Limited access to profitable markets and production resources by smallholders restricts expansion and investment in technologies that could increase efficiency and add value to primary production. Two cases from the DRC and Rwanda, targeting the collective marketing, value addition and processing of banana and Irish potatoes, are used to demonstrate the IAR4D approach. The results show that, through collective marketing and banana processing, farmers are able to increase their returns by about 50% compared to the period before IAR4D interventions. The shelf life of the products was also increased drastically. Market efficiency improved for Irish potatoes by reducing transaction costs and decreasing the market intermediaries who would extract larger margins at the expense of the producers. Thus the tonnage of potatoes marketed increased from about 3 to 15 MTs in less than one year, while farmers were able to earn up to 10% higher prices through the IPs. Transformation to prevent postharvest losses experienced by farmers in general and members of IPs in particular is recommended. The use of flexible contracts, coupled with support from credit institutions, is also recommended.


Who should be the beneficiaries of racially targeted affirmative action? In its Croson decision, the Supreme Court answered part of the "Who Question" when it conditioned affirmative action eligibility on underrepresentation. What the Court did not tell us was underrepresentation of whom? The Court thus instructs us to select beneficiary groups by counting heads, but leaves open which heads get counted where and what categories to use. By artificially separating what are necessarily related inquiries, the Court left a definitional lacuna that lower courts have struggled to fill. Such definitional issues matter because they often determine who benefits from affirmative action. Yet, the inconsistent approaches and conflicting outcomes in recent case law reveals the inadequacy of current doctrine to resolve such issues. While commentators have largely ignored the Who Question in the US, recent comparative scholarship has drawn attention to empirical methodologies used in India. In contrast to the particularized discrimination targeted by Croson, India has explicitly adopted a societal approach to affirmative action that relies on empirical data to identify subordinated groups through sociological analysis. A recent amicus brief filed before the US Supreme Court suggested that the US adopt India's model as the answer to our Who Question. This Article critiques the amicus proposal, arguing that India's approach does not provide a workable solution. Nor would it be desirable even if it could. Pressing the ambiguities of race would expose the normative incoherence of affirmative action in a way that would prove politically untenable. However, even if India's model cannot help us answer the "Who Question," it does have some more modest uses. It offers both a definitional tool to improve the categories we count with and a model for allocating decisional authority between courts and political actors.


With the available historical Tibetan written records from late 8th century on and the existing scholarly works on Buddhism, this historical overview recounts how Buddhism was Tibetanized and how it became both the national religion of Tibet and a world religion spread to Inner Asia, East Asia, and other parts of the world. It also adds interpretive commentaries leading to more historical inquiries and suggestions for alternative historiographical approaches to the formation of Tibetan Buddhism, adopted from disciplines other than history of religion and Buddhist studies. An emphasis is placed on the significance of folk accounts that reveal "the geomythological reorientation" of Buddhist conversion in the historical Tibetan context not merely as an intellectual and doctrinal acceptance of Indian Buddhism but also as a symbiotic process in which Indian Buddhism and indigenous religious practices mutually transformed each other. The emergence of the different Buddhist schools in Tibet is also a result of the politics of the sect-specific powers throughout Tibetan history. It is thus essential to recognize the formation of the five schools also as a set of religio-political occurrences, particularly since the formation of Gelug (dGe lugs) School in the 15th century and later becoming a Gelug-based Tibetan polity in the 17th century. The Gelug School dominated Tibetan Buddhism, and successive Dalai Lamas ruled Tibet from the mid-17th to the mid-20th centuries. Given the regional and global status of Tibetan Buddhism, emphasis is placed on Tibetan Buddhism as a transregional religion in Inner Asia and later as a form of modern Buddhism since the middle of the 20th century. With these emphases, the historical overview presented here is intended to generate more scholarly discussions and inquiries into the history of Tibetan Buddhism in both monastic and lay spheres in and outside Tibet.


Data on chromosome mutagenesis levels in populations of aquatic organisms in the Black and the Aegean Seas, the Danube and the Dnieper Rivers, the 30-km zone of ChNPP are presented. The highest level of mutagenesis was observed in hydrobionts populations in the 10-km zone of the ChNPP. The obvious damaged effects of ionizing radiation were noted only in these populations. The comparison of the adaptation rate of aquatic crustaceans and worms populations with different reproduction modes was made. It is found that the studied species with sexual reproduction have higher rate of adaptation to the pollution in comparison with species with prevalent asexual reproduction. Hypothetic mechanisms of population adaptation are discussed. On the basis of species and populations characteristics, the criteria for the identification of "critical" populations (species) and an algoritm of ecological risk assessment for them are proposed.


The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary, if we are to achieve the changes required to address the impacts of global warming. Biomass is the most common form of renewable energy, widely used in the third world but until recently, less so in the Western world. Latterly much attention has been focused on identifying suitable biomass species, which can provide high-energy outputs, to replace conventional fossil fuel energy sources. The type of biomass required is largely determined by the energy conversion process and the form in which the energy is required. The potential of reclaimed land of mines to act as a biofuel source, providing fuel to supplement conventional power stations, is examined, together with the replacement of fuels in gas or diesel boilers for the production of thermal energy.


In a context of increasing numbers of refugees and asylum seekers globally, recognition of the importance of the school environment for promoting successful settlement outcomes and inclusion for refugee-background young people is growing. Yet schools may be poorly equipped to recognise and respond to the multiple challenges faced by children and young people who must learn a new language while grappling with unfamiliar educational and social systems. Refugee-background students often have minimal or significantly disrupted formal education prior to arrival in their new country. Young people, and sometimes their families, may lack literacy in first languages and many are coping with the impacts of trauma associated with forced displacement. Evidence for effective interventions in schools that promote an inclusive learning environment is scarce. This paper presents the results of an evaluation of the School Support Programme operating in schools in Victoria, Australia. The programme is provided to networks of schools in a region and facilitates partnerships between schools and agencies and provides a holistic model for a whole-school approach focused on the learning, social and emotional needs of refugee-background students. The evaluation concluded that the programme provides an appropriate and feasible model that supports the capacity of schools to provide an inclusive education for this group.


Founded in 1959, by John Kendrew, the Journal of Molecular Biology was the first journal devoted to this new and revolutionary science. To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Journal, the current editor, Sydney Brenner, has selected a number of papers from the first hundred volumes. They include the seminal papers on genetic regulation by Jacob and Monod and on allostery by Monod, Changeux and Jacob. Also included are many important papers on structural biology and molecular genetics and papers reflecting the initial developments in DNA cloning and sequencing. Of value to all biologists with an interest in the molecular basis of living systems, the book is a personal selection by the Editor. Readers are encouraged to compare it with their own choice from the Journal of Molecular Biology.


The paper examined the influence of tax amnesty programme on tax compliance in Nigeria moderating the effect of political trust. The survey research design was employed to understand the taxpayer's perception of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). We collected the data through the administration of questionnaires to taxpayers across the most commercial states in Nigeria.  The data obtained were analysed using the frequency table, the Cronbach alpha test, and the binary logistic regression technique. The survey showed that the compliance rate was about 22%. The study showed that the primary driver of tax compliance in Nigeria is unannounced ad hoc tax audit; this implies that tax compliance will increase when taxpayers are aware there is an unannounced ad hoc tax audit. It is evident from this study that the low tax compliance was as a result of the moderating effect of political trust of the taxpayers as indicated by the amnesty*trust and trust showed a negative relationship with tax compliance in Nigeria. Based on the empirical analysis, the paper concludes that the Tax Amnesty Programme VAIDS has a significant influence on tax compliance in Nigeria. The paper recommended that the government should build and strengthen the institutions, which give a sense of accountability and perception of good governance to the taxpayers, which will encourage voluntary tax compliance in the long run.

 Key words: Tax amnesty, tax compliance, political trust, Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).


Objective: To determine the best therapeutic strategy for the use of midodrine in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). Background: Midodrine is a peripherally acting α-adrenergic agonist useful in the treatment of NOH. However, neither the most effective dosage of midodrine nor the required frequency of administration is established. Design/Methods: Midodrine dose-blood pressure response, pharmacokinetics, and duration of action were examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover trial. Twenty-five patients with NOH were randomized to receive on successive days placebo or midodrine 2.5, 10, or 20 mg. Blood pressures of patients in the supine and standing positions were measured sequentially. A global assessment of the patient's overall symptom improvement after each leg of the study was performed. Blood levels of midodrine and its active metabolite, desglymidodrine, were assayed. Results: Midodrine significantly increased standing systolic blood pressure, with the increase peaking at 1 hour. There was a significant linear relation between midodrine dosage and mean systolic blood pressure. The mean score for global improvement of symptoms was significantly higher for midodrine (10 and 20 mg) compared with placebo. The half-life of desglymidodrine was ∼4 hours. Conclusion: A 10-mg dose of midodrine prescribed two to three times daily is effective in increasing orthostatic blood pressure and ameliorating symptoms in patients with NOH.


Production of coral reef habitat maps from high spatial resolution multispectral imagery is common practice and benefits from standardized accuracy assessment methods and many informative studies on the merits of different processing algorithms. However, few studies consider the full production workflow, including factors such as operator influence, visual interpretation and a-priori knowledge. An end-user might justifiably ask: Given the same imagery and field data, how consistent would two independent production efforts be? This paper is a post-study analysis of a project in which two teams of researchers independently produced maps of six coral reef systems of the archipelago of the Primeiras and Segundas Environmental Protected Area (PSEPA), Mozambique. Both teams used the same imagery and field data, but applied different approaches—pixel based vs. object based image analysis—and used independently developed classification schemes. The results offer a unique perspective on the map production process. Both efforts resulted in similar merged classes accuracies, averaging at 63% and 64%, but the maps were distinct in terms of scale of spatial patterns, classification disparities, and in other aspects where the mapping process is reliant on visual interpretation. Despite the difficulty in aligning the classification schemes clear patterns of correspondence and discrepancy were identified. The maps were consistent with respect to geomorphological level mapping (17 out of 30 paired comparisons at more than 75% agreement), and also agreed in the extent of coral containing areas within a difference of 16% across the archipelago. However, more detailed benthic habitat level classes were inconsistent. Mapping of deep benthic cover was the most subjective result and dependent on operator visual interpretation, yet this was one of the results of highest interest for the PSEPA management since it revealed a continuity of benthos between the islands and the impression of a proto-barrier reef.


Abstract The regional diversity and biogeographic patterns of Late Jurassic neoselachians at genus level in Europe were analysed based on samples and an extensive literature survey of about 40 localities ranging from the Oxfordian to Tithonian. The simple completeness metric (SCM) displays a quite good fossil record of neoselachians in the Late Jurassic with a peak in the Kimmeridgian. The origination, extinction, diversification and turnover rates were calculated for every stage and indicate that background origination occurred in the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian with no disappearance of genera. In the Tithonian, background extinction is the main factor for neoselachian diversity decline. The decline in neoselachian diversity at the end of the Jurassic is most probably related to reduced habitats in the course of major regression events, establishment of physical barriers, and climatic changes. Faunal assemblages are quite uniform and mostly agree well with the contemporaneous palaeogeographic situation. Our analyses indicate that both vicariance and dispersal were important processes in the biogeographic pattern of Late Jurassic neoselachians.


Approaches to place and landscape have concerned geographers, at least throughout Modern history. In geographical place and landscape writings, notions of dwelling have been taken up and developed since the 1970s to indicate the lived and practised character of the relationships between human beings and their environment. Dwelling has experienced a controversial history in geography, and bears some negative or limiting connotations: it would be backward-looking, exclusionary, static, nostalgic, and hindered by the idea of rootedness and the authentic / non-authentic life split.

This thesis critically considers in what ways seminal dwelling literatures (those written by Martin Heidegger and Tim Ingold) might be problematical and / or enriching for place and landscape writing. In this thesis I argue that the theoretical complexity of seminal dwelling literatures is often overlooked while I also argue that some understandings of the relational, the incomplete, and the contingent are largely missing or problematically conceptualised in seminal dwelling literatures.

Taking into account this reflection on the theoretical background of dwelling, the thesis explores possibilities for integrating dwelling in a framework inspired by non-representational theory (NRT). Such links are made in the thesis' case studies: communities practising (a) long-distance transhumant herding in rural Spain (in which herders and herd journey biennially for about four weeks in response to environmental changes caused by the seasonal cycle), and (b) Easter processions in central Seville (in which brotherhoods celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ). Place and landscape practices are accessed through ethnographical engagements, in which herding - and processional landscapes become the lived contexts for reflection. In the case studies, dwelling is redeveloped through a framework that prioritises posthumanism, relationality and openness, as well as issues of rhythmicity, and nearness (as people care for - and attune to happenings). In long-distance transhumance the rural, the ecological and the practical are privileged, whereas in Easter processions the urban, the spiritual, and to the sheer beauty of life are emphasised. As such, the case studies offer distinct perspectives on the possibilities for developments of dwelling in place and landscape writing, while the case studies share denominators such as journeying, seasonality, embodiment, and practice richness.


Fibroblasts continuously strive to organize and compact the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent data suggest that this cellular contractility controls interstitial fluid homeostasis in loose connective tissues (CT). The aim of this thesis was to study the effects of prostaglandins on fibroblast contractility and to investigate whether fibroblasts in the interstitial CT surrounding the human endolymphatic duct (ED) can modulate inner ear fluid pressure and endolymph resorption.Paper I shows that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostacyclin inhibit fibroblast-mediated collagen matrix compaction in vitro and lower the interstitial fluid pressure in vivo in rat dermis. Paper II demonstrates that the inhibition of collagen matrix compaction by PGE1 is protein kinase A-dependent. Furthermore, PGE1 induces a complete but reversible actin depolymerization in human dermal fibroblasts by affecting the phosphorylation state of regulatory actin-binding proteins. Paper III describes that the cells of the interstitial CT encompassing the human ED are organized in a network based on intercellular- and cell-ECM contacts. Paper IV shows that two distinct cell phenotypes populate this interstitial CT: one expressing the lymph endothelial marker podoplanin and the other a fibroblast marker. Furthermore, CT cells isolated from human ED tissues exhibited the same tissue compacting properties in vitro as dermal fibroblasts.In conclusion, PGE1 inhibits fibroblast contractility by interfering with the stability and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, which leads to a loss of integrin-mediated adhesion to the ECM. These mechanisms are supposedly involved in edema formation in skin during inflammation and might be involved in the formation of endolymphatic hydrops in the inner ear of patients with Meniere's disease.


Examples of two genetic models of growth and development are described. Mice selected for growth rate from 3 to 6 weeks of age show an increase in mature body size and an increase in tissue cellularity. Manipulation of dietary intake at various ages resulted in different responses in the control and growth strain mice. Futher trials are needed to determine metabolic or endocrine adaptations that are responsible for enhanced growth in these mice. The second model discussed was the genetically obese Zucker rat. When compared to its lean littermates, the obese rat is hyperphagic and metabolically efficient in storing calories as fat, and has impaired development of muscle tissue. The shift in the growth of muscle tissue to the growth of adipose tissue cannot be prevented by dietary manipulation or exercise. Increases in liver lipogenic rate can be prevented by feeding a high fat diet. It appears from the nutritional studies presented hear that many of the metabolic lesions associated with the development of spontaneous obesity in this animal model are secondary to the primary causal event.


A four-point framework is described which has been found to be helpful for general practitioners who try to achieve greater breadth in each consultation. The framework has also provided a useful stimulus in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, because it provides a nomenclature to identify four major components of clinical practice which are particularly relevant to primary care.


A simple model is described to account for the anomalous time course of arylsulphatase A. In the case of the ox liver and human placental enzymes the enzyme-nitrocatechol sulphate complex can, in addition to forming products, slowly break down to form an inactive species which can turn in slowly regenerate active enzyme. When the inactive form binds sulphate the rate of reactivation is enhanced, 218-fold in the case of the ox enzyme. Rat liver arylsulphatase A is refractory to reactivation by sulphate.


ABSTRACT Burkholderia mallei is a gram-negative bacterium which causes the potentially fatal disease glanders in humans; however, there is little information concerning cell-mediated immunity to this pathogen. The role of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) during B. mallei infection was investigated using a disease model in which infected BALB/c mice normally die between 40 and 60 days postinfection. IFN-γ knockout mice infected with B. mallei died within 2 to 3 days after infection, and there was uncontrolled bacterial replication in several organs, demonstrating the essential role of IFN-γ in the innate immune response to this pathogen. Increased levels of IFN-γ, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 were detected in the sera of immunocompetent mice in response to infection, and splenic mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12p35, and IL-27 was elevated 24 h postinfection. The effects of IL-18, IL-27, and IL-12 on stimulation of the rapid IFN-γ production were investigated in vitro by analyzing IFN-γ production in the presence of heat-killed B. mallei. IL-12 was essential for IFN-γ production in vitro; IL-18 was also involved in induction of IFN-γ, but IL-27 was not required for IFN-γ production in response to heat-killed B. mallei. The main cellular sources of IFN-γ were identified in vitro as NK cells, CD8+ T cells, and TCRγδ T cells. Our data show that B. mallei is susceptible to cell-mediated immune responses which promote expression of type 1 cytokines. This suggests that development of effective vaccines against glanders should target the production of IFN-γ.


D. Abril, and A. Abril. 2009. Ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. Cien. Inv. Agr. 36(2):177-190. Ethanol is the liquid combustible that has become the most promising alternative substitute for gasoline because of the experience gained in its production, the possibility of mixing it with gasoline in different proportions, the possibility of using the existing gasoline distribution infrastructure, and the fact that major changes in engines are not required for its use. Lignocelluloses offer great potential as a biomass source for ethanol production, although their use still requires in-depth analysis with an objective and holistic focus that includes present and future technologic implications. The present article reviews current knowledge about the characteristics and sources of vegetable biomass, as well as the development and possibilities for obtaining ethanol from lignocellulosic sources.


Abstract The new minerals d'ansite-(Mn), Na21Mn2+(SO4)10Cl3, and d'ansite-(Fe), Na21Fe2+(SO4)10Cl3, occur as encrustations in fumaroles at Vesuvius, Naples, Italy and La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy, respectively. Both minerals are cubic and crystallize in space group I4̅3d. D'ansite-(Mn) forms colourless translucent tristetrahedral crystals up to 0.2 mm on edge; d'ansite-(Fe) forms aggregates of colourless to white complex isometric crystals of about the same size. Chemical analyses obtained by energy-dispersive spectrometry on an electron microprobe gave the following mean compositions: d'ansite-(Mn), Na2O 39.37, MnO 3.46, MgO 0.13, SO3 49.99, Cl 6.36, O=Cl -1.44, total 97.87 wt.%, corresponding to an empirical formula , on the basis of 43 anions , of Na20.61(Mn0.792+Mg0.05)∑0.84S10.13O40.09Cl2.91; and d'ansite-(Fe), Na2O 39.12, FeO 4.18, MgO 0.12, SO3 49.91, Cl 6.81, O=Cl -1.54, total 98.60 wt.%, corresponding to an empirical formula of Na20.42(Fe0.942+Mg0.05)∑0.99S10.08O39.89Cl3.11. The six strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern of d'ansite-(Fe) [listed as dobs(Å) (I) (hkl)] are as follows: 2.807(100)(044), 2.570(37)(235), 1.714(29)(129), 3.384(27)(233), 3.113(26)(134), 2.108(15)(237). The unit-cell parameters obtained from single-crystal data are 15.9291(9) and 15.882(3) Å for d'ansite-(Mn) and d'ansite-(Fe), respectively. The structure of both minerals was refined, using single-crystal diffraction data, to final R parameters of 0.0309 and 0.0336 on reflections with I > 2σ(I). The structure contains three independent Na sites, one of which is partially occupied by Mn2+ or Fe2+, two independent sulfate anions and one chlorine site.


As climate change accelerates and habitats free from anthropogenic impacts diminish, populations are forced to migrate or to adapt quickly. Evolutionary rescue (ER) is a phenomenon, in which a population is able to avoid extinction through adaptation. ER is considered to be more likely at slower rates of environmental change. However, the effects of correlated characters on evolutionary rescue are seldom explored yet correlated characters could play a major role in ER. We tested how evolutionary background in different fluctuating environments and the rate of environmental change affect the probability of ER by exposing populations of the bacteria Serratia marcescens to two different rates of steady temperature increase. As suggested by theory, slower environmental change allowed populations to grow more effectively even at extreme temperatures, but at the expense of long‐term survival at extreme conditions due to correlated selection. Our results indicate important gap of knowledge on the effects of correlated selection during the environmental change and on evolutionary rescue at differently changing environments.


The quest to define human intelligence has led researchers down a large range of paths. One such path has been to search for a single psychometric measure that can be used to account for a large portion of the variance in human mental ability. Inspection time (IT) has emerged at the forefront of these efforts and is often referred to as the amount of time required to make a single observation of sensory input. IT can be shown to account for approximately 20% of the variance in human mental ability. In this study, we attempt to gain an insight into the nature of IT as a psychometric measure by contrasting individuals that are adept at performing the IT task (those with low ITs) with individuals that are not (those with high ITs) using oculomotor and task-performance measures recorded during two visual tasks. These tasks were designed to test participants' visual-attentional control and visual working memory under varying degrees of difficulty. The data show that a sensory-level theory of IT is incapable of accounting for the results found during the visual tasks, which leads us to introduce a novel theory of IT that places IT as a measure of information propagation. A discussion is presented on the implications and need for future validation of the theory.


BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is challenging. Imaging with radiolabeled peptides offers a new approach for detecting acute DVT. Technetium Tc 99m ((99m)Tc)-apcitide binds with high affinity and specificity to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors expressed on activated platelets and, therefore, (99m)Tc-apcitide scintigraphy should be negative with residual abnormalities caused by old, inactive thrombi and positive with new, active thrombi.

METHODS
In a prospective multicenter study, (99m)Tc-apcitide imaging was performed on 38 patients with a newly diagnosed first DVT (group 1) and 40 patients with previous DVT, symptoms of postthrombotic syndrome, and chronic intraluminal abnormalities on ultrasonography (group 2). Images were interpreted in a blinded fashion by 2 experts and by newly trained nuclear medicine physicians. The sensitivity and specificity of (99m)Tc-apcitide were determined by calculating the proportion of scans in group 1 patients that were read as "positive for acute DVT" and the proportion of scans in group 2 patients that were read as "negative for acute DVT," respectively.

RESULTS
When read by 2 experts, ( 99m)Tc-apcitide had a sensitivity of 92% for both readers and specificities of 82% and 90%. Agreement between the experts was excellent. However, the accuracy and interreader agreement for newly trained nuclear medicine physicians were lower.

CONCLUSIONS
Technetium Tc 99m-apcitide scintigraphy has potential utility in suspected recurrent DVT because it detects most acute thrombi and has few false-positive results in patients with previous DVT. However, the accuracy appears to depend on the training and experience of the interpreters.


Multitemporal cross-sensor imagery is fundamental for the monitoring of the Earth's surface over time. However, these data often lack visual consistency because of variations in the atmospheric and surface conditions, making it challenging to compare and analyze images. Various image-normalization methods have been proposed to address this issue, such as histogram matching and linear regression using iteratively reweighted multivariate alteration detection (IR-MAD). However, these methods have limitations in their ability to maintain important features and their requirement of reference images, which may not be available or may not adequately represent the target images. To overcome these limitations, a relaxation-based algorithm for satellite-image normalization is proposed. The algorithm iteratively adjusts the radiometric values of images by updating the normalization parameters (slope (α) and intercept (β)) until a desired level of consistency is reached. This method was tested on multitemporal cross-sensor-image datasets and showed significant improvements in radiometric consistency compared to other methods. The proposed relaxation algorithm outperformed IR-MAD and the original images in reducing radiometric inconsistencies, maintaining important features, and improving the accuracy (MAE = 2.3; RMSE = 2.8) and consistency of the surface-reflectance values (R2 = 87.56%; Euclidean distance = 2.11; spectral angle mapper = 12.60).


In this paper, a new measure method was suggested to examine the reaction time of visual attention of drivers using a new-style mechatronic visual attention measurement system. The system can control the peripheral environment illuminance and the present of stimulus at the start locations, and change the color of stimulus in terms of visual attention shift theory in three-dimensional (3D) space. The measurement system included the setting of observation location, stimuli location, moving speed, environment illuminance. The paper introduced the test method of visual function and the test procedures of the reaction time. The results demonstrated that this measurement system can be used to examine the reaction time and judgment response of drivers in three environmental illuminance conditions, and show that the response training for visual attention can improve the vision judgment ability of drivers.


Modeling stream flow forms a basis upon which policy makers, watershed planners and managers make ap- propriate decisions consistent with sustainable management of land and water resources in the watershed. The aim of this research is to provide a preliminary assessment of the performance of a complex watershed model in predicting stream flow on the Naro Moru river catchment in Ewaso Ng'iro river basin, Kenya. The research involved model input data preparation, model set up and test running, sensitivity analysis and cali- bration of the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Preliminary evaluation of the model performance involved the use of known quantitative evaluation statistics that included correlation coefficient, Nash Sut- cliffe efficiency (NSE), Deviation Volume (Dv) and a graphical technique for comparing observed and simu- lated flows. Initial model runs yielded poor daily flow simulations compared to monthly simulations. Poor daily simulation was attributed to differences in the timing of observed and simulated hydrographs. The model was calibrated for a three year period followed by a three year validation period based on monthly flows. Calibration results indicated an acceptable, but modest, agreement between observed and simulated monthly stream flows with a correlation coefficient (r) of about 0.7, NSE = 5%, and Dv= 61.7%. After vali- dation, the model performance was satisfactory with the coefficient of determination (R2 ≈ 0.6), Nash-Sut- cliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.51 and a deviation volume (Dv) value of 24.7%. The modest model performance was associated with input data deficiencies and model limitations. Even then, the results indicate that the model can possibly be adapted to the local conditions in the catchment for which it is being applied but with improvements involving better parameter calibration techniques, and collection of better quality data. Such a study may be used to predict the effect of climate change on river flows as well as the effect of land use changes on the hydrologic response of a catchment.


OBJECTIVES
Aneurysms of the lower basilar artery are surgically difficult to expose and clip. Various cranial base approaches, which are associated with significant morbidity, have been used to access this region. We have used the far-lateral approach without occipital condyle drilling for clipping of lower basilar junction aneurysms to assess the exposure for adequate visualization and clipping, and to study the complications and outcome.

DESIGN
Retrospective review of data.

SETTING
Between 1997 and 2001, four patients with lower basilar artery aneurysms were operated on at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. The far-lateral approach without drilling of the occipital condyle was used in each procedure.

PARTICIPANTS
Cases of basilar artery aneurysms.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score.

RESULTS
All four aneurysms were clipped successfully. All patients had good outcome (GOS scores of 5 and 4). There were no instances of cerebrospinal fluid leakage or pseudomeningocele. Two patients experienced transient morbidity in the form of voice hoarseness and swallowing difficulty.

CONCLUSION
The far-lateral approach without drilling of the occipital condyle adequately exposed the lower basilar artery for successful clipping of aneurysms and was associated with minimal morbidity.


The response of vegetation to climate change is of special interest in regions where rapid warming is coupled with moisture deficit. This raises the question of the limits in plants' acclimation ability and the consequent shifts of the vegetation cover. Radial growth dynamics and climatic response were studied in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) in the forest-steppe, and for Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.) in the steppe of South Siberia, as indicators of vegetation state and dynamics. Climate–growth relationships were analyzed by the following two approaches: (1) correlations between tree-ring width chronologies and short-term moving climatic series, and (2) optimization of the parameters of the Vaganov–Shashkin tree growth simulation model to assess the ecophysiological characteristics of species. Regional warming was accompanied by a slower increase of the average moisture deficit, but not in the severity of droughts. In the forest-steppe, the trees demonstrated stable growth and responded to the May–July climate. In the steppe, elm was limited by moisture deficit in May–beginning of June, during the peak water deficit. The forest-steppe stands were apparently acclimated successfully to the current climatic trends. It seems that elm was able to counter the water deficit, likely through its capacity to regulate transpiration by the stomatal morphology and xylem structure, using most of the stem as a water reservoir; earlier onset; and high growth rate, and these physiological traits may provide advantages to this species, leading to its expansion in steppes.


Transport of calcium across the erythrocyte membrane is regulated by a Ca2+-activated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase which is stimulated by calmodulin. The regulation of Ca2+ transport by calmodulin was studied in inside-out membrane vesicles (IO vesicles) prepared from erythrocytes treated with protease inhibitors and lysed in media containing ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid and EDTA. Ca2+ uptake by IO vesicles was absolutely dependent on ATP, and the basal rate of uptake was 14.3 ± 1.1 nmoles/mg of IO vesicle protein per minute at a saturating concentration of free Ca2+ in the medium. Calmodulin stimulated Ca2+ uptake by an average of 3.5-fold to a Vmax of 49.4 ± 3.9 nmoles/mg of IO vesicle protein per minute. The K0.5 for calmodulin was 4.9 ± 0.9 nM and the maximal initial rate of Ca2+ uptake was attained at about 64 nM calmodulin. In a medium containing 80 mM Na+, calmodulin reduced the K0.5 for Ca2+ from 8.9 ± 1.8 µM (n = 3) to 5.0 ± 0.3 µM, but in a medium in which all Na+ was replaced by K+, calmodulin decreased K0.5 Ca2+ to 1.4 µM free Ca2+. Certain local anesthetics and drugs with local anesthetic-like properties (e.g., dibucaine, tetracaine, QX572, proadifen, mepacrine, quinine, propranolol, phenacaine, monocaine, and procaine), as well as trifluoperazine, inhibited calmodulin-stimulated Ca2+ uptake into IO vesicles. Calmodulin-stimulated (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was inhibited to a degree equivalent to the effect on calcium uptake. Basal Ca2+ uptake (minus calmodulin) was only weakly inhibited; e.g., dibucaine at 1.0 mM inhibited stimulation by calmodulin 96.9%, but reduced basal Ca2+ uptake by only 11.4%. The local anesthetics increased the K0.5 for calmodulin and reduced Vmax for Ca2+ uptake. The reduction of Vmax by local anesthetics was dose-dependent: e.g., 35% reduction at 0.25 mM dibucaine and 65% reduction at 0.5 mM dibucaine. Vmax could not be restored to control levels by the addition of an excess of either calmodulin or Ca2+. The antagonism of calmodulin by local anesthetics appeared to have elements of both competitive and noncompetitive inhibition. The antagonism versus Ca2+ was uncompetitive. These results are in agreement with our previous findings that certain local anesthetics are antagonists of calmodulin-stimulated (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and calmodulin-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. It is suggested that certain of the well-known inhibitory effects of local anesthetics on Ca2+-dependent cellular functions may be due to inhibition of the role played by calmodulin in facilitating these Ca2+-dependent processes.


Inspired by Chinese art and lore, Western art and music, and the natural world, Anna Hus exquisitely designed and executed pieces have catapulted her to the top of the jewelry firmament in a few short years. This luxurious volume celebrates the completion of Anna Hus first 100 works, or "Opus 1", as she calls the collection. Its texts address various aspects of Anna Hus work, including the relationship between her jewelry and fashion, the impact that her passionate study of the cello has had on her jewelry design, and the remarkable gemstones that inspired her to make some of her most virtuosic pieces. But the pieces de resistance of the book are the pieces themselves, many of them exquisitely photographed by master jewelry photographer David Behl. Some are as intricate as Chinese embroidery; others are as ethereal and delicate as butterflies; still others are jeweled reinterpretations of timeless works of music and art, from Beethovens Moonlight Sonata and Puccinis Turandot to Monets "Water Lilies" and Van Goghs "Irises". All in all: "A Symphony of Jewels".


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to the high incidence of post-operative recurrence after current treatments, the identification of new and more effective drugs is required. In previous years, new targetable genes/pathways involved in HCC pathogenesis have been discovered through the help of high-throughput sequencing technologies. Mutations in TP53 and β-catenin genes are the most frequent aberrations in HCC. However, approaches able to reverse the effect of these mutations might be unpredictable. In fact, if the reactivation of proteins, such as p53 in tumours, holds great promise as anticancer therapy, there are studies arguing that chronic activation of these types of molecules may be deleterious. Thus, recently the efforts on potential targets have focused on actionable mutations, such as those occurring in the gene encoding for focal adhesion kinase (FAK). This tyrosine kinase, localized to cellular focal contacts, is over-expressed in a variety of human tumours, including HCC. Moreover, several lines of evidence demonstrated that FAK depletion or inhibition impair in vitro and in vivo HCC growth and metastasis. Here, we provide an overview of FAK expression and activity in the context of tumour biology, discussing the current evidence of its connection with HCC development and progression.


In this study the authors investigated the effect of alkali (Ca(OH)2) and heat treatment on the physico-chemical properties of bovine bone powder. For this purpose, raw and alkali treated samples were heated separately at temperatures of 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C. A combination of characterization techniques, such as TGA, XRD, N2-adsorbtion isotherms, and EDX were used. It was found that the boiling of cleaned solid pieces of bones in 2 molar Ca(OH)2 solution results in a mass loss of about 10 % (mainly discards oily liquid). TGA analysis affirms that the hydrocarbons of bone matrix are partially extractable (~ 10 %) in the boiling alkaline solution. The color of raw and treated bone samples remained similar, that is changing from yellowish white to grayish black before turning into white over temperatures ranging from 30 °C (room temperature), 400 – 600 °C, and 800 – 1000 °C, respectively. Moreover, XRD signatures were also comparable at unified temperature ranges, however, it was noted that carbonization due to heating engenders a significant change in the intensities of the x-ray reflections. Despite of having similarities, surface area of raw and treated bones at 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C were found to be different, indicative of a chemical interactions of calcium ions with bone. Quite interestingly, TGA, XRD, and N2-adsorbtion isotherms support the argument that a limited amount of calcium ions diffuses into the vacancies or interstitial sites of bone lattice. Furthermore, EDX analysis of the samples calcined at 1000 °C confirms that the Ca(OH)2 treatment increases the total calcium content of hydroxylapatite (inorganic part of bone matrix).


BACKGROUND
Evidence from a recent trial has shown that the antiinflammatory effects of colchicine reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with recent myocardial infarction, but evidence of such a risk reduction in patients with chronic coronary disease is limited.

METHODS
In a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, we assigned patients with chronic coronary disease to receive 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily or matching placebo. The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous (nonprocedural) myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or ischemia-driven coronary revascularization. The key secondary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke.

RESULTS
A total of 5522 patients underwent randomization; 2762 were assigned to the colchicine group and 2760 to the placebo group. The median duration of follow-up was 28.6 months. A primary end-point event occurred in 187 patients (6.8%) in the colchicine group and in 264 patients (9.6%) in the placebo group (incidence, 2.5 vs. 3.6 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57 to 0.83; P<0.001). A key secondary end-point event occurred in 115 patients (4.2%) in the colchicine group and in 157 patients (5.7%) in the placebo group (incidence, 1.5 vs. 2.1 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.92; P = 0.007). The incidence rates of spontaneous myocardial infarction or ischemia-driven coronary revascularization (composite end point), cardiovascular death or spontaneous myocardial infarction (composite end point), ischemia-driven coronary revascularization, and spontaneous myocardial infarction were also significantly lower with colchicine than with placebo. The incidence of death from noncardiovascular causes was higher in the colchicine group than in the placebo group (incidence, 0.7 vs. 0.5 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.99 to 2.31).

CONCLUSIONS
In a randomized trial involving patients with chronic coronary disease, the risk of cardiovascular events was significantly lower among those who received 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily than among those who received placebo. (Funded by the National Health Medical Research Council of Australia and others; LoDoCo2 Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12614000093684.).


Keywords : Estafet Writing, Procedure text
Writing skills are specifics abilities which help writers put their thoughts into
words in a meaningful form and to mentally interact with the message The
background of this research was based on the observation which had been done by
the researcher with the English teacher of SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Ponorogo. The
result of observation showed that some of the 11th grade students of SMA
Muhammadiyah 1 Ponorogo were unmotivated in learning English. This condition
made students had difficulties in learning English, especially in learning writing
skill. Estafet Writing is one of techniques which can be used to teach writing,
especially in teaching procedure text. This study was aimed to improve the
students ability in writing procedure text.
This research had a purpose to answer the research two questions: 1) Can estafet
method improve students' writing skill at the eleventh grade of SMA
Muhammadiyah 1 Ponorogo in 2018/2019? 2) How does the result of the use of
estafet method improve students' writing skill at the eleventh grade of SMA 1
Muhammadiyah Ponorogo in 2018/2019 ?
This research were a Classroom Action Research (CAR). Done through two
cycles. The subject of this research was the XI MIPA 4 students of SMA 1
Muhammadiyah Ponorogo in the academic year of 2018/2019. The data were
obtained by observation, test, and questionnaire.
The result of this research showed that the students' in cycle 1 was 20 students or
71% achieved the minimum standard score (KKM). The highest score was 85 and
the lowest score was 65. In cycle 2 there were 29 students or 100% achieved the
minimum standard score (KKM). The highest score was 95 and the lowest score
was 75. Related to the observation and questionnaire result showed that there were
positive responses. The students was more active and brave to ask teacher about
material. The students has good responsibility in group work. This research had
found out the improvement of students' writing skill on procedure text after being
taught by using Estafet Writing at the 11th grade of SMA 1 Muhammadiyah
Ponorogo academic year 2018/2019.


Several wide-field-of-view adaptive optics (WFAO) concepts such as multi-conjugate AO (MCAO), multi-object AO (MOAO), and ground-layer AO (GLAO) are currently being studied for the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs). All these concepts will use atmospheric tomography to reconstruct the turbulent-phase volume. In this paper, we explore different reconstruction algorithms and their fundamental limitations, conducting this analysis in the Fourier domain. This approach allows us to derive simple analytical formulations for the different configurations and brings a comprehensive view of WFAO limitations. We then investigate model and statistical errors and their effect on the phase reconstruction. Finally, we show some examples of different WFAO systems and their expected performance on a 42 m telescope case.


We analyze a large data set of commercial records produced by Assyrian merchants in the nineteenth century BCE. Using the information from these records, we estimate a structural gravity model of long-distance trade in the Bronze Age. We use our structural gravity model to locate lost ancient cities. In many cases, our estimates confirm the conjectures of historians who follow different methodologies. In some instances, our estimates confirm one conjecture against others. We also structurally estimate ancient city sizes and offer evidence in support of the hypothesis that large cities tend to emerge at the intersections of natural transport routes, as dictated by topography. Finally, we document persistent patterns in the distribution of city sizes across four millennia, find a distance elasticity of trade in the Bronze Age close to modern estimates, and show suggestive evidence that the distribution of ancient city sizes, inferred from trade data, is well approximated by Zipf's law.


The authors observed 57 patients with primary multiple tumors of various localization. The intervital diagnosis of polyneoplasms was established in 37 patients, the second tumor was found in 20 of 57 cases at the autopsy. 2 neoplastic nodes were found in 52 cases, 3-- in 4 cases, in one case 6 primary multiple neoplasms were found in the sigmoid colon (5 malignant polyps and 1 ulceroinfiltrative carcinoma).


Abstract-Ceres2D: A Numerical Prototype for HC Potential Evaluation in Complex Area-This paper deals with the Ceres prototype which is a basin model able to account for porous medium compaction, heat transfer, and hydrocarbon generation and migration. Furthermore, Ceres was designed to handle changing geometry through time as results of sedimentation, erosion, salt or mud creeping and block displacement along fault. The classical flow chart to perform a case study is composed of three main steps. The first step is the building of the present day section. This is generally done with data coming from the seismic interpretation, well data, field data and core data. The second step is the restoration of the section. Thus from the section at present day, the section is restored back in the past for each of the defined layer, and until the substratum is reached. The last step is the forward simulation. And, in order to solve the coupled equations that are generally used in basin models, we had to develop original numerical methods based on domain decomposition techniques. The Ceres prototype has now been used to study petroleum systems. It has been used to perform sensitivity studies on fault permeability in the Bolivian foothills and the Congo offshore. In the Gulf of Mexico, it allowed to study the impact of the salt tectonics on the hydrocarbon migration. More recently, the Ceres prototype has been tested, within the frame of the SubTrap consortium, in thrust areas such as the Canadian foothills and the Eastern Venezuelan foothills. For these last case studies, it has been beneficial that structural geologists were involved at all stages of the process.


Recently, the business world has evinced a growing interest in the concept of "inclusive hiring", and software and technical - oriented enterprises such as Microsoft, Ford, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, and IBM, have implemented Human Resources neurodiverse talent programmes. According to Harvard Business Review, interviewed employers mention that the benefits of employing neurodiverse people include "productivity gains, quality improvement, boosts in innovative capabilities, and broad increases in employee engagement". Thus, neurodiverse people are considered a competitive advantage for technical companies because they prove to have excellent digital and mathematical skills, creativity and pattern recognition competencies. Having said that, one must also be aware that neurodiverse employees thrive only when their special needs with regard to the working place are met.
The present article looks into the issue of neurodiversity with a view to tackling the way in which the concept can be introduced to technical students who study interviewing skills as part of their English for Professional Communication seminar. After a short overview of the main characteristics of Generation Z, whose education and day-to-day life have been constantly informed by technology, we proceed to the presentation of the concept of "neurodiversity" highlighting the reasons why engineering students should be aware of and understand its complexity in order to be better prepared for an inclusive work environment. The paper presents various seminar tasks by means of which neurodiversity may be taught using online sources such as companies' statements on the topic, testimonials from employers or employees or interviewing practices for neurodiverse candidates. Exposing the students to these aspects develops their sense of inclusiveness which is a value they should be able to transfer from the educational context to the professional setting.


SUMMARY Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) measurements, field observations and elastic modelling of the 2009–2010 Karonga (northern Malawi) earthquake swarm reveal widespread coseismic and localized post-seismic deformation. In a period of about 1.5 months starting on November 5, 29 M ≥ 4 earthquakes struck the region, culminating in an Mw 6 peak event on December 19. The next few months were characterized by significant localized deformation with a very low seismic moment release. We find a very good agreement between InSAR and field observations of surface ruptures. Our best fitted coseismic models indicate dip-slip displacements on a fault dipping 40 ◦ to the southwest with maximum slip of about 120 cm at 3–5 km depth. Fault activity continued until 2010 August as shallow aseismic afterslip mostly above the maximum coseismic slip patches. Although the swarm occurred within a coastal plain covered by porous Quaternary sediments and a high water table, the effect of poroelastic relaxation on the post-seismic deformation was found to be negligibly small. In contrast with other recent earthquake swarms along the East African Rift, the Karonga swarm shows no evidence for dike intrusion.


Using accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS), it was possible to obtain 35 radiocarbon age dates from late Quaternary deposits of the Northern Verkhoyansk Mountains (Kharaulakh Ridge). The presented results showed that frozen sediments covering pre-Quaternary rocks in the studied areas are relatively young; their accumulation began only in the Karginsk Interstadial (MIS 3). Within the Kharaulakh structural-facial zone (the Kharaulakh Ridge), the age of the Quaternary deposits ranged from about 28 000 BP up to the present time. In the adjacent territory of the foothill plain that belongs to the Buor-Khaya structural-facial zone their ages ranged from about 48 000 BP to the Holocene. The sediments studied in two catchment areas of the Kharaulakh mountains were linked to relief forms (cirque-like areas, turning into terraced surfaces), which indicate their accumulation under the influence of nival processes associated with snowfields.
This conclusion is confirmed by the rhythmic stratified structure of the investigated sediment sections that was caused by seasonal snowfield melting and the associated transport and sorting of detrital material. Measured ages suggest that these processes were especially common in the last phase of the Kargins interstadial (MIS 3) and at the beginning of the Sartan stadial (MIS 2), as well as during the late Holocene. The ages of alluvial deposits from the Khara-Ulakh River valley indicated that sedimentation began at the end of the Sartan stadial (MIS 2) − about 12 thousand years ago − and continues to the present day. These data confirm the young age of the Kharaulakh depression. At a similar time, the formation of the Khorogorsk depression in the northern part of the Kharaulakh Mountains occurred. Ice-rich sediments with polygonal
ice wedges on the foothill plain at Cape Ogolokh-Tumsa located in the Buor-Khaya structural-facial zone are comparable with the very thoroughly studied section of the ice complex deposits on the Bykovsky Peninsula.


BACKGROUND. Proteosome inhibition is associated with induction of the proapoptotic BH3 protein NOXA. Therefore, we hypothesize that the combination of the irreversible proteosome inhibitor, carfilzomib, will cooperatively enhance apoptosis induction by the BH3 mimetic drug, ABT-263. Given that nononcogenic addiction to proteosome activity has been reported in KRAS mutant cells, we utilized isogenic colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines in which the endogenous wild-type (wt) or mutant alleles had been inactivated through targeted homologous recombination. Since proteasome blockade results in proteotoxic stress, we determined whether an autophagy inhibitor can enhance chemosensitivity. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS. Isogenic KRAS mutant (MUT) CRC cells (HCT116, DLD1; obtained from B. Vogelstein, JHU) were incubated with carfilzomib (25,50nM) alone or combined with ABT-263 (1 µM) and apoptosis was measured by caspase cleavage and annexin V + labeling. Synergy was measured by calculation of the combination index. Effect of carfilzomib on Bcl-2 family proteins was determined by immunoblotting. Interaction of NOXA with MCL-1 was examined by immunoprecipitation. Knockdown of NOXA was achieved by lentiviral shRNA. Cells were incubated with drugs alone or combined with chloroquine, and autophagy (LC3I/II conversion) and apoptosis were analyzed. RESULTS. Carfilzomib was shown to potently and synergistically enhance ABT-263-induced apoptosis (2-fold) in both KRAS MUT and wild type (WT) cell lines, with the effect being modestly higher in wild type cells, as shown by annexin V + staining and caspase cleavage. Carfilzomib induced NOXA expression in both KRAS MUT and WT cells, and reduced MCL-1 expression. Induced NOXA was shown to bind and sequester MCL-1 proteins. Knockdown of NOXA attenuated drug-induced apoptosis. Autophagy inhibition by chloroquine accumulated LC3II, but only modestly increased carfilzomib-induced cell death. CONCLUSION. Irreversible proteasome inhibition by carfilzomib synergistically enhanced ABT-263-induced cell death that is mediated by NOXA upregulation and its sequestration/neutralization of MCL-1. The finding of similar efficacy in KRAS MUT vs WT cells suggests that this combination may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in this tumor subset. Citation Format: Shengbing Huang, Koichi Okamoto, Frank A. Sinicrope. Carfilzomib synergistically enhances ABT-263-induced apoptosis due to NOXA induction in KRAS wild type and mutant colorectal cancer cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 337. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-337


Monitoring physiological changes [e.g., heart rate (HR), respiration, and HR variability (HRV)] is important for measuring human emotions. Physiological responses are more reliable and harder to alter compared to explicit behaviors (such as facial expressions and speech), but they require special contact sensors to obtain. Research in the last decade has shown that photoplethysmography (PPG) signals can be remotely measured (rPPG) from facial videos under ambient light, from which physiological changes can be extracted. This promising finding has attracted much interest from researchers, and the field of rPPG measurement has been growing fast. In this article, we review current progress on intelligent signal processing approaches for rPPG measurement, including earlier works on unsupervised approaches and recently proposed supervised models, benchmark data sets, and performance evaluation. We also review studies on rPPG-based affective applications and compare them with other affective computing modalities. We conclude this article by emphasizing the current main challenges and highlighting future directions.


Piroxicam (PPX) dispersions in pregelatinized starch (PGS) were prepared in different drug and carrier ratios and were characterized by X-ray diffractograms (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and dissolution studies. Bioavailability studies were conducted on PRX-PGS dispersions and PRX pure drug in healthy human subjects as per cross over randomized block design (RBD). From Time Vs blood concentration data Cmax, Tmax, Ka, AUC and T1/2, were calculated. Higher dissolution rates were noted with dispersions when compared to piroxicam as such. PRX-PGS dispersions also gave fast absorption and higher blood levels of piroxicam when compared to pure drug. All the absorption parameters namely Cmax, percent absorbed In 1 and 2 h, Ka, AUC were higher indicating faster absorption of PRX from dispersions.


For the treatment of patients with pre-diabetes or diabetes, clinical evidence has emerged that β-cell function can be restored by glucose-lowering therapeutic strategies. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying this functional adaptive behavior of the pancreatic β-cell. This study examines the dynamic changes in protein expression and phosphorylation state associated with (pro)insulin production and secretory pathway function mediated by euglycemia to induce β-cell rest in obese/diabetic db/db islet β-cells. An unbiased quantitative profiling of the protein expression and phosphorylation events that occur upon β-cell adaption during the transition from hyperglycemia to euglycemia was assessed in isolated pancreatic islets from obese diabetic db/db and wild-type (WT) mice using quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics together with bioinformatics analysis. Dynamic changes in the expression and phosphorylation of proteins associated with pancreatic β-cell (pro)insulin production and complementary regulated-secretory pathway regulation was observed in obese diabetic db/db islets in a hyperglycemic environment, relative to WT mouse islets in a normal euglycemic environment, that resolved when isolated db/db islets were exposed to euglycemia for 12h in vitro. By similarly treating WT islets in parallel, effects of tissue culture could be mostly eliminated and only those changes associated with resolution by euglycemia were assessed. Among such regulated protein phosphorylation-dependent signaling events were those associated with COPII coated vesicle-dependent ER exit, ER-to-Golgi trafficking, clathrin-coat disassembly, and a particular association for the luminal Golgi protein kinase, FAM20C, in control of distal secretory pathway trafficking, sorting, and granule biogenesis. Protein expression and especially phosphorylation plays a key role in the regulation of (pro)insulin production, correlative secretory pathway trafficking, and restoration of β-cell secretory capacity in the adaptive functional β-cell response to metabolic demand, especially that mediated by glucose.


The kinetochore links chromosomes to spindle microtubules to drive chromosome segregation at cell division. While we know nearly all mammalian kinetochore proteins, how these give rise to the strong yet dynamic microtubule attachments required for function remains poorly understood. Here, we focus on the Astrin-SKAP complex, which localizes to bioriented kinetochores and is essential for chromosome segregation, but whose mechanical role is unclear. Live imaging reveals that SKAP depletion dampens movement and decreases coordination of metaphase sister kinetochores, and increases tension between them. Using laser ablation to isolate kinetochores bound to polymerizing vs depolymerizing microtubules, we show that without SKAP kinetochores move slower on both polymerizing and depolymerizing microtubules, and that more force is needed to rescue microtubules to polymerize. Thus, in contrast to previously described kinetochore proteins that increase grip on microtubules under force, Astrin-SKAP reduces grip, increasing attachment dynamics and force responsiveness and reducing friction. Together, our findings suggest a model where the Astrin-SKAP complex effectively "lubricates" correct, bioriented attachments to help preserve them.


The paper presents the first experimental performance data for a mid-stage centrifugal compressor test rig built at RWTH Aachen University. The results provide an analysis of the operational and loss behavior and will be published in an open test case for validating numerical methods. The test rig was built to investigate the operational and loss behavior of a complete return channel in detail and is broadly introduced. The measurements described in this paper were designed based on numerical calculations. Further, the stage performance is analyzed based on a compressor map for design speed, supplemented by detailed measurements inside the diffusion system. The performance of the diffuser and the return channel are discussed separately. The significant influence of the return channel design on the overall stage efficiency and pressure build-up is emphasized. Additional angle measurements at the stage outlet provide details about the inflow to the potential next compressor stage.


We consider composite string solutions in N=2 SQCD with the gauge group U(N), the Fayet-Iliopoulos term {xi}{ne}0 and N (s)quark flavors. These bulk theories support non-Abelian strings and confined monopoles identified with kinks in the two-dimensional world-sheet theory. Similar and more complicated kinks (corresponding to composite confined monopoles) must exist in the world-sheet theories on composite strings. In a bid to detect them we analyze the Hanany-Tong (HT) model, focusing on a particular example of N=2. Unequal quark mass terms in the bulk theory result in the twisted masses in the N=(2,2) HT model. For spatially coinciding 2-strings, we find three distinct minima of potential energy, corresponding to three different 2-strings. Then we find BPS-saturated kinks interpolating between each pair of vacua. Two kinks can be called elementary. They emanate one unit of the magnetic flux and have the same mass as the conventional 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole on the Coulomb branch of the bulk theory ({xi}=0). The third kink represents a composite bimonopole, with twice the minimal magnetic flux. Its mass is twice the mass of the elementary confined monopole. We find instantons in the HT model, and discuss quantum effects in composite strings at strong coupling. In addition, wemore » study the renormalization group flow in this model.« less


The subject of this paper is a debate that took place over a longer period of time in the Journal "Ethik und Sozialwissenschaften". This debate was initiated by Peter Janich who proposed a methodo-culturalistic foundation of the concept of information. This proposal in particular and some further comments will be dealt with in this paper. Special attention will be given to their relevance for information science.


Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia due to insulin production/secretion disorder or insulin resistance caused by various pathogenetic mechanisms. T helper cells (Th) play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In our study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from peripheral blood samples from newly diagnosed, 1 year and 5 year type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients (8 patients) and 8 healthy controls, and cultured for 24 hours under unstimulated and stimulated conditions. After culture, the cell ratios of Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulator T (Treg) and the intracellular levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, TGF-β, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17 and IL-21 cytokines were evaluated using Flow Cytometry; whereas mRNA expressions of the transcription factors T-bet, GATA3, ROR-γt and FOXP3 of these cells were determined by Real-Time PCR. Reduced CD4+CD25high cell ratios were detected in newly diagnosed T1D patients under unstimulated conditions. CD4+CD25high cells were found to be reduced in the newly diagnosed and 1 year group of patients compared to healthy controls under IL-2 stimulated conditions. Intracellular IFN-γ and TNF-α levels were low in all patients under unstimulated and IL-12 stimulated conditions. IL-17A and IL-21 were found to be high in patients with unstimulated and IL-6 stimulated conditions. Expressions of IL-10 and TGF-β have been observed to be reduced in patients. Th1/Th2, Th17/Treg and Th1/Treg ratios were higher in the patient groups. FOXP3 and GATA3 mRNA expressions were found to be low in patients, while RORγt and T-bet mRNA levels were higher than healthy controls under stimulated and unstimulated conditions. Our results suggest that Th cell subgroups play an important role in the pathogenesis of T1D. Disclosure B. Aydin Ozgur: None. S. Cinar: None. D. Ozturk: None. E. Coskunpinar: None. A.O. Gurol: None. M. Yilmaz: None.


High economic growth and rapid urbanization are changing the nature of food systems as traditional diets based on staple foods are being replaced by more diverse food baskets that include meat, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Urban and peri-urban agriculture is developing rapidly in response to the consumers' new tastes and budgets, but there remains a challenge to involve more remote rural areas. Counter-seasonal production provides some of these areas with a window of opportunity to benefit from urban growth, if challenges related to quality, production costs and transport can be met. This study focuses on two production areas in Burkina Faso with a specific potential for counter-seasonal tomato production and identifies the main obstacles for the development of a horticultural chain. The two main challenges are the monopsony power of the Ghanaian traders, and insufficient road quality that leads to high losses of tomatoes due to mechanical damage. On the other hand, using a spatial-temporal simulation model to assess the effects of transport on quality, we conclude that refrigerated transport is not a necessary condition for successful trade, as climate conditions per se do not have a severe negative impact on quality. The paper reviews various options to improve the position of the Burkina Faso producers in the chain and concludes that regional diversification of exports offers the best opportunities.


: The author wants to refer to C.-L. Kahlbaum, to one of the important German neurologists and psychiatrists. The life of Kahlbaum and his scientific results have been described in brief. Of especial value with regard to the treatise of the author is, that he knows both parts of the interior and exterior of the hospital of Kahlbaum of that time existing till now and the documents of the archives of the town of Gorlitz. The importance and necessity of knowledge and investigation of psychiatrical tradition have been shown in this treatise.


Walking is the first manner of displacement for human and essential for daily life activities. The human gait can be analyzed from several points of view and specialization. The Ilizarov frame is an external fixation device, primarily used for the treatment of complex fractures which adversely affects the functional state of the locomotor system. The objective of this paper was to analyses the spatiotemporal parameters of gait during treatment by the Ilizarov technique.  Materials and methods:  The study consists of 6 males with lower limb injuries performed walking trials, with and without the Ilizarov frame. Gait analysis was carried out using a camera and Kinovea application. Results: walking speed (p = 0.385), stride length (p =0.325), cadence (p = 0.641), stance time of operated limb (p = 0.265), swing time of operated limb (p = 0.959), double support time of operated limb (p=0.227) respectively were all no important difference with Ilizarov and without it. The times (stance, swing, and double support) (p=0.018) for non-operated limb have significantly different with Ilizarov.


The combination of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) with Electroencephalography (EEG) exposes the brain's global response to localized and abrupt stimulations. However, large electric artifacts are induced in the EEG by the TMS, obscuring crucial stages of the brain's response. Artifact removal is commonly performed by data processing techniques. However, an experimentally verified physical model for the origin and structure of the TMS-induced discharge artifacts, by which these methods can be justified or evaluated, is still lacking. We re-examine the known contribution of the skin in creating the artifacts, and outline a detailed model for the relaxation of the charge accumulated at the electrode-gel-skin interface due to the TMS pulse. We then experimentally validate implications set forth by the model. We find that the artifacts decay like a power law in time rather than the commonly assumed exponential. In fact, the skin creates a power-law decay of order 1 at each electrode, which is turned into a power law of order 2 by the reference electrode. We suggest an artifact removal method based on the model which can be applied from times after the pulse as short as 2 milliseconds onwards to expose the full EEG from the brain. The method can separate the capacitive discharge artifacts from those resulting from cranial muscle activation, demonstrating that the capacitive effect dominates at short times. Overall, our insight into the physical process allows us to accurately access TMS-evoked EEG responses that directly follow the TMS pulse, possibly opening new opportunities in TMS-EEG research.


In a market economy the term "market price" should reflect the market opportunities of users (amount of income) and not to violate the economic interests of the producers. Structure of the economy is such that the predominant not only in Bulgaria but also in the other European countries is the sector of trade and services, where the main income for the traders are the margins or surplus charges. The article contains an analysis of the surplus charges of three main commodity groups - white flour, oil and sugar based on official data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The analysis covers margins of the three major sales markets of food - commodity markets, large retail chains and other stores for retail sale. The results suggest that in addition to the normal surplus charges for wholesale and retail, there are the so called by the author "parasitic surplus charges" that are not controlled nor penalized in any way. In this respect, the author proposes the adoption by the Council of Ministers Regulation on the surplus charges with which to resolve this problem. Moreover, the author notes, and there are plenty of discounts that major retailers impose on Bulgarian producers and suppliers. Since these traders do not fall under the legal concept of "dominant market position", they are not sanctioned by the Commission for Protection of Competition. In this regard, the author suggests introducingin  the Law on Protection of Competition concept of "economic dependence" or the preparation of sectoral trade law with which to regulate not only this issue but also trade margins.


Metals are essential elements of all living organisms. Among them, copper is required for a multiplicity of functions including mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and protection against oxidative stress. Here we will focus on describing the pathways involved in the delivery of copper to cytochrome c oxidase (COX), a mitochondrial metalloenzyme acting as the terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The catalytic core of COX is formed by three mitochondrially‐encoded subunits and contains three copper atoms. Two copper atoms bound to subunit 2 constitute the CuA site, the primary acceptor of electrons from ferrocytochrome c. The third copper, CuB, is associated with the high‐spin heme a3 group of subunit 1. Recent studies, mostly performed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have provided new clues about 1) the source of the copper used for COX metallation; 2) the roles of Sco1p and Cox11p, the proteins involved in the direct delivery of copper to the CuA and CuB sites, respectively; 3) the action mechanism of Cox17p, a copper chaperone that provides copper to Sco1p and Cox11p; 4) the existence of at least four Cox17p homologues carrying a similar twin CX9C domain suggestive of metal binding, Cox19p, Cox23p, Pet191p and Cmc1p, that could be part of the same pathway; and 5) the presence of a disulfide relay system in the intermembrane space of mitochondria that mediates import of proteins with conserved cysteines motifs such as the CX9C characteristic of Cox17p and its homologues. The different pathways are reviewed and discussed in the context of both mitochondrial COX assembly and copper homeostasis. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(7): 421–429, 2008


Task assignment of cooperating multi Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is a hot problem recently. Considering the main factors include the attack order of UAV, kill probability, survival probability and attack path, the target assignment model in different stages for multi-UAVs is established. Discrete particle swarm optimization(DPSO) algorithm is introduced to solve the complex task assignment problem. Each particle's position is expressed in two multi-dimension vectors and the vectors evolve in different manner synchronously. The simulation results show that this method is satisfying.


Shear cracks in the core of foam core sandwich panels may be found as a result of overloading, impact, or fatigue. These are subsurface flaws and are therefore hard to find nondestructively and may act as initiation points for final failure. Hence, it is of vital interest to detect these flaws and compute their influence on the load-bearing capacity of the panel. In the present paper, different types of shear cracks are simulated in foam core sandwich panels. They are inspected with a thermal nondestructive testing (NDT) method based on an infrared (IR) detector. It is found that all types of simulated cracks can be satisfactorily detected. An engineering approach is used to estimate the residual strength of the panels caused by the shear cracks. The panels are analyzed with the finite element (FE) method to compute fracture mechanics parameters. By using fundamental material data, such as the fracture toughness, the strengths of the panels in presence of the cracks are predicted. Finally, all panels are tested in four-point bending, and it is found that the experimentally measured and the predicted strengths agree well.


Hetero‐contacts are interfaces between different materials at the nanoscale leading to novel functional properties. In hetero‐aggregates, primary particles of at least two different materials are mixed at primary particle or cluster level. Double flame spray pyrolysis (DFSP) is a versatile technique for the controlled synthesis of such materials. Characterization of hetero‐aggregates by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) requires acquisition and evaluation of many aggregate images in order to derive statistically significant results. Usually, STEM energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDXS) is used to acquire elemental maps providing the material distribution of the primary particles within hetero‐aggregates. However, the acquisition of a single EDXS map takes up to several minutes. For this reason, determination of material types of primary particles from the intensity in high‐angle annular dark field STEM images alone is desirable. These images can be acquired within a couple of seconds. In the present work, a method is suggested which allows for achieving this objective. It can be applied to distinguish materials with a significant difference in their atomic number and hence sufficient material contrast in the STEM images.


Connectionist networks that have learned one task can be reused on related tasks in a process that is called 'transfer'. This paper surveys recent work on transfer, and includes an overview of the articles in this volume. A number of distinctions between kinds of transfer are identified, and future directions for research are explored. The study of transfer has a long history in cognitive science. Discoveries about transfer in human cognition can inform applied efforts. Advances in applications can also inform cognitive studies.


Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that primarily affects pregnant women, neonates, the elderly and immune-compromised individuals, and it may cause abortion, septicemia, and meningitis. From the 13 capsular groups described, serotypes 4b, 1/2b and 1/2a are most closely related to human infection. For this reason, serotyping has limited value as an epidemiological tool; thus, improved discriminatory typing methods are required to enhance knowledge of L. monocytogenes contamination and infection. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes isolates in the pork processing industry in Sao Paulo, Brazil and human infection isolates by ERICPCR and single enzyme AFLP. Serotypes 1/2c and 4b were frequent among isolates from pork and slaughterhouse/market environments, whereas serotypes 4b and 1/2a were observed among human isolates. ERIC-PCR and AFLP revealed 34 and 31 distinct profiles, respectively, which had tendencies of separation according to serogroup and isolate origin. The genetic profiles from slaughterhouse and market environments suggest the possibility of different sources of Listeria contamination in the environment, although in certain cases, continuous contamination caused by the persistence of clonal strains is also a possibility.


Background Myocardium damage during Chagas' disease results from the immunological imbalance between pro- and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and has been explained based on the Th1–Th2 dichotomy and regulatory T cell activity. Recently, we demonstrated that IL-17 produced during experimental T. cruzi infection regulates Th1 cells differentiation and parasite induced myocarditis. Here, we investigated the role of IL-17 and regulatory T cell during human Chagas' disease. Methodology/Principal Findings First, we observed CD4+IL-17+ T cells in culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Chagas' disease patients and we evaluated Th1, Th2, Th17 cytokine profile production in the PBMC cells from Chagas' disease patients (cardiomyopathy-free, and with mild, moderate or severe cardiomyopathy) cultured with T. cruzi antigen. Cultures of PBMC from patients with moderate and severe cardiomyopathy produced high levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and low levels of IL-10, when compared to mild cardiomyopathy or cardiomyopathy-free patients. Flow cytometry analysis showed higher CD4+IL-17+ cells in PBMC cultured from patients without or with mild cardiomyopathy, in comparison to patients with moderate or severe cardiomyopathy. We then analyzed the presence and function of regulatory T cells in all patients. All groups of Chagas' disease patients presented the same frequency of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. However, CD4+CD25+ T cells from patients with mild cardiomyopathy or cardiomyopathy-free showed higher suppressive activity than those with moderate and severe cardiomyopathy. IFN-γ levels during chronic Chagas' disease are inversely correlated to the LVEF (P = 0.007, r = −0.614), while regulatory T cell activity is directly correlated with LVEF (P = 0.022, r = 0.500). Conclusion/Significance These results indicate that reduced production of the cytokines IL-10 and IL-17 in association with high levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α is correlated with the severity of the Chagas' disease cardiomyopathy, and the immunological imbalance observed may be causally related with deficient suppressor activity of regulatory T cells that controls myocardial inflammation.


The ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 was established in order to "perform a thorough review of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the U.S. system of lawyer regulation in the context of advances in technology and global legal practice developments." The thesis of this article is that the Commission was much more successful with the "technology" aspect of its work than it was with the globalization aspect of its work. This article offers an explanation for these differing levels of success and identifies an alternative path the Commission might have taken that might have led to greater success with respect to its globalization mission. The article begins by offering background information about the ABA's 20/20 Commission. The next section of the article discusses the current impact of the 20/20 Commission's work. It then explains why the Commission's technology work arguably will continue to have a greater impact than its work with respect to globalization. The fourth section identifies a "road not taken" with respect to the Commission's globalization mission. This section includes concrete steps that the ABA 20/20 Commission might have undertaken to make the globalization aspect of its work more successful. The Conclusion to this article suggests that the ABA could still – and should still - undertake these steps in order have a greater impact in a globalized world of lawyer regulation.


The sea lavender, Limonium wrightii, has six morphs of flower colour variation. The geographical distribution of flower colour morphs is disjunct; the distribution of the pink flower morph is divided into two subregions, and that of the yellow flower morph intervenes between them. The present study aimed to examine the origin of this apparent distribution pattern of flower colour in L. wrightii. Two main hypotheses (i.e. past dispersal events and phenotypic changes by natural selection and/or stochastic processes) have been proposed to account for the origin of leapfrog distribution patterns. To determine which hypothesis was applicable, we conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis using sequence variation in chloroplast DNA (three regions of intergenic spacers, trnG-trnfM, trnV-trnM, and psbA-trnH). We sequenced 58 accessions of L. wrightii frin 28 islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago and the Izu-Ogasawara Islands, located south of the Japanese mainland, and 12 accessions of four congeneric species. Within L. wrightii, we obtained four lineages of ten haplotypes. These lineages and haplotypes did not correlate with the different flower colours. These results indicate that the formation processes of populations are complex. The haplotypes of the pink flower morph did not show a sister relationship between the two disjunct subregions, indicating that the disjunct populations of the pink flower morphs are unlikely to share the pink flower colour as a result of common ancestry. We conclude that the observed leapfrog distribution pattern is caused by natural selection and/or stochastic processes. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 709–717.


The Council of Turin, which quite irregularly met in Italy even though it proposed to deal with the church of Gaul, has been the most studied and least understood of all the councils involving the late antique Gallic church. This study argues for a single council, contrary to past suggestions that there were two or even three Councils of Turin. It pinpoints the date of the meeting in either 398 or 399 CE. It then investigates in detail the background, procedures, and consequences of the council. Because of the lack of authority of Italian bishops to legislate for the church of Gaul, the most the council could do was make suggestions. It is argued that, with the imperial court located in northern Italy and with the bishops of Milan attempting to aggrandize their influence, the Council of Turin was but one element of a coherent initiative to reorganize and regularize the secular and ecclesiastical administration of Gaul as of 395 CE. These initiatives were brought to a halt by the Gallic political crises of 406 and later. Contrary to past assumptions, the Council of Turin had very little direct influence on the subsequent history of the Gallic church, and was only very rarely cited as an authority.


As emerging market investments represent a growing proportion of global portfolios, the effective management of emerging market currency risk becomes more important. Many investors apply some form of currency hedging to manage the foreign exchange exposure inherent in international investments. This article addresses the question of what hedging policy is appropriate for emerging market currency exposure, contrasting the results when viewed from the perspective of different base currencies. A decomposition of risk and return demonstrates the significant role of the movements of the US dollar on the emerging market currency returns experienced by non-US investors. Intelligently hedging the US dollar component of emerging market currency risk would have provided non-US investors with a significant improvement in emerging market investment returns. In addition to asset allocation and stock selection, the cash flows generated by a well thought out currency hedging strategy can provide an additional way to outperform an emerging market equity index.


This is a study of meaning making and identity construction in child custody cases involving gay or lesbian parents. In it, I investigate the language of all such recorded decisions over the past 50 years, focusing on how judges-in interaction with the litigants before them-construct, negotiate, deny, and confirm the sexual and familial identities of the parents and would-be parents involved in these custody contests. Employing a constitutive framework and drawing on the social, scientific, and feminist literatures on sexuality, family, and law, I find that through multiple discursive processes, from self-representation to imposition to negotiation of new spaces of compromise, family law actors bring together sexual and familial statuses often treated as exclusive of each other. [T]he concepts of homosexuality and adoption are so inherently mutually exclusive and inconsistent, if not hostile, that the legislature never considered it necessary to enact an express ineligibility provision .... Homosexuality negates procreation. Announced homosexuality defeats the goals of adoption. -In the Matter of Adoption of Charles B., 1988 To suggest that adoption petitions may not be filed by unmarried partners of the same or opposite sex because the legislature has only expressed a desire for these adoptions to occur in the traditional nuclear family constellation of the 1930's ignores the reality of what is happening in the population. -Matter of Adoption of Camilla, 1994 Although Domestic Relations Law does not explicitly define the term "parent," we are of the view. that the petitioner does not come within the meaning of that term. -Alison D. v Virginia M., 1990 An oft-citied theme in law and society research is the interplay between the social world and everyday life, on the one hand, and the law and its institutions, on the other, in reciprocally constructing meaning (Ewick & Silbey 1998; McCann 1994; Phillips & Grattet 2000; Sarat & Kearns 1993; Yngvesson 1993).Just as the social world necessarily influences the making and interpretation of law, the law has the ability to influence, whether coercively or subtly, our social existence. One particularly potent way in which this happens is through the power of the law to create and shape meanings, definitions, and identities in ways that are consequential for the everyday lives of citizens. Many researchers have discussed, for example, the highly consequential and potentially devastating personal impact of being labeled as a "criminal" by the legal system (Becker 1963; Braithwaite 1989; Goffman 1963; Lemert 1951). The effects of acquiring such an identity come not only in the form of structural limitations (such as the inability to vote) and institutional requirements (such as requiring one to "register" or stay in contact with a parole officer) but also in more subtle and personal forms-what has alternatively been called "labeling" (Lemert 1951) or "shaming" (Braithwaite 1989). The process of being cast as a "criminal" and inheriting that identity is an extreme and quite visible example of how the law may shape and impose identities. This process also happens in more subtle ways, under other conditions and in other legal forums. Feminist scholars have noted repeatedly the power of legal institutions to define, delimit, and constrain women's activities and identities in both the public and the private spheres.1 Groups seeking assistance from the law in asserting their political and legal rights have also been subject to the law's definitional powers (see Espeland 1994; Merry 1990). Espeland (1994) notes, for example, how the law can simultaneously represent a group's interest (in her case, the Yavapai community of Native Americans) and impose on the group an identity that differs from the group's self-constructed identity. In many cases, judges are in the position to decide who are legitimate legal actors and who are not-thus, defining some people or groups as appropriate legal subjects and imposing on others a status of legal nonexistence (those who are deemed to have "no standing" or whose problems are deemed to be outside the realm of the legal authority) (see, e. …


1. These experiments were carried out to study how thalamic interneurons generate inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in relay cells. Intracellular recordings were performed in the anterior thalamic (AT) nuclei, a nuclear group in which interneurons constitute the only intrathalamic source of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). 2. In the AT complex, as in most dorsal thalamic nuclei, interneurons can influence relay cells through their presynaptic dendrites (PSDs) and their axons. This dual mode of action is paralleled by a different termination pattern of prethalamic fibers and cortical axons on interneurons. Prethalamic fibers, which in the AT nuclei arise in the mammillary bodies (MBs), end mostly on PSDs, whereas cortical terminals usually synapse on the parent dendrites of PSDs. We therefore took advantage of the differential mode of termination of cortical and MB afferents on interneurons to infer the respective roles of the axons and PSDs of interneurons in the genesis of the IPSPs recorded from relay cells. 3. In all responsive AT cells, cortical stimuli delivered at low frequency (less than or equal to 0.5 Hz) evoked a biphasic IPSP, with an early and a late phase, having a total duration of 221.96 +/- 8.18 ms (mean +/- SE). The early part of the IPSP (termed A) had a reversal potential (ER) close to the equilibrium potential for Cl- ions: -79.25 +/- 2.14 mV. Furthermore, it reversed in polarity after impalement of the cells with KCl-filled pipettes. The late IPSP (termed B) always began before the end of the early IPSP, 45.93 +/- 2.50 ms after the onset of the A-IPSP. The B-IPSP had an ER of -109 +/- 2.4 mV and was not affected by Cl- injection. 4. By contrast, MB stimuli delivered at low frequency (less than or equal to 0.5 Hz) evoked a triphasic IPSP having a total duration of 220.5 +/- 9.42 ms in most (61.2%) AT cells. The IPSP with the shortest latency (termed a) was evoked only by MB stimuli. Before the return of the membrane potential to the resting level, a second hyperpolarizing potential began (7.41 +/- 0.46 ms after the onset of the a-IPSP). This second inhibitory phase was biphasic and had electrophysiological characteristics similar to the biphasic A- and B-IPSP evoked by cortical stimulation. Both the MB-evoked a- and A-IPSPs had an ER close to the equilibrium potential for Cl- ions (-72.22 +/- 0.68 and -72 +/- 0.82 mV, respectively) and reversed in polarity after impalement of the cells with KCl-filled pipettes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


This collection of essays explores in an innovative way the humanist aspects of medieval and post-medieval intellectual life and their multifarious appropriation during the early modern and modern period.


Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women that creates stress in physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of patients' life. Adjustment consequences for these patients may lead to posttraumatic growth. Given the impacts of spirituality on posttraumatic growth, the present study aimed to examine the role of religious coping in predicting posttraumatic growth among patients with breast cancer. This was a descriptive-correlational study. The study population included all 121 participants with breast cancer who referred to treatment centers. The sample consisted of 121 patients whom were selected through convenience sampling method. Variables were evaluated using religious coping style and the posttraumatic growth inventory. Findings indicated that dimensions of active religious activities, benevolent evaluation, and religious activities (dimensions of positive religious coping) were positively correlated with posttraumatic growth and these relationships were significant at the 0.99 confidence level. The results of regression analysis, conducted to predict posttraumatic growth, demonstrated that in the first step, benevolent evaluation (0.39) predicted the posttraumatic growth. Thus according to the results, benevolent evaluation can predict posttraumatic growth (Beta=0.63). Based on the study findings, it is recommended to pay attention to positive religious coping as a strategy to achieve posttraumatic growth in patients with cancer.