The current study assesses the contributions of foreign direct investment (FDI) on Indonesian manufacturing. By taking advantage of the availability of plant-level survey data from Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), for the period 1975-2005, this study assesses the impacts of FDI on five strategic factors: capital, employment, technology transfer, domestic suppliers, and trade performance. The results show that foreign firms in Indonesian manufacturing played an important role on these five factors. Although foreign firms were minor in manufacturing sector, their share on capital in this sector was significant. They also played an increasingly important role on employment over the last four decades. Sectors that received significant employment effect from foreign firms were metal products and textiles. Besides creating employment opportunity, foreign firms in Indonesian manufacturing also generated high value added to Indonesian manufacturing sector. The contribution of foreign firms to technology transfer depends on several factors, such as the level of research and development in domestic firms, labour skills for the new technology, and technological gaps between foreign and domestic firms. Based on the ratio of local procurement, foreign firms in manufacturing has contributed to upstream industries through domestic input contains. The upward trend in local procurement suggests that the linkages of foreign firms and domestic suppliers are getting stronger overtime. Moreover, foreign firm also played crucial roles in manufacturing exports, which accounted to more than 30 percent of total export in manufacturing. However, foreign firms in Indonesia manufacturing relied heavily on imported material. The value of their imported material accounted for more than 40 percent of total imported material in manufacturing.


Introduction Social media has a potential to bring about major changes in the healthcare system. Objective To find out the pattern of use of social media among healthcare professionals (HCPs) and perception, facilitators, and barriers of using social media, to translate evidence into clinical practice. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study among 196 HCPs of institutions attached to a university using a self-administered questionnaire. Result 97.3% used social media; however, only 63.4% used it for research. YouTube was the most preferred media. Majority of people believed that social media enables wide range of evidence over the shorter span of time, poses a threat to privacy, and cannot replace face to face interaction. Perceived barriers were the privacy concern, unprofessional behavior, lack of reliability, and information overload. Conclusion There is a need for the development of appropriate guidelines for sharing the research output among various stakeholders using social media.


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In this paper, phase-segregating acrylic block copolymers are used to construct vitrimers. The resulting phase-segregated vitrimers display markedly different thermal and mechanical properties relative to those of homogeneous statistical copolymer-derived vitrimers. Importantly, the volume fraction of the functional block (i.e., the nominal cross-link density) can be used to modulate the stress relaxation profile of block vitrimers, while statistical copolymer-derived vitrimers display no change in relaxation behavior as a function of cross-link density. This study demonstrates that block copolymers offer additional design space to tune vitrimer properties, independent of polymer and cross-link identity and dynamic exchange chemistry.


The objective of this study has been to follow modifications in the content of Cu, Zn and Mn in the topmost layer of soil which had been fertilized for many years with farmyard manure and mineral fertilizers or with mineral fertilizers alone. Soil samples were collected in 2002-2005 from a trial established in 1986 on proper brown podsolic soil, according to the random block design with four replication. The first factor consisted of organic fertilization (manure applied every two years or without manure). The second factor involved different rates of mineral fertilization. Rates of nutrients in the mineral fertilizers were identical in both experimental series – with or without manure. In each year, the same crop was grown on both fields, in a crop rotation system: sugar beet (2002), spring barley (2003), maize (2004) and spring wheat (2005). Plant available forms of nutrients were extracted from soil in 1 mol HCl dm -3 solution. After extraction, the content of metals was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results underwent statistical processing using analysis of variance for a two-factor experiment. The content of available forms of copper, zinc and manganese in soil regularly amended with manure was evidently higher than analogous concentrations determined in soil receiving only mineral fertilization since 1986. Manure most strongly improved the concentration of Cu (nearly 1.7-fold), while producing the weakest influence on manganese (over 1.3-fold more). In absolute values, however, the increase in availability of manganese was the highest, reaching on average 52 mg kg -1 of soil. Differentiated mineral fertilization with nitrogen or potassium as well as manganese and liming to a lesser extent than manure modified the availability of Cu, Zn and Mn in soil. Among these nutrients, nitrogen most often increased the content of plant assimilable forms of metals in soil, which may have been caused by its acidifying influence.


This book arises out of the need which has been felt for what might be called A Primer of Christianity. It is especially for those who are conscious of the great importance today of the scientific outlook and want to know how Christian faith and Christian theology can claim to be true when measured by scientific standards. Richardson shows that there can be and does exist a real science of theology working on the data provided by the historical facts concerning Christ and the Church, and that it has reached real and important results. He outlines what these are and shows how they point the way to the next step, which can only be taken by each person for himself--personal faith.


Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers amongst women in developed and developing countries. It is associated with the highest mortality rate in low to average-income countries. Breast cancer investigation amongst Iranian women reveals that the number of its incidence is yet the highest in all cancer types. Despite recent longer survival time of women with breast cancer, most of the patients suffer from long term physical and mental distress due to combined treatments. Exercise interventions are among new approaches to promote the better quality of life of the patients, which has only recently been considered by researchers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise intervention on the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial conducted on 80 women with I-III breast cancer, at 18-55 years of age mostly two years after the completion of their treatment in Seyed al Shohada hospital in Isfahan. They were randomly divided into two groups of study and control. Exercise intervention went on for 8 weeks in the study group (three sessions a week, 60 minutes). Quality of life in both groups was measured a day before, and at the end of the eight weeks period by the instrument of the National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tests of X2, t-test and Mac Hammer test. Findings: Results showed that there was no significant difference in the mean score of the physical dimension of quality of life in the study group before and after intervention while the score of physical health was significantly better in the control group (p < 0.00).The mean score of mental dimension had increased in the study group, while it had decreased in the control group. The mean score of social health showed no significant difference before and after intervention. The mean score of spiritual health had significantly decreased in the control group, while it had significantly increased in the study group (p = 0.004). Generally, the total mean score of the quality of life showed no significant difference before and after intervention. However, the percentage of the quality of life score increased in the study group, but decreased in the control group. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that exercise interventions can promote a better quality of life for the patients, and increase the total score of quality of life. Although, the total score of quality of life was not significantly different, it was concluded that exercise can promote the quality of life amongst patients with breast cancer.


NusA is an essential protein that binds to RNA polymerase and also to the nascent RNA and influences transcription by inducing pausing and facilitating the process of transcription termination/antitermination. Its participation in Rho-dependent transcription termination has been perceived, but the molecular nature of this involvement is not known. We hypothesized that, because both Rho and NusA are RNA-binding proteins and have the potential to target the same RNA, the latter is likely to influence the global pattern of the Rho-dependent termination. Analyses of the nascent RNA binding properties and consequent effects on the Rho-dependent termination functions of specific NusA-RNA binding domain mutants revealed an existence of Rho-NusA direct competition for the overlapping nut (NusA-binding site) and rut (Rho-binding site) sites on the RNA. This leads to delayed entry of Rho at the rut site that inhibits the latter's RNA release process. High density tiling microarray profiles of these NusA mutants revealed that a significant number of genes, together with transcripts from intergenic regions, are up-regulated. Interestingly, the majority of these genes were also up-regulated when the Rho function was compromised. These results provide strong evidence for the existence of NusA-binding sites in different operons that are also the targets of Rho-dependent terminations. Our data strongly argue in favor of a direct competition between NusA and Rho for the access of specific sites on the nascent transcripts in different parts of the genome. We propose that this competition enables NusA to function as a global antagonist of the Rho function, which is unlike its role as a facilitator of hairpin-dependent termination.


Rates of change in final summer densities of two desert annuals, Eriogonum abertianum and Haplopappus gracilis, as constrained by their initial winter germination densities were estimated with regression quantiles and compared with mechanistic fits based on a self-thinning rule proposed by Guo et al. (1998); Oikos 83: 237-245). The allometric relation used was equivalent to S = Nf (N i ) -1 = c f (N i ) - , where S is the ratio of final to initial densities (survivorship), c f is a constant that is a final density specific to the species and environment, N f is the initial plant density, and N f is final plant density. We used regression quantiles to estimate c f assuming the exponent of - 1 was fixed (model 1, N f (N f ) -1 = c f (N i ) -1 and also obtained estimates by treating the exponent as a parameter to estimate (model 2, N f (N f )- = c f (N i ) λ ). Regression quantiles allow rates of change to be estimated through any part of a data distribution conditional on some linear function of covariates. We focused on estimates for upper (90-99th) quantiles near the boundary of the summer density distributions where we expected effects of self-thinning to operate as the primary constraint on plant performance. Allometric functions estimated with regression quantiles were similar to functions fit by Guo et al. (1998) when the exponent was constrained to - 1. However, the data were more consistent with estimates for model (2), where exponents were closer to - 0.4 than - 1, although model fit was not as good at higher initial plant densities as when the exponent was fixed at - 1. An exponential form (model 3, N f (N i ) -1 = c f (N i ) λNi ) that is a generalization of the discrete logistic growth function, where estimates of λ were - 0.23 to - 0.28 and estimates of γ were - 0.003 to - 0.006, provided better fit from low to high initial germination densities. Model 3 predictions were consistent with an interpretation that final summer densities were constrained by initial germination densities when these were low ( < 40 per 0.25 m 2 for Eriogonum and < 100 per 0.25 m 2 for Haplopappus) and were constrained by the self-thinning process at higher germination densities. Our exponential model (3) estimated with regression quantiles had similar form to the mechanistic relation of Guo et al. (1998) when plotted as a survivorship function, but avoided the unrealistic assumption that all populations attained a similar final density, and was based on a statistical model that has formal rules for estimation and inference.


Antarctic tourism, since its beginnings in the 1960s, is an ever-growing industry and the cruise-staff of nearly every cruise to Antarctica includes at least one historian. This article discusses whether lecturing on board an Antarctic cruise is merely entertainment for the passengers and a unique chance for the respective lecturer to travel to Antarctica or if lecturing about Antarctica in the specific surrounding should be considered as an integral element of research about Antarctic history as well as the history of the Southern Oceans. Based on personal experience, the author argues that lecturing on board an Antarctic cruise is an important element of Antarctic historical research as there is no permanent or native population and thus this might be the only way to bring the results of analytical historical research via an audience that cares about Antarctica into the larger societal discussion.


Plastic shrinkage cracking in cement-based materials occurs between the mixing and the final setting of the mixture, where rapid evaporation of the mixed water is the main cause behind the phenomenon. The induced cracks may impair the durability and sustainability of the structure by facilitating ingress of harmful materials into the concrete bulk. In this paper a new model for estimating the cracking severity of plastic cementitious materials is presented based on the mixture's initial setting time and the amount of the pore liquid evaporated from within the concrete mass. Results of experiments performed by the authors in another study, in addition to results of tests performed by other researchers are used to control the validity of the model. It is concluded that the model can anticipate the cracking severity of plastic concretes with good precision. The new method can provide practical tools for designers and contractors to predict and compare the cracking risk of the concretes prior to casting.


The Comedy soon had a widespread and attracted the admiration of the artists and, in the first place, the illuminators, the code of the Philippine Library Oratorian Girolami of Naples, for example, and the Comedy of the British Library Additional 19587 London, are among the most original interpretations of Dante's verses. The charm of the Comedy was also warned by the eminent painters of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth centuries, such as Botticelli, genes in contact with the genius of Dante. From the methodological point of view I thought it appropriate to set the work on a few key points: 1) The Comedy and its symbolic and archetypal elements, the "ideas primary", figures that do not stem from personal experience, but they are already present in the layers deepest of the human psyche (the sea, the mother, the wise old man). The archetypes in time, therefore, present fine arts and studied medieval poet always through the many aspects of the real world, real creative principle of similarity Dante. 2) The arts and the Commedia: the text of the Commedia as a producer of images. Dante manages to include events, landscapes and feelings so deep concrete causing the reader to see other reality than that expressed by the triplet of the poem. In the descriptions of the places the poet evokes the infernal darkness illuminated by violent and sudden flashes of light, figures, those of Dante, who compete and exceed the naturalism of contemporary paintings by Giotto, especially in the description of Eden, where an imaginary world becomes through physical 'analysis of climatic conditions and the reference to "the shore of Chiassi." 3) The Divine Comedy as an inspiration for artistic representation back to Dante. The vision of the verses of Dante's poem in the codes of Drama, where large-scale miniatures and skilled workmanship make variants, sometimes significant, to triplets, especially in the depiction of mythological monsters and demonic creatures. 4) A theoretical study on the concept of divine art in Dante. In many places the poem emerges the concept of a "Deus Artifex." The door to hell, through its inscription, Dante felt that it was built by God and for this reason that passes through it is subject to a sentence final. An idea that we find in the canto XXXI of the Hell, in the figuration of a master, whose identity is unknown, who managed to trap the Giants in the bottomless pit hell (vv. 85-90).


Aims To determine whether parental stress factors are present in a significant proportion of a community paediatric caseload. Methods Analysis of routinely collected service activity data using parental factors codes defined in the national Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services dataset (CAMHS), that is, parental sensory impairment, physical illness, mental illness, drugs and alcohol problems, learning disability, history of being in care or the victim of abuse as a child, history of known violence or child abuse as an adult and other unspecified parenting difficulties. These data relates to cases seen generically, that is, outside dedicated child protection and LAC sessions. Results Over the financial year 2009/2010 the service had 2230 new and 4802 follow-up successful contacts. A total of 1519 separate instances of parental factors were identified in 436 new (19.55%) and 747(15.55%)of follow-up contacts. Specific factors (each contact may have more than one & up to four factors could be coded for each contact) were identified as follows: mental illness in 364, known history of violence in 208, learning disability in 159, physical illness in 157, problem drinking/drugs in 132, known history of child abuse in 40,period of care in childhood in 30,childhood abuse in 24, sensory impairment in 18 and physical disability in 13.Unspecified parenting difficulties which could not be included in the previous categories were identified in another 374 instances. Conclusion This study identifies for the first time the frequent presence of both specific and unspecified parenting difficulties, most often reflecting adverse aspects of adult mental health, in this generic community paediatric caseload; this is another dimension of case mix complexity which has implications for training as well as planning and funding of services; it also illustrates the need for coordinated working across agencies as well as across services for vulnerable children and vulnerable adults & demonstrates the increasing overlap between CAMHS and community paediatrics. In our view the forthcoming child health dataset should therefore also include the CAMHS dataset parental stress factors codes.


This paper deals with the study of various types of Beamforming algorithms. A beam former is a processor used in conjunction with an array of sensors to provide a versatile form of spatial filtering. The sensor array collects spatial samples of propagating wave fields, which are processed by the beam former. The objective is to estimate the signal arriving from a desired direction in the presence of noise and interfering signals. A beam former performs spatial filtering to separate signals that have over lapping frequency content but originate from different spatial locations.


The article presents recent developments and future trends in high Cr ferritic heat resistant steels. Research programs are underway worldwide to improve the performance of 8 to 13% Cr ferritic steels for high temperature applications of up to 650°C. We developed the super 12% Cr heat resistant steel called TAF steel in 1956. The creep rupture strength of TAF steel is two or three times higher than those of H46 and AISI422 at 600 and 650°C. Our research in this area was well ahead of work being conducted in other countries.Recently the author succeeded in developing TR1100, TR1200, TB9 and TB12 with excellent high temperature properties and room temperature toughness through the improvement of TAF steel. In the near future, these new steels will be applied to turbine rotors, blades, and boiler tubes for advanced supercritical power plants, to fuel cladding, wrapper and steam generator tubing for fast breeder reactors, and to first wall materials for conceptual fusion reactors. These steels are a key to making these plants and reactors practical.


The ability of adherent peritoneal cells (APC) to inhibit murine natural killer (NK) cell activity was examined. Nylon wool-nonadherent splenic effector cells were incubated overnight with or without different numbers of APC. NK activity was then measured against YAC-1 in a 4-hr 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay. Proteose peptone-elicited or unstimulated resident APC from normal mice markedly suppressed NK activity of splenic effector cells in the presence or absence of exogenously added interferon. The suppression was dependent on the number of APC added with 10% APC, relative to the number of effector cells, resulting in a greater than 65% inhibition of cytotoxicity. The effector phase of cytotoxicity was not the target of the suppressor cells, because APC did not suppress NK activity when they were present only during the cytotoxicity assay. The addition of APC to alloimmune cytotoxic T cells under similar conditions resulted in no inhibition of cytotoxicity. Both syngeneic and allogeneic APC suppressed NK activity, but several murine macrophage-like cell lines lacked this property. In contrast to APC, incubation of effector cells with adherent spleen cells from normal mice resulted in no inhibition of NK activity. APC from mice injected with C. parvum were less inhibitory for NK activity than normal resident APC. In contrast, C. parvum APC suppressed concanavalin A-induced lymphoproliferation and were directly cytotoxic to tumor target cells in vitro, whereas normal APC lacked these properties. The results indicate that the peritoneum of untreated mice contains suppressor cells that can inhibit the in vitro maintenance and IFN-mediated augmentation of NK activity. In addition, these results indicate a broader spectrum of immune reactivities regulated by APC and suggest that, depending on their level of activation, APC can preferentially inhibit different immune functions.


Use of polyethylene (PE) for water and natural gas transportation has increased rapidly due to its good physical and mechanical properties, especially its excellent corrosion resistance property. However, when immersed in adverse environment and subjected to applied stress, PE will suffer from accelerated crack growth in a phenomenon known as environmental stress cracking (ESC). ESC occurs in a brittle manner without little pre-fracture deformation, thus can cause catastrophic, unexpected failure for PE pipe. A number of different test methods have been developed for characterizing ESC resistance (ESCR) of PE materials. Within this paper, a state-of-the-art review is given on the current ESCR characterization methods, including the working principle and limitations of each method.


The dynamic behavior of bundled conductors following ice shedding from one subconductor is examined numerically using the finite-element method. An existing model of ice shedding from a single conductor is improved by developing a model of spacers which connect subconductors in the span. The resulting system makes it possible to simulate vibrations following ice shedding from one span of an overhead transmission line with twin, triple, or quad bundles. Vibration characteristics are evaluated as the following parameters are varied: thickness of shed ice, distance between adjacent spacers, and number of subconductors in the bundle. Simulation results will provide information on how the amplitude of vibration and the transient dynamic forces change with the application of spacers. The maximum jump height of the ice-shedding cable, the maximum drop of the loaded cable, and the maximum cable tension are approximated as power functions of ice thickness and the distance between adjacent spacers.


Jumper's knee has been defined as painful chronic overuse injury of the extensor mechanism of the knee joint. The disease has a high incidence in jumping sports and depends on training frequency and level of performance. Its natural course is protracted, repetitive, and often bilaterally occurring. Its etiology is a chronic overload of the knee extensor mechanism which is triggered by jumping sports (volleyball, basketball etc.) as well as different intrinsic (ligamentous laxity, Q-angle, patella height, tenderness, pattern of force development) and extrinsic dispositions (frequency of training, level of performance, hardness of underground). The place of pathology most often is the osteo-tendinous transition zone of the proximal patellar tendon. Histologic evaluation of the tendon showed that the disease is rather degenerative than inflammatory. The diagnosis is primarily based on the typical sports history, physical examination, and ultrasound. MRI is helpful in operation planning. Plain radiography, CT, and bone scans are used to rule out differential diagnoses. Therapy should be chosen according to the stage of the disease and usually starts with a non-surgical approach. This includes rest from sports activities, immobilisation, non-steroid antiphlogistics, para-tendinous cortisone injections, massage, electric therapy, ultrasound and extracorporal shock waves. Afterwards an increase of activities is begun (moderate training, adequate warm-up, ice cooling after activity, muscle stretching, eccentric strengthening of the quadriceps). Patella straps and soft insoles are used as prevention. Up to 42 % of patients need surgical therapy after failure of long-lasting non-surgical measures, carried out either open or arthroscopically. Surgical principles include excision of the para-tendon, excision of the degenerative tissue, resection of the lower patella pole, and longitudinal incisions into the tendon. Most patients are pain-free after surgery but return to sports only at a lower level.


Ventilation is the process by which water is transferred from the surface mixed layer to the interior ocean. Ventilation anomalies as the result of climate variability may impact the atmosphere in remote regions where the flow returns to the mixed layer. From the Lagrangian analysis of monthly‐mean ocean fields of a numerical model constrained by observed climatologies, we show that 324 Sv of mixed layer water travel throughout the interior ocean for periods longer than 12 months, leading to an average volume replacement time of roughly 125 yr. We evaluate the connections established on a global scale, with an appropriate mapping of the ventilation and corresponding obduction regions, and highlight the role of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as a main receptacle of the water masses formed throughout the world ocean.


Choisya 'Aztec-Pearl', a hybrid of Choisya ternata and Choisya dumosa var. arizonica, had the antinociceptive activity in the ethanol extract (EECA) of its leaves evaluated. Two quinoline alkaloids, anhydroevoxine (A) and choisyine (C), isolated from these leaves were also tested. The results obtained pointed out to a very high antinociceptive activity measured by the hot plate model for EECA (at doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) as well as for A and C (at doses of 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg). The magnitude of the activity was two-fold higher than the one observed for the morphine treated animals for the higher doses of extracts/compounds (30, 100 mg/kg and 3, 10 mg/kg respectively). The mechanism of action for this activity was also investigated and it seems that for EECA as well as A and C, the opiate system plays an important role. Results have also shown that the nitric oxide (NO) system also play a pivotal role in the case of EECA and A while for C it seems that the cholinergic system have some involvement. The acute toxicity was evaluated for EECA with results showing no important toxic effect.


There is increasing emphasis on psychological and social approaches to managing and treating mental illness, including a growing evidence base on the effectiveness of community-based social interventions including arts and heritage activities, library programmes, volunteering schemes, nature-based activities and community groups. However, there is a gap in understanding of what the barriers to, and enablers of, working with individuals with mental illness might be for the community and voluntary sector. A qualitative approach was used involving focus groups with non-profit organisations delivering social activities within communities across the United Kingdom. Behaviour Change Theory, the COM-B model and the Theoretical Domains Framework, were employed as the theoretical framework, to develop interventions to address the barriers raised. Representatives of the organisations reported being motivated by the mental health needs of others, and by seeing the benefits of participation. Further motivations included expanding inclusion, and economic motivation to ensure sustainability. Strengths identified included offering innovative, responsive services that were distinct from conventional mental health services. Running these services demanded new and potentially challenging skills, such as understanding statutory responsibilities, and being able to train and support staff. Further challenges included maintaining boundaries between their roles as community organisations and clients' mental health needs and avoiding burn-out. Ability to deliver this work was enhanced by support of peer organisations and opportunities to share practice. However, funding was often short term, and complex to obtain, which could destabilise organisations' sustainability. Lack of transparency around the process, differences in language between the community and health sectors, and confusion around commissioning pathways undermined the potential opportunity offered by social prescribing policy. Interventions to address these barriers were identified, including long term funding to support core costs, training on engaging with the commissioning process, around mental health support and safeguarding, and developing mentoring schemes and local co-operatives of organisations for developing partnerships with the health sector.


The development of any discipline is related to the strength of its underpinning theoretical base. Wellestablished disciplines have a diversity of clearly stated and competing theoretical frameworks to describe and explain theoretical constructs. Information systems (IS) is a relatively new discipline; many well-known IS theories (such as the technology acceptance model, theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behaviour) are borrowed from disciplines such as economics and psychology. This chapter outlines personal construct psychology, a psychological theory. Current applications of methodologies based in personal construct theory are discussed, and the positioning of the theory within a broader taxonomy of IS theory is explored.


Since 1995 the Norwegian regulator has required annual reporting of interruption data by the network companies. Main results from the reported data in 1995-1999 are presented in the paper. The statistics shows that the annual number of interruptions per delivery point has been relatively constant during this five-year period. The annual energy not supplied (ENS) shows a decreasing tendency due to a quite evident reduction in ENS for notified interruptions. The interruption statistics is utilized for many purposes by the regulator, the network companies and as a basis for research. Some examples of utilization of the statistics are presented in the paper.


We present a text entry technique called HiFinger, which is an eyes-free, one-handed wearable text entry technique for immersive virtual environments by thumb-to-fingers touch. This technique enables users to input text quickly, accurately, and comfortably with the sense of touch and a two-step input mode. It is especially suitable for mobile scenarios where users need to move (such as walking) in virtual environments. Various input signals can be triggered by moving the thumb towards ultra-thin pressure sensors placed on other fingers. After acquiring the comfort range of the touch between the thumb and other fingers, six placement modes for text entry are designed and tested, resulting in an optimal placement mode that leverages six pressure sensors for the text entry and two for the control function. A three-day study is conducted to evaluate the proposed technique, and experimental results show that novices can achieve an average text entry efficiency of 9.82 words per minute (WPM) in virtual environments based on head-mounted displays after a training period of 25 min.


Though it may be a behavior that has been observed and documented for millennia, and despite the connection between it and the full moon, the astronomical community has afforded very little attention to lycanthropy. We hope to address this deficiency by using the population of known exoplanets as a natural experiment to better characterize what properties of the moon are necessary to trigger a transformation into a werewolf. We additionally investigate which exoplanets are most likely to have exomoons which may cause werewolves, with a particular focus on LHS 1140 b. We also propose a new mission called the Werewolves From Infrared Radiation and Spectral-typing Telescope, or WFIRST, in order to better characterize exoplanetary systems. This will allow us to explore the impact of stellar type on lycanthropy more than it has traditionally been considered. We believe this represents a major step forward in our understanding and recognition of the burgeoning field of exocryptozoology.


Objective: To compare the success rate of nasal endoscopic assisted probing and simple probing in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: Eye department, Combined Military Hospital, Malir Cantt, Karachi, from Feb 2018 to Jun 2019.
Methodology: A total of 100 children were randomly divided into two groups. Each child in both groups underwent probing of the nasolacrimal duct. In one group, simple probing was performed, and patency was confirmed with metal on metal touch. In the second group, a nasal endoscope was employed to visualize probe passage through the opening of the nasolacrimal duct in the inferior meatus. In fracture of the inferior turbinate was performed in every case when a nasal endoscope was utilized. In the simple probing group, in fracture was performed if the inferior meatus was narrow. The rate of epiphora resolution was recorded in both groups at 1-month postoperatively.
Results: The success rate of epiphora resolution was 96% (48 out of 50) in the nasal endoscopic assisted probing-group and 82% (41 out of 50) in the simple probing-group (p=0.02). The simple probing-group had a 40% (20 out of 50) significant nasal bleed, and in the nasal endoscopic-group, the significant nasal bleed was 20% (10 out of 50) (p=0.02).
Conclusion: Nasal endoscopic assisted probing of the nasolacrimal duct has a higher success rate than simple probing in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.


In this paper, the effect of the fundamental current provided by a peaking cell consisting of a Doherty amplifier is analyzed using a new closed-current model. The proposed current model can be used as a foundation to accurately explain and optimize previous compensation methods such as uneven, asymmetric, and gate envelope cases. Based on the proposed analysis, and in conjunction with the envelope tracking scheme, two-point envelope modulation simultaneously supplying the carrier and peaking cells is introduced to improve the overall efficiency. For further verification, the Doherty amplifier, targeting a third-generation long-term evolution base station at 2.6 GHz has been fabricated utilizing a commercially available 120-W gallium nitride device, which provides a drain efficiency of 53.1% at an average output power of 45.8 dBm with an 8.5-dB peak-to-average power ratio signal maintaining an adjacent channel leakage power ratio of - 48.6 dBc using digital pre-distortion functionality.


The objective of this study is to establish a geographical information system method for spatial assessment of soil erosion based on the universal soil loss equation (USLE), and to evaluate the utility of GIS with regard to soil erosion mapping. The study area, Goynuk, covers 1,437 square kilometers and is located in the southeastern part of Bolu, Turkey. In this study, USLE factors including rainfall erosivity (R-factor), soil erodibility (K-factor), slope and slope length (LS-factor), vegetative cover (C-factor), and conservation practice (Pfactor) were studied and reviewed. Each factor, which consists of a set of logically related geographic features and attributes, was used as an input for analysis. A land use map of the study area was generated from (Landsat TM 2000) satellite imagery. A digital elevation model (DEM) interpolated from elevation contours was used to generate the slope and LS-factor. Spatial vegetative cover, extracted from Landsat TM imagery, was used to determine the spatial C-factor and P-factor, values of which are based on experimental results from the literature. USLE model calculation applied to the resultant polygonal layer gave values of soil loss in tons/ha/year. These are then ranked into three classes as low, moderate, and high. The study indicated that highly eroded areas are bare lands and steep conditions, whereas less eroded areas are low slope classes. As a conclusion the study confirms that the use of GIS and remotely sensed data can greatly enhance spatial modeling for soil erosion.


We present Virtual Elastic Objects (VEOs): virtual objects that not only look like their real-world counterparts but also behave like them, even when subject to novel interactions. Achieving this presents multiple challenges: not only do objects have to be captured including the physical forces acting on them, then faithfully reconstructed and rendered, but also plausible material parameters found and simulated. To create VEOs, we built a multi-view capture system that captures objects under the influence of a compressed air stream. Building on recent advances in model-free, dynamic Neural Radiance Fields, we reconstruct the objects and corresponding deformation fields. We propose to use a differentiable, particle-based simulator to use these deformation fields to find representative material parameters, which enable us to run new simulations. To render simulated objects, we devise a method for integrating the simulation results with Neural Radiance Fields. The resulting method is applicable to a wide range of scenarios: it can handle objects composed of inhomogeneous material, with very different shapes, and it can simulate interactions with other virtual objects. We present our results using a newly collected dataset of 12 objects under a variety of force fields, which will be made available upon publication.


Matched feed horns aim to cancel cross polarization generated in offset reflector systems. An analytical method for predicting the mode spectrum generated by inclusions in such horns, e.g. stubs and pins, is presented. The theory is based on the reciprocity theorem with the inclusions represented by current sources. The model is supported by Method of Moments calculations in GRASP and very good agreement is seen. The model gives rise to many interesting observations and ideas for new or improved mode launchers for matched feeds.


The development phase of the optical photolithography process has long been considered the most crucial, as it is the final image-forming step. Process monitoring methods have focused primarily on end point detection and have not used other inferable on-line information. This paper examines the use of mathematical models in conjunction with on-line development penetration data to determine process changes. An on-line sequential parameter identification scheme is used to calculate a current rate parameter value for the development model, and a Kalman filter is used to reduce erroneous observations caused by measurement noise. A powerful development monitor system results from the combination of real-time data, and on-line parameter and state estimation theory.


Baby formula acidification can be used to reduce diarrhea. Calcium formate is a dietary acidifier frequently used in animal weaning diets; it is also a source of available calcium. Gastric acidification reduces gastrin release and hydrochloric acid (HCl) secretion. To study the medium-term effects on fundic gastric mucosa, we fed weaning pigs control diets or diets supplemented with free or fat-protected calcium formate. We evaluated the following: 1) the number of HCl-secreting parietal cells, by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against H/KATPase; 2) the number of enteroendocrine cells immunohistochemically stained with chromogranin A (CGA), somatostatin, and histamine (HIS); and 3) the expression of the H/K-ATPase gene, by real-time RT-PCR in the oxyntic mucosa. Cells co-staining for CGA and HIS were defined as enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells. Pigs fed calcium formate had fewer parietal cells and a lower expression of the H/K-ATPase gene than the controls (P , 0.05). This reduction did not occur in pigs fed fat-protected calcium formate. Somatostatin immune-reactive cells were also more numerous in pigs fed free calcium formate than in controls (P , 0.05). The number of ECL cells was not affected. Using covariance analysis, the number of parietal cells explained part of the differences in the expression of H/K-ATPase gene (positive correlation, r 1⁄4 0.385, P , 0.01), and excluded the statistical significance of the diet. In the future, the effects on the oxyntic mucosa should be checked when the diet supplemented with calcium formate is discontinued. Furthermore, a reduction in the number of parietal cells could impair the absorption of vitamin B-12 due to a reduced secretion of the intrinsic factor by these cells. J. Nutr. 136: 1229–1235,


Fisetin, luteolin and genistein, natural polyphenolic compounds of pharmaceutical interest, were combined with nicotinamide and isonicotinamide with an aim to obtain their cocrystals. A screening experiment utilizing solvent-drop grinding was conducted for those combinations. Cocrystalline phases were identified by XRPD and, as far as possible, obtained as single crystals in solution evaporation approach. Five new cocrystals were isolated, characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, FT-Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis (DSC and TG–DTA), 1H NMR in solution and compared in terms of supramolecular motifs. Reported herein fisetin–nicotinamide (1 : 2) ethanol hemisolvate (FisNam), fisetin–isonicotinamide (1 : 1) (FisInam), two polymorphic forms of luteolin–isonicotinamide (1 : 1) (LutInam, LutInam2) and genistein–nicotinamide (1 : 1) monohydrate (GenNam) cocrystals reveal the presence of an O–H⋯Narom heterosynthon between an O7 hydroxyl moiety of a flavonoid and the pyridyl ring of a coformer. Within those species, mutual orientations of molecules as well as flavonoid–coformer stoichiometry and solvent presence in crystal lattice are factors that imply resulting motif formation and crystal packing.


In the past few years, an evolution in the wireless communication has been emerged, along with the evolution a new type with large potential application of wireless network appears, which is the Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET). Black hole attack consider one of the most affected kind on MANET. Therefore, the use of intrusion detection system (IDS) has a major importance in the MANET protection. In this paper, an optimization of a fuzzy based intrusion detection system is proposed which automate the process of producing a fuzzy system by using an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) for the initialization of the FIS and then optimize this initialized system by using Genetic Algorithm (GA). In addition, a normal estimated fuzzy based IDS is introduces to see the effect of the optimization on the system. From this study, it is proven that the optimized proposed IDS perform better that the normal estimated systems.


Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will continue to rise for the foreseeable future at a rate dependent on human activity and the success of the emission control policies prescribed at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change. Evidence suggests that this and other 'greenhouse' gases have already influenced our climate and may have had an effect on forest productivity during the course of the twentieth century. Predictions of future climate are now available, and the influence of climate change on forest growth can already be modelled through an analysis of spatial clines in climatic variables such as temperature and rainfall. The direct effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and interactions with a changing climate are, however, more difficult to model. For these purposes, physiological or process-based models are required, in which the response of individual physiological processes to changing carbon dioxide concentrations is determined in controlled environment facilities and then parameterised for input into the growth models. The individual processes of these models can be validated by comparison with whole canopy water vapour and carbon dioxide flux data, while the growth predictions can be partially validated using historic climate and yield data. Only when these models are finalised and validated can we reliably predict the impact of climate change on forest growth.


Optical tweezing can be used to isolate single, micrometre sized particles. This is facilitated by a gradient force from a tightly focussed laser beam. The optical tweezing microscope at the University of Leicester has been integrated with instrumentation for spectroscopic detection. In this work, both elastic and inelastic light scattering techniques are used to monitor physical changes in lipid vesicles and liquid aerosol droplets. Alongside this experimental work, numerical methods and mathematical models have been used to produce images of the coalescence of liquid droplets. The goal of this project was to refine mathematical models for shape transformations in microparticles and further develop elastic light scattering techniques. Individual unilamellar vesicles have been optically trapped and, by measuring the intensity modulation of elastic back scattered light, changes in the biophysical properties of lipid bilayers were revealed. Our approach offers unprecedented temporal resolution and, uniquely, physical transformations of lipid bilayers can be monitored on a length scale of micrometers. As an example, the deformation of a membrane bilayer following the gel to fluid phase transition in a pure phospholipid vesicle was observed to take place across an interval of 54 ± 5 ms. The binary coalescence of liquid microdroplets is investigated by both experimental and computational methods in chapter 6. Different theoretical models are explored for simulating the shape transformations occurring during aerosol droplet coalescence. A finite element model was identified as most suitable for precisely mapping the morphological changes. This model was then compared to experimental recordings of elastic light scattering over a coalescence, for droplets of different viscosity and coalescence trajectory. The visualization software was explored further in an investigation of shape transformations of minimal surfaces. By expressing a minimal surface as the real part of a holomorphic function, the surface may be transformed to create new families of minimal surfaces. In chapter 7 these transformations are applied to the minimal surface known as the k-noid. The properties of the resulting surfaces are then investigated.


A systematic approach to the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of breaking upper mesospheric inertia‐gravity waves of amplitude close to or above the threshold for static instability is presented. Normal mode or singular vector analysis applied in a frame of reference moving with the phase velocity of the wave (in which the wave is a steady solution) is used to determine the most likely scale and structure of the primary instability and to initialize nonlinear "2.5‐D" simulations (with three‐dimensional velocity and vorticity fields but depending only on two spatial coordinates). Singular vector analysis is then applied to the time‐dependent 2.5‐D solution to predict the transition of the breaking event to three‐dimensional turbulence and to initialize three‐dimensional DNS. The careful choice of the computational domain and the relatively low Reynolds numbers, on the order of 25,000, relevant to breaking waves in the upper mesosphere, makes the three‐dimensional DNS tractable with present‐day computing clusters. Three test cases are presented: a statically unstable low‐frequency inertia‐gravity wave, a statically and dynamically stable inertia‐gravity wave, and a statically unstable high‐frequency gravity wave. The three‐dimensional DNS are compared to ensembles of 2.5‐D simulations. In general, the decay of the wave and generation of turbulence is faster in three dimensions, but the results are otherwise qualitatively and quantitatively similar, suggesting that results of 2.5‐D simulations are meaningful if the domain and initial condition are chosen properly.


One of the most pressing problems facing the South African economy is unemployment, which has been erratic over the past few years. This study examined the impact of economic growth on unemployment, using quarterly time series data for South Africa for the period 1994 to 2012.Johansen Co-integration reflected that there is stable and one significant long run relationship between unemployment and the explanatory variables that is economic growth (GDP), budget deficit (BUG), real effective exchange rate (REER) and labour productivity (LP). The study utilized Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to determine the effects of macroeconomic variables thus REER, LP, GDP and BUG on unemployment in South Africa. The results of VECM indicated that LP has a negative long run impact on unemployment whilst GDP, BUG and REER have positive impact. The study resulted in the following policy recommendation: South African government should re-direct its spending towards activities that directly and indirectly promote creation of employment and decent jobs; a conducive environment and flexible labour market policies or legislations without impediments to employment creation should be created; and lastly government should prioritise industries that promote labour intensive. All this will help in absorbing large pools of the unemployed population thereby reducing unemployment in South Africa.


In South Africa, one of the world's most carbon-intense economies and a society marked by gross social inequality, climate change is not a popular topic. As of 2018, more than half of the population had never heard of climate change and only one in five South Africans believed that human activities lead to global warming. The communication of climate change in South Africa is influenced by the notorious inequality that the country still suffers decades after the apartheid regime has ended. Few South Africans are able to live a life in prosperity and security on par with life in industrialized nations, more than half of the population are considered poor, almost a third of the population are chronically unemployed, and many work for carbon-intense industries.
 The country's prevalent inequality and its economic dependency on coal influence the way climate change is communicated and interpreted. Environmental NGOs, journalists, and scientists frequently set communication cues on climate change. However, their messages are largely circulated in newspapers catering to an urban and educated readership and resonate less with people living in rural areas or those who rely on employment in the coal and mining sector.
 In South Africa, most people hear about climate change in mass media, but journalists frequently lack the resources and training necessary to investigate climate change stories or to interact with local scientists. Environmental NGOs, in contrast, provide easily comprehendible communication cues for unspecialized journalists and often share similar worldviews and demographic backgrounds with dedicated environmental reporters. However, because Black South Africans are underrepresented among environmental journalists and because many affordable local newspapers cannot afford to hire specialized reporters, climate change is covered mostly in high-quality English-language outlets to which most people have no access. Moreover, environmental NGOs are frequently accused of prioritizing abstract ecological concerns, like climate change, over the interests of the South Africans workers, a sentiment that is informed by the country's history of racial injustice. Counterintuitively, living in a coal area is associated with higher climate change awareness and belief, likely because coal companies and trade unions conduct awareness-raising programs among their workers and because many residents experience the adverse impact of coal mining and combustion firsthand.


1. Biodiversity cannot always be conserved. Economic development activities can result in biodiversity losses, but also increase human wellbeing, so trade-offs must sometimes be made between conservation and development. An alternative strategy to avoidance of impacts through the strict protection of biodiversity ('prevention') is to permit certain biodiversity losses and fully compensate for them through offsets elsewhere ('cure'). 2. Here, we build a stochastic simulation model to explore trade-offs between biodiversity loss prevention and cure, in the context of development under 'no net loss' (NNL) biodiversity policies. Our model implements a Management Strategy Evaluation framework, monitoring outcomes using four different performance metrics: total biodiversity, net biodiversity, total economic activity, and development activity. 3. We find that a "cure" strategy can potentially perform just as well as a prevention strategy in terms of biodiversity objectives, whilst outperforming the latter from an economic perspective. However, this does not undermine the need for a mitigation hierarchy, and the best-performing strategy depends strongly upon both the degree of compliance with the NNL policy and upon underlying ecological parameters. 4. Perhaps counterintuitively, when evaluated as advised by the technical literature (i.e. against an appropriate counterfactual scenario), we find that net biodiversity outcomes are highest when natural ecosystem recovery rates are slow (so long as development rates are also slow). 5. Finally, using the illustrative example of US wetlands, we suggest that real-world NNL policies could already be driving landscape-scale avoidance of development impacts under a "prevention" approach. 6. Policy implications. No net loss (NNL) biodiversity policy is currently being developed or implemented by over 100 countries worldwide and incorporated into environmental safeguards by multinational lenders. The socio-ecological model presented here can be used to advise decision makers about the best structure for nascent NNL policy on the basis of region-specific ecosystem recovery rates, development activity, legal compliance and monitoring uncertainty. Further, the model presents a means for estimating the degree to which biodiversity impacts are avoided by developers under NNL – an important monitoring consideration given that ensuring high levels of avoidance is crucial to robust NNL policy, but which has to date evaded assessment through purely empirical means.


The problems are discussed related to development of concepts of rational taxonomy and rational classifications (taxonomic systems) in biology. Rational taxonomy is based on the assumption that the key characteristic of rationality is deductive inference of certain partial judgments about reality under study from other judgments taken as more general and a priory true. Respectively, two forms of rationality are discriminated--ontological and epistemological ones. The former implies inference of classifications properties from general (essential) properties of the reality being investigated. The latter implies inference of the partial rules of judgments about classifications from more general (formal) rules. The following principal concepts of ontologically rational biological taxonomy are considered: "crystallographic" approach, inference of the orderliness of organismal diversity from general laws of Nature, inference of the above orderliness from the orderliness of ontogenetic development programs, based on the concept of natural kind and Cassirer's series theory, based on the systemic concept, based on the idea of periodic systems. Various concepts of ontologically rational taxonomy can be generalized by an idea of the causal taxonomy, according to which any biologically sound classification is founded on a contentwise model of biological diversity that includes explicit indication of general causes responsible for that diversity. It is asserted that each category of general causation and respective background model may serve as a basis for a particular ontologically rational taxonomy as a distinctive research program. Concepts of epistemologically rational taxonomy and classifications (taxonomic systems) can be interpreted in terms of application of certain epistemological criteria of substantiation of scientific status of taxonomy in general and of taxonomic systems in particular. These concepts include: consideration of taxonomy consistency from the standpoint of inductive and hypothetico-deductive argumentation schemes and such fundamental criteria of classifications naturalness as their prognostic capabilities; foundation of a theory of "general taxonomy" as a "general logic", including elements of the axiomatic method. The latter concept constitutes a core of the program of general classiology; it is inconsistent due to absence of anything like "general logic". It is asserted that elaboration of a theory of taxonomy as a biological discipline based on the formal principles of epistemological rationality is not feasible. Instead, it is to be elaborated as ontologically rational one based on biologically sound metatheories about biological diversity causes.


The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of leg dominance on lower limb kinematics during a 180° pivot maneuver in healthy female soccer players at three different stages of maturation: pre-pubertal, pubertal, and post-pubertal. Twenty-seven athletes of four female soccer teams (Under 10, 12, 14, and 18 year old teams) were recruited from the Lakehead Express Soccer Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The modified Pubertal Maturation Observation Scale (PMOS) was used to classify nine participants into each maturational group: pre-pubertal (10.3 ± 1.1 years), pubertal (12 ± 1.4 years), or post-pubertal (14.8 ± 2.0 years). Testing involved the completion of a short maximal effort sprint coupled with a pivoting turn. This included a 3.5 m acceleration starting from a stationary position, immediately followed by a 180° pivot maneuver with either their dominant or non-dominant leg, and another 3.5 m acceleration towards and through the starting position. Trials were recorded using two Basler high-speed digital video cameras and timed using a wireless timing gate system. The angles of knee flexion, hip flexion, thigh and shank rotations, and hip abduction/adduction were evaluated at initial contact (IC), maximum knee flexion (MKF), and toe-off (TO) during the 180° pivot maneuver. To assess the interaction effects for each of the dependent variables, 2 (leg dominance) x 3 (maturation stage) x 3 (instants) factorial ANOVAs were used. Two significant interaction effects were observed between the post-pubertal and the pubertal groups for shank rotation angle. The post-pubertal group had a greater shank internal rotation angle with the nondominant leg at both MKF and TO. In addition, there were significant main effects for knee and hip flexion angles, hip adduction/abduction angle, and thigh and shank rotation angles among instants. Although not statistically significant, there were noteworthy, practically important trends observed in the data. The dominant leg had smaller knee flexion angles at each event MATURATION AND LIMB DOMINANCE ON PIVOTING TURN 3 within each group, smaller hip flexion angles within the post-pubertal group at IC and MKF and within the pubertal group, as well as larger adduction angles at MKF and TO within each group. Furthermore, the post-pubertal group had the largest peak hip abduction angles and hip flexion angles at IC when isolating on the dominant leg. The results of this study suggest that postpubertal females pivoting with their dominant leg perform kinematic patterns that may lead to a greater risk for an ACL in jury during a 180° pivot maneuver as compared to less mature players on the non-dominant leg. The use of the FIFA 11+ Warm-up Manual Part 1: Running Exercises by all participants in this study may have implications for the training of female soccer players, as statistically significant maturational differences were not observed. MATURATION AND LIMB DOMINANCE ON PIVOTING TURN 4 Table of


Gut microbial dysbiosis has been suggested to contribute to pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Vedolizumab (VDZ), an α4β7 integrin blocker, has been used as an effective agent for patients with IBD. However, effect of VDZ on gut microbiome and its relationship with efficacy outcomes are still unclear. We investigated gut microbial change in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) during VDZ treatment.

 Patients with UC were prospectively enrolled and were given a 300 mg infusion of VDZ at weeks 0, 2, and 6 as an induction therapy and then every 8 weeks as a maintenance therapy. In cases of insufficient response, the interval of maintenance therapy was shortened to every 4 week infusion. Faecal samples were collected at weeks 0, 14, and 54 and 16S rRNA gene microbiome profiling analysis was performed. Clinical remission (CREM), clinical response (CRES), endoscopic mucosal healing (MH) and biochemical response (BioRES) were evaluated. Compositional differences in microbiome were analysed according to CREM, CRES, MH, and BioRES at weeks 0, 14, and 54.

 Faecal samples were collected from 27 patients and patients were classified according to their outcomes (Table 1). In the analyses regarding species richness (ACE, Chao1, Jackknife, The number of OTUs) and diversity indices (NPShannon, Shannon, Simpson, Phylogenetic Diversity), no significant difference was observed among groups at weeks 0, 14, and 54. There were no significant changes in microbial composition at week 14 and 54, respectively compared to basal level. However, compared to baseline, relative abundance of genus Prevotella showed significant differences between groups which achieved normalsation of C-reactive protein or not (p=0.0394) (Figure 1). In the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis, the genus Actinomyces and the species Actinomyces odontolyticus group increased in patients who had no response at efficacy outcomes (achievement of clinical remission, achievement of clinical response, achievement of endoscopic mucosal healing, normalisation of C-reactive protein, and normalisation of faecal calprotectin) at week 14, compared to week 0 (Fig 2A). The genus Clostridium_g24, the species Paraprevotella_uc and PAC001224_s were also significantly increased in the same patient group at week 54 (Fig 2B).

 In UC patients treated with VDZ, microbial composition showed differences depending on the achievement of efficacy outcomes. Further studies regarding the causal relationship between microbial composition and outcomes are warranted with a larger number of patients.


After 2 and 3 months we re-exposed 20 experimental saccular aneurysms. Under the operating microscope, we measured their sizes and compared them with the sizes immediately after induction. All aneurysms had grown significantly and none was thrombosed. Pathological examinations showed that the sac of the aneurysm was similar to that of the human saccular aneurysms. Based on the operating microscopy and pathological findings we postulate that abnormal histological structure and haemodynamic stress are the major causes of aneurysm enlargement. We also noted that there were some regenerative processes in these experimental aneurysm walls. The results prove that this model is reliable, because these aneurysms have the main characteristics of human saccular aneurysms, not only grossly but also microscopically.


The survival of the 1711 sale catalogue of the library of Sir Thomas Browne and his heirs has given scholars of his work a privileged insight into his reading and book owning habits. Browne wrote on an encyclopaedic range of subjects and his prose bears the weight (implicit and explicit) of the many books and authors that contributed to his intellectual projects. As a consequence, his library and the 1711 catalogue have attracted intense interest from scholars, in spite of the absence of any physical trace of his books. This thesis examines the relationship between the catalogue and Browne's library as he knew and used it, striving for a bibliographical reconstruction whilst acknowledging the contingency and incompleteness of the catalogue. It also contributes to the critical study of Browne's works, assessing his book ownership for the elucidation of his texts, and considering his literary remains as an articulation of his reading. Quantitative analysis of the catalogue and a narrative of the life cycle of the library based on archival records are used to describe the library's contents and the practices of its owners. The local contexts of Browne's book ownership are outlined, together with the relationships of his works to his book sources, his museum collecting, and his position in the world of knowledge as articulated through library classification. Browne is described as a book owner who showed little interest in the possession of a 'library' as a discrete, permanent collection, despite his profound engagement with books, and the high numbers of volumes that passed through his hands. Browne's library was also networked, linked to other collections through textual exchange, social relationships, book gifts, and conversations, indicative of a mode of seventeenth-century book ownership defined by fluidity and community.


It has long been noted that phonological patterning is influenced by phonetic factors. But phonologists diverge on whether phonetic motivations take effect in synchronic or diachronic phonology. This article aims to tease apart the two theories by investigating native Mandarin speakers' applications of two tone sandhi processes to novel words: the phonetically motivated contour reduction 21321/__T (T� 213) and the neutralizing 21335/__213 whose phonetic motivations are less clear. Twenty Mandarin subjects were asked to produce two monosyllables they heard as disyllabic words. Five groups of disyllabic words were tested: AO-AO (AO=actual occurring morpheme) where the disyllable is also a real word, AO-AO' where the disyllable is nonoccurring, AO-AG (AG=accidental gap in Mandarin lexicon — legal syllable and tone but non-existent combination), AG-AO, and AG-AG. The first syllable is always 213, and the second syllable has one of the four tones in Mandarin. Results show that speakers apply the phonetically more natural 21321 sandhi more quickly and with greater accuracy than the 21335 sandhi. Theoretically, the study supports the direct relevance of phonetics to synchronic phonology by showing that there is a psychological advantage to phonetically natural patterns. Methodologically, it complements existing research paradigms that test the nature of the phonology-phonetics relationship, e.g., the study of phonological acquisition and the artificial language paradigm; when extended to other Chinese dialects, it can also provide insights into the long-standing mystery of how Chinese speakers internalise complicated tone sandhi patterns that sometimes involve opacity, near-neutralization, and syntactic dependency.


Ulcerative colitis is a relapsing and remitting disease characterised by acute non-infectious inflammation of the colorectal mucosa. In the United Kingdom the annual incidence is around 7 cases per 100 000 population.1 The rectal mucosa is invariably affected. Confluent inflammation and shallow ulceration extend proximally from the anal margin. A patient may have proctitis, left sided colitis (the proximal limit being below the splenic flexure), extensive colitis (involving the transverse colon), or pan colitis. At any point in time, 50% of patients are asymptomatic, 30% have mild symptoms, and 20% have moderate to severe symptoms.2 Many patients have long periods of complete remission, but the cumulative probability of remaining free from relapse at two years is only 20%, decreasing to less than 5% at 10 years.3 Later relapses generally affect the same region of the colon as previous episodes.

Several of the current clinical and therapeutic issues in ulcerative colitis include: (a) medical treatment options for relapse and for maintenance of remission; (b) management of the minority of patients who develop a severe life threatening relapse or chronic unremitting disease; (c) surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis; and (d) long term complications in patients with extensive disease—namely, colonic and biliary cancers and sclerosing cholangitis.

Summary points

Ulcerative colitis may present at any age, but the anatomical distribution of involvement at presentation is different between children and adults

All patients with bloody diarrhoea need to have infection excluded

Outpatient rigid sigmoidoscopy is the best method of diagnosing the nature of inflammation

The extent of inflammation may be established by total colonoscopy (or a double contrast barium enema)

The mainstays of treatment are rectal and systemic 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives and corticosteroids, with azathioprine in steroid dependent or resistant cases

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis should be considered in every patient in whom colectomy is contemplated


Avian sarcoma viruses are known for inducing no transformation of human diploid fibroblasts. Nevertheless, we show that the Rous sarcoma virus can infect and transform some human fibroblastic cell lines, replicate and express viral proteins, integrate into the host genome and prevent expression of MHC class I antigens on cell membranes. Cell transformation happens together with important and significant abnormalities of the cell karyotype and proviral integration is most often close to the c-src oncogene on chromosomes 1 and 20.


Alice wants to arrange dinner with Bob, and since both of them are very reluctant to use the " call " functionality of their phones, she sends a text message suggesting to meet for dinner at 6pm. However, texting is unreliable, and Alice cannot be sure that the message arrives at Bob's phone, hence she will only go to the meeting point if she receives a confirmation message from Bob. But Bob cannot be sure that his confirmation message is received; if the confirmation is lost, Alice cannot determine if Bob did not even receive her suggestion, or if Bob's confirmation was lost. Therefore, Bob demands a confirmation message from Alice, to be sure that she will be there. But as this message can also be lost.. . You can see that such a message exchange continues forever, if both Alice and Bob want to be sure that the other person will come to the meeting point! Remarks: • Such a protocol cannot terminate: Assume that there are protocols which lead to agreement, and P is one of the protocols which require the least number of messages. As the last confirmation might be lost and the protocol still needs to guarantee agreement, we can simply decide to always omit the last message. This gives us a new protocol P which requires less messages than P , contradicting the assumption that P required the minimal amount of messages. In Chapter 15 we studied a problem that we vaguely called agreement. We will now introduce a formally specified variant of this problem, called consensus.


This paper summarises lepton and photon performance results obtained by the ATLAS and CMS experiments during the Run-2 operations of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) focusing on muons, electrons and photons. Such particles are key to important LHC physics results, including the Higgs boson discovery, precision measurements of Standard Model processes (SM) and searches for new physics beyond the SM. The paper first describes the reconstruction and identification efficiencies and the isolation studies for the two experiments. For electrons and photons the energy calibration strategy is presented, while for muons results on the muon momentum scale and resolution are reported. Even more than Run-1 data-taking operations, Run-2 operations are characterized by challenging pile-up conditions. Both the experiments are able to cope with higher rates.


Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) has become the application that drives the Internet to a new height. However, challenges still remain in IPTV in-home distribution. The high-quality video streaming in IPTV services demands home networks to deliver video streaming packets with stringent Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements. Currently, most service providers recommend Ethernet-based broadband home networks for IPTV. However, many existing houses are not wired with Ethernet cables and the rewiring cost is prohibitively expensive. Therefore, wireless solutions are preferred if their performance can meet the requirements. IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs) are pervasively adopted in home networks for their flexibility and affordability. However, through our experiments in the real environment, we found that the conventional single-hop infrastructure mode WLANs have very limited capacity and coverage in a typical in-door environment due to high attenuation and interference. The single-hop wireless networks cannot provide support iv for high-quality video streaming to the entire house. Multi-hop wireless networks are therefore used to extend the coverage. Contrary to the common believes that adding relay routers in the same wireless channel should reduce the throughput, our experiment, analysis and simulation results show that the multi-hop IEEE 802.11 WLANs can improve both the capacity and coverage in certain scenarios, and sufficiently support high-quality video streaming in a typical house. In this research, we analyzed and evaluated the performance of H.264-based video streaming over multihop wireless networks. Our analysis and simulation results reveal a wide spectrum of coverage-capacity tradeoff of multi-hop wireless networks in generic scenarios. Moreover, we discuss the methods of how to further improve video streaming performance. This research provides the guidance on how to achieve the optimal balance for a given scenario, which is of great importance when deploying end-to-end IPTV services with QoS guarantee.


Objective The current study assessed the outcome of the two-stage laparoscopic Fowler–Stephens orchidopexy (LFSO) for intra-abdominal testis (IAT). Testicular blood vessels were divided by two different methods, bipolar diathermy or the conventional clipping method. Summary background data The shortness of testicular vessels may play a role in making the surgical approach in IAT a technical challenge and can hinder the dragging of the testicles to the scrotum. Patients and methods We reviewed 31 records of pediatric patients who underwent operations for IAT between July 2010 and July 2017, using the two-stage LFSO. We evaluated methods used for dividing the testicular vessels in the first stage. We evaluated the intrascrotal position and testicular size. Success was defined as a nonatrophic, intrascrotal testis. Results Two-stage LFSO was performed in 31 boys with 39 IAT. The mean age at the first stage was 32.18 months and at the second stage was 42.25 months. Two methods were used to divide the testicular vessels in the first stage of the LFSO, which were clipping by metallic clips (5 mm) in 25 testes and bipolar diathermy (3 mm) in 14 testes. With an average follow-up of 16 months, the preoperative volume was maintained in 97.43% of the testes, whereas 94.87% of the testes were intrascrotal. One testicular atrophy was reported in the clipping group. Two testicles were outside the scrotum within the bipolar coagulation group. Conclusion Two-stage LFSO is safe and feasible. Bipolar diathermy could be used as an alternate method for dividing testicular vessels.


To counteract host antiviral RNA silencing, plant viruses express suppressor proteins that function as pathogenicity enhancers. The genome of the Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) (genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae) encodes an RNA silencing suppressor, the protein p22, that has been described as having one of the longest lasting local suppressor activities when assayed in Nicotiana benthamiana. Since suppression of RNA silencing and the ability to enhance disease severity are closely associated, we analyzed the effect of expressing p22 in heterologous viral contexts. Thus, we studied the effect of the expression of ToCV p22 from viral vectors Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and Potato virus X (PVX), and from attenuated suppressor mutants in N. benthamiana plants. Our results show that although an exacerbation of disease symptoms leading to plant death was observed in the heterologous expression of ToCV p22 from both viruses, only in the case of TRV did increased viral accumulation occur. The heterologous expression of ToCV p22 could not complement suppressor-defective mutant viruses.


Despite concerted efforts through policy reforms, research training, and mentorship programmes, nursing research capacity remains low. This is particularly troublesome in resource -restrained environments. We launched an experiential and collaborative research capacity development programme with nurse educators at a university of technology.  A Participatory Action Research approach was followed. This communication reports on the first two one-day cycles of the pilot programme at the main campus. Ten participants were divided into three small groups. In the first cycle, participants produced drawings of their research experience and research pathway while the second cycle concentrated on a collaborative data analysis session with a remix of the original team members. The programme had a positive impact on an inter-and intrapersonal level, as well as facilitating the acquisition of research skills of nurse educators. The programme can be enhanced through similar virtual exercises at remote campuses.


The mechanics of interface delamination in CFRP composite laminates is examined using finite element method. For this purpose a 12-ply CFRP composite, with a total thickness of 2.4 mm and anti-symmetric ply sequence of [45/-45/45/0/-45/0/0/45/0/-45/45/-45] is simulated under three-point bend test setup. Each unidirectional composite lamina is treated as an equivalent elastic and orthotropic panel. Interface behavior is defined using damage, linear elastic constitutive model and employed to describe the initiation and progression of delamination during flexural loading. Complementary three-point bend test on CFRP composite specimen is performed at crosshead speed of 2 mm/min. The measured load-deflection response at mid-span location compares well with predicted values. Interface delamination accounts for up to 46.7 % reduction in flexural stiffness from the undamaged state. Delamination initiated at the center mid-span region for interfaces in the compressive laminates while edge delamination started in interfaces with tensile flexural stress in the laminates. Anti-symmetric distribution of the delaminated region is derived from the corresponding anti-symmetric ply sequence in the CFRP composite. The dissipation energy for edge delamination is greater than that for internal center delamination. In addition, delamination failure process in CFRP composite can be described by an exponential rate of fracture energy dissipation under monotonic three-point bend loading.


Surprisingly, very few transcription factors have been implicated in osteoclast differentiation. Newly discovered upregulated transcription factors are obviously important in understanding osteoclast differentiation. However, we speculate that repression of transcription factor genes may also be necessary for osteoclast differentiation. In particular, we have looked for differential regulation of transcription factors between the two alternative states: macrophage and osteoclast. Two recent papers verified the role of NFATc1 in osteoclastogenesis [1,2]; NFATc1 is required for the production of TRAP positive multinucleated osteoclast like cells (OCLs). We show here that NFATc1 and other transcription factors are strongly induced by RANKL in human osteoclast like cells. NFATc1 regulation steadily increases across time with a peak of 26 fold at three weeks post treatment with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and RANKL. Along with NFATc1 we have observed significant up-regulation of four other transcription factors: GA-binding protein a and b (GABP), early response growth factor 1 (EGR-1), and FUSE binding protein (FBP). The dynamics of regulation of ERG-1 and GABPa and b were identical to that of NFATc1. However FBP regulation peaks earlier and is of great magnitude. These data show that NFATc1 is not the only strongly regulated transcription factor in osteoclast differentiation and is later induced than FBP.


A slab-type optical waveguide (s_OWG)-based microfluidic SPR measurement system for bisphenol A was developed. This s_OWG possesses consecutive parallel gold and silver deposition bands in the line of plasmon flow, allowing two individual SPR signals to be independently obtained as a result of the difference in resonant reflection spectra of these metals. As a molecular recognition element, molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP-Np) were employed and immobilized on the surface of each of the gold and silver deposition bands. The resonant reflection spectra were measured on the MIP-Np-immobilized consecutive parallel gold and silver deposition bands coexistent with BPA-AuNp. The Ag-based SPR spectra showed a red shift (0.7 nm) when free BPA (0.1 mM) was passed over the BPA-AuNp/immobilized MIP-Np complexes formed on the s_OWG, unlike the case for the Au deposition band, while a large excess of BPA induced a blue shift due to the competitive desorption of BPA-AuNp from the immobilized MIP-Np on the s_OWG. By using the proposed detection system, binding events of other small molecules could be monitored in conjunction with the use of MIP-Np and labeled-AuNp.


Zircons and apatites in clasts and matrix from the Martian breccia NWA 7034 are well documented, timing ancient geologic events on Mars. Furthermore, in this study, zircon trace elemental content, apatite volatile content, and apatite volatile isotopic compositions measured in situ could constrain the evolution of those geologic events. The U‐Pb dates of zircons in basalt, basaltic andesite, trachyandesite igneous clasts, and the matrix are similar (4.4 Ga) suggesting intense volcanism on ancient Mars. However, two metamict zircon grains found in the matrix have an upper intercept date of ~4465 Ma in crystalline, whereas amorphous areas have a lower intercept date of 1634 ± 93 Ma. The younger date is consistent with the date of apatites (1530 ± 65 Ma), suggesting a metamorphic event that completely reset the U‐Pb system in both the amorphous areas of zircon and all apatites. δD values in all apatites negatively correlate with water content in a two‐endmember mixing trend. The D (δD up to 2459‰) and 37Cl heavy core (3.8‰) of a large apatite grain suggest a D‐, 37Cl‐rich fluid during the metamorphic event ~1.6 Ga ago, consistent with the trace elements Y, Hf and Ti and P in zircons. The fluid was also therefore P‐rich. The D‐, 37Cl‐poor H2O‐rich rim (<313‰) suggests the degassing of water from the Martian Cl‐poor interior at a later time. This D‐, 37Cl‐poor Martian mantle reservoir could have derived from volcanic intrusions postdating the younger metamorphic event recorded in NWA 7034.


Genome lesions trigger biological responses that help cells manage damaged DNA, improving cell survival. Pol eta is a translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerase that bypasses lesions that block replicative polymerases, avoiding continued stalling of replication forks, which could lead to cell death. p53 also plays an important role in preventing cell death after ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Intriguingly, we show that p53 does so by favoring translesion DNA synthesis by pol eta. In fact, the p53-dependent induction of pol eta in normal and DNA repair-deficient XP-C human cells after UV exposure has a protective effect on cell survival after challenging UV exposures, which was absent in p53- and Pol H-silenced cells. Viability increase was associated with improved elongation of nascent DNA, indicating the protective effect was due to more efficient lesion bypass by pol eta. This protection was observed in cells proficient or deficient in nucleotide excision repair, suggesting that, from a cell survival perspective, proper bypass of DNA damage can be as relevant as removal. These results indicate p53 controls the induction of pol eta in DNA damaged human cells, resulting in improved TLS and enhancing cell tolerance to DNA damage, which parallels SOS responses in bacteria.


Solid particles ingestion is a severe problem for gas turbines. In the aero-propulsion field the main problems related to this phenomenon occur on the hot sections of the machinery. Impinging particles can stick or erode the blade material. The deposition on the turbine blades is the main issue among the two and the clogging of cooling holes can even speed up this process rising the blade surface temperature. An higher temperature affects negatively the deposition problems, increasing particle stickiness. In this paper an innovative approach to account for fouling and erosion effects on turbine vanes is presented. An energetic model to predict the sticking probability is used (EBFOG, from Energy Based FOulinG) and the erosion is evaluated through the model proposed by Tabakoff. Geometry variation of blades subject to fouling are investigated by means of a moving mesh technique which accounts for the boundary displacement of the blade surface.


Many media forms can be stored easily at present. Photographs, for example, can be easily stored even though most of them have not been edited. This means they will gradually lose their value and become essentially unusable. To make better use of photographs, we tried to make use of information provided by viewers who had seen and commented on them. We felt that analyzing this information would enable us to make maximum use of photographic data. To do this, we defined a "tag propagation" model and relationships between photos. We also proposed a system that uses image processing to analyze viewers' handling of photos and how the photos are relevant to each other. We then validated our model by using it.


Abstract
This chapter summarises the findings of a case study on social media activity during the 22 July 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway. Based on these findings and on theories and previous research on the role of social media in situation awareness (SA) configuration during crisis situations, the chapter offers seven recommendations for key communicators in official crisis management and response institutions, journalistic institutions, NGOs and others: (1) acknowledge social media as important and master monitoring and management of features across social media; (2) synchronise communication and establish a standard operating procedure (SOP); (3) establish and make known a joint social media emergency account; (4) participate, interact and take the lead; (5) be aware of non-hashtagged content; (6) implement verification tools and practices and (7) engage with and learn from celebrities.


Since the 1980s, educational policies in many countries have aimed at improving the computer literacy and programming competencies of the population. Over the same period, the possibilities that people have seen regarding programming and everyday programming practices have emerged as an area of strong interest within historical scholarship. The paper contributes to these discussions by drawing on techniques of oral history to focus on programming hobbies and practices in Finland. Examining data from a massive survey of computer hobbyists (N = 1,453) and their recollections about personal computer use (largely during the 1980s), the paper gathers new information on what leads to people's pursuit of or interest in programming and how their programming habits have changed over time. The study links together the gender and age dynamics in programming and shows how the respondents not only engaged with but also could become disengaged from programming for various reasons.


The directed and stereotypical growth of axons to their synaptic targets is a crucial phase of neural circuit formation. Many axons in the developing vertebrate and invertebrate central nervous systems (CNSs), including those that remain on their own (ipsilateral), and those that cross over to the opposite (commissural), side of the midline project over long distances along the anterior-posterior (A-P) body axis within precisely positioned longitudinally oriented tracts to facilitate the transmission of information between CNS regions. Despite the widespread distribution and functional importance of these longitudinal tracts, the mechanisms that regulate their formation and projection to poorly characterized synaptic targets remain largely unknown. Nevertheless, recent studies carried out in a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate model systems have begun to elucidate the molecular logic that controls longitudinal axon guidance.


Much of the legal academic tax policy analysis of the last 40 years inhabits the "classical optimal tax framework," in which desires for government spending and redistribution are balanced against the theoretical economic costs of high tax rates. While this analytic frame can be useful, it has historically been anchored to antiquated assumptions that are contrary to modern economic research. The result has been a literature that overemphasizes the theoretical economic costs of taxation, while radically underestimating the role of taxes in regulating economic inequality. This article brings together recent advances in the economics literature with evidence from other disciplines to make the case that, rather than discouraging productive activity, progressive tax rates may instead discourage rent-seeking behaviors by high-income workers, leaving more compensation on the table for lower-income workers to share. In this way, progressive tax policy can be understood not only as redistributing income through direct transfers ex post, but also as regulating the distribution of market income ex ante, with high marginal tax rates reducing market-income inequality, and comparatively low rates encouraging the upward redistribution of resources. The article situates these insights within the broader tax literature and demonstrates their profound ramifications for multiple areas of tax scholarship.


Since 2006 to nowadays sugar beet in Europe has suffered a deep transformation with the new Common Market Organization. That year, in Spain, farms gave up 50% of production quota. New century has come accompanied by different EU strategies, including the obligation of stimulating new energy sources development especially renewable energies. From a double perspective, the authors have made an empirical approach to learn about future viability of this sector in Spain. First of all, we present an economic analysis to reflect the actual situation of market goods offered by this farming. Then we present environmental efficiency analysis (Greenhouse Gases emissions) caused by sugar beet farms with the aim of studying environmental non-market goods derived from bio-ethanol production. Goods that take part of the environmental function of this economical activity as a positive externality which has become an essential characteristic of EU agrarian system.


The Internet has enabled the collection, aggregation and analysis of personal data on a massive scale. It has also enabled the sharing of collected data in various ways: wholesale outsourcing of data warehousing, partnering with advertisers for targeted advertising, data publishing for exploratory research, etc. This has led to complex privacy questions related to the leakage of sensitive user data and mass harvesting of information by unscrupulous parties. These questions have information-theoretic, sociological and legal aspects and are often poorly understood.
There are two fundamental paradigms for how the data is released: in the interactive setting, the data collector holds the data while third parties interact with the data collector to compute some function on the database. In the non-interactive setting, the database is somehow "sanitized" and then published. In this thesis, we conduct a thorough theoretical and empirical investigation of privacy issues involved in non-interactive data release.
Both settings have been well analyzed in the academic literature, but simplicity of the non-interactive paradigm has resulted in its being used almost exclusively in actual data releases. We analyze several common applications including electronic directories, collaborative filtering and recommender systems, and social networks. Our investigation has two main foci. First, we present frameworks for privacy and anonymity in these different settings within which one might define exactly when a privacy breach has occurred. Second, we use these frameworks to experimentally analyze actual large datasets and quantify privacy issues.
The picture that has emerged from this research is a bleak one for noninteractivity. While a surprising level of privacy control is possible in a limited number of applications, the general sense is that protecting privacy in the non-interactive setting is not as easy as intuitively assumed in the absence of rigorous privacy definitions. While some applications can be salvaged either by moving to an interactive setting or by other means, in others a rethinking of the tradeoffs between utility and privacy that are currently taken for granted appears to be necessary.


Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MS) presents with central obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Our aim was to examine the effect of metformin treatment either alone or in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on plasma levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with early stage MS (MS-es) and generalized MS (MS-ge). Materials and Methods: The study compared 35 female patients with MS-es (mean age of 43.39±1.54 years) and 40 patients with MSge (mean age of 45.69±2.18 years) to 10 age-matched controls each. Patients with MS-es were administered 850 mg metformin twice daily. The patients with MS-ge were divided into two groups of 20 patients per group. One group received metformin alone, while the other group received metformin in combination with 500 mg aspirin and 150 mg Diclac daily. Plasma NGF and BDNF levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical data analysis was performed using ANOVA. Results: Plasma NGF and BDNF levels were significantly higher in MS-es patients and lower in MS-ge patients than in controls. NGF levels were decreased in both groups after treatment with metformin. NGF levels were significantly higher in MS-ge patients on combined therapy than in those on metformin only. Conclusion: The combination of metformin and NSAID treatment is more effective than metformin alone on NGF and BDNF produc tion as well as on metabolism-related anthropometric and laboratory features. This represents a pathogenetic therapeutic mechanism in MS due to its strong anti-inflammatory effect and improves MS-ge symptoms.


The dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir is one of the world's most protracted and potentially dangerous conflicts. While the international community has strong interest in limiting violent conflagration between the two states, third party action aimed at amelioration has been very limited. This contrasts with overall global mediation efforts, which have increased in the post-Cold War period. Using archival research, this study explores the reasons for the Government of India's implacable opposition to any external intervention in the conflict. We argue that both strategic and ideational motivations have influenced its decisions. In particular, India's strict adherence to the principle of strategic autonomy precludes the possibility of accepting external mediation. By exploring how and why strategic and ideational motivations intersect to become a formidable barrier to third party intervention, this article contributes to our understanding of why certain countries develop resistance to mediation.