This article details the engagement by the Department of Physical Geography of Utrecht University in the Netherlands with rural communities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to assist them in gaining a better understanding of the environmental impacts of the management practices of the governmental forest authorities of the state of Western Australia in pursuit of international timber exports. The study commences with a description of the unique characteristics of WA's forest communities. It continues with an account of governmental international forest policy norms and the discourse of sustainable forest management (SFM). This is followed by a delineation of the interactions between the academic community and civil society in their engagement with governmental departments in arguing the case for conservation. The final section makes some concluding observations on the lessons that can be learned from the failure of the state government to ensure the sustainable management of the forests of Western Australia.


Larger farming operations have changed how farmers purchase and handle pesticides. Caged pesticide tanks (mini-bulk containers) have replaced the 2.5 gallon containers previously used on farms. Often these tanks have not left the farms but remain stockpiled or used for unintended purposes.


In this chapter we discuss the psychological function of "the drive for sense-making," or our innate desire to make sense of the world. We start by discussing why sense-making generates a drive, similar to those associated with the primary reinforcers of food, water, sleep, sex, shelter, and air. In our account, the drive for sense-making fills a critical gap in purely goal-oriented cognition by motivating us to continue investing in knowledge even when we cannot foresee exactly how it will benefit us. We then examine three different factors that shape the particular form sense-making takes: (1) the practical utility of holding accurate beliefs for attaining concrete goals, (2) the motivational significance of some beliefs, which generates a desire to make sense of the world in a way that feels good, and (3) the impact of computational limitations on the sense-making process, especially our limited ability to explicitly predict what information will turn out to be useful. Finally, we turn our attention to how these factors help to explain aberrant sense-making phenomena such as conspiracy theories, science denial, and political polarization.


Goals: This clinical trial was carried out to determine whether oral treatment with a commercial probiotic formula containing Bifidobacterium lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus would reduce the frequency of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in infants. Study: In this double-bind formula controlled study, 80 infants, 6 to 36 months of age, were randomly assigned to receive a commercial formula containing 107 viable cells of B. lactis and 106viable cells of S. thermophilus at the initiation of antibiotics for a duration of 15 days. The infants were assessed daily for formula intake, stool frequency, and stool consistency for a total duration of 30 days. Seventy-seven infants received nonsupplemented formula for the entire duration. Results: There was a significant difference in the incidence of AAD in the children receiving probiotic-supplemented formula (16%) than nonsupplemented formula (31%). Conclusions: The present study shows that prevention against AAD in infants was obtained by oral treatment with daily dose of B. lactis and S. thermophilus.


This paper addresses the issue of assessing the quality of the clusters found by fuzzy and hard clustering algorithms. In particular, it seeks an answer to the question on how well cluster validity indexes can automatically determine the appropriate number of clusters that represent the data. The paper surveys several key existing solutions for cluster validity in the domain of image segmentation. In addition, it suggests two new indexes. The first one is based on Akaike's information criterion (AIC). While AIC was devoted to other domains such as statistical estimation of model fitting, it is implemented here for the first time as a validation index. The second index is developed from the well-established idea of cross-validation. The existing and new indexes are evaluated and compared on several synthetic images corrupted with noise of varying levels and volumetric MR data.


BACKGROUND
In Japan, esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy is the standard therapy for resectable esophageal cancer. However, its outcome is considered unsatisfactory because the 5-year survival rate is less than 50%. Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard therapy for unresectable esophageal cancer and could also be considered as an option for resectable esophageal cancer. We retrospectively determined the efficacy and safety of CRT for patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS
The study population comprised patients with esophageal cancer who had been treated with CRT between April 2004 and October 2009 in our institute. Acute and late toxicity was assessed with NCI-CTC and RTOG/EORTC late radiation morbidity scoring scheme, respectively. Survival time was calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods.

RESULTS
We enrolled 29 consecutive patients and classified them on the basis of clinical staging: stage I, 4 patients; stage II/III, 11 patients; and stage IV, 14 patients. Complete response was achieved in 37.9% and 45.5% of the total study population and the stage II/III group, respectively. The median survival time in these groups was 12.1 months and 15 months, respectively. Grade 3/4 acute toxicities were observed in 62.1% of the patients. Grade 3/4 late toxicities were observed in 12% of the patients. The first failure after CRT was almost locoregional.

CONCLUSION
CRT appears to be an effective therapy for esophageal cancer; however, its outcome is not satisfactory. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the role of salvage surgery after CRT and new chemotherapeutic agents.


. Structural steels contain various material irregularities and natural defects which cause local stress concentrations from which fatigue cracks tend to initiate. Two defects in close proximity to each other may affect local stress distributions and thus begin to interact. In this paper, the effect of interacting small cracks on the fatigue limit is systematically investigated in a medium carbon steel. The growth of interacting cracks, as well as the characteristics of non-propagating cracks and microstructural aspects were closely examined via the plastic replica method. It was found that although the fatigue limit is essentially controlled by the mechanics of interacting cracks, based on their configuration, the local microstructure comprised of ferrite and pearlite has a statistical scatter effect on the behaviour of interacting cracks and non-propagating thresholds. With respect to the fatigue limit, when two defects were in close proximity, they behaved as a larger single defect. However, with greater spacing between defects, rather than mechanical factors, it is the local microstructure which determines the location and characteristics of non-propagating cracks.


Fish parasitological surveys, conducted during different times of the year in the Okavango and Upper Zambezi River systems from 1997 to 2013, revealed the presence of five branchiuran species. Dolops ranarum from the Okavango system was found on the skin and in the branchial chambers of 12 fish species. Adults and various larval stages of Chonopeltis lisikili were collected from five Synodontis species. In some cases, both larval stages and adults were found on the same fish. This implies that host-change does not occur in C. lisikili, as was reported for other Chonopeltis species. Chonopeltis liversedgei was found in the branchial chamber of the western bottlenose Mormyrus lacerda. A solitary specimen of Argulus ambloplites was found on the skin of the sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus. In the Zambezi system, A. cunningtoni was collected from C. gariepinus and Serranochromis robustus. This paper includes data collected over a long period on the branchiurans from two river systems, and is compared to ...


Although several Edwardsiella tarda infections have been reported, its pathogenic role in marine mammals has not been investigated at the genome level. We investigated the genome of E. tarda strain KC-Pc-HB1, isolated from the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) found bycaught in South Korea. The obtained genome was similar to that of human pathogenic E. tarda strains, but distinct from other Edwardsiella species. Although type III and VI secretion systems, which are essential for the virulence of other Edwardsiella species, were absent, several virulence-related genes involved in the pathogenesis of E. tarda were found in the genome. These results provide important insights into the E. tarda infecting marine mammals and give valuable information on potential virulence factors in this pathogen.


Thin-walled parts are widely used in aerospace engineering. For their complexity under loading and the higher shape precision, it's difficult for their manufacturing on high speed machine. In order to understand manufacture process, characteristic of aviation part in high speed machining is investigated. Error sources on parts are classified and the maximum error, dynamic errors are studied on its main influence factors, such as cutting force and vibration. Finally, useful method on cutting test part is proposed, which can observe and control dynamic accuracy of aviation part and ensure effective manufacture.


This paper introduces a novel controllable mechanical metal forming press, which is a 2-DOF planar mechanism driven by a large constant speed motor and a small servomotor. The constant speed motor provides the main power while the servomotor tunes the trajectory and velocity of the punch in order to realize the controlled punch motion. The new press needs high accuracy, repeatability and resolution to guarantee the controlled punch motion. Improving manufacturing and assembly process could help it, but sometimes is very difficult and not feasible. Therefore parameter calibration has a significant effect on the accuracy, repeatability and resolution of the press. In this work, a simple parameter calibration method is presented without using complex and precise metrology system. Experiment results indicate that this kind of calibration method is fast, easy, accurate and cost effective.


Organic electronics pursues the fabrication of low cost, lightweight, mechanical flexible opto-electronic devices on plastic substrates eventually fabricated using roll-to-roll printing methodologies. Since opto-electronic device performance and lifetime strongly depends on the device functional interfaces, great effort has been devoted in their optimization and/or functionalization. Such functional interfaces affect charge exchange, control light confinement, enable efficient adhesion among the different layers as well as determine rheological parameters (viscosity, surface energy, wettability) for device fabrication if carried out from solution. In this chapter we describe the utilization of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and multilayers (SAMTs) as key elements for the realization of opto-electronic devices such as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and organic nonlinear optical devices such as electro-optic (EO) modulators.


Kininogen was isolated from Cohns fraction IV by DEAE-chromatography, gel filtration and ammonium sulphate precipitation. Immunologically pure kininogen was prepared by removal of protein impurities using specific immunoadsorbents with Sepharose-bound antibody. Anti-kininogen serum was raised in rabbits against the pure antigen. Comparison with anti-kininogen sera prepared with the biologically active LMW antigen from whole plasma suggested antigenic identity by double immunodiffusion analysis. The Cohn-kininogen was shown to contain mainly two components (85%) in about equal amounts focusing with peaks at pI 4.2 (42%) and pI 4.3 (43%). These represent apparently structurally altered forms of the native plasma kininogen focusing at pI 4.5-4.6 (54%), which occurred as a minor component (13%).


Thank you very much for downloading clothing a comprehensive study. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have look numerous times for their chosen novels like this clothing a comprehensive study, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they cope with some harmful bugs inside their laptop. clothing a comprehensive study is available in our book collection an online access to it is set as public so you can get it instantly. Our book servers spans in multiple countries, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Merely said, the clothing a comprehensive study is universally compatible with any devices to read.


Feature lines visualize the shape and structure of 3D objects, and are an essential component of many non-photorealistic rendering styles. Existing feature line rendering methods, however, are only able to render feature lines in limited contexts, such as on immediately visible surfaces or in specular reflections. We present a novel, path-based method for feature line rendering that allows for the accurate rendering of feature lines in the presence of complex physical phenomena such as glossy reflection, depth-of-field, and dispersion. Our key insight is that feature lines can be modeled as view-dependent light sources. These light sources can be sampled as a part of ordinary paths, and seamlessly integrate into existing physically-based rendering methods. We illustrate the effectiveness of our method in several real-world rendering scenarios with a variety of different physical phenomena.


Purpose: Speed training and short distance sprints have become an essential component of preparation for professional football players. Current trends in speed training have included the application of non-curved, manual treadmills, as they may enhance peak speeds with less biomechanical stress. A lack of data currently exists in regards to the effectiveness of different settings and peak speed response. Therefore, we proposed to compare peak speeds during different settings of non-curved, manual treadmills. It was hypothesized that as resistance/incline increased, peak sprinting speeds would decrease and vice versa. Methods: Fourteen male professional football players (27.14 ± 3.11 yrs., 183.93 ± 8.52 cm, 100.36 ± 15.60 kg) sprinted at peak speeds during four different incline/resistance bouts. Paired samples T-tests examined differences between bouts, and significance was set at p ≤ 0.008. Results: A significant difference (p < 0.001) existed for peak speeds between each incline/resistance bout (i.e. INC15R8, INC15R5, INC20R3, INC20R1). Conclusions: The observed data differences existed between all bouts, indicating that as resistance and/or incline increased, peak speed decreased. This also indicated that as resistance and/or incline decreased, peak speed increased during sprint bouts in professional football players.


We present a novel physically‐based method to visualize stress tensor fields. By incorporating photoelasticity into traditional raycasting and extending it with reflection and refraction, taking into account polarization, we obtain the virtual counterpart to traditional experimental polariscopes. This allows us to provide photoelastic analysis of stress tensor fields in arbitrary domains. In our model, the optical material properties, such as stress‐optic coefficient and refractive index, can either be chosen in compliance with the subject under investigation, or, in case of stress problems that do not model optical properties or that are not transparent, be chosen according to known or even new transparent materials. This enables direct application of established polariscope methodology together with respective interpretation. Using a GPU‐based implementation, we compare our technique to experimental data, and demonstrate its utility with several simulated datasets.


The nutritive value of opuntia [(Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] in combination with conventional fodders was assessed on 32 adult sheep, divided into 4 equal groups. The experimental diets consisted of chopped (5–8 cm) green opuntia cladodes (150 g on dry matter basis per head daily) in combination with chopped green napier (Pennisetum purpureum) grass (T1), berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) hay (T2), lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus) straw (T3) and gram (Cicer arietinum) straw (T4) ad libitum. All experimental animals were supplemented with 200 g concentrate mixture per head daily. Total DM intake ranged from 3.39 to 4.35 per cent of live weight and it was higher (P<0.01) in experimental groups where berseem hay and lathyrus straw were used as basal feed (T2 and T3). The total tract apparent digestibility of DM, OM and CP were lower (P<0.01) in sheep fed opuntia with gram straw (T4) diet compared to other diets (T1, T2 and T3). Similarly digestibility of fibre fractions (NDF, ADF and cellulose) was also lower (P<0.01) on T4 diet. Intake of digestible DM, OM and TDN were significantly lower in T4 diet, where opuntia was supplemented with gram straw as basal feed, however, it did not differ (P<0.01) with T1 diet. The DCP intake was lower (P<0.01) in T4 (3.12 g/kgW0.75) when compared to the standard requirements of 5.00 g/kgW0.75 in sheep for maintenance. But intake of TDN was over and above (48.74 to 62.10 g/kgW0.75) the prescribed requirements of 36.00 g/kgW0.75 in sheep for maintenance when considered for all the groups. Animals of all the experimental groups were in positive nitrogen balance. However, N intake, balance, absorb and retention were lower (P<0.01) in T4 diet compared to other diets, but the N excretion through faeces and urine was similar in T1 and T4; and T2 and T3. No significant (P<0.01) changes in live weight were observed and animals maintained the live weight throughout the experimental period. It was evident from the results that opuntia was highly palatable and in combination with conventional fodder sources could maintain adult sheep during summer in semi-arid conditions.


Collective action by farmers has played an important role in the history of European agriculture. During the twentieth century, the foundation of agri- cultural marketing co-operatives contributed in many countries to better market access, increased farm incomes and rural employment. However, European agri- culture is facing a range of new challenges nowadays. Farmers have increasingly lost control over supply chains, due to globalization processes and the growing power of retailers, and they are also confronted with a general decline and reori- entation of policy support. At the same time, there is a need to respond to chang- ing demands for food safety, quality and an attractive countryside. Against this background, a range of new types of collective farmers' marketing initiatives is emerging across Europe by which farmers in coalition with other categories of so- cietal actors aim to find answers for the challenges they are currently facing. Based on the outcomes of the European COFAMI research project, this article explores the diversity of strategies that characterize these newly emerging collective mar- keting strategies and the different types of social network relations that they are generating. Also, it outlines some main methodological principles for studying the dynamics and operation of new collective marketing initiatives.


In this paper, I argue that Achilles Tatius' Leucippe and Clitophon questions the apparently fabulous beauty of its heroine. While the other novelists tend to present their protagonists as intrinsically and objectively beautiful, Achilles allows the reader to see the ways in which Leucippe's beauty is constructed within and by the narrative itself. In so doing, he can be understood as both criticizing the narrator—who is thus revealed to be even more partial and unreliable than has been recognized—and offering commentary on the genre itself. Nicholas Kauffman recently earned his PhD from the Department of Classics at Johns Hopkins University, with a dissertation entitled Rereading Death: Ethics and Aesthetics in the Ancient Reception of Homeric Battle Narrative . He is currently a Lilly Postdoctoral Fellow at Valparaiso University.


Lithogenic material, carried by the atmosphere and deposited as dust,
is a major source of trace metals to the ocean. In the tropical
Atlantic, which receives at least half of the global deposition flux
to the oceans, dust is very likely to be the dominant source of iron.
Iron is also an important micronutrient for marine biology, so the
delivery of dust couples the atmosphere, the global carbon cycle and
climate. But how much of the dust-deposited iron becomes bioavailable
also depends on the seawater side: Iron is hardly soluble in oxic
seawater and rapidly scavenged onto particle surfaces. Dust deposition
also is a source of particles, and hence can act as a sink for
dissolved iron.

This talk will give an overview about the role of dust for marine
biological productivity and how it is affected by chemistry of iron in
the ocean. I will then discuss the double role of iron as a source and
sink of iron, using insights from modelling and a series of recent
measurements in the tropical Atlantic. Finally I will outline gaps
in our current understanding and modelling of the marine iron cycle
and point to ways forward.


This paper investigates a relationship between economic governance and the dual objectives of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): poverty reduction and financial viability. Using an unbalanced panel of 531 MFIs the important role of other institutions such as country-level business registry departments in facilitating targeting of poor clients is illuminated. Comparing the estimates of Hausman-Taylor and Fixed Effects Vector Decomposition allows us to scrutinize and at least partially correct the effects of both time invariant and slow changing endogenous variables. We find that credit information availability and lesser time in securing property enhances the chances of MFIs in achieving their poverty reduction objective. Product diversification leading to economies of scope also enables MFIs to reach poor clients. On the basis of the above, it is imperative for government and development partners to channel their efforts towards provision of an enabling atmosphere that will enhance the achievement of microfinance social objectives.


Abstract We report on the analysis of fish bones of the African catfish, Synodontis schall (schall), recovered from the site of Tell el-Amarna in Middle Egypt. A systematic programme of sampling and sieving at this site has resulted in a large and well-preserved faunal collection from Pharaonic (14th century bc ) and Late Roman (5th–6th centuries ad ) deposits. Bones of schall are well represented, and in particular the pectoral spine, a robust and well-preserved anatomical element, which contains a record of incremental growth structures. We present here our methods of analysis, using a sample of modern schall collected at monthly intervals over a 12-month period to validate the interpretation of the incremental growth structures. We use these methods to identify variations in size and growth characteristics between Pharaonic, Roman and modern material and to throw light on changes in the ancient Egyptian economy and the ecology of the Nile. Our results demonstrate that the schall of the Late Roman period grew more slowly and were subject to more intensive levels of fishing pressure than those of the Pharaonic and modern periods. We interpret this as evidence of climatic deterioration and a concomitant increased reliance on fish for food during the 5th–6th centuries ad .


Abstract. We present a method based on deep learning for detecting and localizing abnormal/extreme events in sea surface temperature (SST) of the Red Sea images using training samples of normal events only. The method operates in two stages; the first one involves features extraction from each patch of the SST input image using the first two convolutional layers extracted from a pretrained convolutional neural network. In the second stage, two methods are used for training the model from the normal training data. The first method uses one-class support vector machine (1-SVM) classifier that allows a fast and robust abnormal detection in the presence of outliers in the training dataset. In the second method, a Gaussian model is defined on the Mahalanobis distances between all normal training data. Experimental tests are conducted on satellite-derived SST data of the Red Sea spanning for a period of 31 years (1985–2015). Our results suggest that the Gaussian model of Mahalanobis distances outperformed 1-SVM by providing better performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity.


Liver fibrosis is the result of a sustained wound healing response to sustained chronic liver injury, which includes viral, alcoholic and autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatic regeneration is the dominant outcome of liver damage. The outcomes of successful repair are the replacement of dead epithelial cells with healthy epithelial cells, and reconstruction of the normal hepatic structure and function. Prevention of the development of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may control and even reverse liver fibrosis. EMT is a critical process for an epithelial cell to undergo a conversion to a mesenchymal phenotype, and is believed to be an inflammation-induced response, which may have a central role in liver fibrosis. The origin of fibrogenic cells in liver fibrosis remains controversial. Numerous studies have investigated the origin of all fibrogenic cells within the liver and the mechanism of the signaling pathways that lead to the activation of EMT programs during numerous chronic liver diseases. The present study aimed to summarize the evidence to explain the possible role of EMT in liver fibrosis.


Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS IH; Hurler syndrome) is a congenital deficiency of α-L-iduronidase, leading to lysosomal storage of glycosaminoglycans that is ultimately fatal following an insidious onset after birth. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a life-saving measure in MPS IH. However, because a suitable hematopoietic donor is not found for everyone, because HCT is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and because there is no known benefit of immune reaction between the host and the donor cells in MPS IH, gene-corrected autologous stem cells may be the ideal graft for HCT. Thus, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells from 2 patients with MPS IH (MPS-iPS cells). We found that α-L-iduronidase was not required for stem cell renewal, and that MPS-iPS cells showed lysosomal storage characteristic of MPS IH and could be differentiated to both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells. The specific epigenetic profile associated with de-differentiation of MPS IH fibroblasts into MPS-iPS cells was maintained when MPS-iPS cells are gene-corrected with virally delivered α-L-iduronidase. These data underscore the potential of MPS-iPS cells to generate autologous hematopoietic grafts devoid of immunologic complications of allogeneic transplantation, as well as generating nonhematopoietic cells with the potential to treat anatomical sites not fully corrected with HCT.


Climate and environmental issues is now high on the agenda. We live in a generation that must try to solve some major environmental problems. Buildings and habitations account for approximately 40 % of Sweden's total energy today. To reduce this figure, as needed, more research in the field of energy efficiency is required.This thesis concerns the heating of buildings. The load on district heating is heavy during certain times of the day. This is partly because we are in need of a high power output of the heat in our homes in the winter. The power demand is also increased in response to the patterns in our daily lives.To avoid these heating peaks that occur, one could use the building's thermal inertia. This work examines the relationship between a building's energy consumption and the thermal inertia of a concrete building. Can the space heating be turned off at certain times of the day without having the residents being adversely affected as a result of poor thermal comfort?In order to draw conclusions, energy simulations of a multi-family building were implemented. Simulations were made in the program IDA Indoor, Climate and Energy 4.0. Crucial to the result, is the material and the layer thicknesses, the apartment's location in the house, etc.To assess whether it is feasible to turn off the heat for a few hours then examined the definition of thermal comfort based on the operating temperature drop that occurs during heating off. The results of the three simulations showed that rapid temperature drops occurs during the first hour, and then a slower decline in temperature over time. The operative temperature drops to its lowest values above requirement of the operating temperature of the Social Board.The results of the PPD- index by Fanger's comfort equation shows that the number of dissatisfied with the operative temperature ranges between 5- 8 %. After completing simulations it turned out that with the help of stored heat, temporary heating peaks can be avoid. The assessment of this is that it is possible to maintain a thermal comfort in view of the operative temperature, which occurs during the suspension of heating.This can contribute to sustainable development in terms of reduction of energy use in the buildings sector.


Introduction: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), commonly found in 5% of all women of reproductive age is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder in which woman's levels of estrogen and progesterone are imbalance leading to the growth of benign masses in the ovaries (ovarian cysts). Rotterdam criteria used to diagnose PCOS include two of three clinical features: 1) oligo- or anovulation, 2) hyperandroginism e.g., hirsutism, acne etc. and 3) sonographic morphologic evidence of polycystic ovaries.
Aim: To investigate the relationship between circulating biomarkers and their heterogeneity in PCOS.
Material and Methods: A prospective case control study was conducted including 70 females of age ranging from 20 to 35 y out of which 20 served as healthy controls and 50 were patients of PCOS. Lipid levels, renal profile and antioxidative status of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Reduced glutathione (GSH) was analysed quantitatively. Serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Mg2+, PO4 -3), anti-oxidants vitamins C and E and steroidal hormones like Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) were measured by the commercially available kits.
Results: A total of 70 patients were enrolled to the study. Serum electrolytes level like potassium (K) and Phosphorus (P) were significantly increased while antioxidants were decreased in the study group as compared to the control group. Oxidative stress was also increased with higher levels of MDA. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) were decreased in the study group. The PCOS patients showed statistically significant correlation among the circulating biomarkers like FSH vs. prolactin (r=0.400**).
Conclusion: PCOS is found strongly associated with increased lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, electrolyte imbalance as well as variation in lipid profile in biological system. As the lipid peroxidation increases it increases MDA (end product of lipid peroxidation), significantly it characterize PCOS by quantifying lipid hydroperoxides and therefore it may serve as a good biomarker of oxidative stress of PCOS.


Natural hazard governance in countries in the Global South is shifting from a state-centered approach, which has predominantly focused on disaster risk management, with limited involvement of citizens, and a disaster response to a hazard event, to an approach which is more participatory, inclusive and proactive. This emerging approach aims to be transformative, as it draws on the knowledge and skills of multiple actors, including community members; focuses on risk reduction and adaptation; and builds new models of participatory risk governance at the local and city scale.
 Progressive legislation has played a major role in supporting this evolution toward a more transformative approach to natural hazard governance, which recognizes the political economy and political ecology of risk. This includes acknowledging the vulnerability of communities in particular contexts, and the need to address development deficits to build resilience in the face of natural hazards. However, a significant gap exists between progressive legislation and policy, and implementation. Informal settlements experience some of the worst impacts of natural hazards due to their exposure, vulnerability, and social and political marginalization. However, they are also resilient and adaptive, developing innovative approaches in partnership with the state and other actors, to plan for and respond to natural hazards. Empirical research on particular case studies where these shifts in governance are evident, is necessary to explore the opportunities for and barriers to transformative, participatory natural hazard governance in cities in the South.


The authors present a simple general method for simultaneously producing tens of submicron electrode gaps with different cathode and anode materials on top of nanofibers, nanowires, and nanotubes, with an optional gap size variation. Using this method, an ensemble of para-hexaphenylene (p6P) nanofiber devices of different length was fabricated with Sm and Au electrodes. The measured I-V characteristics are in agreement with a nonlinear hopping transport model, where domain barriers dominate the transport with an estimated domain size of 23±5 nm.


At the launch of the research report 'Towards sustainable credit union development (Jones 1999) on 8th December 1998, the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, Geoffrey Fitchew CMG, argued that not only had the report aroused strong interest in Westminster and Whitehall, but that it would "act as a significant catalyst" for change within the British credit union movement (Fitchew 1999). For despite the rapid expansion from the mid-1980s onwards of the number of credit unions established in low-income communities, by the end of the 1990s the growth in membership in these credit unions had stalled. Even with local government support and the commitment of local volunteers, most community credit unions, particular1y in England and Wales, were unable to attract more than a few hundred members. The result was that only four were recognised as self-sufficient and economically viable according to criteria utilised by the Birmingham Credit Union Development Agency at the time (Jones 1999, pp 24-25). In fact, it would not be inaccurate to say that many credit union activists assumed that community credit unions would always be small local organisations, staffed entirely by volunteers. Indeed, the fact that they only served a few hundred members was often seen as a strength, as it generated a strong sense of community identity and of security in the knowledge that the credit union was manageable at a local level. Yet, for others, the need for change was beginning to surface. They were increasingly concerned that credit unions were reaching only a small proportion of the people on low incomes or in poverty who had little or no choice but to use high-cost alternative financial providers. For them, credit unions were failing to realise the potential they had of making a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of communities. Yet, even for people who recognised the need to change, how credit unions might develop remained unclear and problematic. The importance of the 1999 report' was that it revealed, for the first time, the organisational and economic reality of the credit union movement, and indicated a way forward for the sector. It was for this reason that Fitchew described the report as a catalyst for change; for not only did it question the assumptions that underpinned the beliefs and actions of many credit union activists, it offered a plan of action to stimulate and enable the transformation of the movement Subsequently, the report was recognised by Government and the credit union sector as a whole as a key driver for credit union change and development (HM Treasury 1999, Local Government Association 1999, 2001; ABCUL2000, 2007; Donnelly 2004, McKillop and Wilson 2003; O'ConneIl2005; Goth, McKillop, and Ferguson 2006; CRC 2007; Collard 2007). The report was the original, seminal work which formed a theoretical grounding for all the author's subsequent research and research publications.


To the Editor: A 19-year-old man was admitted to the psychiatric unit at Royal Darwin Hospital for a trial of clozapine. He had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and, before his admission for clozapine therapy, had been taking a range of standard antipsychotic drugs, without success. On admission, his blood pressure was 130/90 mmHg and his pulse rate was 80 beats/min. These observations were similar to the blood pressure and pulse rate readings at previous admissions. A week after starting clozapine 175 mg/day, the patient had persistent hypertension, with a systolic blood pressure ranging from 140-170 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure ranging from 90-115 mmHg. He also had persistent tachycardia of 120-130 beats/min. Blood pressure and pulse were measured twice daily. Investigations to exclude organic causes of hypertension included a full blood count, serum electrolyte levels, serum C-reactive protein levels, renal function tests (including creatinine clearance and renal ultrasound), urinary catecholamines, liver and thyroid function tests, chest x-ray and an electrocardiogram. The only abnormality detected was a mildly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase level of 56 lUlL (normal range, 5-44 lUlL). There were no other abnormalities on physical examination. Despite an improvement in the patient's mental state with clozapine therapy, we discussed with our colleagues whether to discontinue the drug. Given its perceived benefit to the patient, we decided to continue with clozapine and attempt to control the hypertension with atenolol. The patient's blood pressure responded well, by


Electrical faults and other network disturbances generate transients of the generator electromagnetic torque, which result in significant stresses for the wind turbine (WT) mechanical system and may also have a detrimental effect on the fatigue life of important drive train components, such as the gearbox. In this paper the effect of faults and other disturbances, common in rural medium voltage (MV) distribution systems, is analyzed for a typical fixed speed WT, equipped with an induction generator. The resulting torque transients are evaluated and their propagation in the drive train is examined. Important conclusions are drawn with respect to the type of electrical faults to be considered in the design and certification of WTs according to the current IEC 61400-1 Standard. Although the emphasis is placed on the developed torque transients, the methodology presented is also suitable for analyzing electrical stresses in the generator, due to over-currents or over-voltages.


Summary: An unusual case of appendicitis in the second trimester of pregnancy is presented. The underlying pathology was shrouded by incomplete abortion. The patient's condition worsened after her uterus was evacuated and it was only at laparotomy that a ruptured appendix was discovered. The need for vigilance in suspecting appendicitis is heightened so as to reduce morbidity and mortality from appendicitis in pregnancy.


This paper shares challenges faced and overcome by four African American women on their 2013 journey to secure USDA's Produce Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Harmonized Food Safety Standards with the Global Addendum (Global Markets Primary Production Assessments: GMPPA). Collaboration, consistent training, and technical support from the Tuskegee University Extension and Research staff, and the Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative undergirded the preparation of the farms for GAPs Certification. The timely sharing of staff expertise and experience from commercial partners (Walmart, Purivida, C.H. Robinson, W.P. Rawls), and support from the USDA (Strike Force Initiative) were important contributors to the positive outcomes described. The outcomes elucidate the adaptability, accountability, and professionalism each participant displayed to prepare her farm for audits; maintain food safety records, and achieve GAPs certification in marketable crops.


BACKGROUND
The paramedic profession within the United Kingdom has been evolving at pace over the last 20 years. While they are most associated with their work in ambulance services, paramedics are now found throughout a range of clinical and academic settings.

SOURCES OF DATA
Literature Review.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT
Despite emergence of the paramedic across the healthcare workforce, the understanding and awareness of the professional role and capabilities is poor. This could be due to a lack of representation within senior leadership roles and within health and social care policy.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY
Understanding of the paramedic professional identity, from a philosophical and sociological perspective, remains incomplete.

GROWING POINTS
A challenge for the future is to explore how the paramedic role can continue to develop across a range of clinical settings, while retaining its sui generis professional identity.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH
Research to establish perspectives of and about the paramedic profession may assist in developing an understanding of identity and its place within the wider healthcare workforce.


This article discusses the correlation between market structure and value GetCapabilities of major procedures of the PV industry, from the results we can find: As the number of enterprises involved in four procedures of the industrial chain increases, the degree of monopoly of market structure in all procedures are becoming more and more weaker, increasing the level of competition, which resulting in decreasing order of the corresponding distribution of profits, demonstrated as a "inverted pyramid" structure. Market structure of value chain in every procedure determines its ability to obtain the profits. That the industrial organization of PV industry can be explained by the SCP paradigm of Harvard School.


This research investigates the influences on completion for participants on NVQ programmes in management at a University Business School. The research explores the effect of individual characteristics such as personal competencies, learning style and goal orientation of participants and examines the moderating effect of external influences such as employer support, workload. support from outside work, the perception of NVQs and flexibility of submission dates for portfolio units.
Prior research on competencies and student attrition rates is reviewed and an initial set of influences on completion identified from the theory. These influences and the research process are tested in an interview programme with 12 participants and a model of influences is developed. The main research covers two groups of NVQ participants representing those who successfully completed the programme and those who made no significant progress. The results are then compared with a third group of successful Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) students. Data were collected using three instruments, the Saville & Holdsworth Inventory of Management Competencies, the Honey and Mumford Leaming Styles Questionnaire and a purpose designed questionnaire to assess external influences.
Successful NVQ participants were found to score more highly than those who did not make significant progress on the personal competencies of Leadership, Written Communication and Interpersonal Sensitivity. They also felt that they received more support from their line manager, the course group and from home. Their objectives in taking the programme were more orientated to improving work performance and they generally rated their objectives more strongly. Increased flexibility of submission dates for portfolio units reduced the chances of completion. When compared with a group of successful DMS students, successful NVQ participants were again found to score more highly on the competency of Leadership.
The research leads to recommendations for both the design of NVQ programmes in management and for the counselling and support of students in order to improve completion rates.


Background COVID-19 is characterized by strikingly large, mostly unexplained, interindividual variation in symptom severity: while some individuals remain nearly asymptomatic, others suffer from severe respiratory failure. Previous vaccinations for other pathogens, in particular tetanus, may partly explain this variation, possibly by readying the immune system. Methods We made use of data on COVID-19 testing from 103,049 participants of the UK Biobank (mean age 71.5 years, 54.2% female), coupled to immunization records of the last ten years. Using logistic regression, covarying for age, sex, respiratory disease diagnosis, and socioeconomic status, we tested whether individuals vaccinated for tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis, differed from individuals that had only received other vaccinations on 1) undergoing a COVID-19 test, 2) being diagnosed with COVID-19, and 3) whether they developed severe COVID-19 symptoms. Results We found that individuals with registered diphtheria or tetanus vaccinations are less likely to develop severe COVID-19 than people who had only received other vaccinations (diphtheria odds ratio (OR)=0.47, p-value=5.3*10-5; tetanus OR=0.52, p-value=1.2*10-4). Discussion These results indicate that a history of diphtheria or tetanus vaccinations is associated with less severe manifestations of COVID-19. These vaccinations may protect against severe COVID-19 symptoms by stimulating the immune system. We note the correlational nature of these results, yet the possibility that these vaccinations may influence the severity of COVID-19 warrants follow-up investigations.


Abstract Community-led design is a practice whereby people take the opportunity to engage directly and creatively in the formulation of solutions for their own environment. In community-led design, professionals, stakeholders and communities come together to develop sustainable solutions to complex design and planning problems. Such projects can include the co-creation of public spaces, communal and public services, as well as processes and tools for citizen participation. Web 2.0 technologies and social media offer new opportunities for community-led design, potentially transforming the ways in which people take part in these processes and their ability to make an impact. This paper reports insights from the use of different types of media in community-led design projects and reflects on their role and their value for those involved, as well as for their wider communities.


Mountains naturally offer very contrasting habitat conditions, but their biodiversity is nowadays facing the extra challenge of adapting to rapid environmental shifts that are much more pronounced than in the lowlands. Among the possible adaptive responses of wildlife, intra- and inter-seasonal movements represent an important coping strategy that remains largely unexplored. We investigated the seasonal and day-to-day movements of the ring ouzel Turdus torquatus, a European mountain bird species that is declining in many parts of its distribution. We tracked individuals breeding in the Swiss Alps using geolocators, multi-sensor loggers and GPS. Of the birds traced to their non-breeding quarters, two thirds reached the Atlas Mountains while one third stayed in Spain, a region potentially more significant for overwintering than previously thought. The birds remained mostly above 1000 m throughout the annual cycle, highlighting a strict association of ring ouzels with mountain habitats. We also evidenced flexible daily elevational movements, especially upon spring arrival on the breeding grounds, which suggest adaptive potential in response to environmental variation. This study shows how modern technology can deliver deeper insights into animal movements, paving the way for refined assessments of species vulnerability to ongoing global change while providing basic conservation guidance.


Many Developing Countries ratified ILO Fundamental Conventions and authorized local labour unions. Multinational companies producing in these countries pay more when NGOs campaigns take place and reputation counts. However, whether this external pressure from NGOs benefit local workers outside MNEs affiliates in host countries remains an open issue. Segmented and weak local labour unions often rely on external funding from the North and technical assistance by labour NGOs. They need to increase their visibility in the labour intensive sectors targeted by Northern donations and activism. To address these issues we develop a bargaining model adapted to peculiarities of labour market institutions in developing countries, i.e. external funding and the complementarity with labour NGOs. This model is estimated on data on Indonesian manufacturing firms, before and after the authorisation of labour unions, in sensitive and non sensitive sectors. We find that, in sector with visibility for labour unions, the net outcome on wages of the presence of NGOs is negative. The external fundings imply a distortion in the objective of labour unions, confronted with the constraint of increasing the employment in the formal sector.


Exploratory Testing (ET) is a widely applied approach in practice. This approach relies on the knowledge and experience of test engineers and technicians who perform ET. Hence, we aimed at evaluating the impact of education and experience level on the effectiveness of ET. We conducted an industrial case study for this purpose. 19 practitioners, who have different educational backgrounds and experience levels, were involved in applying ET for testing a Digital TV system. We measured the number of detected failures and categorized these failures based on their severity. We evaluated effectiveness from two aspects: criticality of the detected failures and efficiency in terms of number of failures detected per unit of time. The results show that the efficiency of ET is significantly affected by both the educational background and experience. When it comes to the number of critical failures detected, we cannot observe any impact of education on results. However, experience level has a significant impact for this aspect as well.


Self-defense is undergoing an epochal transformation. In the last few years, dozens of states have passed or proposed new Castle Doctrine legislation intended to expand the right to use deadly force in self-defense. These bills derive their informal name from the traditional common law castle doctrine, which grants a person attacked in his own home the right to use deadly force without trying to retreat to safety. But the new Castle Doctrine statutes, conceived and advocated by the National Rifle Association, extend beyond the home to self-defense more broadly. This Article sets out to explicate, contextualize, and theorize this remarkable development in self-defense law. To do so, the Article investigates the ideas that shape these new Castle Doctrine laws. It offers an interpretive genealogy focused on three crucial turning points in the development of self-defense, and argues that each has left a defining ideological trace on the new laws. The central claim is that in each phase, self-defense law drew importantly but differently on the idea of the home; and, in each, the operative idea of the home was constituted specifically by gender roles therein. The Article shows that modern self-defense law exemplified by the new Castle Doctrine powerfully embeds these distinctive meanings of gender, home, and crime.


Objectives To establish the views of research volunteers on the consent process; to explore their views on the consent process in different research scenarios; to inform debate on emerging models of consent for participation in research. Design, Setting and Participants 2,308 adult volunteers from the TwinsUK Registry (www.twinsuk.ac.uk) completed an online survey about their views on the consent process for use of their DNA and medical information in research. Their views on the re-consenting process in different scenarios were assessed. Results The majority of volunteers preferred to be informed of the identity of the main researcher of a study in which they are participating, which is contrary to current practice. Over 80% were willing to complete the consent process online instead of face to face. On the whole, respondents did not view their DNA differently from their medical information with regard to the consent process. Research participants were more willing to give broad consent to cover future research if their DNA was to be used by the original researcher than by another researcher, even if the disease under investigation varied, in contrast to the traditional 'gold standard' whereby specific consent is required for all new research projects. Discussion In some scenarios, research participants reported that they would be comfortable with not signing a new consent form for future research uses of their data and DNA, and are comfortable with secure, online consent processes rather than traditional face-to-face consent processes. Our findings indicate that the perceived relationship between research participants and researchers plays an important role in shaping preferences regarding the consent process and suggest that this relationship is not captured by traditional consent processes. We argue that the development of new formats of consent should be informed by empirical research on volunteers' perceptions and preferences regarding the consent process.


The purpose of the present study is to present the trajectory of a nurse in establishing a service of ambulatory surgeries in a general hospital. It approaches the importance of such a service in the contemporary context, considering the activities developed by the nurse and nursing staff, as well as the challenges and conquests found in daily work.


Over the last decade strategic implications of CSR have become one of the most important area of research in social business literature. CSR initiatives are gradually advancing from philanthropic programs to authentic strategies intended to regain trust of society at large and generate social change, by simultaneously creating value for shareholders. The CSR isolated from strategy and governance does not provide a fundamental change towards integrated thinking and shift transition into low-emission and resource-efficient economy. Simultaneously, corporate governance proposing maximization of shareholder value and offering formal procedures, guidelines and evaluation standards cannot longer be an asset for companies if it remains detached from the assumptions of socially and environmentally responsible business. In this conceptual paper we use the results of the literature review to identify four stages of CSR and corporate governance integration.


Rasa oushadis are the potent Ayurvedic preparations mainly containing metals and minerals. These Oushadis possess wide range of therapeutic efficacy and are considered superior because of their qualities like small dose, quick action, palatability and longer shelf life. Shatpala Gandhaka churna is an important Rasa oushadi described in Vaidya chintamani- Kushtha prakaranam indicated for all types of Kushtha, Grahani, Gulma, Mandagni. Shatpala Gandhaka Churna contains Shuddha Gandhaka, Shuddha Bhallataka, Shuddha Chitrakamula twak, Triphala, Vidanga, Trikatu, Trijataka, Chanaka, and Jeeraka. The main pharmaceutical procedures adopted in this study are Shodhana , Churna nirmana and preparation of capsule of Shatpala Gandhaka Churna. The specific pharmaceutical blend of these contents can result in a more effective formulation. Till now, no research work has been carried out to standardize this formulation. Therefore the present study has been planned to standardize the method of preparation of Shatpala Gandhaka churna according to the method explained in the classical literature.


Executive summary:

The prestigious Mary Seacole Awards aim to develop senior nurses, midwives and health visitors as future leaders with the enhanced leadership skills necessary to tackle health inequalities in black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. The primary purpose of the current evaluation, which was completed between May and August 2012, was to examine the impact that Mary Seacole Award holders' projects have had on their personal and professional development, service design and delivery, and on patient/service user care. Building on the two previous evaluations in 2000 and 2010, it explored the 'added value' and impact that the Awards have had in order to gather evidence to support the continued funding of the Awards.

The evaluation was undertaken in four stages and included both quantitative and qualitative elements.

Stage 1: an online questionnaire was used to gather core data from as many of Mary Seacole Award holders as possible. Information was gathered on what each individual's project has achieved, where they are now professionally and the support they received.

Stage 2: The data from the online questionnaire were used to select and invite Award holders to take part in an in-depth interview. This explored in more detail impact on policy and on service design and delivery, influence on others, benefits for the BME community and suggestions for ways to support future Award winners to maximise the benefits of the experience.

Stage 3: Managers of the 2010 cohort of Award holders were invited for interview which focused on the Award holder manager's perceptions of the key benefits of the Award, the impact of the Award holder's work on practice, policy and personal/professional development, and any plans to develop the work further.

Stage 4: Members of the Mary Seacole Award Steering Group were invited to complete an online questionnaire to obtain their views of Award holder's achievements and the future of the Awards.

Summary of the main findings
In this evaluation we obtained rich data from 22 Award holders (59% of the total population who completed their Awards during the past 18 years) and found a high level of consensus between the views of Award holders and Mary Seacole Award Steering Group members in relation to the key achievements of the Awards. The evaluation also demonstrates robust consistency with the findings of the two previous reviews of the Awards, thereby presenting a view over nearly two decades of their success in developing effective and courageous leaders who have had a positive impact on reducing health inequalities.

Improving health outcomes for people from BME communities This evaluation demonstrates that Award holders have made a difference in many practical and tangible ways and that the impact of Award holders' work has been felt beyond healthcare for minority communities, as many of the issues addressed are relevant for the wider communities served by today's NHS.

Reducing health inequalities
The evidence from this evaluation demonstrates that the accumulated work of the Award holders has had a direct impact on people's health, thereby contributing to the reduction of health inequalities among hard-to-reach groups who are often marginalised and neglected. The body of work resulting from the Awards has significantly raised the profile of health inequalities and of the healthcare needs of BME communities.

Leadership skills
The Awards have enabled individuals to develop core skills of leadership: networking, influencing and communication. There has been transformational change on a personal scale as individuals have had access to role models for the first time and have then been able to achieve and sustain their own potential as leaders. Many have been appointed to senior posts and have become significant leaders in healthcare practice and education.

Sustainability of positive changes
The Mary Seacole Awards have been notable in that many improvements have become integrated into service redesign and thereby sustained beyond the time of the Award holder's project. This has been achieved by disseminating the findings, training staff in new ways of working, mentoring staff, ensuring that other staff learn from the findings of the Award holders' work and that different ways of working are integrated into practice.

Impact on policy
Many instances were reported where Award holders' work has resulted in changes to local, national and international policy. Issues highlighted by Award holders are often those that are not recognised and addressed in other arenas and are therefore unlikely to have been the subject of policy changes through any other route: their work is therefore of vital importance to our modern NHS.

User involvement in policy and services
There are numerous examples from the evaluation of instances where service users and carers from hard-to-reach BME groups, whose needs were marginalised and unrecognised, have developed confidence and awareness through their involvement in Award holders' projects.

Developing the evidence base
It is vital to develop a robust evidence base from which to further advance practice and the evidence base relating to issues affecting BME communities must be strengthened so that effective ways of working can be embedded in wider policy and practice. Award holders have disseminated their findings and the impact of their work in their final reports, published articles in peer-reviewed journals and through presenting at conferences.

Personal and professional development
The structure of the Mary Seacole Awards supports Award holders in numerous practical ways and many individuals reported that they had been enabled to develop a range of key skills such as project management and presentation skills. Individuals have also developed greater self-confidence, strategic thinking skills, networking skills and, most importantly, a belief in their own ability that continues to sustain them in their careers.

Recommendations
The nine recommendations below are made in the belief that the firm foundations and achievements of the past 18 years can be built on to develop even more effective leaders
for the NHS and to meet the needs of, and improve health outcomes for, the diverse communities in Britain today.
1. Based on the unequivocal evidence that the Mary Seacole Awards enhance career opportunities for professionals from BME communities at a time when they are underrepresented
in leadership and management positions, the Awards should continue in their present form and with the present funding levels maintained or even enhanced, given the strategic importance of the awards.
2. The current system of support for Award holders, namely mentors and academic supervisors, should be strengthened and co-ordinated to provide individuals with personal and professional advice during this life-changing year.
3. The vital, supportive role played by Award holders' colleagues and managers should be reinforced and acknowledged by involving these individuals more actively in the process. Award holders' managers could, for example, be invited to events organised by the Steering Group to recognise their commitment.
4. Award holders are powerful and influential individuals and their impact should be enhanced further by bringing them together regularly after the completion of their projects. A Mary Seacole alumni group would have even greater influence than individuals alone and would create a critical mass of healthcare professionals to further the goals of the Mary Seacole Awards.
5. The findings of the Award holders' work should be more widely disseminated so that they can have even greater impact on policy and practice than at present. Consideration should be given to a series of 'Highlights' focusing on policy changes achieved and practical implications from Award holders' work to be published regularly by the Mary Seacole Award Steering Group and disseminated widely throughout the
NHS and wider health and social care sectors.
6. The outcomes and practical implications for service development and improvements in patient experience demonstrated by the impact of the Award holders' work is often evident beyond BME communities. The implications of the work for the wider communities served by the NHS should be highlighted and publicised more extensively.
7. There is great strength in the fact that the Awards are supported by the key organisations in nursing, midwifery and health visiting: Department of Health, NHS Employers, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives, UNISON and Unite CPHVA. This support should continue.
8. Consideration should be given to the suggestion that each year, applications be invited to address aspects of a theme of key strategic importance to the NHS and to the important agenda of ensuring equity of healthcare for all communities.
9. The Awards should be widely advertised and promoted by the Steering Group and through previous Award holders to ensure that individuals with the potential to be effective leaders have the opportunity to apply and become part of the growing body of influencers to improve health outcomes and challenge health inequalities in modern Britain.

In summary, the Mary Seacole Awards are a fitting, dynamic and contemporary legacy for a remarkable pioneer and leader. Through the Awards, the impact of Mary Seacole's vision and courage continue to be experienced by some of the most marginalised groups and communities in modern Britain today. Without these Awards, many of the unmet health needs would continue to go unrecognised. Their important contribution should be sustained and strengthened so that health inequalities continue to be addressed within the NHS.


OF DISSERTATION DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE POLYMERIC SORBENTS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN WATER REMEDIATION Water remediation utilizing sorption has found strong interest due to its inexpensiveness, universal nature and ease of operation. In particular, thermo-responsive sorbents consisting of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) offer significant potential as "smart" and advanced materials to remove multiple aqueous pollutants. NIPAAm exhibits excellent thermo-responsiveness, which senses the external temperature variation and changes its swelling and sorption behaviors in a sharp and rapid manner. At the beginning of this work, an extensive review of literature has been compiled to provide a summary of NIPAAm-based thermo-responsive sorbents in water/wastewater remediation applications. Initially, we developed a novel approach to synthesize and characterize NIPAAm copolymeric hydrogels. Four different polyphenolic crosslinkers including curcumin multiacrylate (CMA), quercetin multiacrylate (QMA), 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl diacrylate (44BDA) and chrysin multiacrylate (ChryMA) were successfully incorporated into crosslinked hydrogels. Their temperature responsiveness and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) were characterized using swelling studies and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Increasing the crosslinker content resulted in a significant decrease in the swelling ratio and LCST, which was due to the increased crosslinking and hydrophobicity introduced by the polyphenolic crosslinkers. We also demonstrated the application of two sets of aforementioned crosslinked hydrogels (NIPAAm-co-CMA and NIPAAm-co-44BDA) as effective gel sorbents to capture phenol as a model contaminant. Temperature-dependent sorption was evaluated through a binding study of phenol at 10°C and 50°C. Significant enhancement in the sorption was observed at 50°C, and this can be attributed to the phase transition induced hydrophobic interactions between the copolymer gel and phenol. Moreover, the obtained hydrogels possessed facile and efficient regeneration ability in water at 10°C, without requiring harsh solvent treatment or high energy input. Building on the sorption behavior observed with crosslinked NIPAAm hydrogels, we extended the investigation to linear copolymer systems, and these were demonstrated as a temperature responsive flocculants. Here, NIPAAm copolymers consisting of 2phenylphenol monoacrylate (2PPMA) were successfully developed as smart flocculants to remove metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., Fe3O4, CeO2, TiO2). The incorporation of 2PPMA enhanced the flocculation at temperatures above the LCST (e.g., 50°C), which was due to the combined hydrophobicity of 2PPMA and NIPAAm. Overall, NIPAAm-based sorbents have a variety of applications in aqueous pollutant removal and are a promising class of materials for cost-effective water remediation technology.


The acquisition of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals is a potential bottleneck for system throughput in a packet-based network employing UWB signaling format in the physical layer. The problem is mainly due to the low signal power which forces the acquisition system to process the signal over long periods of time before getting a reliable estimate of the timing of the signal. Hence there is a need to develop more efficient acquisition schemes by taking into account the signal and channel characteristics. In this paper, we investigate a single-user acquisition scheme which collects the energy in the multipaths by performing equal gain combining (EGC) to improve the acquisition performance. We define the hit set as the set of hypothesized phases which can guarantee adequate system performance after acquisition and also study the effect of the EGC window length on the acquisition performance.


MON810 is a genetically-modified (GM) maize (Zea mays) event commonly employed in insect-resistant GM maize hybrids. GM events obtained by biolistic transformation methods, such as MON810, are generated by insertion of a recombinant gene expression cassette in a random locus of the plant genome, and this process may cause emergent properties besides the intended modification. Here, we compared morphophysiological parameters of MON810 GM maize hybrid AG-5011YG and its non-GM near-isogenic hybrid (NIH) AG-5011, using in vitro cultures as an interactive model. NIH callogenesis frequency, callus friability, and de novo morphogenesis were compared using two explant types and different 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) levels. 2,4-D modulated the morphophysiological responses of both NIHs, but when using root segments as explants, the GM showed significantly different trends for callus induction and friability, with lower responses at higher 2,4-D concentrations, indicating an emergent property related to altered cell response to 2,4-D.


In this study, whether or not chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) could be enhanced by soluble factors from or coculture with chondrocytes was determined. In vitro pellet cultures were carried out in five ways using ASCs or chondrocytes in passage 3 as follows: #1, 2.5 × 10⁵ ASCs were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F-12 supplemented with 1% ITS, 10⁻⁷ M dexamethasone, 50 μM ascorbate-2-phosphate, 50 μM L-proline, and 1 mM sodium pyruvate; #2, 2.5 × 10⁵ chondrocytes were cultured in the same medium as #1: #3, 1.25 × 10⁵ ASCs and 1.25 × 10⁵ chondrocytes were mixed and cocultured in the same medium as #1; #4, 2.5 × 10⁵ ASCs were cultured in a medium that was a 1:1 mixture of the same fresh medium as #1 and conditioned medium from chondrocyte culture (#2); #5, 2.5 × 10⁵ ASCs were cultured in the same medium as #1 and 5 ng/mL of transforming growth factor-β₂ and 100 ng/mL of BMP-7. After 3 weeks, the glycosaminoglycan level that normalized to the DNA amount was significantly increased by 25% in ASCs treated with condition medium from chondrocyte cultures (p = 0.028) and by 37% in ASC-chondrocyte cocultures (p = 0.042). The glycosaminoglycan level was 37% greater in chondrocytes (p = 0.046) and 50% greater in ASCs cultured under growth factor cocktails than the control ASCs. The gene expression of SOX-9 significantly increased by >10-fold (p < 0.05) in ASCs treated with the conditioned medium from chondrocyte cultures and ASC-chondrocyte cocultures compared with the control ASCs; whereas COL2A1 significantly increased ~100-fold (p < 0.05) in either condition. COL10A1 gene expression increased by treating either with conditioned medium or with coculture (p < 0.05), but COL1A1 gene expression did not significantly change in either condition. Western blotting of SOX-9 and immunochemistry for types II, I, and X collagen largely parallel the results from gene expression studies. It is concluded that the signals from chondrocytes, in the form of soluble factors or by direct interaction, effectively promote chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs during in vitro pellet culture. This work may present a simple and innovative method for generating cartilaginous tissue from ASCs and shed a new light in cartilage tissue engineering from ASCs.


Background: We aimed to determine whether patients with arthroscopically repaired rotator cuff (RC) tears would have reduced pain and improved function after ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections compared with placebo injection. Hypothesis: PRP compared with placebo (saline) was more effective in reducing pain at the site of an RC injury that has undergone arthroscopic repair. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: We conducted a 2-centered, blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing the level of pain in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair. Patients were randomized to either PRP or saline (placebo). They received 2 ultrasound-guided injections of the randomized product: 1 intraoperatively and 1 at 4 weeks postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was shoulder pain demonstrated using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 weeks postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D); the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC); and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Score (DASH), as well as adverse events and revision surgeries. Patients were assessed clinically preoperatively and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postsurgery. A prespecified interim analysis was conducted after 50% of patients were recruited and followed. Results: We recruited 25 patients when interim power analysis led to an early trial termination. Follow-up was 96%. The mean difference between groups was not statistically significant (–1.81; 95% CI, –4.3 to 1.2; P = 0.16). The EQ-5D, WORC, and DASH scores also did not show significant differences between groups at week 6 (P = 0.5, 0.99, and 0.9, respectively). There were no revision surgeries, and 4 adverse events (3 PRP, 1 saline). Conclusion: There was no statistical difference in outcome measures when augmenting arthroscopically repaired RC tears with PRP. Clinical Relevance: Identifying therapies that improve outcomes in patients with RC tears remains a challenge and deserves ongoing investigation.


Background & Aims Poor sleep in young children imperils language learning and use. Both sleep and language problems are prevalent in early childhood. Speech-language pathologists are in a unique position to expand surveillance of sleep problems, which in turn may contribute to communication difficulties. We conducted a feasibility study of speech-language pathologist screening for behavioral sleep problems and sleep-disordered breathing symptoms at a multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment center. Methods Speech-language pathologists administered screeners to parents of 2–6-year-olds: the Short Form-Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (for behavioral sleep problems) which includes an item asking if the child has a sleep problem (yes/no), and the pediatric sleep questionnaire (for sleep-disordered breathing). Speech-language pathologists participated in pre- and post-screening focus groups. Pre-screening topics included professional preparation and clinical experience regarding pediatric sleep issues. Post-screening, speech-language pathologists provided feedback about the screening experience and feasibility of incorporating such screening into practice. Results Among 51 children, 31% (16/51) screened positive for sleep-disordered breathing, 78% for behavioral sleep problems (40/51), and 43% (12/28) per parent report. Parent-reported problems were associated with sleep-disordered breathing (p = 0.00) but not behavioral sleep problems (p = 0.24). During focus groups, speech-language pathologists reported no formal pediatric sleep training, high parent concern about sleep, and agreed that screening fit their professional mandate. Speech-language pathologists affirmed that the ≤15 min screenings integrated seamlessly into practice but that additional training, particularly for sleep-disordered breathing, was needed. Conclusions The prevalence of sleep problems in 2–6-year-olds presenting to speech-language pathologists was higher than in community samples, but consistent with data from young children with developmental disabilities. Speech-language pathologists endorsed the utility and feasibility of sleep problem screening and education in their clinical practice. Implications Integrating sleep problem screening and education into speech-language pathologist practice is feasible and could widen surveillance of both sleep problems and risk factors for developmental language disorders. Further research should include larger samples and other settings, e.g. home or school.


The study of experimental extinction and of the spontaneous recovery of the extinguished memory could cast light on neurobiological mechanisms by which internal representations compete to control behavior. In this work, we use a combination of behavioral and molecular methods to dissect subprocesses of experimental extinction of conditioned taste aversion (CTA). Extinction of CTA becomes apparent only 90 min after the extinction trial. This latency is insensitive to muscarinic and beta-adrenergic modulation and to protein synthesis inhibition in the insular cortex (IC). Immediately afterwards, however, the extinguishing trace becomes sensitive to beta-adrenergic blockade and protein synthesis inhibition. The subsequent kinetics and magnitude of extinction depend on whether a spaced or massed extinction protocol is used. A massed protocol is highly effective in the short run, but results in apparent stagnation of extinction in the long-run, which conceals fast spontaneous recovery of the preextinguished trace. This recovery can be truncated by a beta-adrenergic agonist or a cAMP analog in the insular cortex, suggesting that spontaneous overtaking of the behavioral control by the original association is regulated at least in part by beta-adrenergic input, probably operating via the cAMP cascade, long after the offset of the conditioned stimulus. Hence, the performance of the subject in experimental extinction is the sum total of multiple, sometimes conflicting, time-dependent processes.


We propose a novel critiquing-based recommender interface, the hybrid critiquing interface that integrates the user self-motivated critiquing facility to compensate for the limitations of system-proposed critiques. The results from our user study show that the integration of such self-motivated critiquing support enables users to achieve a higher level of decision accuracy while consuming less cognitive effort. In addition, users expressed higher subjective opinions of the hybrid critiquing interface than the interface simply providing system-proposed critiques, and they would more likely return to it for future use.


Properties of the population of millisecond extragalactic radio bursts discovered by Thornton et al. (2013) are in good correspondence with the hypothesis that such events are related to hyperflares of magnetars, as was proposed by us after the first observation of an extragalactic millisecond radio burst by Lorimer et al. (2007). We also point that some of multiple millisecond radio bursts from M31 discovered by Rubio-Herrera et al. (2013) also can be related to weaker magnetar bursts.


Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a rare cause of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis secondary to HTG, presents typically as an episode of acute pancreatitis (AP) or recurrent AP, rarely as chronic pancreatitis. A serum triglyceride (TG) level of more than 1,000 to 2,000 mg/dL in patients with type I, IV, or V hyperlipidemia (Fredrickson's classification) is an identifiable risk factor. The typical clinical profile of hyperlipidemic pancreatitis (HLP) is a patient with a preexisting lipid abnormality along with the presence of a secondary factor (e.g., poorly controlled diabetes, alcohol use, or a medication) that can induce HTG. Less commonly, a patient with isolated hyperlipidemia (type V or I) without a precipitating factor presents with pancreatitis. Interestingly, serum pancreatic enzymes may be normal or only minimally elevated, even in the presence of severe pancreatitis diagnosed by imaging studies. The clinical course in HLP is not different from that of pancreatitis of other causes. Routine management of AP caused by hyperlipidemia should be similar to that of other causes. A thorough family history of lipid abnormalities should be obtained, and an attempt to identify secondary causes should be made. Reduction of TG levels to well below 1,000 mg/dL effectively prevents further episodes of pancreatitis. The mainstay of treatment includes dietary restriction of fat and lipid-lowering medications (mainly fibric acid derivatives). Experiences with plasmapheresis, lipid pheresis, and extracorporeal lipid elimination are limited.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Both shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopy (URS) may be used in the treatment of similar stones and both need fluoroscopic imaging to achieve this. Fluoroscopy, however, is a source of ionizing radiation. The purpose of this study is to compare the effective radiation dose (ERD) between patients undergoing SWL vs URS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The ERD was measured among consecutive patients who were undergoing either SWL or URS between January 2010 and February 2011. For SWL, ERD was calculated using fluoroscopic exposure time, current, voltage, skin-to-source distance, and field size. For URS, it was calculated from the measured dose-area product. We measured several patient and stone factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS
A total of 190 patients were included (87 SWL and 103 URS). In the univariate analyses, no differences were found in ERD (7.32 vs 6.00 mSv, P=0.262 and 7.23 vs 6.07 mSv, P=0.198, for renal and ureteral stones, respectively). In the multivariate analyses, among renal stones, SWL was associated with a higher ERD than URS (β=2.06, P=0.026), and body mass index and stone size were also significant predictors (β=0.212, P=0.045 and β=0.452, P=0.004, respectively). Among ureteral stones, no differences were found (β=0.425, P=0.674), and only the presence of a stent was related to ERD (β=2.53, P=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with renal stones, SWL was associated with a modest increase in ERD compared with URS, but for ureteral stones, both modalities were associated with similar levels of radiation. This information may be relevant for frequent stone formers needing treatments for which cumulative exposures may become significant.


Selection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is a problem of primary importance in association studies and several approaches have been proposed. However, none provides a satisfying answer to the problem of how many SNPs should be selected, and how this should depend on the pattern of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the region under consideration. Moreover, SNP selection is usually considered as independent from deciding the sample size of the study. However, when resources are limited there is a tradeoff between the study size and the number of SNPs to genotype. We show that tuning the SNP density to the LD pattern can be achieved by looking for the best solution to this tradeoff. Our approach consists of formulating SNP selection as an optimization problem: the objective is to maximize the power of the final association study, whilst keeping the total costs below a given budget. We also propose two alternative algorithms for the solution of this optimization problem: a genetic algorithm and a hill climbing search. These standard techniques efficiently find good solutions, even when the number of possible SNPs to choose from is large. We compare the performance of these two algorithms on different chromosomal regions and show that, as expected, the selected SNPs reflect the LD pattern: the optimal SNP density varies dramatically between chromosomal regions.


The emergence of digital multimedia systems is creating many new opportunities for rapid access to huge content archives. In order to fully exploit these information sources, the content must be annotated with significant features. An important aspect of human interpretation of multimedia data, which is often overlooked, is the affective dimension. Such information is a potentially useful component for content-based classification and retrieval. Much of the affective information of multimedia content is contained within the audio data stream. Emotional
features can be defined in terms of arousal and valence levels. In this study low-level audio features are extracted to calculate arousal and valence levels of
multimedia audio streams. These are then mapped onto a set of keywords with predetermined emotional interpretations. Experimental results illustrate the use of this system to assign affective annotation to multimedia data.


The study of large, "big data" networks is becoming increasingly common and relevant to our understanding of human systems. Many of the studied networks are drawn from social media and other Web-based sources. As such, in-depth analysis of these dynamic structures e.g. In the context of cyber security, remains especially challenging. Due to the time and resources incurred in computing network measures for large networks, it is practical to approximate these whenever possible. We present some approximation techniques exploiting any tractable relationship between the measures and network characteristics such as size and density. We find there exist distinct functional relationships between network statistics of complex "slow" measures and "fast" measures, such as the linkage between betweenness centrality and network density. We also track how these relationships scale with network size. Specifically, we explore the efficacy of both linear modeling (i.e., Correlations and least squares regression) and non-linear modeling in estimating the network measures of interest. We find that sparse, but not severely sparse, networks which admit sufficient entropy incur the most variance in the network statistics and, hence, more error in the estimation. We review our approaches with three prominent network topologies: random (aka Erdos-Renyi), Watts-Strogatz small-world, and scale-free networks. Finally, we assess how well the estimation approaches perform for sub-sampled networks.


The kinetics and mechanism of silver(I)-catalyzed oxidation of allyl alcohol with peroxodiphosphate in acetate buffers have been studied. The rate is independent of allyl alcohol concentration. The effect of other reaction parameters such as hydrogen and acetate ions has also been studied. The rate law accounting for all experimental observations corresponds to the proposed mechanism. The energy and entropy of activation have also been evaluated by employing Eyring plots.


Historically, the conflict of interests between employers and workers obliged the State to assume the role of regulating this relationship, instituting laws and overseeing the application of health and safety standards at work. The Accident Prevention Factor (FAP) is one of these guidelines. This article aims to analyze the correlations between the FAP and the risk rate for occupational accidents in Brazil in the period between 2006 and 2016. Ecological study, which analyzed the occupational accidents, registered in the Brazilian Social Security database in the period between 2006 and 2016. The analysis included the calculation of accident risk rates according to the Brazilian regions, divisions of the CNAE, reason/situation, ICD-10 chapters, sex and age. The comparison between results from the two periods was performed using the average risk rates from the two periods using Student t test, Spearman correlation and beta value. Basically, all rate series analyzed had a strong downward trend in the FAP period, contrary to what occurred in the immediately previous period.


Neurobehavioral outcomes associated with prenatal alcohol exposure range from severe intellectual deficiency to subtle attention and motor deficits. Diagnosis of individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) can be challenging especially when physical markers are absent or prenatal histories are unavailable. In addition, due to neurobehavioral similarities, individuals with FASD and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be confused clinically, making differential diagnosis difficult. Research has recommended that identification of FASD be based on a neurobehavioral profile. However, some neurocognitive domains, including decision-making, have received little attention. Emotion- based decision-making involves strategic adaptation of behavior based on uncertain information and is essential for everyday function. Deficits in decision-making in individuals with FASD are suggested by neuroanatomical abnormalities and difficulty with everyday function. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is a widely used measure of decision-making, simulating unpredictable reward and loss contingencies of complex decision-making. The IGT, which has not been used in alcohol-exposed populations, was administered to children with FASD (n = 21), ADHD (n = 22), and typically developing controls (n = 21). Further, because working memory, the process of temporarily storing and manipulating information, may be related to decision- making, a measure of working memory was included in the test battery. A mixed-model ANOVA demonstrated that children with FASD chose significantly fewer advantageous cards than control children. In contrast, children with ADHD were distinguished from controls based on processing frequency of rewards/losses on the IGT. Group decision- making performance was not accounted for by working memory performance in either the FASD or ADHD group. Collectively, these results suggest that children with FASD and ADHD have aberrant decision-making processes, although their dysfunction may be due to distinguishable mechanisms. While children with FASD were deficient in making decisions based on learning from exposure to past contingencies, children with ADHD differed from controls in their ability to tolerate unpredictable reinforcement schedules. Decision-making was found to be independent of intellectual function and other high order cognitive abilities, including working memory, and therefore should be a consideration in further research and clinical assessment of children with FASD and ADHD


A tantalizing hypothesis posits that mammals coevolved with their gut microbiota. Unfortunately, the limited resolution of microbial taxonomy hinders the exploration of this hypothesis and specifically challenges the discovery of gut microbes that are linked to mammalian evolution. To address this, we developed a novel approach that groups microbes into new, more meaningful taxonomic units based on their common ancestry and ecological redundancy. Treating mammalian lineages as different ecosystems, we quantified the distribution of these microbial taxa across mammals. Our analysis discovered monophyletic clades of gut bacteria that are unexpectedly prevalent, or conserved, across all mammals, as well as conserved clades that are exclusive to particular mammalian lineages. These clades often manifest phylogenetic patterns indicating that they are subject to selection. Lineage - specific changes in clade conservation, including a human-accelerated loss of conserved clades, suggest that mammalian evolution associates with a change in the selective regimes that act on gut microbiota. Collectively, these results point to the existence of microbes that possess traits that facilitate their dispersion or survival in the mammalian gut, possibly because they are subject to host selection. Ultimately, our analysis clarifies the relationship between the diversification of the gut microbiome and mammalian evolutionary history.


"Hew down the brJdge, Sir Consul, With all the speed re rna)'; I, with two more to help me, Will hold the foe In play: In )'on strait path, a thousand lila)' well be stopped by three. Now, who will stand on either hand, And keep the bridge with me? • • • • • • "They gave him of the corn land, That was of public right, As much as two strong oxen Could plough from morn till night; And they made a molten Image, And set It up on high; And there It stands' unto'thls day, , To witness If I lie." /


Phosphorescent dendrimers together with dendritic host materials have inherent advantages in achieving highly efficient phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) with low-cost, solution-processed device fabrication. Recently, much research effort has been devoted to developing these dendritic materials in the field of electroluminescence (EL). In this Focus Review, the major advances in this line of research are summarized and discussed. The crucial roles played by these dendritic organic electronic materials in coping with the key issues in the field of PHOLEDs have been specially emphasized. These include alleviating the triplet-triplet annihilation effect through the site-isolation effect associated with the dendritic structures, promoting charge-carrier injection/transporting ability and ambipolar properties through functionalized dendrons, fulfilling simple PHOLEDs with high EL efficiencies, obtaining self-hosting phosphorescent emitters, and avoiding undesired energy transfer process from phosphorescent cores to the dendrons. In addition, the future perspectives and ongoing challenges of this research frontier are also highlighted.


Using in vivo confocal Ca2+ imaging, we investigated whether oral application of kokumi substances elicits responses in trigeminal somatosensory ganglion neurons of the mouse. Our results show that 100 μM γEVG (γ-Glu-Val-Gly), a potent kokumi stimulus, evokes responses in a very small fraction (0.6 %) of neurons in area V3 (oral sensory field) of the trigeminal ganglion. By comparison, cooled artificial saliva elicited thermal-evoked responses in >7 % of V3 trigeminal ganglion neurons. γEVG-evoked responses were small and quite variable, with latencies ranging from 2 to over 200 sec. Co-application of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) inhibitor NPS-2143 significantly decreased γEVG-evoked activity. Furthermore, we show that 4 additional kokumi substances evoked responses in mouse trigeminal ganglion neurons. All neurons responding to kokumi compounds were small cells, with mean diameters below 20 μm. In summary, our data show that certain physiological and pharmacological properties of responses to kokumi compounds can be recorded from sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglion of living mice. Thus, sensory neurons in the somatosensory trigeminal ganglia may transmit signals from the oral cavity to the central nervous system to generate the texture perceptions that are part of the enigmatic sensations evoked by kokumi substances.


Previously, we introduced a new method for improving commonality in a highly customised, low volume product line using component product platforms. The method provides a bottom-up platform approach to redesign family members originally developed one-at-a-time to meet specific customer requirements. In this paper, we extend the method with an activity-based costing (ABC) model to specifically capture the manufacturing costs in the product line, including the cost associated with implementing a platform strategy. The valve yoke example is revisited in this paper, the customised ABC model is defined, two design strategy alternatives are addressed, and the new method is used to determine which alternative is better at resolving the trade-off between commonality, total cost, and product performance. The proposed method shows promise for creating a product platform portfolio from a set of candidate component platforms that is most cost-effective within an existing product line. The proposed method allows for arbitrary leveraging as it does not rely solely on the traditional vertical, horizontal, or beachhead strategies advocated for the market segmentation grid, and this is especially beneficial when applied to an existing product line that was developed one-at-a-time time such that artefact designs are inconsistent from one to another.


BACKGROUND/AIMS
This study aimed to clarify the relation of hepatic volumetry to adverse events after percutaneous transhepatic ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODOLOGY
One hundred and forty-nine patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent percutaneous ablation sessions with complete ablation of cancer nodules, underwent volume measurement of the entire liver, tumor, and ablated area using computed tomography. The parenchymal ablation rate was calculated: (ablated volume-tumor volume)/(entire liver volume-tumor volume) x 100 (%). Other clinical parameters were also analyzed to determine their relationship to adverse events.

RESULTS
The median adjusted liver volume was 591 mL/body surface area (m2) (range: 300 to 1197 mL/m2). The median parenchymal ablation rate was 2.3% (range: 0.2% to 20.2%). Adverse events were observed in 17 patients after percutaneous ablation: liver abscess in 3, hepatic infarction in 3, portal vein thrombus in 3, hemobilia in 1, pleural effusion and/or ascites in 6, and gastric ulcer in 1. Multivariate analysis showed that Child B or C (P = 0.0009), adjusted liver volume < 600 mL/m2 (P = 0.0004), and parenchymal ablation rate > 5% (P = 0.0320) were independent risk factors for adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of liver volume and parenchymal ablation rate are useful to predict the presence of percutaneous ablation-related adverse events.