Objectives: Numerous bone grafts have been studied for augmentation of the healing outcomes of dental implants. The aim of this study was designed to compare the clinical and radiographic evaluation between immediate dental implant augmented with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) coated with polylactide -coglycolide (PLGA) and immediate dental implant alone. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult male patients with endodontic failure, root fracture, decayed tooth, retained deciduous teeth and teeth with internal/external root resorption were selected and categorized into the followings; Group 1(G1); received immediate implant only and group 2 (G2); received immediate implants augmented with (BCP/PLGA). The patients were evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months, clinically; by using plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and Pocket depth (PD). In addition, radiographic evaluation of marginal bone level (MBL) and measurement of bone density (BD). Results: Clinical improvement of GI and PI were observed in both groups, the statistical analysis were non-significant in comparisons at different time intervals. PD was significantly reduced in G1at 6 months versus baseline and highly significant at 12 months compared to baseline, in G2 the comparisons at 6 and 12 months contrast to baseline was highly significant, and whereas the differences at 12 months were significant reduced in G2 than G1. Radiographically, MBL was showing highly statistical significant in comparing the baseline versus 12 months in both groups, but at the difference at 6 months compared to baseline was highly significant in G1, while insignificant in G2. Moreover, there is no significant difference in G1 against G2 at 6 and 12 months. In addition, the bone density was showing highly statistical significant in comparing the baseline contrast to 6 and 12 months in both groups, and highly significant differences were observed in G2 compared G1at 6, and 12 months. Conclusion: Immediate dental implant augmented with BCP/PLGA achieved significant improvements in clinical and radiographic outcomes rather than immediate dental implant only.


Krebes and Hron (1980) derived a formula for the geometrical spreading factor L for a seismic wave propagating through a layered viscoelastic medium. They assumed the angle γ between the propagation and attenuation vectors of the initial ray segment was constant. In this paper, the general formula for L is derived, in which γ is a function of the take-off angle θ (the functional form depends on source conditions). For the special case γ = θ, which corresponds, for example, to an air-shot source just above the surface, the formula for L simplifies considerably. A few numerical evaluations of L for certain cases are also presented to illustrate the differences between elastic and viscoelastic geometrical spreading. The differences are small or negligible at small enough source-receiver offsets but can be large at greater offsets in cases where viscoelastic critical angles are different enough from elastic ones or do not exist. These cases, however, may not be very representative of true anelastic effects in the earth.


The different components of GPR equipment have particular characteristics that, when taken together as a whole, give the system the stability required for correct usage. Besides the information provided by manufacturers about parameters affecting the stability of GPR equipments, their evolution with use and ageing suggest that each GPR system employed in detailed qualitative studies should be subject to routine analysis. This type of analysis is especially important in novel systems and antennas to understand their real capabilities and limitations. In this work, several tests are carried out in order to evaluate the stability of a GPR system working with three different antennas with nominal frequencies of 500, 800, and 1000 MHz. Some tests published by other authors, together with other tests proposed here, are adapted to be the starting point to develop a methodology for calibrating GPR devices and to verify proper operation.


The liver is known to be the metabolic centre of the organism and is under the control of the central nervous system. It has a peculiar tissue structure and its anatomic localisation defines it as part of the immune system having an individual role in the defence of the organism. The determinant of its particular tissue build-up is the sinusoid system. In addition to hepatocytes, one cell row "endothelium", stellate cells close to the external surface, Kupffer cells tightly to its inner surface, as well as dendritic cells and other cell types (T and B lymphocytes, natural killer and natural killer T-cells, mast cells, granulocytes) are present. The multitudes and variety of cells make it possible to carry out the tasks according to the assignment of the organism. The liver is a member of the immune system having immune cells largely in an activated state. Its principal tasks are the assurance of the peripheral immune tolerance of the organism with the help of the haemopoetic cells and transforming growth factor-β. The liver takes part in the determination of the manner of the non-specific immune response of the organism. In addition to acute phase reaction of the organism, the liver has a role in the adaptive/specific immune response. These functions include retardation of the T and B lymphocytes and the defence against harmful pathogens. With the collaboration of transforming growth factor-β, immunoglobulins and their subclasses are inhibited just as the response of the T lymphocytes. The only exception is the undisturbed immunoglobulin A production. Particularly important is the intensive participation of the liver in the acute phase reaction of the organism, which is organised and guided by the coordinated functions of the cortico-hypothalamo-hypophysis-adrenal axis. Beside cellular elements, hormones, adhesion molecules, chemokines and cytokines are also involved in the cooperation with the organs. Acute phase reactants play a central role in these processes. Until recently the α2-macroglobulin was not considered as an acute reactant of the organism, but it is now functionally included in the acute phase reaction presumably due to its close connection with the transforming growth factor-β. Transforming growth factor-β has extraordinarily important roles in all phases of inflammation and in the specific immune response. The peripheral immune tolerance of the organism involves tightly coupled regulation of proliferation, differentiation and survival of lymphocytes.


This paper analyses the economics of tariff rate quotas assuming a large importing country and several different suppliers with differing levels of competitiveness. Eleven theoretical situations are distinguished according to the way the quota is allocated to exporters, the level of constraint imposed by the quota and the relative competitiveness of export suppliers. A graphical analysis is developed and the effects of tariff rate quotas on market access and welfare gains for exporters are discussed in the eleven cases.


For saturated flows, it is well known that the equivalent parallel hydraulic conductivity is equal to the arithmetic mean of all individual hydraulic conductivities of the layers parallel to flows, and the equivalent perpendicular hydraulic conductivity is equal to the harmonic mean of all individual hydraulic conductivities of the layers perpendicular to flows. Due to the nonlinear relationship between the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and the saturation, the validity of the same schemes for unsaturated flows needs to be examined. This study investigated equivalent hydraulic conductivities for unsaturated vertical flows under two distinct soil layering scenarios, layers parallel to flows (i.e., parallel vertical slabs or columns) and layers perpendicular to flows (i.e., horizontal layers). The two scenarios are referred to as the horizontal heterogeneity scenario and vertical heterogeneity scenario, respectively. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) examine the appropriateness of using simple arithmetic and harmonic means of hydraulic conductivity for unsaturated flows for the horizontal and vertical heterogeneity scenarios; and (ii) investigate the equivalent unsaturated hydraulic conductivities that are applicable to large-scale hydrologic process modeling. The considered domain is typical for unsaturated flow that lies between the ground surface at the top and the groundwater table at the bottom. Results demonstrate that the arithmetic mean for the horizontal heterogeneity scenario and the harmonic mean for the vertical heterogeneity scenario, extended from the saturated flow situations, would introduce large relative errors in simulating the actual flux for coarser textured soils and for heterogeneous soils with large hydraulic parameter variances.


This paper describes a 22-hour domestic violence learning module that is incorporated into the psychosocial course for seniors in a baccalaureate nursing program. As part of their learning experiences, students attend circuit court, meet with judges, and accompany advocacy workers. Additionally, they attend group therapy sessions with both the victims and perpetrators of abuse. Students keep journals reflecting their thoughts, feelings, and reactions throughout the experiences. Thematic analysis of these journal entries revealed five common themes. Students recognized their encounters in clinical situations as frightening and emotionally difficult, expressed surprise at their reactions to perpetrators, identified with victims, wrestled with issues of good and bad, and reported that stereotypes about victims and perpetrators had been incorrect. Debriefings and support by faculty are important for students throughout the experience.


Molecular dynamics simulations with varying damping are used to examine the effects of inertia and spatial dimension on sheared disordered solids in the athermal quasistatic limit. In all cases the distribution of avalanche sizes follows a power law over at least three orders of magnitude in dissipated energy or stress drop. Scaling exponents are determined using finite-size scaling for systems with 10(3)-10(6) particles. Three distinct universality classes are identified corresponding to overdamped and underdamped limits, as well as a crossover damping that separates the two regimes. For each universality class, the exponent describing the avalanche distributions is the same in two and three dimensions. The spatial extent of plastic deformation is proportional to the energy dissipated in an avalanche. Both rise much more rapidly with system size in the underdamped limit where inertia is important. Inertia also lowers the mean energy of configurations sampled by the system and leads to an excess of large events like that seen in earthquake distributions for individual faults. The distribution of stress values during shear narrows to zero with increasing system size and may provide useful information about the size of elemental events in experimental systems. For overdamped and crossover systems the stress variation scales inversely with the square root of the system size. For underdamped systems the variation is determined by the size of the largest events.


: Purpose: The main purpose of the article was to assess the level of integration in the supply chain in the herbal industry. The specific objectives were to identify entities operating in the herbal industry and to analyse the relationship between individual links in the supply chain. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research period covered the years 2016-2019. The source material was the primary data. The interviews were conducted with entities representing two links in the supply chain - suppliers of herbal raw materials from field crops and from the natural state of the Lubelskie and Podlaskie voivodeships, as well as a plant for processing herbal raw materials. The Supply Chain Integration's Degree Measure (SCIDM) indicator was used to achieve the main purpose. Findings: The empirical results show that before 2001 the return in the U.S. was high and when the dollar was appreciated, after 2001, the same return became negative and the dollar was depreciated, but after 2004 the returns have growing positively for the U.S., and the returns for the Euro-zone are falling. Practical Implications: It was found that the level of integration in the supply chain in the herbal industry was low, which was influenced by the limited relationships and the type of dependencies between the participants of the chain. The factor contributing to the low level of integration was the significant fragmentation and collection of herbs by hundreds of individual collectors from natural sites. The situation was slightly better on the side of recipients, where the degree of integration was in the middle range. Originality/value: Development of a herbal supply chain model and assessment of its level of integration. Individual links in the studied supply chain were described and the relations between them were identified.


Abstract A seismic network operated from December 2008 to November 2009 in south-central Chile covering the Chile subduction zone from c. 39°S to 40°S. This segment of the subduction zone includes the highly active Villarrica volcano and the maximum slip area of the 1960 Mw 9.5 earthquake. We applied surface wave dispersion analysis to data from a linear array of broadband stations and to records of four areal sub-arrays. Fifty regional and teleseismic events were used to produce dispersion curves of Rayleigh waves. From the dispersion curves, we determined depth functions of the shear-wave velocity for 4 subregions of the subduction zone: the Coastal Range, the Central Valley, the Volcanic Arc and the Back-arc Region in Argentina. The resulting models reveal the structure of the crust and the depth of the Moho discontinuity. Below the volcanic arc, the shear-wave velocities of the continental mantle are reduced by c. 7% with respect to a background value of 4.3 km s−1. This low-velocity zone coincides with a zone of reduced electrical resistivity that was previously determined from magnetotelluric measurements. The combined occurrences of minima in the S-wave velocity and resistivity can be interpreted as an indicator of partial melts.


As every reader of THE CONCEPT OF LAW is aware, H.L.A. Hart severely criticized John Austin for failing to take account of the operativeness of power-conferring laws in legal systems. Given the trenchancy of Hart's animadversions on Austin's disregard of power-conferring norms, it is surprising that Hart himself omitted to take account of such norms at some key junctures in his theorizing. Quite a few examples of his neglect of power-conferring norms could be adduced here, but –- to keep this paper within the prescribed word limit –- I will confine myself to one especially important instance. After doing so, I will explore how the power-conferring aspect of the Hartian Rule of Recognition has been denied or obscured by many present-day legal philosophers. Though the Rule of Recognition does impose duties, it also confers powers; it authorizes as well as obligates legal-governmental officials to ascertain the law of their jurisdiction in accordance with certain prescribed criteria. In the final few sections of this paper, I will maintain that some recent objections to Hart's conception of the Rule of Recognition are misconceived precisely because they disregard the hybrid character of the Rule of Recognition as both duty-imposing and power-conferring. This paper has been written for an Oxford symposium on the work of John Gardner. As my citations will suggest, some of the arguments advanced in this paper align me with positions taken by Gardner, whereas other arguments herein are opposed to Gardner's stances.


This research explores the challenges faced by hotels in Malaysia, in formulating and implementing strategic human resource management (SHRM). The study addresses the lack of empirical research into SHRM in Malaysian hotels at a time of rapid growth in the Malaysian tourism industry. Building on current debates regarding strategic HRM, including SHRM and business strategy integration, and the role of HR as a strategic partner, this research explores the relationship between human resource management and business strategies, and the challenges of HRM strategy realisation. The thesis has a particular focus on Recruitment and Selection, and Training and Development, as these two functions lie at the heart of how businesses access and develop the critical skills required to implement SHRM initiatives.

The study is conducted from a constructivist ontological stance coupled with an interpretivist epistemology. A set of three semi-structured interviews, involving the Chief Executive Officer, HR professional and line manager, were conducted in five leading hotels. Three additional interviews were conducted to gain feedback on the study's topic from individuals with HR and/or hotel industry expertise. Data were analysed using a priori and data driven coding following King's (2004) template analysis method.

This research reveals challenges in formulating and implementing strategic HRM exist within Malaysian hotels from three analytical levels, namely, organisational, industry and societal. The challenges include the readiness of HR as a strategic partner, the absence of clearly-defined HR-related key performance indicators, labour scarcity, and government policies relating to labour and education. Although this exploratory research may not be generalisable to all Malaysian hotels, its insights into SHRM challenges may be transferable to other similar hotels and resorts. Discussion of the practical implications of the study's results highlight the actions recommended as necessary for the three target audiences, namely, Hotel Managers (which include CEOs/General Managers, HR professionals and line managers), the Malaysian Association of Hotels, and the Government, to improve professional practice pertaining to strategic human resource management in Malaysian hotels.


This study estimated the aflatoxin contamination of smoked-dried fish samples of Alestes nurse (Silverside fish) , Synodontis budgeti (Catfish) , Ilisha Africana (West African Shad) , Gymnallabes typus (Catfish) , Ethmalosa fimbriata (Bonga) , Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Siver Catfish) , Schilbe uranoscopus (Butter fish) , Cynoglossus browni (Sole), Clarias gariepinus (Mud Catfish) , Calamoichthys calabaricus (Rope fish) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria . Fifty smoked-dried fish samples sold at two different markets in Abeokuta town, Lafenwa and Itoku in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria were found to be lightly contaminated with aflatoxin (P<0.05), after testing for their aflatoxin levels using Veratox quantitative aflatoxin test. The aflatoxin concentrations in the samples were between 0.030ppb-1.150ppb with a mean of 0.5980±0.1050 ppb. Rope fish had the lowest aflatoxin concentration while Mud catfish had the highest aflatoxin concentration.  Aflatoxins are known to be carcinogenic (causing hepatoma – cancer of the liver), acute hepatitis, reduced red blood cell and decreased immune system in man. Prolonged intake of smoked fish with these metabolites may constitute potential public health hazard. Smoked-dried fishes stored for sale in Abeokuta markets were not heavily contaminated with aflatoxins.


Epilepsy and seizures are common, and can significantly affect quality of life. A careful history and guided evaluation is necessary to avoid misdiagnosis, to establish causation, and to determine prognosis. Medical therapy is effective in controlling seizures in two thirds of people with epilepsy. In choosing which antiepileptic drug to use, it is important to consider epilepsy type, side effect profile, and cost. Even when seizures are controlled, dose-related side effects from antiepileptic medication, such as fatigue and imbalance, can negatively impact health-related quality of life. Teratogenic side effects are also of concern for women of childbearing age. Monotherapy is generally preferred, and with dose titration, a successful balance between efficacy and tolerability can be reached in the majority of patients. Epilepsy that is medically refractory may respond to epilepsy surgery or vagus nerve stimulation.


The most elusive experience of the human being in this huge endless universe is related to "the human consciousness", human awareness of what is surrounding him, perceiving surroundings nature with deep interceptions and incorporating all of this in the context of emotional experience based on memory and self-identity. The author defines consciousness as" state of alertness and being aware, active and vigilant of the self and surroundings with volition, based in memory and personal identity. This state is ineffable and intrinsic and express itself in presence of soul through activation of different sensing and perceptive body organs but may pass through lighter densities and variable dimensions in quantum nature, if soul leaves the body" [1]. The following discussions in this chapter will expand the understanding in those directions. The sophisticated neurobiological dynamics within the cerebral cortex dominated the scientific views on consciousness science in the current era. However, there is compelling scientific and rational evidence to convince scientific communities that the nature of consciousness involves dynamics inside the skull but essentially much beyond it in extreme dimensions between the skull and the sky [1]. Holistic perception and understanding of human consciousness incorporating other scientific disciplines like the central role of human heart contribution to consciousness, quantum physics, as well as astrobiologigcal aspects of consciousness are critically needed for creation of proper perspective of the nature of human consciousness. Groundbreaking developments in the field with new era of scientific evidence of consciousness beyond the skull, started with shaking the believe and refuting that neuronal firing of brain structures is the sole source of subjective consciousness experience. In addition, the principles of classical mechanics stand handicapped in front of the challenges to explain the true mechanisms operating the secrets of consciousness. We introduce a new integral understanding of human consciousness called the Heart Based Resonant Frequencies [HBRF] Theory of consciousness based on biological and astrophysical experimental records integrating the up to date achieved knowledge in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and its universal correlates in integration with the current quantum consciousness theories.


While the attack systems have become more easy-to-use, sophisticated, and powerful, interest has greatly increased in the field of building more effective, intelligent, adaptive, active and high performance defense systems which are distributed and networked. The conference will cover research on all theoretical and practical aspects related to network and system security, such as authentication, access control, availability, integrity, privacy, confidentiality, dependability and sustainability of computer networks and systems. The aim of NSS is to provide a leading edge forum to foster interaction between researchers and developers with the network and system security communities, and to give attendees an opportunity to interact with experts in academia, industry, and governments.


The tremendous growth of South-South trade is among the key trends in international economics, yet it has received surprisingly little attention from scholars of international political economy. This dissertation helps to fill this void by providing the first systematic analysis of the political effects of South-South trade. Such analysis is appropriate given the foreign policy norm that uniquely characterizes South-South relations, including South-South trade: countries of the South espouse the practice of non-interference in the domestic affairs of their partners. In contrast, countries of the North typically seek to promote certain domestic policies among their partners in the Global South, such as human rights, democratic governance, certain foreign policy behaviors, and labor and environmental standards. In light of Southern non-interference and its contrast to the foreign policy norms of countries of the North, this dissertation assesses the effects of South-South trade on trade-based diffusion processes associated with labor laws, environmental standards, and voting within international organizations. In assessing each of these policy areas, the analysis considers three issues: first, whether the policy diffusion patterns associated with South-South are different from those associated with other types of trade flows; second, whether high levels of South-South trade weaken the effectiveness of trade-based policy promotion efforts by countries of the North; and third, whether variation in South-South trade levels moderates the relationships between domestic political variables and policy outcomes. These hypotheses correspond to a novel theory positing that trade-based efforts by Northern countries to promote the adoption of their favored policies by partners in the South are weaker where those Southern partners engage in high levels of South-South trade. In Southern countries where Northern efforts are rendered weak by high levels of South-South trade, it is further theorized that domestic level interests and institutions play a larger role in the policy process, as these interests and institutions are less constrained by interference from the North and not subject to comparable interference efforts from the South. The results provide mixed support for this theory, but they do clarify that South-South trade is accompanied by different policy diffusion patterns than other types of trade.


The presentation concerns statistical models of jitter, the small stochastic perturbations of the glottal cycle lengths. Conventional models randomly update the cycle lengths in synchrony with glottal events. We propose instead to simulate jitter by means of stochastic difference equations. The equations we propose simulate several known properties of jitter via a set of minimal assumptions. The results agree with existing models that relate jitter to the neural input to the laryngeal muscles. The results also suggest that jitter depends on the parameters that control fundamental frequency and the synchrony of vocal fold movement.


Background: Infertility is a relatively common problem among people worldwide. It is estimated that 1 in every 6-7 couples is facing infertility. If the couple tries to conceive for over a year without success then they have infertility problems. The most common treatment option for infertility is in-vitro fertilization (IVF), i.e. when the eggs are fertilized outside of the human body. Objective: The purpose of the current study is to construct a prediction model for IVF success with single fresh embryo transfers. The outcome variable is live birth.Material and methods: The data are collected at Carl von Linne Clinic from 1999 to 2014. A total of 8450 treatments from about 5700 patients are included in the analysis. The statistical method used for the analysis is Generalized Estimating Equations, as this method accounts for dependency in the data. Results: In the model found in this study, eight predictors significantly affect the outcome of IVF treatment: embryo score, success rates after previous IVF treatments, ovarian response, female age, infertility cause, the thickness of the endometrium, presence of hydrosalpinx or fibroid and female height. Many of these factors confirm previous findings. Female height, however, has not been shown to be predictive for IVF success previously.The model's performance is assessed by validation. The area under the ROC curve indicates moderate discriminative power (C-statistic = 0.68). The calibration, assessed by the HosmerLemeshow test, indicates very good correspondence between predicted and observed live birth rates.


Somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination (CSR) contribute to the somatic diversification of antibodies. It has been shown that MutS homologue (Msh)6 (in conjunction with Msh2) but not Msh3 is involved in generating A/T base substitutions in somatic hypermutation. However, their roles in CSR have not yet been reported. Here we show that Msh6 − / − mice have a decrease in CSR, whereas Msh3 − / − mice do not. When switch regions were analyzed for mutations, deficiency in Msh6 was associated with an increase in transition mutations at G/C basepairs, mutations at RGYW/WRCY hotspots, and a small increase in the targeting of G/C bases. In addition, Msh6 − / − mice exhibited an increase in the targeting of recombination sites to GAGCT/GGGGT consensus repeats and hotspots in Sγ3 but not in Sμ. In contrast to Msh2 − / − mice, deficiency in Msh6 surprisingly did not change the characteristics of Sμ-Sγ3 switch junctions. However, Msh6 − / − mice exhibited a change in the positioning of Sμ and Sγ3 junctions. Although none of these changes were seen in Msh3 − / − mice, they had a higher percentage of large inserts in their switch junctions. Together, our data suggest that MutS homologues Msh2, Msh3, and Msh6 play overlapping and distinct roles during antibody diversification processes.


40 % of residents living in care homes in the United Kingdom have significant depressive symptoms, compared with 9% living in the community. Care homes can appear to be depressing places, but whether the physical environment of homes directly affects depression in care home residents is unknown.
The overall aim of the thesis was to establish whether the physical environment or specific features of the physical environment predict depressive symptoms in older people living in care homes. A mixed methods approach was used:
1. A systematic review was conducted to identify and evaluate instruments designed to measure the physical environment of healthcare settings and informed the choice of instrument used to measure the physical environment of care homes in an observational study.
2. Semi-structured interviews with 15 participants living in four care homes identified features of care home design that were considered important to investigate in the observational study and assisted with interpretation of the results.
3. An observational study explored the longitudinal relationship between the physical environment and depressive symptoms using data from an interventional trial among older people living in care homes. The physical environments of 50 care homes were assessed using The Sheffield Care Environment Assessment Matrix (SCEAM). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) for 510 residents living in the care homes at baseline, six and twelve months. Multi-level modelling was used to analyse the data.
Interviews revealed residents valued environments that increased opportunity for social interaction, maximised physical function, and allowed access to outdoor space. In the observational study the overall physical environment of care homes (overall SCEAM score) did not predict depressive symptoms. Care homes that scored highly on the SCEAM domain community weakly predicted lower depressive symptoms. Controlling for dependency (Barthel Index), social engagement (Index of Social Engagement) and home type (nursing/residential) 'access to outdoor space' predicted greater depressive symptoms. This finding initially appeared counterintuitive; however evidence from the interview study suggested access to outdoor space was restricted for residents in many different ways: locked doors, lack of paths, inadequate seating, steep steps, and needing permission or assistance of staff to go outside. Residents may have 'free access to outdoor space' but are prevented from using the outdoors for reasons that negatively affect their decisional autonomy and consequently their mood.
The research provides evidence to support care home design that encourages social interaction and allows unrestricted access to outdoor spaces in order to positively influence mood in care home residents.


Based on a partially earth-anchored cable-stayed bridge with 1218m main span and composite beam, the parametric study of this bridge type was conducted in this paper. The bridge was simulated with space pole department model, in which the beam element was used to model girder and tower, the truss element was used to model stayed-cable whose sag effect was corrected by Ernst theory. The load cases considered in analysis include: dead load and live load. The analysis content include: the girder bending moment, the girder axial force, the girder stress, the tower flexural moment, the tower axial force and the tower stress.


A long-only investable minimum variance strategy outperformed the S&P 500 over the four decades from January 1973 to December 2012. Through the lens of a factor model, we show this outperformance can be largely attributed to implicit style bets. Specifically, minimum variance has thrived by tilting away from size and volatility and toward value. As funds have poured into minimum variance in the wake of the financial crisis, and plausibly as a consequence of this trend, the value tilt has disappeared and a momentum tilt has emerged. This suggests that the cost of entry to minimum variance is at an historic high. We show how the value tilt can be restored to minimum variance by targeting specific exposures, and that there was a substantial long-term benefit to the restoration at most recent points of entry to the strategy.


Objective: To analyze the sensitivity and specificity of fungal fluorescent staining in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis, and to compare it with conventional fungal culture, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and Giemsa staining. To explore its value of clinical application. Methods: Prospective case-control study. A total of 105 consecutive patients (105 eyes) diagnosed with infectious keratitis at Beijing Tongren Hospital from August 2017 to April 2018 were included. Patients with infectious keratitis were divided into fungal keratitis (FK) group and non-fungal keratitis (NFK) group by slit lamp microscopy, corneal in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) examination, and the results of Giemsa staining, fluorescent staining and pathogenic culture of corneal scraping from ulcer. The sensitivity and specificity of the above-mentioned examination methods for the diagnosis of fungal keratitis were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) and Area Under Curve (AUC) values were calculated to determine the diagnostic value of fungal fluorescent staining for fungal keratitis. Results: Among the 105 patients with infectious keratitis, 66 were fungal keratitis, 39 were non-fungal keratitis (29 cases of bacterial keratitis and 10 cases of acanthamoeba keratitis). Isolation from fungal keratitis were mainly Fusarium spp. (43.5%), followed by Alternaria spp. (21.7%) and Aspergillus spp. (19.6%). After fluorescent staining of the ulcer smear, the background of tissue demonstrated homogeneous black or weak blue fluorescence. The cell wall of fungi showed bright blue-violet to blue fluorescence, and the morphology, structure and hyphal density were easily recognized. The sensitivity of different methods for the diagnosis of corneal fungal infection were smear fluorescence staining (97.0%), IVCM (87.9%) , Giemsa staining (86.7%), and fungal culture (69.7%); the specificity of fungal culture was the highest (100%), followed by IVCM and Giemsa staining (94.9%), and fluorescent staining (87.2%). The ascending order of AUC values was: fungal culture (0.848) <Giemsa staining (0.906) <IVCM (0.914) <fluorescence staining (0.921). Conclusion: Fungal fluorescent staining is a rapid and sensitive screening method under microscope with high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of fungal keratitis. It is especially suitable for the diagnosis of patients with low load of hypha or after antifungal therapy. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55:601-608).


Synonymous (ds) and non-synonymous (dn) substitution rates and their ratios (ds/dn) were analyzed for 33 HIV-1 subtype C protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) nucleotide sequences each from antiretroviral naïve South African chronically infected individuals. The ds/dn ratios were calculated using the synonymous/non-synonymous analysis programme (SNAP). The ds/dn ratio for PR was found to be 5.3801, while for RT it was 8.6098. The RT had a higher ds/dn ratio when compared with PR, suggesting a greater conservation in the RT gene. Generally, these values point to proteins that have not been subjected to strong immune pressure. Analysis of the evolutionary distance of PR and RT based on synonymous and non-synonymous mutations was done by phylogenetic analysis. The clustering of viruses was different when synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions were considered in both gene regions. Overall, the data indicated that the viruses had not experienced high immune pressure at the time the sequences were obtained. It may also mean that, the PR and the RT of the sequences did not present enough epitopes to elicit antibody responses.


The Multimedia and Information Systems group at the Knowledge Media Institute of the Open University participated in the Expert Search task of the Enterprise Track in TREC 2006. We have proposed to address three main innovative points in a two-stage language model, which consists of a document relevance model and a cooccurrence model, in order to improve the performance of expert search. The three innovative points are based on characteristics of documents. First, document authority in terms of their PageRanks is considered in the document relevance model. Second, document internal structure is taken into account in the co-occurrence model. Third, we consider multiple levels of associations between experts and query terms in the co-occurrence model. Our experiments on the TREC2006 Expert Search task show that addressing the above three points has led to improved effectiveness of expert search on the W3C dataset.


Object-oriented programming is a modern method for software development. The basic reason of rapid progress in software technique, which is now taking place, is a tendency for reaching better efficiency and clarity of computer software while assuring higher data security. Each new defined type of data became related to the procedures which only are authorised to the change of their values. Such a combination of data and procedures which operate on them, forms in object-oriented programming languages the type of data called objects. Increase in efficiency in comparison with the structural programming is effected also by the so called inheritance^. In this paper implementation of the object-oriented technique to modelling the heat transfer problems is discussed. Objects, which consist the program for heat transfer simulation, and also some specific features of the object-oriented technique utilised in this work are presented and discussed.


2,7-Difluo-carbazole and 2,4,5,7-tetrafluoro-carbazole were synthesized as new building blocks of wide-energy-gap host material for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs). These fluorinated positions in the carbazole ring were determined on the basis of density functional theory calculation results. Spectroscopic analyses supported the hypothesis that poly(N-vinyl-2,7-difluoro-carbazole) (2,7-F-PVK) with the fluorinated pendant group possessed a wide energy gap, leading to the exciton energy confinement on the blue phosphorescent dopant as well as nonsubstituted poly(N-vinyl-carbazole) (PVK). 2,7-F-PVK was used in solution-processed blue PHOLED to achieve 27 cd/A at 760 cd/m2, which is 1.8 times higher than that of nonsubstituted PVK. We assumed that the replacement of nonsubstituted PVK with 2,7-F-PVK improved the charge balance in the emission layer, while keeping the exciton confinement effect. The fluorination of the carbazole ring is a useful molecular design strategy for wide-energy-...


The archaeological community has gained knowledge on how to document and diagnose damage by earthquake shaking to ancient man-made structures and how to estimate the intensity of past earthquakes, but has paid little attention to local site effects and its implications for the dynamic response of those structures. Qualitative studies of damage by earthquakes to ancient constructions surpass the amount of research on local site effects in the archaeoseismological literature. Yet, archaeoseismic observations are often based on a limited part of the mesoseismal area, on loosely constrained dated events, and sometimes on ambiguous evidence of earthquake damage. This mix of factors may lead to imprecise estimates of the size of past earthquakes and/or unrealistic earthquake environmental impacts if local site effects are ignored or over/undervalued. Hence, it is important not to rely solely on intensities based on archaeologically documented coseismic damage without a quantitative estimate of local site effects.

The present multidisciplinary study focuses on the Mycenaean citadels of Tiryns and Midea located in the Argive Basin (Peloponnese, Greece). The study is a key contribution to archaeoseismology because it provides a quantitative and deterministic method for estimating ancient local site effects and seismic hazard at an archaeological site. The proposed method permits the calculation of site-specific ground-motions, which are transformable into intensity values. The method requires input from archaeological, geoarchaeological, geophysical, geological, geotechnical, and historical studies. The over-or-underestimation of local site effects is minimized by removing accrued soils younger than the ancient walking horizon of interest. The method is applicable to archaeological sites worldwide with clear or unclear evidence of ancient earthquake damage, is scalable to any area size, and can help to decide on the location of new excavations targeting earthquake damage. The estimation of local site effects is carried out by computing synthetic seismograms for a reference rock-site located at each citadel, which are then used to accelerate regolith models for calculating surface amplifications factors and related ground-motions. Earthquake source parameters of the hypothetical earthquakes are constrained from a seismotectonic model of the area. This study shows how to estimate ancient local site effects to test the Mycenaean earthquake hypothesis, which is based solely on archaeological and geomorphological field observations. The hypothesis suggests repeated earthquake damage to the Cyclopean fortification walls and enclosed buildings of Tiryns, Midea, and Mycenae during the end of the Late Bronze Age (LBA). The hypothesis has lacked evidence of written records of ancient earthquakes and of a town-wide devastation pattern; has left unexplained the strength and location of the potential causative earthquake(s); and has ignored the impact of local site effects. The results of the present study reveal new findings: the Tiryns and Midea citadels settled on weathered hard limestone while the outer constructions settled on cohesive-or-granular soils with variable shear strength and seismic site class categories corresponding to a lower and higher seismic hazard, respectively. Data from two field campaigns during the project coupled with available upfront information from the geophysical, geological, and geotechnical literature and developed subsurface models show that the LBA ground conditions outside the fortification walls had a higher hazard than inside the walls, but archaeological findings do not reflect this. Active seismic sources at a distance greater than 40 km play a minor role. Local seismic sources in the Argolis are however critical, but are not confirmed seismically active. These findings weaken the plausibility of the Mycenaean earthquake hypothesis for Tiryns and Midea.


The internet has made it easier than ever for citizens to voice their opinion to their elected representatives. However, theories of costly signaling suggest officials may infer that constituents who write to them via lower-effort online mediums care less about the issues than those who communicate in person. To examine this possibility, we fielded a national survey of local U.S. policymakers to examine responsiveness to different types of constituent messages. We find that policymakers rate social media messages as substantially less informative and less influential than identical messages delivered in person. However, this discount factor can be overcome through increased participation: our conjoint estimates imply that a message received online from 47 constituents is as influential as the same message received from a single constituent in person. Taken together, these findings illustrate the double-edged nature of low-cost communication technologies for representation in the digital era.


RSK2 is a p90 ribosomal S6 kinase family (p90RSK) member regulating cell proliferation and transformation induced by tumor promoters such as epithelial growth factor (EGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. This family of p90RSK has classified as a serine/threonine kinase that respond to many growth factors, peptide hormones, neurotransmitters, and environmental stresses such as ultraviolet (UV) light. Our recent study demonstrates that RSK2 plays a key role in human skin cancer development. Activation of RSK2 by EGF and UV through extracellular-activated protein kinases signaling pathway induces cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and anchorage-independent cell transformation. Moreover, knockdown of RSK2 by si-RNA or sh-RNA abrogates cell proliferation and cell transformation of non-malignant human skin keratinocyte, and colony growth of malignant melanoma (MM) cells in soft agar. Importantly, activated and total RSK2 protein levels are highly detected in human skin cancer tissues including squamous cell carcinoma, basal-cell carcinoma, and MM. Kaempferol and eriodictyol are natural substances to inhibit kinase activity of the RSK2 N-terminal kinase domain, which is a critical kinase domain to transduce their activation signals to the substrates by phosphorylation. In this review, we discuss the role of RSK2 in skin cancer, particularly in activation of signaling pathways and potent natural substances to target RSK2 as chemopreventive and therapeutic agents.


Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is an algorithm that is able to learn a parts-based representation. The paper proposes a new spontaneous EEG classification method for attention-related tasks. NMF was employed as feature extraction tool, which leads to more localized and sparse features than other two reference methods: power spectrum method and principal component analysis. With conventional back propagation neural network classifier, several experiments were carried out. It was showed that the NMF-ANN structure preserved the spatio-temporal characteristics of EEG signals


On the basis of the Stokes micro-continuum theory, the effects of couple stresses resulting from the lubricant blended with various additives upon the squeeze film behavior between a long cylinder and a plane surface are analyzed. Compared to the conventional Newtonianlubricant case, the couple stress effects characterized by the couple stress parameter signify an improvement in the squeeze film characteristics. Increasing values of the couple stress parameter increases the hydrodynamic load-carrying capacity and provides a longer time to prevent cylinder-plane surface contact. The approaching time of the cylinder in reducing the film thickness h m = 1 to h m = 0.01 for the couple stress fluid lubricant is about 27.67, which is longer than the approaching time 22.62 for the case of a Newtonian lubricant.


The Pareto and the Log-normal distributions can be characterised by having constant inequality curves. After providing formal proofs, these results will be exploited to obtain graphical and analytical tools for analysis and goodness-of-fit tests for these distributions. Order-statistics-based estimators of the curves will be presented and discussed. Examples with simulated and real-data will be used to show how the tools presented work in practice.


The problem of minimizing an -sensitivity measure subject to -norm dynamic-range scaling constraints for state- space digital filters is formulated. It is shown that the problem can be converted into an unconstrained optimization problem by using linear-algebraic techniques. Next, the unconstrained optimization problem is solved by applying an efficient quasi-Newton algorithm with closed-form formula for gradient evaluation. The coordinate transformation matrix obtained is then used to construct the op- timal state-space filter structure that minimizes the -sensitivity measure subject to the scaling constraints. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the utility of the proposed technique.


We address the problem of serving multicast traffic in input-queued packet switches. Head-of-line blocking is a major problem in input-queued switches. It can be avoided in unicast switches by maintaining a queue per output port at each input port. This is not feasible in multicast switches, since the number of destination multicast addresses is exponential in the number of output ports. Our approach is to maintain a limited number of input queues for multicast traffic. We solve two key resulting problems: (1) how to assign incoming packets to queues, and (2) which packets should be selected to transfer to output queues. Through heuristic arguments and simulation we show that our architecture leads to significant improvements in switch throughput over the best existing scheduling algorithms. Since modern links operate at very high speeds, we take care to ensure that the scheduling algorithm can be implemented efficiently in hardware.


A test using an iron containing agent, i.e. ferrocerone, was developed to measure iron reserves in the body. After breakfast the subject took a ferrocerone tablet (0.3 g) containing 0.04 g iron. Iron content was measured in 24 hour urine samples with the aid of bathophenanthroline++. Iron excretion was assessed in 24 ambulatory test subjects, aged 18-21 years. Two basic types differing in the excretion rate in different times of the day. After testing the renal excretion rate of the agent in healthy people was 20.8 +/- 0.7 mg. Iron reserves during head-down tilt tests of various duration were estimated in 20 test subjects, 6 of whom participated in a 50-day study (-6 degrees) and 14 in a 120-day study (-4.5 degrees). Iron utilization was highest on readaptation day 13 (in the 50-day study) and on bed rest days 65-75 (in the 120-day study). Increase in iron requirements coincided in time with the period of hemoglobin recovery.


The diversity of fluvial ecosystems allows the detection of various changes in the natural equilibrium. These changes can be related to variations in the composition of the fluvial forest, to the chemical or physical quality of the water, or to alterations of the habitat template. The aim of this study was to understand the resilience of the ecosystem to the degradation of the habitat, resulting from the construction of a highway in a regional protected area. This resilience was measured in terms of the reestablishment of macrobenthic communities. Located at the Estoraos River (sub-watershed of the Lima River, NW Portugal), a set of three sampling stations upstream and downstream from the construction site were monitored for a period of one year, and the invertebrate communities were characterized as well as their ecological and biological traits, and the changes that occurred were classified. The observations made clearly mark the moment of the beginning of the construction process, and from the trait analysis we could discriminate between different types of pressures, namely an increment on sediment loads, and riverbed deterioration. This impact also affected the trophic relations and the food preferences of the invertebrate communities. From the analysis it is apparent that the fact that the construction was done in late winter contributed to the reestablishment of the invertebrate communities, since construction didn't affect their sensitive reproduction period. This fact permitted full recolonization of the construction site in a period of four months, reestablishing the community at the same diversity levels as the reference sites. All these aspects are in agreement with the components being analysed, but they lack information from the longer time series and more ecological components are needed to classify the resilience capacity of this type of ecosystem.


Pronunciation is a factor of two processes: the production and perception of human individual sounds (segments), referred to as phonetics and the combination of these segments in a speech, and referred to as phonology. Ekegusii and Kimeru are Bantu languages spoken in western and central parts of Kenya respectively. University students from the two language groups studying English and Literature in their year one to year four in the university setting formed the population for the study because the intonation and phonetic inventory for both languages are similar to the extent that a non-native speaker of the two languages may not draw a distinction between them. Some prosodic features of these languages such as vowel insertion to break consonant clusters are different from English and when speakers of these languages insert vowels in some English words with consonant clusters, this results in error, sometimes impeding their intelligibility. A study was needed to examine pronunciation errors among the Ekegusii L1 and Kimeru L1 university students so as to document the gravity of the problem. The study was a qualitative description of students' pronunciation errors in English language committed while the students were participating in university activities. The objectives of the study were to examine the most common mispronounced English phonemes produced by the students and to explore the possible sources of the errors. The study adopted a descriptive study design guided by Corder's (1974) error analysis model. A purposive sample of 50 students selected on the basis of first encountered first recorded was used for data generation. The data was in the form of notes from listening to the students' natural talk and audio recordings of their conversations. The study involved describing, analyzing, and interpreting common pronunciation errors. Based on the results of data analysis it was revealed that students made a multiple of pronunciation errors attributable to mainly interlingual and intralingual sources. From the findings, the researchers recommend that the best way to learn the pronunciation of a second language is by listening to good role model speakers of English language and by practising it regularly.


Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were developed in a specific durum wheat population (150 lines) derived from Kunduru-1149 ´ Cham-1 cross. Of 284 RAPD primers screened against parent DNAs, 83 revealed at least one polymorphic locus. The most polymorphic and clear bands producing 13 primers were selected and screened with the DNAs of 150 lines. These 13 primers revealed a total number of 33 segregating loci. The preliminary results of this study could be used as a base for mapping economically important character loci of durum wheat by the development of other RAPDs.


In the practice of clinical gastrointestinal endoscopy, precise estimation of the size of a lesion/finding, such as a polyp, is quintessential in diagnosis, e.g. risk estimation for malignancy. However, various studies confirmed that endoscopic assessment of lesion size has inherent limitations and significant measurement errors. Image-based methods proposed for in-vivo-size measurements, rely on reference objects such as the endoscopic biopsy forceps. The aforementioned problem becomes more challenging in the field of capsule endoscopy, as capsules lack navigation and/or biopsy capabilities. To cope with this problem, we propose a methodology that requires only an endoscopic image—without any need for a reference object—in order to estimate the size of an object of interest in it. The first step in this methodology requires the user to define a linear segment within the image. Then, it takes into consideration the intrinsic parameters of the camera, to project known 3D points on the 2D image plane. With known 3D to 2D point correspondences, in order to perform a measurement, a rough approximation of the distance between the object of interest and the camera is needed. For this purpose, a convolutional neural network is utilized which generates depth maps from monocular images. The proposed methodology is validated by experimentation performed in a 3D printed model of the human colon. The results show that it is feasible to measure the size of various objects in endoscopic images with a mean absolute error of 1.10 mm ± 0.89 mm.


Background: IMPAACT PROMISE 1077BF/FF was a randomized study of antiretroviral therapy (ART) strategies for pregnant and postpartum women with high CD4+ T-cell counts. We describe postpartum outcomes for women in the study who were randomized to continue or discontinue ART after delivery. Methods: Women with pre-ART CD4+ cell counts ≥350 cells/mm3 who started ART during pregnancy were randomized postpartum to continue or discontinue treatment. Women were enrolled from India, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The primary outcome was a composite of progression to AIDS-defining illness or death. Log-rank tests and Cox regression models assessed treatment effects. Incidence rates were calculated per 100 person-years. A post hoc analysis evaluated WHO Stage 2/3 events. All analyses were intent-to-treat. Findings: 1611 women were enrolled (June 2011–October 2014) and 95% were breastfeeding. Median age at entry was 27 years, CD4+ count 728 cells/mm3 and the majority of women were Black African (97%). After a median follow-up of 1.6 years, progression to AIDS-defining illness or death was rare and there was no significant difference between arms (HR: 0·55; 95%CI 0·14, 2·08, p = 0.37). WHO Stage 2/3 events were reduced with continued ART (HR: 0·60; 95%CI 0·39, 0·90, p = 0.01). The arms did not differ with respect to the rate of grade 2, 3, or 4 safety events (p = 0.61). Interpretation: Serious clinical events were rare among predominately breastfeeding women with high CD4+ cell counts over 18 months after delivery. ART had significant benefit in reducing WHO 2/3 events in this population.


Lavages of the lacrimal fluid were examined, before operation and immediately after operation, in 47 patients with diabetes mellitus and with pseudophakia in order to define the possibilities of the method of laser-correlation spectroscopy (LCS) in evaluating the semiotic nature and a severity degree of postoperative inflammation. It was found that, when the subjective symptomatology of inflammation in the LCS spectrums intensified, there was a higher contribution to the light dissemination of particles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 600 nm and more (i.e. of heavy lipoprotein complexes and of immune complexes), which were determined after a computer-based processing as a condition of primary intoxication and of immune shifts. The LCS results objectively confirmed that the degree of inflammatory changes during the early postoperative period was reliably higher in patients with a level of glycolyzed hemoglobin exceeding 9% versus patients with the above parameter being below 9%.


Purpose
Although international product-harm crises have become more common, the influence of the country image (CI) associated with foreign goods in such crises remains under researched. This study aims to investigate the extent to which the CI of a foreign made product influences consumers' attribution of blame and trust and, ultimately, their future purchase intentions after the product is involved in a crisis.

Design/methodology/approach
A 2 (country) × 3 (crisis type) quasi experimental design was used, with data collected from Australia (n = 375) and China (n = 401).

Findings
CI can influence attribution of blame, subsequent levels of trust and likely purchase intentions. Australian and Chinese consumers have different views when it comes to trusting a company or placing blame, depending on the country of origin or the type of crisis. The direct and positive effect of CI on consumer purchase intentions following a product-harm crisis is sequentially mediated by attribution of blame and trust. Trust is the most powerful influence on future purchase intentions in both samples.

Research limitations/implications
In this research, only one type of crisis response strategy (no comment) was used. Thus, the results of this study must be viewed with caution when considering outcomes relating to other response options. Additionally, the testing was limited to only two samples, focussing on three countries (England, China, Vietnam), and one product context using a hypothetical brand. Further, despite our reasonable sample size (N = 776), the number of respondents represented in each cell would still be considered a limitation overall.

Practical implications
When developing crisis response strategies, managers should take into account the influence of a positive/negative source CI in driving attribution and trust. To minimize the impact of crisis on future purchasing decisions, organizations can leverage positive biases and mitigate negative ones, aiming to maintain or restore trust as a priority.

Originality/value
The study provides cross-country understanding about the significant role of CI during a product-harm crisis in relation to subsequent consumers' blame attribution, their trust in the focal organization and ultimately their future purchase intentions.


The high levels of electromagnetic radiation are a concern today with such large growth in the industries of telecommunications and media broadcasting. The concerns lead to an investigation into the theory of electromagnetic radiation and an application of the
theory into a practical outcome around the University of Southern Queensland. Scans were conducted around the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) campus, Toowoomba, measuring the levels of non-ionising radiation from 30MHz to 1GHz. These scans were made using a broadband antenna and a spectrum analyser.

The measurements conducted around the USQ campus underwent analysis of how each site, and signal frequency, affected the exposure within that area as well as many other
characteristics of the measured signals. This was to investigate the possible methods of minimising exposure if long-term radiation risks were a concern. The conclusions of this study showed lower amplitudes of measured exposure indoors, when compared with outdoors and determining a number of sites of higher and lower exposures located
around the USQ campus.

The peak values of the scans were compared to the Australian Standards, of 0.08W/kg, for general public exposure to signals from distant sources. The largest recorded experimental result was in the magnitude of 106 times smaller than the standard restriction. This eliminated concern for any short-term heating effects which have been discovered for levels above the Australian Standards.

The long-term effects of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation within the range of testing has not been conclusively found to have any known health risks, but also has not been able to be concluded as safe. The many studies which have been conducted discovered both positive and negative results from a number of possible effects such as cancer, behavioural changes, pregnancy difficulties, epidemiological concerns and cognitive ability to name a few.

Difficulties in research are attributed to the difficulties of finding long-term exposure incidences, or recreating these situations in controlled environments. One study which was able to determine no increased risk of cancer, or increase in the rate of rare cancers
was a study of the Denmark cancer registry and mobile phone registry which was a nationwide study of over 420,000 observed cases. This study covered the largest sample size seen for a study in this field and had cancer statistics of up to 25 years mobile phone exposure.

The conclusions to this study provided people located on campus were at no risk of any short-term effects from the electromagnetic radiation exposure levels measured at USQ.
The long term risks also could not be determined due to a current lack of knowledge within the scientific community but from a number of studies it appeared there was no
risk of cancer developing from these signals also.


This article analyses the incorporation ('constitutionalization') of the ECHR and ECtHR case law in the new Constitution of Kosovo, deconstructing a novel form of integration of international instruments into a domestic system of constitutional human rights protection. The combination and merger of the national and international, without the presumed prerequisites of statehood and ratification are remarkable and uncommon. The authors examine the mechanics of the new legal system integrating the ECHR and ECtHR case law into domestic law, considering issues such as rank, applicability, effect and function of the Convention and the ECtHR case law in a system based on constitutionalization without ratification. Whilst this is a fascinating theme–as the interaction between international and domestic instruments is closely linked to the success of the reconstruction of the institutions of the fledgling Kosovan state and a unique concept of the use and combination of national and domestic systems of protection is put to a test –it remains scarcely considered in legal or academic literature.


Depression is an important public health problem at the moment. There are data that can influence the spiritual spirit and resilience on major depression, can be studied imposingly and to cope with a Romanian population.
The study will evaluate the spirituality, resilience, symptoms and severity of depression and suicide risk on a sample of adult patients diagnosed with major depression. The control group will consist of participants without psychiatric background, comparable as age and sex with the first group. Patients will undergo a structured psychiatric interview (M.I.N.I. – International Neuropsychiatric Interview), will complete a demographic questionnaire and will assessed with a depression scale, suicide risk scale, resilience and spirituality scale.
Spirituality and religiosity become an area of interest for the study of depression protective factors. The present paper may propose to demonstrate the beneficial influence of the spirituality on the symptoms of major depression and the reduction of suicide risk in major depressive disorder. If the study will find a statistically significant correlation between spirituality and suicide risk reduction, it will emphasize the importance of spirituality in the evolution of psychiatric patients and it may change their approach and management.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on describing the experience of occupational psychosocial stress among librarians in Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. It further seeks to identify the various psychosocial stress components and how they interact to determine the stress level of librarians.

Design/methodology/approach
Using the Effort-Reward Imbalance scale, this descriptive study employed a web-based data collection tool (Google Form) to design and solicit data from respondents. Convenient sampling technique was used to employ 153 librarians from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa with at least a diploma in any library-related programme, who work in either academic, public or special libraries.

Findings
This study established the prevalence of occupational psychosocial stress among librarians from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. It was realised that gender, country of residence of respondents, age, work experience, workers with children under 13 years of age and work roles were the main factors that influenced the occupational stress among the respondents.

Research limitations/implications
The response rate for this study was low. As a result, undertaking any inferential statistics to explain relationships was not possible.

Originality/value
The value of this study lies in the depth of narrative data collected and the insight it affords with regards to contemporary work within libraries in Africa and beyond. The results presented may provide both a starting point for further discussion and may also promote an increased openness about issues of employee safety in the library environment.


normal, meanwhile the ventricular systolic and diastolic function is obviously impaired. There were no significant differences of the ventricular function between the mild tricuspid regurgitation fetus and the normal, that is mild tricuspid regurgitation do not cause fetal ventricular function damage. The qualitative and quantitative measurements of prenatal fetal tricuspid regurgitation is beneficial to evaluate the effects of cardiac structure, activity and rhythm.


ALZHEIMER DISEASE (AD), THE MOST COMMON FORM OF DEmentia, affects about four million Americans and has been estimated to cost US society $100 billion per year, exceeded only by the costs of heart disease and cancer. The prevalence of AD has been predicted to reach 14 million by 2050 unless a treatment is found, and overall costs may increase four-fold. While considerable debate remains about the pathogenesis, nosology, and treatment of AD, there is no doubt that this research has the potential for enormous financial and professional gains. Thus, there is a need to balance the interests of both researchers and society in conducting AD research. Although the financial interests of clinical investigators have not necessarily affected the validity of trial results, experiences with some AD drug trials have prompted the development of organizational guidelines to limit the appearance or reality of financial conflicts of interest. Based on a trial of tacrine and other drugs, a multidisciplinary panel was convened to study the financial relationship between academia and industry. Its recommendations included proactive disclosure of both personal and organizational conflicts in all clinical trials, particularly as a way to build public trust in the drug development process. The Parkinson Study Group, a not-for-profit physicians' group that coordinates research at 85 sites across the United States and Canada, has adopted similar principles and has published the results of some 25 multicenter trials for diagnostic methods and experimental interventions in Parkinson disease. This group further mandates review of all research by outside health care providers and the release of both positive and negative results to the public. Guided in part by the approach of the Parkinson Study Group, a large multisite study—the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Cooperative Study—has developed and internally disseminated conflict-of-interest guidelines. These include a $10000 annual cap on consulting fees for investigators and stringent limitations on ownership of equity in companies involved in the studies. Those leading the studies are subject to stricter guidelines. However, the blanket exclusion of experts with some industry ties from the design of trials might make drug development less efficient. Therefore, the Cooperative Study's guidelines reflect a need to balance access to scientific expertise with the goal of mitigating conflicts of interest. The group is currently studying the impact of its guidelines on the conduct of clinical trials. Novel targets of AD pathogenesis, however, would present a new set of challenges even if all appearances of conflict were to be addressed. A recent trial of a vaccine-based treatment for AD was viewed by many as a critical test of the amyloid hypothesis, a popular model of AD pathogenesis. Vaccination of transgenic mice against components of human amyloid, a protein at the core of senile plaques in AD, led to clearance of this protein from the brain. However, in phase II human trials with this same vaccine, some subjects developed autoimmune encephalitis, an adverse effect that prompted termination of the trial. As others have suggested, the public health can best be served in this case by a full disclosure of the disease course and clinical response of all trial participants, rather than analyses of single cases or subsets of subjects. Equipped with as complete a set of positive and negative findings as possible, clinical investigators would be better able to anticipate potential problems with mechanistically novel agents in future trials.


"My name is Carter," he said at last. He spoke with an American accent. "Joe Carter. I've just got in from Chicago. And I've got a problem." The man in the photo is so blurry it's impossible to make out what he really looks like. And that was before he was run over by a steamroller! His name was Lenny Smile and he ran a children's charity called Dream Time, financed by millionaire author Joe Carter. Now Carter wants to know just what happened to Smile - and to the money. Unfortunately for him, he's hired the Diamond Brothers - Tim, the world's worst private detective, and his wise-cracking younger brother Nick - to solve the mystery!


In-situ HRTEM technique was applied to various substrates and the reaction processes between substrates and molten alloy were compared. Substrates used were SiC, Si3N4, Si wafers, an amorphous carbon film, and a carbon nanotube. Ti-containing Ag-Cu eutectic alloy foil was placed on the substrate and the combined specimen mounted on the heating holder of an HRTEM and heated in the microscope to melt the alloy foil. In the case of SiC, Si3N4, carbon materials, the molten alloy spreading on the substrates were observed after melting of the alloy. SiC polar plane nano-steps appeared with the SiC dissociation by the molten alloy. On the surface of the carbon nanotube, thin film precursor spreading was observed. In contrast, Si reaction with the molten alloy produced big holes at the contacted area and molten alloy spreading was not observed.


The food web is one of the oldest and most central organising concepts in ecology and for decades, food chain length has been hypothesised to be controlled by productivity, disturbance, and/or ecosystem size; each of which may be mediated by the functional trophic role of the top predator. We characterised aquatic food webs using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from 66 river and floodplain sites across the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia to determine the relative importance of productivity (indicated by nutrient concentrations), disturbance (indicated by hydrological isolation) and ecosystem size, and how they may be affected by food web architecture. We show that variation in food chain length was unrelated to these classic environmental determinants, and unrelated to the trophic role of the top predator. This finding is a striking exception to the literature and is the first published example of food chain length being unaffected by any of these determinants. We suggest the distinctive seasonal hydrology of northern Australia allows the movement of fish predators, linking isolated food webs and potentially creating a regional food web that overrides local effects of productivity, disturbance and ecosystem size. This finding supports ecological theory suggesting that mobile consumers promote more stable food webs. It also illustrates how food webs, and energy transfer, may function in the absence of the human modifications to landscape hydrological connectivity that are ubiquitous in more populated regions.


Introduction: As the number of patients on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) rises, it is important to identify factors that predict mortality among these patients so that they can be closely monitored. Aim of the study was to determine the mortality rate among a cohort of HIV patients on naive ART and to assess the predictors of mortality among them.
Material and methods: In this retrospective study, records of 249 patients living with HIV (PLHIV) who were ART naive, enrolled in the ART centre attached to Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangalore from February 2012 to February 2015, were analysed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was carried out to assess the factors predicting mortality among these patients.
Results: By the end of the study period, 47 out of 249 patients died, giving an overall mortality rate
of 18.8%. The mean age of the PLHIV was 43.4 ± 9.1 years. WHO stage 3/4 disease was present in 47.4% of patients. On univariate analysis, mortality was found to be significantly associated with alcohol consumption, being non-ambulatory, underweight (body mass index [BMI] < 18.5 kg/m2), WHO stage 3 or 4 disease, presence of opportunistic infections (OIs), presence of tuberculosis, being on an efavirenz-based regimen, poor adherence (< 95%), CD4 count < 350 cells/mm3, anaemia and raised creatinine levels. However, on multivariate analysis, presence of OIs and low BMI were found to independently predict mortality.
Conclusions: Our study identifies lower BMI and presence of OIs as independent risk factors predicting mortality.


Nonindigenous forest insects and pathogens affect a range of ecosystems, industries, and property owners in the United States. Evaluating temporal patterns in the accumulation of these nonindigenous forest pests can inform regulatory and policy decisions. We compiled a comprehensive species list to assess the accumulation rates of nonindigenous forest insects and pathogens established in the United States. More than 450 nonindigenous insects and at least 16 pathogens have colonized forest and urban trees since European settlement. Approximately 2.5 established nonindigenous forest insects per year were detected in the United States between 1860 and 2006. At least 14% of these insects and all 16 pathogens have caused notable damage to trees. Although sap feeders and foliage feeders dominated the comprehensive list, phloem- and wood-boring insects and foliage feeders were often more damaging than expected. Detections of insects that feed on phloem or wood have increased markedly in recent years.


In present study, it was investigated whether biogenic hydroxyapatite is suitable to chemical modification. The chemical modification on the surfaces of bone particles was made on two step using silanization and shiff base reaction. Fish Bones were used as biogenic hydroxyapatite and it were cleaned in order to make them ready for chemical proceeding. Chemical modifications were performed on the surface of fish bone particles. Firstly, free amine (-NH2) group was obtained in molecule by silanization of the surfaces of fish bones with 3-amminopropyl-triethoksisilane (S1). Afterwards, amine groups that exist on the surface of bones were reacted with 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde (B4) that includes aldehyde groups. The materials were analyzed with FT-IR, SEM-EDS, TGA and Zeta potential. In SEM-EDS analysis, the band of silisium (Si) and sulfur (S) elements of molecules for S1 and B4 can be clearly seen. The point of zero charge (Pzc) of unmodified bone apatite (H), modified bone 3-amminopropyl-triethoksisilane (HS1) and 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde (HS1B4) was investigated and determined as 7.25, 7.72 and 7.57, respectively. Additionally, nitrogen for H, HS1 and sulfur for HS1B4 was detected as 8.031, 8.291 and 0.916 %, respectively. 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde bonded on the surface of bone was calculated as 143.4 μmol g-1. The results showed that surface modification was performed successfully. BET surface area of the unprocessed apatite is 5.65 m2g-1 and the surface area of modified apatite HS1B4 is 2.95 m2 g-1. This study was shown that waste fish bones occurring waste and non-economic value as industrial is to be suitable for chemical modifications and it could be effectively converted to different materials.


AIM
To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous imaging-guided biliary interventions in the management of acute biliary disorders in high surgical risk patients.

METHODS
One hundred and twenty two patients underwent 139 percutaneous imaging-guided biliary interventions during the period between January 2007 to December 2009. The patients included 73 women and 49 men with a mean age of 61 years (range 35-90 years).Fifty nine patients had acute biliary obstruction, 26 patients had acute biliary infection and 37 patients had abnormal collections. The procedures were performed under computed tomography (CT)- (73 patients), sonographic- (41 patients), and fluoroscopic-guidance (25 patients). Success rates and complications were determined. The χ(2) test with Yates' correction for continuity was applied to compare between these procedures. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS
The success rates for draining acute biliary obstruction under CT- , fluoroscopy- or ultrasound-guidance were 93.3%, 62.5% and 46.1%, respectively with significant P values (P = 0.026 and 0.002, respectively). In acute biliary infection, successful drainage was achieved in 22 patients (84.6%). The success rates in patients drained under ultrasound- and CT-guidance were 46.1% and 88.8%, respectively and drainage under CT-guidance was significantly higher (P = 0.0293). In 13 patients with bilomas, percutaneous drainage was successful in 11 patients (84.6%). Ten out of 12 cases with hepatic abscesses were drained with a success rate of 83.3%. In addition, the success rate of drainage in 12 cases with pancreatic pseudocysts was 83.3%. The reported complications were two deaths, four major and seven minor complications.

CONCLUSION
Percutaneous imaging-guided biliary interventions help to promptly diagnose and effectively treat acute biliary disorders. They either cure the disorders or relieve sepsis and jaundice before operations.


Simple Summary AML is a heterogenous malignancy with a variety of underlying genomic abnormalities. Some of the genetic aberrations in AML have led to the development of specific inhibitors which were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are currently used to treat eligible patients. In this review, we describe five gene mutations for which approved inhibitors have been developed, the response of AML patients to these inhibitors, and the known mechanism(s) of resistance. This review also highlights the significance of developing function-based screens for target discovery in the era of personalized medicine. Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy characterized by the clonal expansion of myeloid stem and progenitor cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and other tissues. AML results from the acquisition of gene mutations or chromosomal abnormalities that induce proliferation or block differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors. A combination of cytogenetic profiling and gene mutation analyses are essential for the proper diagnosis, classification, prognosis, and treatment of AML. In the present review, we provide a summary of genomic abnormalities in AML that have emerged as both markers of disease and therapeutic targets. We discuss the abnormalities of RARA, FLT3, BCL2, IDH1, and IDH2, their significance as therapeutic targets in AML, and how various mechanisms cause resistance to the currently FDA-approved inhibitors. We also discuss the limitations of current genomic approaches for producing a comprehensive picture of the activated signaling pathways at diagnosis or at relapse in AML patients, and how innovative technologies combining genomic and functional methods will improve the discovery of novel therapeutic targets in AML. The ultimate goal is to optimize a personalized medicine approach for AML patients and possibly those with other types of cancers.


: Dieulafoy's disease is an uncommon but potentially significant cause of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a large-caliber arterial vessel in the submucosa, which causes erosion and debilitation of the surrounding mucosa and may lead to massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Since endoscopy may prove insufficient, echoendoscopy may help in the diagnosis of this condition. Echoendoscopy may also help improve endoscopic management using mechanical techniques (hemoclips or band ligation) or a combination of thermal techniques and injection sclerotherapy, since this allows an accurate localization of the submucosal vessel. We present a case illustrating this approach by endoscopic ultrasonography, and describe the morphological substrate of this condition.


Taiwan's special climate and landforms are affected by summer typhoons, with 78% of its rainfall occurring during the summer and autumn months. The range and the severity of disasters has increased in recent years, thanks in part to climate change, which has caused an unstable rainfall. Accurate rainfall predictions help to forecast rivers' water levels. This study proposes a new rainfall prediction model based on features of the rainfall system. In order to overcome the drawbacks found in the original grey model, a few corrections have been made to the new model. First, the dynamic index transformation is used to generate an exponentially smooth sequence. When the new model was applied to data from eight different typhoons, the results revealed that the mean peak rainfall error, compared to the original sequences, is close to 0. This technique can also effectively increase the accuracy of maximum rainfall predictions. Next, the grey model's background value was improved through integration. This technique can correct any delay in the peak rainfall as predicted by the conventional model, and make the predicted and actual values closer. Finally, we used the Fourier series and the exponential smoothing technique to correct periodical and random errors. The new model is called the Dynamic index Exponential Fourier Grey Model (DEFGM (1,1)). By examining different indicators, the mean coefficient of efficiency of the DEFGM (1,1) was found to be close to 1, which is indicative of a relatively good overall performance. With this tool, the predictability of rainfall systems during typhoons is more accurate, and disaster prevention measures can be made in advance.


Abstract Diazinon (DI) is an organophosphate. Thymoquinone (TQ) is produced from Nigella sativa. This study was a biochemical investigation of the protective properties of TQ as a supportive treatment in brain damage caused by diazinon. Rats were divided into four groups of eight, as follows: Group 1, control; group 2, DI; group 3, DI + TQ; and group 4, TQ. Groups 2 and 3 received DI. Groups 3 and 4 received TQ. In group 2, NO levels were higher and SOD levels were lower compared to the control group. In groups 3 and 4, NO levels were lower and SOD levels were higher than in either the control or group 2. In group 4, DNA damage was lower than in group 2, but the difference between groups 2 and 3 was not significant. The results suggest that TQ, because of its antioxidant properties, can be used to treat oxidative stress caused by DI intoxication.


PURPOSE
To analyze the patterns of expression of the cryptochromes, CRY1 and CRY2, in the human retina and to correlate expression of these putative blue-light receptors with nonvisual photoreceptor localization.

METHODS
CRY1 and CRY2 mRNA expression was analyzed in 4-mm diameter punches of macula and midperipheral human retina by quantitative RT-PCR. CRY2 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in cross sections of human retina, and its subcellular localization was determined by immunoblot analysis of fractionated human retinal extracts.

RESULTS
CRY2 mRNA was 11 times more abundant than CRY1 throughout adult human retina. CRY2 immunoreactivity was detected in most cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and in a subset of cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) in both the macula and periphery. Immunoperoxidase staining further revealed that CRY2 was localized throughout the cytoplasm of cells in the GCL as well as within nuclei. This intracellular localization of CRY2 was confirmed by immunoblot analysis of fractionated human retinal extracts.

CONCLUSIONS
Photopigments governing circadian photoreception have been localized to the inner retina. The relative abundance of CRY2 transcripts, coupled with CRY2 localization to the inner retina, supports a photoreceptive role for CRY2 in human retina. Furthermore, the discovery that CRY2 is also localized within the cytoplasm of some cells in the GCL, suggests it may perform a function separate from its known nuclear role in the transcriptional feedback loop underlying the molecular circadian clock.


Emerging hyper-competitive era in the last few decades has increased the need of information system and technology in human resource management for competitiveness. The revolution in information technology is completely and swiftly redefining the way things are done in nearly every field of human activity. Human resources and information technology are two elements that many firms are looking to utilize them as strategic weapons to compete. Information systems especially developed for human resource management referred as human resource information system (HRIS) is an integrated system necessary to collect, record, store, manage, deliver and present data for human resource and hence promotes effectiveness of human resource system. Human resource technology or human resource information system shapes an interaction between human resource management and information technology. There has been a considerable increase in the number of organizations gathering, storing and analyzing information regarding their human resources through the use of human resource information system. HRIS has become a critical factor in making business competitive and effective. The present paper focuses on the role and importance of HRIS towards business competitiveness. The paper will also highlight the need, components, benefits and functions of HRIS. Index Terms Human resource information system, business competitiveness, human resource management,


This symposium essay explores the transformation of the federal appellate courts through the lens of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Nationwide, circuit courts have experienced rapidly expanding dockets, which by necessity has led to a transformation in the way these courts conduct their business. For instance, the average active circuit judge in the Fourth Circuit now hears more than twice as many appeals as in 1979. These crushing caseloads have led to a variety of reform measures, only some of which are transparent. For instance, the percentage of cases terminated on the merits following oral argument has plummeted from 95 percent of cases in the Fourth Circuit in 1979 to a modern low of just 12 percent in 2006. Similarly, the percentage of cases decided through published opinions has decreased by more than 50% since 1989. In addition to procedural reforms, the Fourth Circuit has dramatically increased the number of staff attorneys to handle routine cases that are decided without oral argument. These reforms, plus others, are critically examined in this Essay.


We automated the Jendrassik-Grof method for measurement of bilirubin with the Greiner Selective Analyzer GSA II D. Comparison with the manual Jendrassik-Grof method showed a highly significant correlation coefficient of 0.994 for total and 0.980 for "direct" bilirubin measurement. The automated method showed good precision and was linear to 667 mu mol/L, the highest concentration tested. Addition of hemolysate caused a greater effect on the measurement of direct bilirubin than on total bilirubin. The inhibitory effect on measurement of total bilirubin, though small, was statistically significant at hemoglobin concentrations greater than 2 g/L. Comparison with the method involving diazotized 2,4-dichloroaniline showed the Jendrassik-Grof method to be relatively less affected by hemolysis and turbidity in the measurement of total bilirubin.


Subjective tests of telecommunication services engaging a panel of subjects aim to analyze how service users experience their quality (QoE) with varying parameters of both a network and/or application itself. Subjects express their opinion on a few-grade categorical scale during tests performed in a controlled environment. The proposed Generalized Linear Model (GLZ)1 relates probabilities of particular QoE levels to independent network and application explanatory variables in a statistically credible way. The GLZ model is executed in several steps including maximum likelihood estimation of model parameters, selection of the most effective model with the Bayesian information criterion, model validation with a chi-squared test, and last but not least confidence interval estimation. Monitoring a QoE level with a GLZ model provides to operators an effective tool towards a mid- and long-term adaptation of both network and/or application parameters in order to follow users' experience and expectations.


Using the mean field theory, we obtain the phase line equations for the liquid-solid I, liquid-solid II and solid I-solid II transitions in (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 /H 2 O. We fit our phase line equations to the experimental T-X phase diagram of this system. Thus, we are able to obtain the temperature and concentration dependencies of the order parameters and the free energies in this system.


This paper investigates, in high resolution, the role of liquidity in a limit order market. Liquidity in these markets has two parts - a liquidity store and liquidity flow (time dimension). We model the liquidity residing in a limit order book and the liquidity flow from the latent order book, using a fully probabilistic model. Using a sample of stocks from NASDAQ 100 we find that liquidity residing in the order book, within five levels each on either side of the transaction price and the flow to this liquidity pool from the latent order book can explain the wealth traded through the trading system, when observed in business time. The explanatory power is satisfactory in high resolution and short periods of business time but weaker in aggregated longer time periods. We observe that the liquidity pool for large part of the trading day goes into a steady state equilibrium.


Introduction: One of the major challenges that the healthcare system was facing during the pandemic was how to manage patients requiring specific treatment, such as cancer surgery while managing the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Especially in pandemic hospitals, arrangements were made for the follow-up and treatment of other non COVID-19 patients in order to prevent transmission within the hospital. The aim of the study was to evaluate patients undergoing cancer surgery during the pandemic in the General Surgery Department of our hospital, which serves as a pandemic hospital. Methods: Cancer surgeries performed under emergency and elective conditions in the General Surgery Department of a tertiary pandemic hospital between March 11th, 2020, and July 31st, 2020, were retrospectively evaluated. Results: A total of 46 patients were included in the study. Two patients who underwent cancer surgery died of non-COVID-19 causes. No findings suggestive of COVID-19 were found in any patients in the preoperative or postoperative periods. During this period, no contamination was detected in the operating room team or in the healthcare personnel who followed the patients in the ward. Discussion and Conclusion: In a hospital that has been declared as a pandemic hospital and the majority of its capacity has been reserved for the follow-up and treatment of patients with COVID-19, isolated areas can be created and special surgeries such as cancer surgery can be successfully performed in addition to emergency surgeries.


No ordinary critic, Norman Spinrad explicates, celebrates, and sometimes excoriates science fiction from the privileged perspective of an artist armed with intimate knowledge of the craft of fiction and even of the writers themselves.In these 13 essays, Spinrad urges science fiction as a genre to reach its potential. He divides the essaysnew works written specifically for this book combined with those that appeared in "Isaac Asimov s Science Fiction Magazine"into" "five sections: "Literature and Genre: A Critical Overview," in which Spinrad establishes his critical standards; "Alternate Media: Visual Translations," a discussion of comic books and books made into movies; "Modes of Content: Hard SF, Cyberpunk, and the Space Visionaries"; "Psychopolitics and Science Fiction: HeroesTrue and Otherwise"; and "Masters of the Form: Careers in Profile," discussions of Sturgeon, Vonnegut, Ballard, and Dick."


In this paper, we describe a novel agent architecture for normative multiagent systems which is based on multi-context systems. It models the three modalities of Rao and Georgeff's BDI agents as individual contexts and adds a fourth one for commitments. This new component is connected to all other mental attitudes via two sets of bridge rules, injecting formulae into it and modifying the BDI components after reasoning about commitments. As with other normative approaches the need for methods to deal with consistency is a key concern. We suggest three forms of dealing with the truth maintenance problem, all of which profit from the use of multi-context systems.


This paper deals with the results of ultrasound (US) and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with perforated duodenal ulcer in different periods after the onset of the disease, with varying clinical manifestations, and in the postoperative period. A comparative analysis of the results of radiation studies has indicated that X-ray study is a basic technique that defines treatment policy in the early development periods of perforation; US study (USS) reveals a change in the duodenum, fluid and infiltration outside the duodenum. As circumscribed peritonitis progresses, USS allows the diagnosis of abdominal abscesses and infiltrations. Out of the radiation techniques, MSCT is of most importance in the diagnosis of interintestinal abscesses and in the determination of syntopy of purulent cavities.