CASE
Brady is a 5-year-old boy who was seen in a multidisciplinary clinic for evaluation of deaf and hard of hearing children. Brady was born full-term after an uncomplicated pregnancy. He was referred for audiological evaluation after his newborn hearing screen and was diagnosed with a severe-to-profound bilateral sensorineural hearing difference at age 6 months. He has no other medical history.Brady was referred for developmental evaluation after completing his medical workup and cochlear implantation at an outside institution. No etiologic cause of his hearing difference was identified, and his diagnosis was presumed to be genetic and nonsyndromic. He had previously undergone right cochlear implantation at age 14 months and left cochlear implantation at age 23 months. Brady received speech and language therapy, with an emphasis on spoken language through early intervention, and met all motor and social milestones at appropriate times. Despite therapy, he continued to show delays in meeting language and communication milestones. Given concerns over persistent language delays after cochlear implantation, he underwent an interdisciplinary speech, language, and psychological evaluation at 3 years 4 months old. At the time of his evaluation, he was noted to have robust social skills but significantly delayed expressive and receptive language skills with language use limited to single words.After the initial evaluation, he was enrolled at a school for the deaf with instruction provided in both spoken English and American Sign Language. In follow-up evaluation at age 4 years 8 months, Brady was described as happy, cooperative, and eager to connect socially. It was noted that he had age-appropriate visual spatial cognitive and motor skills and had made some gains compared with prior assessments in both spoken and sign language. Notably, however, his language abilities and most areas of adaptive living skills remained below what would be expected by his developmental age and in some domains plateaued compared with prior assessments. He was able to produce some words and signs and responded to all prompts using only single words or signs and gestures. Brady's parents present today to your multidisciplinary clinic asking to understand why his language has not progressed further and to learn how they can help him reach his full potential.


Carcinogenesis is often accelerated by the aberrant activation of components molecules of Wnt signaling pathway, especially, APC and beta-catenin are frequently reported to be mutated in various cancers. Therefore, Wnt signal pathway is thought to be one of the attractive therapeutic targets. PRI-724 generated by PRISM Pharma is a small molecule inhibitor of beta-catenin and its transcriptional coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP) thereby specific modulating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway by intravenous continuous infusion. Here we firstly generated orally active small molecular inhibitor, E7386. E7386 disrupted the interaction between beta-catenin and CBP in co-immunoprecipitation assay. E7386 inhibited canonical Wnt signaling pathway /TCF reporter gene activity in LiCl-stimulated HEK-293 and MDA-MB-231 in a dose dependent manner with IC50 values of 55 nmol/L and 73 nmol/L, respectively. E7386 modulated the expression of Wnt signaling pathway related genes including AXIN2 and other genes, which were down-regulated by artificial knockdown of beta-catenin. These results indicate that E7386 controls the expression of Wnt target genes through modulation of beta-catenin/CBP interaction. Next we investigated anti-polyposis effect in ApcMin/+ mice as an in vivo proof of mechanism model. ApcMin/+ mice develops polyps in the intestinal tract caused by the aberrant activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Oral administration of E7386 significantly suppressed the number of polyposis in a dose dependent manner at the dose range from 8.5 to 50 mg/kg. In addition, E7386 significantly changed the expressions of Wnt related genes in whisker follicle of ApcMin/+mice model. Finally, we investigated anti-tumor activity of E7386 in vitro tumor proliferation panel against 28 human tumor cell lines. E7386 showed relatively potent anti-proliferative activity against cancer cell lines harboring exclusively mutated Wnt signaling pathway molecules such as APC or beta-catenin. E7386 also showed significant antitumor activity in a dose dependent manner on human tumor cell line xenograft harboring APC mutation. Taken together, E7386 is a first in class orally active CBP/beta-catenin modulator and showed potent inhibitory activity against aberrant activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Citation Format: Kazuhiko Yamada, Yusaku Hori, Atsumi Yamaguchi, Masahiro Matsuki, Shuntaro Tsukamoto, Akira Yokoi, Taro Semba, Yoichi Ozawa, Satoshi Inoue, Yuji Yamamoto, Kentaro Iso, Kazutaka Nakamoto, Hitoshi Harada, Naoki Yoneda, Atsushi Takemura, Masayuki Matsukura,, Kenji Kubara, Takenao Odagami, Masao Iwata, Akihiko Tsuruoka, Toshimitsu Uenaka, Junji Matsui, Tomohiro Matsushima, Kenich Nomoto, Hiroyuki Kouji, Takashi Owa. E7386 : First-in-class orally active CBP/beta-catenin modulator as an anticancer agent [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5177. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5177


With a scalar potential and a bivector potential, the vector field associated with the drift of a diffusion is decomposed into a generalized gradient field, a field perpendicular to the gradient, and a divergence-free field. We give such decomposition a probabilistic interpretation by introducing cycle velocity from a bivectorial formalism of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. New understandings on the mean rates of thermodynamic quantities are presented. Deterministic dynamical system is further proven to admit a generalized gradient form with the emerged potential as the Lyapunov function by the method of random perturbations.


HIV strains were isolated from HIV-infected patients and AIDS patients in CIS. A total of 81 HIV isolates were obtained. The isolates were identified by using immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay, by determining the activity of reverse transcriptase, immunoblot, electron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction. Of the 81 isolates 79 were HIV-1 and 2 HIV-2. The strains differed in their infectivity, the kinetics of virus antigen accumulation, and the spectrum of susceptible cell lines. The viruses isolated may be assigned as two groups: high and low infective. The biological properties of the national HIV isolates were shown to be similar to the prototype HIV strains isolated elsewhere.


More than 50 years of armed conflict in Colombia have permeated the entire society with a culture of violence and war, which have left few citizens untouched. A crucial decision in the history of the conflict was to invite U.S. to take part in the Colombian war. What did this mean at local and interpersonal levels? This study – the first scholarly treatment of transnational relationships between Colombian women and U.S. servicemen – considers the case of Melgar, the location of two Colombian military bases with a permanent presence of U.S. military personnel, to explore through locals' narratives the implications of U.S. intervention in the conflict on the daily lives of Colombian women. It addresses this topic by focusing on the sexual and/or romantic relationships that have developed between local women and U.S. servicemen in relation with notions and practices of gender, sexuality, race, nationality and class. A key finding is that participants' experiences defy traditional frame-works for analysing the relationship between women and war, as well as op-positional constructs that split and give an incomplete interpretation of women's lived experiences such as the private/public divide. This paper offers an account of the multiplicity, fluidity and complexity of women's lived experiences in militarized contexts, by concluding that local women that participated in the research embrace militarization by understanding their relationships with U.S. servicemen as beneficial and desirable. In doing so, they contribute to the maintenance of oppressive social orders and reinforce militarization. Furthermore, beyond serving military ends in the context of the militarization of Melgar, the experiences of participants are the product of the simultaneous interaction of the international and the local, the North and the South, the material and the emotional, the private and the public; and women's social, economic and physical security and support, as well as their informed consent and agency to desire, enjoy their sexuality and make decisions while navigating within the constraints and possibilities of their gendered, militarized, racialized, sexualized and nationalized realities.


Purpose: To compare the outcome prediction ability of SOFA and MOD scoring systems, in the subset of ICU patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Materials and Methods: We performed a descriptive analytic study at Poursina hospital, a tertiary care trauma center. A number of 83 patients with severe traumatic brain injury who admitted to ICU between November 2012 and December 2013 were included. SOFA and MOD scores were calculated for each patient on a daily basis and areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were used to compare the discriminative ability of two scoring systems. Results: Out of 83 patients, 23 died (27.71%). AUROC curve for SOFA and MOD score were 0.514 and 0.510 respectively on admission, 0.587 and 0.512 on the second day of admission, 0.779 and 0.749 on the fourth day of admission and 0.978 and 0.824 after two weeks. Both systems were unreliable predictors of death for first 48 hours of admission. After 96 hours of admission, both systems represented an acceptable prediction ability, with no statistically significant difference between two tools (P value=0.850). In terms of outcome prediction, MOD scoring system performed good on fourteenth day with a significant difference when compared to excellent discriminant function of SOFA (P value=0.027). Conclusions: During the 48 hours of admission, none of scoring tools showed a reliable function of predicting the ICU mortality. They represented an acceptable discriminative ability after the fourth day of admission and better predictive ability after the fourteenth day of admission. After two weeks of admission, SOFA is superior to MODS in outcome prediction.


Just War Theory is a long standing tradition in the field of war ethics that assesses the morality of all political and military actions leading up to and during periods of conflict. Historically, the moral justifications for going to war and those relating to the battlefield have been considered as separate, since political and military decisions are confined to their own arenas. However, this orthodox model has been challenged by revisionists, arguing that, in order for a combatant to fight justly, the war in which they fight must first be just. This paper examines the orthodox and revisionist models in order to determine the necessity of jus ad bellum (justice for war) as a prerequisite for satisfying the criteria of jus in bello (justice in war). The analysis focuses on arguments in support of, and against, each model to provide a solution to a moral dilemma of fighting justly in an unjust war. Using this analysis, the paper will conclude that neither model is adequate to achieve this for different reasons and that a solution could be found in a new model. Keywords: Just War Theory, Jus ad Bellum , Jus in Bello , Walzer, McMahan, Orthodox, Revisionist.


The treatment of epilepsy by the injection of rattlesnake venom has attracted some attention. Those of us who are connected with the Pennsylvania Epileptic Hospital and Colony Farm have been besieged by inquiries as to its value. Information was sought in person and by telephone, and letters were received from different parts of the country. The glowing reports heralded throughout the land in the lay press reached our patients and their families, some of whom almost insisted on our using crotalin. The matter became somewhat troublesome and, since we were without personal knowledge on the subject, there seemed sufficient reason for our giving the venom a trial. Observations on epileptics made under colony supervision should be useful, since the life there is the most regular and healthful possible. Patients are not left to report on their own condition—a method of gathering information which may be most unreliable. Attacks often occur


Studies of spinalized animals indicate that some pharmacological agents may act on receptors in the spinal cord, helping to produce coordinated locomotor movement. Other drugs may help to ameliorate the neuropathological changes resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI), such as spasticity or demyelination, to improve walking. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of pharmacological agents on gait in people with SCI. A keyword literature search of articles that evaluated the effects of drugs on walking after SCI was performed using the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and hand searching. Two reviewers independently evaluated each study, using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) tool for randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and the modified Downs & Black scale for all other studies. Results were tabulated and levels of evidence were assigned. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. One RCT provided Level 1 evidence that GM-1 ganglioside in combination with physical therapy improved motor scores, walking velocity, and distance better than placebo and physical therapy in persons with incomplete SCI. Multiple studies (levels of evidence 1-5) showed that clonidine and cyproheptadine may improve locomotor function and walking speed in severely impaired individuals with incomplete SCI. Gains in walking speed associated with GM-1, cyproheptadine, and clonidine are low compared to those seen with locomotor training. There was also Level 1 evidence that 4-aminopyridine and L-dopa were no better than placebo in helping to improve gait. Two Level 5 studies showed that baclofen had little to no effect on improving walking in persons with incomplete SCI. There is limited evidence that pharmacological agents tested so far would facilitate the recovery of walking after SCI. More studies are needed to better understand the effects of drugs combined with gait training on walking outcomes in people with SCI.


Two sites in the Orinoco Valley containing preceramic from excavated contexts are described. Radiocarbon dating and stylistic comparisons indicate that the northern tropical lowlands were inhabited at the onset of the Holocene, suggesting a time depth of 9000 years before the present for tropical forest-savanna adaptations in northern South America.


Demise of the bubble economy and factors relating to deterioration in competitiveness As recently as fifteen years ago, the Japanese automobile industry was said to be the most efficient and internationally competitive, having eleven major automobile makers, including truck manufacturers, to the US and Europe's two or three. However, toward the end of the bubble economy, figures from the Japanese auto makers began to deteriorate rapidly. The profits of the eleven auto makers, which reached ¥1.1 trillion between the 1980s and 1991, had fallen to less than half that, ¥400 billion, by early 1993. Three out of the eleven companies went into deficit, and people began to question what had happened to Japan's competitive power. Until the economic bubble burst, signaling the start of the Heisei recession, Japanese auto makers had shown steady growth every year, even during periods of reduced production following the 1973 and 1981 oil shocks. Yet in both cases this was only for a year before production increased once more. So four consecutive years of reduced production following the collapse of the bubble economy was unprecedented. Reduced production on each occasion was greatly influenced by a reduction in domestic demand, but after the two oil shocks, an increase in exports led to greater production. Immediately following the first oil shock, exports to the US and the Middle East increased, and after the second oil shock, exports to Europe grew.


In sub-Saharan Africa, sweetpotato (Impomoea batatas L.) production is greatly constrained by sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) complex. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of viruses in healthy-looking sweetpotato in Uganda and to optimise modern technologies for virus diagnosis. A collection of healthy-looking sweetpotato vines from central Uganda were serologically assayed for sweetpotato viruses and the positive samples were confirmed by RT-PCR. A multiplex RT-PCR assay was optimised for simultaneous detection of Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV). The use of in vitro thermotherapy was also investigated as a means of eliminating sweetpotato viruses. Four viruses namely SPCSV, SPFMV, SPMMV and SPCFV were detected mostly as single infections in the healthy looking plants. SPCSV (70. 6%) recorded highest incidence followed by co-infection of SPFMV and SPCSV (8.3%). Based on shoot survival and effectiveness of virus elimination, the best results were obtained by exposing plantlets to daily temperature regime of 32 oC for 8 hr of darkness and 36 oC for 16 hr of light for four weeks. Meristem-tip culture combined with thermotherapy allowed elimination of SPFMV and SPMMV in 77% of plants that were previously infected with the respective viruses. However, elimination of SPCSV was unsuccessful.


45Ca was injected into prenatal mice to study the calcium uptake by tooth germ cells. Both dental papillae, containing the odontoblasts, and the enamel organs were found to actively metabolize the labeled calcium. The maximum specific radioactivity occurred at 15 minutes after injection. The subcellular organelles (e.g. mitochondria) of the papillae were more active in metabolizing the labeled calcium whereas a large portion of the radioactivity of the enamel organ was found in a fraction containing the pre-calcified material. In fetal tooth germs, the rate of incorporation of labeled calcium into the pre-calcified material was slower than in the postnatal tooth germs since a large portion of the radioactivity remained in the soluble fraction.


Recent studies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northern Quebec and central Labrador have demonstrated similar patterns of seasonal movements and distribution among four herds. Aerial surveys and radio-telemetry indicated that animals occupied forest-wetland habitat at densities of 0.03 caribou km2, or lower, for most of the year. Although females were widely dispersed at calving individuals demonstrated fidelity toward specific calving locations, in successive years. Caribou did not form large post-calving aggregations. Movement was greatest in the spring, prior to calving, and in the fall, during or immediately after rutting. Caribou were generally sedentary during summer and winter, although some moved relatively long distances to late-winter range. Although the herds occupy continuous range across Quebec and Labrador, our data indicate that the herds are largely discreete and should be managed individually.


Three approaches to estimation from nonprobability samples are quasi-randomization, superpopulation modeling, and doubly robust estimation. In the first, the sample is treated as if it were obtained via a probability mechanism, but unlike in probability sampling, that mechanism is unknown. Pseudo selection probabilities of being in the sample are estimated by using the sample in combination with some external data set that covers the desired population. In the superpopulation approach, observed values of analysis variables are treated as if they had been generated by some model. The model is estimated from the sample and, along with external population control data, is used to project the sample to the population. The specific techniques are the same or similar to ones commonly employed for estimation from probability samples and include binary regression, regression trees, and calibration. When quasi-randomization and superpopulation modeling are combined, this is referred to as doubly robust estimation. This article reviews some of the estimation options and compares them in a series of simulation studies.


Purpose: Trauma is one of the major causes of maternal and fetal mortality, and the most common cause of maternal trauma is a traffic accident. In Korea, data about traffic accidents in pregnant women are not widely collected and classified so far. Hence, we studied and analyzed the characteristics of injured pregnant women by the traffic accidents. Methods: From January 2002 to August 2011, pregnant women who were in traffic accidents visiting Emergency Department were studied. Pregnancy out come and the degree of the damage were determined through the retrospective analysis of the medical records. Results: The pregnant women who visited after traffic accidents were total 204 patients. Among them, 176 patients had no complication related to the traffic accidents, 28 patients had complications. The incidence of the complications in the 3rd trimester pregnants was statistically significant higher than that in the other trimesters. The analysis based on the mechanism shows more complications in the pedestrian injury. In the survey by the type of the vehicles, the complications from the trauma associated with a car had lower incidence. The patients arrived at the emergency center by walking had greater numbers than who arrived by an ambulance in the groups occurred the complications. The patients suffered complications who complained pain in trunk especially in abdomen and pelvis than in extremities and complained vaginal discharge, and those showed a statistically significant greater incidence. Conclusion: When pregnant women were injured by the traffic accidents, the factors related to the poor pregnant prognosis were trimester of pregnancy, means of visiting the emergency center, trauma mechanism, and complaining symptoms. Therefore, these factors may be used as a prognostic tool to predict an incidence of complications, length of hospital stay and rate of complications and can be used to plan for treatments. (J Trauma Inj 2012;25:132-138)


Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the ability of self-care agency service users hypertensive external consultation of the University Hospital Erasmo Meoz, in Cucuta. Materials and Methods: this was a cross-sectional study of a quantitative conducted during the first half of 2012, volunteers who required to have completed Questionary of Capacity of Agency of self-care. Results: The overall levels of self care were as follows: 83.1% showed a low self care capac-ity, 6.2 % showed average self care capacity and 10.8 % showed a high capacity. The same trend was found with the promotion and operation categories of personal development, personal interaction, and activity and rest. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study allow to comprehensively assess the effect on the ability of the self-care agency in the participants. This confirms the importance of nursing forceful work in strengthening these people as being able to use reason to under-stand their health, making decisions for specific action and generate favourable behavior towards their own care.


The marketing in strategy dialogue and the emerging marketing/entrepreneurship interface paradigm stress the need for marketers to research entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneur-ship, the entrepreneurship leading to the establishment of new social enterprises and the continued innovation in existing ones, is much discussed but little understood and given the increasing importance of such organisations should be addressed. This paper conceptualises social entrepreneurship as a multidimensional construct involving the expression of entrepreneurially virtuous behaviour to achieve the social mission, a coherent unity of purpose and action in the face of moral complexity, the ability to recognise social value-creating opportunities and key decision-making characteristics of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking. The paper discusses implications for policy and practice and concludes with a consideration of theoretical issues and directions for future research. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications


In accordance with the need of estimating anisotropy and abnormal stress of formation by applying cross-dipole logging to a cased hole, we show how stress concentrations affect the velocity distribution of formation around a cased hole, and how the velocity distribution influences the cross-dipole anisotropy measurements by computing the stress distribution of a cased hole subjected to the tectonic stress and applying acoustoelasticity theory. The introduction of casing and cement in a cased hole results in a reduced range of stress concentration. The crossover of shear-waves of radial polarization moves towards the borehole. The azimuthal extremum of shear-waves is changed. But the azimuth of compressional velocity minima can still provide an excellent indicator of the direction of maximum far-field tectonic stress.


Characteristics of Web services such as interoperability and platform independence make Web service a promising technique to manage data quality effectively in inter-organizational information exchanges. In this paper, we describe an application of Web services for managing data quality in the B2B information exchange that is typically characterized by large volumes of information, widely distributed data sources, and frequent information interchanges. In such environments, it is important that organizations are able to evaluate the quality of information they get from other organizations. We propose a framework for managing data quality in inter-organizational settings using the information product approach. We highlight the requirements for data quality management and the developing Web service standards to show why Web services offer a unique, yet simple platform for managing data quality in inter-organizational settings.


ABSTRACT:This paper shows that Tacitus patterns his account of the civil war between Otho and Vitellius in Historiae 1–2 on Lucan's account of the conflict between Pompey and Caesar in the Bellum Civile. The characters involved, the setting of the decisive clash, and the sequence of events of the two conflicts are analogous. By emulating Lucan, Tacitus suggests that the civil war that he is recounting is the worst of all times, for both sides implicated in the conflict are potentially harmful for Rome.


Very often traditional approaches studying dynamics of self-similarity processes are not able to give their quantitative characteristics at infinity and, as a consequence, use limits to overcome this difficulty. For example, it is well know that the limit area of Sierpinski's carpet and volume of Menger's sponge are equal to zero. It is shown in this paper that recently introduced infinite and infinitesimal numbers allow us to use exact expressions instead of limits and to calculate exact infinitesimal values of areas and volumes at various points at infinity even if the chosen moment of the observation is infinitely faraway on the time axis from the starting point. It is interesting that traditional results that can be obtained without the usage of infinite and infinitesimal numbers can be produced just as finite approximations of the new ones. The importance of the possibility to have this kind of quantitative characteristics for E-Infinity theory is emphasized.


Summary. In view of recent public anxiety concerning possible inadequacies in the field of legal medicine and ethics, a questionnaire survey was made of medical students, newly qualified housemen, medical school deans, coroners and medical defence and protection organizations. The results indicate that the teaching of legal medicine and ethics is insufficient, and a recommendation is made for an increase in such teaching.


Studies of religion and politics have begun to force their way into the mainstream of the discipline thanks to their increasing methodological sophistication and theoretical ambition in addition to the push of real-world events. In comparative politics, puzzle-driven structured comparison has yielded new insights into the rationality of religious behavior, the weight of path dependence in shaping religious values, and the play of socioeconomic factors in shaping religion's vitality. In international relations, recognition of the importance of religious identities and values in the play of international affairs has spelled an advance over realist caricatures that long discounted ideas as epiphenomenal and focused on the quest for wealth and power as the sole driver of international politics. But notable lacunae remain. The comparative subfield still needs to reckon with the noninstrumental aspect of religious behavior, the power of religion as an independent variable, and the differential appeal, persuasiveness, and political salience of religious ideas over time. The ir subfield must move beyond "paradigm wars" focused on whether religion matters in international politics in favor of more empirically grounded, structured comparison to illuminate when and why religion matters in international affairs.


PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Whether national guidelines should incorporate apolipoprotein B (apoB) into clinical practice is one of the most important and contentious decisions they must face. Canada has chosen to do so. What Europe and America decide remains to be seen.

RECENT FINDINGS
Obviously, the results of the major epidemiological studies and clinical trials should be major drivers of decisions about guidelines. Such evidence clearly indicates that apoB is superior to LDL C as a marker of risk and an index of the adequacy of therapy but is mixed as to whether apoB is superior to non-HDL C. In this paper, we demonstrate that the issue is more complicated than it appears: that even if non-HDL C and apoB are equal predictors of vascular risk (which we do not believe is the case), this is not due to the VLDL C that is included in non-HDL C but rather reflects the fact that non-HDL C is a 'backwards' measure of apoB - that is, non-HDL C provides an indirect estimate of LDL particle number. Moreover, equal predictive power in groups does not mean that markers have equal predictive power in individuals. We also list multiple clinical circumstances when non-HDL C and apoB lead to different clinical decisions because the real test of markers is when they differ, not when they agree.

SUMMARY
Thus, our conclusion is that apoB and non-HDL C are equal - except when they are not. Because apoB allows greater specificity of diagnosis and therapy, it re-establishes the primacy of individuals over groups as the objects of our study and our care and that may be its most important contribution to clinical lipidology.


In this paper, the aim is to recognize human actions from still images. Different from other works, the aim is to use a contour detection and an image segmentation algorithm together to see if the contours and segments are able to represent the human pose in a still image. As a solution, firstly, contours and segments are found in the image. The segments and contours are then used to extract the features. After extracting the features, the contoured and segmented images are split as a grid to get the spatial information. Then, the features in every grid are concatenated as a histogram and the histogram is used for classification. Support Vector Machines (SVM) algorithm is used for classification. The results demonstrate that using the contours and segments together in the image is a better representation for recognizing human actions in still images.


Global measurements of incision rate typically show a negative scaling with the timescale over which they were averaged, a phenomenon referred to as the "Sadler effect." This time dependency is thought to result from hiatus periods between incision phases, which leads to a power law scaling of incision rate with timescale. Alternatively, the "Sadler effect" has been argued to be a consequence of the mobility of the modern river bed, where the timescale dependency of incision rates arises from a bias due to the choice of the reference system. In this case, incision rates should be independent of the timescale, provided that the correct reference system is chosen. It is unclear which model best explains the "Sadler effect," and, if a timescale dependency exists, which mathematical formulation can be used to describe it. Here, we present a compilation of 581 bedrock incision rates from 34 studies, averaged over timescales ranging from single floods to millions of years. We constrain the functional relationship between incision rate and timescale and show that time‐independent incision rate is inconsistent with the global data. Using a power law dependence, a single constant power is inconsistent with the distribution of observed exponents. Therefore, the scaling exponent is site dependent. Consequently, incision rates measured over contrasting timescales cannot be meaningfully compared between different field sites without properly considering the "Sadler effect." We explore the controls on the variable exponents and propose an empirical equation to correct observed incision rates for their timescale dependency.


A relatively high incidence of chronic limb pain, frequently complicated by violent, tremulous involuntary movements, has been noted in Japanese girls following human papillomavirus vaccination. The average incubation period after the first dose of the vaccine was 5.47 ± 5.00 months. Frequent manifestations included headaches, general fatigue, coldness of the feet, limb pain, and weakness. The skin temperature of the girls with limb symptoms was slightly lower in the fingers and moderately lower in the toes. Digital plethysmograms revealed a reduced peak of the waves, especially in the toes. Limb symptoms of the affected girls were compatible with the diagnostic criteria for complex regional pain syndrome. The Schellong test identified a significant number of patients with orthostatic hypotension and a few with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Electron-microscopic examinations of the intradermal nerves showed an abnormal pathology in the unmyelinated fibers in two of the three girls examined. The symptoms observed in this study can be explained by abnormal peripheral sympathetic responses. The most common previous diagnosis in the patients was psychosomatic disease. Recently, delayed manifestation of cognitive dysfunction in the post-vaccinated girls has attracted attention. The symptoms include memory loss and difficulty in reading textbooks and/or calculation.


Millimeter (mm)and sub-mm wavelengths or terahertz (THz) band have several properties that motivate their use in imaging for security applications such as recognition of hidden objects, dangerous materials, aerosols, imaging through walls as in hostage situations, and also in bad weather conditions. There is no known ionization hazard for biological tissue, and atmospheric degradation of THz radiation is relatively low for practical imaging distances. We recently developed a new technology for the detection of THz radiation. This technology is based on very inexpensive plasma neon indicator lamps, also known as Glow Discharge Detector (GDD), that can be used as very sensitive THz radiation detectors. Using them, we designed and constructed a Focal Plane Array (FPA) and obtained recognizable2-dimensional THz images of both dielectric and metallic objects. Using THz wave it is shown here that even concealed weapons made of dielectric material can be detected. An example is an image of a knife concealed inside a leather bag and also under heavy clothing. Three-dimensional imaging using radar methods can enhance those images since it can allow the isolation of the concealed objects from the body and environmental clutter such as nearby furniture or other people. The GDDs enable direct heterodyning between the electric field of the target signal and the reference signal eliminating the requirement for expensive mixers, sources, and Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs).We expanded the ability of the FPA so that we are able to obtain recognizable 2-dimensional THz images in real time. We show here that the THz detection of objects in three dimensions, using FMCW principles is also applicable in real time. This imaging system is also shown here to be capable of imaging objects from distances allowing standoff detection of suspicious objects and humans from large distances.


The purpose of this study is to examine the resilience of high school students in Turkey, and to determine the relationships between the student resiliency and some protective factors such as school climate, teacher atti- tudes and behaviors, family and peer support according to the student opinions. By using 509 students randomly selected from 24 general and Anatolian high schools from central districts of Ankara, it was found that students' perception of sociability and communication skill and determination were higher than the self-efficacy, hope and problem solving skills which were important components of resiliency. There were significant correlations be- tween students' resiliency perceptions and gender, grade level, fathers' educational level, family income, grade point avarege and absenteeism of those students. Grade point avarege and absenteeism were found to be the most important demographic variables that predict student resiliency. Additionally results indicated that there were significant correlations between student resiliency and perceived support from family and peers and these variables were important predictors of student resiliency.


This paper introduces a comprehensive Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for a sustainable supply chain network design problem, and an efficient Distributed Approximation Approach (DAA) to solve it approximately. We study a multi-echelon, multi-product and multi-modal supply chain with different transportation modes. Besides relevant costs in the supply chain such as procurement, production and distribution cost, we also explicitly consider the environmental footprint, represented by carbon emissions and water consumption from production and transportation. The approximation approach is a decomposition-based method. First, the original problem is divided into a partner selection sub-problem and a transportation planning sub-problem. Then multiple filter mechanisms are used to remove potentially infeasible solutions, and an approximate value of the objective function is calculated for each of the remaining solutions to perform a further selection. The one with the lowest approximation is chosen to be applied with a branch-and-bound method. Finally, the algorithm is paralleled and implemented in Apache Spark distributed computing framework to further improve efficiency. Experimental results show that the proposed DAA can provide high quality solutions compared to the optimal solutions of the MILP model with mostly a negligible relative gap and solve large instances in much shorter time than CPLEX. Moreover, in our numerical study, we also compare the results of our model with another version of the model that does not take the environmental footprint into consideration. The results show that explicitly incorporating environmental footprint results in a substantial decrease of CO2 emissions and water consumption at a negligible cost increase. This insight may be of interest to managers and other decision makers and policy makers.


In spite of their performance of highly valuable roles in the civil rights movement, southern Black women (such as Septima Poinsette Clark, McCree Harris, Shirley Sherrod, Diane Nash, Johnnie Carr, Thelma Glass, Georgia Gilmore, and JoAnn Robinson) remain a category of invisible, unsung heroes and leaders. Utilizing archival data and a subsample of personal interviews conducted with civil rights leaders, this article (1) explores the specific leadership roles of Black women activists; (2) describes the experiences of selected Black women activists from their own "standpoint"; and (3) offers explanations for the lack of recognition and non-inclusion of Black women in the recognized leadership cadre of the civil rights movement. The modern southern-based struggle is most illustrative of how the interlocking systems of gender, race, and class structure Black women's movement leadership and participation.


ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 p–n heterostructure nanorod arrays were fabricated through a novel solution-based method using ZnO nanorod arrays as the template. Typical ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 heterostructure nanorod arrays consist of ZnO/CdS core/sheath nanorods and Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystallines grown on the primary ZnO/CdS core/sheath nanorods. In the ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 heterostructure nanorods arrays, ZnO core and CdS sheath are single crystalline, while Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles are polycrystalline. The possible formation mechanism of ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 heterostructure nanorod arrays is also discussed in detail. The ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 heterostructure nanorod arrays possess a broad and enhanced optical absorption from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared region. A good rectification characteristic is observed in the I–V curve of ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 nanorod, which confirms that the ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 nanorod is a p–n heterostructure. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the vibrating properties of ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 heterostructure nanorod arrays. The results indicate that the ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4 p–n heterostructure nanorod arrays may shed light on new opportunities for nanoscale optoelectronic devices.


This article aims to determine the impact of overlapping parental duties during the pandemic on the psychological condition of children in Distance Learning, based on the results of interviews and observations of students and their guardians at Al-Amanah Campor Barat Kindergarten, Ambunten Sumenep. This article identifies the overlapping duties of parents, namely studying children's school assignments, motivating the children to learn, finding a stable internet network, and providing the monthly internet quotas. Furthermore, the overlapping of parental duties during distance learning has a negative impact on the child's psyche. The indicator is that children feel bored and even cry, because often parents are impatient and yell at them during the implementation of distance learning.


Living muscle-fibres from freshly killed mice were mounted in isotonic saline / protein media and examined with a Smith interference microscope, usually with a white light-source. When the A or I bands near the edge of a fibre were observed to match the colour of the background field, their refractive indices were close to that of the mounting medium; although it is extremely probable that diffraction at the edges of the adjacent unmatched bands affected their apparent match, so that they were not exactly of this refractive index. Matched A bands were distinguished from matched I bands by examining them in plane-polarized light, by rotating the preparation through a right angle under the interference microscope to display their birefringence, and from the colour of the unmatched bands when the fringe system of the microscope was left unaltered. In any one fibre, the refractive indices of the A -band regions were always higher than that of the I -band regions. The H bands had lower refractive indices than the A bands, and the Z bands higher than the I bands, but these were both too narrow to be matched satisfactorily by this method. The refractive indices of the solutions in which matched I bands were found ranged from 1.358 to 1.363, and those in which matched A bands were found from 1.360 to 1.366. The mean refractive index of the A and I bands was very close to 1.363, which is equivalent to a total solid content of 16% w/v. These findings are in good general agreement with those of H. Huxley and Hanson (1957) and Bennett (1955), who measured the distribution of solid material in isolated glycerinated mammalian myofibrils; but the difference between the refractive indices of the A - and I -band regions of the living fibres appeared to be very much less. Only part of this discrepancy can be accounted for by the presence of non-fibrillar solid material, because the total amount of this is extremely unlikely to exceed 50% of the total myofibrillar fibrous protein. It therefore seems probable that, because of the diffraction from the unmatched bands, the true refractive indices of the A bands were higher than those of the solutions in which they appeared matched, and those of the I bands were correspondingly lower than those of the solutions in which they appeared matched. The maximum error involved here (when the sarcomere interval was approximately 2.5 µ) can be quantified from independent estimations of the non-fibrillar material in whole muscle (Szent-Gyorgyi and others, 1955; Hanson and H. Huxley, 1957); and from this it seems highly probable that the refractive indices of the I bands were not lower than 1.350 (equivalent to a solid content of 9% w/v), and those of the A bands were not higher than 1.375 (equivalent to a solid content of 33% w/v).


We have witnessed the increasing demand for pervasive Internet access from public area wireless networks (PAWNs). The diverse service requirements from end users necessitate an efficient service differentiation mechanism, which should satisfy two goals: end-user fairness and maximizing the utilization of wireless link. However, we found that the existing best-effort based service model is not enough to satisfy either goal. We have proposed an application-aware service differentiation mechanism which takes both application semantics and user requirements into consideration. The results show that our proposed method outperforms two other bandwidth allocation approaches, best effort and static allocation, in terms of both client fairness and wireless link bandwidth utilization, especially in heavy load environments.


High quality single-crystalline indium tin oxide (ITO) nanowires with controlled Sn contents of up to 32.5 at.% were successfully synthesized via a thermal metal co-evaporation method, based on a vapor–liquid–solid growth mode, at a substrate temperature of as low as 540 °C. The high solubility of Sn in the nanowires was explained with the existence of Sn2 + ions along with Sn4 + ions: the coexistence of Sn2 + and Sn4 + ions facilitated their high substitutional incorporation into the In2O3 lattice by relaxing structural and electrical disturbances due to the differences in ionic radii and electrical charges between Sn and In3 + ions. It was revealed that, while the lattice parameter of the ITO nanowires had a minimum value at a Sn content of 6.3 at.%, the electrical resistivity had a minimum value of about 10 − 3 Ω cm at a Sn content of 14 at.%. These structural and electrical behaviors were explained by variation in the relative and total amounts of the two species, Sn2 + and Sn4 + .


larly that of the frontal and occipital lobes and the hippocampus, is profoundly affected. Foci of tissue damage are often found in the form of rarefaction necrosis and are permeated not only by neutrophilic leukocytes but also by pleomorphic ameboid cells. Neuronolysis, usually with neutrophilic leukocytes nearby, is very common in fulminant cases. Large perivascular collections of neutrophils and ameboid cells (mostly activated histiocytes) are frequently detected in the white matter in regions of cortical involvement. Other sites of predilection are the thalamus, putamen, substantia nigra, and pars basilaris pontis. The medulla oblongata and spinal cord are only slightly affected, and the cerebellum apparently is spared except for occasional "shrubs" emanating from the Purkinje cell layer. In a case of twenty-three days' duration, the neutrophilic leukocytes had disappeared and the affected regions of the cerebral cortex were reduced to a mass of reactive mononuclear cells. In some regions, almost the entire width of the cortex was thus affected. Large perivascular cuffs of lymphocytes and ameboid cells were widespread but seen most frequently in the cerebral cortex. Changes of the same kind were found in the thalamus but were most striking in the substantia nigra, which was almost completely destroyed.


Asthma is currently defined as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. The central role of allergen-specific Th2 cells in the regulation of this mucosal airway inflammation has been highlighted. Hence, there is large interest in the therapeutic potential of an anti-Th2 cell approach. One of the strategies which has been developed, is to inhibit the effect of interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-5, two main Th2 cell derived cytokines. Interleukin-4 is pivotal in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders through its wide range of effects. An important observation, especially during secondary antigen exposure, is the possible redundancy with IL-13. Both cytokines share common elements in their receptor and intracellular signalling pathway. As a result, compounds can be developed that selectively inhibit the effect of either IL-4 or IL-13, or alternatively, by interfering with the common pathway, inhibit the effect of both cytokines. Eosinophils are generally seen as a particularly harmful element in the allergic inflammation. The importance of IL-5 on eosinophil biology has clearly been established. Conversely, in man, the biological effects of IL-5 are largely limited to eosinophil function. Therefore, IL-5 antagonists offer the unique opportunity of selectively neutralizing the effect of eosinophils. Several strategies have now been developed that successfully inhibit the biological effect of interleukin-4 or interleukin-5. Some of these compounds have proven to be biologically active in man. The challenge now is to establish their therapeutic role in asthma.


Objective Developments in advanced polypectomy technique provide an alternative to surgery in the management of large and complex colorectal polyps. These endoscopic techniques require expertise and can potentially incur high complication rates. This survey evaluates current UK practice, attitudes and training in advanced polypectomy. Design Anonymous online questionnaire. Setting Colonoscopists within the UK were asked about their approach to large polyps (>2 cm). Results Among the 268 respondents (64% of whom were BCSP accredited), 86% were confident in removing lesions >2 cm by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Of these, 27% were classed as low volume operators (<10 lesions resected/annum) and 14% as high volume operators (>50/annum). By comparison, only 3% currently performed endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Referring one or more benign polyps for surgery a year was common among responders of all levels (11–68%). Training deficiencies were common: only 21% of responders had received a period of training dedicated to advanced polypectomy; 58% of responders would welcome a national training scheme and a majority supported the implementation of advanced polypectomy accreditation with national guidelines. However, while 41% wanted nominated regional EMR experts, only 18% would welcome an integrated national referral network for large/complex polyps. Conclusions EMR is practised widely while ESD service provision is very limited. Most experienced colonoscopists are confident to perform piecemeal EMR, even if their training is suboptimal and annual numbers low. Practices and attitudes were variable, even among self-defined level 4 operators. Improving training and implementation of accreditation were welcomed, but there was little appetite for mandated referral to subspecialist 'experts' and national networks.


In our hospital, CT-perfusion was introduced in April, 2002. It is used to diagnose, to determine what treatment to use and to prognosticate cerebral blood flow after operation in super acute period brain infarct. At the beginning of the introduction, processing time and dosage for partial areas needed improvement. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of shorter processing time and lower dosage of radiation with the help of improvement in the analysis software as well as a different scan method. Two methods of reducing radiation dosage were examined. (1) The speed of X-ray rotation was slowed down; while photon per image was maintained, total mAs was lowered. (2) Continuation scan was replaced by intermission one. Analyzing time with older and newer version of analysis software was compared. The dosage was able to decrease by 25% as a result of the rotation speed slowed down; it became further less by 50% with the intermission scan. Processing such as the vein extraction was automated by using new analysis software and successfully shorten the analysing time without damaging the reliability of analyses. We forecast that more clinical research on further lowering dosage and stabilization of analyzing will enable us to provide better information.


Twenty consecutive female patients (mean age 30.1 years) with Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS) were studied cardiologically through noninvasive methods and compared with 20 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects. On physical examination 13/20 patients (65%) with PAPS had a valvular abnormality. In 12/20 (60%) patients with PAPS the ECG was abnormal, mainly due to sinus tachycardia in 5 (25%) and acute myocardial infarction in 3 (15%). In 7/20 patients with PAPS (35%) abnormal pulmonary findings were detected by X-ray and in 6 (30%) they were related to dilated pulmonary arch and pulmonary hypertension. In 14/20 cases (70%) with PAPS, abnormal echocardiographic findings were present; 13/20 patients (65%) had valvular complications attributable to PAPS: mitral insufficiency in six cases; mitral valve prolapse in three and aortic insufficiency in three. Two had pulmonary artery hypertension and two, tricuspid regurgitation (one attributable to PAPS). All valve diseases were regurgitant with mild to moderate hemodynamic repercussion. No stenotic lesions were detected. The mean mitral thickness in patients with mitral valve involvement was 7.0 +/- 1.6 mm, compared to 2.8 +/- 0.7 mm in patients with normal valves and 3.1 +/- 0.9 mm in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean aortic valve thickness in patients with aortic valve involvement was 3.6 +/- 0.5 mm compared to 1.5 +/- 0.3 mm in patients with normal valves and 1.4 +/- 0.4 in the control group (p < 0.001). None of the patients from the control group had valve disease (p < 0.0001). Three cases (15%) had pericardial effusion diagnosed by echo. Two patients with PAPS died during the 4.7 +/- 1.2 years of cardiological follow up, due to acute myocardial infarction and embolic cerebrovascular accident, respectively. In conclusion, cardiologic complications are common in PAPS, including left side regurgitant lesions that might be hemodynamically significant, acute myocardial infarction, pericardial effusion and pulmonary hypertension.


Purpose: The aim of the present study is to investigate the role and mechanism of miR-216a in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Experimental Design: The expression of miR-216a in NSCLC cell lines and from NSCLC patient specimens was measured by real time qRT-PCR. The correlation between gene expression and patient survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods. The effects of miR-216a on NSCLC cell growth and metastasis were examined both in vitro and in vivo by overexpressing or inhibiting miR-216a. Finally, the effect of miR-216a on chemoresistance was investigated by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Results: miR-216a expression was downregulated in specimens from NSCLC patients compared to corresponding nontumor lung tissues. Clinical data indicate that decreased miR-216a expression is inversely correlated with cancer stage, metastasis and poor survival in NSCLC patients. Our data also show that overexpression of miR-216a suppresses NSCLC cell growth, metastasis and enhances cisplatin-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. In contrast, inhibition of miR-216a stimulates NSCLC cell growth, metastasis and suppresses cisplatin-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miR-216a exerts its role by directly targeting eIF4B and ZEB1. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that miR-216a is a cancer suppressor miRNA and that overexpression of miR-216a is a novel NSCLC treatment strategy. In addition, our clinical data indicate that miR-216a may be a useful biomarker for predicting NSCLC progression.


In this paper we present and analyze a number of interconnect architectures for reconfigurable systems targeting applications in the areas of wireless communication and multimedia processing. Several interconnect architectures suitable for heterogeneous elements are proposed and then a methodology to evaluate the architectures is described. The results indicate that the hierarchical generalized mesh structure shows the most promise in terms of energy efficiency, as it can optimize both local and global connections.


An orthorhombic actin crystal (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), unit-cell parameters a = 101.6, b = 103.0, c = 127.0 angstroms) was converted into a partially hemihedrally twinned tetragonal crystal (space group P4(3), unit-cell parameters a = b = 101.5, c = 104.2 angstroms) by induced condensation. This condensation (decrease in the c axis) was caused by the flash-freezing of the crystal, with 30% PEG 400 as a cryoprotectant, prior to data collection. Diffraction data for the twinned tetragonal crystal were collected at 100 K to 3.0 angstroms resolution (99.8% completeness with an Rsym of 8.1%) using synchrotron radiation. The hemihedral twinning of the data was observed by self-rotation function analysis and was determined to have a partial twin fraction of 0.376 from intensity statistics. The structure, with two actin molecules in the crystallographic asymmetric unit, was determined by molecular-replacement methods and refined to an R factor of 0.193. As a consequence of the crystal lattice transformation from the orthorhombic P2(1)2(1)2(1) to the tetragonal P4(3) space group, actin-actin contacts were rearranged and an inter-actin dimer disulfide bond (Cys374) observed in the orthorhombic crystal form was broken in the tetragonal crystal form.


Report of the case of a 12 years old boy, who because of acquired mitral valve insufficiency (grades II--III), after an illness of virus-carditis, became, in the first instance, a Bjoerk-Shiley-Ventil M27 prosthetic valvular replacement, and after 3 months, in one sitting, correction of a paravalvular leakage and prosthetic valvular replacement of the insufficient aortic valve with a Bjoerk-Shiley A23. The boy was well rehabilitated one year after the last operation. This is supported by the similar results of the echocardiographic, the ergometric and the pulmonary function tests carried out. The size of the replaced prosthetic valve makes the long time prognosis favourable. Double-valvular prosthetic replacement in children was hitherto carried out predominantly as a result of rheumatic diseases. The rheumatic process as well as congenital valvular malformation could surely be excluded in our patient so that the virus-process seems to be the most likely cause of the valvular defect.


This study explores the potential for the development of mutual funds in Kazakhstan by analyzing external factors such as regulatory policies, market conditions, and geopolitical events. The increasing household savings rate in Kazakhstan and growing foreign investment in mutual funds suggest a positive outlook for the industry. The aim of this study is to explore and analyze the external factors influencing the development of mutual funds in Kazakhstan and their potential implications for investors and the broader financial market. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the factors that influence investors' behavior in selecting mutual funds over other investment vehicles such as bank deposits. The study also seeks to develop and test hypotheses regarding the impact of external factors, such as time horizon, investment knowledge, and risk capacity, on the development of mutual funds in Kazakhstan. The research is based on a survey of professionals from the finance and banking industry in Kazakhstan, and the results indicate that consistent past performance, size of funds, and cost of transaction are the most important factors for mutual fund selection. The study concludes that the growth in mutual funds in Kazakhstan presents significant opportunities for investors, fund managers, and policymakers, but also highlights the need for continued research into the factors influencing mutual fund performance.


We present a method that combines physics-informed deep neural network and the Stokes' second problem to estimate the porosity and the permeability of a porous medium. Particularly, we investigate the accuracy of physics-informed deep neural networks in predicting the hidden quantities of interest, such as velocity and unknown parameters, including permeability and porosity, by employing different network architectures and different sizes of input data-sets. The employed neural network is jointly trained to match the essential class of physical laws governing fluid motion in porous media (Darcy's law and mass conservation) and the fluid velocities in the domain or region of interest. Therefore, the described approach allows the estimation of hidden quantities of interest. This strategy conditions the neural network to honor physical principles. Thus, the model adapts to fit best the data provided while striving to respect the governing physical laws. Results show that the proposed approach achieves significant accuracy in estimating the velocity, permeability, and porosity of the media, even when the neural network is trained by a relatively small input data-set. Also, results demonstrate that using the optimal neural network architecture is indispensable to increase the porosity and permeability prediction accuracy.


This paper deals with the numerical simulation of the constricted high-current vacuum arc (>15 kA), driven by a transverse magnetic field (TMF). The magnetohydrodynamic approach, radiative transfer in P1 approximations, together with the detailed heat transfer and evaporation equations for the electrodes, is used to describe the arc behavior self-consistently in 2D geometry. A model developed describes the cathode attachment of the constricted arc, as a large laterally extended foot point, instead of regular cathode spots. This model leads to the characterization of the physical quantities of the arc plasma and describes the arc motion. A stepwise movement of the arc results due to different instantaneous velocities of the current attachment areas at the cathode and anode.


Background and purpose The reciprocal translocation of the ABL gene from chromosome 9 to chromosome 22 near the BCR gene gives rise to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The translocation results in forming the Philadelphia chromosome (BCR-ABL) tyrosine kinase. CML results in an increase in the number of white blood cells and alteration in tyrosine kinase expression. CML prognosis includes three stages, namely chronic, accelerated, and blast. The diagnosis method involves a CT scan, biopsy, and complete blood count. However, due to certain disadvantages, early diagnosis of CML is not possible by traditional methods. Nanotechnology offers many advantages in diagnosing and treating cancer. Experimental approach We searched PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using the keywords Philadelphia chromosome, bionanotechnology, tyrosine kinase pathway, half-life, passive targeting, and organic and inorganic nanoparticles. The relevant papers and the classical papers in this field were selected to write about in this review. Key results The sensitivity and specificity of an assay can be improved by nanoparticles. Utilizing this property, peptides, antibodies, aptamers, etc., in the form of nanoparticles, can be used to detect cancer at a much earlier stage. The half-life of the drug is also increased by nanoformulation. The nanoparticle-coated drugs can easily escape from the immune system. Conclusion Depending on their type, nanoparticles can be categorized into organic, inorganic and hybrid. Each type has its advantages. Organic nanoparticles have good biocompatibility, inorganic nanoparticles increase the half-life of the drugs. In this review, we highlight the nanoparticles involved in treating CML.


Nowadays, immunological aspect of sterility is an important and priority direction to be studied. Aim. To study the effect of seminal fluid and cell elements of ejaculate received form healthy men on lysosomal, phagocytic activity of neutrophiles secreted from female peripheral blood as well as intracellular oxygen-dependent metabolism and ability of these cells to form extracellular nets. Materials and methods. The level of neutrophilic extracellular trap and functional activity of neutrophiles secreted from peripheral blood of 17 healthy women (aged 19-35) during the first phase of menstrual cycle under the effect of seminal fluid (SF) and ejaculate cell elements (ECE) of healthy men (aged 18-36) in vitro was assessed. Spermiologic analysis included WHO standard indices. Seminal fluid characterized by normozoospermia state was used in the study. Seminal fluid DNCase concentration was determined with the method of immunofermental analysis. Neutrophilic granulocyte functional activity indices to be studied were the following: lysosomal, phagocytic activity, intracellular oxygen-dependent metabolism of the studied cells. Simultaneously, the experiment using the drug "pyrogenal" as a neutrophile activator was performed. The same indices influenced by SF and ECE were estimated. Results. Decreased phagocytic activity of neutrophilic granulocytes was stated. The level of extracellular nets formed by neutrophiles was shown to fall under the effect of seminal fluid and to raise while interacting with ejaculate cell elements. The role of pyrogenal as an activator is proved by statistical results. Conclusions. Phagocytic activity of neutrophilic granulocytes is decreased under the effect of not only seminal fluid, but ejaculate cell elements, as well. Neutrophiles interacting with seminal fluid and cell elements of ejaculate are activated on the way of NETosis. Seminal fluid of healthy men possessing DNCase activity contributes to destruction of neutrophilic extracellular traps.


Abstract : Some of the standards of numerical analysis in time and frequency are the formation of the various square roots of variances, such as Time Deviation (TDEV), Allan Deviation (ADEV), and Total Deviation (TotDev), among others. As time and frequency measurements and transfer becomes better and better, especially at smaller sampling intervals, transient disturbances from such things as environmental perturbations become more and more important to characterize, locate, and understand. While developing software took to more fully analyze, visualize, and model time and frequency &data, especially time transfer data, several "new" ways of looking at the data were tested for usefulness. One new way of looking at time-series data was first reported in 1987 and is called visual recurrence plots or analysis (VRA) [l]. VRA, the auto-correlation function (A CF), power spectral density by the Barnes' Digital Spectrum Analyzer method [2] (PSD), periodogram using phase-dispersion-minimization techniques (Jurkevich[7]) phase plane visualization (PPV), time-frequency analysis (TFA), and even 1-D wavelet decomposition of a time-series signal are being tested. This paper will show some recent results that show that all these numerical took are useful. Tests will be run on both real and synthetic data.


BACKGROUND
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seen an increased application within digital healthcare interventions (DHIs). DHIs use entails challenges about their safety assurance. Exacerbated by regulatory requirements, in the UK, this places the onus of safety assurance not only on the manufacturer, but also on the operator of a DHI. Clinical Safety claims and evidencing safe implementation and use of AI-based DHIs require expertise, to understand and act to control or mitigate risk. Current health software standards, regulation, and guidance do not provide the insight necessary for safer implementation.

OBJECTIVE
To interpret published guidance and policy related to AI and justify clinical safety assurance of DHIs.

METHOD
Assessment of UK health regulation policy, standards, and AI institution insights, utilizing a published Hazard Assessment framework, to structure safety justifications, and articulate hazards relating to AI-based DHIs.

RESULTS
AI enabled DHI hazard identification, relating to implementation and use within healthcare delivery organizations.

CONCLUSION
By application of the method, we postulate that UK research of AI DHIs highlighted issues that may affect safety, in need of consideration to justify safety of a DHI.


This paper presents a new approach for segmenting a video sequence containing dynamic textures. The proposed method is based on a 2D+t curvelet transform and an octree hierarchical representation. The curvelet transform enables to outline spatio-temporal structures of a given scale and orientation. The octree structure based on motion coherence enables a better spatio-temporal segmentation than a direct application of the 2D+t curvelet transform. Our segmentation method is successfully applied on video sequences of dynamic textures. Future prospects are finally exposed.


In this paper, an approximate analytical expressionfor the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a MultiCarrier Code Division Multiple Access (MC-CDMA) signal isderived. Then, it is demonstrated that the PAPR of a MC-CDMA system employing Walsh-Hadamard (WH) codes can be suitably reduced by resorting to a judicious strategy for the allocation of the spreading signature codes. Eventually, a lowcomplexity implementation of the proposed strategy is presented and the relevant benefits, in terms of peak signal occurrence and robustness against nonlinear distortions, is numerically assessed over conventional random allocation strategy. Key Words: MC-CDMA , PAPR ,WH.


The development of weed management systems requires accurate prediction of weed-crop competition. In this paper, simple regression models of crop yield losses based on weed density and weed leaf area are compared. In weed leaf area models, variations in the relative damage coefficient (q) were also analyzed. Finally, three simple methods to assess weed cover were compared: visual, photographic, and optic device assessment. Leaf area models were at least as accurate as weed density models. However, the generality of the leaf area models was restricted by changes in q, according to the date of leaf area evaluation and the year. Although all methods to assess weed cover correlated adequately with weed leaf area, visual estimates were the best to predict crop yield losses perhaps because very low levels of weed leaf area could be distinguished visually better than by other methods.


A differential power processing (DPP) isolated-port photovoltaic (PV) architecture based on dual active bridge submodule integrated converters (subMICs) is designed to improve the energy capture efficiency of a PV system in the presence of mismatch conditions. To facilitate the control design, a small-signal model of the DPP PV architecture is developed in this work based on the discrete-time modeling method. Discrete compensator for the subMICs is designed accordingly. The validity of the modeling and control is verified by experimental results.


This study investigates the spectrum shaping observed in ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. An auxiliary independent signal (AIS) to limit undesired spectral lines because of periodicity or unbalanced data sources (i.e. non-uniformly distributed) and or non-symmetric data modulation schemes are introduced. Each transmitted symbol is represented by a preamble AIS pulse followed by a set of transmitted data pulses that are weighted, delayed and summed in accordance with a predefined modulation. The use of the fifth derivative Gaussian pulse ensures that the UWB spectrum mask established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is met, and a preamble signal is designed to eliminate spectral lines at specific frequencies that appear mainly by existing balanced or unbalanced binary data sources. A unified spectral analysis is adapted for general uncorrelated and correlated quaternary bi-orthogonal modulations. An optimisation problem is also introduced in the case of unbalanced data sources in order to minimise undesired spectral lines subject to comply with the FCC spectrum mask and maximise spectral utilisation.


Abstract For currants along continental slopes, the joint effect of baroclinicity and bottom relief (JEBAR) provides important local forcing, comparable with the wind stress. The poleward density increase (or corresponding sea level decline) typically drives O(0.1 m s−1) poleward currents confined over the continental slope and independent of the wind. This transport is significant at eastern oceanic margins.


Background Atlas segmentation is a powerful method for automatic structural segmentation of several sub-structures in many organs. However, so far, very few studies have assessed this method for skeletal muscle segmentation. Objectives In this study, we present an atlas-based pipeline we have developed for segmentation of quadriceps muscles from magnetic resonance images obtained in twenty five young healthy males and illustrate the potential of this approach for a longitudinal follow-up in a group of 7 subjects. Methods T1-weighted axial MR images from the thigh were recorded once in a group of 25 subjects (G1) and twice (a few days apart) in another group of 7 subjects (G2). The multi-atlas library was built from G1. In order to do so, MR images were initially automatically segmented for bone, muscle and fat tissues and each muscle of the thigh anterior compartment was manually delineated. The same process was applied to G2 in order to obtain the ground-truth set of images. Then each MRI dataset from G1 was registered to each MRI dataset of G2 using a non-linear registration process. An optimal fusion method was then used applied in order to obtain the highest DICE index, a similarity index between the atlas-based manual segmentation and the ground-truth set of images. A single-atlas version of the pipeline was used without the fusion process and a similar validation was performed for a longitudinal follow-up study. Results In control subjects, the results for each quadriceps muscle show a mean DICE similarity coefficient higher than 0.85. While the multi-atlas pipeline did not provide sensitive enough for muscle volume quantification, the single-atlas version proved to be far better. Conclusions In the present study we reported two segmentation pipelines based on atlases. The examples provided in a control population demonstrated a robust method which could be useful for muscle quantification in the fields of neuromuscular disorders, sports medicine and rehabilitation. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Information on climate change is so far scattered and documents are written in technical language often obscured by sophisticated jargon and complicated mathematical models. As a result, information about the causes and consequences of climate change is not understood by the general public. The problem is particularly acute in developing countries such as Nepal where literature on climate change is insufficient to make firm conclusions and develop adaptation and mitigation measures. Hence, we attempt to summarize available information to develop a conceptual framework with a view to making it easily accessible among a wider audience. First, the impacts of global warming on ecological factors, ecosystem processes and functions, and also on human wellbeing are outlined in the global context. The issues are then discussed for Nepal using available evidence, models, and predictions supplemented by some primary data on local perception and knowledge. Finally, outlooks for future action, research and policy are discussed.Key words: climate change, global warming, ecosystems, human wellbeing, adaptation  Full text is available at the ForestAction websiteJournal of Forest and Livelihood 8(1) February 2009 pp.4-13


This paper discusses aspects of long distance, large capacity, and high speed belt conveyor design. The study is focused mainly on the whole arrangement and main components configuration of Belt Conveyor, including driving device, conveyor belt, drum and rollers etc. With increasing demand for the long distance, large capacity belt conveyors, its designing and manufacturing level will be improved.


Lobon-Cervia and Rincon analysed the dynamics of a stream-resident brown trout (Salmo trutta) population using stock-recruitment relationships, and reported no indication of density dependence but strong effects of water discharge on juvenile production. The authors concluded to have demonstrated an example of a population where "… endogenous density-dependent mechanisms played, at most, a limited role" for population dynamics (p. 643), and that the population persists with "… little or no operation of endogenous regulatory mechanisms" (p. 641). Further, they "… question the extent to which generalizations claiming that most natural animal populations should be subject to the operation of regulatory feedback mechanisms hold for fish populations" (p. 644). If these conclusions were accurate, it should radically alter our view of fish population dynamics and how such populations should be managed. However, here I argue that these conclusions should be treated cautiously, and suggest alternative interpretations which are more consistent with theory and previous empirical research. Furthermore, using the study of Lobon-Cervia and Rincon as an illustrative example, I suggest that additional insight into population dynamics may be attained by shifting the focus away from the conventional absolute distinction between density-dependent and -independent factors towards studies that address the potential for interactions between external forces and density.


Electrical properties of zirconium-doped tantalum oxide (Zr-doped TaO x ) high-k gate dielectric films integrated with Mo, MoN, and WN gate electrodes were studied. The Zr-doped TaO x film with the Zr/(Ta + Zr) ratio of 0.33, which showed good dielectric properties in previous studies, was used as the high-k film in this study. A single metallic Zr/Ta alloy target was used for the sputter deposition. The resistivities of the MoN and WN films were minimized by adjusting the N 2 concentration in the sputtering gas, i.e., 10% N 2 (90% Ar) for MoN and 2.5% N 2 for WN, respectively. Microstructures of the gate electrodes were investigated with X-ray diffraction. Current density, equivalent oxide thickness, breakdown strength, flatband voltage, hysteresis, interface state density, and frequency dispersion of capacitors with different gate electrode materials were analyzed and compared. Device characteristics changed drastically with the gate electrode material, mainly due to the difference in work functions.


We study the SIRS (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible) spreading processes over complex networks, by considering its exact 3n-state Markov chain model. The Markov chain model exhibits an interesting connection with its 2n-state nonlinear "mean-field" approximation and the latter's corresponding linear approximation. We show that under the specific threshold where the disease-free state is a globally stable fixed point of both the linear and nonlinear models, the exact underlying Markov chain has an O(log n) mixing time, which means the epidemic dies out quickly. In fact, the epidemic eradication condition coincides for all the three models. Furthermore, when the threshold condition is violated, which indicates that the linear model is not stable, we show that there exists a unique second fixed point for the nonlinear model, which corresponds to the endemic state. We also investigate the effect of adding immunization to the SIRS epidemics by introducing two different models, depending on the efficacy of the vaccine. Our results indicate that immunization improves the threshold of epidemic eradication. Furthermore, the common threshold for fast-mixing of the Markov chain and global stability of the disease-free fixed point improves by the same factor for the vaccination-dominant model.


Studies on the driver's fatigue, must focus on at least two things: the time-of-day that affect by circadian factors, and time-on-task. This paper discusses the risk level of driver fatigue, which generally have to drive in a long duration or more than 4 hours. The risk of fatigue was assessed using Fatigue Likelihood Scoring (FLS) by Transport Canada. Based on interviews with 24 inter-city bus drivers, 18 of the 24 drivers have a very high risk of fatigue that characterized by FLS scores greater than 20, while the rest have a high risk driver that characterized by FLS value greater than 10. A high risk of chronic fatigue that experienced by most of drivers caused by working hours which is more than 36 hours in a week, the duration of the shift of greater than 8 hours a day, lack of time off, the amount hours of driving at night, and the amount of time off.


Cell phones are the most ubiquitous communication device owned by young people today, and students' text messaging during class is a common occurrence in many university classrooms. Analyzing data from a qualitative study involving 34 undergraduate students at a university in the Northeastern United States, this paper seeks to explore: Why do university students text message during class, and what does this tell us about text messaging as a new literacy practice within traditional classroom settings? Drawing on perspectives from new literacies and communication studies, I argue that texting was a meaningful practice for students as it afforded the opportunity for ongoing participation in social networks, and provided a means of exercising power within the controlled space of the classroom.


Ten geological samples (five from each source—Romanian amber and Baltic amber) in duplicate for five different media (air, water, saline, acid and basic) were subjected to thermal alteration at 80 ± 2°C for 12 weeks, in the dark. The samples were analysed before and after the accelerated alteration experiment by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, both in transmittance and reflectance mode, and the acquired spectra were statistically processed by multivariate data analysis, mainly using principal component analysis. The results of the experiment are useful in giving a better picture of how to discriminate between archaeological amber artefacts.


A cause of high cycle fatigue in turbine blades is the resonance of blade vibratory modes with steam excitation. Single-pole switching (SPS) and high-speed reclosing (HSR) can excite 120 Hz torque oscillations that may resonate with the coupled blade-rotor torsional natural frequency and inflict damage on the blades. Using a new advanced continuum model, this paper analyzes the effect of SPS and HSR on the turbine blades of specific machines in the Pacific Power and Light Co. (PP&L) and the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) systems. Additionally, the stresses on the shaft of the same machines due to SPS and HSR are also analyzed and compared with the stresses on the shaft for a three-pole tripping and a high-speed reclosing operation for the same system disturbance.


OBJECTIVES
This paper presents an innovative technique to address complex multiple hepatic vein (HV) reconstruction in right lobe graft living donor liver transplantation (RL-LDLT).

METHODS
A patient with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis underwent RL-LDLT. The graft had seven HVs, including: the right HV (17 mm); one segment VII HV (11 mm); two segment VI HVs (6 mm and 16 mm), and three segment V HVs. The graft weighed 663 g (53% of standard liver volume; ratio of graft weight to recipient body weight: 0.96). Each HV had significant drainage territory requiring reconstruction. A cryopreserved iliac vein graft was used to create a sleeve patch to incorporate the HV openings. The holes were anastomosed to their corresponding HV tributaries using continuous 6-0 polydioxanone (PDS) sutures. Two of the three segment V HVs were combined using a smaller iliac vein patch, which was anastomosed in an end-to-side fashion to a previously harvested recipient umbilical vein interposition graft. The other end of the umbilical vein graft was anastomosed to the larger iliac vein sleeve patch.

RESULTS
Overall, six HV openings were incorporated in one sleeve patch to allow a single wide anastomosis with the recipient inferior vena cava. Doppler ultrasound after reconstruction showed adequate flow patterns in all the HVs.

CONCLUSIONS
All-in-one sleeve patch graft venoplasty simplifies the reconstruction of multiple HVs and reduces warm ischaemia time in RL-LDLT with excellent outcomes.


Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional protein that modulates cell proliferation and interaction with the extracellular matrix. Three common TGF-beta receptors are found on the cell surface. The type III receptor is a transmembrane proteoglycan with a short cytoplasmic domain and is thought not to be involved in TGF-beta induced signalling. In contrast, the type II and type I receptors are transmembrane serine/threonine kinases. The type II receptor determines the ligand specificity, whereas the type I receptor interacts with the type II receptor and may not have a ligand binding specificity by itself. Both type II and type I receptors are involved in TGF-beta induced signalling. The type II receptor, likely in conjunction with the type I receptor, is required for the antiproliferative effect of TGF-beta, whereas the type I receptor is the likely mediator of the effects of TGF-beta on the expression of several genes including some extracellular matrix proteins. To address the role of TGF-beta signalling in myoblast differentiation, we transfected a dominant negative mutant of the type II receptor in myoblasts, thus inhibiting type II receptor mediated signalling. These cells not longer had the ability to differentiate in vitro or in vivo, suggesting that TGF-beta signalling through the type II receptor provides competence for myoblastic differentiation. These studies also indicate that there are several signalling pathways involved in myoblastic differentiation, one of which is modulated by the TGF-beta signalling.


The paper investigates the problems of interconnection between performing arts, politics and the machinery of state, based on works of the famous French philosopher-post-modernist A. Badiou. The analogy between theatre and politics, proposed by him, analyzed when applied to Russian culture and interaction with political realia of past and present. An attempt is made to compare politics and theatre as phenomena that have much in common from the conceptual, structural and functional points of view. The paper also brings up the problem of the status and the role of a person and a society at large as components of creative process, some aspects concerning the extent of influence that theatre makes on both individual consciousness and collective thinking and their view of the world. Keywords—theatre; culture; politics; state; A. Badiou


BACKGROUND
Pursuing higher education is not an easy task as it requires hard work, dedication, and motivation. Although there are many rewards involved in growing up academically, nevertheless, it contains a few hazards too. For instance, suicidal ideation is associated with presence of depression, anxiety, and stress with low level of satisfaction with life in students finding difficulty in handling educational demands of higher education. Therefore, the present study focused on the query that whether there is any difference or not among medical, engineering, and social sciences students of city of Karachi, Pakistan in the level of suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction.

METHODS
Using comparative group design, total 300 students (150 males and 150 females) with age range of 19-26 were selected from faculties of medical, engineering, and social sciences of different universities of Karachi, Pakistan, through purposive sampling. Respondent Profile Form, The Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and Satisfaction with Life Scale were administered to assess suicidal ideation; depression, anxiety, stress; and life satisfaction, respectively, of the students. Scores were analysed through ANOVA and Post Hoc (Tukey's HSD) test using SPSS.

RESULTS
Social sciences and engineering students were significantly higher on depression, anxiety, and stress than medical students [F (2, 297) =8.701, p=.000] whereas insignificant differences in the level of suicidal ideation [F (2, 297) =1.914, p=.149] and life satisfaction [F (2, 297) = .726, p = .485] among these students were found.

CONCLUSIONS
With the help of these findings, it would be easier to counsel students of different disciplines in time on the lines of suggested preventive measures.


Since its launch in 2006, Twitter use has evolved and is increasingly being adopted in a variety of contexts. One such area of use is business, where companies have tried to establish practices and guidelines for company and employee "tweeting". This paper presents a study on Twitter use by SJ, the national Swedish train operator. The aim of the study is to investigate how SJ (known on Twitter under the handle @SJ_AB) made use of the platform at hand to communicate with customers during the tumultuous Christmas season of 2010. Specifically, the paper features analysis of an extensive data set containing approximatley 2000 tweets tagged as relevant to the study and archived during the winter of 2010/11 using the TwapperKeeper application. By reporting findings on Twitter use during the height of what is perhaps the busiest holiday season, which also featured severe weather conditions, the paper provides unique insights into the practice of Twitter use in a corporate context. Moreover, by utilizing social network analyses of a large dataset archived utilizing state-of-the-art online applications, the study contributes to the development of scientific methods to handle large-scale online empirics.


A series of molecular complexes have been designed, synthesized and used as organo-catalysts for the first time for very efficient Knoevenagel condensation. Molecular complexes are thermally stable, easily recyclable, and have a low cost of preparation. The role of acidic protons in molecular complexes in Knoevenagel condensations has been identified as the key factor and helps us to provide useful information about the reaction pathway. The acidic proton of a catalyst enhances the electrophilicity of an aldehyde and accelerates the dehydration process of the reaction at room temperature (RT). An eco-friendly, green synthetic protocol for the Knoevenagel condensation is used to synthesize a series of important cyano group containing synthetic precursors for synthesis of biologically active molecules at RT using a minimum amount of catalyst (∼5 mol%) without the need for chromatographic separation techniques. Detailed mechanistic studies and substituent effects of aromatic aldehydes on the reaction have been investigated. In addition, biologically active 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives have also been synthesized by the Knoevenagel condensation of salicylic aldehydes with active methylene compounds, followed by intramolecular cyclization (via Michael addition) delivering higher yields within shorter reaction times at RT without any need for chromatographic separation.


According to Donavin's analysis, incest is not merely the worst example of sexual desire unrestrained by law and reason in CA; it provides the basis for the moral structure of the entire poem, in two aspects. As represented in Venus and Cupid, first of all, it defines the moral failings of all who imitate Venus by serving her in the "court of Love." But as in common medieval interpretations of the Song of Songs and of Mary's relationship with Christ, it is also a figure for the transcendance of passion and for the soul's desire for union with God. During the course of the poem, Amans is brought from his more literal imitation of Venus' incestuous passion to a repudiation of the court of love and to an appreciation of the figurative, redemptive union which Venus and Cupid parody. Genius leads the way for Amans by means of his own deepening understanding of the meaning of incest in the tales in which it appears. These tales appear throughout CA. In "Canace and Machaire," Genius' obfuscation of the real issues in his attempts to excuse Canace and to evoke pity for her reveal the incompleteness of his moral development at this stage of the poem. In citing her lyrical complaint to Machaire, he mistakenly believes that the echoes of the practices of love's court ennoble their incestuous passion; in fact, they reveal the moral degeneration which is the prelude to the social chaos of the tale's conclusion. The tale offers a warning to Amans that his own pursuit of his lady is immoral. Incest is manifested in more sublimated form in the tale of "Orestes," in which the hero's lawless sexual violence against his mother is provoked by the gods and leads to social breakdown in a different form; and in "Constance," in which the two mothers-in-law are led to destructive violence by their jealous incestuous affection for their sons. "Constance" also reflects the redemptive aspect of incest in the heroine's relation with her father, in which incestuous passion is transcended, and which is transformed at the end of the tale into a "figure for the soul's arrival in heaven." The tale of Peronelle and the "Three Questions" also uses the incestuous overtones of the father's relation with his daughter as an allegory for the soul's merging with the divine. Both positive and negative aspects of incest culminate in the final tale of the poem, "Apollonius of Tyre." In Antiochus, literal incest is revealed most clearly to be a form of tyranny, both in the father's rule over his daughter, and more personally, in passion's rule over reason. Apollonius illustrates the conquest of both forms, in his escape from Antiochus and in his control of his feelings for his daughter. The final redemptive moment in the tale, moreover, is his reunion with Thaise, in which the potentially incestuous relation becomes the vehicle for Apollonius' spiritual emancipation. The tale provides the model for Amans' rejection of Venus' tyranny and his turning towards contemplation of God in the poem's conclusion.
 This summary hardly does justice to Donavin's case, which is presented both earnestly and with considerable subtlety. Her argument in general classes her among those who find that the purpose of the confession is to lead Amans away from his love, and in her allusions, for instance, to Amans' "complicity in incest" and his "overwhelming, ruinous lust" (p. 6), and to his "mental degeneration" (p. 38), we have some of the strongest statements in all of published Gower criticism of the notion that Amans' love for his lady is by its very nature wrong. Others have drawn a connection between the tales of literal incest in the poem; Donavin's most original contribution is to see the non-literal possibilities of the tales in which incest is only implicit. This is precisely, however, where her argument seems most strained. She must labor to prove that some of her examples even belong in a discussion of incest at all. Concerning Constance's first mother-in-law, for example, she writes, trying to compensate for Gower's inexplicitness on the matter: "The mother's motivation for murder is fear that some of the privileges of her 'astat' shall be transferred to Constance. And what shall be the main privilege of Constance's new 'astat' but the advantage of being the Sultan's consort, his sexual partner?" (p. 44); and on the next page, only the analogy of the first mother-in-law provides any explanation of the motivation of the second. Her treatment of Orestes' vengeance on his mother as a subminated act of incest instead of righteous wrath requires even greater distortion. To use Peronelle as a positive example of incest transformed, on the other hand, Donavin must not only read her relationship with her father overly subtly, but she constructs an allegory in which Alphonse, Peronelle's husband, stands in both for Jesus and for sinful mankind. What is missing in her discussion of this tale and those of Constance and Apollonius, and in her restriction to so small a number of tales from so long a poem, is sufficient recognition of the importance Gower gives to virtuous marriage, both as a goal for the lover and as an antidote to sin. For those who feel that the purpose of the confession, until the final scene, is to lead Amans to a more virtuous practice of love rather than to a renunciation of love altogether, neither the pattern that she draws nor her treatment of individual tales will be altogether compelling. [PN. Copyright The John Gower Society. JGN 13.1].


Building on recent phenomenology of γγ → ππ, we discuss the expectation for two photon production of longitudinal gauge boson pairs in SU(N) technicolor theories. The treatment involves a matching of dispersive techniques with the methodology of chiral perturbation theory. UMHEP-398 September 1993 e–mail: firstname.lastname@example.com e–mail: email@example.com