Electrically conductive, highly flexible graphene membranes hold great promise for harvesting energy from ambient vibrations. For this study, we built numerous three-dimensional graphene ripples, with each featuring a different amount of compression, and performed molecular dynamics simulations at elevated temperatures. These ripples have a convex cosine shape, then spontaneously invert their curvature to concave. The average time between inversion events increases with compression. We use this to determine how the energy barrier height depends on strain. A typical convex-to-concave curvature inversion process begins when the ripple's maximum shifts sideways from the normal central position toward the fixed outer edge. The ripple's maximum does not simply move downward toward its concave position. When the ripple's maximum moves toward the outer edge, the opposite side of the ripple is pulled inward and downward, and it passes through the fixed outer edge first. The ripple's maximum then quickly flips to the opposite side via snap-through buckling. This trajectory, along with local bond flexing, significantly lowers the energy barrier for inversion. The large-scale coherent movement of ripple atoms during curvature inversion is unique to two-dimensional materials. We demonstrate how this motion can induce an electrical current in a nearby circuit.


We report on results from the characterization of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) spectra for standard single-mode fiber produced by the interaction between two counter-propagating tunable laser sources (TLS) using one as the probe signal to measure and the other as the pump, sweeping a wide span around the signal. Assuming TLS linewidth negligible against SBS gain bandwidth, we measure SBS spectrum for a wide range of pump and probe signal power levels and study the evolution of relevant SBS parameters such as linewidth and gain profile. High signal to noise ratio measurements allows analyzing the evolution of the SBS gain profile from Lorentzian to Gaussian as predicted by current theory of SBS and the use of SBS response for filtering applications.


In this article, the author traces relations between argumentation and cultural practice. The first part focuses on definition of argumentation in the i n f o r m a l l o g i c tradition. In particular, it discusses argument in terms of verbal and social activity involving the use of everyday language. The author claims that there is no argumentation beyond language. The second part explains persuasive argumentation as a form of cultural practice. The persuasive arguments found in "social practice" can be understood as a social activity, analysable within the context of a given cultural system. Author refers to an approach that takes the argumentative expression as a certain type of communicative practice, directed towards respecting, recognising or accepting specific actions. The inclusion of persuasive argumentation in the "circuit of cultural activities" to be studied makes it possible to compare this type of argumentation with other social practices, and to posit a clear historical dimension in the study of argumentation. It also makes it possible to view persuasive argumentation as one of many cultural activities aimed at changing or perpetuating behaviours, attitudes, thinking, etc. The third part of the paper concerns the problem of humanistic interpretation of persuasive argumentation. Author attempts to develop this intuition while at the same time demonstrating the problems that arise from this approach. In conclusion, the author tries to analyse argumentation in terms of culture theory and humanistic interpretation.


Water permeance of exterior masonry wall systems drives masonry restoration and repair design decisions from selection of flashing replacement to pointing to application of water repellents. ASTM C1601 was first issued in August 2004 and has not been used extensively in service by professionals to evaluate masonry wall surfaces. ASTM C1601 provides a standard method of measuring water permeance that can be used to evaluate existing wall surfaces prior to specifying repair methods and as a tool to evaluate the overall effectiveness of repair methods so that efficient repair options can be selected. This paper reviews the requirements of the test method, application of the test method and interpretation of test results. Historical test data are presented that illustrate use of the test method to evaluate wall systems and expected range of test results for existing and repaired wall systems that can be used to select appropriate repair procedures.


The matching between reservoirs' water edge and digital elevation model's (DEM) contour lines allowed determining the water level at the acquisition date of satellite images. A preliminary study was conducted on the Castello dam (Magazzolo Lake), between Alessandria della Rocca and Bivona (Agrigento, south-Italy). The accuracy assessment of the technique was than evaluated from the comparison between classified and reference objects using similarity metrics about the shape, theme, edge and position, through the plugin STEP of open source software GIS. Moreover, an independent GIS technique was implemented to evaluate the water level, based on a distances' array between existing contour lines and nodes extracted from vectorised classification images. Results have shown the potentiality of the techniques when applied on an ideal case; advantages and disadvantages when the images are characterized by clear sky, and limits when images are acquired during not ideal atmospheric conditions.


Carlo Perone Pacifico died last November. After his post-graduate studies at the new-born Centro di specializzazione in Ricerche economico-agrarie di Portici, he went to Berkeley where he took his Master of Science degree. He was then called back to Portici as a researcher in the field of the Economics and Politics of Agricultural Markets. At the Centro he also had administrative responsibilities. In 1983 he went to Viterbo and started teaching in the new-born Faculty of Agriculture of the Tuscia University. Here he founded the Department of Agricultural Economics and Policy. During 25 years spent in this University, Carlo Perone dedicated great efforts to improving the functioning of the faculty, being Dean for 9 years, and indeed of the economic and cultural life of the province.


An extensive review of the evidence related to the 2007–09 crisis reveals that it was an insolvency risk crisis, not a liquidity crisis. The appropriate post-crisis regulatory reform should therefore focus on increasing capital requirements. The Basel III liquidity requirements do not serve a useful economic purpose in dealing with the root causes of the stresses that led to the 2007–09 crisis, and unnecessarily constrain the asset transformation and liquidity creation roles of banks to the detriment of economic


NIOSH's Pittsburgh Research Laboratory is currently involved in research to identify silica dust sources and generation in underground metal/nonmetal mines. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop control technologies to reduce worker exposure to respirable silica dust. Baseline dust surveys were conducted in underground limestone mines in Pennsylvania to investigate primary silica dust sources, generation levels, and controls being used. Three primary sources currently under investigation include dust generated by crushing facilities, face shots, and haul trucks. A summary of sampling procedures, resulting data, and methods being investigated to reduce silica dust will be discussed.


Abstract In high-resolution off-axis electron holography, the correction of coherent aberrations allows the quantitative interpretation of the amplitude and phase of the object wave up to the information limit of the electron microscope. Since the measured object phase is directly related to the projected atomic potential for sufficiently thin samples, off-axis electron holography is expected to allow distinguishing of different elements in the reconstructed phase image ("holographic materials analysis"). This has already been verified with the example of Ga and As. However, simulations of the atomic phase shift reveal that the interpretation of the measured phase shift in terms of atomic species is generally rather complex. The findings suggest that, in some cases, the requirements as to lateral resolution and phase detection limit will be met only by electron microscopes of the next generation.


A note on baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Abstract The isolated Sudanese baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) populations, located at the northernmost limit of the East African distributional range of the species, are regarded as important genetic resources. The morphological variation in fruits of selected baobab trees in Kordofan, Sudan, was evaluated by sampling fruits and assessing their characteristics. Furthermore, locations and stem diameter at breast height of 240 baobabs were mapped for a stand in Kordofan. Our preliminary results indicated a high diversity in fruit phenotypes. Ventricose, crescent-shaped, globose and fusiform fruit types were identified. Fruit shape varied between trees but was consistent within each individual tree. Percentage of fruit pulp varied between the different fruit types with 14, 15, 18, and 21 % recorded for ventricose, fusiform, crescent-shaped and globose fruits, respectively. Interesting was also the observation of baobab mor-photypes that retained leaves during the dry season. Variation in leaf morphology could also be recogni-sed. Measurements of baobab trees revealed a density of 0.72 individuals ha-1. Stem diameters ranged from 0.06 to 4.77 m. The size class distribution (SCD) showed an inverse J-shaped curve with a SCD slope of-0.57 which indicates a viable regenerating population. Based on the results recorded, enhancement of scientific research activities on the almost unstudied baobabs in Kordofan, Sudan is highly recommended.


Summary The rate of influx, extent of concentrative uptake, and the rate of efflux (loss) by active transport in L1210 leukemia cells has been compared for the pteridine antifolates, aminopterin and methotrexate, eight related quinazoline analogs, and two pyrimidine derivatives. The data reveal a difference in the stereochemical specificity for influx and efflux. Influx is preferential in the order pteridine, quinazoline, and pyrimidine. Influx of aminopterin is more rapid than that of methotrexate. l-Glutamylquinazolines were taken up faster than l-aspartylquinazolines, but influx of a d-glutamylquinazoline was slower than the corresponding d-glutamylquinazoline was slower than the corresponding d-aspartyl derivative. Influx of the quinazolines was faster when there was a methyl- or chloro- substitution at position 5. Influx of the pyrimidines was also faster when a methyl group was at position 6. Michaelis constants (Km) for influx of the various analogs varied from 1.42 × 10-6m to over 10-4m. Individual Vmax values were essentially the same (1.87 to 2.22 nmoles/min/g dry weight). The relationship between the values for initial velocity of influx (v), the Km and Vmax obtained with each analog are in agreement with that predicted by the Michaelis-Menten equation and is consistent with the notion that differences in rates of influx are attributable to differences in the affinity of the carrier for the system. Efflux is preferential in the order pteridine, pyrimidine, and quinazoline. Efflux of aminopterin and methotrexate occurs at the same rate. Both aspartyl- and glutamylquinazolines efflux at about the same rate, but the d-aspartyl and d-glutamyl forms efflux more rapidly than the corresponding l forms. A methyl, and particularly a chloro, substitution at position 5 of the quinazoline reduces the rate of efflux. The extent of concentrative uptake observed for each analog directly reflects the relative magnitude at which the influx and efflux processes operate and may be the physiological parameter most relevant to therapeutic efficacy.


Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) represents selective failure of erythropoiesis in the absence of abnormalities in leukopoiesis or thrombocytopoiesis. Acquired PRCA has occurred uncommonly in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We report six patients with non‐T‐cell CLL in which nine episodes of PRCA were observed. In six of the nine episodes, the patients had received recent oral alkylating agents; conversely, recovery from aplasia occurred in some while on alternate alkylator therapy and two patients had no pretreatment. Spontaneous occurrence and recovery, therefore, could not be excluded. Onset of PRCA may be suggested by macrocytosis, but discontinuance of therapy at its development may not prevent PRCA if, indeed, therapy is one of the causes. Supportive therapy or alkylators and prednisone permitted recovery without mortality in all six patients. The interval between onset of CLL and the recognition of first PRCA episode varied from one month to nine years (mean, 5.3 years); the duration of PRCA ranged from three to nine months (mean, 4.7 months). In addition to previously better understood causes of anemia in CLL, the uncommon occurrence of PRCA is an additional consideration in the differential diagnosis of sudden anemia in CLL.


The purpose is to provide a general survey of the practice among States of the peaceful settlement of international disputes. There are variety of instruments for peaceful settlement, including negotiation, commissions of inquiry, Mediation, Conciliation and Good Offices. Care is taken to indicate the quantitative significance of the inter-State arbitration in relation to the use of standing international tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice.


The civil aviation industry in the South Pacific is experiencing a period of rapid change. A turning point for the industry has arrived in the form of new generation, long range aircraft used by Pacific Rim airlines. These aircraft have the propensity to overfly the South Pacific. This means reduced access to stop-over traffic for the small South Pacific nations who have traditionally relied on business associated with stop-over tourism. A consequence of over-flying the South Pacific is an increasing dependence on national flag carriers to provide island dedicated services. The focus of the thesis is on the ability of the South Pacific civil aviation industry to adopt forward planning measures and co-operative resource sharing. A professional approach to co-operation between tourism and civil aviation organisations will be critical for tourism development.


For the spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR), it is difficult to obtain high resolution and wide width at the same time. This paper proposes a novel imaging system based on tandem SAR satellites, where one obtains coarse resolution and wide swath by the scanning mode, and the other obtains the undersampled echo from the same swath. The high resolution is achieved by associating the tandem SARs' echo and using the minimum-energy-based algorithm. Finally, a high-resolution wide-swath SAR system is designed, and its imaging performance is verified by simulated data and real airborne SAR data.


A velocity boundary condition for the lattice Boltzmann simulation technique has been proposed recently by Hecht and Harting (2008 arXiv:0811.4593). This boundary condition is independent of the relaxation process during collision and contains no artificial slip. In this work, this boundary condition is extended to simulate slip flows. The extended boundary condition has been tested and it is found that the slip length is independent of the shear rate and the density, and proportional to the BGK relaxation time. The method is used to study slip in Poiseuille flow and in linear shear flow. Patterned walls with stripes of different slip parameters are also studied, and an anisotropy of the slip length in accordance with the surface pattern is found. The angle dependence of the simulation results perfectly agrees with theoretical expectations. The results confirm that the proposed boundary conditions can be used for simulating slip flows in microfluidics using the single-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann technique, without any numerical slip, giving an accuracy of second order.


The particles in exhaled breath provide a promising matrix for the monitoring of pathological processes in the airways, and also allow exposure to exogenous compounds to be to assessed. The collection is easy to perform and is non-invasive. The aim of the present study is to assess if an exogenous compound—methadone—is distributed in the lining fluid of small airways, and to compare two methods for collecting methadone in particles in exhaled breath. Exhaled particles were collected from 13 subjects receiving methadone maintenance treatment. Two different sampling methods were applied: one based on electret filtration, potentially collecting exhaled particles of all sizes, and one based on impaction, collecting particles in the size range of 0.5–7 μm, known to reflect the respiratory tract lining fluid from the small airways. The collected samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and the impact of different breathing patterns was also investigated. The potential contribution from the oral cavity was investigated by rinsing the mouth with a codeine solution, followed by codeine analysis of the collected exhaled particles by both sampling methods. The results showed that methadone was present in all samples using both methods, but when using the method based on impaction, the concentration of methadone in exhaled breath was less than 1% of the concentration collected by the method based on filtration. Optimizing the breathing pattern to retrieve particles from small airways did not increase the amount of exhaled methadone collected by the filtration method. The contamination from codeine present in the oral cavity was only detected in samples collected by the impaction method. We conclude that methadone is distributed in the respiratory tract lining fluid of small airways. The samples collected by the filtration method most likely contained a contribution from the upper airways/oral fluid in contrast to the impaction method.


Studies to date have demonstrated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors primarily on the outer plasma membrane of the human placental syncytiotrophoblasts facing maternal blood and to a lesser extent on the cytotrophoblast stem cells. In the present studies, first- and third-trimester human placental tissues were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to the EGF binding domain of the human EGF receptor or to the activated (tyrosine-phosphorylated) human EGF receptor. Cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, and fetal connective tissue cells in first-trimester tissues immunostained with both MAb, with the notable exception of the absence of staining of activated EGF receptor over cytotrophoblast plasma membranes. In contrast, staining of third-trimester placentas with either MAb yielded little to no staining of either trophoblast cell layer but intense staining of fetal connective tissue cells. Staining for EGF receptors over cytotrophoblasts in the first trimester is consistent with the hypothesis that maternal EGF or TGF-alpha derived from the endometrium or placenta may be the mitogen responsible for cytotrophoblast cell division and that the receptors localized to the syncytiotrophoblast are involved in EGF regulation of differentiated function. The absence of heavy staining of activated EGF receptor on trophoblast plasma membranes in third-trimester placentas is consistent with down-regulation of EGF receptor activity.


From the point of view of structural health monitoring, it is extremely important to discriminate alteration in structural behavior/response attribute due to damage from that due to environmental and operational fluctuation. In this paper, the correlation between natural frequencies and temperature is investigated for the cable-stayed Ting Kau Bridge by using measurement data from a long-term monitoring system installed on this bridge. One-year continuously acquired data from 45 accelerometers (a total of 67 channels) and 83 temperature sensors are used for this study. The data from 20 temperature sensors at the locations susceptible to temperature are first selected for the correlation analysis. Natural frequencies of the first 10 modes are identified by spectral analysis of the acceleration data at one-hour intervals. In order to ensure the identification accuracy, the natural frequency for a specific mode is determined using only the data from the accelerometers which produce large spectral peaks at that mode. The identified natural frequencies for each hour are used to correlate with the one-hour average temperatures measured from the 20 sensors during the same time. Based on the one-year measurement data which cover a full cycle of varying environmental and operational conditions, a four-layer perceptron neural network with 20 input nodes and 1 output node is trained for each mode to represent the relation between the measured temperatures (input) and the corresponding natural frequency (output). The configured neural networks for the 10 modes show excellent capabilities for mapping between the temperatures and natural frequencies for all the one-year measurement data.


Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of cervical and intracranial atherosclerosis and silent brain infarction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Cervical and intracranial atherosclerotic lesions on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and silent brain infarctions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were investigated in comparison with the findings of coronary angiography in 133 consecutive patients with CAD. Results: The mean severity scores of cervical and intracranial MRA lesions were significantly higher in the three-vessel CAD (0.40 and 0.53, respectively) than in the zero-vessel CAD group (0.04 and 0.11). The mean scores of the maximal size and multiplicity of MRI lesion were also significantly greater in the two-vessel (1.00 and 1.44) and three-vessel CAD (0.94 and 1.26) than in the zero-vessel CAD group (0.27 and 0.50). The incidence of MRA lesion was markedly higher in patients with brain MRI lesion than in those without (51.1 vs. 6.5%). Conclusions: Serious coronary artery lesions were commonly accompanied by latent atherosclerotic lesions in the cervical and intracranial arteries besides silent brain infarction in patients with CAD.


Packet classification is a central function in several network applications such as firewalls and QoS-enhanced routers. Several schemes were proposed for fast packet classification, but few ones support incremental updates. In this paper, we present a new multi-fields packet classification algorithm and show its advantages compared to previous proposed algorithms. We present performance measurements using a free benchmark developed at Washington University. We show how this algorithm performs improved search times without any limitation in terms of incremental updates


This paper reported on a survey of job loss in selected communities around Johannesburg, South Africa. Six communities were purposively selected to participate in this study on the basis of a perceived high incidence of job losses among them as a result of retrenchments, downsizing and plant closures. In each community questionnaires were distributed to, and interviews held with, a sample of residents. Overall, the respondents stressed the hardships caused by joblessness. The findings further showed that most of the respondents were anxious and worried about both the present and the future, and urged community leaders to intervene. The findings also showed that a significant number of residents did not have satisfactory support structures after becoming jobless, a situation that induced serious anxieties. They experienced a feeling of lowered self-esteem. However, although seriously afflicted by the ravages of job loss within their communities, the majority of the respondents did not express a desire to relocate to other places.


The NCCN Guidelines for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) provide recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with MDS based on a review of clinical evidence that has led to important advances in treatment or has yielded new information on biologic factors that may have prognostic significance in MDS. The multidisciplinary panel of MDS experts meets on an annual basis to update the recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on some of the updates for the 2022 version of the NCCN Guidelines, which include treatment recommendations both for lower-risk and higher-risk MDS, emerging therapies, supportive care recommendations, and genetic familial high-risk assessment for hereditary myeloid malignancy predisposition syndromes.


In Deep Inelastic Scattering, DIS, a lepton interacts directly with a target quark, provided that the energy and momentum transfers are sufficient. This direct interaction hypothesis is tested in shadowing experiments where nuclear media are used to detect departures from a point-like lepton-quark interaction. The struck quark may interact with nuclear constituents before it forms a hadron. Thus hadron production in different target nuclei provides information on quark-quark and quark-nucleon interactions. The EMC effect, discovered a few years ago by the European Muon Collaboration, indicates that the quark structure in bound nucleons is different from that in free nucleons. Hence DIS may become a valuable tool for studies of nuclear structure based on constituent quarks.


Michel Foucault is undoubtedly one of the most important and consecrated thinkers of all time, especially for his contributions against order. His work has unique characteristics, either by its conceptions and its methods, or by the way of approaching, in historical-philosophical perspectives, foun- dational themes of social life. This article seeks to present and problematize Foucault's theoretical perspectives, especially in the domains of knowledge, power and ethics, articulating them with possible fields of research and prac- tices in physics teaching. We do not propose a method or a manual for the application of Foucault in themes of research/teaching in physics. However, a new way of looking is proposed, necessary for a new way of teaching.


Based on the lidar observations from April 2001 to December 2004 over Wuhan, the long term (time scale longer than one year) and nighttime variations of background Na layer are presented, and their possible causes are also discussed. The observation results of long term variation show that Na abundance has a maximum value in November, which is approximately 2 times of the minimum value (1.6×09 cm-2) in May; Na centroid height reaches a maximum value in August, which is about 1.4 km higher than the yearly average value (91.2 km); the average value of rms width is 4.5 km, and its maximum and minimum values occur in December and March, respectively; Both of the Monthly averaged centroid height and rms width show a quasi-semiannual variation, but with contrary phase variations. Except the long term variations, the background Na layer also exhibits obvious nighttime variation: Na abundance increase with the nighttime except a short duration near the dawn time with a maximum value of 2.9×109 cm-2 at 0540 LT; the height of peak value decreases with the nighttime; the centroid height of Na layer increases slowly with the nighttime until the time of 0520 LT, then it decreases rapidly to the value at the time of 2000 LT; the magnitudes of the fluctuations for the averaged Na layer abundance, height of peak, centroid height and rms width in the nighttime are 1.2×109cm-2, 3 km, 0.3 km and 0.8 km, respectively.


It is possible to recognize the modulation type of an unknown signal in noise by its envelope characteristics. A quantity found to be distinctive to a given modulation type is the ratio (R) of the variance of the envelope to the square of the mean of the envelope. Equations of R for four modulation types, as a function of the carrier to noise ratio, are derived and used to set up a classification scheme. The R of a received signal is first computed. Then its modulation type is determined according to the range R falls in. Simulation experiments have confirmed some of the theoretical development as well as the effectiveness of the identification scheme.


We welcome the reader who wishes to learn biostatistics. In this chapter we introduce you to the subject. We define statistics and biostatistics. Then examples are given where biostatistical techniques are useful. These examples show that biostatistics is an important tool in advancing our biological knowledge; biostatistics helps evaluate many life-and-death issues in medicine. We urge you to read the examples carefully. Ask yourself, "what can be inferred from the information presented?" How would you design a study or experiment to investigate the problem at hand? What would you do with the data after they are collected? We want you to realize that biostatistics is a tool that can be used to benefit you and society. The chapter closes with a description of what you may accomplish through use of this book. To paraphrase Pythagoras, there is no royal road to biostatistics. You need to be involved. You need to work hard. You need to think. You need to analyze actual data. The end result will be a tool that has immediate practical uses. As you thoughtfully consider the material presented here, you will develop thought patterns that are useful in evaluating information in all areas of your life.


We present our progress on the research and development of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPD's) for ultrafast counting of near-infrared photons for secure quantum communications. Our SSPD's operate in the quantum detection mode based on the photon-induced hotspot formation and subsequent development of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin and submicron-width superconducting stripe. The devices are fabricated from 4-nm-thick NbN films and kept in the 4.2- to 2-K temperature range. The detector experimental quantum efficiency in the photon-counting mode reaches above 40% for the visible light and up to 30% in the 1.3- to 1.55-µm wavelength range with dark counts below 0.01 per second. The experimental real-time counting rate is above 2 GHz and is limited by our readout electronics. The SSPD's timing jitter is below 18 ps, and the best-measured value of the noise-equivalent power (NEP) is 5 × 10–21 W/Hz1/2 at 1.3 µm. In terms of quantum efficiency, timing jitter, and maximum counting rate, our NbN SSPD's significantly outperform semiconductor avalanche photodiodes and photomultipliers in the 1.3- to 1.55-µm range. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


In this paper, we provide a stochastic dynamic game formulation of the transnational pollution control problem when environmental damage arises from accumulation in the atmosphere of stock pollutants, such as CO2. With a few exceptions, dynamic games in the literature on this problem have been developed in a deterministic framework. We propose a stochastic dynamic model where the inherent uncertainty of the cumulated stock pollutant's evolution due to environmental and meteorological factors is considered. We calculate the optimal path of abatement as the solution of the stochastic game for both cooperative and non‐cooperative behavior of the countries. The optimality criteria assumed in our setting is the minimization of the expected discounted total cost. To illustrate our model, we present some numerical results based on real scenarios for six different regions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


This paper closely analyses Santiago Sierra's understanding of the relationship between work and freedom in contemporary society. By focusing on a series of works where the artist hired someone to perform a specific activity (often involving labour or a contractual working agreement), this essay explores the location(s) of work in Sierra's artistic practice. In these pieces, the artist delegated or subcontracted a part of the artistic event, either to remain still, hidden inside a box or in a humid, hot compartment in a ship under the sun. At the same time, he remained as a 'director' or 'coordinator', dictating the conditions of possibility for these actions, the ensuing documentation and its posterior commercialisation. This implies that we can find, at least, two moments where work can be located in Santiago Sierra's practice. On one level, work (manual labour associated with a paid wage in a determinate economic context) happens at the moment of the actual performance by the hired employees. At the same time, work can also be located at the moment when the artist records and produces an artwork (as intellectual labour). In this sense, the artist uses the work of others in order to produce his own, blatantly turning the workers from a means to an end. This duality suggests that work can be clearly antithetical to freedom for some in a system of advanced, corporate, capitalism while deceitfully emancipatory for a select few. By carefully examining the complex networks of work displacement in Santiago Sierra's practice, it is my intention to lay bare the premises that support his vision of work as a site for constant struggle between freedom and subjugation.


A case report and review of the literature are reported concerning the relationship of intracardiac thrombosis and antiphospholipid antibody syndromes. Nine cases are identified, divided into three categories: three patients had antiphospholipid syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, three had primary antiphospholipid syndrome, and three had probable secondary antiphospholipid syndrome. All had intracardiac thrombosis. All patients were women, and the average age was 36 years. Although intracardiac thrombosis appears to be an unusual association with antiphospholipid antibody syndromes, young women with embolic events should be evaluated for antiphospholipid antibodies and intracardiac source of embolus.


Stomatal density of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants over-expressing the SDD1 (stomatal density and distribution) gene was reduced to 40% and in the sdd1-1 mutant increased to 300% of the wild type. CO2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance of over-expressers and the sdd1-1 mutant were unchanged compared with wild types when measured under the light conditions the plants were exposed to during growth. Lower stomatal density was compensated for by increased stomatal aperture and conversely, increased stomatal density was compensated for by reduced stomatal aperture. At high light intensities the assimilation rates and stomatal conductance of SDD1 over-expressers were reduced to 80% of those in wild type plants. Areas beneath stomata and patches lacking stomata were analysed separately. In areas without stomata, maximum fluorescence yield (Fv / Fm) and quantum yield of photosystem II (Φ PSII) were significantly lower than in areas beneath stomata. In areas beneath stomata, Fv / Fm and Φ PSII were identical to levels measured in wild type leaves. At high light intensities over-expressers showed decreased photochemical quenching (qP) compared with wild types. However, the decrease of qP was significantly stronger in areas without stomata than in mesophyll areas beneath stomata. At high CO2 partial pressures and high light intensities CO2 assimilation rates of SDD1 over-expressers did not reach wild type levels. These results indicate that photosynthesis in SDD1 over-expressers was reduced because of limiting CO2 in areas furthest from stomata at high light.


Salivary secretion evoked by sympathetic stimulation or by injection of guanethidine, adrenaline or synephrine is slightly reduced by parasympathetic antagonists in doses which abolish the secretory responses to stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve. Similarly, an adrenaline antagonist caused a small diminution of the salivary flow elicited by parasympathetic stimulation or by injection of methacholine chloride. Secretion caused by pilocarpine could be accelerated by physostigmine. We conclude that transmitter leaks in subliminal concentrations, as far as secretion is concerned, from the sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic nerve endings.


In recent years much attention has been given to Newton series representations of a regularized Zeta function. Such representations are limited as they do not lead to a series expansion for the Zeta function that converges in the critical strip. In this paper, we define a fractional Newton series which serves as the meromorphic continuation of a classical Newton Series. We show that the Riemann Zeta function can be represented by a fractional Newton series in the critical strip. Under this representation the coefficients are given in terms of differences of the zeta function evaluated at the positive half integers instead of the usual situation of evaluating at the integers. Using the method of stationary phase, we derive an asymptotic formula for these zeta differences. AMS Subject Classification: 33E20, 30E10, 30B50


OBJECTIVE
This research was aimed at ascertaining the state's role regarding hunger and how it manages to combat this matter; a food security program in two Colombian cities was thus assessed (i.e. school meals' provision in Cali and Bogota).

METHODS
A qualitative approach was adopted; documentary analysis, participant observation and in-depth interviews with various actors for both selected cases were used as data collection techniques.

RESULTS
It was found that several measures taken in this area were not covered by regulatory principles aimed at covering all the dimensions of food security. Serious weaknesses in school meals' management in Cali were associated with a weak environment regarding the fight against hunger. School meals' management in Bogotá was aimed at recognizing the right to food as being supported by an institutional process where the issue of reducing hunger has become a firm purpose.

DISCUSSION
School meals' program management was associated with the characteristics of its product, thereby affecting the program and the population's food and nutritional status; state management thus becomes another dimension of food security.


Diabetes mellitus is one of the disease for which a satisfactory treatment is not available in modern allopathic system of medicine. Therefore, there is a need to develop newer treatment strategies of plant origin as they are known to have fewer side effects. The present study investigated the possible therapeutic effects of Balanite aegyptiaca kernel cake on certain biochemical markers in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Diabetes was induced in albino rats by single intraperitoneal injection of Alloxan (70mg/kg body weight). Normal diet supplemented with 10% and 20% of kernel cake of Balanites aegyptiaca were fed to diabetic rats for three weeks. The effects of the aegyptiaca kernel cake on blood glucose, albumin, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride and the activities of liver marker enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were examined in the serum of control and treated groups. Supplementation of Balanites aegyptiaca kernel cake 10% and 20% to diabetic rats for Three weeks significantly reduced blood glucose (451.80 ± 5.4 to 408.60 ± 1.8), urea (429.30±1.10 to 203.40± 4.1), and creatinine (2.05±0.05 to 1.80±0.21) but increased the levels of albumin (3.14±0.07 to 3.50±0.01), and restored all marker enzymes to near normal levels. The present results showed that Balanites aegyptiaca kernel cake has an antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidemic effect and consequently may alleviate liver and renal damage associated with Alloxan -induced diabetes mellitus in rats.


The Xhosa missionary Tiyo Soga appears, but does not speak, in H. I. E. Dhlomo's play about the 1856-57 Xhosa cattle killing, The Girl Who Killed to Save: Nongqause the Liberator. Archival evidence demonstrates that an unattributed song in the play is from a hymn by Tiyo Soga.While this nexus may not constitute evidence of the "genuine intertextuality" that Malvern van Wyk Smith seeks in postapartheid literary historiography, I argue that the (perhaps unwitting) presence of a hymn by Tiyo Soga contributes to the profound ambivalence of Dhlomo's play, which is also evident in Dhlomo's negotiation of colonial accounts of the cattle killing. For writers borrowing the voices of their predecessors, citing or ventriloquizing textual ancestors is as precarious and productive a process as is claiming to hear the voice of literal ancestors for prophets like Nongqawuse. What kind of reading practice can attend to such revenant voices?


The photovoltaic (PV) industry has been a steady bright spot through economic ups and downs, and the future is looking brighter than ever. PV deployment has grown rapidly - from 0.3 MW in the 1980s to an expected 3,000 MW by 2010. Fueled by technical, economic, environmental, and social drivers, the contribution of PV to the U.S. electricity supply mix will likely be several times that amount by 2020. PV power systems and the utility industry have had a 25-year courtship with many different types of engagement. Utilities participated in the first ground-mounted power plants and rooftop installations on residences, schools, airports, hospitals, and other public buildings. These projects included U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored residential experiment stations in Maine, Florida, and New Mexico in the 1980s; early PV plants in California and throughout the Southwest; and grid connection, demonstrations, inverter and system testing, and related standards development. Electric service providers are well positioned to expand their engagement in deploying PV systems. Many have found themselves in a bright spot relative to solar business opportunities. However, most providers are still facing the decision of whether to modify traditional business models for active engagement or maintain a reactive stance relative to PV and grid integrations. In either case, R&D that will lead to a more flexible and interactive electric distribution system is needed. A near-term priority for individual utilities is to define the grid-interactive and grid-independent applications and markets that offer the greatest potential risks and rewards and to develop plans for addressing them. This is particularly important in areas with excellent solar resources, strong incentives,or both. And this may hold true across the country under current policy and market conditions.


This paper describes results in applying robust control techniques to achieve vibration suppression of an active precision truss structure. The active structure incorporates piezoelectric members which serve as both structural and actuation elements. The problem considered is multiple-input, multiple-output with non-collocated actuators and sensors. Several characterizations of uncertainty are studied and the resulting controllers are compared experimentally. One characterization uses a novel approach involving eigenvalue perturbation descriptions. >


Karkonosze Geopark - geodiversity and geotourism. Prz. Geol., 59: 311-322. Abstract . TheCertificate of a National Geopark was awarded to the Karkonosze National Park, along with its buffer zone, in Sep- tember 2010. Geodiversity of the Karkonosze Mountains, subject to the comprehensive assessment in 2008-2009, resides mainly in the variety of geological, mineralogical and geomorphological phenomena. In addition, the legacy of mining and mineral prospecting is abundant. Many of the natural phenomena make the Karkonosze Mountains an exceptional area in Poland, and are of outstanding value if considered within the European context. The value of abiotic nature of the Karkonosze is promoted through multiple activities in the field of geotourism and ecological education, including construction of an extensive network of geosites, marked tourist paths, and educational trails with information boards. Further promotion of geodiversity of the Karkonosze is carried out in cooperation with the adjacent Krkonosský narodni park on the Czech side of the mountains, aiming at an establishment of a bilateral Polish-Czech Geopark Krkonose/Karkonosze, within the framework of the European Geopark Network.


BACKGROUND
Lymph node (LN) retrieval and assessment is essential for accurate staging and treatment planning in colorectal cancer (CRC). According to U.S. National Cancer Institute recommendations, the minimal number of LNs needed for accurately staging of node-negative CRC is 12. Awareness and implementation of the guidelines has been shown to improve after assigning an opinion leader who has a special interest in CRC.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the impact of dialogue between surgeons and pathologists in LN evaluation.

METHODS
Consecutively treated CRC patients at the Department of Surgery B at Rambam Medical Center from January 1, 2000 through July 30, 2005 were identified from hospital discharge files. Demographic, surgical, and pathological data were extracted. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I patients underwent surgery before the initiation of a structured surgical oncology service (January 1, 2000 to October 30, 2004). Group II patients underwent surgery after the initiation of the service (November 1, 2004 to July 30, 2005).

RESULTS
The study comprised 212 patients (Group I: n=170; Group II: n=42). The median number of LNs examined was 9 in Group I and 14 in Group II (P = 0.003). Only 35% of patients in Group I received adequate LN evaluation compared to 79% in Group II (P = 0.0001). Patients with left-sided or rectal cancer were less likely to receive adequate LN evaluation than patients with right-sided cancers.

CONCLUSIONS
A durable improvement in LN evaluation was realized through a multi-pronged change initiative aimed at both surgeons and pathologists.


The mammary gland-specific nuclear factor (MGF) is a crucial contributor to the regulation of transcription from the beta-casein gene promoter. The beta-casein gene encodes a major milk protein, which is expressed in mammary epithelial cells during lactation and can be induced by lactogenic hormones in the clonal mammary epithelial cell line HC11. We have investigated the specific DNA-binding activity of MGF in mammary epithelial cells in vivo and in vitro. Comparison of MGF in HC11 cells and mammary gland cells from lactating mice revealed molecules with identical DNA-binding properties. Bandshift and UV cross-linking experiments indicated that MGF in HC11 cells has a higher mol wt than MGF found in mice. Little MGF activity was detected in nuclear extracts from HC11 cells cultured in the absence of lactogenic hormones. Lactogenic hormone treatment of HC11 cells led to a strong induction of MGF activity. The induction of MGF activity as well as utilization of the beta-casein promoter were suppressed when epidermal growth factor was present in the tissue culture medium simultaneously with the lactogenic hormones. In lactating animals, MGF activity is regulated by suckling, milk stasis, and systemic hormone signals. The mammary glands from maximally lactating animals, 16 days postpartum, contain drastically reduced MGF activity after removal of the pups for only 8 h. The down-regulation of MGF by pup withdrawal was slower in early lactation, 6 days postpartum. We also investigated the relative contributions of local signals, generated by milk stasis, and systemic hormone signals to the regulation of MGF activity. The access to one row of mammary glands of lactating mothers was denied to the pups for 24 h. High levels of MGF were found in the accessible mammary glands, and intermediate levels of MGF were found in the inaccessible glands of the same mouse. Very low MGF levels were detected when the pups were removed from the dams for 24 h. We conclude that systemic as well as local signals cooperate in the in vitro regulation of MGF activity.


The evolution of Internet has provided an opportunity for offering online learning. The old online learning models are getting replaced by new e-learning models. Many universities worldwide have started offering e-learning or online learning through a variety of online learning methods. In fact, the current e-learning models are revolutionizing the instructional content delivery, learning activities, and social communication. Although online learning environments are becoming popular, there is minimal research on learners' attitudes toward online learning environments. The purpose of this study is to explore learners' attitudes toward online learning. Over 300 participants participated. The findings of this study of students' perceptions and attitudes toward online learning not only will help assess pedagogical approach but also help university officials prepare Internet-based online education delivery.


Informed opinions on the judiciary in Nigeria vary between the rather equivocal comment by a senior member of the bar that "The judiciary is dead", or the view that it is "on trial" and the more compassionate view that it is a "beast of burden" or a "sacrificial lamb". These remarks derive from observations of the (alleged or actual) behaviour of the judges, and their independence, impartiality and integrity. While the metaphors quoted above may be subject to various interpretations, they do raise considerable curiosity and interest as to why any judiciary should attract such comments, and perhaps to what extent the comments are justified. This article, in attempting to answer these and similar nagging questions concerning Nigeria's judiciary, examines the truly multi-faceted question of judicial independence by assessing the Nigerian situation in the light of the factors that are considered vital to ensuring or guaranteeing an independent judiciary. Interestingly, although section 17(1)(e) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that "The independence, impartiality and integrity of Courts of Law, and easy accessibility thereto shall be secured and maintained", this provision is under the chapter titled "Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy", whose provisions are non-justiciable by virtue of section 6(6) (c) of the Constitution. Thus the high-sounding declaration of section 17(1)(e) has no bite, and what could have been a constitutional guarantee of judicial independence is no more than a slogan.


Over a period of 12 years, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was used to dilate 227 subclavian obliterations (216 stenoses, 11 occlusions) in 208 patients. Immediate success rate was 96%. 152 dilated arteries long-term patency are known. The average follow-up time was 32 months (1-120 months). 14 restenosis occurred. In 7 of the 14 patients redilation were performed. Complication: 3 puncture site thrombosis, 1 haematoma, 4 transient confusion occurred. In 2 patients shoulder pain developed with unknown origin, and last for a few weeks. There were no irreversible neurologic deficit. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of subclavian artery stenoses should be the procedure of choice in symptomatic patients.


Tissue engineering is a field of Biomedicine that is rapidly growing, and is critically driven by scientific advances in the areas of developmental and cell biology, material sciences and biochemistry/polymer chemistry. Regeneration of skeletal tissues, including joint surface repair, skin repair, and treatment of CNS disorders are among the most promising areas, and are closest to immediate novel clinical applications. Validation and appropriate regulation of these new biological treatments are critical. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is a promising approach for joint surface defect repair. The procedure involves autologous chondrocyte cell expansion, known to result in phenotypic de-differentiation. This may be associated with a reduction of cartilage forming ability in vivo, raising the need for proper quality controls for expanded chondrocyte populations. We have linked an in vivo cartilage-forming assay to molecular markers. This set of molecular markers can represent a quality control for chondrocyte expansion and transplantation, and a tool for developing procedures aimed at preserving/restoring the phenotypic stability of expanded chondrocytes. However, it is has still to be established if the ACT procedure is the first line treatment for articular cartilage defects. Apart from the phenotypic instability, there are other disadvantages associated with this procedure. One of them is the cartilage biopsy needed to obtain chondrocytes. Therefore, we have set out to identify precursor cell populations capable of contributing to joint tissue repair. Our data indicate that besides bone marrow stromal cells, periosteal- and synovium-derived fibroblast-like cells (FLCs) are potential progenitors for joint repair. Both human periosteal- and synovium-derived FLCs can be obtained and expanded reproducibly and consistently, independent of the age of the donor. These cell populations are phenotypically stable over at least 10–15 passages. In addition, they are and maintain a multilineage potential, i.e. they are chondrogenic, osteogenic, myogenic and adipogenic grown under appropriate culture conditions. We have also linked these precursor cell populations to specific markers. These cell-based technologies provide important tools to optimise the repair and engineering of joints and joint associated tissues.


Abstract Although a few aquaporins (AQPs) expressed in granulosa cells have been postulated to mediate fluid passage into the antrum, the specific expression of AQPs in different follicle cell types and stages and their roles have not been evaluated extensively. The spatiotemporal expression of aquaporin (Aqp) 7, 8, and 9 and the functional roles of Aqp9 in antral growth and ovulation were examined using a superovulation model and 3-dimensional follicle culture. Aqp9 was expressed at a high level in the rapid growth phase (24–48 h post equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) for superovulation induction) compared to Aqp7 (after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)) and Aqp8 (8–24 h post eCG and 24 h post hCG). A dramatic increase in the expression and localization of Aqp9 mRNA in theca cells was observed, as evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase (RT-PCR) coupled with laser capture microdissection and immunohistochemistry. AQP9 was located primarily on the theca cells of the tertiary and preovulatory follicles but not on the ovulated follicles. In phloretin-treated mice, the diameter of the preovulatory follicles and the number of ovulated oocytes decreased. Consistent with these findings, knocking down Aqp9 expression with an Aqp9 siRNA inhibited follicle growth (0.28:1 = siRNA:control) and decreased the number of ovulated follicles (0.36:1 = siRNA:control) during in vitro growth and ovulation induction. Based on these results, the expression of AQPs is under the control of the physiological status, and AQP9 expression in theca during folliculogenesis is required for antral growth and ovulation in a tissue-specific and stage-dependent manner. Summary Sentence Aqp9 is expressed predominantly in the theca of tertiary follicles and is involved in the antral growth of ovarian follicles.


This paper is to report the study of the metabolism of lidamycin in vitro including in plasma and microsomes to guide clinical therapy. Lidamycin was quantified by detecting its active ingredient using HPLC-MS/MS. The metabolic stability of lidamycin in rat, Beagle dog, monkey and human plasma and liver microsomes, and its inhibition to cytochrome P450 isoforms in human liver microsomes were studied. Results showed that lidamycin was metabolized in the four species of plasma, and the sequence of metabolic rates in plasma were in rat > in dog > in human > in monkey. But among the four species of liver microsomes, lidamycin was metabolized only in monkey liver microsomes. There was almost no inhibition to cytochrome P450 isoforms at the concentrations of between 0.0005 and 10 ng x mL(-1). Therefore, the property of lidamycin metabolism in human is similar with that in dog, and metabolism of other drugs would not be decreased by cytochrome P450 as used along with lidamycin in clinic.


We demonstrate that categories of continuous actions of topological monoids on discrete spaces are Grothendieck toposes. We exhibit properties of these toposes, giving a solution to the corresponding Morita-equivalence problem. We characterize these toposes in terms of their canonical points. We identify natural classes of representatives with good topological properties, 'powder monoids' and then 'complete monoids', for the Morita-equivalence classes of topological monoids. Finally, we show that the construction of these toposes can be made (2-)functorial by considering geometric morphisms induced by continuous semigroup homomorphisms.


Among the Frankia strains capable of establishing a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with actinorrhizal plants, in planta sporangial formation is not universal and has led to the distinction between spore-positive (Sp+) and spore-negative (Sp-) nodules. Numerous Frankia strains have been isolated in pure culture from Sp+ nodules of different host plants, but, although they were able to reinfect their respective host plant, none of them was able to differentiate endophytic sporangia under laboratory conditions. The first step of this study was to demonstrate, at the molecular level, the existence of specific Sp+ strain genotypes differing from Sp- strain genotypes in a single alder stand. In a second step, by way of PCR amplification and sequencing of the PCR products, we have characterized oligonucleotide primers specific for the genus Frankia and for each of the two types of Frankia microsymbionts able, or not, to differentiate sporangia inside natural green alder nodules. These primers applied in PCRs with DNA extracted from nodules confirmed the morphological identification and revealed the presence of nodules colonized by both types of actinomycetes. Finally, a preliminary PCR study was conducted with DNA extracted directly from soil samples which permitted checking the rhizosphere of Sp+ and Sp- nodules for the presence of the corresponding strains.


OBJECTIVE
To study analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of bornyl acetate, the main ingredient of Amomum villosum volatile oil.

METHODS
The analgesic effects were tested by hot-plate and writhing reaction method, the ear swelling caused by dimethylbenzene in mice.

RESULTS
Bornyl acetate could restrain writhing reaction caused by acetic acid glacial, lighten the pain caused by hot-plate. It could also suppress ear swelling caused by dimethylbenzene in mice.

CONCLUSION
Bornyl acetate shows analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.


This study aims to analyze the shrinkage and limitation of Global Citizenship Education in the epoch of Brexit. It also attempts to examine a feature of positioning and direction of Global Citizenship Education which is confronted with a sceptical criticism of its' educational impact. In this vein, the major findings and arguments showed the practice and implementation of Global Citizenship Education under the pressure of Brexit faces complicated challenges across Europe including UK, since Brexit highly pursues national centred hegemony and nationalistic bloc. It could hinder the structural restriction of implementing of Global Citizenship Education in UK. Apparently, this study indicated that the phenomenon of Brexit and it's impact is functioning as dynamic learning contents, not for a teaching-learning resource. It has been discussed that Citizens of UK have strived to deal Brexit as a learning experience in life-world. Finally, this study suggests a direction to move forward of Global Citizenship Education in an ever-shrinking world of Brexit.


In this paper, we introduce the notion of hyponormal operators in soft Hilbert spaces, some properties of these operators are studied, and in a similar way to [6], a hyponormal soft operator is built from a family of operators. In addition, some results are obtained for self-adjoint, invertible, unitary, unit equivalent and normal soft linear operators that relate the properties of these soft operators with a family of operators in certain Hilbert spaces.


BACKGROUND
Airway remodeling is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma, and abnormal proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) contribute to airway remodeling. Inflammatory mediator, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), stimulates the proliferation of ASMCs, and is associated with airway remodeling in asthma. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been widely used in the adjuvant therapy of acute asthma.

OBJECTIVE
The potential effects of DEX on extracellular matrix (ECM) production and proliferation of ASMCs were investigated in this study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Human ASMCs were incubated with TGF-β1 for 48 hours, and then treated with different concentrations of DEX for another 24 hours. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT and BrdU (5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) staining. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell apoptosis, and western blot was applied to identify the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS
TGF-β1 induced increase in cell viability and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) positive cells in ASMCs while repressed cell apoptosis. Second, TGF-β1-induced ASMCs were then treated with different concentrations of DEX. Cell viability of TGF-β1-induced ASMCs was decreased by incubation of DEX. The number of BrdU positive cells in TGF-β1-induced ASMCs was reduced by incubation of DEX. Moreover, incubation of DEX promoted cell apoptosis of TGF-β1-induced ASMCs. Third, incubation of DEX attenuated TGF-β1-induced increase in fibronectin, collagen I, MMP9, and versican in ASMCs. Lastly, the up-regulation of phosphorylated extracellular receptor kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated Jun N-terminal Kinase (p-JNK), and p-p38 in TGF-β1-induced ASMCs was reversed by incubation of DEX.

CONCLUSION
DEX suppressed TGF-β1-induced ECM production and proliferation of ASMCs through inactivation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, providing a potential strategy for prevention of asthma.


Environmental professionals are often asked to serve on boards of nonprofit groups that pursue programs dealing with professional, conservation, or environmental matters. They are sought for their technical expertise and experience. In such a role, a professional is likely to encounter situations that could give rise to conflicts of interest. His or her previous experience in technical roles, however, may not have provided much practice in understanding how to deal with conflicts of interest or other issues of concern to nonprofit boards. Further, awareness of potential conflicts of interest is critical in many professional roles. Getting serious about avoiding and managing conflicts of interest begins by understanding what a conflict of interest is, what persons in particular are more likely to be in a position to produce conflicts of interest for your organization, and what might be the fallout from a real or perceived conflict of interest. This article is adapted from a publication providing advice to boards of directors of land conservation organizations. But it offers general advice applicable to board members of any nonprofit group. We illustrate the importance of this topic by reviewing three case examples.


Background: Inasmuch as accreditation is of great significance for hospitals, this study aimed to explain the accreditation challenges of Iranian hospitals through a content analysis approach. Methods: A qualitative study was run through the content analysis method in 2018. 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts and data were saturated. To increase the accuracy and precision of the study, Guba and Lincoln's four criteria including credibility, dependability, conformability and transferability were used. MAX QDA 10 was used for data analysis via 5-step framework analysis approach. Results: The findings identify 5 main themes and 29 subthemes. The main themes included macro and policy making issues, evaluators' issues, structures and processes, executive issues, and accreditation measures. The macro policy making issues include: non-alignment of accreditation policies, waste of resources, lack of independent organization for accreditation, ignoring the stakeholders and contradictory regulations. Evaluators issues contain: shortage of evaluators, high current expenditures of evaluators, lack of motivation, irrelevancy of evaluators' expertise, conflict of interest and irregular and tight schedules of evaluations. Structural and process challenges involve: ignoring the infrastructures, unstandardized old hospital buildings, lack of competition between hospitals, Inconsistency of hospitals` strategic plan and instrumental use of accreditation by hospitals. Executive issues comprise high workload and dissatisfaction, lack of attention to main tasks, staff resistance against accreditation, lack of physicians` involvement and its time-consuming nature. And finally the last theme, Accreditation measures consist: Interference and parallel measures, ambiguity and unclearness of measures, using the same measures for different hospitals, weakness of measures, uniform weight of measures, inappropriate structure of scoring and failure to revise the measures. Conclusion: The results shed light on the fact that Iranian hospitals need to experience major changes in applying accreditation as a quality assurance mechanism. In other words, it seems necessary for policy makers affiliated with Ministry of Health and Medical education to revise accreditation measures according to hospital needs and try to clarify the structure and executive process of the accreditation. Moreover, improving and standardizing the evaluators` skills is recommended.


This survey concerns the lexicographic presence of Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron in the Vocabolario of the Accademici della Crusca (from the first to the fourth edition). Boccaccio is the author that counts 15.600 occurrences (considering also his others literary works) already in the first edition. This is a significant situation about Decameron, because we know that a lot of its passages went through modifications and censorship: all of these interventions on Boccaccio's text would have had some influence on the quotations into the Vocabolario. Starting from the declarations of the Accademici, the study wants to investigate about the employment of Decameron's sources during the works for the Vocabolario, involving editions, manuscripts and Accademici's autograph papers.


Planned Parenthood tries with all its might to persuade people to its side, to lead them to think and believe that there is nothing wrong with aborting a child. The organization has even brought in "clergy" to attempt to justify its own agenda. Planned Parenthood does not want you to know the truth. In fact, PP is scared that you will find out the truth.


Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a member of the innate immune system and has been shown to influence myocardial function, but its role in myocarditis is hitherto unknown. We therefore investigated whether or not TLR9 plays a role in this disease in coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced myocarditis in mice. Left ventricular (LV) function, cardiac immune cell infiltration, virus mRNA, and components of the TLR9 downstream pathway were investigated in TLR9-deficient [knockout (KO)] and wild-type (WT) mice after infection with CVB3. Murine cardiac TLR9 expression was significantly increased in WT mice with acute CVB3 infection but not in WT mice with chronic myocarditis. Furthermore, in the acute phase of CVB3-induced myocarditis, CVB3-infected KO mice displayed improved LV function associated with reduced cardiac inflammation indexed by reduced amounts of immune cells compared with CVB3-infected WT mice. In contrast, in the chronic phase, LV function and inflammation were not seen to differ among the infected groups. The cardioprotective effects due to TLR9 deficiency were associated with suppression of the TLR9 downstream pathway as indexed by reduced cardiac levels of the adapter protein myeloid differentiation factor (MyD)-88 and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha. In addition, TLR9 deficiency led to an activation of the antiviral cytokine interferon-beta in the heart as a result from viral infection. In conclusion, the MyD88/TNF-alpha axis due to TLR9 activation in the heart contributes the development of acute myocarditis but not of chronic myocarditis.


The factors for determining prognosis after lung cancer surgery are curative operation, pathological stage, pathological classification, adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies, expression of cancer related genes, and concomitant diseases. In particular, pathological stage (especially N stage) is the most influential factor for tumor recurrence, metastasis and survival. The revision of TNM classification by The Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) in 1997 was well correlated with prognosis. The 5 year survival rates of stage Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIa were 67, 57, 55, 39, and 23%, respectively. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for clinical N 2 disease is expected to improve surgical curativity and survival. Tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CYFRA 21-1, and expression of cancer related genes, such as Ki 67, K-ras, bcl-2 and telomerase, are reported to reflect survival after surgery. Smoking and concomitant pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and interstitial lung disease affect postoperative patient quality of life (QOL) and survival. We should examine these factors precisely, predict each patient's prognosis and establish an appropriate treatment strategy for each patient.


ABSTRACT: Groundnut crop is effected by many pathogens among them Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc  is  leading  to  be  a  major  loss  of  the  crop  yield.  So,  the  present investigation was undertaken  to identify potential bio control  agents.  Among them 14 bacterial isolates were screened for RAPD analysis. 40 random primers were screened viz.,(OPA-1 to 20 and OPC 1- to OPC-20) & amplified.  A  total  of  2013  bands  were  yielded  of  which  1667  where polymorphic  and  346  where  monomorphic.  The  Un  weighted  Pair-Group Method using Averages (UPGMA) analysis of the data obtained as a result of RAPD divided the isolates into two major clusters showing a considerable level of genetic diversity ranged between 0.48 to 0.91. KEY WORDS: Groundnut, Sclerotium rolfsii, RAPD.


In this note, we characterize the graphs (1-skeletons) of some piecewise Euclidean simplicial and cubical complexes having nonpositive curvature in the sense of Gromov's CAT(0) inequality. Each such cell complex K is simply connected and obeys a certain flag condition. It turns out that if, in addition, all maximal cells are either regular Euclidean cubes or right Euclidean triangles glued in a special way, then the underlying graph G(K) is either a median graph or a hereditary modular graph without two forbidden induced subgraphs. We also characterize the simplicial complexes arising from bridged graphs, a class of graphs whose metric enjoys one of the basic properties of CAT(0) spaces. Additionally, we show that the graphs of all these complexes and some more general classes of graphs have geodesic combings and bicombings verifying the 1- or 2-fellow traveler property.


PURPOSE
To determine the specific causative agent(s) and mechanism of formation of opacity artifacts seen on some radiographs acquired at the authors' facility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Various substances likely to come into contact with technologists' hands were tested. Initial test results showed that a hand lotion with sun protection produced artifacts similar to the ones seen clinically and left no visible evidence on the screen after cleaning. Further experimental findings showed that substances without sun protection did not produce the artifacts, while other products with sun protection did produce artifacts. The four most commonly used active ingredients (ultraviolet [UV] filters) in products with sun protection were tested to determine if they produced artifacts. The temporal dependence and penetration depth of the causative agent(s) were determined. A sample of screens commonly used in radiology departments was tested to determine if artifacts were produced.

RESULTS
Each of the UV filters tested caused artifacts when added to a lotion that had no sun protection and did not produce artifacts by itself. The UV filters quickly penetrated the protective layer of the screens and therefore could not be removed with conventional cleaning methods. Artifacts appeared only when using screens with a primary emission in the UV portion of the spectrum.

CONCLUSION
The UV filters in the products with sun protection absorb the UV light emitted by the screens and cause artifacts. Screens with UV emissions are susceptible to artifacts from the use of UV protectants.


An experiment was conducted to estimate genetic variability of 47 orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) genotypes. It was established in two locations (Umudike and Igbariam) in a RCBD fashion with three replications. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA using the software; AGD-R. The results showed that all the characters studied were highly significant (p<0.01) for genotypes. All the traits were significant for location except the vine length, days to 50% flowering and root yield. Most of the characters were also significant for genotypes-location interaction. Significant differences observed among genotypes for most traits indicated the presence of genetic variation among the materials. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was very high for beta carotene (73.8%) and vitamin A (70.0%). Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was very high for beta carotene(183.5%), root yield per hectare(151.6%), total root weight per plant(150.6%) and total number of roots per plant(113.5%). The PCV was higher than their corresponding GCV for all the characters studies, indicating that the expression of these characters was influenced by environment. The GCV was consistently higher than PCV in all the traits. The genotypic variance was high for days to 50% flowering (373.16), dry matter (220.30), root girth (140.73), root length (68.10) and root yield per hectare (349.66). The magnitude of VA was consistently larger than that of VD for all the traits suggesting that the additive genetic variance was more important than the dominance genetic variance in the inheritance of most studied traits. All the characters studies had high heritability (>60%). High heritability estimates for those traits indicated a high response to selection.


The Ta tablets are a series of Linear B documents from the Palace of Nestor at Pylos that inventory vessels, fire implements, slaughtering paraphernalia, and furniture. This article argues that all the equipment documented on the Ta tablets pertains to a single large-scale ritual cattle sacrifice and was not equipment for the banquet that would have followed the sacrifice. The argument is rooted in a reanalysis of the tables listed on the Ta tablets that concludes that they were used for the slaughter and butchery of sacrificial cattle. Discussion proceeds from there to the sacrificial ritual use of the other items listed on the Ta tablets. Finally, speculative conclusions are drawn about the political ceremony that employed these objects and a possible smaller event taking place within the larger ceremony. This study draws on a wide range of sources, including other materials found in the same archival room, relevant iconography, archaeological comparanda, experimental archaeology, and a study of comparative butchery techniques.1


Abstract The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) is a scale used to compare mold contamination levels in U.S. homes. To create the ERMI scale, a nationally representative set of U.S. homes was selected (n = 1,096). From each of these homes, a standard vacuum-dust sample was collected and then 36 common molds, the 26 Group 1 and 10 Group 2 molds, as grouped for forming the ERMI metric, were quantified using quantitative PCR assays. However, in investigations of mold in homes, it is not always practical or even possible to collect dust using the standard vacuum method. Therefore, we performed a comparative study of dust samples collected in the same homes (n = 151) by the standard vacuum method and by an electrostatic cloth (EC) method. First, floor dust was collected by vacuuming a 2 m2 area in the living room and a 2 m2 area in a bedroom, directly adjacent to the sofa or bed, for 5 min each with a Mitest sampler-fitted vacuum. Second, immediately after the collection of the vacuum dust sample, an EC dust sample was collected by wiping above-floor horizontal surfaces in the living room and bedroom. Then, the ERMI analysis of each sample was performed by a commercial laboratory. The results showed the average concentrations of 33 of the 36 ERMI molds were not significantly different in the vacuum and EC samples. Also, the average summed logs of the Group 1 molds, Group 2, or ERMI values were significantly (p < 0.001) correlated between the vacuum and EC samples. Logistic regression indicated that an EC sample could identify homes in the highest ERMI quartile 96% of the time by using the same ERMI value cutoff as vacuum sample ERMI value cutoff and 35% of samples proved to be false positives. When it is not practical to obtain the standard vacuum-dust sample, an EC sample can provide a useful practical alternative for ERMI analyses.


This study mainly investigates the characteristics of carbide and the matrix structure of ASTM A532–87 CLASS Ⅲ high-chromium white cast iron under directional solidification. The two components of high-chromium white cast iron were put in a 3-level Furan sand model, which is placed in a cold-water circulation copper model, producing unidirectional chilled solidification. A K-type thermocouple is employed to measure data for solidification temperature with time. The move velocities of the liquidus phase and solidus phase is calculated. The matrix and the growth characteristics of M7C3 carbide are explored. As determined from the experiment, the liquidus temperature gradient GL is 0.45~ 0.9oC/mm, and the solidus temperature gradient Gs is 4.3~6.2oC/mm. Around 300 nm of the primary carbide is formed from the added elemental nickel being less than 0.3 mm from the chilled end and from the nickel-free alloy being less than 5 mm from the chilled end. As the distance from the chilled end increases, the primary carbide gradually becomes coarser, and the distance between eutectic carbide groups is increased. This study employs EPMA to analyze the changes of primary carbide, eutectic carbide and matrix components with distance from the chilled end, as well as changes in the distributions of chemical elements.


Sports associations play a very important role in the Swedish civil society, and since the 1st of July 1987 they have been exempted from the duty to pay VAT. By introducing an sufficiently closely related. When the conflict of law exists, the directive will be accorded priority, which leads to the Swedish Sports Federation must examine and consider exemption for sports associations the income tax field and VAT field correlate and the legislative change resulted in more favorable pre-close solutions for all of Sweden's non- profit organizations. In June 2008 the European Commission launched a process concerning Swedish infringement against EU-law, and with it the Swedish civil society, where all Swedish sports associations are included, is threatened. The European Commission wants to, among other things, force sports associations into the VAT system for the purpose of the VAT Directive to be achieved. The provisions of the Directive do not take into account that sports associations in Sweden are non-profit organization therefore no correlation is found between the provisions of the VAT Directive and the Swedish Mervardesskattelag. The fact that the principle of neutrality, which is central to the VAT system, is not subsequent is said to be the reason why the process of infringement exist. Although the infringement of the principle of neutrality can only be accepted partly since the exemption in the Swedish Mervardesskattelag only partly contrary to the principle of neutrality. Which is depending on the fact that some of the supplies that the which of the supplies that sports associations provides that shall be considered approved on the basis of the requirement of close relation of the. sports associations provides is closely connected with the sporting activities which is consistent with the regulations in the Directive. Concurrently some supplies are not


Nanostructured materials, especially nanoparticles (NPs), of noble metal NPs such as silver (Ag) have been the focus of research in recent decades because of their distinct physical, chemical, and biological properties. These materials have attracted considerable attention because of their potential applications, such as catalysis, biosensing, drug delivery, and nanodevice fabrication. Previous studies on Ag NPs have clearly demonstrated that their electromagnetic, optical, and catalytic properties are strongly influenced by their shape, size, and size distribution, which can be varied by using different synthetic methods, reducing agents, and stabilizers. The valuable optical properties of Ag NPs have allowed for new approaches in sensing and imaging applications, offering a wide range of detection modes, such as colorimetric, scattering, and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering techniques, at extremely low detection limits. Here, an overview of the various chemical, physical, and biological properties of Ag NP fabrication approaches to obtain the various shapes and sizes is presented.


South Africa is one of the countries heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 9 January 2022, over 3.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported, and 93 551 deaths have been recorded in the country. The South African healthcare system faced a lack of essential resources and financial burdens by outbreaks and its new variant of concern (VOC), the Omicron. The local government has done as much as possible to control the spread of the virus in the local communities by quickly implementing lockdowns and enforcing movement restrictions. An eight-stage program to combat COVID-19 and a national vaccination strategy was also developed soon to manage the Coronavirus spread in the country better. As the country struggles to secure and administer COVID-19 vaccines to its people, the Coronavirus has been rapidly mutating and causing new waves of infections within the nation. The COVID-19 experience in South Africa demonstrates the great importance of equitable access to medicine, medical equipment, and vaccines globally. Equitable access to these essential resources is critical to prevent the virus spread across borders and reduce mortality rates worldwide.


The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) is a regional planning agency in northern New Jersey with jurisdiction over 14 municipalities. This case study describes a five year effort by this agency to serve geographic knowledge to 14 towns in the region by sharing resources and infrastructure through a centralized Geographical Information System (GIS). Serving this information required funding, convincing towns to participate, specialized staff, software licenses and equipment and follow-up with training and updates. The information being served consists of interactive maps available through a Web browser conveying the spatial arrangement of municipal infrastructure, administrative boundaries and fundamental demographics of each town in maps and tables that show proximity, elevations and distances that would otherwise be impractical to describe using words alone. Systems such as these support local governments by delivering information and services to the community in the form of variance notifications, zoning and land use inventories and updates and emergency management information including Right to Know (RTK) records that inform first responders about hazardous materials stored in industrial facilities. The study details how towns were brought in to share resources and participate in a multi-user GIS, how data was organized around the needs of users, the different implementation phases, roll out of the applications, training, maintenance and finally, how the system was adopted and is currently used.


In previous work, we presented a statistical model of natural images that produced outputs similar to receptive fields of complex cells in primary visual cortex. However, a weakness of that model was that the structure of the pooling was assumed a priori and not learned from the statistical properties of natural images. Here, we present an extended model in which the pooling nonlinearity and the size of the subspaces are optimized rather than fixed, so we make much fewer assumptions about the pooling. Results on natural images indicate that the best probabilistic representation is formed when the size of the subspaces is relatively large, and that the likelihood is considerably higher than for a simple linear model with no pooling. Further, we show that the optimal nonlinearity for the pooling is squaring. We also highlight the importance of contrast gain control for the performance of the model. Our model is novel in that it is the first to analyze optimal subspace size and how this size is influenced by contrast normalization.


PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of dual-exposure dual-energy (DE) subtraction chest radiography with flat-panel detector.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred patients underwent dual-exposure DE subtraction chest radiography and chest CT for evaluation of pulmonary nodules. Fifty-two patients with pulmonary nodules and 48 patients with normal lungs were selected for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Ten radiologists who were unaware of the CT results evaluated chest radiography alone and chest radiography with DE subtraction images in the detection of pulmonary nodules. For each radiologist, we calculated the areas under the ROC curve (Az) for chest radiography alone and chest radiography with DE subtraction images.

RESULTS
The average detectability of dual-exposure DE subtraction chest radiography was statistically significantly higher than that of chest radiography without subtraction images (mean Az value increased from 0.784 to 0.815, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION
Dual-exposure DE subtraction chest radiography improves diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary nodules.


Introduction: Of the many cases of cervical trauma, a small number of lesions are important, and therefore, in more than 98% of spinal imaging, no positive finding is observed. Moreover, evidence suggests the high frequency of requested radiographs for neck trauma in patients with multiple trauma. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of radiographic assessment and CT scanning of cervical injuries in patients with multiple trauma with painful distracting injuries. We also determine the concordance between need for imaging assessment and referring the patients by physicians for imaging. Patients and Methods: The study population included 244 multiple trauma patients presenting with or without painful distracting injury (PDI) and referred to one of the three general governmental hospitals in Tehran. All patients required neck radiologic evaluation according to Nexus criteria. Results: Of the 244 patients under study, 68.8% had PDI and 31.2% had no PDI. The most of the damages associated with distracting injury were limb fractures and laceration or soft tissue damage. In total, 14 of 244 patients (5.7%) with cervical trauma suffered cervical fracture of which 6 cases (42.9%) had PDI that of those, the presence of PDI was the only known Nexus index for radiological assessment of the cervical spine only in 2 (14.3%). In 6 patients out of 14 with cervical fractures, the painful distracting injuries included limb fractures in 3 patients, laceration or soft tissue damage in 2 patients, and visceral injuries in 1 patient. Thus, of 14 patients with cervical neck fractures, 8 had no painful distracting injuries and 6 had painful distracting injuries. Conclusion: A few patients with PDI – as an indication for cervical radiography – had cervical spine injuries. Therefore, the exploitation of the NEXUS criteria, especially PDI, cannot be a very precise and specific for requesting cervical radiography.


Sprites are caused by luminous electrical breakdown of the upper atmosphere, and frequently occur over large mesoscale precipitation systems. Two spriteproducing storms (on 8 and 25 June) were observed in Colorado during the summer of 2012. Unlike most past studies of sprites, these storms were observed by a polarimetric radar the CSUCHILL facility which provided both PPI and RHI scans of the cases. Also available were multipleDoppler syntheses from CSUCHILL, local NEXRAD radars, and the CSUPawnee radar; as well as data from the Colorado Lightning Mapping Array (COLMA), high speed cameras, and other lightningdetection instrumentation. This unique dataset provided an unprecedented look at the detailed kinematic and microphysical structures of the thunderstorms as they produced sprites, including electrical alignment signatures in the immediate location of the charge layers neutralized by spriteparent positive cloudtoground lightning strokes. One of the spriteproducing cases (25 June) featured an anomalous charge structure and may serve as a model for how sprites can be produced over convection rather than the more typical stratiform regions. Also to be presented will be evidence for advection of charge into a common stratiform precipitation region (on 8 June), which was then tapped by lightning originating from multiple different convective cores to produce sprites. Depending on the outcome of the 2013 convective season, polarimetric data from additional storms that produce sprites and other transient luminous events (TLEs) may be presented.


Chaperonins are molecular chaperones found in all kingdoms of life, and as such they assist in the folding of other proteins. Structurally, chaperonins are cylinders composed of two back-to-back rings, each of which is an oligomer of ~60-kDa proteins. Chaperonins are found in two main conformations, one in which the cavity is open and ready to recognise and trap unfolded client proteins, and a "closed" form in which folding takes place. The conspicuous properties of this structure (a cylinder containing a cavity that allows confinement) and the potential to control its closure and aperture have inspired a number of nanotechnological applications that will be described in this review.


Research and development in the assessment of language abilities in the past decade have been concerned both with achieving a better understanding of the nature of language abilities and other factors that affect performance on language tests and with developing methods of assessment that are consistent with the way applied linguists view language use. The way language testers conceptualize language abilities has been strongly influenced by the broadened view of language proficiency as communicative competence that has emerged in applied linguistics. And while this view of language proficiency provides a much richer conceptual basis for characterizing the language abilities to be measured, it has presented language testers with a major challenge in defining these abilities and the interactions among them with sufficient precision to permit their measurement. Language testing researchers have also been influenced by developments in second language acquisition, investigating the effects on test performance of other factors such as background knowledge, cognitive style, native language, ethnicity, and sex. Finally, language testing research and practice have been influenced by advances in psychometrics, in that more sophisticated analytic tools are being used both to unravel the tangled web of language abilities and to assure thhat the measures of these abilities are reliable, valid, efficient, and appropriate for the uses for which they are intended.


Summary
Thiabendazole was administered orally in a suspension to 163 adults and children and found to be very effective against Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus and Strongyloides stercoralis and slightly effective against Trichuris trichiura. Five treatment regimens were used and evaluated. A dosage of 25 to about 30 mg of thiabendazole per kg of body weight twice daily for 3 days was very effective and well tolerated. This was substantiated by the results obtained in a double-blind placebocontrolled study. Side effects were few with this regimen. With all treatment regimens side effects were transitory and not severe.


This article explores the ways that gender, sexuality, pleasure, and risk are entangled in affective labour and the production of value in 'front of house' bar work. Through their work as bar staff at 'hip' inner-city Melbourne venues, the young women we discuss produce affects in the form of a 'vibe' of relaxation, fun, pleasure, and release. We address McRobbie's call for the 'actual working practices' which comprise affective labour to be explored and highlight the ways gender relations including the heterosexual matrix of desire are mobilised in the production of value in young women's bar work. We discuss the tensions at play in this context where women are required to generate both a positive and a pleasurable feeling in their interactions with others while negotiating the complex politics of heterosexual desire while at work, including managing and negotiating harassment from male customers. This management requires complex sensate and embodied practices that are both conscious and unconscious (described, for example, as an 'instinct'), involving constantly 'scanning' and 'reading the crowd' and monitoring their own embodied and affective responses to particular men while they carry on other conversations or pour drinks. We argue it is critical to study the 'actual working practices' which comprise affective labour in order to expose the ways relations of inequality can be mobilised in the production of value in this context.


In this paper, we propose a new patch-based texture synthesis method. The proposed method consists of two main components: a feature-weighted similarity and a pixel-based re-synthesis step. Most existing patch-based methods can only handle for frontal-parallel textures (FPT) and generate poorly synthesized results for non-frontal-parallel textures (NFPT). To better synthesize NFPT, we enhance the proposed method with a view warping technique. As a result, the proposed method can handle well for FPT and NFPT


In the current paper, we present an optimization system solving multi objective production scheduling problems (MOOPPS). The identification of Pareto optimal alternatives or at least a close approximation of them is possible by a set of implemented metaheuristics. Necessary control parameters can easily be adjusted by the decision maker as the whole software is fully menu driven. This allows the comparison of different metaheuristic algorithms for the considered problem instances. Results are visualized by a graphical user interface showing the distribution of solutions in outcome space as well as their corresponding Gantt chart representation.
The identification of a most preferred solution from the set of efficient solutions is supported by a module based on the aspiration interactive method (AIM). The decision maker successively defines aspiration levels until a single solution is chosen.
After successfully competing in the finals in Ronneby, Sweden, the MOOPPS software has been awarded the European Academic Software Award 2002 (this http URL)


The extrinsic compression of the hepatocholedochus by a cavernomatosis of the portal vein, is an unusual pathology. The present case begun clinically as an obstructive jaundice, assuming that the vascular origin of the compression increased the litiasic biliary disease. The percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography was the diagnostic method that suggested a double illness of the biliary system. The surgery and the pathology certificated the diagnosis. The correct treatment once confirmed the obstructive trial, must be: the extraction of the biliary gallstones and the bile-digestive derivation (preferently the hepatic-jejunum anastomosis in Y of Roux).


Due to its good dietary role, barley has attracted a growing amount of interest for the manufacture of functional foods in recent years. In barley, a number of bioactive components, including as phenolic compounds, have been discovered, and barley extrudates could be used to formulate various processed foods, including ready-to-eat cereals, baby, and pet foods and support nutritionally balanced diets. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of extrusion processing on resistant starch (RS), glycemic index (GI), and antioxidant compounds of barley flour. The L* and ΔE values of barley flours decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after extrusion is done at 150 and 180°C. The a* and b* values, however, increased after extrusion. Extrusion increased antioxidant activity (AOA), metal chelating activity (MCA), and ABTS+ scavenging activity, whereas total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) decreased. Barley extrudates at 150 and 180°C showed decreased TPC by 16.4–34.2% and 23.4–38.1%. Moreover, improved RS and reduced GI values were recorded for barley extrudates as compared to barley non-extrudates. Therefore, extrusion of barley could be an alternative to produce pregelatinized barley flour with improved RS low GI values and improved antioxidant potential.