Acetylene-linked macrocycles incorporating multiple perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PBI) chromophores have been synthesised and separated by recycling GPC. The very first example of such macrocycles, i.e., cyclic trimer 5, containing three PBI dyes self-assembles into highly ordered donut-shaped unique hexagonal nanopatterns on HOPG surfaces as revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM).


We present a new algorithm for generating tests for single stuck line (SSL) faults in combinational logic circuits using a combination of Boolean and path-oriented techniques. We use Boolean techniques employing the ordered binary decision diagram (BDD) to limit the effect of hard faults on the performance of the algorithm. We use path-oriented techniques similar to those in conventional test generation algorithms to limit the number of algebraic operations that must be performed. The test set generated for each fault is exhaustive in the sense that we find all test patterns which make the fault observable at some primary output. We implemented the algorithm as the program TSUNAMI and applied it to the standard ISCAS '85 and ISCAS '89 benchmark circuits. Results indicate that for circuits which are amenable to analysis by BDD's, TSUNAMI performs significantly better than conventional algorithms such as FAN or EST in generating tests for all targeted faults. Moreover, TSUNAMI finds a large set of test vectors for each fault. The program can easily manipulate these sets of vectors to produce test vectors which test many faults. As a result, we are able to compress the sets of vectors into a very small total number of patterns.


Purpose – Research on expatriation and global leadership has been characterized by wide variations in defining what constitutes intercultural competence. Greater progress can be achieved if a comprehensive definition of the intercultural competence domain can be established, particularly with regard to the specific context of global leadership. This paper aims to focus on the issues.Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct an extensive review of the global leadership and expatriation literatures, integrating and synthesizing prior theoretical and empirical efforts to develop a comprehensive domain definition for intercultural competence in the context of global leadership.Findings – The domain of intercultural competence in the context of global leadership comprised three dimensions – perception management, relationship management and self management. Each dimension is characterized by facets that further delineate aspects of intercultural competence.Research limitations/implications – The domain...


Fault localization (narrowing down the cause of a failure to a small number of suspicious components of the system) is an important concern in many different engineering fields and there have been a large number of algorithmic solutions proposed to aid this activity. In this work, we performed a systematic analysis of related literature, not limiting the search to any specific engineering field, with the aim to find solutions in nonsoftware areas that could be successfully adapted to software fault localization. We found out that few areas have significant literature, in this topic, that are good candidates for adaptation (computer networks, for instance), and that although some classes of methods are less suitable, there are useful ideas in almost all fields that could potentially be reused for software fault localization.


A model has been developed to estimate the costs of providing bus transport to school for children in various age groups. For 6-year old children the costs of providing bus transport at alternative distance limits of 4 and 2 kms have been estimated. The same distance limits were considered for children in the 7-9 age group. For children in the 13-15 age group, distance limits of 4 and 5 kms were considered. Costs will increase by about 28 mill NOK (4.4 mill USD) if the distance limit is reduced from 4 to 2 kms for 6 year old children. A similar change for 7-9 year old children will increase costs by about 79 mill NOK (12.3 mill USD). Increasing the distance limit from 4 to 5 kms for 13-15 year old children gives an annual cost saving of about 36 mill NOK (7.6 mill USD). (A)


A B S TR A C T Background: Currently the primary screening test for cervical cancer in most countries is Papanicoaou cytology. But sensitivity with cervical cytology is low (approximately 72% %) . Detecting the viral DNA is a highly sensitive test for early detection of cervical cancers and precancerous lesions. But it is costly and can detect presence of virus but not the cellular alterations. p16INK4a is a specific biomarker helping in detection of transforming HPV disease . Also it can differentiate non-neoplastic from low grade lesions and also low and/or high grade lesions from neoplastic ones. The objective of this study is to detect overall positivity of p16INK4a immunohistochemistry in suspected cases of cancer cervix and compare it with other methods of screening like cytology and histopathology. Material and Methods: One hundred patients with strong clinical suspicion of carcinoma cervix were included in the study. In all patients, papanicolaou smear test, biopsy and p16INK4a immunostain were done. The results of cytology was compared with histopathology and p16 immunostain and analyzed to find out the accuracy of each method alone and in combination by taking histopathology as gold standard. Results: 70% cases were abnormal in cytology, out of which 66 were abnormal in biopsy comprising of 38% precancerous lesions and 28% carcinoma. All cases with carcinoma in papanicolaou smears, were proved as carcinoma on biopsy and also were positive for p16INK4a. But in precancerous lesions like CIN 1/2, there was discrepancy between biopsy and IHC. p16INK4a was positive in 5.6% (4/70) patients with abnormal pap and normal biopsy. But by combining IHC with biopsy the specificity and the positive predictive value of pap test was increased from around 80 % to 100%. Conclusion: There is a definite place of p16INK4a IHC in diagnosing and deciding the treatment modalities of low grade cervical precancerous lesions with ambiguous biopsy results. Dr. Asaranti Kar Associate Pofessor, Pathology, S.C.B.Medical College, Cuttack


A person is commonly described by attributes like height, build, cloth color, cloth type, and gender. Such attributes are known as soft biometrics. They bridge the semantic gap between human description and person retrieval in surveillance video. The paper proposes a deep learning-based linear filtering approach for person retrieval using height, cloth color, and gender. The proposed approach uses Mask R-CNN for pixel-wise person segmentation. It removes background clutter and provides precise boundary around the person. Color and gender models are fine-tuned using AlexNet and the algorithm is tested on SoftBioSearch dataset. It achieves good accuracy for person retrieval using the semantic query in challenging conditions.


Band 3, the predominent 95,000 dalton anion transport protein, is the major intrinsic glycoprotein of the human erythrocyte membrane. This anion carrier exists as a dimer and binds the cytoskeletons such as spectrin, ankyrin and actin. And the liposomes are vesicular structures which form spontaneouly upon hydration of phospholipids. These artificial lipid vesicles have been investigated as model of the biological membranes and as a mean of improving the delivery of nucleic acids, drugs, proteins and biological substances to specific target tissues and cells. In this study, we were purified Band 3 from the human erythrocyte membrane(ghost) was prepared by hemolysis of intact human erythrocyte with weak alkali-hypotonic solution. Band 6 was removed from ghost by extracting with solution of an ionic strength of 0.15. Band 3 and Band 4 were solubilized selectively by extracting Band 6-depleted ghosts with Triton X-100 under nondenaturing conditions. Band 3 was then purified from Triton X-100 extract treated with p-chloromercuribenzoate by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. This purified Band 3 was incorporated into liposomes prepared by reverse-phase evaporation. Phosphatidyl L-serine and cholesterol(1 : 1 molar ratio) were dissolved in chloroform and then chloroform was removed by rotatory evaporation under reduced pressure. Band 3 solution without Triton X-100 was introduced into a mixture of lipids and diethylether. Diethylether was subsequently removed by evaporation. This purified Band 3 and its incorporation into liposomes were confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.


Here in this human resource management paper, the authors examine and interpret the concept of Taoism that the Chinese believe and practice for many centuries, and the paper is oriented towards attaining life/work balance in the light of modern day living. The authors also explain the ancient Chinese studied and followed the nature way which is the foundation of Taoism, and subscribing to living simply as in the nature's way, makes for a more wholesome and balanced living. Here, the Taoist's wisdom of 'being empty' is also expressed and explained. Using various examples and analogies, the authors indicate, draw parallels as well as examine and highlight the key lessons drawn from nature.


Contact sensitivity to antibiotics may develop after either topical or systemic administration (1). The most frequent are to penicillin and its derivatives, neomycin, some aminoglucosides and tetracycline. A 21-year-old man had been treated with ampicillin at the age of 15, when he developed generalized urticaria. 6 years later, after another treatment, the same manifestations appeared. Recently, a subcutaneous test injection produced an eczematous reaction at the site. Patch tests with penicillin, tetracycline, cefalexin and ampicillin in pet. (2) showed only the latter giving a positive reaction at 48 h. The patient had never used any topical preparation of ampicillin. Most reports refer to workers in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and physicians, nurses or veterinarians (3). Valsecchi et al. (4) suggested cross reactivity to antibiotics containing a beta-Iactam ring, but we did not see this in our patient. This report emphasizes the usefulness of patch tests in diagnosis of allergies to drugs, and shows that a delayed allergic response may follow a single parenteral administration.


Use of fertilizer within plant protection system can prove a key factor for pest management strategy. The effects of Zinc sulfate (33% - Zn) fertilizer on the incidence of rice stem borers (Scirpophaga species) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in rice crop were investigated. The Zn was applied using broadcast method at three levels (20, 25 and 30 kg/ha) in the vicinity of the roots, 30 days after crop transplantation. The results of field experiment on rice cultivars Shadab and Mehak showed that Zn had significant influences on the stem borers population and paddy yield over the unfertilized control. Average yield per hectare was increased at all doses of Zn and by applying it at the rates of 20, 25 and 30 kg/ha, the differences in grain yield were not significant, but production increased significantly over the untreated crop due to varying pest prevalence. With respect to borers incidence, higher dose 30 kg Zn/ha markedly decreased infestation, while, applications at 20 and 25 kg permitted slightly more deadhearts and whiteheads incidence, but differed significantly from unfertilized control. The present study implies that due to suppressive effects of Zn fertilizer on the incidence of the rice stem borers at crop maturity stage increased grain yield, and the use of soil amendments strategy can create an unfavorable environment for pest inducing resistance through anti biosis or feeding inhibition.

 Key words: Rice, Oryza sativa, Scirpophaga, insect control, rice stem borer, Zinc.


Synopsis This study reviews and describes all known fossils of Alcidae from the Miocene of the western North Atlantic. Because the majority of alcid fossils recovered from Miocene sediments are allied with the genus Miocepphus Wetmore, 1940, the genus is revised here. Three new species of Miocepphus are described: Miocepphus bohaskai and Miocepphus blowi from the Early to Late Miocene, and Miocepphus mergulellus of uncertain Neogene age but probably Miocene. A new genus and species, Pseudocepphus teres, from the Middle and Late Miocene, has uncertain relationships within the Alcinae (a clade comprising Miocepphus, Alle, Uria, Alca and Pinguinus). The genus Alca is also reported from Late Miocene sediments. The newly recognised presence of three genera of the Alcinae in the Miocene of the North Atlantic indicates that the diversity of the subfamily was considerably greater than was evident previously. Miocepphus may be regarded as ancestral to modern Alcinae. The Alcinae as a group was well established in the Early Miocene, indicating that the divergence of the family Alcidae predates 20 Ma. The divergence of Uria and Alca predates 10 Ma.


Abstract Objectives: To investigate player responses 48 h post single (SM) and multi-match (MM) weeks on two subjective and three objective outcome measures to infer recovery status. Methods: From 42 professional players over 2 seasons, outcome measures relevant to recovery status were collected 48 h following matches, as well as during pre-season training weeks as a comparative baseline. These included (1) 5-item subjective wellness questionnaire, (2) total quality recovery (TQR) scale, (3) hip adduction squeeze test, ankle knee to wall (KTW) test, and active knee extension (AKE) flexibility test. These outcome measures 48 h post-match were compared for SM (n = 79) and MM (n = 86) weeks where players completed >75 min of match time in only one (SM) or if both matches were played and had <96 h recovery (MM). Internal match load was collected from each match based on session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) multiplied by match duration. Results: Subjective wellness (specifically fatigue, sleep and soreness), TQR and hip adduction squeeze test were all significantly reduced following match 1 at 48 h post for both SM and MM (p < 0.05), and further reduced following match 2 in MM (p < 0.05). No other outcome measures to infer recovery showed significant differences (p > 0.05) within or between-conditions. Conclusions: Subjective wellness, TQR and hip adduction strength showed reduction 48 h post match for players competing in multiple matches with <96 h recovery. Therefore, these outcome measures may be of use to practitioners to assess readiness to compete during congested competition schedules.


Simulation of temperature evolution and thermal behaviour of the molten pool during selective laser melting (SLM) of TiC/AlSi10Mg nanocomposites was performed, using a finite volume method. Some important physical phenomena, such as a transition from powder to solid, nonlinearities produced by temperature-dependent material properties and fluid flow, were taken into account in the calculation. The effects of Marangoni convection and SLM processing parameters, such as laser power and scan speed, on temperature evolution behaviour, molten pool dimensions and liquid lifetime were thoroughly investigated. The simulation results showed that Marangoni convection played a crucial role in intensifying the convective heat transfer and changing the molten pool geometry. The temperature of laser–powder interaction zone, the molten pool dimensions and liquid lifetime increased with increasing laser power or decreasing scan speed. The maximum temperature gradient within the molten pool increased significantly with increasing the applied laser power, but increased slightly as a higher scan speed was applied. The experimental study on the interlayer bonding and densification behaviour and the surface morphologies and balling effect of the SLM-processed TiC/AlSi10Mg nanocomposites parts was performed. The experimental results validated the thermal behaviour and underlying physical mechanism of the molten pool obtained in the simulations.


One recent but major policy occurrence in Justice and Home Affairs – the Treaty of Prüm (2005) – has developed within the framework of differentiated integration, thus reopening the debate over the impact of flexibility on EU integration, what causes it, and whether it should be sought by Member States at all. Whatever the consensus, the debate itself demonstrates that the very idea of differentiated integration deserves a renewed attention today ultimately because it affects, in one way or another, the performance of the EU. This article presents a critical analysis of the practice of differentiation in Justice and Home Affairs, by examining its forms, principles and effects. It discusses the literature on the subject, emphasizing the complexity of flexible integration, but reaches different conclusions. Thus, in contrast to the dominant argument, we argue that differentiation is not necessarily about deepening and/or widening EU integration. It is also, and sometimes primarily, about power and interests, two major elements that feed mistrust among Member States. In fact, we demonstrate that mistrust can cause poor differentiation. Moreover, in the absence of trust among Member States, flexibility might contribute to sub-optimal policies. Based on past research and interviews, we substantiate our claim by investigating the driving factors, rationales and consequences of the Treaty of Prüm on the institutionalization of a EU area of Freedom, Security and Justice.


Background There is a theoretical basis for the treatment of chronic tendinopathies by platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and it can, therefore, be considered a possible treatment of chronic Achilles tendinopathies (CATs), even though the clinical evidence for the use is not clear and, in addition, there is a lack of treatment algorithms and it is unclear which type of PRP is most effective. The objective of this study was through the comparison of two case series to assess: 1) the effect of PRP on CAT and 2) if there is any difference in effect between leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) and leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) in the treatment of CAT. Patients and methods Two separate series of achilles tenodinopathies treated with either LR-PRP or LP-PRP were evaluated with a natural experiment/quasi-experimental study design, with a short-term (2 months) and long-term (8–42 months) follow-up to assess the effect and stability of the treatment. In total, 84 patients with failed basic treatment for CAT for at least 6 months were treated with either Biomet's GPS III recovery kit with LR-PRP (36 patients) or with Arthrex ACP LP-PRP (48 patients). Results The overall probability of reaching a minimal clinically important change (MCIC) of at least 30% reduction in visual analog scale (VAS) was in activity (63%) and during rest (81%), and for Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale (VISA-A), it was 61%. There was no statistical difference in change of VISA-A score or VAS between the patients treated with LP-PRP and LR-PRP. Conclusion PRP seems to be a possible treatment when all other treatment regimens have failed, with a reasonably high probability of reaching MCIC. The choice of either LR-PRP or LP-PRP seems to be up to personal preference as there were no significant differences between patients treated with LR-PRP and LP-PRP.


We introduce DRAIL, a new declarative framework for specifying Deep Relational Models. Our framework separates structural considerations, which express domain knowledge, from the learning architecture to simplify the process of building complex structural models. We show the DRAIL formulation of two NLP tasks, Twitter Part-of-Speech tagging and Entity-Relation extraction. We compare the performance of different deep learning architectures for these structural learning tasks.


The present article attempts to present a succinct and circumspect comparison between two different translations for Mourice Blanchot's book « L'écriture du désastre ».The first translation was performed by Ann Smock in 1995 and was from French into English, while the other translation was skillfully produced by Azzedine Chentouf from French into Arabic in 2018. The contrast in attitudes and translational fertilization has provided us with ample opportunities to study, reflect on, and rethink the nexus of  Blanchot's philosophy from different linguistic perspectives. However, in our attempt to formulate our judgments on the English and Arabic versions of the book, we can judge by an escapable logic and with analytical evidence that the English translation entitled « The writing of the disaster » has intensified the hold of a literal translation that makes the chances of being close to the original meaning of the source text depressingly small. Chentouf's translation, on the other hand, remains profoundly meaningful; it is capable of going down into the marrow of  Blanchot's thought to assert understanding of his intellectual complexities. In brief, despite the triviality of the advanced examples, we are certain that Azzedine Chentouf, through his Arabic translation, knows the hard philosophical portrait of Mourice Blanchot in its inclusiveness. Therefore, it is no surprise that every choice he makes in this translation explains his tremendous efforts as a philosopher first before being ranked as a translator.


This paper investigates the availability of applications servers running on the NorNet Core test-bed. NorNet Core is the world's first, open, large-scale Internet testbed for multi-homed systems and applications. Particularly, it is currently used for research on topics like multi-path transport and resilience. The NorNet Core test-bed provides access to worldwide distributed nodes, connected with multiple interfaces over a set of ISPs (Internet Service Providers), providing independent transport paths between them. Each node has a set of programmable nodes that can be used for network experiments. This paper describes a practical approach to assess how suitable this test-bed is for distributed computing, and application servers. KeywordsTest-bed; Java virtual machines; application servers; availability; tunnelling.


Fractional derivative relaxation type equations (FREs) including fractional diffusion equation and fractional relaxation equation, have been widely used to describe anomalous phenomena in physics. To utilize the characteristics of fractional dynamic systems, this paper proposes a scale-dependent finite difference method (S-FDM) in which the non-uniform mesh depends on the time fractional derivative order of FRE. The purpose is to establish a stable numerical method with low computation cost for FREs by making a bridge between the fractional derivative order and space-time discretization steps. The proposed method is proved to be unconditional stable with (2-{\alpha})-th convergence rate. Moreover, three examples are carried out to make a comparison among the uniform difference method, common non-uniform method and S-FDM in term of accuracy, convergence rate and computational costs. It has been confirmed that the S-FDM method owns obvious advantages in computational efficiency compared with uniform mesh method, especially for long-time range computation (e.g. the CPU time of S-FDM is ~1/400 of uniform mesh method with better relative error for time T=500 and fractional derivative order alpha=0.4).


The magnetic properties of Sr_3SnO (SSO) epitaxial thin films prepared under various post-growth annealing treatments are reported. The SSO films are grown on cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia Si (001) platform by pulsed laser deposition. Post-growth vacuum annealing is found to enhance the room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM), whereas oxygen annealing reduces it. The results are explained through the oxygen vacancy constituted bound magnetic polarons (BMP) model. An empirical relationship between the extracted BMP concentration and the oxygen vacancy concentration is shown using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data. The results indicate a promising way to tune RTFM by manipulating oxygen vacancies and related defects.


Responses to a hearing aid usage questionnaire were received from 128 patients with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss fitted monaurally with contralateral routing of signals (CROS) or ipsilateral routing of signals (IROS) hearing aids. Functional benefits were demonstrated by wearing the instruments 8 to 9 hr/day, use of the aids about 60% of the time in communicative situations, subjective benefit judgments of 5 to 9 on a 10-point scale, improved subjective sound localization, and improved clarity of speech with the hearing aids. Although CROS and IROS fittings could not be separated on the basis of these factors, considerably more complaints were reported by the CROS wearers, and many of these related to auditory factors. Both CROS and IROS fittings appear to be effective approaches to the patient with high-frequency hearing loss. However, in light of the fewer complaints by the IROS group, and the fact that a large proportion of the CROS complaints related to the amplified signal, IROS appears to be the preferable of the two. The exception involves cases requiring high gain so that CROS might be employed to reduce acoustic feedback.


A new type of beamspace for array processing is introduced called convolutional beamspace. It enjoys the advantages of traditional beamspace such as lower computational complexity, increased parallelism of subband processing, and improved resolution threshold for DOA estimation. But unlike traditional beamspace methods, it allows root-MUSIC and ESPRIT to be performed directly for ULAs without any overhead of preparation, as the Vandermonde structure and the shift-invariance are preserved under the transformation. The method produces more accurate DOA estimates than traditional beamspace methods, and for correlated sources it produces better estimates than element-space methods.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of geometrical parameters on the forces in two directions in a single point incremental forming process. For this purpose, the authors have chosen three types of components: a dome, a truncated cone and a truncated pyramid. The parameters taken into account are the punch diameter and the step down diameter. Tests were made on two thicknesses of the same material but having different mechanical characteristics. To determine the forces, a dynamometer was used. Conclusions regarding the influence of geometrical parameters on the forces for the three types of pieces are also presented.


This article details a study in which student teachers were invited to attend Dramatherapy workshops to help support the development of their self-efficacy and emotional resilience. The aims of the intervention were to improve outcomes and student retention on teacher training programmes. Following the completion of the programme, students expressed positive responses to the intervention, indicating that it had enabled them to be more effective in self-evaluation and reflection, feeling less isolated and having more self-awareness. The research findings have evident implications for teacher educators wishing to support but also challenge the students in their care.


One of the many development goals is to improve the performance of the economy in order to be able to create jobs and organize a decent life for all the people which in turn will realize the welfare of the population. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the minimum wage on the unemployment rate in Indonesia and to determine the effect of the human development index on the unemployment rate in Indonesia. The method used is quantitative method with multiple linear regression analysis and statistical test using t-statistical test. The results showed that the wage level had a positive and insignificant effect on unemployment. Meanwhile, the human development index has a negative and insignificant effect on unemployment


Case A 13-year-old boy presented to the ski clinic following a fall and a possible twisting of his right knee. He was not able to bear any weight on his right leg and was experiencing pain in the medial aspect of his right knee. His past medical and surgical histories were unremarkable and he was otherwise in good health. Physical examination revealed no ecchymosis or effusion. He had moderate tenderness over the medial femoral condyle. Stress valgus test did not reveal any laxity, but caused significant pain. Plain radiography was performed (Fig. 1). How do you interpret his radiographs? Enchondroma of the medial distal femur. Nonossifying fibroma of the medial distal femur. Osteoid osteoma of the medial distal femur. Salter-Harris type II fracture of the distal femur.


Test paper making-up algorithm is the core of item bank system. The paper analyzes the features of the random choice method, backtracking method and genetic algorithm. And it combines three test paper algorithms to construct a mixed test paper making-up strategy, using the identified degree of differentiation and knowledge of the distribution to select items randomly and conduct backtracking treatment in the part of the exceeding constraining conditions. If the times of backtracking are too many, the re-pumping of using the model of reusing the genetic algorithm to generate new questions problems should be adopted. Using strategy of the hybrid test paper can achieve complement of the three traditional algorithms and to achieve test paper making-up function better in the C/S model general test item bank system.


INTRODUCTION
Erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as many cardiovascular diseases, is associated with impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Recently, oxime derivatives have emerged as vasodilators due to their NO-donating capacities. However, whether these oximes offer therapeutic perspectives as an alternative NO delivery strategy for the treatment of ED is unexplored.

AIMS
This study aims to analyze the influence of formaldoxime (FAL), formamidoxime (FAM), and cinnamaldoxime (CAOx) on corporal tension and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS
Organ bath studies were carried out measuring isometric tension on isolated mice corpora cavernosa (CC), thoracic aorta, and femoral artery. After contraction with norepinephrine (NOR), cumulative concentration-response curves of FAL, FAM, and CAOx (100 nmol/L-1 mmol/L) were performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
FAL-/FAM-induced relaxations were evaluated in the absence/presence of various inhibitors of different molecular pathways.

RESULTS
FAL, FAM, and CAOx relax isolated CC as well as aorta and femoral artery from mice. ODQ (soluble guanylyl cyclase-inhibitor), diphenyliodonium chloride (nonselective flavoprotein inhibitor), and 7-ethoxyresorufin (inhibitor of CYP450 1A1 and NADPH-dependent reductases) substantially blocked the FAL-/FAM-induced relaxation in the arteries but not in CC. Only a small inhibition of the FAM response in CC was observed with ODQ.

CONCLUSIONS
This study shows for the first time that NO-donating oximes relax mice CC. Therefore, oximes are a new group of molecules with potential for the treatment of ED. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of the FAL-/FAM-induced corporal relaxation clearly differ(s) from the one(s) involved in arterial vasorelaxation.


Home and office network gateways often employ a cost-effective embedded network processor to handle their network services. Such network gateways have received strong demand for applications dealing with intrusion detection, keyword blocking, antivirus and antispam. Accordingly, we were motivated to propose an appropriate fast scalable automaton-matching (FSAM) hardware to accelerate the embedded network processors. Although automaton matching algorithms are robust with deterministic matching time, there is still plenty of room for improving their average-case performance. FSAM employs novel prehash and root-index techniques to accelerate the matching for the nonroot states and the root state, respectively, in automation based hardware. The prehash approach uses some hashing functions to pretest the input substring for the nonroot states while the root-index approach handles multiple bytes in one single matching for the root state. Also, FSAM is applied in a prevalent automaton algorithm, Aho-Corasick (AC), which is often used in many content-filtering applications. When implemented in FPGA, FSAM can perform at the rate of 11.1Gbps with the pattern set of 32,634 bytes, demonstrating that our proposed approach can use a small logic circuit to achieve a competitive performance, although a larger memory is used. Furthermore, the amount of patterns in FSAM is not limited by the amount of internal circuits and memories. If the high-speed external memories are employed, FSAM can support up to 21,302 patterns while maintaining similar high performance.


The costs related to the construction and maintenance of industrial landfills, and the environmental risks that they may represent, have increased the interest of several types of industries in studying the possibility of applying residues to agricultural soils. This study evaluates the efficiency of flue dust as a zinc source for corn, and the zinc availability for corn evaluated by four methods. A greenhouse experiment carried out at Campinas, SP, Brazil, evaluated the effect of two zinc sources (flue dust and zinc sulphate), at three rates (5, 50 and 150 mg dm-3), in one soil (Rhodic Hapludox) under two pH conditions (5.0 and 6.0). The treatments were arranged in a randomized factorial scheme design with three replications. Zinc availability indexes were determined by the pH 7.3 DTPA, Mehlich-1, and Mehlich-3 methods. The free Zn2+ activity in soil solution was calculated by the MINTEQ computer model. The extraction methods and the activity of the free ion Zn2+ were equally reliable to evaluate zinc availability in the soil amended with flue dust. More than 70% of the total Zn present in the saturation extract was in the free ion form, and the remainder was mainly complexed to SO42- and OH-, independent of soil pH. Flue dust is a zinc supplier to plants. All tested methods were efficient in evaluating Zn availability for corn, independently of soil pH.


The spatial correlations in intense ionospheric scintillations were analyzed by comparing numerical results with observational ones. The observational results were obtained by spaced-receiver scintillation measurements of VHF satellite radiowave. The numerical computation was made by using the fourth-order moment equation with fairly realistic ionospheric irregularity models, in which power-law irregularities with spectral index 4, both thin and thick slabs, and both isotropic and anisotropic irregularities, were considered. Evolution of the S(4) index and the transverse correlation function was computed. The numerical result that the transverse correlation distance decreases with the increase in S(4) was consistent with that obtained in the observation, suggesting that multiple scattering plays an important role in the intense scintillations observed. The anisotropy of irregularities proved to act as if the density fluctuation increased. This effect, as well as the effect of slab thickness, was evaluated by the total phase fluctuations that the radiowave experienced in the slab. On the basis of the comparison, the irregularity height and electron-density fluctuation which is necessary to produce a particular strength of scintillation were estimated. 30 references.


The cameraphone has emerged as a dominant device for the production and sharing of photographic images in the new millennium.  No longer constrained by technological parameters of the past, the cameraphone continues to remediate and refashion the tropes of traditional photography, thus giving rise to new image making processes and, arguably, new ways of seeing.
From early model cameraphones manufactured in 2004 through to the enhanced capabilities of the ubiquitous Apple iPhone, the cameraphone has evolved from a crude digital imaging/communications tool into a sophisticated networked media device.  It is now capable of capturing, editing, storing, and exporting high-resolution images.
As the cameraphone continues to evolve, constant technological shifts have facilitated a liquid aesthetic whereby cameraphone images, and photographic practices are shaped and/or influenced by the constantly fluctuating nature of this transformative technology.  With this in mind, my research examines the shape-shifting parameters of the cameraphone and its impact on the field of photography.  I explore ways in which cameraphones may reconfigure our relationship with imaging and facilitate new modes of photographic practice.


Abstract 1699 Poster Board I-725 Many malignancies such as myeloid leukemia, breast, colon, and CNS tumors appear to harbor phenotypically and functionally distinct populations of cells with self-renewal, differentiative, and tumorigenic capacity. These unique populations, influencing tumor growth and persistence, have been termed "cancer stem cells," or "tumor-initiating cells." No such tumor-initiating capacity has been prospectively identified in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Identification of these novel sub-populations in B-NHL is particularly challenging given the unique proliferative capacity, differentiation potential, and population diversity of the peripheral B cell subsets from which lymphomas arise. Our studies have focused on the identification of sub-populations that meet criteria for "lymphoma stem cells" (LySC) in B-NHL samples. Two experimental sources of NHL cells were used: i) primary human DLBCL (TXN190, TXN131, C10, C12) derived at our institution from malignant effusions, and, ii) continuously cultured, widely used DLBCL lines (OCI-Ly-7, -10, -19). Using multiparameter FACS, we initially performed immunophenotypic studies to investigate a broad range of cell surface markers. Notably, we observed significant heterogeneity in the surface antigen density for CD22, CD27, CD45R/B220, and CXCR5. These data suggest that subpopulations residing within NHL populations may possess functional heterogeneity. To test this concept, we first performed colony-forming unit (CFU) assays in methycellulose medium. Analysis of 7 specimens shows a CFU frequency ranging from .0003% to 10% of the overall population, demonstrating functional heterogeneity with regard to in vitro colony-forming ability. Surprisingly, we found that generation and successful re-plating of B-NHL colonies did not require the addition of exogenous factors such as PHA-conditioned medium, cytokine, or interleukin supplementation. Next, we performed flow cytometric separation of candidate subpopulations as a means of segregating functional potential. These studies showed that CD45R/B220 expression levels appear to correlate with colony-forming ability. B-NHL cell fractions with lower levels of expression of the murine pan-B cell marker CD45R/B220 appear to be enriched for CFU activity in methylcellulose culture compared to B220-high cells. In addition, CD45R/B220-low B-NHL has higher tumorigenic potential (assessed by kinetics of growth rate) in assays of subcutaneous tumor nodule generation. These studies indicate differential potential of NHL subpopulations, and may begin to establish a phenotype of LySC. Finally, we measured in vitro clonogenic potential using two assays – i) limiting dilution suspension culture, and - ii) CFU assays. Interestingly, the results from these two independent assays do not correlate well in B-NHL; clonogenic potential appears to be substantially higher in limiting-dilution suspension cultures when compared to methylcellulose assays. These findings indicate that the relationship between CFU frequency and growth potential in B-NHL populations may differ from those found in normal hematopoietic cell types, and suggest that some caution should be exercised in the interpretation of B-NHL CFU assays. The adaptation of assays useful for identification of tumor-initiating sub-populations has also been useful in defining subsets of clonally related B-NHL cells that appear immunophenotypically and functionally distinct in vitro and in vivo. Our studies support the notion that B-NHL tumor-initiating cells may comprise a unique population amenable to prospective immunophenotypic and/or functional identification. Implicit in the concept of these putative LySC is that the control, and ultimately the eradication, of such unique NHL populations may result in improved clinical outcomes. [SAW and RMR contributed equally to this work. Funded by the Lymphoma SPORE, P50 CA130805501A1, PI: Richard Fisher, MD.] Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Strong correlations between leptogenesis and low energy CP violating leptonic processes have been shown by us to exist fin the minimal left-right symmetric model with spontaneous CP violation. In this note, they investigate the implications of this model for the electric dipole moment of the electron. With an additional broken U(1){sub H} symmetry, the seesaw scale can be lowered to close to the electroweak scale. This additional symmetry also makes the connection between CP violation in quark sector to that in the lepton sector possible.


Wide-area replication improves the availability and performance of globally distributed data repositories. Protocols needed for maintaining replication consistency may cause an undesirable overhead. Different use cases of repositories suggest the use of different replication protocols, each requiring different meta data. The WADIS middleware for wide-area replication support of distributed data repositories makes use of ready-made database resources such as triggers and views, employing the underlying database management system to support replication protocols, the implementation of which thus becomes more succinct and much simpler. WADIS enables the simultaneous maintenance of multiple meta data for different protocols, so that the latter can be chosen, plugged in and exchanged on the fly in order to adapt to the needs of different use cases best.


OBJECTIVE
In patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, a high proportion of T cells in the tumor undergo apoptosis, which correlates with Fas ligand (FasL) expression on tumor cells. The present study was done to identify mechanisms responsible for apoptosis of T cells seen in the peripheral circulation of these patients.

METHODS
Sera of 27 patients, normal donor sera, and supernatants of cultured normal or tumor cells were fractionated by size exclusion chromatography and ultracentrifugation to isolate microvesicles. The presence of microvesicle-associated FasL was studied by Western blots, blocking with anti-Fas reagents, and immunoelectron microscopy. Biological activities of microvesicles were tested including the ability to induce apoptosis of Jurkat and T-cell blasts. Semiquantitative analysis of FasL in microvesicles was correlated with caspase-3 activity, DNA fragmentation, cytochrome c release, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and TCR-zeta chain expression in lymphocytes.

RESULTS
FasL-positive (FasL+) microvesicles were detected in sera of 21 of 27 patients. Microvesicles contained 42 kDa FasL. These microvesicles induced caspase-3 cleavage, cytochrome c release, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced TCR-zeta chain expression in target lymphocytes. Biological activity of the FasL+ microvesicles was partially blocked by ZB4 anti-Fas monoclonal antibody. Microvesicle-associated FasL levels correlated with the patients' tumor burden and nodal involvement.

CONCLUSION
Sera of patients with active oral squamous cell carcinoma contain FasL+ microvesicles, which induce the receptor and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways in Jurkat and activated T cells.


SIGNIFICANCE
For over 30 years, there has been sustained interest in the development of mathematical models for investigating the complex mechanisms underlying each stage of the wound healing process. Despite the immense associated challenges, such models have helped usher in a paradigm shift in wound healing research. Recent Advances: In this paper, we review contributions in the field that span epidermal, dermal and corneal wound healing, and treatments of non-healing wounds. The recent influence of mathematical models on biological experiments is detailed, with a focus on wound healing assays and fibroblast-populated collagen lattices.

CRITICAL ISSUES
We provide an overview of the field of mathematical modelling of wound healing, highlighting key advances made in recent decades, and discuss how such models have contributed to the development of improved treatment strategies and/or an enhanced understanding of the tightly regulated steps that comprise the healing process.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS
We detail some of the open problems in the field that could be addressed through a combination of theoretical and/or experimental approaches. To move the field forward, we need to have a common language between scientists to facilitate cross-collaboration, which we hope this review can support by highlighting progress to date.


Knee osteoarthritis is the most common cause of disability among people and it is a common disease of joints that can lead to cartilage damage. In this study the analgesic effects of a herbal ointment containing cinnamon, ginger, mastic (Saghez) and sesame oil is compared with Salicylate ointment in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. It was a double-blind randomized controlled trail study. Patients with diagnosed arthritis were involved in the study and they were divided in two groups via block randomization method. For six weeks, twice a day, intervention group applied herbal ointment and control group used Salicylate ointment. The severity of pain, morning stiffness and limited motion were measured using Visual Analog Pain Scale. In order to analyze the trends of these three indexes, repeated measurement test was used. Ninety two participates with the mean age of 52.2 (+/- 12.4) years and with the mean disease period of 30.45 (+/- 30.3) months were involved in the study. There was no significant difference between two groups regarding the distribution of sex, weight, height, BMI and the duration of illness. No statistical difference was observed between two groups regarding pain relief, morning stiffness and limited motion; nevertheless in repeated measurements during second, forth and sixth weeks in both groups the decreasing trend of these three indexes had been statistically significant (p < 0.0001). It seems that using this herbal combination is clinically effective for patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis in order to decrease their pain, morning stiffness and limited motion; its effect is comparable with Salicylate ointment.


This research focuses on religious tradition of Syiah Faṭimiyah at Palu City. The objective is to know the historical present of Syiah Faṭimiyah at Palu City, the procession to be its congregation, and reveal of religious tradition which run by them.This research was qualitative research design which used phenomenology approach. The population used was the congregation of Syiah Faṭimiyah at Palu city taken the sample randomly. While the data collection was observation, interview and document study. The result of the research showed that the existence of Syiah Faṭimiyah at Palu city has been here for long time, coincide with the merchant of India. The followers of Syiah Faṭimiyah at present consisted of the society of India generation and the people who make a relationship with them through marriage. In some countries, Syiah Faṭimiyah has been known as Syiah Dawoodi Bohra. The religious tradition followed by the followers of Syiah Faṭimiyah bases on their demand of teaching. Even the tradition has been passed along the way from the original, but it hasn't been changed the tradition of society. In some cases of religious tradition, Syiah Faṭimiyah has the similarity with Syiah Imāmīyah Iśna Ἁshariyah, such as Ἁshȗra, Arba'in and Haul, so on. On the other side, it has similarity much with Ahlu Sunnah wa al- Jamā'ah. However, in some cases it has basic difference, which seen from the faith of the tradition base. Key Word: Faṭimiyah Shi'ite, Da'i al- Mutlaq, religious tradition and raza'.


We review and illustrate the four species of Choreutidae recorded from Madeira - Anthophila threnodes (Walsingham), A. fabriciana (Linnaeus), Choreutis nemorana (Hubner), and Tebenna micalis (Mann) - and describe and illustrate for the first time the male of A. threnodes, as well as the biology of this Madeiran endemic. We provide brief notes on each of the species and give short diagnoses for correctly identifying them. Finally, we discuss previous misidentifications of Madeiran choreutids and the occurrence of choreutids on other oceanic islands.


Abstract Multiple studies have examined 'what' people think about fuel management (perceptions); fewer have examined 'how' people think about it (structure of thoughts). In an Australian study, we used Integrative Complexity Theory (ICT) to explore the relationship between how complexly people thought about, and how acceptable they found, three fuel management strategies: prescribed burning, mechanical thinning and livestock grazing. Integrative complexity (IC) was associated with the direction of acceptability of the most familiar practice - prescribed burning, but trust in organizations was associated with acceptability of all strategies. IC was associated with the extremity of acceptability, with higher IC associated with more moderate attitudes. Our findings support the argument that targeting communication to (i) match current IC and (ii) encourage growth in complexity of thinking has potential to encourage more moderate and stable attitudes about fuel management.


Recent studies in elementary particle physics have made the need for an e{sup +}e{sup -} linear collider able to reach energies of 500 GeV and above with high luminosity more compelling than ever [1]. Observations and measurements completed in the last five years at the SLC (SLAC), LEP (CERN), and the Tevatron (FNAL) can be explained only by the existence of at least one particle or interaction that has not yet been directly observed in experiment. The Higgs boson of the Standard Model could be that particle. The data point strongly to a mass for the Higgs boson that is just beyond the reach of existing colliders. This brings great urgency and excitement to the potential for discovery at the upgraded Tevatron early in this decade, and almost assures that later experiments at the LHC will find new physics. But the next generation of experiments to be mounted by the world-wide particle physics community must not only find this new physics, they must find out what it is. These experiments must also define the next important threshold in energy. The need is to understand physics at the TeV energy scale as well as the physics at the 100-GeV energy scalemore » is now understood. This will require both the LHC and a companion linear electron-positron collider.« less


This article discusses the electrodes and their interfaces for internal and external defibrillation and external pacing applications. Of primary concern is the nature of the current delivery and distribution at the electrode-tissue interface and the techniques that may be used to generate a uniform distribution of current density in order to minimize pain and burning. The cost of achieving a uniform current distribution is tolerable for external pacing applications, but questionable for defibrillation applications. In the process of examining the nature of the electrode interface, we also discuss various models of its behavior, including analytic, equivalent circuit, numerical, and empirical models.


The cost recovery of water services is becoming known as an important element for water management internationally. The Water Framework Directive is a leading document in implementing these economic instruments in the European Union and it is also a good framework to refer to when the People's Republic of China reforms its water price policies and its recovery of the costs of water services. By providing a comparative study of the backgrounds and contents of costs recovery between Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive and the water management-related systems in the People's Republic of China, this article aims to look for some legal solutions in the European framework that can be useful for the water management of the People's Republic of China.


Ruthenium (Ru) film used as capping layer in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask peeled off after annealing and in-situ UV (IUV) cleaning. We investigated Ru peeling and found out that the mechanical stress caused by the formation of Si oxide due to the penetration of oxygen atoms from ambient or cleaning media to top-Si of ML is the root cause for the problem. To support our experimental results, we developed a numerical model of finite element method (FEM) using commercial software (ABAQUS™) to calculate the stress and displacement forced on the capping layer. By using this model, we could observe that the displacement agrees well with the actual results measured from the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image. Using the ion beam deposition (IBD) tool at SEMATECH, we developed four new types of alternative capping materials (RuA, RuB, B4C, B4C-buffered Ru). The durability of each new alternative capping layer observed by experiment was better than that of conventional Ru. The stress and displacement calculated from each new alternative capping layer, using modeling, also agreed well with the experimental results. A new EUV mask structure is proposed, inserting a layer of B4C (B4C-buffered Ru) at the interface between the capping layer (Ru) and the top-Si layer. The modeling results showed that the maximum displacement and bending stress observed from the B4C-buffered Ru are significantly lower than that of single capping layer cases. The durability investigated from the experiment also showed that the B4C-buffered structure is at least 3X stronger than that of conventional Ru.


The digital era has changed industrial relations dramatically, giving rise to considerable legal uncertainty about the rules that apply in cyberspace. Technology is transforming business organization in a way that makes the employee as a salaried worker less necessary. A new type of company in the 'on demand economy' or 'sharing economy' connecting customers directly with individual service providers is emerging. These companies base their core business entirely on workers classified as selfemployed workers. In this connection, employment law is facing its greatest challenge, dealing with a very different reality compared to the one that existed when it came into being. However, workers still need protection, and this article examines the reasons for this claim.


The following match-play data and fitness test results provide an insight into the physical demands of three levels of High Performance Netball umpiring. This information may assist in further understanding the demands of umpiring across the three different levels. Such data could be used to refine umpire specific training and goal setting for future High Performance Umpire Squad members. Match day observations took place over the 2012 Netball Season. All participating umpires wore a Catapult mini-max S4 GPS unit and a Polar Team2 HR monitor for the duration of each match observed. Data from these units were captured in real-time and analysed post-match. Each game was filmed, with one camera focussed per umpire for the duration of each match to capture every movement. Overall the match-play data show minimal difference between the squads with regards to the intensity that they maintain within a game. It also shows minimal fatigue for all three squads throughout the duration of a game.


Mixed Tumors of the Parotid Gland The term "mixed tumor" refers to the commonest group of neoplasms of the salivary glands. In the parotid gland, they make up approximately 80% of the benign tumors. They are slowly growing, firm, encapsulated, and freely movable lesions, varying from 1 to 15 cm. in diameter. Grossly, the primary tumor occurs as a single nodule whose cut surface may show varying degrees of cartilaginous consistency. Recurrent lesions are usually multicentric. Long-standing mixed tumors may undergo malignant transformation, as shown elsewhere in this exhibit. Less Common Benign Tumors and Cysts of the Parotid Gland 1. Warthin's tumor (papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum) makes up about 7% of the benign group. It occurs predominantly in male patients and is located typically at the posterior margin of the lower pole of the gland. In about 10% of cases, the lesion is bilateral or multicentric. Grossly, these tumors are encapsulated,


Image restoration is known as enhancement and recovery of images. Personal pictures captured by varied digital cameras will simply be manipulated by a range of dedicated image process algorithms .The aim of this paper is to implement a model of neural network with Fillingin technique to resolve the problem of image restoration, which is retrieving the original image degraded by invariant blur. The algorithm is proposed in this paper implements a general RBF neural network model with Probabilistic approach which differentiates the pixels of image according to their level of corruption and employees different ways to correct it. Less corrupted are corrected by remaining part of pixel using Filling-in technique, while others are corrected by using RBF neural network image restoration resulting in better signal to blur noise and better visual quality.


The ALEPH2 Monte Carlo depletion code has two principal features that make it a flexible and powerful tool for reactor analysis. First of all, it uses a nuclear data library covering neutron- and proton-induced reactions, neutron and proton fission product yields, spontaneous fission product yields, radioactive decay data, and total recoverable energies per fission. Secondly, it uses a state-of-the-art numerical solver for the first-order ordinary differential equations describing the isotope balances, namely, a Radau IIA implicit Runge-Kutta method. The versatility of the code allows using it for time behavior simulation of various systems ranging from single pin model to full-scale reactor model, including such specific facilities as accelerator-driven systems. The core burn-up, activation of the structural materials, irradiation of samples, and, in addition, accumulation of spallation products in accelerator-driven systems can be calculated in a single ALEPH2 run. The code is extensively used for the neutronics design of the MYRRHA research facility which will operate in both critical and subcritical modes.


As genomic data accumulate at an ever-increasing rate, it is becoming evident that a comprehensive description of molecular aberrations that define individual patients' tumors will prove useful to determine optimal therapeutic strategies. Several platforms are currently in use for clinical molecular diagnostics testing, including PCR, Sanger sequencing, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and mass spectrometric genotyping (Sequenom). Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology has the potential to expand upon Sequenom genotyping because it allows for the identification of mutations across entire exons (rather than single base pairs) as well as copy gains, losses and gene fusions. However, for MPS to be considered a viable clinical strategy, it must first be shown to be compatible with formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue across a range of tumor types, sizes, and cellularities. Also, it must exhibit high concordance with mutation profiles derived using the current best diagnostic methods available. To explore the clinical utility of MPS, we selected 71 surgically resected FFPE tumors that had previously been tested for approximately 100 oncogenic mutations in 8 oncogenes by Sequenom genotyping and subjected them to targeted DNA sequencing of 189 cancer-related genes. DNA was extracted from four 10-micron unstained sections from the diagnostic FFPE block (yielding a minimum of 250 nanograms per case), followed by sequencing library construction and hybridization-based capture of 3230 exons and 37 intronic intervals. Deep sequencing was performed, yielding an average coverage of >750X for uniquely-mapping reads. Sequence data were analyzed for single nucleotide variants and small insertions and deletions. High concordance was noted between Sequenom and MPS: 62 and 65 mutations were called by the two technologies, respectively, at mutually tested sites, with 60 mutation calls in common. Notably, mutant allele frequencies in these concordant calls ranged as low as 4% by MPS, highlighting the sensitivity of detection enabled by both approaches. The few discordant mutation calls exhibited no or weak evidence in the other dataset, possibly due to local tumor heterogeneity. Further, MPS revealed 73 sequence variants at additional sites of known recurrent somatic mutations and 30 loss-of-function variants in key tumor suppressor genes not tested by Sequenom. Many of these variants represent plausibly actionable mutations that could influence treatment decisions. Thus, we conclude that: (1) MPS exhibits high concordance with current best methods and is a viable strategy for clinical diagnostics, and (2) MPS captures additional variants not typically interrogated in the current clinical setting but with potential implications for the selection of approved and/or experimental targeted therapies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 965. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-965


From the end of the second century C.E., Judaism enforced a religious norm requiring Jewish fathers to educate their sons. We present evidence supporting our thesis that this change in the religious and social norm had a major influence on Jewish economic and demographic history. First, the high individual and community cost of educating children in subsistence farming economies (2nd to 7th centuries) prompted voluntary conversions, which account for a large share of the reduction in the size of the Jewish population from 4.5 million to 1.2 million. Second, the Jewish farmers who invested in education, gained the comparative advantage and incentive to enter skilled occupations during the vast urbanization in the newly developed Muslim Empire (8th and 9th centuries) and they actually did select themselves into these occupations. Third, as merchants the Jews invested even more in education---a pre-condition for the extensive mailing network and common court system that endowed them with trading skills demanded all over the world. Fourth, the Jews generated a voluntary diaspora by migrating within the Muslim Empire, and later to western Europe where they were invited to settle as high skill intermediaries by local rulers. By 1200, the Jews were living in hundreds of towns from England and Spain in the West to China and India in the East. Fifth, the majority of world Jewry (about one million) lived in the Near East when the Mongol invasions in the 1250s brought this region back to a subsistence farming and pastoral economy in which many Jews found it difficult to enforce the religious norm regarding education, and hence, voluntarily converted, exactly as it had happened centuries earlier.


Measurements of line to continuum ratios have been made for the Hbeta , Hgamma , Hdelta and Hin lines at different times in the afterglow of a Z-pinch discharge in hydrogen. The contributions of Stark broadening of the lines and atom-electron interaction continuum, to the observed continuum signal, are considered. The electron temperature is estimated with an uncertainty of about +or-10%.


Rationale: Pulmonary hemangioma is a rare thoracic condition that can lead to hemoptysis. Here we report a case that presented with lumen dilatation suggestive of bronchiectasis on high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and was misdiagnosed as bronchiectasis for more than 10 years. Patient concerns: A 41-year-old female patient was admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine due to hemoptysis. Diagnoses: The patient was misdiagnosed as having bronchiectasis for more than 10 years. Enhanced chest CT was not performed until treatment of recurrent hemoptysis with antibiotics and hemostatic therapy was no longer effective. With lumen dilation and the "signet ring" sign as the main findings on CT, pulmonary hemangiomas are easily misdiagnosed. Interventions: A left lower lobe lobectomy was performed, and the postoperative pathology revealed a hemangioma of the left lower lobe of the lung without bronchiectasis. Outcome: After treatment, the patient no longer had hemoptysis. Lessons: Therefore, in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with hemoptysis, enhanced CT/CT angiography (CTA) is necessary for differential diagnosis.


People working with current ad-hoc collaboration tools suffer from information overload and information scattered. Our five-month study of project managers found their work was comprised of fragmented activities implicitly organized by activity threads. Most of these activities were communicative to track and report project status, which introduced frequent interruptions and low efficiency. Accordingly, we explored an activity centered approach to help them manage work information. In our Activity Centric Project Management prototype, solutions like integrating activity with project task, providing timely activity awareness based on RSS, utilizing activity data to generate status report, and allowing third-party easily to update task status were introduced.


This article makes an originalist argument in defense of the Supreme Court's holding in Loving v. Virginia that antimiscegenation laws are unconstitutional. This article builds on past work by Professor Michael McConnell defending Brown v. Board of Education on originalist grounds and by Professor Calabresi defending strict scrutiny for gender classifications on originalist grounds. Professor Calabresi's work in this area was defended and praise recently by Slate magazine online. The article shows that Loving v. Virginia is defensible using the public meaning originalism advocated for by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. This article shows that the issue in Loving is a classic conflict between text and legislative history.


Purpose. To analyse the morphology of the scapula relative to the reverse shoulder prosthesis. Methods. Scapulas of 46 women and 27 men aged 16 to 84 (mean, 53) years with proximal humeral fractures (n=52) or recurrent antero-inferior instability (n=21) were assessed using 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT). For comparison, 108 cadaveric scapulas with unknown epidemiology were assessed using a goniometer and a caliper. The length of the glenoid neck, the angle between the glenoid surface and the upper posterior column of the scapula, and the angles between the major craneocaudal glenoid axis and (1) the base of the coracoid process and (2) the upper posterior column of the scapula were assessed. Results. The length of the glenoid neck was classified into short and long. In the respective CT and cadaveric groups, the anterior glenoid neck was short in 42% and 18% of scapulas and long in 58% and 82%, whereas the posterior glenoid neck was short in 34% and 60% of scapulas and long in 66% and 40%. The angle between the glenoid surface and the upper posterior column of the scapula was classified into types I (50°–52°) and II (62°–64°). In the respective CT and cadaveric groups, 61% and 71% of scapulas were type I and 39% and 29% were type II. All differences between groups were significant. The mean angles between the major craneocaudal glenoid axis and (1) the base of the coracoid process and (2) the upper posterior column of the scapula were 18° and 8°, respectively. Conclusion. Because of variations in scapular morphology, individualised adjustment is needed for reverse shoulder prostheses. Three-dimensional CT is valuable in preoperative planning.


Background and Aims The monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), a novel marker for inflammation and lipid metabolism, has been demonstrated to be associated with poor prognosis in many patient populations. However, the prognostic influence of MHR in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is poorly understood. Here, we sought to investigate the relationship between MHR and adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in such patients and determine whether MHR could improve the GRACE risk score based prognostic models. Methods and Results MHR was applied to 1,720 patients with ACS undergoing PCI who were admitted to our CV center from June 2016 to November 2017. These patients were stratified into three groups according to MHR tertiles. The relationship between MHR and the primary endpoint (overall death, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned repeat revascularization) was examined by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. During a median follow-up of 31 months, 353 patients had at least one primary endpoint event. Compared with those in the lowest MHR tertile, patients in the middle and highest tertiles [adjusted HR: 1.541 (95% CI: 1.152–2.060) and 1.800 (95%CI: 1.333–2.432), respectively], had a higher risk of the primary endpoint. The addition of MHR has an incremental effect on the predictive ability of the GRACE risk score for the primary endpoint (cNRI: 0.136, P < 0.001; IDI: 0.006, P < 0.001). Conclusion MHR was independently and significantly associated with adverse CV outcomes in ACS patients who underwent PCI and improved the predictive ability of the GRACE risk score based prognostic models. Registration Number http://www.chictr.org.cn/hvshowproject.aspx?id=21397; ChiCTR1800017417.


On both sides of the political spectrum, people have conceived of abortion disclosure laws as an obstacle to abortion. For this reason, abortion rights supporters have opposed them, and abortion opponents have supported them. Neither side, however, appears to have considered whether scientifically accurate disclosures could have independent, welfare-enhancing medical and informational value to women. This paper describes how certain disclosures might not only improve individual and community health, but also provide a positive and democratic avenue for abortion rights.


This article considers whether children and adolescents who experience a health problem before and during the educational process are less likely to attain the highest academic and professional qualifications in mid-adulthood. It also examines what factors during the academic process explain the associations, and whether any disadvantage in adulthood changes or remains constant from early to mid-adulthood. I examine this in the context of Great Britain, where the rigid educational structure of the mid-twentieth century increased the consequences of students" performance at young ages. Data from the National Child Development Study, collected from a British cohort born in 1958, show that poor health is negatively associated with academic and professional qualifications at points both before the beginning of school and during the educational process. These associations are largely explained by cognitive performance at age 11, before the first important transition point in students" academic careers. A seemingly more persistent relationship between maternal smoking and qualifications in midadulthoodis eliminated by considering qualifications earlier in adulthood, suggesting that exposure to smoke during the prenatal period may have a lasting cognitive influence. Finally, although strong relationships exist between childhood health and qualifications at each point in adulthood, I find no evidence that the strength of the relationship changes significantly over the course of adulthood. Overall, the findings add necessary detail to our understanding of the relationship between health and education, and emphasize the need to formally consider the role of early-life health in transmitting social inequality across generations.


We study market timing and pecking order in a sample of debt and equity issues and share repurchases of Canadian firms from 1998 to 2007. We find that only when firms are not financially constrained is there evidence that firms issue (repurchase) equity when their shares are overvalued (undervalued) and evidence that overvalued issuers earn lower postannouncement long-run returns. Similarly, we find that only when firms are not overvalued do they prefer debt to equity financing. These findings highlight an interaction between market timing and pecking order effects.


Recent work has demonstrated that using a carefully designed sensing matrix rather than a random one, can improve the performance of compressed sensing. In particular, a well-designed sensing matrix can reduce the coherence between the atoms of the equivalent dictionary, and as a consequence, reduce the reconstruction error. In some applications, the signals of interest can be well approximated by a union of a small number of subspaces (e.g., face recognition and motion segmentation). This implies the existence of a dictionary which leads to block-sparse representations. In this work, we propose a framework for sensing matrix design that improves the ability of block-sparse approximation techniques to reconstruct and classify signals. This method is based on minimizing a weighted sum of the interblock coherence and the subblock coherence of the equivalent dictionary. Our experiments show that the proposed algorithm significantly improves signal recovery and classification ability of the Block-OMP algorithm compared to sensing matrix optimization methods that do not employ block structure.


In order to support human and robotic explorations of Mars and beyond,the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has undertaken lunar missions. One technological problem is the mitigation of dust hazards associated with both lunar and Mars missions. There are many factors that transformed lunar regolith into an ocean dust like volcanic eruption, meteorite impact, solar radiation and thermal cycling, solar plasma and bombardment by interplanetary dusts. A detailed understanding of lunar and Martian dust dynamics is needed for designing and implementing dust hazard mitigation methods to facilitate successful missions to the moon and Mars.


This chapter presents the analysis of the interactions in the context of knowledge acquisition and learning. Despite the different contesting approaches to knowledge acquisition, this chapter unveils the confusion prevailing in classrooms concerning the gaps and questions arising from knowledge that is asserted to be empirically verified. The observation sheets and notes were the primary sources of data gathered from the evaluation of lesson presentations conducted in classrooms, with the focus being on teacher-learner-interaction. Learners' reflections, questions, comments as well as feedback from teachers were analysed through qualitative procedures. The results and the findings highlighted that the preparation of the lessons by the teachers have unforeseen gaps, blind spots, and undesired learning outcomes. This work concluded that teachers are experiencing challenges and difficulties in addressing the cognitive and intellectual needs of the twenty-first generation learners in classrooms. This study recommends the review of factual knowledge by school subject curriculum experts, and teacher educators in the faculties.


Tractography can generate millions of complex curvilinear fibers (streamlines) in 3D that exhibit the geometry of white matter pathways in the brain. Common approaches to analyzing white matter connectivity are based on adjacency matrices that quantify connection strength but do not account for any topological information. A critical element in neurological and developmental disorders is the topological deterioration and irregularities in streamlines. In this paper, we propose a novel Reeb graph-based method "ReeBundle" that efficiently encodes the topology and geometry of white matter fibers. Given the trajectories of neuronal fiber pathways (neuroanatomical bundle), we re-bundle the streamlines by modeling their spatial evolution to capture geometrically significant events (akin to a fingerprint). ReeBundle parameters control the granularity of the model and handle the presence of improbable streamlines commonly produced by tractography. Further, we propose a new Reeb graph-based distance metric that quantifies topological differences for automated quality control and bundle comparison. We show the practical usage of our method using two datasets: (1) For International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) dataset, ReeBundle handles the morphology of the white matter tract configurations due to branching and local ambiguities in complicated bundle tracts like anterior and posterior commissures; (2) For the longitudinal repeated measures in the Cognitive Resilience and Sleep History (CRASH) dataset, repeated scans of a given subject acquired weeks apart lead to provably similar Reeb graphs that differ significantly from other subjects, thus highlighting ReeBundle's potential for clinical fingerprinting of brain regions.


In an effort to meet the reliability standards that control systems operating in safety-critical roles require, we have started laying the foundation for a tool-set that migrates control theory properties and proofs into the software implementation of those control systems designs. By using this tool the engineer can provide a more rigorous guarantee of the quality of the software and initiate the formal verification process. The tool focuses on control software in order to leverage the domain knowledge from existing mathematical techniques for the analysis and synthesis of control systems. As a first step in the development of the tool-set, we have created a prototype of a Scilab to C translator with proof annotation support. Though limited in its current functionalities, the development of this prototype allowed us to identify the key issues which will be used to further refine the translator. This paper describes the prototype and the further improvements planned for the translator.


Those of us concerned about the impact of a century of unrestrained industrial pollution on Americans' health have plenty to be concerned about. Even before the US Congress's disastrous decision not to ratify the 1992 Kyoto Protocol, it seemed as if every effort to limit or reverse the damage done to the environment had been met by stonewalling and rejection by Congress and sometimes even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We can take heart, however, that not all is as gloomy as it might seem. On the federal level, setbacks to the EPA, OSHA (Occupation and Safety and Health Administration), and MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) may make efforts to control pollution seem hopeless. But a series of local initiatives, court cases, and regulatory decisions concerning the lead and asbestos industries provides a different picture. What can't be accomplished in Washington may be addressed through local court cases and decisions at the community level, which brings me to the topic of one of our oldest fossil fuels: coal.

In Appalachia, a prolonged and important court battle is being waged over mountaintop removal (MTR), the process of coal extraction that has damaged huge swaths of Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Beginning in the 1980s and accelerating throughout the 1990s as mine shafts were abandoned, MTR emerged as Appalachia's most profitable, and destructive, method of removing coal from beneath the bedrock of mountains. It is estimated that in the past 30 years, this process has seriously damaged more than 500 mountains in the region. The aesthetic damage to the landscape has been both massive and permanent as literally hundreds of feet of mountaintop are removed and "deposited," that is, dumped. The heavy diesel equipment with their polluting exhaust, the huge quantities of debris dumped in local watersheds, the use of explosives loaded with ammonium nitrate, the huge slag piles and dust created by blasting, the laying waste to thousands of acres of once-arable land are the visual insults. In addition, the processing of the recovered coal ore itself releases arsenic, barium, mercury, lead, and chromium into the wells and water supplies of those living nearby.1

The overarching rationale for this highly toxic means of coal removal is that mining is central to the Appalachian and the national economy and therefore its benefits outweigh the environmental costs. Locally, it is argued, mining is a substantial employer and a major source of taxes for the states. Nationally, coal provides energy for power plants providing electricity for homes and businesses. The destruction wrought, the coal companies maintain, is only temporary and is healed by either nature or the reclamation efforts of the mining companies themselves.

But studies have shown that neither the short-term nor the long-term damage is undone by nature or the mining concerns. One analysis found that 1 million to 1.2 million acres of the Appalachian range have been surface mined and that at least 500 mountains have been defiled, sometimes resulting in more than 600 feet of bedrock removed, moved, and dumped in a single site. Furthermore, "only twenty-six locations (6.3% of the total) host some form of verifiable post-mining economic development."2(p3)

Health data have begun to reveal the lasting effects on residents' health and well-being. Recent studies using data from the National Center for Health Statistics on 1.8 million live births showed that the incidence of "circulatory/respiratory, central nervous system, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, urogenital," and "other" birth defects were significantly higher among those living in mountaintop-mining areas.3 More specifically, an extraordinary interactive website reveals, county by county, the growing mortality and the general disparities in West Virginia (http://ilovemountains.org/the-human-cost). What was once primarily a battle over CO2 emissions, national air quality, and local water pollution has thus expanded dramatically, and it is clear that MTR is having a devastating impact on community health.

Coal mining has long dominated the politics of, and political struggles in, the Appalachian states. Not surprising, given the rich history of local struggles with coal interests, new forms of resistance from local groups have emerged. Legal battles have replaced actual battles between union members and company enforcers as groups like the Tennessee-based Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Coal River Mountain Watch, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, and the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition organize demonstrations and lawsuits. Needless to say, the coal companies have been actively opposing every attempt by local groups, the EPA, and other federal agencies to limit their activities.

The EPA has been trying to minimize the environmental damage to the area by demanding that future MTR sites obtain permits under the 1972 Clean Water and the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Acts. These landmark pieces of legislation established a permitting system by the US Department of Interior or an approved state agency. If waterways and water sources could be affected, the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA have to approve the process as well. The EPA could deny permits for the disposal of mining waste and debris. Most recently, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers adopted an "enhanced coordination process" meant to consolidate the review of Clean Water Act permits.

Recently, a lawsuit by the National Mining Association and the Kentucky Coal Association (the trade groups for the coal companies), the states of West Virginia and Kentucky, and their allies asked the court to ban the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from coordinating their review of permit applications under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. After a district court ruled that the EPA had "exceeded its authority" by forming an "enhanced coordination process" by meeting with the Corps, the appeals court reviewed the decision and, on July 11, 2014, overturned it.4

This decision by the appeals court is a major setback for the coal companies and may signal a turning point in the ongoing legal battle between "Big Coal," local community action groups, and allies in the Obama administration to limit the environmental destruction and health impacts wrought by coal mining.5 (In an extraordinary doctoral dissertation, Merlin Chowkwanyun laid bare the complex environmental and labor politics that have been at the heart of coal and environmental policy for the past 3 generations.) If the coal interests had succeeded in stopping the government agencies from coordinating their efforts, any federal action in the future might have been stymied, by leaving any agency decision open to legal challenge by coal interests. Sometimes change occurs despite policymakers' actions, not because of them. Let's hope we are witnessing one of those moments!


An experimental sensor array that measures dynamic exhaust temperature and dynamic smoke for the purpose of diagnosing diesel engine fuel injection equipment was designed, built, and tested. The sensor array is portable and easily installed on truck tailpipes, and was tested using two 6V-53 Detroit Diesel engines. The dynamic temperature sensor is a very high response instrument capable of measuring changes in gas temperature in excess of 104F/second. The dynamic smokemeter is an optical device designed to measure very low levels of light opacity in the smoke plume, with a response compatible with the engine firing frequency. Dynamic exhaust temperature data had more diagnostic significance than dynamic smoke in the detection of maximum power degrading fuel injection faults. Gaseous exhaust emissions (CO, CO sub 2, O sub 2, NO sub x, and hydrocarbons) were also evaluated for their diagnostic merit and were found to be less significant than the dynamic temperature and smoke data under the no-load test constraints common to shop and field diagnosis.


Thioredoxin (TRX) is a multifunctional redox (reduction/oxidation)-active protein that scavenges reactive oxygen species by itself or together with TRX-dependent peroxiredoxin. TRX also has chemotaxis-modulating functions and suppresses leukocyte infiltration into sites of inflammation. Leukocyte infiltration and oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including interstitial lung diseases (ILD). We examined the effects of TRX in two mouse models of human ILD. Recently, we established a new mouse model for human ILD in which daily administration of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-18 with IL-2 induces lethal lung injury accompanied by acute interstitial inflammatory responses. Administration of recombinant TRX suppressed IL-18/IL-2-induced interstitial infiltration of cells and prevented death and lung tissue damage. TRX-transgenic mice also showed resistance to lethal lung injury caused by IL-18/IL-2. Administration of bleomycin induces the infiltration of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes in the pulmonary interstitium, followed by progressive fibrosis. Wild-type mice given recombinant TRX treatment and TRX-transgenic mice demonstrated a decrease in bleomycin-induced cellular infiltrates and fibrotic changes in the lung tissue. These results suggest that TRX modulates pulmonary inflammatory responses and acts to prevent lung injury. TRX may have clinical benefits in human ILD, including lung fibrosis, for which no effective therapeutic strategy currently exists.


The objective of this research is to study flame structure and heat transfer characteristics for the premixed flame jet from the swirling chamber. In this study, LPG and air was utilized as gas fuel and oxidizer for a premixed flame. The equivalence ratios () of LPG and air were considered at 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 under a Reynolds number Re = 4,000. The swirl flame was generated by double tangential inlets in cylindrical chamber. The diameter of chamber was fixed at D = 20 mm and the hydraulic diameter of the inlet was Dh = 5 mm. In this study, the effect of chamber geometry on flame structure was investigated by varying the chamber from H = 2.2Dh to 7.0Dh. The structures and temperature of the free flame jet was recorded with camera and measured with a thermocouple. The heat transfer rate of impinging flame jet was also measured at distance from chamber outlet to flame impingement surface varying from L = 4Dh to 10Dh. The results show that the maximum of flame temperature occurs at =1.2. Impinging flame jet for case of chamber height at H = 4.6Dh and impingement distance at L = 4Dh give the highest heat transfer for all equivalence ratios due to the reaction zone of combustion reached to approach near the heat transfer surface.


This digest explains the key features of the Clean Energy Bill. The Government intends to provide financial assistance to low to middle income households and others, to compensate for the cost of living impact of the introduction of the carbon price on 1 July 2012. That assistance will be delivered through increases to government welfare payments and tax cuts. The Clean Energy (Household Assistance Amendments) Bill 2011 (the Bill), as originally introduced into the House of Representatives, provides for assistance to be delivered through the welfare system in two ways. First there will be a one-off up-front lump-sum clean energy advance payment. This will be followed by on-going payment of a clean energy supplement.


In this study, a digital signal processor (DSP) based intelligent fractional-order sliding-mode control (IFOSMC) is proposed to control a linear voice coil actuator (VCA) for the tracking of reference trajectory. First, a dynamic model of the VCA is analysed considering the system uncertainties. Subsequently, a sliding-mode control (SMC) and a fractional-order SMC (FOSMC) are developed for the VCA control system. With increased degrees of freedom for the control parameters, the FOSMC can improve the control performance of the SMC. However, because the uncertainties of the VCA are unclear, designing hitting control laws for the SMC and FOSMC is difficult. Thus, the IFOSMC is proposed for improving the adaptability and robustness of the control system. For the IFOSMC, a compensatory fuzzy neural network observer is designed to replace the hitting control directly while a switching compensator is developed to compensate for the observation error smoothly. A Lyapunov method is used to derive the adaptive laws for tuning the control parameters of the IFOSMC online. Experimentations regarding nominal and parameter variation cases were undertaken through the DSP. Experimental results show that the proposed IFOSMC significantly improves the control performances of the SMC and FOSMC with regard to the VCA control system.


The position accuracy of an aviation drilling robot has detrimental effects on the assembly quality, mechanical strength and life of an aircraft in aircraft manufacturing. To enhance the position accuracy of the robot, a compensation method based on error similarity and error correlation is proposed. Firstly, the positional error similarity in joint space based on the kinematic model of the robot and error correlation are presented to illustrate that co-kriging can be used to estimate the positional error of the robot. Then, a cross-variogram of positional errors is introduced. Co-kriging based on the cross-variogram is applied to estimate the estimated positional errors along the x, y, and z axes and the absolute positional error. The estimated values are filtered by using a median filter method to further enhance the estimation accuracy. The estimated positional errors after filtering are sent to the robot controller for compensation. Finally, simulations and experiments are respectively performed with a simulated robot and an aviation drilling robot to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the average absolute positional error is reduced to 0.106 mm from 1.393 mm, and the maximum absolute positional error is reduced to 0.294 mm from 1.795 mm. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed method can enhance the position accuracy of an aviation drilling robot and meet the tolerance requirements in aircraft assembly.


Abstract. Hypothalamic hamartoma is a rare condition and usually presents with precocious puberty. Clinical manifestation as gelastic seizures is less common and combined presentation as gelastic seizures and precocious puberty is even less frequent. Being a treatable condition, prompt diagnosis is important. offers precise diagnosis in most cases. Key words:  Hypothalamic hamartoma, gelastic seizures, precocious puberty, MRI


Eleven new species of Amblypsilopus Bigot, 1888 from Madagascar are described and illustrated: A. analamazaotra sp. nov., A. andasibensis sp. nov., A. ankarana sp. nov., A. bairae sp. nov., A. fianarantsoa sp. nov., A. freidbergi sp. nov., A. friedmani sp. nov., A. leonidi sp. nov., A. marinae sp. nov., A. olgae sp. nov., and A. romani sp. nov. New species differ from other representatives of the genus in morphology of male surstylus and cercus mainly and male secondary sexual characters on legs. A. flavus (Vanschuytbroeck, 1962) is redescribed. Presently, ca 60 species of Amblypsilopus are known from the Afrotropical region, and 25 species are found on Madagascar. Western Indian Ocean species are associated with the Indo-Pacific A. pallidicornis group, the Pantropical A. abruptus group and the Madagascan A. stuckenbergi group of species. An identification key to males of 28 species of Madagascar and adjacent islands is compiled for the first time.


Herbal plants produce a diverse range of bioactive molecules, making them a rich source of different types of medicines. Thus, proper scientific evidence or assessment has become the criteria for the acceptance of herbal health claims. Plants-based antioxidants are now preferred to synthetic ones because of safety concerns. There is an increasing interest in natural antioxidants e.g. Polyphenols, present in medicinal and dietary plants, which might help prevent oxidative damage. Natural antioxidant increases the antioxidant capacity of plasma and reduces the risk of disease. As such developing a polyhedral formulation will definitely produce a synergistic effect as needed comparable to standard drugs that are available in the market all over the world. The polyherbal formulation, which has a combination of medicinal herbs such as Zingiber officinale (sukku), Nigella sativa (karunjeeragam), Plectranthus amboinicus (karpooravalli), Pipeer cubeba (Vaal melagu), Trigonella foenum graecum (venthayam) powder was tested for its an antioxidant activity phenolic and alkaloid contents in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the In-vitro antioxidant phenolic and alkaloid content of polyherbal formulation and its application for treating life-threatening diseases such as cancer, cardiac disease, and diabetes mellitus. In this paper, we report the result of such studies in order to orient future investigations towards the finding of new, potent safe, and easily available food antioxidants.


Linear developments, such as roads, are recognized as
major contributors to wetland fragmentation. Studies
have shown that the barrier effect of roads result in
inbreeding among wetland species and reduced genetic
diversity. For amphibian species, heightened risk of
local extinction due to population dynamics, and
decreases in the ability of species to re-colonize
otherwise suitable habitat have been cited.
This publication examines strategies adopted to
mitigate fragmentation effects on sensitive wetland
habitats. Corrugated steel culverts are evaluated for
their effectiveness as transit corridors for
amphibians and small mammals at Vancouver Island
locations. Tracks of several species are recorded and
analyzed for occurrences over time.
Recommendations are made for improved monitoring of
amphibians and small mammals near roads, and for
enhancing the performance of culverts as transit
corridors beneath roads. Comparative trials compare
preferences of the Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha
granulosa) for corrugated steel culvert treatments.
Results of the trials show amphibian preferences for
the amount of moisture, the amount of light, and
substrates used within steel culverts.


A novel frequency tripler using a composite right/left-handed transmission line is proposed. The left-handed transmission line (LH TL) in the proposed frequency tripler suppresses the fundamental component (f0), while the composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH TL) lambda/4 open stub diminishes unwanted harmonics. Due to the combination of the LH TL and CRLH TL lambda/4 open stub, the only desirable multiplied frequency component (3f0) is obtained at the output port. For the example of the proposed design, a frequency tripler was designed at 1 GHz as^ and measured. The measured output power at 3f0 was -5.67 dBm when the fundamental input power was 0 dBm.


The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the consequences of parental deployment for adolescents and their families and (2) to identify potential strategies that may help adolescents cope with a parent's deployment. Eleven focus groups were conducted among adolescents in military families, military parents, and school personnel in military-impacted schools at five military bases. Findings reveal that one of the most prominent sources of stress for families is adjusting and readjusting to new roles and responsibilities. Notably, this stress was primarily felt after the deployed parent returned. School personnel also commented that many teachers and counselors are not prepared to deal with deployment issues among the military students. These findings suggest that parents need to be better prepared to handle the stresses after a deployed parent returns. School personnel also need special training, and military-impacted schools need to offer additional opportunities for students to discuss deployment issues.