Summary The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) is widely used as an index for evaluating an optical component's resistance to laser light. However, a degradation in the performance of an optical component is also caused by continuous irradiation with laser light having an energy density below the LIDT. Therefore, here we focused on the degradation in performance of an optical component caused by continuous irradiation with femtosecond laser light having a low energy density, i.e., laser-induced degradation. We performed an in situ observation and analysis of an increase in scattering light intensity in fused silica substrates. In experiments conducted using a pulsed laser with a wavelength of 800 nm, a pulse width of 160 fs and pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz, we found that the scattered light intensity increased starting from a specific accumulated fluence, namely, that the laser-induced degradation had a threshold. We evaluated the threshold fluence F t as 6.27 J/cm2 and 9.21 J/cm2 for the fused silica substrates with surface roughnesses of 0.20 nm and 0.13 nm in R a value, respectively, showing that the threshold decreased as the surface roughness increased. In addition, we found that the reflected light spectrum changed as degradation proceeded. We analyzed the details of the degradation by measuring instantaneous reflectance changes with a pump–probe method; we observed an increase in the generation probability of photogenerated carriers in a degraded silica substrate and a damaged silica substrate and observed a Raman signal originating from a specific molecular structure of silica. From these findings, we concluded that compositional changes in the molecular structure occurred during degradation due to femtosecond laser irradiation having an energy density below the LIDT.


We augment 3D user interfaces with a new technique that enables users to select objects that are invisible from the current viewpoint. We present a layer-based method for selecting invisible objects, which works for arbitrary objects and scenes. The user study shows that with our new techniques users can easily select hidden objects.


In this study, the weldability, microstructure, and tensile properties of CM64 and Tribaloy T-800 (T800) cobalt-based hard-facing materials were studied. Successful CM64 hard-facing could be achieved at ambient temperature using manual gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW-MA). It was shown that T800 welded at ambient temperature was prone to cold cracking due to a combination of low ductility with high welding stresses that limited the accommodation of residual stresses by plastic deformation within the weld beads. Sound T800 welds of various geometries and sizes were produced on cobalt- and nickel-based X-40 and Haynes 230 superalloys, respectively, using GTAW-MA when preheating above 900 °C was used. Microstructural analyses on the sound CM64 and T800 welds were performed using optical and electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The distribution of elements and phases in each alloy was evaluated and revealed the epitaxial dendritic structure with the Cr–W–Si-based phase in the interdendritic region in CM64 welds compared with petal-like and equiaxed hard Mo–Co–Si-based dendrites and fine particles in T800. Tensile testing from room temperature up to 1093 °C was performed on both alloys. T800 welds possessed lower ultimate tensile strengths and elongations in this temperature range when compared with the CM64 alloy. Recommendations for hard-facing of turbine engine components were provided.


We describe an experimental approach to study the relation between emojis and online language use based on tweets from a public social media platform. The novel contribution of our work derives from the application of an entropy measure to compare lexical diversity (vocabulary richness) in messages with and without emojis. We find that lexical diversity is reliably attenuated when emojis are added to text. The pattern holds both when influence of tweet length or number of emojis is removed. That emojis serve to alter the lexical diversity of text in an online public context could demonstrate an interdependency between emojis and accompanying text in the service of communication. Our findings are consistent with the claim that the drop in lexical diversity may reflect a compensatory relation between emojis and words in communication. This outcome sets boundary conditions on the extent to which emoji patterning in isolation from text can qualify as a language.


The taxonomic position of ten acidophilic actinomycetes isolated from an acidic rice-field soil was established using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequences determined for the isolates were aligned with corresponding sequences of representatives of the genera Kitasatospora, Streptacidiphilus and Streptomyces and phylogenetic trees were inferred using four tree-making algorithms. The isolates had identical sequences and formed a distinct branch at the periphery of the Streptacidiphilus 16S rRNA gene tree. The chemotaxonomic and morphological properties of representative isolates were consistent with their assignment to the genus Streptacidiphilus. The isolates shared nearly identical phenotypic profiles that readily distinguished them from representatives of the established species of Streptacidiphilus. It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data that the isolates form a homogeneous group that corresponds to a novel species in the genus Streptacidiphilus. The name proposed for this new taxon is Streptacidiphilus oryzae sp. nov.; the type strain is strain TH49(T) (=CGMCC 4.2012(T) = JCM 13271(T)).


St Giles Hospice has worked in collaboration with a local secondary school to pilot a 1hour workshop for Year 8 pupils as part of their PSE programme. The work shop was accredited by Education Transformation, Staffordshire Education Authority and was facilitated by trained volunteers. Students were invited to create a young person through whom they were able to explore issues relating to death, bereavement and loss. Over 200pupils participated. Peer support is a key aspect of the support young people identify as being helpful in enabling them to adapt and cope with bereavement. Building capacity and compassion within our community is a key strategic aim. Evaluation A number of key themes were identified from the students feedback. The students felt it enabled them to: listen to each other understand others feelings respecting difference talk safely about death, bereavement and loss. understand the impact on the listener Only 5 students stated they felt they had gained nothing from the session The facilitators feedback indicated that generally students were: engaged and eager to share their ideas and experiences. enabled to understand issues relating to death, bereavement and loss. enabled to identify how they might support a friend who had suffered a loss The role of the teacher and the need for the practicalities to have been agreed was highlighted. Teachers feedback indicated that the workshop was well delivered, helpful and informative giving an opportunity for young people to understand the issues. The project forms part of the Hospice's programme for building compassion and capacity within our local community. Additional opportunities for fundraising and volunteering were identified. We plan to build on the success of the project by exploring opportunities to work in partnership with other local organisations to deliver the workshops.


The self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm for finite data is derived as an approximate maximum a posteriori estimation algorithm for a gaussian mixture model with a gaussian smoothing prior, which is equivalent to a generalized deformable model (GDM). For this model, objective criteria for selecting hyperparameters are obtained on the basis of empirical Bayesian estimation and cross-validation, which are representative model selection methods. The properties of these criteria are compared by simulation experiments. These experiments show that the cross-validation methods favor more complex structures than the expected log likelihood supports, which is a measure of compatibility between a model and data distribution. On the other hand, the empirical Bayesian methods have the opposite bias.


Central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT) seizures occur with little or no warning, and no effective mitigation strategy has been identified. Ketogenic diets (KD) elevate blood ketones and have successfully treated drug-resistant epilepsy. We hypothesized that a ketone ester given orally as R,S-1,3-butanediol acetoacetate diester (BD-AcAc(2)) would delay CNS-OT seizures in rats breathing hyperbaric oxygen (HBO(2)). Adult male rats (n = 60) were implanted with radiotelemetry units to measure electroencephalogram (EEG). One week postsurgery, rats were administered a single oral dose of BD-AcAc(2), 1,3-butanediol (BD), or water 30 min before being placed into a hyperbaric chamber and pressurized to 5 atmospheres absolute (ATA) O2. Latency to seizure (LS) was measured from the time maximum pressure was reached until the onset of increased EEG activity and tonic-clonic contractions. Blood was drawn at room pressure from an arterial catheter in an additional 18 animals that were administered the same compounds, and levels of glucose, pH, Po(2), Pco(2), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate (AcAc), and acetone were analyzed. BD-AcAc(2) caused a rapid (30 min) and sustained (>4 h) elevation of BHB (>3 mM) and AcAc (>3 mM), which exceeded values reported with a KD or starvation. BD-AcAc(2) increased LS by 574 ± 116% compared with control (water) and was due to the effect of AcAc and acetone but not BHB. BD produced ketosis in rats by elevating BHB (>5 mM), but AcAc and acetone remained low or undetectable. BD did not increase LS. In conclusion, acute oral administration of BD-AcAc(2) produced sustained ketosis and significantly delayed CNS-OT seizures by elevating AcAc and acetone.


This manuscript is on the theory and numerical procedures of vector optimization w.r.t. various ordering structures, on recent developments in this area and, most important, on their application to medical engineering. In vector optimization one considers optimization problems with a vectorvalued objective map and thus one has to compare elements in a linear space. If the linear space is the finite dimensional space R this can be done componentwise. That corresponds to the notion of an Edgeworth-Pareto-optimal solution of a multiobjective optimization problem. Among the multitude of applications which can be modeled by such a multiobjective optimization problem, we present an application in intensity modulated radiation therapy and its solution by a numerical procedure. In case the linear space is arbitrary, maybe infinite dimensional, one may introduce a partial ordering which defines how elements are compared. Such problems arise for instance in magnetic resonance tomography where the number of Hermitian matrices which have to be considered for a control of the maximum local specific absorption rate can be reduced by applying procedures from vector optimization. In addition to a short introduction and the application problem, we present a numerical solution method for solving such vector optimization problems. A partial ordering can be represented by a convex cone which describes the set of directions in which one assumes that the current values are deteriorated. If one assumes that this set may vary dependently on the actually considered element in the linear space, one may replace the partial ordering by a variable ordering structure. This was for instance done in an application in medical image registration. We present a possibility of how to model such variable ordering structures mathematically and how optimality can be defined in such a case. We also give a numerical solution method for the case of a finite set of alternatives.


This guide is an introduction to the Literature Review process - including its purpose and strategies, guidelines and resources to help you get started


Mirei Shigemori (1896–1975) created gardens in Japan between 1925 and 1975. While refusing to reproduce traditional gardens because they lacked any sense of modernity, he also refused to imitate European gardens because they were out of touch with Japanese culture. He saw the ancient roots of the Japanese garden in the memory of nature and the spirits that occupy it. Shigemori shared with traditionalists a deep interest in the study of the gardens of the past. With modernists he shared a definite will to innovate and to use modern means of expression, both technically and graphically. This enabled him to create a new approach to the ancient karesansui, or dry landscape garden, a style where little innovation had taken place over the past centuries. Educated initially as a painter, Shigemori approached garden design as an outsider; this is key to understanding why it was possible for him to renew the karesansui garden in the ways he did. Though he has been neglected by writers of the history of the Japanese garden, Shigemori's approach is significant because it explores what a karesansui garden can be in the context of 20th-century Japan while remaining close to its cultural roots. This article is based on numerous translations of Shigemori's writings, interviews with people he worked with, visits to many of his gardens, and a comparative analysis of 184 of his original design drawings made accessible for the first time since his death 30 years ago


Many K–12 teachers face hurdles when it comes to running a Modern Band, including the pedagogical challenges of facilitating large scale ensembles with unfamiliar repertoire and instruments. Approximation and scaffolding are two important tools teachers can use to help learners thrive in this environment. This article uses music examples to demonstrate how to approximate popular songs in a variety of ways, providing accommodations and adaptations for students of all skill levels to give all students an opportunity to learn. This article outlines how scaffolding in the Modern Band classroom allows for whole-class instruction while keeping advanced students motivated without alienating beginning students.


The experiment considered the inclusion of 10% of açaí Euterpe olaracea in the diet of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, besides the control diet, without açaí. The feed was given twice a day for 30 days and, afterward, the shrimps were subdivided into another 3 treatments (Control, 0.25 and 1 μg/L of hepatotoxin nodularin), both in the group that received inclusion with açaí and those fed with the control diet. At the end of the experiment, it was evaluated the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), sulfhydryl groups associated with proteins (P-SH), lipid peroxidation (TBARS method), the activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in muscle, hepatopâncreas and gills, and nodularin accumulation in muscle. The inclusion of açaí in the diet was able to increase the levels of GSH in the hepatopancreas and gills and to decrease the levels of lipid peroxidation in the muscle of nodularin-exposed shrimps in respect to the control group. Nodularin exposure did not affect P-SH levels in the analyzed organs, although açaí treatment reduced P-SH levels in muscle. TBARS muscle concentration was reduced in shrimps fed with açaí and exposed to nodularin. Finally, nodularin exposure was not followed by toxin accumulation in muscle but, notably, it was detected measurable levels in control groups (fed or not with açai). In general, the results showed that açaí was able to infuse the antioxidant effects of shrimp, and it was also able to reduce the levels of TBARS in the muscle when exposed to nodularina, suggesting the use of açaí


Introduction: Every year, thousands of acrylic dentures break, which creates additional costs for patients. One of the treatment options may be denture repair along with the use of a thread as reinforcement. Purpose of the study was to assess the effect of a different fiber's reinforcement on the flexural strength and Isolde impact resistance of conventional heat-polymerized poly (methyl methacrylate) [PMMA] resin repair with self- curing material.

Materials and methods: Totally 192 specimens of standard dimensions were prepared for each of the eight experimental groups; unreinforced conventional acrylic resin, material breaking and glue with self-curing resins and the same resin reinforced with unidirectional glass, carbon, polyethylene fibers. Each group was further subdivided into two groups of 12 specimens, based on storage conditions (dry and wet). Samples were then subjected to a 3-point bending test and flexural strength (FS) was calculated. Second group was tested for Isolde impact resistance (IS).

Results and discussion: Samples repair with self-curing resins have lower mechanical properties more than 30% compare to hot curing resin. Reinforcing of repairing samples with different kinds of fibers can improve flexural strength and impact resistance. The best results were observed for plasma treated PE fibers and carbon fibers. Storage long time in water can reduce FS about 20% and improve IS more than 5% for samples with fibers and 20% for samples without reinforcement due to water plasticizing effect.

Conclusion: Acrylic prosthesis after breaking can be reinforced with different kinds of fibers to prevent further fractures.


ABSTRACT This article charts the roles and representations of Algerian Women as both agents and victims of violence in the War of Independence (1956–1962) and the Algerian Civil War of the 1990s in which the role of women emerged as a significant site of ideological, religious, and political struggle. This vision of Algerian Women, caught between models of participation and passivity, can be located within a long imaginary of Algerian women as exposed to colonial, patriarchal, state, or terrorist violence, but also possessing fortitude and resilience in the face of conflict. I examine the model of female agency through the figure of the bomb carrier in Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers (1966), illuminating the gap between the freedom depicted, and promised, and the reality of women's experience after the war. I then turn to the Algerian Civil War, considering one of the most enduring photographs to emerge from the conflict, Hocine Zaourar's La Madone de Benthala (1997), an image that inscribes a quasi-universal image of female victimhood. Finally, an exploration of Yamina Bachir-Chouikh's Rachida (2002) reveals a more complex staging of female resistance in times of terror. The film offers a delicate exploration of the emotional and psychological effects of political and symbolic violence, which troubles a more usual imaginary of Algerian women as noble, suffering, and endlessly resistant or resilient figures.


Using a participant-observer perspective, this comparative case study sought to identify similarities between business and education to contribute to charter school training, leadership development, and school reform. This inquiry is a qualitative comparative case study using a participant observer perspective presented in a scholarly personal narrative (Charmaz, 2006; Nash, 2004; Yin, 2009). The researcher draws inferences from experiences and interviews in an independent, family-owned business and from the study of leadership styles at a Minnesota charter public school. Leadership themes and community relationships are explored to understand the characteristics that lead to and sustain success. Utilizing the business leadership theories of Collins (2001), the charter school leadership findings of Hamm (2008), and the researcher's life experience in a family-owned small business as a lens, common characteristics of small business and charter school leadership are discovered. Themes are identified that coalesce around passion, community engagement, and teambuilding as characteristics that lead to successful leadership in a small business and a charter public school. Using the themes as a base, community leaders identify future trends in charter school organizational structure and leadership. Leaders contemplating opening or redirecting a charter school can consider this comparison as they create their own leadership training and professional development.


Introduction Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum, which produces 5.6 million new cases worldwide in 2012 and results in significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of diagnostic tests and affordable treatment, the disease remains a global health problem. Detection of non treponemal and treponemal antibodies is the most reliable method for laboratory diagnosis of syphilis. Recently a chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) has been introduced for the detection of treponemal antibodies and evaluation of its performance against reference methods is needed. Methods Sera samples were tested with three syphilis serology tests: Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) for non treponemal antibodies, fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test and CMIA. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and agreement (Cohen's kappa coefficient) of CMIA was calculated against FTA-ABS (reference group) for the diagnosis of syphilis. Results Sera samples from 80 patients with suspected syphilis were included in this study. According to serology results: 29 syphilis non reactive sera (VDRL, FTA-ABS and CMIA non reactive), 8 VDRL reactive but FTA-ABS and CMIA non reactive sera and 43 syphilis reactive sera including 10 samples with non reactive VDRL test but FTA-ABS and CMIA reactive (past or treated syphilis) and 33 samples with all reactive tests (ongoing syphilis). General agreement between FTA-ABS and CMIA was 91.2% with kappa coefficient 0.82. CMIA clinical sensitivity was 97.7%, clinical specificity was 83.8%, PPV was 87.5% and NPV 96.9%. Conclusion CMIA has the advantages of automation and avoids the subjectivity of FTA-ABS test. According to our results, CMIA has a good agreement with FTA-ABS but has low specificity. Limitations of this test for the diagnosis of syphilis should be taken into account since confirmatory test like FTA-ABS must still be done along with VDRL test and viewed in the context of clinical presentation


Paul Nurse focuses on four discoveries in 'The Great Ideas of Biology': the cell, the gene, evolution by natural selection, and life as chemistry. The development of good microscopes made the discovery of the cell possible, although it was not until the later nineteenth century that it was accepted that all living organisms, regardless of their complexity, emerged from a single cell. The discovery of the gene followed the idea that all living organisms have the ability to reproduce and generate offspring that resemble their parents. Gregor Mendel's crosses with plants and analyses of the outcomes in the 1860s led him to become the father of genetics, and in the mid-twentieth century DNA was shown to be the genetic material. Natural selection, the idea of the survival of the fittest, is one of the best-known ideas of biology, proposed by Charles Darwin in 1859. The idea that many of life's activities can be understood in terms of chemistry had its origins in studies of fermentation, and biochemistry was born when it was shown that an enzyme from yeast cells, i.e. a living organism, was responsible for the chemical reactions that turned grape juice into alcohol. At that point it was postulated that cells should be understood as a chemical machine. Paul Nurse concludes that the current challenge for biologists is to focus on biological organization which works on a range of levels, from cells through to organisms and ecosystems.


Author(s): Bachand, Philip A. M.; Kraus, Tamara E. C.; Horwarth, William R.; Hatch, Nathan R.; Bachand, Sandra M. | Abstract: Water quality impairment and land surface subsidence threaten the viability of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta), a critical component of California's water conveyance system. Current-day irrigation drainage through Delta island peat soils affects drinking water treatment and is linked to mercury transport, potentially posing both ecological and public health concerns. To cost-effectively treat agricultural drainage water from subsided Delta islands to reduce the export of drinking Water Quality Constituents of Concern and mitigate land subsidence through accretion, we studied hybrid coagulation-treatment wetland systems, termed Chemically Enhanced Treatment Wetlands (CETWs). We provide cost estimates and design recommendations to aid broader implementation of this technology. Over a 20-year horizon using a Total Annualized Cost analysis, we estimate treatment costs of $602 to $747 per acre-foot (ac‑ft) water treated, and $36 to $70 per kg dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removed, depending upon source water DOC concentrations for a small 3-acre CETW system. For larger CETW systems scaled for island sizes of 3,500 to 14,000 acres, costs decrease to $108 to $239 per ac-ft water treated, and $11 to $14 per kg DOC removed. We estimated the footprints of CETW systems to be approximately 3% of the area being treated for 4-day hydraulic retention time (HRT) systems, but they would decrease to less than 1% for 1-day HRT systems. CETWs ultimately address several of the Delta's key internal issues while keeping water treatment costs competitive with other currently available treatment technologies at similar scales on a per-carbon-removed basis. CETWs offer a reliable system to reduce out-going DOC and mercury loads, and they provide the additional benefit of sediment accretion. System costs and treatment efficacy depend significantly on inflow source water conditions, land availability, and other practical matters. To keep costs low and removal efficacy high, wetland design features will need site-specific evaluation.


Monthly climatologies are used to estimate the mean seasonal cycle of MODIS-Aqua satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST), surface chlorophyll (Chl- a ) and their relationship with surface wind stress curl (from the Cross-Calibrate Multi-Platform, CCMP) in the Bay of La Paz located in the southwestern Gulf of California, a region identified as having high biological productivity and significant seasonal variability. Harmonic fit applied to the monthly climatologies of these variables indicate a best fit with annual and semi-annual constituents. The annual amplitude was the dominant signal in both SST and Chl- a , corresponding to the bay-wide seasonal cycle of warming and cooling associated with the influx of upwelled nutrient-rich coastal waters jointly with the water exchange between the bay and the Gulf of California. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition yielded the annual and semi-annual patterns of the seasonal cycle that respond to wind forcing. The EOF 1 explained 93% of the SST variance and 48% of the Chl- a variance, showing a homogeneous variability of both variables across the bay and a strong thermal and biological gradient in the vicinity of the Gulf of California with their corresponding amplitude time series representing out-of-phase annual cycles, which corresponded to the regional dynamics of wind forcing pattern. The EOF 2 accounted for 6% of the SST variance and 31% of the Chl- a variance, which reached its peak during winter associated with the high Chl- a anomaly values (>1.5 mg m –3 ) observed along the coast. The intense biological productivity covaried strongly with the wind stress curl annual cycle ( R = 0.5, P < 0.05 ), suggesting that these Chl- a blooms could be associated with coastal currents and upwelling events regulated by the seasonal wind forcing pattern playing an essential role in the modulation of this quasi-permanent biophysical coupling observed in the Bay of La Paz during an annual cycle.


While some studies find that criminal justice contact may deter future offending, another body of research indicates that contact with the criminal justice system can increase delinquency among youth. Although research has examined the relationship between punishment and offending, from a life-course perspective, we know little about between-individual and within-individual effects of punishment across time. Using a cross-lagged dynamic panel model, results from an analysis of four waves of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 demonstrate that arrest contributes to within-individual increases in delinquency across time even after baseline levels of delinquency are controlled. Between-individual results show that youth who were arrested experience significant increases in offending compared to youth never arrested even after accounting for prior offending. Finally, this study uncovers a "cumulative effect" of arrest in that each subsequent year the youth is arrested relates to increased offending irrespective of prior offending. Overall, findings suggest that arrest contributes to significant increases in delinquency even after baseline levels of offending are directly modeled.


Aims: To evaluate the Absorbance and transmittance of the optical light for three different types of light activated dental composite resin stored in artificial saliva. Materials and Methods: 30 specimens were prepared from light activated composite resin and divided in to three groups, G1: 10 specimens prepared from Els, G2: 10 specimens prepared from Tetric n Ceram, G3: 10 specimens prepared from Solitaire2. Absorbance of the optical light measured using spectrophotometer. The specimens were evaluated after (zero,1,7,28) day immersion time in artificial saliva. Results: Statistical analysis shows significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 among tested groups at same immersion time, Solitaire 2 showed highest absorbance means compare to Tetric, Els specially after 1 day immersion in artificial saliva. No significant difference P> 0.05 in absorbance mean at various immersion time in artificial saliva for each group. Els shows low absorbance and highest transmittance percentage T% than Tetric and Solitaire composite resin. Conclusion: The Els extra composite resin has lowest absorbance and highest transmittance means for optical light, Solitaire2 showed more absorbance means with less amount of light transmittance through the composite resin compare to Tetric and Els. The performance of the experimented groups statistically not significant in terms of immersion time in artificial saliva.


The Master Plan Activity of Serayu River Voyage (SRV) for tourism development in Banyumas Regency were expected to be completed within five years from 2008 to 2012, but during the period until 2013, most programs and activities have not been implemented. The results showed that the Master Plan of SRV in the framework of tourism development in Banyumas Regency has not been implemented properly. The cause is the absence of good coordination between agencies, the lack programs and activities integration, supporting documents have not been revised, absence of good socialization, and the lack of private sector contribution. The factors that constrain and support implementation of the Master Plan is described as follows. Supporting factors: competent human resources (implementor) already available at the managerial level and have intellectual tourism, it is only need to add personnel in the sector of culture; the availability of adequate budget; institutions that have been effective and efficient; High community response; High commitment of Banyumas Regent and cooperation related parties (stakeholders); and natural conditions of Serayu tend to calm and the river slope condition is small. The constrain factors: regulatory policies; integration of programs and activities; coordination and socialization implied sectoral ego that need to be addressed. Keywords : implementation, master plan, Serayu River Voyage, human resources, regulation


This paper describes implementation and application of nonlinear lateral soil models for pipeline lateral buckling analysis. Several lateral soil models have been developed in the past and the model developed by Verley is often referenced in pipeline on-bottom hydrodynamic stability analyses (see [11], [13]). The Verley's model includes the build up of soil passive resistance as a function of small cyclic lateral motions and it is implemented in the PONDUS software (developed by MARINTEK) for on-bottom stability analysis as well as the DNV-RP-F109. However, the Verley model does not include the build up of additional soil berm resistance due to large cyclic in-place lateral motions applicable for lateral thermal buckling behaviors. The effect of additional soil berm resistance from large cyclic motions has been investigated by other research projects, such as the SAFEBUCK JIP [5]. In this paper, a complete non-linear lateral soil models with inherent soil berm resistance including both effects are formulated. The soil model combines the Verley model, the models described in DNV-RP-F109, and the berm model from SAFEBUCK's results. The DNV and Verley's model are used to model soil resistance in small amplitude cycle continued by the berm model after breakout achieved during large amplitude cycle. The new model is compared with PONDUS to validate the results of Verley and DNV model. The soil model is implemented inside SIMLA software [15] to enable finite element analysis. An example application of the model to pipeline global buckling analysis is then presented.


Introduction: We report our mixed-methods investigation of publishers' licensing practices, which affect the books public libraries can offer for e-lending.Method: We created unique datasets recording pricing, availability and licence terms for sampled titles offered by e-book aggregators to public libraries across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and United Kingdom. A third dataset records dates of availability for recent bestsellers. We conducted follow-up interviews with representatives of 5 e-book aggregators.Analysis: We quantitatively analysed availability, licence terms and price across all aggregators in Australia, snapshotting the competitive playing field in a single jurisdiction. We also compared availability and terms for the same titles from one aggregator across five jurisdictions, and measured how long it took for a sample of recent bestsellers to become available for e-lending. We used data from the aggregator interviews to explain the quantitative findings.Results: Contrary to aggregator expectations, we found considerable intra-jurisdictional price and licence differences. We also found numerous differences across jurisdictions.Conclusions: While availability was better than anticipated, licensing practices make it infeasible for libraries to purchase certain kinds of e-book (particularly older titles). Confidentiality requirements make it difficult for libraries to shop (and aggregators to compete) on price and terms.


A real-time teleoperator control system designed to achieve desired performance and robustness under shared compliance control and short time delays of up to a few seconds is evaluated. In the design, telemonitoring force feedback is introduced as a new form of kinesthetic coupling; dynamic characteristics of the master and slave arms are actively modified based on generalized impedance control according to local design criteria; the human dynamics involved in generating a control command based on visual and force stimuli are incorporated into the controller design; and to balance the robustness/performance trade-off, system performance is optimized subject to a known maximum time delay. Simulation results suggest that the system is superior to conventional systems in terms of performance and robustness under short time delays and human control errors. Experimental evidence is presented to supports the advantages of the proposed telemonitoring force feedback. An experimental method for further validating the human dynamic model is described. >


The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with public dental care use by adults in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of adults aged 35 to 44 years using data from the 2015 Epidemiological Survey of the Oral Health Status of the Population of the State of São Paulo (SBSP-2015). Multivariate logistic regression was performed using variables based on a model proposed by Andersen for predicting access to public dental services. Results: 3,421 (59.9%) adults visited private services and 2,288 (40.1%) visited public services. Prevalence of the use of public dental services was greatest among women (41.8%) and adults with a lower education level (50.2%). Being non-white (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.50), lower household income (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 2.11, 2.65), having had toothache (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.39, 1.83), and need for endodontic treatment (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.85) were associated with public dental service use. Predisposing, enabling, and need factors were associated with public dental care use.


This article describes data used to address the issue of the volume of transactions and cash-only sales in Ireland's residential property market over almost two decades. The approach employed here examines the proportion of total residential property sales attributable to cash buyers (or nonmortgage transactions) and provides new insights which allows for a deeper understanding of developments in the market. We find that at the pinnacle of Ireland's housing boom, there were approximately 150,000 transactions, with cash buyers accounting for 25 per cent of these sales. Since then the volume of transactions fell to a low of 21,000 in 2010 while the share of cash purchases had risen to around 60 per cent in more recent years. The increase in the share of cash buyers reflects the sharp fall in the number of mortgages drawn down while the actual number of cash-buyer transactions is not necessarily atypical of the early years of the last decade. We also find that the turnover of residential property – or total transactions as a proportion of the housing stock – has fallen sharply since the crisis and is currently low, both by historical and by international standards.


CT and MRI were performed on 19 patients with pleura related thoracic tumors with respect to the detection of chest-wall invasion. All patients underwent surgery, which confirmed malignant infiltration in 16 cases, while this was excluded in three. CT showed chest-wall invasion in 12/19 patients. MRI demonstrated tumorous involvement in 16 patients. A reliable pattern of chest-wall invasion in MRI were high signal intensity lesions within the chest-wall in the T2-weighted images. However, increased signal intensity of pleural structures was found in inflammatory as well as in malignant lesions. MRI can prove the presence of chest-wall invasion when CT is equivocal.


Background: The issue of icodextrin biocompatibility is somehow ambiguous. Whereas some experimental data point at better bicompatibility of icodextrin compared with high glucose concentration fluid, other reports showed substantial cytotoxic effects upon monocytes and cultured mesothelial cells. The present investigation exposes the first attempt to investigate the biocompatibility issue in an in vivo and in situ setup. Methods: Mice were intraperitoneally injected once a day with the 7.5% icodextrin solution, during 30 consecutive days. Imprints of the mesothelial monolayer covering the anterior liver surface were taken after 2 h, 15 and 30 injections, as well as after recovery periods of 7, 30 and 60 days. Changes on the cell population were evaluated as a function of: density, cell surface area, cell radius, nuclear surface area, number of nucleoli per nucleus, nuclear cytoplasmic index, as well as for prevalence of multinucleation, mitosis, non-viable cells and apoptotic bodies. Additionally, peritoneal dialysis was performed in 3 groups of rats exposed to 4.25% glucose dialysis fluid, 1.1% amino acids solution, or to 7.5% icodextrin. Samples were taken for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) from each group. Results: Mesothelial cell populations of mice exposed to 7.5% icodextrin displayed significantly reduced density, increased cell size, higher increased nuclear/cytoplasmic index, increased numbers of heterogeneous nucleoli, extremely low prevalence of mitosis, atypical mitosis, micronuclei, reduced cell viability as well as a significantly higher prevalence of apoptosis. Rats exposed to the same experimental solution showed significantly higher levels of TBARS (basically malondialdehyde), testifying for an undergoing process of lipid peroxidation. Conclusions: Overall, these results suggest that the 7.5% icodextrin dialysis solution induced, through a mechanism of lipid peroxidation, substantial DNA injury, leading the exposed monolayer to commit protective cellular suicide. Consequently, this information raises some doubts about the safety of 7.5% icodextrin solution in peritoneal dialysis patients.


This letter reports the statistical characterization and modeling of the indoor radio channel for a mobile wireless personal area network operating at 868 MHz. Line of sight (LOS) and non-LOS conditions were considered for three environments: anechoic chamber, open office area, and hallway. Overall, the Nakagami-m cdf beast described fading for bodyworn operation in 60% of all measured channels in anechoic chamber and open office area environments. The Nakagami distribution was also found to provide a good description of Rician distributed channels which predominated in the hallway. Multipath played an important role in channel statistics with the mean recorded m value being reduced from 7.8 in the anechoic chamber to 1.3 in both the open office area and hallway


In the frame of a European project (BioMinE - FP6), a continuous bioleaching operation was carried out in a laboratory-scale unit using a cobaltiferous pyrite. The objective of the work was to use this system to investigate mechanisms of microbial activity and mineral oxidation in continuous stirred bioreactors (1x50L - 3x20L). A combination of scientific and technical approaches (molecular ecology, biochemistry and microscopy) was used and various key operating parameters were tested (temperature, nitrogen source, CO2 availability, designed consortia). An increase of temperature of 10°C (35°C to 45°C) had no major influence on the bioleaching efficiency. When the ammonium source was limiting, there was a negative influence on both bacterial growth and bioleaching efficiency. This result was related to a combination of factors such as less bacterial attachment to the pyrite surface and less precipitate formation. CO2 limitation had a very significant negative effect on the bacterial productivity and consequently on the bioleaching efficiency. Nevertheless, the population composition remained unchanged. An important decrease of EPS (sugar) production was also observed. The bacterial strains, that dominate the culture, originated from the deposit in Uganda. It seems that their bioleaching ability was improved over the time when cultured in continuous mode. The culture composition was very stable. The iron-oxidizer L. ferriphilum was the dominant organism in standard (not limiting) conditions, and was always very well represented during the first 3-4 days of residence time. Sulfobacillus sp. BRGM2 also played an important role in the process. This study gives new insights for the application of this technology, and more specifically on the influence of key operating parameters on bioleaching performances, population dynamics and attachment of bacteria to the solid surfaces.


Previous research found that survey response rates were influenced by physical characteristics of the interviewer. However, the effect of hair color on compliance to a survey request has never been studied. Female confederates wearing blond, brown, black, or red wigs solicited 1,200 male and female pedestrians for a survey. It was found those male passersby, but not the female, agreed more frequently to the confederates wearing blond wigs whereas they agreed less to the same confederates wearing red wigs. Greater youth and healthiness associated with blond hair in women is used to explain these results. The practical interest in face-to-face surveys is addressed.


Tracheostomy remains a very important life saving surgical procedure the world over and particularly in our environment where patients present late in upper airway obstruction. It is the aim of this paper to present the indications for Tracheostomy in upper airway obstruction in our centre.
This is a seventeen-month (April 2005 – August 2006) retrospective review of patients with upper airway obstruction seen in our center. Information analyzed included: age of patients, sex, and clinical diagnosis of the airway obstruction.
Eighteen patients with upper airway obstruction requiring tracheostomy were seen during the study period. Their ages ranged from 9 months to 66 years with a mean of 29.9 years. Cervico-facial trauma and Laryngeal carcinoma constituted 27.8% and 22.2% respectively of the indications while Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) constituted 16.7%. The trauma was due mainly to road traffic accidents and cut throat injuries.
Malignant tumours of the upper aero-digestive tract still constitute an appreciable percentage of indications for tracheostomy in our environment. This appears to be as a result of lateness in presentation sequel to clinical misdiagnosis by non specialists.
 Keywords : Tracheostomy, upper airway obstruction, Jos. Journal of Medicine in the Tropics Vol. 9 (2) 2007 pp. 41-46


This paper presents a 950-MHz wireless power transmission system and a high-sensitivity rectifier circuit for ubiquitous sensor network tags. The wireless power transmission offers a battery-life-free sensor tag by recharging the output power of a base station into a secondary battery implemented with the tag. For realizing the system, a high-sensitivity rectifier with dynamic gate-drain biasing has been developed in a 0.3-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The measurement results show that the proposed rectifier can recharge a 1.2-V secondary battery over -14-dBm input RF power at a power conversion efficiency of 1.2%. In the proposed wireless system, this sensitivity corresponds to 10-m distance communication at 4-W output power from a base station.


Over the last years, human resource management (HRM) has experienced significant transformations. The focus has passed from the administrative management tasks to becoming a strategic partner of the overall organization strategy, largely with the strong support of information technologies' evolution in this field of knowledge area. The extended use of information systems has a deep effect in the way HRM is managed nowadays. It boosted a major transformation of human resources (HR) processes and practices within organizations, namely on how they collect, store, use, and share information. Several HRM processes have become more efficient and the impact of this service level improvement allowed a greater involvement of HR in the business strategy. This new role in business strategy adds significant changes to HR function and to its professionals. Along this chapter, we discuss the effects of information systems in HRM, considering the existing literature on the topic, and describe the benefits and possible limitations of using them. We also provide an overview of some applications of technology in functional areas of HRM, within organizations.


The main goal of this study is to alert researchers who work with cell cultures for the risk of contamination by structures called nanobacteria (NB). NB are tiny structures with size varying from 80 to 500 nm, commonly occurring in clusters and producing a biofilm which contains carbonate or hydroxyl apatite. The most likely source of cell culture contamination by such organisms is serum used as supplement in culture media. The presence of NB leads to a progressive culture deterioration with accumulation of granules (probably phagocytized NB) in cytoplasmic vacuoles, an increasing number of dead cells in the supernatant and degeneration of cells that remained attached to the bottom of the vessel. NB can also be found in culture supernatants where they are found in clusters with variable size and displaying brownian movement. In this study, 19 cell lineages, 8 batches of sera and 1 batch of growth supplement from different sources were analyzed. Samples from sera were cultured in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium (E-MEM) or incubated directly at 37oC. Tests carried out to detect the presence of extracellular bacteria, Mycoplasma sp and viruses were all negative. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed tiny oval structures less than 500 nm in size, isolated or in small groups, in all material analyzed except in one fetal bovine serum batch.


Abstract Reliable hepatitis C prevalence estimates are crucial for a good follow-up of the indicators to eliminate hepatitis by 2030 as set by the World Health Organization. In Belgium, no recent national population-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence estimate is available. The current study estimated HCV prevalence as part of the first Belgian Health Examination Survey, which was organized in 2018 as a second stage of the sixth Belgian Health Interview Survey. This national population-based cross-sectional study resulted in a weighted national HCV seroprevalence of 0.02% (95% CI 0.00–0.07%). The results show a much lower HCV seroprevalence compared to previous studies.


As modern optical information processing has developed, research on massive and parallel rapid computing and processing has attracted more attention. In this paper, butterfly networks and a variety of types of optical information processing are studied and discussed. For a basis, one- and twodimensional butterfly interconnection networks are studied in constructions, and the relationship and the transformation between them are provided. Algorithms for both the one- and two-dimensional fast Fourier transforms are analyzed, one- and two-dimensional butterfly networks for implementing the algorithms are built, and computer-simulation results are attained. Finally, an underlying optical network system is suggested and studied in respect to its architecture and advantages; it is a new optical butterfly network hardware system consisting of two-dimensional binary phase diffraction gratings, which perform a variety of types of fast-Fourier-transform-based optical information processing.


Whether positive and negative affects exist independently (Cacioppo & Berntson, 1994) or
coexist (Russel, 1980) has been heavily debated in psychological research. Recent work by McGraw et al. (2010) has supported the view of independent positive and negative utilitarian decision
functions. Specifically that gain and loss expected judgements, in response to a mixed monetary gamble, are processed in isolation (bipolar scales) and do not induce decision biases.
However, when the judgement options are forced into the same contextual space (unipolar scales), prompting direct comparisons, they induce loss-averse judgements. In contrast, we propose an alternative explanation based on decision content
comparability. Specifically, comparable decision
attributes fuel the gain and loss comparisons (inducing loss averse judgements). Moreover, our results showed that facilitating decision content comparability (DCC) (monetary gamble-monetary worth evaluation) produces loss aversion
regardless of whether gains and losses are considered in isolation. Accordingly, impeding DDC produces a decline in loss aversion.


Elasticities of import demand and supply often drive economic models, but few empirical estimates of these elasticities exist for vegetables and fruits. For those that do exist, most are outdated. Because elasticities change over time as income, prices, and market conditions change, outdated elasticity estimates may not be representative of changes in import quantities demanded or in acreages, yield, and quantities supplied. Moreover, import demand elasticities by country of origin for most vegetables and fruits are nonexistent. This article presents research that updates elasticity estimates for each of the selected product categories and includes production and trade implications.


Donors are more likely to send aid to leaders facing elevated risks of losing power, but targets' ability to benefit from this assistance is conditioned by regime type and political processes. The institutionalization of winning coalitions' loyalty across regime type follows opposite patterns, supporting opposite temporal dynamics across regime types. Democratic leaders' coalitions are firmest immediately after taking office, and aid is of most assistance to them at that time. As competition and dissatisfaction grow, aid becomes a political liability. In small winning coalition systems, however, coalitions become more solid over time, facilitating increasing benefits from aid. Without a firm coalition, however, external resources are destabilizing to autocratic leaders. Analysis of 4,692 leader years from 1960 to 2001 using a censored probit model supports these expectations.


The use of plastic waste causes various benefits in human life, but it also has negative impacts. Plastic waste has become part of environmental pollution and the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the use of plastic. The right to life is a part of human rights that every individual absolutely has. Human life depends on the surrounding environmental conditions, and the right to a good environment has a significant influence on the right to life. This study was based on the previous description, entitled "Good Environment as a Part of Human Rights (A Case Study on Plastic Waste)". This study was a normative legal study, which used a conceptual and statute approach. This article discusses two main points namely: (1) The right to a good environment in the concept of human rights; (2) Environmental protection as part of the protection of human rights, with a case study on solid waste. The results showed that the right to a good, clean, and healthy environment is crucial in fulfilling the right to life. Without a good environment, the right to life could not be optimally enjoyed. Thus, protecting the environment from pollution, especially plastic waste, is part of the fulfillment of human rights.
Keywords: environment, human right, plastic waste


A new method is proposed to estimate the compliance and conductivity of induced unpropped fractures as a function of the effective stress acting on the fracture from DFIT data. A hydraulic fracture's resistance to displacement and closure is described by its compliance (or stiffness). Fracture compliance is closely related to the elastic, failure and hydraulic properties of the rock. Quantifying fracture compliance and fracture conductivity under in-situ conditions is crucial in many earth science and engineering applications but very difficult to achieve. Even though laboratory experiments are often used to measure fracture compliance and conductivity, the measurement results are strongly influenced by how the fracture is created, the specific rock sample obtained and the degree to which it is preserved. As such the results may not be representative of field scale fractures Over the past two decades, Diagnostic Fracture Injection Tests (DFIT) has evolved into a commonly used and reliable technique to obtain in-situ stresses, fluid leak-off parameters and formation permeability. The pressure decline response across the entire duration of a DFIT test reflects the process of fracture closure and reservoir flow capacity. As such it is possible to use this data to quantify changes in fracture conductivity as a function of stress. In this paper we present a single, coherent mathematical framework to accomplish this. We show how each factor impacts the pressure decline response and the effects of previous overlooked coupled mechanisms are examined and discussed. Synthetic and field case studies are presented to illustrate the method. Most importantly, a new specialized plot (normalized system stiffness plot) is proposed, which not only provides clear evidence of the existence of a residual fracture width as a fracture is closing during a DFIT, but also allows us to estimate fracture compliance (or stiffness) evolution and infer un-propped fracture conductivity using only DFIT pressure and time data based on a time-convolution solution. It is recommended that the normalized system stiffness plot be used as a standard practice to complement the G-function or square root of time plot because it provides very valuable information on the properties of fracture surface roughness at a field-scale, information that cannot be obtained by any other means.


Abstract South Africa enjoys the highest rates of fathers' absence (not father involvement) among Blacks in Africa after Namibia and in addition, have an increasing living father absence for all racial groups and among blacks in particular, thereby, creating knowledge gaps on father involvement (FI) research. Using a cross-sectional design, 479 participants (299 males, 180 females) were randomly sampled from a community High School in the North West Province, South Africa. Results show that FI (F(1,471), = 3.359, P<.05) and gender (F(1,471), = 33.970, P<.001) significantly influenced anti-social behaviour (ASB) of adolescents. Age was not significant. Recommendations are made based on the findings of the study including the need to have compulsory clinical psychological services in schools for periodic assessment and early detection of learners with anti-social behaviour and a general attitudinal change among fathers to sensitize involvement and have meaningful impact in their children's lives.


In recent years, some authors have approached the instance selection problem from a meta-learning perspective. In their work, they try to find relationships between the performance of some methods from this field and the values of some data-complexity measures, with the aim of determining the best performing method given a data set, using only the values of the measures computed on this data. Nevertheless, most of the data-complexity measures existing in the literature were not conceived for this purpose and the feasibility of their use in this field is yet to be determined. In this paper, we revise the definition of some measures that we presented in a previous work, that were designed for meta-learning based instance selection. Also, we assess them in an experimental study involving three sets of measures, 59 databases, 16 instance selection methods, two classifiers, and eight regression learners used as meta-learners. The results suggest that our measures are more efficient and effective than those traditionally used by researchers that have addressed the instance selection from a perspective based on meta-learning.


This study sought to determine if exposure to two communication-oriented activities, videotapes and public service announcements, accounts for changes in substance use among adolescents participating in the Drug Resistance Strategies Project's keepin' it REAL adolescent substance use prevention curriculum. Middle-school students (4,734, 72% Latino) responded to questionnaires related to these analyses. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model was fit separately to six substance use outcomes. The results suggested that intervention students who saw four or five videos engaged in less substance use in the past month than did students who saw fewer videos. Having seen the PSAs one or more times did not predict the reported change in substance use.


The paper briefly describes the following databases: "Online Sound Archives from St. Petersburg Collections", "Regional Variants of the Russian Speech", and "Multimedia Dictionaries of the minor Languages of Russia", the principle feature of which is the built-in support for scientific, practical and cultural researches. Though these databases are addressed to researchers engaged mainly in Spoken Language Processing and because of that their main object is Sound, proposed database ideology and general approach to text/speech data representation and access may be further used for elaboration of various language resources containing text, audio and video data. Such approach requests for special representation of the database material. Thus, all text and sound files should be accompanied by information on their multi-level segmentation, which should allow the user to extract and analyze any segment of text or speech. Each significant segment of the database should be perceived as a potential object of investigation and should be supplied by tables of descriptive parameters, mirroring its various characteristics. The list of these parameters for all potential objects is open for further


The continuous development of electronic resources and their increasing importance as a part of library collections make their exclusion from the catalogue more and more unjustifiable. However, a decision to catalogue electronic resources brings with it two major problems. On the one hand we see a partial change in the nature of the catalogue itself, as it moves from providing information about the documents that the library stores physically to providing information about the documents whose accessibility is assured by the library; and on the other we experience the emergence of new dilemmas, such as the choice of the electronic resources to be catalogued, how to catalogue them, and the relation between the catalogue and other tools that provide access to these publications. As regards the choice of the electronic resources to be catalogued, criteria can change according to the sort of resource. Different problems result from local access electronic resources, free remote access electronic resources and fee-paying remote access electronic resources, and it is in any case difficult to delineate sharp boundaries in respect of both the local/remote and the free/fixed-fee dichotomy. The problems concerning how the electronic resources are to be catalogued go beyond the choice of cataloguing rules and standards and concern other matters such as: the exact specification of the documents to be catalogued and of their hierarchical level; the multiple versions problem, that is, the choice between creating an autonomous bibliographic record for every document to be catalogued or creating only one record for all of them; the need to create bibliographic records that inform the users about the permitted and prohibited uses of the electronic resources, about their accessibility and about their location. Lastly, even if the library decides to catalogue electronic resources, it would be better to utilize other tools in addition, in particular web pages, as a starting point for the access to these kinds of resources. The electronic environment, where catalogue, web pages and electronic resources live together, allows the integration of all these elements and easy navigation from one to another.


ESSAYS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM A FESTSCHRIFT FOR PROFESSOR J. Z. YOUNG Edited by R. Bellairs and E. G. Gray. (Pp. 511; illustrated; £11.50.) Clarendon Press: Oxford. 1974. It is impossible, in a short review, to do justice to a collection of essays by 20 authors, in which the common factor is homage to a great teacher and researcher on his 67th birthday. Professor J. Z. Young, F.R.S. has been head of the Anatomy Department at University College London for 29 years during which he has inspired and collaborated with many of the most honoured names in modern neurobiology. His fascinating study of the octopus nervous system is known to all, but perhaps the practising neurologist is most familiar with his wartime contributions on the regeneration of mammalian nerves. It is, then, not surprising that the chapters on nerve injuries, nerve growth, synaptic morphology, and skeletal muscle are of most immediate value to the clinician. Every chapter is an excellent survey of an aspect of the nervous system in which the author has specialized. Naturally, anatomical studies are prominent, but by no means dominant. Indeed, if the appointment of an experimental zoologist to a chair of anatomy ever required justification, here it is. Each of the distinguished group of contributors moves freely from structure to function. This is a book for the clinical neurologist to browse in, and a good collection of reviews for the experimentalist in many fields. Our best wishes to J.Z. in his retirement.


Objective To conduct a large-scale, single-centre retrospective cohort study to understand the impact of prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on long-term survival of patients who then undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods Between 1999 and 2017, a total of 11 332 patients underwent CABG at a hospital in the UK. The patients were stratified into those who received PCI (n=1090) or no PCI (n=10 242) prior to CABG. A total of 1058 patients from each group were matched using propensity score matching. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to assess risk-adjusted survival in patients with prior PCI. Cox proportional hazards (CoxPH) model was then used to assess the effect of prior PCI and other variables in patients undergoing CABG. Results The immediate postoperative outcome showed no difference in number of grafts per patients, blood transfusion, hospital stay or 30 days mortality between the groups. There was no significant difference in 5 years (90.8% vs 87.9), 10-year (76.5% vs 74.6%) and 15-year (64.4% vs 64.7%) survival between the non-PCI versus PCI groups. The Cox proportional hazards model further supports the null hypothesis as the PCI variable was found to be non-significant (CoxPH=1.03, p=0.75, CI=0.87–1.22) implying there was no difference in hazard of death for CABG patients with or without previous PCI. However, the model did yield information on the covariates that do affect the hazard of death. Conclusion There is no difference in 5-year, 10-year and 15-year survival between patients undergoing CABG with or without prior PCI. However, certain patient, preoperative and intraoperative risk factors were identified with high hazard of death which needs to be investigated further.


Abstract:Historical records suggest that Nalanda was a Buddhist monastery of considerable repute with immense physical dimensions, which remained in existence from the fourth/fifth century until at least the end of the twelfth. This study investigates the area around Nalanda for evidence of human activity at such spatiotemporal scales using satellite images. Among its finds are: the site is much larger than the property protected by the Archaeological Survey of India; there is evidence of additional temples and monasteries; and there are indications of a large archaeological structure under Begumpur that was either a part of the Nalanda complex or a separate entity.


In 2012 and 2013, IFIC board launched a survey about handling of faeces and urine in hospitals, available in 8 languages. There were 1.440 answers from 93 countries worldwide, 75% from urban hospitals. Answers were given for typical situation of defecation of patients, hand washing facilities, cleaning of defecation area, handling of defecation in bed, use and disinfection of bedpans. Also a lot of free comments were given. The results show a big influence of history, culture and religion. Before making recommendations, more knowledge should be known about this issue on a worldwide level.


To what extent do value priorities vary across countries and to what extent do individuals within countries share values? We address these questions using three sets of data that each measure values differently: the Schwartz Value Survey for student and teacher samples in 67 countries (N = 41,968), the Portrait Values Questionnaire for representative samples from 19 European countries (N = 42,359), and the World Value Survey for representative samples from 62 countries (N = 84,887). Analyses reveal more consensus than disagreement on value priorities across countries, refuting strong claims that culture determines values. Values associated with autonomy, relatedness, and competence show a universal pattern of high importance and high consensus. Only conformity values show patterns suggesting they are good candidates for measuring culture as shared meaning systems. We rule out reference-group and response style effects as alternative explanations for the results and discuss their implications for value theory, cross-cultural research, and value-based intergroup conflict.


This study is concerned with decisions the teacher makes in the classroom regarding classroom control, and the effects these decisions have on reading achievement. The teacher is seen as a manager, responsible for deciding how to control the transactions in the social system of the classroom so that learning tasks are accomplished efficiently and effectively. Data used to test the hypotheses in this study were gathered as part of a study of elementary classroom teaching entitled the Teaching Strategies Project, and conducted by the Institute for Educational Research and Development, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Classroom process data were collected during approximately thirty hours of observations in each of 75 classrooms. During this period the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests were also administered as pre-test and post-test. -- This study used the conception of classroom control developed by Morrison (1974) which defined control as consisting of three dimensions: warmth, boundary control and response to deviant behavior. To determine if these dimensions are important predictors of reading achievement a two stage analysis was conducted. The first stage involved the association between the dependent and independent variables. A correlational analysis was first used to determine if a relationship exists between the independent variables (warmth, desk, task, talk, mild reprimand, severe reprimand, threat, punishment and other) and the three composites (boundary control, response to deviant behavior and total control). Total control consisted of the composites of warmth, boundary control and response to deviant behavior, and a regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of each of these composites to total control. -- The second stage of analysis examined the question of whether the independent variables have a linear or a nonlinear relationship to the dependent variables of reading. In order to test this, teachers were divided into groups on the basis of the independent variables. An analysis of variance was applied, followed by tests for linear and nonlinear trends. The computing procedure used was SPSS BREAKDOWN, using the ANOVA option with separation of trends for linear and nonlinear regression. The significance of the linear and nonlinear relationship was determined by the F test. All tests of significance used in this study were at the .05 level of probability. -- Based on these tests it was concluded that warmth was significantly associated with reading achievement in grades two and five and therefore the first hypothesis was accepted. A significant linear relationship was also found for warmth and reading achievement in grade two. The second hypothesis, that high boundary control is significantly associated with reading achievement was supported for grade five, but not for grade two. The test for linear relationships showed that only the task variable in grade five had a significant linear relationship. The third hypothesis, that low response to deviant behavior is significantly correlated with reading achievement in grades two and five was rejected because of an insignificant correlation in grade two, although grade five was found to have a significant correlation. Also a significant linear correlation was found for mild reprimand in grade two. Hypothesis four involved a composite of the dimensions of warmth, boundary control and response to deviant behavior. It was found that this composite was significantly related to reading achievement in both grades. -- This study shows that the dimensions of classroom control are important for reading achievement, particularly in grade five, and that there are important differences between grades with regard to control.


The process of oxidation (OP) that occurs on surfaces of copper (Cu), of electrical connections and connectors of electronic equipments installed in the electronics industry in the northwest of Mexico; is an important factor to determine the corrosion rate (CR) of this metal. The CR obtained from the installation of metallic copper specimens in the companies, one in Ensenada Lopez-Badilla, G. et al. Revista Electronica Nova Scientia, No 7 Vol. 4 (1), 2011. ISSN 2007 - 0705. pp: 01 - 16 - 3 - (marine environment) that manufactures video games, and one in Mexicali (arid zone), which manufactures personal computers; indicated the degree of deterioration of Cu. The CR in each city was determined by the gravimetric method, and increased or maintained of the CR was according to the type of thin films formed on the metals: porous and nonporous films. A correlation of CR with sulfates (SOX) and chlorides (Cl- ) was made, and the data were obtained with the technique of sulfation plates (TPS) and the wet candle method (WCM). The analysis of CR in both cities showed an almost linear representation in Mexicali, indicating the rapidly growing of CR, and in Ensenada a parabolic curve with a slow increase. The corrosion products were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the Cu films formed with the technique of Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), representing the air pollutants that reacted with the copper surface in each city. The analysis of depth profiles show the increases and decreases in carbon, oxygen, sulfates, chlorides and copper, over a period of time, indicating the thickness of each film formed on the surface of Cu, for the OP in the two cities. The maximum value of CR in Ensenada was 188 mg/m2 .year, and in Mexicali was 299 mg/m2 .year.


PURPOSE
To determine the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and soluble (s)CD40 ligand in obese surgical menopausal women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 52 obese surgical menopausal women with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 were admitted to the study. Twenty-seven women received estradiol hemihydrate two mg and 25 did not receive any menopausal therapy. At baseline and after three and six months of treatment, IMA and sCD40 ligand levels were measured.

RESULTS
There were no significant differences among the groups for any variables at baseline. No difference in change in the serum sCD40L levels was found in obese surgical menopausal women after three and six months of HT. Serum IMA levels were statistically lowered in obese women with HT after six months of treatment.

CONCLUSION
HT may have a beneficial reduction in IMA levels in obese surgical menopausal women.


Here, we report on the oxygenation and roughness features of polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate films, induced by air dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) processing using different electrode–platen configurations. The combinations of triple electrode–platen used were stainless steel wire electrodes–rubber platen (WE–RP), ceramic electrodes–aluminium platen (CE–AP) and quartz electrodes–aluminium platen (QE–AP). The degree of oxygenation of polymer surfaces achieved by processing in the QE–AP combination was comparatively higher (as observed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) than that for the other discharge configurations used. The surface roughness following DBD processing with the CE–AP set was found to be critically higher (by atomic force microscopy) than with the WE–RP and QE–AP combinations. We conclude that the localized physical damage of the polymer surface caused by the microfilaments present in the discharge can be avoided by suitably optimizing the experimental conditions, i.e. the appropriate use of electrode–platen system, the speed of processing (or residence time) and the operating power.


Because of the wide range of pharmacological activities and their distinctive structural features hydrazones and carbazole alkaloids have attracted considerable attention in medicinal chemistry. In this study, new carbazole acyl hydrozones (3a-k) which may have high biological activity potential, were synthesized with condensation reaction between carbazole hydrazide and benzaldehyde derivatives. After determination of the melting points of all synthesized derivatives, their structures were identified by FT-IR and 1 H-NMR spectroscopic methods.


The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the quality of disclosure of good corporate governance (GCG), leverage, and firm size on profitability in Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia and Malaysia. The data used in this study were obtained from the website of each bank in the period 2011-2017 with a total sample of 16 Islamic commercial banks. The data analysis technique used in this study is panel data regression analysis. The results showed that the quality of GCG disclosure and leverage had an effect on profitability while the firm size variable had an effect on profitability.


The widespread acceptance that 'evidence-based medicine' should determine all aspects of clinical practice leads to a consideration as to whether 'evidence-based nutrition' should be based on similar principles. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) are universally regarded as the gold standard by which to determine whether a drug is appropriate in a particular clinical situation. The evidence for some nutritional recommendations is indeed substantiated by RCT but in the case of some chronic diseases, notably cancers, where nutritional factors may operate as promoters or protectors many years before the onset of clinical disease, RCT may not be particularly appropriate. A range of experimental studies and descriptive epidemiological approaches may be regarded as sufficient to justify nutritional recommendations or dietary guidelines. Recommendations for the prevention and treatment of selected diseases will be considered in the context of their evidence-base.


This article borrows from Chapters 1 and 15 in Driving Climate Change: Cutting Carbon From Transportation, which were co-authored with James S. Cannon and David Burwell. The Asilomar Declaration was endorsed by the TRB committees on Transportation Energy, Alternative Fuels, and Transportation and Sustainability. David Greene, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and John E. Johnston, then with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, prepared the text of the Asilomar Declaration.


The purpose of this study was to characterize testicular development in D'Man ram lambs, focusing primarily on androgen receptors (ARs) immunolocalization in the adenohypophysis and testis that is not still known in the D'Man ram lamb. Lambs (n = 12) were divided into four groups (three lambs per group). Adenohypophysis and testis were fixed and paraffin embedded; cross-section (3 μm) were stained and evaluated with immunohistochemistry. Testis weight increased at a greater rate between two and five months after birth, which was associated with remarkable changes in testicular histology, including significant increases in the diameter of seminiferous tubules. Spermatogenesis started between three and five months after birth; lumen and elongated spermatids were observed for the first time in three and four months-old animals respectively. ARs detected with immunohistochemistry were located in the nuclei and cytoplasm of adenohypophysis cells, and only in nuclei of testis cells (Leydig, Sertoli, peritubular myoid and germ cells).


Energy efficiency is of the utmost importance in wireless sensor networks. The family of low-power-listening MAC protocols was proposed to reduce one form of energy dissipation-idle listening, a radio state for which the energy consumption cannot be neglected. Low-power-listening (also called channel probing) MAC protocols are characterized by a duty cycle: a node probes the channel every ti s of sleep. A low duty cycle favors receiving nodes because they may sleep for longer periods of time, but at the same time, contention may increase locally, thereby reducing the number of packets that can be sent. We propose a new approach to dynamically control the duty cycle so that the target rate of transmitted packets is reached, while the consumed energy is minimized. Our approach utilizes control theory and adapts it to the control of ti for low-power-listening MAC protocols in wireless sensor networks. Results show that this approach can appropriately adjust ti to the current network conditions.


Copyright law is not primarily directed at consumers. Their interests are therefore only marginally accounted for, as the copyright rules exempt specific uses of works from the right holder's control. This chapter examines the impact of digital technology on the position of consumers of licensed copyrighted content. While ownership of the physical embodiment of a work does not entail the ownership of the rights in the work, how does copyright law deal with 'disembodied' works? Whereas digital content is now commonly distributed on the basis of individual licensing schemes, what does it mean for consumers? Do they have a claim under consumer protection law against copyright owners for the impossibility to make a copy for private purposes, the lack of interoperability between devices, and the geo-blocking of their account?


This paper presents an approach to predict the operating conditions of machine based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in association with direct prediction strategy for multi-step ahead prediction of time series techniques. In this study, the number of available observations and the number of predicted steps are initially determined by using false nearest neighbor method and auto mutual information technique, respectively. These values are subsequently utilized as inputs for prediction models to forecast the future values of the machine's operating conditions. The performance of the proposed approach is then evaluated by using real trending data of low methane compressor. The results show that the ANFIS prediction model can track the change in machine conditions and has the potential for using as a tool to machine fault prognosis.


Magnetic fields are usually observed in the quiet Sun as small-scale elements that cover the entire solar surface (the "salt-and-pepper" patterns in line-of-sight magnetograms). By using 3D radiative MHD numerical simulations, we find that these fields result from a local dynamo action in the top layers of the convection zone, where extremely weak "seed" magnetic fields (e.g., from a 10−6 G) can locally grow above the mean equipartition field to a stronger than 2000 G field localized in magnetic structures. Our results reveal that the magnetic flux is predominantly generated in regions of small-scale helical downflows. We find that the local dynamo action takes place mostly in a shallow, about 500 km deep, subsurface layer, from which the generated field is transported into the deeper layers by convective downdrafts. We demonstrate that the observed dominance of vertical magnetic fields at the photosphere and horizontal fields above the photosphere can be explained by small-scale magnetic loops produced by the dynamo. Such small-scale loops play an important role in the structure and dynamics of the solar atmosphere and their detection in observations is critical for understanding the local dynamo action on the Sun.


The feeding of molasses to dairy cows was reviewed with emphasis on the effects on rumen fermentation, food intake and milk production. Three diary cow experiments and one fistulated wether sheep trial were conducted. Experiment 1 investigated the maximum feeding of molaferm 20 to mid-lactating dairy cows in a 3 X 3 Latin Square. The three complete diets each contained molaferm 20 at 156, 312 and 468 g/kg DM, respectively. Some cows suffered some scouring when they were fed 468 g/kg DM of molaferm 20, but recovered when they were fed lower levels. Blood concentrations of protein, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate, Mg and K all were within normal range. Feed intake was increased with each increment of dietary molaferm 20 levels (p<0.01). Milk yield in the medium molaferm 20 treatment was higher than in the low treatment (p<0.01), but was similar between the high and medium treatments. Milk fat concentration was independent of diets, whereas protein was significantly higher with increment of dietary molaferm 20 levels. Experiment 2 determined the effects of dietary ERDP and DUP concentrations on the performance of early lactating dairy cows fed 310 g/kg DM of molaferm 20 in a 3 x 3 Latin Square. The three diets (L/L, H/L and H/H) each contained similar concentration of ME but differing levels in ERDP and DUP (93/17, 117/17 and 121/32 (g/kg DM)). No clinical symptoms of the ill health of the cattle were found during the experiment. Treatments showed little effects on blood concentrations of protein, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate, Mg and K. Feed intake was significantly increased with each increment of CP levels. Milk yield was higher as ERDP increased (p < 0.05) and further higher as DUP increased (p<0.01). Milk fat concentrations was similar between treatments, whereas protein was higher as ERDP increased (P<0.05). Experiment 3 determined the responses of lactating dairy heifers to decreases in dietary FME concentrations produced by addition of unprotected tallow in a 3 x 3 Latin Square. Three complete diets (HFME, MFME and LFME) each contained 310 g/kg DM of molaferm 20 and similar levels of ERDP, DUP and ME but differing in levels of FME (9.4, 8.9 and 8.4 MJ/kg DM). No clinical symptoms of the ill health of the cattle were found during the experiment. Treatments showed little effects on blood concentrations of protein, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate, Mg and K. Feed intake was slightly lower with decreases in dietary FME concentrations achieved by addition the unprotected tallow. Milk yield in the HFME treatment was significantly lower than in the MFME or LFME treatment (p<0.01), while milk concentrations of protein and fat were significantly higher in the HFME (p<0.05). Milk concentration of uric acid was lower as decreasing dietary FME, but yield was similar between treatments. Experiment 4 investigated the effects of dietary ERDP and DUP concentrations on the rumen fermentation of ruminal fistulated wether sheep in a 4 x 4 Latin Square design. Four complete diets (C, CU, CS and CSF) each contained 310 g/kg DM of molaferm 20 and similar ME and FME, but differing in levels of ERDP/DUP (84/17, 109/17, 116/38 and 119/54 g/kg DM). Whole tract digestibilities of DM and OM was similar between treatments, while NDF and hay degradability in the rumen were significantly higher in sheep fed the diets CS and CSF than those fed the diets C and CU. Average ammonia-N in the rumen was significantly higher with each increment of dietary protein levels. However, PD-N output in urine did not respond to the ammonia concentrations. Microbial N supply was similar between the 4 treatments. Total volume of VFAs in the rumen was independent of the diets. Molar percentages of propionic and butyric acids were lower, while acetic acid was higher as ERDP levels increased, but not as DUP increased. The effects on the microbial protein synthesis and the efficiencies of utilization of ME intake and MP supply were discussed and areas of further research suggested.


This article critically evaluates whether the 'rape shield' legislation in England and Wales, as currently contained in s 41 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (YJ&CEA) 1999, is fit for purpose. The article addresses the impact of the case of R v Evans (Chedwyn) [2016] EWCA Crim 452 which received a disproportionately high amount of media scrutiny and led to subsequent calls for greater restrictions on sexual behaviour evidence. The article examines possible reform proposals by Findlay Stark and Matt Thomason and the results of empirical research conducted by Laura Hoyano before proposing the introduction of a 'combined admissibility framework' for evidence of a complainant's previous sexual behaviour and bad character. The proposed framework seeks to retain the high threshold for the admissibility, in particular, of evidence relating to a complainant's previous sexual behaviour while introducing a more holistic and straightforward model moving away from the strict categories approach adopted by s 41 YJ&CEA 1999.


Hydrologic and engineering geological conditions of underground engineering and mining are highly complex. Geological hazards, especially water inflow or inrush, often occur during constructions. In order to get an insight into flow state evolution laws of water inflow and inrush in karst regions, as well as the influence of tunnel excavation, a numerical simulation method was proposed with COMSOL Multiphysics. Three water flow laws, Darcy's law, Brinkman equations and incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, are coupled and linked with each other. Water pressure and velocity can be analyzed in the course of excavation, and it can be used for further study of risk control of water inflow and inrush.


The proper determination of soil moisture on different scales is important for applications in a variety of fields. We aim to develop a high-level soil moisture product with high temporal and spatial resolution by assimilating the multilayer soil moisture product SCATSAR-SWI (Scatterometer Synthetic Aperture Radar Soil Water Index) into the surface model SURFEX. In addition, we probe the impact of the findings on the numerical weather prediction (NWP) in Austria. The data assimilation system consists of the NWP model AROME and the SURFEX Offline Data Assimilation, which provide atmospheric forcing and soil moisture fields as mutual input. To address the known sensitivity of the employed simplified extended Kalman filter to the specification of errors, we compute the observation error variances of the SCATSAR-SWI locally using Triple Collocation Analysis and implement them into the assimilation system. The verification of the forecasted 2 m temperature and relative humidity against measurements of Austrian weather stations shows that the actual impact of the local error approach on the atmospheric forecast is slightly positive to neutral compared to the standard error approach, depending on the time of the year. The direct verification of the soil moisture analysis against a gridded water balance product reveals a degradation of the unbiased root-mean-square error for small observation errors.


Twelve replications of four littermate pigs from a herd naive for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) were weaned (10 ± 2 d of age) and penned individually in disease isolation rooms. Pigs were randomly allotted within litter to one of four dietary concentrations of soy genistein (0, 200, 400, 800 ppm) to quantify the effect of genistein on growth and immune response during a viral challenge. Genistein was provided as the soy glycoside, genistin. At 29 ± 2 d of age (4.9 ± 1.4 kg BW), pigs were oronasally inoculated with 104.3 PRRS virus/mL from strain JA142 in a 2-mL dose. Blood was collected every 4 d from d 0 to 24 postinoculation (PI) and analyzed for serum PPRS virus, interferon (IFN) activity, and alpha-1-acylglycoprotein (AGP) concentrations. Serum virus and IFN peaked at 105 virus/mL and 57% protection, respectively, at 4 d PI and then declined steadily. Serum AGP concentration peaked at 12 d PI. As dietary genistein concentration increased, serum concentrations of PRRS virus decreased linearly (102.46, 102.26, 102.05, 102.14 virus per mL of serum, P < .07) and IFN responded quadratically (28.4, 25.7, 22.8, 30.9% protection, P < .06) independent of d PI. AGP concentrations increased (P < .01) quadratically with the magnitude of the response to dietary genistein maximized at 12 to 16 d PI. Effects of dietary genistein on daily pig gain and feed intake were dependent on dietary genistein concentration and stage of viremia. Daily pig gains from d 0 to 24 postinoculation were improved quadratically (243, 281, 250, 246 g, P < .07) as dietary genistein increased, but the magnitude of the response to dietary genistein concentration lessened as the serum virus concentrations were minimized. Daily feed intakes also were improved quadratically (315, 371, 345, 317 g, P < .05) as genistein concentration increased. These data indicate that dietary soy genistein at 200 to 400 ppm is an orally active immune modulator that enhances systemic serum virus elimination and body growth in virally challenged pigs.


An extended version of the standard pion-nucleus optical potential is presented using the momentum-space formulation of the multiple scattering theory. This potential is used for studying the influence of nonlocal effects and nuclear structure on the characteristics of light pionic atoms. A method is suggested to treat the long-range two-nucleon correlations involved in the second order optical potential. Particularly, the spin-orbital Fermi motion correction to the first-order optical potential, the center-of-mass correlations, and the spin-isospin corrections to the second-order optical potential are discussed in some detail. The results are presented in comparison with the experimental data for the 1{ital s} and 2{ital p} levels of light pionic atoms up to {sup 44}Ca.


SUMMARY: The lengths of organisms of Escherichia coli B/r grown in continuous culture in a glucose salts medium were measured over a wide range of population densities at 22° and 37° In some cases the cultures were exposed to continuous gamma radiation at dose rates of 600 r./hr. at 22° and of 1000 r./hr. at 37°. The average length of the forms and the distribution with respect to length depended upon the temperature, population density and radiation dose rate. The growth rate was almost independent of population density over the range in which the average length of organism showed such a marked dependence. No significant differences in growth rate were observed as between unirradiated and irradiated cultures. Changes in average length of organisms are regarded as phenotypic responses to changes in growth conditions, some conditions favouring division and others inhibiting division amongst short organisms.


Effect of wood preservatives (waterborne and organicborne) on the performance of surface finishing properties is investigated. Sapwood of scots pine, (Pinus sylvestris L.), oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky), and chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) specimens (300 × 100 × 15 mm along the grain) were impregnated with aqueous solution of 2% CCA, 2% Tanalith E, 1% boric acid, and Immersol aqua. Surface roughness, dry film thickness, adhesion strength, gloss measurement, scratch, and abrasion resistance were determined according to related standards for treated and untreated samples. The results indicated that surface roughness and adhesion strength depended on wood species and the chemical composition of preservatives. Generally, waterborne wood preservatives increased the surface roughness of wood while the organic-based wood preservatives decreased it. The organic-based wood preservatives decreased adhesion but they increased gloss value. Wood preservatives did not affect the scratch resistance which was found to depend on properties of the coating. All the wood preservatives increased abrasion resistance.


In the present study, the efficacy of a methanol extract of Raphanus sativus root (RSME) is tested in albino rats that developed hepatic damage due to administration of paracetamol (100 mg/kg body weight) for 30 days. Twenty rats were divided into three experimental groups (E1, E2, E3) and one control group (EC). Two doses of RSME (80 and 120 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to E1 and E2, respectively, and a mixture of RSME (120 mg/kg) and paracetamol (100 mg/kg) was administered to E3 for 21 days. Group EC and another group of normal rats (EN) that served as controls were administered distilled water. At the end of the experiment rats were bled to assay thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate aspartate transaminase (SGPT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase. Results indicated that RSME reduced the levels of TBARS, SGOT and SGPT, and increased the level of GSH and the catalase activity in E1 and E2 as compared to the EC group. Group E3 showed decreases in TBARS, SGOT and SGPT levels, but the results were not statistically significant compared with the EN group. There was also a marked depletion in GSH level and catalase activity in this group. RSME reduced lipid peroxidation induced by paracetamol and brought the levels of SGOT and SGPT to normal, indicating liver recovery. It also brought about repletion of GSH levels and recovery of catalase activity. Results for group E3 indicated that RSME was not able to reverse the effects of paracetamol if administration continued.


The traditional healers are a source of health care for which Africans have always paid. Even with the expansion of modern medicine, healers are still popular and command fees exceeding the average treatment cost at most modern practitioners. Are traditional healers miracle workers or are they charlatans? Clearly either view is too extreme. Traditional healers are not perfect. Nor, however, can they be charlatans. This article advances a view of traditional healers that relies on neither supernatural power nor manifest ignorance. It suggests that healers remain popular despite abundant modern medicine because they have wisely used an important economic contract to the mutual benefit of their practice and the population they serve. While the contrasts between traditional medicine and modern medicine are many, the article focuses on the differences in the way traditional and modern healers are paid. An important element of their practice has been previously ignored: traditional healers receive the bulk of their payment only if the patient is cured.


: The possible mechanism of action of weak electric and magnetic fields of extremely low frequency on biomolecules is discussed in terms of the resonance effects on the precession of the ion orbits in a static magnetic field. The proposed model retains the principal merits of the familiar model of Liboff, but is free from the basic shortcomings of the latter.