This investigation was conducted to study the practicability of employing heat as a means of preventing the formation of ice on airplane wings. The report relates essentially to technical problems regarding the extraction of heat from the exhaust gases and its proper distribution over the exposed surfaces. In this connection a separate study has been made to determine the variation of the coefficient of heat transmission along the chord of a Clark Y airfoil. Experiments on ice prevention both in the laboratory and in flight show conclusively that it is necessary to heat only the front portion of the wing surface to effect complete prevention. Experiments in flight show that a vapor-heating system which extracts heat from the exhaust and distributes it to the wings is an entirely practical and efficient method for preventing ice formation.


This report discusses poverty in United States that varies widely across the population according to age, education, labor force attachment, family living arrangements, and area of residence, among other factors. The report elaborates on the poverty among selected groups, the geography of poverty, and the research supplemental poverty measure.


Studies of household water use are often based on retrospective behavioral reports, which are vulnerable to threats to informant accuracy. This article compares three methods for collecting household water use data: a diary, prompted recall, and free recall. The analyses are based on data from seventy-two randomly selected households in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Per capita water use estimates based on the three methods were significantly different. When compared against known parameters, the diary provided the most accurate estimate of household water use. The prompted recall method yielded similar results to the diary method on hygienic and food preparation tasks, but there were significant differences on household cleaning tasks. The free recall method significantly underestimated water use. There were not significant differences in water use assessments within households, but there was variation in misestimation across households. The article discusses which participants (e.g., heads of less water-consumptive households) provided more reliable water use estimates.


The phenotypes that are associated with the common forms of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)--autosomal dominant (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive (ARPKD)--are highly variable in penetrance. This is in terms of severity of renal disease, which can range from neonatal death to adequate function into old age, characteristics of the liver disease, and other extrarenal manifestations in ADPKD. Influences of the germline mutation are at the genic and allelic levels, but intrafamilial variability indicates that genetic background and environmental factors are also key. In ADPKD, the gene involved, PKD1 or PKD2, is a major factor, with ESRD occurring 20 yr later in PKD2. Mutation position may also be significant, especially in terms of the likelihood of vascular events, with 5' mutations most detrimental. Variance component analysis in ADPKD populations indicates that genetic modifiers are important, but few such factors (beyond co-inheritance of a TSC2 mutation) have been identified. Hormonal influences, especially associated with more severe liver disease in female individuals, indicate a role for nongenetic factors. In ARPKD, the combination of mutations is critical to the phenotypic outcome. Patients with two truncating mutations have a lethal phenotype, whereas the presence of at least one missense change can be compatible with life, indicating that many missense changes are hypomorphic alleles that generate partially functional protein. Clues from animal models and other forms of PKD highlight potential modifiers. The information that is now available on both genes is of considerable prognostic value with the prospects from the ongoing genetic revolution that additional risk factors will be revealed.


This paper argues that official development assistance (foreign aid) is partly responsible for the lack of structural change in Africa. Africa's development partners have devoted too few resources and too little attention to two critical constraints to private investment, infrastructure and skills, focusing instead on easily understood, but potentially low impact regulatory reforms. A new aid strategy, one that catalyses private investment in high value added sectors, is needed. Support for strategic interventions to push nontraditional exports, support industrial agglomerations, build firm capabilities, and strengthen regional integration should anchor a new donor agenda to create good jobs and sustain growth.


Tonal languages differ from other languages in their use of pitch (tones) to distinguish words. Some research suggests that the linguistic pitch expertise of tonal language speakers may generalize to improved discrimination of some aspects of musical pitch: tonal language speakers may therefore have music perception advantages over speakers of other languages. The evidence is mixed, however, as prior studies have studied small numbers of participants in only a few tonal languages and countries, making it challenging to disentangle the effects of linguistic experience from variability in music training experience, cultural differences, and so on. Here, we report an assessment of music perception skill in native speakers of 40 languages, with a preregistered exploratory-confirmatory design, including tonal (e.g., Mandarin, Vietnamese), pitch-accented (e.g., Japanese, Croatian), and non-tonal (e.g., Spanish, Hungarian) languages. Whether or not participants had taken music lessons, native speakers of tonal languages (confirmatory 𝑛 = 20,102) had an improved ability to discriminate musical melodies. But this improvement came with a trade-off: relative to speakers of pitch-accented (confirmatory 𝑛 = 9,694) or non-tonal languages (confirmatory 𝑛 = 242,096), tonal speakers were worse at discriminating fine-scale pitch-tuning and worse at processing the musical beat. These results, which held across 5 tonal languages and were robust to geographic and demographic variation, demonstrate that linguistic experience shapes music perception ability, with implications for relations between music, language, and culture in the human mind.


A functional cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) eggplant line carrying the cytoplasm of Solanum violaceum was developed in the past, but the fertility restoring genes (Rf-genes) were not identified. This work aimed to produce the CMS lines of three Hellenic eggplant cultivars (viz., 'Langada', 'Emi' and 'Tsakoniki') using the cytoplasm of S. violaceum and study the inheritance of the Rf-genes. The respective CMS eggplant lines were developed by the backcross method and examined for their fertility parameters. The results demonstrated that female fertility was not affected by the cytoplasm of S. violaceum. In contrast, the occurrence of three male fertility phenotypes (male sterile, male fertile and potentially male fertile) indicated that male fertility was affected by nuclear/cytoplasmic interactions. Male sterile plants were characterized by indehiscent anthers, low pollen viability and abnormal anther morphology. Male fertile plants formed dehiscent anthers with high pollen viability and normal morphology. Potentially male fertile plants initially formed dehiscent anthers, but in later stages formed exclusively indehiscent anthers. Male fertile plants were obtained in the advanced backcross populations of CMS 'Tsakoniki', but not in CMS 'Langada' and CMS 'Emi'. The genetic analysis of fertility restoration indicated that male fertility in the genetic background of cv. 'Tsakoniki' is controlled by one essential genetic locus, affected by a secondary modifying locus. Molecular analysis of cp-DNA and mt-DNA in the CMS lines indicated maternal inheritance of the cytoplasm organelles. Our findings demonstrate that the genotype of the eggplant parent can affect the expression of CMS as well as fertility restoration.


We investigate the seasonal variation and the azimuthal distribution of the amplitude scintillation occurrence rate with the data observed by GPS ground receiver at Kototabang from 2010 to 2015. Its year-to-year variation shows the well-known solar activity. It also confirms the known seasonal variation, with local maxima in equinoxes and the local maximum in March is larger than that in September as reported in previous work. Furthermore, it also shows an azimuth preference, with stronger occurrence rate in the south. This feature is similar to that obtained by [Abadi et al., 2017] at Pontianak and Bandung. This is mainly because the equatorial ionization ionization anomaly (EIA) crest locates in this direction.


PURPOSE
To determine the MR appearance of cerebellar abnormalities in Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy.

METHODS
We reviewed brain MR images of 25 patients with Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy and examined the autopsy specimens of a 23-month-old girl with the disease to determine the pathologic nature of the MR findings.

RESULTS
MR studies revealed two characteristic cerebellar abnormalities: (a) disorganized cerebellar folia (16 cases) that were recognized as unusual distortions of the cortex; and (b) clusters of intraparenchymal cysts (23 cases). The two lesions were located close to each other, and milder lesions tended to affect only the superior semilunar lobule. The autopsy specimen revealed small cerebellar cysts, which consisted of dilated subarachnoid spaces buried beneath the malformed cortex.

CONCLUSION
The disorganized folia represent cerebellar polymicrogyria, and the presence of cerebellar cysts is related to the polymicrogyria. These two MR changes are often present in Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy and are distinct enough to suggest the radiologic diagnosis.


T lymphocyte activation with monoclonal antibodies directed against the CD2 (T,p50) sheep red blood cell receptor antigen and against CD3 (T,p19,29) has been investigated. Co-stimulation of purified T lymphocytes with anti-CD3 (SP34) and anti-CD2 (9-1), which detects a unique epitope on the CD2 molecule, results in T cell activation and cell proliferation. Each antibody alone is unable to mediate this effect. Co-stimulation of purified T cells with two different anti-CD2 antibodies, 9-1 and 9.6, which detect two different epitopes on the CD2 molecule, are also mitogenic. In contrast, the combination of anti-CD3 (SP34) and anti-CD2 (9.6) cannot induce T cell activation. These data suggest that the CD2 epitope defined by the 9-1 antibody is functionally important for T cell activation via the CD3/Ti complex. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that anti-CD3 (SP34) induces epitopic modulation of the CD2 molecule, resulting in enhanced expression of the CD2, 9-1 epitope. This epitope modulation of the CD2 (9-1) epitope by anti-CD3 (SP34) occurs instantaneously at 4 degrees C and in the presence of NaN3. The functional interaction between CD3 and CD2 occurs in spite of any evidence of complex formation between these two molecules. These data suggest that the T cell differentiation antigens CD3 and CD2 are jointly involved in antigen-specific T cell activation. The data are consistent with a model for antigen-specific T cell activation involving both the CD3/Ti complex and subsequent activation of the CD2 complex T cell activation by co-stimulation with anti-CD3 (SP34) and anti-CD2 (9-1) is substantially enhanced by the addition of exogenous, purified interleukin 1 (IL 1). These data would suggest that the CD2 complex, as well as the putative IL 1 receptor, are involved in separate and complementary receptor-ligand interactions, resulting in the amplification of antigen-specific T cell responses.


To develop a reliable canine model of cerebral infarction of moderate size, we compared infarctions caused by permanent occlusion of the following vessels in 42 dogs: 1) the middle cerebral artery (MCA), 2) the MCA and azygous anterior cerebral artery (ACA), 3) the MCA, azygous ACA, and posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and 4) sham-operated controls. The infarction volume was determined at 6 hours in half the animals and at 6 days in the others. Studies of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed before and after arterial occlusion, and good correlation was observed between the decrease in amplitude of the SSEPs and the decrease in rCBF observed after arterial occlusion. Only the groups in which the MCA and azygous ACA were occluded showed moderate infarctions of relatively consistent size. Analysis involving all groups revealed that the animals with SSEP amplitude preserved after vessel occlusion had only small infarctions; thus, preservation of SSEP amplitude after occlusion of the MCA and azygous ACA could in the future be used prospectively as a rejection criterion to improve the uniformity of infarction size. Conversely, animals with loss of SSEP amplitude after vessel occlusion had infarctions of moderate to large size; thus, loss of SSEP amplitude after MCA occlusion alone could in the future be used prospectively as a rejection criterion. When these rejection criteria were retrospectively applied to the groups in which both the MCA and azygous ACA were occluded, the resulting mean infarction volumes +/- 1 SEM) for the acute and chronic subgroups were 20.3 +/- 2.8% and 38.2 +/- 4.5% of the hemisphere, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


It has long been recognized that malnutrition changes physical appearance, as evidenced by muscle wasting, losses of fat stores, signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and reduced physical activity. Malnutrition is associated with poor clinical outcomes and quality of life. Various nutrition assessment parameters have been used to determine the presence and degree of malnutrition, including use of anthropometric measurements and laboratory values. In the mid-1980s, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) tool was developed in acknowledgement of the physical features of malnutrition; an evaluation of muscle mass, fat stores, edema, and functional capacity was a major component of the SGA. SGA became a gold standard for nutrition assessment. Since then, nutrition assessment evolved from anthropometric tools and laboratory values to one based on the nutrition-focused physical examination (NFPE). NFPE uses a head-to-toe approach to evaluate muscle mass, fat stores, fluid retention, micronutrient deficiencies, and functional capacity. In 2012, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (AND/ASPEN) developed a standardized definition for malnutrition diagnoses for coding and reimbursement; the AND/ASPEN malnutrition diagnosis is derived from the SGA. A few studies demonstrated good agreement between SGA and AND/ASPEN malnutrition criteria in diagnosing malnutrition, and some studies have shown malnutrition, as diagnosed by AND/ASPEN criteria, is associated with poor clinical outcomes. More research is needed to validate the AND/ASPEN malnutrition diagnosis criteria.


CRIES FROM THE JUNGLE: THE DIALOGIC LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE OF THE MIGRANT AND REFUGEE CAMPS IN CALAIS, FRANCE Since 1999, migrants and refugees from across the Middle East and Northeastern Africa have squatted in makeshift camps in and around the strategic port city of Calais, France, hoping for the opportunity to stow away on a ferry or lorry to England. The inhabitants of these camps seek to engage the world in a dialogue, and although they speak a variety of languages, the voices the refugees and migrants in The Jungle of Calais raise through their protest placards and graffiti are more homogeneous. Like in many other protests, the languages of these messages are universal; they are French and English, the languages of their location, their desired destination, and of the world that they hope is watching. The data for this study are from still images freely available through Getty Images Embed Service. Using the techniques of linguistic landscapes, this paper analyzes the linguistic material of The Jungle. Like other recent works on the linguistic landscapes of protest, this analysis challenges the idea that territory is a fixed place or space (Kasanga, 2014), asserting rather that the migrants/refugees are co-creating a collective space that exists more through their raised voices, and less in the physical space they temporarily inhabit.


Cartilage has a poor regenerative potential with very low cell-density that contributes to its poor capability for self -repair .For this reason, autologous cartilage grafts have been used in reconstructive surgery .Today; the rapidly emerging field of tissue engineering holds great promises for the generation of functional cartilage tissue substitutes. The technique was initiated by harvesting cartilage cells (chondrocytes) from a donor site such as the nasal septum or the auricle. However, in clinical use of human chondrocytes for tissue engineering, extensive expansion of cell numbers from a small donor site biopsy was required and this could limit the chondrogenic potential of cells after proliferation. Therefore, the ability of chondrocytes to replicate invitro allowed the expansion of cell numbers to produce theoretically limitless supplies of cartilage autografts .Stem cell technology presents an alternative , immunoprivileged resource of cells with unlimited replicative capacity . These cells exist in a wide selection of tissues and provide the option of multi-lineage differentiation. This paper reviews the current evidence that stem cells may provide a superior cell resource for tissue engineered cartilage and outlines the methodology for their isolation and chondrogenic induction. (Tanaffos 2005; 4(14): 9-18)


In rats fed on a diet containing 1 % cholesterol for 24 h, the decrease in hepatic non-saponifiable lipid synthesis, cholesterogenesis and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of newly synthesized polar sterols in vivo. In these animals there was also a strong inverse correlation between the proportion of polar sterols in the non-saponifiable lipid and hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity. A similar correlation was not observed in animals fed on a normal diet. Cholesterogenesis in the intestine was not as sensitive to inhibition by dietary cholesterol as was that in the liver, and there was no increase in the polar-sterol content of the newly synthesized non-saponifiable-lipid fraction.


The proliferation of the Internet and World Wide Web applications has created new opportunities as well as new challenges for institutions and individuals who are either receiving or delivering education. Electronic (e) learning is one of the most important developments in education. It recognizes the shift from teaching to learning and puts the learner or user before the institution. The objectives and expected outcomes of e‐learning are largely dependent on the quality of the teaching processes and the effectiveness of online access. Hence, assessing methods for the effectiveness of e‐learning Web sites are a critical issue in both practice and research. However, Web site quality is a complex concept and its measurement is expected to be multidimensional in nature. Multicriteria decision‐making (MCDM) techniques are widely used for evaluating and ranking such problems containing multiple, usually conflicting criteria. For this reason, this article presents a quality evaluation model based on the MCDM to measure the e‐learning Web sites' performance. In addition, the subjectivity and vagueness in the assessment process are dealt with using fuzzy logic. The study has investigated 10 worldwide and 11 locally successful Web sites with the proposed method. By suggesting an aggregated measure based on the Web site quality criteria, it is expected that the method could be useful to the e‐learning service providers and system developers, as well as to the researchers related with Web research. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 22: 567–586, 2007.


This paper reports shear stiffness and viscosity "virtual biopsy" measurements of the three excised noncancerous human prostates using a new tool known as shear wave dispersion ultrasound vibrometry (SDUV) in vitro. Improved methods for prostate guided-biopsy are required to effectively guide needle biopsy to the suspected site. In addition, tissue stiffness measurement helps in identifying a suspected site to perform biopsy because stiffness has been shown to correlate with pathologies, such as cancerous tissue. More importantly, early detection of prostate cancer may guide minimally invasive therapy and eliminate insidious procedures. In this paper, "virtual biopsies" were taken in multiple locations in three excised prostates; SDUV shear elasticity and viscosity measurements were performed at the selected "suspicious" locations within the prostates. SDUV measurements of prostate elasticity and viscosity are generally in agreement with preliminary values previously reported in the literature. It is, however, important to emphasize here that the obtained viscoelastic parameters values are local, and not a mean value for the whole prostate.


Ketoconazole is no longer available for clinical determination of worst-case victim drug-drug interaction (DDI) potential for cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A)-substrate drugs; clarithromycin and itraconazole are the proposed replacements. Ketoconazole DDIs are described by unbound systemic exposures due to absence of carrier-facilitated hepatic uptake, but this aspect of clarithromycin and itraconazole disposition has not been investigated. At present, transport of clarithromycin, itraconazole, and hydroxyitraconazole by hepatic organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) and organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) was examined in vitro and in vivo. As for ketoconazole, uptake of clarithromycin, itraconazole, and hydroxyitraconazole into OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OATP2B1, and OCT1 expressing human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells was not greater than in vector controls. Uptake into these HEK293 cells and human hepatocytes was not impaired by the prototypical OATP, OCT, and sodium/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide inhibitors bromosulfophthalein, imipramine, and taurocholate, respectively. In contrast, uptake of the positive controls, atorvastatin for OATPs and metformin for OCT1, was significantly enhanced by relevant transporter expression, and uptake into both these HEK293 cells and human hepatocytes was significantly impaired by prototypical inhibitors. In Oatp1a/1b gene cluster knockout mice, which lack the major hepatic Oatps, and in Oct1/2 knockout mice, ketoconazole, clarithromycin, itraconazole, and hydroxyitraconazole oral exposure was not increased, and the liver-to-blood partition coefficient (Kp) was not decreased. By contrast relative to wild-type mice, in Oatp1a/1band Oct1/2-knockout mice, atorvastatin and metformin oral exposure was significantly increased, and liver Kp was significantly decreased. The present studies provide in vitro and in vivo evidence that, like ketoconazole, clarithromycin, itraconazole, and hydroxyitraconazole are not transported into the liver by hepatic uptake transporters, including OATPs and OCT1.


As recently as 2007, the Irish economy was still booming and the state coffers overflowing; by the end of 2008, the state faces an unprecedented crisis. The story of the Irish banking collapse is a tawdry tale of collusion, back-scratching and denial among bankers, developers, regulators and politicians. This is the story Shane Ross - independent Senator, long-time champion of citizens against misbehaving corporations, and Journalist of the Year 2009 - tells in "The Bankers", going behind the scenes and the headlines to explain what happened, how it happened and who made it happen. They're all here: Sean FitzPatrick, Michael Fingleton and the other bank bosses; Patrick Neary and his colleagues in Ireland's failed regulatory apparatus; the property developers, whose borrowings ruined the banks, and many of whom are now personally ruined; and the politicians, whose policies helped inflate the property bubble and who have allowed the banks to dictate the terms of their bail-out. Shane Ross knows the stories of these people and what they got up to, and in "The Bankers" he makes sense of a scandal that will haunt Ireland for years to come.


Purposes: This study was done to identify factors associated with uncontrolled hemoglobin A1c among patient with diabetes mellitus. Method: The sample was 412 Koreans with diagnosed diabetes aged 40 years or older who participated in the Fifth Korea Health and Nutrition Examination survey, which was a nationwide, cross-sectional survey. Data was analyzed using logistic regression. Uncontrolled hemoglobin A1c rate was 55%. Results: There was a difference between controlled and uncontrolled group in hemoglobin A1c as follows: duration of diabetes, BMI(Body Mass Index), hypertriglyceridemia, vitamin D, sleep duration. After adjusting for confounding factor, longer duration of diabetes (>7 years vs. )(Adjusted OR=2.277, 95% CI [1.277-4.060]), presence of hypertriglyceridemia (Adjusted OR=4.019, 95% CI [1.871-8.634]), lower vitamin D level ()(Adjusted OR=2.487, 95% CI[1.411-4.381]), longer sleep duration (6-8 hours vs >8 hours)(Adjusted OR=6.831, 95% CI [1.877-24.855]) were significantly associated with increased odds of uncontrolled hemoglobin A1c. Conclusions: Results show that duration of diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, vitamin D and sleep duration are significantly related to hemoglobin A1c. Therefore, considering these factors it would be helpful to develop strategies to improve blood glucose control in patients with diabetes.


AbstractWater hammer is an unsteady hydraulic problem commonly found in closed conduits of hydropower plants, water distribution networks, and liquid pipeline systems. Because of either a malfunction of a system or inadequate operation conditions, a pipeline may collapse or burst erratically, resulting in substantial damages and human loss in some cases. Therefore, it is crucial that engineers design and/or analyze projects with reliable computing methods for all foreseeable operation situations. In this paper, transient flow situations in run-of-river plants are investigated for various operation conditions such as load rejection, load acceptance, and instant load rejection. A computer program using the method of characteristics is used in two case studies having Pelton and Francis turbines, respectively. On the basis of the field data of the plants, their computational models are set up, and resulting transient pressures are computed and compared with available measured pressures. Comparisons indicate t...


Two aptamers, one for ATP and one for arginine, were modified using an artificial 2'-dexoyribonucleoside based on the nucleobase surrogate imidazole-4-carboxylate. This synthetic nucleoside substitute does not engage in hydrogen bonding but is capable of forming Cu(II)-mediated base pairs instead. Hence, the addition of Cu(II) can be used to influence the ability of the aptamer derivatives to adopt the correct fold necessary for binding their respective target molecule. As a result, aptamer function can be modulated via the addition of Cu(II). The extent of modulation ability depends on the identity of the aptamer and on the exact location of the artificial nucleosides within the oligonucleotide sequence.


As we scale toward nanometer technologies, the increase in interconnect parameter variations will bring significant performance variability. New design methodologies will emerge to facilitate construction of reliable systems from unreliable nanometer scale components. Such methodologies require new performance models which accurately capture the manufacturing realities. In this paper, we present a Linear Fractional Transform (LFT) based model for interconnect parametric uncertainty. The new model formulates the interconnect parametric uncertainty as a repeated scalar uncertainty structure. With the help of generalized Balanced Truncation Realization (BTR) and Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI's), the porposed model reduces the order of the original interconnect network while preserves the stability. The LFT based new model even guarantees passivity if the BTR reduction is based on solutions to a pair of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI's) generated from Lur'e equations. In case of large number of uncertain parameters, the new model may be applied successively: the uncertain parameters are partitioned into groups, and with regard to each group, LFT based model is applied in turns.


The central premise of this thesis is that the concepts of hellenisation and romanisation are no longer useful as interpretive models of the Graeco-Roman Near East. Through most of the twentieth century they did good service generating research questions and providing innovative explanations of both existing and new data. On the one hand the notion of hellenisation focused attention on the historical importance of cultural change in the Hellenistic period, while the concept of romanisation focused scholarly attention on life in the provinces rather than on the court life of the imperial city and highlighted the importance of epigraphy and archaeology as against the philological study of literary texts. But the underlying assumptions of both concepts — the superiority of Graeco-Roman culture, the 'civilising' role of the intrusive powers, the passivity of the indigenous peoples of the region, the notion that Greek, Roman and Semitic cultures are bounded entities — are now dated.  In the first part of the thesis I deconstruct the concepts of hellenisation and romanisation in detail and then develop an alternative framework which is avowedly postmodern and interdisciplinary, eschews eurocentrism, and uses postcolonial concepts as well as insights from modern social theory.  In the second part of the thesis I use the alternative framework to review the evidence relating to the provincial city of Gerasa in the Roman province of Arabia. Looked at through this alternative prism it has been possible to offer some different readings of the evidence not apparent in earlier interpretations. In particular, in using the concepts of resistant strategy and cultural imperialism to discuss the emergence of the Antonine period city plan, I challenge the traditional view of Hadrian's urbanisation policy.


Eleven Southdown male lambs averaging 19.8 kg were randomly allotted to two groups and fed diets containing 7.7% (low-N) or 15.8% (high-N) crude protein. All of the supplemental nitrogen in the high-N diet was supplied as urea. Intake of the low-N and high-N diets averaged 372.3 g and 340.5 g/day, respectively. Findings at the end of the thirty-day trial were: (1) mean body weights unchanged for the two groups; (2) plasma urea nitrogen three-fold higher in the high-N (19.07 mg/100 ml) than the low-N (6.57) animals; (3) similar hepatic activity levels of three urea cycle enzymes (ornithine transcarbamylase, argininosuccinase, arginase) in the two groups, and (4) similar liver weights and liver protein concentration. The absence of adaptive change in enzyme levels suggests the hypothesis that addition of non-protein nitrogen to maintenance diets may cause ammonia intoxication by exceeding the liver's reserve capacity for urea synthesis.


Abstract: Two European species of the Diomedeoididae, an extinct family of procellariiform (tube‐nose) birds, have hitherto been distinguished primarily by size of their limb bones. Here, we describe an Early Oligocene (Rupelian) procellariifom coracoid that in all probability represents the larger species, Diomedeoides lipsiensis, and compare it to the coracoids of smaller diomedeoidids and extant procellariiforms. Using multivariate (Principal Component Analysis) and univariate analyses, we demonstrate that nearly all measurements are heavily size dependent, which makes the proportions and some other shape characters of little use as phylogenetic markers. Among eight measurements, the coracoid corpus width shows the highest correlation (higher than corpus depth) with body mass, permitting a precise calculation of over twofold difference in body mass between D. lipsiensis and smaller species. Among 16 qualitative characters analysed, the majority proved too variable to be used as markers of interfamily relationships and only 2–3, the ventral intermuscular line, sternocoracoid articulation (divided vs. undivided), and, with reservations, epimarginal crest vary consistently between the families. By far the most variable is the acrocoracoid process that tends to be deeper (more elongate dorsoventrally) in larger petrels but not in the albatrosses. However, the detailed shapes of the acrocoracoid heads are highly genus specific and suggest a genus‐level diversity among the Diomedeoididae from the Oligocene of Europe. The common features of the diomedeoidid coracoids are best interpreted as plesiomorphies, which accounts for some similarities to the Oceanitinae (that are probably basal among the crown‐group procellariiforms). The evidence from the coracoid is consistent with a stem‐group position of the Diomedeoididae as previously proposed by others. We emphasize the need of a group‐specific character analysis, primarily of allometries and levels of character variation, prior to a phylogenetic reconstruction.


This paper characterizes the optimal advertising strategy of candidates in an election campaign, where groups of heterogeneous voters are targeted through media outlets. We discuss its effects on the implemented policy and relate it to the well-documented increase in polarization. Additionally, we empirically establish that polarization displays electoral cycles. These cycles emerge in the model as candidates find it optimal to cater to different groups of voters and thus to adjust policies. Further, technologies that allow targeting voters more precisely tend to increase polarization. Our prediction is confirmed empirically as an increase in internet penetration leads to higher polarization.


This is the final report for the DOE-sponsored experimental particle physics program at Virginia Tech to study the properties of the Standard Model of strong and electroweak interactions. This contract (DE-AS05-80ER10713) covers the period from August 1, 1980 to January 31, 1993. Task B of this contract, headed by Professor Alexander Abashian, is described in this final report. This program has been pursued on many fronts by the researchers in a search for axions at SLAC, in electron-positron collisions in the AMY experiment at the TRISTAN collider in Japan, in measurements of muon decay properties in the MEGA and RHO experiments at the LAMPF accelerator, in a detailed analysis of scattering effects in the purported observation of a 17 keV neutrino at Oxford, in a search for a disoriented chiral condensate with the MiniMax experiment at Fermilab, and in an R&D program on resistive plate counters that could find use in low-cost high-quality charged particle detection at low rates.


This experiment examines the consequences and welfare implications of the introduction of new rats to established (resident) caged laboratory rat groups. The effects on investigatory and aggressive behaviours of the established and the newly introduced rats were measured. The aggressive status within each established resident group was known prior to the introduction; the status of each intruder rat was also known. Single-sex groups of both male and female residents and intruders were studied. Two important conclusions arise from the results of the experiment. First, contrary to reports in a number of publications, there were no effects of male resident social status on their investigatory or aggressive behaviour towards male intruder rats. There was, however, a significant effect of social status among female residents on their investigatory behaviour towards intruders; unexpectedly, it was the subordinates followed by the dominant animals that showed the highest investigatory response. Second, aggression by intruders of both sexes depended upon their social status in their resident group. In the case of male intruders, aggressive behaviour towards residents was a reflection of their previous social status irrespective of how much aggression they received from residents. Among females, a similar pattern emerged, with the dominant females initiating the most aggression; however, this behaviour was dependent upon how much aggression was received from residents and on the resident's social status, with resident subordinates and dominants responding with the most aggressive behaviour. The results are interpreted in terms of putative competitive strategies adopted by rats in a confined (cage) environment, and their welfare implications are discussed.


The aim of the research was to examine the attitudes of educators on the influence of preschool children`s playing computer games on their cognitive development. Participants were 188 educators from preschool institutions in the territory of Serbia. Educators' attitudes were analyzed in relation to their level of education, place of work, year of age and years of service in order to identify tendencies that occur with changes in the structure of the research sample. The data obtained from the research were processed in the SPSS program, by using parametric statistics and the F test in the statistical analysis in order to determine the statistically significant differences in the attitudes of educators with respect to independent variables. A qualitative approach was used in the analysis of the survey results obtained through the use of questionnaire-scale, while the data were presented in tabular and graphical manner. The research was carried out in two phases. The first phase of the research involved visiting the kindergartens to gain approval for the participation of the preschool institution in the research and to deliver the instrument to RIUPU (Computer games at preschool age), which the educators subsequently completed. This phase was followed by the collection of instruments as well as the interpretation of the obtained data. The results of the research indicate that educators consider computer games as a useful pedagogical tool that encourages the learning of preschool children and reflects positively on logical reasoning, as well as on enhancement of intellectual development and cognitive abilities. When it comes to statistically significant differences in the respondents' attitudes compared to the independent variables, the results of the research show that educators with longer work experience more positively evaluate the impact of computer games on cognitive development, compared to educators with shorter work experience. When the variable place of work was analyzed, the research results show that educators in rural areas expressed a greater degree of agreement that the use of computer games in the context of kindergarten can contribute to the acquisition of declarative, procedural and strategic knowledge, compared to educators employed in suburban and urban areas.


Background The emergence of azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae threatens recommended first-line treatment regimens. Methods We investigated cases of azithromycin-resistant gonorrhoea detected at Public Health – Seattle and King County STD Clinic between January 2014 and February 2015. In 2012–2013, zero of 237 MSM urethral isolates were azithromycin-resistant. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) do not define an azithromycin-resistance breakpoint. CDC uses ≥2 mcg/mL as an "Alert Value" minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (here called resistant). We used agar dilution to determine MICs. Results Of 179 urethral, 83 pharyngeal and 87 rectal isolates from MSM, 11 (6.1%), 6 (7.2%) and 5 (5.7%) had azithromycin MIC ≥2 mcg/mL, respectively. We identified no cases of azithromycin-resistance among 56 heterosexuals. Overall, 19 (6.9%) of 276 MSM with culture-positive gonorrhoea had an azithromycin-resistant isolate. The median azithromycin MIC was 4.0 mcg/mL (range 2 to >256 mcg/mL). Eight patients' isolates also demonstrated tetracycline resistance (MIC ≥2 mcg/mL); one was ciprofloxacin-resistant (MIC 16.0 mcg/mL). None exhibited reduced susceptibility to cefixime or ceftriaxone. Clinicians treated thirteen (68%) cases with ceftriaxone and azithromycin, one (5.3%) with ceftriaxone and doxycycline, two (10.6%) with study drug, and three (15.8%) with 2g of azithromycin. Two of three men treated with azithromycin-monotherapy had a test of cure (TOC) and both had persistent infection; their isolates demonstrated azithromycin MICs of 32 mcg/mL and 4.0 mcg/mL. One rectal treatment-failure was cured with 360 mg of gentamicin intramuscularly; the other (urethra/pharynx positive), was treated with ceftriaxone and doxycycline. He did not undergo repeat TOC. The individual with high-level azithromycin-resistance (MIC >256 mcg/mL) was an international traveller and not locatable for TOC. Conclusions Clinically important azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae now are found in >5% of MSM with gonorrhoea in Seattle. These findings support new CDC recommendations to avoid treating gonorrhoea with azithromycin alone. Disclosure of interest statement This work was funded by the US National Institutes of Health and CDC. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this study.


Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is accompanied by impairments in cognitive control, such as task-switching deficits. We investigated whether such problems, and their remediation by medication, reflect abnormal reward motivation and associated striatal dopamine transmission in ADHD. We used functional genetic neuroimaging to assess the effects of dopaminergic medication and reward motivation on task-switching and striatal BOLD signal in 23 adults with ADHD, ON and OFF methylphenidate, and 26 healthy controls. Critically, we took into account interindividual variability in striatal dopamine by exploiting a common genetic polymorphism (3'-UTR VNTR) in the DAT1 gene coding for the dopamine transporter. The results showed a highly significant group by genotype interaction in the striatum. This was because a subgroup of patients with ADHD showed markedly exaggerated effects of reward on the striatal BOLD signal during task-switching when they were OFF their dopaminergic medication. Specifically, patients carrying the 9R allele showed a greater striatal signal than healthy controls carrying this allele, whereas no effect of diagnosis was observed in 10R homozygotes. Aberrant striatal responses were normalized when 9R-carrying patients with ADHD were ON medication. These pilot data indicate an important role for aberrant reward motivation, striatal dopamine and interindividual genetic differences in cognitive processes in adult ADHD. Copyright (C) 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.


FK506 (tacrolimus) and dexamethasone are potent immunosuppressants known to induce significant side effects on mineral homeostasis, including hypercalciuria and hypomagnesemia. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The present study investigated the effects of FK506 and dexamethasone on the expression of proteins involved in active Ca(2+) reabsorption: the epithelial Ca(2+) channel TRPV5 and the cytosolic Ca(2+)-binding protein calbindin-D(28K). In addition, the renal expression of the putative Mg(2+) channel TRPM6, suggested to be involved in transcellular Mg(2+) reabsorption, was determined. Administration of FK506 to rats by daily oral gavage during 7 d significantly enhanced the urinary excretion of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) and induced a significant hypomagnesemia. FK506 significantly decreased the renal mRNA expression of TRPV5 (62 +/- 7% relative to controls), calbindin-D(28K) (9 +/- 1%), and TRPM6 (52 +/- 8%), as determined by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Furthermore, semiquantitative immunohistochemistry showed reduced renal protein abundance of TRPV5 (24 +/- 5%) and calbindin-D(28K) (29 +/- 4%), altogether suggesting that downregulation of these transport proteins is responsible for the FK506-induced Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) wasting. In contrast, dexamethasone significantly enhanced renal TRPV5 (150 +/- 15%), calbindin-D(28K) (177 +/- 23%), and TRPM6 (156 +/- 20%) mRNA levels along with TRPV5 (211 +/- 8%) and calbindin-D(28K) (176 +/- 5%) protein abundance in the presence of significantly increased Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) excretion. This indicated that these proteins are directly or indirectly regulated by dexamethasone. In conclusion, FK506 and dexamethasone induce renal Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) wasting, albeit by different mechanisms. Downregulation of specific Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) transport proteins provides a molecular mechanism for FK506-induced hypercalciuria and hypomagnesemia, whereas dexamethasone positively regulates these proteins.


Increasingly, drug developers are looking to large molecules, particularly proteins, as a therapeutic option. Formulation of a protein drug product can be quite a challenge, and without a good understanding of the nature of protein structure and the conformational characteristics of the specific protein being formulated, the results can be ruinous. This technical brief aims to give the reader a quick overview of protein structure. It will also cover briefly how protein structure can be affected during formulation and some of the analytical methods which can be used both to determine the structure and analyze the stability of the protein. The term, structure, when used in relation to proteins, takes on a much more complex meaning than it does for small molecules. Proteins are macromolecules and have four different levels of structure – primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.


Abstract This paper draws on Cox and McCubbins' comparison of floor and cartel agenda models and adapts it to the context of multi-party parliamentary regimes with the goal of clarifying some important differences between the legislative consequences of cohesion and discipline, on the one hand, and the effects of agenda setting, on the other. Internal party discipline and/or preference cohesion receives the bulk of emphasis in comparative studies of empirical patterns of legislative behavior, generally without considering the role of the agenda. In a series of stylized models, this paper highlights important differences between having more unified parties and/or coalitions as a result of discipline and/or cohesion and the successful use of agenda control. We show that cohesion or discipline - understood as the ability to achieve voting unity - does not produce the same patterns of legislative behavior as negative agenda control. Data on legislative voting in the Polish Sejm are used to illustrate some points.


As a first attempt to assess bone health in cleaner fish production, wild and cultured ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta and lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus were examined by radiology. In C. lumpus, wild fish (57%) had more vertebra deformities (≥1 deformed vertebrae) than cultured fish (2-16%). One wild C. lumpus had lordosis and another was missing the tail fin. In L. bergylta, wild fish (11%) had less vertebra deformities than cultured individuals (78-91%). Among the cultured L. bergylta, 17-53% of the fish had severe vertebra deformities (≥6 deformed vertebrae) with two predominate sites of location, one between vertebra 4 and 10 (S1) in the trunk, and one between 19 and 26 (S2) in the tail. Fusions dominated S1, while compressions dominated S2. Although wild L. bergylta had a low vertebra deformity level, 83% had calluses and 14% had fractures in haemal/neural spines and/or ribs. The site-specific appearance and pathology of fracture and callus in wild L. bergylta suggests these are induced by chronic mechanical stress, and a possible pathogenesis for fish hyperostosis is presented based on this notion. In conclusion, good bone health was documented in cultured C. lumpus, however, cultured L. bergylta suffered poor bone health. How this affects survival, growth, swimming abilities and welfare in cultured wrasse should be further investigated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


The Lockheed scandal was exposed during the 4 February 1976 hearings of the Sub-Committee on Multinational Corporations of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. These hearings revealed that Lockheed Aircraft Corporation paid illegal payments in several countries including Japan to promote the sale of its planes to prevent bankruptcy. The Securities Exchange Commission obtained documents showing that Lockheed paid more than US$10 million to Yoshio Kodama, a "fixer" and Lockheed's secret representative, and the Marubeni Corporation, which was Lockheed's agent in Japan since 1959. During the same hearings on 6 February, A. Carl Kotchian, vice president of Lockheed, informed the committee that a senior Japanese government official received US$2 million from Marubeni and that his company relied on Kenji Osano, a close associate of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, as an intermediary in its efforts to sell 21 Lockheed's L-1001 Tristar airbuses to All Nippon Airways (ANA) (Macdougall, 1988, pp. 193–195).


Timely diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is important because earlier use of biologic therapies leads to mucosal healing, a reduction in hospitalisations and surgeries and improvements in quality of life. In the United Kingdom, general practitioners refer patients with symptoms suggestive of IBD to colorectal surgeons, emergency department physicians, gastroenterologists or directly for a lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Consequently, there is variation in the time from endoscopic diagnosis of IBD to specialist review. We created an electronic tool that screens all endoscopy reports for a new diagnosis of IBD. These cases are then reviewed in our weekly complex multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting and new patients are allocated an IBD specialist. We sought to determine whether our new patient identifier reduced the time to clinical review by an IBD specialist and initiation of IBD treatment.

 We designed a retrospective observational cohort study comparing time from endoscopic diagnosis of IBD to initiation of treatment and IBD specialist review. Outcomes were compared in the 18 months before and after the introduction, in January 2018, of our new IBD patient identifier. Demographic, endoscopic and treatment outcome data were recorded from our electronic patient record. Categorical and continuous variables were summarised as frequencies (%) and median [IQR] and compared with Fisher's exact and Mann Whitney U tests respectively.

 Between the 1st January 2018 and 30th June 2019, 116 new patients diagnosed with IBD were identified and reviewed in our MDT meeting. In the preceding 18 months, 111 patients were diagnosed with IBD. There were no significant differences between groups according to sex, age, age at diagnosis, disease type, or phenotype according to the Montreal classification (Table 1). Both the median time from endoscopic diagnosis to treatment initiation (0 days [IQR 0 – 14.2] vs 14 days [IQR 0 – 31.6], p=0.007) and specialist clinic review (21 days [IQR 7 - 25] vs 48 days [IQR 34 – 63], p<0.0001) were shorter following the introduction of the new IBD patient identifier screening tool (Figure 1).

 Systematic electronic screening of endoscopic reports linked to MDT review reduces the time to first treatment and specialist review in newly diagnosed patients with IBD.


Many methods for the estimation of nucleic acids have been reported. From among them, Ogur and Rosen's method has been selected because of its excellent precision and ease of treatment. Their method has been confirmed as being applicable for the deter mination of nucleic acids of dried yeasts, moulds and bacteria, but it has given erroneous results when applied directly to fresh or durable yeasts. It has been proven that the extraction of RNA from fresh or durable yeasts was not carried out completely unless the samples were subjected to a preliminary treatment with dry ice and ether. Analytical data obtained by the present method of determining RNA and DNA in various microorganisms has been presented.


Abstract Bollywood, being one of the biggest film industries of India, is an interesting area of research to understand the socio-cultural perspectives of today's India. My paper will focus on the changing role of Indian woman. It will argue if the change is merely superficial or the Indian woman has been successful to negotiate with and challenge the patriarchal social structure. These multiple issues will be discussed with special reference to two of the latest Bollywood movies, namely, English-Vinglish and Queen. The focus on these two movies is because both concentrate on emancipation of woman. Sashi, the central character of English-Vinglish, despite facing all kinds of humiliation in her own family and finally learning English (her inability to speak in English being one of the primary reasons for her being ridiculed in her family) comes back to her family at the end. Queen showcases a different kind of emancipation where Rani, the leading lady of the movie, being dumped by her fiancé, decides to go for her honeymoon trip all by herself and recognises herself anew. These two movies are examples of the changing role of woman who does not need a male to rescue her from danger or to console her in her tears. She is a self-sufficient woman who does not forget her roots. Both the movies generate thought-provoking questions about the status of woman in present India and can be employed as lenses to see through the multiple layers of the gendered Indian society.


The dichotomy experienced today of the two most common political ideologies in the United States, liberalism and conservatism, has become influential and pervasive in virtually every facet of government bureaucracy, social institutions, and political thought. Although a relatively recent phenomenon by some standards, the role of liberalism and conservatism (and the relationship between both ideologies) has become a mainstay within the American political system, most notably within American political institutions and political thought. These two ideologies, together, dictate and greatly influence the outcomes of elections, the passage or failure of congressional policy, and the actions of the President himself. Additionally, these two ideologies (with conservatism being the focus of this paper) influence the processes and outcomes of the political and ostensibly apolitical aspects of the judiciary in the venue of the Supreme Court. All aspects of the Supreme Court are, today, subjugated to the influence of political ideology, most notably that of conservatism.


Currently, the fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) has been controlled mainly by the chemical method, which is responsible for environmental and public health impacts. It has often been ineffective due to development of resistant insect populations. Thus, it has necessary to research new effective and less impacting control forms. In this sense, the use of entomopathogenic nematodes and plant extracts has been effective for controlling this pest. However, studies are needed to assess the compatibility between these methods, aiming at their use in integrated management programs for this pest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the compatibility of the nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae ALL and Heterorhabditis sp. JPM4 with aqueous extracts prepared from dried plant of cinnamon leaf, twig and fruit ( Melia azedarach ), rue leaf ( Ruta graveolens ), ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) and garlic ( Allium sativum ) for the control of C. capitata . The bioassay was carried out in completely randomized design with four replicates per treatment. Each replication consisted of a glass tube containing 1 mL of plant extract 40% w/v and 1 mL suspension of entomopathogenic nematodes with 1800 JI/mL for S. carpocapsae ALL and 600 JI/mL for Heterorhabditis sp. JPM4. The viability and infectivity of this nematode were evaluated on C. capitata larvae after 48 and 120 hours. It was found that all extracts reduced the viability and infectivity of both nematodes and they were incompatible after 120 hours of exposure. The nematode Heterorhabditis sp. JPM4 was more sensitive than the S. carpocapsae ALL as it showed, in the first 48 hours, a reduction in the viability and infectivity of more than 80 and 75%, respectively, when exposed to all the extracts except the ginger.


Conventional Boolean games embody two important assumptions: (i ) all events in the game occur simultaneously; and (ii ) assignments to variables must be made in complete ignorance of the values assigned to other variables. For many settings, these assumptions represent gross simplifications. In this paper, we show how Boolean games can be enriched by dependency graphs, which allow us to generalise the conventional Boolean games framework. A dependency graph specifies for every variable in the game what information will be available when a value is assigned to that variable. More precisely, a dependency graph is a directed acyclic graph over the set of game variables, where an edge from p to q means that the value assigned to variable p can be taken into account when choosing a value for variable q. We refer to games played with dependency graphs as partial order Boolean games. In partial order Boolean games, players simultaneously choose strategies that define how values will be assigned to variables; these strategies must take into account information dependencies as specified in the dependency graph. Once chosen, strategies are executed, and generate a run-time sequence of events corresponding to the assignment of values to variables as defined by the strategies. The dependency graph induces a partial order model of concurrency for run-time behaviour: if a variable q depends on p, then at run-time the assignment of a value to p must precede the assignment of a value for q. Partial order Boolean games thus distinguish between the event corresponding to the selection of a strategy and the events that arise from executing that strategy (i.e., the assignment of values to variables). They thus more closely resemble the reality of multi-agent systems, in which multiple programs (representing player strategies) are concurrently executed to generate run-time behaviour. After motivating and presenting the game model, we explore its properties. We show that while some problems associated with our new games have the same complexity as in conventional Boolean games, for others the complexity blows up dramatically. We also show that the concurrent behaviour of partial order Boolean games can be represented using a closure operator semantics, and conclude by considering the relationship of our model to Independence Friendly (IF) logic.


Most Vaccinium species have narrow soil adaptation and are limited to soils that have low pH, high available iron (Fe), and nitrogen (N) primarily in the ammonium (NH4 + ) form. Vaccinium arboreum Marsh. is a wild species that can tolerate a wider range of soil conditions, including higher pH and nitrate (NO3 - ) as the predominant N form. This wider soil adaptation may be related to the ability of V. arboreum to acquire Fe and NO3 - more effi ciently than culti- vated Vaccinium species, such as V. corymbosum L. interspecifi c hybrid (southern highbush). Nitrate and Fe uptake, and nitrate reductase (NR) and ferric chelate reductase (FCR) activities were compared in these two species grown hydroponically in either 1.0 or 5.0 mM NO3 - . Nitrate uptake rate (on a whole-plant and FW basis) and root NR activity were signifi cantly greater in V. arboreum compared with V. corymbosum. Iron uptake on a FW basis was also greater in V. arboreum, and was correlated with higher root FCR activity than was found in V. corymbosum. Increased Fe and NO3 - uptake/assimilation in V. arboreum were refl ected in increased organ and whole-plant dry weights compared with V. corymbosum. Vaccinium arboreum appears to be more effi cient in acquiring and assimilating NO3 - and Fe than is the cultivated species, V. corymbosum. This may partially explain the wider soil adaptation of V. arboreum.


Since corn plant stand density is important for optimizing crop yield, several researchers have recently developed ground-based systems for automatic measurement of this crop growth parameter. Our objective was to use data from such a system to assess the potential for estimation of corn plant stand density using remote sensing images. Aerial hyperspectral remote sensing imagery was collected on three dates over three plots of corn in central Iowa during the 2004 growing season. The imagery had a spatial resolution of 1 m and a spectral resolution of 3 nm between 498 nm and 855 nm. A machine vision system for early-season measurement of corn plant stand density was also used to map every row of corn within the three plots, and a complete inventory of corn plants was generated as a rich ground reference dataset. A principal component regression analysis was used to assess relationships between plant stand density measurements and principal components of hyperspectral reflectance for each plot, on each image collection date, and at three different spatial resolutions (2, 6, and 10 m). The maximum R 2 for regressions was 0.79. Estimates of corn plant stand density were best when using imagery collected at the later vegetative and early reproductive corn growth stages. Quantization effects due to row width complicated corn plant stand density estimates at 2 m spatial resolution, and better estimations were typically seen at resolutions of 6 m and 10 m. Among the different cases of plot, image date, and spatial resolution, the principal components of reflectance most highly correlated with plant stand density were able to be classified into four distinct types, denoted as types A, B, C, and D. Type A principal components contrasted all available visible red wavelengths with all available near-infrared wavelengths. Type B principal components contrasted green wavelengths (531 to 552 nm) plus shorter wave near-infrared (759 nm) with red wavelengths (675 to 693 nm) plus longer wave near-infrared (852 nm). Type C principal components summed green wavelengths (528 to 546 nm) and near-infrared wavelengths (717 to 855 nm). Type D principal components contrasted blue/green wavelengths (498 to 507 nm) with the red edge (717 nm). Remote sensing can be best used to estimate corn plant stand density at mid-season as long as plant stand variability exists and variability due to other factors is minimal.


The term Community of Practice (CoP) has become something of a buzz word in the field of scholarship of learning and teaching, but the concept of meeting with like-minded colleagues to discuss and share common areas of interest is age old (Wenger, 2000). In 2011, a CoP called Innovative Teaching @ Waite was established within the School of Agriculture Food and Wine at The University of Adelaide. The aim of the CoP was to provide an informal, supportive environment for academics involved in teaching to meet and discuss issues related to learning and teaching. To provide focus at each forum, a relevant speaker is invited to share their ideas followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. The invited speaker may be from the school, university or the wider community. Over 5 years the CoP has developed into a key part of the academic calendar. Academic staff now volunteer to present at the CoP and more forums have been scheduled throughout the year to accommodate demand. The success of the CoP has led to a significant change in the profile of learning and teaching within the school and increased implementation of innovative teaching methodologies across many courses. The reputation of this forum led to the launch of a biannual Innovative Teaching Exhibition to showcase best practice learning and teaching. Survey evidence from academic staff indicates that there is now wider application of teaching and learning pedagogies such as Team Based Learning, Flipped Classroom, E-assessment and Online learning within the school. The growth, momentum and positive impact that the CoP has had on learning and teaching community within the school will be discussed.


Photoacoustic calorimetry is a sensitive method for measuring the enthalpies, kinetics, and changes in volumes for reactions that generate transient intermediates through photoexcitation. This work focuses on building a better understanding of ΔVrxn, to ascertain the importance of accounting for ΔVrxn when measuring enthalpies of reaction via photoacoustic methods. ΔVrxn for three metal carbonyls has been measured. The results presented herein show that to obtain high-quality thermochemical information from photoacoustic measurements, it is necessary to account for the contribution of ΔVrxn. Neither the magnitude nor the sign of this contribution may be predicted without either the direct measurement of ΔVrxn or (as an outcome of the research described in this dissertation) computationally. Failure to account for this contribution may results in errors in the measured ΔHrxn by as much as 79% [e.g. (CH3OC)Mn(CO)5 in octane].This dissertation also lays the groundwork for the use of ΔVrxn to distinguish between possible structures of short-lived intermediates though a combination of photoacoustic measurements and computational chemistry. A protocol is described that will allow molecular dynamics simulations to be used to determine the solvated volume of a molecule, and to combine several of these measurements to allow the volume change accompanying a reaction to be determined computationally. Simulations conducted via this protocol are in good agreement with our experimental results. These simulations will allow experimental results to provide a new window into the nature of short-lived intermediates, and the mechanistic of their reactions. Several unsuccessful molecular dynamics simulations are also described in order to identify cases where simulations may not provide accurate data and how these issues may be addressed.


Rufinamide is an antiepileptic drug to treat Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, in combination with other medications. Rufinamide is one of the best-selling 5-membered ring heterocyclic pharmaceuticals. Its 1,2,3-triazole moiety is made by click chemistry-based cycloaddition of a dipolarophile and an azide. We have recently shown the feasibility of a continuous solvent- and catalyst-free flow process utilizing a relatively inexpensive and green new dipolarophile. The problem of its low reactivity was solved when harsh operating conditions (i.e. novel process windows, NPW) were applied within a continuous micro-flow reactor to obtain the activation needed. In addition to this chemical intensification, we present here the idea of using chlorides for azide formation instead of the commonly used (more reactive) bromides. Meanwhile, the chloride is produced by the reaction of benzyl alcohol and hydrogen chloride. Herein, we analyse the reaction sequence starting from benzyl alcohol to rufinamide, focusing on these three process optimisations. The choice of intermediates is assessed with the help of simplified green chemistry metrics and holistic life cycle assessment (LCA) about their impact on the full process chain. From those material-related green chemistry advancements, the next step in flow-based NPW is undertaken which is process-related (end-to-end process design). The reaction system is accordingly analysed with the goal being to determine the best fully continuous multi-reaction network, having uninterrupted flow from the first step until the end product is obtained. Three such multi-step microreactor networks are evaluated by green metrics and LCA, including telescoping in flow. Solvent recycling is considered throughout the investigations to reduce the solvent load.


We present a detailed investigation of the mechanisms at play for the incorporation of In and Mg on the GaN(0001) surface during plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. First, we have studied the kinetics of In desorption in the presence of Mg either without or with N supply from the plasma cell by quadrupole mass spectrometry in the line of sight. Second, we have explored the effect of Mg doping at a different time along the cycle of (InN/GaN) supply repeated 10 times to form (In,Ga)N/GaN superlattices (SLs). By the complementary ex situ investigation of these SLs by x-ray diffraction and secondary ion mass spectrometry, we found that in the monolayer-thick (In,Ga)N layer, the In content was maximized when Mg was not supplied simultaneously to In, but it drastically decreased otherwise. In contrast, the Mg concentration strongly increased in the (In,Ga)N monolayers compared to the GaN barriers. We attribute this finding to the surfactant effect of In for Mg, which decreases the binding energy of Mg in GaN in the presence of N.


Background: It is well known that oxidative stress is enhanced in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, little is known about the relationship between serum antioxidant capacity and clinical outcome in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: We examined the relationship between serum biomarkers of oxidative stress and clinical outcomes including all-cause mortality, hospitalization rate and incidence of cardiovascular events in HD patients. As biomarkers of oxidative stress, we measured serum levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP). Results: 108 patients were observed for 30 months as the follow-up periods. The survival group (n = 83) showed significantly higher BAP values compared with those in death groups (n = 25; p < 0.05). When serum BAP levels were divided into two groups by their median value, the group with higher BAP values had a better survival rate than that with lower BAP values on the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (p = 0.05). Although serum levels of CoQ10 did not show any association with clinical outcomes, lower BAP was selected as an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality as well as the absence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers therapy by age-adjusted Cox regression analysis. Conclusions: This study indicated that BAP could predict the prognosis of HD patients.


Successfully leveraging social media is now an essential part of any commercial real estate job seeker's strategy. A recent study conducted by Reppler1, a social media consultancy, found that 91% of employers are now using social media to screen prospective applicants. Cornell University's Baker Program in Real Estate and SelectLeaders have closely monitored changing trends in the real estate search space. Marc Torrey, Director of Global Sales at SelectLeaders, states that, "Where we see social media playing the biggest role in recruiting is on the screening end of the process. If I were looking for a job today I would assume that a recruiter was going to do a search and check on my online presence, what I consider to be someone's online personal brand. Taking the time to make sure that your online personal brand conveys who you are and represents your best self should be a vital step in any job seekers process."2 The resume may still be the single most important piece of an applicant's arsenal in the recruiting process, but social media is beginning to render resumes obsolete. Phil Greenberg, Associate Director of Real Estate Career Services at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, observes, "Now, there are dedicated boards such as SelectLeaders, which are very industry specific. The number of job postings and boards has proliferated extensively, and the ability to connect with people who have commonalities has similarly increased."3 David Pollard of Monster.com states, "The next batch of workers to enter the workforce will shine on social media. Ultimately, it's where they'll pick up a tip for their next job. And so, talent management has to revamp its thinking toward one in which the resume is a piece (albeit an important one) of the puzzle."4


The target of this research is the publishing of translated literature of Nanjing Yilin Press. André Lefevere is the leading representative of the Manipulation School, he proposes that translators should not only be faithful to the original text but also have to focus on the culture turn between the target language and the original text. With this statement, he came up with a series of theories, which include "translation is rewriting", and "the manipulation of translation on literary fame". Based on the characteristics and the importance of the theories above, the theories used will focus on some key words such as "ideology", "manipulation", "patron", etc. Together with the Polysystem Theory by Itamar Even Zohar, this paper intends to take Lefevere's three basic theories to research three foreign literatures, which are In Search of Lost Time, Ulysses and The Lord of the Rings. Yilin press plays an important role in China in the new era. It greatly influenced the new period's publishing of translated literature. Under the political and culture changes, the process of three foreign literatures' canonized to recanonization in modern times makes us revalue the important role of publishing of translated literature to the research of foreign literature translation activities in China.


Personalization is an alternative to improve the learning process for an e-Learning environment. It is a useful strategy to adjust the student' needs based on their characteristics to make learning more effectively. In this study, we propose the step-function approach for personalization in e-learning. It provides the students with adopting the knowledge-ability factor (Novice, Average, or Good category) that matches with their learning materials levels (Level1, Level2, or Level3). The approach implemented into an e-learning which called SCELE-PDE and used as the experimental group in two stages with different scenarios. In the first, without a step-function approach, but the SCELE-PDE can identify an initial of student's ability to knowledge category. The second stage has used the approach to providing students with personalization in e-Learning to adapt learning material based on a knowledge category. As a result, the step-function approach has successfully to improve the student performance in the learning process during the course. Thus, the approach has shown an increase in the level of students' knowledge. So, it can be used as a guide when designing an e-learning personalization for students to enhance learning and achievement.


This paper presents a framework for a semisupervised domain adaptation method for remote sensing image classification. Most of the representation-based domain adaptation methods attempt to find a total transformation matrix for all the samples from the source domain; however, they ignore the individual changes in each class, which often leads to the misalignment of the samples in each class between the two domains. This paper attempts to find new representations for the samples in different classes from the source domain by multiple linear transformations, which corresponds to the practical changes in each class to a higher degree. Furthermore, to avoid the influence of outliers and noise in the source domain samples, low-rank reconstruction is further applied to make the domain adaptation method more robust. In addition, in the stage of predicting the unlabeled samples by label propagation (LP), the proposed LP with instance weighting can effectively further reduce the negative effect of misleading samples from the source domain. The results obtained with a QuickBird data set and a hyperspectral data set confirm the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method.


OBJECTIVE
To report on anatomical and visual outcomes after vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling for idiopathic macular hole repair.

METHODS
Forty patients with stage II to IV idiopathic macular holes were randomly assigned (1:1) in a 2-arm, single-center, randomized controlled . Internal limiting membrane delamination was performed using indocyanine green (ICG) solution (n = 20) or trypan blue (TB) (n = 20). Two patients did not complete the study, for a total of 19 in each group. Follow-up examinations included Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity, scanning laser ophthalmoscope microperimetry, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography. Main Outcome Measure Visual acuity 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS
Visual acuity did not show a significant difference between study groups (95% confidence interval [CI], -2 to 1 lines). The rate of macular hole closures was identical (84%; 95% CI, 60% to 97%). Within-group visual recovery was significant only in the TB group. Central scotomata despite hole closure persisted in 8 patients (42%) in the ICG group and in 5 (26%) in the TB group.

CONCLUSION
Although no statistically significant difference was detected for the primary end point, the better visual recovery in the TB group and the higher rate of persistent central scotomata in the ICG group justify a larger clinical trial. Application to Clinical Practice No statistically significant difference in visual acuity between ICG and TB in the used concentrations and application method could be proved in macular hole surgery.


In the majority of cases, epilepsy develops in three phases: (i) initial brain damaging insult (eg, head trauma, stroke, status epilepticus), resulting in (ii) epileptogenesis, which in turn leads to (iii) recurrent seizures (epilepsy). The current treatment of epilepsy, however, focuses exclusively on the prevention or suppression of seizures, ie, the end result of the disease process. Recent findings regarding the sequence of neurobiological changes leading to epilepsy and its molecular basis have raised the question of whether the disease process of epileptogenesis can be prevented, or at least modified in such a way that the epilepsy that develops is milder, easier to treat, non-progressive and without cognitive decline and drug-resistance. Furthermore, if epilepsy has already emerged, can the harmful effects of seizures on the brain be alleviated? Experimental data indicate that attenuation of the severity of the initial insults associated with seizure activity by anti-epileptic drugs improves the outcome by reducing epileptogenesis, resulting in a milder disease. Although there are no true anti-epileptogenic compounds that interfere with the molecular cascades underlying epileptogenesis, there are several new concepts that offer new targets for the treatment of epileptogenesis and disease modification, including neurotrophins, neuropeptides, caspase inhibitors and anti-inflammatory agents.


The noble gas radioisotope 39Ar with a half-life of 269 years is an almost ideal tracer for dating ice and water samples in the time range of 50 to 1000 years ago, for which no other reliable methods exist. Due to its very low relative abundance of 39Ar/Ar = 8.1(3)*10^-16, 39Ar has only been routinely measured by Low-Level Counting so far. However, since Low-Level Counting requires samples in the order of 1000 L, the application of 39Ar, besides some proof-of-principle experiments, has been limited to groundwater studies until now.
In the course of this experimental thesis, the required sample size could be reduced down to 2mLSTP of argon by further development of the atom-optical analytical method Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA). This amount of gas can be extracted from ~5 kg water or ice. Due to a redesign of the laser system together with an optimisation of the vacuum system, the atmospheric count rate could be moreover doubled up to 7.0 atoms per hour. This enables 39Ar-measurements with a typical relative uncertainty of 10% within one day.
The measuring technique was validated in an intercomparison study based on slightly enriched samples with the well established Low-Level Counting Laboratory in Bern as well as with a new laboratory at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Furthermore, the new method was verified by analysing samples with a known subatmospheric 39Ar concentration. A defined sample with 10% of the modern concentration could be distinguished with 1-sigma confidence from the background.
In a first application, ice samples were analysed for 39Ar by ATTA for the first time. Three glacial ice samples originating from the Gorner Glacier (Monte Rosa massif, Switzerland) were available for this purpose and show an unexpected modern 39Ar-concentration in some cases.
The main result of this thesis, however, is the successful analysis of three depth profiles with eight samples each, taken in the eastern tropical North Atlantic oxygen minimum zone. Due to the reduction of the required sample size by more than two orders of magnitude, it was possible to conduct the sampling with 10 L-Niskin bottles. With the help of the 39Ar-results it is shown, that the transit time distribution of the North Atlantic Deep Water has significantly younger water components than previously assumed. Thus, the outstanding potential of 39Ar for a determination of transit time distributions is demonstrated, which is essential for the understanding of ocean circulations and oxygen supply of the interior of the ocean and which allows, for example, an estimation of the stored anthropogenic carbon.


BACKGROUND
Piezosurgery® represents a novel alternative technique. The Piezosurgery® is well tolerated and permits a large number of applications in described literature. The principle of Piezosurgery® consists into inducing micro-vibrations to a metallic insert with a particular custom. The aim of this article is to study and to evaluate the use of NobelActive implants in combination with piezosurgical split-crest technique in severe atrophy of the upper maxilla. This approach allows avoiding the use of onlay grafts, due to rise the trasversal width of the crestal bone, which could have more complications and uncertain prognosis. This technique allows reducing timing of implant insertion because it is not necessary to wait for the graft to heal.

METHODS
Ten patients (age 45-58) are selected, presenting from class 4 to 5 by Cawood and Howell of jaws. Those underwent piezosurgical split-crest technique and simultaneous implants surgery and bone grafts. Preoperative X-ray evaluation included standard X-panoramic and CT Dental-scan. Standard chemoprophylaxis was administered to each patient. The piezosurgical split-crest procedure was combined with tissue bank fresh frozen chips and double-layer collagen membrane to improve the thickness of alveolar bone and simultaneous implant surgery. Every patient received simultaneously from 3 to 6 implants which diameter was 4.3 mm and length 10-11.5 mm. Healing abutments have been applied at 5 months from the first procedure.

RESULTS
Patients were clinically monitored, and marginal bone changes were calculated using periapical radiographs, which were taken with O-ring technique at placement and upon subsequent appointments and a 1-mm measurement grid for marginal bone remodeling, again at baseline and thereafter 3 months within loading. Cumulative implant survival was 97.8% (N.=45). Mean marginal bone resorption (SD) was 1.19 (1.01) mm for the early loading group after 1 year. The use of NobelActive implants seem to reduce peak stress in both cortical and trabecular bone.

CONCLUSIONS
The use of NobelActive implants was revealed ideal in patients presenting jaw atrophy. The tapered designs show an ability to dissipate the interfacial stresses of bone, therefore improving the stability and the osteointegration if used in association to split crest made with piezosurgical device.


Abstract The aim of this study is to accurately calculate the rotational period of CS Vir by using STEREO observations and investigate a possible period variation of the star with the help of all accessible data. The STEREO data that cover 5-yr time interval between 2007 and 2011 are analysed by means of the Lomb–Scargle and Phase Dispersion Minimization methods. In order to obtain a reliable rotation period and its error value, computational algorithms such as the Levenberg–Marquardt and Monte Carlo simulation algorithms are applied to the data sets. Thus, the rotation period of CS Vir is improved to be 9.29572(12) d by using the 5-yr of combined data set. Also, the light elements are calculated as HJD max = 2454715.975(11) + 9d · 29572(12) × E + 9d · 78(1.13) × 10 − 8 × E 2 by means of the extremum times derived from the STEREO light curves and archives. Moreover, with this study, a period variation is revealed for the first time, and it is found that the period has lengthened by 0.66(8) s y−1, equivalent to 66 s per century. Additionally, a time-scale for a possible spin-down is calculated around τSD ~ 106 yr. The differential rotation and magnetic braking are thought to be responsible of the mentioned rotational deceleration. It is deduced that the spin-down time-scale of the star is nearly three orders of magnitude shorter than its main-sequence lifetime (τMS ~ 109 yr). It is, in return, suggested that the process of increase in the period might be reversible.


STANDARDS
There is insufficient evidence to support treatment standards.

GUIDELINES
There is insufficient evidence to support treatment guidelines.

OPTIONS
Nutritional support of patients with spinal cord injuries is recommended. Energy expenditure is best determined by indirect calorimetry in these patients because equation estimates of energy expenditure and subsequent caloric need tend to be inaccurate.


In this work, we have meticulously tuned the carcinogenic Congo red dye to environmentally benign fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) by adopting a typical hydrothermal method without any additives. The as-synthesized CDs were extremely water soluble, exhibited an excitation wavelength independent emission with a high fluorescence quantum yield (46%) and were biocompatible. The microscopy results revealed that the CDs were quasi-spherical with a particle diameter of ∼5 nm. The structure and functional groups of the CDs were comprehensively investigated using Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy analyses. These studies show that the CDs were intrinsically functionalized with -OH, N-H and CO groups. In the sensing experiments, the CDs selectively responded to Fe3+ ions over other analytes with a detection limit of 12 nM. The time-resolved fluorescence quenching measurements were used to decipher the sensing mechanism. For the onsite 'equipment-free' detection of iron, we have developed a CD adsorbed paper-based analytical tool. Furthermore, the selective nature of CDs was highly beneficial for detecting Fe3+ in non-heme metalloprotein (ferritin) and real water samples. Thus, the CDs produced from the Congo red dye could be a prospective asset to the bio-imaging and biosensing research fields.


A number of studies have highlighted the importance of teaching students to self-edit their work. Self-editing within higher education has been demonstrated to support students' academic writing skills. It also capitalises on lecturers' written corrective feedback on students' essay-based assignments making it more effective and meaningful. Utilising a collaborative approach between the Study Support and the School of Health Sciences at a UK-based university, this research evaluated the usefulness of a self-editing worksheet based on the perspectives of students, writing tutors, and the subject lecturer (staff) feedback. Students' perspectives were investigated by content analysing their responses provided in the reflection section of the self-editing worksheet. Qualitative analysis of staff feedback on pre- and post-edit writing was also evaluated. The results show that 65% of students found the worksheet useful and the worksheet helped them make some positive changes to their essays. Evidence would suggest that this pedagogical model is effective in improving levels of academic writing. Implications and suggestions for effective teaching practice and future research are provided in this paper.


Subsistence agriculture is the main stay of Ethiopian smallholder farmers and the country's economy at large. Land degradation and frequent drought are posing a big threat on this sector. To reverse this phenomenon, different land rehabilitation programs have been designed and implemented in the last three decades. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the interventions from the government mobilization program and the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) by using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework in two learning watersheds in the highlands of Ethiopia. The literature review and a survey undertaken among farmers and officials in the study areas indicated that the WLRC project watersheds development approach was effective in sustaining watershed development efforts through addressing the root causes of land degradation. Even though the project had limited community participation and inadequate involvement of women in decision making of benefit sharing, its activities were integrated in addressing the drivers and pressures of land degradation. Apart from soil and water conservation measures, the project introduced home garden development, technologies that increase land and labour productivity, fodder development, and the cut and carry system. This ultimately reduced the pressure on natural resources and provided an incentive for the local communities. As a result, development now better fits with the DPSIR framework. UNU Land Restoration Training Programme Árleynir 22, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland UNU Land Restoration Training Programme ii On the other hand, the government program was highly focused on addressing the symptoms of land degradation and the lack of in-depth understanding of socioeconomic constraints that are affecting the effectiveness of land rehabilitation program. The program fails to address the main drivers and pressures of land degradation. As a result, rehabilitated lands are frequently destructed by free grazing, ploughing and intensification of agriculture and forest clearing. This study identified several socioeconomic issues that should be included in the national policy of land rehabilitation. The first is the consideration of alternative livelihoods to reduce poverty and pressure on natural resources. The second is genuine participation of the communities in all processes of watershed development. The third is provision of an equal chance for both genders in the decision making of sharing benefits from the rehabilitated watersheds.


The study of the gut microbiome in threatened wildlife species has enormous potential to improve conservation efforts and gain insights into host-microbe coevolution. Threatened species are often housed in captivity, and during this process undergo considerable changes to their gut microbiome. Studying the gut microbiome of captive animals therefore allows identification of dysbiosis and opportunities for improving management practices in captivity and for subsequent translocations. Manipulation of the gut microbiome through methods such as fecal transplant may offer an innovative means of restoring dysbiotic microbiomes in threatened species to provide health benefits. Finally, characterization of the gut microbiome (including the viral components, or virome) provides important baseline health information and may lead to discovery of significant microbial pathogens. Here we summarize our current understanding of microbiomes in Australian marsupial species.


In order to study the fracture toughness of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) and the postcracking toughness evaluation method, the fracture toughness tests were done for the four types of steel fibers and three kinds of matrix strength. According to the experiment curves of the load and the crack mouth opening displacement (Load-CMOD), the fracture toughness of SFRC was studied; the formulas of the postcracking toughness coefficient and the Fracture-CMOD toughness index were established. The experiment results show that the Fracture-CMOD toughness index can reflect sensitively to the effect on concrete toughness of the type of the steel fiber, and then it is avoid that the estimation error of the initial cracking point led to the evaluation error of the toughness.Comparison with other fibers B fiber shows the best crack resistance and the toughening ability.


A mafic intrusive-extrusive complex at the base of the Kam Group in the Archean Yellowknife Supergroup at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, grades from gabbros through a zone of multiple and sheeted dikes into massive and pillowed flows with thin beds of interflow sediments. Although rock types and primary structures resemble those in upper parts of Phanerozoic ophiolites, the Kam Group lacks an ultramafic base and is much thicker than typical ophiolites. Because similar mafic sections occur in certain atypical ophiolites and in plateau areas of modern ocean basins, however, the Kam Group is viewed as a remnant of Archean oceanic crust rather than as a product of intracontinental rift volcanism. The dikes are analogous to sheeted dikes of ophiolites and are suggestive of sea-floor spreading in an Archean marginal-basin setting.


Abstract The Moine Thrust zone of NW Scotland marks the Caledonian orogenic front and in the Assynt region consists of several west-vergent major thrust sheets (Moine, Ben More, Glencoul and Sole Thrust sheets) that place allochthonous rocks onto the Lewisian basement and Torridon Group cover in the west. Here we present two new balanced and restored sections across the Moine Thrust zone in the region of the Loch Ailsh and Loch Borralan alkali intrusions. Syenites and alkaline pyroxenites intrude up to Durness Group carbonates. Syenites are interpreted as cut by the Moine and Ben More Thrusts and therefore their intrusion age (c. 430 Ma) provides a maximum age constraint on cessation of motion along the Moine Thrust. We review and discuss several controversies, notably: (1) relationships between folding in the Ben More Thrust sheet (Sgonnan Mor folds) and fabric development associated with intrusion of the Loch Ailsh pluton and initiation of the Moine and Ben More Thrusts; (2) structural relationships around the Borralan intrusion, particularly the nature of its basal and lateral margins (intrusive or thrust-ramp); (3) the structural relationships of the Cam Loch and Benn Fhuarain klippen; and (4) the timing of motion of all thrust sheets in the southern Assynt culmination.


Northwest Woollen Factory, sited in the Small North Gate of Taiyuan, has already become one of the largest woollen mills in the People's Republic of China since it was planted in September 1934 with registered capital of 450,000 yuan, 58 staff and 664 workers. It covers 22,117 square meters, 7324 square meters of which are construction area. With 12 carding machines, 900 crude textiles, 6 combing machines, 2100 fine spinning frames and 123 power looms, it can produce woollen cloth, blankets, ceremonial dresses, gabardine, car blankets, bed blankets and so on. The net income in the first half year of 1937 is more than three million, and annual profit in 1936 is more than 78 million. It can produce 80,000 square meters Paris Merino, 13,608 kg handmade wool, 3,000 meters blankets each year. Products are mainly sold to Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and other big cities, and it has been one of the largest woollen mills in the Northwest's and one of the most famous in the country.


ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to illustrate the implications of using standardised psychotic relapse definitions by comparing published clinical trial relapse and drop-out rates for patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Relapse definitions from three published placebo-controlled clinical trials were standardised to facilitate pair-wise retrospective comparison of relapse outcomes in patients with schizophrenia receiving extended-release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR), paliperidone extended release (paliperidone ER) and olanzapine. Relapse definitions were based on changes in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score, Clinical Global Impression-Severity score and predefined Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale positive items. Economic implications of relapse outcomes were also calculated. A limitation of this study is that this was not a head-to-head comparison. In addition, patient-level data were lacking for the paliperidone ER and olanzapine studies. Results: When the relapse definition from the paliperidone study was applied to the quetiapine XR clinical trial data, 14 quetiapine XR patients (15%) relapsed compared with 23 (22%) in the paliperidone ER study. According to the olanzapine relapse definition, three quetiapine XR patients (3.2%) experienced a relapse compared with nine patients (4.0%) in the olanzapine study. An illustrative calculation of potential economic impact associated with these standardised relapse rates implied incremental expenditures ranging from £74.8 million to £373.9 million (£2006) for paliperidone ER versus quetiapine XR treatment and no material difference with olanzapine. Conclusion: The results show that the definition of relapse has a significant impact on relapse outcomes, and associated economic implications, and that relative drug efficacy can only be considered when results are based on standardised relapse criteria.