PURPOSE
In computed tomography (CT), metal objects in the region of interest introduce data inconsistencies during acquisition. Reconstructing these data results in an image with star shaped artifacts induced by the metal inconsistencies. To enhance image quality, the influence of the metal objects can be reduced by different metal artifact reduction (MAR) strategies. For an adequate evaluation of new MAR approaches a ground truth reference data set is needed. In technical evaluations, where phantoms can be measured with and without metal inserts, ground truth data can easily be obtained by a second reference data acquisition. Obviously, this is not possible for clinical data. Here, an alternative evaluation method is presented without the need of an additionally acquired reference data set.

METHODS
The proposed metric is based on an inherent ground truth for metal artifacts as well as MAR methods comparison, where no reference information in terms of a second acquisition is needed. The method is based on the forward projection of a reconstructed image, which is compared to the actually measured projection data.

RESULTS
The new evaluation technique is performed on phantom and on clinical CT data with and without MAR. The metric results are then compared with methods using a reference data set as well as an expert-based classification. It is shown that the new approach is an adequate quantification technique for artifact strength in reconstructed metal or MAR CT images.

CONCLUSIONS
The presented method works solely on the original projection data itself, which yields some advantages compared to distance measures in image domain using two data sets. Beside this, no parameters have to be manually chosen. The new metric is a useful evaluation alternative when no reference data are available.


Abstract Deep learning has been successful in various domains including image recognition, speech recognition and natural language processing. However, the research on its application in graph mining is still in an early stage. Here we present Model R, a neural network model created to provide a deep learning approach to the link weight prediction problem. This model uses a node embedding technique that extracts node embeddings (knowledge of nodes) from the known links' weights (relations between nodes) and uses this knowledge to predict the unknown links' weights. We demonstrate the power of Model R through experiments and compare it with the stochastic block model and its derivatives. Model R shows that deep learning can be successfully applied to link weight prediction and it outperforms stochastic block model and its derivatives by up to 73% in terms of prediction accuracy. We analyze the node embeddings to confirm that closeness in embedding space correlates with stronger relationships as measured by the link weight. We anticipate this new approach will provide effective solutions to more graph mining tasks.


Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanometer-scale particles that are secreted by cells and mediate intercellular communication by transferring biomolecules between cells. Harnessing this mechanism for therapeutic biomolecule delivery represents a promising frontier for regenerative medicine and other clinical applications. One challenge to realizing this goal is that to date, our understanding of which factors affect EV uptake by recipient cells remains incomplete. In this study, we systematically investigated such delivery questions in the context of breast cancer cells, which are one of the most well-studied cell types with respect to EV delivery and therefore comprise a facile model system for this investigation. By displaying various targeting peptides on the EV surface, we observed that although displaying GE11 on EVs modestly increased uptake by MCF-7 cells, neuropeptide Y (NPY) display had no effect on uptake by the same cells. In contrast, neurotensin (NTS) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) display reduced EV uptake by MDA-MB-231 cells. Interestingly, EV uptake rate did not depend on the source of the EVs; breast cancer cells demonstrated no increase in uptake on administration of breast cancer-derived EVs in comparison to HEK293FT-derived EVs. Moreover, EV uptake was greatly enhanced by delivery in the presence of polybrene and spinoculation, suggesting that maximal EV uptake rates are much greater than those observed under basal conditions in cell culture. By investigating how the cell's environment might provide cues that impact EV uptake, we also observed that culturing cells on soft matrices significantly enhanced EV uptake, compared to culturing on stiff tissue culture polystyrene. Each of these observations provides insights into the factors impacting EV uptake by breast cancer cells, while also providing a basis of comparison for systematically evaluating and perhaps enhancing EV uptake by various cell types.


In this paper, we prove the strong and delta-convergence theorems of an iteration process of Khan et al. (J. Appl. Math. Comput. 35: 607-616, 2011) for three fi…nite families of total asymptotically nonexpansive nonself mappings in a hyperbolic space. Moreover we obtain the data dependence result of this iteration for contractive-like mappings under some suitable conditions. Also we present some examples to support the results proved herein. Our results extend and improve some recent results announced in the current literature.


The calculation of Variable precision explicit region is an improved algorithm for constructing decision tree on the use of variable precision rough set model. For defects in the process of calculating the explicit region—in the process of calculating the explicit region, the more the number of attributes is, the greater the value of specific areas is, it puts forward the calculation algorithm that the number of attributes limits specific area. This algorithm enhances the accuracy of the calculation process. It can effectively reduce the trend that the more the classification of attributes is, the greater the greater the value of specific areas is. In the meanwhile, it also effectively improves the accuracy of the algorithm. By introducing the support and confidence, it simplifies the resulted tree, and improves the generalization ability of the tree. Finally, the validity of the method is verified through experimental analysis.


In this study some of the phenological, morphological and productivity characteristics of six safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes (local, Thick orange 480 ، Acar 6، Syrian-1, Gila and Son 11), were assessed using some genetic indicators (genetic and phenotypic variances, genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients, broadsense heritability and genetic advance between seeds yield and its components) at Dmsrkho site in Latakia governorate, during two seasons (2014/2015) and (2015/2016). Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used with three replicates, to detect the genetic potentiality to be exploited to a maximum extent therefor, to determine the appropriate selectorial indices to improve safflower crop. Analysis of variance indicated that the genotypes differed significantly (P<0.05) for all studied characters, moreover, years effect and genotype by years interaction were significant for all studied traits. The values of mean and range revealed that there is wide variability among genotypes for most of the characters. The biological yield per plant, seed yield per plant, number of seeds per capitulum, number of capitulum per plant, number of branches per plant and harvest index exhibited wide range and high PCV and GCV giving an opportunity for improvement through election. Besides, these characters also had narrow differences between the values of PCV and GCV showing least influence of environment. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance observed for seed yield per plant, biological yield per plant, 100 seed weight, plant height and number of seeds per capitulum indicated that these traits are governed by additive gene action. Hence, there are good chances of improvement of these traits through direct selection. The highest phenotypic correlations were observed between seed yield with some traits such as: biological yield/plant and No. of capitula/plant, thus these traits, may be used for selecting high yielding genotypes.


Aim/Purpose: This study explores the various teaching and learning approaches, curriculum design, and program requirements for 70 doctoral programs in leadership.

Background: Early research indicates that few studies have addressed learner-centred and process-based approaches to leadership studies among doctoral programs in leadership worldwide. This study is the first complete review of programs in the interdisciplinary field of leadership.

Methodology: A qualitative method approach through internet-mediated research was employed to identify explicit and implicit textual data on learning approaches of doctoral programs in leadership. The sample represents a list of 70 doctoral programs in leadership studies and organisational leadership (62 programs are in the United States and eight in Europe, Canada, Philippines, and South Africa).

Contribution: This study provides an overview of doctoral program characteristics, delivery methods, coursework and research requirements, discipline-relevant teaching and learning approaches, and process-based approach to leadership. It may serve as a resource and a roadmap to assess teaching and learning approaches of doctoral programs in leadership for program reviews and improvement.

Findings: The significant findings of this study are:
(a) 91.4% of doctoral programs are coursework-driven, leaving little room for original research.
(b) 46% of programs show lack of evidence to context-based approaches to learning (learning as a social activity served outside of classroom environment where learning tools and the context intersect with human interactions).
(c) Various teaching and learning approaches, including those prescribed to constructivist, interactionist, situated, and action-based learning approaches.

Recommendations for Practitioners: Leadership cannot be understood or learned without social interactions in context. In order to produce experts and "stewards of the field," a clearer learner-centred strategy to doctoral education, including context-based experiences, should be considered. This pedagogical approach needs to be explicitly articulated (on the public website) to enable students to make an informed decision about doctoral programs in leadership.

Recommendation for Researchers: In order to produce theoreticians and "stewards of the discipline" (Golde & Walker, 2006), doctoral curricula design and implementation should seek a balance between coursework, independent research, and creation of collaborative learning environment between students and faculty. Further, due to the shift from the leader-centred to the process-based understanding of leadership, doctoral programs in leadership should consider the relationship process between leaders and followers as one academic inquiry or continuum.

Impact on Society: Doctoral programs in leadership that utilise more learner-centred and context-based approaches for knowledge acquisition (epistemologies) as well as studying the leadership phenomenon as a relationship process are more likely to become more impactful and sustainable in society.

Future Research: More research seems necessary to identify the extent to which learner-centred approaches within doctoral programs in leadership positively impact on doctoral students' motivation for learning, program completion, retention, and personal and professional development.


Isogeometric analysis (IGA) has become an alternative to standard finite element analysis (FEA) in many areas of engineering. Its powerful tools for model generation and flexibility of basis functions make this relatively new approach attractive for tire analysis and its computational challenges.
 This contribution summarizes the benefits of IGA for complex tire simulations starting from model generation and the subsequent transition to the environment of numerical analysis without losing accuracy at the parametrizing stage. It presents results of further development work on earlier pioneering examples of the application of IGA in pneumatic tire analysis. In addition to the analysis of vertical stiffness, for the first time, velocity and acceleration fields are addressed and compared with experimental results and standard FEA simulations, with a focus on benefits of the continuity of basis functions within the contact patch. The numerical issues that arise in IGA at the enforcement of contact and the application of inelastic materials with inclusions of reinforcing layers are studied. Moreover, the important advantages of the possibility to use higher order functions for simulations of tire maneuvers are addressed within the steady-state framework. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the capabilities of IGA. Concluding remarks on the results close the publication.


This paper examines the role of telecommunications in sustainable social and economic development of urban, rural and remote communities in the Northern Territory of Australia through the theoretical lens of social capital. Whilst the essence of social capital is quality social relations, the concept intersects with telecommunications and Information Communications Technology (ICT) in a number of ways. The potential of ICT to disseminate information quickly, to reach vast numbers of people simultaneously and to include the previously excluded is immense. Meaningful access to ICT is however, embedded in a complex array of factors encompassing physical, digital, human and social resources and relationships. Consequently, this paper examines the nexus between social relations of mutual benefit, telecommunications access and social inclusion amongst diverse communities. Four communities, which included two urban, a rural and a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory of Australia are the focus of this research paper.


The wild bootstrap is the resampling method of choice in survival analytic applications. Theoretic justifications rely on the assumption of existing intensity functions which is equivalent to an exclusion of ties among the event times. However, such ties are omnipresent in practical studies. It turns out that the wild bootstrap should only be applied in a modified manner that corrects for altered limit variances and emerging dependencies. This again ensures the asymptotic exactness of inferential procedures. An analogous necessity is the use of the Greenwood-type variance estimator for Nelson-Aalen estimators which is particularly preferred in tied data regimes. All theoretic arguments are transferred to bootstrapping Aalen-Johansen estimators for cumulative incidence functions in competing risks. An extensive simulation study as well as an application to real competing risks data of male intensive care unit patients suffering from pneumonia illustrate the practicability of the proposed technique.


The article is devoted to the research and assessment of the development of the triple partnership between the participants of innovation systems – universities, business, and government in the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus cross-border region which consists of Latvia's regions (Latgale region), Lithuania's regions (Vilnius region, Alytus region, Utena region, Panevezys region, Kaunas region), Belarus's regions (Vitebsk region, Grodno region, Minsk region, Mogilev region). The lack of attention to the above problems typical of this cross-border region determined the relevance of the research. Innovations are one of the key factors both on the macro-level and on the micro-level that influence the sustainable economic development of the region as well as the innovation potential of the enterprise. The stable development and efficient function of the territorial innovation system is the main condition for this. The study is based on a survey of 620 entrepreneurs from small and medium-sized businesses in the cross-border region.


Article has an aim to investigate the effects of macroeconomic indicators such as population, income levels, GDP, housing stock, interest rate and rent levels on house prices. Analysis is done by applying panel data methodology on regional data for major cities in Germany and Sweden and by using yearly observations from 1995 to 2009. Results confirm that population, GDP, income, housing stock, interest rate and price levels for other market segments have effects on housing prices. However, these effects can be different for certain indicators depending on market segment and model used.


Instructional games are gaining acceptance in the classroom as the eLearning merits of student engagement and immediate feedback are recognized. Within higher education, the use of these tools is often limited due to lack of time, insufficient experience, or doubts regarding the scholarly merits of such activities. Kahoot! is a popular eLearning tool that can easily be used to add vitality, student engagement, and meta-cognitive supports to higher education classrooms with limited instructor or student training required. The free online learning platform has gained wide acceptance globally with more than 30 million users worldwide, and it is based on current user-centered and behavioral design methodologies. Student responses and our experiences using Kahoot! in graduate and undergraduate classrooms indicate that students welcome the use of this game. The real-time feedback provides opportunities for professors in various disciplines to tailor their instruction based on student understanding on quizzes while the surveys allow for anonymous classroom participation, which further engages all students.


Crit Care Med 2016 • Volume 44 • Number 12 (Suppl.) who had one of these adverse events, 8 of them also had a history of alcoholism. Interestingly, only one patient was treated with dedicated insulin therapy for hypertriglyceridemia. 3 patients received insulin infusion for hyperglycemia. The remaining patients were either treated with oral anti-hyperlipidemic agents, or no specific therapy was charted (5 patients). None of the patients underwent plasmapheresis. Conclusions: Patients with hypertriglyceridemia and history of alcoholism were found to be at greatest risk for higher morbidity. Insulin therapy and plasmapheresis are two well-established, but under-utilized therapies for hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis. They have shown to cause rapid reduction in triglyceride levels compared to conventional therapies. Wider recognition and use of these modalities can reduced morbidity in these patients.


During July 1994, submicron aerosol size distributions were measured at two sites on Tenerife, Canary Islands. One station was located in the free troposphere (FT), the other in the marine boundary layer (MBL). Transport toward these two sites was strongly decoupled: the FT was first affected by dust and sulfate-laden air masses advecting from North Africa and later by clean air masses originating over the North Atlantic, whereas the MBL was always subject to the northeasterly trade wind circulation. In the FT the submicron aerosol distribution was predominantly monomodal with a geometric mean diameter of 120 nm and 55 nm during dusty and clean conditions, respectively. The relatively small diameter during the clean conditions indicates that the aerosol originated in the upper troposphere rather than over continental areas or in the lower stratosphere. During dusty conditions the physical and chemical properties of the submicron aerosol suggest that it has an anthropogenic origin over southern Europe and that it remains largely externally mixed with the supermicron mineral dust particles during its transport over North Africa to Tenerife. Apart from synoptic variations, a strong diurnal variation in the aerosol size distribution is observed at the FT site, characterized by a strong daytime mode of ultrafine particles. This is interpreted as being the result of photoinduced nucleation in the upslope winds, which are perturbed by anthropogenic and biogenic emissions on the island. No evidence was found for nucleation occurring in the undisturbed FT. The MBL site was not strongly affected by European pollution during the period of the measurements. The MBL aerosol size distribution was bimodal, but the relative concentration of Aitken and accumulation mode varied strongly. The accumulation mode can be related to cloud processing of the Aitken mode but also to pollution aerosol which was advected within the MBL or entrained from the FT. No bursts of nucleation were observed within the MBL.


Purpose
This study aims to assess the knowledge-sharing risks and controls in the government sector from the knowledge workers' perspective.

Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study combines two techniques. First, the study uses the Delphi technique to identify the risks and rank them. Second, the study used a follow-up interview approach to identify the needed controls to mitigate these identified risks.

Findings
The Delphi study revealed the top knowledge-sharing risks are related to organizational and individual risks. Furthermore, the study identified the top controls that needed to mitigate these identified risks from technology, process and people dimensions. The study findings suggested that implementing controls on people and processes is the most important, and the focus must be on them, especially in the government sector.

Originality/value
The study offers several practical implications for the government sector to establish a knowledge-sharing risks management strategy. Such study has been given little attention in previous research, especially in developing countries.


In 1992, an Indian climber was left to die high on the South Col of Mount Everest by other climbers who watched his feebly waving hand from their tent thirty yards away. He was even filmed in his last hours for a television feature. Why did the onlookers not hold the dying man's hand and comfort him? The answer appalls Joe Simpson, who was himself left for dead in a crevasse at the foot of Siula Grande in Peru in 1985 - 'because it might compromise their summit bid'. It is an ethical question that Joe is forced to confront as he climbs an extremely difficult new route on Pumori, with a clear view of the whole South Col from the vantage point where Eric Shipton first spotted the way up the south side of Everest taken by Hillary and Tenzing in 1953. Now that Everest has become the playground of the rich, where commercial operators offer guided tours to the top up fixed ropes, camping amidst the the detritus and unburied corpses of previous less fortunate climbers, Joe wonders if the noble, caring instincts that once characterised mountaineering have been irrevocably displaced - as in politics, in business, in the media and in other facets of society. On investigation, he finds it a less black and white issue than at first it seemed. 'Although I survived the Andes, I shall never forget the horror of dying alone', he says.


Researchers have recognized the central role that the choice of functional form has on estimates of consumer surplus. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the magnitude of errors which might arise from the use of incorrect functional forms. It describes a simulation experiment where estimated consumer surplus, based on simulated data sets, is compared with consumer surplus computed directly from the simulated data. The errors resulting from the use of mismatching functional forms range from approximately 4 percent to 107 percent.


Matrix factorization is a popular technique for engineering features for use in predictive models; it is viewed as a key part of the predictive analytics process and is used in many different domain areas. The purpose of this paper is to investigate matrix-factorization-based dimensionality reduction as a design artifact in predictive analytics. With the rise in availability of large amounts of sparse behavioral data, this investigation comes at a time when traditional techniques must be reevaluated. Our contribution is based on two lines of inquiry: we survey the literature on dimensionality reduction in predictive analytics, and we undertake an experimental evaluation comparing using dimensionality reduction versus not using dimensionality reduction for predictive modeling from large, sparse behavioral data. Our survey of the dimensionality reduction literature reveals that, despite mixed empirical evidence as to the benefit of computing dimensionality reduction, it is frequently applied in predictive modeling research and application without either comparing to a model built using the full feature set or utilizing state-of-the-art predictive modeling techniques for complexity control. This presents a concern, as the survey reveals complexity control as one of the main reasons for employing dimensionality reduction. This lack of comparison is troubling in light of our empirical results. We experimentally evaluate the e cacy of dimensionality reduction in the context of a collection of predictive modeling problems from a large-scale published study. We find that utilizing dimensionality reduction improves predictive performance only under certain, rather narrow, conditions. Specifically, under default regularization (complexity control)settings dimensionality reduction helps for the more di cult predictive problems (where the predictive performance of a model built using the original feature set is relatively lower), but it actually decreases the performance on the easier problems. More surprisingly, employing state-of-the-art methods for selecting regularization parameters actually eliminates any advantage that dimensionality reduction has! Since the value of building accurate predictive models for business analytics applications has been well-established, the resulting guidelines for the application of dimensionality reduction should lead to better research and managerial decisions.


Can textual data be compressed intelligently without losing accuracy in evaluating sentiment? In this study, we propose a novel evolutionary compression algorithm, PARSEC (PARts-of-Speech for sEntiment Compression), which makes use of Parts-of-Speech tags to compress text in a way that sacrifices minimal classification accuracy when used in conjunction with sentiment analysis algorithms. An analysis of PARSEC with eight commercial and non-commercial sentiment analysis algorithms on twelve English sentiment data sets reveals that accurate compression is possible with (0%, 1.3%, 3.3%) loss in sentiment classification accuracy for (20%, 50%, 75%) data compression with PARSEC using LingPipe, the most accurate of the sentiment algorithms. Other sentiment analysis algorithms are more severely affected by compression. We conclude that significant compression of text data is possible for sentiment analysis depending on the accuracy demands of the specific application and the specific sentiment analysis algorithm used.


All wave energy converters (WECs) must resist the motion of the incident wave. The reaction forces developed by the power take-off (PTO) of the WEC are either transferred outside the system or to the inertia of the WEC. If the reaction forces are transferred to the inertia of the WEC, the WEC must be massive, and thus expensive. System mass and cost can be reduced through the use of a heave plate. Heave plates are large plates or structures attached to or suspended well below the WEC in water at a depth where the motion of the waves passing over the water's surface has been substantially attenuated. At this depth, the heave plate can transfer the reaction loads developed by the WEC to the inertia of the water. Despite their importance to and prevalence in WEC design [1, 2], heave plate dynamics have received little attention in the literature. Parametric studies are needed to understand the effect of variations in design on heave plate performance, and tests at varying scale will be needed to determine how the hydrodynamic performance of a heave plate scales with size. The hydrodynamic behavior of heave plates is studied in two experiments. First, a custom measurement platform has been built and used to calculate coefficients of drag and added mass for 12-in diameter heave plates forced through sinusoidal oscillations of varying amplitude and frequency. Several heave plate variations were tested, and the results are briefly discussed. Second, the miniWEC, a small wave energy converter is being built and instrumented to study the performance of 60in diameter heave plates. The results of the forced oscillations in the first experiment were used to inform the design of the heave plates that will be deployed with the miniWEC. These experiments will provide insight into how the hydrodynamic behavior of heave plates scales with heave plate size.


This study draws on transaction cost, resource dependence, and organizational learning theories to posit relationships between transaction performance and transaction structure (alliances versus acquisitions), interfirm synergies, and motives. The study involves analysis of 66 international and intranational alliances and acquisitions that were undertaken in the pharmaceutical industry. An initial survey was administered to firms involved in these transactions to gather information regarding motives, transaction structure, and interorganizational synergies. A second survey was administered two years after the transaction to gather information on transaction performance. Findings support the importance of transaction structure and strategic synergies between firms. Specifically, transaction structure and high levels of strategic fit between the firms had a positive impact on performance. There is also some evidence that synergies must be linked to the motives driving the transaction. The study yields meaningful results regarding factors leading to success of transactions (alliances and  acquisitions)  in a  longitudinal  study  of  intranational and international transactions in the biopharmaceutical industry.


Carbon cycling and the availability of organic carbon for nutrient removal processes are in most wastewater treatment systems restricted by the rate of hydrolysis of slowly biodegradable (particulate) organic matter. To date, the mechanisms of hydrolysis are not well understood for complex substrates and mixed populations. Most mathematical models use a simple one-step process to describe hydrolysis. In this article, mechanisms of hydrolysis and mathematical models to describe these processes in wastewater treatment processes are reviewed. Experimental techniques to determine mechanisms of hydrolysis and rate constants are discussed.


Multi-axis machining (especially 5-axis machining) is widely used in precision machining for automotive, aerospace and die-mold manufacturing. The goal in precision machining is to increase production while meeting high part quality needs which can be achieved through decision of appropriate process parameters considering machine tool constraints (such as power and torque), chatter-free operations and part quality. In order to predict and decide on optimal process parameters, simulation models are used. In the literature, individual tool geometries for multi-axis machining are examined in detailed with different modeling approaches to simulate cutting forces. In this study, a general numerical model for 5-axis machining is proposed covering all possible tool geometries. Tool envelope is extracted from CAD data, and helical flutes points are represented in cylindrical coordinates. Equal parallel slicing method is utilized to find cutter engagement boundaries (CEB) determining cutting region of the tool surface. for each axial level in the tool axis direction. For each level uncut chip thickness value is found and total forces are calculated by summing force values for each point along the cutting flutes. For arbitrary cases forces are simulated and obtained results are experimentally verified.


More than a decade ago, tax promoters and life insurance agents seized upon a little-known provision of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). Section 831(b) had been around for decades and, despite increased exposure after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, few taxpayers had ever heard of a Captive Insurance Company ("CIC"). Over the course of the last ten years plus, promoters ran roughshod over the judicial doctrines of economic substance (now codified) and business purpose. They convinced taxpayers that a lack of Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") audit equaled compliant planning. The IRS complained of the abuses. Statutory and regulatory changes, among other IRS actions followed (described below). The IRS loaded the torpedo tubes. This article focuses on the history of Captive Insurance compliance matters and views current IRS attacks through the lens of articles previously published across the country. These articles have been designed to provide conscientious advisors reliable case law, code and statutory analysis, and compliance considerations for clients. The information presented more fully in each of the articles herein comes in response to the mass marketing by promoters of Section 831(b) CICs.


Background: Many studies have found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with impaired human insulin action, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). This study investigated the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on serum HbA1c values and 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations in healthy and diabetic individuals. Methods: 722 individuals aged from 36 to 61 years old were selected (360 males and 362 females) divided into two groups. Healthy male group consisted of 180 person with HbA1c value (6.78 ± 2.14) and 180 persons diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 11.64 ± 3.85). The healthy female group had also 180 person (HbA1c 7.42 ± 2.86) and 182 diabetic females (HbA1c 11.43 ± 2.88). Each group was then divided into two subgroups. One supplemented with (2000 IU/day) of vitamin D for 90 days and the other one was not given any vitamin D supplements. HbA1c and serum 25(OH) vitamin D were recorded. Results: Mean serum HbA1c values for both males and females improved with vitamin D supplementations but the improvement was significant in the diabetic group (males and females) comparing with healthy group. Serum HbA1c in healthy group improved by 4.8% and 2.7% for males and females respectively whereas serum HbA1c for diabetic group declined by 13.4% and 21.8% for group 7 9 and 9.6 and 22.1% for group > 9 for males and females respectively. Also, serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations improved dramatically with supplementation in healthy and diabetic groups. 25(OH) vitamin D for the healthy males improved by 67.9% and for healthy females 47.7% whereas for diabetic males and females improved by 53% and 31.7% and 56.6% and 77.2% for males and females HbA1c 7 - 9 and for HbA1c > 9 respectively. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation lowered serum HbA1c values of males and females especially in the group Hba1c values > 9 and this can be considered as a cheap and effective therapeutic tool in the management of type 2 diabetes. Also vitamin D supplementation improved concentration of serum 25(OH) vitamin D in both healthy and diabetic group upgrading their vitamin D status from deficiency to sufficiency.


Inflammation and oxidative stress play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Myeloperoxidase has been extensively implicated as a key mediator of inflammatory and redox-dependent processes in atherosclerosis. However, the effect of synthetic myeloperoxidase inhibitors on atherosclerosis has been insufficiently studied. In this study, ApoE−/− mice were randomized to low- and high-dose INV-315 groups for 16 weeks on high-fat diet. INV-315 resulted in reduced plaque burden and improved endothelial function in response to acetylcholine. These effects occurred without adverse events or changes in body weight or blood pressure. INV-315 treatment resulted in a decrease in iNOS gene expression, superoxide production and nitrotyrosine content in the aorta. Circulating IL-6 and inflammatory CD11b+/Ly6Glow/7/4hi monocytes were significantly decreased in response to INV-315 treatment. Acute pretreatment with INV-315 blocked TNFα-mediated leukocyte adhesion in cremasteric venules and inhibited myeloperoxidase activity. Cholesterol efflux was significantly increased by high-dose INV-315 via ex-vivo reverse cholesterol transport assays. Our results suggest that myeloperoxidase inhibition may exert anti-atherosclerotic effects via inhibition of oxidative stress and enhancement of cholesterol efflux. These findings demonstrate a role for pharmacologic modulation of myeloperoxidase in atherosclerosis.


Mount Bambouto culminates at 2744 m (Meletan Mountain) where an elliptical caldera of 16 × 8 km is found. Although that caldera has been a subject of numerous scientific works, complementary studies were needed to bring out additional data used to classify it through the Caldera DataBase of Geyer and Marti (2008). It emerges that Bambouto Caldera codes are 2 and 203 because it is respectively located in Africa and Central Africa according to the numbering system developed in the Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World. The collapse type of the caldera is piecemeal; this relies on the fact that the caldera floor is uneven. Several rocks crop out in the caldera; accordingly, its code is B, I, T, P, and Ig viz. basalts, intermediate rocks, trachytes, phonolites, and ignimbrites. Bambouto depression is the ignimbrite caldera because it is associated with thick ignimbrite sheer, that ruled its collapse. The chemical analysis of rocks reveals that the magmatic series of Bambouto Caldera is of alkaline type. It has been built through the continental rifting of extensional type (RC-EXT). The collapse process has been followed by post-caldera protrusion of trachytic and phonolitic domes; then, its codes are Type-S and type-MS.


China is a large consumer and producer of pork. However, pork is a common food that frequently suffers from safety problems in China. Thus, the safety of pork is of important strategic significance to China's food safety. The food traceability system is considered a major tool for the fundamental prevention of food safety risks. In this study, four attributes, i.e., traceability information, quality certification, appearance, and price, were set for traceable pork on the basis of previous studies. Levels were set for the attribute traceability information based on the major processes of safety risk in the Chinese pork supply chain. For the level setting of quality certification, domestic and international third-party certification was included in addition to government certification. Levels of price were set by appropriately increasing the average price of pork in cities surveyed in September 2013 according to the premiums that consumers were willing to pay for particular attribute levels in a random nth price auction. Based on the above experimental design, a survey was conducted in 1,489 consumers in seven pilot cities designated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce for construction of a meat circulation traceability system. On this basis, consumer preferences and willingness to pay for traceable pork attributes, as well as influencing factors, were investigated using choice experiments. According to the results from both mixed logit and latent class models, quality certification was the most important characteristic, followed by appearance, and traceability information. In addition, "government certification", "fresh-looking", and "traceability information covering farming, slaughter, and processing, and circulation and marketing" were the most preferred levels of quality certification, appearance, and traceability information, respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed in consumer preferences for the attributes of traceable pork. Consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for traceability information and quality certification were significantly influenced by age, monthly family income, and education level. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide a useful reference for the Chinese government in improving traceable food consumption policies.


Background: The forests of north-west Amazonia are characterised by the highest levels of tree diversity in the world, high rainfall and relatively fertile soils. Aims: Here we present a comprehensive description of the carbon cycle of two 1 ha forests plots in Allpahuayo, near Iquitos, Peru, one on an occasionally inundated alisol/gleysol landscape, the other on an arenosol (sandy soil). Methods: Data on the components of net primary productivity (NPP) and autotrophic respiration were collected over the period 2009–2011, and summed to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Results: Overall, these forests showed high values of GPP (39.05 ± 4.59 and 41.88 ± 4.60 Mg C ha−1 year−1). Despite the lack of a dry season, the forests showed distinct seasonality in tree growth, litterfall, flowering and fine root productivity. This showed that tropical forests with little seasonality in water supply can still exhibit distinct seasonality in NPP and carbon use, apparently synchronised to the solar radiation cycle. We found remarkably little difference in productivity between the alisol/gleysol plot and the arenosol plot. Conclusions: The GPP was higher than those reported for forests in Brazilian Amazonia on more infertile soils. The CUE was also higher, which may be related to the high forest dynamism and natural disturbance rate. These two factors combined to result in amongst the highest NPP values reported for Amazonia.


This letter deals with the development of geophysical model functions (GMFs) specific to Oceansat-2 Scatterometer (OSCAT) for the operational retrieval of global ocean surface vector winds from OSCAT. It makes use of OSCAT-measured radar backscatter and the surface analysis winds at 10-m neutral-stability height from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model for the period from November 2009 to April 2010. The OSCAT-specific GMF has been used for retrieving the vector solutions from backscatter data as well as for the directional ambiguity removal. The procedures and the conditions incorporated for the same are presented in this letter.


Enhancing the specific differentiation of pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells has been a challenge in the field of tissue engineering. Previously, hepatic cells have been shown to secrete various soluble morphogenic factors to direct mesodermal differentiation of ES cells. In this study, we hypothesized that factors secreted by hepatic cells possess chondrogenic-differentiating effects, and, therefore, the co-culture of hepatic cells would enhance chondrogenesis of ES cells. ES-derived cells(ESDCs) were co-cultured with hepatic cells (HEPA-1C1c7) in three-dimensional bilayered hydrogels. After 3 weeks culture, the histological and biochemical analysis of the HEPA-co-cultured ESDCs revealed a four-fold increase in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) compared to ESDCs cultured alone. This result was supported by real-time PCR analysis, which demonstrated an 80-fold increase in aggrecan expression in co-cultured ESDCs. Additionally, type IIB collagen expression was observed only with co-cultured ESDCs, and immunohistochemical analysis resulted in significantly more positive type II collagen staining with co-cultured ESDCs. Moreover, at day 21, gene expression of other lineages in HEPA-co-cultured ESDCs was either comparable to or lower than those of ESDCs cultured alone. These results indicated that co-culture of ESDCs with hepatic cells significantly enhanced specific chondrogenic differentiation of ESDCs.


volume and with degree of insulin sensitivity in vivo.4 5 We propose that an increase in androgenic activity may result in enlargement ofabdominal fat cells and thus a high waist to hips girth ratio, leading to the development of insulin resistance both in adipose tissue and in other metabolically active tissues-such as skeletal muscle6-which in turn results in the development of metabolic aberrations and hence in an increased susceptibility to coronary heart disease. As previously suggested, measurement of waist to hips girth ratio is a simple practical means of assessing body fat distribution, comparing well with more complex indices such as those based on skinfold thicknesses or the brachiofemoral adipomuscular ratio (paper by D J Evans and others presented at the proceedings of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity in Ploughkeepsie, New York, 1982), and may provide a useful marker of predisposition to metabolic aberrations and cardiovascular disease.


A series of conjugated triaryl compounds have been synthesized, consisting of thiophene or selenophene peripheral units and a central 1,3,4-thiadiazole (TDA) heterocycle. X-ray crystallographic studies on four of the materials reveal that the molecules are planar in the solid state and feature an array of intramolecular (heteroatomic) and intermolecular (heteroatomic and π−π) noncovalent close contacts. Electrochemical oxidative polymerization affords insoluble polymers for EDOT-TDA-EDOT and EDTT-TDA-EDTT. The band gaps of the polymers have been deduced by cyclic voltammetry and electronic absorption spectroscopy and were found to be 1.8−1.9 eV. Both polymers show good stability toward n-doping and the EDTT analogue is more readily reduced than the EDOT-containing system. The enhanced stability toward n-doping, compared with the homopolymers PEDTT and PEDOT, is attributed to the presence of the electron deficient thiadiazole unit. The LUMO of poly(EDTT-TDA-EDTT) is 0.3 eV lower than that of poly(EDOT-TDA-...


We discuss the economics of high-frequency trading (hereafter HFT), survey empirical findings and offer policy recommendations. HFT involves high speed connections to exchanges, computerized trading, and very short-term positions. Beyond these common features, HFT strategies are heterogeneous. They can involve market-making, directional trade, arbitrage, and possibly manipulation. The empirical literature finds that HFT market-making is profitable only because of favorable exchange fees. HFT market orders predict future short-term market movements and correspondingly earn profits, at the expense of other market participants. Yet, there is no empirical evidence of adverse effects of HFT on liquidity. HFT could generate negative externalities, by inducing adverse selection for slower traders, or enhancing the risk of trading firms' failure waves. To cope with these problems, slow-traders' friendly market mechanisms should be available, and minimum capital requirements and stress tests should be implemented.


Isolation of canine renal tubular segments, cell clusters and individual cells permits direct observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the three dimensional cell shapes and the complex lateral and basal labyrinth structures. These functionally vital areas of the various tubular segments have not been previously observed in such detail. The tubular segments were freed of the obscuring basement membranes by prolonged tryptic digestion of tissue perfusion-fixed with glutaraldehyde, followed by attachment to gelatine coated coverslips and preparation for SEM. The tubular basal labyrinth is found to consist of a mosaic of basal processes arising from the lateral processes and the base of the cell body. The lateral processes and basal processes interdigitate with adjacent cells. Each tubular segment exhibits its own characteristic patterns of basal processes. The basal processes of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) are shaped like an inverted anvil, often branching. The basal processes of the proximal straight tubule (PST) and thin limbs are short microvilli. The distal straight tubule (DST) have fishtail-like basal processes. The distal convoluted tubule (DCT) show a swirling mixture of anvil shaped and microvillous basal processes. The collecting ducts exhibit short basal microvilli, plicae and villi lined basal infoldings. The looser structure of the basal labyrinth of cell clusters and isolated cells produced by this isolation procedure facilitated recognition of these complex structures.


http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Clare, Linda, Wu, Yu-Tzu, Quinn, Catherine, Jones, Ian R, Victor, Christina R, Nelis, Sharon M, Martyr, Anthony, Litherland, Rachael, Pickett, James A, Hindle, John V, Jones, Roy W, Knapp, Martin, Kopelman, Michael D, Morris, Robin G, Rusted, Jennifer M et al. (2018) A comprehensive model of factors associated with capability to "live well" for family caregivers of people living with mild-to-moderate dementia. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 33 (1). pp. 29-35. ISSN 0893-0341


The regional expression of immune‐mediated and neurotoxic events in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected brain in relationship to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex (ADC) and brain pathology remains uncertain. The extent of gp41, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and HLA‐DR expression was examined in the frontal lobe and basal ganglia of 25 patients at varying stages of ADC. The expression of gp41 and iNOS was present predominantly in perivascular cells and most often in the basal ganglia. Staining for gp41 correlated significantly with iNOS in the basal ganglia, whereas the severity of staining for gp41 and iNOS in the basal ganglia and white matter was significantly greater in subjects with moderate to severe dementia compared with those with milder impairment. The degree of macrophage staining in the white matter and basal ganglia also correlated significantly with ADC severity and was more abundant than gp41 or iNOS staining, particularly in the white matter. Logistic regression analysis revealed that staining for iNOS and gp41 increased linearly with ADC severity and was significantly more abundant in the basal ganglia compared with the white matter. Double‐immunolabeling studies colocalized iNOS predominantly to macrophage/microglia and to gp41‐positive cells. The expression of iNOS and gp41 in the basal ganglia combined with immune activation contributes to the development and progression of the clinical syndrome. Ann Neurol 1999;46:207–216


The dif/Xer system of site-specific recombination allows resolution of chromosomal dimers during bacterial DNA replication. Recently, it was also shown to be involved in horizontal transfer of a few known Xer-dependent mobile elements. Here, we show that plasmids of various Acinetobacter species, including clinically important strains, often contain multiple pdif sites that are mainly located within their accessory regions. Chromosomes of Acinetobacter strains may also contain additional dif sites, and their similarity with plasmid pdif sites is higher than with the main chromosomal site dif1. We further identify putative mobile genetic elements containing pdif sites on both flanks of adaptive genes and analyze their distribution in Acinetobacter species. In total, we describe seven mobile elements containing genes with various adaptive functions from permafrost strains of A. lwoffii group. All of them are also spread in modern plasmids of different Acinetobacter species including A. baumannii. We could not detect pdif sites and corresponding mobile elements in closely related bacterial genera, including Psychrobacter and Moraxella. Thus, the widespread distribution of dif modules is a characteristic feature of Acinetobacter species and may contribute to their high adaptability both in the environment and in the clinic.


Intracranial hemorrhage was observed in a man, aged 66, after a second thrombolytic treatment due to myocardial reinfarction. The patient presented no potential risk factors which have often been associated to intracranial hemorrhage whereas no complications had occurred when thrombolytic therapy was given some months before because of the first infarction. This report emphasizes that a previous thrombolytic treatment with no secondary effects involves no lack of intracranial hemorrhage risk for a second thrombolysis. More research is needed in order to elucidate intracranial hemorrhage mechanisms associated to thrombolytic therapy.


Food system dynamics worldwide are under a new paradigm. Energy supply based on renewable natural resources is now a necessary solution, where agri-business can play an important role, and food systems will have to interact worldwide with new competitors for land and agriculture activity. The argument in this paper is based on the evidence that innovation and technology changes in food production (agricultural production) can offer a sustainable supply of grain and biomass, when demand behaviour is consistent and very flexible (demand elasticity above 1). The main argument is based on the hypothesis that demand behaviour is the main driver in food systems, which can be observed looking at technical and technological changes in production systems in Europe and elsewhere, such as Latin America, and more specifically Brazil. Economic surplus distribution across the food chain is another key factor for the induced innovation process to occur dynamically in food and agricultural production, based on well functioning markets such as the international markets (elastic demand for most countries). Science will face a new industry demand for solutions on the production side that are able to provide sustainability and supply increases that have to support empowerment of the primary sector to help producers capture surplus created by new technology possibilities, and "new demands". Technological changes will occur quickly enough to avoid strong changes in prices if, and only if, producers are able to look at new opportunities with conditions (and sufficient time) to improve their business (and share on economic surplus). Institutional innovation is another key factor in the food system, and should also provide capability to create value to a set of intangible goods provided by the primary sector, giving space for a multi-functionality perspective on the primary sector activity, such as environment and sustainability considerations. The first factor to be considered is certainly the market functioning, because food production traditionally suffers from market problems, which began with the characteristics of the products, space diversity, conservation problems, and production seasonality (to mention only the most obvious). Other considerations related with the environment, and non tangible goods, such as the landscape dimension (and other dimensions on man's relationship with nature), will continue to deserve new initiatives to improve the Quality of Life.


This paper presents an optimized Hill-Climbing algorithm to select subset of features for handwritten character recognition. The search is conducted taking into account a random mutation strategy and the initial relevance, of each feature in the recognition process. A first set of experiments have shown a reduction in the original number of features used in an MLP-based character recognizer from 132 to 77 features (reduction of 42%) without a significant loss in terms of recognition rates, which are 99.1% for 30,089 digits and 93.0% for 11,941 uppercase characters, both handwritten samples from the NIST SD19 database. Additional experiments have been done by considering some loss in terms of recognition rate during the feature subset selection. A byproduct of these experiments is a cascade classifier based on feature subsets of different sizes, which is used to reduce the complexity of the classification task by 86.54% on the digit recognition experiment. The proposed feature selection method has shown to be an interesting strategy to implement a wrapper approach without the need of complex and expensive hardware architectures.


Whereas, neutrophils have long been considered to mainly function as efficient innate immunity killers of micro-organisms at infected sites, they are now recognized to also be involved in modulation of adaptive immune responses. Immature and mature neutrophils were reported to have the capacity to suppress T cell-mediated immune responses as so-called granulocyte-myeloid-derived suppressor cells (g-MDSCs), and thereby affect the clinical outcome of cancer patients and impact the chronicity of microbial infections or rejection reactions in organ transplantation settings. These MDSCs were at first considered to be immature myeloid cells that left the bone marrow due to disease-specific signals. Current studies show that also mature neutrophils can exert suppressive activity. In this study we investigated in a robust T cell suppression assay whether immature CD11b+ myeloid cells were capable of MDSC activity comparable to mature fully differentiated neutrophils. We compared circulating neutrophils with myeloid cell fractions from the bone marrow at different differentiation stages. Our results indicate that functional MDSC activity is only becoming detectable at the final stage of differentiation, depending on the procedure of cell isolation. The MDSC activity obtained during neutrophil maturation correlated with the induction of the well-known highly mobile and toxic effector functions of the circulating neutrophil. Although immature neutrophils have been suggested to be increased in the circulation of cancer patients, we show here that immature neutrophils are not efficient in suppressing T cells. This suggests that the presence of immature neutrophils in the bloodstream of cancer patients represent a mere association or may function as a source of mature neutrophils in the tumor environment but not a direct cause of enhanced MDSC activity in cancer.


Amebic hepatic abscess can mimic other hepatic disorders and is a commonly missed diagnosis. It occurs when Entamoeba histolytica infection of the cecum remains untreated and there is embolic spread to the liver. Symptoms include acute or insidious onset of fever, with or without chills, pain in the right hypochondrium or epigastrium with evidence of hepatomegaly, and intercostal or subcostal tenderness. Diagnosis is established by a combination of radiologic and nuclear scanning procedures, serologic tests and aspiration of the abscess.


Introduction The dialyzer apparatus has been widely used as an artificial kidney in medical treatment. However, side effects such as amyloidosis have occurred during long-term treatment. Therefore, we focused on developing a hybrid artificial kidney with a filtration and reabsorption apparatus, but it was found that cells spread extensively and it is difficult to maintain a uniform monolayer with a regular cell shape on a collagen-coated substrate. The purpose of this study was to improve cell adhesion, uniform stable monolayer formation and active transport function by immobilization of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) on the culture substratum. Materials and Methods Polycarbonate semipermeable membranes were coated with collagen, fibronectin, laminin and synthetic polypeptide, including RGD (Pronectin F). Cell adhesion and digoxin transport were estimated using a renal proximal tubule cell line that overexpressed the P-glycoprotein gene. Results and Discussion Under initial and confluent conditions, immobilized cell density in Pronectin F-coated wells was higher than that under other conditions. Transepithelial electrical resistance and digoxin transport activity on Pronectin F-coated membranes were the highest of all conditions. This might have been caused by uniform cell morphology and high cell density.


RATIONALE
Aromatic hydrocarbons play an important role in the formation and growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and soot particles. Measurements of their absolute photoionization cross-sections (PICSs), that benefits the quantitative investigation of mass spectrometry, are still lacking, however.

METHODS
PICSs of some aromatic hydrocarbons were measured with tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (SVUV-PIMS). Nitric oxide and benzene were chosen as standard references for PICS calibration, since their photoionization cross-sections are well-known in literature. Binary liquid mixtures of the investigated molecules and their specific solvents were used in the measurements.

RESULTS
The investigated aromatics include naphthalene, phenanthrene, 1-methylnaphthalene, indene, 2-/3-/4-methylphenylacetylene, 2-methylindene, diphenylacetylene, 1-/2-ethynylnaphthalene and acenaphthylene. Photo-induced fragments from the molecules were also observed with increasing photon energy.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on our measurements and literature data, PICSs of most aromatic molecules have very similar values beyond their ionization energies. However, molecules that contain phenylacetylene structure have PICSs higher than other aromatics.


Since first identified in 2013, the H7N9 virus has caused several waves of human infections in China, with a current wave including a number of patients with very severe disease. Jiangsu is one of the most impacted provinces, whereby as of 31 January 2017, the number of human infections (n = 109) in the ongoing fifth H7N9 wave has exceeded the sum of those in the four preceding ones. Ten of 13 cities in Jiangsu have been affected, and clustered infections as well as one co-infection with seasonal influenza have been observed. With a median age of 58 years and 74.3% (81/109) of patients being male, the characteristics of cases are similar to those in previous waves, however patients with H7N9 seem to have an accelerated disease progression. Preliminary case fatality remains above 30%. No significant viral mutations have been found in key functional loci. Environmental H7N9 detection rate and number of days with high risk ambient temperatures were both significantly elevated during the month of December 2016 when most human infections were reported. A number of municipal governments in Jiangsu have implemented live poultry market closures to impede viral transmission to humans. A detectable decline in human infections has been observed in these municipalities and the entire province since January 2017.


This paper presents the multiple imputation model for the imputation of the missing values of the Austrian Household Survey on Housing Wealth 2008. It is based on Bayesian inference and on the fully conditional specification approach. Both theoretical framework and model specification are discussed in detail and,finally, some results about the performance of our imputations are presented.


Supportive and palliative care services are integral to the provision of comprehensive cancer care (and no cancer service should call itself 'comprehensive' without a comprehensive supportive and palliative care team). All people diagnosed with cancer should have access to supportive care and the one in two people who will have their lives shortened as a result of cancer need to be able to access palliative care. The skill base, competencies and clinical evidence base for these disciplines is shared. Properly resourced and integrated supportive and palliative care services have been shown to deliver improved health outcomes without compromising life expectancy to: • people with cancer, • their caregivers (while in the role and subsequently), and • health services that are prepared to adequately invest in these services, with more efficient use of resources. In order to achieve these improved health outcomes, early identification of people who have more complex needs becomes a responsibility of each member of the clinical cancer care team. Systematic assessment of current and likely future needs is imperative to improve the patient-defined outcomes that are necessary to live well with cancer or to ensure that life goals are met if premature death will occur because of cancer.


In AD 381, Theodosius, emperor of the eastern Roman empire, issued a decree in which all his subjects were required to subscribe to a belief in the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This edict defined Christian orthodoxy and brought to an end a lively and wide-ranging debate about the nature of the Godhead; all other interpretations were now declared heretical. Moreover, for the first time in a thousand years of Greco-Roman civilization free thought was unambiguously suppressed. Yet surprisingly this political revolution, intended to bring inner cohesion to an empire under threat from the outside, has been airbrushed from the historical record. Instead, it has been claimed that the Christian Church had reached a consensus on the Trinity which was promulgated at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. In this groundbreaking new book, Freeman argues that Theodosius's edict and the subsequent suppression of paganism not only brought an end to the diversity of religious and philosophical beliefs throughout the empire but created numerous theological problems for the Church, which have remained unsolved. The year AD 381, Freeman concludes, marked 'a turning point which time forgot'.


ABSTRACT
 Clay models have proved to be useful teaching aids for many topics in biology that depend on three-dimensional reasoning. Students studying embryonic development struggle to mentally reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of embryos and larvae by observing prepared slides of cross-sectional slices. Students who build clay models of embryos and slice them into cross sections, however, have a much easier time interpreting the slices of real embryos and gain a deeper understanding of development in three dimensions.


We have generated 15 W of UV (255-nm) radiation with an optical conversion efficiency of 28% by frequency doubling the 510.6-nm output of a high-beam-quality, high-power copper laser system in cesium borate lithium (CLBO). We found that the superior performance of CLBO relative to beta-barium borate is attributable largely to the small UV absorption and wide temperature acceptance bandwidth of CLBO, which reduces thermal dephasing during high-power UV generation.


The research sought to examine literature on the impact of Multicurrency regime on financial reporting. The research findings showed that, during the Multicurrency regime firms saw financial reporting becoming a challenge due to shifts in government policies which preclude them from reporting in accordance with prescribed standards such as IAS 21, failure to attract skilled staff with foreign currency exposure experience as well as failure to acquire multicurrency system tailored software. The research findings further established the best industry practises that firms can use, in case redollarization occurs in future. The study recommends firms to establish seminars and training programmes for the workforce carry out multicurrency diversification to hedge risks, make use of multicurrency programs to track exposure, consult regulatory boards and foreign currency specialists, and approach the government to work hand in hand when making monetary policies.


OBJECTIVES
We evaluated the efficacy of a peer-mentoring behavioral intervention designed to reduce risky distributive injection practices (e.g., syringe lending, unsafe drug preparation) among injection drug users with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS
A randomized trial with a time-equivalent attention-control group was conducted among 418 HCV-positive injection drug users aged 18 to 35 years in 3 US cities. Participants reported their injection-related behaviors at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.

RESULTS
Compared with the control group, intervention-group participants were less likely to report distributive risk behaviors at 3 months (odds ratio [OR]=0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.27, 0.79) and 6 months (OR=0.51; 95% CI=0.31, 0.83), a 26% relative risk reduction, but were no more likely to cite their HCV-positive status as a reason for refraining from syringe lending. Effects were strongest among intervention-group participants who had known their HCV-positive status for at least 6 months. Peer mentoring and self-efficacy were significantly increased among intervention-group participants, and intervention effects were mediated through improved self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS
This behavioral intervention reduced unsafe injection practices that may propagate HCV among injection drug users.


The relation between fires and meteorological parameters, such as wind, temperature and humidity, are investigated in Greece and western and south western parts of Turkey. The study comprises a five - year period between 1993 and 1998 for Greece and 1999 and 2004 for Turkey. The selected areas examined in this study are Achaia (NW Peloponnese) and Crete (Heraklion area) in Greece; and Antalya, Izmir, Canakkale, Denizli, Isparta and Balikesir in Turkey. The results show that the highest number of fires was experienced in the year 2000. Similarly, the highest amount of forested area was also burned in the year 2000. Mugla experienced the highest number of fires, 1389 fires, during the study period. On the other hand, the highest amount of burned - area is observed in Balikesir, as 6946 ha. The annual analysis showed that the highest number of fires was observed in Mugla in year 2000 (330 fires) and a second highest in Antalya in year 200 (263 fires). Meteorological conditions during these five - year period are also analyzed in order to find any relationship between forest fires and meteorological parameters in the study region. Maximum monthly temperatures that were observed in year 2000 as well as the minimum humidity values confirms that high temperatures and low humidity increases the ignition potential and thus initiating forest fires.


The emerging risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on forest ecosystems present significant threats to forest-based livelihoods. Understanding climate change and its consequences on forests and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities could support forest-based strategies for responding to climate change. Using perception-based assessment principles, we assessed the effects of climate change and extreme weather events on forests and forest-based livelihood among the forest-dependent communities around the Mchinji and Phirilongwe Forest Reserves in the Mchinji and Mangochi districts in Malawi. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The impact of erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts was investigated using logistic regression models. The respondents perceived increasing erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts as key extreme climate events in their locality. These results varied significantly between the study sites (p < 0.05). Erratic rainfall was perceived to pose extended effects on access to the forest in both Phirilongwe in Mangochi (43%) and Mchinji (61%). Climate change was found to be associated with reduced availability of firewood, thatch grasses, fruits and food, vegetables, mushrooms, and medicinal plants (p < 0.05). Erratic rainfall and high temperatures were more likely perceived to cause reduced availability of essential forest products, and increased flooding and strong winds were less likely attributed to any effect on forest product availability. The study concludes that climate change and extreme weather events can affect the access and availability of forest products for livelihoods. Locally based approaches such as forest products domestication are recommended to address threats to climate-sensitive forest-based livelihoods.


Introduction: Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a key mediator in ischemic - reperfusion injuries. Its role as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in organ transplant is increasing. We tried to validate a new CO measurement on isolated perfused and ventilated lungs. Methods: After euthanasia, swines lungs (n=2, 19.5±0.5 kg) were removed. Trachea was intubated and the pulmonary artery was linked to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Lungs were then progressively ventilated and perfused to a steady state (tidal volume 8ml/kg, respiratory rate 15/min, PEEP 5mmHg and cardiac output 70ml/kg/min). CO measurements were made by Optical-Feedback Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy. This laser based technique allows non-invasive and real time measurements with high sensitivity (0.002ppm). We measured gas taken directly from the end of the trachea. To validate our model, lungs were placed in environments with high (9ppm) or low ( Results: Initial CO level in ambient air was 0.272±0.035ppm (mean ± SD). Lungs CO peak was obtained during expiratory phase and initial average CO was 0.429±0.182ppm. After low CO mixed gas injection, CO level in air was 0.009±0.002ppm while lungs CO remained stable at 0.437±0.196ppm. In high CO environment, CO in air was 8.772±0.044ppm and lungs CO was 0.440±0.211ppm. Standard deviation in lung CO is due to the respiratory cycle. Conclusion: In our model, CO arises during expiratory phase and its concentration is not changed by low or high CO level in ambient air. Thus, we are able to quantify CO produced by the lungs.


This report includes an analysis of traffic accident data in Kentucky for the years of 1986-1990. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical number and rates of accidents were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky's procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of accidents. Another objective of this study was to provide data which can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety Plan. County and city accident statistics were analyzed. A summary of results and recommendations in several problem identification areas is presented. These general areas include alcohol, occupant protection, speed, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and vehicle defects. Other areas included in the analysis are drugs, school bus accidents, and truck accidents.


The using of fish by-products has not been optimally developed in food processing. The objective of this research was to study the using of catfish's head flour as a part of material in formulating crackers to increase its calsium content. The method for making this flour was based on thermal process using drum dryer. The physical and chemical properties were analysed. Crackers was formulated by using catfish's head flour with trial and error method. The formulations were then F0 (0:100), F1 (7,5:92,5), F2 (12,5:87,5), F3 (17,5:82,5), and F4 (22,5:77,5). F1 and F2 crackers were chosen formulations based on organoleptic test. The result of chemical analysis were respectively: moisture 2,4-3,3% (wb), ash 3,7-4,97% (wb), protein 9,9-11,4% (wb), lipid 19,2-20,5% (wb), carbohydrate 63,9-69,6% (wb), and energy 480-484 kkal (wb). F1 crackers contained 0,3634% of calcium (wb) while F2 crackers contained 0,3147% of calcium (wb). The phospor's content in F1 and F2 crackers were respectively: 0,2362% (wb) and 0,3147% (wb). The contribution of calcium content in crackers were calculated based on RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for children, adolescents, and adults. F1 crackers fulfilled calcium's RDA respectively : 25,8% for children; 15,5% for adolescents, and 19,3% for  adults. F2 crackers fulfilled calcium's RDA respectively: 39,9% for children; 23,9% for adolescents, and 29,9% for adults. The amount of crackers that should be consumed was at least as much 44 gram/day. Key words: catfish's head flour, crackers, calcium content


ABSTRACT We examine efficiency improvement associated with audit firm mergers. Our analysis is made possible by a unique dataset of audit hours in China. We find a significant reduction in audit hours, unaccompanied by a deterioration in audit quality, of merged audit firms. Further, we find a larger reduction in audit hours when acquirers are Chinese domestic Big 10 audit firms and when client firms are more complex. These results are consistent with the notion of economies of scale arising from horizontal mergers. However, enhanced efficiency does not necessarily reduce audit fees. Instead, we find an increase in audit fees when acquirers are international Big 4 audit firms even when we control for possible changes in market power. This premium is at least partially due to the certification effect of international Big 4 audit firms.


ABSTRACT We identify, describe qualitatively, quantify biophysically and, if possible, monetarily valuate the most important ecosystem services in Swedish forests. Existing Swedish and Nordic research and statistics within this area are reviewed and used to develop a first framework for the valuation of ecosystem services in Swedish forests. We base our analysis on the CICES framework and the Cascade-model. Despite the rather long occurrence and use of the concept of ecosystem services, we do not yet have enough information on the status and economic value of services in Swedish forests. The value of the forest ecosystem services is at best an indication of the different multifunctional objectives that should be met in the management of the Swedish forests. The five most central ecosystem services in Swedish forests according to annual flow are timber and pulpwood, bioenergy, game, climate regulation and recreation and training, each estimated to have a monetary value of several billion SEK. The different ecosystem services in multipurpose forests interact with each other and may lead to conflicts between use and conservation. We identified a number of trade-offs and synergies between services focusing on the five above ecosystem services.


This thesis falls into the general category of studies of the outer layers of stars on the mid to lower main sequence. It deals specifically with the properties of the convective envelopes of F-type stars, and how these relate to mixing mechanisms in their interiors and energy deposition in their atmospheres. The observational context of the study includes a spectroscopic derivation, using NLTE analysis, of the oxygen abundances in 50 stars belonging to the Hyades cluster and the Ursa Major group, and some additional field stars. The aim was to set restrictions on the mechanism of microscopic diffusion which has been proposed to explain the presence of the "lithium gap" in F stars. The results show a notable uniformity in the abundances derived, across the relevant temperature range: from 5800 K to 7400 K. The data could just be indicating a small dip, of at most 0.1 dex, in the region of the lithium gap. The equivalent widths of the He I D3 line were also measured, in absorption, in 36 stars from the same open clusters and the general field. A data base is presented for 145 stars, of spectral types between late A and K, comprising measurements of several indices of chromospheric and coronal activity, taken from the literature and from our own observations. The investigation of the dependence of activity on spectral type, the correlations between the different indices, and their variations with Rossby number confirm previous suggestions that the dissipation of accoustic waves generated at the top of the convective envelope is the mechanism for heating the chromospheres of early F-type stars. In the theoretical section of the thesis, a mechanism is proposed and developed for mixing material in a stellar interior in order to explain the lithium gap. Mixing is induced by the presence and propagation of internal gravity waves. These waves are generated by the fluctuating pressure applied by the cells at the base of the convection zone to the radiative interior of the star. Our mechanism is capable of accounting for the observations of lithium in F-type stars of the Pleiades and the Hyades, as well as of beryllium in the latter cluster.


We report on a channel drop filter with a mode gap in the propagating mode of a photonic crystal slab that was fabricated on silicon on an insulator wafer. The results, simulated with the 3-dimensional finite-difference time-domain and plane-wave methods, demonstrated that an index-guiding mode for the line defect waveguide of a photonic crystal slab has a band gap at wave vector k = 0.5 for a mainly TM-like light-wave. The mode gap works as a distributed Bragg grating reflector that propagates the light-wave through the line defect waveguide, and can be used as an optical filter. The filter bandwidth was varied from 1-8 nm with an r/a (r: hole radius, a: lattice constant) variation around the wavelength range of 1550-1600 nm. We fabricated a Bragg reflector with a photonic crystal line-defect waveguide and Si-channel waveguides and by measuring the transmittance spectrum found that the Bragg reflector caused abrupt dips in transmittance. These experimental results are consistent with the results of the theoretical analysis described above. Utilizing the Bragg reflector, we fabricated channel dropping filters with photonic crystal slabs connected between channel waveguides and demonstrated their transmittance characteristics. They were highly drop efficient, with a flattop drop-out spectrum at a wavelength of 1.56 μm and a drop bandwidth of 5.8 nm. Results showed that an optical adddrop multiplexer with a 2-D photonic crystal will be available for application in WDM devices for photonic networks and for LSIs in the near future.


Southeast‐Asia (SEA) constitutes a global biodiversity hotspot, but is exposed to extensive deforestation and faces numerous threats to its biodiversity. Climate change represents a major challenge to the survival and viability of species, and the potential consequences must be assessed to allow for mitigation. We project the effects of several climate change scenarios on bat diversity, and predict changes in range size for 171 bat species throughout SEA. We predict decreases in species richness in all areas with high species richness (>80 species) at 2050–2080, using bioclimatic IPCC scenarios A2 (a severe scenario, continuously increasing human population size, regional changes in economic growth) and B1 (the 'greenest' scenario, global population peaking mid‐century). We also predicted changes in species richness in scenarios that project vegetation changes in addition to climate change up to 2050. At 2050 and 2080, A2 and B1 scenarios incorporating changes in climatic factors predicted that 3–9% species would lose all currently suitable niche space. When considering total extents of species distribution in SEA (including possible range expansions), 2–6% of species may have no suitable niche space in 2050–2080. When potential vegetation and climate changes were combined only 1% of species showed no changes in their predicted ranges by 2050. Although some species are projected to expand ranges, this may be ecologically impossible due to potential barriers to dispersal, especially for species with poor dispersal ability. Only 1–13% of species showed no projected reductions in their current range under bioclimatic scenarios. An effective way to facilitate range shift for dispersal‐limited species is to improve landscape connectivity. If current trends in environmental change continue and species cannot expand their ranges into new areas, then the majority of bat species in SEA may show decreases in range size and increased extinction risk within the next century.


Abstract Free-falling objects impacting onto water pools experience a very high initial impact force, greatest at the moment when breaking through the free surface. Many have intuitively wondered whether throwing another object in front of an important object (like oneself) before impacting the water surface may reduce this high impact force. Here, we test this idea experimentally by allowing two spheres to consecutively enter the water and measuring the forces on the trailing sphere. We find that the impact acceleration reduction on the trailing sphere depends on the dynamics of the cavity created by the first sphere and the relative timing of the second sphere impact. These combined effects are captured by the non-dimensional 'Matryoshka' number, which classifies the observed phenomena into four major regimes. In three of these regimes, we find that the impact acceleration on the second sphere is reduced by up to 78 % relative to impact on a quiescent water surface. Surprisingly, in one of the regimes the force on the trailing sphere is dramatically increased by more than 400 % in the worst case observed. We explain how the various stages of cavity evolution result in the observed alterations in impact force in this multi-body water entry problem.


Abstract Objective For many years, esophageal atresia (EA) has been curable by surgery. However, severe respiratory morbidity and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms remain a problem in many patients. The purpose of this study was to describe respiratory and esophageal morbidity, esophageal function, and lung function, including the small airways, in patients with the most common type of the malformation (EA with a distal fistula). Methods The study comprised 26 children undergoing surgery for EA, who had performed respiratory and esophageal function studies at the age of 7 years in a follow-up program. The study design was retrospective analysis of both these 7-year functional investigations and esophageal and respiratory morbidity from birth to the age of 7 years, as documented in medical records. Pulmonary function was evaluated mainly by spirometry and multiple breath washout (MBW), whereas esophageal function was evaluated by 24-hour pH studies. Results We found a high prevalence of both respiratory (69%) and esophageal (62%) morbidity between birth and 7 years among the EA children. Examination with MBW (peripheral airway function) revealed few abnormal results, whereas spirometry revealed high airway obstruction in half the children, which also correlated well with overall respiratory symptoms (p = 0.047), as well as recurrent pneumonias (p = 0.035). However, no association with GER symptoms was found. In addition, 46% of the children had GER according to pH measurements, which were correlated to clinical GER symptoms but not to respiratory symptoms. Conclusion This study confirms a high prevalence of respiratory and esophageal morbidity. In terms of respiratory function, the high proportion with a spirometric abnormality indicated an associated developmental delay/dysfunction in the central airways, whereas the peripheral airways appeared to have normal function at this age. Tracheomalacia may explain the spirometric abnormalities, but this need to be studied in more detail.


The lowest possible mAs settings for high-resolution CT (HRCT) were studied on 45 individuals with suspected asbestos-related lung disease. All patients were investigated with 5 to 6 high-dose HRCT images (120 kVp/160 mA/2 s) at 3-cm intervals. At a selected level 4 additional low-dose images were obtained on each patient with lower mAs settings (100 mA/2 s, 80 mA/2 s, 60 mA/2 s, 30 mA/2 s). Thirty-seven subjects out of 45 had HRCT lesions compatible with asbestosis. HRCT images obtained with as low as 60 mA/2 s settings clearly showed pleural tractions and thickenings, parenchymal bands, honeycombing and subpleural curvilinear shadows, whereas in the evaluation of subpleural short lines and ground glass findings 80 mA/2 s were required. The lowest setting, 30 mA/2 s, was sufficient only in detecting and evaluating pleural tractions and thickenings. We conclude that 160 mAs yield good quality HRCT images, with substantial decrease of radiation dose, for the evaluation of asbestos-related lesions.


Late in the last decade of the previous century, an orthodontic-surgical treatment was elected for a 31-years-old woman, who had severe malocclusion and temporomandibular complaints. The skeletal pattern (high angled mandibula) and degenerating joints were considered risk factors for relapse and condylar lysis. Nevertheless, the severity of the malocclusion justified the treatment. The goal was a stable occlusion and the creation ofa smooth articulation to eliminate dysfunction and facilitate later temporomandibular joint treatment with splints if necessary. In the 1990s this was considered state of the art treatment. Eliminating the scissors bite of 27 seemed instrumental in the elimination of the symptoms. Surgery brought the face and the occlusion further in harmony. The final occlusion features only one lower incisor.


Abstract An integrated study of compact stellarator power plants, ARIES-CS, has been conducted to explore attractive compact stellarator configurations and to define key research and development (R&D) areas. The large size and mass predicted by earlier stellarator power plant studies had led to cost projections much higher than those of the advanced tokamak power plant. As such, the first major goal of the ARIES-CS research was to investigate if stellarator power plants can be made to be comparable in size to advanced tokamak variants while maintaining desirable stellarator properties. As stellarator fusion core components would have complex shapes and geometry, the second major goal of the ARIES-CS study was to understand and quantify, as much as possible, the impact of the complex shape and geometry of fusion core components. This paper focuses on the directions we pursued to optimize the compact stellarator as a fusion power plant, summarizes the major findings from the study, highlights the key design aspects and constraints associated with a compact stellarator, and identifies the major issues to help guide future R&D.


Providing accessible learning opportunities and inclusive programs are critical to Extension's mission. Creating inclusive environments is more than consideration for individuals' personal identity. Using principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) is an approach to intentionally build community and create new opportunities for education and growth. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law requiring businesses and events to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states, "no qualified individual with a disability may be discriminated against in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." The legislation applies to Extension buildings, programs, and gardens that are available to the public. This article highlights Extension's relevance for creating accessible spaces and programs with examples from four U.S. states. Extension professionals within AgrAbility, occupational health, and therapeutic horticulture describe their experiences integrating IDEA to enhance urban agricultural programs. They share best management practices and additional resources applicable for community gardens, greenhouses, agritourism, and urban agricultural spaces. When Extension professionals and their collaborators strive to make urban programming accessible, they enhance the quality of life for participants. Applying disability service concepts to urban communities maximizes the Land Grant's mission to create inclusive environments, ultimately impacting agricultural sustainability.


In this paper, we propose a new way of doing formation obstacle avoidance using a combination of Constraint Based Programming (CBP) and Rapidly Exploring Random Trees (RRTs). RRT is used to select waypoint nodes, and CBP is used to move the formation between those nodes, reactively rotating and translating the formation to pass the obstacles on the way. Thus, the CBP includes constraints for both formation keeping and obstacle avoidance, while striving to move the formation towards the next waypoint. The proposed approach is compared to a pure RRT approach where the motion between the RRT waypoints is done following linear interpolation trajectories, which are less computationally expensive than the CBP ones. The results of a number of challenging simulations show that the proposed approach is more efficient for scenarios with high obstacle densities.


In this report I propose a method of navigation for differentially wheeled robots inspired by path integration in certain social insects like bees and ants. It is a very simple method, intended for use in low-tech robots with very limited hardware, such as swarm robots. Path integration is essentially dead reckoning as used by animals, calculating the relative position based on the movements made since the last known position. It is a tried and true method of navigation that also has significant flaws, especially in that inaccuracies accumulate and magnify over time. In this report I want to examine whether communication and information sharing between robots in a swarm can alleviate some of the drawbacks, and make it a viable method for navigation for swarm robots over relatively short distances.


In AD, an imbalance between Aβ production and removal drives elevated brain Aβ levels and eventual amyloid plaque deposition. APP undergoes nonamyloidogenic processing via α-cleavage at the plasma membrane, amyloidogenic β- and γ-cleavage within endosomes to generate Aβ, or lysosomal degradation in neurons. Considering multiple reports implicating impaired lysosome function as a driver of increased amyloidogenic processing of APP, we explored the efficacy of targeting transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of lysosomal pathways, to reduce Aβ levels. CMV promoter-driven TFEB, transduced via stereotactic hippocampal injections of adeno-associated virus particles in APP/PS1 mice, localized primarily to neuronal nuclei and upregulated lysosome biogenesis. This resulted in reduction of APP protein, the α and β C-terminal APP fragments (CTFs), and in the steady-state Aβ levels in the brain interstitial fluid. In aged mice, total Aβ levels and amyloid plaque load were selectively reduced in the TFEB-transduced hippocampi. TFEB transfection in N2a cells stably expressing APP695, stimulated lysosome biogenesis, reduced steady-state levels of APP and α- and β-CTFs, and attenuated Aβ generation by accelerating flux through the endosome-lysosome pathway. Cycloheximide chase assays revealed a shortening of APP half-life with exogenous TFEB expression, which was prevented by concomitant inhibition of lysosomal acidification. These data indicate that TFEB enhances flux through lysosomal degradative pathways to induce APP degradation and reduce Aβ generation. Activation of TFEB in neurons is an effective strategy to attenuate Aβ generation and attenuate amyloid plaque deposition in AD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A key driver for AD pathogenesis is the net balance between production and clearance of Aβ, the major component of amyloid plaques. Here we demonstrate that lysosomal degradation of holo-APP influences Aβ production by limiting the availability of APP for amyloidogenic processing. Using viral gene transfer of transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of lysosome biogenesis in neurons of APP/PS1 mice, steady-state levels of APP were reduced, resulting in decreased interstitial fluid Aβ levels and attenuated amyloid deposits. These effects were caused by accelerated lysosomal degradation of endocytosed APP, reflected by reduced APP half-life and steady-state levels in TFEB-expressing cells, with resultant decrease in Aβ production and release. Additional studies are needed to explore the therapeutic potential of this approach.


Emotional congruence with children (ECWC) is a psychologically meaningful risk factor for sexual offending against children (SOC). Based on previous research and theory, three models have been proposed to explain ECWC: Blockage, Sexual Domain, and Psychological Immaturity. Using structural equation modelling in a routine correctional sample of men adjudicated for sexual offences (n = 983), we found little support for all three of these models. Instead, we found that atypical sexual interests, alone, best explained ECWC, with a moderate relationship to ECWC. Using the predictors associated with each of the three models of ECWC, we identified three classes of men with a history of SOC who are high in ECWC using latent class analyses (n = 377). These three classes generally did not replicate the three models of ECWC. We instead propose three subgroups of men with histories of SOC who are high in ECWC, characterized respectively by: relationship deficits; youth and loneliness; and high sexual and general criminality. High levels of ECWC are predictive of a higher risk of sexual recidivism, regardless of class association; however, these subgroups are differentially at risk for some types of recidivism. Our findings suggest that ECWC is a multi-faceted construct, which is still not well understood.


Background—Low plasma levels of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) are associated with elevated levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), but it remains unclear whether this translates into a concomitant reduction in the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Evidence exists that the effect of CETP depends on metabolic context, in particular on triglyceride levels. Methods and Results—A nested case-control study was performed in the prospective EPIC-Norfolk cohort study. Cases were apparently healthy men and women aged 45 to 79 years who developed fatal or nonfatal CAD during follow-up. Control subjects were matched by age, sex, and enrollment time. CETP levels were not significantly different between cases and controls (4.0±2.2 versus 3.8±2.1 mg/L, P=0.07). CETP levels were significantly related to plasma levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL-C. The risk of CAD increased with increasing CETP quintiles (P for linearity=0.02), such that subjects in the highest quintile had an adjusted OR of 1.43 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.99, P=0.03) versus those in the lowest. Among individuals with triglyceride levels below the median (1.7 mmol/L), no relationship between CETP levels and CAD risk was observed (P for linearity=0.5), but this relationship was strong among those with high triglyceride levels (P for linearity=0.02), such that those in the highest CETP quintile had an OR of 1.87 (95% CI 1.06 to 3.30, P=0.02). Conclusions—Elevated CETP levels are associated with an increasing risk of future CAD in apparently healthy individuals, but only in those with high triglyceride levels.