This research analyses the implementation of Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE), which was launched in August 2010 by the Indonesian government. Within this broad context, the study aims to understand the
external (international) and internal (national and regional) factors that influenced the launching of MIFEE in Merauke, Papua. Therefore, it looks at historical/ political aspects, rules and regulations, economic policies, and identity issues to understand the struggles of indigenous people in Papua particularly Malind people, who are mostly affected by MIFEE.
The research combines neo-liberalism and capitalism forces responsible of the economic policies and development strategies undertaken in Papua, but also decentralization and social conflict between central and local government which facilitate such condition. Fragmented societies, various interest and power struggles in Papua further marginalize indigenous people in the area and add up to past oppression, exclusion, and grievances. This paper finds that all the forms of protests aims to defend their land ultimately their cultural identity as Malind people specifically. When this continually is ignored, Papua in general would remain volatile, and could increase violence in Merauke particularly where MIFEE is being implemented.

Relevance to Development Studies
The creation of MIFEE is part of the Papua Economic Corridor of Masterplan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia Economic Development (MP3EI). The corridor's objective is to accelerate development as well as alleviate poverty in Papua. This hegemonic discourse of development derives from
neo-liberalism approach in which this research aims to review and analyze. The research findings reveal several factors from laws, economic policies, and power relations between stakeholders that facilitate capitalist forces. This paper
aims to find the roots of conflicts in Papua particularly impacts of MIFEE towards land and identity of Papuan indigenous people.


The demand for electrical power has consistently risen over time, whether it be to support
the development and expansion of cities or because traditional approaches to societies
solutions are being replaced by their electrical equivalent. The automotive industry is beginning
to introduce more electric, greener vehicles. The aviation industry is also being
challenged with the same issues. Whatever the motivation, this rising demand for power
is always facilitated by employing higher and higher voltage levels.
It is well understood that if the voltage is too high for a given air gap, electric breakdown
will occur. this effect is exacerbated by increases in altitude, resulting in constant
challenges in aviation to satisfy the contradictory demands for smaller/lighter compact
solutions against the biggest possible air gaps necessary to prevent electric breakdown.
An experimental curve by Louis Karl Heinrich Friedrich Paschen was developed, which
relates the voltage at which electric breakdown would be expected to that of the product
of gas pressure (p) and distance (d). The aviation industry does not use this curve
directly as alternate guidance documents are used. These documents are extremely conservative,
sometimes overly so, as will be seen in the thesis. Mathematical attempts have
been provided to try and explain the Paschen curve, based on Townsend Primary and
secondary ionisation. However, the variable 'pd' does not get explicitly linked and a type
of mathematical fudge becomes incorporated.
This thesis attempts to provide a theory of the minimum electric breakdown curve
and fundamentally link he 'pd' product. by experimental validation of the theory, with
the accepted standards included. A basis for challenging these standards may result and
prevent potential over engineering in the future in this continually challenging environment.
This theory will then go on to explain arc formation by providing a treatment to
a paradox that occurs at the point of breakdown.


Th is study inspects the dangers of being inauthentic while posing as apostles of authentic, ethnic service providers in tourism. Th e concept of authenticity was adopted to understand how the commodifi cation of cultural features, especially food, of a multiethnic destination infl uences the realness of traditional cuisine. Th e study was conducted in Goa, India, also known as tourist Mecca. Th e research fi ndings demonstrate that tourism acts as a dominant player in creating a transfi gurative replica of tourist's expectations. Th is makes touristifi ed versions of traditional foods, severely infl uencing the integrity of regional cuisines. Th ese results are useful in understanding how inauthentic practices challenge the cultural identity of the destination.


Wildcatite (IMA2020–019) is a new calcium–iron(III) tellurate discovered at the Wildcat prospect in the Detroit district, Juab County, Utah. Wildcatite may take on a variety of appearances, ranging from transparent orange to brown coatings or masses to earthy, white polycrystalline coatings filling jasperoid fracture surfaces. Coatings of wildcatite are generally less than 0.1 mm thick and may cover up to 5 cm2, while nanoscale crystallites of wildcatite may form translucent red-brown "crystals" up to 0.1 mm. Wildcatite is found associated with gold, calcite, aragonite, native tellurium, manganese oxides, iron oxides, rare clinobisvanite, beyerite, coronadite, the Te oxides paratellurite and tellurite, and the Te oxysalts andymcdonaldite, burckhardtite, carlfriesite, eckhardite, frankhawthorneite, khinite, mcalpineite, tlapallite, and xocolatlite. The strongest powder diffraction lines are [dobsÅ(Iobs)(hkl)]: 3.33(100)(011), 2.60(55)(110), 2.30(59)(111), 2.05(33)(021), and 1.80(88)(112). The average size of wildcatite crystallites is 13 nm, thus the crystal structure of wildcatite was solved by Rietveld refinement, converging to a final RB value of 3.14%. The empirical formula of wildcatite, as determined by electron probe microanalysis and Rietveld refinement, is Ca0.98Bi3+0.02Pb0.01Fe3+0.73Mg0.05Mn2+0.02Zn0.01Cu0.00Te6+1.15Sb5+0.02Si0.01O5.44H0.56, simplified to the ideal formula of CaFe3+Te6+O5(OH). Wildcatite is trigonal, crystallizing in the space group P1m, with a = 5.2003(14) Å, c = 4.9669(14) Å, V = 116.3(1) Å3 and Z = 1. Wildcatite is structurally very similar to rosiaite (PbSb2O6), possessing a honeycomb-like two-dimensional framework of edge-sharing Fe3+O6 and Te6+O6 octahedra, sandwiching octahedrally coordinated Ca2+ cations. Minor OH substitution (∼10%) at the O sites is required for charge balance in wildcatite.


Pneumotoxic drugs like amiodarone and m-TOR inhibitors (m-TORi) may be administered contemporaneously in therapy for patients who had renal transplants. We present a case of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (APT) in a patient treated with amiodarone and everolimus. A 57-year-old Caucasian male, under treatment with both everolimus (for 3 years) and amiodarone (for 2 months), presented with fever, dyspnoea and a negative chest X-ray after his second kidney transplant with suboptimal serum creatinine (3 mg/dl). A non-contrastive high-resolution CT scan showed bilateral interstitial lung disease with an associated reduction in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was negative for an infection, but BAL cytology was suitable for APT (50% of 'foamy' macrophages). A complete recovery was achieved after amiodarone interruption and an oral steroid therapy increase. Everolimus was continued. His kidney function remained unchanged in the upcoming months. In conclusion, we suggest a possible synergistic effect between m-TORi and amiodarone. Furthermore, we propose a diagnostic algorithm that can be used as a surveillance tool to identify a potential initial lung damage in patients treated with 1 or more pneumotoxic drugs.


Background/Aim: In Korea, small breed dogs including Maltese, Pomeranians, and Yorkshire Terriers are most common. These small dogs are at increased risk for the development of delayed union or nonunion fractures, particularly when the fracture occurs at a site with insufficient surrounded soft tissue such as the ulna and radius. To treat failed bone fracture healing, stable fixation of the fracture and implantation of bone grafts are needed. Among the various types of bone grafts, autograft is considered to be the gold standard. However, the amount of autograft available for harvesting in small dogs is limited. In this study, we report on a novel canine cancellous allograft (C350C) that was prepared using chemicals and low heat treatment (350°C). Patients and Methods: We applied C350C in two cases with failed bone fracture healing. Due to the poor osteoinductive capabilities of C350C, we also used recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and Matrigel as osteoinductive and delivery agents, respectively. Results: In both cases, the fractures healed successfully. Conclusion: C350C can be used as a bone graft material that could replace autografts in cases with failed bone fracture healing.


In this paper, we describe the serious games, integrated into PROPHETIC which is an innovating personal healthcare service for a holistic remote management of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. The main objective of the three developed serious games is to allow health professionals to remotely monitor and appraise the overall physical status of their patients. The significant benefits for the patients, making use of this platform, is the improvement of their engagement, empowerment and, consequently, the provision of education about their condition and its management. The design of the serious games was based on the clinical needs derived from the literature and their primary target is to assess and record specific physical capabilities of the patient. All the games scores and the recorded parameters are gathered and also presented to the clinicians, offering them a precise overview of the patient's motor status and the possibility to modify the therapeutic plan, if required.


Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected the prompt diagnosis and treatment of Acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

AIM
To characterize the clinical profile of patients with AMI during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing them with a historical cohort.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A case-control study of 96 patients with AMI transferred to a high-volume percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) hospital between March and July 2020, and a historical cohort of 269 patients transferred during the same period in 2019.

RESULTS
When comparing patients transferred during the pandemic with those of the historical cohort, the former were younger (63 ± 12 vs 68 ± 12 years, p < 0.01), had a higher frequency of hypertension (66 vs 45%, p < 0.01) and of smoking (40% vs 25%, p < 0.01). Also, during COVID-19 outbreak a higher proportion of patients had ST-elevation AMI consulting > 12 hours from the onset of symptoms (44 vs 0%, p < 0.01), a higher median door-to-device time (4 vs 3 hours, p < 0.01), a higher use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (97 vs 71%, p < 0.01), and higher frequencies of cardiogenic shock (20 vs 4%, p < 0.01) and mechanical complications (10% vs 2%, p < 0.01). Patients during COVID pandemic had a higher thirty-day overall (20 vs 1.4%, p < 0.01) and cardiovascular mortality (13 vs 1%, p < 0.01). During the outbreak, 40% of patients had positive COVID-19 status, which was a predictor for thirty-day overall mortality (Risk ratio 2.90; 95% confidence intervals 1.14-7.36).

CONCLUSIONS
During the pandemic patients with AMI exhibited delays in consultations and treatment, higher morbidity, and increased mortality. COVID-19 positivity was associated to worse thirty-day overall survival.


Summary
Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus has been purified and some physicochemical properties of its nucleic acid and protein moieties have been determined. The buoyant density of the virus particle in CsCl is 1.35 g/ml; degraded particle banded at a density of 1.31 g/ml. The virus nucleic acid was found to be double-stranded, according to several different criteria, namely resistance to pancreatic RNase, low density in Cs2SO4 (1.615), sharp melting curve with a T
m of 89 °C in hypotonic buffer, and base composition. In a sucrose gradient the bulk of the virus RNA banded as a single peak (14 S); a small part of the virus nucleic acid was found at the top of the gradient. By gel electrophoresis virus RNA was resolved into three peaks corresponding to double-stranded molecules with mol. wt. ranging from 2.85 × 106 to 2.55 × 106. Gel analysis of virus proteins revealed three polypeptides of mol. wt. 80, 50 and 30 × 103, representing respectively 3%, 68% and 29% of the total protein. On the basis of these results IPN virus appears to be related to some reo-like viruses, having a single protein shell and a single class of double-stranded RNA.


The focal point of the modern trial is the witness. Witnesses are the source of observations, lay and expert opinions, authentication, as well as the conduit through which documentary, physical, and scientific evidence is introduced. Evidence law therefore unsurprisingly concentrates on – or perhaps obsesses over – witnesses. In this Article, we argue that this witness-centered perspective is antiquated and counterproductive. As a historical matter, focusing on witnesses may have made sense when most evidence was the product of individual observation and action. But the modern world frequently features evidence produced through standardized, objective, and even mechanical processes that largely eliminate individual judgment. The traditional regime handles such process-based evidence poorly, relying on legal fictions and awkward procedures for handling things like forensic lab results, photographs, scientific articles, and business records. This Article therefore discards these fictions and proposes a broad new conceptual approach to process-based evidence. Our suggested reforms recognize process-based evidence on its own terms and provide a practical framework for testing and challenging it.


Despite the importance of employee training in the hospitality and tourism sector, there has been little research exploring the training of middle managers in hotels. The present research paper aims to explore this under-investigated topic in order to shed light on training practices in international hotel chains (IHCs) in Jordan, as well as company and management attitudes towards out-of-country training (OCT). This article focuses on a qualitative study in which guided focus group discussion was used to identify the determinants of upper management's decisions to invest in OCT for middle managers in Jordan's IHCs. The three groups each included six department heads from 18 IHCs. The interview data revealed five key themes affecting management's decision-making: management and company attitudes; barriers; selection criteria; nature of training; and benefits and usefulness of out-of-country training to managers and hotels. Focus groups results revealed middle managers' overwhelming support for out-of-country training along with some of the perceived barriers, including lack of company and upper management support. This is the first study of its kind investigating middle managers' attitudes toward out-of-country training. As such, it offers insight into this little-investigated demographic, which serves a key organisational role as intermediaries between hotel management and front-line staff. The paper offers useful data and analysis to researchers and/or practitioners of hotel management, with practical implications for improving human resource management in hotels.


This paper considers the evaluation step in a decision-making process that follows decision-making goals setting, feasible alternatives and attributes or criteria that characterize them determination steps. Evaluation step must establish a model or algorithm to evaluate alternatives taking into account their performances with regard to criteria as well as decision makers or stakeholders preferences. Though this problem is rather a classic one, researches related to evaluation model construction continue to be active to find models that cope with more realities or that fit well how human beings behave in group and proceed when facing the problem of choosing, ranking or sorting alternatives or options. The purpose of this paper is to construct an evaluation model that integrate the performances of alternatives with regard to attributes or criteria and decision makers or agents opinions with regard to the importance to assign to each criterion in order to obtain a value function. As any decision problem is almost always a matter of tradeoff, among attributes characterizing alternatives there will be those acting toward the achievement of decision makers goal (benefit) and those that decision makers would like to reduce as much as possible (cost); we will designate the first ones as positive attributes and the later ones as negative attributes. The process of dividing attributes into positive attributes and negative attributes is beyond the scope of this paper and this partition will be considered as a part of the problem specification. The model is constructed in two steps: firstly, satisfiability (selectability and rejectability) measures or functions are obtained for each alternative using attributes values (positive attributes will contribute to selectability measure whereas negative ones are used in the derivation of rejectability measure) and agents opinions in the framework of satisficing game theory and secondly a value function is built on that measures. Agents opinions with regard to attributes will be expressed locally by weighting them by category (positive/negative).


In keeping with now-established tradition, Monday was devoted to 'hcmf// shorts', a series of free, mostly bite-size concerts. The format is certainly appealing as a way to encounter a diverse range of musical worlds in one go, and it is valuable as a starting-point for those less familiar with new music; every event I attended was packed, and it was encouraging to see students, school groups and families among the attendees. Concerts in different venues were linked by Stephen Chase's participatory walking pieces, which transformed the journeys between them into enjoyable explorations of the changing acoustic environment (thanks to a route that took in tunnels, corridors, traffic and so on).


Sensitive information is one of core competence concerning with the development of the enterprise business. Tremendous pressure on today's enterprises to achieve and sustain competitive advantage has led to heightened efforts to protect sensitive information. Many enterprises have recognized that the key to sensitive information management improvement lies in the better access control model. In this paper, we present a boundary-based access control model incorporating an advanced security mechanism, in order to support fine-grained authorizations in the right time for the provision of services, based on the analysis of system boundary. In this model, access permissions are controlled by the state transitions at different layers including workflow layers, control layers and data layers. The access control mechanism is based on an RBAC model, which incorporates dynamic context information. Context is classified based on the analysis of system boundary into six main categories, which is further categorized as simple condition and composite condition, thus forming a multi-level context. In a multi-level hierarchy of context conditions, the access control model is implemented dynamically, by checking the context constraint associated with each access task at the time of the specific request submission, whose functionality and the constituent parts have been described formally and in detail.


The synergistic effect of soot formation refers to the interaction between different fuels during soot forming processes, which results in higher soot formation than any individual fuels. The present study experimentally investigates the synergistic effect of soot formation in co-flow diffusion flames of propane/ethylene fuel mixtures. The total carbon mass flow rate of the propane/ethylene mixture was kept constant at 0.5 mg/s, and the propane carbon ratio (RC) was defined as the ratio of carbon mass flow rate of propane to the total carbon mass flow rate. The laser-induced incandescence (LII) and light extinction (LE) techniques were applied to measure the soot volume fractions (SVF) at pressures of 0.1–0.5 MPa. The results showed strong synergistic effect in propane/ethylene mixtures at atmospheric conditions; however, increasing pressure weakens the synergistic effect. The LII intensity contours showed that the soot formation zone extends when synergistic effect occurs at RC = 0.1 and 0.2 for 0.1 and 0.3 Mpa. The normalized peak SVF showed that synergistic effect monotonically becomes weak with increasing pressure from 0.1 to 0.3 Mpa; meanwhile, the it still stayed strong at 0.2 Mpa when using normalized maximum soot yield, and then turned to be weaker as pressure increases. Further comparison analysis of the SVF profiles between RC = 0 and 0.1 revealed that the synergistic effect occurs at the two-wing area of the sooty flame at low axial flame height, and then gradually becomes stronger with increasing axial flame height in the soot zone for 0.1–0.3 Mpa. To illustrate the pressure effects on synergistic soot formation, numerical analysis in homogeneous closed reactor was conducted and it was found that The PAHs formation competition between C3H3 pathway and HACA mechanism results in the different soot formation phenomenon of ethylene/propane flames.


Rateless codes allow a user to incrementally send additional redundancy, so they can be useful for heterogeneous and time-varying networks for which the choice of redundancy level in advance is difficult. Rateless codes are an attractive application layer forward error correction solution due to their flexibility and capacity-approaching performance. The original rateless codes were developed for the delivery of equally important information. In many multimedia applications, some data symbols are more important than others. Unequal error protection (UEP) designs are attractive solutions for such transmissions. However previous UEP rateless code designs were aimed for coarsely layered sources and might exhibit poor performance for fine-grained progressive coding. The main objective of this paper is to introduce a more generalized coding scheme, parameters of which can be tailored for progressive multimedia transmission. We present the optimization of a generalized rateless code using two different progressive source transmission protocols. Proposed coding scheme is shown to exhibit better unequal protection and recovery time properties than other published results.


The role of local fields in quantum electrodynamics of isolated quantum dot (QD) has been analyzed. The system is modeled as a strongly confined in space two-level quantum oscillator illuminated by quantum light. Relation between local and acting fields in QD has been derived in the dipole approximation from the integral Maxwell equations for electromagnetic field operators. A formalism of the electromagnetic field quantization in electrically small scatterers has been developed. As a result, Hamiltonian of the system has been formulated in terms of the acting field with a separate term responsible for the effect of depolarization. Schroedinger equation with that Hamiltonian has been solved in linear approximation. Interaction of QD with different quantum states of light, such as Fock states, coherent states, Fock qubits, entangled states, has been analyzed. It has been shown that the local-fields induce a fine structure of the QD absorption (emission) spectrum: instead of a single line with the frequency corresponding to the exciton transition, a doublet appears with one component shifted to the blue (red). The value of the shift depends only on the geometrical and electronic properties of QD while the intensities of components are completely determined by the quantum light statistics. Itmore » has been demonstrated that in the limiting cases of classical light and single-photon state the doublet is reduced to a singlet shifted in the former case and unshifted in the latter one. A physical interpretation of the predicted effect has been proposed. Possible ways of experimental observation of the effect has been discussed together with the potentiality of its utilization in the quantum information processing.« less


This thesis focuses its examination on the communication in the mother-child interaction over a year. Interactions between eight mothers and their children from child age eight to eighteen months were video-recorded at five week intervals throughout the year of investigation. The study sought to develop and apply an instrument for a parallel analysis Incorporating communicative, 'manual' and metamessage categories. The results revealed a useful descriptive analysis of the communication over the year as well as evaluating the new instrument. It was found that the ratio of total mother to child categories was essentially consistent across time; change was revealed over categories; for certain categories mother use of categories correlated with child use of categories; mothers emerged as either more monologic or more dialogic, differing in terms of their category use. Measures were taken not just of frequencies of categories but also of patterns of conversation. At child age 8 months, the conversations of 75% of dyads were characterised by Mother Bids for Attention and Child Responses. At child age 18 months, the conversations of over 60% of dyads were characterised by Mother Assertions and Requests and Child Assertions. The new Category Analysis Tool was found to be efficient and useful. A discussion of possible amendments and improvements was undertaken.

A main emphasis of this study is that the research was longitudinal, measured both sides of the interaction and using the same measures. It did this at the difficult to access social-functional level and assessed both inter- and intra-observer reliability.


The influence of patients' extramedical characteristics on physician decisions to hospitalize patients is examined by use of the hypothetical case approach. In addition, physician and market condition characteristics are examined as possible correlates of physician responsiveness to patients' extramedical conditions. The findings provide additional evidence that, for at least some cases, the likelihood of a physician's admitting a patient to the hospital is influenced by the patient's living arrangements, travel time to the physician's office, and the extent to which medical care would cause a financial hardship for the patient. Variation in physician responsiveness to these extramedical conditions is quite large. This variation in responsiveness is not consistently related to physician specialty or hospital occupancy rates, but is correlated with physician time spent giving outpatient care.


The concept of measure synchronization between two coupled quantum many-body systems is presented. In general terms we consider two quantum many-body systems whose dynamics gets coupled through the contact particle-particle interaction. This coupling is shown to produce measure synchronization, a generalization of synchrony to a large class of systems which takes place in absence of dissipation. We find that in quantum measure synchronization, the many-body quantum properties for the two subsystems, e.g. condensed fractions and particle fluctuations, behave in a coordinated way. To illustrate the concept we consider a simple case of two species of bosons occupying two distinct quantum states. Measure synchronization can be readily explored with state-of-the-art techniques in ultracold atomic gases and, if propertly controlled, be employed to share quantum correlations between different degrees of freedom.


The construction sector has now entered the 'Digital era', and professionals are slowly getting familiar with many of these innovative technologies. This paper shows how such innovations improve the investigation phase when it comes to energy retrofits on heritage buildings. More specifically, multi-view photogrammetry and wireless sensor networks can facilitate the implementation and enhance the relevance of building hygrothermal and energy simulations: photogrammetry quickens up the reproduction of the building geometry whereas wireless sensor networks facilitate and enlarge the collection of data relative to the existing behaviour of an occupied building. This paper explores the benefits of using those two technologies compared to more traditional solutions, regarding data quality and general workflow. In this purpose, two case studies from research projects ongoing in Belgium are briefly described.


Understanding of the way objects and behaviours are represented in the brain provides some insight into how creative ideation may take place. This paper uses an example of the design of a simple mechanical device to explore the potential brain mechanisms that may lead to a creative idea. The hypothesis presented uses the links between sensory and motor representations in the cerebral cortex to compile novel structures that could lead to the behaviour desired. Although the analysis presented is for a simple and specialised aspect of creative design, it is felt the underlying principles could have more general application.


Objective: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of women on genital warts, cervical cancer and human papilloma virus (HPV). Methods: Women aged 18 years old and over, admitting dermatology outpatient clinics of Konya Training and Research Hospital for any reason, were included in this cross sectional descriptive study. A 19-question survey was administered to 543 women to evaluate their knowledge and attitudes on genital warts, cervical cancer, smear test, protection methods, HPV vaccination and education. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0. Results: Only 16.6% (n=90) of the participants had information about genital HPV, among them only 38.9% (n=35) had information about the treatment of genital warts. While 61.1% of women having knowledge about genital HPV (n=55) knew about cervical cancer, 56.7% (n=51) knew genital warts might cause cervical cancer. 25.8% (n=140) knew of vaginal smear test while 16.9% (n=92) had a smear test before. Only 26.7% of women with genital HPV knowledge (n=24) knew prevention methods of genital warts. 40.0% of them (n=36) believed that condoms can protect them from genital HPV. 68% (n=369) had never heard of HPV vaccination. Conclusion: The study results showed that information level of the focus group is quite low about genital warts, cervical cancer, protection methods, screening methods, and HPV vaccination.


This study investigates the interactions between the employment relationship and the employee rewards system. There is an implied and broadly accepted connection between these aspects of organisational life, yet the connection has not been clearly developed within either the employment relations or employee rewards literature. Employment relations research commonly prioritises certain features: organisational context; parties' ideologies; processes concerning the interaction of the parties; and outcomes of the relationship. This study attempts to be located in this tradition: it regards rewards as an outcome of the employment relationship. However, whilst many studies of this type have tended to emphasise the interaction of isolated features, this study attempts to theorise the nature of the interactions between the reward outcomes and the other features of the relationship in a holistic manner.
The study begins from an ontologically realist view of the employment relationship and employee rewards; however, it also acknowledges that these social facts are interpreted by parties, and that these interpretations are significant. The study adopts many of the features of mainstream employment relations research, reflected in a pluralist theoretical perspective. A predominantly inductive, multi-method, case study research strategy is utilised, focussing upon two unionised, private sector, manufacturing organisations. Data is collected from the parties to the employment relationship using research instruments derived from two primary conceptual models: Walton & McKersie's (1965) behavioural bargaining framework, and Gomez-Mejia and Balkin's (1992) algorithmic-experiential model of rewards. Analysis of this data indicates substantial commonality between the cases and suggests a complex set of interactions between the features of the employment relationship and employee reward outcomes. Key findings indicate the importance of understanding parties' reward preferences as they provide insight regarding: the formulation of parties' ideologies; the effectiveness of processes; and the interpretation of reward outcomes.


Traffic pollutant concentration and dispersion ph enomena in urban street canyons with avenue-like tr ee planting have been investigated in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel. The study comprises tree planting of differ ent crown porosity, aligned in two rows in an isolated street canyon of width to heigh t ratio W/H = 2 and length to height ratio L/H = 10. The tree planting has been realized according to a new modelling approach which accounts for aerodynamic similarity of the flow through th e permeable crown by the pressure loss coefficient λ. In the presence of tree planting, considerable la rger pollutant concentrations at the leeward canyon wall and slightly lower concentrations at the windward canyon wall in comparison to the tree-free reference street canyon were measured. Overall, an increase in pollutant level due to tree planting is found. Conc luding, a relationship allowing to estimate the max imum traffic pollutant concentration at the canyon walls is presented.


The manuscript presents and discusses the composition of aerosol samples collected at the summit of Mount Tai (China) in June of 2006. Based on calculated back trajectories, the authors explain the variations of some PM components in terms of wind transport of the pollutants from regional sources towards the site. In my opinion, the analysis presented contains important omissions and inconsistencies. Therefore, I cannot recommend publication of the manuscript in its current form. Response: We thank the reviewer's comments. As the reviewer mentioned, the manuscript remains unclear in both the experimental section and the discussion of the results. The related


This article shows how to find all vector partitions of any positive integral values of n , but only all vector partitions of 4, 5 and 6 are shown by algebraically. These must be satisfied by the definitions of crank of vector partitions.


This paper presents aerodynamic loss data for five squealer configurations of a full squealer (FS), a pressure-side squealer (PS), a suction-side squealer (SS), a camberline squealer (CS), and a full-camberline squealer (FCS) in a low-speed turbine cascade. In addition, tip thermal load data are also reported for the FS, PS, and SS tips. The results show that when h/s (tip clearance-to-span ratio) ≥ 0.96%, the mass-averaged loss for the FS tip decreases, has a minimum value, and then increases, as the squealer height (hst) increases. for h/s = 0.48%, however, the loss changes with hst/s are found to be minute. For the FS tip, the loss tends to increase, as the squealer thickness increases. Adding a camberline squealer to the FS tip is not beneficial in the loss reduction. When hst/s < 3.82% for h/s = 0.96%, the FS tip has the lowest mass-averaged loss, the SS tip has the second-lowest loss, the PS tip has higher loss compared to the SS tip, and the CS tip loss is highest, regardless of hst/s. For h/s = 0.96%, the average tip thermal load for the FS tip is lower than the PS tip one but is higher than the SS tip one. Thus, the SS tip delivers the lowest average thermal load, irrespective of hst/s.


Antievolutionism is alive and well in the United States, as shown by public attitudes toward evolution and the factual truth of Biblical literalism. High percentages of college students do not accept evolution as a valid explanation of earth's history. One in three think humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time. Antievolutionism has had three phases: (1) "straight" antievolutionism, during which time the teaching of evolution was outlawed; (2) pro-creationism, during which the Genesis story was taught alongside or instead of evolution; and finally, today, (3) "scientific" creationism, in which Biblical literalism is clothed in scientific terms. The strategy of modern antievolutionists is to move creationism away from religion (hence scientific creationism) and argue a "free speech" issue: that students being taught only "one side" of the "origins" issue are being denied a constitutionally guaranteed freedom. Present-day antievolutionists have had surprising success, as shown by legislation in Arkansas and Louisiana mandating the teaching of scientific creationism. Textbooks have sharply reduced the coverage of evolution in quantity and quality as a result of antievolutionist pressure. There is a pervasive feeling being generated that evolutionary sciences are not as reliable as other sciences. Pressure has been exerted on research institutions and granting agencies to cease funding evolutionary projects. These trends will continue until opposed by a successful educational effort both in and out of schools to increase the public understanding of science.


In this paper we develop a model of food safety regulation that considers the employment of a differentiated food market with two types of government certified quality standards: a minimum standard and a higher one. Individuals, heterogeneous in their susceptibility to food-related health risks, choose which safety-grade of food to consume based on price and their vulnerability. The model is then extended to the case where consumers misperceive their susceptibility to health risks associated with food consumption. The theoretical presentation is followed by an application of the model to examine campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis caused by consumption of beef, pork, and chicken. The paper demonstrates that the benefits from multiple quality standards hinges fundamentally on the distribution of vulnerabilities across the population and the associated distribution of population health risks for a given level of food quality. Uniform standards are generally preferred to differentiated ones under either stringent or lax regulations on population health risk. If the population distribution of vulnerabilities is unimodal and consumers misperceive their vulnerability, the value of a differentiated policy will depend on which quality standard is attracting the majority of consumers. The empirical results confirm the importance of the population distribution of vulnerability on the relative desirability of single versus multiple quality standards.


During recent fieldwork a second occurrence of silicified wood has been discovered from the Early Cretaceous Kagbeni Formation of north central Nepal. The wood exhibits anatomical features which are well in accordance with Araucarioxylon nepalense described from another locality in the Kagbeni Formation near Kagbeni in the Thakkhola Valley in central Nepal. It is a pycnoxylic wood with mostly uniseriate and rarely biseriate bordered pits on radial tracheid walls. According to recent taxonomic opinions this type of wood should not be treated as Araucarioxylon, but as Agathoxylon Hartig. Thus, we propose the name Agathoxylon nepalense comb. nov. for this type of wood. The sandstones of the Kagbeni Formation have been interpreted as delta–deposits, with a major flow direction from the south. This suggests that the wood originated from the northern margin of Gondwana (i.e. the Indian Plate).


Sudden death during sports activities is extremely rare in athletes and sportsmen. Its occurrence was calculated at 0.77 to 13 deaths per 100,000 sportsmen/year. The most frequent causes were coronary heart disease, coronary muscular bridges, congenital coronary artery anomalies, subarachnoid hemorrhage, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, Marfan syndrome, aortic coarctation, myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, aortic stenosis, mitral valve prolapse and WPW syndrome. Clinical examination nearly identifies all cases of aortic stenosis, mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation, and aortic coarctation but misses the majority of cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and coronary artery diseases. The use of Chest x-rays, ECG, Stress Test and Echocardiogram will provide the identification of most cases with increased risk of death. Although costs are not limited for professional athletes, this strategy does not totally overcome the problem because diagnostic errors are frequent (false positives and false negatives). Therefore it is important to admit the failure of these screening procedures and the necessity to adapt the strategy to cost-efficiency and time-efficiency in this population.


Women are among the most competent, yet marginalized, unnoticed and underutilised actors in efforts to rebuild war-torn societies. Opportunities for sustainable peacebuilding are lost - and sustainable peace is at risk - when significant stakeholders in a society's future peace and conflict architecture are excluded from efforts to heal the wounds of war and build a new society and a new state. The contributors to this book draw on comparative case and country studies from post-conflict contexts in different parts of world to offer their insights into frameworks for understanding women as both victims and peacebuilders, to trace the road that women take from victimhood to empowerment and to highlight the essential partnerships between women and children and how they contribute to peace. The authors examine the roles of women in political and security institutions.


The macroevolution of organs and tissues in higher plants and animals may have been contingent upon the expansion of numerous gene families encoding interacting proteins. For example, there are dozens of gene families encoding actin cytoskeletal proteins that elaborate intercellular structures influencing development. Once gene family members evolve compartmentalized expression, protein isovariants are free to co-evolve new interacting partners that may be incompatible with other related protein networks. Ancient classes of actin isovariants and actin-binding proteins are clear examples of such co-evolving networks. Ectopic expression and suppression studies were used to dissect these interactions. In higher plants, the ectopic expression of a reproductive actin isovariant in vegetative cell types causes aberrant reorganization of the F-actin cytoskeleton and bizarre development of most organs and tissues. In contrast, overexpression of vegetative actin in vegetative cell types has little effect. The extreme ectopic actin expression phenotypes are suppressed by the co-ectopic expression of reproductive profilin or actin depolymerizing factor (ADF/cofilin) isovariants, but not by the overexpression of vegetative profilin or ADF. These data provide evidence for the co-evolution of organ-specific protein-protein interactions. Thus, understanding the contingent relationships between the evolution of organ-specific isovariant networks and organ origination may be key to explaining multicellular development.


We have investigated phenotypic, environmental, within‐population broad‐sense genetic correlations and among‐population genetic correlations for 17 traits in six populations of Heterosperma pinnatum Cav. (Compositae) grown in the greenhouse. The within‐population genetic, environmental, and phenotypic correlations were somewhat similar while the among‐population genetic correlations showed little correspondence to these. The different correlation matrices were compared to a hypothesis matrix, which predicted higher correlations for groups of functionally and developmentally related traits. The groups were seed and head traits, size and shape traits, and life history traits, with subgroups predicted to have still higher correlations. The phenotypic and environmental matrices corresponded well to the hypothesis matrix, the within‐population broad‐sense genetic matrix showed weaker, though still significant, correspondence, and the among‐population genetic correlations showed no correspondence. Genetic correlations did not differ significantly among populations, though the power of these comparisons was low. Some particular genetic correlations are discussed as possible examples of adaptive correlations (e.g., a negative correlation between dispersal and dormancy) and as examples of developmental or physiological constraints including life‐history tradeoffs.


A simulation of precise years of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is achieved in a two-dimensional model by relaxing the modeled equatorial winds in the lower stratosphere toward radiosonde observations. The model has been run for the period 1971-90. A QBO signal in column ozone is produced in the model that agrees reasonably well with observational data from the BUV, TOMS, and SAGE II satellite datasets. The model results confirm previous indications of the importance of the interaction of the QBO with the annual cycle in the determination of the subtropical ozone anomaly. The low-frequency modulation of the subtropical ozone anomaly is now particularly clear. The low-frequency modulation of the subtropical ozone anomaly in the model arises as a result of the interaction of the QBO with the annual cycle in the vertical advection by the Hadley circulation. The possibility of a further, similar modulation arising from the interaction of the equatorial wind QBO and the annual cycle in midlatitude eddy activity is discussed, with particular emphasis on the implications for the eddy transfer of ozone to high latitudes and on the ability to predict the severity of the Antarctic ozone hole. A link is proposed between the QBO signal inmore » the severity of the Antarctic ozone hole and the amount of ozone observed in the subtropical/midlatitude springtime maximum in the Southern Hemisphere. On the basis of this relationship, the reliability of the model as a predictor of the severity of the ozone hole is explored. A conclusion of the study is that a reliable predictor of the severity of the ozone hole must take into account the timing of the descent of the equatorial wind QBO at the equator with respect to the annual cycle and that the use, as in previous studies, of a single parameter, such as the sign of the 50-mb equatorial wind, will not be entirely reliable because it cannot do this. 31 refs., 11 figs.« less


Background/foreground separation is one of the most fundamental tasks in computer vision, especially for video data. Robust PCA (RPCA) and its tensor extension, namely, Robust Tensor PCA (RTPCA), provide an effective framework for background/foreground separation by decomposing the data into low-rank and sparse components, which contain the background and the foreground (moving objects), respectively. However, in real-world applications, the video data is contaminated with noise. For example, in metal additive manufacturing (AM), the processed X-ray video to study melt pool dynamics is very noisy. RPCA and RTPCA are not able to separate the background, foreground, and noise simultaneously. As a result, the noise will contaminate the background or the foreground or both. There is a need to remove the noise from the background and foreground. To achieve the three components decomposition, a smooth sparse Robust Tensor Decomposition (SS-RTD) model is proposed to decompose the data into static background, smooth foreground, and noise, respectively. Specifically, the static background is modeled by the low-rank tucker decomposition, the smooth foreground (moving objects) is modeled by the spatio-temporal continuity, which is enforced by the total variation regularization, and the noise is modeled by the sparsity, which is enforced by the $\ell _{1}$ norm. An efficient algorithm based on alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is implemented to solve the proposed model. Extensive experiments on both simulated and real data demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches for background/foreground separation in noisy cases. Note to Practitioners—This work is motivated by melt pool detection in metal additive manufacturing where the processed X-ray video from the monitoring system is very noisy. The objective is to recover the background with porosity defects and the foreground with melt pool in the presence of noise. Existing methods fail to separate the noise from the background and foreground since RPCA and RTPCA have only two components, which cannot explain the three components in the data. This paper puts forward a smooth sparse Robust Tensor Decomposition by decomposing the tensor data into low-rank, smooth, and sparse components, respectively. It is a highly effective method for background/foreground separation in noisy case. In the case studies on simulated video and X-ray data, the proposed method can handle non-additive noise, and even the case of high noise-ratio. In the proposed algorithm, there is only one tuning parameter $\lambda $ . Based on the case studies, our method achieves satisfying performance by taking any $\lambda \in [{0.2,1}]$ with anisotropic total variation regularization. With this observation, practitioners can apply the proposed method without extensive parameter tuning work. Furthermore, the proposed method is also applicable to other popular industrial applications. Practitioners can use the proposed SS-RTD for degradation processes monitoring, where the degradation image contains the static background, anomaly, and random disturbance, respectively.


This study introduces a densification technique of controlled low strength materials (CLSM) made with coal ashes by pump discharge pressure. Based on a small-scale laboratory test results, unit weight of CLSM around discharge pipe is greater than that of relatively some distant area from discharge pipe. It is also found that densification of CLSM depends on not only mixture rate of pond ash but also fly ash and location of discharge pipe.


The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that it is willing to consider unlicensed operation in the TV broadcast bands. Compared to the ISM bands, this portion of the spectrum has several desirable properties for robust data communications. However, to make efficient use of this spectrum in a way that is non-disruptive to incumbents, there are a number of challenges that must be handled. For example, an unused portion of the spectrum must be found, and it is likely that its availability will vary over time. To address such challenges, we present KNOWS, a cognitive wireless networking system. KNOWS is a hardware-software platform that includes a spectrum-aware Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol and algorithms to deal with spectrum fragmentation. We describe our prototype and present evaluation results obtained from simulating our MAC protocol. We show that in common scenarios KNOWS accomplishes a remarkable 200% throughput improvement over systems that use a IEEE 802.11 based MAC protocol.


Laser-produced spectra of sodium-like ions Cu XIX-Br XXV were studied in the region 20-300 A. About 50 new lines, mainly due to transitions n = 3 - n' = 5 to 7 and n = 4 - n' = 5, have been identified and wavelengths of known lines have been revised. Energy structure and ionization limits are derived.


Forty three men and 3 women, with an average age of 59 years (13 to 78 years) underwent aorto-coronary bypass surgery despite severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 35%); 96% of the patients had previous infarction; 60% (N = 28) had unstable angina, 52% (N = 24) had had pulmonary oedema or an episode of congestive cardiac failure. The average ejection fraction was 29 +/- 4%, range 17 to 35%. Thirteen patients had ventricular aneurysms, 4 had grade 3 or 4 mitral regurgitation. The coronary lesions were usually multivessel left main coronary (6), triple vessel disease (27), double vessel disease (12), single vessel disease (1). The average number of bypass grafts per patient was 2.3. The average aorting clamping time was 63 minutes (range 26 to 133 minutes). There were 4 mitral valve replacements, 4 resections of ventricular aneurysms and 1 double procedure (aneurysmectomy and valve replacement). The operative mortality was 2.1% (1 death). During an average follow-up period of 27 months (range 3 to 90 months), there were: 2 recurrent infarctions, 13 episodes of cardiac failure and 8 cardiac deaths (cardiac failure: 5, sudden death: 2, recurrent infarction: 1). Two patients underwent cardiac transplantation. The regression of angina (90% of operated patients were asymptomatic) and the low operative risk, justify aortocoronary bypass surgery despite left ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe symptoms (unstable angina, chronic, invalidating angina). The medium-term results indicate a high risk of cardiac failure which is partially responsible for the secondary mortality rate of 17% at 2 years.


Background Neutropaenia is reported as a complication of rituximab (RTX) therapy for B cell malignancies with an incidence of 3-27%. [1] Data in rheumatic diseases are more limited and the optimal management of these patients has not been defined. Objectives The aims of this study were to determine the (1) incidence of rituximab-associated neutropaenia; (2) rates of infection; (3) time for recovery; (4) safety of retreatment with RTX, as a basis for management guidelines. Methods We conducted an observational study on all patients treated with RTX in a single centre between 2003 and 2014. Each cycle consisted of 2x1000mg (with a small percentage receiving half dose if in remission), repeated either on clinical relapse or pre-emptively. RAN was defined as an absolute neutrophil count <2.0×109/L occurring at least 4 weeks after RTX excluding chronic neutropaenia or alternative plausible explanation (e.g. Felty's syndrome). Results Rituximab-associated neutropaenia was identified in 23 patients (2.5%) from a cohort of 912, and in 36 cycles (1.2%) out of 3062 administered. 20 patients were female; median (IQR) age 61 (54-68,2) years. 19 had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (2.72% of all RA patients in this cohort), 1 SLE, 1 cryoglobulinemia, 1 Sjogren's syndrome and 1 GPA. 21 patient received concomitant methotrexate, 1 SLE patient received cyclophosphamide and 1 RA patient received hydroxychloroquine. Neutropaenia occurred at median 17 weeks (range 4-31) following RTX infusion and median 3nd cycle (range 1-9). The majority of neutropenic episodes were transient; neutrophil count was normal on the first repeat test in 24 (66.7%) of the episodes. The frequency of mild (>1.0×109/L), moderate (0.5-1.0×109/L) and severe (<0.5×109/L) neutropaenia were 18 (50%), 6 (16.7%) and 12 (32.3%) episodes respectively. Of these, 10 infections requiring antibiotics were recorded in severe neutropenia cases, most commonly chest infection (6 also required granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF)). No case of neutropaenia >0.5 x 109/L was associated with infection. Irrespective of the degree of neutropaenia, all patients responded to RTX for the original indication. 26 (72.2%) of the episodes had complete B cell depletion as assessed by highly sensitive FACS. Of the patients who were retreated with RTX 2x1000mg: 11/19 had no recurrence of neutropaenia, 8/19 had mild neutropaenia in next cycle, and 4 patients had again recurrence of mild neutropenia. All the subsequent episodes were without associated infection or requirement for GCSF. Conclusions This is the largest cohort analysed for rituximab-associated neutropaenia. It can be concluded: (1) at <3%, it is less common in rheumatic disease than lymphoma; (2) monitoring alone is appropriate unless there is evidence of infection, when GCSF may be required; (3) the majority of the neutropenia cases recovered promptly; (4) counts >0.5 x109/L had no infections; (5) on retreatment, mild neutropaenia recurred in less than half with few consequences, with no evidence for neutropaenia becoming more severe on repeat cycles; (6) it therefore appears retreatment with monitoring is appropriate with caution only in severely neutropenic patients. The aetiology of rituximab-associated neutropaenia needs further investigation. References Tesfa D, Expert Rev. Hematol, 2011 Disclosure of Interest J. Ferreira: None declared, M. Y. Md Yusof: None declared, S. Das: None declared, E. Vital Grant/research support from: Roche and GSK., P. Emery Grant/research support from: Abbott, BMS, Pfizer, MSD and Roche., Consultant for: BMS, Abbott, Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Roche and UCB.


We compute the equation of state for an ensemble of degenerate fermions by using the curved spacetime of a slowly rotating axially symmetric star. We show that the equation of state computed in such curved spacetime depends on the gravitational time dilation as well as on the dragging of inertial frames, unlike an equation of state computed in a globally flat spacetime. The effect of gravitational time dilation leads to a significant enhancement of the maximum mass limit of a degenerate neutron star. However, such an enhancement due to the frame-dragging effect is extremely small. Nevertheless, in general relativity the frame-dragging effect is crucial for computing angular momentum of the star which is also shown to be enhanced significantly due to the usage of curved spacetime in computing the equation of state.


A deep understanding of the solid-state phase transition processes of zirconia is a mandatory requirement for the development of new zirconia-based materials useful for many industrial applications. For five decades, the monoclinic ⇔ tetragonal phase transition is described as a martensitic one and it is well known that it is associated with a large unit cell volume variation that promotes the appearance of elastic strains and also microcracking. In the present paper, we study, through in situ high temperature x-ray diffraction experiments, the coupling between strain relaxation and the martensitic phase transition into a pure zirconia bulk polycrystal. Quantitative analysis of the diffraction s ignal allows us to disentangle, with respect to the temperature variation, the phase transition and the microcracking processes, and we demonstrate that a high temperature postelaboration thermal treatment induces an increase in the stored elastic energy. Finally, we show that in such polycrystals exhibiting a crystal size distribution and in which the crystals are under internal stresses, the tetragonal to monoclinic phase transition process evolves from a first order one to a second order one when the temperature decreases.


Vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs) provide a laser design platform in order to explore a variety of systems, and their flexibility eases this exploration. Moreover, their high-brightness operation makes them attractive for many applications. In considering the methods of coupling VECSELs as well as their potential uses, we begin by reporting on the development of a gain coupled VECSEL for use in optical switching. In particular, two VECSEL cavities share a common gain region; the competition for a common set of carriers dictate how these cavities interact. The easiest manifestation to realize gain coupling is to utilize a linear cavity as well as a v-cavity, built around a single half-vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) chip. The cavity gain/loss of each cavity can be controlled independently through use of birefringent filters, allowing us to explore the design space, which can be divided up into coarse behavior, easy to analyze through comparing the two uncoupled lasers, and a fine behavior, where one cavity will affect the other and each cavity can lase simultaneously, sometimes at dramatically different wavelengths. These two regions may be explained with simple rate equations, and it will be shown that if prepared properly, spontaneous emission plays a large role in balancing the two laser cavities within the fine regime, while may be completely neglected in the coarse regime.


Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been slow in accepting modern arbitration practices. Some of the GCC countries have only recently started to modernize their arbitration laws to bring them in line with these modern practices. Sharia has always been viewed as an obstacle to the development of arbitration in this part of the world, and many still see it as an impediment to the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the GCC countries. In this article, the author argues that there is enough flexibility within sharia to accommodate modern international arbitration practices, and the delay in accepting these practices is attributed to other factors, mainly the negative experience the GCC countries have had with arbitration. This paper concludes that arbitration in the GCC will realise its fullest potential only if the modernization of arbitration laws is combined with a greater understanding and acceptance, by the western legal community, of sharia as a legal system.


Abstract A preliminary study shows how a standard acoustic Doppler current profiler, tilted so two beams scan horizontally beneath the surface, can he used to map characteristics of a ship's wake. For example, the measurements appear to resolve the flow of surface water outward from the wake centerline. This centerline divergence and the resulting convergence along the edges of the wake help form bands of relatively calm water that often appear in radar imagery of the sea surface.


The authors analysed clinical and radiologic signs in 32 silicotuberculosis patients who equalled to 12.6% of 252 pneumoconiosis patients observed in pulmonology hospital. Among the silicituberculosis patients, the diagnosis was primary in 88% (28/32). In other cases, tuberculosis was a complication of previously diagnosed silicosis (2/32), or silicosis developed on background of formerly inactive tuberculosis (2/32). The silicotuberculosis was presented mostly with local forms of tuberculosis (56%, 18/32) and nodular+nodular interstitial forms of silicosis (66%, 21/32). Changed respiratory function was seen in 63% (20/32) of the patients, with prevailing (41%, 13/32) obstructive type disorders. Follow-up during 2.4×0.4 years revealed lower diffusion ability of lungs and pulmonary hypertension and corpulmonale formation according to echocardiography — that could result from progression both of silicosis and meta-tuberculous pneumofi brosis. Suggestions are to monitor diffusion ability of lungs and echocardiographic parameters for evaluation of silicotuberculosis progression degree.


In this paper, we propose a new approach to Software Requirements Specifications (SRS) or software requirements quality analysis process. We apply the Software Quality Assurance (SQA) audit technique in determining whether or not the required quality standards within the requirements specifications phase are being followed closely. Quality analysis of the SRS is performed to ensure that the software requirements among others are complete, consistent, correct, modifiable, ranked, traceable, unambiguous, and understandable. Here, a new approach that combines case-based reasoning (CBR) and neural network techniques in analyzing SRS quality is proposed. This approach is used in improving the process of analyzing the quality of a given SRS document for a specific project. The CBR technique is used to evaluate the requirements quality by referring to previously stored software requirements quality analysis cases (past experiences). CBR is an artificial intelligence technique that reasons by remembering previously experienced cases, and this technique will speed up the quality analysis process. Neural Network (Artificial Neural Network or ANN) is the type of information processing paradigm that is inspired by the way biological nervous systems (brain) process information. Neural network technique works well with CBR because it also uses examples to solve problems. The new approach proposed in this research aims at enhancing and improving existing methods in analyzing SRS quality. A framework of the proposed approach is the main outcome of this research study.


Multifunctional polymer surfaces exhibiting both hydrophilic and hydrophobic functionality were created using self-organized plasma "streamer" microdischarges occurring in atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) operating with argon and air. Surface chemistry and wettability change of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were found to spatially correlate with self-organized streamer patterns. Gas atmosphere was found to play a significant role on streamer density, pattern stability, and lateral contrast of plasma-induced physicochemical property changes across the surface. Stable streamer patterns, with each streamer surrounded by a glowlike discharge, were obtained in argon; discharges in air had more transient and chaotic streamers that were surrounded by dark "plasma free"-like zones. Air plasma streamer treatment of PMMA resulted in hybrid hydrophilic/phobic surfaces with water contact angles (WCA) ranging from 30° to 100° (PMMA WCA = 75°), depending on processing conditions and location. WCA and XPS mapping after treatment revealed that surface chemistry is preferentially modified near streamers, and moreover, that streamer exposure in air locally renders the surface more hydrophilic, surrounded by regions that are more hydrophobic. Overall, this work demonstrates that self-organized streamers in DBD plasmas could be used for scalable and localized modification of surfaces.


The cannon coating erosion model is necessary since most current/future cannons will require a refractory metal bore coating. Coated cannon bore erosion does not simply proceed in a outward to inward ablative fashion due to coating spalling. Typical firing induced cannon erosion sequentially includes heat check cracking of the refractory metal coating, coating shrinkage leading to progressive widening of these cracks, combustion gas induced interface degradation of the exposed substrate metal, interfacial spalling of refractory metal coating platelets due to linked interfacial degradation which forms pits, and subsequent substrate metal gas wash to erosion condemnation. The purpose of this paper is to review typical cannon erosion mechanisms, highlight the resultant cannon coating erosion model, show how this very critical coatings model incorporates into our overall cannon erosion code (CEC), and provide an example. This example is an updated erosion prediction for the experimental non-ablative M829E3 kinetic energy tank round which puts the program just shy of its 180 round target. In addition, this example is for both HEAT type rounds which alter the M829E3 erosion pattern and the absence of these HEAT type rounds. This cannon coating erosion model correlates very well with laboratory/firing data and has been used for three years on a number of important Army and Navy gun systems.


In this research, we propose a generic deep autoencoder model for automatic calculation of highly informative deep features from the elevator time series data. Random forest algorithm is used for fault detection based on extracted deep features. Maintenance actions recorded are used to label the sensor data into healthy or faulty. Avoiding false positives are performed with the rest of the healthy data in terms of validation of the model to prove its efficacy. New extracted deep features provide 100% accuracy in fault detection along with avoiding false positives, which is better than existing features. Random forest was also used to detect faults based on existing features to compare results. New deep features extracted from the dataset with deep autoencoder random forest outperform the existing features. Good classification and robustness against overfitting are key characteristics of our model. This research will help to reduce unnecessary visits of service technicians to installation sites by detecting false alarms in various predictive maintenance systems.


The failure behaviour of the shallow foundation under centric and eccentric loading has been studied extensively. Bearing capacity and settlement are two limits of foundation design. The studies on the effect of eccentricity on bearing capacity are abundant, while the study about the effect of eccentricity on settlement is very rare. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of eccentricity on settlement of sandy soil. The objectives of this research involve the evaluating the ultimate and allowable bearing capacity and verifying bearing capacity factor (Ny), determination of settlement of sandy soil under different eccentricity ratio (e/B), analysing the failure mechanism of strip footing on cohesionless soil by close range photogrammetry and particle image velocimetry (PIV) methods, and verifying the laboratory results with theory or analytical analysis for centrally loaded strip footing. This research mainly concentrates on the laboratory tests. Several tests were conducted which consist of physical property tests and small scale physical modelling test. A model of medium sand with 50% relative density was prepared, strip footing was replicated using a rigid plate and loaded with different eccentricity. Moreover, close range photogrammetry and PIV technique were used to observe the failure pattern, contour of displacement, and shear strain under strip footing. It was found that the settlement increases with increasing eccentricity.


In Banff National Park in Canada, grizzlies have used the railroad tracks since the park was created in 1885, gorging on the buffaloberries that thrive along the right-of-way and the occasional carcass of an elk hit by a train. Nearly 2 decades ago, the behavior turned risky, as trains began striking and killing the bears. At least 17 grizzlies have died since 2000—a major hit to the local population of about 60. In a brace of recent or forthcoming studies, scientists identify culprits ranging from blind curves to spilled grain. They also propose steps for making the tracks safer, including systems to warn of approaching trains, trails to provide escape routes, clearing vegetation around the tracks, and fencing around hot spots.


Abstract This paper discusses the correspondence between Finnish emigrants living in North America and their families and friends at home in Finland. This correspondence dates from the latter part of the nineteenth century, and concerns the first generation of emigrants. Sending and receiving letters in nineteenth-century Finland can be understood as a communicative practice of the local community, because letters were written collectively, and a literate person typically acted as a scribe in the community. Even reading and receiving a letter was a collective act of hearing. Linguistically, the collective nature of letter-writing is reflected in the different manifestations of polyphony in the texts. This article will focus on the polyphony of the immigrant correspondence, analysing who are allowed to have a voice of their own, and how the different voices are reconstructed in the letters. This analysis will focus particularly on conveying polyphony through the use of person marking in Finnish.


ABSTRACT Introduction: Hypertension is highly prevalent in aortic valve stenosis (AS) patients as the prevalence of both disorders increases with age. Hypertension and associated stiffening of the large arteries increase afterload and thereby influence both the transvalvular flow and the remodeling of the aortic root and the left ventricle during AS progression. Area covered: The present review gives an overview on complications of hypertension in AS, how these can be diagnosed, and potentially may be managed. Expert commentary: Hypertension-mediated cardiovascular (CV) damage in AS is associated with increased morbidity and a twofold higher mortality even in asymptomatic patients, and also limits the symptomatic and survival benefit from valve replacement. Data from registries and post hoc analyses from outcome studies in AS suggest that treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and β-blockers, respectively, is safe and associated with improved survival and reduced CV events in these patients. However, optimal blood pressure (BP) target in AS patients is not documented, and strict BP control in the early postoperative phase in AS patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be associated with adverse events. Thus, randomized studies on BP management in asymptomatic AS and post-TAVR patients are highly needed.


The performance of a fiber grating interrogation system using an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is analyzed. An equivalent linear circuit is presented to describe the system, which tracks the wavelength of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor in a FBG sensor array. From the model, the tracking resolution of a shot-noise-limited system has been determined for both transmissive and reflective interrogation of FBGs. An optimum ratio between the bandwidths of the FBG and the AOTF has been derived. Experimental results of a tracking system are presented to validate the theoretical predictions. The theory should also be suitable for interrogation systems using other forms of tunable bandpass filters for tracking the FBG wavelength.


Background: Multiple genome-wide and candidate gene association studies have been conducted in search of common risk variants for breast cancer. Recent large meta analyses, consolidating evidence from these studies, have been consistent in highlighting the caspase-8 (CASP8) gene as important in this regard. To define a risk haplotype and map the CASP8 gene region with respect to underlying susceptibility variant/s, we screened four genes in the CASP8 region on 2q33-q34 for breast cancer risk. Methods: Two independent data sets from the United Kingdom and the United States, including 3,888 breast cancer cases and controls, were genotyped for 45 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNP) in the expanded CASP8 region. SNP and haplotype association tests were carried out using Monte Carlo-based methods. Results: We identified a three-SNP haplotype across rs3834129, rs6723097, and rs3817578 that was significantly associated with breast cancer (P < 5 × 10−6), with a dominant risk ratio and 95% CI of 1.28 (1.21–1.35) and frequency of 0.29 in controls. Evidence for this risk haplotype was extremely consistent across the two study sites and also consistent with previous data. Conclusion: This three-SNP risk haplotype represents the best characterization so far of the chromosome upon which the susceptibility variant resides. Impact: Characterization of the risk haplotype provides a strong foundation for resequencing efforts to identify the underlying risk variant, which may prove useful for individual-level risk prediction, and provide novel insights into breast carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 176–81. ©2011 AACR.


The gradual accumulation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells is presumed to derive from proliferation centers in lymph nodes and bone marrow. To what extent these cells possess the purported antiapoptotic phenotype of peripheral B-CLL cells is unknown. Recently, we have described that, in B-CLL samples from peripheral blood, aberrant apoptosis gene expression was not limited to protective changes but also included increased levels of proapoptotic BH3-only member Noxa. Here, we compare apoptosis gene profiles from peripheral blood B-CLL (n=15) with lymph node B-CLL (>90% CD5+/CD19+/CD23+ lymphocytes with Ki67+ centers; n=9). Apart from expected differences in Survivin and Bcl-xL, a prominent distinction with peripheral B-CLL cells was the decreased averaged level of Noxa in lymph nodes. Mcl-1 protein expression showed a reverse trend. Noxa expression could be reduced also in vitro by CD40 stimulation of peripheral blood B-CLL. Direct manipulation of Noxa protein levels was achieved by proteasome inhibition in B-CLL and via RNAi in model cell lines. In each instance, cell viability was directly linked with Noxa levels. These data indicate that suppression of Noxa in the lymph node environment contributes to the persistence of B-CLL at these sites and suggest that therapeutic targeting of Noxa might be beneficial.


We report a case of localized bullous pemphigoid (BP) in a woman patient with primary lymphoedema tarda. There is only one previous case reported of localized pemphigoid in an area of lymphoedema, this being of the cicatricial variant. Slow circulation in the lymphatic vessels, increased capillary permeability with preferential localization of antibodies in the area, and potential cleavage of the epidermal junction due to increased hydrostatic pressure leading to autoimmunity, have all been advocated as possible pathogenic mechanisms. Nevertheless, we consider that the mechanism by which localized pemphigoid arises on lymphoedema remains elusive, based on a previous case of generalized BP sparing an area of postsurgical lymphoedema.


Objective: To investigate the feasibility of temporally and spatially restricted Kringle5 expression induced by radiation, as well as the dual effect of radiotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy in lung adenocarcinoma in vitro. Methods: We first constructed recombinant baculovirus vectors containing Egr1 promoter and human plasminogen Kringle5 gene (rhK5), then transfected them into lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549). Transfect efficiency of the baculovirus for gene transfer in A549 cells and the activity of Egr1 promoter induced by X-radiation were detected by fluorescence microscopy. The rhK5 mRNA transcription and rhK5 protein expression were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot assay, respectively. The apoptosis asssay of human umbilical veins endothelial cells (HUVEC) was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The recombinant baculovirus were successfully transfected into A549 and HUVEC cells. As for the temporal regulation, the rhK5 mRNA transcription and rhK5 protein expression were elevated with the irradiation time significantly. And the HUVEC apoptotic percentage increased in relation to the irradiation time as well. As for the spatial regulation, rhK5 mRNA transcription level of A549 cell lines transfected with recombinant baculovirus Egr1-K5 was significantly higher than that of control groups after the same dose of X-radiation. When we analyzed the dose and frequency of X-radiation, no difference was observed among each dose after continuously three-times of irradiation. Conclusion: Baculovirus-mediated Egr1-K5 can be used in gene radiotherapy for its temporary and spatial controllable rhK5 expression by X-radiation and the consequent HUVEC apoptosis in vitro study. And low dose and more times of irradiation might be more effective. It would provide a promising way for the tumor treatment.


Non-random (skewed) X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in the female brain can ameliorate X-linked phenotypes, though clinical studies typically consider 80-90% skewing favoring the healthy allele as necessary for this effect1–10. Here we quantify for the first time whole-brain XCI at single-cell resolution and discover a preferential inactivation of paternal to maternal X at ∼60:40 ratio, which surprisingly impacts disease penetrance. In Fragile-X-syndrome mouse model, Fmr1-KO allele transmitted maternally in ∼60% brain cells causes phenotypes, but paternal transmission in ∼40% cells is unexpectedly tolerated. In the affected maternal Fmr1-KO(m)/+ mice, local XCI variability within distinct brain networks further determines sensory versus social manifestations, revealing a stochastic source of X-linked phenotypic diversity. Taken together, our data show that a modest ∼60% bias favoring the healthy allele is sufficient to ameliorate X-linked phenotypic penetrance, suggesting that conclusions of many clinical XCI studies using the 80-90% threshold should be re-evaluated. Furthermore, the paternal origin of the XCI bias points to a novel evolutionary mechanism acting to counter the higher rate of de novo mutations in male germiline11–16. Finally, the brain capacity to tolerate a major genetic lesion in ∼40% cells is also relevant for interpreting other neurodevelopmental genetic conditions, such as brain somatic mosaicism.


Background and objective: Computed tomography angiography is one of the best methods for knowing the detailed anatomy of coronary arteries and can successfully detect any variation of coronary arteries. Anatomic variations of coronary arteries have not been studied among Erbil population which is mostly inhabited by Kurds. This study was conducted to compare the incidence of the anatomic variations of coronary arteries in Erbil population with international standards.
Methods: Variations of coronary arteries were retrospectively studied by using computed tomography angiography of 412 cases (214 males 198 females) with mean age 51.5 ± 13.5 years (mean ± SD) who underwent this procedure on suspicion of coronary artery disease. The main indication was chest pain in patients with low to intermediate probability of ischemic heart disease. The present study was carried out in the Department of Radiology, Surgical Specialty Hospital/Cardiac Center in Erbil city.
Results: The right coronary artery was dominant in 86.4% of cases, while the left main coronary artery was dominant in 10.92% of cases. Co-dominance was observed in 2.67% of cases, and Double Ostia of right aortic sinus was observed in 25% of cases. Long left main coronary artery was observed in 10.68 % of cases. Myocardial bridging was observed in 7.04% of cases. Other variations were also observed, and their prevalence was recorded.
Conclusion: Variations of coronary arteries among Erbil population were recorded and were near to the international standards.


The propagation of acoustic waves is a fundamental topic in shallow ocean acoustics. We numerically demonstrate a three-dimensional zone of silence consisting of a circular tube with gradient index metamaterials attached to its rigid wall. The cloaking effect is verified by fine agreement with analytical calculations.


Lineage commitment and differentiation are likely to be coordinated by the combined effects of multiple transcription factors acting on numerous different target genes. The mechanisms by which lineage-restricted patterns of transcription factor expression are established are therefore of particular relevance to our understanding of the role of transcription factors both in normal development and in oncogenesis. Here, we report that the genes for the lineage-restricted transcription factors SCL, GATA-1 and GATA-2 are expressed in all multipotent, IL-3-dependent, haemopoietic progenitor cell lines tested. Moreover, a liquid differentiation assay has been used to demonstrate down regulation of SCL, GATA-1, GATA-2 and PU-1 during differentiation into non-expressing lineages. These data support the concept that multiple lineage-restricted transcription factors are expressed prior to lineage commitment.


A practical criterion which can be used for assessing the course-keeping capability of a ship in following waves, is proposed and evaluated. Presently, it accounts for regular waves and it accrued from an analytical estimation of the course instability region's boundary by applying the method of harmonic balance. The calculation is performed with regard to the third-order yaw equation, derived from a classic sway-yaw-rudder model of ship maneuvering motions, with time-dependent coefficients at two places, which is like a Mathieu-type equation extended to third order. The proposed analytical criterion was evaluated thoroughly against simulations with regard to this sway-yaw model and it was found to be adequately accurate. A supplementary quasi-static yaw stability criterion (fitting to ship operation with frequency of encounter, with respect to the waves, close to zero) was also considered in order to determine which one yields more stringent requirements, for various operating conditions. The proposed criterion could be an extra vulnerability check for broaching-to, in the context of the Second Generation Intact Stability Criteria.

 The difficulties of steering of ships in following seas have received the attention of the research community since more than 70 years ago (Davidson 1948). A relevant direction of research refers to the avoidance of the broaching-to instability and, in particular, to the development of practical criteria that could ensure sufficient course-keeping capability for a ship encountering steep following waves. Some classic works on this topic, such as those of DuCane and Goodrich (1962), Wahab and Swaan (1964), and Motora et al. (1981), were focused on the quasi-static condition of a ship on the wave which could be practically realized if the ship was advancing with speed equal to the wave celerity (zero frequency of encounter). As implied, these works were essentially focused on the avoidance of a type of broaching-to instability that is preceded by the realization of surf-riding, a phenomenon where the ship is forced to move with the wave, usually riding a downslope.


LLC-PK1L cells, a kidney-derived cell line, had sustained growth in a defined medium. When compared to the parent cell line growing with 10% fetal bovine serum, LLC-PK1L cells had about 100-times fewer vasopressin receptors. Upon modifications of the cell culture medium, the vasopressin response of the adenylate cyclase could be increased by more than 10-fold with a parallel increase in vasopressin receptor number. Using cells with high or low receptor densities, the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of N6-L-2-phenylisopropyl-adenosine on the modulation of the adenylate cyclase responsiveness to vasopressin were investigated. When high concentrations of GTP were added, low concentrations of phenylisopropyladenosine inhibited the enzyme, while higher concentrations were found to be stimulatory. The adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by vasopressin could only be inhibited by phenylisopropyladenosine under these conditions in membranes with high receptor density; only the increase in enzyme activity due to high GTP concentration was inhibitable. The analysis of the dependency of the adenylate cyclase activity as a function of the vasopressin concentration showed that, besides reducing the maximum velocity of the system for vasopressin, the addition of phenylisopropyladenosine generated an heterogeneity in the adenylate cyclase response to vasopressin (as judged by a curvilinear Eadie plot). A high-affinity component in the adenylate cyclase response appeared when phenylisopropyladenosine was added. The growth of the cells in a medium containing adenosine deaminase gave results identical to those obtained for control cells. However, growing the cells with both phenylisopropyladenosine and adenosine deaminase abolished the inhibitory effects of the former on the adenylate cyclase and greatly reduced its stimulatory action. Under these conditions, the vasopressin response of the adenylate cyclase was not further regulated by phenylisopropyladenosine. These results indicate a role of adenosine on vasopressin response, especially at low physiological concentrations of the hormone where a high-affinity component of the hormonal response could be demonstrated.


Designing and validating innovative high-throughput screening programs for toxicology requires an in-depth knowledge base on toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics (TK/TD), the two key elements of dose-response. This information is usually obtained from toxicology studies and mechanistically applied in the selection process for new drugs. Validating new toxicological endpoints and applying TK/TD modeling should enhance the predictability of such programs. This review looks at optimal approaches for collecting data and the four components of the TK/TD knowledge base; target specific exposure, toxicodynamics markers - with a focus on kidney, histomorphological correlates in target tissues, and human adverse event information. It is clear that new TK/TD approaches must be developed to create rational screening programs for the future.


The magneto-optical Kerr rotation spectra in the region 400-700nm is studied for single layer Fe films. Experimental and theoretical calculation show that in the whole measurement wavelength range an enhancement of Kerr rotation occurs when the thickness of Fe is smaller than about 150A. The thickness dependence of Kerr rotation of single layer Fe and Fe/Cu bilayer is compared. It is concluded that the Kerr rotation is dependent sensitively on the optical constants of underlying materials and the thickness of magnetic layer.


Vacuum condensed Al-CdS-Al structures have been studied under unidirectional voltage pulse excitation. The current-voltage characteristics show negative resistance in the low-voltage region. The results are explained in terms of the build-up process of barrier field at the cathode owing to reapplication of the time increasing voltage, superposed on the decay of space charge in the barrier region accumulated during application of the previous voltage pulse. The voltage corresponding to the minimum in the current-voltage characteristics has been used to evaluate the lifetime of positive space charge trapped in the surface states at the metal semiconductor contact interface. This is in the range of a few milliseconds. The results depend upon the contact characteristics and are affected by the external dc biasing of the cathode barrier.


For each pair of nonadjacent vertices in a graph, consider the greater of the degrees of the two vertices. The minimum of these maxima is a lower bound on the treewidth of a graph, unless it is a complete graph. This bound has three consequences. First, the obstructions of order w + 3 for treewidth w have a simple structural characterization. Second, these graphs are exactly the pathwidth obstructions of order w + 3. Finally, although there is only one obstruction of order w + 2 for width w, the number of obstructions of order w + 3 is bounded below by an exponential function of √ w.


Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is typically seen in human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive patients who commence antiretroviral therapy. In patients who experience this syndrome, the immune system's reconstitution leads to a response directed against pathogens or autoantigens. We report, to our knowledge, the first case of autoimmune hepatitis caused by immune reconstitution.


The turbulent convective heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of CNT-water nanofluid in a horizontal tube fitted with wire coil inserts are studied experimentally. CNTs were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method with purity of more than 99%, functionalized by acid treatment and dispersed in distilled water in different concentrations. Also, the thermal conductivity and viscosity of synthesized nanofluids were measured experimentally. Convective heat transfer experiments are conducted with water and nanofluids in the range of 5000 < Re < 22000, CNT volume concentration 0 <φ < 0.1 % and wire coil with wire pitch of 2. The experimental results indicate that the convective heat transfer increases up to 23% in 0.05 vol% CNT-nanofluid and the heat transfer coefficient increases with CNT vol% and Reynolds number. Wire coil inserts increase the heat transfer coefficient of water and nanofluids up to 102% in Re=5700 but its performance decreases with Reynolds number. Experiments have shown that only use of wire coil inserts increases pressure drop of working fluid. Moreover, empirical correlations for Nusselt number and friction factor are proposed from nonlinear regression of the experimental data. Further, performance evaluation of enhanced tube is determined with considering opposing thermal resistance.


The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway affects neurogenesis and neural patterning during the development of the central nervous system. Dysregulation of the SHH pathway in the brain contributes to aging-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. At present, the SHH signaling pathway can be divided into the canonical signaling pathway and non-canonical signaling pathway, which directly or indirectly mediates other related pathways involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, an in-depth knowledge of the SHH signaling pathway may open an avenue of possibilities for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we summarize the role and mechanism of the SHH signaling pathway in the development of the central nervous system and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we will also highlight the potential of the SHH pathway as a therapeutic target for treating neurodegenerative diseases.


This review discusses the most recent developments of the plasma simulation code Cloudy and its application to the emission-line regions of quasars. The longterm goal is to develop the tools needed to determine the chemical composition of the emitting gas and the luminosity of the central engine for any emission line source. Emission lines and the underlying thermal continuum are formed in plasmas that are far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Their thermal and ionization states are the result of a balance of a vast set of microphysical processes. Once produced, radiation must propagate out of the (usually) optically thick source. No analytic solutions are possible, and recourse to numerical simulations is necessary. I am developing the large-scale plasma simulation code Cloudy as an investigative tool for this work, much as an observer might build a spectrometer. This review describes the current version of Cloudy, version 94. It describes improvements made since the release of the previous version, C90 (Ferland et al. 1998). The major recent application has been the development of the \Locally Optimally-Emitting Cloud" (LOC) model of AGN emission line regions (Baldwin et al. 1995). Powerful selection eects, introduced by the atomic physics and line formation process, permit individual lines to form most ecien tly only near certain selected parameters. These selection eects, together with the presence of gas with a wide range of conditions, are enough to reproduce the spectrum of a typical quasar with little dependence on details. The spectrum actually carries little information to the identity of the emitters. I view this as a major step forward since it provides a method to handle accidental details at the source, so that we can concentrate on essential information such as the luminosity or chemical composition of the quasar.


As a restless kid on Long Island, Sam Kashner lapped up the beauty and madness of the Beats, living vicariously through the novels, poems, and stories of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs. Their words were revolutionary, and they turned their very lives into art. Kashner didn't want to just study the Beats, he wanted to be one of them. So when he heard that Ginsberg had founded an unconventional writing program in Boulder, Colorado, he convinced his parents that college could wait, and became the first certificate student of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.In one motion, Kashner stepped out of a sheltered suburban life and plunged into the chaotic world of his idols. What he discovered was both everything and not at all what he expected. The Beats were facing their twilight years and feeling it in their joints and in their minds. Some of them, like Ginsberg and Burroughs, had achieved international fame, while others, like Gregory Corso, had not, and were coming to the realization that they might never receive the recognition they deserved. In his new role as student, secretary, and psychiatrist, Sam Kashner was caught up in the hilarity of the hijinks and the cross fire of old arguments, finding himself in hot tubs with Ginsberg and on field trips to the marijuana ranch cultivated by Burroughs and his ill-fated son, Billy.Out of this rich material Kashner brings us a funny, touching, and irreverent portrait of the Beats never before seen: one that explodes the myths surrounding these American icons, but one that is also deeply felt and full of admiration. After reading this book, you'll never look at the Beats in quite the same way again.When I Was Cool is also a very personal journey of a young man coming of age on the Beat slope of Mount Parnassus ("the Lower East Side" of the Rockies), a kind of Holden Caulfield for the postmodern era.


Alloying elements Cu and Ti were added to the intergranular regions of sintered NdFeB magnets and their effects on microstructure and magnetic properties were investigated. The results show that small amounts of Cu/Ti additives can enhance the coercivity greatly and have little effect on the remanence of the magnets, while Ti content is less than 1 2%. The improvement of the coercivity can be attributed to the segregation of Cu and Ti on the surface of main phase, which inhibits the growth of main phase grains during sintering. At the same time, segregation of Cu and Ti can also prevent the magnetic coupling of Nd 2Fe 14 B grains to a certain degree and impede effectively the propagation of reversed domain walls through the magnetic phase grains. As the Ti content increased above 1 2% a strip like Ti rich phase appears in the intergranular region, resulting in the dramatic reduction of the remanence of Nd Fe B magnets. Compared with the single alloying method, the combined alloying of intergranular regions is more efficient to modify the properties of NdFeB magnets.


The authors report a case of Carney's triad in a blood-group O woman who successively sustained a) at age 13, a multicentric gastric leiomyoblastoma revealed by an hemoperitoneum; b) 6 years later, a pulmonary chondroma diagnosed by chest standard roentgenogram and CT scan, associated with leiomyoblastoma recurrence and hepatic metastases; c) 10 years later, a juxta-carotid tumor of unknown (paraganglion?) origin. This patient is presently in good clinical condition, in spite of hepatic metastases known for 5 years. Based on this case and the 33 previously reported cases, the main features of this very unusual entity are analyzed.