BACKGROUND
Skeletal metastases are common occurrences in patients with malignancies such as breast and prostate carcinoma, but they are difficult to diagnose nonradiologically, and treatment is difficult to follow clinically. Recent developments suggest that biochemical markers of bone remodeling, such as the bone collagen breakdown product N-telopeptide and the bone formation marker known as bone specific alkaline phosphatase, hold great promise as clinical tools for the management of patients with metastatic bone disease.

METHODS
Serum levels of the bone formation marker known as bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), along with serum levels of the bone collagen breakdown product carboxyterminal telopeptide of Type I collagen (ICTP) and urine levels of pyridinoline (PYD), deoxypridinoline (DPD), and N-telopeptide (NTx), were measured in a large cohort of patients with newly diagnosed or progressive cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, and other sites. Bone marker levels were correlated with the presence or absence of bone scan-documented metastases; metastatic disease extension in terms of the number of skeletal sites involved; and the type of lesion, whether blastic or lytic. Sites examined included the pelvis, spine, skull, ribs, and long bones.

RESULTS
All of the bone markers examined, including BAP and NTx, were abnormally elevated in a high proportion of patients with confirmed metastases to bone. Urine NTx levels and bone specific alkaline phosphatase were significantly correlated with the number of skeletal sites involved, and a significant correlation between marker level and extent of skeletal involvement was also observed. In addition, both markers were higher in patients with a blastic disease presentation than in patients with osteolytic lesions.

CONCLUSIONS
Biochemical markers of bone resorption and bone formation are abnormally raised in the blood and urine of patients with metastatic bone disease. Markers of bone collagen breakdown, such as N-telopeptide, as well as markers of osteoblast function, such as bone specific alkaline phosphatase, appear to be of use in assessing and managing patients with malignancies that metastasize to bone. In this study, both NTx and BAP showed a significant correlation with both the presence of bone metastases and the extent of skeletal involvement. Biochemical markers of bone remodeling can also be used to guide decision making regarding the treatment of metastatic bone disease and to determine the effectiveness of therapy for patients with cancer to bone whose broad-based symptoms make it difficult to discern true response to therapy.


Major element, trace element and Nd^Sr isotopic data are presented for 82 plutonic rocks from the southern Coast Mountains Batholith (CMB) in British Columbia, Canada, ranging in emplacement age from 210 to 50 Ma. The rocks are part of a large composite magmatic arc batholith, which the major element data show to be of calc-alkaline affinity. The majority of CMB samples lack the depletion in Eu that would be consistent with equilibration of magmas and plagioclase-bearing crystalline residues or fractionates, suggesting that equilibration took place deeper than the pressure limit of plagioclase stability at 35^40 km depth. The CMB samples show a wide variation in the slope of normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns, with chondrite-normalized La/Yb ratios above 10 being mostly confined to periods of high magmatic flux in the arc at 160^140, 120^80, and 60^50 Ma. The clearest relationships between major and trace elements are negative correlations between SiO2 and each of Sc, Y, and the heavier REE Gd to Lu. Nd and Sr isotopes mostly document juvenile origins for the granitoids, but show variations to higher Sr/Sr and lower eNd during high-flux periods.The results are interpreted to indicate a deep origin for most CMB magmas, below 40 km where mafic to intermediate rock assemblages previously added to the arc crust by mantle melting were transformed to an (amphibole-bearing)eclogite facies cumulate or restite, such that melting residues consisted mainly of two pyroxenes, garnet and variable proportions of amphibole. Thickened orogenic crust, for which there is clear geological evidence during the period 100^80 Ma, promoted this process. During high-flux periods, larger amounts of older rocks, mostly mafic rocks and some metasediments added to the base of the arc during orogenic shortening, became involved in magma genesis.


Escalation of commitment denotes decision makers' increased reinvestment of resources in a losing course of action. Despite the relevance of this topic, little is known about how information is processed in escalation situations, that is, whether decision makers who receive negative outcome feedback on their initial decision search for and/or process information biasedly and whether these biases contribute to escalating commitment. Contrary to a widely cited study by E. J. Conlon and J. M. Parks (1987), in 3 experiments, the authors found that biases do not occur on the level of information search. Neither in a direct replication and extension of the original study with largely increased test power (Experiment 1) nor under methodologically improved conditions (Experiments 2 and 3) did decision makers responsible for failure differ from nonresponsible decision makers with regards to information search, and no selective search for information supporting the initial decision or voting for further reinvestment was observed. However, Experiments 3 and 4 show that the evaluation of the previously sought information is biased among participants who were responsible for initiating the course of action. Mediation analyses show that this evaluation bias in favor of reinvestment partially mediated the responsibility effect on escalation of commitment.


User experience is an important aspect of game development, and techniques in Artificial Intelligence have been proved to increase the agent performance and have the potential to affect user experience in games. In this thesis, we aim to improve the user experience of the computer game known as StateCraft by extending the computer controlled opponent with the Emotion module and the Prisoner's Dilemma module. We conducted simulations and user tests to study the effects of these modules on the agent performance and user experience. The Emotion module gives the autonomous agent in StateCraft emotions. Existing research shows that emotions affect the decision making of the agent and make it appear more human-like. Statistic analysis of the simulation data indicates that agents perform worse in general with emotions than without. Based on the study performed on the user test of StateCraft with and without the Emotion module, we are not able to make a clear conclusion on the user experience, but the results indicate that playing against emotional agents is more fun, hence increases the user experience. The Prisoner's Dilemma module gives the autonomous agent in StateCraft an understanding of the concept of the Prisoner's Dilemma. StateCraft contains several situations similar to the ones expressed in the Prisoner's Dilemma, and we wished to study whether the agent would perform differently if it understood this concept. The module was implemented with two strategies for the Prisoner's Dilemma module, Tit-For-Tat and Freidman, which both modify the behaviour of the agent according to the original specification of the strategies. Statistic analysis of the simulation data shows that Tit-For-Tat and Freidman lead to a more balanced game when all the agents are using the same strategy. The results from the user test with and without the Prisoner's Dilemma module were ambiguous, and thus indicate that further research is required to study the effects of these strategies on user experience.


ABSTRACT The transcriptional coactivators p300 and CREB binding protein (CBP) are important regulators of the cell cycle, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. Both p300 and CBP are targeted by viral oncoproteins, are mutated in certain forms of cancer, are phosphorylated in a cell cycle-dependent manner, interact with transcription factors such as p53 and E2F, and can be found complexed with cyclinE-Cdk2 in vivo. Moreover, p300-deficient cells show defects in proliferation. Here we demonstrate that transcriptional activation by both p300 and CBP is stimulated by coexpression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF/CIP1. Significantly this stimulation is independent of both the inherent histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of p300 and CBP and of the previously reported carboxyl-terminal binding site for cyclinE-Cdk2. Rather, we describe a previously uncharacterized transcriptional repression domain (CRD1) within p300. p300 transactivation is stimulated through derepression of CRD1 by p21. Significantly p21 regulation of CRD1 is dependent on the nature of the core promoter. We suggest that CRD1 provides a novel mechanism through which p300 and CBP can switch activities between the promoters of genes that stimulate growth and those that enhance cell cycle arrest.


: The possibility of myocardial necrosis occurrence in coronary failure proceeding as atypical myocardial infarction was examined in 176 patients with chronic types of coronary heart disease and in experiments with 16 dogs with reversible coronary failure simulated in chronic tests. 99mTe-labeled pyrophosphate myocardial scintigraphy was used in the clinical studies. Myocardial pyrophosphate accumulation was recorded in 37% of patients with angina pectoris without a history of myocardial infarction and 73% myocardial infarction survivals. Histological evidence for small myocardial necroses at various stages of their development was found in 12 dogs. Recurrent transient myocardial ischemias were shown to be able to lead to myocardial necroses that are not always followed by a typical course of acute myocardial infarction.


The most overworked figure in our society may be the unemployment rate. Newscasters, politicians, and economists use it in discussing everything from the overall health of the economy to the merits of alternative welfare programs. Despite its widespread use, however, the unemployment rate frequently is criticized for not indicating the true state of the economy's health or of society's welfare.If the unemployment rate falls to 4 percent, for example, some economists will argue that it's too low and that, even though the rate is greater than zero, the economy is overemployed. Others will argue that unemployment has not fallen far enough and that, although the overall rate is fairly low, the rates for blacks and teenagers are much higher. Each group has a point; but one and the same statistic is being used for two quite different purposes.The first group uses the unemployment rate as an economic measure. These people are interested primarily in the overall state of the economy. Are we in a recession or a boom? Where are we headed? How fast? People with the second viewpoint use the unemployment rate as a welfare measure. They are interested primarily in how the benefits of the economy are distributed. Who is suffering? How bad off are they? The different concerns of these two groups can and often do lead to different policy prescriptions based upon the same reported overall unemployment rate, even though both groups may complain that the unemployment rate is an imperfect measure of what they're concerned with.If the unemployment rate is so overworked and imperfect, perhaps it should be figured a different way, or replaced, or at least supplemented by other statistics. Just what changes should be made depends on whether the objective is to construct an economic measure or a welfare measure.


Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating, long-term condition characterised by extreme fatigue (worsened by exertion), muscle and joint pain, and sleep disturbance. Post-exertional fatigue has been demonstrated previously following physical exercise, but not from mental exertion alone. Purpose: The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the 'delayed fatigue effect,' in this instance fatigue two days post-challenge, following a cognitively fatiguing task. Methods: Thirty-two participants (23 women; mean age 44, SD = 11.24; mean illness duration nine years, SD = 7.32) completed the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, which acted as the cognitive challenge. Self-report measures were also completed that assessed fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; MFI), and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) pre- and two days post-testing. Results: Significant differences were found between pre- and post-test measures in three MFI sub-scales of fatigue (general, mental, and physical) and on the depression scale of the HADS. However, there were no significant changes in motivation, activity level, or self-reported anxiety scores. Conclusions: These findings are suggestive of post-exertional symptom exacerbation following mental effort. This may have implications for working environments that present cognitive demands to individuals with ME/CFS.


Software Development Life Cycle Models are frameworks used to design, develop and test the software. They define a set of guidelines which are to be followed during the development. These models make sure that the software is designed systematically, according to the need of the customer and within the time schedule. Different types of software development life cycle models are waterfall, iterative, V-shaped, prototype and spiral model. Each of these models has its own benefits and drawbacks. The main aim of this research paper is to study different aspects of all these models and compare them so as to help the developers to choose the most suitable method according to the situation. Keyword: SDLC, waterfall, iterative, V-shaped, prototype, spiral model.


We propose and demonstrate a novel wavelength-division-multiplexing orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing passive-optical-network (WDM-OFDM-PON) architecture with centralized lightwave sources and polarization shift keying (PolSK) multicast overlay. The 10-Gb/s 16QAM-OFDM point to point (P2P) signal, 2.5-Gb/s multicast PolSK signal and 2.5-Gb/s on-off keying (OOK) upstream signal are experimentally demonstrated. After transmission over 25km standard single mode fiber (SMF), 1.5dB crosstalk between the downstream signals is eliminated by employing a low pass electrical filter at the PolSK receiver. The power penalty of the upstream OOK signal at BER of 10(-9) is less than 0.1dB.


Information on the structure and functionality of Harvard Library's platform for searching special collections and archival materials, as well as search tips.


This paper discusses the use of debt-for-nature swaps as a funding mechanism for environmental expenditures in Sub-Saharan Africa. The pros and cons of such transactions for creditor banks, environmental groups and debtor countries are discussed and evaluated in terms of their ability to address environmental problems prevalent in the region. It is concluded that the usefulness of debt swaps may be limited and that direct donations to developing countries for environmental purposes may often be superior to swap transaction.


INTRODUCTION: Applied Principles of Darshana are observed in Ayurveda classics. Asatkaryavada is one of such theory which finds its application in Ayurveda. It was put forth by Bouddha, Nyaya & Vaisheshika Darshana. According to this theory Karyotpatti is entirely a new process & Karya is different from Karana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the context of understanding the etiopathogenesis of a disease where the hetu and the karya is not in accordance is selected. Such a case of Apabahuka, a form of Vatavyadhi where in the hetu is different from the Karya which is referred to as sthoulya upadrava was considered. RESULT: The understanding of the disease in the perspective of sthoulya upadravajanya vatavyadhi resembles the principle of Asatkarya vada and hence equating this theory for the analysis and interpretation in the perspective of disease is well noted. The theory of Asatkaryavada is a useful in analysis of Karya karana Sambandha which occurs by Kramavriddhi i.e., in a step by step process. Karana results in Karya but the same is not appreciated in all cases when applied to diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Thus the theory has helped to assess the presentation of Vatavyadhi as a sequel of Shleshmakara nidana. DISCUSSION: The theory of Asatkaryavada propounds that Karya (Asthi Kshaya) is different from Karana (Divaswapnadi Sthoulyakara karana). This theory is useful to analyse samprapti (karya) which is produced after Hetu upamardana by the process of Kramavriddhi. Intending a positive line of approach in this condition, the process of destruction i.e Kramadhvamsa can be applied for Samprapti Vightana. The study also brings out the influence of Darshana in Ayurveda in applied form, as the utility get changed from Darshanas to Ayurveda.


Phytobiomasses, given the qualitative and quantitative dominance of polysaccharides, are a dominant wealth available in nature. Cellulose and hemicelluloses from softwoods, hardwoods and grasses, starch from tubercles and roots, pectins from fruits and gums from some seeds may be explored as such or following acid or alkaline pretreatments as well enzymatic deconstruction, and even simple chemical derivatization toward more added-value products. A general view in the chemistry of these valuable polymers is here broached, following a sharper focus on acid pretreatments for L(h)C—ligno(hemi) cellulosic materials from sugarcane and other feedstocks. Our particular experience using a gentler proton donor but keeping very advantageous aspects for polysaccha- ride chemo/biotechnological processing—thermopressurized diluted phosphoric acid (oPA)—is presented with a more detailed description as a result of its validity for the hydrolytic deconstruction of hemicelluloses—heteroxylans and heteromannans, cassava starch, dahlia inulin and mixed glucans from microalgae cell walls. The opportunity of NOs—nutraceutical oligosacchrides—generation from these particular glycopolymers is also shortly commented.


Progression of deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations in spikes and kernels was studied in relation to Fusarium head blight (FHB) symptoms in five winter wheat cultivars, differing in resistance to FHB, after single floret inoculation with an aggressive isolate of Fusarium culmorum. After inoculation in field conditions the spikes were detached from the plant and kept in the greenhouse under controlled conditions. High concentra- tions of DON were detected in susceptible cultivars at an early stage of pathogenesis (7 days after inoculation). Over the whole examined 21-day period and also at maturity spikes contained more DON than kernels. While differences between cultivars in the accumulation of DON were highly expressed already 7 days after inoculation, differences in symptomatic reactions were not clear until day 21. Owing to the reported crucial role of DON at early stages of pathogenesis, the importance of appropriate timing of fungicide application is highly stressed.


Ten years after the inauguration of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the communities of Marsabit County are still living on the periphery of society. They remain systemically excluded from the nation's mainstream social, political, economic, and cultural activities. Communities living within the North Frontier Districts (as it was known then) and within the Counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo and Marsabit are still considered 'hostile tribes' by the ruling elite since colonialisation and are treated as such. The colonial government enforced this isolation by enacting a series of Ordinances between the years 1901 to 1933 that systemically isolated and marginalised communities from this geographical area. The Ordinances largely criminalised the community's main economic activity of pastoralism by allowing arbitral seizure and detainment as well as collective punishment for offences of members of the community. This negative and suspicious perception, systemic exclusion by the laws and policies, condensed economic activities limited to pastoralism, political under-representation, poverty, distance and inaccessibility have exacerbated the marginalisation of the communities living within Marsabit to date. Unfortunately, independence did not liberate these communities within the Northern Frontier Districts from systemic exclusion. They were still treated as a 'special group' within the context of section 19 of the Kenya Independence Order in Council. This section provides for the modification, qualifications and exceptions of laws and policies to be applied in respect of these communities. The state felt there was a need to subject these communities to screening, profiling, and overregulation in these areas in comparison to the rest of the nation. State institutions were further unable and unwilling to penetrate these areas. The application of different laws to these communities was carried forward during the post-independence where the Presidency was granted the power to govern these communities by decree. Despite the goodwill of the Constitution 2010 to reduce the levels of marginalisation within this county, there is a need to carry out a case study to assess whether the current legal, political, social and economic frameworks have reduced marginalisation within Marsabit which has been for a long time an ungoverned territory.


In a flow forming process of automobile wheels of Al-based alloys, plastic deformation of the rim part is performed by rollers from the periphery side, while the inner periphery is fixed on a steel mandrel and is slightly deformed. Therefore, the rim part has a strain-graded microstructure in the thickness direction. In this study, the effects of the strain-graded plastic deformation on mechanical properties of an Al-Si cast alloy have been investigated. The strain-graded plastic deformation in this study was done by hot rolling of an Al alloy plate together with a steel plate. The two plates were joined at one end in the longitudinal direction and were rolled from the joined edge at 330 oC using a roller with a roll diameter of 200 mm and a rotation speed of 66 per minute. The chemical composition of the alloy was Al-7mass%Si-0.3mass%Mg-0.3mass%Fe. The rolled Al alloy plate had a strain-graded microstructure in the thickness direction; the strain was the highest at the roller side surface and the lowest at the steel plate side surface. The rolling also brought about a Si particle size graded microstructure. The eutectic Si rods were broken by the rolling deformation and the Si particle size was the smallest at the roller side surface and the largest at the steel plate side surface. On the other hand, a normal rolling deformation of the Al alloy plate without the steel plate was also performed for comparison. The rolled sample having the strain-graded and Si particle size graded microstructure exhibited much more excellent bending strength and ductility compared with the normally rolled sample.


Patients with membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis in the presence of nephrotic syndrome of without it were investigated for subpopulation composition of T lymphocytes and their functional activity in pHA blast transformation test. Though no difference was revealed in E+- and Fc+-receptor occurrence, both spontaneous and PHA-induced malformation of autoreactive T cells were observed. The results justified the previous data on the deficiency in lymphopoiesis of undifferentiated cells with end deoxynucleotidyltransferase as a marker. In patients with nephrotic syndrome PHA-induced blast transformation test revealed a decrease in lymphocyte function.


India is a country that has understood the importance of strong patent systems for the growth of industry and commerce to bring it at par with the modern world. As per WIPO statistical database September 2018, 45,379 patent applications were filed in India. Out of which, 12,387 applications were granted and 29,789 applications were withdrawn or abandoned by the applicants. About 3203 patents were rejected on the ground of non-fulfillment of patentability criteria by the invention, that is, Novelty, non-obviousness and Industrial applicability or non-patentability criteria mentioned under Sections 3 and 4 of Indian Patent Act. In this chapter, the authors have discussed few of the cases of rejection under the Indian Patent Act.


Background: Uterine smooth muscle tumors classified as leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma and tumors with uncertain malignant potential. The leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma are separated tumors biologically. Uterine smooth muscle tumors with uncertain malignant potential include a group of tumors which are not specifically placed into two others groups which result in a serious problem in a way of their treatment. In the present study expression of marker " p 16" in smooth muscle tumors of uterine and normal myometrium has been investigated. Methods: The entire paraffin blocks related to hysterectomy cases with diagnosis of normal myometrium, leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma ( 3768 cases) available in pathology lab. in Shariati Hospital in Tehran, Iran from 1372 to 1387 were investigated. Among them 62 normal myometrium, 62 leiomyoma and 12 leiomyosarcoma had been chosen and after staining for marker " p 16" were investigated separately. Results: There were a statistically significant difference in both intensity and percentage of staining for this marker between leiomyoma and leiomiosarcoma (p < 0.001 ) and between leiomyosarcoma and normal myometrium (p < 0.001 ) but not between leiomyoma and normal myometrium (p= 3.6 ). Conclusion: Based on this study if strong and more than focal immunoreactivity for marker " p 16" suppose as positive then leiomyosarcoma will be positive for this marker but leiomyoma and normal myometrium will not be and this could be considered as a good guide for categorizing the uterine smooth muscle tumors.


Burgeoning the human population with its required food demand created a burden on ever-decreasing cultivated land and our food production systems. This situation prompted plant scientists to breed crops in a short duration with specific traits. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) has emerged as a potential tool to achieve desirable results in plants with the help of molecular markers and improves the traits of interest in a short duration. The MAS has comprehensively been used in plant breeding to characterize germplasm, diversity analysis, trait stacking, gene pyramiding, multi-trait introgression, and genetic purity of different cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and fiber crops, etc. Mapping studies pointed out several marker-trait associations from different crop species, which specifies the potential application of MAS in accelerating crop improvement. This chapter presents an overview of molecular markers, their genesis, and potential use in plant breeding.


Formation of SiO2 precipitates in silicon is associated with a large volume expansion. This leads to the generation of strain and a self‐interstitial (I) supersaturation in the Si matrix, which in turn influence both the precipitate nucleation and growth processes. We have obtained an explicit expression correlating the strain to the self‐interstitial supersaturation. For nucleation, we obtained an expression of the critical nucleus size containing the contribution of both factors. For growing precipitates, we have found a high I supersaturation at the SiO2‐Si interface. This leads to a precipitate growth rate lower than that of the oxygen diffusion limited case. However, the extent of this growth rate lowering is not large, and the precipitate growth can still be regarded as being limited by oxygen diffusion within the accuracy range of most experiments.


This thesis is concerned with modeling of driver behavior based on data collected from real traffic using an advanced instrumented vehicle. In particular, the focus is on driver-following behavior (often called car-following in transport science) for microscopic simulation of road traffic systems. In addition, the modeling methodology developed can be applied for the design of human-centered control algorithms in adaptive cruise control (ACC) and other longitudinal active-safety technologies. Driver behavior is a constant research topic in the modeling of traffic systems and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which could be traced back to the work of GeneralMotor (GM) Co. in 1950's. In the early time, researchers were only interested in the development of driver models fulfilling basic physical properties and producing reasonable flow dynamics on a macroscopic level. With the booming interest on driver modeling on a microscopic level and needs in ITS developments, researchers now emphasize modeling using microscopic data acquired from real world. To follow this research trend, a methodological framework on car-following data acquisition, analysis and modeling has been developed step by step in this thesis, and the basic idea is to build a computational model for car-following behavior by exploration of collected data. To carry out the work, different techniques within the field of modern Artificial Intelligence (AI), namely Computational Intelligence (CI)1, have been applied in the research subtasks e.g. information estimation, behavioral regime classification, regime model integration and model estimation. Therefore, a preliminary introduction of the CI methods being used in this thesis work is included in the text.


We study the equilibrium shape of a liquid drop resting on top of a liquid surface, i.e., a floating lens. We consider the surface tension forces in non--wetting situations (negative spreading factor), as well as the effects of gravity. We obtain analytical expressions for the drop shape when gravity can be neglected. Perhaps surprisingly, when including gravity in the analysis, we find two different families of equilibrium solutions for the same set of physical parameters. These solutions correspond to drops whose center of mass is above or below the level of the external liquid surface. By means of energetic considerations we determine the family that has the smallest energy, and therefore is the most probable to be found in nature. A detailed explanation of the geometrical differences between the both types of solutions is provided.


Analyses of galaxy clustering in redshift surveys such as the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), have provided robust cosmological measurements and are now considered as one of the pillars of modern observational cosmology. The key technique uses Baryon Acoustic Oscillations as a standard ruler with which to measure the expansion of the Universe: finding the BAO scale within the galaxy survey fixes the distance-redshift relation. Complementary measurements can be made on smaller scales using voids as standard shapes on average voids have no preferred orientation with respect to us, and this can be used to make cosmological measurements. I will introduce both BAO and void-based methods, and present recent results using both, confirming and refining the standard LCDM cosmological model. Future surveys including the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), the Euclid satellite mission and the MaunaKea Spectroscopic Explorer, will provide an order of magnitu! de more information than BOSS and I will introduce these surveys and discuss predictions for the expected measurements. Wednesday, March 27, 2019 3:30 p.m. Elliott Building Room 167


This research focus on the squeals occurred in cutting from the views of tribology. A multi-degree-freedom model was established referring to cylindrical turning. The model was made up of two coupled subsystems — tool and workpiece which coupled through the friction between their contacted surface. The relationship between cutting squeal and friction was studied through experiments, and the coefficients of friction were estimated by experimental data. Then the tribological conditions related to squeal generating were discussed. In the end a method of reducing cutting squeal by lubrication was proposed.


Extracted from text ... 24 Management Today October 2005
Building business
in a volatile environment
IIn 1984, Herman Mashaba started Black
Like Me, a manufacturer of hair and beauty
products. This was a first. Until then, black
people had been in the industry as owners
of hair salons, but not in the industry's
manufacturing sector.
Black Like Me went on to become one
of the biggest and most successful manufacturers
of hair and beauty products in
South Africa.
Mashaba asserts that running a big
manufacturing concern during the apartheid
days was not easy. For one thing, the
Group Areas Act prohibited black people ..


ABSTRACT Results from chemical and mineralogical analysis of channel samples of Lower Kittanning Coal are used to establish differences between coals formed in two paleoenvironments. The two major paleoenvironments represented by Kittanning Coals in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are a marine-influenced paleoenvironment to the northwest and a fluvial-influenced paleoenvironment to the southeast. Based on chemical data from 143 samples, coals formed in a fluvial paleoenvironment are higher in Cu, Cr, Ti, K, Si, and Al. Marine-influenced coals are higher in Zn, Fe, pyritic sulfur, sulfate sulfur, and possibly Ca. Mineralogical studies on 34 samples from both paleoenvironments show higher kaolinite and sporadically high quartz and illite in fluvial-influenced samples and higher pyrite in marine-influenced samples. The clay mineralogy consists primarily of well-crystallized kaolinite, illite, and some mixed-layer material. Chemical differences between coals from the two major paleoenvironments can be condensed in a discriminant function based on pyritic sulfur, Ti, Fe, Si, Al, sulfate sulfur, and Zn. This discriminant function correctly classifies suites of bituminous coals from other areas.


When stimulated by a filterable agent of leukosis of chickens (Strain 2), endothelium may undergo seemingly unrestricted growth. These neoplasms of endothelium are usually unaccompanied by the formation of blood cells. Occasionally they produce hemocytoblasts, discharged like those of the normal marrow into vascular channels as also myelocytes about the vessels. The same agent that stimulates endothelium also stimulates erythroblasts, myelocytes, and hemocytoblasts to unrestricted growth without obviously affecting the endothelium; and the association of endothelioma and leukosis is the result of stimulation of several types of cells by a single virus. Myelocytes appear also to develop from mesenchymal or endothelial cells without the intermediary stage of hemocytoblasts. It is often impossible to determine whether the neoplasms caused by the virus of Strain 2 are of endothelial or mesenchymal origin, and it is possible that both types of cells may be stimulated by the same virus. Types of sarcoma like those described by Rous are not produced by the virus of Strain 2.


OBJECTIVES
To determine epidemiological characteristics and clinical presentation of complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) and complications associated with prophylactic chemotherapy with oral methotrexate.

SETTING
Mulago hospital, Kampala.

DESIGN
Prospective study.

METHODS
Ninety-four patients with clinically and histologically confirmed complete hydatidiform mole admitted between 1/9/1995 and 30/1/1998 were followed for periods ranging from 12 months to 30 months. Seventy-eight (83.0%) received a total of 187 courses of oral methotrexate (0.4 mg/kg daily in 3 divided doses) as prophylactic chemotherapy. The main outcome measures were pre- and post-evacuation serum hCG levels and complications associated with oral methotrexate use.

RESULTS
The prevalence of CHM was 3.42 per 1000 deliveries. The mean age of subjects was 29.6 + 8.5 years. Eighteen women (19.1%) were nulliparous and mean gravidity was 8.3. Many women presented with high-risk disease. Risk factors for persistent trophoblastic disease were prior molar pregnancy, age<19 or >35 years and features of high-risk molar pregnancy. Twenty-four of the seventy-eight patients (30.7%) developed complications, mainly mucositis and haematological toxicity (leucopenia, anaemia and thrombocytopenia), commonly after 3 or more courses.

CONCLUSION
CHM was common and many patients presented with high-risk disease. Oral methotrexate for prophylactic chemotherapy was tolerable and safe for the first 2 courses, but serious complications occur as the duration of treatment increases. Prophylaxis did not prevent development of (or death from) metastatic trophoblastic disease.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Patients with CHM should be monitored for the development of post-evacuation trophoblastic disease. Those on prophylactic chemotherapy require close monitoring for the toxic effects of the drugs.


This article considers the challenge to governance posed by new Anthropocene discourses of planetary boundaries. The first section introduces the problematic of the Anthropocene as a new geological epoch and also as symptomatic of the end of modernist ontological and epistemological assumptions of the divide between culture and nature. The Anthropocene is thus seen to fundamentally decentre the human as subject and the temporal linearity of Enlightenment progress. The second section analyses the implications of this closure for critical approaches to governance, which increasingly accept and reproduce these ontopolitical assumptions. The tasks of governance thus become transformed, no longer seeking to imagine alternative futures but rather drawing out alternative possibilities that already exist in the present. Governance becomes increasingly an act of affirmation rather than a discourse of change and transformation. The third section expands on this point to consider how contemporary governance approaches articulate the status quo in increasingly radical and enabling ways.


Consider a Banach lattice E and two positive operators S,T: E -> E that satisfy 0 *c S =c T. In [2,3] we examined the case when T is a compact (or weakly compact) operator and studied what effect this had on an operator (such as S) dominated by T. In this paper, we extend these techniques and study similar questions regarding Dunford-Pettis operators. In particular, conditions will be given on the operator T, to ensure that S (or some power of S) is a Dunford-Pettis operator. As a sample, the following is one of the major results dealing with these matters. Theorem. Let E be a Banach lattice, and let S,T: E -» E be two positive operators such that 0 < S =c T. If T is compact then (1) S3 is a compact operator (although S2 need not be compact); (2) S2 is a Dunford-Pettis and weakly compact operator ( although S need not be); (3) S is a weak Dunford-Pettis operator. In another direction, our techniques and results will be related to the lattice stmcture of the Dunford-Pettis operators. For instance, it will be shown that under certain conditions the Dunford-Pettis operators form a band.


Neural machine translation systems typically are trained on curated corpora and break when faced with non-standard orthography or punctuation. Resilience to spelling mistakes and typos, however, is crucial as machine translation systems are used to translate texts of informal origins, such as chat conversations, social media posts and web pages. We propose a simple generative noise model to generate adversarial examples of ten different types. We use these to augment machine translation systems' training data and show that, when tested on noisy data, systems trained using adversarial examples perform almost as well as when translating clean data, while baseline systems' performance drops by 2-3 BLEU points. To measure the robustness and noise invariance of machine translation systems' outputs, we use the average translation edit rate between the translation of the original sentence and its noised variants. Using this measure, we show that systems trained on adversarial examples on average yield 50 % consistency improvements when compared to baselines trained on clean data.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the key issues reported by rural health-care providers in their provision of medication supply and related cognitive services, and in order to advise health workforce and role development and thus improve the quality use of medicines in rural communities.

DESIGN
Exploratory semistructured interview research.

SETTING
A rural community comprising four towns in a rural health service district in Queensland, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS
  Forty-nine health-care providers (medical practitioners, pharmacists, nurses and others) with medication-related roles who serviced the study community, identified through databases and local contacts.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Medication-related roles undertaken by the health-care providers, focusing on medication supply and cognitive services; challenges in undertaking these roles.

RESULTS
Medical and nursing providers reported challenges in ensuring continuity in supply of medications due to their existing medical workload demands. Local pharmacists were largely involved in medication supply, with limited capacity for extended cognitive roles. Participants identified a lack of support for their medication roles and the potential value of clinically focused pharmacists in medication management services.

CONCLUSIONS
Medication supply may become more efficient with extended roles for certain health-care providers. The need for cognitive medication management services suggests potential for clinical pharmacists' role development in rural areas.


There are occasions in which an agent lengthens its own action through the implementation of a foreign activity for its own interests. We focus on the occasional dependence relation between a principal agent and a helper agent. In particular, we are interested in the helper's harmful performance that has its origin in extra contractual situations e.g. factual and/or occasional situations based on trust or courtesy which may lead to the emergence of an obligation to compensate third parties.


The viscoelastic behavior of the two different liquid crystalline lamellar phases and the liquid crystalline cubic phase of the mixed soybean lecithin/DDAB system in water was studied through rheology, with mechanical parameters studied as a function of composition. The swollen or diluted lamellar region is formed by vesicles, and its characteristic flow curve presents two-power law regions separated by a region where viscosity passes through a maximum. Yield stress and shear-dependent flow behavior were also observed. The microstructure suffers transformation under shear stress, and rheological response shifts from thixotropic to antithixotropic loops. Similar rheological behavior has been observed for samples in the collapsed or concentrated lamellar region, at the water-rich corner of the phase diagram. Vesicle formation may therefore occur by shearing the initial stacked and open bilayers. However, concentrated lamellar samples in the water-poor part of the phase diagram are less sensitive to shear effects and show plastic behavior and thixotropy. All lamellar samples manifest high elasticity. The dynamic responses of both lamellar topologies, i.e., vesicles and open bilayers, are comparable and exhibit an infinite relation time. The bicontinuous cubic, liquid crystalline phase is highly viscous. Its dynamic response cannot be modeled by a Maxwell model.


Since at least Dai Zhen's time, the procedures contained in Chapter 2 of The Nine Chapters on mathematical procedures (Jiuzhang suanshu) and entitled "Directly lu-ing (jinglu)" have caused difficulties to the philologists, who regularly heavily modified the received text as well as that of the commentaries by Liu Hui and Li Chunfeng on it. One particular problem that these procedures raise is that their description does not exactly fit with the description of the main procedure of Chapter 2, in The Nine chapters, the procedure called "Suppose," although they clearly depend on it. One of the commentaries stresses this point, whereas the other stresses the connection to the main procedure of the chapter, despite its actual formulation. The paper suggests that the newly excavated Book of mathematical procedures (Suanshushu) casts light on both these procedures and the commentaries. The Book of mathematical procedures contains procedures on the basis of which the procedures "Directly lu-ing (jinglu)" were clearly obtained by abstraction. This hence provides evidence showing why the procedures were described in a way that does not correspond to the procedure for the operation named "Suppose." Moreover, these sources allow analyzing how abstraction was carried out within the framework of algorithms in ancient China. Lastly, the paper suggests a possible origin for the key concept of lu, which was so important for both The Nine chapters and the commentaries on it.


The magnetically controlled shape memory alloy (MSMA) is a new type of intelligent materials, which has large strain and high efficiency of electromechanical energy conversion, however, temperature has great influence to it. The DS18B20 digital thermometer provides 9-bit to 12-bit Celsius temperature measurements, which has an operating temperature range of -55 Degrees Celsius to +125 Degrees Celsius and is accurate to ±0.5 Degrees Celsius, Therefore it's used to monitor the temperature of MSMA actuator in this paper. Serial communication is very important in our daily life; the paper mainly introduces hardware and software design for it and serial communication between pc and c51 based on matlab, meanwhile, drawing temperature curve by existing functions of matlab.


ABSTRACT Frau, L.; Marzeddu, A.; Dini, E; Gracia, V.; Gironella, X.; Erioli A.; Zomparelli, A., and Sánchez-Arcilla, A., 2016. Effects of ultra-porous 3D printed reefs on wave kinematics. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 851–855. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Present 3D printing technology allows the efficient design and construction of structures with complex shapes and high porosity satisfying biological and coastal protection demands. In this case, an array of ultra-porous tetrahedron-shaped 3D printed artificial reef (UPTSAR) is proposed to be used as a submerged breakwater for both environmental enhancement and wave protection. The aim of this study is to analyse the wave-structure interaction effects and the resulting velocity and wave height fields. For this, two-dimensional small scale tests (1:15) using irregular waves were carried out in a wave flume facility at BarcelonaTech. The influence of wave steepness, relative freeboard, relative water depth and the porosity on wave Kinematics have been analysed. The paper will describe in detail the results obtained for the different tests. These results are used to evaluate the functionality of the UPTSAR as coastal protection structures.


The fate of democratic governments throughout the world is a topic of growing concern. The crises of modern history, from the Machtergreifung by Hitler through the downfall of democracies. In a systematic review of the political experiences of Latin American and European democratic nations, these original, thought-provoking books propose a significant new comparative framework for understanding the dynamics of political change and the conditions necessary for democratic stability.


Plant species from Annonaceae are commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various cancer types. This study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative potential of an alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction from the fruit peel of Annona crassiflora in HepG2 cells. A liquid-liquid fractionation was carried out on the ethanol extract of A. crassiflora fruit peel in order to obtain an alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction (AF-Ac). Cytotoxicity, proliferation and migration were evaluated in the HepG2 cells, as well as the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vinculin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. In addition, intracellular Ca2+ was determined using Fluo4-AM and fluorescence microscopy. First, 9 aporphine alkaloids and 4 acetogenins that had not yet been identified in the fruit peel of A. crassiflora were found in AF-Ac. The treatment with 50 µg/mL AF-Ac reduced HepG2 cell viability, proliferation and migration (p < 0.001), which is in accordance with the reduced expression of PCNA and EGFR levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AF-Ac increased intracellular Ca2+ in the HepG2 cells, mobilizing intracellular calcium stores, which might be involved in the anti-migration and anti-proliferation capacities of AF-Ac. Our results support the growth-inhibitory potential of AF-Ac on HepG2 cells and suggest that this effect is triggered, at least in part, by PCNA and EGFR modulation and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. This study showed biological activities not yet described for A. crassiflora fruit peel, which provide new possibilities for further in vivo studies to assess the antitumoral potential of A. crassiflora, especially its fruit peel.


We introduce a novel data-driven order reduction method for nonlinear control systems, drawing on recent progress in machine learning and statistical dimensionality reduction. The method rests on the assumption that the nonlinear system behaves linearly when lifted into a high (or infinite) dimensional feature space where balanced truncation may be carried out implicitly. This leads to a nonlinear reduction map which can be combined with a representation of the system belonging to a reproducing kernel Hilbert space to give a closed, reduced order dynamical system which captures the essential input-output characteristics of the original model. Empirical simulations illustrating the approach are also provided.


The nuclei of starburst galaxies are unique sources of high-energy radiation where ideal conditions
for cosmic ray acceleration and confinement might be achieved. We investigate the conditions
for effective cosmic ray confinement by modelling the transport accounting for diffusion
and advection, and we study the implications of such confinement in terms of multifrequency
emission and production of high-energy neutrinos. Both primary and secondary electrons, as
well as electron-positron pairs produced by gamma ray absorption inside these regions are taken
into account. Electrons and positrons produced as secondary products of hadronic interactions
are found to be responsible for most of the emission of leptonic origin. In particular, secondary
electrons produce an extended synchrotron emission of hard X-rays that represent a remarkable
signature of hadronic processes, potentially accessible to current and future observations in the
X-ray band. We also apply for the first time our detailed model to study the starburst contribution
to the diffuse gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes observed by Fermi-LAT and IceCube. In order to
assess such contribution we adopt a redshift number density of starburst-like objects based on the
infrared luminosity function inferred by Herschel observations and we take into account the effect
of the electromagnetic cascade in the intergalactic medium.


ate their programs in a manner consistent with teachers and other educators. A small-group counseling intervention was used by a school counselor as part of a three-level program planning initiative that illustrated best research practices to evaluate program outcomes. Fortynine third-grade students with social skills deficits participated in a 10-week social skills intervention. Results indicated that children participating in the intervention experienced reduced loneliness and social anxiety as well as improved academic achievement. Implications for school counselors conducting evaluations in a practical and time-efficient manner are discussed.


We present results from the JINA REACLIB project, an ongoing effort to maintain a current and accurate library of thermonuclear reaction rates for astrophysical applications. Ongoing updates are transparently documented and version tracked, and any set of rates is publicly available and can be downloaded via a Web interface at http://groups.nscl.msu.edu/jina/reaclib/db/. We discuss here our library V1.0, a snapshot of recommended rates for stable and explosive hydrogen and helium burning. We show that the updated reaction rates lead to modest but significant changes in full network, one-dimensional X-ray burst model calculations, compared with calculations with previously used reaction rate sets. The late time behavior of X-ray burst light curves shows significant changes, suggesting that the previously found small discrepancies between model calculations and observations may be solved with a better understanding of the nuclear input. Our X-ray burst model calculations are intended to serve as a benchmark for future model comparisons and sensitivity studies, as the complete underlying nuclear physics is fully documented and publicly available.


Background: Placenta praevia is a major cause of antepartum haemorrhage and is potentially life threatening to both the mother and the fetus. This study sought to determine the magnitude of the condition, its risk factors, maternal and fetal outcomes in a tertiary health centre in Jos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted in all women diagnosed with placenta praevia that spanned over a three and half-year periods (January 2006-June 2009) in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos. The patients were followed up until discharged from the hospital. Relevant information was obtained from each patient using a pre-designed study case report form. Statistical analysis was performed using simple percentages. Results: During the study period, there were 10,895 deliveries and 135 cases of placenta praevia, thus an incidence of 1.24% or 1 in 81 deliveries. The average age of the patients was 30.2 years and majority of them were multi-parous (63.7%). The identified risk factors included previous caesarean section, grandmultiparity, previous uterine evacuation of retained products of conception, multiple pregnancy and history of placenta praevia. Maternal complications included post-partum anaemia, postpartum haemorrhage & operative site infection. There were two maternal deaths (1.48%) and the perinatal mortality rate was 18.7%. Conclusion: The incidence of Placenta praevia was relatively high and associated with high maternal and perinatal complications. Screening ultrasonography in women with history of multiple caesarean sections in the third trimester and timely delivery may help to reduce the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with placenta praevia.


Achieving high workpiece accuracy is a long-term goal of machine tool designers. Many causes can explain workpiece inaccuracy, with thermal errors being the most dominant. Indirect compensation (using predictive models) is a promising thermal error reduction strategy that does not increase machine tool costs. A modeling approach using transfer functions (i.e., a dynamic method with a physical basis) has the potential to deal with this issue. The method does not require any intervention into the machine tool structure, uses a minimum of additional gauges, and its modeling and calculation speed are suitable for real-time applications that result in as much as 80% thermal error reduction. Compensation models for machine tool thermal errors using transfer functions have been successfully applied to various kinds of single-purpose machines (milling, turning, floor-type, etc.) and have been implemented directly into their control systems. The aim of this research is to describe modern trends in machine tool usage and focuses on the applicability of the modeling approach to describe the multi-functionality of a turning-milling center. A turning-milling center is capable of adequately handling turning, milling, and boring operations. Calibrating a reliable compensation model is a real challenge. Options for reducing modeling and calibration time, an approach to include machine tool multi-functionality in the model structure, model transferability between different machines of the same type, and model verification out of the calibration range are discussed in greater detail.


In the near future, i.e., beyond 4G, some of the prime objectives or demands that need to be addressed are increased capacity, improved data rate, decreased latency, and better quality of service. To meet these demands, drastic improvements need to be made in cellular network architecture. This paper presents of a detailed survey on the fifth generation (5G) cellular network architecture and some of the key emerging technologies that are helpful in improving the architecture and meeting the demands of users. In this detailed survey, the prime focus is on the 5G cellular network architecture, massive multiple input multiple output technology, and device-to-device communication (D2D). Along with this, some of the emerging technologies that are addressed in this paper include interference management, spectrum sharing with cognitive radio, ultra-dense networks, multi-radio access technology association, full duplex radios, millimeter wave solutions for 5G cellular networks, and cloud technologies for 5G radio access networks and software defined networks. In this paper, a general probable 5G cellular network architecture is proposed, which shows that D2D, small cell access points, network cloud, and the Internet of Things can be a part of 5G cellular network architecture. A detailed survey is included regarding current research projects being conducted in different countries by research groups and institutions that are working on 5G technologies.


The placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt implicitly raises concerns about the potential for infection, shunt malfunction, and neurological decompensation. As there is no detailed information on this subject, the safety of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was prospectively studied in 15 consecutive patients who had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Ten shunts entered the right upper abdomen, and five were on the left. A percutaneous gastrostomy tube was placed in the left upper abdomen for a minimum of 1 week (mean, 2.2 weeks) after shunt insertion. In the immediate postoperative period, no wound or intra-abdominal complications occurred. One patient developed acute neurological decompensation because of proximal shunt malfunction, and one patient died from cardiopulmonary complications unrelated to the placement of shunts or gastrostomy tubes. Among the 14 survivors, there have been no shunt malfunctions or septic complications during a mean follow-up period of 8.6 months. It would appear that percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes can be placed in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt without undue concern for short- or long-term infectious or neurological sequelae. In addition, the presence of a shunt on the left side does not necessarily interfere with the safe placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube.


Air pollution and its adverse impacts are one of the greatest problems faced by mankind. The study was conducted to assess the threat to air quality in a tropical region. The diurnal variation of particulate matters (PM10 and PM2.5), SO2, NO2, NOx, NO, CO, ozone, and ammonia in ambient air of the coastal city, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India has been assessed. Factor analysis was conducted to identify the critical factors affecting the air quality. The study reveals that the concentration of carbon monoxide, PM10, and PM2.5 is nearing to the limiting standards. Hence, immediate attention should be taken for the reduction of these parameters. Ozone pollution factor, Aerosol pollution factor, and Ammonia pollution factors are the critical factors controlling the ambient air quality in a tropical region.


Since joining the EU in 2004, the Czech Republic has belonged
among its most Eurosceptical member states. At the party level,
this reputation was for a long time secured particularly due to
Eurosceptical opinions of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and
the Communist Party (KSCM). Both parties have been relevant
actors in the Czech party system since 1993 and their
Euro-scepticism (either the soft version in the case of ODS or
the hard Euro-scepticism of KSCM) has been dominantly driven by
parties` ideologies. Therefore, populism neither was for a long
time important source of Czech Euro-scepticism, nor presented
influential factor in party system as such. However, since 2010
parliamentary election, things have started to change. The
electoral success of Public Affairs (VV) in the 2010 election
and the rise of ANO 2011 and Dawn of Direct Democracy in the
2013 election has introduced populism as a relevant phenomenon
in the Czech party landscape and in the case of the Dawn also
in the Czech Euro-scepticism. The aim of the paper is to
identify and evaluate mutual relation between Euro-scepticism
and populism in the Czech Republic. Based both on quantitative
and qualitative content analysis of parties` manifestoes and
other parties` materials, we will thus focus on two questions -
first, how is Euro-scepticism important for new Czech populists
(VV, ANO, the Dawn) and second, how relevant (and if) populism
has been for Czech traditional Euro-sceptics (KSCM, ODS).


The first steps of invasion and metastasis include the dissociation of adherens junctions and the induction of migratory phenotype, through a program that resembles epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The L1 cell adhesion molecule, which is normally found primarily in the brain, was recently shown to be expressed in different types of cancer and to have tumor-promoting activity. We now find that L1 mediates EMT-like events in MCF7 breast carcinoma cells. MCF7 predominantly expresses the nonneuronal isoform of L1, as do 16 of 17 other cell lines derived from different types of cancer. L1 protein expression in MCF7 cells, which form E-cadherin-containing adherens junctions, is inversely related to cell density. Analysis of MCF7 cells with overexpression or knockdown of nonneuronal L1 isoform revealed that L1 expression leads to the disruption of adherens junctions and increases B-catenin transcriptional activity. As a result, L1 expression promotes the scattering of epithelial cells from compact colonies. Expression of the fulllength L1 protein, but not of its soluble extracellular moiety, increases the motility of the MCF7 epithelial monolayer in a wound-healing assay, in which L1 expression is preferentially observed and required in cells leading the movement of the monolayer. Based on these results, we propose a model for the role of L1 as a trigger of EMT-like events in transformed epithelial cells. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(23): 11370-80)


In-vitro fertilization (IVF) and assisted reproductive techniques have become common practice in many countries today, regulated by established legislation, regulations or by committee-set ethical standards. The rapid evolution and progress of these techniques have revealed certain social issues that have to be addressed. The traditional heterosexual couple, nowadays, is not considered by many as the only 'IVF appropriate patient' since deviations from this pattern (single mother, lesbians) have also gained access to these treatments. Genetic material donation, age limitation, selective embryo reduction, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, surrogacy and cloning are interpreted differently in the various countries, as their definition and application are influenced by social factors, religion and law. Financial and emotional stresses are also often described in infertile couples. Information as deduced from the world literature regarding IVF regulation, as well as about the existing religious, cultural and social behaviours towards these new technologies, is presented in this article in relation to the social aspects of assisted reproduction.


Clinical Image

A 2 months old infant is diagnosed to have unbalanced atrio-ventricular canal defect with Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Chest X-ray PA views showed a prominent convexity on the right border of the thymus and a straight inferior border, resembling a sail-like appearance. This is described as "Thymic sail sign" representing the triangular extension of the normal thymus in the right lateral border in chest radiographs (Figure 1). Cardiac computed tomography scan performed as a part of workup for the corrective surgery showed homogenous hypodense opacity (enlarged right lobe of the thymus) in the right side of the upper mediastinum (Figure 2). This sign is a normal finding in infants which should not be confused with the "spinnaker-sail sign" where the thymic lobe shadow is laterally and superiorly displaced due to pneumomediastinum. The thymic wave sign, a scalloped or wavy contour of the organ, is created by the impression of the anterior reflection of the ribs.


Brief note by Professor Barry Rider on a series of events in an area of expertise at the Institute which have furthered the debate as to how best fraud and similar abuses may be prevented and controlled. Published in the First Page feature of Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London.


Corporate governance mechanisms essentially reside in the control structure/systems of most organizations and provide, theoretically at least, a conduit to support a better organizational ethical climate. This linkage, however, has seldom been portrayed this way in the literature and, correspondingly, there are virtually no empirical studies to offer increased understanding, especially with respect to the professional accountant in practice. Accordingly, this paper empirically assesses the governance mechanisms sanctioned by the International Federation of Accountants (2009) as determinants of an organization's ethical climate based on evidence from a Canadian sample of CFOs/controllers. The ethics/leadership literature relating to ethical climate provides the theoretical underpinnings while organizational contingency theory supports examining the moderating effects of perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU). Increases in corporate governance control mechanisms are found to positively influence ethical climate. A significant relationship persists under both low and high levels of PEU but, as expected, it is much stronger when the level of PEU is low – which raises concerns about how to embrace a stronger ethical climate when uncertainty is high. This paper contributes to the governance and ethics literature by providing empirical evidence that normative directives on evaluating and improving governance in organizations from global accounting authorities, such as the IFAC, are effective in shaping firms' ethical climates in practice.


Aluminium alloys are commonly used lightweight construction materials. Spray-formed alloys, in particular, represent a group of materials with very high Si contents and a homogeneous distribution of primary Si and other alloying elements in solid solution and intermetallic compounds. The paper deals with current results of EB surface alloying and dispersing of such alloys using a high frequency beam deflection technique. The results concerning the interactions between the EB and the material and its effects on the layer microstructure, characteristic layer properties as well as detailed researches into friction and wear behaviour and future prospects for the technological transferability to industrial applications will be discussed.


The study was undertaken to characterize of Black Bengal Goat (BBG) under farming condition. Data on the different parameters were collected during July 2006 to June 2013 at BLRI goat research farm. A total of 299 animals of different ages from birth to 36 months of both sexes were included. All type of measurements were taken when goats standing freely. All measurements were taken in metric unit. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 17.0 statistical computer program. In BLRI goat herd, four different types of coat color were observed in BBG i.e. Black, Black and white, Black and brown and completely white. Body length is higher in males than that of females for all generation and age group. Male goats had higher heart girth than that of female goats irrespective of age and generations. Average adult (>24 months age) body weight of male and female goats as 29.9±1.76 and 23.6±0.81 kg, respectively. Wither height was higher in adult males than females for same age. Left and right horn length in both sexes ranged from 3.6 to 13.2 cm. Female goats had higher ear length than male goats. Tail length of Black Bengal goats ranged from 8.0±0.52 to 11.1±0.43 cm and tail breadth ranged from 2.1±0.10 to 3.6±0.43 cm for different age and sex group. Average male foreleg length in >24 months of age possessed higher than that of female. Average udder length and breadth of BBGs were 7.5±0.24, 11.7±0.44 and 14.3±0.46 and 5.9±0.16, 7.4±0.28 and 7.8±0.23 cm, respectively for age groups 6-12, 12-24 and >24 months of age. The average testis length and breadth in adult males were 9.1±0.18, 7.5±0.48 and 9.8±0.49 and 6.8±0.13, 5.2±0.27 and 6.3±0.32, cm respectively for 6-12, 12-24 and >24 months of ages groups.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2018, 4(1): 95-104


In a conventional down-draft evaporative cool tower (DECT), dry ambient air is drawn in at the top and cooler moist air is delivered at the bottom. Most of the cooling occurs near the inlet, where water is introduced and air temperature approaches the wet bulb. A novel DECT was developed which incorporates a secondary air inlet and complex longitudinal section that comprises two partly overlapping cones. The complex section and the addition of a secondary air intake near the middle required a sophisticated water spraying system. In addition to maximizing the cooling potential, the spraying system was designed to limit spray drift beyond the base of the tower, to reduce maintenance costs (especially due to clogging of the sprayers) and to minimize pumping energy. Analysis shows that maximum cooling may be obtained either by employing a very fine spray, requiring the introduction of a relatively small volume of water, or by spraying a larger volume of coarser drops. However, spraying fine drops requires more pumping power, finer nozzles are more likely to clog and small drops of water aggravate the problem of drift near the tower base. If full evaporation of the water spray is not required and excess water is collected for reuse, the second option is thus preferable. In addition to the theoretical analysis, the paper presents experimental findings on temperature reduction, water consumption and cooling output of an 8-meter high prototype tower constructed at Sde Boqer, Israel.


The presentations at this conference are by economists from Academies and economists who professionally confront real world problems, either in private finance or in public policy. As economists we accept that the remarks made by Keynes in the closing passage of The General Theory are true: "... the ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. ....I am sure the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas. ... Soon or late it is ideas, not vested interests, which are dangerous for good or evil." We like this assertion not only because it makes us important but also because it makes good sense. The ideas that Keynes refers to are theories. A theory prior for rational action. A of system behavior is a proposed action, whether by individual agents in households or firms, a bank, a government agency or a legislative body is appropriate action only as a theory connects the action to the desired result. Because some institutions, such as deposit insurance, the savings and loan industry, and a number of the great private banks, that served the economy well during the first two generations after the great depression, seem to have broken down, the need to reform and to reconstitute the financial structure is now on the legislative agenda. As we try to fix the financial system three questions should be asked of the pushers of a policy proposal: 1. "What is it that is taken to be broke?", 2. "What theory about proposal?" 3. What are the dire consequences of not fixing that which you assert is broke? In what follows I will take up three points 1. Two views of the results of the economic process 2. Systemic and idiosyncratic sources of financial crises 3. Some ideas about the scope for policy in the present "crisis".


Many characteristics of those entering alcohol treatment in Saudi Arabia remain unknown. Above all, their psychosocial characteristics and their patterns of drinking. In order to provide adequate and effective treatment and prevention intervention, it is necessary, before anything else, to elicit the facts about those with alcohol problems. As part of solving the mystery of alcohol problems in Saudi Arabia, the main objective of this research is to draw a general profile and investigate the patterns of drinking of hospitalised problem drinkers in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this goal, 136 hospitalised patients and 11 therapists were interviewed. The interviewed patients consisted almost entirely of male patients who, at the time of data collection, were hospitalised for having an alcohol problem in four of Saudi Arabia's treatment hospitals (Al-Amal hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Qaseem). Two instruments were implemented for use with the patients. The first was a comprehensive instrument devised by the researcher to elicit information regarding the psychosocial profile of hospitalised problem drinkers. The second was the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which was used to identify problem drinking as well the frequency and the quantity of drinking. The therapists, however, were selected from Al-Amal hospital in Riyadh. Unlike the patients' interviews, the therapists' interviews were semi-structured and were aimed at eliciting more information regarding problem drinking and its treatment from the therapist's point of view. The results showed that a typical profile of a hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is that he is most likely to be of younger age (20-35 years old), married, of little education (high school or less), on a low income (less than 3000SR), and unemployed. In addition, if currently or previously employed, the hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is likely to hold an administrative post, live in a city, occupy a house which is owned by others and shared with seven people or more. The parents of a typical hospitalised Saudi problem drinker are most likely not living together, as a result of either separation, divorce or the death of one or both of them. The parents are most likely to be illiterate, and have a history of remarriage. Furthermore, if married or previously married, the hospitalised Saudi problem drinker is most likely to have an uneducated housewife and more than three children. Contrary to the drinking practices in many countries where alcohol is allowed, araq and cologne are the most common types of alcohol consumed by hospitalised problem drinkers. Although it is forbidden, alcohol is easily accessible, especially in the form of cologne. Alcohol drinking mostly takes place in hidden places, at home, in private resorts or outside the city. Many hospitalised problem drinkers restrict the time of their drinking to weekends. Another finding of this research shows that about a quarter of the patients are not really alcohol dependants. Most hospitalised problem drinkers, including those with high alcohol dependence, abstain during the holy month of Ramadan. The majority of hospitalised problem drinkers are smokers (cigarettes and shisha), and users of illegal drugs (hashish is the commonest). The interviews with therapists confirmed many of the research findings produced by investigations of the patients. Also, they provided many suggestions regarding the improvement of treatment and prevention of alcohol problems in Saudi Arabia. The implications of the research findings are discussed in depth in the last chapter.


The remarkable growth of the Internet accounts for a substantial creation of knowledge, an important asset responsible for the creation of value for nations. Centralized databases have thus increased in size and complexity. Maintaining and updating the information stored in the databases cannot be done efficiently by humans alone; automated tools have been used for quite some time with various degrees of success. One of the first software tools to emerge was the web crawler", which is the basis of how search engines work. Another important class of tools, called "internet bots" or simply "bots" (from the word "robot"), is used to help humans manage large quantities of data. This work describes the development of an automated tool to gather information from various sources (both online and offline) about Portuguese civil parishes ("freguesias" in Portuguese) that can be used, for instance, by marketing companies or by Wikipedia editors to update their respective web pages. Even though Wikipedia has used bots for over 10 years, the web pages of Portuguese civil parishes are frequently outdated or have insufficient information. In addition, the information that can be used to update these web pages is scattered in various sources and in a format that does not allow an easy comparison between two or more parishes. For instance, an organization may need to compare the distribution of population from various parishes according to the number of people per family, age group or marital status. The development of the application followed the main steps of Software Engineering namely, requirement specification, application design and implementation, and testing. The program is able to receive an updated file containing all Portuguese civil parishes and allows the user to select those desired. Furthermore, the user can select offline databases in the form of a spreadsheet according to stipulated parameters. After this the user can still customize an output text, inserting variables that are replaced later by the application in the form of information from the databases, according to each civil parish. Following the compilation of databases in text form, the output for each civil parish is saved as a text file. In order to demonstrate the potential capability of automatic editing of pages in Wikipedia, the application has the capability to preview the text in a Wikipedia test page. The result of this particular work for a particular case demonstrates the construction of an easy-to-use and practical tool that both basic and advanced users can use to extract information about Portuguese civil parishes. Key words Internet bots, Wikipedia, Portuguese civil parishes, Update, Software engineering.


This study investigated the underlying reasons for the improper use of bus bays in Istanbul, Turkey, one of the megacities in the developing world. Improper use occurs when a bus driver elects to enter a bus bay partially or not at all. Data were compiled from field studies during peak and off-peak hours at three selected bus bays on Buyukdere Street, which was one of the most important urban arterials on the European side of Istanbul. During the field study, information was collected about bus bay use preferences, in addition to data on arrival time, departure time, bus occupancy, number of passengers waiting at a bus stop, illegal parking in the bus bay, and traffic volume on the road. These data were used to estimate three multinomial logit bus bay use models by stratifying the sample with respect to bus bay occupancy and bus stop location. The results showed that illegally parked vehicles were a major factor that led to improper use of bus bays, and the effect was similar to that of the presence of one or more buses in a bus bay on a new bus's arrival. Moreover, the occupancy of buses was found to be significant because relatively empty buses were more likely not to fully enter a bus bay, whereas packed buses tended toward full use, especially when passengers were alighting at each stop. In terms of policy, it is essential to prevent illegal parking through methods such as the installation of medians. Overall, the study revealed that the success of bus bays was questionable, and the need for them in megacities, such as Istanbul, disputable.


According to the current actual situation of informatization in Commercial Vehicle Company of DF Motor Co., Ltd. , there exists such a problem as the incomplete parts data of S-BOM, which fails to provide complete parts data of the department of procurement and sales. In order to solve the problem, this paper designs and develops the parts of DF Motor Co., Ltd. Data Management System. The system uses Delphi 7.0 as the development tools and Oracle 9i as the back-end database,which implements the function of centralized management, maintenance and query of S-BOM parts data by means of parts state management, structured data management, parts data query and other function modules. The system meets Commercial Vehicle Company's requirements of centralized procurement by addressing some of the key issues in the original parts management. Fund Project: Key Projects of Science and Technology Research of Hubei Department of Education (No. D200723003 ); Projects of National Natural Science Foundation, 2010(No. 51006132)


In this paper an approach is proposed which is based on a method of regularization for estimating the solution of inverse problems of electromagnetic with noisy measurements. The constraints on the solution of the inverse problem based on physical assumptions are taken into consideration. The solution is reduced to a nonlinear system with the given interval-type inaccuracy of the right-hand side. The developed approach enables one to take into account inaccuracy of the operator of the inverse problem. The method of the special mathematical model selection is described which improves the accuracy of estimations.


This thesis continues the development of an intelligent sensing scheme; using practical techniques for estimating the vehicle variables and economic measurements, which are mounted away from any arduous environments.
The independently rotating wheelset design (IRW) de-couples the wheels; losing the mechanical feedback inherent with the conventional solid axle. The issue with the IRW, however, is that the natural curving characteristic is lost as a result, and therefore it is necessary to provide steering to the wheelset, to avoid flange contact and guide the wheelset, which can be supplied using a yaw constraint: passively or actively. As primary feedback variables aren't readily available to measure, and are costly to provide, the Kalman filter has been used to provide full state optimal estimation of the dynamic system. Involving random perturbations to return the necessary states required, the Kalman filter allows the controller and actuator to apply active steering to the IRW. This thesis applies the Kalman-Bucy filter to a closed loop system with a mechatronic vehicle. A simple P controller is used to provide a torque to the actuators. The novelty about this work is that the sensors are mounted to the vehicle body, avoiding the extreme climactic conditions that a sensor would usually see if mounted to the axle. Re-formulating the Kalman filter to include curvature and cant within the state space and output matrices has been assessed to see if the curving performance will be maintained or improved. Altering the amount of sensors used has also been assessed, to see how the curving performance is affected. This can coincide with assessing whether the system will work, should one or more of the sensors fail.


- The high demand of wireless applications is increased day after day because of the increasing use of mobile devices, Internet-of-Things (IoT), machine types, and wireless nodes in Wireless Sensors Networks (WSN). This increasing demand makes the consideration of using advanced technology to enhance the network performance especially in Fifth Generation (5G) applications such as Vehicular communication that is called Vehicle-to-Everything (V2x) communication where the Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) is one of its types.. The use of multicarrier waveforms to overcome this problem is essential such as using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). The problems appear from using OFDM are the high Out-of-Band (OOB) and the high Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR). This leads to the attention of using other types of multicarrier waveforms to enhance the OFDM responses. In this paper, the use of four different types of Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) is used which are Filter Bank Multi-Carrier (FBMC), Generalized Frequency Division Multiplexing (GFDM), Universal Filtered Multi-Carrier (UFMC) and Filtered OFDM (F-OFDM). These types of MCM based on the filtering process of symbols and subcarriers to eliminate the Cyclic Prefix (CP) effect on the OFDM performance in terms of Bit Error Rate (BER) and throughput. The simulation results show that the BER performance of the FBMC is better than any other simulated MCM in this paper while the throughput of the GFDM is enhanced at high SNR and the UFMC throughput is the better at low SNR values.


Studies had been carried out to look for new phantom materials in medical physics that can provide better dose accuracy in comparison to water. This study focused on the fabrication and characterisations and of particleboards made of Rhizophora spp. as phantom for low and diagnostic photon energies. Rhizophora spp. particleboards were fabricated at different particle size ranges of 104–210 μm, 74–104 μm and ≤ 74 μm. Corn starch was used as adhesive at 5% and 10% percentage levels as well as the binderless particleboards. All particleboards were fabricated with density similar to water at 1.0 g cm–3. The physical and mechanical properties of the particleboards were evaluated based on the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS A 5908:2003). The elemental compositions and the effective atomic number of corn starch bonded Rhizophora spp. were determined based on the energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). The mass attenuation coefficients were measured by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) photons between 16.59 keV and 25.26 keV. The computed tomography (CT) numbers, electron density and density profiles were investigated by using the CT scanner and compared to water. The Rhizophora spp. particleboard with highest percentage level of corn starch (10%) and smallest particle size (≤74 μm) showed the highest physical and mechanical properties shown by the average internal bond (IB) strength and modulus of rupture (MOR). The calculated effective atomic Fabrication and Characterisations of Rhizophora spp. 132 number of the corn starch bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboard was closer to water compared to the binderless particleboards. All particleboards showed close values of mass attenuation coefficients to water at all experimented photon energies. All Rhizophora spp. particleboards also showed CT number close to water within 5.4% percentage of difference. The results showed that the addition of corn starch improved the physical properties of Rhizophora spp. particleboards and can be potentially used as phantom material for low and diagnostic photon energies.


This study takes an evolutionary perspective on consumer behaviour in an online context. Specifically, it aims to show how such an analysis can not only enhance our understanding of the contemporary online era but also suggest new avenues for advertising practice. The theoretical approach will draw on insights from a range of disciplines including memetics, semiology and anthropology, as well as cross-disciplinary fields of study such as behavioural ecology. This is necessary given the underlying premise that human behaviour is a response to a complex mix of environmental pressures, both biological and sociocultural. (Advertising's power to engage consumers rests on its ability to harness these pressures; but for the purpose of this study it can also be seen as simply another such pressure.) The focus on the online world is a recognition of the internet's increasing importance – in general sociocultural terms, and as reflected in advertising practice. It has also rapidly developed the hallmarks of an environment, evolving along with the entities that inhabit this virtual space, through various selection and survival mechanisms. The study will identify these mechanisms and investigate the ways in which they operate. Finally it will propose an evolutionary strategy to maximise the chance of survival for brands within this environment, based on the model of symbiotic, co-adaptive behaviour.


Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have the potential to self-replicate, proliferate and differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes, osteocytes and myocytes. Recent studies indicate that vitamin K2 plays a role in bone metabolism. But the mechanism is still unclear. We evaluated effect of vitamin K2 on osteogenesis and adipogenesis of MSCs from umbilical cord blood(UCB). By exposing MSCs to osteogenic and adipogenic medium with and without vitamin K2, the effects of vitamin K2 were analyzed. The results showed that vitamin K2 inhibits adipogenesis while at the same time it stimulates osteoblastic differentiation. These data are expected to provide novel information needed for successful therapeutic development for various types of osteoporosis and similar diseases related to bone formation.


Historically, progress occurs when entities communicate, share information and together create something that no one individually could do alone. Moving beyond people to machines and systems, interoperability is becoming a key factor of success in all domains. In particular, interoperability has become a challenge for enterprises, to exploit market opportunities, to meet their own objectives of cooperation or simply to survive in a growing competitive world where the networked enterprise is becoming a standard. Within this context, many research works have been conducted over the past few years and enterprise interoperability has become an important area of research, ensuring the competitiveness and growth of European enterprises. Among others, enterprises have to control their interoperability strategy and enhance their ability to interoperate. This is the purpose of the interoperability assessment. Assessing interoperability maturity allows a company to know its strengths and weaknesses in terms of interoperability with its current and potential partners, and to prioritise actions for improvement. The objective of this paper is to define a maturity model for enterprise interoperability that takes into account existing maturity models while extending the coverage of the interoperability domain. The assessment methodology is also presented. Both are demonstrated with a real case study.


A friend of mine was invited to be among a small group of aspiring leaders who were to give a presentation to management. While the other participants each highlighted their most significant success, he chose to explain how his department had come to lose a major client. You can guess which presentation provided the most valuable information to the company leadership. Although we have more to learn from our failures than our successes, the latter get shared much more often than the former.


The present research aims to point out the long-existing defect of analyzing the spectrum diagram only from the perspective of haemodynamics instead of haemorheology. In the light of the theories of haemodynamics and haemorheology, the causes of spectrum diagram formation of carotid artery blood at the rapid and slow flow can be clarified completely and accurately. Four conclusions have been drawn in the end. As long as the velocity gradient is large enough, obvious red blood cells concentrate to the shaft even in the big or bigger blood vessels; the spectrum diagram is the powerful proof of the two phase flow model of blood; the spectrum diagram can be completely and accurately analyzed only by combining haemodynamics with haemorheology; and only when the red blood cells concentrate to the shaft, the big or bigger blood vessels can be regarded as haemogeneous fluid.


Today, information spreads online, halfway between being free and its substantial disintermediation. In this context, some important cognitive processes have undergone a radical transformation, which coincides with a major crisis of reading and writing, along with a new way of remembering and forgetting things, for a common and uncommon memory. All this implies new dispositions to a subconscious which is further from any re-enactment or control. One would say that it is a matter of being more or less intelligent or wise in a broader digital sense: that is, it is still a matter that concerns one's own mental health in general, with a continual digression towards what would otherwise be known as digital dementia. On such premises, where is the boundary between our intelligence and the artificial one today? How far has machine learning gone in its quest for understanding, for an interpretation of our online experiences, for those of us who are an integral part of a network of things that has gone far beyond the extension of our bodies? Certainly, Google with its PageRank dominates the search we conduct, directs our daily interests, shapes our most hidden desires. This causes behavioural short circuits from which it is often difficult to escape, beyond the substantial opacity in which all of this takes place. Inside this maze of new political constitutions, halfway between our being real and virtual, mysterious algorithms dominate our lives, whose implementation and government nowadays constitute the castle of power in its new branches, with its magical and secret nature that makes it the new mathesis universalis of our contemporary relationships.


A conducted to determine 1) the effect of high-velocity movement in resistance training with a constant load on the velocity of movement after training and 2) the differences in the effect on muscle hypertrophy according to training velocity. Fourteen of the total subjects (male; n=10, female ; n=7) were placed in the experimental group and agreed to participate in 8 weeks of training sessions (4 times a week). Five of the 17 subjects were in control a group before the training session. Subjects performed elbow extension and flexion exercise using 50% of one repetition maximum (% 1 RM) load. The exercise session consisted of 6 sets of 10 repetitions and 30s of rest was taken between the sets. The subjects in the experimental group trained their arms using two different protocols ; one was high-velocity movement performed as rapidly as possible (Type R) , the other was low-velocity movement performed at a constant and slow velocity (Type S). Isokinetic torque in elbow flexion was measured at angular velocities of 60, 180, 300 deg/s, respectively , during elbow flexion performed under different constant loads of 0, 30, 50% 1 RM, and the muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) of the elbow flexor was determined before and after training . It was found that Type R did not increased isokinetic torque at 300 deg/s significantly after training. However, the increase in angular velocity of elbow flexion in Type R exercise tended to be higher than in Type S exercise . The increase in CSA [Type S; 11.2%, Type R ;14.2%] was significantly higher in Type R exercise (p<0.05). These results suggest that high-velocity movement with a constant load in resistance training might increase the angular velocity of movement in the same mode, but might not produce a change in isokinetic strength, which involves a different mode of muscle contraction . Muscle hypertrophy would be induced to a greater extent by high-velocity movement than by low-velocity movement in resistance training with a constant load. (Jpn. J. Phys. Fitness Sports Med. 1996, 45:345•`356)


Although a well implemented performance management system (PMS) can have immense benefits, it has been reduced in many organisations to a mechanical, end of the year requirement for information. Consequently, in many organisations, PMSs are viewed with much trepidation and scepticism. It is therefore germane to understand factors that could cause PMS to be embraced and accepted by individuals in organisations. Effective leadership in the organisation could be critical in the successful implementation of performance management. However, empirical investigation of this relationship is lacking. The objectives of this study were: (1) To assess the effect of transactional and transformational leadership on the adoption of a performance management framework and (2) To assess the perceptions of various demographic groups in an organisation on the effects of leadership style on the implementation of a performance management system. The study was undertaken at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Kenya. An explanatory descriptive design was used. The target population for the study comprised all the 2,040 members of staff at the hospital. A stratified random sampling was used to select the 510 respondents. The study found that leadership style (transactional and transformational leadership) has a strong and positive influence on the implementation of performance management framework (B=0.677, SE = 0.027, p<0.0001; R 2 =0.72). Support for the relationship between leadership and PMS was found to be stronger amongst males, less educated and older employees. The study recommends that organisations should adopt more strategic leadership style if they are to successfully deliver the contiguous stages required in PMS. Keywords: Transactional Leadership, Transformational Leadership, performance management system