The relationship between ethanol, corn and oil prices are analyzed under two alternative situations, depending on whether or not consumers purchase ethanol on the basis of its contribution to mileage. In all cases, market prices of ethanol can be above or below the consumer price paid for ethanol. With a tax credit, we determine several key parameters affecting the price relationships between corn, ethanol and gasoline, including the relative value of the fuel tax and tax credit, and the value of corn returned to the market in the form of by-products. The outcome is further complicated if the mandates are binding or if price contingent corn production subsidies like deficiency payments are available. Empirical analysis of historical U.S. price relationships assesses the validity of the alternative models and the extent to which each policy impacted the market. The implicit subsidy of the tax credit and mandates is often higher than the observed corn price itself. We discuss several reasons for this including how corn production subsidies cause the corn price to fall below that which would occur if there was no ethanol policy. Therefore, without corn production subsidies in the past, no ethanol production would have occurred, even with a tax credit or a mandate. Furthermore, corn producers do not benefit at all from ethanol policies when the deficiency payment program is operational and very little from the tax credit when the mandate is binding. We extend de Gorter and Just's concept of water in the tax credit to include the premium due to a binding mandate. The resulting rectangular deadweight costs are estimated for the past 25 years and are found to dwarf standard triangular deadweight cost measures of traditional farm subsidies. Those who emphasize the benefits of ethanol policy in reducing tax costs of farm programs ignore new deadweight costs created by ethanol policy including an increase in the deadweight costs of the farm subsidy program. Furthermore, farm subsidies increase both the tax costs of the tax credit and the deadweight costs due to ethanol policy. Our theoretical framework provides a foundation for future research on biofuel policies while the empirical analysis gives a perspective on the relative importance of several key parameters determining the effects of past U.S. ethanol policy.


OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of remifentanil hydrochloride on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in healthy propofol-anesthetized dogs. ANIMALS 6 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES Each dog underwent 2 experimental treatments separated by a 7-day interval. In 1 treatment, anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with a CRI of propofol (0.6 mg/kg/min); dogs also received a CRI of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. In the other treatment, anesthesia was similarly induced and maintained with propofol; dogs also received a CRI of remifentanil (0.3 μg/kg/min). Doppler echocardiographic and hemodynamic variables of interest were determined at baseline (before anesthesia) and at 20, 40, and 60 minutes following the simultaneous start of the 2 CRIs of each treatment; all CRIs were administrated for 60 minutes. RESULTS For the 2 treatments, end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indices did not differ from baseline or at any time point. Peak tissue Doppler-derived mitral annulus systolic velocity decreased from baseline with both treatments; however, no differences were found between treatments at any time point. Mean arterial blood pressure decreased similarly with both treatments. Heart rate and Doppler-determined cardiac index decreased significantly with the propofol-remifentanil treatment, compared with findings for the propofol-saline solution treatment. For the propofol-remifentanil treatment, the ratio of peak velocity flow in early diastole to that in late diastole remained > 1.80, whereas the ratio of early to late Doppler-derived mitral annulus velocity had a normal relaxation pattern. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of this study indicated that a CRI of remifentanil administered along with a CRI of propofol does not impair left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in healthy dogs.


[<200
  words] The article synthesizes various schools of thought on digital platforms, ranging from critical political economy to information systems management and design studies. I provide both a descriptive model of structural ramifications of platform-based infrastructure and an epistemological rationale for studying it. The paper tentatively outlines key structural principles and a set of hypotheses: I propose that digital platforms implement a twofold logic of (micro-level) control and (macro-level) domination, while at the same time having a range of generative outcomes. I enumerate different platform business models and attendant degrees of market dominance. I conclude that, in order to assess platform logic for academic or regulatory purposes, a range of problems pertaining to information access have to be addressed, and equally so from the point of view of dominant platform companies, whose impact and leverage might otherwise be wrongly estimated or misinterpreted. Moreover, in order to understand the vast range of contingencies at play in platform logic, multidisciplinarity is essential: The understandings needed for equitable regulation can be achieved only by synthesizing data science, media studies, economic sociology, and philosophy with studies of infrastructure, management, and design.


Abstract Hip-hop, created by black and Latino youth in the mid-1970s on the East Coast of the United States, is now represented throughout the world. The form's core elements – rapping, deejaying, breaking (dance), and graffiti art – now join an ever-growing and diversifying range of artistic, cultural, intellectual, political, and social practices, products, and performances. The artistic achievements of hip-hop represent a remarkable contribution to world culture; however, the "hip-hop nation" has created not just art and entertainment, but art with the vision and message of changing the world – locally, nationally, and globally. International representations of hip-hop capture and reinterpret hip-hop's history by incorporating local as well as African American aesthetic, cultural, social, and political models. This essay examines the global movement of the hip-hop nation and its artistic incorporation into global youth culture. It considers how that movement is both a social and political process that integrates symbols of African American culture and political struggle.


In the early days of utility development, municipalities sought to shape the new systems in a variety of ways even as private firms struggled to retain control and fend off competition. In scope and consequence, some of the battles dwarfed the contemporary one between local jurisdictions and cable companies over broadband access to the Internet.In this comparative historical study, Jacobson draws upon economic theory to shed light on relationships between technology, market forces, and problems of governance that have arisen in connection with different utility networks over the past two hundred years. He focuses on water, electric, and cable television utility networks and on experiences in four major American cities Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh, arguing that information and transactions costs have played decisive roles in determining how different ownership and regulatory arrangements have functioned in different situations.Using primary sources and bold conceptualizations, Jacobson begins his study by examining the creation of centralized water systems in the first half of the nineteenth century, moves to the building of electric utilities from the 1880s to the 1980s, and concludes with an analysis of cable television franchising from the 1960s to the 1980s. "Ties That Bind" addresses highly practical questions of how to make ownership, regulatory, and contracting arrangements work better and also explores broader concerns about private monopoly and the role of government in society."


Selection on physiological traits is thought to mediate the evolution of individual life-history parameters like reproduction, longevity, and the tradeoffs between them, but almost nothing is known about the relationships between physiological and life-history parameters in the wild. Antioxidants are strong candidates to correlate with life histories because they play a critical role in preventing free radical damage to macromolecules, and many types are involved in sexual signaling and embryo provisioning. Here for the first time we present data on associations between serum antioxidant measures (antioxidant capacity and concentrations of uric acid, vitamin E and carotenoids) and indices of reproductive rate and age in two bird species. After controlling for age, 36% of the variation in hatching rate in Leach's storm-petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa was accounted for by a negative association with antioxidant capacity. Age was negatively associated with uric acid levels. Savannah sparrows Passerculus sandwichensis showed no association between antioxidant capacity and fledging rate, but serum b-carotene levels were weakly positively associated with fledging rate. Because antioxidant levels are known to vary markedly within individuals over time, detection of associations between long-term measures of reproduction and instantaneous antioxidant levels suggests strong (though not necessarily causal) relationships. Relationships between antioxidants and life histories appeared to differ in sparrows and storm-petrels though, likely due to variation in diet, ecology, and life-history evolution in these distantly related species.


The amount of knowledge accessible on the Semantic Web is growing, and there is a need for a scalable solution to facilitate exploring that data. Currently approaches to exploring Semantic Web data either focus on exploring resources individually, following links during exploration, and making little use of collated data, or take the approach of collating and aligning multiple sources into one store for one purpose, and hand-crafting a specific browsing interface onto it. We present an approach that provides a scalable browsing interface, which can browse knowledge from the Semantic Web at will. Our approach creates abstractions of knowledge, collated into facets, which are described using FacetOntology. FacetOntology facilitates descibing facets from RDF data, suitable for use in creating datasets for faceted browsing.


Paliperidone is a new atypical antipsychotic, injectable, long-term, risperidone-derived antipsychotic drug for oral use. Atypical antipsychotics act by blocking dopamine and serotonin receptors in the central nervous system and are used for the treatment of schizophrenia as prevention of their positive and negative symptoms. Based on scientific studies, paliperidone has shown superior effect compared to the others in the same class. It has commonly been assumed that the autism spectrum disorder is due to a set of specific characteristics manifested by deficits of varying degrees in the areas of communication, social interaction, including restrictive and repetitive behaviors. It tends to manifest itself in early childhood, usually at two years of age, or may only be perceived in the school setting. It is a disorder that affects more boys than girls and has its main cause turned to genetic factors. The objective of this report is to present the course and benefit of a new therapy through the use of paliperidone for the case of severe autism, refractory to the other standard medications. Patient INS, 31 years old, with severe autism spectrum disorder, diagnosed at 3 years of age when was started the treatment with infantile Dogmatil. It evolved to use of adult dogmatil, being necessary the suspension of the medication due to adverse reactions related to the reproductive system. Initiated use of Ritalin and Tofranil, with no significant improvement in the clinical and psychic-behavioral development, as well as the side effects that worsened the patient's symptoms. In view of the clinic refractory to the medications of choice for the mentioned pathology, in march 2018 Paliperidone was prescribed, 100mg IM, monthly dose; an atypical antipsychotic, of high cost, not usually provided by the Unified Health System (SUS), as an empirical attempt to control the case. It was observed that its effects were beneficial, resulting in a decrease in headache, allergic reactions, nocturia and improvement of urinary incontinence. In addition, the seizures ceased, the aggressiveness was reduced, the sleep was improved, and the patient did not present rejection to the drug, and therefore the continuous use was indicated. Currently, the patient is followed up with another psychiatrist, monthly, in the state where she lives, which kept the medication due to the excellent results obtained.


During the past two decades, serious intellectual effort by governmental agencies, research institutions, professional societies, and educators has promoted education in the responsible conduct of research (RCR), defined present standards of RCR, and shaped the debate on how best to promote research integrity in the biomedical sciences. However, revisions to the Federal Policy on Research Misconduct in 2000 specifically expanded the policy's scope to include disciplines outside the biomedical and behavioral sciences, thus creating a need for RCR education in such fields as economics, education, mathematics, and linguistics. Even as some institutions have applied the Office of Research Integrity's (ORI) framework for RCR instruction university-wide, academic administrators and faculty from fields beyond the biomedical sciences have rightly noted that several of ORI's nine core instructional areas are tangential or irrelevant to the many disciplines whose research practices differ substantially from those of the biomedical sciences. These disciplines can benefit from the rich history of discourse, policy making, and education in RCR in the biomedical sciences, but they must not simply apply the standards of biomedical and behavioral science to their own, quite different research. Creative leadership from these newly included disciplines is needed to define standards of ethical research in their areas, prepare relevant educational materials, and promote a multidisciplinary perspective on research integrity across the university. The authors suggest that the scope of RCR education for federally funded research in other areas be addressed on two levels: (1) the content of generally applicable RCR education, and (2) the special, discipline-specific content.


This research considers the problem for vibration based damage diagnosis in reinforced concrete slabs. It suggests the analysis of the time domain measured accelerations for the purposes of fault detection and quantification. The measured accelerations from different damage states of the slab are first subjected to initial transforms to bring them to vectors with reasonable component number. These vectors are further transformed using principal components analysis (PCA), which brings their coordinates down to two. In addition to reducing the number of measured acceleration points, PCA clusters the new vectors making distinguishable the different damage states. The results from the application of the suggested method convincingly demonstrate that the method can be applied for fault detection as well as for estimating the damage extent.


Objective: HIV-infected people and elderly people have higher cancer risk, but the combined effects of aging and HIV are not well described. We aimed to evaluate the magnitude of cancer risk in the HIV-infected elderly population. Design: We conducted a case-cohort study including a 5% sample of U.S. Medicare enrollees and all cancer cases aged at least 65 in linked cancer registries. Methods: HIV was identified through Medicare claims. Among the HIV-infected, absolute cancer risk was calculated accounting for the competing risk of death. Associations between HIV and cancer were estimated with weighted Cox regression adjusting for demographic characteristics. Results: Among 469 954 people in the 5% sample, 0.08% had an HIV diagnosis. Overall, 825 776 cancer cases were identified in cancer registries. Over 5 years, 10.1% of the HIV-infected elderly developed cancer, the most common diagnoses comprising lung (5-year cumulative incidence=2.2%), prostate (2.7%, among men), and colorectal cancer (0.9%), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (0.8%). HIV was strongly associated with incidence of Kaposi sarcoma [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=94.4, 95% confidence interval (95%CI)=54.6–163], anal cancer (aHR=34.2, 95%CI=23.9–49.0) and Hodgkin lymphoma (aHR=6.3, 95%CI=2.8–14.3). HIV was also associated with incidence of liver cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and lung cancer (aHR=3.4, 2.6, and 1.6, respectively). Conclusion: In the elderly, HIV infection is associated with higher risk for many cancers, although some associations were weaker than expected, perhaps reflecting effects of non-HIV pathways on cancer development. Due to the effects of HIV and aging, the HIV-infected elderly have a sizeable absolute risk, highlighting a need for cancer prevention.


A 1-month-old girl weighting 3.1 kg was diagnosed as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with pulmonary artery atresia (PA) and aberrant right subclavian artery. Before the operation, pulmonary blood flow from a ducus arteriosus was maintained by lipo prostaglandin E1( PGE1). The patient underwent palliative right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction( pRVOTR) because the proximal aberrant right subclavian artery was stenotic and the ductus arteriosus and branch of the left pulmonary artery were so close. Postoperative course was uneventful and pulmonary artery showed good growth. The pRVOTR as 1st procedure is a useful method for hypoplastic pulmonary artery to get equal and good growth. Although there are controversies about the size of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), 5 or 6 mm diameter of RVOT is recommended for the operative repair of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. We concluded that the pRVOTR should be one of the options as 1st palliative procedure for TOF with PA and diminutive pulmonary artery.


The world's stabilization policy in the Middle East has consistently failed through the U.S.-Israeli biases, a growth of extremism in all fronts, including Israeli government, and unexceptionally supported by the U.S. government, some Palestinian leading segments, and other regional powers' intervention. Moreover, to a large extent, because of all that fiasco and imbalanced treatment of the more independent nations, Islamist terrorism has been growing and added to all already-existing turbulences and instabilities. It is proposed in this exploratory research that as long as the currently growing biases, motivated by the political interest and hegemony-seeking approaches, pushed by bullying aggressions and suppressions, are pursued there is no visibility of any reliable success. The real resolution would only be imaginable through some genuinely impartial, moral, and ethical incentives targeting at an enhancement of the regional sustainability, and human support. To make things even more blurry, the current U.S. government's general vision and strategic goals, both internally and externally, are clearly identified through a noticeable trajectory, as boding a clear and even bigger fiasco more than ever. The world, at its most desirable setting, would surely need a restructured substitute for the currently standing United Nations, through a progressive and fair organizational re-engineering, in which the American lobbyist approach to governance is entirely abandoned and an impartiality principle would replace the currently governing realities, which have been in place for ages. The United Nation's efficacy has been nothing but a dream for years, regardless of tens of resolutions passed against Israeli aggression and violations of the United Nations' rules and regulations. The main focus of this research is on Iran, one of the regional super powers that should have been brought into the proposed common forces of stability and regional growth, despite all the controversial issues and its strategic intentions, as envisioned through some western governments' eyes.


It is well known that microcystins (MCs) are the most abundant toxins produced by cyanobacteria in freshwater. The separation and characterization of MCs isomers are very important to the research of algal pollution in freshwater. In this paper MCs isomers were extracted by using methanol water solution and separated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The different isomers were characterized by using HPLC-MS method. Different ratio of extract solvent and chromatographic conditions were discussed. Five MCs isomers were successfully extracted from cyanobacteria of Dianchi Lake. Three of which were characterized to be MC-RR, MC-YR and MC-LR, 1.5mg (92.3 purity) of MC-LR was prepared by using a semi-preparation HPLC system.


Plant-based dietary patterns are associated with chronic disease risk reduction, prevention, and reversal. As such, the Nutritarian diet is a dietary plan grounded in the daily consumption of micronutrient-dense, plant-rich foods that satisfy nutrient needs with a corresponding improvement in overall health. The Nutritarian Women's Health Study was a fully-online intervention that included supportive, automated email messages, with participants self-reporting dietary adherence and anthropometric measurements quarterly. Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) were not significant. The groups with the lowest baseline Waist-to-Height-Ratio (WHtR) showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. Responses related to dietary adherence showed that most participants easily consumed greens, beans, onions/garlic, berries, and seeds, avoided animal products, alcohol, and refined foods, but had difficulty with regularly consuming mushrooms and tomatoes. A midpoint questionnaire revealed participants consumed an overwhelming amount of their meals/snacks according to the dietary plan and about half found it easy/very easy to eat strictly Nutritarian. A large majority reported a positive change in health from participating in the study. The barriers to following the dietary plan include a busy lifestyle and the opposing views/pressures from friends, family, co-workers, and/or spouse/partner. It is important to evaluate this fully-online approach when considering future interventions.


Glioma is the most frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system. By using the RCAS/tv-a mouse glioma model, we have studied mechanisms controlling glioma development and the effect of cell of origin on these processes.SOX5 was identified as a brain tumor locus in a retroviral insertional mutagenesis screen of PDGF-B induced mouse gliomas. Here we found that SOX5 could suppress PDGFB-induced glioma development particularly in Ink4a-/- mice. Analysis of putative PDGF-B signaling pathways revealed that the underlying mechanism could involve the activation of AKT and p27, which caused an acute cellular senescence.When cultured in a highly selective serum free medium, glioma-initiating cells could be isolated from mouse GBMs and their self-renewal and proliferation was independent on exogenous EGF and FGF2. Addition of serum into the medium induced aberrant differentiation that was reversible. Specific depletion of viral PDGF-B demonstrated that PDGF-B was necessary for stemness and tumorigenicity of GICs by preventing them to differentiate.Subsequently, by applying the same culture conditions, GICs of APC, NSC and OPC origins were isolated from mouse GBMs. GICs derived from NSCs exhibited higher self-renewal, faster proliferation and more potent tumorigenicity than those of APC or OPC origin. Furthermore, addition of 5% serum significantly inhibited the proliferation of APC- and OPC-derived GICs, but did not in NSC-derived GICs. Transcriptome analysis revealed that GICs of the same cell of origin displayed distinct expression profiles.In the last study, we showed that OPCs could serve as the origin for astrocytic glioma. Results from immunostainings revealed that these tumors might belong to a different molecular subtype than the oligodendroglial tumors induced in OPCs. We also found differences in tumorigenic potential between OPCs in neonatal and adult mice, which suggest that developmental age of the cell of origin is important for its susceptibility to oncogenic transformation.


Abstract DFT analyses of electronic and optical spectra of barium cadmium chalcogenides (Ba2CdX3, X = S, Se, Te) have been carried out. The study of electronic spectra has been made in terms of band structure and density of states using full potential linear augmented plane wave plus local orbital method. Band structure calculations have been carried out under the approximations PBE-GGA, PBE-Sol, LDA and TB-mBJ. Band structures of these materials show that Ba2CdS3, Ba2CdSe3 and Ba2CdTe3 crystals possess a band gap less than 1 eV, underestimated relative to the experimental/theoretical literature values. Optical spectra of these chalcogenides have been analyzed in terms of real and imaginary parts of dielectric function, reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, optical conductivity and electron energy loss. Optical results show large anisotropy along different directions. These results provide a physical basis of barium cadmium chalcogenides for potential application in optoelectronic devices.


Selenium (Se) is a trace element of great ecological importance whose environmental distribution is highly impacted by anthropogenic activity. In the 1980s, selenium was recognized as a major aquatic contaminant following widespread deformities and mortality among waterfowl hatchlings near the agricultural drainage evaporation ponds of the Kesterson Reservoir (CA, USA). Today, 400,000 km 2 in the Western United States are threatened by agricultural selenium contamination, as are parts of Canada, Egypt, Israel, and Mexico. From the soil aggregate to the watershed, from the soils of the Central Valley to the sediments of the Salton Sea, and from Environmental Science to Policy and Management, in this dissertation I explore agricultural selenium contamination across scales, ecosystems, and disciplines. I begin with a review of the science, policy, and management of irrigation-induced selenium contamination in California, the heart of worldwide research on the issue. I then delve into the physical and biogeochemical mechanisms that control selenium reduction and mobility within the structured surface soils that are the source of contamination, using an aggregate-scale combined experimental and reactive transport modeling approach. Finally, I present a diagenetic model for selenium incorporation into the sediment of the Salton Sea, which has been receiving seleniferous agricultural drainage over the last 100 years.To extract lessons from the last 30 years of seleniferous drainage management and water quality regulation in California, I reviewed the history and current developments in science, policy, and management of irrigation-induced selenium contamination in California. Specifically, I evaluated improvements in the design of local attenuation methods and the development of programs for selenium load reductions at the regional scale. On the policy side, I assessed the site-specific water quality criteria under development for the San Francisco Bay-Delta in the context of previous regulation. This approach may be a landmark for future legislation on selenium in natural water bodies and I discussed challenges and opportunities in expanding it to other locations such as the Salton Sea. By combining proven management tools with the novel, site-specific policy approach, it may be possible to avoid future events of irrigation-induced selenium contamination. However, the majority of regional selenium load reductions in California were achieved by decreasing drainage volume rather than selenium concentrations. Thus, there appear to be opportunities for additional improvements through management practices that enhance selenium retention in source soils.Soil aggregates are the basic structural units of soil. They are mm- to cm-sized microporous assemblages of loosely bound soil particles, separated from one another by macropores. To elucidate how aggregate-scale transport and microbial reduction affect selenium retention in surface soils, I conducted a series of flow-through experiments utilizing artificial aggregate systems. These systems mimic the dual porosity of structured soils with an artificial soil aggregate (ID 2.5 cm) contained in a flow-through reactor cell. Aggregates were composed of either pure quartz sand or ferrihydrite-coated quartz sand inoculated with selenium reducing bacteria ( Thauera selenatis or Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1). Oxic and anoxic conditions were compared, as well as various selenate (0.25-0.8 mM) and carbon source (0.3 and 1.2 mM) input concentrations. The presence of oxygen in the input solution significantly decreased selenium reduction, however, the detection of selenite in effluent samples indicates the occurrence of anoxic microzones within aggregates. Furthermore, I found that solid phase concentrations of reduced selenium increased towards the core of aggregates across all experimental conditions. A bulk model, ignoring intra-aggregate heterogeneity in reactions and transport, misrepresented the dynamics of the aggregate systems.To quantify the likely implications of these experimental results for soils with different degrees of aggregation, I formulated a general mechanistic framework for aggregate scale heterogeneity in selenium reduction. Specifically, I constructed a dynamic 2D model of selenium fate in single idealized aggregates, in which reactions were implemented with double-Monod rate equations coupled to the transport of pyruvate, O2, and Se-species (selenate, selenite, and elemental selenium). The spatial and temporal dynamics of the model were validated with the experimental data and predictive simulations were performed covering aggregate sizes between 1 and 2.5 cm diameters. Simulations predict that selenium retention scales with aggregate size. Depending on aeration conditions and the input concentrations of selenate and pyruvate, selenium retention was predicted to be 4-23 times higher in 2.5-cm-aggregates compared to 1-cm-aggregates. Under oxic conditions, aggregate size and pyruvate-concentrations were found to have a positive synergistic effect on selenium retention. Promoting soil aggregation on seleniferous agricultural soils may thus help decrease the impacts of selenium contaminated drainage on downstream aquatic ecosystems receiving it.One such ecosystem is California's largest inland water body, the Salton Sea, which is maintained entirely by agricultural runoff. Whereas elevated selenium concentrations are detected in the rivers feeding the lake, the lake's concentrations of dissolved selenium are low since most selenium entering the lake is sequestered in its sediment through microbial reduction. To predict the distribution profiles of selenium within the sediment and evaluate the factors driving them, I constructed a diagenetic model for reductive incorporation of selenate into Salton Sea sediment. The model predicts near surface (2 cm) sediment concentrations of solid phase selenium between 0.024 and 0.272 µmol/g depending on local reduction kinetics, and dissolved concentrations in the water column. This is in good agreement with the literature when considered in conjunction with the potential impact of bioturbation which according to exploratory simulations may lower near surface concentrations by around 25%. The range of modeled selenium concentrations in surface sediment crosses threshold values for which negative impacts on fish and waterfowl have been predicted or observed at other sites, suggesting that ecological impacts of selenium in the Salton Sea may depend locally on variation in the diagenetic factors here explored.This work presents agricultural selenium contamination as a complex problem that crosses ecosystems, scales, and disciplines. From a management perspective, the tension between dispersed non-point sources and hotspots where elevated selenium concentrations and sensitive aquatic ecosystems converge is difficult to address. Differences in biogeochemical conditions and trophic transfer within food webs render traditional regulatory approaches ineffective and force regulators to engage with the science of site-specific selenium transfer between ecological compartments. At the same time, gaps still exist in our mechanistic understanding of selenium's environmental cycling and in our integration of scientific knowledge across different ecosystems and scales. Centimeter scale heterogeneity in the biogeochemical conditions within source soils may fundamentally control selenium emissions across large agricultural areas and thus determine the selenium loading of rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Within aquatic environments receiving seleniferous drainage, the first few centimeters of surface sediment may control selenium exposure for entire food webs. Improved understanding at this level holds the potential to simultaneously reduce selenium emissions and respond more effectively to pollution where it occurs. In order to preserve sensitive habitat while also meeting agricultural drainage needs in seleniferous regions we must bridge the gaps between ecosystems, scales, and disciplines.


Accurate spatial interpolation (SI) of climate data is vital for the management and supervision of natural resources and agriculture. Owing to the lack of an adequate number of meteorological stations, meteorological-station-data-based SI methods may not always reflect the real climatic conditions of an interpolated point. Land surface temperature (LST) data obtained from satellite sensors enable the characterization of meteorological conditions of areas without meteorological stations. The aim of this article is to present a new modified inverse distance weighting (M-IDW) SI method for air temperature (Ta), total precipitation (Pt), and relative humidity (RH) by integrating Landsat LST data with meteorological station data for the interpolation process. The M-IDW approach is based on the correlation relationship between the climate data and LST at each meteorological station, which is incorporated into the traditional IDW to improve the estimation of the climate data at an interpolation location of interest. The proposed method, M-IDW, is applied for the interpolation of long years' (i.e. long term) monthly average (LYMA) Ta, Pt, and RH climate data from meteorological stations in the Eastern Thrace region, which is 23,764 km2, located in southeast Europe. The LYMA of the Ta, Pt, and RH has been constructed using data obtained from 27 meteorological stations that had functioned at least 10 years between 2000 and 2012 and from the corresponding satellite data. The outputs of the interpolation are in the form of LYMA, so are the analysed climate data. The spatial resolution of the predicted surface was taken as 30 m, similar to the original data presented by United States Geological Survey. The results were compared with those of the standard IDW, ordinary kriging (OK), and ordinary cokriging (OCK) methods to analyse the performance and accuracy of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed M-IDW method has the potential for SI of climate data, if enough number of images and cloudless pixels are incorporated in the LYMA LST computation. The proposed method, in general, yields better results than standard IDW and OK methods, especially during spring, summer, and partially in autumn for the interpolation of Ta (with 0.72°C, 0.53°C, and 0.66°C root mean square error (RMSE) values, respectively) and Pt (with 11.07 mm, 7.64 mm, and 4.85 mm RMSE values, respectively). OCK and M-IDW results were comparable in spring, summer, and autumn where M-IDW was slightly better for Ta in autumn and spring and was slightly better for Pt in summer. For the RH interpolation, although M-IDW results were found to be close to the results of IDW, OK, and OCK in spring, summer, and autumn, for the overall seasonal interpretation, the RMSE values of M-IDW were worse than the others. In general, M-IDW yields worse results for the winter months, which in turn is related to cloudiness and availability of satellite images.


Discrimination in the work place based on gender has been the subject of various studies; however, these studied have not discussed the possibility of the existence of superimposed psychographic characteristics, which could weaken or strengthen this practice of discrimination. The research presented here, enlightened by the ontological premise of post-modern criticism, seeks to verify whether the discrimination of the female gender in the work place is an isolated social phenomenon or if it is intertwined with other types of discrimination. To this end, a field study took place from March, 2006 to July, 2008, in public and private companies. Thirty-three women and thirty-seven men of various ages, ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations were interviewed. The reports were transcribed and underwent discourse analysis. The field study revealed that: (a) women are, in fact, submitted to discriminatory practices in the work place, such practices which are not rarely hidden under a mask of humor and informality; (b) in spite of their macho attitudes and comments, the men who commit them don't perceive them as such; (c) Brazilian national culture prevails over organizational cultures; (d) gender cannot be treated as a fixed category since questions of esthetics, ethnic backgrounds, social class and sexual orientation accentuate the discrimination, and, finally; (e) contrary to what happens with blacks, ugly people, and homosexuals, towards whom discrimination is lighter when they occupy a more favorable social position or hierarchy, the same does not happen with women.


The surface integrity finished by abrasive jet with grinding wheel as restraint was experimentally investigated. Experiments were performed with plane grinder M7120 equiped with abrasive jet finishing device and harded workpiece material 45 steel which was ground with the surface roughness values of Ra=0.6μm.The machined surface morphology was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and microscope and microcosmic geometry parameters were measured with TALYSURF5 instrument. The surface hardness for ground and finished surface was measured with HVS-1000 instrument and the phase structure was analyzed by X-ray energy dispersive spectram and residual stresses were measured by PW3208 X-ray diffraction. The Results show that longitudinal geometry parameter values were diminished and ripple was obviously improved comparing with ground surface. Furthermore, the finished surface has condensible residual stresses and high surface hardness comparability compared to grinding machining surface. As a result, life and precision consistency of finished workpiece were improved.


We used laser guide star adaptive optics at the Lick and Keck Observatories to study active galactic nuclei and galaxies, with emphasis on those in the early Universe. The goals were to observe large galaxies like our own Milky Way in the process of their initial assembly from sub-components, to identify central active galactic nuclei due to accreting black holes in galaxy cores, and to measure rates of star formation and evolution in galaxies. In the distant universe our focus was on the GOODS and GEMS fields (regions in the Northern and Southern sky that include the Hubble Deep Fields) as well as the Extended Groth Strip and COSMOS fields. Each of these parts of the sky has been intensively studied at multiple wavelengths by the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the XMM Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and several ground-based telescopes including the Very Large Array radio interferometer, in order to gain an unbiased view of a significant statistical sample of galaxies in the early universe.


As one of the most common faults, rotor imbalance in a turbocharger will give rise to the bending vibration, which may cause damage to and even destroy the bearings and impellers. Therefore, it is necessary to detect rotor imbalance as early as possible. The present paper develops a mathematical model for investigating the rotor dynamic characteristics of a commercial automotive turbocharger supported on floating ring bearings. In order to reveal the behaviours of oil film instabilities the model takes into account nonlinear hydrodynamic oil film forces instead of linearization. A two-dimensional elastic collision model is introduced to deal with the rub-impact process between such solid parts as journal, floating ring and the bearing. In addition, the change of clearances in floating ring bearing due to temperature increases are also estimated by ignoring the variation of lubricating oil viscosity. Following model development, a numerical simulation is implemented to study the bending vibration of the turbocharger and floating ring bearing under the influence of rotor imbalance. This study paves a foundation for the monitoring of turbochargers.


BACKGROUND
Cefiderocol is among the latest generation of commercialized antibiotics against a large variety of MDR Gram-negative bacteria including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and non-fermenters such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Cefiderocol susceptibility testing, a key element for implementing rapidly a cefiderocol-based treatment, might be still challenging.

OBJECTIVES
To develop a rapid culture-based test, Rapid Cefiderocol NP test, for the identification of cefiderocol resistance among MDR Enterobacterales.

METHODS
The Rapid Cefiderocol NP test is based on glucose metabolization when bacterial growth occurs and the detection of bacterial growth in the presence of cefiderocol at 64 mg/L using iron-depleted CAMHB. Bacterial growth is visually detectable by a red-to-yellow colour change of red phenol, a pH indicator. A total of 74 clinical enterobacterial isolates from various clinical sources and of worldwide origin, among which 42 isolates were cefiderocol resistant, were used to evaluate the test performance.

RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of the test were found to be 98% and 91%, respectively, by comparison with the reference broth microdilution (BMD) method. All positive results were obtained within 3 h after incubation at 35°C ± 2°C, that is a gain of time of ca. 18 h (1 day) compared with currently used techniques for susceptibility testing (BMD method).

CONCLUSIONS
This novel test is rapid, highly sensitive, specific, easily interpretable, and easy to implement in routine microbiology laboratories. Such a test may rapidly and accurately provide the information needed for the implementation of adequate cefiderocol-based treatment.


Results from direct numerical simulation (DNS) for three-dimensional Rayleigh–Bénard convection in a cylindrical cell of aspect ratio 1/2 and Prandtl number Pr=0.7 are presented. They span five decades of Rayleigh number Ra from 2 × 106 to 2 × 1011. The results are in good agreement with the experimental data of Niemela et al. (Nature, vol. 404, 2000, p. 837). Previous DNS results from Amati et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 17, 2005, paper no. 121701) showed a heat transfer that was up to 30% higher than the experimental values. The simulations presented in this paper are performed with a much higher resolution to properly resolve the plume dynamics. We find that in under-resolved simulations the hot (cold) plumes travel further from the bottom (top) plate than in the better-resolved ones, because of insufficient thermal dissipation mainly close to the sidewall (where the grid cells are largest), and therefore the Nusselt number in under-resolved simulations is overestimated. Furthermore, we compare the best resolved thermal boundary layer profile with the Prandtl–Blasius profile. We find that the boundary layer profile is closer to the Prandtl–Blasius profile at the cylinder axis than close to the sidewall, because of rising plumes close to the sidewall.


Options for a new definition of, and key for, rainforest in Australia are provided. The definitions take a national perspective, and are based on the ecological characteristics of rainforest species and some structural and floristic characteristics. Rainforest plant species are defined as those adapted to regenerating under low-light conditions experienced under the closed canopy or in localised gaps caused by recurring disturbances which are part of the natural rainforest ecosystem, and are not dependent on fire for successful regeneration. Three definitions are provided which differ in the extent of inclusion of transitional and seral communities. The first definition recognises communities such as mixed forests as transitional to rainforests and therefore as separate communities. The second definition includes a minimal component of emergent non-rainforest species in rainforest in the recognition that the main floristic component and functioning of the communities cannot be distinguished. The third definition includes the late successional stages of transitional and seral communities in rainforest on the presumption that such communities include non-rainforest species which are close to senescence, and that these communities are essential for the long-term conservation of rainforest in areas where rainforest is vulnerable and subject to major disturbance, particularly by fire. The first definition is concluded to be the least ambiguous and arbitrary, and enables a consistent approach to rainforest management. Recognition of mixed forests as a distinctive and mappable vegetation type should be incorporated in a comprehensive conservation strategy inclusive of all ecosystem developmental stages.


The fauna and flora of the canopy of a kelp bed off Oudekraal, on the Cape Peninsula, Is surveyed. Four species of epiphytic algae occur In the kelp canopy, three restricted to Ecklonia maxima and the fourth to Laminaria pallida. Epiphyte biomass is equivalent to 4-9% of host standing crop amongst E. maxima, but less than 1% in stands of L. pallida. Wherever E. maxima is common, epiphyte standing crop considerably exceeds that of benthic understorey algae. The canopy fauna comprises at least 27 species and is composed largely of small Crustacea, molluscs and polychaetes. Since these organisms are mainly associated with the epiphytic algae they are most abundant amongst E. maxima in the shallower regions of the kelp bed. In such areas the biomass of the canopy fauna may exceed that of the relatively impoverished benthos, but further offshore the canopy fauna is insignificant in relation to a rich benthic community. Indications are that canopy organisms are an important source of food for the fish of the ke...


The abundant occurrence of reworked microfossils within the paleogeographically restricted Upper Rhine Graben of central Europe represents a unique opportunity to investigate their inherent information, allowing new insights into the paleogeographic framework and past sedimentary pathways. In the late Rupelian and early Chattian a transgression-regression cycle linked to the global Ru2–Ru3 sequences affected the entire Upper Rhine Graben basin, leading to the deposition of a thick marine to lacustrine series. The occurrences of abundant reworked planktonic foraminifera are grouped into several events that are linked to intervals of increased clastic input during regressive phases. The biostratigraphic ranges of the reworked taxa indicate Late Cretaceous, Ypresian, Lutetian, and Bartonian–Priabonian ages for the sediment sources. The reworking originated from related west alpine source deposits via a northward-draining fluviatile system. A fast uplift of Priabonian and older deposits within the alpine realm during the late Rupelian is accordingly inferred, confirming the increased rate of the mesoalpine orogeny at that time. The careful analysis of reworked microfossil assemblages thus provides a valid tool for future paleogeographic, tectonic, and provenance studies.


: The purpose of this study was to prove or refute previous authors' suggestions that tolerance to +Gz is reduced when preceded by 0 Gz or -Gz. Six men and six women were subjected to one session of acceleration stresses that varied between -2 and +2.25 Gz on the NAMRL Coriolis Acceleration Platform (CAP). At the beginning and end of each session, we exposed the relaxed subjects to identical control segments that were comprised of +1 Gz for 30 s, followed by +2.25 Gz for 15 s, and then return to +1 Gz. Subjects were also exposed to three experimental segments that were comprised of 0, -1, or -2 Gz for 10 s, followed by +2.25 Gz for 15 s, and then return to +1 Gz. Subjects verbally reported any decrements in peripheral vision during exposure to +2.25 Gz. Blood pressure (BP) was reduced during each 15-s period at +2.25 Gz. The minimum BP was progressively lower during the 15-s period as the preexposure experimental conditions became more negative (+1, 0, -1, and -2 Gz). Episodes of peripheral vision loss increased as the preceding -Gz became more negative. BP during exposure to +Gz was significantly affected by the preceding 10-s exposure to -Gz, and is indicative of reduced +Gz tolerance. As this "push-pull effect" may result in unexpected incapacitation, it has important implications for aviation safety.


ABSTRACT
 Based on a multi-sited study of five Messianic Jewish congregations in North America, this paper analyses the widespread tendency for gentile (non-Jewish) adherents to hint about having 'Jewish DNA'. I argue that Messianic Judaism's theology and social structures promote the search for Jewish roots while also suppressing it, which results in the grassroots circulation of hints in a 'semi-public' register. Bringing together work by Kim Tallbear on gene talk and Veena Das on rumours, I frame these hints as unfinished stories that may benefit believers within religious communities oriented around individual seeking. However, my second point concerns how such 'hints' serve as, what Ritchie Lowry calls, 'a primary means for informal social control'. The semi-public genre encourages informal strictures, often based on the racialisation of 'Jewish DNA'. I end by exploring another aspect related to registers of disclosure regarding my role as a fieldworker who conceals other people's secrets.


Mass++ is free platform software for mass spectrometry, mainly developed for biological science, with which users can construct their own functions or workflows for use as plug-ins. In this paper, we present an algorithm development example using Mass++ that performs a new baseline subtraction method. A signal processing technique previously developed to correct the atmospheric substances in infrared spectroscopy was converted to adjust to the mass spectrum baseline estimation, and a new method called Bottom Line Tracing (BLT) was constructed. BLT can estimate a suitable baseline for a mass spectrum with rapid changes in its waveform with easy parameter tuning. We confirm that it is beneficial to utilize techniques or knowledge acquired in another field to obtain a better solution for a problem, and that the practical barriers to algorithm development and distribution will be considerably reduced by platform software like Mass++.


Tricyclazole is one of widely-used fungicides to control Blast disease in agriculture. It is thought to affect the mammalian reproduction system. Therefore, we studied its impact on testes tissue and testosterone levels in mice. In an experimental-analytical study, 32 mice were randomly divided into four equal groups including control, sham and experimental 1and 2. The animals in experimental groups 1 and 2 intraperitoneally received doses, respectively, of 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg BW animal the tricyclazole for two weeks. The control animals did not any receiving toxin and sham receiving distilled water. The animals of all groups were ether anesthetized and killed. Sections of testes were prepared and various spermatogenic and Leydig cell were detected. Levels Testosterone was measured using radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed using of one-way ANOVA. The levels of Testosterone, number of Leydig cells and the diameter of seminiferous tubules in experimental groups 1 and 2 significantly increased compared to controls. In parallel, the number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids were significantly reduced compared to their counterparts in control group. The results indicated that tricyclazole might be able to damage testes and disturb Testosterone biosynthesis thereby affecting spermatogenesis. * Corresponding Author: Esmail Fattahi  firstname.lastname@example.com International Journal of Biosciences | IJB | ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print), 2222-5234 (Online) http://www.innspub.net Vol. 6, No. 4, p. 92-98, 2015


Beerse, Matthew, "Effects of frequency on single leg hopping in typically developing preadolescents. Abstract Hopping is considered a mass-spring model movement in which the leg supports the center of mass. There is a preferred hopping frequency and hopping outside of that frequency is more difficult and requires more energy. Leg stiffness has been shown to be an important factor when hopping at different frequencies in young adult populations. The purpose of this study was to observe how a still-developing preadolescent population would modify leg stiffness while hopping at different frequencies and if they have similar motor control strategies compared to young adults. The subjects hopped on their dominant leg to the beat of a metronome at one of four frequency conditions based on their calculated preferred frequency, MP (preferred frequency), MM (20% increase), MF (40% increase), and MS (20% decrease). It was found that this population could change their hopping frequency and they achieved this by manipulating their leg stiffness. At the higher frequency conditions there was less movement of the toe and the center of mass in both the vertical and horizontal directions, including decreased hopping height, decreased COM displacement and COM range of motion. Preadolescents demonstrated an adult-like ability to increase leg stiffness and modulate movement of the toe and the COM while adapting to a range of hopping frequencies. This ability could translate into other mass-spring model movements such as running and jumping.


Under‐nutrition in Thailand has been successfully controlled for over two decades. However, Thailand is now facing a double‐burden malnutrition problem where under‐ and over‐nutrition coexist. Overweight, obesity, and related diseases are the main nutritional challenges, leading to high costs for curative care. Thailand foresees that nutrition can be an effective strategy for preventing diet‐related non‐communicable chronic diseases, and the country aims to reduce costs for secondary and tertiary health care. Various organizations have conducted national programmes, focusing especially on nutrition education and public campaigns, which have been sustainable and not sustainable. Only milk and certain foods for children are mandated for nutrition labeling. Guideline daily amounts is now the nutrient profile mandated for snack foods in Thailand. To increase efficiency, Thailand's National Food Committee has been established to link food, nutrition and health via a multi‐sectoral approach.


In this study, computer modeling of the contact fill process with chemical vapor deposition, (CVD) of tungsten is usedto show the importance of several details on the quality of the fill process. The effect of surface curvature on the stepcoverage of CVD-W has been investigated. It is shown that for contacts with an aspect ratio smaller than one, the effect ofsurface curvature is substantial and actually improves step coverage. Therefore, surface curvature for features with aspectratios smaller than one, should be accounted for in computer simulations of the fill process. For contacts with aspect ratioslarger than one the effect of surface curvature is negligible. It is shown that the size of the void (which will be formed incases of step coverage less than 100%) is a better way to describe the quality of the deposition and the repercussions of thevoid on subsequent process steps such as tungsten etch back. In addition, the size of the void depends for a given set ofdeposition conditions solely on the depth of the contact rather than the contact diameter (for aspect ratios larger than 1.0).


Environmental changes in general, and those associated with climate change in particular, are increasingly recognized as growing drivers of establishing the slums. Climatic victims come to slums of major cities of Bangladesh for resettlement. They have less job opportunity and bound to lead substandard life under the surrounding urban environment. Urbanization, in general, is frequently blamed for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and hence for climate change. From the production perspective, if cities concentrate energy intensive production, this will push up their average GHG emission per person. In addition, unplanned waste management and sanitation of slum pollute environment in several ways. Greater congestion of slums has already leaded to severe health and security problems. As a result, poor slums dwellers suffer a lot, and their livelihood standard degrades as well. Eco-town based green growth plays an important role to get rid of these unexpected environmental hazards and improve the livelihood condition of slum dwellers. This study is conducted through questionnaire survey (n = 327) in the major slums of the Dhaka city and attempts to apply choice experiment approach to assess consumer attitudes, that is, the preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for establishment of attributes of solar photovoltaic (PV) system, improved sanitation, waste collection, waste based biogas plant for transmission of gas for households and monthly payment at different levels of eco-town for environmental changes and livelihood diversifications. Random parameter logit and multinomial logit models are used to quantify the slum dwellers perceptions on the attributes of eco-town. Attributes of solar PV system, improved sanitation, and waste collection, educational attainment, and age are found statistically significant and positive. The estimate of WTP on solar PV is higher than the WTP on other attributes in the study area. The findings in this study provide a robust basis for both policy makers and government to make more specified policies to make a low carbon society and eradicate poverty in the urban slums. Aus. Aca. Busi & Eco. Rev Vol  3(2),  April 2017, P 61-75


Local administration of beta-blockers to the eye has proven effective in the treatment of chronic simple glaucoma. However, varying degrees of impaired ventilation, even to the point of being life-threatening, have been reported. The effect of 1% pindolol and 0.5% timolol eye-drops, twice daily applied locally to the eye, on eyeball pressure and airway resistance was measured in 19 patients with chronic glaucoma. Compared with timolol eye-drops, pindolol had little effect on ventilatory functions, i. e. there was a significant difference between them. But the two preparations had similar effects in lowering eye-ball pressure. The likely explanation of this divergent action is the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of pindolol.


This work aims to research the basic structure of lighting in portraits in a controlled light situation. After providing a brief historical introduction to define where modern lighting comes from, I will describe and analyse the tools used to modify the light in a studio and the procedure to follow before a portrait session. I will present a series of images shot in a studio, and I will touch upon most possible basic lighting setups in a portrait session, from most simple ones to some more complex ones, describing the set of lights, the type of modifiers used, and the effects that the light can have on a viewer. My final aim is to build up a collection of light setups that can be helpful to anyone who wants to approach portrait photography and the studio workflow, not aiming to build a manual, but just providing a report on my personal research and study.


Translation of redox biocatalysis into a commercial H-Cube hydrogenation flow reactor was achieved using immobilized enzyme systems for biocatalytic hydrogenations. Carbon-supported enzymes for H2-driven NADH recycling and NADH-dependent C=O reductions were handled comparably to supported metal catalysts. High activity at room temperature with 2 bar H2 was attained, highlighting that biocatalytic strategies enable implementation of hydrogenation reactions under mild conditions. High conversions were achieved in short residence times (< 2 s), with high biocatalyst turnover frequencies (1,420 min-1) and space-time yields (7.9 kg L-1 h-1). These results represent the first example of direct biocatalytic hydrogenation in a commercial flow reactor.


The xenobiotic response element (XRE) transcription factors belong to a regulator family frequently found in Streptomyces that are often followed by small proteins with a DUF397 domain. In fact, the pair XRE-DUF397 has been proposed to comprise toxin–antitoxin (TA) type II systems. In this work, we demonstrate that one of these putative TA-systems, encoded by the genes SCO4441 and SCO4442 of Streptomyces coelicolor, and denominated Scr1/Scr2 (which stands for S. coelicolor regulator), does not behave as a toxin–antitoxin system under the conditions used as was originally expected. Instead the pair Scr1/Scr2 acts as a strong positive regulator of endogenous antibiotic production in S. coelicolor. The analysis of the 19 Streptomyces strains tested determined that overexpression of the pair Scr1/Scr2 drastically induces the production of antibiotics not only in S. coelicolor, but also in Streptomyces lividans, Streptomyces peucetius, Streptomyces steffisburgensis and Streptomyces sp. CA-240608. Our work also shows that Scr1 needs Scr2 to exert positive regulation on antibiotic production.


This article examines the possibility of applying the objective soteriology inherent to the Christian East since the second century in evangelical theology. An attempt is made to define the difference between the juridical and ontological approaches to the work of Christ; an analysis of the arguments of the Eastern vision is carried out; a balanced soteriological understanding based on the organic approach is presented. It is noted that our understanding of salvation should be based on the Eastern approach, since this approach gives a deeper ontological explanation of the work of Christ. The article presents conclusions from the Eastern view which, in the writer's opinion, can be used in evangelical theology. They apply to anthropology, the concept of sin, soteriology, and ecclesiology. The article confirms that it is precisely organic soteriology that supplies Protestant theology with arguments that allow evangelical believers to justify their right to be called the true church of Christ. The article would be useful to readers interested in the early period of Eastern theology and in contemporary Orthodox soteriology.


We combine a power-law microfracture size distribution function with an expression for fracture propagation rate derived from subcritical fracture propagation theory and linear elastic fracture mechanics, to derive a geomechanically based deterministic model for the growth of a network of layer-bound fractures. This model also simulates fracture termination due to intersection with perpendicular fractures or stress-shadow interaction. We use this model to examine key controls on the emergent geometry of the fracture network. First, we examine the effect of fracture propagation rates. We show that at subcritical fracture propagation rates, the fracture nucleation rate increases with time; this generates a very dense network of very small fractures, similar to the deformation bands generated by compaction in unconsolidated sediments. By contrast, at critical propagation rates, the fracture nucleation rate decreases with time; this generates fewer but much larger fractures, similar to the brittle open fractures generated by tectonic deformation in lithified sediments. We then examine the controls on the rate of growth of the fracture network. A fracture set will start to grow when the stress acting on it reaches a threshold value, and it will continue to grow until all the fractures have stopped propagating and no new fractures can nucleate. The relative timing and rate of growth of the different fracture sets will control the anisotropy of the resulting fracture network: if the sets start to grow at the same time and rate, the result is a fully isotropic fracture network; if the primary fracture set stops growing before the secondary set starts growing, the result is a fully anisotropic fracture network; and if there is some overlap but the secondary set grows more slowly than the primary set, the result is a partially anisotropic fracture network. Although the applied horizontal strain rates are the key control on the relative growth rates of the two fracture sets, we show that the vertical effective stress, the initial horizontal stress, the elastic properties of the rock and the inelastic deformation processes, such as creep, grain sliding and pressure solution, all exert a control on the fracture growth rates, and that more isotropic fracture networks will tend to develop if the vertical effective stress is low or if the fractures are critically stressed prior to the onset of deformation. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Naturally Fractured Reservoirs collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/naturally-fractured-reservoirs


This paper investigates how the practice of creating relationships between cultural / creative and other organisations can be studied from a constructionist perspective and with phenomenological methodology. The present contribution briefly discusses several recent publications and reflects on the methodological implications of these cases. It sets out to trace the working of construction and translation of concepts and practices, and elaborates on how differences can be made productive in a vital aspect of cultural and creative organisational practice, establishing sustainable relationships with contexts. The result of the paper is an agenda for further discussion on methodological approaches of cultural/ creative entrepreneurial practice and its relationship with contexts.


In this paper porous silicon sample that can be used as a photodetector was prepared at fixed etching time of 15min and different etching current density (15, 17, 19 and 21) mA/cm 2 . Electrical properties of Al / PSi / p-Si /Al photodetector were studied. We found that the I-V characteristics dependence of the etching current density relates to the PSi pores development, where the pore diameter in PSi structure might get enlarged due to the enhancement of the etching current density. The ideality factor ranges around (6.8-4.2) while the barrier height decreased with the increasing etching current density and the etching time as the interface layer between PSi/c-Si has large amount of pinning. Then the C-V characteristics of the sandwich structure are described. When the etching current densities are increased, it reduces the capacitance of the PSi layer. It thus increases the thickness of the depletion region which in turn results in development of built-in potential.


Conventional approaches for wireless power transfer rely on the mutual coupling (near-field or far-field) between the transmitter and receiver transducers. As a result, the power-transfer efficiency of these approaches scales non-linearly with the cross-sectional area of the transducers and with the relative distance and respective alignment between the transducers. In this paper we show that when the operational power-budget requirements are in the order of microwatts, a self-capacitance (SC) based power delivery has significant advantages in terms of power transfer-efficiency (PTE), receiver form-factor and system scalability when compared to other modes of wireless power transfer (WPT) methods. We present a simple and a tractable equivalent circuit model that can be used to study the effect of different parameters on the SC-based WPT. In this paper we have experimentally verified the validity of the circuit using a cadaver mouse model. We also demonstrate the feasibility of a hybrid telemetry system where the microwatts of power that can be harvested from SC-based WPT approach is used for back-scattering a radio-frequency signal and is used for remote sensing of in-vivo physiological parameters like temperature. The functionality of the hybrid system has also been verified using a cadaver mouse model housed in a cage that was retrofitted with 915 MHz RF back-scattering antennas. We believe that the proposed remote power-delivery and hybrid telemetry approach would be useful in remote activation of wearable devices and in the design of energy-efficient animal cages used for long-term monitoring applications.


Abstract Distal tibial fractures usually result from high-energy trauma, affecting young, active people, producing long-term disability and numerous complications. Their treatment is difficult, especially in type C fractures, which affect both the articular surface and the metaphysis, are quite frequent comminuted fractures, and are accompanied by soft tissue injuries. In these situations, External Fixation (EF) is used as a temporary bridging method, either for treating concomitant soft tissue injuries (in open fractures) or for achieving and maintaining reduction in order to prevent blisters or compartment syndrome, possibly resulting from severe displacement, bleeding or oedema. It must be however underlined that EF is rarely a definitive method for these fractures, especially when the ankle is splinted, and it must be followed by definitive Internal Fixation (IF) - the so-called "sequential method", otherwise restoration of a normal ankle anatomy and function is improbable, resulting in ankle stiffness or even osteoarthritis. This paper presents a case in which this principle was only partially applied, thus requiring corrective surgery followed by a long-term recovery period.


Eutrophication is a result of increasing discharges ofnutrients and is the main cause of the deterioration of theaquatic ecosystems. Major sources of nitrogen in coastal watersare wastewater treatment plants. A large number of wastewatertreatment plants have been upgraded to biologically removenitrogen using nitrification and denitrification processes.The aim of this thesis was to detect and enumeratenitrifying bacteria in wastewater treatment systems. Purecultures ofNitrobacterwere isolated from activated sludge and usedto produce monoclonal antibodies. Using these antibodies acompetitive ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) wasdeveloped, and successfully used to enumerateNitrobacterin pure cultures as well as in activatedsludge. This method was applied in a study whereNitrobacterwas quantified in the influent to Brommawastewater treatment plant.The principles of the ELISA were used to develop anamperometric enzyme-linked immunoassay. In this biosensor anelectrode made of glassy carbon is used, on which theimmunological reaction is carried out. An enzyme, conjugated tothe secondary antibody, catalyzes the formation of anelectroactive product, which can be amperometrically detected.Quantitative detection ofNitrobacterusing the immunosensor was compared to theELISA showing compatible results. The overall assay time wasshortened and a lower detection limit could be obtained byusing the biosensor.The cross-reactivity of a number of bacterial strains andisolates were determined. All strains of the nitrite-oxidizinggeneraNitrobacterandNitrococcusreacted strongly with the monoclonalantibody. The nitrite-oxidizingNitrospira moscoviensisas well as all theammonia-oxidizing and heterotrophic bacteria tested did notshow any affinity towards the antibody. The sensor was furtherused to enumerateNitrobacterin sludge samples from different wastewatertreatment plants in Sweden. By comparing the number ofNitrobacterobtained using the biosensor with theactivity of the samples, inhibition of the nitrification can bedetected. To identify the nitrification inhibitors in thewastewater, a procedure was presented for fractionation of thesample and location of the inhibitory compounds. In awastewater obtained from a plant for drying wood derived fuel,unsaturated fatty acids and monoterpenes were found toconstitute most of the inhibitory effect.Key words: biosensor, ELISA, enumeration, immunoassay,monoclonal antibodies, nitrification inhibition, nitrifyingbacteria,Nitrobacter, quantification, wastewater treatment.


With the wide use of NC, higher accuracy in machining is increasingly required for premium mechanical components. However, machining accuracy is affected by many factors, especially by the way of the tool positioning and the geometry of the tool nose. This paper, based on the actual NC lathe tool and turning, generalized and abstracted the machining process by establishing the imaginary tool nose and the tool tip's arc centre as the cutter-contact point, and analyzed systematically the influence of the factors, including the way of the tool positioning, the nose, and the tool tip's arc radius, on the machining accuracy when machining transverse, cylindrical-surface, circular cone, quarter-circular and some surfaces can be expressed by formula etc.. Derived the error calculating formulas for turning in different surfaces. Put forward two error compensation methods, direct calculating method and enveloping method of error compensation. Experiments were carried out and results have shown that the two error compensation methods can considerably reduce the machining error in NC turning operations.


The screen printed mesoporous carbon perovskite solar cell has great potential for commercialisation due to its scalable deposition processes and use of inexpensive materials. However, each layer requires long high temperature heating steps to achieve the necessary sintering and porosity, which is very time and energy intensive for large scale production. Near infrared processing is demonstrated here to reduce the heating time of mesoporous layers within a fully printed lead halide perovskite solar cell from 2 hours to 30 seconds. A stabilised efficiency of 11% was achieved by processing in 30 seconds, identical to that of devices heated in 2 hours. For the first time the effect of residual binder in the carbon electrode on the electron lifetime and charge transfer within devices has been investigated. Furthermore cross section EDX mapping of perovskite infiltration provides a greater understanding into the processing requirements of these devices vital to enable commercialisation.


This dissertation explores energy transition from a philosophical perspective. It puts forward the thesis that energy production and consumption are so intimately intertwined with society that the transition towards a sustainable alternative will involve more than simply implementing novel technologies. Fossil energy sources and a growth-based economy have resulted in very specific energy practices, which will change in the future. Broader reflection is needed to understand how and in which direction such change is acceptable and desirable. This reflection is initiated by articulating two pertinent problems with current energy practices that have thus far failed to receive appropriate attention in debates on energy transition: 1) the difficulty of dealing with intermittent sources in relation to the idea of cumulative accounting of energy consumption, and 2) the mismatch between expectations of ethical consumer behaviour in energy systems that discourage engagement. To move forward, instead of assuming that all consumption is equivalent and that more is better, we must develop a better informed and more nuanced idea of 'good' energy practices that actually contribute to our quality of life. One often overlooked aspect of this may be 'embodied engagement', which would suggest that automation of tasks through energy-consuming technologies may be convenient, but also tends to lead to a loss of appreciation for both the task and its result. Some things, like creating a cozy environment around a fireplace, or climbing a mountain, are better partly because they take effort. In such cases, the 'efficiency' of the technology (e.g. the heat-pump, or the automobile) is besides the point - the question is whether it gives us anything of value at all.


Background: An initial review of District Health Information System (DHIS) data from Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, collected for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), identified wide variations in reported rates of immunisation between sub-districts, with some consistently exceeding 100%. These impossible figures signal significant issues with data quality. To investigate these variations, and identify potential interventions, we designed a mixed-methods evaluation of the accuracy of reported immunisation coverage and challenges in data management. Methods: The evaluation was carried out in June and July 2012. Data audits and semi-structured interviews with key staff were conducted in 16 purposively selected health facilities and two sub-district offices from two of Eastern Cape's 24 sub-districts. Selected sub-districts were the ones reporting the lowest and highest coverage rates. The extent of the discrepancy between reported and verified data was calculated for each facilities. Multiple regression analysis identified factors related to these discrepancies. Content theme analysis of interviews was done to pinpoint recurring challenges in data quality assurance. Results: Reported immunisation coverage for the 24 sub-districts in Eastern Cape Province varied between 46.3% and 133.9%. Five of the sub-districts reported rates exceeding 100%. Results of audits in the two sub-districts reporting the lowest (SD1) and highest (SD2) figures showed that full immunisation was over-reported by 4% in SD1 and 85% in SD 2. When stratified by facility, significant over and under-reporting existed in all facilities, although errors were far larger in SD2. Content analysis of interviews revealed that audit discrepancies related mainly to: availability and use of registers; poor verification processes; inadequate training; and communication issues. These challenges were present in both sub-districts although more frequent in SD2 where greater discrepancies were identified. Conclusion: Ensuring data accuracy is a significant problem in Eastern Cape Province. There are some clear steps the Provincial Department of Health can take to reduce errors. Recommendations include a) the central procurement of materials required for data management, b) the formation of Data Audit Teams to verify data, c) integration between Maternal, Child and Women's Health sub-programmes to improve communication, and d) the provision of training regarding data management processes.


Importance Congenital retinal macrovessel (CRM) is a rarely reported venous malformation of the retina that is associated with venous anomalies of the brain. Objective To study the multimodal imaging findings of a series of eyes with congenital retinal macrovessel and describe the systemic associations. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional multicenter study, medical records were retrospectively reviewed from 7 different retina clinics worldwide over a 10-year period (2007-2017). Patients with CRM, defined as an abnormal, large, macular vessel with a vascular distribution above and below the horizontal raphe, were identified. Data were analyzed from December 2016 to August 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Clinical information and multimodal retinal imaging findings were collected and studied. Pertinent systemic information, including brain magnetic resonance imaging findings, was also noted if available. Results Of the 49 included patients, 32 (65%) were female, and the mean (SD) age at onset was 44.0 (20.9) years. A total of 49 eyes from 49 patients were studied. Macrovessel was unilateral in all patients. Color fundus photography illustrated a large aberrant dilated and tortuous retinal vein in all patients. Early-phase frames of fluorescein angiography further confirmed the venous nature of the macrovessel in 40 of 40 eyes. Optical coherence tomography angiography, available in 17 eyes (35%), displayed microvascular capillary abnormalities around the CRM, which were more evident in the deep capillary plexus. Of the 49 patients with CRM, 39 (80%) did not illustrate any evidence of ophthalmic complications. Ten patients (20%) presented with retinal complications, typically an incidental association with CRM. Twelve patients (24%) were noted to have venous malformations of the brain with associated magnetic resonance imaging. Of these, location of the venous anomaly in the brain was ipsilateral to the CRM in 10 patients (83%) and contralateral in 2 patients (17%), mainly located in the frontal lobe in 9 patients (75%). Conclusions and Relevance Our study has identified an association between macrovessels in the retina and venous anomalies of the brain (24% compared with 0.2% to 6.0% in the normal population). Thus, we recommend new guidelines for the systemic workup of patients with CRM to include brain magnetic resonance imaging with contrast. These lesions may be more accurately referred to as retinal venous malformations, which may raise awareness regarding potential cerebral associations.


A novel tri-branched copolymer is synthesized to show strong two-photon absorption and intense two-photon absorption induced fluorescence emission under the excitation of the femtosecond laser pulses at wavelength of 80Ohm. The dynamics of the excited state was measured by the pump-probe technique. In a one-colour pump-probe experiment at 800 nm, there was an ultrafast transient absorption, followed by other two relaxation processes. The two-photon absorption process could be one origin for this ultrafast photoabsorption signal, which was further proven by two-colour pump-probe experiments. The other two decaying processes in the transient absorption dynamics have lifetime of about 15ps and 129ps, which reflect the intraband vibrational relaxation and the decay of two-photon excited state, respectively.


This article offers an analysis of two of Maria Teresa Horta's narrative titles Ambas as maos sobre o corpo and Ema , where we observe that women were historically conditioned and trapped within a silent, submissive, reclusive and obedient web, under the male figures of the father and, thereafter, the husband. A metaphor can be seen in both titles, showing a great play of forces woven by men and women which determined a generation of women. This essay emphasises Maria Teresa Horta's female characters and demonstrates the desire for freedom (of expression, in the use of the body, the voice and physical space) and the submissiveness of women of different generations to madness and reclusive conditions because of their desire for a different life.


With the combined condemnation of three of the most visually sensitive of Blake specialists, one is tempted to roll over and surrender. But doubts arrive, and a combination of misstatements, misunderstandings, and disputable arguments, to say nothing of actual contradictions of fact, has tempted me to return to the fray. To begin with, there is the problem of "copying." Comparisons with the original watercolor from the Butts collection are one thing, those with the copies done for Linnell another. In the case of the first, as reflected in the relatively faint pencil drawing under the later work in pen and watercolor, it is hardly surprising, though not accurate, to talk of the copying as being "meticulous" or "slavish." That is the usual intention when one copies another work. Both Robert Essick and Joseph Viscomi go on to demonstrate details of where Blake departs from the original, usually for the worse. It would be tedious to go through every example they quote, but one may suffice. This is the small twig bearing leaves apparently with no connection to any branch or tree, on the righthand side of the picture, more or less on the horizon. I myself find the freedom of this motif rather refreshing, and there are precedents in other Blake works, in particular the first series of illustrations to the book of Job (Butlin 550 1 and 19; see also Butlin 551 19).


Objective The present study was designed to analyse the effect of ST segment changes in aVR lead and the well-known risk factors in ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Materials and Methods A total of 250 patients who were admitted between 2009 and 2010 with STEMI and ≥1 mm ST-segment elevation in aVR lead were enrolled in the study. The patients were followed for life-threatening events like acute pulmonary oedema, atrial fibrillation, AV block, ventricular tachycardia, length of stay in hospital and death. Results Among the enrolled patients, 222 were discharged and 28 died. Pulmonary oedema and mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with ST-segment elevation in aVR lead (both p=0.001). Conclusions There is a correlation of ST-segment elevation in aVR lead with poor outcome in STEMI. Therefore aVR lead must be analysed as well as the other leads and well-known risk factors while it estimates the prognosis.


In a highly influential book, Not Enough, Samuel Moyn argues that the modern human rights movement has failed to address economic inequality. Moyn criticizes the human rights movement for not doing enough, but also expresses skepticism that human rights law will ever be suitable for promoting economic justice: its premises are too individualistic and its toolkit for pressuring governments is too weak. Moyn envisions economic transformation realized through global economic interventionism, massive tax reforms, and new antitrust rules, with the goal of rebuilding the social welfare state.

This Book Review addresses the question that Not Enough provokes but does not ultimately answer: can human rights law, including litigation and other forms of legal mobilization, be used to promote material equality? To do so, it an angle mostly absent from Not Enough: the phenomena of courts' around the world interpreting their domestic constitutions to promote economic equality. Courts in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Lithuania, and Latvia have all, on occasion, rendered decisions that tackled inequality. Some of these courts have provided access to social rights-related goods and services to the poor and middle classes alike. Others have protected middle-class entitlements in the face of harsh austerity measures or have prevented tax cuts for the rich and/or new tax burdens on the poor. In essence, these courts have used constitutional rights to do exactly what Moyn says human rights law has failed to do: attempt to advance economic equality.

One takeaway from these foreign experiences is that rights do have a potential role to play in promoting economic equality. Many courts have deployed their constitution to promote economic justice and, in doing so, have illuminated numerous possible connections between rights and material equality. Even though these decisions may fall short of Moyn's transformative vision, they do represent equality gains if faithfully implemented. Another takeaway is that the political economy of these judicial interventions is very different from Moyn's description of the international human rights movement. Notably, many of these interventions were not primarily concerned with lifting up the poor, but with protecting the middle classes. Notably some of the courts that have addressed economic equality in this manner have been criticized for pursuing a majoritarian agenda and engaging in "judicial populism," that is, catering justice to the middle class. Commentators have argued that, in doing so, courts have strayed from the core objective of justiciable social rights: protecting society's most vulnerable.

This Review argues that if rights are to play a role in promoting material equality, some judicial populism is probably helpful. When large segments of the population benefit from judicial interventions, equality gains are likely larger than when interventions focus on the poor alone. Such interventions are not necessarily inconsistent with the judicial role: protecting the rights of the groups that lack political power, even if those groups comprise numerical majorities, is arguably a proper function of constitutional courts. What is more, such interventions can be particularly impactful. A large body of empirical social science literature on rights effectiveness has shown that, although rights enforcement is often difficult, rights are most impactful when mobilized groups of citizens push for their enforcement. Such mobilization is more likely to occur for rights that benefit majorities than for rights that protect vulnerable minorities alone. It follows that a human rights agenda focused on economic justice that also benefits the middle classes can be particularly powerful.


The aim of this study was to assess the effect of providing environmental enrichment in the form of perches and string on the behaviour and welfare of commercial broiler chickens. Houses containing ~23 000 broiler chickens were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2×2 factorial design. Treatments involved two levels of access to perches (P) (present (24/house) '+P' or absent '-P') and two levels of access to string (S) (present (24/house) '+S' or absent '-S'). All houses contained windows, and 30 straw bales were provided from day 10 of the rearing cycle. Treatments were applied in one of four houses on a single farm, and were replicated over four production cycles. Behaviour and leg health were observed in weeks 3 to 5 of the rearing cycle. Production performance and environmental parameters were also measured. There was an interaction between perches and age in the percentage of birds observed lying, with higher percentages of birds observed lying in the +P treatment than in the -P treatment during weeks 4 and 5. There was also a significant interaction between string and age in the percentage of birds observed in locomotion, with higher percentages observed in locomotion in the -S treatment than in the +S treatment during weeks 4 and 5. There was also an interaction between string and age in average gait scores, with lower gait scores in the +S treatment than in the -S treatment during weeks 3 and 5 but not within week 4. Daytime observations showed that perches and strings were used frequently, with one bout of perching occurring approximately every 80 s/perch, and one bout of pecking at string occurring every 78 s/string on average. There was a significant effect of age on use of perches (P<0.001) and string (P<0.001), with perching peaking during week 5 and string pecking peaking during week 3. We conclude that commercial broilers in windowed houses with access to straw bales display an interest in additional enrichment stimuli in the form of perches and string, and therefore that these stimuli have the potential to improve welfare. In addition, provision of string as a pecking device appeared to positively influence walking ability. However, this effect was numerically small, was only shown in certain weeks and was not reflected in the other leg health measure (latency to lie). The results also showed an apparent negative effect of string and perches on the activity levels of birds (recorded away from the immediate vicinity of these enrichments) towards the end of the production cycle. These results emphasise the need for further research into optimum design and layout of enrichment stimuli for modern broilers in windowed houses to ensure that their provision leads to clear welfare benefits.


This paper analyzes the cost-benefit trade-off of leaning against the wind (LAW) in monetary policy. Our starting point is a New Keynesian Markov-switching model where the economy can be in a normal state or in a crisis state. The set-up enables us to weigh benefits against costs for different systematic LAW policies. We find that the benefits of LAW in terms of a lower frequency of severe financial recessions exceed costs in terms of higher volatility in output and in inflation in normal times when i) agents underestimate crisis risk, and ii) the severity of crises is endogenous (i.e. when "credit bites back"). Furthermore, we find that using an asymmetric rule that only includes positive credit growth can reduce the frequency of severe financial recessions even further, but that this comes at the cost of higher volatility in normal times. Finally, we find that LAW policies can lead to relatively higher output volatility in normal times when agents perceive crisis risk correctly because they are already internalizing the risk of lower future consumption by reducing consumption today.


ABSTRACT Thin, light-weight valves of Mulinia lateralis, a lagoonal clam, are found evenly and naturally interbedded in clay at 8 to 33 ft above mean sea level in a clay dune of the mainland shore of Laguna Madre, the coastal lagoon of southwestern Texas. The dune is on the lee shore of a small embayment where the shells seem to have been carried from the parent lagoon by waves and currents and strewn on a mud flat normally barren of subaqueous invertebrates. The shells were then redistributed by wind over the dune. Previously, the only fossils reported from clay dunes have been foraminifera and food animals and shells of aboriginal camp sites. The environment of the occurrence is briefly described, with a review of the origin and development of clay dunes. An irregularly distributed layer of organic and inorganic flotsam deposited on the clay dunes by storm waves is also described, and it is concluded that the M. lateralis shells were not similarly deposited.


This article explores how white and black New Jerseyans understood slavery and abolition in their state in the 1830s and 1840s. It examines how the emergence of an active abolition society, fervor over the presence of fugitive slaves, and the increasingly degraded relationship between the North and the South over slavery spurred a localized debate in New Jersey over slavery's continuation. However, even with active abolitionist pressure and a population that increasingly eyed slavery and the South with suspicion, abolitionists never convinced the general population to support immediate black freedom. When New Jersey legislators finally abolished slavery in 1846, they did so grudgingly and under yet another graduated system. Instead of freeing all bound blacks, the legislature abolished the legal term "slave" and reclassified all former slaves as "apprentices for life."New Jerseyans therefore displayed a remarkable ability to resist immediate abolition, which illustrates that slavery survived far longer and more powerfully in the North than previously imagined. More importantly, New Jerseyans did not disown their past relationships with slavery, but instead used them to inform their dealings with the institution in the 1840s and their relationship with the South in an increasingly divided nation. These past relationships then had a tangible impact on the sectional crisis as New Jersey and southern politicians shared an understanding of slavery and an astute knowledge of the various forms of unfreedom associated with it.


Cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially in old and very old subjects. The question if long-acting beta-agonist and long-acting muscarinic antagonist could be associated with the increased prevalence of CV-related adverse effects has puzzled, particularly in the past, specialists involved in the management of respiratory diseases. The safety of these compounds has scarcely been tested in patients aged ≥ 65 years with CV comorbidities, since randomized controlled trials rarely include this subpopulation. However, the fixed combination indacaterol/glycopyrronium has shown a favorable CV safety profile in both healthy volunteers and COPD patients. Thus, we aimed to assess the CV safety pro- file of the fixed combination indacaterol/glycopyrronium 110/50 μg in a series of COPD patients aged ≥ 80 years with several comorbidities. Our results indicate that this combination is safe in the comorbid elderly, since no significant electrocardiographic abnormalities were recorded after the administration of the inhaled therapy. Only rare and nonclinically significant changes in heart rate and corrected QT interval duration were evident, mainly in females and in patients with concomitant impaired kidney function.