BACKGROUND: Neuraxial morphine is the most commonly used analgesic technique after cesarean delivery. The incidence of respiratory depression is reported to be very low (0%–1.2%) in this patient population as measured by pulse oximetry and respiratory rates. However, hypercapnia may be a more sensitive measure of respiratory depression. In the current study, the incidence of hypercapnia events (transcutaneous CO2 [TcCO2] >50 mm Hg) for ≥2-minute duration was evaluated using the Topological Oscillation Search with Kinematical Analysis monitor in women who received intrathecal morphine for postcesarean delivery analgesia. METHODS: Healthy women (>37 weeks of gestation) scheduled for a cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia with intrathecal morphine were recruited. Baseline STOP-BANG sleep apnea questionnaire and TcCO2 readings were obtained. Spinal anesthesia was initiated with 12 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine, 15 µg fentanyl, and 150 µg morphine. The Topological Oscillation Search with Kinematical Analysis monitor was reapplied in the postanesthesia care unit and TcCO2 measurements obtained for up to 24 hours. Supplemental opioid administration and adverse respiratory events were recorded. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypercapnia events, defined as a TcCO2 reading >50 mm Hg for ≥2 minutes in the first 24 hours after delivery. RESULTS: Of the 120 women who were recruited, 108 completed the study. Thirty-five women (32%; 99.15% confidence interval, 21%–45%) reached the primary outcome of a sustained hypercapnia event. The median time (interquartile range [IQR]) from intrathecal morphine administration to the hypercapnia event was 300 (124–691) minutes. The median (IQR) number of events was 3 (1–6) and longest duration of an event was 25.6 (8.4–98.7) minutes. Baseline median (IQR) TcCO2 measurements were 35 (30–0) mm Hg and postoperatively, median (IQR) TcCO2 measurements were 40 (36–43) mm Hg, a difference of 5 mm Hg (99.15% confidence interval of the difference 2–8 mm Hg, P < .001). The incidence of hypercapnia events was 5.4% in women with a baseline TcCO2 value ⩽31 mm Hg, 22.5% with a baseline TcCO2 between 32 and 38 mm Hg, and 77.4% with a baseline TcCO2 >38 mm Hg (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercapnia events (>50 mm Hg for ≥2-minute duration) occurred frequently in women receiving 150 &mgr;g intrathecal morphine for postcesarean analgesia. Higher baseline TcCO2 readings were observed in women who had hypercapnia events.


The number of electronic text documents is growing and so is the need for automatic text summarizers. In the financedomain, documents can be quite long, averaging at approximately 180 pages. This creates a need for finding efficient ways to make use of technology to leverage the existence of these textual datasets. This goes hand in hand with the pressing need to make investment/financial decisions in a fast manner to ensure maximized financial gain. However, exhaustive reading of financial documents is extremely laborious. Hence, Automatic summarization methods could greatly simplify this task. In this work, we present several approaches for summarizing the qualitative sections of annual reports using extractive summarization, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Machine Learning techniques. We investigated multiple approaches under two different types of explorations, sentence-based summarization and a section-based summarization tailored to the structure of financial reports. We then evaluated the quality of the summaries using an existing dataset of annual reports published by FNS-2020 shared-task that consists of annual reports by British Firms belonging to the London Stock Exchange.


BACKGROUND--Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia is an increasingly important pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis but it is unclear how it spreads from patient to patient. A study was undertaken to determine whether B cepacia could be recovered from room air occupied by colonised adult patients with cystic fibrosis. METHODS--Air samples were obtained consecutively from an enclosed room or isolation cubicle before, during, and after occupation by six patients on nine occasions using a surface air sampler incorporating contact plates with selective medium. Settle plates were also used and sputum from five patients was cultured. RESULTS--B cepacia was recovered from room air during occupation by five of six patients, the number of bacteria ranging from 1 to 158 cfu/m3 (mean 32 cfu/m3). The number of bacteria isolated was greater when patients were coughing. B cepacia persisted in room air on four occasions after the patient left the room, on one occasion for up to 45 minutes. CONCLUSIONS--The isolation of B cepacia from the air of rooms occupied by colonised patients suggests that dissemination might occur by aerosol as well as by direct physical contact with patients or contaminated environmental sites.


A new method of modeling slip factor and work input for centrifugal compressor impellers is presented. Rather than using geometry to predict the behavior of the flow at the impeller exit, the new method leverages governing relationships to predict the work input delivered by the impeller with dimensionless design parameters. The approach incorporates both impeller geometry and flow conditions and, therefore, is inherently able to predict the slip factor both at design and off-design conditions. Five impeller cases are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the method, four of which are well documented in the open literature. Multiple implementations of the model are introduced to enable users to customize the model to specific applications. Significant improvement in the accuracy of the prediction of slip factor and work input is obtained at both design and off-design conditions relative to Wiesner's slip model. While Wiesner's model predicts the slip factor of 52% of the data within ±0.05 absolute error, the most accurate implementation of the new model predicts 99% of the data within the same error band. The effects of external losses on the model are considered, and the new model is fairly insensitive to the effects of external losses. Finally, detailed procedures to incorporate the new model into a meanline analysis tool are provided in the appendices.


Defining sharp features in a given 3D model facilitates a better understanding of the surface and aids visualizations, reverse engineering, filtering, simplification, non-photo realism, reconstruction and other geometric processing applications. We present a robust method that identifies sharp features in a point cloud by returning a set of smooth curves aligned along the edges. Our feature extraction is a multi-step refinement method that leverages the concept of robust moving least squares to locally fit surfaces to potential features. Using Newton's method, we project points to the intersections of multiple surfaces then grow polylines through the projected cloud. After resolving gaps, connecting corners, and relaxing the results, the algorithm returns a set of complete and smooth curves that define the features. We demonstrate the benefits of our method with two applications: surface meshing and point-based geometry compression.


Photolysis of N-(diphenylamino)-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (1a) and N-[bis(4-methylphenyl)amino]-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium salt (1b) gives products attributable to diarylnitrenium ion (Ar(2)N(+), 2). The major products of these reactions include products from nucleophilic addition of various pi-nucleophiles (e.g. electron rich alkenes) to the ortho and para positions of one of the phenyl rings. Nanosecond and EPR spectroscopy show that radicals also form. These radicals are thought to give rise to the diarylamines isolated as minor products from the photolysis of 1aand 1b. In addition to the para addition products and Ph(2)NH, N-phenylindoles and N-phenylindolinones are isolated when silyl enol ethers and silyl ketene acetals are used as trapping agents, respectively. The indoles and indolinones are generated from initial addition of the nucleophile to the ortho position on 2 followed by cyclization of the resulting intermediate. A product resulting from N addition of the nucleophile to 2 is isolated only when silyl ketene acetals are used. A number of electronic sturcture calculations at different levels of molecular orbital and density functional theory were carried out on Ph(2)N(+). There do not seem to be effects associated with either the charge distribution or the LUMO that would strongly influence ortho/para/N selectivity in nucleophilic trapping. Laser flash photolysis on 1a provides absolute rate constants for the nucleophilic addition of various alkenes to Ph(2)N(+). These fall in the range of 10(9)-10(10) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) and correlate with the oxidation potential of the alkene. From these data it is clear that the more easily oxidized the alkene the faster it will react with Ph(2)N(+).


Background
To study the pathogenesis and management of diabetic retinopathy (DR) has an important clinical significance.With the development of biomedical photonics in recent years, photobiomodulation therapy has been paid more and more attention.However, the sudy on biological regulation of light to DR is rarely reported.

Objective
This study was to explore the photobiomodulating effects on the apoptosis of retinal neuronal cells induced by high glucose environment and tried to offer a basis for the management of DR.

Methods
The retinal neurons were isolated from Wistar rats using immunomagnetic beads and primarily cultured in Neurobasal, and the cells were identified by Nissl staining.The cells were divided into normal control group, high-glucose group and high-glucose+ LED group.The glucose at the concentration of 25 mmol/L was added into medium for 48 hours in the high-glucose group, and the cells induced by high-glucose were irradiated in incubator by LED for consecutive 300 seconds per time in a 12-hour interval with the wavelength of 620 nm, maximal power of 1 W, central light radiation exposure of 6.67 mW/cm2 and spot diameter of 2.0 cm.The apoptosis rate of the cells was assayed by flow cytometry; the intracellular Ca2+ content was determined by laser scanning confocal microscope; the relative expression level of phosphorylated serine-threonine kinase (p-AKT) protein in the cells was detected by Western blot.

Results
The cells grew well 2-3 days after cultured with the polygon and oval shape, and nucleolus were visible.More neuronal processes were obtained in 5-7 days after culture.Nissl staining showed the blue violet color in cytoplasma of neurons.The proportion of neurons and glial cells was 91%.The apoptosis rates of the cells were (7.634±3.176)%, (33.642±9.315)% and (23.914±6.375)% in the normal control group, high-glucose group and high-glucose+ LED group, respectively, and the apoptosis rates of high-glucose group and high-glucose+ LED group were significantly higher than that in the normal control group, while the apoptosis rate in the high-glucose+ LED group was lower than that in the high-glucose group (all at P<0.01). The fluorescence of Ca2+ in the cytoplasma was strong in the high-glucose group and weak in the normal control group.The fluorescence pixel values in the high-glucose group and high-glucose+ LED group were significantly higher than that in the normal control group, and that in the high-glucose+ LED group was reduced in comparison with high-glucose group (all at P<0.05). The expressing band of p-AKT protein was strong in the normal control group and weak in the high-glucose group.The relative expressing levels were 10.34±3.18, 2.16±0.46 and 7.15±1.72 in the normal control group, high-glucose group and high-glucose+ LED group, and relative expression level of high-glucose+ LED group was significatly lower than that in the high-glucose group (P<0.05).

Conclusions
High-glucose environment inhibits PI3K/AKT pathway and calcium homeostasis of retinal neurons, which results in cell apoptosis.Low intensity of LED light irradiation activates the anti-apoptotic PI3K/AKT pathway and therefore reduces apoptosis induced by high glucose.

Key words:
Low-level light therapy; Light emitting diode; Photobiomodulation; Retina; Neurons; Apoptosis; Rats, Wistar; Neuroprotection; Glucose


We study a simple, microfounded macroeconomic system in which the monetary authority employs a Taylor-type policy rule. We analyze situations in which the self-confirming equilibrium is unique and learnable according to Bullard and Mitra (2002). We explore the prospects for the use of 'large deviation' theory in this context, as employed by Sargent (1999) and Cho, Williams, and Sargent (2002). We show that our system can sometimes depart from the self-confirming equilibrium towards a non-equilibrium outcome characterized by persistently low nominal interest rates and persistently low inflation. Thus we generate events that have some of the properties of 'liquidity traps' observed in the data, even though the policymaker remains committed to a Taylor-type policy rule which otherwise has desirable stabilization properties.


A low complexity wavelet based image coding algorithm for color image compression is presented. The key renovation of this algorithm is that a small number of symbol set was designed to convert the information from the wavelet transform domain into a compact data structure for each subband. The scheme works first by color space conversion, followed by uniform scalar quantization and data conversion where raster scanning order is performed for individual subband and quantized coefficients are converted into the symbol stream according to the designed symbol representation. Two different context lists in each subband are specified from the symbol stream and alternatively compressed by an adaptive arithmetic coder with high efficiency. Unlike zerotree coding or its variations which utilize the intersubband relationship into its own data representation, our work is a low complexity intrasubband based coding method which only addresses the information within the subband. The only extension is the termination symbols which carry the zero value information towards the end of the subband or across the subbands till the end of the image. Compared with the zerotree refined schemes, this algorithm results in competitive PSNR values and perceptually high quality images at the same compression ratio for color image compression.


Forced marriage affects a number of communities within the UK, including British Muslims. In some cases, Islam is used to justify this practice and the media has highlighted cases where young Muslims have been coerced into marriage. This thesis attempts to address this issue from a normative perspective, using Islamic legal sources to assess whether Islamic law (sharīca) allows forced marriage and will determine what can be done about it from within this context. It provides a much needed comparative and contrastive account of key discussions and debates of Muslim jurists (fuqahā') from the four Sunni schools of law regarding elements of the marriage contract which are pertinent to this discussion, specifically: wilāya (guardianship), ikrāh (coercion) and maqāṣid alsharīca (the aims and objectives of Islamic law).
The Introduction sets out the main themes and structure of the thesis determining the motivation for the research, the research problems, its rationale, its significance and contribution to academic literature, the research questions, the methodology and the overall structure of the thesis. The issue will be approached from three perspectives: the nature of Marriage in Islamic jurisprudence, the role of guardianship in concluding marriage contract, and the ruling of marriages contracted under the effect of coercion. Chapter 2 defines forced marriage whilst looking at the distinction between it and arranged marriage, contextualising the issue in terms of UK and human rights law. It also introduces the problem of forced marriage within the Muslim community, and asks whether or not it is sanctioned by Islamic law. Chapter 3 looks in depth at the meaning and significance of marriage in Islam, and some elements of marriage; khiṭba (engagement/betrothal), the maqāṣid (legal objectives), the arkān (cornerstones), the ṣīgha (marriage formula), the shuhūd (witnesses), kafā'a (suitability or social equity of the spouses) and the mahr/ṣadaq (dowry). Wilāya (guardianship) ahliyya (legal capacity), and wilāyat al-ijbār (compelling guardianship) will be discussed in detail in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 focuses on the pivotal issues of ikrāh (coercion) and riḍā (consent). The Conclusion will gather together all the pertinent information and arrive at a definitive judgement with regard to forced marriage in Islamic law: forced marriage is not compatible with the objectives of the Sharīcah and has no reliable basis in its sources; the function of the walī (guardian) is to protect the interests of the ward and not to exercise his authority over her; the woman with legal capacity has the right to choose her spouse; the marriage contract conducted under coercion is invalid. This chapter will also include suggestions for further research and recommendations for addressing the issue of forced marriage.


Hypothesis Current Canadian guidelines and GOLD strategy for COPD management provide a treatment algorithm based on current symptoms and exacerbation history. We wished to assess COPD patient current objective, subjective symptoms, quality of life and exacerbation history of a random sample in primary care and office based chest medicine clinics. A convenience sample of 500 was selected. Results We report the characteristics of the first 250 COPD patients from our ongoing 500 patient survey. Basic demographics 55% Male, 45% Female. Mean age patients 68 ± 12 yrs, all patients were previous smokers with 56 ± 10 pkt/yrs smoking history. 34% remain current smokers. Mean FEV1 48% ± 10%, Mean FEV1/FVC ratio 49% ± 10. Median mMRC dyspnea score 2. Mean CAT score 18 ± 10 (Range 0–38). GOLD Stage Classification 13% GOLD Stage A, 67% GOLD Stage B, 1% GOLD Stage C and 19% GOLD Stage D. Current treatment LAMA (long-acting muscarinic antagonist) was prescribed to over 90% of all patients in groups B, C and D whereas monotherapy with LABA (long acting beta-agonist) or dual bronchodilation with LABA/LAMA therapy was prescribed to less than 5%. There was significant overtreatment with ICS/LABA in all categories with high dose ICS (inhaled corticosteroid) being preferred. 20% of patients in GOLD Stage A where receiving Triple therapy (LAMA + ICS/LABA) and a further 20% where receiving monotherapy with ICS/LABA, yet had no history of exacerbations. 30% of patients in GOLD Stage B where receiving Triple therapy (LAMA + ICS/LABA) yet had no history of exacerbations. Conclusion Current Canadian Guidelines and the GOLD strategy focus on symptom relief and striving to prevent exacerbations with step-wise prescription of short and long-acting bronchodilators with individual or combinations of LAMA, LABA, LAMA/LABA or ICS/LABA inhalers. Patients in GOLD Group C are rare. Current prescription choices in our survey does not reflect current evidence or guidelines. We report a heavy reliance on ICS/LABA along with over prescription of triple therapy at all stages of disease.


Cell culture-based vaccine production is advantageous over chicken eggs-based production because it does not rely on the availability of eggs and can be performed on a larger scale in a timely manner. Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells are favorably used for vaccine production, particularly for influenza vaccines. However, there are several drawbacks to the traditional method of culturing MDCK cells. MDCK cells require undefined supplement for culturing, such as serum or hydrolysates which pose regulatory concerns especially when making pharmaceutical products for human use. Furthermore, MDCK cells grow in adherent culture which requires significant surface area or the use of microcarriers, thus it is more challenging in a large commercial scale process and is more costly compare to a suspension culture process. In this study, we report the development of a chemically-defined (CD) and animal component-free (ACF) medium that was able to adapt an adherent MDCK cell line to grow in suspension without a need of microcarriers. The results show that suspension-adapted MDCK cells in this CD and ACF medium achieved comparable cell growth and influenza production to that of the existing process which uses adherent MDCK cells on microcarriers in an undefined medium. In addition, the cell growth and production of the suspension cultures were consistent over ten passages while maintaining antigenicity of the virus. This newly established chemically-defined, suspension culture process can overcome the drawbacks of the traditional MDCK culture, leading to a more cost-effective, robust, and scalable process for MDCK cell-based vaccine productions.


Summary.  Case reports and small case series suggest that women with von Willebrand disease (VWD) are at a very high risk of bleeding complications with hysterectomy. As the procedure may be beneficial to women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding and have completed childbearing, an understanding of the true risks involved is essential for appropriate decision making. To estimate the incidence of bleeding and other complications in women with VWD who undergo hysterectomy. The United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for the years 1988–2004 was queried for all hysterectomies for non‐malignant conditions. Data were analysed based on the NIS sampling design. Bivariate analyses were used to examine the differences between women with and without VWD. Multivariate analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders among women who underwent hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding. 545 of the 1 358 133 hysterectomies were to women with VWD. Women with VWD were significantly more likely to experience intraoperative and postoperative bleeding (2.75% vs. 0.89%, P < 0.001) and require transfusion (7.34% vs. 2.13%, P < 0.001) than women without VWD. One woman with VWD died. While the risk of bleeding complications from hysterectomy in women with VWD is smaller than previously reported, women with VWD did experience significantly more bleeding complications than women without VWD. Nonetheless, for women who have completed childbearing, the risks of hysterectomy may be acceptable.


T he efforts of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and the American Heart Association (AHA) to inform the public about the role of cholesterol in coronary heart disease (CHD) have recently come under criticism. The critics, popular magazine writers and a small group of physicians, suggest that the relation between cholesterol and CHD is not well defined, that lowering serum cholesterol does not extend life, that lowsaturated fat, low-cholesterol diets do little to reduce risk of CHD, and that lowering cholesterol levels is a waste of time and money. These comments have prompted some patients to question the need to adopt a lifestyle that includes a diet aimed at lowering serum cholesterol levels. The AHA and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) intend to remove doubts about the direct link between cholesterol and CHD. This statement reviews the epidemiologic, laboratory, and clinical studies that address questions most frequently asked about cholesterol: Is high serum cholesterol a risk factor for coronary heart disease? Will lowering serum cholesterol help prevent coronary heart disease? Will people live longer if their serum cholesterol levels are modified? Does management of high serum cholesterol provide benefit if coronary heart disease is already present? Will dietary change effectively lower cholesterol levels? Should age or gender change the approach to cholesterol management? Are cholesterol interventions cost-effective?


An essential feature of magnetic resonance (MR) probes for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy is the ability to generate uniform B1+ excitation in a volume of interest. When the magnetic field strength is increased, leading to an increase in resonance frequency, the constraints on the MR probes size, the sample size and the associated radiation losses caused by conductor elements are higher. In this study we simulate, test and construct two birdcage coils for imaging rodents operated at 14.1 T. Bench experiments and imaging tests show that at 14.1 T dielectric resonance effect is the dominant factor accounting for B1+ field inhomogeneity but remained achievable for imaging rodent brains.


A description is given of the Supertrek S-1, a Cray X-MP/416-compatible minisupercomputer that offers 40-MFLOPS (floating-point operations per second) peak performance. It is implemented in advanced high-speed TTL/CMOS technologies. The system features compactness, low power consumption, and high reliability/maintainability. The S-1 design was optimized for the Cray X-MP architecture, using central control mechanism that schedules hardware resources for maximal concurrent operations. The four-ported, 16-way interleaved main memory, the 18-ported vector register file, and other multiported register files/buffers are the keys to its performance.<<ETX>>


The emergence of uncooled infrared detectors has opened new opportunities for IR imaging both for military and civil applications. Infrared imaging sensors that operate without cryogenic cooling have the potential to provide the military or civilian users with infrared vision capabilities packaged in a camera of extremely small size, weight and power. Uncooled infrared sensor technology has advanced rapidly in the past few years. Higher performance sensors, electronics integration at the sensor, and new concepts for signal processing are generating advanced infrared focal plane arrays. This would significantly reduce the cost and accelerate the implementation of sensors for applications such as surveillance or predictive maintenance. We present the uncooled infrared detector operation principle and the development at CEA/LETI from the 256 x 64 with a pitch of 50 micrometers to the 320 x 240 with a pitch of 35 micrometers . LETI has been involved in Amorphous Silicon uncooled microbolometer development since 1992. This silicon IR detection is now well mastered and matured so that industrial transfer of LETI technology was performed in 2000 towards Sofradir. Industrial production of 320 x 240 microbolometer array with 45micrometers pitch is then started., we present the readout circuit architectures designs and its evolution from the 256 x 64 array to the different version of 320 x 240 arrays. Electro-optical results obtained from these IRCMOS are presented. NEDT close to 30 mK is now obtained with our standard microbolometer amorphous silicon technology.


Pre-trained language models have led to substantial gains over a broad range of natural language processing (NLP) tasks, but have been shown to have limitations for natural language generation tasks with high-quality requirements on the output, such as commonsense generation and ad keyword generation. In this work, we present a novel Knowledge Filtering and Contrastive learning Network (KFCNet) which references external knowledge and achieves better generation performance. Specifically, we propose a BERT-based filter model to remove low-quality candidates, and apply contrastive learning separately to each of the encoder and decoder, within a general encoder--decoder architecture. The encoder contrastive module helps to capture global target semantics during encoding, and the decoder contrastive module enhances the utility of retrieved prototypes while learning general features. Extensive experiments on the CommonGen benchmark show that our model outperforms the previous state of the art by a large margin: +6.6 points (42.5 vs. 35.9) for BLEU-4, +3.7 points (33.3 vs. 29.6) for SPICE, and +1.3 points (18.3 vs. 17.0) for CIDEr. We further verify the effectiveness of the proposed contrastive module on ad keyword generation, and show that our model has potential commercial value.


Abstract:The history of Jacksonian Democracy reveals no simple tales of white liberty and black slavery, American citizenship and Indian dispossession, or mob rule versus the rule of law. It is a complex story about white male independence dependent on relationships of racial paternalism and the gendered hierarchy of the household, the age of the common man that could anticipate both the political economy of robber barons and the modern regulatory state, and a political worldview that would spawn anti-abolitionist riots as well as overlapping critiques of black and wage slavery. Its legacy for our times is similarly complicated.


This thesis investigates four Antarctic built environments between 1911 and 1961: Robert Falcon Scott's 1910-1912 Terra Nova expedition base at Cape Evans, Ross Island; Sir Douglas Mawson's 1911-1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition base at Commonwealth Bay; Australia's Mawson Station in MacRobertson Land, founded in 1954; and New Zealand's Scott Base, also on Ross Island, founded in 1957. Examining unpublished and published diaries of expeditioners, government files and newspaper reports, this thesis demonstrates that, to the expeditioners who built and occupied them, these places created protective bastions of civilization in an extreme environment. It investigates what residents and architects (figurative and literal) thought and felt about these blizzard cities, their meaning and significance. In doing so, this study reinforces, extends, and at times challenges broader conceptions of built environment, nature, civilization, Antarctica, and their thicket of interrelationships. The first two chapters – one focused on the Heroic Era and the second on the post-WWII bases – argue that Antarctic built environments were embattled, modern sanctuaries. The extreme environment of Antarctica also demonstrated to expeditioners that built environment had plasticity, which challenged the expeditioners' expectation of built environment being stable, durable, and impermeable. Chapter three argues that Antarctic built environment allowed expeditioners to create civilization in the wilderness, in a variety of ways. Through examining facets of occupation such as etiquette and international cooperation, the chapter argues that civilization took many forms, not all of them positive from the expeditioners' point-of-view.


New therapeutic modalities have substantially improved response rates and outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), yet the mindset remains that palliation is the only goal of therapy because the disease is considered incurable. Ultimately, all patients relapse despite achieving an initial response, as minimal residual disease (MRD) persisting after therapy eventually evolves into morphological and clinical recurrence. The emergence of immune‐based combination therapies capable of inducing molecular remissions, the availability of highly sensitive assays that detect MRD, and emerging data showing a longer duration of response or longer survival in patients with no detectable disease, suggest that eradicating MRD may be a reasonable option for some patients. Moreover, novel biological prognostic markers have divided CLL into favourable and unfavourable subtypes, arguing in favour of defining different goals of therapy for different patients. Clinicians are increasingly challenged with the task of how best to incorporate MRD assessment into clinical practice, especially in an era when these novel prognostic factors exist. This review summarises the current understanding of MRD from a clinical standpoint, suggests that MRD eradication maybe a reasonable option for some patients, and argues in favour of designing large randomised studies to determine whether MRD‐negative remission improves outcome.


We analyze the recent phenomenon termed a Link Bomb, and investigate the optimal attack pattern for a group of web pages attempting to link bomb a specific web page. The typical modus operandi of a link bomb is to associate a particular page with a search text and then boost that page's pagerank. (The attacking pages can only control their own content and outgoing links.) Thus, when a search is initiated with the text, a high prominence will be given to the attacked page. We show that the best organization of links among the attacking group to maximize the increase in rank of the attacked node is the direct individual attack, where every attacker points directly to the victim and nowhere else. We also discuss optimal attack patterns for a group that wants to hide itself by not pointing directly to the victim. We quantify our results with experiments on a variety of random graph models.


The increasing importance of defined contribution plans, both as employer-provided plans and as mandatory individual accounts, has increased the responsibility placed on workers for making financial decisions. While early on it was assumed that workers would be capable of managing these accounts, studies have documented that many workers make financial mistakes. Financial education has been used as a remedy, but experience has shown that many workers are not interested and others do not follow up on changes they indicate they intend to make. The use of defaults for investments and increased transparency concerning fees are two further developments that have addressed this problem. Now, attention is turning increasingly to financial advice. However, often financial advisers have conflicts of interest that affect the quality and cost of the advice they provide. Some countries are enacting laws that address this issue.


In this article we investigate the scale dependence of spatial heterogeneity in multiresolution and multisensor data using the wavelet transform. The landscape analysed with the wavelets retains the same dominant pattern irrespective of the original pixel size of the image. In agricultural areas, typically characterized by a mosaic of cultivated fields, the wavelet transform quantified consistently a median dominant scale of 512 m in the Orthophoto, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM + ). The dominant scale represented the dominant field size of cultivated areas. The shape of the average wavelet energy curves was also similar among the images. In semi-natural areas the wavelet transform quantified consistently a median dominant scale of 128 m in the Orthophoto and ASTER. The median dominant scale of ETM +  was slightly smaller and located at 64 m. We characterized the spatial heterogeneity of agricultural and semi-natural areas in Andalucía (Spain) using multisensor data not time coincident ranging from 1 m (Orthophoto), to 15 m (ASTER) to 28.5 m (ETM + ). The contrast in vegetation cover was measured using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in ASTER and ETM +  and red band in Orthophoto. We performed a multiresolution analysis using a Haar two-dimension discrete wavelet transform to quantify and compare the intensity (maximum degree of contrast in vegetation cover), the dominant scale (the scale at which the maximum intensity occurs) and the wavelet energy curve (intensity plotted as a function of the scale) of different images at intervals of power of 2 within the scale range from 2 to 4096 m.


Background: The inappropriate use of medical resources and escalating health expenditures of severe diseases patients has been a great concern in China's health system especially among terminal stage. This study aims to analyze how the resource allocation and hospitalization behavior affect the expenditures of terminal malignant tumor patients, and provide evidences on resource allocation and utilization. Methods: An analysis framework of influencing factors of medical expenses was built according to Andersen's Behavioral Model. Hospitalization expenditures of malignant tumor patients who died in medical institutions were tracked in Shanghai in 2016. We use path analysis to analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization expenditures at terminal stage. Results: Results demonstrated that hospital services and expenditures during the terminal stage were primarily in tertiary hospitals. The top three influencing factors were length of stay, number of admissions and level of medical institutions. While the influence of demographic characteristics (age, gender, type of medical insurance, etc.) was relatively low. Conclusions: Data suggest that hospitalization expenditures and patients' economic burden can be reduced through adjusting allocation of medical resources and service utilization, as well as reducing unnecessary hospitalization days.


Data-driven methods have achieved notable performance on intent detection, which is a task to comprehend user queries. Nonetheless, they are controversial for over-confident predictions. In some scenarios, users do not only care about the accuracy but also the confidence of model. Unfortunately, mainstream neural networks are poorly calibrated, with a large gap between accuracy and confidence. To handle this problem defined as confidence calibration, we propose a model using the hyperspherical space and rebalanced accuracy-uncertainty loss. Specifically, we project the label vector onto hyperspherical space uniformly to generate a dense label representation matrix, which mitigates over-confident predictions due to overfitting sparse one-hot label matrix. Besides, we rebalance samples of different accuracy and uncertainty to better guide model training. Experiments on the open datasets verify that our model outperforms the existing calibration methods and achieves a significant improvement on the calibration metric.


Numerical computations were carried out for theromagnetic convection of air in a square enclosure under both magnetising and gravitational fields. Scalar magnetic potential method was used to calculate magnetic field. The governing equations in primitive variables were discretized by the finite-volume method and solved by the SIMPLE algorithm. The flow and temperature fields for the air natural convection were presented and the local and mean Nusselt numbers on the walls were calculated and compared. The results show that the magnetic force has significant effect on the flow field and heat transfer in a square enclosure, the average Nusselt number respects the trend of decrease first and then increase when the magnetic force number increases.


Many scholars assert that work and family demands are negatively related to individuals' long-term physical health, but few studies have explicitly examined this relationship. Among these exceptions, most have employed a cross-sectional design that is limited in its ability to establish causality. We use body mass index (BMI) that generally increases during one's lifetime as an indicator of physical health, and seek to explore the amount of control individuals may have on this seemingly inevitable progression. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, we propose that an increase in demands-both in the work realm (e.g., the number of work hours) and in the family realm (e.g., the number of spouse work hours)-is likely to speed up the increase of BMI. Using a nationally representative sample of 4,264 individuals who were part of a dual-earner family between 1994 and 2010, we find that a within-person increase in weekly work hours, an increase in spouse weekly work hours, and an increase in the number of children are all related to a small within-person increase of the BMI growth trajectory. Within-person increase in work responsibility demands is related to a small within-person decrease in the BMI growth trajectory. We discuss implications of the relationships between work and family demands and long-term physical health.


The paper studies the design of a treadable permit system with opt-in possibilities for LDCs countries in the context of climate change. In setting the optimal opt-in rule, the regulator faces a trade-off between production efficiency (minimization of control costs) and information rent extraction (reduction of excess permits). Results from simulation exercises based on data from MIT´s EPPA Model are also provided.


As science becomes more dependent upon digital data, the need for data curation and for data digital libraries becomes more urgent. Questions remain about what researchers consider to be their data, their criteria for selecting and trusting data, and their orientation to data challenges. This paper reports findings from the first 18 months of research on astronomy data practices from the Data Conservancy. Initial findings suggest that issues for data production, use, preservation, and sharing revolve around factors that rarely are accommodated in use cases for digital library system design including trust in data, funding structures, communication channels, and perceptions of scientific value.


The provisions concerning criminal sanctions in the law of advertisement tax can not be implemented effectively in East Tanjung Jabung. It was seen on data showing that although the range of 2010 to 2015, there have been as many as 26 (twenty-six) times acts that meet the elements of a criminal offense, but none of the deeds that are done the legal process and criminal sanctions.  It happened because the formula of criminal sanctions has weaknesses that are formal, where the regulation of advertisement tax simply regulate the form of criminal offenses and criminal sanctions may be imposed on taxpayers who commit criminal acts in the field of organizing the billboard tax, without clearly and law firm about events or legal procedure of criminal sanctions against offenders. The provisions concerning criminal sanctions in the law of advertisement tax has an effect on the legal compliance of the tax billboard in East Tanjung Jabung. The provisions concerning criminal sanctions in the advertisement tax legislation can not be applied strictly, have significantly affect or have caused noncompliance people in this regard billboard taxpayer in fulfilling their obligations to pay taxes in accordance with Regulation billboard advertisement tax. The effect is not only in the group that did not comply, but also felt by the group that had been dutifully pay the advertisement tax. The absence of criminal sanctions are applied, has justified the action group of taxpayers who have been in violation, that "does not pay the advertisement tax will not be punished." As for the group tax obedient, not subject to criminal sanctions against non-compliant group has brought a decline in their compliance and then "be affected" not to pay. Keywords: Effectiveness, Criminal Sanctions, Regulation of Advertising.


The siliconized layer was pulse electrodeposited on grain oriented low-silicon steel sheet substrate in KCl-NaCl-NaF-SiO2 molten salts and the influence of duty cycle on the composition and microstructure of the siliconized layer was investigated. The results showed that when the duty cycle was in the range of 10% to 50% at average current density 30mA/cm2, Si content of siliconized layers was similar and the thickness of the layer was did not change much with different duty cycle. Cross sectional observation revealed that the siliconized layers had a two-layer structure. The top layer composed of columnar grains and a transition layer with equiaxed grains was close to the substrate. The layer was unsmooth when the duty cycle was 10%. While the surface appeared smooth and dense and the grains were fine when the duty cycle were 20% and 30%. The layer became more porous as the duty cycle increased to 40% and 50%.


Of all the nuclei in proteins, the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of nitrogen are the theoretically least well understood. In this study, quantum chemical methods are used in combination with polarizable-continuum models in order to show that consideration of the effective electric field, including charge screening due to solvation, improves considerably the consistencies of statistical relationships between experimental and computed amide (15)N shifts between various sets of charged and uncharged oligopeptides and small organic molecules. A single conversion scheme between shielding parameters from first principles using density functional theory (DFT) and experimental shifts is derived that holds for all classes of compounds examined here. This relationship is then used to test the accuracy of such (15)N chemical shift predictions in the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic gramicidin S (GS). GS has previously been studied in great detail, both by NMR and X-ray crystallography. It adopts a well-defined backbone conformation, and hence, only a few discrete side chain conformational states need to be considered. Moreover, a charge-relay effect of the two cationic ornithine side chains to the protein backbone has been described earlier by NMR spectroscopy. Here, DFT-derived backbone amide nitrogen chemical shifts were calculated for multiple conformations of GS. Overall, the structural dynamics of GS is revisited in view of chemical shift behavior along with energetic considerations. Together, the study demonstrates proof of concept that (15)N chemical shift information is particularly useful in the analysis and validation of protein conformational states in a charged environment.


Previous research has shown that prior brand exposure (e.g., through advertising) can positively influence brand consideration, brand attitudes, and brand choice. In the present studies, the authors argue that the effects of prior brand exposure depend on the communication modality (visual vs. aural) in which exposure (i.e., advertising) takes place and the modality in which evaluations and choices are made. It was hypothesized and found that congruence in communication modalities has a positive effect on brand evaluation and brand choice, compared to incongruence in modalities. Perceptual fluency is proposed to be the underlying mechanism explaining these effects. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the effects of modality congruence are moderated by individuals' processing style in such a way that the impact is stronger under conditions of data-driven as opposed to conceptually driven, processing.These results indicate that consumer responses depend on the interaction between the modality in which consumers are exposed to the brand in advertising and the modality in which consumers encounter the brand in a purchase situation.


Determining where the fingers of a multi-fingered robot hand touch an object of unknown shape plays an important role in achieving a stable grasp. This paper focuses on a scheme for identifying such contact points. Instead of mounting a distributed tactile sensor all over the finger links, we propose an active sensing approach using joint compliance. The proposed scheme is composed of two phases. In the first phase, the approach phase, each finger is extended to its most distal position as it approaches the object. This phase continues until any part of a finger link contacts the object. During the second phase, the detection phase, each finger's posture is strategically changed by sliding the finger over the object while maintaining contact between the object and the finger. Using two selected postures during the detection phase, we can compute an intersecting point that gives an approximate contact point. This paper develops the algorithm and provides results from an experimental implementation of the scheme on a two-fingered robot hand running a joint level compliance controller. The process of changing the posture of the finger while maintaining object-finger contact is called self posture changeability (SPC). It also develops sufficient conditions to demonstrate the robustness of the SPC technique to variations in the coefficient of friction. >


In the years between the two world wars a fledgling radical force that we today call 'fascism' was transformed from a tiny fringe movement into a dominant international political paradigm that challenged liberal 'mainstream' values and violently reversed decades of progressive change. Fascism's spectacular and devastating success underlined how limited, resented, and reversible the alleged liberal consensus was in large parts of Europe during the interwar years; and how much demand for radical ultranationalist and authoritarian alternatives lay just below the fragile veneer of the liberal-democratic mainstream. The worldwide economic crisis was a catalyst for, rather than the primary cause of, this transformation, revealing and legitimising strong pre-existing concerns and resentments, both among the elites and public opinion.What is the relevance of this sombre historical precedent for contemporary Europe, haunted by perceptions of unprecedented existential, economic, and identity crises? How robust is the current mainstream consensus around liberal values and what kind of challenge does the continuing popularity of the radical populist right pose for 'mainstream' politics and society? More importantly, even if the new radical right still commands minority – though growing – support, are some of its extreme discourses becoming normalised and embedded into the mainstream?


In response to the significant changes in the operation of the civil justice system necessitated by COVID-19, particularly the swift expansion of the use of remote hearings, the Civil Justice Council issued a rapid consultation on The impact of COVID-19 measures on the civil justice system. Included within the call for responses was a particular plea for evidence relating to how Litigants in Person (LIPs) were experiencing remote hearings. Research at Ulster University (pre-Covid-19) has been examining how LIPs participate in court processes, particularly in the court hearings, to help identify the points at which the LIP's right to effective participation under Article 6 ECHR could be at risk. This blog post – the content of which has been submitted to the Council's consultation – reviews our findings, based on face to face hearings, to help determine what 'effective participation' should involve, whether via remote or face to face hearings. The content is posted here to help identify the issues to be considered in evaluating how successful remote hearings might be in protecting the LIP's right to effective participation.


Since first proposed by Fatio in 1690 and allegedly enhanced by LeSage in 1748, one possible explanation for gravity is that it is a pushing force theory that involves 'shadowing' of omnidirectional gravity particles that impinge on all matter so as to make gravity appear as an attractive phenomenon. At least for a special case (large distance between spheres), a mathematical model that assumes gravity to be a pushing force, with shadowing and including the possibility of acting throughout the shadowed corridor of the sphere with attenuation effects, suggests a possible alignment with one of the known effects of gravity, namely that it is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the spheres' centers. This hopefully lends some credence to the theories first proposed by Fatio and LeSage, and since supported by many dissident physicists, including Schroeder, et al., and members of the Gravity Group of the John Chappell Natural Philosophy Society. It is offered as one small contribution to furthering examination of this possible explanation.


Guide to using EndNote at Murdoch University How to create a formatted bibliography, exporting references to word as a bibliography


With the continued growth in online business information provision, database guides can be valuable in helping searchers evaluate and select suitable sources. Studies of business database selection by professional intermediaries indicate a need for detailed descriptions of records as well as for basic, directory‐style information in guides. Less experienced online users need introductions to online, hosts, and business information provision and, most importantly, they need guidance in searching major online sources. Both types of online user would benefit from the inclusion of evaluative comment in database guides. Current guides to British and European business information, both general guides and those dealing specifically with online sources, are reviewed with regard to their suitability for different audiences and to their currency, coverage and overall organisation. The best of these guides are identified. Some guides are inaccurate and many are poorly indexed, with little thought given to how guides are used. Designing guides for specific audiences would increase their effectiveness. They must be quick and easy to use, incorporating evaluative comment to assist selection of databases and record detail to assist searching.


The Constitution of 1931 introduced a political system based on free elections, universal suffrage and a series of Declarations in line with a general, European vision of democracy at that time. This democratic system became known as the Second Republic, or the Republic. It ended when Franco established his dictatorial regime following his coup d'etat and the civil war. After Franco's death, Spain built up a democratic state. Contemporary democracy has been interpreted from the years of the Republic and throughout the 20th century within the frameworks of a diversity of attitudes, aspirations, apprehensions and circumstances that have developed in Spanish society. Understanding of a concept such as democracy depends on factors that include socio-political language as well as financial, cultural and other circumstances at any given time. Hence, interpretations of democracy have differed considerably in present and past times. However, present-day historical literature, be it history books or historical novels, do not seem to pay much attention to this fact. On the contrary, it appears to treat the concept of democracy according to the habitus (Bourdieu) of each writer. In doing so, the complexity of history is to some extent simplified. With the help of examples extracted from texts that deal with Spain's contemporary history, I attempt to show how the concept of democracy gradually developed in Spain during the 20th century. Keeping in mind the differences between ideological groups and movements, I also discuss some historiographical aspects that have been put forth by experts in the area. My main focus is on historiography, i.e., the past as it is recounted and explained to youngsters at school at a given point in time. Keywords : democracy, understandings, historiographic perspectives


This paper investigates the performance of a microgrid with droop-controlled inverters in terms of the total power losses incurred in maintaining synchrony under persistent small disturbances. The inverters are modeled with variable frequencies and voltages under droop control. For small fluctuations from a steady state, these transient power losses can be quantified by an input-output H2 norm of a linear system subject to distributed disturbances. We evaluate this H2 norm under the assumption of a dominantly inductive network with identical inverters. The results indicate that while phase synchronization, in accordance with previous findings, produces losses that scale with a network's size but only weakly depend on its connectivity, the losses associated with the voltage control will be larger in a highly connected network than in a loosely connected one. The typically higher rate of convergence in a highly interconnected network thus comes at a cost of higher losses associated with the power flows used to reach the steady state.


Anticipating a wave of bankruptcies caused by the economic and financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous commentators proposed measures to expand the institutional capacity of the bankruptcy system. A number of these proposals would represent dramatic and systematic government involvement in the U.S. bankruptcy system. Such involvement by the government in the bankruptcy system is a topic that is largely ignored in the literature on bankruptcy. Where it is observed, it is generally criticized. Among other things, it sits uneasily with dominant theories of bankruptcy that assume the bankruptcy system should be driven by the interests of direct stakeholders in particular cases. This Article argues that involvement or influence by government actors in the bankruptcy system is, in fact, broadly consistent with bankruptcy theory and with the structural relationship between bankruptcy law and other legal and regulatory components of the state. This relationship is subject to some basic ordering principles. Bankruptcy law constrains and adjusts other legal regimes to some extent, but it generally incorporates non-bankruptcy law and yields to government's regulatory actions. These ordering principles reasonably extend to ad hoc government actions or "activism" in the bankruptcy system. In other words, government actors do not contravene bankruptcy policy when they employ the system to advance non-bankruptcy policies within their authority, even when doing so enables the government to take actions and achieve goals that it could not outside of the system. In some circumstances, however, the regulatory policies or concerns motivating government involvement in the bankruptcy system may be too diffuse or attenuated to justify the extent of its intervention, especially if the effect is to discourage use of the bankruptcy system. This Article develops these claims by focusing in particular on the relationship between bankruptcy and financial regulation. Bankruptcy is part of the architecture of financial markets in a modern economy, and the influence of financial regulators on the bankruptcy system should be viewed as the product * Sumter Davis Marks Professor of Law, Tulane. Thanks for discussion and comments to Vincent Buccola, Laura Napoli Coordes, Melissa Jacoby, Rafael Pardo, Nadav Orian Peer, Renuka Sane, David Skeel, and participants of the 3d Conference on Law and Macroeconomics, fall 2020, and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and World Bank Research Conference on Financial Distress, Bankruptcy, and Corporate Finance, fall 2019. All views and errors are mine. FEIBELMAN_2.1.22 2/3/2022 1:43 PM 2 EMORY BANKRUPTCY DEVELOPMENTS JOURNAL [Vol. 38 of overlapping regulatory functions, which require a logic of ordering. Such regulatory influence generally operates in the deep background, yet macroprudential and systemic concerns will sometimes require more direct government intervention and may override the efficiency concerns or stakes of a particular bankruptcy case. This Article describes three episodes of regulatory intervention in the bankruptcy system: (1) "regulatory bankruptcy" during the 2008–09 financial crisis; (2) the efforts by the Reserve Bank of India to force some large commercial firms into India's new insolvency system; and (3) the Chrysler bankruptcy. The ordering principles advanced in this Article generally justify the government involvement in these cases and, to some extent, in the COVID-era proposals as well. However, the degree of regulatory involvement in the bankruptcy system envisioned by some of these recent proposals may be disproportionate to, or attenuated from, their underlying regulatory goals. If so, they may fall beyond the scope of justified government involvement in the bankruptcy system.


The chapter investigates the impact of employee participation on the board of directors or supervisory board (particularly codetermination) on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Conceptually, it is important to distinguish between "internal" and "external" CSR. Internal CSR relates to practices of the firm regarding groups with which it is in a long-term contractual relationship such as employees. Employee participation systems serve to protect employees from shareholder opportunism and shift the balance in the distribution of corporate rents in favor of employees, which is why they clearly have an impact on internal CSR. The situation is much less clear for external CSR, which is concerned with effects of corporate activities that are externalities, for example pollution. I argue that there may sometimes be a tradeoff between internal and external CSR: If a firm is more profitable because it scores badly in terms of external CSR (e.g. because it habitually pollutes), employees may benefit similarly as shareholders. In fact, the interests of shareholders and employees may be largely aligned in this respect, with both either benefiting or being harmed concurrently.


A good quality management system is vital for a manufacturing organization to enhance its competitiveness. Over the years, TQM becomes a strategic tool for manufacturing organizations to grow and sustain in the highly competitive business environment. However, developing appropriate foundation for TQM implementation is still the real challenge for an organization. This paper deals with the implementation issues of TQM in manufacturing organizations. A comprehensive framework for TQM implementation was developed that engaged essential pillars, and their associated factors. The aim of the research was to examine the feasibility of the proposed framework initially developed based on the literature review and authors' experience working in the manufacturing organizations. The developed framework was verified in the practical settings in Ready Made Garments (RMG) Industry in Bangladesh. In the empirical investigation, 31 export-oriented organizations in the RMG sector were studied. The findings implied that the creation of quality management environment, development of teamwork, practice of quality control tools and techniques, closer supplier relationship and customer focus are the main pillar of TQM implementation. Majority of the proposed factors associated to the pillars were significantly apparent in the studied organizations. As a whole the study validated the proposed framework for TQM implementation.


We present an evaluation study on applying aspect-oriented modeling concepts in UPPAAL timed automata. The study is focusing on the modeling and verification effort that can be reduced when applying explicit aspect-oriented structuring principles in model construction. We discuss the drawbacks and benefits related to model update and verification effort. The approach suggested is benchmarked on a mission critical crisis management system case study. We demonstrate the usability of our approach by extracting the aspects such as resource authentication and mission execution. Finally, we demonstrate by experimental data how our approach is more efficient compared to verification and testing effort applied in the non-aspect-oriented model.


ABS TRACT: Dipolar-dephasing method provides some information about the strength of dipolar coupling in solids. Dipolar dephasing technique measures the time for a polarized carbon nucleus to lose its magnetization once the proton locking field is terminated. The dynamics of guest molecules adsorbed within the cavities and channels of nanoprous zeolite strongly depend on the structure and chemical composition of the nonporous zeolite. In this work solid-state 13 C NMR spectroscopy and dipolar dephasing technique were used to determine the extent of motion 1-chlroadamantane loaded in nanoprous zeolite-Y. Loading of 1-chlroadamantane into the supercages of the zeolite-Y (with R=100 and R=2.35, R=Si/Al) was carried out by a vapor phase impregnation and solution impregnation methods. The accuracy of dipolar dephasing method was first investigated with the aid of pure 1-chlroadamantane to determine the degree of motion in the nanoprous of zeolite-Y. Results indicated that the C δ signal of the 1-chlroadamantane in the nonporous zeolite-Y decays faster than that the C and C, demonstrating that dipolar interaction for this carbon (C δ ) is stronger. However, the rate of signal decay C δ for the 1-chlroadamantane loaded in zeolite -Y (R=2.35) is less than that loaded in zeolite-Y (R=100).


This paper will take a broad based approach in analyzing the structure of the U.S. economy with a particular emphasis on the disruptive U.S. recession and financial crisis which began circa 2008. The role of the U.S. government and the implications high levels of fiscal debt have on the projected growth path of the U.S. economy will be the primary focus of the paper. The discussion will show that the U.S. has likely entered a new, much more difficult stage in its history of economic growth. The short to medium term growth potential of the U.S. economy has fallen below the trend level established since WWII. The flexibility of the U.S. economy will help foster the necessary adjustments; however, this new era will force difficult fiscal and monetary policy choices that have different implications for different section of the population. The policy makers must recognize the changing dynamics of the U.S. economy and they must be prudent in drafting policy that establishes a stronger foundation for future growth. Younger generations in particular will need to take notice of the decisions being made and plan accordingly as it relates to their spending, saving and investment habits.


Nuclear icebreakers remain important for the economic survival of Russia's Arctic regions and are a central element of the Northern Sea Route development strategy. Reactor life extension activities are critical to sustaining the nuclear fleet, as several of the currently operated nuclear icebreakers are reaching the end of design service life. Russia is also finishing a new icebreaker and is planning to build additional nuclear ships within the next 10–15 years. Nuclear icebreaker reactors are fueled with highly-enriched uranium (HEU), which has to be reliably protected against theft and diversion.


: Diacetyl content of cow butter is one of the factors determining its quality. It is a metabolic product of aroma producing lactic acid streptococci. The gradation of diacetyl water solutions and the correlation between diacetyl quantity in cow butter and its taste, flavour and aroma evaluation were assessed by smelling. It was confirmed that experienced degustators of dairy butter can distinguish and grade diacetyl water solutions in a comparatively very good order. A satisfactory correlation was observed between the organoleptic evaluation of the taste, flavour and aroma of cow sour cream butter. In the opinion of experienced degustators of cow butter the latter can be graded only organoleptically.


Cyclospora is a coccidian parasite responsible for a syndrome of acute and chronic diarrhoea. The organism first come to worldwide attention in 1990 following the publication of three reports. The largest series of cases and the first clinical description of the illness associated with this organism came from Kathmandu where travellers and expatriates were noted to have prolonged diarrhoea with a previously undescribed organism. The organism has been identified as a coccidian both by observation of sporulation and subsequent molecular phylogenetic analysis. Cyclospora organisms appear as non-refractile double-walled spheres, 8-10 microns in diameter. The organism floats in Sheather's sucrose solution and appears variably red on the modified acid-fast stain. It can also be identified on plain wet mounts. Since its first description, Cyclospora has been noted in an increasing number of countries throughout the world. Water-borne transmission has been implicated in several studies. There is a distinct seasonality in Cyclospora outbreaks and cases. In Nepal, the organism has occurred in virtually identical seasonal outbreaks since 1989. The clinical illness associated with Cyclospora is characterized by diarrhoea, nausea, anorexia and weight loss, which may persist for weeks to months if untreated. Evidence of malabsorption of D-xylose has been noted and small bowel biopsies revealed moderately severe villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia. Successful treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has been identified, but to date no alternative treatment exists for the sulfa allergic patient.


Within Western political philosophy, the rights of groups has often been neglected or addressed in only the narrowest fashion. Focusing solely on whether rights are exercised by individuals or groups misses what lies at the heart of ethnocultural conflict, leaving the crucial question unanswered: can the familiar system of common citizenship rights within liberal democracies sufficiently accommodate the legitimate interests of ethnic citizens? Specifically, how does membership in an ethnic group differ from other groups, such as professional, lifestyle, or advocacy groups? How important is ethnicity to personal identity and self-respect, and does accommodating these interests require more than standard citizenship rights? Crucially, what forms of ethnocultural accommodations are consistent with democratic equality, individual freedom, and political stability? Invoking numerous cases studies and addressing the issue of ethnicity from a range of perspectives, Ethnicity and Group Rights seeks to answer these questions.


Language is conceived in modern behaviour analysis as a large network of
contextually controlled interconnecting stimulus relations. One process in particular,
the derived transfer of response functions, is a central feature of these verbal
networks. According to this process, the functions of conditioned stimuli (e.g.,
words) can emerge spontaneously for other stimuli in the language network (e.g.,
other words). Given this, it is not difficult to see how fear and avoidance can quickly
become a clinical issue for verbally able humans once fear and avoidance have been
established through direct conditioning experiences in the real world. Researchers
within the associative conditioning field have recently become excited by the
possibility that conditioned fear can generalise through non-formal stimulus
relations. However, their interest in this is recent, their paradigm differs significantly
from the behaviour-analytic one, and no studies from that field have directly tested
the idea that natural language networks can produce and maintain spontaneous
emergence of fear for unconditioned stimuli (i.e., along a semantic or symbolic
stimulus continuum). This thesis represented an attempt to produce and control the
transfer of fear and avoidance using existing words as conditioned and novel probe
stimuli. In doing so, it attempted to build bridges between the methodologies and
nomenclature of associative learning theory and behaviour analysis.
Experiment1 used an operant conditioning procedure to establish an
avoidance response for a real word, and then probed for a derived transfer of
avoidance to a categorically related word. Avoidance was not observed to transfer
through these verbal relations. Experiment 2 employed a similar paradigm, but with
an enhanced US and using concurrent physiological measures of fear. It also
employed synonyms as conditioned and probe stimuli. Significant levels of transfer
of fear, avoidance and US expectancies were observed. Correlations between
physiological and behavioural measures produced ambiguous but conceptually
interesting outcomes. These are discussed in terms of the nature of the relationship
(i.e., causal of otherwise) between fear, overt avoidance and stimulus function
appraisals recorded as US expectancy ratings. The implications of these findings for
our understanding of the interface between language and anxiety are considered.


The disease syndrome caused by Waitea circinata, a soil-borne pathogen introduced in the past decade into Carpathian basin, visually indistinguishable of those caused by various Rhizoctonia strains in diverse host plant. Dicotyledonaceous species in general proved to be more tolerant to this new pathogen than monotyledonaceous ones. This mesophilic fungus can seriously damage cereals. The barley varieties, similarly to other plants, exhibited highly different individual reaction to soil borne infection, Bivoy being the most while Maresi the less tolerant among the 9 tested varieties. Two groups could be separated on the base of their response to Rhizoctonia; Jubilant, Bivoy, Pasadena formed one group being moderately tolerant and Anabell, Scarlett, Rex and Omega the other group of more susceptibles. Three significant factors influence on the virulence of Rhizoctonia strains comprised 62% of total variation.


Windows are one of the most significant elements in the design of buildings. Whether there are small punched openings in the facade or a completely glazed curtain wall, windows are usually a dominant feature of the building's exterior appearance. From the energy use perspective, windows may also be regarded as thermal holes for a building. Therefore, window design and selection must take both aesthetics and serviceability into consideration. In this paper, using building computer simulation techniques, the effects of glass types on the thermal and energy performance of a sample air-conditioned office building in Australia are studied. It is found that a glass type with lower shading coefficient will have a lower building cooling load and total energy use. Through the comparison of results between current and future weather scenarios, it is identified that the pattern found from the current weather scenario would also exist in the future weather scenario, although the scale of change would become smaller. The possible implication of glazing selection in face of global warming is also examined. It is found that compared with its influence on building thermal performance, its influence on the building energy use is relatively small or insignificant.


In 2013, Smithfield Foods Inc., the world's largest pork processor, was acquired by Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd, China's largest pork producer. The $4.7 billion acquisition marks the largest Chinese takeover of a U.S. company in history. After the acquisition, Virginia-based Smithfield became a subsidiary of Shuanghui International Holdings. In this study, we investigated how US consumers responded to the Chinese acquisition of Smithfield. We found that US consumers are willing to pay significantly more for the US brands compared to the Chinese brands. The US consumers' willingness to pay for Smithfield products decreased significantly after they learned about the Smithfield-Shuanghui acquisition, especially for risk averse consumers and those with higher education level. Furthermore, contrasting to the results in the Chinese market, we did not find a negative spillover effect of this acquisition on other US products in the US market.


Removal of potassium from Hydra culture medium produces a decrease in intracellular potassium and a parallel decrease in asexual growth rate. Rubidium and caesium are ineffective as substitutes for potassium in the maintenance of growth rate. Increases in intracellular potassium parallel increases in growth rate up to a level somewhat below the normal steady-state level of intracellular potassium. The full potassium requirement for maximum effect on budding can be acquired from food or external medium. High levels of external potassium suppress budding but do not alter intracellular potassium levels.


In this work, a free-standing electrode composed of bismuth terephthalate metal-organic frameworks grown on carbon paper (BiMOF/CP) was successfully prepared by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. Materials characterization revealed the formation of flower-like ultrathin nanosheets of BiMOF fully covering on the microfibers of carbon paper. The BiMOF/CP was applied in the electrochemical detection of Cd and Pb in water. The BiMOF/CP electrode exhibited superior sensing performance with a linear detection of Cd and Pb with low detection limits of 1.5 μg/L for Cd and 2.7 μg/L for Pb, respectively. The significantly enhanced sensing performance compared to bare carbon paper is attributed to the 3D hierarchical architecture of BiMOF and increased number of exposed surface sites, facilitating the adsorption of metals ions and electron transfer. The prepared novel materials will contribute to the development of cost-effective electrochemical sensors for heavy metal detection.


This article explores the application of Knowledge Management (KM) techniques to educational information systems—particularly in support of systemic reform efforts. The first section defines knowledge and its relationship to information and data. There is also a discussion of various goals that might be pursued by organizations using KM techniques. The second section explores some of the fundamental design elements of an educational KM system. These include questions surrounding the unit of analysis, distributed computer resources, and organizational characteristics of successful KM efforts. Section three outlines the benefits that organizations expect to gain by investing in KM. Section four is a case history of the introduction of a district-level data system and the parallel efforts to support the aggregation and reporting of high-stakes educational outcomes for 8th grade students in the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) district. Finally, there are some preliminary conclusions about the capacity of an urban district in a complex policy environment to respond to the knowledge management needs of a decentralized system.


Keeping in view the versatile applications of castor oil in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and recently as renewable source, the present work is a step towards the commercialization of castor on large scale in Pakistan. The current study introduces a castor variety with high oil content. Initially seeds were physically examined for some physical parameters. Seed moisture, ash content and linear dimensions such as length, width and thickness were found to be 4.53%, 6.44%, 12.24 mm, 8.31 mm and 5.67 mm, respectively. For oil extraction, Soxhlet method was used which resulted in the high oil content 54.0%. For quality assessment of oil, physicochemical parameters were checked according to official standard AOCS methods and compared with ASTM specifications. The determined parameters were as follows; specific gravity 0.953 g/cm(-3), refractive index 1.431, viscosity 672.0 mPas.s, moisture content 0.32%, FFA 0.14%, IV 83.61 gI2/100 g, PV 2.25 meq/Kg and SV 186.0 mgKOH/g. Furthermore, fatty acid analysis of oil showed that, most abundant fatty acid was ricinoleic acid 94.59%, followed by palmitic 0.31%, linoleic 1.84%, oleic (n-9) 2.05%, oleic (n-10) 0.22%, stearic 0.45% and eicosenoic acid 0.53%. The detected fatty acids were compared with registered variety and varieties of other regions.


Brush up on your tech communication skills and stay up to date on privacy so you can make the most of your smartphone, the Internet and social media.


In this paper we discuss a general framework for feature selection based on nonparametric statistics. The three stage approach we propose is based on the assumption that the available data set is representative of a certain concept and aims at learning from the data the selection of a subset of descriptive features out of a large pool of measurements. The first stage requires the computation of a large number of image features. Simple significance tests and the maximum likelihood principle are at the basis of the second stage in which a saliency measure is used to reject the features which do not appear to be descriptive of the given data set. The third and final stage, by using the Spearman independence rank test, selects a maximal number of pairwise independent features. We report experiments on a face dataset (the MIT-CBCL database) which confirm the quality and the potential of the approach.


Matthew Gandy is a geographer at University College London whose work focuses on cities, how they work, and how their workings are represented in art and literature. His first book, entitled Concrete and Clay (2002), about New York, won a prize. Since its appearance, he has published dozens of articles and several edited books, and his output has earned him election to the British Academy. This latest book concerns six big cities at various points in their recent history: Paris, Berlin, Lagos, Mumbai, Los Angeles, and London.


Hydroxyapatite coating was prepared by alternate soaking strategy in short period time and ambient condition. According to the pH near equality between chitosan acidic acid solution and H2PO4 - aqueous solution, we proposed to choose H2PO4 - as one of hydroxyapatite precursor instead of traditional candidate (HPO4 2-). The properties of chitosan hydrogel containing plenty of water provide enough spaces for hydroxyapatite precursor to diffuse into framework spontaneously. XRD, FTIR and SEM were used to characterize the component and microstructure of mineralized chitosan. The ageing process helps to transfer amorphous calcium phosphate in chitosan framework into hydroxyapatite. The hydroxyapatite coating is gradient structure according to the result of SEM.


Title: Evaluation Of A Hospital-Based Fall Prevention Program
Author: Keir Ringquist
Abstract:
Background: In response to The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals (The Joint Commission, 2005), developed to prevent falls in hospitalized patients, the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago (UIMCC) implemented a fall reduction task force in spring 2006. The fall reduction task force examined best practices and literature and developed a fall prevention program (FPP) using an input-transformation-output model as well as a logic model. The program was implemented in fall 2007.
Methods: Data related to patient falls were collected 1 year prior to and 1 year after implementation of the FPP to analyze whether there had been any change in the fall rate, the severity of falls, and the types of falls that patients experience while in the hospital.
Results: The results indicated a significant change in the fall rate from preintervention to postintervention of the FPP. No statistically significant change was observed in patients from the preintervention period to the postintervention period in terms of either severity of falls or the types of falls reported.
Conclusions: This study suggests that the implementation of the FPP devised by UIMCC was effective at reducing the fall rate of hospitalized patients.


The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) capture the world's headlines when there is a war, a terror attack or a bloody government crackdown. But the deaths caused by soldiers and gunmen are tiny compared to the carnage that the region's residents create behind the wheel of a car. Prior to the so-called ARAB SPRING, the MENA region was experiencing a transportation boom, with the construction of high-speed rapid-transit systems, the expansion of highways, the introduction of toll roads, and the reduction of automobile tariffs in several markets. As incomes rose and more people took to the road, the automotive industry continued to grow. This development has created problems that are now on national agendas. Pollution, gridlock and traffic safety, which is the main subject of this article, have become burning issues in many MENA countries.


The electrical conductivities of aqueous solutions of Na2SO4, H2SO4, and their mixtures have been measured at 373−673 K at 12−28 MPa in dilute solutions for molalities up to 10-2 mol kg-1. These conductivities have been fit to the conductance equation of Turq et al.1 with a consensus mixing rule and mean spherical approximation activity coefficients. Provided the concentration is not too high, all of the data can be fitted by a solution model that includes ion association to form NaSO4-, Na2SO40, HSO4-, H2SO40, and NaHSO40. The adjustable parameters of this model are the dissociation constants of the SO4- species and the H+, SO4-2, and HSO4- conductances (ion mobilities) at infinite dilution. For the 673 K and 230 kg m-3 state point with the lowest dielectric constant, e = 3.5, where the Coulomb interactions are the strongest, this model does not fit the experimental data above a solution molality of 0.016. Including the species H9(SO4)5- gave satisfactory fits to the conductance data at the higher concen...


In this study, I analyzed the Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris MG1363 stress response at sub-lethal alcohol levels during exponential growth phase at transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics levels. Ethanol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol were the selected alcohols. Manganese- transporter- and arginine catabolic pathway genes were up-regulated by all alcohols suggesting they evoked oxidative and acidic stress. ATP manganese transporter genes, histidine- and galactose genes were also up-regulated. Purine- and pyrimidine synthesis genes were down-regulated. HPLC analysis displayed decreased biomass yield and glycolytic flux, suggesting increased glycolytic energy production and slowed down overall enzymatic rate. Proteomics analysis displayed differential expressed proteins associated with heat and oxidative stress.


Carbohydrate–protein interactions govern many crucial processes in biological systems including cell recognition events. We have used the sensitive force probe optical tweezers to quantify the interactions occurring between MGL lectins and MUC1 carrying the cancer-associated glycan antigens mucins Tn and STn. Unbinding forces of 7.6±1.1 pN and 7.1±1.1 pN were determined for the MUC1(Tn)—MGL and MUC1(STn)—MGL interactions, at a force loading rate of ~40 pN/s. The interaction strength increased with increasing force loading rate, to 27.1±4.4 and 36.9±3.6 pN at a force loading rate of ~ 310 pN/s. No interactions were detected between MGL and MUC1(ST), a glycoform of MUC1 also expressed by breast carcinoma cells. Interestingly, this glycan (ST) can be found on proteins expressed by normal cells, although in this case not on MUC1. Additionally, GalNAc decorated polyethylene glycol displayed similar rupture forces as observed for MUC1(Tn) and MUC1(STn) when forced to unbind from MGL, indicating that GalNAc is an essential group in these interactions. Since the STn glycan decoration is more frequently found on the surface of carcinomas than the Tn glycan, the binding of MUC1 carrying STn to MGL may be more physiologically relevant and may be in part responsible for some of the characteristics of STn expressing tumours.


One of the ingredients of anthropogenic global warming is the existence of a large correlation between carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and the temperature. In this work we analyze the original time-series data that led to the new wave of climate research and test the two hypotheses that might explain this correlation, namely the (more commonly accepted and well-known) greenhouse effect (GHE) and the less-known Henry's Law (HL). This is done by using the correlation and the temporal features of the data. Our conclusion is that of the two hypotheses the greenhouse effect is less likely, whereas the Henry's Law hypothesis can easily explain all effects. First the proportionality constant in the correlation is correct for HL and is about two orders of magnitude wrong for GHE. Moreover, GHE cannot readily explain the concurring methane signals observed. On the temporal scale, we see that GHE has difficulty in the apparent negative time lag between cause and effect, whereas in HL this is of correct sign and magnitude, since it is outgasing of gases from oceans. Introducing feedback into the GHE model can overcome some of these problems, but it introduces highly instable and chaotic behavior in the system, something that is not observed. The HL model does not need feedback.


Synopsis A case of tranylcypromine overdose is reported. Tranylcypromine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and phenylethylamine were detected in the plasma by gas chromatography and their identity confirmed by mass spectrometry. The data suggested that the amphetamines were metabolic products of tranylcypromine. Platelet monoamine oxidase activity was more than 95% inhibited during the 72 h after the overdose despite complete clinical recovery by that time. The possible role of amphetamines and phenylethylamine in causing the clinical manifestations of tranylcypromine overdose is discussed.


The implementation of telemanipulator systems for cardiac surgery enabled heart surgeons to perform delicate minimally invasive procedures with high precision under stereoscopic view. At present, commercially available systems do not provide force-feedback or Cartesian control for the operating surgeon. The lack of haptic feedback may cause damage to tissue and can cause breaks of suture material. In addition, minimally invasive procedures are very tiring for the surgeon due to the need for visual compensation for the missing force feedback. While a lack of Cartesian control of the end effectors is acceptable for surgeons (because every movement is visually supervised), it prevents research on partial automation. In order to improve this situation, we have built an experimental telemanipulator for endoscopic surgery that provides both force-feedback (in order to improve the feeling of immersion) and Cartesian control as a prerequisite for automation. In this article, we focus on the inclusion of force feedback and its evaluation. We completed our first bimanual system in early 2003 (EndoPAR Endoscopic Partial Autonomous Robot). Each robot arm consists of a standard robot and a surgical instrument, hence providing eight DOF that enable free manipulation via trocar kinematics. Based on the experience with this system, we introduced an improved version in early 2005. The new ARAMIS system (Autonomous Robot Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery) has four multi-purpose robotic arms mounted on a gantry above the working space. Again, the arms are controlled by two force-feedback devices, and 3D vision is provided. In addition, all surgical instruments have been equipped with strain gauge force sensors that can measure forces along all translational directions of the instrument's shaft. Force-feedback of this system was evaluated in a scenario of robotic heart surgery, which offers an impression very similar to the standard, open procedures with high immersion. It enables the surgeon to palpate arteriosclerosis, to tie surgical knots with real suture material, and to feel the rupture of suture material. Therefore, the hypothesis that haptic feedback in the form of sensory substitution facilitates performance of surgical tasks was evaluated on the experimental platform described in the article (on the EndoPAR version). In addition, a further hypothesis was explored: The high fatigue of surgeons during and after robotic operations may be caused by visual compensation due to the lack of force-feedback (Thompson, J., Ottensmeier, M., & Sheridan, T. 1999. Human Factors in Telesurgery, Telmed Journal, 5 (2) 129137.).


Learn mechanical drafting for commercial and academic projects Overview Create precise mechanical drawings with DraftSight Download and install this free software in Windows, Mac, and Linux Learn how to dimension and prepare sheets for printing with fully illustrated exercises In Detail Computer-aided design (CAD) uses computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, and analysis of a design. DraftSight is a 2D computer-aided design (CAD) software application. DraftSight includes all the main tools to draft with precision, and it works with DWG files, the most popular CAD file type. It runs on a wide variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Getting Started with DraftSight addresses all the main phases for executing and printing a mechanical project. These concepts and commands can easily be applied to other areas. Beginning with the very basic concepts, and going through all the necessary drawing steps, you will finish by printing a full scale mechanical drawing. The illustrative examples will help you understand the design process and teach you how to utilize DraftSight features in your mechanical design projects. You will start with an overview of the mechanical design process, which will help you understand the different commands, tools, and tasks involved in DraftSight projects. You will then proceed to executing all the phases of the design process. This includes setting up a drawing, drawing and editing with precision, organizing with layers, and finally obtaining valid information from the drawing. Furthermore, you will also learn to apply fills, patterns, and dimensions, and the process of defining and printing sheets. With "GettingStarted with DraftSight" you will learn how to specify and document parts and print drawings with the help of DraftSight. Towards the end of this book you will be introduced to some advanced concepts like additional layer commands, and methods to reference other drawings or images, which can be very useful when dealing with complex projects. What you will learn from this book Download and get started with DraftSight Create drawing entities with precision Structure projects and follow standards Build simple and complex projects Create and apply components (blocks) Apply fills and regular patterns Dimension mechanical drawings Define printing sheets and print efficiently Reference other drawings and images Approach Packed with illustrations and step-by-step guidelines, this book will serve as a guide for DraftSight and get you up and running with it! Who this book is written for Getting Started with DraftSight is for anyone who wants to create accurate 2D drawings in the DWG file format. It is also a great resource for architectural, engineering, or design professionals and students. The reader needs to have basic knowledge of CAD.


In this paper, a novel energy-efficient Direct Driven Hydraulic (DDH) drive is made in parallel with a classical valve-controlled proportional electrohydraulic system. In the proposed concept asymmetrical hydraulic cylinder is controlled with two reversible pumps directly connected to a servo motor. Due to direct control of the oil flow, such system provides higher energy efficiency in comparison to a valve-controlled hydraulic system. The experimental setup is designed with the possibility of easy switching between both systems, which enables an exact comparison of the experimental results. Sliding Mode Controller (SMC) is designed for the DDH system and also for the classical proportional electro-hydraulic system. A comparison study of two systems is done based on the experimental results obtained with the SMC while reference results are obtained with a widely used PID controller. Parameters for the PID controller are obtained with the Ziegler-Nichols method. The same parameters are used for both controllers in all test cases. The performance and energy efficiency of the proposed system is evaluated through a step and sine wave reference signal with different payloads varying from 0 to 200 kg with 20 kg increments. Additionally, system performance is evaluated based on six parameters calculated from the system response while energy efficiency is calculated based on input and output powers of the systems.


Because faults in bedrock aquifers can act as conduits or barriers to groundwater flow, defining their length and geometry is important for hydrogeologic investigations. The purpose of this study was to determine fault lengths through the use of a length versus displacement fault scaling relationship. Analytical, statistical, and field methods were used to define this relationship and to identify and evaluate outliers, which were then examined for refinement of their length and displacement. This study resulted in redefining the length for 5 of the 80 normal faults evaluated within a structural domain in the Transition Zone physiographic province of Arizona. Three faults with partially concealed or queried surface traces had their lengths decreased to values closer to the expected value, based on the determined length versus displacement relationship, using analytical and statistical methods. One fault had its length extended, and one fault was divided into two segments, based on the length versus displacement relationship as determined through field investigation. Newly determined fault lengths were incorporated into a digital hydrogeologic framework model of the regional aquifer, which supplies the water for the headwaters of the Verde River in central Arizona. This fault scaling technique can be applied in numerous settings, requiring minimal time and expertise, to better constrain fault lengths and possibly fault geometries. The critical assumptions of the method are that there are numerous faults of known length and that the fault array is largely similar in the rocks the faults cut, so that rheological differences are minimized.


This paper presents the modeling of lossy substrate integrated waveguide interconnects and components by using the boundary integral-resonant mode expansion method. The extension of the numerical technique to account for conductor, dielectric and radiation losses is discussed. Moreover, a systematic investigation of the different contributions of loss and their dependence on some geometrical parameters is performed in the case of interconnects and components, aiming at minimizing the losses. The physical explanation of the different effects is also provided. Finally, the validity of the equivalent waveguide concept is extended to the case of lossy interconnects and components.


OBJECTIVES
Several studies have reported prolonged QTc intervals in patients under methadone maintenance treatment, including development of torsade-de-pointes arrhythmia and death. It is still not clear why some patients develop critical QTc extensions while others do not.

METHODS
ECG findings in a convenience sample of 210 methadone-maintained heroin-dependent patients, taking HCV-infection status and methadone dosage into account simultaneously by means of a multiple linear regression model with QTc-interval as the dependent variable.

RESULTS
Prolonged QTc-time is associated with hepatitis C infections (p = 0.005) and higher doses of racemic methadone (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION
Infection with hepatitis C increases the likelihood of critical QTc prolongation in patients in methadone maintenance treatment.