OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to assess: (1) ethnic and gender differences in reporting of diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), symptoms related to STDs and sexual behavior and (2) behavioral risk factors for STDs in a probability sample of low income African American and Hispanic youth.

METHODS
Data were analyzed from a household probability sample of youth. The study collected data on self reported STDs, symptoms of STDs and sexual behavior. The sample was drawn from households in low income areas of urban Detroit: 1435 African American and Hispanic low income youth age 15-24 living in Detroit were interviewed face to face in 1991.

RESULTS
Patterns of sexual activity as well as experience with STDs differ by ethnicity and gender. Within ethnic groups, women report more symptoms of STDs. Risk factors for diagnosed STDs included age, a young age at first intercourse, numbers of sexual partners, oral intercourse and anal intercourse.

CONCLUSIONS
The data underscore the importance of development of effective safer sex intervention programs for these youth as well as careful assessment of STD risks in medical clinics serving these youth.


Context. Studying gas chemistry in protoplanetary disks is key to understanding the process of planet formation. Sulfur chemistry in particular is poorly understood in interstellar environments, and the location of the main reservoirs remains unknown. Protoplanetary disks in Taurus are ideal targets for studying the evolution of the composition of planet forming systems.
Aims. We aim to elucidate the chemical origin of sulfur-bearing molecular emission in protoplanetary disks, with a special focus on H2S emission, and to identify candidate species that could become the main molecular sulfur reservoirs in protoplanetary systems.
Methods. We used IRAM 30 m observations of nine gas-rich young stellar objects (YSOs) in Taurus to perform a survey of sulfur-bearing and oxygen-bearing molecular species. In this paper we present our results for the CS 3–2 (ν0 = 146.969 GHz), H2CO 21,1−11,0 (ν0 = 150.498 GHz), and H2S 11,0−10,1 (ν0 = 168.763 GHz) emission lines.
Results. We detected H2S emission in four sources out of the nine observed, significantly increasing the number of detections toward YSOs. We also detected H2CO and CS in six out of the nine. We identify a tentative correlation between H2S 11,0−10,1 and H2CO 21,1−11,0 as well as a tentative correlation between H2S 11,0−10,1 and H2O 818−707. By assuming local thermodynamical equilibrium, we computed column densities for the sources in the sample, with N(o-H2S) values ranging between 2.6 × 1012 cm−2 and 1.5 × 1013 cm−2.


Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy is a technique that is able to detect thermally excited phonons within a material. The speed of propagation of these phonons can be determined from the magnitude of the Brillouin frequency shift between incident and scattered light, thereby providing a measure of the mechanical properties of the material in the gigahertz range. The mechanical properties of the extracellular matrices of biological tissues and their constituent biopolymers are important for normal tissue function and disturbances in these properties are widely implicated in disease. BLS offers the prospect of measuring mechanical properties on a microscopic scale in living tissues, thereby providing insights into structure–function relationships under normal and pathological conditions. In this study, we investigated BLS in collagen and elastin—the fibrous proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Measurements were made on type I collagen in rat tail tendon, type II collagen in articular cartilage and nuchal ligament elastin. The dependence of the BLS spectrum on fibre orientation was investigated in a backscattering geometry using a reflective substrate. Two peaks, a bulk mode arising from phonon propagation along a quasi-radial direction to the fibre axis and a mode parallel to the surface, depending on sample orientation relative to the fibre axis, could be distinguished. The latter peak was fitted to a model of wave propagation through a hexagonally symmetric elastic solid, and the five components of the elasticity tensor were combined to give axial and transverse Young's, shear and bulk moduli of the fibres. These were 10.2, 8.3, 3.2 and 10.9 GPa, and 6.1, 5.3, 1.9 and 8 GPa for dehydrated type I collagen and elastin, respectively. The former values are close to those previously reported. A microfocused BLS approach was also applied providing selection of single fibres. The moduli of collagen and elastin are much higher than those measured at lower frequency using macroscopic strains, and the difference between them is much less. We therefore believe, like previous investigators, that molecular-scale viscoelastic effects are responsible for the frequency dependence of the fibre biomechanics. Combining BLS with larger-scale mechanical testing methods therefore should, in the future, provide a means of following the evolution of mechanical properties in the formation of the complex structures found in the ECM.


This paper reviews two separation methods applying two-step two-liquid flotation for recovering ultra-fine rare earth fluorescent powders (i.e., red, green, and blue). The paper aims to extract the science behind separation by two-liquid flotation, and to provide resulting engineering tips for material recycling. Two-liquid flotation, also called liquid-liquid extraction, involves two solvents (i.e., non-polar and polar solvents) to capture hydrophobic/hydrophobized particles at their interface, and a surfactant to selectively modify the surface property of the target powder(s). For separating a three powder mixture, two different developed flowsheets, composed of two-step separation are discussed. The major difference found was the polar solvents used. The first flowsheet (called the aqueous-organic system) employed water as a polar solvent while the second flowsheet (called the organic-organic system) utilized N,N-dimethylformamide, DMF as a polar solvent. The organic-organic system at the optimized conditions achieved both the grade and recovery of all the separated fluorescent powders at greater than 90% while the aqueous-organic system did not satisfy these criteria. This paper also reviews the mechanism behind the separation, as well as performing a cost comparison between the two methods. The cost comparison indicates that the organic-organic system is a more cost effective method for recovering rare earth fluorescent powders than the aqueous-organic system. Since the size of powders (i.e., several µm) is too small for the application of conventional separation technologies (e.g., froth flotation), two-liquid flotation is a unique pathway for the material recycling of ultra-fine rare earth fluorescent powders.


Problem Definition. Inspired by a real data set from the Chinese retailer JD.com, we study the click and purchase behavior of customers in an online retail setting by employing a structural estimation approach. In particular, we aim to understand what characteristics of products drive the click versus purchase decisions of customers.With the boom in e-commerce, which has been further fueled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, an ever increasing number of customers are shopping online. Such a rapid growth in online shopping provides retailers with abundance of data to study customer shopping behavior. For example, online retailers can benefit from a better understanding of the customer search (click) and purchase behavior to improve their operational decisions such as assortment planning. From an academic standpoint, even though there is an extensive body of work on consumer search models, most prior work do not incorporate search sequences and purchase decisions of customers jointly in their analysis. We, however, combine the click and order data to estimate both the click and purchase behavior of customers.Methodology/Results. Using a large data set from JD.com, we propose a structural model to estimate the click and purchase behavior of customers according to a dynamic discrete choice model. In particular, we assume that the customer's utility from each product has an observed and (pre-click) unobserved part (in addition to a random shock). The observed part of the utility is known to the customer prior to the click;however, the unobserved part of the utility can only be learned after the customer clicks on the product. We assume that the customer solves a dynamic program in order to find the optimal search strategy. Due to the curse of dimensionality, we propose a novel value function approximation scheme inspired by the Conditional Choice Probability approach. This, in turn, reduces the estimation into a computationally tractable two-stage process. By combining the click and order data, our proposed structural framework allows us to disentangle and estimate the observed and unobserved parts of product utilities. Our estimation results show that the value of click for customers can be quite significant. This is evidenced by the fact that the unobserved utilities of products vary significantly across products. Most importantly, we are able to identify underrated products which we call diamonds in the rough: these are products with low "face" values (i.e., low observed utilities), but high total utilities due to their high unobserved utilities. Thus, even though such products have a low chance of being clicked (due to their low observed utilities), they have a high chance of being purchased, if clicked.Managerial Implications. Our structural framework provides an online retailer with new tools and insights to better manage the product assortment based on customer click and purchase behavior. In particular, our structural model allows the retailer to disentangle the observed and unobserved parts of product utilities and identify underrated diamond-in-the-rough products. The online retailer can increase her revenue by bringing such products into the spotlight by promoting them on the search page or using tags such as "spotlight product" (similar to "Amazon's Choice" tags on Amazon.com) to entice customers to click on them.


Consider a legged robot at fixed foot placements. Where can the robot move its center of mass (CM) while remaining in static equilibrium? If the terrain is flat, the CM must lie above the convex hull of the robot's feet. If the terrain is not flat, this often-used approximation can be arbitrarily bad. Instead, the CM must lie above the projection of a nonlinear convex set that is defined by the properties of each foot placement. This paper presents an algorithm to compute the shape of this projection and gives a tight bound on the algorithm's running time. It also presents a method of amortizing the cost of this computation when it is only necessary to test static equilibrium at particular CM positions--that is, when it is only necessary to test the membership of points in the projection of a convex set rather than find its shape.


The CRAY APP is a highly parallel network compute server designed to accelerate Fortran and C programs in a UNIX environment. It can run complete programs in a simple shared memory environment, including support for UNIX system calls. A very efficient HiPPI interface makes the CRAY APP cluster-capable and well-suited to interact with other programs running on a network in a client/server mode. Several novel features of the CRAY APP system design and programming environment allow for simple porting and incremental tuning of existing applications. These include a highly efficient microkernel operating system, low overhead library-based parallel support software, and a simple refinement to existing vectorization techniques called data vectorization.<<ETX>>


This chapter aims to set out the case for the idea of critical cosmopolitanism as a distinctive kind of cosmopolitanism. The notion of critical cosmopolitanism suggests a particular approach to cosmopolitanism that highlights its primarily critical characteristics. The critical thrust of cos-mopolitanism has not always been emphasized by theorists of cosmopolitanism who have instead stressed its normative aspirations. Cosmopolitanism is certainly an approach to social and political analysis that is strongly normative and while views di ff er as to the scope and nature of its normativity, a cosmopolitan approach will inevitably tend towards a critical as opposed to an a ffi rmative view of current realities. I argue that cosmopolitanism suggests a critical attitude which can becontrasted to an interpretive or descriptive approach to the social world and which is also more than normative critique. The notion of critical cosmopolitanism that I argue for aims to retain the notion of normative critique, but to extend it in the direction of a deeper notion of critique as world disclosure. I hope to elucidate the critical presuppositions of cosmopolitanism. However, my aim is to go beyond an account of the critical nature of cosmopolitanism in general to a defence of the idea of a critical cosmopolitanism, as a particular kind of cosmopolitanism. As I shall attempt to demonstrate, this can be understood in two senses. A case could be made for critical cosmopolitanism simply as a critique of other conceptions of cosmopolitanism. While I argue this is an important aspect to critical cosmopolitanism, one can make a stronger claim for critical cosmopolitanism as an account of social and political reality that seeks to identify transformational possibilities within the present. In the


Data from surveys made it possible to compare properties in Caceres Province dehesa and Californian oak savanna to gain insights into how landowner and manager characteristics fit into emergent conservation initiatives. The prevalent institutions and ecological dynamics influence the kinds of conservation initiatives in the two sites under investigation. Spanish management and land use is more diverse, reflecting the vast difference in social and economic history between Spain and California. In California today, landowner interest in diversification is limited, but where there is a large amount of land in restricted title landowners seem to be more interested in diversified and specialized production. In California, oak woodlands are ecologically comparatively inert, but the human population dynamics are quite volatile. In Spain, the woodlands change rapidly without regular human intervention, but the distribution of the human population is comparatively stable. Emerging incentive-based conservation strategies reflect these differences: California programs focus on restricting development, while Spanish programs target agricultural practices and afforestation. Caceres and California owners and managers do share many similar attitudes toward the government and conservation programs. It appears that negotiations with woodland landowners and managers over conservation programs are about control over the operations, and about appropriate incentives. Ranchers and dehesa managers are willing to manage for different goals, employ new practices, and even surrender some components of title if the correct balance of control and incentives is offered.


Four monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)2 (mPEG-P( LA-co-GA)2) copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide and glycolide with double hydroxyl functionalized mPEG (mPEG-(OH)2) as macroinitiator and stannous octoate as catalyst. The copolymers self-assembled into nanoscale micellar/vesicular aggregations in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4. Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline anticancer drug, was loaded into the micellar/vesicular nanoparticles, yielding micellar/vesicular nanomedicines. The in vitro release behaviors could be adjusted by content of hydrophobic polyester and pH of the release medium. In vitro cell experiments showed that the intracellular DOX release could be adjusted by content of P(LA-co-GA), and the nanomedicines displayed effective proliferation inhibition against Henrietta Lacks's cells with different culture times. Hemolysis tests indicated that the copolymers were hemocompatible, and the presence of copolymers could reduce the hemolysis ratio of DOX significantly. These results suggested that the novel anticancer nanomedicines based on DOX and amphiphilic Y-shaped copolymers were attractive candidates as tumor tissular and intracellular targeting drug delivery systems in vivo, with enhanced stability during circulation and accelerated drug release at the target sites.


In the present paper, on assuming that the material has infinite friction and no cohesion, i.e. it is No-Tension in the sense of Heyman, we study the equilibrium of cross vaults of unequal rise, such as those of some Romanesque and Gothic churches. In particular the case study of the lateral cross vaults of the Cathedral of the old town of Caserta is analyzed. The scope of the paper is not to study in detail and quantitatively any particular vault, rather we give a compressive equilibrium solution (compatible with the unilateral material assumption) for the general case of cross vaults, constructed on arches of unequal rise, and loaded by a uniform load. For the purpose of the structural analysis, the vault is modelled as a thin shell made of Rigid No-Tension material. The webs of the vault that we consider, are supported on two crossing ribs. To obtain the axial force inside the ribs, equilibrated and singular stress fields (that is stress fields concentrated on curves and balanced with the loads) are constructed. An estimate of the thrust forces transmitted by the vault to the peripheral arches and walls is also obtained, so that the stability of these structures can be checked.


The site and bond percolation problems are conventionally studied on (hyper)cubic lattices, which afford straightforward numerical treatments. The recent implementation of efficient simulation algorithms for high-dimensional systems now also facilitates the study of D_{n} root lattices in n dimensions as well as E_{8}-related lattices. Here, we consider the percolation problem on D_{n} for n=3 to 13 and on E_{8} relatives for n=6 to 9. Precise estimates for both site and bond percolation thresholds obtained from invasion percolation simulations are compared with dimensional series expansion based on lattice animal enumeration for D_{n} lattices. As expected, the bond percolation threshold rapidly approaches the Bethe lattice limit as n increases for these high-connectivity lattices. Corrections, however, exhibit clear yet unexplained trends. Interestingly, the finite-size scaling exponent for invasion percolation is found to be lattice and percolation-type specific.


There is potential for improving the compaction of dense roadbase and basecourse macadam in the critical wheel-path zones which determine the structural performance of pavements. The report considers the effect of cooling of bituminous layers on compaction and describes a procedure which should expedite the rolling process and ensure that adequate compactive effort is applied before the material has cooled excessively. Proposals are made for an improved method specification. It is hoped that reductions in the design thickness of dense coated macadams can be made when improvement in compaction in the wheel-paths has been demonstrated at several sites. /Author/TRRL/


Barbados, through its Barbados National Energy Policy (BNEP) 2019-2030, announced its commitment to achieving 100 percent renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2030. This commitment creates an opportunity for the GoB to manage the impact of the transition toward renewable clean energy by introducing measures to transform the way revenue from energy is collected thereby avoiding unnecessary fiscal costs. The purpose of this study is to calculate the revenue gap derived from Barbados 2030 energy transition goal of having a revenue-neutral transition and propose and evaluate various policy measures that could help seize opportunities to close that gap. The simulation model suggests that the energy transition would result in an estimated BBD$105 million in revenue losses a year by following the BNEP. Such a reduction would create a significant fiscal gap that would need to be addressed through the introduction of new forms of taxes or changes to current taxes in order to adapt tax collection to revenue creation from the new clean energy economy. A wide range of tax policy options and issues surrounding their effective implementation were discussed such as: increased taxes on fossil fuels, a change in the VAT rate, mileage taxes on electric and hybrid vehicles, and taxes on renewable energy production. Each of these new tax approaches can help address the fiscal gap estimated above.


The global financial crisis highlighted the limitations of the mainstream economic thinking. The post-crisis reflection has not resulted yet in any new paradigm, however, several new, still separate, innovative approaches appeared in the field of public finances and economic governance. The aim of the paper is to provide a structured presentation of these new innovative approaches, which can serve as a potential basis of a new way of thinking about economic and financial governance and the innovation of public finances. The paper reviews the relevant international literature published after the global financial crisis and, as a result, presents the innovations, especially in respect of the role of the state, the renewal of central banking, the reassessment of the stability and geopolitical aspects of economic policy, the relevance of confidence and cooperation in public policy, the increasing role of the public sector concerning the sustainability of economic development and the renaissance of institutional economics. Based on these new approaches, the paper concludes that the smart, inclusive and sustainable, innovation-led growth requires the rethinking of the role, the functions, the objectives and the instruments of public policy and economic governance.


The extensive literature on sulfide flotation indicates that pyrite poorly floats under alkaline condition. Xanthate concentration has a positive effect on pyrite flotation, but above a pH of 11, pyrite seems to be strongly depressed, independently of the concentration in xanthate. In this investigation, aeration and xanthate concentration effects were studied for pyrite flotation conditioned at pH 11 with lime. Results presented in this paper include surface infrared analyses and pulp chemistry measurements which have showed that aeration had a dual effect on pyrite flotation. It induced pyrite surface activation by oxygen, and oxidation of ferrous iron to ferric hydroxides or oxyhydroxides species. It also favoured dissolution of CO2, leading to calcium carbonate precipitation and adsorption onto pyrite surface. Both CO2 dissolution and ferrous oxidation generated protons and decreased pulp pH. Pyrite flotation was observed to be effective with a statistical monolayer of xanthate that could be adsorbed as mixture of dixanthogen and metal-xanthate complex. Non-floated fractions showed high amounts of carbonate, and presence of hydroxyl iron sulfate (Fen(OH)m(SO4)p ,x H 2O) which have inhibited the hydrophobicity effect of adsorbed xanthate. Environmental desulfurisation could be improved by aeration control causing pyrite oxidation and pH decrease to reach optimal flotation condition with a relatively low xanthate concentration.


Drug-eluting stents may affect the normal healing process of the vessel wall and the remodeling process and may lead to late stent malapposition (LSM). The known incidence of this phenomen originates from short-term angiographic follow-up studies. We describe a case report of very late stent malapposition and marked positive vessel remodeling 3 years after sirolimus-eluting coronary stent implantation. Angiography performed one year after stent implantation was normal. Thus, the abnormalities developed sometime between years 1 and 3. The cause is unknown, but it is reasonable to suggest a local effect of the medication/polymer of the stent. LSM rate and aneurysmal formation is higher in DES than in BMS and may be associated with increased risk for late stent thrombosis. Currently, the risk of very late stent thrombosis after DES implantation is of major concern. As observed in this case report, LSM might occur and develop very late. This has significant consequences especially to the many asymptomatic patients with DES implanted many years ago and the recommendation of dual antiplatelet therapy. More studies with late and very late follow up are needed to better define this finding, its mechanism, how to avoid it, and how to treat it properly.


Objective To estimate the arterial blood pressure, left ventricular function and insulin secretion in alcoholics. Design We examined hospitalized patients between the second and seventh day of acute alcohol withdrawal and after a month of abstinence by 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, a standard oral glucose-tolerance test with determination of insulinaemia, two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography and pulsed-wave Doppler statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Patients Fifty alcoholics aged 36.3 ± 5.4 years with a history of alcohol abuse for a mean of 12 years. Main outcome We expected the cessation of drinking to exert an influence by lowering the blood pressure and left ventricular function with a concomitant lowering of the insulin resistance. Results During acute alcohol withdrawal the systolic (121.6 ± 7.7 versus 115.8 ± 8.7 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressures (74.5 ± 6.3 versus 72.0 ± 7.9 mmHg) were significantly higher. The nocturnal fall in blood pressure was smaller and the variability of the blood pressure was blunted. This period was characterized by hyperinsulinaemia detected by the glucose-tolerance test [ln (SUMins) 8957 ± 0.47 versus 8558 ± 0.651] correlated to hyperdynamic circulation (cardiac index 3.38 ± 0.86 versus 3.09 ± 0.69 l/min per m2). The early : late atrial filling ratio had increased significantly after 1 month of abstinence (1.98 ± 0.43 versus 2.08 ± 0.50). Conclusions One month of abstinence from drinking decreases the blood pressure and improves the diurnal profile of the blood pressure and the left ventricular diastolic function. Hyperinsulinaemia, which is observed during acute restriction of alcohol consumption, could be one of the causes responsible for hyperdynamic circulation.


The article presents the results of research on a specific recreation space – holiday plots. It is an attempt to identify the conditions for the development of holiday settlements, using the example of the gmina of Stężyca situated in the centre of the Kashubian Lake District. The authors indicate the conditions related to the location of holiday plots, as well as the motivations and expectations of their owners. As a result of the study, it was concluded that natural and landscape assets, as well as temporal and spatial accessibility determined the development of the holiday settlement in the gmina of Stężyca. Equally significant factors are family ties and sentiment towards their place of birth.


Abstract : The position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) dates from 1949. While its roots trace to the experience of directing the United States participation in World War II, the impetus for its creation derived from the problems encountered in attempting to create a unified defense organization after the war. In the sixty-seven years since the swearing in of General Omar N. Bradley as the first Chairman on 16 August 1949, nineteen officers have served in the position. Their influence and authority varied widely. Although General Bradley had limited statutory authority, he had considerable power because both Presidents whom he served valued his advice. Until the enactment of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense (DOD) Reorganization Act in October 1986, Bradley's successors, too, found that their actual power derived more from their relationships with the nation's civilian leadership than from their legal authorities. The Goldwater-Nichols Act gave the Chairman far greater power than even the most influential Chairmen had previously exercised. However, in practice, the use of that authority continued to depend upon the Chairman's personality, his concept of his role, and his relationships with the President and Secretary of Defense.


Characteristic of dislocations and dynamic recrystallization in TiB2 particles associated with hypervelocity impact craters in 65 vol.% TiB2/Al composite were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As high temperature due to hypervelocity impact can make the dislocation climb, a bunch of vacancies were generated and then gathered to form vacancy slice, finally formed dislocation rings. In addition, by climbing, edge dislocations rearranged themselves into wall vertical with slip plane, which finally forms sub grain boundary. Moreover, big angle grain boundaries were observed, which demonstrates that dynamic recrystal grains were formed in impacted TiB2 particles. As a result, deformation behavior of TiB2 particles in 65 vol.% TiB2/Al composite under hypervelocity impact includes generation of dislocation, slip and climb of dislocation, and dynamic recrystallization.


Business ontology can enhance the successful development of complex enterprise system; this is being achieved through knowledge sharing and the ease of communication between every entity in the domain. Through human semantic interaction with the web resources, machines to interpret the data published in a machine interpretable form under web. However, the theoretical practice of business ontology in eCommerce domain is quite a few especially in the section of electronic transaction, and the various techniques used to obtain efficient communication across spheres are error prone and are not always guaranteed to be efficient in obtaining desired result due to poor semantic integration between entities. To overcome the poor semantic integration this research focuses on proposed ontology called LB2CO, which combines the framework of IDEF5 & SNAP as an analysis tool, for automated recommendation of product and services and create effective ontological framework for B2C transaction & communication across different business domains that facilitates the interoperability & integration of B2C transactions over the web.


In an optical filter based VSB-DD transmission system, semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is a promising option to enhance system optical power margin. While, in practical system, the low input saturation power makes the SOA-amplified signal susceptible to the pattern effect, which causes a considerable spectral broadening, thereby influencing the design of VSB filter. In this paper, the relationship between SOA-induced pattern effect and the requirements of the VSB filter is systematically investigated. Firstly, qualitative analysis is given and upper sideband (USB) is proved better than lower sideband (LSB) owing to the suppression of SOA-induced pattern effect. Then, 56Gbps IM/DD PAM4 transmission is experimentally conducted. With respective optimal filter configuration, performance of USB signal is superior to LSB signal in all cases. Results show that USB signal has 1dB sensitivity superiority to LSB signal for 56Gb/s PAM4 after 40km transmission. And in 80km case, only by using USB signal, can HD-FEC limit (3.8 × 10-3) be achieved. Also, we study requirements on other filter parameters, including redundant bandwidth and filter steepness.


Rugby, a fast-paced, aggressive contact sport, has a high incidence of injury. This study examines why US women play rugby given the social stigma surrounding women's participation in sports in general, particularly contact sports, and despite the high risk of injury. In a survey of their injury history and potential injury risk factors, 339 female rugby players from 14 teams of varied quality and levels of play from a wide geographic area in the United States were asked why they played the sport. Their responses indicate that women play rugby because they enjoy the game, they like the aggressive aspects of the sport, they appreciate the social aspects of the game, and they believe the sport provides them with positive benefits, such as increased fitness, confidence, and strength. The results of this study indicate that many women are willing to risk injury for the positive rewards that they associate with rugby.


Alteration of natural killer (NK) activity from the peripherial blood was examined in the patients with superficial bladder cancer during two years between 1989-1991. The natural killer cell activity in patients with superficial bladder cancer was significantly depressed that activity was found in normal controls (P less than 0.01). 23 patients received intravesical BCG immuntherapy and NK activity was detected in the same patients 72 times in different period during the therapy. The authors decided that the activity of NK cells alters in BCG therapy. Increase of NK cells activity in the most common way of this alteration but many different type of this change is possible. The lower dose BCG (120 mg) often induce augmentation of NK activity but high dose BCG (200 mg) more frequently caused depressed activity of NK cells. The authors didn't find direct connection between therapy effect and NK activity but they found significantly less NK activity (P less than 0.03) in the patients who are in relapse. According to their opinions the role of natural killer cells in the antitumor effect of BCG can not be excluded. They recommended more immunological investigations to clear up the anticancer effect of BCG immuntherapy.


Resistivity, VLF, and radar were used to image a leachate plume emanating from a landfill in northern Michigan. The resistivity arrays were dipole-monopole and mise-a-la-masse. VLF data were enhanced and interpreted using linear filters to convert the data to subsurface electric current densities and to apparent resistivities. The general agreement of these methods provide confidence as to the extent of the plume and the direction of groundwater flow.


Since the mid 80s various gradient plasticity models have been developed for obtaining the plastic response of materials at the micron- and submicron- scales. In particular, gradient terms have been proven to be crucial for understanding size effects in constrained plastic flow, which are related to the emergence of plasticity boundary layers near passive (plastically not deformable) boundaries. In spite of the success of gradient theories in modeling boundary layer formation, there remain unresolved issues concerning the physical interpretation of the internal length scale involved in the theoretical formulation. Physically, boundary layer formation is related to the piling up of dislocations against the boundaries. This phenomenon is investigated by performing discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) simulations on a tri-crystal with plastically non-deforming grain boundaries. Strain distributions are derived from the DDD simulations and matched with the results of gradient plasticity calculations, in order to identify the internal length scale governing the boundary layer width.


AIM
To conduct three-dimensional micro-CT analysis of bone destruction, periapical sclerotic changes and inflammatory root resorption (IRR) to compare the differences between Enterococcus faecalis (Ef)- and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg)-induced chronic apical periodontitis (CAP).

METHODOLOGY
Mono-species bacteria-induced CAP was established in the first and second molars of the right maxilla and mandible of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Fifteen animals were divided into three groups with five rats in each group: control group, Ef-CAP group and Pg-CAP group. The maxilla and mandible were harvested and then scanned by micro-CT. Alveolar bone destruction was evaluated by measuring the volume of alveolar bone resorption, bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), trabecular number (Tb. N) and trabecular spacing (Tb. Sp). The results were analysed using one-way analysis of variance and Fisher's least significant difference methods (LSD). The sclerotic changes in the periapical bone were graded and the IRR indexes were scored. The data were analysed using the chi-square test.

RESULTS
The alveolar bone resorption volume of the Pg-CAP group was significantly larger than that of the Ef-CAP group (P < 0.01). In the maxilla, both Pg-CAP and Ef-CAP groups had a significant decrease in BV/TV and increase in Tb. Sp (P < 0.01) with the more significant changes of trabecular bone in the Pg-CAP group. A significant reduction of Tb. N was only found in the Pg-CAP group (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in Tb. Th in either group (P > 0.05). In the mandible, except for an increase in Tb. Sp in the Pg-CAP group (P < 0.05), there was no significant change in BV/TV, Tb. Th or Tb. N (P > 0.05). No obvious sclerotic change was observed. IRR was detected in significantly more root surfaces in the Pg-CAP group (240 surfaces, 60%) than those in the Ef-CAP group (178 surfaces, 44.5%) (P < 0.001). The IRR extension was also significantly more advanced in the Pg-CAP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Pg-CAP caused more substantial alveolar bone destruction and IRR than Ef-CAP. The maxilla was more susceptible to CAP in terms of microstructural changes of trabecular bone than the mandible. Tb. Sp was the most sensitive index for evaluating the residual alveolar bone of CAP.


Pepcase is a gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase that exists in bacteria, archaea and plants,playing an important role in plant metabolism and development. Most plants have two or more pepcase genes belonging to two gene sub-families, while only one gene exists in other organisms. Previous research categorized one plant pepcase gene as plant-type pepcase (PTPC) while the other as bacteria-type pepcase (BTPC) because of its similarity with the pepcase gene found in bacteria. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that PTPC is the ancestral lineage of plant pepcase, and that all bacteria, protistpepcase and BTPC in plants are derived from a lineage of pepcase closely related with PTPC in algae. However, their phylogeny contradicts the species tree and traditional chronology of organism evolution. Because the diversification of bacteria occurred much earlier than the origin of plants, presumably all bacterialpepcase derived from the ancestral PTPC of algal plants after divergingfrom the ancestor of vascular plant PTPC. To solve this contradiction, we reconstructed the phylogeny of pepcase gene family. Our result showed that both PTPC and BTPC are derived from an ancestral lineage of gamma-proteobacteriapepcases, possibly via an ancient inter-kingdom horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria to the eukaryotic common ancestor of plants, protists and cellular slime mold. Our phylogenetic analysis also found 48other pepcase genes originated from inter-kingdom HGTs. These results imply that inter-kingdom HGTs played important roles in the evolution of the pepcase gene family and furthermore that HGTsare a more frequent evolutionary event than previouslythought.


Large media clusters have emerged in a limited number of large cities, characterizing the geographical concentration of the global media industry. This paper explores the reasons behind the localization patterns of media industries, the effect of the rapid advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on media clusters and the role of media cluster policies. One might draw the conclusion that with the developments of the ICT sector and the fact that there are no raw materials or physical goods that should be transported in the media industry; media firms could locate anywhere and the urban regions would no longer host any clusters of media firms. Various reasons are provided as to why strong tendencies of media firms to cluster in large cities should still be expected and why media clusters differ from other clusters. The paper concludes that it is the type and form of interaction and transactions that matter and new communication technologies are mainly compliments to the still essential face-to-face interaction in the media industry. Policy makers have promoted agglomeration in both large and small cities since they have recognized that some media industries are encouraging economic growth and employment creation. Approaches to cluster governance and motivations for cluster policies are highlighted in the paper. Furthermore, different topics of future research challenges connected to media clusters are presented.


Iran is currently implementing policy measures to increase the contribution of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) to economic performance. However, little attention is given to examining whether ICT investment
contributes to the economic growth of Iran. Concerning the importance of the causal link between these two variables
to national policy implications, the present study employs a Granger causality analysis to examine the cause and effect
relationship between ICT infrastructure and output growth in a multivariate setting that includes labor and capital
variables. The results indicate that a long-run equilibrium relationship exists between ICT development and economic
growth. Furthermore, the findings provide evidence of significant uni-directional short-run causality running from
economic growth to ICT development in the Iranian economy. In terms of policy implications, the findings support the
idea that this relationship is sustainable. However, in the short-run, investing in other important sectors and promoting
ICT-use should be a priority for boosting the development of the national economy and ICT.


If corporate law matters to corporate governance and finance, then in order to assess its quality in any given country, one must look at corporate law off the books, i.e., the characteristics of corporate law as applied by judges and other relevant public officials. This paper provides an assessment of Italian corporate law based on an analysis of a sample of 106 decisions by the Milan Tribunal, Italy's most specialized court in corporate law. The judges' quality is evaluated by looking at: (1) how deferential they are to corporate insiders; (2) how keen they are to understand, and possibly take into account, the real rights and wrongs underlying the case before them; (3) how antiformalistic their legal reasoning is; (4) how concerned they are about the effects of their decisions on the generality of corporate actors.The analysis casts a negative light on Milanese (and by extension, Italian) corporate law judges. It highlights egregious cases of deference to corporate insiders, especially with regard to parent-subsidiary relationships. Furthermore, very few of the court's opinions have been so drafted as to let the reader understand what the real dispute was and which party had really acted opportunistically. In any case, it appears to be rare for the court to take the substantive reasons for the dispute into any account. Cases are described, in which the court has adduced very formalistic arguments. Finally, there is no sign that the judges care about what signals they send to corporate actors: they appear to be quite unconcerned about whether their decisions provide the right incentives for directors and shareholders.


Testis brain-RNA-binding protein (TB-RBP) is a single-stranded DNA- and RNA-binding protein that is involved in chromosomal translocations, mRNA transport and translational regulation. Here we show from in vitro and in vivo protein binding studies that TB-RBP dimers are the minimum structural unit needed for DNA- and RNA-binding. Truncation studies demonstrate that the C-terminus of 55 amino acids of TB-RBP is essential, but not sufficient for DNA- or RNA-binding, and deletion of the leucine zipper motif in the C-terminus abolishes DNA- and RNA-binding. Changing cysteine 225 in the C-terminus to alanine does not significantly reduce DNA- or RNA-binding, but reduces the stability of the dimer. We conclude that the leucine zipper motif is required to maintain two molecules of TB-RBP as a dimer which is stabilized by a disulfide bond involving cysteine 225.


Slow-release liquid nitrogen fertilizer sources have been around since 1970. However, this technique is not widely used in the field, probably due to the low cost per ton of nitrogen in the solid form. This study aimed to evaluate the combination of the conventional and slow-release nitrogen fertilization on the yield and phenological variables in a narrow-row cotton crop. Treatments consisted of the combination of the nitrogen fertilizer applied as topdressing in solid form (via soil) and pulverized in the liquid form (via urea formaldehyde UF): 0% of solid N + 0% of liquid N (0S0L); 100% of solid N + 0% of liquid N (100S0L); 75% of solid N + 25% of liquid N (75S25L); 50% of solid N + 50% of liquid N (50S50L); 25% of solid N + 75% of liquid N (25S75L); e 0% of solid N + 100% of liquid N (0S100L). The cotton crop was phenotypically evaluated at 35, 70, and 130 DAE (Days after emergence) and at the harvest time. The variation between the source of the solid nitrogen fertilizer applied to the soil (ammonium nitrate) and the liquid Nitrogen fertilizer applied by spraying (UF) affects the phenology, physiology, and yield components of the narrow-row cotton crop. The highest yield of the narrow-row cotton crop under the experimental conditions was achieved when 25% of the dose of the solid nitrogen fertilizer was applied as topdressing via soil, and 75% of the dose of the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer was sprayed. This technique provides higher profitability of the produced cotton in relation to the conventional application of the N solid fertilizer via soil.


Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene; C 5 H 8 ) is one of the dominant and highly reactive non-methane hydrocarbons and is rapidly oxidized in the atmosphere, contributing to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Although terrestrial vegetation is the main source of atmospheric isoprene emissions, isoprene is also produced by marine organisms such as phytoplankton, seaweeds and bacteria. Globally, emission of isoprene to the atmosphere is substantially lower from marine systems (0.1–1.9 Tg C yr −1 ) than from terrestrial systems (400–750 Tg C yr −1 ). However, the large input from terrestrial sources has no impact on remote ocean regions because of the short atmospheric lifetime of isoprene (1–5 h). Data coverage of isoprene in seawater is still limited to understand its production factors in seawater while the contribution of isoprene to in-situ atmospheric chemistry such as SOA production is considered to be important. The usual method for oceanic isoprene measurements involves discrete sampling and analysis by gas chromatography (GC) on board, however, we need the large space and expendables such as refrigerant to maintain GC measurements. To improve the data coverage of isoprene in seawater, we tried to develop a new conceptual measurement system using a curie point pyrolyzer. This measurement system is characterized by the simpler composition than the conventional purge & trap extraction-GC detection. Extracted isoprene from seawater sample was trapped on Carbopack absorbent filled in a small tube called mini-PAT in room temperature, and then trapped isoprene was desorbed and introduced to GC by rapid heating up to 358°C on the basis of pulse heating method. This method doesn't require both refrigerant and large space for the extraction. If the mini-PAT can preserve isoprene for a while, we can separately measure isoprene on land after the cruise. The simpler extraction and preservation and the smaller space on board will realize the improvement data coverage of dissolved isoprene. In this presentation, we will show the performance of the system such as detection limit, extraction and trapping efficiency, preservation period, and its dependence in filled absorbents.


Edited by Howard Frumkin

San Francisco:Jossey-Bass, 2005. 1,108 pp. ISBN: 0-7879-7383-1, $75.00

Howard Frumkin has been a leader in expanding the definition of environmental health beyond the effects of toxic chemicals. His eloquence and breadth of understanding are evident in the introductory chapter to this textbook, as well as in his chapter "Nature Contact: a Health Benefit?" The book's 36 chapters contain highly pertinent insights and information on environmental issues that go beyond the usual boundaries of classic environmental health. Among the many excellent chapters are ones on climate change, ecology, urbanization, environmental justice, developing nations, health care services, energy production, genetics, indoor air pollution, religious issues, clinical services, legal remedies, environmental health policy, and transportation. This breadth makes the book a very useful reference source. Unfortunately, so much of the basics of classic environmental health are omitted or insufficiently presented that the book is not suitable as a textbook for standard undergraduate or graduate environmental health courses.

Core concepts in classic toxicology and in risk assessment related to environmental chemicals receive minimal attention. For example, there is little or nothing on such topics as threshold and nonthreshold dose responses; traditional chemical safety factors; reference doses; weight of evidence for carcinogenicity; and other standard approaches to evaluating personal and community risk from chemicals. The linkage between environmental exposure and dose, including internal dose and dose to target tissue, is only scantily presented. Classic environmental health concepts such as bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification are not systematically addressed. The risk assessment chapter focuses almost totally on cancer risk, but without mentioning the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the National Toxicology Program processes for hazard identification of carcinogens. Cumulative risk is briefly touched on in the excellent chapter on environmental justice—but with no mention of aggregate risk. Environmental indicators are discussed only in relation to water pollution, and the exciting new advances in this area are not integrated or referenced; biomonitoring is only briefly mentioned in the discussion of industrial hygiene; and biomarkers only in relation to exposure, but not to effect or susceptibility. These basic concepts, as well as information about the health effects and mechanisms of toxicity of major environmental chemicals, are central to teaching the environmental health sciences to undergraduate and graduate students.

Emblematic of the disconnect between the excellence of a chapter and value as a textbook is the treatment of exposure assessment and of informatics. The superb chapter on industrial hygiene only peripherally addresses environmental exposure assessment, a crucial component of classic environmental health. Omitted are conceptual and technical advances that have contributed heavily to advances in environmental protection. This chapter does contain a brief discussion of dose issues missing from the toxicology chapter, although its example of carbon monoxide is unfortunate in omitting time to equilibrium and CO production through normal metabolism. Similarly, informatics has developed two major areas in environmental health: geographic information systems (GIS) and computational chemical toxicology. GIS receives a full and informative chapter, but the impact of informatics on computational toxicology is barely mentioned.

The coverage of toxicity and health effects is excellently provided for radiation and for pesticides. For each major type of radiation energy, Arthur C. Upton discusses sources, mechanisms of action, acute and chronic effects, assessment of exposure and risk, effects in susceptible populations, and prevention and mitigation. Similarly, an excellent chapter on pesticides describes pests and their impact on human health, classifies pesticides by target and chemical structure, discusses pesticide use and exposures and the regulation of pesticides, and describes integrated pest management. But there is nothing like this for the chemical agents that remain classic areas of concern for environmental health.

Some missing chemicals and concepts are covered in passing in other chapters. Unfortunately, the index is very poorly done. For effective use as a textbook, the index must be a means for the student to pursue specific topics. Yet major items are unaccountably left out. As examples, despite four different references to benzene among the chapters, benzene is not listed in the index; CO is indexed as a criteria air pollutant, but not to the other two chapters in which it is discussed; Frumkin's introductory discussion of dioxins does not lead to a listing in the index; and the only index listing for lung cancer is to a page that devotes twice the space to leukemia—but leukemia is not indexed.

The authors are to be commended for using a fact-based approach, although there is occasional preaching. Joel A. Tickner, a lucid advocate of the precautionary principle, does not address its track record of being misused for economic advantage, and erroneously asserts that "strong" epidemiologic evidence of risk is needed for preventive approaches based upon risk assessment. We can agree with Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel that public health personnel should advocate action against the evils of landmines without being told that we have a "responsibility" to advocate for a specific treaty.

Among the superb chapters in this book are those by Sarah Kotchian on the practice of environmental public health and by Vincent T. Covello on the communication of environmental health risk. But students not only must learn who should communicate, and how, but also understand the basics about chemicals and their effects. This would be expected in a textbook for a course adhering to the recent core competency project of the Association of Schools of Public Health (http://www.asph.org/UserFiles/FinalVersion2.1.pdf). Perhaps revision for the next edition of this otherwise superb reference work will make it suitable as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental health.


Proteins' three‐dimensional (3D) structures are analyzed traditionally using geometric descriptors such as torsional angles and inter‐atomic distances. In this study a measure that is borrowed from computational geometry, aspect ratio of each tetrahedron in alpha shapes of proteins, is utilized. This geometric descriptor differentiates alpha and beta structural classes of proteins when combined with principal components analysis. The method converts the structures of individual proteins, 3D coordinates of the atoms, to points on a plane. It has a high degree of accuracy in differentiating R and T structures of hemoglobin. Therefore, it is anticipated that the geometric measure can be used successfully in a method that is extended to solve classification problems in machine learning.


Daphnia magna are common planktonic crustacean of the subclass Phyllopoda that can be found in lakes and ponds all over the Holarctic. They have been the subject of biological research since the 1700s because of their value as an experimental organism; this is due to their plentitude, easily observable organs, easy maintenance, and quick reproduction rate. As a result, they are a well-known reference organism to study aquatic environmental contamination. Using this species, three different environmental hormones, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, and glyphosate, were introduced to develop an environmental pollution research model. The standard method of determining physiological differences of Daphnia magna typically observes only its heartbeat. However, in this study, one more variable was added in order to more accurately reflect the physiological changes underwent by Daphnia magna when their environmental conditions were altered: their swimming rate. In the actual experiment, the Daphnia magna were exposed to a serial dilution solution of the environmental hormones in a contamination model and then had their heartbeat rate measured. The experiment was then repeated under the same conditions for estimating their change in swimming rate. In each pollution model technique, the data demonstrated a mathematical relation of heartbeat rate and swimming rate with polynomial functionality. The sensitivity along the dilution concentration was different between the % heartbeat change and % swimming rate change, which might mean that both parameters should be mutually complementary and carried out simultaneously, when any environmental hormone's toxicity is required to be thoroughly studied. The dangers of environmental hormones should not be downplayed and a more effective method for checking acute toxicity should be useful. Accepted: 24 November 2016 Available Online: 06 December 2016


Earth architecture during the 21st century has resurfaced worldwide as a sustainable, low environmental impact material with expressive aesthetics and textures. Contemporary projects attempt to modernize the traditional techniques of building with earth in order to adapt them to today's projecting needs. Examples of such techniques are unfired earth bricks and rammed earth. In order to disclosure and highlight future possibilities of earth construction, advantages and limitations of earth construction in a contemporary Western-European context are reviewed, based on a literature study. Because it is hard to generalise due to the case-specific context and constraints, a case study analysis of earth utilization in two contemporary architectural projects is presented. To assess if these contemporary projects meet the environmental benefits associated with traditional earth construction, several environmental aspects are taken into account, such as material sourcing proximity, production process, reuse potential, etc. Based on the literature study, case study analysis and current evolutions in neighbouring countries, promising applications for future development of earth construction for low impact building in Belgium are highlighted.


Nanowires are an ideal choice for electronic applications. The underlying reason is that they offer a number of intrinsic properties that make them uniquely suited for low-power applications that require a highly linear device response. In this article we discuss the advantages of nanowires in particular for RF applications emphasizing the critical role of the quantum capacitance for the device operation. We argue that the one-dimensional character of a nanowire is the key enabler for device operation in the quantum capacitance limit and the main reason for a vastly different switching behavior in nanowire field-effect transistors.


Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis is a potentially fatal infection that affects immunocompromised patients. Prognosis is generally poor despite aggressive medical and surgical treatments. We present the first reported case of invasive fungal sinusitis in a healthy 18‐year‐old male athlete who was taking anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). The effects of excessive AAS use on the immune system are not fully understood, but there may be consequences at supraphysiological concentrations. This case demonstrates potential immunomodulatory effects of anabolic steroids and highlights a previously unknown cause of invasive fungal sinusitis. Laryngoscope, 124:1756–1759, 2014


The area of Sudetes, located at the margin of the Bohemian Massif, represents the NE-most part of the Variscan internides between the Elbe Fault in SW and the Odra Fault in NE. The lithosphere of the region is a mosaic of several distinct units/terranes with complex tectonic history ranging from the upper Proterozoic till the Quaternary. The crustal and uppermost mantle structure of this region was studied by seismic wide-angle experiment SUDETES 2003 and the results of 2-D isotropic modelling were published. Recently, this dataset, comprising off-line recordings from a net of intersecting profiles, was interpreted using anisotropic delay-time inversion. This resulted in models of 2-D distribution of upper crustal and uppermost mantle anisotropy based on azimuthal variability of the Pg and Pn traveltimes, respectively. The upper mantle of Sudetic region was the target of a passive seismic experiment AniMaLS. The project involved 23 broadband seismic stations deployed in the area of Sudetes and Fore-Sudetic block in SW Poland, supplemented with the data from 6 permanent seismic stations, operating in this area in Czech Republic and Poland. The measurements cover a ~200x100 km large area, with ~30 km inter-station spacing. The stations, deployed for a period of 24 months (2017-2019), provided broadband recordings of local, regional and teleseismic events. The aim of the experiment is to study the structure, seismic velocity variations including anisotropy distribution, and to map the upper mantle seismic discontinuities (Moho, lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, mantle transition zone). Currently, the AniMaLS data are being interpreted using shear wave splitting method and receiver function method. The analysis of SKS and SKKS splitting was based on cross-correlation, eigenvalue minimization and transverse energy minimization methods. Resulting time delays between slow and fast S-wave components are ~1.2 sec on average, with fast velocity axis oriented largely in WNW-ESE direction, consistently with results of delay-time inversion of Pn phase traveltimes. Crustal anisotropy is characterized by similar fast axis orientation, but with lower amplitude of anisotropy. The orientation of fast axes in the crust and mantle correlates well with surface trends of tectonic units and with strike directions of major fault zones. This suggests vertically coherent deformation throughout the lithosphere, most likely during consolidation of the Sudetic region in Variscan times.


This thesis examines the assessment and treatment of violence in personality disordered offenders, with the view of identifying pertinent issues to be considered when appraising risk within clinical practice. Chapter 1 reviews the relevant literature and outlines the remaining thesis. A systematic review evaluating Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) with borderline personality disordered (BPD) inpatients can be found in Chapter 2. Despite highlighting a number of methodological limitations, the review indicates DBT as having positive therapeutic effects within secure settings. Chapter 3 examines the predictive validity of the Historical/Clinical/Risk Management- 20 (HCR-20; Webster, Douglas, Douglas Eaves & Hart, 1997) showing it to be a valid and reliable within forensic populations. However, the review indicates the need for additional research, making recommendations for such work. The empirical paper in Chapter 4 investigates the concept Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD). A DSPD sample is compared to a non DSPD personality disordered group from the same setting on a number of risk related variables. Analysis of hospital incident data and Historical Clinical Risk Management-20 (HCR-20) scores suggests DSPD patients are at a higher risk of imminent harm to themselves and others than the comparison group. These findings offer substantiation to the DSPD label and the accompanying therapeutic programme. An individualised approach to risk assessment and treatment of a Learning Disabled offender with Borderline Personality Disorder is presented in Chapter 5, serving to highlight the difficulties with management of personality disordered inpatients. Chapter 6 offers concluding comments, discussing further implications for clinical practice.


Abnormal uterine bleeding is the third most common clinical presentation in gynecology OPD. Histopathological evaluation of the endometrial tissue plays a significant role in diagnosis and management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. Aim: To find out cause of abnormal uterine bleeding with the help of histopathological report of endometrial biopsy. Methodology: This is retrospective observational study done at NGMC from ( 1st June 2018 to -30th June 2019) of 100 patients endometrial biopsy sent for histopathological evaluation and diagnosis reports were correlated with age and bleeding pattern and patients were managed accordingly. Result: A total of 100 endometrial specimens submitted with clinical diagnosis of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding were studied. Patients age group ranged from 18 – 65 yrs and most of them were seen in the age group of 41–50 yrs (43%).The commonest complaint was menorrhagia i.e. 48% .The commonest endometrial pattern observed in the study was, proliferative phase endometrium (38%). Conclusion: Endometrial biopsy is one of the most useful diagnostic tools to find out cause of uterine bleeding in AUB cases and also helps in management of AUB patient.


Australia has, over the past four decades, been a keen reformer of public sector activities. The introduction of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as an alternative infrastructure delivery method has been no exception, and long-term infrastructure arrangements between governments and private businesses have become increasingly popular. Today's PPPs operate with sophisticated and far-reaching contracts, and promise better efficiency and strengthened monitoring and accountability as well as a host of other benefits. In the midst of an increasing amount of international evidence now available on the extent to which these promises are being met, debate remains both loud and determined. Some interpret the introduction of this reform as a sensible evolutionary step in the professional delivery of large infrastructure projects. PPP to these people is simply a sophisticated way to deliver modern professionalized public sector services. Others, though, see the infrastructure PPP movement as a triumph of the interests of bankers and professional consultants over the interests of citizens, whose needs should be represented through the parliament.This chapter looks at some of the recent Australian experience of PPPs. It discusses first the national historical context and notes that the desire for government to marry up its own capacities with the private sector is in fact not new. This has been achieved over the past two centuries through a variety of public-private mix arrangements at federal and state level. Second, we review the more recent foundations upon which Australian governments have then built reforms in public sector services, including PPP policies and the disciplines behind these policy ideas. A particular interest is the more aggressive policy leadership of the state of Victoria. The chapter then examines three specific case studies with the aim of illustrating the range of PPPs undertaken to date as well as some of the factors critical to success or failure. Finally, the chapter briefly comments on the performance outcomes published for PPP initiatives thus far and the lessons learned from experience. Overall, then, we focus particularly on the historical and cultural foundations upon which the Australian PPP phenomenon has been built, its style thus far and the policy lessons learned to date, rather than on technical project delivery processes.


An overall quantitative market research was carried out to reveal the consumers' behaviour relating to traditional Hungarian foods. This research aimed to get information on the consumption and buying habits of Hungarian consumers as well as the preferences and attitudes connected to these products. The research was based on a 1000 questionnaires inquiry that was representative and random. The sample mirrors the population in five factors: region, type of settlement, sex, age and educational level. Data were analyzed by using frequency distribution, means and cross-tables. Chi-square test was used in case of percentage distribution to define the level of significance and ANOVA in case of multivariate statistical analysis. The research revealed that the category of traditional Hungarian food is more obvious for the consumers than hungaricum is. According to the results, the most known hungaricums are Pick salami, Szegedi paprika, Gyulai sausage and Mak6 onion. It was found that hungaricums are part of daily nutrition of most of the people. In their shopping decisions the consumers regard flavour as the most important factor; which indicates the primary importance of enjoyment value of this type of food above any other factors. Concerning quality issues, the consumers' expectations towars food security aspects, such as the freshness of the product and legal requirements were listed as most important factors. The results show that this group of products enjoys a kind of status of trust, which is reasonable to exploit in communication messages. Six different consumer groups were determined with factor and cluster analysis by using life style variables.


People with intellectual disabilities are the most disadvantaged group among all disability types when it comes to employment. In Sweden, special needs upper secondary schools prepare students with intellectual disabilities for the labour market using practice periods at workplaces. This study targets stakeholder involved in their school-to-work transition (i.e. teachers, employers, employment agency officials). The aim is to identify how they view: (1) the working capabilities of students during practice periods and (2) their employment potential. We base the analysis on interview data with the stakeholders using Grounded Theory. Our results identify three student types whose preparedness for the labour market differs considerably. One student type performs well during the practice period and represents a high potential to enter the workforce. The other two student types have the lower working capability and employment potential. Our study highlights stakeholders as resources to improve the labour market preparations of students with intellectual disabilities.


Objective(s): Diabetes during gestation is one of the most common pregnancy complications and has adverse effects on offspring, including a negative impact on the offspring's central nervous system (CNS). Diabetes is a metabolic disease associated with visual impairment. Due to the importance of the lateral geniculate body (LGB) in the visual pathway, the present study examined the effect of maternal diabetes on the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAAα1 and GABAB1) and metabotropic Glutamate (mGlu2) receptors in the LGB of male neonates of diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in female adult rats by a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (STZ) 65 (mg/kg). In the Insulin-treated diabetic rats, diabetes was controlled by subcutaneous NPH-insulin injection daily. After mating and delivery, male offspring were killed by carbon dioxide gas inhalation at P0, P7, and P14 (postnatal days 0, 7, and 14). The expression of GABAAα1, GABAB1, and mGluR2 in the LGB of male neonates was determined using the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. Results: The expression of GABAAα1 and GABAB1 was significantly reduced, whereas the expression of mGluR2 was markedly increased in the diabetic group compared with the control and insulin-treated groups at P0, P7, and P14. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that induction of diabetes altered the expression of GABAAα1, GABAB1, and mGluR2 in the LGB of male neonates born to diabetic rats at P0, P7, and P14. Moreover, insulin treatment could reverse these effects of diabetes.


Metamaterials with large axial anisotropy posses a nearly flat dispersion profile in k (wave vector) space and thus offer an effective solution to overcome the diffraction limit by supporting the propagating high - k extraordinary modes. However, existing analytical models reveal that resonant high - k slab modes and the polarization dependent ordinary waves cause image distortion in metamaterial slabs. In this paper, we consider a two-dimensional (2D), local, highly anisotropic metamaterial slab as an imaging device and apply a standard transfer matrix approach to calculate the transmission properties of the slab at terahertz (THz) frequencies. Our simple analytical model reveals that resonances induced by the reflections are the main source of deteriorating the image quality, thus requires effective post-processing methods to remove them. For that, we apply an ultra-short super-Gaussian windowing function to minimize the resonant behavior of the metamaterial slabs, observing good imaging over the frequency band of interest. Our numerical method offers a pathway to mitigate observed image artefacts, and are applicable to a range of highly anisotropic metamaterial slabs, e.g., wire metamaterials, layered metamaterials and magnifying hyperlenses. Finally, finite element based software is used to model the 2D metamaterial slab to verify the analytical models.


The total burden of hazardous waste and pesticides in Florida does not appear excessive when compared with national figures. However, Florida is particularly vulnerable to these materials because it relies heavily on ground water for drinking water. Florida has enacted an elaborate set of laws on water quality, hazardous waste management and disposal, pesticide usage, fuel storage, landfill management, and related matters that bear upon water and general environmental quality. In many cases, however, there are no cost effective technologies available that have been approved by the responsible agencies to permit compliance with these laws. This obvious need for strong research and delivery programs is being met by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida, the Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research at Florida State University, and the Florida Toxicological Research Center at the University of South Florida. These agencies coordinate their efforts through the Center for Environmental Toxicology. The Toxicological Research Coordinating Committee ensures maximal contribution of these programs to the state through annual assessment and reports to the Governor and the Legislature. A basis for research and development, thus, has been established in law and in program development. Fruitful results and real benefit to the state will come only with realistic support. To date funding has been inadequate for supporting the expanded research mandated by law.


Purpose of review Disorders of the pulmonary circulation might develop as a primary disease process of the pulmonary vascular bed or, more often, as the acute or chronic consequence of pulmonary or cardiac pathologies. For the anaesthesiologist and intensivist it is particularly interesting to gain insight into the regulation of the pulmonary circulation since pulmonary hypertension and concomitant right heart failure contribute to high perioperative mortality rates in patients at risk, especially after cardiac surgery. Therefore, modulation of the pulmonary circulation may be a life-saving therapy in patients suffering from acute or chronic pulmonary circulatory disorders. Furthermore, routinely performed intra-operative interventions such as the use of volatile anaesthetics or cardiopulmonary bypass systems may have relevant side effects on the pulmonary circulation. Recent findings This review focuses on new insights into the modulation of pulmonary circulation during general anaesthesia with volatile anaesthetics and anaesthesiological management during cardiopulmonary surgery. Recent publications in the field of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, one-lung ventilation and heart and lung transplantation are discussed. Furthermore, the role of conventional and experimental therapeutic strategies to modulate pulmonary circulation in intensive care medicine is reviewed. Summary Despite the performance of a large number of clinical and experimental studies, the pathophysiology of pulmonary circulatory disorders is not completely understood. Therefore, any new therapy has to be carefully evaluated as a therapeutic option. Several formerly experimental therapeutic interventions such as inhaled vasodilators, however, appear to have found their way into clinical practice for selected indications.


We use model calculations to study the ionic conductivity in micro- and nanocrystalline composites of the type (1 − x)Li2O∶xB2O3. Experimentally, such composites show a significant grain size effect. Microcrystalline samples (grain diameters in the range of some μm) show a strong monotonic decrease of the dc conductivity with increasing insulator content x, while nanocrystalline composites (grain sizes in the range of several nanometers) display a pronounced maximum in the conductivity at x ≈ 0.6. Above x = 0.9 the conductivity of the nanocrystalline materials drops sharply below the detection limit. We assume that neighbouring grains of conducting Li2O and insulating B2O3 are separated by a highly conducting interface with a constant thickness of about 1 nm, irrespective of the grain size. By using Monte Carlo simulations and percolation theory we show that the overall features of the ionic conductivity in both nano- and microcrystalline composites can be well described by a brick-layer type model that explicitly takes into account the different cross sectional areas for ionic transport between neighbouring Li2O grains, without additional free parameters involved.


Changes in Business Week and U.S. News graduate business school rankings have a strong tendency to revert. It seems that existing rankings are essentially simple aggregations of 'noisy' information and reversals of this noise are the most likely cause of reversibility in the rankings. Additionally, there is an almost puzzling lack of correlation between the contemporaneous changes of the two rankings, suggesting that most changes are not driven by common revisions of information. Thus, existing rankings should be probably viewed as useful but noisy and one-sided signals, rather than as comprehensive and efficient measures of the unobservable 'school quality.' Copyright 1999 by University of Chicago Press.


Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are established as cis-acting elements for eukaryotic translation of annotated ORFs (anORFs) located on the same mRNAs. Here, we identified a mammalian uORF with functions that are independent from anORF translation regulation. Bioinformatics screening using ribosome profiling data of human and mouse brains yielded 308 neurologically vital genes from which anORF and uORFs are polycistronically translated in both species. Among them, Arhgef9 contains a uORF named SPICA, which is highly conserved among vertebrates and stably translated only in specific brain regions of mice. Disruption of SPICA translation by ATG-to-TAG substitutions did not perturb translation or function of its anORF product, collybistin. SPICA-null mice displayed abnormal maternal reproductive performance and enhanced anxiety-like behavior, characteristic of ARHGEF9-associated neurological disorders. This study demonstrates that mammalian uORFs can be independent genetic units, revising the prevailing dogma of the monocistronic gene in mammals, and even eukaryotes.


Patients with probable Alzheimer's disease are thought to have a semantic memory deficit. We used functional MRI to evaluate the neural basis for impaired semantic memory for ANIMALS and IMPLEMENTS in 11 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 16 healthy seniors. For both categories of knowledge, Alzheimer's disease patients show reduced activation in the left posterolateral temporal-inferior parietal cortex compared with healthy seniors. Activation changes in this heteromodal association region may be related to an impairment of the category-neutral semantic processes involved in integrating feature knowledge that is represented in modality-specific association cortices. We also found increased activation of an area of the left temporal cortex for both categories of knowledge in Alzheimer's disease that was not activated in healthy seniors. Category-specific changes were also seen in Alzheimer's disease compared with healthy seniors that may be related to the neural representation of category-specific feature knowledge represented in semantic memory. For ANIMALS, the left ventral temporal cortex was activated in Alzheimer's disease in an anatomical distribution that was posterior to the left ventral recruitment for this category in healthy seniors. For IMPLEMENTS, frontal-striatal regions were activated in Alzheimer's disease in a manner that was displaced from the locus of recruitment for this category in healthy seniors. Our findings are consistent with a two-component model of semantic memory involving category-neutral processes operating on category- specific knowledge, and both components appear to be compromised in Alzheimer's disease. Components of the large-scale neural network underlying semantic memory may modify themselves to maintain performance in the face of a neurodegenerative disease.


Remote sensing image change detection is widely used in land use and natural disaster detection. In order to improve the accuracy of change detection, a robust change detection method based on nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) fusion and fuzzy local information C-means clustering (FLICM) model is introduced in this paper. Firstly, the log-ratio and mean-ratio operators are used to generate the difference image (DI), respectively; then, the NSCT fusion model is utilized to fuse the two difference images, and one new DI is obtained. The fused DI can not only reflect the real change trend but also suppress the background. The FLICM is performed on the new DI to obtain the final change detection map. Four groups of homogeneous remote sensing images are selected for simulation experiments, and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed homogeneous change detection method has a superior performance than other state-of-the-art algorithms.


Some reflections on suicide from a Christian point of view This article offers some theological reflections on the problem of suicide in the context of a psychiatric disorder. How are we to evaluate this problem from the perspective of faith? It is argued that suicide in such cases can hardly be discussed in moral terms. On the basis of the so called 'Augustinian eudaemonism' it is shown that from a Christian point of view the value of human life does not depend on the individuals judgement, but ultimately rests in the love of God. This love provides for the believer the meaning in life in good times and in bad. When the believer can no longer find the meaning of life in God, due to suffering en disease, it is argued that the problem of suicide should be dealt with as a specific version of the problem of evil.


INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the study was to investigate duration of treatment and dropout from treatment in private psychiatric practices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data from the data base: Quality Assurance in Danish Psychiatric Private Practice (QAD3P) is applied for the investigation. The database was established in 1996 and includes information about approximately 40,000 treatment episodes. The present investigation uses information about 6,067 treatment episodes from 10 private practising psychiatrists, all of whom participated continuously in the Quality Assurance data base in the period 1998-2002 inclusive.

RESULTS
Depression, anxiety and personal disorders constitute 82% of the treated episodes. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders show the longest duration of treatment (33.4% are treated for longer than 12 months), and persons with personality disorders have the shortest treatment duration (66.9% terminate the treatment within 6 months). Dropout from treatment is predicted (logistic regression) by gender (male), OR 1.31, 95% CI, 1.15-1.48 and age (< or = 44 years) (OR 2.49, 95% CI 2.21-2.81).

CONCLUSION
Approximately 25% of the patients drop out of treatment. The causes for this are not known, but are correlated to patients' young age (< or = 44 years) and gender (male).


Background: Biventricular pacing (BIV) has been established as a credible adjuvant treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe systolic heart failure (class III-IV of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification) and left bundle branch block (LBBB), which results in acute haemodynamic, neurohormonal and functional improvements, ventricular remodelling and has significant impact on survival and symptomatic improvement. Based on the current guidelines (ESC/AHA/ACC), several studies have demonstrated a failure to respond to cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) both with clinical criteria and using reverse remodelling (20–30% and 30–40%, respectively, of the implanted patients). Consequently, imaging-based measures of dyssynchronous myocardial contraction have been intensively investigated with the aim of improving the prediction of response to therapy. In this study, we hypothesised that real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) may be a robust technique in assessing mechanical synchronicity in heart failure patients and may be effective in identifying patients who might benefit from BIV. Methods: 48 consecutive heart failure patients were screened with routine echocardiography, 35 (72%) of whom were eventually included in the study. An additional 35 age-matched and sex-matched healthy subjects were recruited as a control group. 20 patients from the heart failure group received biventricular pacemakers and were followed up to six months. The response to CRT was defined as either improvement in the NYHA class or reduction of the end-systolic volume >15%. Tissue Doppler imaging and real-time 3D data were obtained for all subjects and evaluation of volumes, ejection fraction and systolic dyssynchrony index was performed. Results: Of 35 heart failure patients, five (14%) had mild, seven (20%) moderate and 23 (66%) severe systolic dysfunction based on the EF calculation (45–50%, 45–35% and <35% respectively). The systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) was 11.2% (2.2%), 13.7% (3.2%) and 17.3% (4%), respectively, while in the control group it was 9.8% (2.1%). The QRS length was <120 ms in 29%, 120–140 ms in 26% and >140 ms in 45% of the patients. Conclusions: Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography is a robust technique, which can be used to accurately and effectively assess global and regional mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure patients.


The problem of detecting the number of narrowband sources of energy and the direction of arrival (DOA) of each detected source using data received by an array of sensors is investigated. The well known difficulty of an unconstrained maximum likelihood (ML) approach for estimation of dimensionality parameters (e.g., model order) is addressed by using ML signal-to-noise ratio estimates of hypothesized sources as detection statistics rather than using the likelihood function (LF) with a penalty function. Performance comparisons are made to unstructured and structured techniques based on Akaike information theoretic criteria (AIC), minimum description length (MDL), and Bayesian predictive density (BPD) methods as well as minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR). The technique presented here offers better detection performance for multiple closely spaced uncorrelated signals, with the ability to trade off detection and false alarm performance.


The interaction between the exhaustion of intellectual property rights and the parallel importation has been being one of the most controversial issues under international intellectual property laws. Since each country in the global community has faced discrepant political, economic and social backgrounds, the divergent exhaustion doctrine seems to be preferred around the global community. Nonetheless, there are two main potential defects in this position corresponding to Article six of the TRIPS Agreement. One is reflected in the worry about whether the national decision of the exhaustion doctrine is exactly based on reconciling the protection of intellectual property rights and the maintenance of international free trade. Another concern involves the possibility that some developed countries with strong bargaining power would force the developing countries to adopt the exhaustion doctrine favorable to the fulfillment of the specific economic policy of the developed countries through bilateral or multilateral trade negotiations. In view of the potential defects in the international undecided attitude about the exhaustion doctrine and the consequential influence, in this author's view, it is necessary to establish a globally harmonized exhaustion doctrine in the WTO or WIPO to implicate the optimal interest balance between intellectual property rights and international free trade. Consequently, the main purposes of this article is to assure that intellectual property law — in particular, the exhaustion doctrine — is the optimal legal approach to deal with the issue of the conflict between intellectual property rights and international free trade. Meanwhile, this article is also to determine that the international exhaustion doctrine is the optimal legal model for the harmonization goal by examining the theoretical arguments and observing legal experience in the global community.


of Thesis Reduction of thermal conductivity has enabled significant advances in a wide variety of fields including thermal/environmental barrier coatings, thermoelectric, and refractory materials because low thermal conductivity is a primary issue in the improvement of efficiency in those applications. Utilized in many of these applications are a class of materials known as semiconductor and insulator. In these materials, thermal conductivity is mainly dominated by phonons (or lattice vibrations). Phonons-dominated thermal conductivity can be controlled by phonon scattering process. Alloying has been generally considered as phonon scattering sources in reducing thermal conductivity. The purpose of this study is to reduce thermal conductivity. Further reduction in thermal conductivity was studied by various scattering such as anharmonicity, vacancies, and ordering vacancies. In the first chapter, I introduce the theoretical background of thermal transport together with the most important theoretical concepts used throughout this thesis. The second chapter summarizes the experimental methods used to prepare and characterize the material investigated in this thesis. The first section describes the sintering techniques, namely solid state sintering and spark plasma sintering. In the second section, the measurement techniques applied to study the material properties are discussed. In the third chapter, thermophysical properties of barium and bismuth doped lanthanum molybdate (La2Mo2O9) were investigated. The first section introduced La2Mo2O9 compound and provide thermal properties. In second section, thermophysical properties of Ba-doped La2Mo2O9 was systematically evaluated and analyzed using empirical thermal conductivity model based on Klemens-Callaway model. The effect of Ba substitution on thermal properties was discussed focusing on vacancies. The thermal conductivity decreased by 9% with the Ba content, as compared to La2Mo2O9. The third section evaluated and analyzed about thermophysical properties of Bi-doped La2Mo2O9 by empirical thermal conductivity model. The effect of Bi substitution on thermal properties was discussed focusing on changes in lattice anharmonicity induced by lone pair electrons. The thermal conductivity decreased by 24% with respect to non-doped La2Mo2O9. In the fourth chapter, the correlation between the thermal conductivity and the defect type in TiO2-x including point (randomly distributed oxygen vacancies) and planar defects (ordered oxygen vacancies) was studied as a function of the O/Ti ratio. Two series of the TiO2-x samples having point or planar defects were prepared by different heat treatment procedures. The effects produced by the presence of point and planar defects on the properties of non-stoichiometric TiO2-x was investigated. The thermal conductivity of TiO2-x with planar defects was approximately 22% lower than TiO2-x with point defects. In summary, the effect of various scattering mechanisms (e.g., anharmonicity, oxygen vacancies (random or ordered)) on thermal conductivity was compared by frequency dependent relaxation time. The average reduction in thermal conductivity of each effect was calculated as compared to La 2Mo2O9. The effect of randomly distributed and ordered oxygen vacancies and enhancing the anharmonicity was 27-34% larger than alloying effect. The results in each of the studies discussed will provide valuable insight into the role of reduction of thermal conductivity in applications and can apply to environmental/thermal barrier coating, thermoelectric, and refractory designs for the development of high-performance materials. 様 式 7 論文審査の結果の要旨及び担当者 氏 名 ( O K K Y U N G M I N )


This study investigated the effect of residual arousal on perceived positive and negative emotion, and the relationship between the valence of emotion and cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory reactivity. A total of 74 participants were randomly assigned to either a Residual Arousal (exercise-induced) group or a No Residual Arousal (no exercise) group. Following the arousal manipulation, participants watched a video that elicited positive emotion and a video that elicited negative emotion. Within-person differences revealed greater discrepancies between participants' reports of positive and negative emotions in response to the videos, indicating that residual arousal caused stronger positive and negative emotions. With regard to physiological reactivity, participants in the No Residual Arousal group exhibited lower heart rate, respiration amplitude, and heart rate variability (LF/HF ratio) during the negative video than during the positive video, suggesting that the positive and negative videos had different influences on physiology. These results support the hypothesis that autonomic activation may be nonspecific with regard to the genesis of emotion, but once a person becomes emotional, physiological reactivity may differ between emotions.


s for Parallel Sessions and Research Fora are now available. To view, click here. Guidelines for speakers are available. To view, please click here. (requires Adobe Acrobat PDF reader). The 2nd Announcement / Call for Papers in pdf format remains available. To download a copy, click here (requires Adobe Acrobat PDF reader). REGISTRATION CLOSED: Registration is now closed. Thank you very much to the many delegates who registered before we reached our capacity limit we look forward to meeting you in Dublin. REGISTRATION CLOSED: Registration is now closed. Thank you very much to the many delegates who registered before we reached our capacity limit we look forward to meeting you in Dublin. ACCESS ABSTRACTS: Abstracts for Parallel Session and Research Forum are now available. To view, click here. PROGRAMME TIMETABLE: The timetable is now available, for more information, click here. SYMPOSIA: For information on the symposia planned for the congress, click here.


"Thinking Fragments" provides a brilliant critique of psychoanalytic, feminist, and postmodern theory. Examining the writings of Freud, Winnicott, Lacan, Chodorow, Irigaray, Derrida, Rorty, and Foucault, among others, Flax conducts a "conversation" among psychoanalysts, feminist thinkers, and postmodern theorists, evaluating the ways in which each group of thinkers succeeds in coming to terms with crises in contemporary Western culture. As she analyzes each theory in turn, the others are used to identify and interrogate its gaps and omissions. The result is a postmodern text of intertwined ideas, devoid of clear beginnings, endings, conclusions. Flax addresses the question, "how is it possible to theorize in the contemporary West?" With the demise of objective notions of truth, knowledge, self and power, intellectuals have devised these new modes of thinking which both reflect and contribute to the uncertainties of the contemporary West.Each also addresses at least one aspect of what has become most problematic to modern individuals: How to come to terms with self, gender, knowledge and power without resorting to concepts that stress objectivity, universal knowledge, and a unitary self. Flax finds that neither psychoanalysis, nor feminism, nor postmodernism is adequate to the task for which it was conceived. Each can illuminate certain aspects of problems of self, gender, knowledge, and power, but none is sufficient on its own. In fact, each incorporates characteristic blindnesses rooted in part in the very difficulties it addresses.Despite their failures, Flax concludes that these modes of theorizing are our best tools thus far, compelling us to use them even while we grapple with the problems they raise. "Thinking Fragments" is a wide-ranging study that will elicit much discussion and debate. It is an essential text for social scientists and humanists alike, as well as anyone else who thinks about how to "do" theory in the contemporary West.


OBJECTIVES
To verify whether Doppler velocimetry on the uterine arteries can be used to single out abnormal hemodynamic adjustments in the uteroplacental district and to prognose adverse gestational outcomes in pregnant women with autoimmune and trombophilic disease.

METHODS
The study included 67 patients divided into 3 groups selected by a developed pathology. Attention was given to the performance of the Resistance Index (RI) in Doppler velocimetry checks at 10th, 16th-18th, 21st and 28th weeks of gestation.

RESULTS
A significant correlation between Doppler values at week 21st and development of preeclampsia was observed (p <0.05) in the three patient groups. High Doppler values at the 21st week were found to be strongly associated (p <0.01) with preterm delivery. We also observed a significant correlation (p <0.05) between high Doppler values at week 21st and low weight at birth. Doppler was found to have a predictive power for gestational adverse outcomes already at week 16th.

CONCLUSION
RI values of more than 0.58 (taken as a cut-off) at 16/18th weeks allowed us to identify the category most at risk, if confirmed at 21 weeks.