Whatever the reason for any discrepancies between the calculated APRs in Edinburgh and Belfast, there is clearly a real difference in the number of deaths due to gastric carcinoma, which accounts for 71% of all deaths in the Belfast study, compared with only 2-2% in the Edinburgh study. As all patients had vagotomy and drainage in the Belfast study compared with less than 13% in the Edinburgh study, the type of operation may explain the difference, though longer follow up may be required before increases are seen after gastrectomy. None the less, of greater importance is the confirmation by Watt et al of the much larger contribution to excess mortality from disease having close associations with smoking (ischaemic heart disease, lung and oesophageal carcinoma, and chronic bronchitis).2 One hundred and forty one of their patients died of these conditions while only 16 died of gastric carcinoma, emphasising the need to influence smoking habits if late mortality is to fall appreciably. Finally, they confirm our finding of a statistically significant excess mortality from colorectal carcinoma following gastric surgery (APR 1-8, p=001). Although not a major contributor to excess mortality, the increased incidence of colorectal carcinoma is academically stimulating in the search for factors of aetiological importance in the development of such tumours. A H McLEAN Ross J R ANDERSON M A SMITH W P SMALL


During the last few decades, laser technology has gone through a series of revolutionary improvements. With light pulses in the sub-femtosecond regime now experimentally available, an explicit time-dependent Hamilton operator is indispensable for a proper theoretical description of the interactions of atoms with such pulses. However, these theoretical studies are computationally very demanding, which motivates the search for new numerical methods and algorithms to approach time-dependent problems. This thesis contributes to this research field, with the main focus on the use of complex-scaled Hamilton operators. Thus, the formalism of complex scaling is studied in the context of its application to explicitly time-dependent atomic systems. Both non-relativistic and relativistic dynamics are investigated. The numerical advantages and the possibilities to extract physical quantities from complex-scaled wave functions are discussed. Of special interest is the ability to treat resonance states. These are multiply excited electronic states with sufficient energy to decay through Auger transitions to the surrounding continuum. With complex scaling, the Hamilton operator is non-Hermitian and such resonance states can be obtained as eigenstates. To analyze the non-bound part of the wave function requires essentially the construction of a second wave function; the left state vector. This additional wave function is, however, not easily constructed numerically in the complex scaling-method. To circumvent some of the numerical problems, we have proposed three different methods. These methods are based on Floquet theory, a propagation on a complex time-grid and time-dependent perturbation theory. By carefully investigating the numerical properties of the left state vector, we have thus studied the non-bound part of the system.


Forty-five green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) street trees in Toledo, Ohio were photographed, measured, and visually rated for conditions related to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) (EAB) attacks. These trees were later removed, and sections were examined from each tree to determine the length of time that growth rates had been impacted. A classification system was developed to discern the health of the trees along with a proposed method for early detection of a declining state of vigor. The classification is not an indicator of the degree of infestation, but rather tree health, which may be linked to the degree of EAB infestation. An evaluation of the tree sections places the EAB establishment no later than the 2004 growing season. A three-class system formulated from the evaluation of epicormic shoots, canopy light transmission, and EAB exit holes can be used to monitor the health of ash trees during EAB outbreaks. The classification system could potentially give homeowners, property managers, and agencies a way to detect and treat this problem earlier, especially in urban and park settings, and before trees are fully infested and exhibiting later-stage signs of decline. It is probably not practical for forest applications. Early detection and treatment not only can save selected trees, but it also might slow the spread of the insect, thereby giving additional trees a chance to survive the initial invasion.


Starting from the Helmholtz Equation, we obtain the integral equations of the light field at the medium interfaces by use of Green's theorem. Then the integral equations are discretized into a linear equation set, from which the values of the light field and its derivatives at the interface can be numerically solved. We also obtain the expression for the transmissive light waves from the Green's-function integral in the case of Kirchhoff's approximation. By an analogy to the derivation process of the autocorrelation functions of speckles in Frauhofer plane, we propose the method for the generation of random self-affine fractal surfaces and Fourier transformation method for the numerical derivative of random surfaces. Then we study the accuracy of Kirchhoff's approximation in the scattering of light field from the random self-affine fractal surface. We find that the accuracy of Kirchhoff's approximation is relatively high when the root-mean-square roughness w is small. for random surfaces with the same value of w but smaller values of roughness exponent alpha, the Kirchhoff's approximation gives higher accuracy in the calculation of scattered light fields. We believe that the results of this paper would be of significance in understanding the validity range of the Kirchhoff's approximation when it is applied to light scattering from self-affine random surfaces.


Harvest of immature soybean ( Glycine max (I.) Mem] seed is used in breeding nurseries to reduce generation length. Individual pods are harvested and usually dried intact at ambient conditions. Number of days after flowering (DAF) has been shown to be a good criterion to determine the appropriate time to harvest, but the method is time consuming on a large number of genotypes. The objective of this study was to identify a visual indicator of the appropriate stage for harvest of immature viable seeds. Two indeterminate cultivars, Lakota from Maturity Group (MG) I and BSR 301 from MG III, were planted in three environments at Isabela, PR. Harvest of pods began 28 DAF and continued every 3 days until 46 DAF. Field emergence, fresh and dry seed weights, seed width, seed length, seed thickness, pod angle, pod color and reproductive stage of individual plants were recorded. Results pointed out that the best visual indicator for the harvest of immature seed obtained from green pods was a combination of pod angle, seed dimensions, and reproductive stage of the plant. In general, field emergences of 70% or better were obtained with immature seed of green pods that could be bent no more than 30° before rupturing and that contained seeds at or near their maximum width, length, and thickness. These pods were harvested from plants that had reached reproductive stage R6.


This paper considers the problem of designing a sliding mode controller via static output feedback for a class of uncertain systems with mismatched uncertainty in the state matrix. First, we derive a new existence condition of linear sliding surface in terms of strict linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and propose an adaptive reaching control law such that the motion of the closed-loop system satisfies the reaching condition. Second, we further consider the delay-type switching function, and a new robust stability condition is given in terms of LMIs for the reduced-order sliding mode dynamics. Then, a synthesis procedure is established to design the sliding surface parameters. Finally, three examples, including an aircraft model, are utilized to illustrate the design procedures proposed in this paper.


The ethics of everyday consumption has become a key concern for social and environmental justice campaigning by NGOs in the United Kingdom. Schools are a prominent site for such campaigns, where, alongside other 'controversial issues' and initiatives such as citizenship education, the problematisation of consumption practices has developed its own distinctive set of pedagogical devices. This paper questions the analytical framing of education as a space of neoliberal subjectification, in which 'critical pedagogy' is seen as the only legitimate form of resistance within theoretical models of domination – subordination and governmentality. The institutionalisation of fair-trade education in schools in Bristol, a city in the southwest of England, is presented as an empirical case through which to consider how best to theorise the rationalities of consumption-oriented campaigning by NGOs. We discuss the consequences of problematising global responsibility where learning is seen as a performative encounter between reflexive actors situated in particular sociocultural environments.


This study is one of the first to examine self-goals and their relationship to affect among individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using the construct of possible selves, the authors collected data from 50 participants with mild to moderate AD and 50 demographically similar cognitively intact older adults. Findings suggest a resourcefulness and flexibility of the self-system in response to the presence of dementia-related concerns. Positive affect was associated with family-related self-goals of AD participants, indicating particular importance of this domain. Some of these responses may represent goal modifications that result in a more satisfactory adjustment to the illness; further inquiry may lead to a better understanding of resiliency and quality of life in persons with AD.


We introduce an approach for analyzing the variation of features generated by convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained on large image datasets with respect to scene factors that occur in natural images. Such factors may include object style, 3D viewpoint, color, and scene lighting configuration. Our approach analyzes CNN feature responses with respect to different scene factors by controlling for them via rendering using a large database of 3D CAD models. The rendered images are presented to a trained CNN and responses for different layers are studied with respect to the input scene factors. We perform a linear decomposition of the responses based on knowledge of the input scene factors and analyze the resulting components. In particular, we quantify their relative importance in the CNN responses and visualize them using principal component analysis. We show qualitative and quantitative results of our study on three trained CNNs: AlexNet [18], Places [43], and Oxford VGG [8]. We observe important differences across the different networks and CNN layers with respect to different scene factors and object categories. Finally, we demonstrate that our analysis based on computer-generated imagery translates to the network representation of natural images.


This is the fifth volume in the series of books on the Southeast Asian water environment.

The most important articles presented at the Eighth and Ninth International Symposiums on Southeast Asian Water Environment have been selected for this book. It covers monitoring, treatment, and management issues related with environmental water, water supply, and wastewater. As the emerging issues, pollution with micropollutants and effects of climate change on water environment are also included. This publication is the result of building an academic network among researchers of related fields from different regions to exchange information

This book is an invaluable source of information for researchers, policy makers, NGOs, NPOs, and those who are concerned with achieving global sustainability within the water environment in developing regions.

This title belongs to Southeast Asian Water Environment Series .

ISBN: 9781780404967 (eBook)

ISBN: 9781780404950 (Print)


Angioneurotic edema results from acquired or genetic deficiency of C1 inhibitor (C1 INH), a member of the serpin family of protease inhibitors. C1 INH is the only plasma protease inhibitor of activated C1r and C1s, the serine protease subcomponents of the first complement component. It is also the major inhibitor of plasma kallikrein and of coagulation factor XIIa. C1 INH consists of a single polypeptide chain of 478 amino acid residues. It is the most heavily glycosylated plasma protein; a large portion of the carbohydrate is O-linked to serine and threonine residues. Hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE) occurs in individuals heterozygous for deficiency of C1 INH. Most patients have absolute deficiency of C1 INH (type 1 HANE), while others (15% of kindred) synthesize a dysfunctional C1 INH protein. The molecular genetic defects in the C1 INH gene in both type 1 and type 2 HANE currently are being defined. Acquired angioneurotic edema (AANE) also is of two types. One of these occurs in individuals with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (type 1) and the other is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies directed toward the C1 INH molecule.


Introduction: Understanding how to influence householder's energy consuming behaviour, could inform far reaching strategies to combat climate change. A Mental Model (MM) approach to design, to encourage optimal behaviour was explored. Challenges exist in accessing, describing and analysing user MMs and associated behaviour. Method: A method that considered bias in interpretation was developed, involving a structured interview, concept maps and graphical selfreported behaviour. Using this method, 6 householders in matched accommodation, over winter 2011/2012, participated in a home heating case study. Thermostat set point data was also collected from participant's households. A home heating expert was interviewed using the same method, for comparison. Results and discussion: Key variations in MMs of home heating were found. The differences in user MMs from each other, and an expert, were insightful in explaining non-optimal home heating operation. These suggest design solutions that could promote or compensate for user mental models to influence energy consumption.


The Government intends to replace the Mental Health Act 1983, and the most recent of its proposals were contained in the Draft Mental Health Bill published in June 2004. The 1983 Act is now very different to the statute introduced at the end of 1982. Parliament and the courts have made a number of significant changes over the last 20-odd years, and they have brought us a lot closer to the next Mental Health Act than many people – and possibly even the Government – suppose. In fact, those changes may have brought us rather close to the Draft Mental Health Bill. That will be an uncomfortable thought for many people. This paper will consider five key aspects of the Draft Mental Health Bill: • the provisions dealing with risk and treatability; • the notion of compulsion in the community; • the status of the Code of Practice; and • the abolition of the Approved Social Worker. The paper will ask whether, because of the changes of the last two decades, the current Mental Health Act has already arrived at much the same point. In addition, the paper will consider the position of incapable patients. Although the Draft Bill contains precious few proposals about them, the paper will ask whether recent developments have made a broad definition of mental disorder all but essential.


We cannot really understand how to create computer support for collaborative learning without first becoming clearer about what we mean by communication, collaboration, and learning. After distinguishing several conceptions of communication, and highlighting transformative communications for learning, I consider how, via broadband telepresence, distributed multimedia learning environments may establish such communications by adequately acknowledging the social and material embeddedness of everyday communication. I then describe high-priority areas for advancing this agenda: in sociocultural theory, in examining conceptual change by means of conversational analysis, and in technically establishing affordances of tools to sustain and potentially enhance joint activity beyond the here-and-now and the face-to-face.


The paper compares the traditional model predictive control (MPC) with the proposed predictive inverse neurocontrol (PIN) technique. The PIN approach allows to avoid the online optimization procedure and thus sufficiently reduces the need for computing power and becomes especially important for the control of the plants with fast dynamics. Results of model and physical experiments are shown.


In this paper, we designed and fabricated two-dimensional photonic crystal (2-D PhC) consisting of the silicon ion (Si-ion) implanted silicon dioxide (SiO2) layers. The PhC design parameters based on the telecommunication wavelength (λ=1.55 µm) were obtained using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. By analyzing the samples fabricated using different fabrication approach; we found a suitable fabrication method for 2-D PhCs based on the Si-ion implanted SiO2 layers. We have analyzed the fabricated sample using atomic force microscope (AFM) and annealing temperature and time were optimized in order to recover the damage done by Si-ion implantation. The implantation of Si-ion into SiO2 with the process of 2-D PhCs structure can effectively guide light inside such structure, which can easily be integrated into the existing silicon technology for directing light from one part of the chip to the other.


The call for lightweight foamcrete technology is impelled by the amplified rules and guidelines with the aim of minimizing greenhouse gas emission and reducing carbon footprint. The use of natural fibers in foamcrete is considered as a useful option in making concrete a sustainable material. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the compressive and flexural strengths of foamcrete reinforced with Cocos nucifera Linn. fiber (CNF) exposed to elevated temperatures. CNF refers to agricultural waste or by-products obtained from the distribution of coconut oil and accumulated in a large amount in Malaysia. This study aimed to identify the response of CNF towards six different contents (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.6%) by mix volume. Three different densities of 650, 1050 and 1450 kg/m3 were tested in this study. The proportion of foamcrete constituted cement, sand, and water which were represented by the ratio of 1:1.5:0.45. Results showed that, CNF-strengthened foamcrete offered progressively ductile structure contrasted with plain foamcrete at elevated temperatures. The incorporation of CNF enhanced the mechanical properties at each predetermined temperature for all densities investigated. This demonstrates that CNF has strong bonding and good quality of chemical properties that are unique to it. The optimum volume fractions of CNF that gave the best improvement in mechanical and high temperature properties were 0.3% for 650 kg/m3, 0.4% for 1050 kg/m3 and 0.5% for 1450 kg/m3.


Numerous biological and cultural factors influence the microbial communities (microbiota) that inhabit the human mouth, including diet, environment, hygiene, physiology, health status, genetics, and lifestyle. As oral microbiota can underpin oral and systemic diseases, tracing the evolutionary history of oral microbiota and the factors that shape its origins will unlock information to mitigate disease today. Despite this, the origins of many oral microbes remain unknown, and the key factors in the past that shaped our oral microbiota are only now emerging. High throughput DNA sequencing of oral microbiota using ancient DNA and comparative anthropological methodologies has been employed to investigate oral microbiota origins, revealing a complex, rich history. Here, I review the current literature on the factors that shaped and guided oral microbiota evolution, both in Europe and globally. In Europe, oral microbiota evolution was shaped by interactions with Neandertals, the adaptation of farming, widespread integration of industrialization, and postindustrial lifestyles that emerged after World War II. Globally, evidence for a multitude of different oral microbiota histories is emerging, likely supporting dissimilarities in modern oral health across discrete human populations. I highlight how these evolutionary changes are linked to the development of modern oral diseases and discuss the remaining factors that need to be addressed to improve this embryonic field of research. I argue that understanding the evolutionary history of our oral microbiota is necessary to identify new treatment and prevention options to improve oral and systemic health in the future.


The SELSPOT 3D Motion Measurement System provides accurate measurement data f many kinds of movement. The SELSPOT II camera and MULTILab software package can be used to perform a complete analysis of the data. The camera has a patented photodetector which registers light pulses emitted by LEDS attached to the object being analyzed. Because the LEDs (markers) are sequenced by the system, there is no "guessing" as to which marker went where or which markers were obscured. The electronic system automatically adjusts the light intensity of the LEDs and suppresses ambient light. The camera registers the X and Y coordinates of the signal, digitizes the data, and then sends the data to the computer for analysis and reporting. 3D analysis is possible with two or more cameras. Up to 16 cameras and 120 LEDs can be used. The base sampling rate is 10 kHz -- for example, with two cameras and five LEDs the sampling rate would be 1000 Hz. Resolution is 0.025% of the measuring range; non-linearity of the detector is less than 0.1% of the measurable range. The software also allows input from up to 48 analog channels supporting analog sensors, such as, force plates, EMG electrodes, etc. The data from the camera(s) and other sensors are synchronized by the system. MULTILab is a high-level programming language that performs all of the calculations for angles, velocities, acceleration, moments, etc., and provides customized reports containing all of the information necessary for sophisticated motion analysis. The system is rapid, accurate, reliable, and easy to use.


Thinly-bedded Upper Bathonian grainstones with shales, in Wiltshire, UK, have intergranular spar of 2 kinds, a primary calcite cement and a neomorphic spar that has replaced an earlier fibrous cement. The earlier cemented grainstones have been less compacted than those cemented by a late calcite spar (fewer broken grains, fewer grain contacts, more intergranular spar). The crystals in the neomorphic intergranular spar are mostly subequant, have irregular intercrystalline boundaries, patchy extinction, some dusty relics of earlier cement fringes and, with cathodoluminescence, show bright orange, needle-like relics of earlier cement fabric. Most of this subequant neomorphic spar is indistinguishable from the neomorphic spar that has replaced the aragonite of molluscan shells. It is concluded that calcitization of an early cement and of the aragonite shells, along with the precipitation of the true cement spar, were delayed until after the carbonate sands had undergone some compactive fracture and grain-grain pressure-solution.


I revised former criteria of Nakisuna in this study. Study method is that five members tapped sand, which we collected from Kotohikihama, Aoya Shore, Yostukura Shore and Iwamasanuka Shore. Kotohikihama, Aoya Shore and Yotsukura Shore are Nakisuna, and Iwamasanuka Shore is Non-Nakisuna. I recorded the sounds of the sand and analyzed them. Frequency spectra were shown in this way. A frequency spectrum is represented by 'frequency in horizontal axis' and 'sound pressure level in vertical axis'. As a result, some result didn't match between "numerical judgment" and "hearing judgment". So, I paid attention to difference of people and areas, and revised preceding study's criteria of Nakisuna. In conclusion, by revising our former criteria, we succeed in making more reliable criteria of Nakisuna, by which we could judge the results of any analysis. As a future prospect, I would like to examine seasonal changes of Nakisuma. I also would like to study how Nakisuna was piled up.


Fused deposition modeling polymer 3D printing has become a popular versatile additive manufacturing technology. However, there are limitations to the mechanical properties due to the layer-by-layer deposition approach. The relatively low strength of the interface between layers is the cause for potential microstructural weak points in such printed components. The interface strength of 3D-printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) polymer was determined through physical tensile testing in combination with microstructural finite element method (FEM) simulations. A custom tensile specimen was created to isolate the interlayer interfaces for direct testing of interface strength. Tensile tests resulted in an average 2.4 GPa stiffness and an average 22.8 MPa tensile strength for printed specimens, corresponding to a 32.4% and 47.8% reduction from the bulk filament stiffness and strength, respectively. Sectioned tensile specimens were observed under a digital microscope to examine microstructural features such as inter-layer gaps, extrusion cross-section, and voids. These were measured to create accurate FEM microstructural model geometries. The brittle fracture that occurred during the tensile testing was due to debonding of the interfaces. This was represented in Abaqus by using cohesive surfaces. Interface strength was inferred by varying the strength of the cohesive surfaces until the simulation mechanical response matched the physical tests. The resulting interface strength of the PLA polymer was 33.75 MPa on average, corresponding to a 22.5% reduction from bulk properties. Potential improvements to the overall strength of the 3D printed PLA were investigated in simulation by parameterizing improved gap morphologies. As the size of the interlayer gaps decreased, the stiffness and strength of the printed parts improved, whereas completely eliminating gaps resulted in a potential 16.1% improvement in material stiffness and 19.8% improvement in strength. These models show that significant improvements can be made to the overall printed part performance by optimizing the printing process and eliminating inner voids.


Regulatory T cells (Tregs) express the canonical marker Foxp3 and are critical for suppressing the immune response in homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. Despite how widely studied CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs are in mice, their physiologic trafficking and scanning behavior of antigen-presenting cells in secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) have yet to be quantitatively analyzed in the intravital setting. Our laboratory has previously described the dynamics of T cell trafficking through SLOs and scanning of dendritic cells (DCs), revealing that CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells exhibit different transit kinetics through lymph nodes (LNs). On average, CD4+ T cells spend less time scanning for self-peptide/MHC (self-pMHC), dwell shorter in LNs, and egress faster compared to CD8+ T cells. Here we use flow cytometry and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy (2-PLSM) to quantitate the homeostatic trafficking behavior and surveillance strategy of Tregs in LNs and to compare their behavior to conventional T cells (Tconvs). Our data reveal surprising differences in Treg versus Tconv trafficking in mesenteric versus other peripheral LNs. We find that Treg LN transit time is heavily dependent on recognition of self-pMHC in peripheral but not mesenteric LN. Furthermore, we describe a novel imaging platform which enables high resolution intravital imaging of gut SLOs, especially mesenteric LN, for up to 10 hours. Finally, we use intravital 2-PLSM to quantify the contribution of self-pMHC recognition to Treg kinetics and scanning of DCs in peripheral and mesenteric LNs. These results add quantitative data to the emerging paradigm that self-pMHC interactions dynamically control homeostatic Treg retainment and localized suppressive function in peripheral LNs. Citation Format: Alexander Tong. Quantification of lymph node transit times reveals differences in the trafficking behavior of regulatory versus conventional CD4+ T cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A069.


The effects of hydrogen plasma treatment of β-Ga2O3 grown by halide vapor phase epitaxy and doped with Si are reported. Samples subjected to H plasma exposure at 330 °C developed a wide (∼2.5 μm-thick) region near the surface, depleted of electrons at room temperature. The thickness of the layer is in reasonable agreement with the estimated hydrogen penetration depth in β-Ga2O3 based on previous deuterium profiling experiments. Admittance spectroscopy and photoinduced current transient spectroscopy measurements place the Fermi level pinning position in the H treated film near Ec-1.05 eV. Annealing at 450 °C decreased the thickness of the depletion layer to 1.3 μm at room temperature and moved the Fermi level pinning position to Ec-0.8 eV. Further annealing at 550 °C almost restored the starting shallow donor concentration and the spectra of deep traps dominated by Ec-0.8 eV and Ec-1.05 eV observed before hydrogen treatment. It is suggested that hydrogen plasma exposure produces surface damage in the near-surface region and passivates or compensates shallow donors.The effects of hydrogen plasma treatment of β-Ga2O3 grown by halide vapor phase epitaxy and doped with Si are reported. Samples subjected to H plasma exposure at 330 °C developed a wide (∼2.5 μm-thick) region near the surface, depleted of electrons at room temperature. The thickness of the layer is in reasonable agreement with the estimated hydrogen penetration depth in β-Ga2O3 based on previous deuterium profiling experiments. Admittance spectroscopy and photoinduced current transient spectroscopy measurements place the Fermi level pinning position in the H treated film near Ec-1.05 eV. Annealing at 450 °C decreased the thickness of the depletion layer to 1.3 μm at room temperature and moved the Fermi level pinning position to Ec-0.8 eV. Further annealing at 550 °C almost restored the starting shallow donor concentration and the spectra of deep traps dominated by Ec-0.8 eV and Ec-1.05 eV observed before hydrogen treatment. It is suggested that hydrogen plasma exposure produces surface damage in the near-...


In the world of climate science there is an increasing demand for contributions from the social sciences, given that the current processes of climate change deeply affect societies. This article is a response to this call, with specific focus on past and potential contributions from anthropology, as we have known it from the 19th century onwards. It is shown how through the ages, different anthropological interests have shaped distinct perspectives on the entanglement of society and nature. It is argued that the present global concerns about climate change necessitate a refashioning of anthropology, and make it expedient to pay attention to the emergent global imaginaries. WIREs Clim Change 2013, 4:269–281. doi: 10.1002/wcc.219


The insertion sequence IS6110 has an important role in diagnostic PCR and typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We have evaluated a one-tube nested PCR which detects IS6110. Positive results were obtained with DNAs from four of four M. tuberculosis isolates, seven of eight M. fortuitum isolates, seven of seven M. avium-M. intracellulare complex isolates, four of five M. kansasii isolates, four of five M. xenopi isolates, two of four M. malmoense isolates, and one of two M. chelonei isolates. These results were confirmed by hybridization of genomic DNA from bp 505 to 685 of the IS6110 from M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Dot blot hybridization of genomic DNAs from these isolates with the same probe cinfirmed the presence of a homologous sequence in these mycobacterial species. These data suggest that false-positive results may be obtained for clinical samples when some methods based on IS6110 are used [corrected].


BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate haemodialysis (HD) dose practice patterns in different European countries in the light of the European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG) and to study the associations of patient characteristics and country with weekly dialysis duration.

METHODS
Renal registries in Europe were asked to contribute to the study with individual patient data on weekly HD duration, number of HD sessions a week and last measured Kt/V. Additional items were age, sex, date of first renal replacement therapy (RRT), dry weight, height, HD modality, HD technique, diabetes status and vascular access type. Multivariate logistic regression was used to study the probability of receiving HD for <12 h per week.

RESULTS
Seven registries contributed data on 26 136 patients on HD on 31 December 2005. Eighty-three percent of the patients received HD for at least 12 h per week as recommended by the EBPG (range 49.0-97.3% across countries). Multivariate analysis showed significant differences across countries concerning the risk of receiving <12 h. Other risk factors included age (older), sex (female), BMI (low) and duration of RRT (shorter). Diabetes was associated with longer total HD duration.

CONCLUSION
This study shows a great international variability in weekly HD duration and some discrepancies between current practices and the EBPG. It also points out the difficulty of obtaining and comparing Kt/V values under current registry practices.


The aim of this paper is to examine the literature addressing network performance and the factors influencing it. Design – 29 papers published in 18 different journals were systematically reviewed through a multidimensional classification framework based on the strategy-structure-performance paradigm of strategic management. Findings – Based on the outputs of the literature review, a conceptual framework describing network performance is proposed. Following this framework, it is suggested that network performance is the result of the combination of network strategy, network structure and external environmental factors, and not solely the result of network structure which is characterized by five structural elements i.e. network configuration, network membership, network tie, network management and network governance. Moreover, the framework suggests that, in equal context i.e. same network strategy and same external environment, different combinations of these five structural elements lead to different network performance. Implications – Based on these findings, adequate network performance measurement system should include determinants at the level of the network strategy and network structure but also at the level of the external environment. Scope for future research – This study should be extended in order to further investigate the relationships between network strategy and network structure on the one hand and environmental factors on the other hand, but also to further investigate the network strategy, network structure and environmental factors themselves.


Abstract This study compared two interventions in terms of impact on physical activity participation and mother–daughter relations. Previously sedentary mothers and daughters (N = 34) were randomly assigned to a 12-week university- or home-based physical activity group. Program activities were designed using focus group information, aspects of the social cognitive theory, and information from previously successful interventions. The university-based group met three times a week for fitness building and recreational activities. The home-based group received a packet of information and training to perform activities in or near the home. Changes in physical activity and family bonding were assessed for mothers and daughters separately using a 2 (group)(2 (time) repeated measures analysis of variance. On completing the program, mothers and daughters in each group reported increased participation in physical activity (p=.02 to .000). The majority of mothers (94%) and daughters (88%) agreed that "my relationship with my daughter/mother has improved as a result of participating in physical activity together." On the Parental Bonding Instrument daughters reported no statistically significant changes in their perceptions of "mom's level of caring" (p=.73); however, "mom's level of control" (p ≤ .05) increased. Group by Time interactions were not significant, indicating that there were no differences between results from either program. Both home- and university-based physical activity programs may be viable paradigms in which to improve family relations and increase physical activity.


Heavy metal ions are increasingly being released into environment, leading to serious pollution and significant health problems to human being. To address the adverse effects posed by them, in the present study, a remediation method by magnetic nanoparticles was proposed. The magnetic particles were synthesized by a solvothermal process first. Then they were derivatized with dual functional moieties of amino- and mercapto- by reacting with aminopropyl-triethoxysilane and mercaptopropyl-triethoxysilane simultaneously. The prepared material was characterized by infrared spectrometry and elemental analysis. Both functional groups of amino- and mercapto- were present within the material. Since amino- and mercapto- have high affinity for heavy metal ions, the material can be used to retrieve these ions from water samples. Pb2+ and Mn2+ were used as model analytes to evaluate the effectiveness of the material. It is found that, after 60 min adsorption, the ions were almost total removed from the sample solution.


Online social networking services, such as Twitter and Facebook have attracted considerable research interests. Event detection has been studied for quite some time, and there are studies that discuss event detection on Twitter; social network analysis has been studied for an even longer time, and there are studies that apply social network analysis to data collected from Facebook. However, not much research attention is on event detection on Facebook. In this paper, we address the problem of how to detect events in an ego network on Facebook. Our proposed approach first uses K-Means to cluster posts based on words, then builds an interaction graph based on comments and likes given to posts, then applies PageRank to the interaction graph in order to identify active posters, and finally finds the topics based on the frequent words used by the active posters. Based on the experiment result, our proposed approach can identify topics that are highly relevant to real-world events and simultaneously identify users who are of higher degrees of interaction.


The European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) is a large NGO that represents 46 national associations from 27 European countries and more than 50 000 healthcare workers and volunteers working within or interested in palliative care. Its area of influence includes 23 developing countries, primarily in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.1

One key issue facing all these people and countries—at the present time mostly in theory, but also in practice in places—is that of the relationship between palliative care and euthanasia.

In March 2003, an EAPC ethics taskforce, with me as Chair, published an article in which it, despite expressing understanding and tolerance of other views, univocally states that 'the provision of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide should not be part of the responsibility of palliative care'.2 The stances of the article were endorsed by the EAPC's Board of Directors 3 months later, in June 2003.3

So, why ask what the view of the EAPC is? I have the following reasons for doing so.

For a start, there appears to be a fundamental disagreement on this issue even within the EAPC itself. The view held by the Belgian Federatie Palliatieve Zorg Vlaanderen vzw (FPZV; see http://www.palliatief.be), a collective member of the EAPC, directly contradicts that …


The data from the vertical ionospheric sounding for 12 stations over the world were analyzed to find the relation between the values of foF2 for 02:00 LT and 14:00 LT of the same day. It is found that, in general, there exists a negative correlation between foF2(02) andfoF2(14). The value of the correlation coefficient R(foF2) can be in some cases high enough and reach minus 0.7–0.8. The value of R(foF2) demonstrates a well pronounced seasonal variations, the highest negative values being observed at the equinox periods of the year. It is also found that R(foF2) depends on geomagnetic activity: the magnitude of R(foF2) is the highest for the choice of only magnetically quiet days ( Ap<6), decreasing with the increase of the limiting value of Ap. For a fixed limitation onAp, the value ofR(foF2) depends also on solar activity. Apparently, the effects found are related to thermospheric winds. Analysis of long series of the vertical sounding data shows that there is a long-term trend inR(foF2) with a statistically significant increase in the R(foF2) magnitude after about 1980. Similar analysis is performed for thefoF2(02)/foF2(14) ratio itself. The ratio also demonstrates a systematic trend after 1980. Both trends are interpreted in terms of long-term changes in thermospheric circulation.


Polynomiography is the art and science of visualization in approximation of zeros of complex polynomials. It allows one to obtain many colorful images of polynomials. These images can subsequently be re-colored in many ways to create artwork. Polynomiography has tremendous applications in the visual arts, education, and science. Artistically, it can be used to create diverse set of beautiful images reminiscent of the intricate designs and modern art. Educationally,polynomiography can be used to teach mathematical concepts. Scientifically, it provides a tool, not only for viewing polynomials, present in virtually every branch of science, but also a tool to discover new theorems. The goal of this paper is to present some artwork produced via polynomiography of a few polynomials arising in science as well as a few considered to arrive at beautiful but. anticipated designs. These include a Chebyshev polynomial, a polynomial arising in physics, one in knot theory, and some based on roots of unity. The purpose of the paper is doing art on these special polynomials. But the reader will realize that these images also help engrave certain attributes of these polynomials. Moreover the beauty of these images suggests an infinite jewel box of polynomials yet to be discovered and visualized through polynomiography by future polynomiographers. The ultimate goal here is to suggest that polynomiography is indeed a new art form that can be thought of as ''painting by numbers" or ''painting by points." In a sense it is one of the most minimalistic art forms. 1 •. Polynomiograpby 1.


BACKGROUND
The Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) is based on an empirically-driven dignity model that has been developed and used for clinically assessing the various sources of dignity-related distress. In a recent review, it received the highest score as a useful instrument in both practice and research in palliative care. The PDI has been adapted to and validated for use in various countries, but not yet Sweden.

AIMS
To translate the PDI into Swedish, including cultural adaptation for clinical use.

METHODS
A multi-step process of translation, negotiated consensus, expert group discussion (n=7: four invited experts and three researchers) and cognitive interviewing (n=7: persons with palliative care needs).

FINDINGS
Discussion, by the expert reviewers, of both linguistic and cultural issues regarding the content and readability of the translated Swedish version resulted in revisions of items and response alternatives, focusing mainly on semantic, conceptual, and experiential equivalence. A pilot version for cognitive interviews was produced. The analysis of data showed that most of the items were judged to be relevant by the persons with palliative care needs.

CONCLUSION
The process of translation and adaptation added clarity and consistency. The Swedish version of the PDI can be used in assessing dignity-related distress. The next step will be to test this Swedish version for psychometric properties in a larger group of patients with palliative care needs before use in research.


Usually there are many symbols related to driving on the roads. In that few of them are important and few of them are negligible. By considering this factor we are going to propose a novel approach to detect traffic signs or signal in real-time basis. Generally to recognize a symbol beside road using a digital process we have to consider two major things which are vehicle speed and sign distance. The proposed novel approach is going to use the PIR sensor to detect the traffic signs which are present at long distance. The output is going to generate an intelligent voice command to enlarge or to give an alert to the person who is driving the vehicle. This novel approach focuses on gathering and analyzing the traffic signs to generate an appropriate alert message to the driver by processing the directions of the symbols and indications. To do this the image processing techniques like Canny edge detection and Gaussian filter will help with analysis of the signs which are gathered by photographic cameras.


Context: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women in developing countries. Lack of awareness and comprehensive cervical cancer screening programmes offered in most developing countries are partly responsible for the high burden of disease. In developed countries, routine use of Papanicoloau smear, in part, has led to a decline in cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Objective: To determine the level of awareness, utilisation and factors associated with awareness of Pap smear test as a tool for cervical cancer screening among health care workers (HCW) in Maiduguri north-eastern part of Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire based study conducted among 150 health care workers in Maiduguri, between January and March 2010. Simple descriptive statistics was employed in the analysis of data. Results: A total of 150 participants were recruited for the study. The majority (141) of respondents were aware of Papanicolaou smear and 23.3% of the female respondents had done the test previously. Majority (90.8%) of the men were willing to pay for their spouses to do the screening; some of them (20.0%) were indifferent if their spouses perform the cervical screening without their consent. The major reason given for carrying out the test was for prevention of the disease. The major source of information was the hospital (84.7%). Majority of the women were willing to do the test if offered the opportunity either free (70.6%) or with payment (29.4%). A number of socio-demographic variables played crucial roles in awareness and utilisation of Pap smear. These included higher level of educational status ( P = 0.000) of the respondents, increased maternal age ( P = 0.001) and high parity ( P = 0.003). Conclusion: There is poor utilisation of Pap smear among HCW despite high level of awareness and availability of screening services. A number of socio-demographic variables play crucial roles in awareness of Pap smear. The reasons for the low utilisation among health care workers, who are the custodians of health care need to be investigated to improve their utilisation of Pap smear.


We examined the responses of a beetle assemblage to habitat complexity differences within a single habitat type, Sydney sandstone ridgetop woodland, using pitfall and flight‐intercept trapping. Six habitat characters (tree canopy cover, shrub canopy cover, ground herb cover, soil moisture, amount of leaf litter, and amount of logs, rocks and debris) were scored between 0 and 3 using ordinal scales to reflect habitat complexity at survey sites. Pitfall trapped beetles were more species rich and of different composition in high complexity sites, compared with low complexity sites. Species from the Staphylinidae (Aleocharinae sp. 1 and sp. 2), Carabidae (Pamborus alternans Latreille), Corticariidae (Cartodere Thomson sp. 1) and Anobiidae (Mysticephala Ford sp. 1) were most clearly responsible for the compositional differences, preferring high complexity habitat. Affinities between general functional groupings of pitfall‐trapped beetles and habitat variables were not clear at a low taxonomic resolution (family level). The composition and species richness of flight‐intercept‐trapped beetles were similar in high and low complexity sites. Our study demonstrates that discrete responses of the various functional groups of beetles are strongly associated with their feeding habits, indicated by differing habitat components from within overall composite habitat complexity measures. Although habitat preferences by beetle species may often reflect their foraging habits, clarification of the causal mechanisms underpinning the relationships between habitat complexity and beetles are critical for the development of general principles linking habitat, functional roles and diversity.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: The prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol-associated liver disease is increasing in the United States. Efficacious AUD pharmacotherapies, while available, are, for protean reasons, underutilized. Hepatology providers may be in a position to bridge the pharmacotherapeutic gap between availability and utilization of AUD pharmacotherapies. Our aim was to ascertain the current practice, knowledge and attitudes of hepatology physicians in the United States, and identify opportunities on how to increase AUD medication prescribing. Methods: A web-based survey, developed by an expert panel, was administered to hepatology physicians working at all transplant centers in the United States. Results: The survey response rate was 131/658 (20%). There was significant support (two-thirds of respondents) for hepatology providers prescribing AUD medications; however, only 1 in 4 was comfortable prescribing these medications. The majority felt additional education is needed to prescribe AUD medications. The practice of hepatology providers prescribing AUD medications is common, with >50% of respondents having done so. Baclofen was the most popular medication prescribed. Hepatology providers perceived suboptimal ancillary addiction services. Although AUD prescribers had higher rates of AUD pharmacotherapy knowledge compared with nonprescribers, approximately 50% still had inadequate knowledge. Conclusions: AUD medication prescribing is a common practice among hepatology providers who appear eager to increase this practice through more education as they attempt to bridge the pharmacotherapeutic gap. This informative survey provides guidance for professional societies on how best to disseminate the requisite education required to optimize the care of patients with AUD.


Clinical evaluation of a serological assay using a monoclonal antibody (TB72) to the 38 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. G.H. Bothamley, R.M. Rudd. ERS Journals Ltd 1994. ABSTRACT: We examined an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) modification of a radioimmunoassay, using the TB72 monoclonal antibody, as a serological test for tuberculosis in a clinical setting. Sera were obtained from 238 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, 30 patients treated for tuberculosis, 28 contacts, and 480 random samples from in- patients. Antibody levels were measured as the dilution of serum causing 50% inhi- bition of binding of the TB72 monoclonal antibody, which binds to an epitope of the 38 kDa antigen specific to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, a positive titre being >3. Positive antibody titres were present in 21 out of 25 (84%) patients with smear- positive and 22 out of 27 (82%) patients with smear-negative, culture-positive tuber- culosis, and 37 out of 41 (90%) patients successfully treated for tuberculosis but without bacteriological confirmation of disease. Three out of 82 (4%) patients with a firm alternative diagnosis to tuberculosis gave a positive result. Serological tests were negative within 2.5 yrs of successful treatment. Patients without a definite diagnosis one year after tuberculosis had been suspected, and those who had received inadequate treatment for tuberculosis, were frequently positive (21 out of 31 and 21 out of 32, respectively). Positive tests concurred with tuberculin reactivity in 8 out of 11 contacts given chemoprophylaxis. Screening of 480 random serum sam- ples gave 22 positive titres, 16 of which were not associated with tuberculosis; none of these 16 had an antibody titre >10. We conclude that the TB72 test provides additional information in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. Antibody titres >10 suggest active tuberculosis; titres of 3-10 merit observation.


INTRODUCTION
Radiofrequency ablation is an effective management modality for irresectable primary and secondary liver tumors. Some serious complications have been reported including diaphragmatic hernia. Diaphragmatic hernia is the protrusion of abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity through a diaphragmatic defect and usually classified into congenital and acquired. After RFA, diaphragmatic hernia is a rarely-reported complication.

CASE REPORT
A 62-year-old male patient, known to have liver cirrhosis on top of hepatitis C virus, presented to the emergency department with generalized abdominal pain and vomiting four months after having a RFA procedure for a liver tumor in segment VIII. Computed tomography showed diaphragmatic hernia with strangulated terminal ileum in the chest. Emergency laparotomy was performed with resection of an ileal segment and creation of double barrel ileostomy. The patient was discharged in a good condition after tolerating oral intake.

CONCLUSION
Radiofrequency ablation is an effective modality for management of the primary and secondary liver tumors. Despite its safety, some complication may happen owing to its thermal effect and the associated patients general condition. Many techniques have been described to decrease its thermal injury. Diaphragmatic hernia is a rare complication after RFA. Its clinical presentation may be confusing and it may occur as early as one month after RFA. Its diagnosis depends mainly on computed tomography. Emergency surgical management is the standard approach.


Eighteen cultivars of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) were screened for oil quality for specific industrial purposes and from a human health point of view. The cultivars included local tails, released and promising hybrids, and geographically distinct cultivars. The per cent oil concentration varied from 64-70% among the cultivars. The neutral lipids formed the major fraction (about 94%), followed by the glycolipids (3.5%) and phospholipids (2.5%) and the concentration varied with cultivar. In general, hybrids had lower concentrations of neutral lipids (90-94%), while they were greater in tails. However, the glycolipid fraction in general was higher in the hybrids. The hybrids had lower concentrations of saturated fatty acids and correspondingly low ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acid concentrations. The talls had higher values for these parameters, but in cv. WCT, the ratio was lower. The saturated fatty acid concentration correlated negatively with the concentrations of glyco- and phospho-lipids, whereas it correlated positively with that of the neutral lipids. A predominant presence of unsaturated fatty acids among glyco- and phospho-lipids was evident from the study. The results indicated the presence of variability in coconut germplasm for fatty acid composition of oil indicating the possibility of further improvement by breeding for oil quality for specific uses.


Law and literature are both products of their particular social context. Law relating to literature, and to the written word generally, has traditionally been assigned two mainstream interpretations: the romantic dialectical "birth of the author" or the language-based post-structuralist "death of the author". This book examines the shortcomings of both schemes by arguing that they impose an arbitrary philosophical direction on the works discussed. Challenging the text-centred preoccupation of the Law and Literature Movement, this book explores how an anthropological model of "personality" can be deployed for the historical description of legal and cultural affairs. It addresses the issues relating to copyright and the legal status of authorship and combines information and polemic to confront such issues as the historical and theoretical relations of copyright and the "droit moral", the aestheticization of the law and the juridification of aesthetics to argue that authorship is a variable arrangement that cannot be separated from its cultural context.


Providing security and privacy for the Internet of Things (IoT) applications while ensuring a minimum level of performance requirements is an open research challenge. Recently, blockchain offers a promising solution to overcome the current peer-to-peer networks limitations. In the context of IoT, Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT)-based consensus protocols are used due to the energy efficiency advantage over other consensus protocols. The consensus process in BFT is done by electing a group of authenticated nodes. The elected nodes will be responsible for ensuring the data blocks' integrity through defining a total order on the blocks and preventing the concurrently appended blocks from containing conflicting data. However, the blockchain consensus layer contributes the most performance overhead. Therefore, a performance study needs to be conducted especially for the IoT applications that are subject to maximum delay constraints. In this paper, we obtain a mathematical expression to calculate the end-to-end delay with different network configurations, i.e., number of network hops and replica machines. We validate the proposed analytical model with simulation. Our results show that the unique characteristics of IoT traffic have an undeniable impact on the end-to-end delay requirement.


To quantify the effect of structural through-thickness reinforcement in foam core sandwich composite panels, an experimental study was carried out which included three-point bending tests, core shear tests, flatwise tensile and compression tests, as well as edgewise compression tests. Standard test procedures based on ASTM guidelines are followed to test the behavior of the stitched panels with reinforcement at 90 degree orientation with respect to the sandwich faces. The test specimens were manufactured by using polyurethane foam Rohacell 71 IG and carbon fiber reinforced composite facesheets. The dry perform facesheets and foam core were then assembled in a dry lay-up already stitched. Kevlar 29 yarn was used to stitch both sets of panels. The results showed a significant effect of the stitching on the in-plane Young's modulus which was attributed to local displacements of the in-plane fibers and changes in the fiber volume fraction. Stitching of sandwich panels significantly increases the maximum failure loads under flexure, core shear, flatwise tensile, flatwise compression, and edgewise compression loading. A finite element based unit-cell model was developed to estimate the elastic constants of structurally stitched foam core sandwich composite panels taking into consideration the yarn diameter, the stitching pattern and direction as well as the load direction. Depending on these parameters, local changes of the fiber volume fraction as well as regions with undisturbed and disturbed fiber orientations within the laminate plies are taken into account. A good match between the finite element modeling and the experimental data was obtained. The present work should be considered as a step towards developing a more sophisticated numerical model capable of describing mechanical behavior of sandwich structures.


A major complication that follows extraction of tooth/teeth in Oral Surgery is Dry socket. The various treatment modalities for alveolar ostetitis namely, antibacterial dressings, obtundent dressings such as zinc-oxide eugenol, topical anesthetic dressing and combinations are used. Since ancient times honey has been used in folk medicine and has more recently been rediscovered by medical researchers for its use in dressing acute and chronic wounds. It also halts advancing necrosis. Hence honey can be considered in the management of dry socket. A computerized literature of medical databases search using Pubmed/Medline/NIH (1966 to 2015), Embase (1980 to 2015), Science direct (2015) and the Cochrane Library (1999-2015) was done. Although several publications have mentioned the use of honey in various procedures mainly for burns, ulcers, boils, pilonidal sinus, venous bed sores and diabetic foot ulcers, only one article mentioned the use of honey as the treatment for alveolar ostetitis. The rejuvenation of interest in honey as a modern wound dressing offers an additional tool for both patients and clinicians in managing dry socket. Continued research is needed to increase our understanding about the role of honey in a variety of wounds and its effect on healing compared to other treatment modalities.


Thailand has been classified as one of the ten countries that are at high risk for long-term climate change due to greenhouse gas emission, directly connected with the population size and urbanization. In 2019, Bangkok has 2,070 communities, one-third are slum communities with increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This research proposes a set of potential factors influencing community engagement initiatives to achieve a low carbon community in slum areas. The case studies on four slum communities in Bangkok by qualitative research found that the factors influencing the strength of engagement and the factors influencing the community motivation to achieve low carbon communities are still low. Consequently, this research provides new guidelines with four practical activities; (1) promoting the creation of an internal community network that can contribute to trust and positive social norms (2) promoting greenhouse gas emission reducing behaviors and adjusting attitudes toward climate change issues and (3) promoting proper relationships between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the communities.


This chapter begins by introducing readers to the five "pillars of Islam" (arkan al-Islam), as well as to other essential aspects of Islamic ritual (section 1). By so doing, it recognizes the enduring power of these rituals, in particular, to provide all Muslims—despite their differences in historical, socio-cultural and political realities—with a shared sense of religious identity. The following section (2) nuances this presentation of Islamic ritual as intrinsically a cohesive force, which necessarily relies heavily on canonical Sunni legal sources and authorities, by exploring five alternative strategies to ritual: Shi'i, esoteric, folk, rationalist, and reformist. Thereafter, it briefly discusses the potential of Islamic ritual in a variety of sources and contexts to both reflect and generate social hierarchies (section 3). It concludes by reflecting on Western scholarly approaches to Islamic ritual and by suggesting future directions for its study (section 4).


High-resolution measurements of the skeletal 13C/12C ratios of massive Porites corals from the Great Barrier Reef and eastern Indian Ocean reveal 13C enrichments culminating sharply at the time of the annual coral spawning event. These 13C skeletal enrichments appear to be driven by the rapid sequestering of 12C required to build the reproductive tissue prior to spawning. Coral spawning is commonly synchronized with the lunar phase and, in this case, is predictable to within 3 days. The results suggest that reproductive modulation of 13C/12C can be exploited as an accurate, built-in time marker for constructing realistic time series with proxy climate data extracted from corals. Recognition of the 13C/12C response to reproduction also facilitates the separation of physiological and environmental influences and should expand the utility of stable carbon isotopes in paleoceanography.


Four lactating Holstein cows were used in a 4×4 Latin-square design to determine the effects of various levels of whole cottonseed (WCS) in diets on parameters including milk (yield and fat content), rumen fluid (pH, ammonia and TVFA) and blood (β- carotene, vit. A, vit. E, urea, NH3, Ca, P and Mg levels). Cows consumed 0, 1, 2 or 3 kg WCS per day. No significant differences were observed among the groups on analysed parameters except plasma vitamin E concentration. In addition, when the amount of cottonseed was increased, milk yield and milk fat content also tended to increase but this increase was not statistically significant. In conclusion, feeding of WCS up to 3 kg per day with ad libitum maize silage did not cause negative effects on milk yield, milk fat and blood vitamin levels in the short term in dairy cows. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 6 : 852-856)


his article summarizes ongoing research on both mobile interfaces and therapies related to rehabilitation, with a special focus on emerging possibilities for home therapy rehabilitation programs for two areas of special interest to our group: stroke and cardiac. Both are areas where considerable scientific evidence suggesting the need for new therapeutic strategies has not significantly impacted clinical practice, and where home-based programs may be the answer. The article covers two aspects of the design of the mobile intelligent telerehabilitation assistant (ITA), a long-term project intended to provide an alternative for 21st-century rehabilitative telecare, and describes the interactive, mobile ITA interfaces and telecommunications infrastructure, which was motivated by the need identified by participants at the Home Care Technologies Workshop for user-centered interactive systems. We also discuss an approach for addressing the top recommendation of the Workshop: the critical need for intelligent interpretation and management of healthcare data. With the addition of wearable systems and telehealth tools, embedded intelligence takes added significance. We also address the challenge of extracting expert knowledge.


Children starve. Young girls sell their bodies to eat. There is no clean drinking water. There are no doctors. Refugees are not allowed to leave the camps. As the rainy season approaches, waterborne diseases will spread like wildfire. This is the plight of the over 200,000 Rohingya who survive in makeshift refugee camps along the Myanmar's border with Bangladesh. Although their situation is dire, they are better off than the Rohingya being slaughtered back in Myanmar. According to the United Nations, the Rohingya are the world's most ignored and persecuted minority. They have faced decades of neglect and dehumanization while the world stands by; it is time for the response of the international community to change. The situation in Myanmar has reached a tipping point and the country is a tinderbox, ready to ignite into violence. The inaction of the international community has allowed the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority to escalate into state-sponsored ethnic cleansing and a spreading humanitarian crisis in Myanmar's western Rakhine state. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Rohingya Muslim minority, a group of roughly 800,000 people residing in the western Burmese state of Rakhine, faces a long history of persecution and alienation. They exist today as a stateless race denied basic human rights, unwanted in Myanmar or abroad. Their plight stems from the fact that they are not recognized as citizens by the Burmese state and are instead considered illegal Bengali immigrants from Bangladesh, where they are not welcome either. In 1977, the military government commenced Operation Nagamin (Dragon King) to identify illegal immigrants residing in Burma. The violence and religious persecution that followed led more than 200,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. In 1982, former dictator General Ne Win enacted the Burma Citizenship Law, which identified 135 official ethnic minority groups, of which the Rohingya were not one. Immigrants that settled in Myanmar before independence in 1948 are considered legal immigrants; all others are considered illegal immigrants unless they can prove their ancestors immigrated to Burma before 1948. As the records needed to trace ancestry are not available to the vast majority of Rohingya families, the Rohingya minority remains a group without civil rights, official recognition, or justice. There exist many examples of the dehumanization of the Rohingya under national law: they have no property rights, they have no identification cards, they are subject to curfews, they are denied access to higher education or government positions, they have exorbitant marriage fees, and Rohingya couples are limited to two children. This divide between the Buddhist majority and the Muslim minority erupted into violent clashes in 2012. It began on May 28 when three Muslim men raped and murdered a Buddhist woman in the state of Rakhine. About a week later Buddhist vigilantes retaliated by pulled ten Muslim men off a bus and beating them to death. This incident was the tipping point that set off waves of ethnic riots across the western state of Rakhine. However, it was not just Rakhine extremists and Rohingya clashing in these violent eruptions. Apparently, local government authorities aided Rakhine extremists in the destruction of Rohingya villages. The conflict has escalated as the government has transformed regional ethnic riots into state-sponsored ethnic cleansing and genocide. In July, President Thein Sein released a statement saying that Burma could not accept an illegal minority group such as the Rohingya and that the Rohingya should be put under the jurisdiction of the UN and removed from Myanmar. Although the UN did not accept this statement, it is a shocking indication that the Rohingya are not welcome to remain in Myanmar any longer and undergirds subsequent government violence against the group. Human Rights Watch has released a report titled 444All You Can Do is Pray: Crimes Against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Burma's Arakan State," which the government has dismissed as "unacceptable" and one-sided. …


This article is about the dental human resource situation at a regional level in the Netherlands. Based on data made available by the Dutch Dental Association (NMT) and the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS), the supply of dentists and the potential demand for dental health care within 34 NMT-regions is described. Supply and demand are related to each other. In order to gain more insight into the relationship between the supply of and the demand for dental care some dentist/population ratios have been calculated for each region and for various segments of the population separately. It appears that these ratios per region vary considerably, which makes the dental human resource issue in the Netherlands, from a regional point of view, rather diverse.


Lipoate is an essential cofactor for enzymes that are important for central metabolism and other processes. In malaria parasites, scavenged lipoate from the human host is required for survival. The Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrion contains two enzymes (PfLipL1 and PfLipL2) that are responsible for activating mitochondrial proteins through the covalent attachment of lipoate (lipoylation). Lipoylation occurs via a novel redox‐gated mechanism that remains poorly understood. We show that PfLipL1 functions as a redox switch that determines which downstream proteins will be activated. Based on the lipoate redox state, PfLipL1 either functions as a canonical lipoate ligase or as a lipoate activating enzyme which works in conjunction with PfLipL2. We demonstrate that PfLipL2 is a lipoyltransferase and is a member of a novel clade of lipoate attachment enzymes. We show that a LipL2 enzyme from Chlamydia trachomatis has similar activity, demonstrating conservation between intracellular pathogens from different phylogenetic kingdoms and supporting the hypothesis that an early ancestor of malaria parasites once contained a chlamydial endosymbiont. Redox‐dependent lipoylation may regulate processes such as central metabolism and oxidative defense pathways.


We review the differences between two visions for the residential mortgage markets, one driven by the goal of efficiency and the other driven by the goals of efficiency and consumer protection. Both visions advocate for structural reform, but one advocates for industry-led change and the other advocates for input from a wider array of stakeholders. Broader input is not only important to ensure that a broad range of interests are represented but also to ensure the long-term legitimacy of the new system. This is a response to Joshua Stein, Dirt Lawyers Versus Wall Street: A Different View, Probate and Property (2013 Forthcoming), which in turn is a response to Bradley T. Borden & David J. Reiss, Dirt Lawyers and Dirty REMICs, Probate and Property 12 (May/June 2013).


Introduction There are various types of fevers of unknown origin (FUO) among dialysis patients. Physicians should determine the causes of fever and start providing patients with appropriate treatment as early as possible. The aim of this review was to discuss the causes, diagnosis and treatments of FUO in dialysis patients. Discussion FUO is classified into four types depending on the patients' background: classical, nosocominal, neutropenic, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)associated FUO. Haemodialysis patients may develop a fever as an allergic reaction to a dialysis circuit. Therefore, various items including dialysis membranes, dialysis circuits, puncture needles, anticoagulants, and endotoxin should be examined. The main pathogenic mechanism underlying the development of FUO in dialysis patients is based on allergic reactions to the materials used in dialysis devices and the contaminants (endotoxins) in the dialysate. When the cause of fever is unclear, diagnosis should be started on the basis of the urgency of treatment and the classification of FUO to provide appropriate treatment. When an allergic reaction to the materials used in dialysis devices is suspected, such materials and the sterilization method should be examined to determine the causes of fever and be replaced with a device made of other materials or another method as necessary. Conclusion There are various causes of fever in dialysis patients. The identification of the causes of fever and its appropriate treatment based on the severity of the symptoms are essential for dialysis patients with FUO.


Objective To determine if exploratory factor analysis can identify subtypes comprising recognisable clinical patterns of the presenting signs and symptoms of children with joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS). Patients Eighty-nine children with JHS aged 6–16 years. Methods Twelve tests comprising anthropometric, musculoskeletal and functional assessments were conducted. Signs, symptoms and family history were recorded. Exploratory factor analysis was performed, factor scores generated, and correlations calculated to identify associations. Results Sixty-six percent of the variance in the score set could be accounted for by five JHS subtypes (Eigenvalues >1). Factor 1, 'joint affected' JHS, had loadings on multiple joint pain, recurrent joint instability and postural orthostatic hypotension symptoms, and factor scores were associated with worse pain (r=0.48, p<0.01), fatigue (r=−0.54, p<0.01) and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (r=−0.5, p<0.01). Factor 2, 'athletic' JHS, loaded on muscle endurance, balance and motor skill proficiency, and scores were associated with less fatigue (r=0.3, p<0.01) and better HRQOL (r=0.44, p<0.01). Factor 3, 'systemic' JHS, loaded on skin involvement, incontinence symptoms, bowel involvement and recurrent joint instability, and was associated with reduced HRQOL (r=−0.24, p=0.03). Factor 4, 'soft tissue affected' JHS, loaded on recurrent soft tissue injuries and reduced muscle length, and was associated with greater fatigue (r=−0.43, p<0.01) and reduced HRQOL (r=−0.44, p<0.0001). Factor 5, 'high BMI' JHS, had high loadings on body mass index (BMI) for age, muscle endurance and no gastrointestinal involvement, and was associated with higher pain (r=0.33, p<0.01). Conclusions The presenting signs and symptoms of children with JHS can be summarised in five clinically recognisable subtypes.


A single-image fringe projection profiling method suitable for dynamic applications was developed by combining an accurate camera calibration procedure and improved phase extraction procedures. The improved phase extraction process used a modified Hilbert transform with Laplacian pyramid algorithms to improve measurement accuracy. The camera calibration method used an accurate pinhole camera model and pixel-by-pixel calibration of the phase-height relationship. Numerical simulations and controlled baseline experiments were performed to quantify key error sources in the measurement process and verify the accuracy of the approach. Results from numerical simulations indicate that the resulting phase error can be reduced to less than 0.02 radians provided that parameters such as fringe spacing, random measured intensity noise, fringe contrast and frequency of spatial intensity noise are carefully controlled. Experimental results show that the effects of random temporal and spatial noise in typical CCD cameras for single fringe images limits the accuracy of the method to 0.04 radians in most applications. Quantitative results from application of the fringe projection method are in very good agreement with numerical predictions, demonstrating that it is possible to design both a fringe projection system and a measurement process to achieve a prespecified accuracy and resolution in the point-to-point measurement of the spatial (X, Y , Z) positions. KEY WORDS-Profile measurement, single-image fringe projection, camera calibration, fringe extraction, Hilbert transform, Laplacian pyramid


Purpose:
Current project management practices in construction projects have several limitations and inadequacies that often lead to a poor project performance. Improvements regarding communication and adoption of IT are necessary to help overcome these limitations. Internet-based Project Management (IBPM) software addresses some of the problems. It provides a central place for storing and accessing all project relevant information and aims to improve communication, coordination and collaboration of the various companies involved in construction projects. During the past few years, the market of IBPM software has grown tremendously and the products are being employed on a variety of projects. However, despite the initial euphoria and high expectations regarding this new way of project organisation, a lot of attempts to use an IBPM system have not been successful and some issues have become apparent that inhibit to gain more benefits out of its application. This dissertation analyses in how far Internet-based Project Management is suitable to enhance the management of construction projects. It provides background information about the functions that IBPM systems offer, the systems that are available at the moment, and an analysis of the technical, legal, organisational and human factors that affect its application.
Methodology:
A survey among construction companies in the UK and Germany was conducted to assess the current level of awareness and general opinion of project participants together with the experienced benefits and problems regarding IBPM. In addition, three case studies present in-depth views of project managers to find out about the contribution that project extranets make to their job and the projects.
Findings:
The analysis shows that while IBPM has the potential to substantially enhance the management of construction projects, several issues have to be addressed to ensure a successful implementation.
Classification: Information & Communication Technologies (ICT)


Storm-water run-off is an important source of contamination and cause of water quality degradation in urbanised coastal areas. Although laboratory tests show that run-off is toxic for some organisms, its effects in the field remain uncertain. We investigated the effects of run-off on assemblages of mobile invertebrates within kelp beds in Sydney Harbour, Australia. We first tested patterns of differences in assemblages that are (1) directly associated with kelp holdfasts and those that are (2) developing on artificial units of habitat (AUHs) between locations with and without storm-water drains. We then transplanted assemblages on AUHs from locations without to locations with storm-water drains, predicting that assemblages would (1) change from those in the original location and (2) become more similar to those in the receiving location. Despite the ini- tial pattern of differences in assemblages on AUHs, no clear effects of run-off were observed in the transplantation experiment. While transplanted assemblages changed in one location, no dif- ferences were detected in a second location. In a third location, there were experimental artefacts in the assemblage responses to transplantation. Total abundance (except for 1 location) and num- ber of taxa did not change. Our results show the challenges of detecting potential impacts of dis- turbances in the field. First, manipulative experiments are necessary since the existence of pat- terns of differences can easily be observed, but does not necessarily indicate a causal relationship. Second, appropriate procedural controls are required as the experimental techniques can cause stress on organisms or can elicit different responses from them as a result of spatial variability.


The statistics of the normalized Stokes parameters for a stochastic plane wave field that is Gaussian distributed is examined. The resulting probability density functions and lower-order moments generalized those obtained by previous investigators. Results of some numerical calculations are discussed.As an application of this analysis, we consider multiple scattering of light by a spatially random medium, composed of uncorrelated spherical pointlike particles, where the description of partially polarized light in terms of normalized Stokes parameters may be useful.


Background Noncardiac chest pain has a high prevalence and is associated with reduced quality of life, anxiety, avoidance of physical activity, and high societal costs. There is a lack of an effective, low-cost, easy to distribute intervention to assist patients with noncardiac chest pain. Objective In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy with telephone support for noncardiac chest pain. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial, with a 12-month follow-up period, to compare internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy to a control condition (treatment as usual). A total of 162 participants aged 18 to 70 years with a diagnosis of noncardiac chest pain were randomized to either internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (n=81) or treatment as usual (n=81). The participants in the experimental condition received 6 weekly sessions of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy. The sessions covered different topics related to coping with noncardiac chest pain (education about the heart, physical activity, interpretations/attention, physical reactions to stress, optional panic treatment, and maintaining change). Between sessions, the participants also engaged in individually tailored physical exercises with increasing intensity. In addition to internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, participants received a brief weekly call from a clinician to provide support, encourage adherence, and provide access to the next session. Participants in the treatment-as-usual group received standard care for their noncardiac chest pain without any restrictions. Primary outcomes were cardiac anxiety, measured with the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, and fear of bodily sensations, measured with the Body Sensations Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were depression, measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire; health-related quality of life, measured using the EuroQol visual analog scale; and level of physical activity, assessed with self-report question. Additionally, a subgroup analysis of participants with depressive symptoms at baseline (PHQ-9 score ≥5) was conducted. Assessments were conducted at baseline, posttreatment, and at 3- and 12-month follow-ups. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate treatment effects. Cohen d was used to calculate effect sizes. Results In the main intention-to-treat analysis at the 12-month follow-up time point, participants in the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group had significant improvements in cardiac anxiety (–3.4 points, 95% CI –5.7 to –1.1; P=.004, d=0.38) and a nonsignificant improvement in fear of bodily sensations (–2.7 points, 95% CI –5.6 to 0.3; P=.07) compared with the treatment-as-usual group. Health-related quality of life at the 12-month follow-up improved with statistical and clinical significance in the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group (8.8 points, 95% CI 2.8 to 14.8; P=.004, d=0.48) compared with the treatment-as-usual group. Physical activity had significantly (P<.001) increased during the 6-week intervention period for the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group. Depression significantly improved posttreatment (P=.003) and at the 3-month follow-up (P=.03), but not at the 12-month follow-up (P=.35). Participants with depressive symptoms at baseline seemed to have increased effect of the intervention on cardiac anxiety (d=0.55) and health-related quality of life (d=0.71) at the 12-month follow-up. In the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group, 84% of the participants (68/81) completed at least 5 of the 6 sessions. Conclusions This study provides evidence that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy with minimal therapist contact and a focus on physical activity is effective in reducing cardiac anxiety and increasing health related quality of life in patients with noncardiac chest pain. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03096925; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03096925


Proxy citizenship is the mechanism through which certain rights of citizenship—the ability to make claims for redress to a state—are conferred on activists through relationships with NGOs. Focusing on advocacy from within the policy process, U.S. and Colombian NGOs channeled political legitimacy and rights of access to Colombians, whose claims emerge from the experience of governance as articulated through testimony. This process, and its roots within the shared history of the Putumayo region of Colombia and Washington, DC, reveals emerging practices of citizenship claims and transnational political participation.


Background The NAPOLI-1 trial demonstrated that liposomal irinotecan in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) prolonged survival with a manageable safety profile in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy. Real-world data on clinical outcomes associated with liposomal irinotecan in NAPOLI-1-based regimens is needed to further substantiate this. Methods This real-world, retrospective chart review study included patients with mPDAC who received NAPOLI-1-based regimens from six academic centers in the United States. Liposomal irinotecan initiation defined the index date. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed with Kaplan-Meier methodology. Results There were 374 patients evaluated; median age was 68 years, and 51% were female. Among 326 patients with baseline ECOG information, approximately 74% had ECOG score <2. Liposomal irinotecan was administered as a doublet with 5-FU in a NAPOLI-1-based regimen in the first line (1L; 16%), 2L (42%), and 3L+ (42%) of the metastatic setting. For patients treated in 1L, 2L, and 3L+, median [95% confidence interval (CI)] OS was 8.0 [5.1, 11.2], 7.3 [5.3, 8.8], and 4.6 [4.0, 5.7] months, and median [95% CI] PFS was 4.2 [2.2, 6.6], 3.0 [2.6, 3.7], and 2.0 [1.7, 2.2] months, respectively. Conclusions Patients in a real-world setting treated with NAPOLI-1-based liposomal irinotecan doublet regimens at academic centers were older with poorer performance status compared to trial patients yet had similar outcomes and efficacy. Furthermore, liposomal irinotecan was frequently used in the 3L+ setting where no treatment has been approved and provided clinical benefit.


Background and the purpose of the study Partition coefficients (log D and log P) and molecular surface area (PSA) are potential predictors of the intestinal permeability of drugs. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and compare these intestinal permeability indicators. Methods Aqueous solubility data were obtained from literature or calculated using ACD/Labs and ALOGPS. Permeability data were predicted based on log P, log D at pH 6.0 (log D6.0), and PSA. Results Metoprolol's log P, log D6.0, and a PSA of <65 Å correctly predicted 55.9%, 50.8% and 54.2% of permeability classes, respectively. Labetalol's log P, log D6.0 and PSA correctly predicted 54.2%, 64.4% and 61% of permeability classes, respectively. Log D6.0 correlated well (81%) with Caco-2 permeability (Papp). Of the list of national essential medicines, 135 orally administered drugs were classified into biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS). Of these, 57 (42.2%), 28 (20.7%), 44 (32.6%), and 6 (4.4%) were class I, II, III and IV respectively. Conclusion Log D6.0 showed better prediction capability than log P. Metoprolol as permeability internal standard was more conservative than labetalol.


Development of Indian English Literature in India gathered momentum with the consolidation of British imperialism in India. As we know the British sow the seed of Indian Writing in English during the period of the British rule in India. English language and literature in India starts with the advent of East India Company in India. It all started in the summers of 1608 when Emperor Jahangir, in the courts of Mughals, welcomed Captain William Hawkins, Commander of British Naval Expedition Hector. It was India's first tryst with an Englishman and English. Jahangir later allowed Britain to open a permanent port and factory on the special request of King James IV that was conveyed by his ambassador Sir Thomas Roe. English were here to stay. Indian writings in English were heavily influenced by the Western art form of the novel. It was typical for the early Indian English language writers to use English unadulterated by Indian words to convey experiences that were primarily Indian. The core reason behind this step was the fact that most of the readers were either British or British educated Indians. In the early 20th century, when the British conquest of India was achieved, a new breed of writers started to emerge on the block. These writers were essentially British who were born or brought up or both in India. Their writing consisted of Indian themes and sentiments but the way of storytelling was primarily western. They had no reservation in using native words, though, to signify the context. This group consisted likes of Rudyard Kipling, Jim Corbett, and George Orwell among others. In fact, some of the writings of that era are still considered to be masterpieces of English Literature. KEYWORDS: Contribution of British, Development, British works & strategy, English Literature.


Oral involvement in cutaneous CD30+ T-cell lymphoid proliferations is rare and has received little attention in the dermatologic literature. The authors report 2 patients with self-healing, recurrent papulonodular eruptions with the classic clinical, histopathological and immunophenotypic features of lymphomatoid papulosis, which developed two ulcerated papules and an ulcerative nodule on the dorsum of the tongue, respectively. The lesions appeared coincident with a new cutaneous relapse of the disease. Histopathological and immunophenotypic features were similar to those of the cutaneous lesions. All lesions regressed spontaneously after several weeks. Since then, and after follow-up periods of 3 and 7 years, respectively, no evidence of extracutaneous involvement has been detected. Oral involvement in lymphomatoid papulosis is an uncommon event, probably without prognostic significance. Previously reported cases are reviewed. The differential diagnosis of atypical T-cell lymphoid infiltrates observed in the oral mucosa is discussed.


This paper reports on a study that uses a combination of techniques to formally characterize and determine the critical success factors influencing the effective usage of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, with special reference to higher education institutions. The thirty-seven ERP success factors identified from the literature are classified into: Critical, Active, Reactive and Inert categories. The classification of decision factors can generally support organizations to explore their current challenges and to adequately prepare decisions in a more participatory way for future endeavors. This study suggests a possible alternative that decision makers should take when a factor or a set of factors dominates during the implementation of ERP systems.


Policies, programs, and projects related to agriculture, food, and nutrition can significantly affect public health. Health impact assessment (HIA) is one tool that can be used to improve awareness of the health effects of decisions outside the health sector, and increasing the use of HIA for agriculture, food, and nutrition decisions presents an opportunity to improve public health. This study identifies and reviews all HIAs completed in the United States on agriculture, food, and nutrition topics. Studies were identified from HIA databases, an Internet search, and expert consultation. Key characteristics were extracted from each study: type of decision assessed, location, level of jurisdiction, lead organization, methods of analysis, and recommendations. Twenty-five eligible HIAs that were conducted between 2007 and 2016 address topics such as regulations on land use for agriculture; food and beverage taxes; and developing grocery stores in food deserts. These HIAs have predominantly supported policy, as opposed to program or project, decisions. Four case studies are presented to illustrate in detail the HIA process and the mechanisms through which HIA findings affected policy decisions. Among other influences, these four HIAs affected the language of legislation and provided guidance for federal regulations. These examples demonstrate several findings: appropriate timing is critical for findings to have an influence; diverse stakeholder involvement generates support for recommendations; and the clear communication of feasible recommendations is highly important. There is substantial scope to increase the use of HIA in the agriculture, food, and nutrition sectors. Challenges include the paucity of monitoring and evaluation of HIAs' effects on health outcomes, and the limited funding available to conduct HIAs. Opportunities include integrating HIAs and community food assessments, and more widely sharing HIA findings to inform related decisions in different jurisdictions and to increase support for additional HIAs that address the food system. Note: See the supplemental Excel file (under Article Tools>Supplementary files at left) for more details on the health impact assessments included in this systematic review.


Background Childhood obesity is one of the most important public health problems. Active video games (AVGs) have been proposed as an attractive alternative to increase energy expenditure and are being investigated to determine their effectiveness against childhood obesity. Objective The aim of this study is to summarize the existing research and draw conclusions about the effects of AVGs on health-related physical fitness and motor competence in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Methods The search strategy was applied to PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus, including randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials investigating the effects of AVG programs on health-related physical fitness and motor competence in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. To measure the risk of bias in randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, 2 different quality assessment tools were used. In total, 15 articles met the inclusion criteria, and the variables of interest were BMI, body fat percentage, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), waist circumference, fat-free mass, muscular fitness, and motor competence. A meta-analysis was performed. Results Positive effects were found for BMI and body fat percentage, favoring the AVG group compared with a control group with no intervention (mean difference −0.209; 95% CI −0.388 to −0.031 vs mean difference −0.879; 95% CI −1.138 to −0.602). Positive effects seem to be observed for CRF. The effects of AVG interventions on muscular fitness, fat-free mass, waist circumference, and motor competence are unclear. Conclusions AVG programs showed positive effects on BMI, body fat percentage, and CRF. AVG could be a good strategy to combat childhood obesity.