The construct of moral disengagement has increasingly been used by researchers to account for the asymmetry between children's moral reasoning and their moral behavior. According to this theory, moral disengagement occurs most aptly when children are motivated to violate their moral beliefs, such as when they hold antisocial goals during social conflict. In line with this, the current study examined whether moral disengagement would mediate the associations among children's antisocial and prosocial goals and aggressive behavior, both concurrently and over time. Specifically, cross-sectional and longitudinal data from 379 children were examined during and across their fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade school years. Findings provide evidence that moral disengagement mediates the concurrent association between antisocial goals and higher levels of aggressive behavior, as well as the concurrent association between prosocial goals and lower levels of aggressive behavior. Further, moral disengagement emerged as a significant mediator of the longitudinal association between prosocial goals and lower rates of aggressive behavior toward peers across the span of middle childhood. Finally, moral disengagement also emerged as a potential mechanism in the continued endorsement of relationship maintenance goals over time. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications.


The gram-negative, zoonotic pathogen Bartonella henselae (Bhe) translocates seven distinct Bartonella effector proteins (Beps) via the VirB/VirD4 type IV secretion system (T4SS) into human cells, thereby interfering with host cell signaling [1], [2]. In particular, the effector protein BepG alone or the combination of effector proteins BepC and BepF trigger massive F-actin rearrangements that lead to the establishment of invasome structures eventually resulting in the internalization of entire Bhe aggregates [2], [3]. In this report, we investigate the molecular function of the effector protein BepF in the eukaryotic host cell. We show that the N-terminal [E/T]PLYAT tyrosine phosphorylation motifs of BepF get phosphorylated upon translocation but do not contribute to invasome-mediated Bhe uptake. In contrast, we found that two of the three BID domains of BepF are capable to trigger invasome formation together with BepC, while a mutation of the WxxxE motif of the BID-F1 domain inhibited its ability to contribute to the formation of invasome structures. Next, we show that BepF function during invasome formation can be replaced by the over-expression of constitutive-active Rho GTPases Rac1 or Cdc42. Finally we demonstrate that BID-F1 and BID-F2 domains promote the formation of filopodia-like extensions in NIH 3T3 and HeLa cells as well as membrane protrusions in HeLa cells, suggesting a role for BepF in Rac1 and Cdc42 activation during the process of invasome formation.


Mutual illumination occurs when light reflected from one surface impinges on a second one. The resulting additional illumination incident on the second surface affects both the color and intensity of the light reflected from it. As a consequence, the image of a surface in the presence of mutual illumination differs from what it otherwise would have been in the absence of mutual illumination. Unaccounted for mutual illumination can easily confuse methods that rely on intensity or color such as shape-from-shading or color-based object recognition. In this correspondence, we introduce an algorithm that removes mutual illumination effects from images. The domain is that of previously-segmented images of convex surfaces of uniform color and diffuse reflectance where for each surface the interreflection occurs mainly from one other surface and can be accurately accounted for within a one-bounce model. The algorithm is based on a singular value decomposition of the colors coming from each surface. Geometrical information about where on the surface the colors emanate from is not required. The RGB triples from a single convex surface experiencing interreflection fall in a plane; intersecting the planes generated from two interreflecting surfaces results in a unique interreflection color. Each pixel can then be factored into its interreflection and no-interreflection components so that a complete no-interreflection image is produced. >


Trace fossil associations from the Lower–Middle Jurassic siliciclastic succession of the northern Neuquen Basin, Argentina are described and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation is discussed. The Bardas Blancas Formation displays facies of lower foreshore to offshore environments, such as massive and laminated mudstones, laminated siltstones, hummocky cross-stratified sandstones, massive and laminated sandstones, wave-rippled sandstones, as well as fine- to medium-grained bioclastic sandstones and massive conglomerates. They contain a trace fossil assemblage low in abundance but high in diversity. The assemblage, comprising eleven ichnogenera, is dominated by Skolithos , Chondrites , Thalassinoides , Planolites , Palaeophycus , Taenidium , Gyrochorte and Arenicolites .  Gordia , ? Diplocraterion and Lockeia are less abundant. These trace fossils belong to the Skolithos ,  Cruziana and Zoophycos ichnofacies. Their distribution is controlled mainly by hydrodynamic energy, substrate consistency and oxygen levels. Storm beds exhibit two successive stages of colonization: (1) the pioneer stage, during which Skolithos , Diplocraterion and Arenicolites (elements of the Skolithos ichnofacies), were produced; and (2) the stable environment stage, represented by Chondrites , Thalassinoides , Taenidium , Gyrochorte , Gordia ,  Lockeia , Palaeophycus and Planolites (elements of the Cruziana ichnofacies). deeper environments exhibit a low diversity association with Chondrites and Thalassinoides , characterizing the Zoophycos ichnofacies.


Association for the Advancement of Policy Research and Development in Africa This new Association seeks to promote the interchange of scientific and technological information, methodologies, instruments and policy findings among development scholars, practitioners, and administrators of the scientific, technological, and development institutions and governments both outside and inside Africa. For conference and membership information, please contact: Dr. Mekki Mtewa, Department of Political Science, Howard University, Washington, D C. 20059


Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) among the adolescent and young women is a serious public health problem. This paper examines the socio-economic inequalities contributing to the use of hygienic menstrual absorbent during menstruation among unmarried young women in India and the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states. District Level Household and Facility Survey (2008) India, a nationally representative community based data, were used. Concentration indices were computed to assess inequality in the use of hygienic menstrual absorbent and further it was decomposed to identify the per cent contribution. Unavailability of toilets at the households (42%), living in the rural area (20%) and the number of years of schooling (27%) contributed about 90 per cent of the total socio-economic inequalities in using hygienic menstrual absorbent at all India level and in the EAG states with the exception of Assam where low economic status and residence in rural area explained the inequality. Recognizing MHM as a public health concern is the first step towards addressing the problem. The provision for subsidized sanitary napkins supply needs to be supplemented with the basic public health measures such as water supply and toilet facility at the household level, particularly in the resource scarce settings.


ABSTRACT Flood-induced displacements are a common feature in rural Zimbabwe and there seems to be a lack of deliberate policy and political commitment from the government. Several factors have increased the susceptibility of communities to flood hazards, ranging from poor housing structures, lack of building standards to ensure resilient structures, and climate change. This paper is an outcome of a one-year study from March 2018 to March 2019. The study adopted a qualitative approach which entailed the use of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Fifty participants were purposively sampled for the study. Study findings reflect a gap in political attention as a root to addressing internal displacement. Lack of social and economic capital also plays an attributional role as a factor that has exacerbated the plight of internally displaced persons. The study recommends the government to adopt an Internally Displaced Persons policy and establish a commission that monitors rural settlement structures to enhance community resilience.


(1) Background: The exercise capacity of patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) remains limited despite mechanical support. Higher dead space ventilation (VD/VT) may be a surrogate for right ventricular to pulmonary artery uncoupling (RV–PA) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to explain persistent exercise limitations. (2) Methods: We investigated 197 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction with (n = 89) and without (HFrEF, n = 108) LVAD. As a primary outcome NTproBNP, CPET, and echocardiographic variables were analyzed for their potential to discriminate between HFrEF and LVAD. As a secondary outcome CPET variables were evaluated for a composite of hospitalization due to worsening heart failure and overall mortality over 22 months. (3) Results: NTproBNP (OR 0.6315, 0.5037–0.7647) and RV function (OR 0.45, 0.34–0.56) discriminated between LVAD and HFrEF. The rise of endtidal CO2 (OR 4.25, 1.31–15.81) and VD/VT (OR 1.23, 1.10–1.40) were higher in LVAD patients. Group (OR 2.01, 1.07–3.85), VE/VCO2 (OR 1.04, 1.00–1.08), and ventilatory power (OR 0.74, 0.55–0.98) were best associated with rehospitalization and mortality. (4) Conclusions: LVAD patients displayed higher VD/VT compared to HFrEF. Higher VD/VT as a surrogate for RV–PA uncoupling could be another marker of persistent exercise limitations in LVAD patients.


In an IT Service Management setting, current approaches to support Continual Service Improvement (CSI) suffer from many deficiencies, including lack of or weak visibility of business impacts, no modeling of uncertainty, difficulty in combining heterogeneous metrics, among others. The result is that CSI activities typically rely on unstructured procedures based on weak data. We offer a model to capture service quality and the business value delivered by a service; the model aims to solve or diminish these deficiencies. A case study was performed in a large bank with very promising results: although model completeness and complexity need to improve, a face validity exercise was performed during the case study and found that the model is sufficiently useful, trustworthy, reliable and accurate.


There are many power system simulation software tools for transient stability analysis that are commercially available today. The choice of the most adequate tool for a specific type of stability analysis is a difficult task, and is influenced by economical reasons. It is imperative that a comparative study of various tools be carried out to help users make informed decisions. This work evaluates DIgSILENT, PSS/E and PSCAD, which are commercial software tools used for digital simulation of power systems. As criteria for software assessment, the following features are investigated: (i) modelling capabilities - synchronous generator, generator saturation, transmission line representation, and external network, (ii) flexibility allowed to the user. A well known benchmark power system model from literature is used to validate the simulation results of the commercial tools.


Mycobacterial infections that are transmitted by acupuncture are an emerging problem. M. fortuitum is one of the rapid-growing atypical mycobacteria and this infection usually follows a puncture wound or a surgical procedure. We report here on a case of M. fortuitum infection following an acupuncture procedure. A 37-year-old woman presented with indurations and ulcerations of both popliteal fossae after undergoing acupuncture. The skin biopsy specimen showed suppurative inflammation with a lymphocytic infiltration, and the Ziehl-Neelsen stain for AFB was negative. Bacterial culture of the tissue fluid was negative. The culture of the tissue specimen and polymerase chain reaction revealed M. fortuitum. The infection responded to 10 weeks of treatment with isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol, and four months of treatment with rifampin. Despite of the increasing popularity of acupuncture, the importance of infection control has not been adequately emphasized in oriental medicine. Education for proper infection control, including aseptic practice, is necessary for oriental medical doctors and practitioners.


The research was a survey research, where the writer only took note just the way it was, analyzing the data and evaluating the data. In this research, there would be cash flow analysis in textile sector companies which were listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange titled: ?Cash flow analysis to Textile Companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange. The research aimed to find out the cash flow of the textile company listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange and also to find out which textile company listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange owed the best cash-flow. Data analysis method used in the research was time series analysis which doing analysis according to the time-scope. In time series analysis, while there was increasing each year, the cash flow of textile companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange was good. For cross section analysis by doing comparison with industry ratio, especially for textile companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange in year 2005 to 2007. According to the report of cash flow from textile sector companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange in its development, they were increasing well. The conclusion was supported by analysis data of cash flow report 2005 to 2007 in textile companies which were listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange. According to the discussion which was done by cash flow analysis, there found that since 2005 to 2007, from the operation activity, PT. Panasia Indosyntec, Tbk owed the healthiest cash-flow compared with the other company. From the investment activity, there found that PT. Eratex Djaja, Tbk has the healthiest cash-flow and for funding ratio, there found that PT. Panasia Indosyntec, Tbk owed the healthiest cash flow. Several suggestion stated in this research were, for textile companies which listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange, there hoped to do effective cash-flow so that the cash-flow owed by the company could be used in optimum way to get return. There hoped that the investors re-evaluate the financial performance of the company by using the other analytical tools so that it could be used in investment analysis and avoided loss in the future. Keyword : Analisis Arus Kas Link Terkait : http://skripsi.umm.ac.id/files/disk1/326/jiptummpp-gdl-s1-2009-zamrieffen-16294-PENDAHUL-N.pdf


While enhanced tree growth over the last decades has been reported in forests across the globe, it remains unclear whether it drives persistent biomass increases of the stands, particularly in mature forests. Enhanced tree growth and stand-level biomass are often linked with a simultaneous increase in density-driven mortality and a reduction in tree longevity. Identifying empirical evidence regarding the balance between these processes is challenging due to the confounding effects of stand history, management, and environmental changes. Here, we investigate the link between growth and biomass via the shift in the negative relationship between average tree size and stand density (tree number). We find increasing stand density for a given tree size in unmanaged closed-canopy forests in Switzerland over the past six decades and a positive relationship between growth and stand density - qualitatively consistent with simulations by a mechanistic, cohort-resolving ecosystem model (LM3-PPA). Model simulations show that, in the absence of other disturbances, enhanced growth persistently increases biomass stocks despite simultaneous decreases in carbon residence time and tree longevity, independent of assumptions about the drivers of tree mortality. However, the magnitude of simulated changes critically depends on the shape of the mortality parameterizations. Our analyses reconcile reports of growth-induced reductions of tree longevity with model predictions of persistent biomass increases, and with our finding of a trend towards denser forests in response to growth - also in mature stands.


A simple evolutionary system "evoloop" implemented on a deterministic nine-state five-neighbor cellular automata (CA) space is introduced. This model was realized by improving the structurally dissolvable self-reproducing loop I had previously contrived after Langton's self-reproducing loop. The principal role of this improvement is to enhance the adaptability (a degree of the variety of situations in which structures in the CA space can operate regularly) of the self-reproductive mechanism of loops. The experiment with evoloop met with the intriguing result that the loops spontaneously varied through direct interaction of their phenotypes, smaller individuals were naturally selected, and the whole population gradually evolved toward the smallest ones. This result shows that it is possible to construct evolutionary systems on such a simple mathematical medium as a CA space by introducing the mortality of individuals, their interaction, and their robustness to variations into the model.


The current study applies the inclusion of thermally stable ceramic nano powders into the light weight AZ61 Mg base alloys via spray forming plus extrusion. The combination of spray forming and severe extrusion provides a new processing route for fabricating nano composites, with uniform distribution of the nano fillers. Parallel tries using the PM route followed by the same severe extrusion can also yield sound composites but the dispersion of the nano SiO2 appears to be less uniform. The processed composites are characterized in terms of microstructure examination, thermal analysis, phase identification, and mechanical testing.


The climate impact of AI, and NLP research in particular, has become a serious issue given the enormous amount of energy that is increasingly being used for training and running computational models. Consequently, increasing focus is placed on efficient NLP. However, this important initiative lacks simple guidelines that would allow for systematic climate reporting of NLP research. We argue that this deficiency is one of the reasons why very few publications in NLP report key figures that would allow a more thorough examination of environmental impact, and present a quantitative survey to demonstrate this. As a remedy, we propose a climate performance model card with the primary purpose of being practically usable with only limited information about experiments and the underlying computer hardware. We describe why this step is essential to increase awareness about the environmental impact of NLP research and, thereby, paving the way for more thorough discussions.


This study explores the experiences of women who are caring for late preterm baby/babies (LPBs). These women's experiences are especially relevant to examine, as the number of babies born late preterm is rising. Traditionally mothers and their LPBs have been studied under the umbrella of the general preterm infant population, with all experiences extrapolated from within this group. Whilst there is a growing body of literature related to late preterm babies, the focus is on physiology and physical needs. There is minimal research exploring women's experiences of caring for a late preterm baby and their views largely unknown. My aim was to privilege women's experiences, therefore a feminist approach to research was utilised. A feminist lens offered me an opportunity of understanding the world of women who care for LPBs, and what I learned from their experiences. To obtain in depth perspectives, individual qualitative interviews in two phases were carried out, with a purposefully selected sample of fourteen women who were caring for a baby or babies within the late preterm gestation in South West England. Template Analysis linked to Birth Territory Theory (BTT) was carried out to identify key issues and experiences of women. The findings indicate women who become mothers' of late preterm babies have a complex journey. It is one which begins with separation, with babies being cared for in unfamiliar and highly technical environments where the perceived experts are healthcare professionals. Women's needs are side-lined in favour of their baby/babies, and they are required to mother with 'powerless responsibility'. Institutional and professional barriers to mothering/caring are numerous. The study recommends organisations and healthcare professionals listen to women, hear their stories and use their experiences of mothering/caring to direct developments in practice. Professionals need to accept late preterm babies do not belong to an institution and to the professionals that work within it, but instead recognise a mother's prime relationship is with her baby and thus work with women to facilitate autonomous mother-work.


The maritime industry has witnessed transformational changes due to the structural developments in the competitive landscape among maritime stakeholders. These trends lead to cooperation between ports, particularly those sharing common hinterland. This paper extends the existing frameworks for analysing cases of port cooperation among adjacent ports by exploring the relevance of the presence or absence of a national border, thus proposing an upgraded version of the matrix for classifying cases of port cooperation. We operationalize our theoretical findings with a case study of the North Adriatic (NAPA) ports. We conduct in-depth, semi-structured expert interviews with relevant port stakeholders in order to position the NAPA ports within the matrix, as both a group of ports and individual port-pairs. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15458/ebr108


Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) frequently affects the foot. Custom moulded foot
orthoses are effective in the management of the foot in RA; however the process
of manufacture is lengthy, resulting in a delay of treatment for the patient. Offthe-
shelf foot orthoses can be dispensed at the chairside on the day of diagnosis,
so the patient receives treatment immediately. This is particularly crucial in RA,
as early intervention is thought to improve patient outcomes in the long term.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Podiatrists do prescribe off-the-shelf foot
orthoses for the management of the foot in RA; however no clinical studies exist
to support this practice. The aim of this study was to investigate any potential
effects on the foot of one commonly prescribed off-the-shelf foot orthosis, in
patients with early RA. The type of off-the-shelf foot orthosis used was the
Slimflex™ Plastic which has been shown to be a commonly used off-the-shelf foot
orthosis by Podiatrists in the management of patients with RA in Scotland
(Cameron et al. 2009). A total of 35 patients diagnosed with RA, with a mean
age of 52.4 years (SD 13.3 years) and median disease duration of 0.5 years (IQR
1.8 years) were included. Local ethical approval was obtained. The study used a
repeated measures design, with data collected at baseline, three months, and six
months when patients were barefoot, shod, and with foot orthoses, to investigate
any effects over time and between conditions. The primary objective was to
investigate any potential effects of the Slimflex™ Plastic off-the-shelf foot orthosis
on foot health related quality of life (QOL) using the Leeds Foot Impact Scale
(LFIS) and foot pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Plantar foot
pressure measurement, walking speed, foot stability during walking and foot
kinematics were then investigated to provide a rationale as to why foot health
related QOL and foot pain may be affected with the foot orthosis. Data was
analysed using SPSS version 16.0. Due to the known potential effects of
medication, data was analysed for the total patient group (n=35) and subanalyses
were then carried out on the group of patients who presented with
stable medication throughout the study (n=12). This enabled any changes to be
attributed to the foot orthosis alone and not because of any effects of medication.
The LFIS and VAS for foot pain were significantly lower with the use of the foot
orthosis over six months (p<0.05). Peak plantar pressure at the forefoot
increased between barefoot and shod, and barefoot and foot orthosis (p<0.05),
but decreased between shod and foot orthosis (p<0.05). Pressure time integral
at the forefoot reduced with the foot orthosis (p<0.05). There was an increase in
contact area at the midfoot and in hallux and lesser toe contact area, with the
orthosis (p<0.05). Walking speed also increased over the six months (p<0.05).
Preliminary findings indicated that the orthosis may affect foot stability during
walking, and a case study implied that the foot orthosis positively affects foot
kinematics. This study suggests that the Slimflex™ Plastic off-the-shelf foot
orthosis is effective in the management of the foot in early RA, according to the
measured variables in this study.


The authors studied physiologic peculiarities associated with cardiorespiratory response to hypoxia and hypercapnia in various climate and geographic conditions, to combined effects of hypoxia, hypercapnia and physical burden, in artificial atmosphere with various velocity of hypoxia and hypercapnia increase. The studies were based on a hypothesis of universal mechanism that describes regulation of gas-transporting system and is aimed to supply oxygen to the body under ecologic hazards. The authors revealed similarity of circulatory and respiratory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in various ecologic circumstances.


A new antimalarial pharmacological approach based on inhibition of the plasmodial phospholipid metabolism has been developed. The drugs mimic choline structure and inhibit de novo phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. Three generations of compounds were rationally designed. Bisquaternary ammonium salts showed powerful antimalarial activity, with IC(50) in the nanomolar range. To remedy their low per os absorption, bioisosteric analogues (bis-amidines) were designed and exhibited similar powerful activities. Finally, the third generation compounds are bis-thiazolium salts and their non-ionic precursors: prodrugs, which in vivo can lead to thiazolium drugs after enzymatic transformation. The compounds are equally effective against multiresistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria. These molecules exert a very rapid cytotoxic effect against malarial parasites in the very low nanomolar range and are active in vivo against P. vinckei-infected mice, with ED(50) lower than 0.2 mg/kg. They are able to cure highly infected mice and, retain full activity after a single injection. They also retain full activity against P. falciparum and P. cynomolgi in primate models with no recrudescence and at lower doses. Compounds are accumulated in P.falciparum-infected erythrocyte, which ensures their potency and specificity. Recently, we discovered that compounds also interact with malarial pigment enhancing the antimalarial effect. It is quite likely that they are dual molecules, exerting their antimalarial activity via two simultaneous toxic effects on the intracellular intraerythrocytic parasites. The current leader compounds are accessible in few steps from commercial products. These crystalline molecules present a remarkable biological activity and low toxicity which is promising for the development of a new antimalarial drug.


Given the unprecedented increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and its projected negative impacts on organismal ecology and physiology, it is crucial to understand if and how organisms will withstand such environmental changes. Due to the oceans' service as a carbon sink, marine organisms face the added stressor of ocean acidification (OA), the process by which carbon dioxide mixes with water and decreases pH while simultaneously depleting the seawater of calcium carbonate. Marine organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for exoskeleton development are considered particularly vulnerable to OA, though previous results vary among species, leading to the question of who the real 'winners' and 'losers' will be in the face of increasing OA. Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, the purple sea urchin, is one such calcifying organism whose ability to respond to OA is relatively well studied in the past decade, but its future success still remains largely unclear. Within their natural habitat of the California Current Marine Ecosystem (CCME), there exists not only more extreme mean sea surface pH values as compared to the open ocean, but also high spatial and temporal variability due to a natural phenomenon known as upwelling. My thesis research aims to use theoretical and experimental tools from population genetics, experimental evolution, and ecological genomics to determine if developing purple sea urchins have the genetic capacity and physiological capability to respond to future OA in both static and variable extreme pH conditions. Low (pH 7.5) and extreme (pH 7.0) pH conditions led to decreased survival, with variability helping recover survival in those treatments. However, this recovery came with a trade-off: survivors in the extreme variable treatment were significantly smaller in body size compared to their static counterpart. Further, my work shows that purple urchins have the genomic capacity to respond uniquely to both extreme and variable pH conditions. While these results may be promising for the early life stages of the purple sea urchin, the carry-over effects of future low pH in the CCME on surviving larvae undergoing metamorphosis and developing into reproductive adulthood remain to be studied, as do the responses of marine species with lower levels of standing genetic variation in the face of increasing OA and pH variability in the CCME.


: The growing pandemia of AIDS, which resulted in about 40,000 AIDS patients and about 3 million infected persons by the end of 1986, demands for the urgent creation of methods for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease. The present paper analyzes the main aspects of AIDS immunobiology, i. e. the molecular genetics of the virus, production of the viral components, construction of kits for immunoenzyme detection of antibodies to the virus, development of confirmatory immunoenzyme assays. The authors discuss the prospects of creating the synthetic antigens of the AIDS virus or producing them on the basis of genetic engineering both for the diagnosis and prophylaxis of the infection.


Polymers derived from biomass are now a matter of the utmost importance from both commercial and academic points of view. Using annually renewable biomass, agricultural waste and a low cost natural oil, the production of new cross-linked polymers can have both economic and environmental benefits. The production, modification, property enhancement and new applications of these materials are an important concern. Interpenetrating polymer networks were synthesized from glycerol modified linseed oil, an aliphatic or aromatic diisocyanate and phosphorylated cardanol. Characterizations of these polymers were performed by spectral and thermal analysis techniques. The kinetic parameters such as activation energies and order of reactions were estimated by using Freeman-Anderson's method. Crystallinity of these polymers was determined by XRD study. The choice of diisocyanate and the variation of NCO/OH molar ratio of polyurethanes on the properties of such polymers are the scope of the present investigation.


James Leslie Mitchell is better remembered as Lewis Grassic Gibbon, the author of the trilogy A Scots Quair. Mitchell regarded himself as a communicator rather than an artist. His trilogy and the novels published under his own name all reflect his concern for moral and political issues and his passionate interest in the implications of Diffusionism. A Scots Quair is undoubtedly his finest achievement. Apart from his success in creating a new, sophisticated written Scots, it is superior to his other novels in that the ideas do not dominate the structure. Set in Mitchell's native area, North-eastern Scotland, the towns and villages of the Mearns become the focus for the author's analysis of both Scottish problems and the complexities of industrial life in the Depression. In this thesis I concentrate on A Scots Quair and refer to his other work only as a necessary context. The first chapter is about his life, his intellectual development and his work apart from the trilogy. In the second chapter I discuss Sunset Song, and the third and fourth chapters deal with the middle and last books of the trilogy respectively. The final chapter contains an appraisal of criticism of the trilogy. I approach the trilogy primarily through close analysis of the text because too many critics have assessed the second and third books solely within the terms of reference established in Sunset Song. A close textual analysis discloses the special 'integrities' of each novel. The separate life and literature of Scotland raise problems for the critic. Should 'English' critical norms be automatically applied to Scottish literature? Approaching the trilogy primarily through its language, I initiate a dualistic appreciation, suggesting that a work can simultaneously be a flawed 'English' novel and a successful 'Scottish' one.


The physical mechanism of nuclear reactions at low energies caused by spatial extension of electron is considered. Nuclear reactions of this type represent intra-electronic processes, more precisely, the processes occurring inside the area of basic localization of electron. Distinctive characteristics of these processes are defined by interaction of the own field produced by electrically charged matter of electron with free nuclei. Heavy nucleus, appearing inside the area of basic localization of electron, is inevitably deformed because of interaction of protons with the adjoining layers of electronic cloud, which may cause nuclear fission. If there occur "inside" electron two or greater number of light nuclei, an attractive force appears between the nuclei which may result in the fusion of nuclei. The intra-electronic mechanism of nuclear reactions is of a universal character. For its realization it is necessary to have merely a sufficiently intensive stream of free electrons, i.e. heavy electric current, and as long as sufficiently great number of free nuclei. This mechanism may operate only at small energies of translational motion of the centers of mass of nuclei and electron. Because of the existence of simple mechanism of nuclear reactions at low energies, nuclear reactor turns out to be an atomic delayed-action bomb which may blow up by virtue of casual reasons, as it has taken place, apparently, in Chernobyl. The use of cold nuclear reactions for production of energy will provide mankind with cheap, practically inexhaustible, and non-polluting energy sources.


BACKGROUND
Age, gender, and BMI determine ultradian modes of LH and GH secretion, viz., pulsatile, basal, pattern-defined regularity [approximate entropy (ApEn)] and spikiness (sharp, brief excursions). Whether the same determinants apply to ACTH secretion is not known.

SETTING
The study was conducted at a tertiary medical center.

SUBJECTS
We studied normal women (n = 22) and men (n = 26) [ages, 23-77 yr; body mass index (BMI), 21-32 kg/m(2)].

METHODS
Volunteers underwent 10-min blood sampling to create 24-h ACTH concentration profiles.

OUTCOMES
Dynamic measures of ACTH secretion were studied.

RESULTS
Mean ACTH concentrations (R(2) = 0.15; P = 0.006) and both pulsatile (R(2) = 0.12; P = 0.018) and basal (nonpulsatile) (R(2) = 0.16; P = 0.005) ACTH secretion correlated directly with BMI (n = 48). Men had greater basal (P = 0.047), pulsatile (P = 0.031), and total (P = 0.010) 24-h ACTH secretion than women, including when total secretion was normalized for BMI (P = 0.019). In men, both ACTH-cortisol feedforward and cortisol-ACTH feedback asynchrony (cross-ApEn) increased with age (R(2) = 0.20 and 0.22; P = 0.021 and 0.018). ACTH spikiness rose with age (P = 0.046), principally in women. Irregularity of cortisol secretion (ApEn) increased with age (n = 48; P = 0.010), especially in men. In both sexes, percentage pulsatile ACTH secretion predicted 24-h mean cortisol concentrations (R(2) = 0.14; P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION
Valid comparisons of ultradian ACTH dynamics will require cohorts matched for age, gender, and BMI, conditions hitherto not satisfied in most physiological studies of this axis.


In order to improve the hydrophobic property of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane, in this paper nano-silica was modified by silane coupling agent firstly, then the modified nano-silica mixed with fluororesin,crosslinking agent and thickener to prepare the super-hydrophobic surface coating, finally the surface coating was covered on PVDF membrane. The results showed that the contact angle of the modified membrane was 162°and the sliding angle was 4°. The modified membrane was test by SEM and AFM, the surface coating on the PVDF membrane formed micro/nano-meter structure such as lotus leaves surface.


Abstract:This article attributes one of the three "first" editions of Leviathan to the London printer John Richardson (fl. 1673–1703), revising Noel Malcolm's attribution to a different printer in the recent Clarendon Edition of Leviathan. We lay out the mystery of Leviathan's so-called "Ornaments" edition and use evidence from damaged type pieces to say why we attribute its printing to Richardson. We then give a short sketch of Richardson's life and career and present evidence that supports a new date for the edition, including newly discovered advertisements and evidence from deteriorating type. We conclude with some implications for book history and bibliography, on the one hand, and Hobbes scholarship on the other. We argue that what we call "computational bibliography"—the analysis of bibliographical evidence through computational methods such as machine learning and computer vision— offers new angles for seeing the materiality and craft of clandestine, anonymously-printed books like Hobbes' Leviathan.


Purpose

The paper aims to present the case study of Arillas, a small beach resort on Corfu, Greece, where the locals have taken their fate into their own hands in the middle of a crisis. It presents the historical background of the development of tourism in Arillas, the actions that have been undertaken by the local stakeholders to actively participate in the management of the village and to attract alternative, responsible and sustainable forms of tourism to Arillas, and the main players contributing to this process, as well as a look at three important themes contributing to the change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an empirical study spanning many years by a local inhabitant who has an affinity with place management and marketing. It also includes some conclusions of a quantitative, questionnaire-based customer satisfaction survey carried out in 2011 and 2012 among 600 visitors. The analysis of the quantitative data was carried out by the Head of the Corfu Department of the National Tourism Organisation of Greece.

Findings

The paper demonstrates how a shared vision, combined with empowerment and communication among local stakeholders on improving the place, as well as many joint actions carried out on a volunteer basis have, first of all, dramatically increased the level of engagement of the locals in the present and future of Arillas, and second they have attracted and are attracting more individual travellers who are coming for the hospitality, local food and products, music and cultural festivals, walking, yoga and meditation rather than the outdated mass tourism model.

Research limitations/implications

It would be very interesting to perform another quantitative, questionnaire-based survey now to compare the results to those of 2012.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates that a bottom-up, horizontal approach to placemaking and place marketing can yield substantial results even (or especially) in an adverse economical and social environment.


Many agree that the best-known image related to virtual reality (VR) experiences is the head mounted display (HMD). While the history of headset-mediated virtual reality dates back to the sixties with Ivan Sutherland's Sword of Damocles trials, the past two years have seen the release of impressive high definition image rendering HMDs that have also prompted the production of various VR experiences such as movies, games, therapeutic content, documentaries and even simple interactive movies just to name a few. The cinematic films had no prior precedent for this medium. Can we truly name VR films cinematic? What can we say about the difference between 360-degree fictional movies and VR computer-generated ones? What can we say about these new categories of technologically-mediated fiction and their spectators? How are they different from the two-dimensional spectator experience? These are legitimate questions that I will address in my paper.


A landscape stratification was required for simulation modeling of fire disturbance and succession in the mountains and foothills region of the Peninsular Ranges within San Diego County, California. Two quantitative approaches to mapping ecological land units (ELUs) were compared for a 3,878 km 2 study area. These were: (a) clustering of climate overlain with key terrain variables; and (b) regression tree modeling of climate, geology, and terrain variables using a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), derived from a Landsat Thematic Mapper image, as the dependent variable. Terrain variables derived from a digital elevation model included slope gradient, cosine transformed slope aspect, potential solar insolation, and a topographic moisture index. For the simulation model ELUs were required that would stratify the landscape according to biomass (fuel) accumulation dynamics, related to site productivity, and probabilities of plant species establishment. Therefore, ELUs were defined using abiotic variables, and the resulting stratifications were evaluated by their ability to reduce within-class variance in the NDVI (as an index of biological productivity), and by comparing them to a map of existing vegetation. While the regression tree method resulted in classes that explained more variance in NDVI than classes resulting from unsupervised clustering, the difference was not large. In contrast, the unsupervised approach resulted in ecological land classes that were more strongly related to existing vegetation patterns.


Oligoclonal banding patterns, when present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) electrophoresed on agarose gels, are important in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. Typically, an 80-fold concentration of 2.5 mL of CSF has been needed before the oligoclonal banding pattern could be detected with Coomassie Brilliant Blue stain. This excessive volume requirement often is a problem, particularly in children. We describe here an improved silver-stain procedure with which we routinely can detect the oligoclonal banding pattern in 1 to 3 microL of unconcentrated CSF. The procedure is inexpensive and takes less than 45 min. Our method is quick, safe, sensitive, and easily performed in the clinical laboratory.


Abstract The interaction between forward-facing steps of several heights and a pre-existing critical stationary crossflow instability of a swept-wing boundary layer is analysed. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are performed of the incompressible three-dimensional laminar base flow and the stationary distorted flow that arise from the interaction between an imposed primary stationary crossflow perturbation and the steps. These DNS are complemented with solutions of the linear and the nonlinear parabolised stability equations, used towards identifying the influence of linearity and non-parallelism near the step. A fully stationary solution of the Navier–Stokes equations is enforced numerically, in order to isolate the mechanisms pertaining to the interaction of the stationary disturbance with the step. Results provide insight into the salient modifications of the base laminar boundary layer due to the step, and the response of the incoming crossflow instability to these changes. The fundamental spanwise Fourier mode of the disturbance field gradually lifts up as it approaches the step and passes over it. The flow environment around the step is characterised by a sudden spanwise modulation of the base-flow streamlines. Additional stationary perturbation structures are induced at the step, which manifest in the form of spanwise-aligned velocity streaks near the wall. Shortly downstream of the step, the fundamental component of the crossflow perturbation maintains a rather constant amplification for the smallest steps studied. For the largest step, however, the fundamental crossflow perturbation is stabilised significantly shortly downstream of the largest step. This surprising result is ascribed to a modulation of the kinetic energy transfer between the base flow and the fundamental perturbation field, which is brought forward as a new step interaction mechanism. Possible non-modal growth effects at the step are discussed. Furthermore, the results from DNS indicate significant amplification of the high-order harmonic crossflow components downstream of the step.


This study examines the influences on the evolution of youth unemployment policy, since the beginning of the 1970s. The focus is on the dynamic influences on youth unemployment policy and policy change. Informed by a reading of the policy studies literature, the investigation highlights not only the institutional influences on policy, but also broader factors, such as ideological and economic concerns. The policy history is told in three parts, based on periods where distinctive changes in relations within the policy community, in ideological influences and in policy itself, can be discerned. The empirical work employs a variety of research methods. A content analysis of The Times was conducted, for the period under investigation, in order to establish the pattern of public activity around youth unemployment policy. The policy history is based on content analysis of policy documents and interviews with policy actors. The object of the study is to understand the nature of power within the policy process in the case of youth unemployment policy. For this reason approaches to the study of public policy are grouped according to the notions of power they incorporate: pluralist and neo-pluralist, reformist and radical. The findings of the case study are discussed in the light of these approaches. The study concludes that radical perspectives, combined with the notion of human agency, implicit in pluralist, neo-pluralist and reformist approaches, provide the most useful framework to interpret the case of youth unemployment policy. Although general theoretical conclusions cannot be drawn from one case study, the research provides a basis for future comparative work on the influences on public policy.


A catalyst screening study is reported on the liquefaction of humins, the solid byproducts from C6 sugar biorefineries for levulinic acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production. Experiments were carried out in a batch reactor using an artificial model of humin derived from glucose with isopropanol (IPA) as the solvent at 400 C for a 3 h batchtime. Initial studies using noble metal catalysts (Rh, Pt, Pd, Ru) on a carbon support revealed that Pt was the best catalyst in terms of humin conversion (77%) and amounts of alkylphenolics and aromatics in the product oil (GCxGC-FID). Subsequent support screening studies (TiO2, ZrO2, CeO2) were performed using Pt as the active metal and the results were compared with Pt/ C. Detailed liquid product analysis (GPC, GC-MS, GCxGC) including blank reactions in the absence of humins revealed that the humins are mainly converted to monomeric alkylphenolics and aromatics oligomers (GPC) and (GC). IPA was shown not to be inert and is converted to acetone and hydrogen, and the latter is the hydrogen source for the various metal catalysed hydrogenolysis and hydro(deoxy) genation reactions. In addition, acetone is converted to aldolcondensation products (like methylisobutylketone, MIBK) and hydrogenation products derived thereof. The best results were obtained with Pt/C when considering humin conversion. However, Pt/CeO2 was shown to be more attractive when considering the amounts of alkylphenolics in the product oils (20.4 wt% based on humin intake).


The Brazil/US Aspen Global Forum on Climate Change Policies and Programs has facilitated a dialogue between key Brazil and US public and private sector leaders on the subject of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). With support from the US government, a cooperative effort between Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Sao Paulo conducted an assessment of a number of projects put forth by Brazilian sponsors. Initially, we gathered information and conducted a screening assessment for ten projects in the energy sector and six projects in the forestry sector. Some of the projects appeared to offer greater potential to be attractive for CDM, or had better information available. We then conducted a more detailed assessment of 12 of these projects, and two other projects that were submitted after the initial screening. An important goal was to assess the potential impact of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) on the financial performance of projects. With the exception of the two forestry-based fuel displacement projects, the impact of CERs on the internal rate of return (IRR) is fairly small. This is true for both the projects that displace grid electricity and those that displace local (diesel-based) electricity production. The relative effect of CERs is greater for projects whose IRR without CERs is low. CERs have a substantial effect on the IRR of the two short-rotation forestry energy substitution projects. One reason is that the biofuel displaces coke and oil, both of which are carbon-intensive. Another factor is that the product of these projects (charcoal and woodfuel, respectively) is relatively low value, so the revenue from carbon credits has a strong relative impact. CERs also have a substantial effect on the NPV of the carbon sequestration projects. Financial and other barriers pose a challenge for implementation of most of the projects. In most cases, the sponsor lacks sufficient capital, and loans are available only at high interest rate and with substantial guarantee. A few of the projects might go ahead without the benefit of CERs, but most probably would not. Whether the projected revenue from CERs would be sufficient to induce sponsors to proceed with the projects is an important issue that requires further investigation. All of the projects contribute to economic development in Brazil. The forestry projects in particular would create a significant number of rural jobs, and contribute income to rural communities. Some of the carbon sequestration projects would provide environmental benefits with respect to protection of biodiversity and soil.


The study evaluated the physical qualities and satisfaction in students' housing in selectedStudents' Housing for the University of Ibadan. Through survey method, eight hostels were purposively selected tocapture variation in gender, level of study and hostel design. The sampling frame showed that 5605 students at UI werefound in 2,147 rooms. One out of every 10 (10%) of the rooms were selected which amounted to 215 students selected.The result shows that the functional qualities of the hostels were perceived among the students to be well aboveaverage (55.3%). Similarly, both aesthetics (95.8%) and structural (89.3%) qualities of the hostels were perceived tobe excellent among the students. Also, respondents were satisfied with various services and amenities provided in theHalls of Residence (54.4%) and 35.3% expressed neutral satisfaction. The study concluded that, Physical qualities andSatisfaction are important in the study of Students' Housing Design.


This article explores the possibilities of art as social practice in the context of the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is inspired by notions of art having the capacity to move beyond the spaces of galleries into an expanded field, and thus beyond the visual and into the social. The article examines the potential for sculpture to play a transformative role in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, and in transforming the gender relations that shape the dynamics of the spread of the disease. These ideas are developed through discussion of research conducted in Uganda and in the UK, which sought to develop forms of sculptural practice for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in Uganda. The article explores the ways in which a series of soap sculptures are an effective tool in the fight against the disease, particularly in communities with high rates of illiteracy and in which discussion of sex and sexuality remains largely taboo. The article contends that countering taboo and facilitating dialogue between women and men, thus encouraging attitudinal and behavioural change, are perhaps the most significant impacts that this form of sculpture can make. This is because while awareness of the disease in Uganda is often high, having the capacity to discuss and act upon this awareness is often problematic, largely because of fear, stigma and taboo, and the unequal gender relations that determine the nature of men and women's sexual lives. The article concludes that the transformative effects of the soap sculptures are revealed in the ways in which they challenge taboos, tackle fear and stigma, and facilitate dialogue between men and women.


Development Index of Village (IPD) is part of a development plan Rural Development Information System (SIPDs) and Rural Area Development is based on Law No. 6 of 2014 on the village of Article 86, which is one of its verses says "Government and Local Government shall develop an information system of the village and the Development of rural areas". Development Index of Village (IPD) was built by the Village Potential Census data (Podes) issued by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) conducted within a period of 3 (three) years. There are five (5) dimensions of rural development index (IPD) is the first basic service, the condition of infrastructure, third-accessibility / transport, public services fourth, and fifth Implementation of government. IPD village classifies into Villages, Village Developing and Village Self. Based on the research results Hidayati (2015) obtained the data that the proportion of the population living below the national poverty line in Tuban regency suffered progress backwards with PHI value of - 0.293, the ratio of depth of poverty in the district Tuban also retreated with PHI value of - 0.141. Similarly, the ratio of employment to population aged 15 years and over in Tuban experiencing progress backwards with PHI value of - 0.063. While Indicator of education in almost all districts in Tuban, many have not reached the target or targets were heading except for indicators dropout rate (DO) of children aged 7-15 years (2.2.z), figure Attrition SD (2.f) and figure Dropout SMP (2.g). These facts are an indication that the achievement of development in Tuban Regency still needs a big effort to be improved. Therefore, in order to improve the development strategy in Tuban regency proper and appropriate program / target location, it is necessary to conduct a study to first identify the achievement of Village Development Index in each Village and District based on 5 Dimension of IPD and conducted Clusterization of Village Development per District in Tuban Regency based IPD (Podes 2014). In order to achieve these objectives are used IPD scorecard and IPD maping techniques. And the result is the majority in almost all districts in Tuban Regency IPD performance related to the dimensions of economic infrastructure, communication infrastructure and information and public services in the field of sports is still far from the target Minimum Service Standards Tuban. IPD achievements are related to the dimensions of energy infrastructure, health and sanitation infrastructure and transportation accessibility, public service in the field of public health and self-reliance in governance shows that almost all districts in Tuban Regency have reached the Minimum Service Standards target. The dimension of governance is a dimension whose level of development achievement does not have a red scorecard for all sub-districts. The village with the highest IPD achievement in Tuban Regency is Sukosari Village, Soko District whereas the lowest IPD achievement is Ngrejeng village, Grabagan sub-district. The percentage of classification of village status in Tuban Regency covers 2.57% of the villages, 90.68% for developing villages and independent villages as much as 6.75%. Based on Cluster Mapping of Village Development Index, Grabagan District is a sub-district with the Lowest Village Development Index level, especially in terms of its infrastructure development dimension. Next Kerek District and District Kenduruan as the second lowest cluster. While the District Jatirogo, Bancar, Tambakboyo, Bangilan, Senori, Parengan, Soko and Semanding. As a sub-district with the highest cluster that has a Village Development Index above 64.09 is District Jenu, Merakurak, Tuban, Cross, Widang, Plumpang, Rengel, Montong and Singgahan


The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of statistical and computer processing methods as a tool for analyzing dam safety piezometric monitoring data. Statistical methods are used in this analysis to model a relationship between the head recorded by 72 individual piezometers and various time-averages of antecedent headwater and tailwater elevations at TVA's Tellico Dam, using regression. Linear probabilistic models based on steady-flow equations are determined to help interpret observed data. Results of a correlation analysis show generally strong correlation between the observed piezometric elevations and antecedent headwater/tailwater elevations. Correlation results were generally consistent with the location of the instrumentation within the respective sections. A regression analysis was applied to the piezometric data, and results are discussed. An important potential application for the regression analysis presented is in the area of data validation and quality control.


Background Macrostructural and microstructural neuroimaging measures are potential biomarkers in Huntington's disease (HD). Macrostructural measures are generally derived from structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while microstructure can be measured using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which indexes the properties of water molecules within white matter (WM) tissue. HD is associated with WM volume and integrity loss but how these two measures interact is not fully understood. Aims To investigate the relationship between diffusion metrics and brain volume in healthy controls. Methods 3T MRI and DTI data from 51 control subjects taken from the TRACK-HD and PADDINGTON studies were analysed. Regression analysis and Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) were used to assess the associations between whole brain diffusion metrics: fractional anisotropy; mean diffusivity; axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity, and volumetric measures: whole brain volume; WM and grey matter (GM) volumes (all adjusted for total intracranial volume). Results Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between all diffusion metrics and both whole brain and WM volumes. No significant relationship was found between GM and FA. Preliminary TBSS results suggest a significant positive association between whole brain volume and FA in several regions, including the cingulate gyrus, pre- and post central gyri and the putamen. Conclusions We demonstrated an association between whole brain and WM volume and diffusion-based measures of tissue integrity; this relationship is present in the absence of any disease-related changes. These results may aid our understanding of the underlying pathology and heterogeneity in HD and have implications for biomarker development in the condition.


This tutorial addresses how both the Object Management Group (OMG) specifications and the implementation choices made by middleware providers and application developers affect Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) application scalability. We will cover a range of scalability issues, starting with Object Request Broker (ORB) intemals and working outward to full-scale applications, addressing issues such as connection management, Portable Object Adapter (POA) scalability features, multithreading, object lifecycle issues, object location, system configuration, maintenance, and management, and common application architectures. This tutorial is not language-centric and is useful to developers using Java, C++, or any other language to develop CORBAbased applications.


A novel fast algorithm for computing the minimum MSE decision feedback equalizer settings is proposed. The equalizer filters are computed indirectly, first by estimating the channel, and then by computing the coefficients in the frequency domain with the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). Approximating the correlation matrices by circulant matrices facilitates the whole computation with very small performance loss. The fractionally spaced equalizer settings are derived. The performance of the fast algorithm is evaluated through simulation. The effects of the channel estimation error and finite precision arithmetic are briefly analyzed. Results of simulation show the superiority of the proposed scheme.


In order to effectively reuse the design knowledge of product family life cycle development and support holistic and rapid individual product design, this article presents a new meta-model-based systemic customization design method for complex product systems within a product-pedigree. The proposed method aims to synthetically analyze the common and adaptive customer demands and product features of a product-pedigree of complex product systems and to quickly respond to the changing demands based on knowledge accumulation in the field of customization design. The key to implement such a method is (1) to construct a product-pedigree-oriented product meta-model with a four-layered architecture where it is possible to achieve a high degree of abstraction of product and (2) to develop a special technique for configuring the meta-model of the complex product systems. We have tested the proposed method with the rapid design of product-pedigree of a high-speed train's bogies as an illustrative example. In this work, a rapid customization design prototype system has been developed and applied to the design of a high-speed train's bogie to illustrate how to construct a product meta-model and how to conduct configuration design on different layers and variant design for generating new products.


Yam (Dioscorea cayennensis subsp. rotundata (Poir) J. Miege, is an important staple food and source of carbohydrate for people in developing countries, especially West Africa. Yam production is hampered by its inability to control dormancy adequately. The goal of this study was to investigate the molecular characteristic of dormancy. A time course protein analysis and RNA fingerprinting were carried out at 0, 2, 4, 7, and 15 days by using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate – Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), respectively. Total RNA was isolated from dormant yam tubers incubated at 32°C ± 2?C at relative humidity of 50% ± 5%. Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) generated from total RNA was subjected to AFLP techniques to identify differentially expressed genes up or down-regulated during dormancy. cDNA-AFLP results using different primer combinations revealed an array of transcript derived fragments (TDFs). About 14% of the TDFs were physiologically regulated either up or down or transiently induced, while 86% were expressed constitutively. Since variations in TDFs represent expression of developmentally regulated genes of interest, our results suggest that dormancy could be controlled through regulation of transcripts. This study may provide an avenue for the genetic manipulation of yam dormancy for improved varieties, and thus help to increase the number of yam generations to more than one within a year.


Recent advances in the field of RNA interference (RNAi) have enabled researchers to conduct in depth investigations of gene function using RNAi libraries. Our second-generation shRNA libraries consist of over 200,000 short hairpin RNA constructs targeting over 45,000 human and mouse genes modeled after primary miRNA transcripts. Each hairpin is linked to a unique 60 nucleotide identification sequence, which serves as a barcode and allows us to virtually count the number of cells that contain a specific hairpin in a cell population. Small changes in barcode copy number can be monitored through the use of microarray technology. The barcode can be amplified from a cell''s genomic DNA and fluorescently labeled to produce a probe that is hybridized to a microarray. I applied this RNAi barcode screening method in a screen using a complex mixture of 7500 library hairpins in a p53 isogenic HCT 116 colon cancer cells to identify genes that modify sensitivity to a common chemotherapeutic, doxorubicin. This work illustrates the powerful use of RNAi screens to search for genes that synergize with existing therapeutics, and suggests strategies for genetically informed combination therapies.


E.C.T. and Drugs SIR,-I am grateful to Dr. Gibbons (November 2, p. 1119) for his valuable criticisms of my book. They will be taken into account in the forthcoming second edition. I should like, however, to correct two of his statements. He writes that I advise E.C.T. " in the treatment of chronic anxiety, severe hysteria, and other neurotic disorders," and he considers this unorthodox. In fact, however, I wrote (page 12), "'It is generally accepted that the milder neuroses should be treated by psychotherapy." Under "Anxiety neurosis" in the index I cite six procedures which are adjuvant to psychotherapy. I recommended E.C.T. (page 16) " when the neuroses are so severe as to be obviously resistant to psychotherapy." This is a course recommended by many experts as being preferable to leucotomy, which is often recommended by orthodox " psychiatrists." The reviewer also states that the indications for E.C.T. are " cursorily dealt with," although 15 pages are devoted to the subject.-I am, etc., A. SPENCER PATERSON. London W.1.


The authors presents in the article based on observations of 89 patients questions related to the changes of intracardial hemodynamics in patients with bronchial asthma and arterial hypertention (AH) observed using echocardiography. Disorders of indices of intracardial hemodynamics in patients with bronchial asthma and arterial hypertention have more evident negative tendency than that in patients with isolated bronchial asthma (BA) or arterial hypertention. It was established that such patients (without taking into consideration the degree of severity of BA) have considerably an increased volume indices of left and right ventricule, increased pressure in the lung artery, right ventricule hypertrophy, left ventricule concentric hypertrophy as well as disorders of diastolic heart function of relaxation type. Comparing indices of intracardial hemodynamics depending on the degree of severity of BA it was found that progression of lung hypertension, disorders of diastolic and systolic heart functions correlates with the degree of severity of BA. It leads to earlier formation of biventricular heart failure.


Summary The cell-free supernatant containing bacteriocin ST194BZ, produced by Lactobacillus plantarum ST194BZ, inhibits the growth of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Strain ST194BZ produces two bacteriocins, viz. ST194BZ(a) of 3.3 kDa and ST194BZ(b) of 14.0 kDa, based on tricine-SDS-PAGE. Reduction in bacteriocin activity was observed after treatment with proteinase K, trypsin and pronase, but not with catalase and a-amylase. A maximum total bacteriocin activity of 12 800 AU/mL was recorded after 14 h in MRS broth. In MRS broth adjusted to pH=5.5, 6.0 or 6.5, an equal level of bacteriocin production of 12 800 AU/mL was recorded. Optimal production (12 800 AU/ mL) was recorded in the presence of tryptone (20 g/L), a combination of tryptone and meat extract (1:0.6), or tryptone and yeast extract (1:0.6). Growth of strain ST194BZ in the presence of 10 or 20 g/L of D-mannose yielded bacteriocin levels of 12 800 AU/mL. In the presence of 30 or 40 g/L of mannose the activity levels doubled to 25 600 AU/mL. No difference in antibacterial activity was recorded when strain ST194BZ was grown in the presence of 2 g/L of K2HPO4 and 2 g/L of KH2PO4. Concentrations of 10, 20 and 50 g/L of KH2PO4 yielded double activity (25 600 AU/mL). Supplementing MRS with 1 g/L or more glycerol inhibited the production of bacteriocin. Growth in the presence of vitamins did not stimulate bacteriocin production. No plasmids were recorded for strain ST194BZ, suggesting that the genes encoding bacteriocin production are located on the genome.


With the increasing number of online shopping services, the number of users and the quantity of visual and textual information on the Internet, there is a pressing need for intelligent recommendation systems that analyze the user's behavior amongst multiple domains and help them to find the desirable information without the burden of search. However, there is little research that has been done on complex recommendation scenarios that involve knowledge transfer across multiple domains. This problem is especially challenging when the involved data sources are complex in terms of the limitations on the quantity and quality of data that can be crawled. The goal of this paper is studying the connection between visual and textual inputs for better analysis of a certain domain, and to examine the possibility of knowledge transfer from complex domains for the purpose of efficient recommendations. The methods employed to achieve this study include both design of architecture and algorithms using deep learning technologies to analyze the effect of deep pixel-wise semantic segmentation and text integration on the quality of recommendations. We plan to develop a practical testing environment in a fashion domain.


OVSF codes are used as channelization codes to support applications with different bandwidth requirements for the downlink of 3G mobile communication systems. The code assignment and reassignment problem focuses on the subject of minimizing the number of code relocations. OVSF (Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor) code assignment method considering traffic characteristics in the WCDMA systems. The previously proposed Dynamic Code Assignment (DCA) scheme allows code reassignments to improve code utilization, but induces some service delay time to on-going calls, unlikely assumptions, including fixed service data rates and code-limited system capacities. Thus, OVSF code tree has insufficient number of available codes. Method/Statistical Analysis: In order to solve these problems and efficiently utilized OVSF codes, in this paper presents novel Glow warm Swarm Intelligence (GSO) based approach for active OVSF code assignment in WCDMA based networks. GSO algorithm is completely dependent on the behavioral pattern of glowworm (fireflies). The optimization algorithm requires an understanding of this behavioral pattern. The intensity of the emission of Lucifer in can be changed by glow worms which glow at different intensities. In order to improve the ability of the GSO it employs various phases until code allocation is completed. Results: By permitting only codes in the data branch to be reassigned the quality of service guarantee for real time traffic is possible. The simulation results shows that proposed GSO schemes not only guarantees the QoS but also gives high code utilization which is comparable with other existing techniques. Conclusion/ Application: Performances of these methods are evaluated in terms of blocking probability, spectral efficiency, delay and throughput. In addition to this different GSO operator are tested under varying traffic loads to increase the overall system performance.


Compensation of infinite-dimensional input or sensor dynamics in SISO, LTI systems is achieved using the backstepping method. For MIMO, LTI systems with distributed input or sensor dynamics, governed by diffusion with counter-convection, we develop a methodology for constructing control laws and observers that compensate the infinite-dimensional actuator or sensor dynamics. The explicit construction of the compensators are based on novel transformations, which can be considered of "backstepping-forwarding" type, of the finite-dimensional state of the plant and of the infinite-dimensional actuator or sensor states. Based on these transformations we construct explicit Lyapunov functionals which prove exponential stability of the closed-loop system, or convergence of the estimation error in the case of observer design. Finally, we illustrate the effectiveness of our controller with a numerical example.


Rhythmic events in female reproductive physiology, including ovulation, are tightly controlled by the circadian timing system. The molecular clock, a feedback loop oscillator of clock gene transcription factors, dictates rhythms of gene expression in the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis. Circadian disruption due to environmental factors (eg, shift work) or genetic manipulation of the clock has negative impacts on fertility. Although the central pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus classically regulates the timing of ovulation, we have shown that this rhythm also depends on phasic sensitivity to LH. We hypothesized that this rhythm relies on clock function in a specific cellular compartment of the ovarian follicle. To test this hypothesis we generated mice with deletion of the Bmal1 locus in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) (Granulosa Cell Bmal1 KO; GCKO) or theca cells (TCs) (Theca Cell Bmal1 KO; TCKO). Reproductive cycles, preovulatory LH secretion, ovarian morphology and behavior were not grossly altered in GCKO or TCKO mice. We detected phasic sensitivity to LH in wild-type littermate control (LC) and GCKO mice but not TCKO mice. This decline in sensitivity to LH is coincident with impaired fertility and altered patterns of LH receptor (Lhcgr) mRNA abundance in the ovary of TCKO mice. These data suggest that the TC is a pacemaker that contributes to the timing and amplitude of ovulation by modulating phasic sensitivity to LH. The TC clock may play a critical role in circadian disruption-mediated reproductive pathology and could be a target for chronobiotic management of infertility due to environmental circadian disruption and/or hormone-dependent reprogramming in women.


The condensation reaction between methyldopa sesquihydrate and ethylenediamine is reported and the assembled nanoplatform possesses green luminescence at 520 nm with excitation‐independent feature. The employment of sodium borohydride during synthesis has stabilized the nanoparticle (NP) size and suppressed uncontrolled autoxidation processes. It is appealing to observe that the fluorescence as well as colorimetric titration demonstrates trace level monitoring of silver ions, and the detection limits are determined to be 68 × 10−9 m (fluorometric) and 71 × 10−9 m (colorimetric), respectively. The optical response to Ag+ ions is assigned to a static quenching process and the corresponding redox reaction including particle aggregation may cause the "on‐off" change. During in vitro studies, two living cell lines (HeLa cells and T‐cells) are used and the negligible cytotoxicity of such NP is verified via flow cytometry and 3‐(4,5‐dimethythiazol‐. 2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assays. More importantly, the visualization of silver recognition in two cells is realized and the availability of polydopamine‐type NPs for the purpose of bio‐medical evaluation can generate considerable interests in future studies.


The basic principle in developing an approach for the agricultural strategy in the Fifth Five Year Plan is that instead of super-imposing a growth rate of agricultural sector to be achieved in the Fifth Five Year Plan, it would be desirable to find out the achievable targets at the disaggregate levels of the agricultural sector. This exercise would give the planners an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of each of the sub-groups in the agricultural sector. Following this approach it is suggested that the overall objectives of the agricultural strategy in the Fifth Five Year Plan of Gujarat should be based on the following premises: (1) It should provide at least coarse foodgrains and pulses for the weaker section of the population in Gujarat state to meet their minimum food requirement. (2) As Gujarat has comparative advantage in oilseeds, cotton, tobacco, sugarcane and fruits (particularly mango), and dairying the production of these commodities should be maximized with the available resources and new investments should be directed towards this effort. (3) Agricultural labour employed at present in agricultural sector should get such minimum was that would bring them above poverty line. (4) The economy of small farmers should be improved in such a way that by the end of the Fifth Five Year Plan a substantial portion of this section is above poverty line. (5) The lot of marginal farmers should be improved by providing them additional employment in agriculture and efforts should be made to bring a substantial portion of this sector above poverty line. (6) As Gujarat is essentially a dry farming area, a major emphasis should be laid on the improvement of dry farming. (7) The major emphasis should be for protective irrigation against the natural hazards of the failure of rains during the later half of monsoon when crops are lost for want of minimum irrigation. (8) Input use particularly fertilizer should be increased substantially both in the irrigated areas and dry areas. (9) Irrigation facilities should be increased to the possible extent. To meet these objectives emphasis should be laid to increase productivity of bajra from 1088 kg to at least 1250 kg per hectare. The areas under coarse grains would remain at the same level as in 1973-74 but their productivities would be improved. The areas under rice and wheat would marginally increase and their productivities would increase substantially. There would be special emphasis on the increase in the productivity of pulses. There will be special emphasis on enhancing the productivity of groundnut. The production of oilseeds would increase from 1778 thousand tons to 2269 thousand tons. The productivity of cotton would rise from 197 kg in 1973-74 to 304 kg per hectare in the Fifth Five Year Plan. This would increase the production from 23 lakh bales in 1973-74 to 29 lakh bales by the end of the Fifth Five Year Plan. The daily per capita consumption of milk would increase from 175 gms to 200 gms by the end of the Fifth Five Year Plan. The tentative targets for the Fifth Five Year Plan would be based on the achievable growth rates of diferent sub-groups of the agriculutral sector. If these targets are achieved the compound rate of growth in agriculture in Fifth Five Year Plan would be 6.18 per cent. To achieve these targets with the constraint of social justice, special efforts will have to be made for the development of infrastructure, drought prone area programme, and programmes for small and marginal farmers and agricultural labourers. The relationship between the development of infrastructure, special programmes and input and output programme structure, special programmes and input and output programmes should be established. Based on these relationships the financial outlay of the Fifth Five Year Plan for the agricultural sector can be allocated among various programmes and activities.


The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses authorizes and organizes the taxonomic classification of viruses. Thus far, the detailed classifications for all viruses are neither complete nor free from dispute. For example, the current missing label rates in GenBank are 12.1% for family label and 30.0% for genus label. Using the proposed Natural Vector representation, all 2,044 single-segment referenced viral genomes in GenBank can be embedded in . Unlike other approaches, this allows us to determine phylogenetic relations for all viruses at any level (e.g., Baltimore class, family, subfamily, genus, and species) in real time. Additionally, the proposed graphical representation for virus phylogeny provides a visualization of the distribution of viruses in . Unlike the commonly used tree visualization methods which suffer from uniqueness and existence problems, our representation always exists and is unique. This approach is successfully used to predict and correct viral classification information, as well as to identify viral origins; e.g. a recent public health threat, the West Nile virus, is closer to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex based on our visualization. Based on cross-validation results, the accuracy rates of our predictions are as high as 98.2% for Baltimore class labels, 96.6% for family labels, 99.7% for subfamily labels and 97.2% for genus labels.


The application for federal student aid is longer than the tax returns filled out by the majority of US households. Research suggests that complexity in the aid process undermines its effectiveness in inducing more students into college. A previous Tax Policy and the Economy paper showed that most of the data items in the aid application did not affect the distribution of aid and that the much shorter set of variables available in IRS data could be used to closely replicate the existing distribution of aid. This added momentum to a period of discussion and activity around simplification in Congress and the US Department of Education. In this article, we provide a 5-year retrospective of what has changed in the aid application process, what has not, and the possibilities for future reform. While there has been some streamlining in the process of applying for aid, it has fallen far short of its goals. Two dozen questions were removed from the aid application and a dozen added, reducing the number of questions from 127 to 116. Funding for college has also been complicated by the growth of a parallel system for aid: the tax system. A massive expansion in federal tax incentives for college, in particular the American Opportunity Tax Credit, has led to millions of households completing paperwork for both the IRS and the US Department of Education in order to qualify for college funding.


The Chalmers AHBM was setup in LS-DYNA to mimic maximum voluntary contraction
(MVC) experiments, and to find the optimum cervical muscle activation
parameters for a setup using an optimization model in LS-OPT. The setup in LSDYNA
incorporated a discrete beam element with a high stiffness, attached to the
head of the AHBM, making it resistant to change in length. Pulling against this
beam is similar to pushing against a rigid clamp used in the MVC experimental
setups with human volunteers. The AHBM head is constrained in 3D space to
have small translational and rotational displacements. Hence, it was considered an
apt analogy in the numerical simulations of the AHBM, towards obtaining MVC.
A linear response surface was used to obtain optimum values for muscle activation
parameters in the design space, with sequential domain reduction and tolerance
of convergence set to ±1%. The motion of the models was post-processed in LSPrePost.
Muscle activation patterns obtained from optimizations for the two models
- one with 9 muscle groups and the other with 13 muscle groups in the neck, were
compared with the MVC experiment conducted by Siegmund et al. (2007), and
later used for simulation of the AHBM with applied dynamic load in 5 different
directions, 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180, using a previously implemented 1 DOF PID
controller for the AHBM by Osth (2014) as well as a newly developed 3 DOF PID
controller, which was based on functions in LS-DYNA. The dynamic spatial tuning
patterns for the optimization models were compared to those obtained from the
human volunteer sled experiments conducted by Olafsdottir et al. (2015). The muscle
activation patterns from the optimizations showed great variation compared to
those obtained from the MVC experiments, due to difference in muscle modelling,
constraints on the AHBM and the optimization setup. The dynamic spatial tuning
patters for the optimization setups with 1 DOF PID controller were scaled in the
same directions as the muscles were activated in the MVC optimizations, however,
the 3 DOF PID controller behaved differently. Larger translational and rotational
head displacements were observed in the optimization models as compared to the
experimental model. Models with 3 DOF PID controller resulted in significantly
different kinematics as compared to the models with 1 DOF PID controller.


We examine cross-national variation in the ethnic gradient in aspirations among 14-year-olds in England, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden by using data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries, collected in 2009/2010. Results show that most ethnic minority groups are more likely to have university aspirations than ethnic majority youth. The most consistent minority advantage is found in England and Sweden, consistent with the interpretation that the ample scope for choice in progression through these school systems allows high ambitions of minorities to play out well. However, minority advantage of some groups is also present in the Netherlands and Germany, where transitions are more heavily conditional on previous performance. The pattern for immigrant generational status varies across countries and ethnic origins. There is no consistent empirical evidence indicating that aspiration differences between ethnic minority and majority youth will diminish due to assimilation processes across the generations.


This paper describes a genetic differential competitive learning algorithm, which is proposed to prevent fixation to the local minima and improve the unsupervised training results for the classification of remotely sensed data. The differential competitive learning (DCL) combines competitive and differential-Hebbian learning and represents a neural version of adaptive delta modulation. This learning law uses the neural signal velocity as a local unsupervised reinforcement mechanism. The Jeffries-Matusita (J-M) distance, which is a measure of statistical separability of pairs of the 'trained' clusters, is used for the evaluation of the proposed algorithm. The Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data will be used for simulation to show the effectiveness of the algorithm.


I begin this paper by describing several methods that can be used to analyze count data. Starting with relatively familiar maximum likelihood methods-Poisson and negative binomial regression-I then introduce the less well known (and less well understood) quasi-likelihood approach. This method (like negative binomial regression) allows one to model overdispersion, but it can also be generalized to deal with autocorrelation. I then investigate the small-sample properties of these estimators in the presence of overdispersion and autocorrelation by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, I apply these methods to the analysis of data on the foundings of labor unions in the U.S. Quasi-likelihood methods are found to have some advantages over Poisson and negative binomial regression, especially in the presence of autocorrelation.


Problem statement: One way to study the effects on an exposed population is to conduct monitoring studies, using relevant biological parameters with a short term manifestation, such as cytogenetic analysis express the damages to the DNA or to the chromosomes resulting from exposure can be identified. The present study was thus designed to elucidate the effect motor garage environment on the workers. Approach: Peripheral blood culture was performed with blood collected from workers of Motor garages in Ahmadabad, situated at central Gujarat region. Our objective was to establish the relationship of the environment induced Micro Nucleus (MN) and Chromosomal Aberrations (CA) with non-occupational factors, such as the smoking and drinking habits since quality of life and nutritional status are the key factors that influence toxicity profile. Results: On comparing the smokers of the exposed group with that of smokers of control group the structural chromosomal aberration and micronucleus induction frequency was significant high (p<0.02) in the exposed group. Exposed individual with non smoking habit also exhibited remarkable increase in the CA and MN values with a significant increase (p<0.02) when compared with control. Considering the drinking habit of the exposed individual to that of the control, the exposed group showed significant increase (p<0.05) in the CA as well as MN. Conclusion: This indicates that occupational exposure to the many chemicals of the garage environment can have Genotoxic effects and these effects increases with the increase in period of exposure.


SUMMARY: The most important factors which control the accumulation of primary magma in the mantle are: (1) The degree of partial melting required for permeability, which is suggested as10–20%. (2) The creep properties of the partially molten mantle, the type of creep probably being Nabarro-Herring creep. (3) The type of flow of the ascending mantle material; the flow may be parallel or divergent dependent on the depth. (4) The depth of extension of the feeder dykes depending on the tensional stress distribution with depth and the rheological properties of the mantle. It is shown that the partially molten mantle becomes stratified into layers of magma and residuum, the layers of residuum being one or several metres thick. The stratified mantle constitutes the primary source of magma. A dispersed source system is formed in ascending convection currents, while a large magma chamber is formed in ascending plumes. The small diffusion rates imply that the melting is of a fractional type rather than batch melting.


P-type ATPases are found in all kingdoms of life and constitute a wide range of cation transporters, primarily for H+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and transition metal ions such as Cu(I), Zn(II), and Cd(II). They have been studied through a wide range of techniques, and research has gained very significant insight on their transport mechanism and regulation. Here, we review the structure, function, and dynamics of P2-ATPases including Ca2+-ATPases and Na,K-ATPase. We highlight mechanisms of functional transitions that are associated with ion exchange on either side of the membrane and how the functional cycle is regulated by interaction partners, autoregulatory domains, and off-cycle states. Finally, we discuss future perspectives based on emerging techniques and insights. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 89 is June 22, 2020. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


This thesis contains three chapters discussing different aspects of financial markets. The first chapter studies the impact of learning information about future non-fundamental shocks on stock price dynamics and provides a new insight into how rational speculators can cause inefficiency and volatility to stock markets during periods of information technology advancement. I construct an infinite-period competitive market model and analyze how an increase in non-fundamental signal precision affects trading strategy of rational investors, price formation, and efficiency. Contradicting to traditional rational speculative theory, I found that higher non-fundamental signal precision can increase stock return volatility, increase price sensitivity to both current and future non-fundamental shocks, and decrease price informativeness. Moreover, even though investors have better information about future stock prices, they can predict stock returns less accurately. This is because the investors expect that their future counterparts will also trade more aggressively on new non-fundamental information that arrives in the future, causing future stock prices to be endogenously more volatile to new non-fundamental shocks which are unpredictable to the investors at the present.
The second chapter develops a game-theoretic dynamic model to study strategic dealer choice of buy-side investors in over-the-counter (OTC) secondary asset markets and provides a new theory of why periphery dealers, despite locating at inferior positions in OTC dealer network, can survive and co-exist with core dealers. My theory is based on a premise that buy-side investors form a non-binding long-term relationship with core dealers to obtain costly liquidity in bad periods. The main finding is that periphery dealers can help investors with infrequent liquidity needs, those who cannot form the relationship with core dealers directly due to commitment problem, successfully obtain costly liquidity in bad periods. By connecting with several investors and forming relationship with a core dealer on their behalf, periphery dealer will have enough power to pressure the core dealer to commit to the relationship. Therefore, investors with infrequent liquidity needs will trade with periphery dealers to obtain the benefit of long-term relationship, granting market power to periphery dealers to co-exist with core dealers. The third chapter develops a game-theoretic model to study strategic formation of financial network. In the model, a finite number of risk-averse agents who invest in risky projects can issue and trade forward contracts (i.e. assets) to obtain fractions of investment return of other agents. All trades are bilateral, each involving two parties with trading relationship privately bargaining on asset price and quantity. The main objective is to examine how structural properties of trading network determine trading decision of the agents and equilibrium asset allocation. To this end, I use the concept of line graph transformation to identify network of asset flows and map positions of trading links onto the equilibrium outcome. The main insight is that equilibrium asset allocation corresponds to a generalized Bonacich centrality of the network of asset flows.


fails or is not available or when the clinical condition progresses. Faced with the neesity for a laparotomy, principally to prevent colonic perforation, what should be the procedure of choice? We agree that in the presence of frank caecal perforation or gangrene caecal exteriorisation would be appropriate. However, we have recently seen two cases (one patient with uraemia and one with subclinical hypothyroidism) where laparotomy was prompted by failed conservative measures (including colonoscopy), caecal tenderness on examination, and caecal diameters of 13 and 15 cm. At laparotomy the condition was confirmed and a transverse loop colostomy was performed, after which full colonoscopic decompression was achieved by the operating surgeon using a 60 cm flexible sigmoidoscope. In one patient this decompression was repeated in the postoperative period and in both cases the patients made full recoveries. This recent experience serves to emphasise that, although there is no obvious mechanical obstruction in these cases, a grossly distended transverse colon may well lead to temporary obstruction at both flexures. It is therefore unlikely that a single stoma will achieve full decompression unless this is associated with some form of endoscopic decompression at the time of surgery or immediately afterwards. We would suggest that this can be achieved through a transverse loop colostomy and the use of a 60 cm flexible sigmoidoscope.


Although the "stop snitching" phenomenon has brought recent attention to crime reporting, researchers have recognized for a long time the importance of this issue. Early studies focused on individual-level factors related to reporting, but recently, researchers have begun to examine neighborhood-level predictors. Most of these studies, however, omit key individual-level predictors of reporting and provide relatively little insight into the individual-level processes through which neighborhood context might affect reporting. This study uses survey data from a multisite, school-based study to examine whether neighborhood structural characteristics and individual-level attitudes and experiences are related to youths' intentions to report crime. In addition, we assess whether neighborhood characteristics influence reporting via their effect on individual-level attitudes and experiences. We find that neighborhood poverty has an inverse relationship with crime reporting intentions and that numerous individual-level measures are associated with reporting, including attitudes toward the police, delinquency, and perceptions of the community. Importantly, the effects of neighborhood characteristics are reduced when youths' attitudes and experiences are included in the model. Taken together, our findings suggest that neighborhood context might affect reporting by shaping the attitudes and experiences of youth.