2D barcode, which carries more data than a traditional UPC barcode becomes popular. Camera phones can be used to scan barcodes on consumer packaging and other printed media. The scanned images are decoded for specific information, such as a URL for certain product, a promotion code, the product identity, etc. The technology makes it possible to connect the static printed information to the interactive and updating information. This paper explores the integration of printed media and digital media via 2D barcode, and the applications of utilizing 2D barcode in marketing, counterfeiting, and exchanging information. 2D barcode technology can bridge the gap between printed media to dynamic information via digital devices. The mobile tagging technology will become a value-added feature for printed media, including consumer packaging and news media


Grid computing presents a new trend to distribute and Internet computing to coordinate large scale heterogeneous resources providing sharing and problem solving in dynamic, multi- institutional virtual organizations. Scheduling is one of the most important problems in computational grid to increase the performance. Genetic Algorithm is adaptive method that can be used to solve optimization problems, based on the genetic process of biological organisms. The objective of this research is to develop a job scheduling algorithm using genetic algorithm with high exploration processes. To evaluate the proposed scheduling algorithm this study conducted a simulation using GridSim Simulator and a number of different workload. The research found that genetic algorithm get best results when increasing the mutation and these result directly proportional with the increase in the number of job. The paper concluded that, the mutation and exploration process has a good effect on the final execution time when we have large number of jobs. However, in small number of job mutation has no effects.


Administrative and legal supervision over the banking market on the example of the selected activity of the Polish Financial Supervision AuthorityThe banking market is an extremely important part of the economy of each country, whose main task is to trade in financial resources. Therefore, it cannot remain unattended, which exercises the Financial Supervision Commission. Due to the huge role of supervision over the banking market, this article will be devoted to describing its operation. The aim of the elaboration will be to present and explain what supervision is, how it differs from control, what are the foundations of the activities of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, what are its goals, tasks and scope of activity. The question of what instruments of influence the Commission is entitled to will also be taken into account.


Detection of high impedance faults on distribution systems is difficult due to the low current levels which flow in the fault. The objective is to detect these faults with some device or mechanism situated at the substation without modification to the distribution lines themselves. The technique presented in this paper monitors the unbalance in the fundamental, third and fifth harmonic feeder currents at the substation and performs a statistical evaluation of the present unbalance relative to past levels of unbalance. Using hypothesis testing, if the level of unbalance exceeds a threshold, a fault is indicated. The technique enploys a real-time algorithm suitable for implementation on a microprocessor-based digital relay located in the substation.


The distinct personal laws that govern the major religious groups are a major aspect of Indian multiculturalism and secularism, and support specific gendered rights in family life. Nation and Family is the most comprehensive study to date of the public discourses, processes of social mobilization, legislation and case law that formed India's three major personal law systems, which govern Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. It for the first time systematically compares Indian experiences to those in a wide range of other countries that inherited personal laws specific to religious group, sect, or ethnic group. The book shows why India's postcolonial policy-makers changed the personal laws they inherited less than the rulers of Turkey and Tunisia, but far more than those of Algeria, Syria and Lebanon, and increased women's rights for the most part, contrary to the trend in Pakistan, Iran, Sudan and Nigeria since the 1970s.Subramanian demonstrates that discourses of community and features of state-society relations shape the course of personal law. Ruling elites' discourses about the nation, its cultural groups and its traditions interact with the state-society relations that regimes inherit and the projects of regimes to change their relations with society. These interactions influence the pattern of multiculturalism, the place of religion in public policy and public life, and the forms of regulation of family life. The book shows how the greater engagement of political elites with initiatives among the Hindu majority and the predominant place they gave Hindu motifs in discourses about the nation shaped Indian multiculturalism and secularism, contrary to current understandings. In exploring the significant role of communitarian discourses in shaping state-society relations and public policy, it takes "state-in-society" approaches to comparative politics, political sociology, and legal studies in new directions.


Hover performance of a four-bladed Sikorsky S-76 rotor is studied using a high-order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) off-body discretization. Time accurate Navier-Stokes calculations are performed using the WAKE3D code, which combines solution technologies in a multi-mesh, multi-solver paradigm through a dynamic overset framework that employs an unstructured mesh Navier-Stokes method as a near-body solver and a high-order adaptive discontinuous Galerkin discretization as an off-body solver. The rotor with a swepttapered tip is simulated. The tip Mach number was 0.65, and the Reynolds number based on the reference chord is 1.2 million. A constant coning angle of 3.5 is applied. The effect of time step size and sub-iterations on the integrated parameters is investigated and convergence results are presented. The effect of the maximum order of accuracy of the adaptive h-p discretization in the off-body solver on solution accuracy and efficiency is also investigated. Thrust coefficient, torque coefficient and figure of merit are calculated and compared with available data in the literature, and good agreement is found. In general, higher order off-body simulations are found to result in a better accuracy/cost metric.


The superplastic forming and diffusion bonding (SPF/DB) is applied in aviation and space flight field. The SPF/DB process with gas pressure control for dissimilar superalloy structure was studied. Diffusion bonding parameters, including bonding temperature T, pressure P, time t, affect the joining mechanism. When the bonded specimen with 50&m thick nickel foil interlayer was tensile at room temperature, shear fracture of the joints with nickel foil interlayer takes place at the GH4141 superalloy part. The SPF/DB of four-layer sheets structure was investigated. The optimum parameters for the SPF/DB process are: forming temperature T=1243K, forming pressure P=1MPa, forming time t=35min. The microstructure of the bonded samples was characterized. The microstructure shows an excellent bonding at the interfaces. The distribution of thickness after SPF/DB was investigated.


This paper is concerned with the rate at which a discrete-time, deterministic, and possibly large network of nonlinear systems generates information, and so with the minimum rate of data transfer under which the addressee can maintain the level of awareness about the current state of the network. While being aimed at development of tractable techniques for estimation of this rate, this paper advocates benefits from directly treating the dynamical system as a set of interacting subsystems. To this end, a novel estimation method is elaborated that is alike in flavor to the small gain theorem on input-to-output stability. The utility of this approach is demonstrated by rigorously justifying an experimentally discovered phenomenon. The topological entropy of nonlinear time-delay systems stays bounded as the delay grows without limits. This is extended on the studied observability rates and appended by constructive upper bounds independent of the delay. It is shown that these bounds are asymptotically tight for a time-delay analog of the bouncing ball dynamics.


A measurement of the double-differential inclusive jet cross section as a function of the jet transverse momentum p T and the absolute jet rapidity |y| is presented. Data from LHC proton-proton collisions at s = 8 $$ \backslashsqrt{s}=8 $$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb−1, have been collected with the CMS detector. Jets are reconstructed using the anti-k T clustering algorithm with a size parameter of 0.7 in a phase space region covering jet p T from 74 GeV up to 2.5 TeV and jet absolute rapidity up to |y| = 3.0. The low-p T jet range between 21 and 74 GeV is also studied up to |y| = 4.7, using a dedicated data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6 pb−1. The measured jet cross section is corrected for detector effects and compared with the predictions from perturbative QCD at next-to-leading order (NLO) using various sets of parton distribution functions (PDF). Cross section ratios to the corresponding measurements performed at 2.76 and 7 TeV are presented. From the measured double-differential jet cross section, the value of the strong coupling constant evaluated at the Z mass is α S(M Z)þinspace=þinspace0.1164 −þinspace0.0043 +þinspace0.0060 , where the errors include the PDF, scale, nonperturbative effects and experimental uncertainties, using the CT10 NLO PDFs. Improved constraints on PDFs based on the inclusive jet cross section measurement are presented.


The use of coconut bagasse as an adsorbent for the treatment of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated. The adsorbent was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, including zeta potential and pH effects. To assess the possibility of removing Cu(II) from aqueous solutions by this sorbent the effects of contact time, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature were studied at pH 5.5. Kinetic studies showed that the amount adsorbed increased with initial Cu(II) concentration, and the equilibrium was established in 120 min. The kinetic data were analyzed using a pseudo second-order equation. Adsorption equilibrium data were investigated using the Langmiur, Freundlich, D–R, Temkin and Halsey isotherm models. The adsorption of Cu(II) on the coconut bagasse was endothermic (DH◦ 86.2 kJ/mol), resulting in an increase in entropy (DS◦ 339 J/mol/K) and a decrease in Gibbs free energy (DG -16.34 to -22.44 kJ/mol) in the temperature range of 301-313 K. A reduction in adsorption capacity with an increase in heat of adsorption revealed an ion exchange mechanism for Cu(II) adsorption.


The objective of this study was to evaluate antibody titers of challenged broiler chicks fed diets supplemented with soy oil. In a completely randomized design, 120 chicks were assigned to 3 treatments (isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets based on corn-soybean meal containing 0%, 2%, or 4% soy oil), with 4 replicates for each treatment and 10 chicks per replicate. The challenging program included vaccination against Newcastle disease (B1 vaccine on day 12 by eye drop; Lasota vaccine on days 19 and 32 by drinking) and infectious bursal disease (Gumboro D78 vaccine on days 12 and 24 by eye drop). Blood samples were collected from 2 chicks per replicate at days 21 and 42 of age, and then total and differential white blood cells were counted and antibodies against Newcastle and infectious bursal diseases were measured. At days 21 and 42 of age, 2 chicks per replicate were killed and the bursa of Fabricius and spleen were removed and weighed. White blood cell count was the lowest in chicks fed soy oil-free diet. Inclusion of soy oil to diets resulted in significant increase in cell count. Heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, as an index of stress, was lower for chicks fed soy oil-free diet than those fed a diet containing soy oil. Relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and spleen were the highest in chicks fed soy oil-free diet, but they decreased (P < 0.05) as soy oil levels increased in the diet. At days 21 and 42 of age, antibody titers against Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease viruses were the highest in chicks fed the soy oil-free diet. Antibody titers decreased (P < 0.05) as soy oil levels increased in the diet. It was concluded that the addition of soy oil to the diet resulted in retardation of the immune organs weight, change in the immune cells profile, and consequently suppression of the antibody titers against Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease viruses in broiler chicks.


The spatial distribution of seeds can influence several parameters of the natural regeneration of plant populations. Factors shaping seedfall patterns have been typically explored from the tree perspective (seed shadow) or from the population perspective (seed rain). However, the seed rain is actually composed of multiple seed shadows. In this paper, we use this framework to explore the variables shaping the seedfall pattern of the wild olive tree (Olea europaea var. sylvestris), a fleshy-fruited tree of the Mediterranean scrublands. We monitored the movement patterns of avian seed dispersers and the seedfall around each fruit-bearing O. europaea tree in two contrasting sites, differing in the degree of human management and abundance of scrub cover.

None of the seed dispersers moved between microhabitats (different shrub species and open interspaces) as a function of microhabitat relative abundance. All dispersers foraged preferentially at O. europaea; only the smaller species visited open interspaces, and these only sporadically.

Avoidance of open sites by frugivores, especially larger species, and their attraction to source trees were the major determinants of the seedfall pattern. Regarding seed size distribution among microhabitats, we found that only small seeds were significantly overrepresented in open interspaces. From the seed shadow perspective, seed density under trees was similar in the two study sites, but it decreased with distance at a higher rate in the disturbed scrubland. From the seed rain perspective, seed density was significantly different among microhabitats, with open interspaces collecting few, if any, seeds, and places under source trees receiving the highest densities.

Results from seed shadow and seed rain analyses were integrated to construct a path model to explore the relative contribution of spatial, microhabitat, and individual tree features to the seedfall pattern. Factors related to microhabitat were identified as having a major role in shaping seedfall pattern. Open interspaces collected few seeds, points under shrub species with sparse foliage collected moderate seed densities, and points under shrubs with dense foliage collected the highest seed densities. The comparison between sites suggests that habitat alteration (a reduction of the scrub layer) can lead to contrasting seedfall patterns. The occurrence of an abundant scrub layer in the well-preserved scrubland allowed a complex pattern of seed rain. In contrast, the sparse scrub cover in the disturbed scrubland yielded a seedfall pattern composed of multiple seed shadows constrained to the vicinity of tree crowns. Thus, our sampling design and analytical approach have proved useful in describing the relative importance of the set of variables that shapes the complex seedfall pattern of a bird-dispersed plant. This seedfall pattern, in turn, is central to the understanding of the spatial patterns of plant recruitment and the efficiency of the dispersal mutualism.


Multicasting in a network is needed for a number of applications where a session requires connectivity between more than two participants. In this paper, we consider a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)-based all-optical network. We derive asymptotic upper bounds on the number of wavelengths needed to support multicasting capability in an all-optical network. The number of wavelengths in a WDM network continues to be a major constraint. The results derived here should be seen as the limit on scalability of all-optical networks that support multicasting. The derivation of the upper bound uses some properties of expander graphs.


This paper proposes a low-complexity signal detection algorithm for spatially correlated multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. The proposed algorithm sets a minimum mean-square error (MMSE) detection result to a starting point, and searches for signal candidates in multi-dimensions of the noise enhancement from which the MMSE detection suffers. The multi-dimensional search is needed because the number of dominant directions of the noise enhancement is likely to be more than one over the correlated MIMO channels. To reduce computational complexity of the multi-dimensional search, the proposed algorithm limits the number of signal candidates to $O(N_T)$ where $N_T$ is the number of transmit antennas. Specifically, the signal candidates, which are unquantized, are obtained as the solution of a minimization problem under a constraint that a stream of the candidates should be equal to a constellation point. Finally, the detected signal is selected from hard decisions of both the MMSE detection result and unquantized signal candidates on the basis of the log likelihood function. For reducing the complexity of this process, the proposed algorithm decreases the number of calculations of the log likelihood functions for the quantized signal candidates. Computer simulations under a correlated MIMO channel condition demonstrate that the proposed scheme provides an excellent trade-off between BER performance and complexity, and that it is superior to conventional one-dimensional search algorithms in BER performance while requiring less complexity than that of the conventional algorithms.


Abstract:In an interview with Italian journalist Antonio Polito, Ralf Dahrendorf—the renowned German sociologist, member of Britain's House of Lords, and former commissioner of the European Union—cautions against overly optimistic assessments of the prospects for democracy at the European level. At its origins with the European Community, the EU was designed not primarily to be democratic but to be an efficient mechanism for decision making. Integration has subsequently produced political institutions and practices that are intrinsically not democratic. As the process continues, and as the world in general advances beyond the nation-state, we must revisit the principles of democracy and ask ourselves how they can be applied in the new situation.


Background Patients receiving oral anticoagulation who experience a traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) should receive anticoagulation reversal. Four factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4FPCC) is indicated for reversal of warfarin, and is frequently used for reversal of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of 4FPCC reversal for traumatic ICH in DOAC- and warfarin-anticoagulated patients. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective review of adult patients with traumatic ICH who received 4FPCC for reversal of anticoagulation between April 2013 and August 2018. The ICH volume on the pre- and post-reversal head CT scans was measured. The primary endpoint was the incidence of expansion of ICH volume of blood using pre-and post-4FPCC imaging. Results A total of 102 patients meeting inclusion criteria were identified with 75 patients in the warfarin group and 27 patients in the DOAC group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups except DOAC patients had larger ICH volumes at baseline as compared to warfarin patients (23.4 mm3 vs 3.7 mm3, p = 0.0001). There was neither a statistical difference in change in ICH volume pre-and post-4FPCC administration, nor in the rate of >20% ICH expansion between the warfarin and DOAC groups. There was no difference in the rate of adverse events compared between groups. Conclusion There was no difference in the either the change in ICH volume or the rate of >20% ICH expansion in patients receiving 4FPCC for reversal DOAC versus warfarin anticoagulation. Rates of complications were low in both groups.


Cold-water corals (CWC) build complex, three-dimensional habitats for diverse communities of associated species. In spite of their importance, very little is known on their reproductive biology. In the Patagonian fjords of Chile, three caryophylliid CWC abound: Desmophyllum dianthus Es-per 1794 along with the recently described Caryophyllia huinayensis Cairns et al. 2005 and Tethocyathus endesa Cairns et al. 2005. This study reports first in situ and in vitro observations of the early life history of the latter two species along with in vitro growth data of juvenile C. huina-yensis. Both are brooding species with translucent tissues, which allowed us to detect and monitor larval development in the gastrovascular system of living specimens. In situ observations from summer 2017 showed between 15 and 25 milky white reproductive stages in the tentacle portion of the gastrovascular cavity of one adult specimen. Up to five younger, round stages were ob-served in groups in the tips of the tentacles. Small planulae of 1.13-1.28 mm length were observed in the tips of the tentacles or organized radially around the mouth. Observations from C. huina-yensis maintained (> 1 yr) in an aquarium system showed that the 620 µm large orange planulae may swim with a velocity of 230 µm s-1 and thus may move from the tentacle tip to the mouth within less than a minute and thereafter reappear in the same or another tentacle in the similar time. After release larvae were found to be negatively buoyant, crawl along the substrate and settle between four and 16 days. Recently settled juveniles increased their basal disc diameter with a rate of 10 µm d-1. After 30 months of maintenance in the aquarium system (Temperature: 12.5 °C, Salinity 32, pH 8, argonite >1, feed with Artemia salina nauplii twice a week) recruits may gain 4.22 (+/-) 0.03 mm yr-1 in diameter and reach the mean size observed for adults in the field after three years. Research on the early life history of CWC is important to understand larval dispersal and connectivity of populations threatened by a changing climate and increasing eutrophication by expanding salmon farming operations.


The authors studied the activity of complement, nonspecific adaptive reactions of the body, the presence of antibodies to cross-reacting antigens of Streptococcus, the concentration of circulating immune complexes, some cellular characteristics of the immunogram in patients with different forms of streptococcal infection. The changes revealed allow a conclusion about the presence of autoimmune processes, most pronounced in chronic and recurrent forms of diseases. In the formation of streptococcal infection relapses, of the role is pathology of the complement system in combination with disorders in other components of nonspecific anti-infection resistance.


'TIS TI is the correct order, not W ns, Xen. An. 4. 1, 14, Dem. 600. 12 [ =xxii 22], etc.' (L. and S. p. 1558 ad in.). In Xen. I.e. n is (rightly) omitted by the better MSS, and in Dem. I.e. inferior MSS separate TIS from TI. Other passages where ris n is found are : Thuc. i 67, 3; vii 10, 1 ; 38, 2 ; 64, 2 ; Plato, Criti. iio,d; Grg. 458a; 467d (TI om. Stob., male); 476b; Phdn. 113d; Rp. 331c; 528a; Dem. xxiii 4 (TIS et rt disiungunt dett.) In none of these fourteen passages does TI TIS appear in any of the MSS. It may be noted also that in none of them does the first word after the pronouns begin with <r. There can, I think, be little doubt that we should read in Tht. I.e. aw iav TIS n OTIJO-IJ KTX. W . L. LORIMER. University of St. Andrews.


Background and aims: Acid gastro-oesophageal reflux is one of the most important causes of chronic cough. The response to acid suppression in these patients is not as good as in patients with heartburn but improvement with antireflux surgery has been reported, suggesting the involvement of a non-acidic gastric component in the refluxate. Less acidic reflux may produce symptoms such as regurgitation or chest pain. We investigated whether chronic cough might be associated with weakly acidic reflux. Methods: We studied 28 patients with chronic cough using 24 hour ambulatory pressure-pH-impedance monitoring. Manometry was used for precise recognition of cough and impedance-pHmetry to detect acid (pH <4), weakly acidic (pH 7–4), and weakly alkaline (impedance drops, pH ⩾7) reflux. A symptom association probability (SAP) analysis was performed for each type of reflux. Results: Analysis was completed in 22 patients with 24 cough events (5–92)/patient. The majority of cough events (69.4%) were considered "independent" of reflux whereas 30.6% occurred within two minutes of a reflux episode. Half of these (49%) were "reflux cough" sequences, involving acid (65%), weakly acidic (29%), and weakly alkaline (6%) reflux. Ten patients (45%) had a positive SAP between reflux and cough: five with acid, two with acid and weakly acidic, and three only with weakly acidic reflux. Conclusions: Ambulatory pressure-pH-impedance monitoring with SAP analysis allowed precise determination of the temporal association between cough and gastro-oesophageal reflux (acid, weakly acidic, and weakly alkaline) and identification of a subgroup of patients with chronic cough clearly associated with weakly acidic gastro-oesophageal reflux.


Electroosmotic ow is often the method of choice for generating uid ows in micro uidic devices. The resulting ow has a characteristic at pro le which has the advantage of very low axial dispersion. This is only the case, however, if the wall zeta potential is constant. In many applications, the wall zeta potential is variable, either through accident (wall adsorption of analytes) or design (patterned charges). An analytical solution is developed for electroosmotic and pressure driven ows in straight micro uidic channels of arbitrary crosssectional shape and distribution of zeta-potential, in the asymptotic limit where variations in the axial direction take place on long length scales compared to a characteristic diameter. A method is provided for computing \effective uidic impedances" for such inhomogeneous micro uidic channels. The theoretical results are used to explain certain experimental data on CZE in a straight microcapillary.


All-optical control of Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPPs) can switch light with high speed and a large signal to noise ratio. We demonstrate 25 ps-time scale switching of continuous wave light by pump pulses copropagating in the same single mode fiber at different wavelengths near 1550 nm. The switching is due to hot carriers from the SPPs in a 45 nm-thin gold coating on the fiber cladding. The SPPs are generated by pump pulses coupled from the core to cladding modes by a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG). Hot carriers modify the complex permittivity of the metal coating on a time scale of the order of picoseconds and hence the cladding mode resonance wavelengths of the TFBG. A probe light signal copropagating in the same fiber can therefore be modulated by the transmission resonance shifts. With 25 ps pulses at 1540.4 nm and 1 MHz and 50 mW average power, the modulation depth of a CW probe at 1543.4 nm copropagating in the core reached 4.5% ± 1% with a pulse width broadened to 56 ps. Under these conditions, the pump power density was 0.147 GW/cm2 in the metal layer, for a conversion efficiency as high as 30% ± 7% per GW/cm2. Since many other plasmonic and nonlinear active materials can be deposited on fiber claddings, we believe that this very simple all-fiber configuration to perform all-optical switching of core-guided light in single mode fibers by plasmon-modulated resonances has strong potential applications in studies of light-matter interactions over fast and ultrafast time scales.


We present a comparative study of the physical properties and the spatial distribution of column density peaks in two giant molecular clouds (GMCs), the Pipe Nebula and Orion A, which exemplify opposite cases of star cluster formation stages. The density peaks were extracted from dust extinction maps constructed from Herschel/SPIRE far-infrared images. We compare the distribution functions for dust temperature, mass, equivalent radius, and mean volume density of peaks in both clouds, and made a more fair comparison by isolating the less active Tail region in Orion A and by convolving the Pipe Nebula map to simulate placing it at a distance similar to that of the Orion Complex. The peak mass distributions for Orion A, the Tail, and the convolved Pipe have similar ranges, sharing a maximum near 5 M⊙ and a similar power-law drop above 10 M⊙. Despite the clearly distinct evolutive stage of the clouds, there are very important similarities in the physical and spatial distribution properties of the column density peaks, pointing to a scenario where they form as a result of uniform fragmentation of filamentary structures across the various scales of the cloud, with density being the parameter leading the fragmentation, and with clustering being a direct result of thermal fragmentation at different spatial scales. Our work strongly supports the idea that the formation of clusters in GMC could be the result of the primordial organization of pre-stellar material.


HYPOTHESIS
Stress and unusual events are associated with a higher likelihood of attacks and increased symptom severity in Menière's disease (MD).

BACKGROUND
MD is an unpredictable condition which severely impacts the quality of life of those affected. It is thought that unusual activity and stress may act as an attack trigger in MD, but research in this area has been limited to date.

METHODS
This was a longitudinal study conducted over two phases. A mobile phone application was used to collect daily data on Menière's attacks and individual symptoms (aural fullness, dizziness, hearing loss, and tinnitus), as well as prevalence of unusual events (phase I), and stress levels (phase II). There were 1,031 participants (730 women, mean age 46.0 yr) in phase I and 695 participants (484 women, mean age 47.7 yr) in phase II. Panel data regression analyses were employed to examine for associations between unusual events/stress and attacks/symptoms, including the study of 24 hours lead and lag effects.

RESULTS
Unusual events and higher stress levels were associated with higher odds of Menière's attacks and more severe symptoms. The odds of experiencing an attack were 2.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.37, 3.65) with reporting of unusual events and increased by 1.24 (95% CI 1.20, 1.28) per unit increase in stress level. Twenty-four hour lead (OR 1.10 [95% CI 1.07, 1.14]) and lag (OR 1.10 [95% CI 1.06, 1.13]) effects on attacks were also found with increases in stress.

CONCLUSION
This study provides the strongest evidence to date that stress and unusual events are associated with attacks and symptom exacerbation in MD. Improving our understanding of stress and unusual events as triggers in Menière's may reduce the uncertainty associated with this condition and lead to improved quality of life for affected individuals.


In 1994, O'Dogherty (p. 137) erected the genus Anachoreta for a distinctive multicyrtid radiolarian having pentagonal post-abdominal segments in cross-section, a feature hitherto unknown among Cretaceous nassellarians. This monospecific taxon is a useful stratigraphical marker, ranging from the latest Albian to Middle–Late Cenomanian times. Recently, it was discovered that Gistel (1848) first gave the same name Anachoreta to an insect of the suborder Symphyta (Hymenoptera) as replacement name pro Lophyrus Latreille, 1802, previously preoccupied. Therefore, in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999) (Article 60), the name Pentaspongoreta is herein proposed as a replacement (type species Anachoreta sagitta O'Dogherty, 1994, p. 138, by original designation) for the preoccupied homonym Anachoreta O'Dogherty, 1994, non Gistel, 1848. Pentaspongoreta is named for its pentahedrical-shaped test and spongy meshwork; feminine gender.


This paper focuses on the lack of impact on language education of recent paradigm shifts in the study of language and society such as the recognition of the ideology of language[s] as stable, discrete or bounded entities and the reality of heteroglossic languaging and semiotic practices in everyday life. Using South Africa as a case, the paper explores the implications of heteroglossic conceptualising of language as social practice for language education through three ethnographically informed case studies of classroom discourse. I will argue that monoglossic orientations which ironically underpin both monolingual and "multilingual" approaches have wide-ranging constraining effects on how children are positioned in schooling, and on children's participation in classrooms, resulting in a form of 'epistemic injustice' (Fricker, 2007).


Abstract Australian waters are home to a number of vocal species of fish. Cataloguing the acoustic characteristics and temporal patterns of choruses and their locations can provide significant information for long-term monitoring of vocal fishes and their ecosystems. In coastal waters off Port Hedland, Western Australia, two seafloor positioned sea-noise loggers, located 21.5 km apart in 8 and 18 m of water, recorded for an 18-month period. Numerous sound sources were detected, including mooring and vessel noise, humpback whale song and a large variety of fish signal types. Seven fish choruses were identified, occurring predominantly between late spring and early autumn (wet season) and displaying energy from 50 Hz to >4 kHz. Many of these choruses exhibited acoustic characteristics similar to choruses previously reported elsewhere, for some of which the source species or families have been identified. Distinct diurnal patterns in the choruses were observed, associated with sunrise or sunset and in some cases, both. While choruses were predominantly recorded on different days, there were at total of 80 days when more than one chorus was present at the same site. Some pairs of choruses present on the same day exhibited various combinations of temporal and frequency partitioning, while others displayed predominant overlap in both spaces.


A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand,
in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Physiotherapy
Johannesburg, 2017.


The introduction into Lake Kivu of the planktivorous fish Limnothrissa miodon at the end of the 1950s raised major concern about the fate of mesozooplankton, but few data were available to assess the impact of predation. In this study, we followed zooplankton variations in Lake Kivu for 3.5 years. Present Lake Kivu mesozooplankton is dominated by cyclopoid copepods (Thermocyclops consimilis, Mesocyclops aequatorialis and Tropocyclops confinis), but cladocerans and rotifers are also present. Each year, total crustacean abundance in the plankton increased to a distinct seasonal maximum following a rise of phytoplankton production associated with a deep epilimnetic mixing in the dry season (August-September). This dependence on phytoplankton resource suggests that mesozooplankton dynamics in Lake Kivu is mainly bottom-up controlled, contrary to expectations from the food web structure. However, measurements of body size indicate that sardine predation affects the cladoceran Diaphanosoma excisum, whereas the larger copepods may efficiently escape predation by migration in the deep mixolimnion at daytime. Total biomass of mesozooplankton in Lake Kivu is lower than in lakes Tanganyika and Malawi. This may be related to the disappearance of a large grazer that existed before the sardine introduction, whereas the large lakes of the same region have a more complex pelagic food web, with piscivorous fish, and with calanoid copepods, which can more efficiently exploit phytoplankton production.


We apply Response Surface Methodology (RSM) utilizing simple fractional designs to optimize the Expected Present Value (EPV) of a stochastic project network with respect to the delay of activities. Such delay could increase EPV by postponing negative cash flows, possible at the expense of also delaying the final payment for the project. The problem was challenging due to a combination of high variability with relatively fl.at objective function near the optimum. Comparisons with the true optimal solutions, where available, indicated the robustness of the approach.


Significance Retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is a major relay of hippocampal formation output to other neocortical areas and is critical for spatial and some other forms of learning. We show here that the sparse, orthogonal, "place cell" sequence activity in RSC develops gradually over several days and is severely attenuated by hippocampal damage. These data support the theory that hippocampus endows RSC (and possibly other cortical areas) with an index-like, continuous representation of the context in which events occur, that could support coordinated retrieval of recent memory. Retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is involved in visuospatial integration and spatial learning, and RSC neurons exhibit discrete, place cell-like sequential activity that resembles the population code of space in hippocampus. To investigate the origins and population dynamics of this activity, we combined longitudinal cellular calcium imaging of dysgranular RSC neurons in mice with excitotoxic hippocampal lesions. We tracked the emergence and stability of RSC spatial activity over consecutive imaging sessions. Overall, spatial activity in RSC was experience-dependent, emerging gradually over time, but, as seen in the hippocampus, the spatial code changed dynamically across days. Bilateral but not unilateral hippocampal lesions impeded the development of spatial activity in RSC. Thus, the emergence of spatial activity in RSC, a major recipient of hippocampal information, depends critically on an intact hippocampus; the indirect connections between the dysgranular RSC and the hippocampus further indicate that hippocampus may exert such influences polysynaptically within neocortex.


Most natural language processing research focuses on modelling and understanding text formed of complete sentences with correct spelling and grammar. However, livestream chat is drastically different. Viewers are typically writing short messages while responding to in-stream events, often with incorrect grammar and many repeated tokens. Additionally, tokens that are commonly used in livestream chat are unknown to traditional language understanding efforts that focus on prosaic text. To advance and encourage further research in terms of livestream chat understanding, in this work, we present a large-scale dataset of video game livestream chat, consisting of over 60 million tokens. As livestreaming becomes more popular it is also increasingly pertinent to study, though chat analysis, the way in which the audience is engaging with the stream. However, this is not a straightforward task, livestream chat is a rich and complex domain, far removed from often studied prosaic text. Additionally. we provide a case study analysis of word vector methods applied to the dataset, showing that the vector space is strangely shaped but clusterable and that the resulting clusters correlate with features such as streamer popularity. Furthermore, human relatedness tests highlight the difference that this domain poses with respect to prosaic text. It is hoped the livestream chat dataset, the discussion of its unique features, and the challenges highlighted for future work will invigorate the research community into further study of livestream chat.


The AC loss measurements of the high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable prototype in the EDIPO test facility motivated detailed investigations of the loss contributions from the tape, strand and cable stages of the HTS fusion conductor design proposed at the Swiss Plasma Center. As an initial step of the task, magnetization tests of soldered stacks of HTS tapes were carried out at temperatures of 5 and 77 K and magnetic fields up to 12 T using the vibrating sample magnetometer technique. The influence on the magnetization loss of the number of tapes, width of the tape, field's orientation and tape's manufacturer is studied experimentally performing both the major and minor magnetization loops with different ramp rates of the applied magnetic field. In order to validate the test results, a numerical model is developed and presented in this work. From the numerical model we also deduced an analytical approach for the magnetization loss in the stacks of tapes with arbitrary number of tapes in the critical state model. Comparison between the measured and estimated magnetization loss of the cable prototypes is reported as well.


ABSTRACT Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is transmitted specifically from grapevine to grapevine by the ectoparasitic root-feeding nematode Xiphinema index. Limited information is available on the survival of X. index in vineyard soil and on the retention of GFLV by X. index over extended periods of time. We addressed these two issues by quantifying the numbers of living X. index recovered from soil samples that were collected in three naturally GFLV-infected vineyards in France and subsequently stored at 7 or 20 degrees C in the absence of host plants. Our data indicated a two- to eightfold decrease in X. index numbers but the recovery of 8 to 10 living fourth-stage juveniles (J4) and adults per kilogram of soil after 4 years of storage regardless of temperature. In addition, GFLV was detected readily in all groups of 20 isolated X. index adults and J4 (except for J4 that were kept 4 years at 20 degrees C) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using total nematode RNAs and a primer set located in conserved regions at the 3' end of viral genomic RNA 2. Our findings on the long-term survival of viruliferous X. index under adverse conditions emphasize the need for new control strategies against GFLV.


This contribution summarizes a variety of results and ongoing activities, which contribute to our understanding of inelastic and reactive collisions involving hydrogen ions. In an overview of our present theoretical knowledge of various collision systems (m+n≤5), it is emphasized that although the required potential energy surfaces are well characterized, no detailed treatments of the collision dynamics are available to date, especially at the low energies required for astrochemistry. Instead of treating state-to-state dynamics with state of the art methods, predictions are still based on: (i) simple thermodynamical arguments, (ii) crude reaction models such as H atom exchange or proton jump, or (iii) statistical considerations used for describing processes proceeding via long-lived or strongly interacting collision complexes. A central problem is to properly account for the consequences of the fact that H and D are fermions and bosons, respectively. In the experimental and results sections, it is emphasized that although a variety of innovative techniques are available and have been used for measuring rate coefficients, cross-sections or state-to-state transition probabilities, the definitive experiments are still pending. In the centre of this contribution are our activities on various m+n=5 systems. We report a few selected additional results for collisions of hydrogen ions with p-H2, o-H2, HD, D2 or well-defined mixtures of these neutrals. Most of the recent experiments are based on temperature variable multipole ion traps and their combination with pulsed gas inlets, molecular beams, laser probing or electron beams. Based on the state-specific model calculations, it is concluded that for completely understanding the gas phase formation and destruction of in a trap, an in situ characterization of all the experimental parameters is required with unprecedented accuracy. Finally, the need to understand the hydrogen chemistry relevant for dense pre-stellar cores is discussed.


AIMS
To evaluate, in an open trial, the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drugs and gabapentin in patients with persistent myofascial pain and to identify patient and pain characteristics that may predict treatment outcome.

METHODS
A stepped pharmacotherapeutic protocol was employed. All 42 patients having persistent facial pain with tenderness of regional muscles were first prescribed amitriptyline, but those with side effects were subsequently transferred to nortriptyline. In patients where no response to TCAs was observed, gabapentin was initiated. Outcome was assessed by employing prospective diaries recording pain intensity measured with an 11-point (0-10) verbal pain scale (VPS). Individual characteristics in these patients and their influence on drug response and outcome were analyzed; specifically, patients treated with TCAs were compared with those subsequently treated with gabapentin. Chi-square and t tests were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS
A total of 23 patients responded to TCAs and continued on this regimen, while 19 were resistant to TCAs and were subsequently treated with gabapentin. Their mean (± SD) VPS score at baseline was 6.5 ± 1.9 on an 11-point scale. In TCA-treated patients, 43% showed ≥ 50% reduction in pain intensity. This was achieved with a mean amitriptyline dose of 16 ± 1.1 mg/d and a mean nortriptyline dose of 25 ± 2.1 mg/d. Patients who did not respond to TCAs were characterized by a significantly higher age, more comorbid medical illness, and evidence of more regional pain spread (P < .05). In spite of not responding to TCAs, 36.8% of this group showed ≥ 50% reduction in pain intensity following gabapentin therapy at a mean daily dose of 973.7 ± 68.8 mg. Overall, a stepped approach employing TCAs and gabapentin resulted in 54.8% of all treated patients reporting improvements of ≥ 50% in VPS scores.

CONCLUSION
This study has demonstrated the good pharmacotherapeutic response of persistent myofascial pain, even in more severe cases. Not being a randomized controlled trial, the results may be biased and should be interpreted with caution. Patients who do not respond to TCAs may be a distinct subgroup and this needs further investigation. The results also suggest that gabapentin, at a lower dose than previously reported, is a good alternative in TCA-resistant patients.


PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To address inconsistencies in the definition and operationalization of symptom distress by synthesizing the literature on cancer-related symptom distress in adults.

DATA SOURCES
Electronic nursing, psychology, and medicine databases; online meeting abstracts; and various print sources.

DATA SYNTHESIS
Eight distinct methods of operationalizing the concept were identified. Gender, ethnic, developmental, cultural, and individual differences in symptom distress have not been identified. Relationships among symptom frequency, intensity, and distress are unclear.

CONCLUSIONS
Lack of clarity and consensus in defining and operationalizing symptom distress hinder meta-analysis, research synthesis, and research utilization. Symptom distress may be emerging as a component of the multidimensional symptom experience.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Defining and operationalizing symptom distress consistently will enhance research synthesis and assist clinicians with more effectively meeting the needs of people with cancer. Research is needed to identify the meanings of symptom distress to patients with cancer and to differentiate symptom distress from symptom frequency and intensity.


The purpose of this study is to improve prehistoric knowledge of paleo‐typhoon and winter monsoon activity in the western North Pacific after 8 cal. ka BP. We examine two sediment cores derived from lakes located to the south and north of the Ilan Plain in northeastern Taiwan. Seasonal and typhoon rainfall data over the past several decades are collected for this study region. We also use mineral indicators, K/Rb ratios and grain size to estimate sediment sources, intensity of chemical weathering and rainfall intensity. The results show that the chemical weathering index (K/Rb ratio) of Meihua Lake indicates the continuing effects of autumn rainfall, while coarse grain sizes of Dahu Lake sediments suggest increased intensity in typhoon rainfall. Grain size results reveal that increasing El Niño–Southern Oscillation intensity in the tropical Pacific has intensified the activity of super typhoons in the western North Pacific. Finally, we find that frequent activity of super paleo‐typhoons occurred in Taiwan during the La Niña‐like state, and the strengthening winter monsoon activity and higher sea surface temperature enhanced plentiful autumn rainfall in El Niño‐like state. After comparing our results with the paleo‐typhoon data in Japan and south China, we suggest that the tracks of super typhoon are mainly affected by variations in the warm pool and subtropical Northwestern Pacific High in the western Pacific. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Douching, a common practice, could further increase the risk of genital infections.

GOAL OF THIS STUDY
To describe douching practices in pregnant women and to evaluate associations with lower genital tract infections.

STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional study in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

RESULTS
Among 552 women included, douching before consultation was reported by 97% and was common practice for 98%. Intravaginal drying agents were used by 10%. Genital warts were less frequent for women who usually douched (p = 0.015). U. urealyticum infection was associated with douching and with the use of intravaginal agents. Diagnosis of genital infections was independent of douching with water or soap, but chlamydial infection was associated with douching with antiseptics, used by 14% of the women (p = 0.036). HIV infection was two times more frequent in women using antiseptics (p = 0.17).

CONCLUSION
The study confirms the widespread practice of douching in African pregnant women. The harmful effects of antiseptics need to be substantiated.


Small fishermen only able to utilize the resources in coastal area with the catch products that tend to decline continually, due to the competition with large ships and the decline of coast resources qualities. Catch products also easy to damage thus weaken their bargain position in sales transaction. In addition to the fish resources the sea zone of Sampang Regency also contains various kinds of resources, both renewal and non-renewal resources, and environmental services, both in the sea and in its coastal area. Sea zone of Sampang Regency is one of zones with the biological diverse and rich of mine and mineral materials and it potential for the development of industrial, tourism, fishery, settlement activities and so forth. Because of the potentials then it needed the presence of economic empowerment for the community in Sampang Regency, through the economic moral and the entrepreneurship level. Population in this research was the 171 fishermen in Sampang Regency of Madura, consisted of 49 fishermen of PEMP members and a number of 122 fishermen of selffund fishermen. From the testing result on the model in this research, by the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE), the structural equation model (SEM) analysis, the proportional random sampling method and the assistance of software Amos 22, on 140 respondents. The research result indicated that: 1) Economic moral has significant effect on economic behavior. 2) Entrepreneurship level has significant effect on economic behavior. 3) Economic moral has significant effect on fishermen household economic welfare. 4) Entrepreneurship level has significant effect on fishermen household economic welfare. 5) Fishermen economic behavior has significant effect on fishermen household economic welfare. Of the three variables hypothesized as influential on fishermen household economic welfare in this research, whose value largest is the direct relevance between the fishermen entrepreneurship and the fishermen household economic welfare. This case affirms that the fishermen entrepreneurship level is very dominant to influence the fishermen household economic welfare in Sampang Regency of Madura. Key words: economic moral, entrepreneurship level, economic behavior, fishermen economic welfare


Top-down regulations in trophic chain depend on herbivore grazing traits and producers edibility. By actively selecting nutritious eukaryotic phytoplankton and rejecting toxic cyanobacteria, grazing copepods may contribute to cyanobacteria blooms and dynamics. In tropical environments, for instance, copepods commonly cooccur with cyanobacteria blooms, raising the question whether they can facilitate cyanobacteria dominance. We experimentally tested the effects of two groups of copepods with different feeding modes – calanoid Notodiaptomus iheringi (active filter feeding) and cyclopoid Thermocyclops decipiens (ambush feeder) – on the competition of an eukaryotic phytoplankton Cryptomonas and the filamentous cyanobacteria Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. We assessed grazing in 1L batch cultures for seven days, starting with 10-fold initial dominance of Cryptomonas. Copepods demonstrated initial rejection of Cylindrospermopsis filaments, but while cyclopoids slightly increased grazing on cyanobacteria in extended experimental periods, calanoids reversed to clear more particles of cyanobacteria. Despite differences on grazing, both zooplankton decreased cyanobacteria filaments size similarly, reducing it in ~70%. We also performed experiments testing competition between phytoplankton that showed no interference on each other growth rates, assuring that results from grazing experiment are addressed to zooplankton feeding. Here, we demonstrated that copepod selectively avoidance of filamentous cyanobacteria Cylindrospermopsis may facilitate its dominance, depending on time and alternative food concentration. Cyclopoid, rather than calanoid, grazing may be an appropriate mechanism to explain filamentous cyanobacteria dominance, as they had lower impact on cyanobacteria abundance. This mechanistic approach understanding trophic dynamics using traits of different groups (i.e. copepods and cyanobacteria) is especially relevant in light of the more intense warmer and eutrophic world that will promote cyanobacteria bloom, and increase complexity of such interactions.


This study applies a methodology used by De Henau and Himmelweit (2013) to study resource allocation in Australian mixed-sex couple households. Using 18 waves of data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey and by means of fixed effects estimations, the study identifies how men's and women's contributions via paid and unpaid work influences their satisfaction with the financial situation (SWFS) within households. Employment status is used to proxy each partner's contribution to household resources. The results reveal that paid contributions through full-time employment have a strong role in determining SWFS. This is a source of gender difference because Australian men are much more likely to be engaged in full-time employment than women. Most often, for both men and women, unpaid contributions to household resources (proxied by less than full-time employment) has a detrimental effect on their own SWFS, but smaller effects on their partner's SWFS. These results imply that gender asymmetry in paid and unpaid contributions to household resources contributes to the reproduction of gender inequalities within Australian households. The results add external validity to the relevance of De Henau and Himmelweit's (2013) analysis of these issues. JEL codes: B54, I31, E24


Background: The increasing frequency of systemic fungal infections and the emergence of secondary resistance to antifungals in the lasts years, has stimulated the use of methods for antifungal susceptibility testing. Etest(r) is an easily performed quantitative method that has a good agreement with the broth microdilution reference method (NCCLS), if appropriate media are used. Aim: To compare the susceptibility to Amphotericin B (AmB) and Fluconazole (Flu) of 22 opportunistic yeast isolates (C albicans (7), C tropicalis (9), C parapsilosis (3) and Cryptococcus neoformans (3) by Etest ®., using three different media and to choose the best medium for each tested drug. The studied media were RPMI 1640, Casitone (Cas) and Sabouraud. Results: The interpretation of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) endpoints on Sabouraud was difficult for AmB. The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains MICs were out of the acceptable range in this medium. RPMI and Cas were suitable media to test AmB and Flu, but best endpoints were obtained for AmB in RPMI and Flu in Cas. Conclusions: The use of appropriate media for each antifungal drug optimizes the MIC readings by Etest(r). AmB should be tested in RMPI and Flu in Cas. Sabouraud must not be used (Rev Med Chile 2003; 131: 299-302).


Yttrium oxide hydroxide nitrate (Y4O(OH)9NO3), which was prepared by polyvinyl alcoholassisted hydrothermal method from the Y(NO3)3 and KOH starting solution, was characterized by XRD and FE-SEM. The results revealed that pH value of the starting solution is an important factor which determines the morphology and size of the products. The obtained products varied from lamina microprisms to circular nanorods when the pH value increased from 7.0 to 8.0. In the high pH value above 8.0, the size of nanorods decreased with increasing pH value. A primary mechanism was proposed to explain the evolution of morphology and size of Y4O(OH)9NO3 products prepared under various pH values.


The purpose of this dissertation was to integrate well-established aspects of the marmoset monkey with innovative DNA methylation (DNAm) methodologies (i.e. reduced representation bisulphite sequencing) to gain insight about the role of placental DNAm in a valuable model of developmental programming of obesity. The introduction lays the theoretical and conceptual groundwork and is followed by two independent, but complementary papers. The aim of the first paper, The Common Marmoset Monkey: Avenues for Exploring Prenatal and Placental Mechanisms in Developmental Programming of Pediatric Obesity, was to position the marmoset monkey as a sophisticated model for exploring the maternal and placental mechanisms involved in developmental programming of obesity. The two aims of the second paper, DNA Methylation in the Marmoset Monkey: Maternal weight epigenetically affects genes involved in metabolic pathways, were (1) to describe placental DNAm for the first time in this species; and (2) to explore the association between maternal metabolic health and DNAm of genes and gene pathways in the placenta.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report genome-wide placental DNAm in the common marmoset monkey. Importantly, these results were obtained in an animal model with a high degree of biological salience for translational research. The findings from the primary aim of the second paper establishing DNAm patterns in the marmoset placenta provide a valuable step in developing the marmoset monkey as model of investigating the role of placental epigenetics in developmental programming. The secondary aim of paper two was to begin to understand the impact of maternal metabolic status on placental DNAm at the epigenome-wide level by identifying genes and gene pathways that are affected by maternal weight during gestation. One of the principal findings of this aim was that maternal weight is associated with DNAm in genes that are predominantly involved in energy metabolism and homeostasis such as the regulation of glycolytic processes (GO:0006110), and the regulation of lipid metabolic processes pathways (GO:0019216). Combined, the findings of this study establish the marmoset as a model worthy of exploring placental epigenetic contributions to developmental programming and reinforce the growing body of evidence that demonstrate the effects of maternal metabolic status on placental DNAm.


Most earthquake location programs provide the user with some estimate of the error in the calculated hypocentral solution. Because the criteria used in estimating these errors differ, a cross-reference guide of error estimates is provided herein for some of the more widely used programs (HYPOELLIPSE, FASTHYPO, HYPO71, and HYPOINVERSE). In all the programs considered, an individual confidence interval is given for the depth error. For the epicentral error, HYPO71 and HYPOINVERSE provide only individual confidence estimates, while the other programs provide epicentral joint confidence regions. The programs differ in the type of statistic used: a x 2 statistic (HYPOELLIPSE), or no explicitly assumed statistic (HYPO71, HYPOINVERSE, FASTHYPO). There are also differences in confidence levels: 83% (HYPOELLIPSE epicentral region), 94% (HYPOELLIPSE depth interval), 39% (FASTHYPO epicentral region assuming a x 2 , value of 1.0), and 68% (FASTHYPO, HYPO71, and HYPOINVERSE depth intervals assuming a x 2 value of 1.0). In almost all cases, confidence intervals and regions can be rescaled to a common reference.


We are concerned with stochastic processes on surfaces in three-dimensional contact sub-Riemannian manifolds. Employing the Riemannian approximations to the sub-Riemannian manifold which make use of the Reeb vector field, we obtain a second order partial differential operator on the surface arising as the limit of Laplace-Beltrami operators. The stochastic process associated with the limiting operator moves along the characteristic foliation induced on the surface by the contact distribution. We show that for this stochastic process elliptic characteristic points are inaccessible, while hyperbolic characteristic points are accessible from the separatrices. We illustrate the results with examples and we identify canonical surfaces in the Heisenberg group, and in ${\rm SU}(2)$ and ${\rm SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ equipped with the standard sub-Riemannian contact structures as model cases for this setting. Our techniques further allow us to derive an expression for an intrinsic Gaussian curvature of a surface in a general three-dimensional contact sub-Riemannian manifold.


The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate sensors and structures fabricated using the LTCC technology, which has been addressed and employed increasingly as a smart packaging approach for several applications. The focus will be on inclination and cantilever force sensors and micro-fluidic structures. Motivation for selection of LTCC for these applications in addition to fabrication and structuring of the devices will be explained in details. TGA (thermo-gravimetric analysis), dilatometer analysis, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), electronic equipment for measuring sensor performance will be extensively used for explanation of the results. It will also be shown that, compared to classical thick-film technology on alumina, LTCC allows a considerable increase in sensitivity, and is therefore better suited for the sensing of minute forces and pressures.


Jimma town which has a population of over 95,000 is supplied with many types of water sources including untreated spring water and deep well water. Recently three fourth of the population is supplied from a modern treatment
plant that engage rapid sand filtration system (RSF). The population that are supplied with untreated water experience frequent water borne diseases such as typhoid. This study is therefore conducted to evaluate the efficiency
of the Rapid Sand Filter treatment plant using physical, chemical and biological.
Samples were collected from both clarified and filtered water. Tests conducted were on fecal coliform, iron,
manganese, sulfate, turbidity, color, pH, and temperature. The mean estimated fecal coliform bacteria in samples
collected from clarified water was 230/ 100 ml. After the clarified water pass through the filter media coliform
bacteria and color was removed by 100 per cent, and turbidity by 98.1 per cent. All parameters measured show
positive agreement with world health organization's guideline values.


1. N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) channel activity was studied on cultured rat hippocampal neurons in whole‐cell voltage‐clamp mode. NMDA responses were evoked by rapid application of NMDA and the cytosol was modified using pipette dialysis and intracellular perfusion. 2. In the presence of 2 mM [Ca2+]o with 2.4 mM BAPTA (1,2‐bis(O‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N',N'‐tetraacetic acid) and 0.4 mM Ca2+ in the whole‐cell pipette, the response evoked by regular applications of 10 microM NMDA gradually decreased during prolonged whole‐cell recording. After 25 min the peak current was reduced to 56 +/‐ 1.6% of control. Channel 'rundown' could be prevented by inclusion of an ATP regenerating solution in the pipette. 3. Rundown did not occur in Ca(2+)‐free medium even in the absence of added ATP regenerating solution. Rundown was also prevented by increasing [BAPTA]i to 10 mM whereas raising [Ca2+]i by inhibiting the Na(+)‐Ca2+ exchanger or by perfusing the patch pipette with high [Ca2+]i (15‐1000 microM) reversibly inhibited the NMDA current. By contrast, the rundown of kainate responses was Ca(2+)‐independent. 4. The rate and reversibility of rundown was use‐dependent. Rundown did not occur with infrequent NMDA applications (0.2/min). Following channel rundown in Ca(2+)‐containing medium, a 5 min pause in agonist applications or adding ATP regenerating solution by intracellular perfusion resulted in complete recovery. However, rundown did not recover following large currents evoked by 300 microM NMDA or when 10 mM EGTA was used as the intracellular buffer. Protease inhibitors did not prevent irreversible rundown. 5. ATP‐gamma‐S (4 mM) was less effective than the ATP regenerating solution in preventing rundown. Likewise, intracellular dialysis with alkaline phosphatase, phosphatase 1 or calcineurin did not induce rundown and addition of phosphatase inhibitors also did not block rundown. Thus receptor dephosphorylation did not appear to be primarily responsible for channel rundown. 6. The mean open time and unitary conductance of the NMDA channel were unaffected by rundown as estimated by fluctuation analysis. The conductance was 42.8 +/‐ 2.9 nS before and 43.7 +/‐ 2.8 nS after rundown. The mean open times were 17.3 and 4.0 ms before and 15.9 and 4.0 ms after rundown. However the open probability was reduced following rundown as determined by the onset of MK‐801 block of steady‐state NMDA currents. 7. Our results suggest that an increase in intracellular calcium leads to channel rundown during whole‐cell recording by reducing the open probability of the NMDA channel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Fourteen patients aged between 49 and 92 years who had suffered from one or more attacks of transient global amnesia (TGA) have been followed for a mean interval of 30 months. Thirteen patients had one or more risk factors for cerebrovascular disease, such as hypertension, cardiac abnormalities, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Clinical evidence for vertebrobasilar arterial insufficiency was demonstrated in 11 cases. EEG examination revealed bitemporal or bioccipital slow wave activity. Four-vessel arteriography showed atherosclerotic, stenotic, or occlusive lesions predominantly in the vertebrobasilar and posterior cerebral arterial systems. Five patients without recurrence of TGA showed no permanent impairment of memory, whereas eight who had recurrent attacks of TGA showed permanent memory impairment as well as mild visual-spatial or visual-motor dyspraxia as judged by neuropsychological tests on follow-up visits. "Amnesic stroke" with permanent and gross memory defect and dyspraxia occurred in two patients. It is concluded that the majority of transient global amnesic episodes in the elderly or in those with the risk factors listed above result from cerebrovascular insufficiency particularly in the territory of vertebrobasilar and posterior cerebral arterial systems (which supply major portions of the ascending reticular activating system, parahippocampal-fornical-mamillary system, inferomedial aspects of the temporal lobe and occipital lobe). Repeated attacks of TGA are not rare and with each attack the likelihood increases of permanent memory deficits and progressive dementia. A rarer outcome is cerebral infarction in the territory of posterior cerebral arteries commonly referred to as "amnesic stroke."


In recent years, research efforts in developing countries have focused on the improvement of protein quality of food products due to mass malnutrition. TUWO is a traditional food made from maize flour and consumed by all ages in Nigeria. Flours blends were obtained from Maize and kidney bean flours using the following proportions: A= (100% maize flour as control), B= (90:10), C= (85:15), D= (80:20), E= (75:25). Products were analysed for proximate, functional, pasting, antinutrients and sensory properties. Proximate analysis showed increased in moisture, protein, ash, fiber contents while the reverse was the case for carbohydrate and fats. Functional analysis revealed bulk, water absorption and swelling capacities decreased while foaming, gelatinization, oil absorption capacities increased as substitution of kidney bean flour increased indicating good attributes suitable for food production. Pasting analysis showed increased in peak, trough, final, setback, and peak temperature as the kidney bean flour increased while the reverse was the case for peak time and breakdown viscosities. The antinutrients factors (Phytate, Tannins, Oxalate and Trypsin inhibitor) were found to be within the acceptable levels. The result of the sensory scores showed that sample C was the most liked among the entire samples at the ratio of (85% maize flour and 15 % kidney beans flours). Kidney beans and maize flour can be used to improve the nutrient composition and other quality attribute of TUWO.


Is there a disturbance of the central nervous system (CNS) that underlies the disturbed behavior of some hyperactive children? Results from four studies are presented that suggest that some hyperactive children may be characterized as having a low CNS arousal level. Evidence from animal and human neurophysiological studies suggests that this low arousal level may be accompanied by low levels of inhibition in the CNS. A neurophysiological model of low CNS arousal and inhibition, explains in part the hyperactive child's disorganized and disruptive behavior. The essence of this model is lack of inner controls over motor output and sensory input, resulting in behavioral and learning problems. Stimulant medications are viewed as restoring both CNS arousal and inhibitory levels to normal, providing the child with better controls and permitting a wider range of behavioral patterns.


Islamic values are expected to be a barrier to excessive nationalistic. Analysis on Islamic values and tolerance from the point of view of axiology is important, because Islam is not just giving nature a noble and religious attitudes, but also respect for moral rules and actions. Axiological analysis is done by placing the basic Islamic values, moral norms and principles of the nation state in an universal hierarchy values. The purpose of this article is to formulate a reflective relevance of Islamic values and tolerance for the development of the nation state. The basic values of Islamic law according to the Quran is a religious and humanity values particularly noble mind. The law of God is a source of values to humanity values and the state of moral principles. Humanity values especially nobility mind formed the basic of freedom of thought and will. Nobility mind basic to foster unity, cooperation, freedom, democracy, and justice. Islamic teachings of tolerance are very relevant to the Indonesian nation state principle. Islam teaches religious nature and noble attitude, the attitude of respect for moral rules and actions. Tolerant teachings of Islam comes from religious values and universal humanities, so do not know the theory, attitudes, and practices that are based on violence and coercion in the field of divinity, politics, and economics.


Universal health care and the reform of outdated labor laws are shaping up to be the two great policy battles of the year, if not the century. Business interests are dusting off decades of campaign rhetoric warning about the doomsday scenarios if Congress enacts "socialized" health care and the Employee Free Choice Act to give workers a decent shot a organizing unions. They're wrong about both issues, but will politicians and pundits believe them anyway?


Casino gambling is a popular form of entertainment and is purported to have positive effects on host economies. The industry surely affects local labor markets and tax revenues. However, there has been little evidence on the effects of casino gambling on state eco- nomic growth. This paper examines that relationship using Granger- causality analysis modified for use with panel data. Our results indicate that there is no Granger-causal relationship between real casino revenues and real per capita income at the state level. The results are based on annual data from 1991 to 2005. These findings contradict an earlier study that found that casino revenues Granger-cause economic growth, using quarterly data from 1991 to 1996. Possible explanations for the differences in short- and long-run effects are discussed.


The anterior neck region is made up of many structures that are crucial in maintaining essential functions for life. The skin is the most superficial organ in the neck region, and it functions as a barrier to the underlying structures. The fat in the neck region acts as cushioning for the surrounding structures. As for the anterior neck muscles, they manifest movements to the head and neck. The muscles in the anterior neck region can further separate into the suprahyoid muscles and the infrahyoid muscles. The hyoid bone demarcates these muscles into a superior group and an inferior group. Contraction of the suprahyoid muscles will elevate the hyoid bone while contraction of the infrahyoid muscles will depress the hyoid bone. These muscles contract in the different phases of speaking, chewing, and swallowing. But both the suprahyoid muscles and the infrahyoid muscles also act as a barrier to protect the trachea, thyroid gland, and the esophagus. One of the muscles grouped into the infrahyoid muscles is the sternohyoid muscle. The first root word of sternohyoid is "sterno," this equates to the sternum while the last root word is "hyoid," which references the hyoid bone. The simplicity of the name of this muscle is that its name explains the regions that it originates from and to which it attaches. As for the actions of the sternohyoid muscle, it contributes to the depression of the hyoid bone.


Due to the far-reaching consequences of climate change, extensive adaptation and climate protection measures are becoming necessary not only on a global, but in particular on more regional scales. Such measures need to embrace citizens for their success, on an educational as well as a participatory level. For Bavaria, Germany, the BAYSICS project (Bavarian Citizen Science Portal for Climate Research and Science Communication) aims to achieve (1) innovative digital forms of citizens' participation in climate change research, (2) transfer of knowledge on the complexity of climate change and its local consequences, and (3) joint scientific and environmental education goals. Within the project we develop two main tools for citizens, an interactive web portal and smartphone app. As the project processes data collected by citizens, careful considerations are necessary, especially on legal issues (e.g. copyright), the privacy of citizens, and the credibility of data. Data collected by the citizens are visualized on the interactive web portal. Additionally, the data will be available for download through the web portal. Thus, clear metadata (e.g. on relevant attributes and data usage license) needs to be included. To increase the credibility of data, data collection guideline for citizens and the application of trust metrics to data are considered.


The Convoy Model suggests that at different stages of the lifespan the makeup of the social support network varies in step with developmental and contextual needs. Cultural norms may shape the makeup of social convoys as well as denote socio-demographic differences in social support. This study examines the social convoys of adults in Mexico. Specifically, it examines whether social network structure varies by age, gender, and education level, thus addressing the paucity of research on interpersonal relations in Mexico. A sample of 1,202 adults (18–99 years of age) was drawn from the Study of Social Relations and Well-being in Mexico. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated older adults had larger, more geographically proximate networks with a greater proportion of kin but less frequent contact. Women had larger, less geographically proximate networks with less frequent contact. Less educated individuals had smaller, more geographically proximate networks with more frequent contact and a greater proportion of kin. Age moderated gender and education effects indicated that younger women have more diverse networks and less educated older adults have weaker social ties. This study highlights socio-demographic variation in social convoys within the Mexican context, and suggests implications for fostering intergenerational relationships, policy, and interventions. Future research on Mexican convoys should further explore sources of support, and specifically address implications for well-being.


Providing densely shaped reward functions for RL algorithms is often exceedingly challenging, motivating the development of RL algorithms that can learn from easier-to-specify sparse reward functions. This sparsity poses new exploration challenges. One common way to address this problem is using demonstrations to provide initial signal about regions of the state space with high rewards. However, prior RL from demonstrations algorithms introduce significant complexity and many hyperparameters, making them hard to implement and tune. We introduce Monte Carlo Augmented Actor Critic (MCAC), a parameter free modification to standard actor-critic algorithms which initializes the replay buffer with demonstrations and computes a modified $Q$-value by taking the maximum of the standard temporal distance (TD) target and a Monte Carlo estimate of the reward-to-go. This encourages exploration in the neighborhood of high-performing trajectories by encouraging high $Q$-values in corresponding regions of the state space. Experiments across $5$ continuous control domains suggest that MCAC can be used to significantly increase learning efficiency across $6$ commonly used RL and RL-from-demonstrations algorithms. See https://sites.google.com/view/mcac-rl for code and supplementary material.


In the 1970s, Alan Kay and his colleagues at Xerox PARC envisioned a dynamic, interactive electronic book. Now, nearly 30 years later, that vision has become a reality. A new kind of personal information appliance-the reading appliance-is emerging as a tool for serious readers. But is the world ready for reading appliances? The authors believe that these appliances are indeed viable. Advances in mobile hardware have made it possible to build the necessary hardware. Additionally, the Web has created a market for online reading by introducing millions of people to it, and books, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, and other printed matter can be produced and read at very low cost. Network based digital libraries increase the availability of information, but people still tend to print the documents to work with them. Electronic book and document readers will neither replace paper nor will they replace desktop computers. Instead, they will occupy their own unique and valuable role in our lives, bringing the paper and computer worlds closer together.


The effective management of end-users and their requirements in construction projects can bring a number of benefits, for example more satisfied and less critical end-users in terms of both the product and project. Building occupants are however continually changing and with that their needs. It is thereby a challenge to understand what brings value for both known and unknown end-users. More over are projects inter-organisational and each project is performed by interdependent organisations working in a temporarily arrangement. The actors have different goals, professional identities and expertise, overlapping areas of responsibility and interests which makes for a fruitful interaction between parties critical to project success. Unfortunately in the case of construction projects, the needs and requirements are often mismanaged. The aim of the research presented here is to develop understanding of the process of managing end-users and their requirements throughout the life cycle of a project. Much research has been conducted into parts of the construction process, but a holistic view is often absent. This research takes a qualitative approach and analyses the phenomenon from both a management and system's perspective. The system includes three organisations: the owner organisation, the project organisation and the end-users organisation. The research confirms that a holistic perspective is lacking, both in theory and in practice, in the construction process, with respect to the management of end-users and their requirements. The absence of a holistic view results in that it will be very difficult to create an integrated system, to truly improve the work or to create value efficiently for the end-users. The thesis concludes that shared knowledge can be used to decrease the system's sensitivity and, at the same time, increase the prospects for creating value-adding processes. (Less)


An investigation which has tended to be extensive rather than intensive, of the survival of fresh water algae during dry periods has been carried out. Prom April 1953 to June 1955, five small ponds, two in Hertfordshire, two in Middlesex and one in Surrey, have been visited regularly. At these ponds, water levels, water temperatures and the pH of the water and marginal litter or mud were recorded. ' Litter and mud samples were taken for the estimation of moisture content. Water samples and samples of litter and mud exposed above the water level were collected and examined for algae. In addition, throughout the period of the whole investigation, samples of water, litter and mud have been taken from various other habitats at irregular intervals. A series of largeand small-scale drying experiments have been carried out to investigate the reactions of various algae to drought and the survival of species through drought periods. Some investigation was made of the stratification of algae in pond margin litter and mud. Two methods were employed, a buried-slide technique and a micro-sampling technique. The observations made suggest that certain algae are capable of surviving dry periods by methods other than by the existence of resistant spores. It has been found that more or less obviously modified vegetative cells of a number of algae will survive drought. Further, certain algae, both motile and non-motile, have been found to survive in the deeper layers of litter and mud at pond margins during exposure and drying. While an attempt has been made to cover an extensive field, more detailed observations have been made on a number of individual species of algae. Th_ê ^̂ Survî ^̂ ̂


Introduction: In Mexico, there is a syndemic in pregnant women, where the epidemic of obesity and chronic diseases coexists with that of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has been associated with a higher risk of maternal mortality. Objective: To evaluate the association of comorbidities during pregnancy with maternal mortality from COVID-19 in Mexico. Material and methods: SISVER COVID-19 databases and epidemiological surveillance reports on maternal mortality were used. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of comorbidities with maternal deaths from COVID-19. Results: A total of 29,416 pregnant women were evaluated, out of which 39 % were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);the risk of maternal mortality was 3.24 times higher (p < 0.01) for positive in comparison with negative women. COVID-19 is the leading cause of maternal death since July 2020 and explains more than 50 % of total deaths in 2021. Chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR]: 4.11;p < 0.01) and diabetes (OR: 2.53;p < 0.01) were the two main comorbidities that were positively associated with maternal death from COVID-19. Conclusion: Comorbidities during pregnancy that are possibly associated with an increase in the inflammatory response and an alteration of the immune response increase the risk of maternal death from COVID-19 in Mexican pregnant women.


In the scientific and methodological literature and practice of physical education concepts of "coordination" and "agility" are often used synonymously. And discussion about the appropriateness distinguish these concepts is mainly analytical character. Purpose : to evaluate the nature of the relationship metrically between indicators kinesthesia (which characterize the internal processes of interaction in the neuro-muscular system coordination) and the efficient delivery of a complex exercise (in cooperation man in the external environment of physical education agility). Material : 77 students surveyed. Students performed on 100 strikes the ball into the goal in terms of golf (10 control measurements). The experiment was conducted for 8 months. 7700 measurement precision of centimeters processed statistically. Calculated reliability of measurements: 100 comparability repetitive beats, accuracy hitting the ball into the goal and the pace of learning in terms of the impact of blows. Results : the total volume measurements was characterized by high variability (V% = 53,5), indicating that the low status of kinesthesia surveyed. This reduces the reliability of the correlation coefficients according to 30 and then 10 of the best students in the general rank in terms of reliability of measurements. Significant correlation occurred only in terms of performance beats the purpose of learning the technique and pace (0,417; n = 30, p <0,05; and 0,677; n = 10, p <0,05). Conclusions : Overall, the results of our study showed that the concept of "coordination" and "agility" should still be distinguished. In some cases, students with a good level of kinesthesia occurred and high mobility in complex locomotion. If we recognize it expedient to continue this discussion, then we must rely on objective, metric information. This information should be obtained in studies with a broad contingent surveyed, consistently show good concentration and high reliability results in a series of repeated measurements.


Purpose: We have observed improved local control probability (LCP) for adjuvant mesothelioma radiotherapy following pleurectomy/decortication using Tomotherapy compared to the conventional 3D technique (p<0.05). This work assesses the correlation between the improved clinical outcomes against dosimetry quantities. Methods: Thirty-eight mesothelioma cases consecutively treated at our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. Sixteen patients were treated using 3D technique planned on the Eclipse for c-arm accelerators prior to 7/2012; the other 22 cases were treated on Tomotherapy using helical IMRT after 7/2012. Typical 3D plans consisting of 15 MV AP/PA photon fields prescribed to 10 cm depth followed by matching electron fields with energy ranging from 8–16 MeV. Tomotherapy plans were designed using 2.5cm jaw, 0.287 pitch with directional blocking of the contralateral lung. The same prescription of 45 Gy (1.8GyX25) was used for both techniques. The dosimetry metrics for the critical structures: ipsilateral-/contralateral-lung, heart, cord, esophagus, etc were compared between two techniques. Results: Superior LCP is closely associated with improved target coverage. Tomotherapy plans yielded dramatically better target coverage and less dose heterogeneity despite of more advanced/larger disease. The averaged PTV volumes were 2287.3±569.9 (Tomotherapy) vs. 1904.8±312.3cc (3D); V100s were: 91.1±4.0 (%) vs. 47.8±12.7 (%) with heterogeneity indices of 1.20±0.1 vs.1.37±0.38 and for the Tomotherapy and 3D plans, respectively. Compared to the 3D technique, we observed significant lower maximum cord doses (p<0.001), lower mean esophagus doses (p<0.002), and lower heart mean doses when tumor was left-sided (p=0.002). For ipsilateral-/contralateral-lungs, however, the mean doses and V20, V5 of Tomotherapy plans were significantly higher than the 3D plans (p<0.01) regardless which sides of lung were treated. However, rates of radiation pneumonitis were no different. Conclusion: Tomotherapy achieved great improvement of plan quality including target coverage, resulting in significantly better local control over the traditional 3D technique for adjuvant radiotherapy for mesothelioma.


Large‐scale outcome trials have demonstrated that blood pressure reduction with angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or calcium channel blockers (CCBs) is associated with reduced cardiovascular complications in hypertension. Comparative trials against conventional drugs and between ACE inhibitors and CCBs have failed to reveal conclusive differences in cause‐specific outcomes. Studies in high‐risk patients suggest that ACE inhibitors are superior to CCBs and other drugs in protection against cardiovascular events and renal disease. Very long‐term prospectively collected observational data from the Glasgow Blood Pressure Clinic and the UK General Practice Research Database strongly support an advantage of ACE inhibitors over CCBs for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Considering all the available information, it can be concluded that the use of CCBs in the routine therapy of hypertension cannot be recommended while wider use of ACE inhibitors, along with low‐dose diuretics and β blockers, appears justified.


This study is about how to influence guilty suspects to reveal new crime-relevant information via interviewing. During investigative interviews, suspects might use strategies to appear innocent. To counteract such strategies, evidence that the interviewer holds on the suspect's activities, can be disclosed strategically throughout the interview. Past research mainly focused on detecting deception. However, to form conclusions about guilt or innocence, admissions from suspects are necessary. In this study, all participants (N = 50) performed a mock crime consisting of several activities that generated pieces of evidence regarding their activities. Hence, all suspects were guilty. Contrary to previous studies, the state of evidence was more complex as it did not reveal all legal activities that suspects engaged in prior to and after the crime (i.e., details about suspects' activities also needed to be clarified during the interview). Thereafter, suspects were interviewed with either of two techniques. One group was interviewed with the Shift-of-Strategy (SoS) technique, whereby evidence is disclosed after each crime-relevant question that is asked. This aims to make the suspect overestimate the knowledge of the interviewer. To cope with that, the suspect might change his/her strategy from withholding information to providing information. A new manipulation was added to the SoS technique at the end of the interview. Instead of asking one critical question about the crime, the suspect was asked three questions. This aimed to utilize the moment at which the suspect started to overestimate the interviewer's knowledge, so that the suspect would provide more information which the interviewer did not know before. The second group was interviewed using the late disclosure technique. Within late disclosure, all the pieces of evidence are disclosed at once, after all crime-relevant questions have been asked. The SoS condition resulted in significantly more admissions and elicited significantly more new crime-relevant information compared to the late disclosure condition. The manipulation that was added to the SoS technique (i.e., the three questions) was partially shown to be effective in eliciting more admissions. Furthermore, the manipulation generated valuable implications for the future of the SoS approach. This study provides strong support for the SoS technique as an effective approach to elicit new crime-relevant information.
 Keywords: Strategic Use of Evidence, Shift-of-Strategy, new crime-relevant information, admission, late disclosure


— The failures of different categories of roads are pre-dominant in huge developing countries like India. As a result of improved connectivity the traffic is increasing on existing roads, so need of evaluation arises to provide a safe and smooth riding. "Falling weight deflectometer" (FWD) and "Benkelman beam deflection" (BBD) are prominent techniques in India for strengthening and evaluation of existing pavement. FWD is non-destructive testing for evaluation using "Dynamic Loading" seems more accurate than BBD method which have static loading pattern. But in India later one is used quite dominantly than first one. So this paper deals with difference in overlay thickness required for strengthening by these two techniques, cost reduction by Providing Optimized overlay thickness. For this study 3 homogeneous sections on Existing Bituminous Stretch of NH-102 in state of Bihar were selected .Traffic survey, Evaluation of existing subgrade, Pavement Condition Survey ,Different laboratory tests needed were performed. Deflections by FWD with guidelines of IRC-115 and By Benkelman beam with guidelines of IRC-81 were measured on selected sections. Remaining fatigue and rutting life after and before overlay were also checked By IIT-PAVE Software. There was a significant difference in Overlay Thickness required for both the methods. FWD technique is more closer to optimized overlay thickness than BBD.


This article investigates whether it is possible to bring the longue durée, or the re-contextualization of risk distribution and accumulation, into litigation about climate outcomes. We do this by analyzing the structure of disaster litigation to identify if and whether historical harm is included in argumentation and by applying the concept of takings to a hypothetical legal argument of repetitive flooding in Alaska. We conclude that invisibility of historical harm in climate and disaster litigation gives insight into the preference and structure of the law.


2,3 SUMMARY Mutations in the glucokinase gene (GCK) account for many cases of monogenic diabetes fea- turing maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY2). The clinical pattern of this form of hyperglycemia is rather stable, with a slight elevation in blood glucose, which is usually not progressive. Patients rarely require pharmacological interventions and microvascular com- plications related to diabetes are unusual. We describe the clinical follow-up of two cases of MODY2 with two different mutations in GCK gene, one in exon 7, p.Glu265Lys (c.793 G> A), which has been previously described, and a novel one, in exon 2, p.Ser69Stop (c. 206C> G). The clinical course of both cases shows similarity in metabolic control of this form of diabetes over the years. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(8):490-5


The development and use of supplementary learning modules for audiovisual aids designed for wider audiences was found to be a feasible approach for the education of family practice residents. This approach allows programs to direct learner attention to areas of greatest interest in family practice. It was not excessively time consuming to develop the two modules and extensive technical expertise with media was not required. It was found that the modules were adaptable to individual or group use. This teaching method appears to be an excellent learning tool for residents. Supplementary learning modules may be useful for medical students and other health-care providers in family practice. Further economy of time and other innovations using this basic approach could result from recruiting family practice residents and other students to develop their own learning modules on topics of individual interest.