Obesity has become one of modern society's most serious health problems. Studies from the last 30 years revealed a direct relationship between imbalanced energy intake and increased healthcare costs related to the treatment or management of obesity. Recent research has highlighted significant effects of gut microbial composition on obesity. We aimed to report the current knowledge on the definition, composition, and functions of intestinal microbiota. We have performed an extensive review of the literature searching for the following key words: metabolism, gut microbiota, dysbiosis, and obesity. There is evidence that an association between intestinal microbiota and obesity exists at any age. There are complex genetic, metabolic, and inflammatory mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. Revision of indications for use of probiotics, prebiotics, and antibiotics in obese patients should be considered. Microbial composition of the gut may be an important factor involved in the development of obesity. Changes in the gut microbiota may result in changes in human metabolism and weight loss.


This article illustrates how the departments of Educational Policy Studies (EPS) and Education Policy, Organization and Leadership (EPOL) in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign built institutional diversity for lasting change. It relies on statistical data from the university, college, and department, and an interview conducted with Dr. James D. Anderson, former department head of the two units, and Dr. William T. Trent, a longstanding faculty member of EPS and EPOL, to document the remarkable diversity success developed over the past 30thirty years. The testimonies and data used offer profound considerations of how higher education can and must diversify itself to truly establish the progressive change needed to remedy the grand challenges impacting the world and to educate the next America upon us.


A 59-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of numbness in the lower left side of the face and upper left extremity. Axial T(1)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed a wedge-shaped mass measuring 3 x 2.5 cm in the right frontoparietal high convexity area that was heterogeneously enhanced after administration of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid. Right frontoparietal craniotomy was performed and a bluish soft mass was found under the arachnoid membrane. The mass could be dissected free from the arachnoid membrane and the brain surface. Histological examination revealed the typical findings of cavernous angioma. Cavernous angioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of supratentorial high convexity intradural extramedullary tumor, especially appearing as a heterogeneously enhanced mass adjacent to the brain parenchyma causing mass effect.


Crack is one of the major distresses in asphalt pavement. Although epoxy asphalt concrete demonstrates higher distress resistant ability than traditional asphalt concrete, crack initiation and propagation is also inevitable due to traffic and environmental impact. Among the three typical crack modes, the Mode I crack usually appears in epoxy asphalt concrete pavement. In this paper, the model of crack propagation in epoxy asphalt concrete pavement is proposed and simulated through finite element method in conjunction with virtual crack extension approach. The eight-node singularity element was used at the crack-tip. And the node shift/release technique is adopted for modeling propagation of the crack tip. Results show that J-integral is path-independent due to the small plastic zone around the crack tip and suitable to evaluate the fracture behavior for epoxy asphalt concrete pavement. Two inflexions on the curve of J-integral vs. crack length indicate that epoxy asphalt concrete pavement have three phases in crack initiation and propagation: crack initiation, stable crack propagation and unstable crack propagation. Finally, the equation describing the relationship between J-integral and displacement is provided in this paper.


OBJECTIVE
Patients with liver cirrhosis have varying degrees of imbalance of the intestinal flora and probiotics can improve some of the symptoms of gastrointestinal dysfunction in these patients. In the present study, blood ammonia, fecal pH, fecal ammonia, and plasma endotoxin were measured after administration of two kinds of probiotics in order to detect the changes in intestinal flora.

METHODS
Six bacteria and yeast were cultured and the colony forming units were counted. Fifty cirrhotic patients were randomized to receive probiotic capsules containing Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus, or probiotic capsules containing Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium for 14 days. Fecal flora, pH and ammonia, blood ammonia (detected by test paper) and plasma endotoxin (detected by LAL test kits) were measured before and after the treatment.

RESULTS
Patients with liver cirrhosis had varying degrees of imbalance of the intestinal flora as shown by a decrease in the Bifidobacterium count (10.04 +/- 0.78 vs 9.48 +/- 1.13, P < 0.05). The severity of the imbalance was matched by that of liver dysfunction, with the most serious imbalance observed in Child-Pugh C patients. Both types of probiotic increased the Bifidobacterium count (9.46 +/- 1.09 vs 10.30 +/- 1.11, 9.81 +/- 0.62 vs 10.44 +/- 1.08, respectively, P < 0.05) and reduced the levels of fecal pH and fecal and blood ammonia (P < 0.05). Probiotics containing B. subtilis and E. faecium reduced the level of endotoxin in cirrhotic patients with endotoxemia (0.0876 +/- 0.0117 Eu/mL vs 0.0685 +/- 0.0246 Eu/mL, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Patients with liver cirrhosis have an imbalance of intestinal bacteria flora. Probiotics effectively increased the Bifidobacterium count and reduced the level of fecal pH and fecal and blood ammonia.


Theoretical investigation of the 5pnl(L1S1)n'l' LSJ autoionizing states of Cs was performed by using large scale configuration interaction calculations of energy levels, autoionization probabilities and excitation cross sections obtained in the Dirac–Fock– Slater approximation. Classification of calculated energy levels in the LSJ coupling scheme of angular momenta and simulation of the intensities of ejected Auger electron spectrum were performed. The classified energy levels in the region from the excitation threshold up to 17.365 eV and simulated intensity spectrum were used for identification of the experimental ejected-electron spectrum of Cs excited by 30 eV electrons.


Importance
Preclinical models suggest dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection may increase the relative activity of angiotensin II compared with angiotensin (1-7) and may be an important contributor to COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Objective
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of RAS modulation using 2 investigational RAS agents, TXA-127 (synthetic angiotensin [1-7]) and TRV-027 (an angiotensin II type 1 receptor-biased ligand), that are hypothesized to potentiate the action of angiotensin (1-7) and mitigate the action of the angiotensin II.

Design, Setting, and Participants
Two randomized clinical trials including adults hospitalized with acute COVID-19 and new-onset hypoxemia were conducted at 35 sites in the US between July 22, 2021, and April 20, 2022; last follow-up visit: July 26, 2022.

Interventions
A 0.5-mg/kg intravenous infusion of TXA-127 once daily for 5 days or placebo. A 12-mg/h continuous intravenous infusion of TRV-027 for 5 days or placebo.

Main Outcomes and Measures
The primary outcome was oxygen-free days, an ordinal outcome that classifies a patient's status at day 28 based on mortality and duration of supplemental oxygen use; an adjusted odds ratio (OR) greater than 1.0 indicated superiority of the RAS agent vs placebo. A key secondary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality. Safety outcomes included allergic reaction, new kidney replacement therapy, and hypotension.

Results
Both trials met prespecified early stopping criteria for a low probability of efficacy. Of 343 patients in the TXA-127 trial (226 [65.9%] aged 31-64 years, 200 [58.3%] men, 225 [65.6%] White, and 274 [79.9%] not Hispanic), 170 received TXA-127 and 173 received placebo. Of 290 patients in the TRV-027 trial (199 [68.6%] aged 31-64 years, 168 [57.9%] men, 195 [67.2%] White, and 225 [77.6%] not Hispanic), 145 received TRV-027 and 145 received placebo. Compared with placebo, both TXA-127 (unadjusted mean difference, -2.3 [95% CrI, -4.8 to 0.2]; adjusted OR, 0.88 [95% CrI, 0.59 to 1.30]) and TRV-027 (unadjusted mean difference, -2.4 [95% CrI, -5.1 to 0.3]; adjusted OR, 0.74 [95% CrI, 0.48 to 1.13]) resulted in no difference in oxygen-free days. In the TXA-127 trial, 28-day all-cause mortality occurred in 22 of 163 patients (13.5%) in the TXA-127 group vs 22 of 166 patients (13.3%) in the placebo group (adjusted OR, 0.83 [95% CrI, 0.41 to 1.66]). In the TRV-027 trial, 28-day all-cause mortality occurred in 29 of 141 patients (20.6%) in the TRV-027 group vs 18 of 140 patients (12.9%) in the placebo group (adjusted OR, 1.52 [95% CrI, 0.75 to 3.08]). The frequency of the safety outcomes was similar with either TXA-127 or TRV-027 vs placebo.

Conclusions and Relevance
In adults with severe COVID-19, RAS modulation (TXA-127 or TRV-027) did not improve oxygen-free days vs placebo. These results do not support the hypotheses that pharmacological interventions that selectively block the angiotensin II type 1 receptor or increase angiotensin (1-7) improve outcomes for patients with severe COVID-19.

Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04924660.


In this paper, a novel methodology is introduced for the synthesis of novel 5-methyl-8H-isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolin-8-one derivatives based on an efficient immobilized palladium catalyzed intramolecular carbon–carbon bond formation. The novel catalyst is fabricated by immobilization of Pd on phosphinite polyethyleneimine functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles (denoted as Pd@OPPh2–PEI–mSiO2 NPs). In this catalyst, PEI moieties act as both a water dispersant and base in the reaction. In the key step, 3-allyl-2-(2-bromophenyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones (3a–i) were synthesized via a cyclization reaction between N-allyl-2-aminobenzamides and 2-bromobenzaldehyde. The latter obtained materials then underwent an intramolecular carbon–carbon bond formation in the presence of the Pd@Ph2PO–PEI–mSiO2 catalyst to give 5-methyl-13,13a-dihydro-8H-isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolin-8-ones (4a–i).


The problem of low-rank matrix completion with heterogeneous and sub-exponential (as opposed to homogeneous and Gaussian) noise is particularly relevant to a number of applications in modern commerce. Examples include panel sales data and data collected from web-commerce systems such as recommendation engines. An important unresolved question for this problem is characterizing the distribution of estimated matrix entries under common low-rank estimators. Such a characterization is essential to any application that requires quantification of uncertainty in these estimates and has heretofore only been available under the assumption of homogenous Gaussian noise. Here we characterize the distribution of estimated matrix entries when the observation noise is heterogeneous sub-exponential and provide, as an application, explicit formulas for this distribution when observed entries are Poisson or Binary distributed.


Background: Plastic waste is a major societal and environmental issue contributing to climate change as well as affecting the health of humans and animals across the globe. Tackling plastic pollution requires dramatic change from everyone because one of the key factors contributing to the amount of plastic waste is consumer behaviour. Objective: The aim of this research is to test the predictive power of the goal-striving reasons framework for plastic waste behaviour of UK households to analyse whether the reasons why people voluntarily engage in plastic reducing actions can predict plastic consumption of households. Method: The predictive power of the goal-striving reasons framework was tested by correlating the overall goal-striving reasons index and, each goal of the six goal-striving reasons individually, with i) a newly developed self-report measure of plastic consumption and; ii) with an objective measure of plastic waste. The objective measure required households to count their plastic waste for three consecutive weeks. The study is based on N = 66 households in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Results: Findings suggest that the approach goal-striving reasons of pleasure, altruism and positive consequences are related to self-reported plastic waste whereas the two avoidance reasons of not wanting to feel bad about oneself or to avoid any negative consequences are related to objective plastic waste. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the relevance of the goal-striving reasons framework as an important concept for the prediction of plastic waste behaviour of individuals, and as a potential tool for facilitating change behaviour in household plastic waste consumption.


This work was carried out to analysis of immune genes (Lectin (245 bp), PoPO (121 bp), BGBP (166 bp), hemocyanin (242 bp), Toll receptor (150 bp) and immunological analysis in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) infected with WSSV and herbal immune stimulant (immuzone) treated. And also to understand the level of expression and distribution of Heat Shock Proteins (Hsp) in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Under untreated condition, all the immune genes (Lectin, PoPO, BGBP, hemocyanin, Toll receptor) were differentially expressed in all of the examined tissues. Under WSSV infected and immuzone treated condition, immune genes were inducible in all tissues when compared to its untreated condition. The expression levels of Hsp21, Hsp70 and Hsp90 were determined by quantitative real-time PCR in four tissues (gill, hepatopancreas, pleopod and muscle) of Litopenaeus vannamei in WSSV treated and normal shrimps. Under untreated condition, all three Hsp genes were differentially expressed in all of the examined tissues. Under WSSV infected condition, only Hsp70 was inducible in all tissues when compared to its untreated condition. The time course induction experiment in gill, muscle, pleopod and hepatopancreas revealed that the transcriptional level of Hsp70 was induced and that Hsp21 and Hsp90 were uninducible under the WSSV treated condition. The expression level of Hsp70 was significantly increased after a 24, 48-h exposure to WSSV whereas the Hsp21 and Hsp90 transcripts were down regulated later after WSSV exposure. This evidence suggests that there is a putative role and involvement of the Hsp genes as a part of immunity response against WSSV in Litopenaeus vannamei.


The 3D MIMO beamforming system needs a weighting method to determine the direction of beam whist reducing the interference for other beam areas operating at the same carrier frequency. The challenge is to determine the weights of the 3D MIMO beams to direct each beam towards its cluster of user terminals while placing its nulls at undesired user directions to minimise undesired interference. Therefore, the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio should be increased while the interference from the side lobes of the other beams reduced. A weight determining method is presented that constructs horizontal and vertical array weights, respectively, by minimising the mean-square error between the array pattern vector and the unit vector, where the unit vector expresses the desired direction for the array pattern and zero vector expresses the undesired direction. Since the rectangular planar array can be viewed as M linear arrays of N elements, the weight of the M–Nth element can be obtained based on the horizontal and vertical array weights.


The olfactory nerves terminate exclusively on the distal dendritic tufts of mitral cells in the olfactory bulb, which makes this a favorable model for analysis of synaptic responses in distal dendrites. Intracellular recordings of responses to olfactory nerve volleys have been obtained in the isolated turtle olfactory bulb. Single mitral cells usually responded with excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) to volleys in two different bundles, indicating convergence from separate receptor neuron populations. Paired volleys revealed long- lasting inhibition of a test EPSP by a conditioning volley. This could be shown to be independent of the inhibition of mitral cells by granule cell interneurons in the deeper layers. The results suggest that excitatory and inhibitory synaptic interactions in the glomerular layer are important in the processing of olfactory inputs. The results also provide an exception to the classical doctrine that synaptic inhibition is preferentially sited near the cell body and axon hillock in order to control impulse generation there. Our findings of inhibitory actions on distal dendrites of mitral cells may provide a model for similar actions on distal dendrites of other central neurons.


Over a decade of research attests to the importance of resilience in the workplace for employee well-being and performance. Yet, surprisingly, there has been no attempt to synthesize the evidence for the efficacy of resilience training in this context. The purpose of this study, therefore is to provide a systematic review of work-based resilience training interventions. Our review identified 14 studies that investigated the impact of resilience training on personal resilience and four broad categories of dependent variables: (1) mental health and subjective well-being outcomes, (2) psychosocial outcomes, (3) physical/biological outcomes, and (4) performance outcomes. Findings indicated that resilience training can improve personal resilience and is a useful means of developing mental health and subjective well-being in employees. We also found that resilience training has a number of wider benefits that include enhanced psychosocial functioning and improved performance. Due to the lack of coherence in design and implementation, we cannot draw any firm conclusions about the most effective content and format of resilience training. Therefore, going forward, it is vital that future research uses comparative designs to assess the utility of different training regimes, explores whether some people might benefit more/less from resilience training, and demonstrates consistency in terms of how resilience is defined, conceptualized, developed, and assessed.


Background: The optimal operation for pilonidal sinus disease should be a straightforward one with low complication and recurrence rates. This is accomplished by flap techniques which flatten the natal cleft with an off-midline closure. The aim of this research was to compare two commonly used flap strategies in Zagazig university hospitals in terms of complications, recurrence rates, and patient satisfaction. Patients and methods: 24 patients with pilonidal sinus disease were split into two categories in this interventional comparative clinical review. The superior gluteal artery perforator based flap was used to close the defect after complete excision of the sinus and its side branches in Group 1 while Group (2): were operated with total excision of the sinus and its side branches followed by closure of the defect using the Limberg flap. Patients were followed up weekly for the first 4 postoperative weeks and after that a visit once a month. Results:In terms of postoperative wound complications, the gap between our two classes was negligible. Recurrence occurred in none of the patients in group (1) and one-sixth of the patients in group (2), but the disparity was statistically insignificant with a P value of 0.478. In the SGAP community, patient satisfaction with the operation was non-significantly higher. Conclusion: Both perforator dependent island flap and limberg flap are safe procedures and provide effective treatment for pilonidal sinus disease with low rate of complications and recurrence.


Although South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission has investigated many of more than 200 alleged cases of what it categorizes as civilian massacres committed by U.S. soldiers during the Korean War, the U.S. government has investigated only one, the refugee killings at No Gun Ri. The U.S. government's 300-page report on that inquiry exonerated the U.S. military of wrongdoing. Then president Clinton said the evidence was not clear that there was responsibility "high enough in the chain of command." In reporting their findings, however, the U.S. Army investigators ignored and left undisclosed many of the most relevant documents and testimony. The most significant example is the "Muccio letter," in which the U.S. ambassador to South Korea informed the State Department that the Army, fearing infiltrators, had decided to fire on South Korean refugees approaching U.S. lines despite warning shots. The No Gun Ri carnage began the next day. Only in 2007 did the Army acknowledge it knew about and deliberately omitted the Muccio letter from its 2001 report. Archival research and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests found many other examples of crucial material unreported or misreported by the Army, including fighter-bomber mission reports that discuss attacks on refugees, a high-level communication confirming an Air Force policy of strafing refugees, and more than a dozen other documents showing colonels and generals ordering or authorizing attacks on civilians. Such undisclosed documents were found in the Army investigators' own files.


The decomposition of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) was carried out to recover phenolic monomers and carbon fiber (CF) using subcritical water. The total yield of phenolic monomers reached 70.9% at 673K, 20MPa, 45min and 2.5wt% potassium carbonate catalyst. The tensile strength of the recovered CF was about 15% lower than that of a virgin one and it might be acceptable level for industrial use such as filler in polymers. The functional groups on the surface of the recovered CF decreased, comparing with a virgin one. Therefore the oxidation treatment of the recovered CF might be required, when we try to reuse it.


In 34 cases of cervical spine facet dislocation treated between 1975 and 1979, the dislocations were reduced by closed methods and immobilized in the halo thoracic brace. If closed reduction was unsuccessful, open reduction and fusion were performed. There is a high incidence of failure of closed reduction and halo thoracic immobilization in patients with minimal or no neurologic deficit. Bilateral facet dislocation was more frequently associated with severe neurologic injury than was unilateral facet dislocation, Use of closed reduction is time consuming, often unsuccessful, and may result in neurologic deterioration. Patients with facet dislocations and minimal neurologic injury are at risk of late instability following halo thoracic brace immobilization, and therefore open reduction and posterior cervical fusion may be advisable for them. However, surgical fusion carries a high incidence of long-term neck pain and stiffness, and is indicated only in patients at risk of developing late instability.


Machine learning (ML) algorithms are powerful tools that are increasingly being used for sepsis biomarker discovery in RNA-Seq data. RNA-Seq datasets contain multiple sources and types of noise (operator, technical and non-systematic) that may bias ML classification. Normalisation and independent gene filtering approaches described in RNA-Seq workflows account for some of this variability and are typically only targeted at differential expression analysis rather than ML applications. Pre-processing normalisation steps significantly reduce the number of variables in the data and thereby increase the power of statistical testing, but can potentially discard valuable and insightful classification features. A systematic assessment of applying transcript level filtering on the robustness and stability of ML based RNA-seq classification remains to be fully explored. In this report we examine the impact of filtering out low count transcripts and those with influential outliers read counts on downstream ML analysis for sepsis biomarker discovery using elastic net regularised logistic regression, L1-reguarlised support vector machines and random forests. We demonstrate that applying a systematic objective strategy for removal of uninformative and potentially biasing biomarkers representing up to 60% of transcripts in different sample size datasets, including two illustrative neonatal sepsis cohorts, leads to substantial improvements in classification performance, higher stability of the resulting gene signatures, and better agreement with previously reported sepsis biomarkers. We also demonstrate that the performance uplift from gene filtering depends on the ML classifier chosen, with L1-regularlised support vector machines showing the greatest performance improvements with our experimental data.


The Master's Thesis Advisory Committee, as representatives of the faculty, certify that this thesis has met all standards of excellence and scholarship as determined by the faculty. ______________________ Date AUTHOR'S STATEMENT In presenting this thesis as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the advanced degree from Georgia State University, I agree that the library of Georgia State University shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to quote, to copy from, or to publish this thesis may be granted by the professor under whose direction it was written, by the Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions director of graduate studies and research, or by me. Such quoting, copying, or publishing must be solely for scholarly purposes and will not involve potential financial gain. It is understood that any copying from or publication of this thesis which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without my written permission.


Direct phonon spin-lattice relaxation of an electron qubit bound by a donor impurity or quantum dot in SiGe heterostructures is investigated. The aim is to evaluate the importance of decoherence from this mechanism in several important solid-state quantum computer designs operating at low temperatures. We calculate the relaxation rate 1/T 1 as a function of [100] uniaxial strain, temperature, magnetic field, and silicon/germanium content for Si:P bound electrons and quantum dots. The quantum dot potential is much smoother, leading to smaller splittings of the valley degeneracies. We have estimated these splittings in order to obtain upper bounds for the relaxation rate. In general, we find that the relaxation rate is strongly decreased by uniaxial compressive strain in a SiGe-Si-SiGe quantum well, making this strain an important positive design feature. Ge in high concentrations (particularly over 85%) increases the rate, making Si-rich materials preferable. We conclude that SiGe bound electron qubits must meet certain conditions to minimize decoherence but that spin-phonon relaxation does not rule out the solid-state implementation of error-tolerant quantum computing.


The initial size and growth of the plasma and flame kernel just after spark discharge in S.I. engines determines if the flame becomes self-sustainable or extinguishes. On the other hand, the development of the kernel during the initial phases has non-negligible influences on the further combustion. For example, cyclic variations often find their origin in the beginning of combustion and determine the working limits of the engine and the driving behavior of the vehicle. These factors demonstrate the crucial importance of the knowledge of the initial growth of the plasma and flame kernel in S.I. engines. A complete model is developed for the growth of the initial plasma and flame kernel in S.I. engines, which takes into account the fundamental properties of the ignition system (electrical energy and power, geometry of the spark plug, heat losses to the electrodes and the cylinder wall), the combustible mixture (pressure, temperature, equivalence ratio, fraction of residual gasses, kind of fuel), and the flow (average flow velocity, turbulence intensity, stretch, characteristic time and length scales). The proposed model distinguishes three phases: the pre-breakdown, the plasma, and the initial combustion phase. The model of the first two phases is proposed in a previous article of the same authors [1], the latter is exposed in this article. A thermodynamic model based on flamelet models and which takes stretch into account, is used to describe the initial combustion phase. The difference between heat losses to the electrodes and the cylinder wall is considered. The burning velocity varies from the order of the laminar velocity to the fully developed burning velocity. The evolution is determined as well by the life time as by the size of the kernel. The stretch (caused by turbulence and by the growth of the kernel), the nonadiabatic character of the flame, and instabilities have influence on the laminar burning velocity. Validation of this model is done using measurements of the expansion in a propane-air mixture executed by Pischinger [2] at M.I.T. The agreement seems very good.


Ovarian hormones such as estradiol are known to have a complex relationship with spatial cognition. Despite many inconsistencies within the literature, estradiol can enhance spatial memory consolidation on a water maze task when administered during a critical period post-training. While the rapid effects of estradiol on consolidation have been established, the mechanism responsible for them is still unknown. The primary objective of the current study was to determine if activation of the membrane bound G-protein-receptor 30 (GPR30) by estradiol is responsible for the enhanced consolidation. Data were collected from forty adult ovariectomized female rats, divided into three groups that were treated either with the GPR30 specific agonist G-1 immediately following training, G-1 two hours following training, or sesame oil vehicle immediately following training. Rats underwent eight training trials on a water maze task with a fixed hidden escape platform. Twenty-four hours after the completion of training and treatment, all subjects completed four retention trials on the same task. Latency to reach the platform and percent of pathlength spent in the quadrant containing the platform during the first probe trial were used as measures of successful consolidation of spatial learning. There was no significant difference in performance on the probe trials between rats treated with G-1 and sesame oil, indicating that GPR30 activation is not sufficient to enhance consolidation of spatial memory. However, it is important to interpret these results against a backdrop of differences in experimental design between the existing literature and the current study including G-1 dose, type of vehicle, and administration regime, spatial cognition task, and the component of cognition studied. This study offers insight into potential receptor specific therapies for treatment of memory loss in post-menopausal women.


Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a diploid with 18 pairs of chromosomes and an estimated genome size of 658 Mb. It is a dioecious perennial monocot, with a long generation time (a period of 4-5 years until first flowering). Date palm is one of the major fruit crops grown in the Gulf countries and particularly in the Sultanate of Oman. Approximately 250 varieties of date palm are recorded throughout the country with evaluation and characterization based on morphological and reproductive traits (e.g. fruit color, fruit shape and fruit weight). Limited molecular characterization work has been undertaken for date palm germplasm in general and Omani date palm germplasm, in particular. The principal focus of this study was to: investigate the genetic diversity of Omani date palm germplasm and compare it with 'exotic' germplasm, to differentiate between female and male plants at the molecular level and to construct an initial genetic map for date palm.

Samples were taken from eight parents of the available Omani date palm controlled crosses (Khalas 4, Khalas 13 male, Um-Alsela, Khori male, Bami, Naghal, Bahlani male, and Khasab) with 90 date palms from the BC1 and F1 populations, from 194 Omani date palm accessions (151 female cultivars and 43 male trees), together with samples from Italy (Sanremo and Bordighera), USDA-ARS, France, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Iran.

The F-statistics analysis showed that the genetic variation between female and male accessions based on random markers was only 2.1 %, while within the broader group of Omani female and male accessions the molecular variation was 97%, suggesting that the Omani female and male accessions have little consistent divergence, compared to the large-scale divergence within Omani germplasm, so male palm have been derived from most genetic origins in Oman. Additionally, the Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCA) and bootstrap consensus phenetic tree showed that the Omani accessions were closely related to each other and there was no clear genetic differentiation between female and male cultivars.

A high degree of genetic variation was observed between germplasm from Oman, Italy, USDA-ARS, France, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Iran as measured by Fst (19.7 %). The PCA showed that the Europe-Africa (Italy, France, Libya and Sudan) accessions are distinguished from West-Asia (Oman, Iraq and Iran) accessions and have their own autochthonous origin, a finding which was strongly validated by bootstrap consensus tree test.

A medium density genetic map in date palm was constructed using 53 individuals from BC1 and 30 individuals from F1 populations. The BC1 map consisted of 270 markers (28 SSR and 242 SNP) distributed into 29 linkage groups with total genetic length of 1.486.7 cM, while the F1 map consisted of 591 markers (21 SSR and 570 SNP) distributed into 30 linkage groups with total genetic length of 2,385.6 cM. A total of 25 combined linkage groups were possible by combining both BC1 and F1 maps through common markers.

A sex-link marker locus was developed and found to predict a high level of discrimination between male and female date palms among multiple varieties distributed across the wide range of cultivation, with an accuracy of 100% in the Omani crosses, 96% in the broad Omani material and 86% in the broadest date palm germplasm. This marker was also mapped in both BC1 and F1 at 42.8 cM and 4.9 cM in linkage groups 18 and 29, respectively and on combined group 19 at 42.8cM.


Abstract Cloud computing has emerged as a significant technology domain, primarily due to the emergence of big data, machine learning, and quantum computing applications. While earlier, cloud computing services were focused mainly on providing storage and some infrastructures/platforms for applications, the need to advance computational power analysis of massive datasets. It has made cloud computing almost inevitable from most client-based applications, mobile applications, or web applications. The allied challenge to protect data shared from and to cloud-based platforms has cropped up with the necessity to access public clouds. While conventional cryptographic algorithms have been used for securing and authenticating cloud data, advancements in cryptanalysis and access to faster computation have led to possible threats to the traditional security of cloud mechanisms. This has led to extensive research in homomorphic encryption pertaining to cloud security. In this paper, a security mechanism is designed targeted towards dynamic groups using public clouds. Cloud security mechanisms generally face a significant challenge in terms of overhead, throughput, and execution time to encrypt data from dynamic groups with frequent member addition and removal. A two-stage homomorphic encryption process is proposed for data security in this paper. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated in terms of the salient cryptographic metrics, which are the avalanche effect, throughput, and execution time. A comparative analysis with conventional cryptographic algorithms shows that the proposed system outperforms them regarding the cryptographic performance metrics.


The hypothesis that devaluating and depreciating the exchange rate in developing economies will lead to fast growth and economic development has drawn some controversies and debates during the past 20 years in the area of development economics. Mainly, due to the delayed results in some countries especially in the Sub Sahara Africa region. In this study, the key emphasis is on the stochastic trends of the exchange rate and the net FD inflows into Tanzania. We find a significant long-run relationship between the exchange rate of Tanzanian shilling, which is on the list of weak currencies in the world, and the net FDI inflow. We employ the Augmented Dickey Fuller test (ADF), Vector error Correction Model (VECM) and the Johansen's cointegration test to measure the time series properties of the two variables. To conclude, this study suggests LDC's to include the level of the exchange rate on the settings of the policies that will attract more FDI to flow in their market.


Two-dimensional (2D) materials are showing promising potential in energy storage applications such as being used as electrodes of metal-ion batteries. Here, we explore the possibility of using 2D stanene as anode material in the Na-ion battery using first-principles calculations, and particularly elucidate the role of a nanomesh structure in improving the battery performance. Our results show that 2D stanene tends to form nanohole defects that consist of six Sn vacancies in a hexagonal ring, and the hydrogen passivation on the edge of the nanoholes can further lower the formation energy. On the basis of this finding, we model a nanohole-patterned stanene nanomesh (SnNM) structure and evaluate its performance as an anode material in the Na-ion battery. It is found that the nanohole defects in the 2D stanene can increase Na binding intensity and lower the Na diffusion energy barrier as low as 0.15 eV. A denser SnNM is expected to further improve battery performance because of the larger capacity, lower Na diffusion energy barrier, and resulting faster charge–discharge rate. This work shows that a nanomesh structure in the 2D material is beneficial to enhance the performance of metal-ion batteries.


The purpose of this study was to analyze the cost structures associated with subterminal facilities. An economic-engineering approach was used to determine the construction and operation costs of four different sizes of subterminal facilities operating at three different plant capacities. Profitability of subterminals was determined mainly by the volume of grain handled. If a subterminal marketed enough grain, it was able to incur both decreasing average fixed and average variable costs. The larger subterminals were found to be more profitable than the smaller facilities indicating the existence of economies of size in both the fixed and variable cost components. Profitability can be dramatically increased given the availability of internal financing for the construction cost and nondepreciable fixed costs. Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute Report No.44


Cholesterol (CH) acceptance ability of high density lipoproteins (HDL) was assessed in 43 ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients, including patients with post-infarction cardiosclerosis and class II-III effort angina. CH acceptance ability of HDL was measured as increment of HDL CH after incubation with artificial CH-containing system. Oxidabilities of HDL and total plasma were estimated by quantitation of lipid peroxidation products (hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances - TBARS) after incubation with Cu(2+) ions. HDL fraction (after apo B lipoproteins removal) of IHD patients appeared to include 2 times less additive CH compared with donor's HDL despite lower (-12%) HDL CH level. Negative correlation (r =-0.38, p<0.05) existed between formed TBARS in HDL and HDL CH acceptance. In total plasma of IHD patients elevation of both formed TBARS and particularly hydroperoxides was observed. Parallelism between decrease of CH acceptance by HDL, oxidability of HDL and of total plasma testifies on weakness not only of CH-accepting, but also of antioxidant HDL functions in IHD patients.


Purpose

Open-access mega-journals (OAMJs) represent an increasingly important part of the scholarly communication landscape. OAMJs, such as PLOS ONE, are large scale, broad scope journals that operate an open access business model (normally based on article-processing charges), and which employ a novel form of peer review, focussing on scientific "soundness" and eschewing judgement of novelty or importance. The purpose of this paper is to examine the discourses relating to OAMJs, and their place within scholarly publishing, and considers attitudes towards mega-journals within the academic community.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a review of the literature of OAMJs structured around four defining characteristics: scale, disciplinary scope, peer review policy, and economic model. The existing scholarly literature was augmented by searches of more informal outputs, such as blogs and e-mail discussion lists, to capture the debate in its entirety.

Findings

While the academic literature relating specifically to OAMJs is relatively sparse, discussion in other fora is detailed and animated, with debates ranging from the sustainability and ethics of the mega-journal model, to the impact of soundness-only peer review on article quality and discoverability, and the potential for OAMJs to represent a paradigm-shifting development in scholarly publishing.

Originality/value

This paper represents the first comprehensive review of the mega-journal phenomenon, drawing not only on the published academic literature, but also grey, professional and informal sources. The paper advances a number of ways in which the role of OAMJs in the scholarly communication environment can be conceptualised.


Tuberculosis commonly involves the CNS, During drug treatment of CNS tuberculosis paradoxical response (PR) may occasionally occur. The term "paradoxicalresponse"refers to the development of previously nonexistent tuberculosis lesions or worsening of preexisting lesions during antituberculosis treatment( ATT). Etiology is still not clear but delayed type hypersensitivity and alteration in immune system is thought to be a cause. Continued treatment improves PR without severe sequelae. We report a 41 year-old female patient with tuberculous meningitis(TBM) who developed brainstem tuberculomaduring the course of ATT, after about 9 months of treatment as a paradoxical response to ATT. Early identification, continuation of ATT with steroids and ventriculoperitoneal shunting to relieve raised intracranial pressure resulted in complete recovery of our patient. Clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon as it can lead to clinical worsening as late as 9 months. The objective of this case report is to increase knowledge of clinicians about this phenomenon and also to report its such late occurrence.


Background: Xerostomia is a common condition which affects majority of the people due to its multifarious etiologies. Although several treatment modalities are under practice, natural herbs show a great deal of beneficial effects recently. Saliva contains a considerable amount of proteins, among which the enzyme salivary α-amylase forms the major bulk. Acacia catechu is habitually known as Katha or Karangali, and the preparations are made from the heartwood or the leaves of this plant and have been used for decades and also as a thirst quencher. The relationship between the use of this decoction and saliva secretion has been a debate among researchers. Although there are no comprehensive validations behind the theory between amylase activity and A. catechu, virtual screening techniques such as docking could help to throw light on this theory. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the binding efficacy of active ingredient of A. catechu on salivary α-amylase using molecular docking approach. Materials and Methods: The active ingredients of A. catechu were identified using an extensive literature search. The chemical structure of the identified ligand (epicatechin gallate) and the target protein (salivary alpha-amylase) was obtained using PubChem and molecular docking was analyzed using SYBYL2.0®. Results: Epicatechin gallate showed the highest binding affinity for human salivary amylase when compared to the other ligand molecules. Conclusion: The current study thus elucidates that A. catechu can possibly be effective as a stimulatory agent for patients suffering from xerostomia.


According to cognitive models of reading, words are processed by interacting orthographic (spelling), phonological (sound), and semantic (meaning) information. Despite extensive study of the neural basis of reading in healthy participants, little group data exist on patients with reading deficits from focal brain damage pointing to critical neural systems for reading. Here, we report on one such study. We have performed neuropsychological testing and magnetic resonance imaging on 11 patients with left-hemisphere stroke (<=5 weeks post-stroke). Patients completed tasks assessing cognitive components of reading such as semantics (matching picture or word choices to a target based on meaning), phonology (matching word choices to a target based on rhyming), and orthography (a two-alternative forced choice of the most plausible non-word). They also read aloud pseudowords and words with high or low levels of usage frequency, imageability, and spelling-sound consistency. As predicted by the cognitive model, when averaged across patients, the influence of semantics was most salient for low-frequency, low-consistency words, when phonological decoding is especially difficult. Qualitative subtraction analyses revealed lesion sites specific to phonological processing. These areas were consistent with those shown previously to activate for phonology in healthy participants, including supramarginal, posterior superior temporal, middle temporal, inferior frontal gyri, and underlying white matter. Notable divergence between this analysis and previous functional imaging is the association of lesions in the mid-fusiform gyrus and anterior temporal lobe with phonological reading deficits. This study represents progress toward identifying brain lesion-deficit relationships in the cognitive components of reading. Such correspondences are expected to help not only better understand the neural mechanisms of reading, but may also help tailor reading therapy to individual neurocognitive deficit profiles.


The Drosophila melanogaster gene Notch is central to many cell differentiation events during development. It encodes a large transmembrane signal receptor protein that acts in a poorly understood mechanism of communication affecting the choice of alternative differentiation fates by cells in close proximity. Genes with homology to Notch have been isolated from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and a number laboratories, including our own, have isolated multiple vertebrate Notch homologs. In this article we briefly outline the current state of research on Notch and our contribution to it. First, we examine the structure of Notch-related proteins. We then examine the requirements for Notch activity in the development of different organisms and how genetic and transgenic studies are helping us to understand the mechanism(s) by which these proteins function. We present models for the action of Notch receptors during signal transduction and for the interaction of multiple vertebrate Notch receptors. Finally, we discuss current ideas about the role played by Notch in differentiation and cell-cell communication.


In recent years, multicast over wireless access networks has become a popular research topic and application. However, if relay nodes are supported, forming an efficient multicast topology is a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a multi- hop multicast recipient maximization scheme for wireless relay networks. First, we formulate an important problem called Multi-Hop Recipient Maximization (MHRM), which involves allocating resources to the base-station and relay stations efficiently in order to maximize the number of recipients with the given budget and channel conditions. To solve MHRM, we propose a heuristic called Multicast Path Selection (MPS). We prove that MHRM is NP-hard, and also analyze MPS's computational complexity. The results of simulations conducted to evaluate the heuristic's performance demonstrate that, under variant conditions, MPS utilizes bandwidth resources and relay nodes effectively such that it significantly outperforms all existing approaches. To the best of our knowledge, MPS is the only scheme that focuses on this important issue and achieves such a satisfactory performance.


The present study proposes an approach for robust motion estimation between two successive image frames, from a degraded sequence. The method is based on generalized cross-correlation (GCC) methods, where the phase of the Fourier components is used for motion parameter estimation. This method uses "whitening" FIR filters to sharpen the cross-correlation maximum, thereby improving the accuracy of identification of the peak. The estimators of interest are the phase transform (PHAT), and the maximum likelihood (ML) estimators. For robust motion estimation it has been found that the ML estimator is particularly suited to this purpose. The accuracy of the estimators is also discussed. Significant results have been obtained for sub-pixel translation of images of different nature and across different spectral bands.


The aim of this work is to analyze in detail the effect of small hydrogen bonding (HB) structures and enantiomeric composition on the dynamics of glass-forming liquid ketoprofen. For that purpose dielectric relaxation, rheological and NMR studies were performed. Investigated samples are racemic ketoprofen, a single enantiomer of ketoprofen and a racemic ketoprofen methyl ester with no tendency to form HB dimers. The combination of complementary experimental techniques enables us to show that macroscopic viscosity η and α-relaxation time τα have nearly the same temperature dependencies, whereas the relation between the viscosity (or molecular reorientation) and the translational self-diffusion coefficient violates Stokes-Einstein law already at high temperature. Additionally, based on dielectric relaxation studies performed on increased pressure we were able to identify similarities and key differences in the supercooled liquid dynamics of investigated materials affected by their tendency to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds. This includes the effect of pressure on the glass transition temperature Tg, changes in the fragility parameter m and activation volume ΔV, the role of thermal energy and density fluctuations in governing the viscous liquid dynamics (Ev/Ep ratio). Finally, we have also demonstrated that the dynamic behaviour of a single enantiomer and the racemic mixture of the same compound are very much alike. Nevertheless, some slight differences were observed, particularly in the τα(T) dependencies measured in the vicinity of glass transition both at ambient and elevated pressure.


Abstract. We use an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) driven chemistry-transport model (ACTM) to simulate the evolution of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in the troposphere. The model results are compared with continuous measurements at 6 sites over 71° N–90° S. These comparisons demonstrate that the ACTM simulations lie within the measurement uncertainty over the analysis period (1999–2006) and capture salient features of synoptic, seasonal and interannual SF6 variability. To understand transport timescales of SF6 within the troposphere, transport times of air parcels from the surface to different regions of the troposphere ("age") are estimated from a simulation of an idealized tracer. The age estimation error and its sensitivity to the selection of reanalysis meteorology for ACTM nudging or the tracer transport by deep cumulus convection as represented in the model are discussed. Monthly-mean, 2-box model exchange times (τex) are calculated from both the observed and simulated SF6 time series at the 6 observing sites and show favorable agreement, suggesting that the ACTM adequately represents large-scale interhemispheric transport. The simulated SF6 variability is further investigated through decomposition of the mixing ratio time-tendency into advective, convective, and vertical diffusive components. The transport component analysis illustrates the role of each process in SF6 synoptic variability at the site level and provides insight into the seasonality of τex.


The following study on family groups of patients with Huntington's chorea shows the changed psychosocial life patterns resulting from the disease of the marriage partner, as seen from the viewpoint of the other partner. It is evident that "family groups" are not necessarily self-sustaining, and cannot manage the additional strain without outside help; as a matter of fact, the limits of familial self-help become very apparent if the partner cannot cope with the burden. In this manner, family groups actually emphasise and underline the need for external social support.


Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessive disease that affects multiple organs. It is caused by mutations in CFTR. Animal modeling of this disease has been challenging, with species- and strain-specific differences in organ biology and CFTR function influencing the emergence of disease pathology. Here, we report the phenotype of a CFTR-knockout ferret model of CF. Neonatal CFTR-knockout ferrets demonstrated many of the characteristics of human CF disease, including defective airway chloride transport and submucosal gland fluid secretion; variably penetrant meconium ileus (MI); pancreatic, liver, and vas deferens disease; and a predisposition to lung infection in the early postnatal period. Severe malabsorption by the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was the primary cause of death in CFTR-knockout kits that escaped MI. Elevated liver function tests in CFTR-knockout kits were corrected by oral administration of ursodeoxycholic acid, and the addition of an oral proton-pump inhibitor improved weight gain and survival. To overcome the limitations imposed by the severe intestinal phenotype, we cloned 4 gut-corrected transgenic CFTR-knockout kits that expressed ferret CFTR specifically in the intestine. One clone passed feces normally and demonstrated no detectable ferret CFTR expression in the lung or liver. The animals described in this study are likely to be useful tools for dissecting CF disease pathogenesis and developing treatments.


A graphene@MoS2@TiO2 hybrid material was successfully prepared by a multi-step solution chemistry method. Few-layered MoS2 nanosheets were impregnated into the nanovoids of mesoporous TiO2 microspheres and the composite was further encapsulated by a graphene layer. When used as a negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries, the nanovoids of TiO2 reduced aggregation of MoS2 and suppressed the large volume change of the active material. Moreover, the dissolution and shuttle of polysulfides were effectively suppressed by the hybrid bonding between MoS2 and TiO2. The nano-sized MoS2 and TiO2 particles encapsulated by a high electronic conductive graphene layer improved the charge transfer reaction of the electrode. Due to these merits, the graphene@MoS2@TiO2 showed a large discharge capacity of 980 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 current density with a capacity retention of 89% after 200 cycles. Moreover, the material delivered 602 mA h g−1 at 2 A g−1 current density, much larger than 91 mA h g−1 for the pristine MoS2. This demonstrated that the hybrid graphene@MoS2@TiO2 microspheres have great potential as a high-performance negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries.


Variola virus, the agent of smallpox, has a severely restricted host range (humans) but a devastatingly high mortality rate. Although smallpox has been eradicated by a World Health Organization vaccination program, knowledge of the evolutionary processes by which human super-pathogens such as variola virus arise is important. By analyzing the evolution of variola and other closely related poxviruses at the level of single nucleotide polymorphisms we detected a hotspot of genome variation within the smallpox ortholog of the vaccinia virus O1L gene, which is known to be necessary for efficient replication of vaccinia virus in human cells. These mutations in the variola virus ortholog and the subsequent loss of the functional gene from camelpox virus and taterapox virus, the two closest relatives of variola virus, strongly suggest that changes within this region of the genome may have played a key role in the switch to humans as a host for the ancestral virus and the subsequent host-range restriction that must have occurred to create the phenotype exhibited by smallpox.


Most of the methodological literature on evaluating an additional marker for risk prediction involves purely statistical measures of classification performance. A disadvantage of a purely statistical measure is the difficulty in deciding the improvement in the measure that would make inclusion of the additional marker worthwhile. In contrast, a medical decision making approach can weigh the cost or harm of ascertaining an additional marker against the benefit of a higher true positive rate for a given false positive rate that may be associated with risk prediction involving the additional marker. An appealing form of the medical decision making approach involves the risk threshold, which is the risk at which the expected utility of treatment and no treatment is the same. In this framework, a readily interpretable evaluation of the net benefit of an additional marker is the test tradeoff corresponding to the risk threshold. The test tradeoff is the minimum number of tests for a new marker that need to be traded for a true positive to yield an increase in the net benefit of risk prediction with the additional marker. For a sensitivity analysis the test tradeoff is computed over multiple risk thresholds. This article updates the theory and estimation of the test tradeoff. An example is provided.


abstract:Rudyard Kipling's 1899 poem "The White Man's Burden" is frequently invoked in the online postings of white supremacists making various arguments about contemporary race relations. Many follow Senator Ben Tillman's early appropriation of the text as an argument for racial separatism and isolationism, while others advocate a new imperialism. This article examines how Kipling's poem takes on the special qualities of a meme, allowing a loosely affiliated community of authors and audiences to signal their identities through transmission of a shared text even as they stray in multiple directions from its original meaning. Newly examined primary sources draw from a range of so-called "alt-right" spokesmen and obscure Internet users to demonstrate how the concept of the "white man's burden" has adapted to survive in a cultural environment more than a century removed from its origin, and how Kipling himself has been adopted by a twenty-first century subculture.


Based on a case study of two Moldovan regions, the paper challenges the favourable assessment of recently established peasant farms in a World Bank study by LERMAN et al. (1998). The main arguments in favour of a more critical view of the results of land privatisation and farm restructuring are that a) private farmers produce only on a minimal fraction of land with almost no machinery or purchased inputs at all, b) the income of a typical farm household is below a poverty line based on national standards, c) private farmers face substantial production and marketing risks, d) at present, it is unlikely that short- or long-term investment projects in agriculture can be credit funded. Currently, peasant farms are mainly run to produce a minimum diet for the affiliated household. The situation thus gives little reason for rosy future perspectives concerning a market-oriented, commercial private agriculture.


In endothelium, NO is derived from endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-mediated l-arginine oxidation. Endogenous guanidinomethylated arginines (MAs), including asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and NG-methyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA), are released in cells upon protein degradation and are competitive inhibitors of eNOS. However, it is unknown whether intracellular MA concentrations reach levels sufficient to regulate endothelial NO production. Therefore, the dose-dependent effects of ADMA and l-NMMA on eNOS function were determined. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the Km for l-arginine is 3.14 μm with a Vmax of 0.14 μmol mg–1 min–1, whereas Ki values of 0.9 μm and 1.1 μm were determined for ADMA and l-NMMA, respectively. EPR studies of NO production from purified eNOS demonstrated that, with a physiological 100 μm level of l-arginine, MA levels of >10μm were required for significant eNOS inhibition. Dose-dependent inhibition of NO formation in endothelial cells was observed with extracellular MA concentrations as low 5 μm. Similar effects were observed in isolated vessels where 5 μm ADMA inhibited vascular relaxation to acetylcholine. MA uptake studies demonstrated that ADMA and l-NMMA accumulate in endothelial cells with intracellular levels greatly exceeding extracellular concentrations. l-Arginine/MA ratios were correlated with cellular NO production. Although normal physiological levels of MAs do not significantly inhibit NOS, a 3- to 9-fold increase, as reported under disease conditions, would exert prominent inhibition. Using a balloon model of vascular injury, ∼4-fold increases in cellular MAs were observed, and these caused prominent impairment of vascular relaxation. Thus, MAs are critical mediators of vascular dysfunction following vascular injury.


Background: Thyroid disorders represent a major problem in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the northern part of the country. The objective of the current study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of CK19, CD56, and Gal-3 in a series of Saudi patients with thyroid carcinoma in Northern Saudi Arabia (Hail) region. Methodology: This is a retrospective study, investigated 50 formalin-fixed paraffin wax tissue blocks with a confirmed diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma from Northern Saudi Arabia. Immunohistochemistry demonstration was for CK19, CD56, and Gal-3 markers applying Avidin-Biotin method. Results: Out of the 50 patients, 45(90%) were females and 5(10%) were males, aged 13-70 years old with a mean age of 43 years. CK19 was positively expressed in 74% of the thyroid carcinoma. Positive CD56 expression was demonstrated in 45.7%, 58.3%, and 100% of the papillary, follicular and undifferentiated thyroid carcinomas, correspondingly. Positive Galectin-3 expression was demonstrated in 71.4%, 58.3%, and 100% of the papillary, follicular and undifferentiated thyroid carcinomas, correspondingly. Conclusion: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common thyroid cancer in Northern Saudi Arabia. Females represent more than 90% of the cases of the thyroid carcinoma in Northern Saudi Arabia. CK19, CD56, and Gal-3 are useful for the assessment of thyroid carcinoma.


Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) have been implicated in fear‐, addiction‐ and depression‐related behaviors in mice. While these effects have been attributed to ASIC1A in neurons, it has been reported that ASICs may also function in nonneuronal cells. To determine if ASIC1A in neurons is indeed required, we generated neuron‐specific knockout (KO) mice with floxed Asic1a alleles disrupted by Cre recombinase driven by the neuron‐specific synapsin I promoter (SynAsic1a KO mice). We confirmed that Cre expression occurred in neurons, but not all neurons, and not in nonneuronal cells including astrocytes. Consequent loss of ASIC1A in some but not all neurons was verified by western blotting, immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology. We found ASIC1A was disrupted in fear circuit neurons, and SynAsic1a KO mice exhibited prominent deficits in multiple fear‐related behaviors including Pavlovian fear conditioning to cue and context, predator odor‐evoked freezing and freezing responses to carbon dioxide inhalation. In contrast, in the nucleus accumbens ASIC1A expression was relatively normal in SynAsic1a KO mice, and consistent with this observation, cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) was normal. Interestingly, depression‐related behavior in the forced swim test, which has been previously linked to ASIC1A in the amygdala, was also normal. Together, these data suggest neurons are an important site of ASIC1A action in fear‐related behaviors, whereas other behaviors likely depend on ASIC1A in other neurons or cell types not targeted in SynAsic1a KO mice. These findings highlight the need for further work to discern the roles of ASICs in specific cell types and brain sites.


Recent Pan-STARRS data show that the leading arm from the globular cluster Palomar 5 (Pal 5) appears shorter than the trailing arm, while simulations of Pal 5 predict similar angular extents. We demonstrate that including the spinning Galactic bar with appropriate pattern speeds in the dynamical modeling of Pal 5 can reproduce the Pan-STARRS data. As the bar sweeps by, some stream stars experience a difference in net torques near pericenter. This leads to the formation of apparent gaps along Pal 5's tidal streams and these gaps grow due to an energy offset from the rest of the stream members. We conclude that only streams orbiting far from the Galactic center or streams on retrograde orbits (with respect to the bar) can be used to unambiguously constrain dark matter subhalo interactions. Additionally, we expect that the Pal 5 leading arm debris should re-appear south of the Pan-STARRS density truncation.


The horizontal distribution of oceanic tintinnids was studied in the South Adriatic Sea during 11 cruises undertaken between 1980 and 1990. Of the 70 species identified, there were 47 surface, 16 subsurface, 4 mid-water, and 3 deep-sea species. The dominant surface and subsurface species were Dictyocysta mitra and Codonella aspera . Undella claparedei. Parundella lohmanni predominated in the mid-water layers and Xystonellopsis scyphium in the deep-sea layers. Ingression of water masses from the Ionian Sea and the formation of a cyclonic gyre are important in determining the horizontal distribution of tintinnids in the South Adriatic. Periods of strong advection of waters from the Ionian Sea impose a longitudinal type of distribution on tintinnids, characterized by high species diversity, low abundance, and the transport of southern species to the Middle and North Adriatic. This differs from "eddy type" distribution, in which species diversity is lower, population density is greater in all layers, and the transport of species northward ceases. It may be assumed that mesopelagic and deep-sea tintinnids depend on food resources transported by sinking Middle Adriatic dense waters (MadDW).


ABSTRACT Overexpression of the HipA protein of the HipBA toxin/antitoxin module leads to multidrug tolerance in Escherichia coli. HipA is a "toxin" that causes reversible dormancy, whereas HipB is an antitoxin that binds HipA and acts as a transcriptional repressor of the hipBA operon. Comparative sequence analysis shows that HipA is a member of the phosphatidylinositol 3/4-kinase superfamily. The kinase activity of HipA was examined. HipA was autophosphorylated in the presence of ATP in vitro, and the purified protein appeared to carry a single phosphate group on serine 150. Thus, HipA is a serine kinase that is at least partially phosphorylated in vivo. Overexpression of HipA caused inhibition of cell growth and increase in persister formation. Replacing conserved aspartate 309 in the conserved kinase active site or aspartate 332 in the Mg2+-binding site with glutamine produced mutant proteins that lost the ability to stop cellular growth upon overexpression. Replacing serine 150 with alanine yielded a similarly inactive protein. The mutant proteins were then examined for their ability to increase antibiotic tolerance. Cells overexpressing wild-type HipA were highly tolerant to cefotaxime, a cell wall synthesis inhibitor, to ofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone inhibitor of DNA gyrase, and to topoisomerase IV and were almost completely resistant to killing by mitomycin C, which forms DNA adducts. The mutant proteins did not protect cells from cefotaxime or ofloxacin and had an impaired ability to protect from mitomycin C. Taken together, these results suggest that the protein kinase activity of HipA is essential for persister formation.


WikiLeaks has started a new wave in information disseminated to the public. The momentum for a new era of street-level information disclosure of sensitive government information appears to be building quickly worldwide. Hardly had US legislators introduced a bill to stifle entities such as WikiLeaks when two explosive geopolitical situations emerged, thanks at least partly to network-enabled leaks. Ironically enough, while politicians posture by introducing the quashing proposals, one veteran observer of how geopolitics plays out on the Internet says government functionaries seem to be adapting to the new era of embarrassing transparency.


The ionospheric delay is of paramount importance to radio communication, satellite navigation and positioning. It is necessary to predict high-accuracy ionospheric peak parameters for single frequency receivers. In this study, the state-of-the-art artificial neural network (ANN) technique optimized by the genetic algorithm is used to develop global ionospheric models for predicting foF2 and hmF2. The models are based on long-term multiple measurements including ionospheric peak frequency model (GIPFM) and global ionospheric peak height model (GIPHM). Predictions of the GIPFM and GIPHM are compared with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model in 2009 and 2013 respectively. This comparison shows that the root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) of GIPFM are 0.82 MHz and 0.71 MHz in 2013 and 2009, respectively. This result is about 20%–35% lower than that of IRI. Additionally, the corresponding hmF2 median errors of GIPHM are 20% to 30% smaller than that of IRI. Furthermore, the ANN models present a good capability to capture the global or regional ionospheric spatial-temporal characteristics, e.g., the equatorial ionization anomaly and Weddell Sea anomaly. The study shows that the ANN-based model has a better agreement to reference value than the IRI model, not only along the Greenwich meridian, but also on a global scale. The approach proposed in this study has the potential to be a new three-dimensional electron density model combined with the inclusion of the upcoming Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC-2) data.


Abstract: Numerous structures and textures, which can be related to magma flow, were observed in felsic dykes intruding late Mesozoic granitoid plutons in the Jiaodong peninsula, in eastern Shandong province, eastern China. These flow structures may be classified into two categories, interior and peripheral. The former group includes magmatic bands, various types of folds (e.g. injection, sheath, similar and disharmonic folds), rotation of phenocrysts, magmatic foliation or lineation, and crenulation, whereas the latter includes hot tool marks and quarrying structures. Magmatic banding resulted from shearing of mingled magma during magma flow in the dykes. The magma seemed to flow rapidly, probably triggering turbulence in some thick dykes. Interaction at the contact between the hot, moving magma and the cold, stationary wallrock sometimes produced the peripheral structures. A few measurements of hot tool marks and of magmatic lineation reveal a roughly horizontal flow of magma within these dykes. For the dominant NE–SW-striking dyke set in the Laoshan granitoid pluton, the felsic magma probably ascended on or to the SW of the pluton to feed the dyke swarm, and then flowed laterally to drive the horizontal propagation of dykes.


Robust face detection is one of the most important preprocessing steps to support facial expression analysis, facial landmarking, face recognition, pose estimation, building of 3D facial models, etc. Although this topic has been intensely studied for decades, it is still challenging due to numerous variants of face images in real-world scenarios. In this paper, we present a novel approach named Multiple Scale Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (MS-FRCNN) to robustly detect human facial regions from images collected under various challenging conditions, e.g. large occlusions, extremely low resolutions, facial expressions, strong illumination variations, etc. The proposed approach is benchmarked on two challenging face detection databases, i.e. the Wider Face database and the Face Detection Dataset and Benchmark (FDDB), and compared against recent other face detection methods, e.g. Two-stage CNN, Multi-scale Cascade CNN, Faceness, Aggregate Chanel Features, HeadHunter, Multi-view Face Detection, Cascade CNN, etc. The experimental results show that our proposed approach consistently achieves highly competitive results with the state-of-the-art performance against other recent face detection methods.


Ag-doped TiO2 catalyst employed as the oxidation catalyst candidate was prepared by two methods, co-precipitation and dip coating method. Co-precipitation method was conducted by adding AgNO3 into the titanium precursor before gelation and then the obtained solution was coated on the alumna beads. Dip coating method was conducted by coating the first layer on alumina beads with titanium precursor followed by coating the second layer with AgNO3. The fired Ag-doped TiO2 coated on alumina beads was used as catalyst for catalytic oxidation of methanol and carbon monoxide by using oxygen as oxidizing agent in a gas-phase reactor. The methods of catalyst preparation were found to affect the catalytic efficiency. Dip coating method showed better oxidation reaction as Ag-doped TiO2 catalysts were well dispersed on the alumina beads.


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BACKGROUND
Combination of surgery and radiotherapy in the treatment of primary spine tumour can be indicated in some cases where a satisfactory oncological margin cannot be achieved. The presence of metal hardware has always limited post-operative radiotherapy due to the scattering effects of ionizing radiation or particles. The use of a fixation system (including rods and screw) fully made in PEEK embedded Carbon fiber (CFR-PEEK) could make easier and more effective the post-operative radiotherapy as it is radiolucent and does not interfere with ionizing radiation and accelerated particles.

METHODS
An ambispective study was performed on the first 22 consecutive primary tumor patients, who underwent spinal surgery including a composite CFR-PEEK fixation system. Oncologic surgery was palliative decompression and fixation in 3 cases; tumor excision in 15; en bloc resection in 4. The incidence of complications (intra- and postoperative), local control (LC) and local recurrence (LR), and changes in neurological status were considered.

RESULTS
Only one intraoperative screw breakage occurred and one case of loosening of sacral screws were found at 12 months in one patient. No rod breakage, neither any screw/rod disconnection was found. Post-operative RT has been performed in 19 patients. The overall number of progression of the tumour or LR was 7. The actuarial rate of LR or progression of the tumour, calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method, was 17.6% at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS
The CFR-PEEK fixation system is comparable to standard titanium system in term of intraoperative complications, stability at weight bearing and at functional recovery. Thanks to radiolucency CFR-PEEK stabilization devices are more suitable in patients eligible for RT: the absence of image artifacts together with significantly less dose perturbation improve the treatment accuracy. Moreover the radiolucency is useful in the follow-up of patients thus allowing early detection of LR.


A study was made of the response of the cardiovascular system to the cardiac glycoside ouabain, using original experimental acute heart failure that developed as a result of coronary vessel embolization with 15 microns radioactive microspheres introduced into the cavity of the left ventricle during occlusion of the ascending aorta. To examine the general and regional hemodynamics, an isotope exchange method was employed. 48 hours after coronary vessel embolization the rats appear more sensitive to the action of ouabain as compared to the sham-operated animals. This shows up in a more pronounced vasoconstriction in some organs, leading to a noticeable increase of the general peripheral resistance and arterial pressure. High sensitivity of the cardiovascular system to ouabain makes this effect transform very rapidly to the toxic one.


Jet streams shape midlatitude weather and climate. The North Atlantic jet is mainly eddy‐driven, with frequent north–south excursions on synoptic time scales arising from eddy forcings and feedbacks. There are, however, special periods during which the underlying dynamics appear to change—for example, winter 2009/2010, when the jet was persistently southward‐shifted, extremely zonal, and more thermally driven. This study shows evidence that the southern jet configuration exhibits altered dynamical behavior involving a shift in the balance of thermal and eddy‐driving processes, independent of timescale. Specifically, southern jets exhibit weaker eddy feedbacks and are associated with enhanced heating in the tropical Pacific. During winter 2009/2010, a remarkably frequent (66 days out of the 90‐day winter season) and persistent southern jet shaped the unusual seasonal signature. These results bridge the synoptic and climate perspectives of jet variability, with potential to help understand and reduce biases in regional climate variability as simulated by models.


The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is a benchmark for solving two-block separable convex programs, and it finds more and more applications in many areas. However, as other first-order methods, ADMM also suffers from low convergence. In this paper, to accelerate the convergence of ADMM, we relax the restriction region of the Fortin and Glowinski's constant γ in ADMM from (0, 1+ √ 5 2 ) to (0,+∞), and thus get a proximal ADMM with larger step size. Then, to further accelerate its efficiency, we use the convex combination of its output with the current iterate to generate the new iterate. Under mild conditions, we prove the global convergence of the new method. Some numerical experiments are given to demonstrate the advantage of large step size.


This paper presents an adaptive fading extended Kalman filter (AFEKF) based speed-sensorless induction motor (IM) drive. Conventional extended Kalman filters (CEKFs) assume the system (Q) and the measurement (R) noise covariance matrices as constant, but those matrices are affected by the operating conditions of IMs and deteriorate the estimation performance. To eliminate this adverse effect, an AFEKF algorithm which has the ability to update Q and R matrices according to the operating conditions of IM are proposed, and the stator stationary axis components of stator currents, the stator stationary axis components of rotor fluxes, the rotor mechanical speed, and the load torque including viscous friction term are estimated. To illustrate the superiority of AFEKF-based speed-sensorless IM drive, the control performance of the proposed drive system is compared to that of CEKF-based speed-sensorless drive system under simulations. In addition to the comparison results, the computational burdens of AFEKF and CEKF algorithms are also examined.


Analysis of answers to a questionnaire on the use of computers in general practice showed that 19 per cent of patients in two practices in Staffordshire would be worried if their general practitioner used a computer to store medical records. Twenty-seven per cent of patients would be unwilling to speak frankly about personal matters to their general practitioner if he or she used a computer and 7 per cent said that they would change to another doctor. Fifteen per cent stated that their general practitioner already had information about them that they would not want to be included in a computerized record of their medical history.


Calcitonin is a 32-amino-acid peptide hormone that is produced by parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland in response to increased levels of extracellular calcium. In this article we review our previous and current research on the transcriptional regulation of the pig and human calcitonin receptor (CTR) gene. Initially, our experiments on the transcriptional analysis of the pig CTR gene in transgenic mice are examined, followed by our studies on the cloning of the human CTR (hCTR) gene promoter and its transcriptional activity in hCTR-positive cell lines. We further describe the activity of the hCTR promoter in transgenic mice and review current experiments to identify transcriptional regulatory elements and the transcription factors they interact with, which direct the tissue-specific expression pattern of


Glu-β185 of the Escherichia coli H+-ATPase (ATP synthase) β subunit was replaced by 19 different amino acid residues. The rates of multisite (steady state) catalysis of all the mutant membrane ATPases except Asp-β185 were less than 0.2% of the wild type one; the Asp-β185 enzyme exhibited 15% (purified) and 16% (membrane-bound) ATPase activity. The purified inactive Cys-β185 F1-ATPase recovered substantial activity after treatment with iodoacetate in the presence of MgCl2; maximal activity was obtained upon the introduction of about 3 mol of carboxymethyl residues/mol of F1. The divalent cation dependences of the S-carboxymethyl-β185 and Asp-β185 ATPase activities were altered from that of the wild type. The Asp-β185, Cys-β185, S-carboxymethyl-β185, and Gln-β185 enzymes showed about 130, 60, 20, and 50% of the wild type unisite catalysis rates, respectively. The S-carboxymethyl-β185 and Asp-β185 enzymes showed altered divalent cation sensitivities, and the S-carboxymethyl-β185 enzyme showed no Mg2+ inhibition. Unlike the wild type, the two mutant enzymes showed low sensitivities to azide, which stabilizes the enzyme Mg•ADP complex. These results suggest that Glu-β185 may form a Mg2+ binding site, and its carboxyl moiety is essential for catalytic cooperativity. Consistent with this model, the bovine glutamate residue corresponding to Glu-β185 is located close to the catalytic site in the higher order structure (Abrahams, J. P., Leslie, A. G. W., Lutter, R., and Walker, J. E.(1994) Nature 370, 621-628).


Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anti–epidermal growth factor monoclonal antibody (mAb) cetuximab (IMC-C225) as a delivery agent for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of a human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene-transfected rat glioma, designated as F98EGFR. Experimental Design: A heavily boronated polyamidoamine dendrimer was chemically linked to cetuximab by means of the heterobifunctional reagents N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate and N-(k-maleimido undecanoic acid)-hydrazide. The bioconjugate, designated as BD-C225, was specifically taken up by F98EGFR glioma cells in vitro compared with receptor-negative F98 wild-type cells (41.8 versus 9.1 μg/g). For in vivo biodistribution studies, F98EGFR cells were implanted stereotactically into the brains of Fischer rats, and 14 days later, BD-C225 was given intracerebrally by either convection enhanced delivery (CED) or direct intratumoral (i.t.) injection. Results: The amount of boron retained by F98EGFR gliomas 24 h following CED or i.t. injection was 77.2 and 50.8 μg/g, respectively, with normal brain and blood boron values <0.05 μg/g. Boron neutron capture therapy was carried out at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor 24 h after CED of BD-C225, either alone or in combination with i.v. boronophenylalanine (BPA). The corresponding mean survival times (MST) were 54.5 and 70.9 days (P = 0.017), respectively, with one long-term survivor (more than 180 days). In contrast, the MSTs of irradiated and untreated controls, respectively, were 30.3 and 26.3 days. In a second study, the combination of BD-C225 and BPA plus sodium borocaptate, given by either i.v. or intracarotid injection, was evaluated and the MSTs were equivalent to that obtained with BD-C225 plus i.v. BPA. Conclusions: The survival data obtained with BD-C225 are comparable with those recently reported by us using boronated mAb L8A4 as the delivery agent. This mAb recognizes the mutant receptor, EGFRvIII. Taken together, these data convincingly show the therapeutic efficacy of molecular targeting of EGFR using a boronated mAb either alone or in combination with BPA and provide a platform for the future development of combinations of high and low molecular weight delivery agents for BNCT of brain tumors.


Abstract. There has been a significant interest in spectrum splitting techniques to increase the overall efficiency of photovoltaic solar energy systems. In spectrum splitting, an optical system is used to spectrally separate the incident sunlight. Although systems with different methods and geometries have been proposed, they can generally be classified as either dispersive or nondispersive. Nondispersive systems are based on reflective spectral filters that have minimum optical losses due to dispersion. Dispersive systems use optical elements that spatially separate light as a function of wavelength. This class of spectrum system typically operates in transmission and is shown to have an inherent optical loss. The dispersive effects of transmission type filters are evaluated using a cross-correlation analysis. The results of the analysis are then used to evaluate different spectrum splitting geometries and to determine parameters that minimize their dispersion losses and optimize optical designs.


Scientific studies on forest stand climatology of boreal forests in the Oulanka Nationalpark region, Northern Finland, with it regard its function as a control and a filter in landscape ecosystems and with special reference to strata specific interception and leaching by drop and seeping water were carried out during spring, summer and autumn 2006. As a part of these scientific works differences between an Empetrum-Myrtillus-old growth forest (OGF) and a Pinus sylvestris-reforested area (RA) concerning to interception in tree-, shrub-, dwarf-, mossand litter layer and soil depths of 10, 30 and 50 cm (seeping water) were studied. The first results show a clear depence of interception to different rainfall features and rainfall intensities. Concerning the predominantly long rainfall events, those particularly took place during springtime, is shown, that the bulk of throughfall (> 90 %) both in OGF and in RA is dropping down to the dwarf layer. In contrast to that, the amount of rainfall in mossand litter layer achieved nearly 20 %. During drizzle-rainfall events these layers remained to be dry. Depending of whether such an event took place after a long rainfall event or after a long dryness period, differences concerning to wetting capacity were carried out in the tree layer. Thus, in RA 20 % of drizzle rainfall events after long dryness periods have reached layers below the tree layer, in contrast to the OGF, in which nearly 60 % have achieved the dwarf layer.


Decentralisation trends giving local governments and communities greater say in regional and state policy making and greater public expectations of government have made it imperative for local governments to rapidly improve their policy making and service delivery processes. The thesis advocates a decentralised but globally coordinated approach to government, and develops a balanced and values-based performance framework that is open to external review by peers, national governments and the public. Even with a decentralised system of government where autonomous and accountable local governments work collaboratively with each other and state government, a 'balanced' and transparent performance framework that is an integral part of organizational vision is needed. This mission-based framework assesses how effective and democratic local governments are in executing their broader strategic missions, and ensures that the formulation and execution of strategy is done in a way that is consistent with the democratic and globalist values of the new millennium. Hence the thesis uses a decentralised and globally networked approach to government in building a transparent and balanced performance measurement framework that is strongly tied to organizational vision, and reflects the mission and values of that vision.

Three innovative approaches are developed by drawing together strategic management and organizational development literature written from public and private sector management perspectives. The first is a capabilities-centred approach in performance measurement that goes beyond measuring only final outcomes to evaluating the underlying capabilities, which facilitate the effective identification and achievement of objectives. Organizations are seen to be better able to invent and learn new challenges and strategies when they have the following six generic capabilities:

• Achieve internal consultation and customer focus
• Develop new local capabilities that complement and synergise one another
• Learn and innovate from experience and others
• Externally network with other global communities and organizations
• Balance and integrate different policies into a coherent overall strategy
• Achieve efficiency and financial management

Secondly, a multi-perspective and synergistic approach is used in designing a more balanced and integrated performance framework with broad measures of achievement against shared community objectives that have been collaboratively negotiated. Performance measurement has erstwhile adopted a primarily economic perspective as a result of its origins in the private sector. In this thesis, performance in local government is looked at more holistically by assessing diverse final outcomes, capabilities and synergies among them from economic, environmental and social perspectives, and at local, state, national and global levels. Multiperspective strategic indicators like population size and density; revenue diversification; population, industry and civic community profiles and volunteerism are proposed as key performance measures that reflect synergies across diverse policy objectives.

Finally, a values-based approach is adopted based on the three enduring and overarching values of entrepreneurialism, democracy and sustainability. If performance measurement is to help in the execution of strategic vision and mission that are founded on these three sets of principles, measures need to be based on the core values of that vision. Such a performance framework would help build capabilities, and be guided by values-based strategic objectives, achieving not only organizational effectiveness, but also Society's ideals of innovativeness, enterprise, efficiency, competitiveness, freedom, equality, democracy, consultation, civic community, conservation and global cooperation.

Using these approaches, key indicators are identified from regional statistics that measure strategic performance against both final outcomes and capabilities, which local governments can use to chart their progress on diverse fronts. These strategic measures are then incorporated with more 'local' performance measures uncovered through interviews and a review of publications and documents of Perth local authorities, to build a multi-perspective, capabilities-centred and values-based framework from both topdown and bottom up. Local governments along with other government organizations may thus become 'models of transparency and learning' for organizations and communities through developing and publishing comprehensive and balanced measures that reveal performance against final outcomes as well as capabilities. These measures may in turn be used by increasingly ethical investors and customers that demand more balanced corporate information in making more informed and ethical investment and purchase decisions. Hence, government organizations can contribute to democracy and the education of consumers and investors in demanding that corporations are socially and environmentally responsible in the pursuit of profits. Corporations and civil society would thus be drawn in to share a more responsible, 'whole-ofsociety' approach in achieving more balanced, equitable, cooperative and sustainable development globally. Human progress could be so much more balanced, responsible and synergistic if organizations and communities were multi-perspective and values-based in their visions and missions, and capabilities-centred in their strategies.


Moodle is a free open-source e-learning software platform also known as a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is generally used to manage courses mainly in third level educational institutions and training environments. VLEs such as Moodle have been installed in most Irish higher education institutions and are an integral part of blended or distance learning. Learners may log into the system to view course content, interact on forums, and complete assessments. Proponents of VLEs claim that they increase flexibility, save time and resources, improve communication, reduce administration, and promote collaboration. Despite these supposed benefits, some lecturers in WIT have not adopted the technology. This research investigates why this is the case, asking if undocumented barriers are preventing staff from adopting Moodle. E-learning and technology adoption literature were reviewed and typical adaption barriers were identified. A technology acceptance model called the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was employed to detect adoption barriers. A mixed-methods questionnaire was designed based on the UTAUT model which included mainly likert scale quantitative questions and three open-ended qualitative questions. The questionnaire was distributed to all teaching staff in WIT via email and non-Moodle users were asked to complete it. The results were collected and the quantitative data was analysed using a statistical package. The qualitative data was also analysed and a number of themes emerged. The analysis presented some veryinteresting findings with issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPR), training, support, computing experience, time management, student attendance, effort expectancy, and managerial encouragement/acknowledgement all emerging. The research concluded with a set of recommendations to address these issues. This research is of interest to anyone involved in e-learning research, VLE management, or technology adoption research.


Sixty years on from 1950s Los Angeles, No Helmets Required tells the story of 20 young American footballers convinced by entrepreneur Mike Dimitro to fly off around the world playing rugby league - a game they'd never even heard of. Miraculously, the American All Stars competed with the best Australia, New Zealand and France had to offer, and shocked the locals with some stunning victories. Yet beyond the media circus and celebrity adventures, the All Stars had fights and flings, suffered tragic illness and farcical court cases. Dimitro's mission to establish rugby league in the United States failed in spectacular fashion - though one All Star went on to win the Super Bowl, one became a Hollywood stuntman and another an Olympic champion. One player founded a church; another was murdered. The emergence of their remarkable story coincides with the USA's first ever qualification for the Rugby League World Cup, in 2013.


In this paper, we propose a protocol for protection and restoration in optical ring networks based on a centralized server and an integrated control plane for fast turnaround, signaling and integrated provisioning. We propose a direction towards a new signaling and resource reservation protocol design in this respect and it is assumed that the protocol state machines will also be assigned to nodes in the optical network for the purpose of control and load balancing of resource reservations using SRLG. The server thus forms the dual purpose structure block of optical access signaling scenario support besides resource reservation and protection and recovery of paths being set up.