Investigations in KuwaitA long-felt desire was fulfilled when in the spring of 1958 the Danish Archeological Expedition was enabled, at the invitation and the expense of the Government of Kuwait, to extend its investigations to the head of the Persian Gulf, to seek there for traces of the routes followed by ancient trade between Bahrain and Mesopotamia. The successfull carryingthrough of the expedition was assured by the interest and goodwill evinced by the Emir of Kuwait, His Highness the Emir Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, by the Minister of Education, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, and by the Director of Education, Abdulaziz Hussein. The practical dispositions were arranged by the Deputy Director, Darwish Miqdadi, by the head of the transport and supply department, Ahmed Al-Eisa, and the head of administration, Khalid Al-Musallam, all of the Department of Education, to whom we owe our sincere thanks. During our work we were accommodated either at the Kuwait Secondary School in Shuwaikh, where the Principal, Abdul-Majid Mustafa, and the Vice-Principal, Jamil Saleh, were generous hosts, or at the school in Zor on the island of Failaka, where the teaching staff gave our work continuous assistance and attention. We also received assistance from many sides during our stay in Kuwait and the preparations for our visit. In this connection we express our gratitude to John Muir of the British Council and Tony Bell of Gray, Mackenzie Ltd. The management of the Kuwait Oil Company, through its General Manager, Jordan and Assistant General Manager E. Boaden, gave us permission to roam at will through the oil-fields, where the chief geologist, George Becker, was our guide and gave us valuable information on question of terrain.Kuwait is the northernmost of the Arab states with seaboard to the Persian Gulf. It has an area of about 6000 sq. miles and is bordered to the west and north by Iraq and to the south by Saudi Arabia and a neutral zone. Of its land areas the large island of Bubian is without archeological interest, as it is of recent formation of alluvial sand from the rivers of Mesopotamia. South of Bubian, at the entrance to the Bay of Kuwait, lies the island of Failaka, with sheltered anchorages for ships and good fresh-water wells, circumstances which suggested in advance that the island had been of importance to the sea-going trade between Ur and Bahrain and in general for prehistoric seafaring in the Gulf, as was later amply demonstrated by our investigations. The mainland area is divided into two by the wide bay, at the southern entrance to which lies the capital, the city of Kuwait with about 180,000 inhabitants. The remaining population, about 70,000 live in smaller towns along the coast or as nomads in black tents scattered over the desert, which in winter provides good pasturage for sheep, goats and camels. From the coast the land rises to a rolling plain, broken by a few crags, but does not reach a height of more than about 900 feet above sea level. The western frontier lies along the wide valley of Al-Batin. In earlier times the prosperity of Kuwait depended upon trade, ship-building and pearl-fishing. Now it is the world's richest oil wells which make the land renowned and provide the basis for an astounding programme of development, with the establishment of schools, hospitals and the university.Work commenced during the period 2-8 February with a reconnaissance carried out by T. G. Bibby and the writer, partly on the mainland of Kuwait and partly on the island of Failaka at the entrance to the Bay of Kuwait. Our work was greatly facilitated by the comprehensive research, of a topographical, ethnographical and archeological nature, carried out over a generation by H. R. P. Dickson, who is still resident in Kuwait. He received us with great goodwill, and gave us much valuable information and advice. His works on Kuwait 1) will always form the foundation for future culture-historical investigations in the area.During our traverses of the mainland we found at several sites traces of Stone Age habitation, but it was a visit to the island of Failaka which gave the best prospects for large-scale excavation. At several points pottery from the Third Millennium BC was found, for example near the ancient sanctuary of Al-Khidr at the northwest corner of the island, at Dar Al-Ma'aiyan on the eastern extremity, and at Sa'ad wa Sa'aid on the southwest corner (Fig. 1). When the main expedition party, consisting of Dr. Aage Roussell, E. Albrectsen, M. A., Poul Rovsing Olsen, M. A., and Torben Lundbæk, arrived on 9th February, they set to work immediately on Failaka, where the larger mound at Sa'ad wa Sa'aid proved to be a prehistoric "tell", contemporary with the older levels at Qala'at al-Bahrain. There remains of buildings were excavated and many discoveries made, including ridged pottery of the type known from the Barbar temples 2) and steatite seals (Fig. 3) 3), of which one was double-sided. A smaller mound immediately to the east covered Greek house remains (cf. page 191), while a larger mound further to the east covered a fortified township from the time of Alexander the Great (cf. page 172).The short time available for investigations on the mainland of Kuwait only permitted a preliminary reconnaissance of the areas where the possibilities of discovering Stone Age remains were most obvious. On the low coastal plain which follows the northern shore of the Bay of Kuwait and inland ends at the steep slopes leading up to the plateau beyond, worked flakes of grey slate were found at several places, but none of them were shaped to forms which allowed of dating. Several of the sites, which are situated on low hills, perhaps originally islands which have been smoothed out by weathering, are suitable for closer investigation. The valley on the western frontier of Kuwait, Al-Batin, was also surveyed, and here at two points worked flint was found. The deep gorges which here run into the plateau, should give possibilities for Palæolithic discoveries. In the depression between the Burqán hills, where Dickson found many flint implements in 1935, which have been identified as Late Palæolithic 4), there is little possibility for profitable excavation, as the widespread oil exploitation there has resulted in a considerable levelling of the terrain, but there still lay a number of blades on the surface which would agree very well with the dating mentioned. From the heights of Burqan can be seen to the southeast in the middle of the desert flats a considerably weathered crag, Gurain, where flint occurs in quantity. On the north side of Gurain large quantities of flint-working swarf could be seen, but among them were found several short worked flints which showed clearly that the flint deposits of the crag had been used in recent times for the manufacture of striking flints for flintlock guns and for lighting flints. However, on the south side of Gurain very coarse flint flakes were found with a coarse retouche. None of them had a so definite form that they could be dated, but a Middle Palæolithic origin is likely. Here, too, excavation might well be profitable. P.V. Glob.


The influence of potassium fertilizer source and rates on the content and the uptake of nutrient elements by potato plant parts from soil were studied. The field experiment included two fertilizer rates 100 and 200 kg K2O ha -1 supplied as K2SO4 or KCl. Increased content of nitrogen in roots at variants fertilized with KCl was observed 3.01 % for KCl(100) and 3.13 % for KCl(200). Potassium fertilization increased K content in roots compared to control. The N content in aboveground biomass was the lowest for KCl(100) (4.13 %) and for KCl(200) (3.84 %). The applied potassium fertilizers increased K content in aboveground biomass compared to control. The high KCl rate at variant KCl(200) increased K content in aboveground biomass up to 5.16 %. The fertilization with K2SO4 led to slight decrease of N content in the tubers compared to control (2.32 %), but he KCl increased tuber N content from 2.60 % at variant KCl(100) to 2.89 % at KCl(200). The K content in tubers was not considerably influenced by the fertilization but an exception was observed for variant KCl(200) where it (2.70 %) exceeded the one at the other variants. Potassium fertilization did not influence P content in plant parts. The highest levels uptaken nutrients were found in aboveground biomass 50 % of N, 55 % of P and 57 % of K. The tubers contained around 39 % N, 16 % P and 38 % K. Lower levels absorbed nutrients (11 % N, 29 % P and 5 % K) in roots were established.


The decomposition of plant residues is a biological process mediated by soil fauna, but few studies have been done evaluating its dynamics in time during the process of disappearance of straw. This study was carried out in Chapecó, in southern Brazil, with the objective of monitoring modifications in soil fauna populations and the C content in the soil microbial biomass (CSMB) during the decomposition of winter cover crop residues in a no-till system. The following treatments were tested: 1) Black oat straw (Avena strigosa Schreb.); 2) Rye straw (Secale cereale L.); 3) Common vetch straw (Vicia sativa L.). The cover crops were grown until full flowering and then cut mechanically with a rolling stalk chopper. The soil fauna and C content in soil microbial biomass (CSMB) were assessed during the period of straw decomposition, from October 2006 to February 2007. To evaluate CSMB by the irradiation-extraction method, soil samples from the 0–10 cm layer were used, collected on eight dates, from before until 100 days after residue chopping. The soil fauna was collected with pitfall traps on seven dates up to 85 days after residue chopping. The phytomass decomposition of common vetch was faster than of black oat and rye residues. The CSMB decreased during the process of straw decomposition, fastest in the treatment with common vetch. In the common vetch treatment, the diversity of the soil fauna was reduced at the end of the decomposition process.


In this paper we introduce a new hierarchical model reduction framework for the Fokker-Planck equation. We reduce the dimension of the equation by a truncated basis expansion in the velocity variable, obtaining a hyperbolic system of equations in space and time. Unlike former methods like the Legendre moment models, the new framework generates a suitable problem-dependent basis of the reduced velocity space that mimics the shape of the solution in the velocity variable. To that end, we adapt the framework of [M. Ohlberger and K. Smetana. A dimensional reduction approach based on the application of reduced basis methods in the framework of hierarchical model reduction. SIAM J. Sci. Comput., 36(2):A714A736, 2014] and derive initially a parametrized elliptic partial differential equation (PDE) in the velocity variable. Then, we apply ideas of the Reduced Basis method to develop a greedy algorithm that selects the basis from solutions of the parametrized PDE. Numerical experiments demonstrate the potential of this new method.


Through an inventor survey, we find substantial error in tracking mobility of engineers and scientists by patents. These errors cause misclassification of mobility -- false positives (wrongly recording change of employer), and false negatives (failing to record change of employer). Errors are higher among inventors with shorter patent careers. Econometric theory shows that misclassification of the dependent variable causes systematic bias in regression estimates (not merely attenuation). We introduce LinkedIn as a more accurate source of career data. Taking LinkedIn as a benchmark, the rate of false positives in patent measures of mobility is 12 percent, while the rate of false negatives is 83 percent. Measuring mobility by LinkedIn, we investigate the effect of aspects of human capital previously found to affect mobility. One previous finding is robust: that mobility is higher among Silicon Valley inventors than those elsewhere. Other findings are sensitive to sample or misclassification. We interpret our results as the outcome of targeted retention of human capital.


Cardiac remodelling and hypertrophy induced by chronic haemodynamic overload (stretch) eventually leads to a decrease in cardiac function, an increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmia and mortality. The mechanisms by which myocytes sense haemodynamic stress and activate growth signals are largely unknown. Nuclear immediate early genes may act as third messengers, converting the stretch stimulus into long-term changes of gene expression via cytoplasmic signal transduction. However, previous studies have used cell cultures and isolated hearts, neither of which are ideal models. We have developed a new in situ porcine heart model where local strain (stretch) can be applied, for several hours if required, thus allowing the comparison of changes in electrophysiology and gene expression with unstrained myocardium in the same preparation. A pneumatically controlled stretch-device was attached to a portion of the right ventricle of an anaesthetized animal using suction. Chronic stretch was applied for 30 min or 1 h. Regional loading produced (i) a transient decrease in monophasic action potential duration (3.5+/-0.8%; P<0.05), followed by (ii) an elongation by 15 min, despite maintained stretch (3.4+/-1.5%; P<0.05 compared to the pre-stretch situation). A control segment of the right ventricle did not show these changes. Northern blot analysis showed that both c-fos and c-myc were induced in the areas sampled, but they were 12-fold and three-fold higher, respectively, in stretched compared with control tissue after 30 min. Thus, prolonged regional stretch can produce complex changes in cardiac electrophysiology and increase expression of some immediate early genes. Our model may be useful for studying the cascade of events that lead to remodelling, hypertrophy, and arrhythmia.


Stability problem both for small and large yawing of a spinning projectile has been discussed. In the latter case criterion for stability of steady conically yawing motion has been obtained. Particularly it has been proved that with a tilting moment coefficient of the type micro(delta)-betaohm/sup2/4[1-4qs(1-cosdelta)] the motion of a shell in steady state is stable like an equivalent top only when q>=0.


Can we leverage high-resolution information without the unsustainable quadratic complexity to input scale? We propose Traversal Network (TNet), a novel multi-scale hard-attention architecture, which traverses image scale-space in a top-down fashion, visiting only the most informative image regions along the way. TNet offers an adjustable trade-off between accuracy and complexity, by changing the number of attended image locations. We compare our model against hard-attention baselines on ImageNet, achieving higher accuracy with less resources (FLOPs, processing time and memory). We further test our model on fMoW dataset, where we process satellite images of size up to $896 \times 896$ px, getting up to $2.5$x faster processing compared to baselines operating on the same resolution, while achieving higher accuracy as well. TNet is modular, meaning that most classification models could be adopted as its backbone for feature extraction, making the reported performance gains orthogonal to benefits offered by existing optimized deep models. Finally, hard-attention guarantees a degree of interpretability to our model's predictions, without any extra cost beyond inference. Code is available at $\href{https://github.com/Tpap/TNet}{github.com/Tpap/TNet}$.


The effect of Co(II) ion on the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with DNA was investigated by a DNA sequencing technique using 32P-5'-end-labeled DNA fragments obtained from human c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene. Co(II) induced strong DNA cleavage in the presence of hydrogen peroxide even without alkali treatment. Guanine residues were the most alkali-labile site, and the extent of cleavages at the positions of thymine and cytosine was dependent on the sequence. Adenine residues were relatively resistive. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, present in excess over Co(II), inhibited DNA cleavage. Singlet oxygen scavengers (dimethylfuran, sodium azide, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, dGMP), sulfur compounds (methional, methionine), and superoxide dismutase inhibited DNA cleavage completely. Hydroxyl radical scavengers were not so effective as singlet oxygen scavengers. ESR studies using 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone as a singlet oxygen trap suggest that Co(II) reacts with hydrogen peroxide to produce singlet oxygen or its equivalent. ESR studies using 5,5-dimethylpyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) showed that the hydroxyl radical adduct of DMPO was also formed. The results suggest that Co(II) ion binds to DNA and subsequently reacts with hydrogen peroxide to produce singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals and that singlet oxygen plays a more important role in the DNA damage than hydroxyl free radicals.


Cardiac arrest can be defined as the heart's inability to effectively eject blood out due to either an electrical or mechanical failure. This condition poses an immediate threat to life and is always considered to be a medical emergency. In Western countries, cardiac arrest is continuously highlighted as one of the leading causes of in-hospital death and the latest research suggests that survival rates after suffering one of these episodes still remain below 20% [1-3]. Consequently, prevention and effective early management of in-hospital cardiac arrest constitute the basis of international algorithms for saving lives.


A current-mode interface chip for Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) array based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging front-ends is described. The circuit uses a high-speed current amplifier with a low input impedance, to minimize signal loss at the SiPM amplifier interface. To reduce the impact of dark noise, a novel high-speed threshold detection/comparator circuit is used to remove unwanted noise events. A prototype chip interfaces an array of SiPMs to the digital backend of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) system using 64 readout channels, each of which contain a current amplifier and a threshold detection component. To reduce the number of backend channels, a row-column pulse positioning architecture (RCA) has been implemented. The ASIC occupies an area of 14.04 mm2 in 130nm STMicroelectronics HCMOS9GP process. The measured input impedance of the current amplifier is 20 ohms at 10 MHz, while the threshold detection circuit's propagation delay is 0.3–2ns.


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly invasive tumor that metastasizes hematogenously and lymphogenously to distant site. Frequent sites are lung, regional lymph node, bone, and adrenal gland. But metastasis to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is rare, and most common site is stomach. Metastasis to the small intestine is extremely rare. Moreover, metastatic HCC of the small bowel causing intussusception has not been reported until now. Here, we report a case of metastasis of HCC to the small bowel manifested by intussusception.


Objectives: To investigate the effect of DMSO on cisplatin induced cytotoxicity (invitro) against K562 (Human mylogenous leukemia) cell line and to study the cisplatin-DMSO adduct formation using UV-spectrophotometer. Materials and methods: Effect of DMSO on the cytotoxicity of cisplatin was studied in K562 (Chronic mylogenous leukemia) cell line by MTT assay. Cisplatin-DMSO adduct formation was studied by continuously monitoring the increase in absorption peaks for 30 minutes using UV-spectrophotometer. Results: 0.1-0.3% DMSO markedly reduced the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin in K562 cells. Cisplatin-DMSO adduct formation was detected using UV-spectrophotometer. Continuous increase in UV absorbance between 250nm-290nm was observed when cisplatin (0.5mg/ml) and DMSO (10%) were mixed. Conclusion: Present study revealed that DMSO inactivates the cytotoxicity of cisplatin. Cisplatin-DMSO mixture showed increased absorbance at 250-290nm. Therefore, using DMSO in invitro assays might result in misinterpretation of actual efficacy of drugs.


This paper sheds some new light on four visits of Freud to Carinthia between 1898 and 1923. New information from contemporary sources is added to already known facts (patient visit in 1898; encounters with Alban Berg in 1900 and 1907).


There is uncertainty as to how high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), a marker of an individual's capacity for flexible physiological reactivity, relates to an individual's tendency to experience negative emotions. We propose that both excessively high and excessively low HF-HRV may reflect maladaptive physiological reactivity tendencies associated with high negative affectivity and that this association may be influenced by the use of emotion regulation strategies, such as cognitively reappraising negative environmental stimuli to downregulate the experience of negative emotions. The purpose of the current study was to examine the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal in the quadratic association between HF-HRV and negative affectivity. Electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded at rest for 269 young adults (77% female; M = 19.7 years) who then completed self-report rating scales assessing trait negative affectivity and trait cognitive reappraisal. As predicted, high and low HF-HRV were associated with high negative affectivity at low levels of trait cognitive reappraisal. At high levels of trait reappraisal, the quadratic association between HF-HRV and negative affectivity was not significant. These results suggest that, contrary to traditional views, high HF-HRV may not always be an adaptive characteristic and may depend on an individual's use of emotion regulation strategies, such as cognitive reappraisal.


The paper at hand presents a research study, carried out in three public high schools in Rabat, Morocco, which aims at exploring the perceptions of students and teachers as to the use of e-learning Learning tools in the language classroom, the challenges they meet and approaches to practically enhance the pedagogical use of e-learning tools in language teaching. The study, adopting qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, interviewed 30 English teachers and administered a five-point Likert scale questionnaire with 40 high school EFL learners. A coding system was used to analyze the qualitative data and the Microsoft Excel program was used for the quantitative data; the main techniques used here were percentages and mean scores. The study has come out with the findings that both the teachers and learners have the perception that ICT integration in EFL learning helps the latter control and determine their learning processes, that it paves the way for a diversification of activities and course content, nurtures intrinsic motivation for learning, empowers students to interact effectively with others, develops crucial study and research skills, and facilitates the task for teachers to have more student-centered and content-based forms of teaching. However, many students and teachers have reported that excessive use of ICT may stand to the detriment of language learning. The paper also investigates three types of challenges that stand in the way of ICT success, technical, administrative and pedagogical. The main obstacles reported are marginally less technologically sophisticated facilities, unreliable and outdated technology, little and poor experience of teachers with technology compared to students, a significant need for time required by instructors to adapt their instructions for electronic transmission of knowledge, and the lack of local e-learning resources to administer real-time classes and electronic assessments. The principal conclusion of the study is that ICT has been proven to open the language teaching classroom onto newer horizons and that it needs to be integrated in the language classroom. However, another conclusion is that teachers and learners' confidence in using technology should be raised; training, time and electronic resources could be the best remedies in this respect for better, long-term language


The City of Şanliurfa, located in the middle Euphrates division of the Southeast Anatolia Region, has been the centre of many civilisations due to its long settlement history. The city is considered to be the cradle of the Mesopotamian civilization. With its 11000 years of long history, the city had been controlled by the Osrhoene Kingdom, Roman/ Bisantium, Arabs, Seljukians, Eyyubi, Karakoyunlu, the Ottoman Empire and the Modern Turkish Republic respectively. Thus these factors has had significant influence on the cultural diversity and also form of the city. In addition, as the city used to be the centre of three different religions, it has inherited very rich cultural diversity from the people who had lived together in this area. In the city, there are some places where cultural and social activities take place, such as historical monuments and halls, libraries, mosques, museum, cinema, conference halls.


The combined use of different set of features extracted from the speech signal with different processing algorithms is a promising approach to improve speech recognition performances. Artificial Neural Networks are well suited to this task since they are able to use directly multiple heterogeneous input features to estimate a near optimal combination of them for classification, without being constrained by a priori assumptions on the stochastic independence of the input sources. This work shows how we have taken advantage of these characteristics of Neural Networks to improve the recognition accuracy of our systems. In particular, three set of input features have been considered as sources in this work: Mel based Cepstral Coefficients derived from the FFT spectrum, RASTA-PLP Cepstral Coefficients, and a set of features that describe the dynamics of the FFT power spectrum along the frequency dimension, instead of the usual time dimension. The experimental results confirm the usefulness of the proposed approach of feature integration that leads to a significant error reduction both on isolated and continuous speech recognition tasks on a large telephone speech test set. ,


We present a full sky 100 micron map that is a reprocessed composite of the COBE/DIRBE and IRAS/ISSA maps, with the zodiacal foreground and confirmed point sources removed. Before using the ISSA maps, we remove the remaining artifacts from the IRAS scan pattern. Using the DIRBE 100 micron and 240 micron data, we have constructed a map of the dust temperature, so that the 100 micron map can be converted to a map proportional to dust column density. The result of these manipulations is a map with DIRBE-quality calibration and IRAS resolution.
To generate the full sky dust maps, we must first remove zodiacal light contamination as well as a possible cosmic infrared background (CIB). This is done via a regression analysis of the 100 micron DIRBE map against the Leiden- Dwingeloo map of H_I emission, with corrections for the zodiacal light via a suitable expansion of the DIRBE 25 micron flux. For the 100 micron map, no significant CIB is detected. In the 140 micron and 240 micron maps, where the zodiacal contamination is weaker, we detect the CIB at surprisingly high flux levels of 32 \pm 13 nW/m^2/sr at 140 micron, and 17 \pm 4 nW/m^2/sr at 240 micron (95% confidence). This integrated flux is ~2 times that extrapolated from optical galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field.
The primary use of these maps is likely to be as a new estimator of Galactic extinction. We demonstrate that the new maps are twice as accurate as the older Burstein-Heiles estimates in regions of low and moderate reddening. These dust maps will also be useful for estimating millimeter emission that contaminates CMBR experiments and for estimating soft X-ray absorption.


This paper investigates the use of Internet technology to provide secure multilingual access to the medical records of a cardiology clinic. Information extracted from the medical record archive is used to create mini-Webs of interlinked pages that may be viewed using a standard browser. The main features of the reported project are its multilingual nature-of particular significance in Europe, the provision of strict secure measures, and the support of usage profiles. Medical data may be viewed either in Greek-the language in which the data are stored-or in English, through an automated translation process. Security measures are as follows: (1) a password is required for access; (2) all transactions are logged (3) the patient's name and medical data are never transmitted together; (4) mini-Webs are deleted when the transaction is complete, (5) the remote user never has direct access to the central database.


This paper examines how and to what extent parameter estimates can be biased in a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model that omits the zero lower bound constraint on the nominal interest rate. Our experiments show that most of the parameter estimates in a standard sticky-price DSGE model are not biased although some biases are detected in the estimates of the monetary policy parameters and the steady-state real interest rate. Nevertheless, in our baseline experiment, these biases are so small that the estimated impulse response functions are quite similar to the true impulse response functions. However, as the probability of hitting the zero lower bound increases, the biases in the parameter estimates become larger and can therefore lead to substantial differences between the estimated and true impulse responses.


Study Design. Clinical and radiologic assessment derived from a prospective multicenter data base of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Objective. We investigated if "implant density" or the number of screws correlated with the major curve (thoracic or lumbar) correction at 2 years in patients with AIS. We also investigated the effect of implant density on the change in sagittal contour before surgery to after surgery. Summary of Background Data. Controversy exists regarding number and type of spinal anchors and the number of implant sites used that result in improved correction in AIS. Methods. A prospective database of patients with AIS treated by posterior instrumentation between 1995 and 2004 was analyzed. The major curve correction expressed as % correction (from preoperative to 2 years postoperative) was correlated with the percentage of implants relative to the number of available implant sites within the measured Cobb angle. Correlation of % correction to the number of hooks, wires, and screws was also performed. We also analyzed the change in sagittal contour T2–T12, T5–T12, and T10–L2 before surgery and after surgery. This absolute change was then correlated with implant density, as was the number of hooks, wires, and screws. Results. There were 292 patients included with all 6 Lenke curve types represented (250 with major thoracic curves and 42 with major lumbar curves). The overall % coronal Cobb correction was 64% (range: 11%–98%). The implant density within the major curve averaged 61% (range: 6%–100%). There was a significant correlation between implant density and % curve correction (r = 0.31, P < 0.001). The number of each implant type (hooks, wires, and screws) in the construct did not correlate with the % correction; however, the average % correction of the major curve was greater when the Cobb levels were instrumented only with screws (64%) compared to hooks alone (55%), P < 0.01. The greatest % correction 78% was achieved when bilateral segmental screws were used (100% screw density). The higher the implant density within the major thoracic curve, the greater the postoperative loss of kyphosis at T2–T12 (r = −0.13, P < 0.01) and T5–T12 (r = −0.16, P < 0.001). At T10–L2, increasing screw implant density correlated with decreasingkyphosis (r = −0.40, P < 0.001), whereas increasing hook implant density correlated with increasing kyphosis (r = 0.33, P < 0.001). Conclusion. Major curve correction at 2 years correlates most with the implant density that is correction increases with the number of implants used within the measured Cobb levels. Although the absolute number of screws used did not correlate with correction, there was an advantage in lumbar and thoracic curves to using screws compared to hooks. Sagittal contour in the thoracic spine became less kyphotic than the higher the implant density.


Since the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2000, computer science has seen a significant decrease in enrollment in universities across North America. While this has been well-publicized in the media in the United States, Canada's numbers in this regard have been significantly worse. Within Canada, however, the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba has been relatively fortunate: while a noticeable decrease has occurred, it is statistically much less than has occurred across Canada and the U.S. There are a number of reasons for this, one of which is the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics in particular, as a tool for student recruitment and retention. In this paper, we examine enrollment trends of our university compared to the rest of the continent, discuss some of the reasons behind these trends, and describe how we use AI, and robotics in particular, as tools to attract and retain computer science students. Introduction: CS Enrollment Decline in


To document that the previously demonstrated excitatory effects of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin--about 20% purified and containing approximately 500 U/mg (CCK-PZ 20%)--on isolated guinea-pig antrum and fundus are caused by the hormone itself, and not by impurities, the effect of the synthetic C-terminal octapeptide (OP-CCK) was tested and compared with that of CCK-PZ 20%. The qualitative effects were similar for the two hormones, characterized by increased amplitudes of rhythmic activity in the antrum and by elevated basal tension in the fundus. The calculated maximal responses were about the same for the two substances, but OP-CCK was 3--6 times more potent than CCK-PZ 20%. Atropine and tetrodotoxin markedly reduced the antral response to OP-CCK, while the fundal response was only slightly, but significantly, reduced. This indicates that the antral response to OP-CCK is mediated mainly through local neural cholinergic pathways, while the fundal response is less dependent on these, corresponding to our previous results for CCK-PZ 20%. While previous reports indicate that OP-CCK shares the pharmacological characteristics of partially purified CCK-PZ with regard to its effect on other organs, the present study confirms a corresponding relationship between OP-CCK and CCK-PZ 20% on gastric motility in guinea-pigs, suggesting that the actions of CCK-PZ 20% are displayed by the hormone itself, and not by impurities.


Topological quantum and classical materials can exhibit robust properties that are protected against disorder, for example for non-interacting particles and linear waves. In this colloquium, we review recent theoretical and experimental studies of topologically protected sound waves in mechanical metamaterials and active matter. Next, we demonstrate how to construct topologically protected states that arise from the combination of strong interactions and thermal fluctuations inherent to soft matter. Specifically, we consider fluctuating lines under tension (e.g. polymeric systems), subject to a class of spatially modulated substrate potentials. At equilibrium, the lines acquire a collective tilt proportional to an integer topological invariant called the Chern number. These results point to a new class of classical topological phenomena in which the topological signature manifests itself in an equilibrium structural property rather than a transport measurement. Bio: Vincenzo Vitelli has been a Professor in the Physics Department and the James Franck Institute at the University of Chicago since 2017. Previously he was a Professor in the Institute Lorentz for theoretical physics in Leiden University where he held the Chair of Condensed Matter Theory since 2015. Vitelli obtained a Bsc in theoretical physics from Imperial College London in 2000 and a Phd in Physics from Harvard University in 2006 working under the supervision of David Nelson. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Upenn from 2006 till 2009. He was awarded the H. Callan Prize in 2007, he received a Feinberg Foundation Fellowship (Weizmann Institute) in 2009 and was an invited Professor at ESPCI (Juliot Curie Chair) and Ecole Normale, Paris in 2013 and 2015 respectively. In 2018 he became a fellow of the American Physical Society (GSOFT) for theoretical contributions to topological mechanics. Topological Soft Matter


This article contends that the first two screen adaptations of Suzanne Collins' trilogy The Hunger Games creates a space for critical reflection on the currently intensifying levels of global inequality under late capitalism through its creative imagining of the future relationship between fashion and class. It argues that both the first film of the trilogy The Hunger Games, directed by Ross (2012), and the second The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, directed by Lawrence (2013), in their representation of a figurative dystopian state 'Panem' estrange our day to day experience of fashion by juxtaposing it with dress, restricting fashion as a social practice to the elite social class in Panem's capital city 'Capitol'. In encouraging the development of this Suvinian 'cognitive effect', this article argues that the films ask us to reappraise the basis of fashion in our own world as a fetishistic regime of consumption and also to look again at the class dynamics of society and the role of fashion and celebrity within these. In doing this, however, importantly, both films resist any simplistic condemnation of fashion and celebrity, instead pointing to how these spectacular cultural dominants might be used to ferment resistance to injustice in order to mount a challenge to the seemingly unassailable power structures that perpetuate it.


This community mail-based survey received responses from 665 women to questions in three areas: (1) sources of information about menopause, (2) knowledge of health risks associated with menopause, and (3) knowledge about hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Women received information from many sources, including healthcare providers, friends, and mothers, but the number one source of information about menopause was women's magazines (76%). Over half of women surveyed said they had left healthcare appointments with unanswered questions about menopause and HRT. Although women seemed to have a basic understanding of the symptoms of menopause, their knowledge of the long-term health risks affected by menopause was poor. For example, women were much more likely (60%) to know that osteoporosis risk increased with menopause than to know that heart disease risk increased (30%) despite the much higher prevalence and severity of heart disease as a health problem of menopausal women. Many women thought that menopause itself (independent of aging) increased the risk of breast cancer. This finding may help explain the low percentage of women who take HRT for menopause despite proven health benefits. It is clear that better education about menopause needs to be accomplished regarding the long-term risk associated with menopause and the pros and cons of HRT. Strategies for improving education and interactions with healthcare providers are suggested.


The aim of the article is to investigate the function of the symbols and images in the Apocalypse of John. Its aim is to focus on the 'mental scenarios' readers are bringing to the text, rather than on John's supposed lack of ability to convey his message. The article discusses both the symbolic or iconographic and the evocative power within the historical situation which the author of the Apocalypse addresses. The article's intention is to show how John reveals an alternative way of understanding history through the use of his particular imagery, aided by film theory tools and based on previous work that had perceived the Apocalypse's 'theatrical' nature, in order to discover John's use of images, their function and the new world he aims to portray.


An experimental study has been performed to identify the dominant plasma species which contribute to the formation of TiN films during CVD plasma deposition. To this effect, we measured the TiN film growth rate as a function of selected process variables and determined as well the radiation emission intensity of the major plasma species and their scaling with respect to the same variables, in the bulk plasma region and in the vicinity of the substrate. On these bases we calculated the corresponding flux rates to the substrate surface for the most abundant neutral species containing titanium and nitrogen, as well as their scaling as a function of the selected process variables. The results obtained suggest that Ti atoms and metastables are the major species contributing to the supply of activated titanium and nitrogen to the substrate surface. In addition, a scaling correlation has been established between the concentration of these species in the bulk plasma and the film growth rate which supports this result.


Background Proper glycemic control is an important goal of critical care medicine, including perioperative patient care that can influence patients' prognosis. Insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells is generally assumed to play a critical role in glycemic control in response to an elevated blood glucose concentration. Many animal and human studies have demonstrated that perioperative drugs, including volatile anesthetics, have an impact on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). However, the effects of the intravenous anesthetic propofol on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity are largely unknown at present. Methods The effect of propofol on insulin secretion under low glucose or high glucose was examined in mouse MIN6 cells, rat INS-1 cells, and mouse pancreatic β-cells/islets. Cellular oxygen or energy metabolism was measured by Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), potassium channels, and insulin mRNA was assessed by qRT-PCR. Protein expression of voltage-dependent potassium channels (Kv2) was also assessed by immunoblot. Propofol's effects on potassium channels including stromatoxin-1-sensitive Kv channels and cellular oxygen and energy metabolisms were also examined. Results We showed that propofol, at clinically relevant doses, facilitates insulin secretion under low glucose conditions and GSIS in MIN6, INS-1 cells, and pancreatic β-cells/islets. Propofol did not affect intracellular ATP or ADP concentrations and cellular oxygen or energy metabolism. The mRNA expression of GLUT2 and channels including the voltage-dependent calcium channels Cav1.2, Kir6.2, and SUR1 subunit of KATP, and Kv2 were not affected by glucose or propofol. Finally, we demonstrated that propofol specifically blocks Kv currents in β-cells, resulting in insulin secretion in the presence of glucose. Conclusions Our data support the hypothesis that glucose induces membrane depolarization at the distal site, leading to KATP channel closure, and that the closure of Kv channels by propofol depolarization in β-cells enhances Ca2+ entry, leading to insulin secretion. Because its activity is dependent on GSIS, propofol and its derivatives are potential compounds that enhance and initiate β-cell electrical activity.


Abstract N-alkyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinones can be synthesised in reasonable yield from either 1-(3-hydroxy-2-furanyl)ethanone or O-galactosylisomaltol. Since these carbohydrate precursors can be produced from the disaccharide, a-D-lactose, a simple and inexpensive transformation into pyridinones is possible.


User interface designers are trained to strive for the ultimate interface, one that is usable, effective and engaging. However, in a commercial production environment, there are rarely sufficient resources to achieve the ultimate interface. Tight deadlines, limited budget and staff, shifting priorities and conflicting agendas all affect the final product design. In such a setting, designers must revise their vision of the ultimate interface to provide the best implementable and affordable user interface, one that can be realized with the given resource constraints.


Treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an uncommon non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma, remains challenging despite numerous therapeutic advances. We have previously shown the preclinical effect of FTY720 (Fingolimod) against MCL through down modulation of cyclin D1, the protein almost uniformly over-expressed in this disease. Herein, we describe the potent direct cytotoxicity of OSU-2S, a novel non-immunosuppressive FTY720 derivative in MCL cells and evaluate tumor directed lipid based nanoparticle formulation of OSU-2S designed to selectively deliver to ROR1+ MCL cells. OSU-2S is a FTY720 derivative that does not traffic T cells and exhibits potent cytotoxicity in MCL cell lines and in MCL patient-derived primary cells (p = 0.0049). Exploratory studies aimed to identify the best combination therapies identified induction of cell surface CD74 in primary MCL cells treated with OSU-2S. Similarly, induction of cell surface CD74 was also confirmed in JeKo and Mino cells. Evaluation of OSU-2S and anti-CD74 antibody, milatuzumab in cell lines and primary MCL cells revealed enhanced cytotoxicity compared to either of the agents alone. B-cell malignancy restricted expression of receptor tyrosine kinase ROR1 in MCL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and subset of pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) has been reported. Consistent with this, JeKo, Mino and primary MCL cells but not normal B cells expressed ROR1. As tumor directed delivery of cytotoxic cargo offers the potential to further enhance the therapeutic index of cancer therapeutics such as OSU-2S, we developed a lipid-based OSU-2S nanoparticle (OSU-2S-LP) tethered with an anti-ROR1 mouse monoclonal antibody (2A2) to form 2A2-OSU-2S-ILP that mediated selective cytotoxicity of MCL. Testing of immunonanoparticle formulation on JeKo, Mino cell lines and primary lymphoma cells showed selective cytotoxicity of 2A2-OSU-2S-ILP in MCL (p −/− mice revealed significantly diminished tumor growth compared to the control (p = 0.0001). These findings describe the novel OSU-2S molecule as a successor of FTY720 that is active against MCL. OSU-2S enhanced CD74 expression can be exploited in combination therapy with milatuzumab which is in human clinical trials. Importantly, the tumor antigen ROR1 directed delivery system for increasing the payload selectively to the cancer cells thus obviating the exposure of chemotherapeutics and targeted therapeutics to other unintended target cells has broad implications in diverse ROR1+ malignancies. Citation Format: Rajeswaran Mani, Chi-Ling Chiang, Frank W. Frissora, Ribai Yan, Xiaokui Mo, Sivasubramanian Baskar, Christoph Rader, Mitch Phelps, Ching-Shih Chen, Robert Lee, John Byrd, Robert Baiocchi, L James Lee, Natarajan Muthusamy. ROR1 targeted delivery of OSU-2S, a non-immunosuppressive FTY720 derivative, exerts potent cytotoxicity in mantle cell lymphoma in-vitro and in-vivo . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4406. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4406


State-of-the-art carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNFETs) behave as Schottky barrier (SB)-modulated transistors. In order to address the disadvantages of a SB-CNFET, e.g. drain-dependent OFF states, ambipolar behaviors, and a large inverse subthershold slope, two improved CNFET structures are studied here. Through gate structure engineering, we have fabricated high-performance, enhancement-mode CNFETs exhibiting n or p-type unipolar behavior, tunable by electrostatic and/or chemical doping, with excellent OFF-state performance and a steep subthreshold swing (S = 63 mV/dec).


ABSTRACT Hostage negotiation teams have been putting wireless technologies, in the form of mobile radios and cell phones, to good use for many years. Wireless communications help team members keep in touch, coordinate activities and share information with each other, SWAT members, and other officers. As Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) became commonplace in squad cars, their utility in a negotiation situation also became apparent; team members could bypass the public airwaves to access records back at the station, run criminal history checks and send messages to officers in the field.


Current reverse total shoulder arthroplasty prosthesis designs do not permit offset of the humerus in the sagittal plane. Posteriorly shifting the humerus has the theoretical benefit of lengthening the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles and their external rotation moment arms, thereby improving the tension and efficiency of each external rotator and subsequently requiring each muscle to produce less force to rotate the arm. A cadaveric shoulder controller was used to quantify the impact of a novel posterior-superior offset reverse shoulder prosthesis on muscle length, moment arms, and muscle forces relative to a non-offset reverse shoulder design during two different motions: scapular plane abduction and internal/external rotation. The results of this study demonstrate that both the non-offset and offset reverse shoulder designs had similar force and excursion demands of the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles during both scapular abduction and internal and external rotation. Additionally, the offset reverse shoulder design was associated with significantly less over-tensioning of the middle and posterior deltoid and significantly more anatomic tensioning of the teres minor than the non-offset design. However, the offset reverse shoulder was observed to have more impingement than the non-offset design. These findings support the feasibility of this design: by restoring a more anatomic resting length to the deltoid and teres minor, the posterior-superior offset rTSA design may provide better teres minor function and rotational strength and may decrease the incidence of acromial stress fractures relative to the non-offset design. Clinical follow-up is required to confirm these findings.


Information asymmetries are known in theory to lead to inefficiently low credit provision, yet empirical estimates of the resulting welfare losses are scarce. This paper leverages a randomized experiment conducted by a large fintech lender to estimate welfare losses arising from asymmetric information in the market for online consumer credit. Building on methods from the insurance literature, we show how exogenous variation in interest rates can be used to estimate borrower demand and lender cost curves and recover implied welfare losses. While asymmetric information generates large equilibrium price distortions, we find only small overall welfare losses, particularly for high-credit-score borrowers.


The fast-phased adoption of modern immersive visual technologies in many fields calls for an assessment of potential costs and benefits from the point of view of human health. Humans often reported feelings of discomfort in the experience of virtual reality (VR), however, it is still not known what may promote this uncomfortable symptomatology. In the framework of research on human-computer interaction, part of the discomfort derived from the use of immersive visual technologies has been attribute to technological factors. Among the most cited technological limitations is the vergence-accommodation conflict that human eyes are experiencing in displays delivering 3D images, and that have been connected to feelings of discomfort and tiredness. In the present investigation we attempt to briefly review the most important pieces of evidence presented in the literature, on the possible technological limitation of immersive visual technologies and its possible effects on human health and the way those effects were analyzed, and the ill symptomologies were assessed. Furthermore, possible solutions for reducing negative effects of the use of 3D media were shortly analyzed, and new perspective on the issue reviewed. Finally, we will attempt to assess the way immersive visual technology can be used in the medical field with the aim to improve human health.


Abstract : The principal objective of this work is to develop a low-cost, high-speed, environmentally benign, dry surface treatment method for production, and repair of military composite structures using ultraviolet (UV) light in ambient air. The potential advantage of this method is that it would eliminate volatile organic wastes (VOCs), reduce or eliminate the use of solutions and detergents, and provide a robust surface that would enhance or eliminate the use of solutions and detergents, and provide a robust surface that would enhance the wetting and spreading of paints, coatings and adhesives on polymeric and inorganic surfaces treated by this method. A manufacturing base for UV production equipment I sin place although not for this application. There is a need for development of an environmentally friendly, cost effective as well as a robust surface treatment method that can clean a surface as well as create a beneficial chemistry for painting and produce optimum adhesive bonding of polymers, polymer composites and metal surfaces. With this in mind, three main technical objectives were sought in the work. The first objective was to determine the usefulness of UV and UV/O(3) to surface treatments to clean and chemically modify the surface of typical PMCs used in DOD systems. The second objective was to determine the effectiveness of this surface preparation for production and/or repair of adhesively bonded, painted and/or coated polymer matrix composite structures. Finally, a determination of the environmental and performance benefits of this method as a new environmentally benign processing method for the production and/or re air of adhesively SERDP, SERDP collection, robust surface, polymeric surface, inorganic surface, volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions.


The Youth Quality of Life—Facial Differences (YQOL-FD), validated in the United States in 2005, was developed at the University of Washington by the Seattle Quality of Life Group (SeaQol), to evaluate quality of life of adolescents with facial deformities. Because no Portuguese version exists, the measure was not viable in Brazil. This study aimed to obtain linguistic and psychometric validation of a version of the YQOL-FD in Portuguese. Twenty-five patients with cleft lip and palate and five without facial deformity participated in Traumatology and Maxillofacial Prosthesis Surgery Clinic, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo. The linguistic validation of the YQOL-FD was carried out by a team consisting of the researcher, as project manager, two native Portuguese-speaking consultants fluent in English, and one native Englishspeaking consultant fluent in Portuguese. After translation and back-translation, a Portuguese version was obtained, which was applied in a pilot test (n = 10); after the final adjustments the Seattle Quality of Life Group approved the official version of the YQOL-FD in Portuguese. To obtain the psychometric validation, we requested the participation of 20 patients with cleft lip and palate who answered the questionnaire twice in a range of 7 to 15 days. The Cronbach's alpha test was applied in the 48-item block, showing a high degree of internal consistency (0.949). The Wilcoxon Signal Post Test was applied to verify if the test and retest values were similar; the general agreement was 4/5 = 80%, indicating high reproducibility. It was concluded that the Portuguese version of the YQOL-FD is adequate for evaluating Quality of Life of Brazilian adolescents with craniofacial deformities.


By using small computing devices deployed at user premises, Autonomous Demand Response (ADR) adapts users electricity consumption to given time-dependent electricity tariffs. This allows end-users to save on their electricity bill and Distribution System Operators to optimise (through suitable time-dependent tariffs) management of the electric grid by avoiding demand peaks. Unfortunately, even with ADR, users power consumption may deviate from the expected (minimum cost) one, e.g., because ADR devices fail to correctly forecast energy needs at user premises. As a result, the aggregated power demand may present undesirable peaks. In this paper we address such a problem by presenting methods and a software tool (APD-Analyser) implementing them, enabling Distribution System Operators to effectively verify that a given time-dependent electricity tariff achieves the desired goals even when end-users deviate from their expected behaviour. We show feasibility of the proposed approach through a realistic scenario from a medium voltage Danish distribution network.


A study of blood viscosity factors was undertaken in six hypothyroid and eleven thyrotoxic patients (females) whose thyroid function was defined by means of radioiodine uptake and protein bound (PB) 131I tests. Results indicate that: (i) significant differences exist between hypothyroid and hyperthyroid groups in correlations between radioiodine tests and blood viscosity factors (and fibrinogen levels); (ii) blood viscosity in thyrotoxic patients decreases as the degree of thyrotoxicity increases, while an opposite phenomenon is observed in hypothyroid patients, and (iii) degree of rigidity of the red cells is associated with the radioiodine uptake and PB 131I tests, the correlations being significant and negative.


While career decision ambiguity tolerance (CDAT) has been repeatedly shown to play a salient role in career decision-making, a potential revision of its measurement model has been indicated in past research. More importantly, it remains less clear as to what individual characteristics are associated with high CDAT. We examined a four-factor model of CDAT (i.e., preference, tolerance, confidence, and aversion) and its associations with adherence to the realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprise, and conventional (RIASEC) structure and career calling in a sample of college students (N = 248). The results of the current study supported the four-factor model being superior to the original three-factor model in representing the structure of CDAT. It was also found that adherence to the RIASEC structure was positively associated with preference, presence of calling was positively associated with confidence, and search for calling was positively associated with aversion. The implications of the results were discussed with respect to the theory and research of CDAT. Limitations and suggestions for future research were also provided.


ABSTRACT Oil and gas activities have occurred in the Bakken region of North Dakota and nearby states and provinces since the 1950s but began increasing rapidly around 2008 due to new extraction methods. Three receptor-based techniques were used to examine the potential impacts of oil and gas extraction activities on airborne particulate concentrations in Class I areas in and around the Bakken. This work was based on long-term measurements from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) monitoring network. Spatial and temporal patterns in measured concentrations were examined before and after 2008 to better characterize the influence of these activities. A multisite back-trajectory analysis and a receptor-based source apportionment model were used to estimate impacts. Findings suggest that recent Bakken oil and gas activities have led to an increase in regional fine (PM2.5—particles with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 µm) soil and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations, as well as coarse mass (CM = PM10–PM2.5). Influences on sulfate and nitrate concentrations were harder to discern due to the concurrent decline in regional emissions of precursors to these species from coal-fired electric generating stations. Impacts were largest at sites in North Dakota and Montana that are closest to the most recent drilling activity. Implications: The increase in oil and gas activities in the Bakken region of North Dakota and surrounding areas has had a discernible impact on airborne particulate concentrations that impact visibility at protected sites in the region. However, the impact has been at least partially offset by a concurrent reduction in emissions from coal-fired electric generating stations. Continuing the recent reductions in flaring would likely be beneficial for the regional visual air quality.


Abstract The India–Afghanistan relationship is not a simple bilateral engagement. India's Afghan policy is driven by, and is dependent on, many extraneous factors such as India's troubled relationship with Pakistan, its search for a land transit to Central Asia through Iran and Afghanistan and its concerns regarding use of Afghan territory by Pakistan to the detriment of Indian interests. Given the geographical constraints, India has relied on Iran for land access to Afghanistan. This has been complicated by Iran–US relations —the two countries with whom India shares common interests. India has also tried to address Pakistani apprehensions regarding its engagement in Afghanistan. Its decision to resume bilateral dialogue in spite of domestic pressures against any such initiative post-Mumbai and the inclusion of Balochistan in the joint statement issued at Sharm-al-Sheikh in 2009 are part of New Delhi's policy to build confidence with Islamabad. Simultaneously, India has gained enormous political capital through its economic engagement with other countries of the region. This is likely to help it to sustain its presence in Afghanistan after 2014, when the Taliban may well be a part of the government in Kabul.


With the rapidly growing economy is now also expanding job opportunities that  people need to be able to meet the needs of everyday life. So many people who need  jobs, so selective in accepting the company is also a human resources (HR) quality.  To be able to get a ready to use human resources in the world of work requires a way  of selecting an effective and efficient but with significant results.  By making this application the authors try to help HR staff to be able to simplify the  job of doing one part of the stage personality test is a computerized personality test by  using the Visual Basic.Net programming language object-oriented in order to be able  to utilize existing facilities therein.


OBJECTIVES Many clinical and biological factors have been reported to be associated with the presence of psychosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease, although the associations were variable. The aim of this study was to clarify factors associated with the presence of psychosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS Psychiatric functioning was studied in 228 patients with Alzheimer's disease based on the results of the behavioural pathology in Alzheimer's disease rating scale or the neuropsychiatric inventory. The effects of sex, education level, age, duration of illness, cognitive function, and apolipoprotein E genotype were investigated for dichotomous psychotic status with a multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Of the 228 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 118 (51.8%) showed evidence of delusions or hallucinations. Of these, 94 had delusions only, three had hallucinations only, and 21 had both. Older age, female sex, longer duration of illness, and more severe cognitive impairment were the factors independently associated with the presence of psychosis. The presence of psychosis was not significantly related to either educational level or apolipoprotein E genotype. CONCLUSIONS Age, sex, and severity of illness were independent factors associated with the presence of psychosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The reason why some patients with Alzheimer's disease develop psychosis remains unclear. There may be distinctive subtypes of Alzheimer's disease or the presence of individual factors which affect the development of psychosis.


In this issue, the interesting and well-documented analysis of the possible interaction of DRD2 (dopamine D2 receptor gene) with the environment is highly promising in the promotion of further understanding of the interplay between nature and nurture in predicting victimization. The authors should be commended for engaging in such research. Biogenetic research points ever more frequently toward the nondismissal of some of the behaviorist observations regarding human maladaptive behavior of early criminologists. It seems that human genetic polymorphism seems to predispose, or even attract, some persons with the DRD2 to being victimized when exposed to a criminogenic environment. One wonders whether the risk for victimization is a consequence of the behavior promoted by variations of DRD2 receptor genes in those people with aggressive personality traits who are frequently both victim and victimizer? Hopefully, future research will help answer this question. The other articles in this issue, covering a variety of topics, also will be of interest to the reader. The article on parricide shows that even though cases may be limited in number, it is a worldwide phenomenon, and the authors show how the media shape public opinion about it. Another author urges caution when using the Classification of Violence Risk Assessment Instrument. The article will certainly be of interest to all those who employ the instrument. Two articles regard the problem of drug abuse. One reports on rational choice in a treatment program and research that found that mandated clients who had entered treatment during times of high drug-offender incarceration rates or periods of high unemployment rates stayed in treatment for longer periods of time. A second article discusses the use of collaborative inquiry in working with repeat felons in a northern California drug court. These felons reported a caring staff to be the strongest component of the drug court. Finally, an article addresses the intellectually disabled in the criminal justice system. Various aspects of issues surrounding this small but important number of persons are discussed. This is the last issue of the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology for 2007. The journal is moving forward and we have many contributors and reviewers. To these scholars, and to the readers, I wish to express my deep appreciation for their indefatigable work and for their continuing interest in the journal. Best wishes to all for the new year!


We discuss time-optimal path planning for a Dubins vehicle operating in a planar environment required to investigate a series of static objects of interest. The objects are obscured such that they can be viewed only from a specified direction. The vehicle is equipped with an arbitrary number of sensors projecting circle sector viewing areas of arbitrary size and offset angle from the vehicle's heading, allowing for a range of vehicle orientations at which the objects can be viewed. Our objective is to minimize the total path distance the vehicle must travel while ensuring that the vehicle views all targets once from their respective required viewing direction. We discretize the sensors' area and examine the resulting possible solutions with an exhaustive search algorithm and show Monte Carlo simulation results of the exhaustive search algorithm compared to a standard Dubins algorithm.


With the Western Balkans' European integration completely stalled and its future uncertain, a new regional initiative was launched by Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia. Initially called Mini Schengen, it grew into the Open Balkan Initiative with an ambitious goal to form a single market with unhindered movement of people, goods, services, and capital. Despite active involvement of state leaders, the initiative lacks transparency, legal frameworks, and concrete plans to fulfill the strategic vision. It is also difficult to expect it to grow into a classic international organization given the failure to form an implementation body. In addition, the U.S. only conditionally supports the Open Balkan by demanding the inclusion of all six Western Balkan actors (which in practice proves to be impossible), while the EU only cautiously welcomes activities leading to further regional integration, given that it initiated the competing Berlin process in 2014. This article examines the internal and external sustainability of the Open Balkan Initiative, its prerequisites, and its projects. It also argues that without support from the U.S. and the EU, an authentic regional integration in the Western Balkans is hardly feasible. Inter alia, the three countries have modest institutional capacities and incomparably small power potential.


Emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology, are paving the way for future revolutionary advances in science that may open the possibility to change the very anthropological definition of human being. This mere possibility has lead to ethical interrogations concerning the nature and boundaries of human nature and our relationship with science and technology. Meanwhile the Law has faced the challenge of reflecting on the legitimacy to legislate and whether the existing legal framework is appropriate to address the ethical concerns that emerging technologies bring fourth. It is a delicate balancing act between human dignity, autonomy, non-discrimination, equality, and justice. Anchored in this background, this work is a reflection on the role of European Patent Law in this debate. The European Patent system contains rules designed to prevent the grant of patents concerning inventions that do not conform to the prevailing ethical standards – article 53 (a) European Patent Convention. Thus, in a sense European Patent Law was entrusted with a regulatory function. However, not only such construction is objectionable in abstract terms, as new technologies pose growing challenges to its effectiveness. Several issues require clarification. First, while the EPO Boards of appeal may have institutional legitimacy to determine if a certain technology or technological field conforms with the prevailing ethical principles in Europe, it is more difficult to accept that the European Patent Office Boards of Appeal may have been given the task to autonomously determine what is to be considered the common prevailing ethical standards of the signatory states to the European Patent Convention. Second, new technologies typically have a mixed nature, offering a wide range of uncontroversial benefits to humanity while simultaneously posing complex ethical challenges. Third, the patent system by its nature can only go as far as reducing economic incentive to innovation leading to non-ethical inventions. Thus, the debates concerning the patentability of human enhancement need to be closely linked to the function of patents and the ratio legis of the specific patent norm.This article will begin by analyzing the concept of human enhancement and proposing for the current patent law analysis purposes its replacement with a more neutral term and narrow definition. The ethical questions surrounding these technological advances and prospects will be reviewed from a legal perspective, by framing such ethical considerations as human rights and general principles of law. Building upon the previous considerations the third part of this article will consider the patentability of technologies that provide the means to intentionally develop, modify or introduce in the human body aesthetic features, physical or cognitive performance levels and abilities beyond the human species typical standards under the current evolutionary state, and resulting in induced permanent alterations in light of the current rules of the European Patent Convention, corresponding implementing regulation rules (correspondents to the Biotechnology Directive) and EPO Boards of Appeal decisions.


A theoretical analysis is given of the stabilities obtainable with Rabi and Ramsey interrogation methods in divergent beams. The performances of both techniques in frequency standard applications are strongly degraded by first order Doppler effect when the divergence is such that the beam width becomes comparable with the transition wavelength. Upper limits exist for the stability obtainable in both configurations, with given beam intensity and detection efficiency, and for the frequency at which that maximum is reachable in mechanically collimated beams. Non-mechanical collimation (e.g. saturated absorption) should be used in order to reach that maximum at higher frequencies. Doppler-free interrogation methods appear to be the only way to remove these upper limits.


The unique spatial and temporal properties of relativistic high harmonics generated from a laser-driven plasma surface allow them to be coherently focused to an extremely high intensity reaching the Schwinger limit. The ultimately achievable intensity is limited by the harmonic wavefront distortions during the interactions. Here we demonstrate experimentally that the harmonic divergence can be controlled by an optically shaped plasma surface with a prepulse that has the same spatial and temporal distribution as the main laser pulse. Simulations are also performed to explain the experimental observation, and we find that the harmonic wavefront curvature from a dented surface can be precompensated by a convex plasma. Our work suggests an active approach to control the harmonic divergence and wavefront by an optically shaped target. This can be critical for further high harmonics applications.


Author(s): CEBREROS URZAIZ, MARIA DEL CARMEN | Advisor(s): DELGADO SHORTER, DAVID | Abstract: This interdisciplinary case study portrays the Center for the Arts at San Agust�n Etla (CASA). CASA constitutes a micro-universe—a system in scale—dedicated to art production, art education and professionalization, art display, and development of audiences. Established in the restored building of a Porfirian textile industry, in a semi-rural municipality in the central valleys of Oaxaca in Southern M�xico, the center inaugurated in 2006. CASA results from private and public efforts galvanized by the artist Francisco Toledo (1940-2019), who campaigned to recuperate and restore the mill for public uses. In this center, negotiations of cultural, symbolic, artistic, and aesthetic values happen regularly. Such deliberations engage national and international cultural producers, artistic forms, and traditions, as well as the local population, the environment, and the history of the site.This dissertation argues that the dynamism stimulated by the foundation of the Center for the Arts at San Agust�n plays an active mediating function in the configuration of a heterogeneous culture in which divergent lifeways coincide and coalesce without attempting to resolve or be reduced to a singular one. Art learning, art production, and art dissemination lay at the core of such dynamism. This case study examines how an arts center intercedes in the symbolic and material relationships between individuals, distinct communities, social institutions, and the territory. My investigation draws from thirty months of fieldwork at San Agust�n Etla, extensive interviews with stakeholders, artists, and community members, along with archival research of institutional documents, public records, publications produced at CASA, exhibitions, as well as media and press coverage. Each of the four chapters comprised in this study offers a distinct vantage point from which considering the Center for the Arts at San Agust�n while also contextualizing it regarding broader historical, social, and cultural phenomena. The first chapter focuses on the cultural history of the site where CASA currently exists, and the process of conversion of a nineteen-century textile mill into an artistic and cultural institution. CASA's case offers a framework to further ponder the global phenomenon of the revitalization of abandoned manufacturing centers and its adaptation as infrastructures for the cultural and creative industries. Chapter Two positions CASA in relation to other cultural institutions founded by the Juchitecan artist, activist, and philanthropist Francisco Toledo. The chapter links the goals of this arts center with the political, aesthetic, and epistemic concerns and convictions of his founder. The third chapter elaborates on the social and political organization of San Agust�n, and the responses of Sanagustinians to the foundation of CASA. The fourth chapter features the voices of artists that migrated to San Agust�n and decided to establish their studios in this locale. The testimonies of these creators delineate the contours of local art worlds in San Agust�n and Oaxaca.This research demonstrates that, in order to understand an artistic institution, scholars need to analyze the surrounding spheres touched or disputed by those organizations that intend to expand public participation.


e20625 Background: The resection of early stage NSCLC offers patients the best hope of a cure. However, the recurrence rate post-resection remains high. As the mechanisms involved in the process is still not clear due to the unavailability of accurate targets, our study was aimed to integrate the impact of different immune context present in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) microenvironment on patients' prognosis. Methods: RNA targeted sequencing was performed on 24 primary tumor specimens from the resected local advanced LUADs . Transcripts of 395 immune related genes expressed in FFPE tumor samples were analyzed. The limma package was used to analyze the different expressed genes (DEGs) between patients with different prognosis. The gene set variance analysis (GSVA) analysis was performed to explore gene sets enrichment related to the prognosis (PFS, progression free survival) post-resection. Results: 23 DEGs were detected in primary tumor between the better (PFS > 18months, n = 12 ) and worse (PFS≤18months, n = 12 ) prognosis group. The combined prediction model containing MPO, IL-6, CXCR2, FCGR3B, ADGRE5 could identify the favorable prognosis of patients. GSVA and Log Rank test of survival data demonstrated that the antigen processing and lymphocyte activation pathway enrichment may associate with better prognosis (p = 0.01), whereas higher Neutrophils cell infiltration in primary tumor demonstrated a shorter PFS (p = 0.008). Conclusions: In LUAD, the immune related genes such as MPO, IL-6, CXCR2, FCGR3B, ADGRE5, can effectively profile the landscape of tumor immune microenvironment and predict the survival in early stage of lung adenocarcinoma. Accordingly immune pathways were correlated with prognosis of these patients. Our findings suggest that immune-related RNA expression pattern in locally advanced LUAD may provide a potential predictive marker for early recurrence after surgical resection.


Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Gamenya) were grown for up to 40 days in a complete culture solution containing 1000 uM phosphate (Pi) with zinc (Zn) added (Zn+) or no Zn added (Zno). Plants were grown under various light regimes with either natural or artificial light. In some experiments, the root system was split into equal halves for either a long term growth period or a short term experimental period with each half root system was bathed in a separate solution.

The effects of Zn treatment on dry matter, P content, P concentration, and Pi absorption rates were studied in an attempt to elucidate the mechanism by which Zn functions in relation to P accumulation in wheat plants. The effects of other factors, such as light, localised Zn supply, and pH of solution, were studied to determine how these may affect the response of P accumulation to Zn treatment.

Decreasing total light irradiation, either by decreasing intensity or daylength, generally delayed growth but did not directly affect the response to Zn treatment. Thus, omitting Zn generally depressed growth when Zn concentration in the youngest emerged blade (YEB) had fallen to 10 to 12 µg/g dry matter irrespective of the light treatment imposed. Several days after Zn deficiency had depressed growth, Zn deficient plants developed necrotic symptoms in the mid to basal region of the young leaf blades.

In addition to inducing these symptoms, Zn deficiency enhanced P concentrations in older leaves to 2% dry matter or greater. Under conditions of high light intensity, it also enhanced the necrotic symptoms of the leaf tips and margins attributed to P toxicity. Although it enhanced P concentration in shoots, Zn deficiency depressed P concentration in roots and generally depressed or had no effect on the rate of Pi absorption (Pi absorbed per unit root weight per unit time) or total P content of wheat plants. On the rare occasions that Z n deficiency enhanced Pi absorption rate or P content, its effect was only transient.

When Zn was omitted from only one half of a paired root system, plants appeared identical to those with Z n supplied to both root systems even though omitting Zn from both root systems had severely depressed growth. Although not affecting dry matter of roots or shoots, omitting Zn from only one half root system slightly depressed the rate of Pi absorption by that root system. That omitting Zn from the root environment depressed Pi absorption rate by that root and did not enhance P concentration in shoots suggests that the effect of Zn in roots may be independent of its effect in shoots in relation to P accumulation.

In separate experiments, radioactive phosphate (32Pi) was either painted on the oldest leaf blade or supplied to one half of a paired root system. These short term studies suggested that developing Zn deficiency enhanced accumulation of P in old leaves as a result of enhanced gross transport of P to shoots and depressed export of P out of these leaves. This effect of Zn on P movement is discussed in relation to the reported effects of Zn deficiency on auxin concentration.

When Zn adequate plants were grown in culture solution with ammonium (NH4+), they lowered their culture solution pH to approximately 3.2. However, Zn deficient plants failed to lower the pH of their culture solution to t he same extent as Zn adequate plants. Indeed, Z n deficient plants raised the pH of their culture solution in spite of the presence of NH4+. This suggests that Zn may have a function in integrity of root membranes.

When it was strictly controlled at differing levels, increasing the pH of the culture solution markedly enhanced subsequent short term absorption rate of 3 2 Pi . The effect of pH was much greater than the effect of either the Zn treatment or the nitrogen source supplied to wheat plants. This effect of long term pH treatment was consistent with other long term studies on the effects of pH on P content of plants but was inconsistent with the short term effects of pH on Pi absorption rate which have been previously reported. These results indicate that the pH at which wheat plants were grown was of far greater importance in determining Pi absorption rate than the pH of the solution from which Pi was absorbed. Failure to recognise the long term effect of pH on subsequent short term Pi absorption rate explains why previously published results for short term 32Pi absorption rates conflict with those for long term P accumulation in plants.

Zn deficiency affected rhizosphere pH and this may, in turn, affect Pi absorption rate. However, in experiments in which culture solution pH was maintained at near constant levels, this effect of Zn on rhizosphere pH would probably have been of little importance in determining Pi absorption rate. Thus, the effect of Zn deficiency in enhancing P concentration to toxic levels in wheat leaves in the experiments presented in this thesis, can not be attributed to an enhanced Pi absorption rate as has been shown for other species. However, its effect in enhancing P concentration in emerged leaves can be explained by its effects on the distribution and translocation of P within wheat plants. As Zn deficiency became more severe, its effects on dry matter distribution accentuated its effects on P concentration.


Concern with fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation promotes the use of renewable energy sources in particular bio-fuel for automotive and power generation. Palm oil in its refined form as cooking oil can be used as fuel in diesel engines. Present study evaluates macroscopic spray characteristics, such as tip penetration, cone angle and spray area using direct injection diesel injector in a constant volume combustion chamber. Palm oil blend with diesel at 20, 40, 60, and 80 % as well as pure palm oil (100 %) and diesel were tested separately using direct visualization technique. Spray developments were investigated at elevated injection pressure starting from 20 MPa (original setting) to 30 and 34 MPa (maximum pressure). Experimental results for palm oil blends show that, spray development process is highly affected with increasing palm oil in the blend. Spray tip penetration and cone angle of blends were found to decrease by about 50 and 30 % respectively compared to diesel fuel. At elevated injection pressures, spray characteristics of the blends show significant improvement. Tip penetration and spray area for P20 at 34 MPa were comparable to diesel at its original injection pressure setting. Moreover, blends average cone angles were found larger at 30 MPa, by about 14.93, 11.47, 7.34 and 1.84 % for P20, P40, P60 and P80 respectively. For P20, 34 MPa injection pressure is sufficient to display spray characteristics similar to diesel, but require higher than 34 MPa injection pressure for other blends.


In the course of routine blood examinations made in Lane Hospital, San Francisco, it had been frequently noted that the polymorphonuclear leukocytes were below 60 per cent. in apparently normal individuals, and also that the lymphocytes ran over 40 per cent, in a sufficient number of apparently normal persons to make a differential count of somewhat doubtful value in the diagnosis of exophthalmic goiter, etc. In order to determine, if possible, the cause of these variations from the commonly accepted standard, the blood of one hundred normal individuals was examined. These were selected with a view to including outdoor as well as indoor workers, females as well as males, and ages between 21 and 50 ; in short, to approximate as nearly as possible, the average individual appearing in the clinics or hospital. Among those examined were physicians, students and nurses at Lane Hospital, soldiers at the Presidio and such


Sustainable development has emerged as a distinctive marker of place identity in addition to traditional markers such as buildings and spectacles. Climate change mitigation as a potential place brand, indicating sustainable development, is in focus of this article, comparing such efforts in three Swedish towns. Based on documentary studies and interviews, it demonstrates how one town has been successful in branding itself as "the Greenest City in Europe", whereas mitigation efforts in two other towns are barely known outside the town halls. In the first case, a combination of material, symbolic, and institutional components has been decisive in establishing a brand with internal and external legitimacy. This case highlights the importance of a dedicated network of influential actors and a potent governance structure visualising the will of a town to make its climate mitigation efforts known. Despite similar material conditions, the two others come short on the symbolic and the institutional dimensions, although they may still have a potential for future success in terms of mitigation both in practice and as a marker of identity.


Architectural form and performance are affected by the designer's graphical representation methods. Parametric CAD systems, as design and representation tools, have become ubiquitous in architectural practice and education. Literature in the area of parametric design reviews is scarce and focused within building inspection and construction coordination domains. Additionally, platforms marketed as design review tools lack basic functionality for conducting comprehensive, parametric, and performance-based reviews. We have developed a user interface prototype where geometric and non-geometric information of a Building Information Model were translated into an interactive gaming environment. The interface allows simultaneous occupation and simulation of spatial geometry, enabling the user to engage with object parameters, as well as, performance-based, perspectival, diagrammatic, and orthographic representations for total spatial and performance comprehension.


Steering committees incorporated through contracts serve as important governance instruments for managing complex collaborations by facilitating coordination and knowledge sharing. Although they ease concerns of adapting to unforeseen contingencies, they may not function effectively and become vulnerable to deadlocks when agreement cannot be reached expeditiously. Hence, when partners contract for authority delegation to the steering committee, they also need to account for the possibility of stalemates. We examine the bounds partners agree to put on a steering committee's authority by contractually specifying the locus of delegated authority in the event of unforeseen contingencies. We specify the conditions that explain the extent to which decision-making authority is given to steering committees as well as the conditions that provisionally shift final decision-making authority in a bounded manner back to one of the alliance partners. We argue that joint coordination concerns increase the likelihood for authority delegation, whereas timely adaptation concerns are associated with authority reversion. We develop hypotheses on the locus of delegated authority and present supportive evidence from empirical analyses of 648 strategic alliances from the bio-pharmaceutical industry. Our study advances research on alliance governance by showing that coordination and decision speed considerations are important drivers for the locus of delegated authority in alliances.


Abstract Background People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but little is known about specific risk factors for infection within homeless shelters. Methods We performed widespread severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction testing and collected risk factor information at all homeless shelters in Chicago with at least 1 reported case of COVID-19 (n = 21). Multivariable, mixed-effects log-binomial models were built to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for SARS-CoV-2 infection for both individual- and facility-level risk factors. Results During March 1 to May 1, 2020, 1717 shelter residents and staff were tested for SARS-CoV-2; 472 (27%) persons tested positive. Prevalence of infection was higher for residents (431 of 1435, 30%) than for staff (41 of 282, 15%) (prevalence ratio = 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78–3.58). The majority of residents with SARS-CoV-2 infection (293 of 406 with available information about symptoms, 72%) reported no symptoms at the time of specimen collection or within the following 2 weeks. Among residents, sharing a room with a large number of people was associated with increased likelihood of infection (aPR for sharing with >20 people compared with single rooms = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.11–2.80), and current smoking was associated with reduced likelihood of infection (aPR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.60–0.85). At the facility level, a higher proportion of residents leaving and returning each day was associated with increased prevalence (aPR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01–1.16), whereas an increase in the number of private bathrooms was associated with reduced prevalence (aPR for 1 additional private bathroom per 100 people = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87–0.98). Conclusions We identified a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in homeless shelters. Reducing the number of residents sharing dormitories might reduce the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection. When community transmission is high, limiting movement of persons experiencing homelessness into and out of shelters might also be beneficial.


Three new pentasaccharide resin glycosides, batatosides III-V (1-3), were isolated from the roots of Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Saponification of the crude resin glycoside mixture yielded substituents and simonic acid B. The structures of the isolated compounds (1-3) were established through spectroscopic analyses, including high field NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS, and chemical correlation. The major characteristics of 3 are the presence of three different substituents, especially the substituent of cinnamic acid was seldom. The monosaccharides of 1-3 were proved by GC-MS and the absolute configuration of aglycone was further established as S by Mosher's method with R-methyloxyphenylacetic acid (MPA) and S-MPA.


BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Previous studies have shown substantially higher mortality rates from cancer in New Zealand compared to Australia, but these studies have not included data on patient survival. This study compares the survival of cancer patients diagnosed in 2006-10 in the whole populations of New Zealand and Australia.

METHOD
Identical period survival methods were used to calculate relative survival ratios for all cancers combined, and for 18 cancers each accounting for more than 50 deaths per year in New Zealand, from 1 to 10 years from diagnosis.

RESULTS
Cancer survival was lower in New Zealand, with 5-year relative survival being 4.2% lower in women, and 3.8% lower in men for all cancers combined. Of 18 cancers, 14 showed lower survival in New Zealand; the exceptions, with similar survival in each country, being melanoma, myeloma, mesothelioma, and cervical cancer. For most cancers, the differences in survival were maximum at 1 year after diagnosis, becoming smaller later; however, for breast cancer, the survival difference increased with time after diagnosis.

CONCLUSION
The lower survival in New Zealand, and the higher mortality rates shown earlier, suggest that further improvements in recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in New Zealand should be possible. As the survival differences are seen soon after diagnosis, issues of early management in primary care and time intervals to diagnosis and treatment may be particularly important.


As observed at least in last two decades, financial engineering has not only changed the way of doing business in finance world, but also has changed daily life of average citizens in the leading economies. Structured products named as weapons of mass destruction in some post-crisis comments. But it is fair to say that few people could understand the nature and risks of these instruments before the crisis. By using literature review and case study analysis, the author analyses how financial regulation and supervision have failed to understand/manage the financial engineering products during/before the global financial crisis. In this context, we discuss the measures to enhance good regulatory governance in engineered products. We conclude however engineered products have important benefits to the global economy, regulatory/supervisory structure should be improved for better firm/system wide risk management. Secondly, there are four components to improve prudential regulatory/supervisory framework of structured products. Those are, timely/effectively action to the balance sheet problems, to increase the effectiveness of the risk management, to improve independence and quality of prudential regulation/supervision and to increase accountability of supervisors.


Fuzhuan brick-tea is a popular fermented Chinese dark tea because of its typical fungal aroma. Fungal growth during the production process is the key step in achieving the unique colour, aroma and taste of Fuzhuan brick-tea. To further understand the generation of the characteristic aroma, changes in the main volatile compounds of Fuzhuan brick-tea during the fungal growth stage were studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry. The results showed that the content of volatile compounds, especially aldehyde compounds with stale aroma such as (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenal, 1-penten-3-ol, (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal and (E, Z)-2,4-heptadienal, increased significantly in fermented tea samples. The concentration of terpene alcohols with flower aroma also increased notably during the fermentation process. The compounds with stale and flower aromas in combination with some volatile components of the raw material contributed to the characteristic fungal/flower aroma of Fuzhuan brick-tea. Microbial metabolism during the fermentation process probably played the key role in the generation of characteristic aromatic compounds of Fuzhuan brick-tea.


The development of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems and their integration in actual structures has become a necessity as it can provide a robust and low-cost solution for monitoring the structural integrity of and the ability to predict the remaining life of structures. In this review, we aim at focusing on one of the important issues of SHM, the design, and implementation of sensor networks. Location and number of sensors, in any SHM system, are of high importance as they impact the system integration, system performance, and accuracy of assessment, as well as the total cost. Hence we are interested in shedding the light on the sensor networks as an essential component of SHM systems. The review discusses several important parameters including design and optimization of sensor networks, development of academic and commercial solutions, powering of sensors, data communication, data transmission, and analytics. Finally, we presented some successful case studies including the challenges and limitations associated with the sensor networks.