated in its prior cases that the choice of the electoral model falls within the domain of Parliament. The remaining question, however, is whether the Senate Reference has changed the legal landscape such that Parliament would now be required to obtain provincial consent in order to usher in electoral change. This Article argues that given the salient differences between Senate reform and electoral reform, the Court could distinguish the Senate Reference and find that its earlier precedents on the electoral system remain valid. The Article concludes that electoral reform can likely proceed without a constitutional amendment involving provincial consent, provided that the reform is consistent with certain constitutional requirements.


The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of recombinant interleukin (rIL)-2 treatment on paclitaxel (PLX) pharmacokinetics in the plasma and tissue of Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice (lung tissues and s.c. tumors). PLX pharmacokinetics studies were conducted after oral and i.v. administration of 15 and 4 mg/kg, respectively, either alone or after 3 days of rIL-2 pretreatment. The noncompartmental approach was used to determine the mean pharmacokinetic parameters using WinNonlin software (Pharsight, Mountain View, CA). The influence of rIL-2 pretreatment on physiological P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in lung and intestine was investigated by Western blot analysis. After oral administration of PLX, areas under the curve (AUC) in plasma, lung, and s.c. tumors were significantly higher (2.98, 2.66, and 3.41-fold, respectively) in the rIL-2 + PLX group as compared with the PLX group. However, no significant effect of rIL-2 pretreatment was observed in plasma or lung following i.v. administration of PLX. PLX AUC in s.c. tumors was significantly higher (1.37-fold) with rIL-2 pretreatment as compared with the PLX-alone group after i.v. injection. Pretreatment with rIL-2 appeared to have no effect on PLX plasma terminal half-life when PLX was administered orally or i.v. However, prolongation of PLX terminal half-life estimated from lung and s.c. tumors data had been observed. Increased PLX tissue absorption in the rIL-2-pretreated group may be explained by a decrease of P-gp expression in the intestines and lung or decreased functionality due to rIL-2. Oral administration allowed the targeted tissues a much higher PLX exposure as compared with i.v. administration.


Chert outcrops on eastern Santa Cruz Island were of vital importance to the inhabitants of the Santa Barbara Channel region because of their comparatively limited availablity elsewhere on the California Channel Islands. Temporally diagnostic artifacts and radiocarbon dates from associated shell middens suggest that chert quarries were exploited throughout the Holocene. The importance of these quarries has been well documented in regard to microlith production as part of the shell bead industry during the late Holocene. However, relatively little is known about local chert tool manufacture and exchange in earlier times. Systematic documentation of 26 known chert quarries, and sampling at associated shell middens on eastern Santa Cruz Island has resulted in the identification of significant spatial variability in chert exploitation through time. Whereas chert quarrying during the middle Holocene appears to have been opportunistic and dispersed throughout the landscape, comparable activities during the late Holocene became increasingly circumscribed as microlith production was intensified. These trends in chert procurement are interpreted in the context of temporal changes in subsistence, tool manufacture, and residential mobility on the northern Channel Islands, and have broad implications for spatial and temporal patterning in prehistoric lithic exploitation.


For current statistical machine translation system, reordering is still a major problem for language pairs like ChineseEnglish, where the source and target language have significant word order differences. In this paper, we propose a novel reordering model based on sequence labeling techniques. Our model converts the reordering problem into a sequence labeling problem, i.e. a tagging task. For the given source sentence, we assign each source token a label which contains the reordering information for that token. We also design an unaligned word tag so that the unaligned word phenomenon is automatically implanted in the proposed model. Our reordering model is conditioned on the whole source sentence. Hence it is able to catch the long dependency in the source sentence. Although the learning on large scale task requests notably amounts of computational resources, the decoder makes use of the tagging information as soft constraints. Therefore, the training procedure of our model is computationally expensive for large task while in the test phase (during translation) our model is very efficient. We carried out experiments on five Chinese-English NIST tasks trained with BOLT data. Results show that our model improves the baseline system by 1.32 BLEU 1.53 TER on average.


Wavelength-dependent polarization state of light carries crucial information about light-matter interactions. However, its measurement is limited to bulky, energy-consuming devices, which prohibits many modern, portable applications. Here, we propose and demonstrate a chip-scale spectropolarimeter implemented using a CMOS-compatible silicon photonics technology. Four compact Vernier microresonator spectrometers are monolithically integrated with a broadband polarimeter consisting of a 2D nanophotonic antenna and a polarimetric circuit to achieve full-Stokes spectropolarimetric analysis. The proposed device offers a solid-state spectropolarimetry solution with a small footprint of 1*0.6 mm2 and low power consumption of 360 mW}. Full-Stokes spectral detection across a broad spectral range of 50 nm with a resolution of 1~nm is demonstrated in characterizing a material possessing structural chirality. The proposed device may enable a broader application of spectropolarimetry in the fields ranging from biomedical diagnostics and chemical analysis to observational astronomy.


Novel bifunctional pyrrolidine-based organocatalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition of carbonyl compounds to nitroolefins have been synthesised from homoallylamines, which are easily obtained from (R)-glyceraldehyde as a chiral precursor. Under optimal reaction conditions, these bifunctional organocatalysts showed a high catalytic efficiency (almost quantitative yield in most cases) and stereoselectivity in the Michael addition reactions of a variety of aldehydes (up to 98 : 2 dr and 97% ee) and ketones (up to 98 : 2 dr and 99% ee) to nitroolefins.


BACKGROUND
To date no research has been conducted to examine the process used in the preceptorship experience to enhance critical thinking at the graduate level. This study provides data that could revitalize the preceptor/learner relationship and in turn influence future preceptorship programmes in graduate nursing education.

AIM
The purpose of this study was to examine the preceptorship experience and its role in the enhancement of critical thinking in graduate nursing education.

DESIGN
A grounded theory approach was employed, through semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews. Overall, 45 interviews were completed with graduate nursing students ranging in age from 26 to 53 years, and master's and doctorally prepared preceptors who ranged in age from 47 to 58 years. In addition, a journal of personal reflections was kept by each of the researchers. Analysis of data included the process of open coding, theoretical coding, selective coding, reduction and comparison.

FINDINGS
Data revealed that a process, designated The Relational Process, occurred in the preceptorship experience to enhance the critical thinking ability of graduate nursing students. This process was found to be a complex, ongoing interpersonal dynamic between the graduate student and assigned preceptor.

CONCLUSIONS
The relational process that emerged from this study indicates that specific preceptor behaviours are pivotal to the enhancement of critical thinking of graduate nursing students and ultimately impact on the success or failure of the preceptorship experience.


Minimax algorithm and machine learning technologies have been studied for decades to reach an ideal optimization in game areas such as chess and backgammon. In these fields, several generations try to optimize the code for pruning and effectiveness of evaluation function. Thus, there are well-armed algorithms to deal with various sophisticated situations in gaming occasion. However, as a traditional zero-sum game, Connect-4 receives less attention compared with the other members of its zero-sum family using traditional minimax algorithm. In recent years, new generation of heuristics is created to address this problem based on research conclusions, expertise and gaming experiences. However, this paper mainly introduced a self-developed heuristics supported by well-demonstrated result from researches and our own experiences which fighting against the available version of Connect-4 system online. While most previous works focused on winning algorithms and knowledge based approaches, we complement these works with analysis of heuristics. We have conducted three experiments on the relationship among functionality, depth of searching and number of features and doing contrastive test with sample online. Different from the sample based on summarized experience and generalized features, our heuristics have a basic concentration on detailed connection between pieces on board. By analysing the winning percentages when our version fights against the online sample with different searching depths, we find that our heuristics with minimax algorithm is perfect on the early stages of the zero-sum game playing. Because some nodes in the game tree have no influence on the final decision of minimax algorithm, we use alpha-beta pruning to decrease the number of meaningless node which greatly increases the minimax efficiency. During the contrastive experiment with the online sample, this paper also verifies basic characters of the minimax algorithm including depths and quantity of features. According to the experiment, these two characters can both effect the decision for each step and none of them can be absolutely in charge. Besides, we also explore some potential future issues in Connect-4 game optimization such as precise adjustment on heuristic values and inefficiency pruning on the search tree.


Given trees T and T* on the same taxon set, the transfer index ϕ(b, T*) is the number of taxa that need to be ignored so that the bipartition induced by branch b in T is equal to some bipartition in T*. Recently, Lemoine et al. [14] used the transfer index to design a novel bootstrap analysis technique that improves on Felsenstein's bootstrap on large, noisy data sets. In this work, we propose an algorithm that computes the transfer index for all branches b ∈ T in O(n log3 n) time, which improves upon the current O(n2)-time algorithm by Lin, Rajan and Moret [15]. Our implementation is able to process pairs of trees with hundreds of thousands of taxa in minutes and considerably speeds up the method of Lemoine et al. on large data sets. We believe our algorithm can be useful for comparing large phylogenies, especially when some taxa are misplaced (e.g. due to horizontal gene transfer, recombination, or reconstruction errors).


A new nematode species was recovered from the syconia of Ficus hirta var. roxburghii from Chaozhou, Guangdong, China. It is described herein as Ficophagus chaozhouensis n. sp. and is characterised by possessing the combined characters of a short post-uterine sac, excretory pore located near the head, amoeboid sperm, three pairs of subventral papillae on the male tail, rounded male tail tip with mucron (occasionally swollen), absence of gubernaculum (or apophysis), a blunt rosethorn-shaped spicule without a terminal cucullus, and a digitate rostrum with a broadly squared tip. Ficophagus chaozhouensis n. sp. was separated from other sequenced species by differences in the partial small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis with LSU D2-D3 expansion segment sequences suggested that F. chaozhouensis n. sp. is clustered in the same highly supported monophyletic clade with F. aculeata, F. maxima and F. yoponensis, and is sister to F. aculeata.


For the first time, a scalable load balanced Birkhoff-von Neumann TDM switch IC with SERDES interface circuits for high speed networking applications was implemented. Any NtimesN Birkhoff-von Neumann TDM switch could be constructed recursively from the designed TDM switch IC to achieve switching capacity of hundred gigabits per second or higher. The TDM switch IC contained a digital 8times8 TDM switch core with 8B10B codecs and analog SERDES I/O interfaces. In the I/O interfaces, eight 2.56/3.2Gbps dual-mode 16/20:1 SERDES with CML buffers were developed. The 16/20:1 instead of 8/10:1 serializer and deserializer were used to reduce the required operating frequency in the switch core by half. New half-rate architectures and all static CMOS gates were used in the 16/20:1 serializer and deserializer for the low power consumption. A wide-band CML I/O buffer with our patented PMOS active load scheme was developed. All the implementations were based on the 0.18 mum CMOS technology. Test results showed a 20 Gbps switching capacity for the 8times8 TDM switch IC.

http://www.ee.nthu.edu.tw/shhsu/conference papers/CAS_2007_scalable LB BvN switch.pdf


We propose a new circuit level reliability evaluation methodology. The proposed methodology is based on a divide and conquer approach, which enjoys the benefits of device level accuracy and of block level efficiency. At the core of the reliability estimation engine lies a Monte Carlo algorithm which works with failure times modeled as Weibull and lognormal distributions for major wearout mechanisms: time dependent dielectric break down, negative bias temperature instability, electromigration, thermal cycling, and stress migration. As a case study, we demonstrate how the proposed reliability evaluation technique can be applied to a Network-on-Chip router to identify the most vulnerable subblocks, which represent the reliability bottlenecks of the router.


The activity of receptors specific for human transcobalamin II‐Cobalamin (TC II‐Cbl) were measured in virus‐transformed lymphoblasts, hepatocytes (hepatoma) and diploid fibrolasts. In all three types of human cells the receptor activity increased as cells went from a resting phase to the most actively dividing phase. Receptor activity declined as cell division slowed. The changes in activity of lymphoblasts and hepatocytes were produced by changes in receptor numbe and not by changes in affinity between receptors and TC II‐Cbl. The basis of the change in fibroblasts was not clear. The Cbl‐dependent methionine synthetase activity of fibroblasts, in contrast, tended to be greatest when the cultures were confluent and replication had slowed. As the fibroblasts became senescent the receptor activity for TC II‐Cbl declined and the fluctuations with the phase of the cell were blunted. However, the release of apo TC II from the cells was maintained. These observations must be taken into consideration when the respective cells are used as models. Even more important are the implications of the observations of the changes in receptor activity for TC II‐Cbl for the regulation of the entry of Cbl into cells.


Abstract (1) Crude extracts prepared from the silk glands of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. contain trehalase activity. (2) Trehalase in the silk glands has a pH of 5.5 and a Km of 0.71 mM. The activity of the enzyme is inhibited by divalent cations such as Mn, Cu, and Zn. (3) By histochemical methods, it is shown that trehalase is localized in the periphery of the silk gland cells, especially in the tunica propria and tunica intima. (4) Trehalase activity is low in fifth instar and increases greatly in spinning stages, after which the activity decreases.


This article presents a practitioner-based approach to identify key combinations of contextual factors (C) and mechanisms (M) that trigger outcomes (O) in Dutch community-based health-enhancing physical activity (CBHEPA) programs targeting socially vulnerable groups. Data were collected in six programs using semi-structured interviews and focus groups using a timeline technique. Sessions were recorded, anonymized, and transcribed. A realist synthesis protocol was used for data-driven and thematic analysis of CMO configurations. CMO configurations related to community outreach, program sustainability, intersectoral collaboration, and enhancing participants' active lifestyles. We have refined the CBHEPA program theory by showing that actors' passion for, and past experiences with, physical activity programs trigger outcomes, alongside their commitment to socially vulnerable target groups. Project discontinuity, limited access to resources, and a trainer's stand-alone position were negative configurations. The authors conclude that local governance structures appear often to lack adaptive capacity to accommodate multilevel processes to sustain programs.


Purpose: In thyroid orbitopathy, surgical treatment of exophthalmos and compressive optic neuropathy is orbital decompression. Deep lateral wall decompression has been advocated alone or combined with the medial wall for a "balanced" decompression. The degree of lateral decompression is dependent on the volume of the sphenoid trigone comprising the deep lateral orbital wall. This study aims to compare the volume of the trigone in various races in men and women. Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval, patients with normal sinus CT scans (Siemens Somatom 40-slice) were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were men and women aged 30 to 60 years, no orbital disease or surgery, normal orbital CT scans, and self-reported race (Asian, black/African American, white). Scans were measured with imaging software (Synapse, Fujifilm USA). The superior and inferior extents of the measured trigone were the superior and inferior orbital fissures, respectively. In the axial CT plane, the areas of each slice of the right and left trigone were manually outlined with the software and volume subsequently calculated based on the slice thickness (2 mm). Comparisons between groups were made via repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: One hundred twenty subjects were included, 20 from each subgroup, yielding 240 measured orbits. The overall volume of the sphenoid trigone for all groups combined was 1.53 cm3 (standard deviation 0.72 cm3). Mean male volume was significantly larger than mean female volume (1.71 ± 0.83 cm3 vs. 1.35 ± 0.55 cm3; p = 0.004). Average left side volume was larger than paired right side volume (1.58 ± 0.74 cm3 vs. 1.49 ± 0.71 cm3; p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in average volumes between races (p = 0.17). Conclusions: The mean sphenoid trigone volume was larger in men than in women. There were no significant differences in volume between racial groups. The data showed significant interindividual and intraindividual variability. When analyzing these data for the purposes of orbital decompression, planning should be based on each side of each patient, as the expected degree of lateral decompression may vary greatly.


The influence of environmental parameters on the development of powdery mildew caused by Oidium mangiferae Berthet on mango inflorescence was studied for seven consecutive years (2012-18) in humid tropics climatic conditions of South Gujarat. The disease incidence and severity (DIS), area under disease progress curve-AUDPC (A-value) and apparent infection rate (r-value) were recorded at panicle and fruit setting stages of the tree at weekly intervals. The correlation studies showed that incidence and severity of powdery mildew significantly negative relationship with morning relative humidity (r = -0.631; p<0.05 and r = -0.721; p<0.01) and average relative humidity (r = -0.766 and r = -0.787; p<0.01). Temperature (maximum and average) and evaporation showed positive relationship with incidence and severity of powdery mildew. Further, stepwise linear regression model indicated that average relative humidity as single predictor independent variable had the strongest relationship disease incidence and severity, which explained 59 percent disease incidence and 62 percent for disease severity variability. This forewarning model can be useful for efficient management of powdery mildew disease of mango and as well as agro advisory services to farmers.


This qualitative meta-analysis explored the nature of successful collaboration between teachers and school librarians. Three action research studies of school librarians who integrated instruction or curriculum through collaboration with teachers are examined to understand more about what strategies made the collaboration successful. Strategies used by the librarians to collaborate more effectively with teachers are presented, as well as measures that can be used to determine successful collaboration. The findings indicate that the school librarians in this study used many different strategies to lead the collaboration to success. These strategies included initiating the collaboration, securing support from the principal, identifying a shared vision with all collaborators, collecting and analyzing data about the progress of the collaboration, holding regular meetings, and documenting the collaboration. This paper was presented for the AASL Research into Practice track at the 2019 AASL National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.


We introduce BURN, a methodology to create customized benchmarks for testing multitier applications under time-varying resource usage conditions. Starting from a set of preexisting test workloads, BURN finds a policy that interleaves their execution to stress the multitier application and generate controlled burstiness in resource consumption. This is useful to study, in a controlled way, the robustness of software services to sudden changes in the workload characteristics and in the usage levels of the resources. The problem is tackled by a model-based technique which first generates Markov models to describe resource consumption patterns of each test workload. Then, a policy is generated using an optimization program which sets as constraints a target request mix and user-specified levels of burstiness at the different resources in the system. Burstiness is quantified using a novel metric called overdemand, which describes in a natural way the tendency of a workload to keep a resource congested for long periods of time and across multiple requests. A case study based on a three-tier application testbed shows that our method is able to control and predict burstiness for session service demands at a fine-grained scale. Furthermore, experiments demonstrate that for any given request mix our approach can expose latency and throughput degradations not found with nonbursty workloads having the same request mix.


Food is usually recognized as a limited resource in sustainability, recognized by the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims to achieve zero hunger. It is expected that the circular economy (CE) can improve processes related to food production. The objective of the present study was to apply a bibliometric approach using VOSviewer visualization software as a research tool to analyze the relevant literature from the Scopus database in the field of circular economy and its relation to improvements in food issues throughout 2012–2021. A total of 1316 articles were analyzed. Italy was the most productive country with 313 articles, with Wageningen University & Research the organization with the most publications with 39 articles. The top 10 institutions originated from Italy, The Netherlands, France, and Denmark. Sustainability was the most productive journal with 107 articles. Bioresource Technology had the highest average citation frequency (44.68). The study helps initiate investigations to adapt the results obtained and create new strategies for increasing food circular economy efforts.


Objective To conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of endovascular therapy (EVT) in mild acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to proximal versus distal occlusions. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov from January 2000 to September 2021 to identify studies comparing EVT versus best medical management (BMM) in AIS with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ≤5 due to proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) or M1 versus distal M2 occlusions. We included studies that reported the number of patients with proximal or distal occlusions separately and reported the number of patients with freedom of disability (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0–1) or functional independence (mRS score 0–2) at 90 days in proximal or M2 occlusions, respectively. OR with 95% CI was used. Results We identified six studies with 653 proximal ICA and M1 occlusion patients and 666 distal M2 occlusion patients. Pooled results showed EVT versus BMM was associated with a higher rate of being disability-free in patients with proximal occlusions (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.30), but was associated with a lower rate of being disability-free in patients with M2 occlusions (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.99). Effect of EVT in proximal versus distal occlusions was substantially different (P for interaction=0.002). A similar pattern was seen for functional independence (P for interaction=0.05). Conclusions For patients with mild AIS, observational data suggest that EVT may be beneficial for proximal ICA or M1 but not for distal M2 occlusions. Randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021281034.


The volume argues that judicious management of water resources is a critical policy issue for India as it is not scarcity but mismanagement and misuse of water resources that is the problem. The volume argues that Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is a step in the right direction but the approach is yet to be fully integrated in the Indian context.


This study investigated the differences of internet addiction by gender and the psychological states(depression, anxiety, impulislvity and aggression) by internet addiction groups and the relationship of depression, anxiety, impulsivity and aggression with internet addiction by resilience as moderator. The 529 college students (male: 212, female: 317) of 5 universities of Jeonbuk Province participated in this study. Main results are as follows; First, the intenet addiction level of male college students was higher than female students, and the higher internet addiction was, the higher depression and impulsivity were. Second, depression. anxiety, impulsivity and resilience were correlated with internet addiction. But aggression was not correlated with it. Third, anxiety and implusivity(male college students), depression and impulsivity(female college students) were correlated with internet addiction or overuse. Fourth, resilience was proved to function as moderator in the prediction of depression on internet addiction of only female college students. The limitation and future tasks were discussed.


Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is relevant to sperm quality, sperm capacitation and male fertility. However, it is still unknown whether CFTR can be a potential parameter for fecundity prediction in healthy couples. In this study, 135 healthy couples were divided into groups according to their fertility. We demonstrated that the sperm CFTR expression level of healthy males who never impregnated their partners (49 cases, 38.68 ± 2.71%) was significantly lower than that of fertile men (86 cases, 46.35 ± 2.32%). Sperm CFTR expression level accurately corresponded with fertility through the logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the cut‐off value of sperm CFTR expression level for fecundity prediction was 43.75%. Furthermore, cumulative pregnancy rates (CPRs) of CFTR > 43.75% group and CFTR ≤ 43.75% group during the follow‐up periods were 80.6% and 49.3% respectively. Meanwhile, the mean time to pregnancy (TTP) of CFTR ≤ 43.75% group (26.79 ± 2.35) was significantly longer than that of CFTR > 43.75% group (16.46 ± 2.42). Therefore, sperm CFTR expression level is relevant to fecundity of healthy couples and shows potential predictive capacity of fecundity.


Psychosis is widely accepted as a complication of epilepsy. With regard to
phenomenology, etiology and prognosis both psychosis and epilepsy are complex
disorders. Studying their association is therefore challenging. Some aspects of this
association are now better established than they were at the time of Slater's classic
report on psychosis of epilepsy.
Over the past four decades a consensus has begun to take shape that certain forms
of epilepsy may act as risk factors for subsequent development of chronic interictal
psychosis, a syndrome sometimes referred to as the schizophrenia-like psychosis of
epilepsy. This psychosis does resemble schizophrenia in its phenomenological
manifestations, pursues a similar course and is responsive to antipsychotic medications.
Considering that epilepsy may be a risk factor for development of psychosis, it is
important to identify if there are epileptic characteristics that predict such a
development. This study is to analyse the association of interictal psychosis and epilepsy
and to identify the predictive variables for interictal psychosis in epilepsy.
The most important predictors for development of interictal psychosis associated
with epilepsy were Earlier age of onset of epilepsy, Chronic long standing epilepsy,
Increased frequency of seizures, Complex partial seizures, Psychosis was most often schizophrenic in nature
with thought disturbances, auditory and visual hallucinations.


Previous efforts to automate cervical cell analysis have focused on algorithms that use measurements of high resolution images of individual cells for 'rare event' detection of abnormal cells, sometimes in combination with cluster analysis of low resolution images. A new methodology was developed in which intermediate cell markers (indicating malignancy associated change) and contextual analysis of slide architecture were performed on the same digital images at 0.33 mu pixel resolution. A total of one hundred and forty-six cases that were either negative or at least high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL) were prepared as monolayers, and about 20 fields per slide were analyzed. Features most important for intermediate cell marker analysis were those that measured the variation in nuclear texture measurements across the slide as well as densitometric features. The most discriminatory contextual features were those that measured the variation of the arrangement of cells within a cluster across the slide. Linear discriminants were calculated using the most important features from both types of analysis; they provided smear classification accuracies of 71-86%.


Supporters of abortion rights in the US may be losing a war of attrition against the Catholic church and other antiabortion groups, even though the federal government still considers abortion to be an issue of a woman's right to privacy. In July a doctor who performed abortions was shot dead in Pensacola, Florida - the second to be killed in a year. But violence other than shooting has grown more common. According to the National Abortion Federation, more than 2500 violent incidents were carried out against abortion clinics in 1993, nearly four times the number in 1990.

The war against abortion often focuses on Washington, but the battles are carried to virtually every state government and abortion clinic in the country. In 1973 the US Supreme Court legalised …


The depolymerisation of lignin directly in the black liquor was studied, comparing two ionic liquids as extracting solvents (butylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate and triethylammonium hydrogen sulphate), under oxidising conditions. H2O2 was chosen as the oxidant agent. It was observed that lignins derived from butylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate were more susceptible to degradation. The main degradation products found in the extracted oils were aromatic acids, such as vanillic acid, benzoic acid and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid.


Prior to the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) on September 20, 2011, many observers predicted that allowing lesbian, gay and bisexual troops to serve openly would harm the military, and a group of more than 1,000 retired general and flag officers predicted that repeal could "break the All-Volunteer Force." This study is the first scholarly effort to assess the accuracy of such predictions about the impact of DADT repeal on military readiness. We conducted our research during the half-year period starting six months after repeal and concluding at the one year mark, and we pursued ten separate research strategies including in-depth interviews, survey analysis, on-site field observations, pretest/posttest quasi experimentation, secondary source analysis, and a comprehensive review of media articles. Our goal was to maximize the likelihood of identifying evidence of damage caused by repeal, and we made vigorous efforts to collect data from repeal opponents including anti-repeal generals and admirals, activists, academic experts, service members and watchdog organizations. Our conclusion, based on all of the evidence available to us, is that DADT repeal has had no overall negative impact on military readiness or its component dimensions, including cohesion, recruitment, retention, assaults, harassment, or morale. If anything, DADT repeal appears to have enhanced the military's ability to pursue its mission.


Background: Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions. Epilepsy, a typical chronic disease, may cause high level of psychosocial difficulties for all family members, including stigmatization, stress, martial problems, poor self esteem and restriction of social activities. Objective & Method: To demonstrate the therapeutic effect of herbal medicine (Kamigoakhyangjeonggisan) on patients with epilepsy. We treated two cases of epileptic children, who had frequent seizures. Results: Two children improved in the frequency of the seizure, the combined disabilities. Conclusion: We report that we had good effects of herbal medicine treatment on two cases of epileptic children


Adhesion of a Ziegler–Natta catalyzed ethylene copolymer (ZNPE) to polypropylene (PP) was studied by measuring the delamination toughness G of coextruded microlayers by using the T-peel test. Low values of G compared to a homogeneous copolymer with approximately the same short chain branch (SCB) content were attributed to an amorphous interfacial layer of low molecular weight, highly branched ZNPE fractions. Blending ZNPE with a homogeneous metallocene catalyzed copolymer (mPE) increased G. In this regard, mPE with higher SCB content was more effective than mPE with slightly lower SCB content. The ZNPE interface was mimicked by microlayering ZNPE and ZNPE blends with polystyrene from which the ZNPE layers were easily separated without damage to the surface. Examination with atomic force microscopy revealed a soft coating about 8 nm thick on the surface of the ZNPE layer. Blending with mPE reduced or eliminated the amorphous interfacial layer. It was proposed that mPE increased miscibility of low molecular weight, highly branched fractions of ZNPE and prevented their segregation at the interface. After blending with mPE eliminated the interfacial layer, G increased to a value comparable to that of a homogeneous copolymer with about the same SCB content as ZNPE bulk chains. The increase in G was attributed to epitaxial crystallization of the ethylene copolymer in the absence of an amorphous interfacial layer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 109–115, 2004


We are interested in computing a mini-batch-capable end-to-end algorithm to identify statistically independent components (ICA) in large scale and high-dimensional datasets. Current algorithms typically rely on pre-whitened data and do not integrate the two procedures of whitening and ICA estimation. Our online approach estimates a whitening and a rotation matrix with stochastic gradient descent on centered or uncentered data. We show that this can be done efficiently by combining Batch Karhunen-Löwe-Transformation [1] with Lie group techniques. Our algorithm is recursion-free and can be organized as feed-forward neural network which makes the use of GPU acceleration straight-forward. Because of the very fast convergence of Batch KLT, the gradient descent in the Lie group of orthogonal matrices stabilizes quickly. The optimization is further enhanced by integrating ADAM [2], an improved stochastic gradient descent (SGD) technique from the field of deep learning. We test the scaling capabilities by computing the independent components of the well-known ImageNet challenge (144 GB). Due to its robustness with respect to batch and step size, our approach can be used as a drop-in replacement for standard ICA algorithms where memory is a limiting factor.


In the present paper the mechanical comprcssive behaviour of quasi-brittle materials is analyzed by means of an ad hoc boundary element algorithm. The analysis is carried out by taking into account the initial crack distribution, which cannot be neglected if the experimental reality (developing over three scale levels, micro-, meso- and macro-scale) is to be modelled. The algorithm permits to follow the evolution of the crack geometry during the loading process, which is characterized, at each step, by the propagation of the most critical meso- or macro-crack. Moreover, in order to take into account the micro-crack effect causing the progressive decay of the material, a decreasing variation of the elastic modulus is assumed, depending on the strain energy density absorbed during the loading process. Different geometries, with different slcnderness and size-scale, are considered by the proposed model, with and without friction between specimen and loading platens. The numerical simulations represent the experimental results consistently.


Objective: A disposable autoinjector was developed for subcutaneous (SC) self-injection by patients with chronic diseases. To verify its performance and evaluate its acceptance, a clinical study was conducted in healthy volunteers, comparing SC injections performed by subjects using the autoinjector with SC injections performed by nurses using a syringe. Methods: This was a randomized, single-center, crossover study comparing SC self-injection using an autoinjector with SC nurse-administered injection using a syringe. Two volumes (0.2 mL and 1 mL) were injected into healthy volunteers. Study objectives included assessment of the accuracy and consistency of the volume injected by the injection systems, and skin reaction and pain associated with the injection. The fluid depot in the SC tissue layer was evaluated by ultrasound. Subject acceptance was evaluated using questionnaires on attitudes and emotions towards the injection technique, and challenged by seeking the subjects' preferred system for a final study injection or future treatment. Results: A total of 960 injections (480 with autoinjector, 480 with syringe) were performed in 40 subjects. There were no significant differences in mean fluid leakage and injected volumes between the systems. Pain associated with the injection was significantly lower with the auto-injector than with the syringe. Local skin reaction at the injection site was overall satisfactory. Injections were appropriately performed by all subjects. At study end, all 40 subjects preferred the autoinjector for a final study injection and for future treatment. Conclusion: This study indicated that the autoinjector used by the subject was similar to a syringe used by a nurse in terms of performance and safety in administering the injections, and better in terms of pain, overall acceptance, and preference.


Asserts that, too often companies have jumped headlong into implementing a quality programme without first doing their homework, and they then wonder why the so‐called improvement effort has failed. Contends they need to go back to basics. Looks at why quality efforts have not always produced the desired results. Asserts that a successful quality improvement process requires, a willing chief executive officer; an experienced capable guide and a reward system that makes sense. Emphasizes that the key ingredient is the leader willing to take the lead in cultural change and sponsor a participative, in‐house effort to redesign the reward system and make it supportive of the new team‐based culture being created.


An overview of resources available for researchers in the field of Second Language Acquisition and TESOL. Links to websites of organizations and professional associations for language education.


Images are an integral part of advertisements. Images make the web pages heavy. It increases the response time if the size of the image is large and or available bandwidth is low. The consequence of it is viewer may lose his interest in the particular advertisement if he has to wait for a longer time. Image compression is one of the solutions to this problem. In advertisement images, ROI is of prime importance. Though the context of ROI and background regions are not of prime importance, they cannot be totally discarded. This paper investigates the effect of ROI coding on JPEG2000 performance. It proposes Multiple ROI (MROI) coding for compression of natural and advertisement images at moderate compression ratio. The proposed MROI coding prioritizes ROI codeblocks according to the ROI importance, and contribution of ROI in the specific ROI codeblock. It improves fine-grain accuracy at codeblock level also efficiently utilize the given bit budget with a negligible increase in encoding time.


The nonlocal symmetry for the Whitham-Broer-Kaup (WBK) equation is obtained by the Painlevé analysis. With the introduction of two auxiliary dependent variables, the nonlocal symmetry is localized to the Lie point symmetry. The reciprocal transformation is established by the localization nonlocal symmetry procedure and can be used to construct a link between the WBK equation and the usual Burgers equation. By using the similarity reductions related with the nonlocal symmetry of the Burgers equation, we derive the symmetry invariant solutions for the WBK equation. Furthermore, the power-series solutions are computed by using the power-series theory.


As a promising lensless imaging method for distant objects, intensity interferometry imaging (III) had been suffering from the unreliable phase retrieval process, hindering the development of III for decades. Recently, the introduction of ptychographic detection in III overcame this challenge, and a method called ptychographic III (PIII) was proposed. We here experimentally demonstrate that PIII can image a dynamic distant object. A reasonable image for the moving object can be retrieved with only two speckle patterns for each probe, and only 10 to 20 iterations are needed. Meanwhile, PIII exhibits robustness to the inaccurate information of the probe. Furthermore, PIII successfully recovers the image through a fog obfuscating the imaging light path, under which a conventional camera relying on lenses fails to provide a recognizable image.


Soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering has been used to study the magnetic structure of sputtered Co/Cu multilayers. A pure magnetic peak, at half the scattering vector of the structural Bragg peak from the multilayer, was observed from layers with and without deliberate oxygen contamination in the middle of the copper spacer layer. With increasing field in the sample plane, the magnetic peak intensity varied very differently for the two types of sample due to the high sensitivity of the magnetic scattering to changes in moment rotation in the sample plane. The data provide strong support for a model of biquadratic coupling in the contaminated samples and bilinear, antiferromagnetic coupling in the clean samples.


Dairy cows grazing a tropical grass pasture fertilized with 300 kg N/ha and with a 7-year history of phosphorus fertilizer at either 0 or 45 kg P/ha were given a P supplement in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment at Kairi Research Station, Queensland, Australia. Milk yield, fat-corrected milk yield, yields of milk fat, protein and lactose, and protein content of milk were increased (P<0·05) with P fertilizer. There was no response in milk yield or any component of milk to the provision of a P supplement. It is concluded that the milk response recorded in this experiment was due to P fertilizer leading to additional pasture on offer and increased pasture intake. The lack of response to additional P in the form of a supplement indicates that these pastures can supply adequate P for cows producing 20 kg/day even after 8 years without P fertilizer.


In the past ten years 74 patients with carcinomas of the liver and 575 patients with liver metastases have been treated at the surgical clinic in Giessen. The median survival time of patients suffering from primary liver cancer was 364 days with combined treatment, but only 123 days with monotherapy. Similar results were obtained in patients with metastases (median survival time 365 days after combined therapy, 216 days after monotherapy). The results of this retrospective study suggest that a combined therapy is superior to single treatment regimen.


A fundamental part of building a computer system is control of and communication with peripheral devices. With use of graphics display terminals, video image digitizers, and array processors as examples, the basics of peripherals are discussed as they affect radiologic applications.


This article, through a prism of reduction, focuses on the gaming of practical phenomenology (M. van Manen), logical atomism (L. Wittgenstein), rhizomatic movement (Deleuze) as well as anthropocene moods in the playground of the education science. It also considers the practical manisfestatation of these fashionable philosophical methodologies and possible perspectives in the modern-day education. The text of the article joins the ideas of different methodologies to a critical gaming.


Background: It has been suggested that moderate shrimp consumption in normolipidemic subjects will not adversely affect the overall lipoprotein profile. Hence, shrimp consumption can be included in "healthy heart" nutritional guidelines. However, the effects of cultured shrimp on serum lipoproteins of normal subjects have not yet investigated. Material and Methods: Twenty-five healthy normolipidemic men who were workers of a shrimp farm in Bushehr province participated in a quasi-experimental study. In a crossover six weeks trial, the effect of three days per week diet (containing 300 g cultured shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei /day) on serum lipid profile was compared with a zero-marine baseline diet. Results: After six weeks trial, serum triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels were not significantly changed from the baseline levels (p>0.05). However, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratios were significantly increased (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Moderate cultured shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) consumption can increase total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in normolipidemic men. Although a diet containing native shrimp has many benefits for healthy persons, but we do not recommend cultured shrimp in a healthy heart diet for persons with dyslipidemia or cardiovascular diseases.


The Benny Farm case study is an examination of the urban redevelopment process in a project originally built for veterans of World War II. In 1991, the federal crown corporation, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), that owned and managed the project proposed to rehouse the aging tenants on a portion of the site and to demolish the existing buildings and sell the land. These plans were vigorously opposed by local activists as well as heritage preservationists and housing advocates. In 1998 these groups were consolidated into an organization that eventually was incorporated as the Fonds Foncier Communautaire Benny Farm, which sought to preserve the buildings and redevelop the project for social housing. During the same period the property was transferred to another crown corporation, the Canada Lands Company (CLC).
The evolution of the federal role as it moved from the welfare state to neoliberalism is examined. The transition from CMHC to CLC exemplifies the roll-back and roll-out stages of neoliberalism, as redevelopment of Benny Farm went from being primarily driven by the goal of divestment and transferring the property to the private sector to active leadership in defining the process and the outcome of the redevelopment. Through this evolution, changes in dealing with community resistance and opposition are highlighted as are the constraints and ability of community groups to sustain a lengthy process of contestation and opposition. Key to this process has been the role of Canada Lands Company, as a quasi-governmental agency. In possession of strategically located properties, the federal level is a major determinant in the shape of urban areas.


We study the exclusive semileptonic and nonleptonic decays of the first radial excited heavy-light pseudoscalars Dq(2S) and Bq(2S) (q = u, d, s) with the improved Bethe—Salpeter (B-S) method which takes into account the relativistic effects in wave functions and transition matrix elements.