Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of NaCI and Na2So4 salts on Ca, CI, K, Mg N, P, S and Na content as well as on the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and carotenoids), proline content and on the foliar morphology of Salvinia  auriculata  Aubl. Methods: The plants were collected in Jacu lagoon, located in the North of Rio de Janeiro State, and after a five-dayacclimation period, experiments were performed in the greenhouse with 0, 100, 200 mM concentrations of NaCI and Na2SO4 salts and the usual techniques for light and electron microscopy. Results: After seven days of experiment, a decrease in the content of Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, P, N ions as well as in the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll-a,b and carotenoids) in Salvinia auriculata under saline treatments was observed. The proline content showed an upward tendency as compared to the control. Under transmission electron microscopy, it was observed that, on the foliar limb, there was a membrane system disorder, mainly of chloroplasts, with higher presence of starch grains of plant cells subjected to salinity. Under scanning electron microscope, the integrity of trichomes and foliar limb cells of Salvinia auriculata subjected to the control treatment as well as the changes caused by salinization on the surface of cells were observed. Conclusion: As for all the salinization effects evaluated, it was noticed that the increase in Na2SO4 salt concentration resulted in higher morphological and nutritional alterations in the floating aquatic macrophyte, Salvinia auriculata.


The register file access time is one of the critical delays in current - superscalar processors. Its impact on processor performance is likely to increase in future processor generations, as they are expected to increase the issue width (which implies more register ports) and the size of the instruction window (which implies more registers), and to use some kind of multithreading. Under this scenario, the register file access time could be a dominant delay and a pipelined implementation would be desirable to allow for high clock rates. However, a multi-stage register file has severe implications for processor performance (e.g. higher branch misprediction penalty) and complexity (more levels of bypass logic). To tackle these two problems, in this paper we propose a register file architecture composed of multiple banks. In particular we focus on a multi-level organization of the register file, which provides low latency and simple bypass logic. We propose several caching policies and prefetching strategies and demonstrate the potential of this multiple-banked organization. For instance, we show that a two-level organization degrades IPC by 10% and 2% with respect to a non-pipelined single-banked register file, for SpecInt95 and SpecFP95 respectively, but it increases performance by 87% and 92% when the register file access time is factored in.


Author(s): Johnson, Ervin LeRoy | Advisor(s): Davis, Graeme W; Edwards, Robert H | Abstract: Despite a voluminous knowledge concerning the composition of active zones, very little is known about how these presynaptic specializations are assembled. Furthermore, with a few exceptions little is known about the role that active zone molecules play in synaptic function. In this thesis, I describe the identification and characterization of Drosophila mutants for a newly-identified serine-arginine protein kinase, which has been termed serine-argining protein kinas at 79D (SRPK79D). In Chapter 2 I describe a series of experiments involving quantitative imaging, electron microscopy and electrophysiology. The results of these experiments indicate that SRPK79D is a negative regulator of T-bar assembly and have lead to a new model of active zone assembly. Specifically, the data suggest that in wild type animals active zone constituents are transported from the cell soma to the synapse where they are locally assembled. During transport assembly of these components must be constitutively repressed through the action of SRPK79D to prevent ectopic T-bar formation.In Chapter 3 I present the initial characterization of a synaptic function deficit at the neuromuscular junction of srpk79D mutants. In otherwise wild type animals, over-expression of the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGlut) leads to an increase in the amplitude of spontaneous fusion events (minis) and an inversely-proportional, compensatory decrease in the average number of vesicles that fuse in response to presynaptic stimulation. Thus, through this process, which we term reverse homeostatic compensation, the average postsynaptic response to presynaptic stimulation in VGlut over-expressing animals is identical to animals expressing normal levels of VGlut. In srpk79D mutants, VGlut over-expression causes an identical increase in the average mini amplitude. Reverse homeostatic compensation also ensues. However, compensation is excessive. Consequently, the average postsynaptic response to presynaptic stimulation is approximately one-half that of wild type animals or animals that over-express VGlut but are wild type for srpk79D.To date, srpk79D is the first gene shown to be involved in reverse homeostatic compensation. Furthermore, srpk79D is the first gene known to be required to dampen homeostatic compensation. Finally, the data suggest that destabilization of the T-bar may be required for reverse homeostatic compensation.


The direct observation of blocked polarization domains at the electrode–ferroelectric interface of electrically fatigued ferroelectric films is reported. Blocked nanodomains are believed to be the origin of polarization fatigue in ferroelectric nonvolatile memories but have not been directly observed so far due to the required upper metal electrode which impedes the direct access to the surface of the ferroelectric film. This problem has been solved by using low temperature melting metal as removable top electrode. After fatigue and subsequent top electrode removal it was possible to observe the polarization state of the fatigued capacitor and its depth profile by means of detection of the local piezoelectric activity with a conductive atomic force microscope tip. Blocked polarization domains with opposite polarization compared to the film body could be directly observed at the upper ferroelectrics surface.


As we all know the fuel prices especially the petrol is rising steadily day by day. Again the pollution due to vehicles in metro cities & urban areas is increasing continuously. To overcome these problems, an effort is being made to search some other alternative sources of energy for the vehicles. Again, it is also not affordable to purchase vehicles (mopeds, scooters or motorcycles) for all the class of society. Keeping this in mind, a search for some way to cater these economically poor people as well as to provide a solution for the environmental pollution was in progress. The solar assisted bicycle developed is driven by DC motor fitted in front or rear axle housing & operated by solar energy. The solar panels mounted on the carriage will charge the battery & which in turn drive the hub motor. When the bicycle is idle, the solar panel will charge the battery. This arrangement will replace the petrol engine, the gear box & the fuel tank in case of a two wheeler or a chain sprocket, chain & gear shifting arrangement of a conventional bicycle being used by most common man. (9) As a part of dissertation work, the solar assisted bicycle is fitted with a dc hub motor on front axle of a bicycle with power rating of 250W and with a travelling speed of around 25-30 kmph. It is provided with a pair of lead acid batteries of 35 Ah each, a photovoltaic solar panel with capacity of 20 watt, a voltage regulator of 24v 10 Amp, accelerator and motor controller of 24v 25Amp. There is also a provision for charging of the battery with 220-240V, AC wall outlet supply, in case of poor solar supply due to cloudy weather. (4)


The 2018 wildfires in Attica were the second-worst fire disaster of the 21stcentury. While this tragedy is another example of the effects of climate change, news headlines published as recently as 2020 yield inconsistencies in the actions of fire management services and both local and national leadership. Many questions regarding the wildfires remain unanswered. Here we explore the intersection of anthropogenic climate change with the governance failures that culminated in the deadliest fire disaster Greece has seen in recent history.


The 2007 negotiations between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Detroit automakers have focused national attention on a potentially innovative response to the long-term decline in retiree health insurance in the United States. The union agreed that an independent trust called a Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) will assume responsibility for UAW retiree medical care at the three automakers. Other unionized employers now are looking at these so-called defeasance VEBAs as a way to free themselves of burdensome health-care legacy costs. An analysis of the largest one, at GM, suggests that the concept is a second-best option for unions able to retain employer-paid retiree coverage. However, it may be a viable alternative for those unable to fend off unilateral elimination by an employer. Both private- and public-sector unions and employers can draw important lessons from the defeasance VEBA agreed to by the UAW and GM, which will deploy innovative tactics to distribute cost and risk amongst the company, workers, and retirees. More broadly, the new VEBAs illuminate a gaping hole in the federal tax code, which offers few incentives for employees to save for postemployment medical needs even as employers have shifted the responsibility on them to do so. A VEBA is a flexible vehicle that could provide the most tax-efficient savings method for workers whose employer doesn't offer retiree coverage. However, changes in federal law likely would be required for the concept to become widespread.


Proton-rich material in a state of nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE) is one of the least studied regimes of nucleosynthesis. One reason for this is that after hydrogen burning, stellar evolution proceeds at conditions of an equal number of neutrons and protons or at a slight degree of neutron-richness. Proton-rich nucleosynthesis in stars tends to occur only when hydrogen-rich material that accretes onto a white dwarf or a neutron star explodes, or when neutrino interactions in the winds from a nascent proto-neutron star or collapsar disk drive the matter proton-rich prior to or during the nucleosynthesis. In this Letter we solve the NSE equations for a range of proton-rich thermodynamic conditions. We show that cold proton-rich NSE is qualitatively different from neutron-rich NSE. Instead of being dominated by the Fe-peak nuclei with the largest binding energy per nucleon that have a proton-to-nucleon ratio close to the prescribed electron fraction, NSE for proton-rich material near freezeout temperature is mainly composed of 56Ni and free protons. Previous results of nuclear reaction network calculations rely on this nonintuitive high-proton abundance, which this Letter explains. We show how the differences and especially the large fraction of free protons arises from the minimization of the free energy as a result of a delicate competition between the entropy and nuclear binding energy.


Research on information fusion and situation management within the military domain, is often focused on data-driven approaches for aiding decision makers in achieving situation awareness. We have in a companion paper identified situation recognition as an important topic for further studies on knowledge-driven approaches. When developing new algorithms it is of utmost importance to have data for studying the problem at hand (as well as for evaluation purposes). This often become a problem within the military domain as there is a high level of secrecy, resulting in a lack of data, and instead one often needs to resort to artificial data. Many tools and simulation environments can be used for constructing scenarios in virtual worlds. Most of these are however data-centered, that is, their purpose is to simulate the real-world as accurately as possible, in contrast to simulating complex scenarios. In high-level information fusion we can however often assume that lower-level problems have already been solved - thus the separation of abstraction - and we should instead focus on solving problems concerning complex relationships, i.e. situations and threats. In this paper we discuss requirements that research on situation recognition puts on simulation tools. Based on these requirements we present a component-based simulator for quickly adapting the simulation environment to the needs of the research problem at hand. This is achieved by defining new components that define behaviors of entities in the simulated world.


Grinding forces during grinding silicon wafer have great influences on the accuracy, surface quality and grinding yield of the wafer. It is necessary to develop an accurate and reliable grinding dynamometer for measuring and monitoring the grinding process of the large and thin wafer. In this work, a new 3D (three-dimensional) grinding dynamometer using piezoelectric sensors is designed and developed, which is used for a wafer grinder based on wafer rotating grinding method. The calibrating experiments of the 3D grinding dynamometer are carried out. The FEA and modal analysis are made and compared with the results of mode testing. Furthermore, the static performance parameters of the dynamometer are obtained from the loading experiment. The experiment results indicate that the 3D grinding dynamometer can measure axial, radial and tangential grinding force of grinding wheel with high sensitivity, good linearity, good repeatability and high natural frequency, and fully satisfied requirement for measuring and monitoring of the grinding force in wafer grinding process.


The spectral characteristics of Lake Cowichan (Vancouver Island) were examined using a LiCor underwater spectroradiometer. The results were analyzed in terms of salmonid vision with special emphasis placed on the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Irradiance measurements were taken by SCUBA divers every 3 m from 18m to the surface at each of seven locations. The measurements at each depth consisted of four scans from 300 to 850 nm of downwelling, upwelling and horizontal light in the sun and antisun directions. The study covered different times of day and variable atmospheric conditions. According to predictions from the absorptive properties of water molecules and scattering by these and suspended particulates, it was found that the ultraviolet part of the spectrum was the least transmitted. The light field varied in intensity and dominant wavelengths depending on direction and time of day. The relative proportion of ultraviolet, short and middle wavelengths with respect to the entire spectrum peaked during crepuscular periods; the opposite was true for long wavelengths. An analysis of the irradiance values with respect to salmonid vision showed that there was enough light to stimulate all the photoreceptor mechanisms found in juvenile salmonid retinae (sensitive to ultraviolet, short, middle and long wavelengths) at all depths studied. Nevertheless, 18 m was found to be the limiting depth for stimulation of the ultraviolet cone mechanism, which is required for perception of ultraviolet polarized light. This depth restriction may be linked to the observed salmonid movements close to the surface during crepuscular periods.


Acute insufficiency of the basilar artery, in the absence of organic disease, has been encountered in 20 patients. Attacks are transient and are precipitated by turning the head laterally and upwards. Two conditions are extant: (1) obliteration of vertebral artery flow by the contraction of the longus colli muscle and the scalene muscle at the level of the vertebral foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra and (2) a hypoplastic contralateral artery which does not adequately supply the basilar circulation. Vertebral angiography confirms the diagnosis by demonstrating one hypoplastic artery and a large contralateral artery that occludes upon forced lateral rotation of the head. The treatment consists of clearing the sixth vertebral foramen of all tendonous attachments and interposing a fat pedicle amongst the severed tendons to obviate their reattachment.


Traditionally, encoders or resolvers are used to get the position feedback in permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives. However, due to the drawbacks associated with these sensors, significant research has been conducted in the area of sensorless control. Most of the sensorless control methods such as neural network, particle swarm optimization, sliding-mode observer, or their combinations, require sophisticated algorithms to achieve the estimation of rotor position. In this paper, a simple approach is proposed to obtain its primitive value by adopting necessary current sensors and the 120-degree difference relationship between the two phase current signals. The estimated rotor angle is given by proportionally tuning the position error for considering the factors of speed command and speed sampling period. As a result, the complexity and computing ability of the processor used in the drive will be reduced and cheaper at the product stage. Furthermore, the conventional proportional-plusintegral (PI) control is adopted for the controlled system. With the aid of Bode diagram, an extension of the frequency zone-based method can decouple the multiple tuning gains so that the PI gain constants may be adjusted individually. Finally, the experimental results of the proposed method implemented in a DSP-based motor drive system with a 2-kg disc load are presented to show the effectiveness.


Incidents of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are high, especially in veterans exposed to combat. Strongly supported, efficacious treatment options exist, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to treat the disorder and improve outcomes for patients. CPT has been trained widely in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Despite national dissemination and training, utilization rates have been low. Using data from the 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2016 VA Cognitive Processing Therapy Practice Survey, the present study examined the trajectory of provider reported barriers to implementation of CPT across the four survey distributions. The sample was analyzed using frequencies within and across survey years for all variables, multiple regression analysis was used to explore relationships between continuous variables, and crosstabulation analysis was used to explore relationships between categorical variables. Chi-square tests of independence and logistic regression analyses were then conducted to explore differences in barriers by year and profession. Any barriers with increased likelihood in one or more cohort years were included in a 3-way Chi-Square test of independence to explore the possibility that profession moderates the relationship between barrier and cohort year. Results indicate that CPT trained treatment providers reported a decrease in specific barriers to providing CPT over the course of the dissemination program, and that social work and psychology professions related to increased barriers in the earliest iteration of the survey. The VA CPT implementation program may have had some effect on specific barriers, further study is indicated. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Social Work (DSW) First Advisor Yin-Ling Irene Wong, PhD Second Advisor Rajeev Ramchand, PhD


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the sensation changes in upper extremity and the quality of life for post-operative mastectomy patients. Methods: This study used a descriptive study design. The participants were 132 women who had mastectomies after being diagnosed with breast cancer and were participating in breast cancer self-help groups. The sensation changes in the arm of the surgery site was measured by the arm symptoms which were subjective uncomfortable feelings of the affected arm, and the quality of life was measured by Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Collected data were analyzed by ANOVA, t-test, χ 2 -test and multiple regression with SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results: Patients with stage IV breast cancer had severe changes in sensation of the arm. Participants with lymphedema had statistically significant changes in sensation compared to participants without lymphedema, but the quality of life was not different between the two groups. Pain by the SF 36 was statistically different between the two groups, withand without-lymphedema. The factors in upper extremity's sensation changes which influence on quality of life were pain and heavi ness. Conclusion: Nursing intervention for relieving pain and heaviness of the affected arm needs to be developed in order to improve QOL of the breast cancer survivors.


How can an escalation of tensions between the major ethno-religious groups be avoided in a democratizing Iraq? The first section explains why and under which conditions democratization may stir up, rather than palliate ethnic conflicts: when networks of civil society organizations have not yet developed and if the state is too weak and poor to be able to treat all citizens equally. The second section looks at the political history of Iraq, which is characterized by increasing fragmentation and conflict along ethnic lines. Pan-Arabism became the official state ideology and Shii, Kurds, Jews and Christians were excluded from positions of power and gradually driven out of the officers corps and the higher ranks of the administration. This Arabization of the Iraqi state was contested right from the beginning, as a review of the history of Kurdish and Shii uprisings will show. Throughout this history, the divisions along ethno-religious lines have deepened. Cross-ethnic parties (such as the Communists) and organizations have split along these lines too. Rising levels of repression increasingly directed against the civilian population have further estranged Kurds, Shiis and Christians from the Iraqi state and bolstered support for their respective ethno-religious organizations. Elections are likely to stir up ethno-religious conflicts in the future, if democratic institutions are not designed to foster moderation and compromise. Several such designs are discussed in the last section and the following will be recommended: an electoral system that favors vote pooling across ethnic lines; federalism on a non-ethnic basis with a strong component of fiscal decentralization; a strong regime of minority rights and a judicial apparatus capable of enforcing the rule of law. Elections should come last, not first in the process of institutional transformation. International institutions can provide the legitimacy for the continued outside supervision and support that are needed, during years to come, to make democracy sustainable.


The polymorphic merozoite surface protein-2 (MSP-2) of Plasmodium falciparum is a major malaria-vaccine candidate. In the present study, PCR and hybridization with allelic-specific probes were used to type the Msp-2 gene from isolates from hypo-endemic Brazil (N = 113), meso-endemic Vietnam (N = 208) and holo-endemic Tanzania (N = 67). The typing methods were designed to group isolates into the dimorphic allelic families FC27 and IC1 and to detect possible between-family recombination events. The analysis was complemented by a comparison of 156 Msp-2 sequences from the GenBank database with 12 additional sequences obtained during the present study. Statistically significant differences were detected in pair-wise comparisons of the distribution of Msp-2 allelic types in Brazil and Vietnam, and in Brazil and Tanzania, but not in Vietnam and Tanzania. The extent of allelic diversity in the Msp-2 gene, as estimated by the total number of different alleles found in a given parasite population and the mean multiplicity of infections, clearly paralleled the levels of malaria endemicity in the study areas. However, no correlation between age and multiplicity of infections was found in the subjects. The patterns of Msp-2 diversity in Brazil appeared to be temporally stable, since no significant difference was observed in the distribution of Msp-2 allelic types among isolates collected, 10--13 years apart, in the same area of Rondonia. Despite the extensive sequence diversity found in Msp-2 alleles, especially in the central repetitive region of the molecule, several instances of identical or nearly identical alleles were found among isolates from different countries and regions, possibly as a result of extensive homoplasy. No recombinant allele was detected by molecular typing in any of the study sites, and the GenBank database included only 12 recombinant sequences (representing 7% of all reported Msp-2 sequences), all of them with an IC1-type 5' end and an FC27-type 3' end. A single, putative, crossover site was characterised for all recombinant alleles. Most of the allelic diversity observed was therefore attributable to variation in the repetitive region of the gene, instead of recombination between alleles of dimorphic families (as commonly found, for example, in the Msp-1 gene). The implications of these findings for studies on the genetic and antigenic diversity of malarial parasites are discussed.


The gas-phase FTIR study of the pyrolysis products of iminodiacetonitrile, (N≡CCH2)2NH has revealed the existence of C-cyanomethanimine, N≡CCH═NH, and ketenimine, CH2═C═NH. The former has two isomers: Z and E; while the later readily taumerizes to acetonitrile, CH3C≡N. A trapping/revaporization system has been used to purify C-cyanomethanimine. The analysis of the rotational structures of the IR medium resolution C-type CNH bend, ν6, and C═N torsional mode, ν10, has led to a conformational characterization of these isomers. The Z-isomer was shown to be the major product. This conjecture was supported by ab initio MO calculations that confirmed the relative total energy stability of the Z-isomer over its E-counterpart by 0.173 to 2.326 kJ/mol. The K values indicated that the equilibrium concentration of Z-C-cyanomethanimine amounts to up to three times that of E-C-cyanomethanimine. A further investigation using NBO technique proved the predilection of the Z-isomer. In addition it relates its provenance of preference to the remote nN6 → σ*C4-N5 interaction that stabilized it by 1.10 kcal/mol. A thorough theoretical investigation of the tautomerization reaction between ketenimine and acetonitrile will be published in a separate contribution.


Using data from the University of Maryland's Global Terrorism Database II, this paper first provides information on the nature of terrorist incidents in India in the period 1998-2004: the Indian states that were worst affected by terrorist incidents and fatalities; the terrorist groups responsible for such incidents and their modus operandi. Next, the paper focuses on the issue of fatalities from terrorist incidents. It inquires into the extent to which the number of fatalities following an incident was influenced by the type of attack (bombings, armed assault, etc.) and the extent to which it was influenced by the type of terrorist group. By examining the number of fatalities resulting from terrorist attacks in India, the paper disentangles the influence on this number of attack type and attack group. Lastly, the paper applies Atkinson's concept of equality-adjusted income to terrorism to arrive at the concept of equality-adjusted deaths from terrorist incidents: in order to avoid spectacular incidents resulting in the loss of a large number of lives—as in New York on September 11, 2001 and in Mumbai 26–29 November 2008—"society" might be prepared to tolerate "low-grade" terrorism which resulted in a larger number of deaths in total but avoided a large number of deaths from a single iconic incident.


The purpose of this paper is to offer a critical assessment of the way in which the internet and online material features as part of the process individuals embark on to plan acts of terrorism. The paper begins by evaluating concepts used to describe the role of the internet in the context of terrorism and political violence before analysing a single case study in detail in order to explore particular nuances that emerge which shed light on the relationship between perpetrator on the one hand and online content and behaviour on the other. The case study, in turn, is developed into a conceptual appraisal of terrorist use of the internet. The paper concludes by exploring the important distinction between the "theoretical" application of online learning as set out in terrorist propaganda and the hurdles that individuals face in practice.


Antigen stimulation of mast cells via FcepsilonRI, the high-affinity receptor for IgE, triggers a signaling cascade that requires Ca(2+) mobilization for exocytosis of secretory granules during an allergic response. This study investigates critical signaling components by using mutant RBL mast cells that are defective in antigen-stimulated phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma) activation, as well as other signaling activities downstream of stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation. We show that the expression of activated versions of the Cdc42 or Rac1 GTPase restores antigen-stimulated Ca(2+) mobilization necessary for degranulation in these mutant cells. Wild-type Cdc42 and Rac1, as well as activated Cdc42 containing effector domain mutations, all fail to restore antigen-stimulated signaling leading to exocytosis. Expression of oncogenic Dbl, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Cdc42 and Rac1, partially restores sustained Ca(2+) mobilization and degranulation, suggesting that activation of endogenous Cdc42 and/or Rac1 is impaired in the mutant cells. Overexpression of PLCgamma1 with either activated Cdc42 or Rac1 synergistically stimulates degranulation, consistent with a critical defect in PLCgamma activation in these cells. Thus, our results point to activation of Cdc42 and/or Rac1 playing an essential role in antigen stimulation of early events that culminate in mast cell degranulation.


In this thesis the development of an asymmetric version and synthetic applications of the Pd(II)-catalyzed 1,4-oxidation of conjugated dienes are described. The thesis is divided into four parts:(i) The first part concerns the design and synthesis of chiral p-benzoquinones as ligands in the Pd(II)-catalyzed 1,4-diacetoxylation. A p-benzoquinone substituted with a tert-butyl group and a chiral sulfoxide was found to be the best ligand. Optimization of the reaction conditions yielded an enantiomeric excess of 45%.(ii) The asymmetric version of the Pd(II)-catalyzed 1,4-dialkoxylation was also examined. In this case a C2-symmetric p-benzoquinone, with aminoalcohols as chiral units, was the best ligand employed in the reaction, and gave enantioselectivities up to 54% ee. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed.(iii) The synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds utilizing the intramolecular version of the 1,4-oxidation is described. In this study hydroxyl or nitrogen groups were used as the internal nucleophile and various alcohols were employed as the second nucleophile. Both spirocycles and fused heterocycles were obtained. When the hydroxyl group was used as the internal nucleophile the products were generated in good to excellent yield with high regio- and stereoselectivities. With nitrogen as the internal nucleophile the regioselectivity was found to be dependent on the nature of the second nucleophile.(iv) In the last part of the thesis the synthesis of epibatidine and its phenyl analogues are described. Here, one of the key-steps is the Pd(II)-catalyzed 1,4-chloroacetoxylation of aryl substituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes giving only one regio- and stereoisomer in moderate to good yields. Another key-step is a stereoselective hydrogenation, which afforded the required 1,2-cis or 1,2-trans relationship between the nitrogen and the aryl substituent.


Dermal reactions are the most frequently reported chemical health-related occupational hazard. Identifying dermal sensitizers is important for improving workplace safety. This paper takes a close look at the physico-chemical properties and results from the Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA) to better understand and predict potent dermal sensitizers. The LLNA was used to identify 28 pharmaceutical agents or chemical intermediates as potent dermal sensitizers, EC3 < 1%. Certain parameters were examined to determine if there was any predictability to identify potent dermal sensitizers. These included a computer structure activity analysis using Derek® for Windows, molecular weight (Mw), calculated log P, and the log-linear extrapolation approach for estimating the potency. With Derek® for Windows, 13 compounds were identified as negative and 15 as positive for structural alerts, the most common being haloalkanes, and hydrazines. Additional mechanisms of reactivity were postulated for the remaining compounds. The examination of the Mw showed that all molecules had Mw < 550 Da. For 21 compounds, the interpolated vs extrapolated methods for determining the EC3 value were compared. For eight of the 21 compounds, the extrapolated EC3 was in the correct order of magnitude, eight were incorrect (five were too high and three were too low) and five could not be calculated. The use of a tiered approach including examination of the structural and physico-chemical properties and the LLNA to identify potent dermal sensitizers is integral in the selection of effective safe handling guidance to protect from sensitization hazards.


Purpose: To assess the success rate of retinal reattachment surgery in localized re-detachment in Silicon oil filled eyes which had previously undergone primary retinal detachment (RD) repair with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicon oil. Study Design: Retrospective cross sectional case series. Place and Duration: Farooq Hospital and Medicare eye centre, Lahore from October 2016 to November 2017. Material and Methods: All those patients were included in our study who underwent primary retinal attachment surgery with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and silicon oil for complicated retinal detachment as an internal tamponade and later presented with localized inferior retinal detachment within 6 months of previous RD repair. Patients with total detachment, extensive PVR, retinal shortening, gas tamponade, total Re RD, and external scleral buckle were excluded. Two ports were made under local anesthesia instead of three conventional ports, simple non irrigation vitrectomy technique was used to achieve retinal reattachment under silicon oil without exchange of SO. Results: Ten eyes of ten patients were included, eight (8) males and two (2) females. The age range was from 18 to 79 years. Most common cause of re detachment (RD) in all cases was proliferative retinopathy (PVR) followed by retinal break. The new retinal break was identifiable in three (3) cases. All cases attained anatomical success in term of complete retinal attachment after second operation in one year follow up period. Conclusion: Simple non irrigation vitrectomy surgical technique under local anesthesia is effective, economical and time saving as compared to complicated three port vitrectomy with oil exchange. Keywords: Silicon oil, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, proliferative retinopathy, retinal break, Perflourocarbon.


Despite significant scientific advances in research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the psychological and behavioral symptoms of this pathological condition remain hard to understand, until they seem paradoxical. The present work seeks to consider the significance and potential contribution of a phenomenological reading of OCD and how phenomenalism has influenced some cognitive models of this disorder. Transcendental phenomenology is a philosophical approach that attaches primary importance to intuitive experience and considers all phenomena intrinsically associated with the subject's inner world. Thus, the subject's intuition is considered the starting point for understanding their essential experience. This approach has had a profound influence on modern cognitive sciences. Among current cognitive models, post-rationalist cognitivism and cognitive neuropsychological psychotherapy seem most effective in capturing the world experiences of OCD patients. Both apply a phenomenological approach to identify these experiences, which are typically characterized by hyper-reflexivity, at the expense of 'natural evidence.' The models have found that OCD patients experience the world emotionally as a sterile set of rules, and this experience determines their suffering.


Background ER-positive (ER+ ) breast cancer includes all of the intrinsic molecular subtypes, although the luminal A and B subtypes predominate. In this study, we evaluated the ability of six clinically relevant genomic signatures to predict relapse in patients with ER+ tumors treated with adjuvant tamoxifen only. Methods Four microarray datasets were combined and research-based versions of PAM50 intrinsic subtyping and risk of relapse (PAM50-ROR) score, 21-gene recurrence score (OncotypeDX), Mammaprint, Rotterdam 76 gene, index of sensitivity to endocrine therapy (SET) and an estrogen-induced gene set were evaluated. Distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) was estimated by Kaplan–Meier and log-rank tests, and multivariable analyses were done using Cox regression analysis. Harrell's C-index was also used to estimate performance. Results All signatures were prognostic in patients with ER+ node-negative tumors, whereas most were prognostic in ER+ node-positive disease. Among the signatures evaluated, PAM50-ROR, OncotypeDX, Mammaprint and SET were consistently found to be independent predictors of relapse. A combination of all signatures significantly increased the performance prediction. Importantly, low-risk tumors (>90% DRFS at 8.5 years) were identified by the majority of signatures only within node-negative disease, and these tumors were mostly luminal A (78%–100%). Conclusions Most established genomic signatures were successful in outcome predictions in ER+ breast cancer and provided statistically independent information. From a clinical perspective, multiple signatures combined together most accurately predicted outcome, but a common finding was that each signature identified a subset of luminal A patients with node-negative disease who might be considered suitable candidates for adjuvant endocrine therapy alone.


Phosphate binders are necessary to control hyperphosphataemia in the majority of dialysis patients. Whilst aluminium salts are efficient phosphate binders, their use is associated with toxic side effects. Calcium salts are a widely used alternative, but hypercalcaemia is a common side effect, limiting their use and raising concern about metastatic calcification. Reduction of the dialysis fluid calcium concentration has been shown to reduce hypercalcaemia in haemodialysis patients, with an associated decrease in serum PTH. We analysed the effect of reduced calcium/magnesium (1.25/0.25 mmol/l), 40 mmol/l lactate, PD fluid (PD4) on 11 CAPD patients with uncontrollable hypercalcaemia (> 2.65 mmol/l) and hyperphosphataemia (> 1.80 mmol/l). Only 1 patient remained hypercalcaemic, while phosphate fell in 6 patients (2.23 +/- 0.16 on no binder, to 1.68 +/- 0.08 mmol/l at 6 months (p < 0.05), but was unchanged in 5 (2.10 +/- 0.15 to 2.48 +/- 0.14 mmol/l [p = NS]). Overall mean calcium x phosphate product changed little. However, in a subgroup it fell significantly (p < 0.05). Geometric mean iPTH rose, but not significantly. The subgroup of patients whose calcium x phosphate product fell, exhibited a much smaller rise in iPTH than the others (57.3-73.2 vs. 52.8-167.1 pg/ml). 1.25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 was subnormal in all patients. Mean serum magnesium fell from 1.24 +/- 0.06 to 0.89 +/- 0.04 mmol/l (p < 0.001), whilst mean serum bicarbonate rose significantly (25.2 +/- 0.4 to 28.9 +/- 1.2 mmol/l; p < 0.01). Withdrawal of aluminium-containing phosphate binders resulted in mean serum aluminium falling significantly from 31.1 +/- 5.7 at start of PD4 to 15.4 +/- 2.7 mu g/l at 6 months (p < 0.05). In summary, in around 50% of CAPD patients with persistent hypercalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia, reduction in PD fluid calcium can produce significant improvement in phosphate, reduction of calcium x phosphate product, and enable avoidance of aluminium-containing phosphate binders. Patients whose calcium and phosphate control remains poor, still benefit from the reduction, or cessation, of oral aluminium intake.


We introduce the technique of "Bit Bending," a particularly fertile technique for circuit bending which involves short circuits and manipulations upon digital serial information. We present a justification for computer modeling of circuit-bent instruments, with deference to the movement's aversion to "theory-true" design and associations with chance discovery [1]. To facilitate software modeling of Bit Bending, we also present a software library for modeling certain classes of digital integrated circuits. A synthesis architecture case study (frequency modulation via numerically controlled oscillators) demonstrates software modeling of Bit Bending in action.


OBJECTIVES
Our study describes and analyses the results from aortopexy for the treatment of airway malacia in children.

METHODS
Demographic data, characteristics and preoperative, operative and outcome details, including the need for reintervention, were collected for children undergoing aortopexy between 2006 and 2016.

RESULTS
One hundred patients [median age 8.2 months, interquartile range (IQR) 3.3-26.0 months] underwent aortopexy. Sixty-four (64%) patients had tracheomalacia (TM) only, 24 (24%) patients had TM extending into their bronchus (tracheobronchomalacia) and 11 (11%) patients had bronchomalacia. Forty-one (41%) children had gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, of which 17 (41%) children underwent a Nissen fundoplication. Twenty-eight (28%) children underwent a tracheo-oesophageal fistula repair prior to aortopexy (median 5.7 months, IQR 2.9-17.6 months). The median duration of follow-up was 5.3 years (IQR 2.9-7.5 years). Thirty-five (35%) patients were on mechanical ventilatory support before aortopexy. Twenty-seven (77%) patients could be safely weaned from ventilator support during the same admission after aortopexy (median 2 days, IQR 0-3 days). Fourteen patients required reintervention. Overall mortality was 16%. Multivariable analysis revealed preoperative ventilation (P = 0.004) and bronchial involvement (P = 0.004) to be adverse predictors of survival. Only bronchial involvement was a predictor for reintervention (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS
Aortopexy appears to be an effective procedure in the treatment of children with severe airway malacia. Bronchial involvement is associated with adverse outcome, and other procedures could be more suitable. For the treatment of severe airway malacia with isolated airway compression, we currently recommend aortopexy to be considered.


Do terrorist attacks by transnational groups lead governments to restrict human rights? Conventional wisdom holds that governments restrict rights to forestall additional attacks, to more effectively pursue suspected terrorists, and as an excuse to suppress their political opponents. But the logic connecting terrorist attacks to subsequent repression and the empirical research that addresses this issue suffer from important flaws. We analyze pooled data on the human rights behavior of governments from 1981 to 2003. Our key independent variable of interest is transnational terrorist attacks, and the analysis also controls for factors that existing studies have found influence respect for human rights. Repeated terrorist attacks lead governments to engage in more extrajudicial killings and disappearances, but have no discernable influence on government use of torture and of political imprisonment or on empowerment rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion. This finding has important implications for how we think about the effects of terrorism and the policy responses of states, non-governmental organizations, and international institutions interested in protecting human rights.


The use of Emotional Intelligence (EI) questionnaires and scales in the workplace has been growing rapidly over the last decade. EI has been a popular measure to develop key competencies in staff in the workplace and has started to be used in guiding staff recruitment and selection. Because most questionnaires involve self report assessment, the use of EI scales to assist in employee recruitment may be compromised if test-takers are able to fake good responses to the scales or to show social desirability. The current study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) as measured by the Workplace version of the Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Test (SUEIT), and a new social desirability scale designed specifically for the Workplace – the Social Desirability Questionnaire (WSDQ) in 79 participants. A weak relationship between EI and social desirability was observed, and this relationship was stronger with the SUEIT dimensions of Emotional Control and Emotional Management than with the other dimensions. Social desirability was experimentally manipulated by examining the relationship between EI and WSDQ in two groups. The first group (N=34) completed the questionnaires anonymously and were told that no feedback was to be provided. The second group of participants (N=45) were informed that they would receive detailed feedback about their EI. EI did not significantly differ between the two feedback conditions. The results indicated that there is not significant or substantial relationships between self report EI and social desirability. The results of this study have significant implications for the use of self-report EI scales in employee recruitment.


A Cellular-Automaton Finite-Volume-Method (CAFVM) algorithm has been developed, coupling with macroscopic model for heat transfer calculation and microscopic models for nucleation and growth. The solution equations have been solved to determine the timedependent constitutional undercooling and interface retardation during solidification. The constitutional undercooling is then coupled into the CAFVM algorithm to investigate both the effects of thermal and constitutional undercooling on columnar growth and crystal selection in the columnar zone, and formation of equiaxed crystals in the bulk liquid. The model cannot only simulate microstructures of alloys but also investigates nucleation mechanisms and growth kinetics of alloys solidified with various solute concentrations and solidification morphologies.


The Supreme Court of the United States is the most insulated institution in the federal government. Scholars suggest that justices on the Court engage in strategic behavior, rather than sincere judicial behavior. The certiorari stage is a particular point of interest for scholars that believe justices engage in strategic voting. However, prior research has not included cases that were denied, in which strategic behavior is also evident. A logistic regression of individual justice votes to grant or deny certiorari in 499 cases during the 1986-1993 Rehnquist Court terms shows that justices routinely engage in strategic behavior at the certiorari stage. They are responsive to both institutional and external factors when deciding to vote to grant or deny certiorari.


This study uses data from a sample of 7,404 respondents from Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine how the quality of relationships between parents (mother–father) and relationships between parents and children during adolescence (mother–adolescent and resident father–adolescent) influence children's romantic relationship quality in young adulthood. This study also examined whether these family of origin factors operate similarly or differently for children raised with biological fathers and married stepfathers. Results indicate that mother–(step)father, mother–adolescent, and resident (step)father–adolescent relationship quality are all positively associated with adult children's romantic relationship quality. However, the association between mother–(step)father relationship quality and young adult children's romantic relationship quality was stronger for those who resided in stepfamilies.


BACKGROUND
Limited data exist on the immunogenicity of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) vaccine among immunocompromised persons, including those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

METHODS
We compared the immunogenicity and tolerability of a single dose of the monovalent 2009 influenza A (H1N1) vaccine (strain A/California/7/2009H1N1) between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adults 18-50 years of age. The primary end point was an antibody titer of ≥ 1:40 at day 28 after vaccination in those with a prevaccination level of ≤ 1:10, as measured by hemagglutination-inhibition assay. Geometric mean titers, influenza-like illnesses, and tolerability were also evaluated.

RESULTS
One hundred thirty-one participants were evaluated (65 HIV-infected and 66 HIV-uninfected patients), with a median age of 35 years (interquartile range, 27-42 years). HIV-infected persons had a median CD4 cell count of 581 cells/mm(3) (interquartile range, 476-814 cells/mm(3)) , and 82% were receiving antiretroviral medications. At baseline, 35 patients (27%) had antibody titers of >1:10. HIV-infected patients (29 [56%] of 52), compared with HIV-uninfected persons (35 [80%] of 44), were significantly less likely to develop an antibody response (odds ratio, .20; P = .003). Changes in the median geometric mean titer from baseline to day 28 were also significantly lower in HIV-infected patients than in HIV-uninfected persons (75 vs 153; P = .001). Five influenza-like illnesses occurred (2 cases in HIV-infected persons), but none was attributable to the 2009 influenza H1N1 virus. The vaccine was well tolerated in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Despite high CD4 cell counts and receipt of antiretroviral medications, HIV-infected adults generated significantly poorer antibody responses, compared with HIV-uninfected persons. Future studies evaluating a 2-dose series or more-immunogenic influenza A (H1N1) vaccines among HIV-infected adults are needed (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00996970).


A 65-year-old patient, ex-smoker, with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) had been on home non invasive ventilatory support for three years when he experienced gradual increase of dyspnoea. The chest radiograph showed large bullae occupying most of the right hemithorax, with compression of lung tissue, mediastinal shift, and compression of the left lower lobe. Bullectomy resulted in rapid clinical and radiographic improvement. This is the first report of beneficial effects of emergency bullectomy in FSHD. Bullectomy has proved most successful in patients with localized bullae and compression of surrounding lung tissue. Patients with respiratory infections and bronchiectasis benefit less.


Molecular dynamics (MD) is a powerful computational method for simulating molecular behavior. Deep neural networks provide a novel method of generating MD data efficiently, but there is no architecture that mitigates the well-known exposure bias accumulated by multi-step generations. In this paper, we propose a multi-step time series generator using a deep neural network based on Wasserstein generative adversarial nets. Instead of sparse real data, our model evolves a latent variable z that is densely distributed in a low-dimensional space. This novel framework successfully mitigates the exposure bias. Moreover, our model can evolve part of the system (Feature extraction) with any time step (Step skip), which accelerates the efficient generation of MD data. The applicability of this model is evaluated through three different systems: harmonic oscillator, bulk water, and polymer melts. The experimental results demonstrate that our model can generate time series of the MD data with sufficient accuracy to calculate the physical and important dynamical statistics.


In referring to the sources of his work Ferdowsi uses different terms, including dafter-e Pahlavi. A number of scholars have often considered this term refers to the language of Shahnameh, and thus have assumed that Ferdowsi had been able to read and understand this language. Pahlavi, or Fahlavi, however, does not necessarily mean the middle Persian language but either an old dialect used by the inhabitants of the Jibal or the flowery and eloquent literary Persian. Pahlavi, in this context, may also mean a linguistic style of tremendous complexity and nuance that does not lend itself to easy understanding.


As the concern for food safety increases among consumers today, the foodservice industry inevitably has to strive to meet the required food hygiene quality. Previous literatures have widely suggested the significant role of food safety in consumer purchase intention. Yet, theoretical model in understanding how food hygiene influences consumer behavioral intention in purchasing food away from home is lacking. Drawing from the theory of perceived risk, this study empirically examined the mediating effect of perceived risk on the relationship between food hygiene standard of an eating establishment and consumer purchase intention.
A survey was conducted on two types of foodservice establishments (i.e. quick service restaurant, QSR and full service restaurant, FSR). A total of 525 adult respondents (260 from QSR and 265 from FSR) were selected following a systematic random purposive sampling procedure. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three underlying factors of food hygiene (i.e. preparation and serving process, staff and handling practices, and food) from consumers' point of view. A model incorporating the three factors was developed using structural equation modeling.
The assessment of the overall structural model for FSR and QSR indicated that the effect of food hygiene on consumer perceived risk and purchase intention differed between the two types of foodservice establishments. Results showed that the effect of food hygiene factors on consumer purchase intention differs between FSR and QSR. It is suggested that the menu price paid to dine in an establishment may influence the impact of food hygiene on purchase intention. Consumers are more tolerant and would not expect everything of high standard of hygiene if they were to pay less. On the contrary, consumers anticipate high standard of food hygiene with the relatively high menu price paid. In addition, results showed that the food hygiene factors influence consumer perceived risk in FSR and QSR differently. The perceived risk is expected be affected by the invisibility of food hygiene factors. Consumers tend to be optimistic about the potential risk when food hygiene is not apparent to them.
Finally, this study demonstrated that perceived risk is only a partial mediator. From consumers' point of view food hygiene need not be associated with food safety matters. Consumers are unable to differentiate food hygiene as food safety related factors from those reflect only aesthetics value. Moreover, consumers may not have the right judgment regarding the risk associated with food hygiene.


At the beginning of May, the LHC declared the start of a new physics season for its experiments. The "Stable Beams" visible on the LHC Page 1 screen (see image above) is the "go ahead" for all the experiments to start taking data for physics. Since 25 March, when the LHC was switched back on after its winter break, the accelerator complex and experiments have been fi ne-tuned using low-intensity beams and pilot proton collisions, and now the LHC and the experiments are taking an abundance of data. The short circuit that occurred at the end of April, caused by a small beech marten that had found its way onto a large, open-air electrical transformer situated above ground, resulted in a delay of only a few days in the LHC running schedule. The relevant part of the LHC stopped immediately and safely after the short circuit, and the entire machine remained in standby mode for a few days. Now, the four largest LHC experiment collaborations, ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb, have started to collect and analyse the 2016 data (see images above). Last year, operators increased the number of proton bunches to 2244 per beam, spaced at intervals of 25 ns. These enabled the ATLAS and CMS collaborations to study data from about 400 million million proton–proton collisions. In 2016, operators will increase the number of particles circulating in the machine and the squeezing of the beams in the collision regions. The LHC will generate up to one-billion collisions per second in the experiments. The physics run with protons will last six months. The machine will then be set up for a four-week run colliding protons with lead ions. Data to physics t h E L h C


Purpose: To accurately characterize anatomical age, gender, and racial differences in normal nasolacrimal canal morphology and to describe a new, accurate technique for measuring nasolacrimal canal parameters based on high-resolution CT. Methods: The CT images of 72 patients were reviewed retrospectively and grouped according to age, gender, and race. Patients with history of long-term sinusitis, facial trauma, or nasolacrimal duct pathology were excluded from study. Variations in nasolacrimal duct length, minimal and maximal diameter, and other metrics were recorded and compared across each category. All patient records were deidentified to protect privacy. Results: Nasolacrimal canal length and volume were significantly greater in men than those in women. A trend was noted for greater canal cross-sectional diameter in patients older than 50 years when compared with that in younger patients. Significant differences in canal diameters were noted at the canal apex and base of older patients compared with those of younger patients. The cross-sectional area of the canal base was greater in black patients than that in Caucasian patients. Conclusions: Although some significant age, gender, and racial variations of nasolacrimal canal morphology exist, these do not fully explain the epidemiology of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The new method described here for measuring nasolacrimal canal metrics is straightforward and theoretically more accurate than those previously defined in the literature. (Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2013;29:475–480)


Copyright law's constitutional mandate is to advance artistic progress for the public good by granting authors a set of exclusive rights. When considered in the context of creative endeavors that build upon preexisting, already copyrighted works, however, this seemingly straightforward objective becomes more complicated: in this situation, the law must balance the incentive to prepare the initial work with the incentive for improvement and continued progress in the form of derivative works, which can be inhibited by the rights conferred on the author of the preexisting work. Indeed, allowing individuals broad rights to exclude the public, for the benefit of the public, presents a contradiction in intellectual property law when those individual rights are invoked to prohibit absolutely the production of derivative works, as some courts have permitted copyright litigants to do.A blocking copyrights doctrine would help to relieve that uneasy and unnecessary result. Such a doctrine would be similar to the well-established blocking patents approach to overlapping inventions in intellectual property law, and would allow an unauthorized improver of a preexisting copyrighted work to practice, and retain rights to, the original contributions in her derivative work, subject to compensation for use of the preexisting work. In addition to looking to patent law for guidance, the law relating to improvers of tangible property is also instructive in addressing the dilemma of unauthorized derivative authors in the copyright system: that body of law offers even greater acceptance and encouragement of the efforts of subsequent users of property.Although copyright law, when compared to both patent law and the law of tangible property, presents equally, if not more, compelling reasons for granting an improver relief, a blocking doctrine has not been accepted by the courts in the copyright context. As this Article demonstrates, courts' failure to accept the doctrine is in part due to a misunderstanding of the statutory provisions governing derivative works. In addition to correcting this misunderstanding, the Article points to recent decisions relating to remedies in copyright cases that further open the door to implementation of a doctrine of blocking copyrights. Taking this opportunity to incorporate the more favorable treatment of improvers seen in cases involving tangible property, this Article suggests that courts revisit copyright law's treatment of unauthorized improvers and utilize key principles of a blocking copyrights doctrine in the remedies stage of an infringement action. Specifically, this Article argues that courts should use the relief granted to copyright plaintiffs as a vehicle to allow for a more nuanced, principled approach to infringement by unauthorized derivative authors. This Article suggests criteria for when and how courts should incorporate into their remedies determinations features of the law that more appropriately account for the contributions of improvers, thereby effecting important aspects of a blocking copyrights doctrine, if not wholesale adoption of it.


Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) eradicates tumors by intratumoral catalytic chemical reaction and subsequently disrupts redox homeostasis, which shows tumor specific reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated therapy. However, insufficient ROS generation and high levels of glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells have limited the therapeutic efficacy of CDT. Herein, we constructed a multifunctional oxidative stress nanoamplifier with ROS amplification and GSH exhaustion for enhanced CDT. Such a sandwich-like nanoamplifier comprised layer-by-layer artesunate (AS) and calcium carbonate coatings on the surface of manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles. The nanoamplifier was disassembled under an acidic environment once accumulated into tumor sites, and subsequently released AS to replenish the intratumoral peroxide pool for ROS amplification. Besides being an AS carrier, MnO2 exhausted GSH to yield Mn2+ ions that catalyzed the overexpression of H2O2 in the tumor, further intensifying the oxidative stress and facilitating cancer cell death. Taken together, our findings not only provide a paradigm for fabricating intratumoral catalytic nanomaterials, but also present a new ROS enhancement strategy to improve anti-tumor efficacy. Our multifunctional oxidative stress nanoamplifier might broaden the future of CDT.


The synthesis of Ti3C2Tx (and Ti2CTx alike) MXenes is performed with a new etching environment (FeF3/HCl). Significant differences in terms of surface functionalization (including the insertion of iron cations between the MXene sheets), morphology, nature of impurities, water intercalation and reactivity are obtained in comparison with samples prepared by conventional HF or LiF/HCl etching methods. In particular, the new synthesis method allows modifying the reactivity of Ti3C2vs. water with improved selectivity towards the formation of TiO2 anatase nanoparticles on the MXene sheets whereas rutile TiO2 nanoparticles are favoured by the LiF/HCl method. The role of the Fen+ and Al3+ cations inherent to this synthesis process in the inhibition of the anatase to rutile transformation is shown to be a key parameter. In addition, the MXene oxidation rate in water is also increased when the material is prepared with FeF3/HCl compared to the LiF/HCl method owing to the surface modification of the MXene during the etching step. This oxidation rate can easily be tuned by adjusting the duration of immersion. This work expands the number of etching methods to form MXenes while offering new opportunities in the rationalized design of MXene@TiO2 nanocomposite structures for future applications.


The present study is an in depth empirical study of dowry-related offences. It makes a critical analysis of judicial activism - a new development - in liberating women. The specific objective of this paper was to study the socio-educational profile of victims of dowry offences and relate it to the socio-cultural practice of dowry. It also makes an analysis of the laws related to dowry and their effectiveness. The findings of the study show that section 498-A and section 304-B have provided teeth to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, but Article 51-A of the constitution remains ineffective because the socio-cultural norms related to the practice of dowry have remained unchanged and therefore, the practice of giving and receiving dowry continues as such. Even otherwise law abiding citizens are giving and receiving dowry. Adequate social awareness and education is necessary, along with legal punishment, to do away with this evil practice.


This study examines the relationship between dividend and pension funds holdings using a sample of non-financial firms listed on the London Stock Exchange for the period of March 1997 to December 2008. March 1997 data are included since this was the only period for which ownership data was available prior to an important change in taxation. The study questions whether pension funds are attracted to firms with high dividend payouts and examines whether pension funds appear to be: (1) recipients of managerial decision making, or (2) in a position to influence decision making. Based on UK evidence, the study finds that whilst higher dividend payout does not appear to influence pension funds investment, a policy of stable increases in dividend for five consecutive years is significantly related to the level as well as changes in pension fund ownership. The result implies that whilst pension funds may not require dividend payouts for their investment purpose, they do expect stable increases in dividend if a firm does pay a dividend and are likely to increase their ownership when companies begin to follow a policy of stable increases in dividend payout. The beneficial taxation of dividends for pension funds was reduced when the tax credits available to pension funds prior to July 1997 were removed. This study finds, albeit using a limited time frame prior to this change, pension funds tended to invest in firms with a higher dividend payout rather than a low dividend payout. Further analysis suggests that pension funds may have some influence on firms' dividend policies when payout is proxied by dividend to book value. However, the relationship is not proven when the study repeats the analysis using dividend per share and dividend to earnings. Therefore, the study suggests that pension funds are merely recipients of managerial decision making and react positively to a policy of stable increases in dividend payout but they do not appear to influence firms' dividend policy. Overall, the study provides insights into potential explanations for the role of dividend policy in attracting pension fund investors, and for the relationship between pension funds and dividend payouts in UK.


In this reported work, we study a major X-class flare (X9.3) that arose from NOAA Active Region (AR) 12673 on 2017 September 6, from 11:53 UT to 12:10 UT in multi-wavelength views. This event also produced a fast coronal mass ejection (CME). NOAA AR 12673 emerged at S09W30 on 2017 September 6 and grew rapidly to a large AR. On 2017 September 9, the maximum area of this AR was 1060 millionth of the solar hemisphere. The group of sunspots disappeared over the west limb of the Sun (S09W83) on September 10. It was a fast emerging flux region. The group of sunspots showed magnetic configuration category alpha-beta-gamma. We identified their earliest signatures of eruption in AIA 94 Å images with initialization and successive rapid growth from low coronal heights of hot channeled structures. On the other hand, the CME associated with this flare event triggered the intense Dst at 1AU (−142nT). We have acquired observations and analyze the reported event from the Sun's surface, corona (source AR), interplanetary space and in-situ measurement near Earth. In addition, here we analyze the complex processes of CME-CME interaction that have contributed a significant role to make the reported event so geoeffective.


GUNDERSEN, Melissa, Geology, SUNY New Paltz, 1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY 12561, email@example.com, VOLLMER, Frederick W., Geology, SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY 12401, MAINWARING, Nicole E., Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Pacific, 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 92511, BURMEISTER, Kurtis C., Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Pacific, 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95211, WALKER, Jeffrey R., Earth Science and Geography, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave, Box 735, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, and KUIPER, Yvette D., Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401 Analysis of deformation associated with the Rosendale thrust fault in the Appalachian fold-thrust belt was conducted as part of an effort to resolve the style and age of deformation within the New York recess. This study focuses on an excellent exposure of the Rosendale thrust in Rosendale, NY. The thrust is associated with the northernmost central Appalachian Valley and Ridge fold-thrust belt, which forms the 030-trending southern arm of the Kingston orocline. The northern arm is the 010-trending Hudson Valley fold-thrust belt. They have been interpreted as Alleghanian and Acadian respectively. The hanging wall of the thrust is the Silurian Shawangunk Fm, which is well exposed in the roof of an abandoned quarry where dolostone of the Rosendale Member of the Silurian Rondout Fm was mined from the footwall. The minimum stratigraphic separation is estimated as 50 m. The fault is parallel to bedding in the hanging wall and footwall, but cuts up-section along a ramp to the south. Kinematic indicators including stepped slickenfibers, Riedel shears, crescentic chatter marks, and meter scale groove lineations are well exposed in the hanging wall. The footwall contains a spaced cleavage (S1) with intensity dependent on lithology and proximity to the fault. The fault strikes 030 and dips 51 SE. The mean S1 strikes 037 and dips 88 SE, 36 degrees from the fault. The mean slip directions (declination/inclination) were determined in several ways: from fault/S1 intersections, 320/-44, from fracture traces, 304/-48, from slickenfibers, 327/-48, and from groove lineations, 294/-51. Two local sets of overprinted slickenfibers were observed near a minor splay fault. The mean of one (SSA) is 329/-42, the other (SSB) is 243/-36. A synoptic plot and M-plane analysis show that all kinematic indicators except SSB are consistent with a reverse displacement with a minor left-lateral component. SSB has a pitch of 51, indicating a right lateral component, interpreted as related to the splay fault. Overall, brittle and ductile kinematic indicators demonstrate a thrust displacement history consistent with the trend of the southern arm of the orocline. X-ray characterization and 40Ar/39Ar dating of illite from a 0.8 m gouge zone within the Rosendale thrust is underway to resolve whether the observed deformation is Acadian, Alleghanian, or a combination.


Making an unbiased library Sequencing the genome of single cells gives insight into issues such as cell-to-cell heterogeneity and genome instability. Key to single-cell sequencing techniques are whole-genome amplification (WGA) methods that provide sufficient DNA for next-generation sequencing. Current WGA methods have been hampered by low accuracy and spatial resolution of gene copy numbers and by low amplification fidelity. Chen et al. report an improved single-cell WGA method, Linear Amplification via Transposon Insertion (LIANTI). The DNA is randomly fragmented by Tn5 transposition of a transposon that includes a T7 promoter, which allows linear amplification. The authors used the method to determine the spectrum of single-nucleotide variations in a single human cell after ultraviolet radiation. Science, this issue p. 189 An improved whole-genome amplification method reduces amplification bias and errors. Single-cell genomics is important for biology and medicine. However, current whole-genome amplification (WGA) methods are limited by low accuracy of copy-number variation (CNV) detection and low amplification fidelity. Here we report an improved single-cell WGA method, Linear Amplification via Transposon Insertion (LIANTI), which outperforms existing methods, enabling micro-CNV detection with kilobase resolution. This allowed direct observation of stochastic firing of DNA replication origins, which differs from cell to cell. We also show that the predominant cytosine-to-thymine mutations observed in single-cell genomics often arise from the artifact of cytosine deamination upon cell lysis. However, identifying single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) can be accomplished by sequencing kindred cells. We determined the spectrum of SNVs in a single human cell after ultraviolet radiation, revealing their nonrandom genome-wide distribution.


Seaweed contains various nutrients that has the potential to be a source of nutritious food, but only a few studies done on the red seaweeds in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the macronutrients content, amino acid profile and fatty acid component in Kappaphycus alvarezii and Kappaphycus striatum. The study found that the range of moisture, fat, ash, protein, fiber and carbohydrates content for both red seaweeds were 6.9% - 7.3%, 0.5% - 2.6%, 29.4% - 30.9%, 2.5% - 5.7% , 5.3% - 5.5% and 50.1% - 53.3% respectively. A total of 16 amino acids were identified in which the essential amino acid for K. alvarezii and K. striatum were 41.11% and 36.15% respectively. A total of 34 fatty acids were identified in which the content of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was the highest (42.7% - 72.8%), followed by mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (13.8% - 36.2%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was the lowest (13.5% - 21.2%). In conclusion, this study suggest that K. alvarezii and K. striatum are potentially be used as raw materials or food ingredients to improve the nutritional value of the human diet. DOI :  http://dx.doi.org./10.17576/JSKM-2017-1502-03


Action potentials arising from retinal ganglion cells ultimately create visual percepts. In persons blind from retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, viable retinal ganglion cells remain, and the retina can be stimulated electrically to restore partial sight. However, it is unclear what neuronal elements in the retina are activated by epiretinal electrical stimulation. This study investigated the effects of cellular geometry, electrode to neuron distance, stimulus duration, and stimulus polarity on excitation of a retinal ganglion cell with an epiretinal electrode. Computer-based compartmental models representing simplified retinal ganglion cell morphology provided evidence that the threshold for excitation was lower when an electrode was located in proximity to the characteristic 90/spl deg/ bend in the axon of the retinal ganglion cell than when it was located over a passing axon of the nerve fiber layer. This electrode-position-dependent difference in threshold occurred with both cathodic and anodic monophasic stimuli, with point source and disk electrodes, at multiple electrode-to-neuron distances, and was robust to changes in the electrical properties of the model. This finding reveals that the physical geometry of the retinal ganglion cells produces stimulation thresholds that depend strongly on electrode position. The low excitation thresholds near the bend in the axon will result in activation of cells local to the electrode at lower currents than required to excite passing axons. This pattern of activation provides a potential explanation of how epiretinal electrical stimulation results in the production of punctuate, rather than diffuse or streaky phosphenes.


The present study describes the development of a new type of aerated membrane bioreactor referred to as a biologically activated membrane bioreactor (BAMBi) for on-site treatment of high-strength wastewater. The treated wastewater is reused for flushing and personal hygiene. BAMBi is an adaptation of a gravity-driven membrane reactor, originally developed for the purpose of treating river water to drinking water quality. Initially, a series of reactor configurations were tested and it was found that the simplest possible configuration could treat the wastewater to an acceptable standard, provided that a polishing step for color removal and disinfection was introduced. A commercial electrolysis unit was utilized for polishing. The energy consumption of BAMBi is 0.8 kWh/m3 of water treated, which can be considered low for an on-site membrane bio reactor application.


This paper describes the design and implementation of near-minimum-time control laws for the Advance Space Structures Technology Research Experiments test article located at the Phillips Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base. The test article is equipped with compressed air thrusters that can be throttled. The mathematical model of the rotational motion is obtained by using experimental data and includes effects such as thruster dynamics, fuel constraints, leakage, and multibody interactions. Both open-loop and feedback strategies are developed and verified experimentally. The open-loop thruster profiles are generated using constrained parameter optimization. The feedback control profiles are generated using Lyapunov stability theory, for both final position regulation and tracking of the open-loop commands. The results show excellent agreement between theory and experiment.


Spatially synchronous population dynamics have been documented in many taxa. The prevailing view is that the most plausible candidates to explain this pattern are extrinsic disturbances (the Moran effect) and dispersal. In most cases disentangling these factors is difficult. Theoretical studies have shown that dispersal between subpopulations is more likely to produce a negative relationship between population synchrony and distance between the patches than perturbations. As analyses of empirical data frequently show this negative relationship between the level of synchrony and distance between populations, this has emphasized the importance of dispersal as a synchronizing agent. However, several weather patterns show spatial autocorrelation, which could potentially produce patterns in population synchrony similar to those caused by dispersal. By using spatially extended versions of several population dynamic models, we show that this is indeed the case. Our results show that, especially when both factors (spatially autocorrelated perturbations and distance–dependent dispersal) act together, there may exist groups of local populations in synchrony together but fluctuating asynchronously with some other groups of local populations. We also show, by analysing 56 long–term population data sets, that patterns of population synchrony similar to those found in our simulations are found in natural populations as well. This finding highlights the subtlety in the interactions of dispersal and noise in organizing spatial patterns in population fluctuations.


Most users in a mobile environment are moving and accessing wireless services for the activities they are currently engaged in. We propose the idea of complex activity for characterizing the continuously changing complex behavior patterns of mobile users. For the purpose of data management, a complex activity is modeled as a sequence of location movement, service requests, the cooccurrence of location and service, or the interleaving of all above. An activity may be composed of subactivities. Different activities may exhibit dependencies that affect user behaviors. We argue that the complex activity concept provides a more precise, rich, and detail description of user behavioral patterns which are invaluable for data management in mobile environments. Proper exploration of user activities has the potential of providing much higher quality and personalized services to individual user at the right place on the right time. We, therefore, propose new methods for complex activity mining, incremental maintenance, online detection and proactive data management based on user activities. In particular, we devise prefetching and pushing techniques with cost-sensitive control to facilitate predictive data allocation. Preliminary implementation and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed framework and techniques can significantly increase local availability, conserve execution cost, reduce response time, and improve cache utilization.


An area of unique opportunity for SaaS is the mobile and ubiquitous computing space. The SaaS model has a number of advantages that are uniquely suited to a resource-constrained mobile computing environment. This short paper gives a high level overview of the SaaS which brings significant opportunities in this space and further presents the architectural considerations for SaaS providers and mobile computing environments


There is a major transformation taking place in the Arab and Muslim worlds. People in these nations are poised on the edge of a significant new social landscape. Called the Internet, this new frontier not only includes the creation of new forms of private communication, like electronic mail and chat, but also webbased forums, which for the first time enables public discussion between males and females in conservative societies. This paper has been written as a result of an ethnographic study conducted in Saudi Arabia during the period 2001‐2002. The purpose of the study was to understand how online communities in Saudi Arabia are affecting people. The results of the study indicate that while participants to a large extent used online communities in accordance with their cultural values, norms and traditions, the communication medium and the features associated with it, such as the anonymity and lack of social cues, have affected them considerably. For example, many participants became more flexible in their thinking, more aware of the diverse nature of people within their society, less inhibited about the opposite gender, and more self‐confident. On the other hand, participants neglected their family commitments, became less shy and some became confused about some aspects of their culture and religion. These findings and their implications for the Arab and Muslim worlds will be highlighted in this paper.


Hitler deployed the first pilot-less flying bombs, the doodlebugs, as weapons of terror over London. "The drone of the planes," Virginia Woolf related, is "like the sawing of a branch overhead. Round and round it goes, sawing and sawing." It falls to the civilian under aerial attack to "fight with the mind" by "thinking against the current, not with it." Thinking in darkness, thinking in bed, thinking with the unconscious—Woolf defends the supposedly "futile activity of idea-making" as a counterpoint to the drone of war.


We report the first molecular line survey of Supernova 1987A in the millimetre wavelength range. In the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 210–300 and 340– 360 GHz spectra, we detected cold (20–170 K) CO, 28SiO, HCO+ and SO, with weaker lines of 29SiO from ejecta. This is the first identification of HCO+ and SO in a young supernova remnant. We find a dip in the J = 6–5 and 5–4 SiO line profiles, suggesting that the ejecta morphology is likely elongated. The difference of the CO and SiO line profiles is consistent with hydrodynamic simulations, which show that Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities cause mixing of gas, with heavier elements much more disturbed, making more elongated structure. We obtained isotopologue ratios of 28SiO/29SiO > 13, 28SiO/30SiO > 14 and 12CO/13CO > 21, with the most likely limits of 28SiO/29SiO >128, 28SiO/30SiO >189. Low 29Si and 30Si abundances in SN 1987A are consistent with nucleosynthesis models that show inefficient formation of neutron-rich isotopes in a low-metallicity environment, such as the Large Magellanic Cloud. The deduced large mass of HCO+ (∼5 × 10−6 M ) and small SiS mass (<6 × 10−5 M ) might be explained by some mixing of elements immediately after the explosion. The mixing might have caused some hydrogen from the envelope to sink into carbonand oxygen-rich zones after the explosion, enabling the formation of a substantial mass of HCO+. Oxygen atoms may have penetrated into silicon and sulphur zones, suppressing formation of SiS. Our ALMA observations open up a new window to investigate chemistry, dynamics and explosive nucleosynthesis in supernovae.


In vertebrates, DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that modulates gene transcription, and plays crucial roles during development, cell fate maintenance, germ cell pluripotency and inheritable genome imprinting. DNA methylation might also play a role as a genome defense mechanism against the mutational activity derived from transposon mobility. In contrast to the heavily methylated genomes in vertebrates, most genomes in invertebrates are poorly or just moderately methylated, and the function of DNA methylation remains unclear. Here, we review the DNA methylation system in the cephalochordate amphioxus, which belongs to the most basally divergent group of our own phylum, the chordates. First, surveys of the amphioxus genome database reveal the presence of the DNA methylation machinery, DNA methyltransferases and methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins. Second, comparative genomics and analyses of conserved synteny between amphioxus and vertebrates provide robust evidence that the DNA methylation machinery of amphioxus represents the ancestral toolkit of chordates, and that its expansion in vertebrates was originated by the two rounds of whole-genome duplication that occurred in stem vertebrates. Third, in silico analysis of CpGo/e ratios throughout the amphioxus genome suggests a bimodal distribution of DNA methylation, consistent with a mosaic pattern comprising domains of methylated DNA interspersed with domains of unmethylated DNA, similar to the situation described in ascidians, but radically different to the globally methylated vertebrate genomes. Finally, we discuss potential roles of the DNA methylation system in amphioxus in the context of chordate genome evolution and the origin of vertebrates.


The ubiquitous nature of electronic communication technology has enabled
Australian youth to readily adopt such communication devices as mobile
phones and the Internet. Relatively little research has been conducted into the
ways in which these youth use this technology, and more specifically how
this technology has framed their social perceptions. This research seeks to
explore the impact of this technological usage has upon the social structures
and interaction style of regional Australian youth. A series of four focus
groups, selected from a range of socio economic backgrounds from a regional
city in Tasmania, have been analysed qualitatively in order to gain insight
into the participants' perceptions regarding electronic communications.
The results surprisingly indicate a disparity across the socio economic
groupings, and a sense that the socially constructive worlds in which these
youth exist, varies noticeably from that which is characterised in the mass
media, and is commonly understood by later generations. The implications of
this research will impact upon the decision and policy makers, for controllers
of mass communication and for provides of communication services.


With many parts of the world seeing an aging cohort of people living with HIV (PLHIV), it is becoming clear that some organ systems in these individuals are at a greater risk of disease. There are effects on sexual functioning in aging PLHIV, with many studies finding higher levels of sexual dysfunction in HIV-positive individuals compared with those who are HIV-negative. HIV itself, along with antiretroviral agents, may cause dysfunction. Treatment involves making an assessment of the dysfunction and using the usual methods available, although treatment may be complicated by hormonal deficiencies in HIV-positive individuals, along with the effects of antiretroviral therapy, and drug interactions involving such medications. Furthermore, the issue of HIV transmission needs to be addressed in those seeking treatment for sexual dysfunction.


We present a case of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in a 16-year-old female with serological evidence of acute Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection. She progressed to established renal failure and received a deceased donor kidney transplant. Shiga toxin–associated HUS (STEC-HUS) does not recur following renal transplantation, but unexpectedly this patient did experience rapid and severe HUS recurrence. She responded to treatment with the terminal complement inhibitor eculizumab and subsequent genetic analysis revealed a rare variant in a complement gene. This highlights the importance of genetic analysis in patients with STEC-HUS prior to renal transplantation so that management can be individualized.


A growing body of literature now exists concerning the social construction of leadership. This literature draws on a variety of definitions of social constructionism, multiple constructs, and an array of perspectives, approaches, and methods. To identify and understand the differences among them, this article provides a sailing guide, comprising four key dimensions, to the social construction of leadership. It applies the guide to the social constructionist leadership literature, including the articles in this special issue. It then discusses how the guide can act as a reflexive tool when various choice points are revealed and a means by which to chart future paths for social constructionist leadership research.


Background Smokeless tobacco (ST) products are widely used throughout the world and contribute to morbidity and mortality in users through an increased risk of cancers and oral diseases. Bacterial populations in ST contribute to taste, but their presence can also create carcinogenic, Tobacco-Specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs). Previous studies of microbial communities in tobacco products lacked chemistry data (e.g. nicotine, TSNAs) to characterize the products and identify associations between carcinogen levels and taxonomic groups. This study uses statistical analysis to identify potential associations between microbial and chemical constituents in moist snuff products. Methods We quantitatively analyzed 38 smokeless tobacco products for TSNAs using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and nicotine using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Moisture content determinations (by weight loss on drying), and pH measurements were also performed. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the microbial composition, and additionally measured total 16S bacterial counts using a quantitative PCR assay. Results Our findings link chemical constituents to their associated bacterial populations. We found core taxonomic groups often varied between manufacturers. When manufacturer and flavor were controlled for as confounding variables, the genus Lactobacillus was found to be positively associated with TSNAs. while the genera Enteractinococcus and Brevibacterium were negatively associated. Three genera (Corynebacterium, Brachybacterium, and Xanthomonas) were found to be negatively associated with nicotine concentrations. Associations were also investigated separately for products from each manufacturer. Products from one manufacturer had a positive association between TSNAs and bacteria in the genus Marinilactibacillus. Additionally, we found that TSNA levels in many products were lower compared with previously published chemical surveys. Finally, we observed consistent results when either relative or absolute abundance data were analyzed, while results from analyses of log-ratio-transformed abundances were divergent.


P 050 Hypertension and dementia: a correlative study by using magnetic resonance L. Saba, R. Sanfilippo, R. Montisci, G. Mallarini Policlinico Universitario di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy Background and objective: Vascular Dementia is a degenerative cerebrovascular disease that leads to a progressive decline in memory and cognitive functioning. This condition occurs when the blood supply carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is interrupted by a blocked or diseased vascular system. The purpose of this work was to evaluate whether the presence of diabetes is associated with vascular dementia. Methods and materials: We retrospectively studies 74 patients (35 with and 39 without hypertension) (range age 54–82; average 67 yr). Each patient was studied with a 1.5-T superconducting magnet (Philips Intera). We used SE and TSE sequences, T1, T2 weighted with FLAIR sequences. Each exam was completed with of Gadolinium. Then we performed a statistical study to evaluate if the presence of diabetes is associated with vascular dementia. Results: We observed a total of 39 patients with dementia and 39 without. There was a significant statistical association between the presence of hypertensio and vascular dementia identified by using magnetic resonance (P 5 0.0096). Conclusion: Results of our study indicate that the presence of hypertension is associated with presence of vascular dementia. Magnetic resonance imaging helps to precisely identify the white matter lesions by characterizing the extension of the disease.


This article calls attention to an emerging issue deserving the involvement of the international community and international lawyers — the possibility that humanity might contact intelligent and technologically advanced life elsewhere in our galaxy and universe. It also discusses whether we should develop a UN treaty or other international measures regarding present worldwide efforts — usually collectively referred to as the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)" and "Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI)" — to search for, contact and communicate with extraterrestrial beings and civilizations ("ETs").

The article first presents background concerning SETI and METI including: (1) the probability that humanity is "not alone" and only one of many intelligent and technologically-advanced species in the universe; (2) consequent current scientific efforts to search for and contact possible ET civilizations, by using radio telescopes to listen for possible ET messages and sending radio messages and rocket probes from Earth intended to inform any ET civilizations of humanity's presence on Earth; (3) the current debate concerning SETI and METI, and, in particular, the potential perhaps existential risks of disclosing humanity's presence on Earth to a possibly predatory, colonizing and technologically-advanced ET civilization; (4) the present lack of legally-binding international law directly addressing SETI and METI issues; and (5) the SETI community's development of several non-legally-binding Protocols setting out principles which SETI and METI scientists and researchers ought to observe.

The article concludes by discussing the pros and cons of proposals to establish either a UN treaty or "soft-law" measures, such as a UN Declaration of Principles or Resolution, providing more robust internationally endorsed norms, procedures and oversight regarding SETI and METI activities.


We use a cohort based model to analyse determinants of labour force participation for disaggregated groups of workers in the euro area and the five largest euro area countries. The model captures age and cohort effects as indicators of (unobserved) determinants of participation behaviour. We use these effects and observed determinants to construct trends and projections of labour supply. Our results suggest that age and cohort effects can account for a substantial part of the recent increase in participation. Cohort effects are particularly relevant for women with those born in the late 1960s and early 1970s more likely to participate over the life-cycle. There is substantial variation in the estimated age and cohort effects across countries. Looking forward, positive cohort effects for women are not large enough to compensate for the downward impact of population ageing on participation rates in the euro area. JEL Classification: J11, J21


A WSN (wireless sensor network) consists of a collection of small, low power electronic devices that can sense their environment and communicate with each other in order to send data to a base station for logging and monitoring. Research done on WSNs has increased rapidly over the past few years, as the necessary RF hardware has become cheaper and smaller. The wealth of information and hardware available in this field has made it possible to design and deploy networks for a multitude of monitoring purposes, on almost any terrain, without an existing telecommunication infrastructure. This thesis presents research into some major aspects of WSNs and the implementation of a test system with wireless sensor motes, that can be used for environmental monitoring, conservation purposes, impact studies, early warning systems for floods, fires etc. The system also has a wide range of possible uses in agriculture, as more data and better control over crops can increase yield. The power constraint of sensor nodes is one of the biggest concerns, as batteries can be depleted quickly and render a system useless. For this reason, work was focused on reducing power consumption of the hardware by means of various methods. Power use was also simulated very successfully, giving a accurate way of predicting node lifetime with a variety of battery types. The system was implemented on the Tmote Sky hardware platform using the open source sensor network operating system, TinyOS. ii Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za