Snorri Sturluson's account of Harald I Fairhair's conquest and unification of Norway starts with a failed marriage proposal and a haughty girl refusing to marry Harald until he has subjugated all of Norway and rules as the land's sole king. This episode is commonly held as a mythological explanation for what triggered Harald's war of conquest and is by many scholars seen as a fanciful tale. However, this story alongside Harald I's other marriages and unions illustrates a pattern of behaviour that can shed light on ideas of power and sexuality in ninth- and tenth-century Norway, whilst illuminating the role of the royal bed and royal unions in the formation of a unified kingdom. Harald's bed is to some extent the chrysalis that unifies Norway into a political unity. Although this bed does not create a political and culturally unified kingdom, the idea of entering into the bed and the benefits of any possible children helped Harald to align himself with strategic families and regions. This article untangles the importance and meaning of Harald's bed and unions for this process and explores what this can tell us about power and sexuality in Viking Age Norway.


This paper describes the use of virtual fixtures and metaphors of assistance for robotic-assisted micromanipulation system in order to prevent the influence of microphysics on path planning and handling tasks. The system is based on a multimodal telemanipulation system using haptic/visual/sound interfaces for observation of microobjects under an optical microscope. Feasible haptically-generated paths based on potentials fields reaction forces and shock absorbers are described for efficient and safe pushing-based or adhesion-based micromanipulation. Then, metaphors with human sensory substitution are proposed in order to improve the perception of data or events. Finally, an experimental investigation carried out by nine trainees proves that the system guides efficiently and safely the operator's gesture. Moreover, user performance on a given task can increase as much as 52% in typical micromanipulation tasks.


A robust adaptive backstepping approach is considered in this paper to design excitation controllers for synchronous generators in power systems. The higher-order dynamical models of synchronous generators are considered to design the proposed excitation controller. Since the parameters appearing within these dynamical models (especially the parameters related to the synchronous generators and excitation systems) significantly affect the stability of power systems, these parameters are considered as completely unknown during the proposed controller design process. The parameter adaptation laws are used in this paper to estimate the unknown parameters while maintaining the overall stability of power systems. The effects of external disturbances are also considered in this paper to incorporate the model accuracies and measurement noises, which in turn ensure the robustness of the proposed control scheme. The control Lyapunov functions are used to analyze the stability of the whole system through the negative semi-definiteness of their derivatives. Simulation studies are carried out on an IEEE standard power system, the New England 10-machine 39-bus power system, to further validate the performance of the proposed scheme under different operating conditions. Comparisons are also made with different existing nonlinear excitation controllers sliding mode controller and robust partial feedback linearizing controller, which are designed based on the higher order models as well as with the robust adaptive controller, which is designed based on the traditional one-axis model. Simulations results, under different operating conditions, demonstrate the superiority of the proposed control scheme over all these existing nonlinear excitation controllers.


Loss severity (or recovery) given default is critical in calculating expected loss and the understanding of credit risk. This report provides the market with additional insight and transparency into the principal repayment and realized loss characteristics of defaulted U.S. structured finance securities. The report provides a cross-sectional regression analysis and examines the largest number of observations to date, thus providing added statistical weight to its findings. The report also gives the market additional analysis for some of the more uncertain aspects of recovery and loss severity rates in structured securities.


A new compact wideband differential bandpass filters with wideband common mode suppression using half-wavelength ring resonator is presented in this letter. Five-order passband for the wideband differential mode with two transmission zeros close to the passband is realized with four open stubs. A planar wideband differential filter (3 dB fractional bandwidth 79%) with wideband common mode suppression is designed and fabricated. The theoretical and measured results agree well and show good in-band filtering performances and high selectivity.


The cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii), is one of the most devastating insect pests for chili pepper that damages the crop and transmits several viruses. Thus far, there is no commercial chili cultivar with effective resistance to cotton aphids (CA). The present study aimed to develop a reliable and practical screening protocol in chili peppers for aphids resistance in the tropical areas. Three no-choice test methods i.e., seedling cage, detached leaf, and clip cage tests have been developed. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications in a greenhouse at the Gunung Putri, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Seven chili pepper genotypes belong to the species Capsicum annuum L. provided by the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia were used in this study. Chili pepper resistance to aphids was observed through the number of aphids progeny, and aphids fecundity among the genotypes. Two chili genotypes consistently showed low infestation while other genotypes showed the highest infestation with three screening methods. All the methods have a high heritability value (90%–91%), indicating that the evaluated chili genotypes could be used to determine effective screening methods. The correlation between the detached leaf and clip cage tests was significant (r = 0.84, P ≤ 0.05). Therefore, the clip cage test could be used as a reliable and practical screening test for the assay of chili peppers resistance to CA infestation. These information will be helpful in the development of aphid resistant cultivars in the future.


Purpose – This study aims to examine, via social exchange theory and social representations, how online vacation rentals (OVR) connect tourists and owners. It also aims to understand the dynamics and representations between owners and tourists in Albufeira, one of the most popular counties in the south of Portugal, supported on the theories of representation and social exchange. More specifically this research is structured on the following question: how the consequents – engagement and personalization – are materialized in the testimonies and descriptions posted on the vacation rentals platform. Design/methodology/approach – The initial assumption for this exploratory study is that OVR bring both material and intangible advantages for the individual consumer and for the community of homeowners. Drawing from netnography, using textual analysis, including the use of a corpus linguistics software program (WordSmith v.6), the authors aim to capture the multidimensional meanings presented by the tourists' online reviews of their travelling experience and home rental. Findings – The findings suggest that sharing the same nationality can facilitate engagement and influence the decision-making process (selection of property). Furthermore, findings point to a sense of place construed through affordances of place, home and a functional sense of place. Personalization of services is perceived by tourists as a positive outcome, this being the result of a positive evaluation that properties have received. Originality/value – The innovative design of this research, combining textual analysis and netnography of data reviews, and the analysis of this new form of tourism are the main contributions of this paper.


This paper reports on a S-, C-band low-noise power amplifier (LNPA) which achieves a sub-0.2 dB noise figure (NF) over a multi-octave band and a saturated output power (Psat) of 2 W at a cool temperature of -30degC . The GaN MMIC is based on a 0.2 mum AlGaN/GaN-SiC HEMT technology with an fT ~ 75 GHz. At a cool temperature of -30degC and a power bias of 15 V-400 mA, the MMIC achieves 0.25-0.45 dB average NF over a 2-8 GHz band and a linear P1dB of 32.8 dBm ( ~ 2 W) with 25% power-added efficiency (PAE). At a medium bias of 12 V-200 mA, the amplifier achieves 0.1-0.2 dB average NF across the same band and a P1dB of 32.2 dBm (1.66 W) with 35% PAE. The corresponding saturated output power is greater than 2 W. At a low noise bias of 5 V-200 mA, a remarkable 0.05-0.15 dB average NF is achieved with a P1dB > 24 dBm and PAE ~ 33%. These results are believed to be the lowest NF ever reported for a multi-octave fully matched MMIC amplifier capable of > 2 W of output power.


Abstract New antibiotics are needed because of the increased morbidity and mortality associated with multidrug-resistant bacteria. Iclaprim, a bacterial dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, not currently approved, is being studied for the treatment of skin infections and nosocomial pneumonia caused by Gram-positve bacteria, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. Iclaprim showed noninferiority at –10% to linezolid in 1 of 2 phase 3 studies for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections with a weight-based dose (0.8 mg/kg) but did not show noninferiority at –10% to linezolid in a second phase 3 study. More recently, iclaprim has shown noninferiority at –10% to vancomycin in 2 phase 3 studies for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections with an optimized fixed dose (80 mg). A phase 3 study for the treatment of hospital-acquired bacterial and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia is upcoming. If, as anticipated, iclaprim becomes available for the treatment of skin and skin structure infections, it will serve as an alternative to current antibiotics for treatment of severe infections. This article will provide an update to the chemistry, preclinical, pharmacology, microbiology, clinical and regulatory status of iclaprim.


Microscale flyash/SBS composite modified asphalts (CMA) were prepared by melt blending. Rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT) was employed to study the anti-aging property. Both flyash and SBS disperse homogeneously in the base asphalt, which lead to an improvement in terms of toughness, strength, and thermal stability. Moreover, microscale flyash plays a significant role in the CMA. The effect of flyash on the properties of SBS modified asphalt appears as a decreasing penetration, an increasing softening point, and a decreasing ductility. The anti-deformation ability under high temperature of the CMA improved significantly. In comparison with that of the base asphalt, the softening point of the CMA decreases after aging, which maybe attribute to the different rheological properties between the CMA and the base asphalt. Compared to that of SBS modified asphalt, the anti-aging property of CMA improved significantly. This demonstrates that the microstructure of flyash can prevent oxygen from diffusing and permeating.


Numerous studies report that soy lowers cholesterol. Probiotic bacteria were also reported to lower total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). We hypothesized that by altering intestinal microflora, probiotic consumption may also change phytoestrogen metabolism and enhance the effects of soy. To evaluate the independent and interactive effects of probiotic bacteria and soy on plasma TC, LDL-C, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), 37 women with a baseline TC of 5.24 mmol/L were given the following 4 treatments for 6 wk each in a randomized crossover design: soy protein isolate (26 +/- 5 g soy protein containing 44 +/- 8 mg isoflavones/d); soy protein isolate + probiotic capsules (10(9) colony-forming units Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium longum); milk protein isolate (26 +/- 5 g milk protein/d); and milk protein isolate + probiotic. Soy consumption decreased plasma TC by 2.2% (P = 0.02) and LDL-C by 3.5% (P = 0.005), increased HDL-C by 4.2% (P = 0.006) and tended to decrease TG (P = 0.07) compared with milk protein intake. When divided according to initial TC concentration, soy effects were observed only in hypercholesterolemic women (TC > 5.17 mmol/L). In this subgroup, soy treatments decreased plasma TC by 3.3% (P = 0.01), LDL-C by 4.5% (P = 0.004), and TG by 10.6% (P = 0.02), and increased HDL-C by 4.2% (P = 0.02). When subjects were divided on the basis of plasma and urine concentrations of the isoflavone metabolite, equol, equol producers and nonproducers did not differ in baseline lipids or in the effects of soy. Probiotics did not lower cholesterol or enhance the effects of soy. These results confirm a beneficial effect of soy on plasma cholesterol in mildly hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women independent of equol production status, but do not support an independent or additive effect of these particular probiotic bacteria.


This research paper focuses on the phenomenon of mixed use neighbourhoods, specifically in the case of the King-Spadina neighbourhood located in the City of Toronto. This paper will examine the benefits of mixed use neighbourhoods and the issues that arise when two or more incompatible land uses are located within a given geographical area. The focus of this paper is on the case study area of the King-Spadina neighbourhood which is home to the [sic] Canada's largest Entertainment District, an area which previously served as one of Toronto's industrial cores. Since the elimination of traditional land use restrictions in the area the King-Spadina neighbourhood has seen an influx of redevelopment in both residential and commercial.

This paper seeks to address the current conflicts associated with having a concentration of entertainment facilities located within a community with a residential population. Through a rigorous research process, this paper aims to address how enhancing the public realm can create a more enjoyable mixed use neighbourhood.


During their injecting career, injecting drug users (IDUs) are exposed to some infections, like hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, due to their injecting behavioral risk factors, such as sharing syringes or other paraphernalia containing infected blood, or sexual behavior risk factors. If we consider that these IDUs might belong to a social network of people where these behavioral risk factors are spread, then HCV and HIV infections might be associated at both the individual and the population level. In this paper, we study the association between HCV and HIV infection at the population level using aggregate data. Our aim is to define a hierarchy of structured models with which the association between HCV and HIV infection at population level and the time trend of prevalence can be investigated. The data analyzed in the paper are "diagnostic testing data," which consist of repeated cross-sectional prevalence measurements from 1998 to 2006 for HCV and HIV infection, obtained from a sample of 515 drug treatment centers spread among the 20 regions in Italy, where subjects went for a serum diagnostic test. Since we do not have any individual data, it is not possible to relate these prevalence data to socio-demographic or behavioral risk data. Each region defines a cluster with repeated prevalence data for HCV and HIV infection over time. Several modeling approaches, such as generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and hierarchical Bayesian models are applied to the data. First, we test different covariance structures for the region-specific random effects in the GLMM context; second, a hierarchical Bayesian model is used to refit the best GLMM in order to obtain the posterior distribution for the parameters of primary interest. We found that the correlation at population level between HCV and HIV is approximately 0.68 and the prevalence of the two infections generally decreased over the years, compared to the situation in 1998.


A research project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
 of MA Clinical Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities, University of the
 Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017


In this paper, we propose a state-of-the-art video denoising algorithm based on a convolutional neural network architecture. Until recently, video denoising with neural networks had been a largely under explored domain, and existing methods could not compete with the performance of the best patch-based methods. The approach we introduce in this paper, called FastDVDnet, shows similar or better performance than other state-of-the-art competitors with significantly lower computing times. In contrast to other existing neural network denoisers, our algorithm exhibits several desirable properties such as fast runtimes, and the ability to handle a wide range of noise levels with a single network model. The characteristics of its architecture make it possible to avoid using a costly motion compensation stage while achieving excellent performance. The combination between its denoising performance and lower computational load makes this algorithm attractive for practical denoising applications. We compare our method with different state-of-art algorithms, both visually and with respect to objective quality metrics.


This paper aims to investigate the relevance of bank-lending channel (BLC) of monetary policy in a small-open economy, i.e. Malaysia by using disaggregated bank-level data. A dynamic panel data method namely generalized method of moments (GMM) procedure has been used in estimating the dynamic of banks' loan supply function. The empirical evidence revealed that the banks' loan supply is significantly and negatively influenced by monetary policy shocks, and therefore has supported the existence of BLC in Malaysia. Several bank-characteristics variables namely bank liquidity and bank capitalization (capital adequacy ratio) are also statistically significant in influencing the banks' loan supply.


For the past decade, queer and trans rappers have been the dominant force in New Orleans bounce, a dance-centric hip hop genre specific to that city. Inspired by the language of bounce rappers themselves, such as Sissy Nobby, who self-identify as gay and reclaim a once pejorative term to openly express their sexual and gender identities through their performances, music journalist Alison Fensterstock coined the term "sissy bounce" to describe this current phenomenon. Since the genre first developed in the early 1990s, dancing, or "shaking" as it is called locally, has gone hand-in-hand with the music. More recently, bounce dance styles, including twerking, have drawn mainstream attention, fueled in part by controversial performances such as those by Miley Cyrus. "Twerking" is now part of the national vocabulary, but is largely misunderstood, especially its distinctly queer iterations.
 Drawing on interviews and fieldwork conducted in New Orleans, this article illustrates the ways in which gendered shaking styles have been adapted among its queer and trans participants and its role as kinetic community response to trauma inflicted by Hurricane Katrina. It demonstrates that shaking is an example of both a racialized and gendered performance and a performative act in which gender and racial identity are co-constructed. Finally, it considers the implications of twerking's exposure on a national stage and how New Orleans bounce artists have reacted. Bounce music and dance are interconnected forms of expression; considering them together helps us to better understand the relationship between sound and gesture in hip hop.


Introducao: From the creation of medical school in Sobral (CE), students from the final two years must obligatory pass through traineeship in the rural zone, with 226-hour duration. It was inspired on the university project, created in 1966, called Rural University Training and Community Action Center (CRUTAC). However, it is perceived that there is lack of motivation on behalf of the students to participate. Objetivos: This study sought to analyze the reasons for the non-participation of interns from the Medical School at UFC-Sobral in the rural traineeship. Metodologia ou descricao da experiencia: Semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded with eight students from medical school that attended internship in 2012 or 2013, selected by means of self-indication, using the "snowball" technique. We transcribed speech, preserving the exact words of each informant. This was followed by the organization and categorization of the main responses, applying content analysis technique. Resultados: From the eight students interviewed, seven did not fulfill traineeship effectively. The main reasons that surged in student discourse were: (1) lack of local structure, transport and equipment; (2) little receptivity, competence and disposition for teaching on behalf of local medical supervisors; (3) priority for theoretical studies and pre-residency courses; (4) opportunity to rest from course overload; (5) and some kind of collective agreement witnessed in expressions such as "nobody goes, and neither do I". In order not to attend the service, there was always collaboration from the local medical supervisor. Conclusoes ou hipoteses: We witnessed that, although obligatory, the great majority of the students did not participate in effective manner. There is a lack of collective motivation that is supported on reasons inserted in the current context of the course. Rural traineeship should be reviewed in its objectives and methods, as well as the need for structural investment for adequate training in medical performance.


The Chalcedonian Definition states that the incarnate Christ is both fully human and fully divine. But spelling out what the Chalcedonian Definition entails continues to be a subject of intense controversy among philosophers and theologians alike. One of these controversies concerns what I call the problem of the bearer question. At the heart of this question lies whether or not the two natures of Christ require two distinct bearers. In section I, I will explain the problem of the bearer question and how it arises directly due to the Chalcedonian Definition. In section II, I will propose a solution to the problem of the bearer question within the framework of what I call, a 'Multi–Track Disposition Model of the Incarnation'. At the heart of this model lies the notion that the manifestation of properties is multi–directional in the sense that there is a reciprocal partnership among property manifestations. In section III, I will contrast the solution proposed to the bearer question by the Multi–Track Model to that of a 'Kenotic Model of the Incarnation'. I will argue that the Multi–Track Model provides us with better conceptual resources to make sense of the bearer question. Finally, in section IV, I will briefly point out why ultimately a conclusive answer to the bearer question may still prove to be elusive because the bearer question gives rise to a host of other unresolved questions.


The wave energy resource in the Chilean coast shows particularly profitable characteristics for wave energy production, with relatively high mean wave power and low inter-annual resource variability. This combination is as interesting as unusual, since high energetic locations are usually also highly variable, such as the west coast of Ireland. Long-term wave resource variations are also an important aspect when designing wave energy converters (WECs), which are often neglected in resource assessment. The present paper studies the long-term resource variability of the Chilean coast, dividing the 20th century into five do-decades and analysing the variations between the different do-decades. To that end, the ERA20C reanalysis of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is calibrated versus the ERA-Interim reanalysis and validated against buoy measurements collected in different points of the Chilean coast. Historical resource variations off the Chilean coast are compared to resource variations off the west coast in Ireland, showing a significantly more consistent wave resource. In addition, the impact of historical wave resource variations on a realistic WEC, similar to the Corpower device, is studied, comparing the results to those obtained off the west coast of Ireland. The annual power production off the Chilean coast is demonstrated to be remarkably more regular over the 20th century, with variations of just 1% between the different do-decades.


This study analyzes the factors driving interest in two agroforestry practices, riparian buffers and forest farming. Because agroforestry is outside main stream commodity production in US agriculture, the purpose is to evaluate a framework to understand attitudes. The framework incorporates Pierre Bourdieu's notions of "habitus" and "field" along with individual economic and demographic characteristics of farm operators' traditionally used in adoption studies. Four attitudes are analyzed: disengagers, conservatives, lifestyle, and accumulators. A Logit regression measures the effects of respondents' attitudes, and other internal and external factors to assess interest in each practice. The data used is from a household survey of 364 farm-operators from the Fox Wyaconda watershed in northeast Missouri and Scott County in southeast Missouri gathered in 1999. Findings show that a conservative or a lifestyle attitude, are significant, with high probability of being interested in riparian buffers. Those with an accumulator or a lifestyle attitude have a significant and high probability of being interested in forest farming. Other variables also significant in riparian buffer interest are knowledge of agroforestry, and interest in alternative farming practices, and especially having perceptions of erosion problems. In forest farming, a high value of farm and assets has a negative effect, while belonging to informal groups has a positive effect pointing to characteristics that do not belong to traditional farmers.


Bongaigaon Refinery, Assam in India is in the business of refining crude oil since 1974. The effluent of the refinery drains into the Tunia river, which flows through agricultural lands. The present study investigates the pollution level of the Tunia river water as well as the soil of the nearby agricultural lands. Water samples were analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, TSS, SAR, sulphate, phosphate and heavy metals Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, & Cu. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, EC, Na+, K+, sulphate, phosphate and Cr, Ni,Mn, Zn, and Cu. Contamination levels of Cr, Ni,Mn and Cu in the river water were under the permissible limit set by FEPA, except Zn, which was in alarming level.However, the values for Cr,Mn and Cuweremuch higher than the limit set by FAO. The study also reveals the enrichment of Cr, Mn, Ni and Cu in the agricultural soil irrigated by the Tunia river water.


In the dissertation we study the C(K) spaces focusing on the case when K is countable compact and more specifically, the structure of C() spaces for < ω1 via special type of trees that they contain. The dissertation is composed of three major sections. In the first section we give a detailed proof of the theorem of Bessaga and Pelczynski on the isomorphic classification of C() spaces. In due time, we describe the standard bases for C(ω) and prove that the bases are monotone. In the second section we consider the lattice-trees introduced by Bourgain, Rosenthal and Schechtman in C() spaces, and define rerooting and restriction of trees. The last section is devoted to the main results. We give some lower estimates of the ordinal-indices in C(ω). We prove that if the tree in C(ω) has large order with small constant then each function in the root must have infinitely many big coordinates. Along the way we deduce some upper estimates for c0 and C(ω), and give a simple proof of Cambern's result that the Banach-Mazur distance between c0 and c = C(ω) is equal to 3.


An estimation method of the influence of interfaces on properties in perovskite-type oxide thin-film capacitors is presented. We proposed a modified Schottky model that can be employed to explain the electric properties of metal/perovskite-type oxide junctions. The modified model considers the electric field dependence of permittivity and the flow of electrons from metal to defect states located in the band gap of the perovskite oxide. The simulation based on this model could successfully describe the results of capacitance-voltage measurements of junctions between metals (Pt, Au, and Ag) and Nb-doped SrTiO3, which were not explained by the conventional Schottky model. Additionally, a simulation for a thin-film capacitor with hysteretic behavior could depict an asymmetric capacitance-voltage curve.


Recommender systems profile the preferences of users and then use this information to forecast users' future ratings. One of the most common recommendation approaches is the use of matrix factorisation in which users' past ratings of items (i.e. Movies, books, etc.) are used to capture their affinity to implicit factors. A central limitation of such factorisation is that one cannot consider how a user's preferences for a factor have changed over time. In this paper we present the SemanticSVD++ model that overcomes this limitation by using the semantic categories of recommendation items as prior factors for a given user. We present a model to capture the semantic taste evolution of users over time, and demonstrate how such development is susceptible to global influence dynamics. We explain how the SemanticSVD++ model incorporates such evolution information within a matrix factorisation approach, and empirically demonstrate the improvement in predictive capability that this yields when tested on two independent movie recommendation datasets.


BrnSc (BrnS.l, POU4F3) encoding a POU domain transcription factor is a candidate gene for late onset sensorineural hearing loss, which is exhibited by a large proportion of the ageing population. To identify common sequence variants at the Brn-3c locus mutation scanning of the BrnSc cDNA, intron and 5'-flanking region was performed by PCR-SSCP analysis in 45 members of the general population. Seven polymorphic sites were identified of which five within the Bm-Sc 5'-flanking region appear common. A functional screening approach utilising in-vitro assays suggests that at least three common sequence variants in the Brn-Sc 5'-flanking region could have a functional affect: -566(GT)i7-23, -1391A>C and a complex multi-allelic poly-G polymorphism at - 3432 that exhibits multiple variations in length together with single base substitutions within the guanine repeat. The -3432poly-G polymorphism modifies the binding affinity of an OC-2 derived nuclear protein and there is convincing evidence that this is the transcription factor SP1. Use of purified human recombinant SP1 protein, in-vitro translated SP1 and in-vitro translated SP3 confirms that the -3432polyG polymorphism modulates a high affinity SP family binding site and evidence suggests that this alters the regulation of the BrnSc promoter when SP1 levels are limiting, p<0.05. Moreover, the data suggest a functional interaction between the -3432poly-G polymorphism and the -566(GT)i7.23 repeat which associate to determine the response of the Brn-3c gene to SP1. Similarly, evidence suggests that the variant allele, -1391C has a reduced affinity for an OC-2 derived nuclear protein and this is consistent with a significant decrease in basal activity of the Brn-Sc promoter, pC were genotyped for a pilot association study but allelic frequencies were not found to significantly differ between the patient and control populations examined (by %2 analysis). Further large-scale population studies are required to establish whether these common sequence variants are associated with late onset hearing loss.


Using a detailed fire history collected over a 10-year period throughout a savanna landscape in northern Australia, we have addressed the question of whether fire severity, inferred from a semiquantitative fire severity index, increases with time since previous fire. There was a clear trend of fires becoming much more severe with increasing time since previous fire. Between 1 and 5 years following a fire, the probability of a subsequent fire being classified as 'severe' increased from 3 to 8% for early dry-season fires, and from 21 to 43% for late dry-season fires. It was clear that the strong increase in fire severity was not confined to the first 2–3 years following the previous fire, as previously suspected. These findings highlight the difficulty of reducing both fire frequency and severity in northern Australian savanna landscapes, as they imply that a negative feedback process exists between the two; that is, reducing fire frequency is likely to increase the severity of fires that do occur.


Data breach notification and disclosure laws are emerging around the globe. The following article and table examine the specifics of data breach notification frameworks in multiple jurisdictions. Over the year of 2008, Alana Maurushat of the Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre, with research assistance from David Vaile and student interns Renee Watts, Nathalie Pala, Michael Whitbread, Eugenie Kyung-Eun Hwang and David Chau, compiled the data. The table represents a detailed survey of data breach disclosure requirements in 25 countries, conducted by surveying those current or proposed statutory or similar instruments setting out the nature and conditions of such requirements to give notice. The Centre hopes that the table will be useful to compare and contrast elements of data breach notification schemes. The researchers at the CLPC will research the effectiveness of such schemes in future projects.


This thesis reports on investigation of the roles of metallothionein and lysosomal enzymes in the pathogenesis of chronic Cu poisoning of sheep, with and without treatment by thiomolybdates. The changes in copper, zinc and molybdenum distribution were studied in the liver, bile, kidney and blood of chronic Cu poisoned sheep using histochemical, immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques including gel filtration and subcellular fractionation. Morphological changes, particularly in the liver and kidney were investigated using light and electron microscopy.

The results of gel filtrations of liver indicated that metallothioneins were the main Cu binding protein in the cytosol and lysosomal rich mitochondrial fractions. Examination of kidneys showed that metallothionein was the most important Cu storage protein in that organ. Most of the Cu in the bile of chronic Cu poisoned sheep was bound to high molecular weight proteins. Small amounts of Cu thionein-like protein were detected in the bile just prior to and during haemolysis. It appears that thiomolybdate altered the binding of Cu so that it associated with more proteins than it normally does.

Metallothionein mRNA determinations suggested a·correlation between liver Zn concentration and metallothionein mRNA.

Increased intracellular Cu concentrations associated with either haemolysis or thiomolybdate treatment resulted in decreased Cu extractability. Thiomolybdate appeared to alter the binding of Cu by the formation of high molecular weight complexes most of which were insoluble.

Studies with radiolabelled metallothionein showed that intravenously injected metallothionein was taken up at two sites - the kidney and the lung. Injected metallothionein did not appear to damage the tubular epithelial cells. Traces of metallothionein (Fraction III) appeared to be present in cell free lysates of erythrocytes taken from sheep in haemolysis though most of the Cu in the plasma and erythrocytes collected du'.ing the prehaemolytic and haemolytic phases of chronic Cu poisoning was bound to high molecular weight proteins.

It is suggested that neither Cu thioneins nor haemoglobin, both of which are in the blood at haemolysis, cause serious damage to the kidney. However, both normal and iron loaded sheep kidneys were found to be an important site of uptake of a radiolabelled lysosomal enzyme preparation. The uptake of lysosomal enzymes may be an important causal factor in producing the clinically significant damage to sheep kidney which often occurs during the haemolytic phase of chronic Cu poisoning.


Recent academic writings have emphasized that an increasing proportion of world-wide manufacturing is taking place through extensive subcontracting networks that connect consumers in the United States and Europe with workers laboring in the informal economies of developing countries where they often lack social protection or legal recognition under national labor laws. In this article, we make a contribution to this literature by exploring how three different forms of work organization – factory-based, center-based, and home-based football stitching came into being in the brand sensitive, export-oriented football manufacturing industry of Jalandhar in North India. We argue that the evolution of supply chain linkages and work forms within this industry can best be understood through the 'prism' of value chain struggles between the intra-chain actors such as international buyers and local suppliers and the extra-chain actors such as national governments and international NGOs. In particular, struggles over supplier upgrading and labor standards first led to the creation of football stitching as a cottage industry in the latter part of the 20 century and then its re-establishment as industrial factory-based work in the early parts of the new millennium. We conclude that shifting preferences of the upstream buyers and the global consumers, somewhat ironically, offer a Hobson's choice to the Jalandhar football manufacturers: either insource football stitching within factory-based settings, adopt new technologies, and comply with labor laws/standards, or perish in the highly competitive global market.


Four-dimensional petroleum system models within the Western Canada sedimentary basin were constructed using hydrous pyrolysis (HP) and Rock-Eval (RE) kinetic parameters for six of the major oil-prone source rocks in the basin. These source rocks include the Devonian Duvernay Member of the Woodbend Group; Devonian-Mississippian Exshaw Formation; Triassic Doig Formation; Gordondale Member; Poker Chip A shale, both of the Jurassic Fernie Group; and Ostracod Zone of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group. The Mannville Group coals also contributed oil to the oil sands (Higley et al., 2009) but are excluded herein because HP kinetics were used for both models with identical results. The locations of oil migration flowpaths are identical for the HP and RE models, with the exception of an earlier onset of generation and migration shown with the HP model. Both models show that the oil sands are located at focal points of the petroleum migration pathways. The principal differences between the models are the onset and extent of oil generation from the Jurassic Fernie source rocks (Gordondale Member and Poker Chip A shale) at about 85 Ma with the HP model and 65 Ma with the RE model. Earlier oil generation in the HP model is caused by the high sulfur content of the type IIS kerogen in the Jurassic source rocks. The influence of organic sulfur is accounted for in the HP kinetic parameters, but not the RE kinetic parameters. The cumulative volume of oil generated from the source rocks is 678 billion m3 for the HP model and 444 billion m3 for the RE model, or 65% of the HP volume. This difference is attributed to early generation from type IIS kerogen that resulted in much larger volumes of thermally mature source rocks for the Jurassic Fernie Group and consequently larger volumes of generated oil. The Gordondale Member in the HP model generated more than 550 times the volume of oil generated by the Gordondale Member in the RE model. The timing and generated volumes are comparable in the RE and HP models for source rocks that contain normal levels of organic sulfur (type II kerogen). The Duvernay is an exception because of the very low sulfur content of its type II kerogen. The result is higher HP kinetic than RE kinetic parameters, with associated greater thermal maturities required for HP than for RE oil generation. Consequently, there is less mature Duvernay source rock in the HP model than the RE model.


The classification of sexual fantasies and behaviors (here referred to as 'sexual interests') has historically been divided into 'paraphilic' and 'normophilic'. However, studies on paraphilic interests are often limited to clinical or forensic samples and normophilic interests are rarely assessed in tandem. Previous research has found mixed results for psychological and other correlates of sexual interests, potentially due to inconsistency in operationalism and measurement of fantasies and behaviors. The aim of the current study was to quantify correlates of sexual interests via the Sexual Fantasies and Behaviors Inventory, containing factors related to general fantasies/behaviors, normophilia, power dynamics, sadomasochism, and courtship paraphilias, using a large (N = 4280) non-clinical sample. Psychological, developmental, sexual, and demographic correlates were investigated via bivariate correlations, mean difference testing, and multiple regression. Sexual interest domains were largely unrelated to psychopathology and developmental factors. Sociosexuality and more accepting attitudes towards sadomasochism was generally related to more arousal to/engagement in normophilic and paraphilic domains. More autism spectrum disorder traits were related to decreased normophilic interests. Psychopathic traits, sexual sensation seeking, and sexual compulsivity were related to paraphilia dimensions, especially courtship paraphilias and domination/sadism; the former was also associated with negative attitudes about establishing consent. Men, non-monogamous, and non-heterosexual participants indicated greater sexual fantasies and behaviors compared to women (except in the case of submission and masochism), monogamous, and heterosexual participants, respectively.


Reproductive Politics, Religion and State Governance in the Philippines Maria Dulce F Natividad Reproductive controversies are never only about reproduction and health. They serve as proxies for more fundamental questions about citizenship, the state, national identity, class and gender. In a post-colonial context such as the Philippines, where a particular historical relationship between the Church and the state has developed, policymaking on reproduction, sexuality and health answers to both development goals and religious norms. At the same time, women's everyday frameworks of (reproductive) meanings are also inextricably bound with state policies and popular culture. My ethnographic study examines the relationship between state governance, religion, reproductive politics, and competing understandings of embodied sexual morality. My study argues that at the heart of the complex politics involved in policymaking on reproductive health in the Philippines is the entanglement of national and religious identities. Reproductive policy then operates as a frame through which the politics of the nation, religion and the state get filtered and played out. Taking the Philippines as a case study, I focus on women's 'lived religion' and practices; the local, national and international institutions and actors that exert influence on reproductive policy and popular sentiment; and how these shape women's reproductive practices in the context of everyday life. Through the women's narratives, I show how class, gender and religion work in tension with one another. Lastly, the study also investigates how the historical entanglement between religion and the state configures practices of governance, such as policymaking, in postcolonial contexts.


KUALA LUMPUR: Heaps of discarded coconut shells
caught the attention of a group of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) students in Kedah, prompting them to take the initiative to recycle the "worthless" garbage as charcoal


It can happen, especially in economic surveys, that we are interested in estimating the population mean or total of a variable Y, based on a sample, when a linear model seems appropriate, not for Y itself, but for a strictly monotone transformation of Y. In the present paper, we mainly focus on the important case where the transformation is logarithmic, but some new ideas introduced are not limited to that case. Currently available methods, based on the lognormal distribution, are reviewed, and two new methods introduced, one based on the idea of "smearing" (Duan, 1983), which do not require the lognormal assumption. Theoretical biases and variances are given, with suggestions for sample design and variance estimation, and a practical measure for reducing sensitivity to deviant points is suggested. We evaluate and compare the different estimators we describe in an extensive empirical study based on four economic populations taken from the UK Monthly Wages and Salaries Survey.


To improve the strength-toughness and heat-resistance of die cast magnesium alloy, the ZA85 alloy has been prepared by adding proper amount of spherical quasicrystals containing master alloy. The results indicate that the solidification microstructure is inlaid with quasicrystal particles, which is a new phase i(Mg45Zn47Y5Mn3), co-existing with the α-Mg, Φ(Al2Mg5Zn2) phase and τ(Mg32(AlZn)49) phase. Mechanical properties of ZA85 alloys have been dramatically improved owing to the obvious grain refinement of the matrix microstructure. While adding 1.7 wt % spherical quasicrystal containing master alloy, macro-hardness of ZA85 magnesium alloy reaches 75HB; meanwhile, impact toughness reaches the peak value 18.4Jcm-2, which is about 202% of ZA85 base alloy. Due to the pinning effect of quasicrystal particles on grain boundaries, the strengthened ZA85 alloys would have excellent heat-resistance.


This paper reports information literacy needs, search and evaluation competencies at Mother Teresa Women's University and its affiliated colleges. In this study it is try to evaluate the information literacy needs, information needs assessment competency and competency of information literacy evaluation. Questionnaire was a data collection tool. A total of 290 questionnaires were distributed among users and 254 duly filled in questionnaires were received, thus resulting into a response rate of 87.59 per cent. Out of 12 institutions, 5 are government, 5 are self-financing and 2 are aided educational institutions. This study showed that 163 (64.2%) respondents are assistant professors and 81 (31.9%) respondents are associate professors while just 10 (3.9%) respondents are professors. Study also reveals that majority of the respondents belong to more than 45 years (33.1%) age group followed by 4145 years age group constituting 19.3% (49) of the respondents and 36-40 years age group constituting 16.9% (43) of the respondents and 30.8% (78) of the sample are young belonging to either 25-30 or 31-35 years age group.


The measurements of fluorescence polarization index within the emission spectra of the fluorescent probes 4-dimethylaminochalcone (DMCh) and 3-methoxybenzantrone (MBA) have indicated that probes are distributed in liposomes prepared from synthetic dipalmitoyl lecithin (DPL) between binding sites of two types. By the method described in the present paper the spectra measured experimentally have been divided into two spectral components. The shape and position of this componential spectra were independent of the probe:lipid concentrations ratio.


1. Many studies have reported honeybee colony losses in human-dominated landscapes.
While bee floral food resources have been drastically reduced over past decades in humandominated
landscapes, no field study has yet been undertaken to determine whether there is a
carry-over effect between seasonal disruption in floral resource availability and high colony
losses.
2. We investigated if a decline in the harvest of pollen by honeybees in spring affected managed
honeybee colony dynamics (brood size, adult population and honey reserves) and health
(Varroa mite loads and colony survival) throughout the beekeeping season.
3. A decline in pollen harvest was associated with a direct reduction in brood production,
leading to a negative effect on the adult population size later in the season, and lower honey
reserves before the onset of winter. Furthermore, the decline in pollen harvest negatively
impacted the health of the colony, resulting in higher Varroa mite loads and higher seasonal
and winter colony losses.
4. Early-warning signs of these carry-over effects were identified, showing that preferential
investment in honey reserves instead of brood production early in the season increased the
decline in pollen harvest and its associated carry-over effects.
5. Synthesis and applications. The results suggest that the decline in pollen harvest may have
been overlooked as a cause of pollen shortage and associated bee colony losses. Strategies to
avoid such losses in intensive farmland systems include (i) limiting or avoiding honey harvests
in spring, (ii) monitoring colonies for early-warning signals of colony failure and (iii) increasing
the amount of floral resources available through wise land-use management.


Objectives: Intergenerational acculturation conflict in immigrant families has been implicated as a risk factor for adolescent maladjustment. However, the directionality and specific family related mediators of this association have not been identified. The present study prospectively examined relations between adolescent reports of perceived acculturation conflict and internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms. Perceived parent–adolescent relationship strain and perceived parental psychological control were examined as potential mediators. Method: Survey measures were administered to 375 Vietnamese American adolescents (48.8% males; M = 15.55 years, SD = .59) at 3 time points over 6 months. Results: Using cross-lagged path analysis, perceived acculturation conflict predicted externalizing symptoms, whereas internalizing symptoms predicted perceived acculturation conflict. Perceived maternal psychological control mediated the association between perceived acculturation conflict and later externalizing symptoms, whereas maternal psychological control, parental unresponsiveness, and unmet parent expectations mediated the association between internalizing symptoms and later acculturation conflict. Conclusion: Culturally competent enhancement of parental sensitivity and responsiveness might be targeted as a modifiable protective factor in family-based preventive interventions for at-risk immigrant families.


Despite advances in road safety, head injuries still account for many of the most serious and fatal injuries in road traffic accidents. This PhD thesis provides a summary of knowledge regarding the current position in head injury research with regard to:
 Previous assertions as to head injury mechanisms
 Existing head injury criteria
 The availability of data to explore potential confounding factors in predicting head injury risk and to propose or validate a new injury criterion or criteria.

On the basis of the existing information the question was posed, whether it is possible to validate advanced head injury criteria and head models using additional (new) head injury case data so as to make their application more robust in efforts to mitigate future injuries. In order to answer this question, priority was given to the pursuit of new data, offering six degree of freedom time-series data with detailed information on the exact injuries sustained.

A working in-ear sensor system was deemed to offer a potential solution in obtaining elusive data regarding the kind of impact events that could cause head injuries for road users. An in-ear accelerometer system used by the FIA Institute was evaluated through experimentation. Then a low-cost solution was developed with the aim to give similar sensor performance for a wider market of potential wearers.

The prototype low-cost sensor system was evaluated in a small series of drop tests and also in a very small real-world data collection trial. This evaluation identified a series of issues that need to be resolved before the system can be used to generate valuable data. A viable system is not ready immediately, but could be following modifications to the prototype system evaluated. Taking this revised system, the next step would be to initiate a larger trial to start the collection of high fidelity data and impact event details; in order to address the need for such information and confirm that even the low-cost system would be fit for that purpose.


Large-scale optimisation problems are usually hard to solve optimally. Approximation algorithms such as metaheuristics, able to quickly find sub-optimal solutions, are often preferred. This thesis focuses on multi-objective local search (MOLS) algorithms, metaheuristics able to deal with the simultaneous optimisation of multiple criteria. As many algorithms, metaheuristics expose many parameters that significantly impact their performance. These parameters can be either predicted and set before the execution of the algorithm, or dynamically modified during the execution itself.
While in the last decade many advances have been made on the automatic design of algorithms, the great majority of them only deal with single-objective algorithms and the optimisation of a single performance indicator such as the algorithm running time or the final solution quality. In this thesis, we investigate the relations between automatic algorithm design and multi-objective optimisation, with an application on MOLS algorithms.
We first review possible MOLS strategies ans parameters and present a general, highly configurable, MOLS framework. We also propose MO-ParamILS, an automatic configurator specifically designed to deal with multiple performance indicators. Then, we conduct several studies on the automatic offline design of MOLS algorithms on multiple combinatorial bi-objective problems. Finally, we discuss two online extensions of classical algorithm configuration: first the integration of parameter control mechanisms, to benefit from having multiple configuration predictions; then the use of configuration schedules, to sequentially use multiple configurations.


We examine the problem of extending, in a natural way, order-preserving maps that are defined on the interior of a closed cone K1 (taking values in another closed cone K2) to the whole of K1. We give conditions, in considerable generality (for cones in both finite- and infinite-dimensional spaces), under which a natural extension exists and is continuous. We also give weaker conditions under which the extension is upper semi-continuous. Maps f defined on the interior of the non-negative cone K in RN, which are both homogeneous of degree 1 and order preserving, are non-expanding in the Thompson metric, and hence continuous. As a corollary of our main results, we deduce that all such maps have a homogeneous order-preserving continuous extension to the whole cone. It follows that such an extension must have at least one eigenvector in K – {0}. In the case where the cycle time χ(f) of the original map does not exist, such eigenvectors must lie in ∂K – {0}. We conclude with some discussions and applications to operator-valued means. We also extend our results to an 'intermediate' situation, which arises in some important application areas, particularly in the construction of diffusions on certain fractals via maps defined on the interior of cones of Dirichlet forms.


Thirty-six experimental sugar beet cultivars were grown in a commercial sprinkler-irrigated sugar beet field near
American Falls, ID where potatoes were grown in 2007. The plots were planted on 21 Apr 08 and managed according to
standard cultural practices. Plants were free of foliar and root disease symptoms. Four roots representative of each cultivar
were hand topped and harvested on 1 Oct. The roots were then placed in a cold room at 3°C and 90% relative humidity until
they were assayed on 7 Jan 09. The roots were washed, dipped in 0.6% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min, rinsed in
sterile reverse osmosis water, and then air dried in a laminar hood. A cross section of the root 8-10 mm thick and 45-70 mm
in diameter was cut just below the widest portion of root and placed in a Petri dish on sterile filter paper moistened with sterile
tap water. A 2-mm diameter and 3-mm deep hole was created with a sterile tooth pick in the center of the root slice. A sterile
tooth pick was then dipped in a 48-hr old culture of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum B322 grown on MRS
media at 30°C and placed in the hole along with a drop of sterile tap water. Four additional root slices served as the non-
inoculated check (no bacteria inoculated). The root slice/Petri dish combination was placed in a plastic bag and incubated at
30°C. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with four replications (1 root slice = 1 replication for each
cultivar). The diameter of rotted root area was recorded after 72, 96, and 120 hr. Bacteria from the lesions in each replication
were re-isolated by streaking onto MRS to prove only L. mesenteroides was present. Data were analyzed using the general
linear models procedure (Proc GLM-SAS), and Fisher's protected least significant difference was used for mean comparisons. The plants from which the roots were collected were healthy in appearance (no signs or symptoms for any disease
problem). The root slices in the non-inoculated check treatment developed no rot. On the inoculated slices, only L.
mesenteroides was isolated from the bacterial rot lesions. After 120 hr, bacterial rot ranged from a high of 18.3 mm on
cultivar HM080011 to a low of 2.8 mm on cultivar B-40. These data should provide a starting point in the search to identify
resistance to L. mesenteroides in sugar beet. Given the range of responses, improving sugar beet cultivars for resistance to
bacterial rot should be possible.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to outline an agenda for researching the relationship between technology-enabled networks – such as social media and big data – and the accounting function. In doing so, it links the contents of an unfolding area research with the papers published in this special issue of Design/methodology/approach - The paper surveys the existing literature, which is still in its infancy, and proposes ways in which to frame early and future research. The intention is not to offer a comprehensive review, but to stimulate and conversation. Findings - The authors review several existing studies exploring technology-enabled networks and highlight some of the key aspects featuring social media and big data, before offering a classification of existing research efforts, as well as opportunities for future research. Three areas of investigation are identified: new performance indicators based on social media and big data; governance of social media and big data information resources; and, finally, social media and big data's alteration of information and decision-making processes. Originality/value - The authors are currently experiencing a technological revolution that will fundamentally change the way in which organisations, as well as individuals, operate. It is claimed that many knowledge-based jobs are being automated, as well as others transformed with, for example, data scientists ready to replace even the most qualified accountants. But, of course, similar claims have been made before and therefore, as academics, the authors are called upon to explore the impact of these technology-enabled networks further. This paper contributes by starting a debate and speculating on the possible research agendas ahead.


Low productivity in agriculture is mainly due to the inability of the farmers to exploit the available technologies fully, resulting in lower efficiencies of production. The present study has estimated the technical and scale efficiencies of tomato-producing farms in Karnataka, considering different production levels and has identified the determining factors of their technical efficiency. The study is based on the data collected from the major tomato-producing regions of Karnataka, viz. Kolar and Bangalore rural districts of Karnataka, under three-production situations, viz. small, medium and large farms. Data Envelopment analysis (DEA) and log linear regression models have been used for estimating the technical efficiency and its determining factors, respectively. The study has indicated that most of the farms irrespective of size of holding have shown technical inefficiency problems. The medium farmers have been observed with best measures of technical efficiency, which has been explained by factors such as the land and labour productivity and education. Though medium farmers have been found efficient, with higher yields, it is the small farmers who have emerged as price-efficient producers in terms of lower cost on production (Rs 1.72/kg compared to Rs 2.01 in medium farms and Rs 1.85 in large farms) and higher unit profit. Most of the farms have been observed to have potential to expand production and productivity, increasing technical efficiency as majority have been performing with increasing returns to scale.


Background: Performance feedback is central to data-driven models of quality improvement, but the use of claims-based data for feedback has received little attention. Purpose: To examine the challenges, uses, and limitations of quarterly Medicare claims-based performance feedback reports generated for practices participating in the Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative from 2012 to 2015. Methods: Mixed methods study of nearly 500 CPC practices in seven regions, combining pilot testing; systematic monitoring; surveys; in-depth interviews; user feedback; and input from data feedback team. Results: Designing reports required addressing issues about timing, data completeness and reliability, variations in patient risk across practices, and use of benchmarks and metrics understandable to users. Practices' ability to use reports constructively depended on their experience, analytic resources, expectations, and perceptions about the role of primary care in improving reported outcomes. Conclusions: Generating claims-based feedback reports that support practices' quality improvement efforts requires a significant investment of analytic expertise, time, resources, continuous improvement, and technical assistance. Implications: Claims-based performance feedback can provide insight into patterns of patients' care across provider settings and opportunities for improvement, but practices need data from other sources to manage patients in real time or assess the short-term effects of specific changes in care delivery.


Differences in welfare attitudes of Eastern and Western Europeans have often been explained in terms of legacies of communism. In this article, we explore evaluations of healthcare systems across European countries and argue that East–West differences in these evaluations are explained by differences in the current institutional design of healthcare systems in the two regions. The empirical analysis is based on the fourth round of the European Social Survey, applying multilevel and multilevel mediation analysis. Our results support the institutional explanation. Regional differences in healthcare evaluations are explained by institutional characteristics of the healthcare system, that is, lower financial resources, higher out-of-pocket payments, and lower supply of primary healthcare services in Eastern compared to Western European countries. We conclude that specific aspects of the current institutional design of healthcare systems are crucial for understanding East–West differences in healthcare evaluations and encourage research to further explore the relevance of institutions for differences in welfare state attitudes across socio-political contexts.


Cold rolling followed by ageing in two grades of superaustenitic stainless steel was performed in order to assess the effect of cold deformation on the precipitation characteristics of these steels. Samples were cold rolled from 20% to 60% reduction in thickness and aged within the temperature range of 650οC to 950οC for times up to 120h. Following ageing precipitation of secondary phases took place, with sigma (σ) phase formation being the predominant precipitate species forming. Secondary phases have been reported to form following isothermal exposure to high temperatures, yet the precipitation behaviour of cold deformed samples has received less attention. When compared to the ageing characteristics of undeformed samples, cold deformation was found to accelerate precipitation during ageing. This study helped clarify a time-temperature-transformation regime relating isothermal ageing of cold deformation that could be applied to these steels in order to avoid occurrence of undesirable microstructural constituents with the associated reduction of mechanical and corrosion properties.


Several studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in hyperalgesia induced by NMDA activity in Morphine tolerance and NO synthase inhibitors can attenuate hyperalgesia in morphine tolerance. In addition, one of the possible mechanisms in morphine tolerance is reduction of GABA inhibitory effect. For this reason, we used GABA agonists (muscimol and baclofen) to investigate the effect of GABA agonists on analgesic effect of morphine and NO level of serum. In this study, experimental rats were divided into 4 groups as follows: 1. Control group, 2. Morphine tolerance group, 3. Morphine tolerance + muscimol, and 4-morphine tolerance + baclofen. To induce morphine tolerance in rats, the animals received 10 mg/kg of morphine sulfate intraperitoneal (ip) once a day for 8 days. In the treatment group, GABA agonist was injected on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 8th day before morphine injection. Finally, to evaluate GABA agonists treatment on morphine analgesia and hyperalgesia on the 8th day of the study, thermal hyperalgesia was used to evaluate tolerance and hyperalgesia. Then, NO level of serum was investigated as an important factor in OIH. The results indicated that GABA agonists reduced thermal hyperalgesia in the morphine tolerance group (p


We studied diatoms from the fifteen springs selected in the Berchtesgaden National Park on behalf of the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment to be sentinel environments of climate-change effects. For three of these springs, diatom data based on samples taken in 1997 were also available. A total of 162 species belonging to 49 genera were found sampling three microhabitat types (lithic materials, bryophytes, surface sediments). The cumulative percentage of all species included in a threat category including endangered species was 43%, confirming previous findings for comparable environments of the Alps. We could find a statistically significant positive association between the Meinzer variability index for discharge and the cumulative relative abundance of aerial diatom species. This study thus highlighted once again the relevance of discharge (and associated water-level) variability as an environmental determinant of diatom assemblages in spring ecosystems. Increased nitrate concentrations in some springs, likely due to diffuse airborne pollution and, locally, to impacts such as forest management, game, and cattle, led to a relevant occurrence of eutraphentic diatom species. Our results show a segregation of the older data in non-parametric diatom-based ordinations, suggesting a strong potential for the use of spring diatoms in studies aiming at tracking the effects of climate and environmental change.


We re‐evaluated the taxonomy of the Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera–Brown Prinia P. polychroa complex using molecular, morphological and vocal analyses. The extensive seasonal, sexual, age‐related, geographical and taxon‐specific variation in this complex has never before been adequately studied. As no previous genetic or vocal analyses have focused on this group, misinterpretation of taxonomic signals from limited conventional morphological study alone was likely. Using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, we found that P. crinigera sensu lato (s.l.) comprises two non‐sister groups of taxa (Himalayan crinigera and Chinese striata groups) that differ substantially morphologically and vocally and that are broadly sympatric in Yunnan Province, China. Prinia polychroa cooki (Myanmar) and P. p. rocki (southern Vietnam) are each morphologically, vocally and genetically distinct. Thai, Cambodian and Laotian populations formerly ascribed to P. p. cooki are morphologically and vocally most similar to and most closely related to Javan P. p. polychroa, and require a new name, proposed here. Prinia p. bangsi of Yunnan is part of the crinigera group rather than of P. polychroa, and hence there is no evidence for sympatry between P. polychroa s.l. and P. crinigera s.l., nor of the occurrence of P. polychroa in mainland China or Taiwan. We recommend the recognition of five species in the complex, with the following suggestions for new English names: Himalayan Prinia P. crinigera sensu stricto (s.s.; with subspecies striatula, crinigera, yunnanensis and bangsi); Chinese Prinia P. striata (subspecies catharia, parumstriata and striata); Burmese Prinia P. cooki (monotypic); Annam Prinia P. rocki (monotypic) and Deignan's Prinia P. polychroa s.s. (subspecies Javan polychroa and the new Southeast Asian taxon). This study underlines the importance of using multiple datasets for the elucidation of diversity of cryptic bird species and their evolutionary history and biogeography.


Background— Recent in vitro studies have shown that disturbed flow and oxidative conditions induce the expression of bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs 2 and 4) in cultured endothelial cells. BMPs can stimulate superoxide production and inflammatory responses in endothelial cells, raising the possibility that BMPs may play a role in vascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that BMP4 would induce hypertension in intact animals by increasing superoxide production from vascular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases and an impairment of vasodilation responses. Methods and Results— BMP4 infusion by osmotic pumps increased systolic blood pressure in a time- and dose-dependent manner in both C57BL/6 mice (from 101 to 125 mm Hg) and apolipoprotein E–null mice (from 107 to 146 mm Hg) after 4 weeks. Cotreatment with the BMP antagonist noggin or the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin completely blocked the BMP4 effect. In addition, BMP4 infusion stimulated aortic NADPH oxidase activity and impaired vasorelaxation, both of which were prevented either by coinfusing noggin or by treating the isolated aortas with apocynin. BMP4, however, did not cause significant changes in maximum relaxation induced by the endothelium-independent vasodilator nitroglycerin. Remarkably, BMP4 infusion failed to stimulate aortic NADPH oxidases, increase blood pressure, and impair vasodilation responses in p47phox-deficient mice. Conclusions— These results suggest that BMP4 infusion induces hypertension in mice in a vascular NADPH oxidase–dependent manner and the subsequent endothelial dysfunction. We suggest that BMP4 is a novel mediator of endothelial dysfunction and hypertension and that noggin and its analogs could be used as therapeutic agents for treating vascular diseases.


The conversion of L-2-acetylamino-2-carbomethoxyethanesulfonyl chloride (I) to L-2-acetylamino-2-carbomethoxyethanesulfonamide (II) proceeds with considerable variability in yield We therefore investigated the nature of the by-product (s) of this reaction in order to prepare II in consistently high yields and with reproducible physical data. Compound II [m. p. 145°, [a] 54 2 8 ° (c 2, 95% ethanol), [ajc1—30° (c 2, water); characteristic absorption bands in the infrared spectrum are located at 3360, 3270, 1725, 1650, and 1320 c m 1 ] 1 ' 2 was obtained in 75% yield (crystallized from water/methanol) when I (12 g) was treated in benzene with dry ammonia for not longer than 4 minutes. In addition, product II had to be removed from the benzene solution immediately upon termination of the reaction. An


The successful feeding of any animal in captivity depends on a sound knowledge of its energy and nutrient requirements, and its foraging and digestive strategies. The energy and nutrient requirements of marsupials are typically lower than those of equivalent eutherians. The natural diets of marsupials are discussed in relation to the range of digestive strategies found in the group and the need to provide sufficient indigestible residues to maintain dental health, normal gut motility and, in herbivores, an appropriate balance of microbes in the gut. In all animals there is a need to increase the time spent feeding in order to enhance the animals'environment and reduce the incidence of stress-related behaviours. Current feeding practices for eutherians in zoos are reviewed and then details of feeding marsupials in captivity are given for each of the three major dietary categories (carnivory, omnivory and herbivory). Specific digestive-tract adaptations and specialized dietary niches are discussed, concluding with the Koala Phascolarctos cinereus, which is one of the most specialized marsupial herbivores in its dietary niche.


In a former communication I described "The Rhætic and Lower Liassic Rocks of the neighbourhood of Belfast"*, and I now propose to continue the subject with a description of the strata which surmount the Liassic series, namely, the Upper Cretaceous rocks in part. An incentive to study these formations was the knowledge that the results of the labours of the late Robert McAdam, Esq., F.G.S., had been anxiously looked for by many geologists†, who hoped that the true relationship of the Irish Cretaceous beds would have been satisfactorily determined by him from the study of his own collection of local fossils. That geologist has passed away from amongst us without having accomplished these researches; and as his collection has not been applied to the furtherance of the much-desired object up to the present time, I have undertaken the task he may have intended to perform. During a residence of two years and a half in Belfast, I have worked assiduously in collecting fossils from the Irish Cretaceous strata, and in studying their lithology and stratigraphical characters, with the hope that these materials would enable me to correlate them satisfactorily; and I shall now endeavour to show that they belong to the so-called Upper Greensand and to the Upper Chalk. The general features of the disposition of the Neozoic rocks in the neighbourhood of Belfast may be understood by reference to the accompanying section. II. Absent Formations. 1. Oolitic Strata.—In the foregoing section, the Cretaceous beds


This paper introduced the structure of Extended-Range Electric Vehicles as well as its characteristics. Principle researches have been offered on the parameters matching of the power-train and main components. Operating modes and control strategies were discussed, especially the two control strategies of charge sustaining mode which is shown as load following strategy and engine optimal strategy, and the effects of both control strategies are simulated and analyzed. The results indicate that the load following strategy can obviously extend battery's lifespan, but the engine optimal strategy can reduce fuel consumption and emission effectively.


Bacterial secondary production transforms organic C from the environment into new bacterial biomass. Bacterial respiration generates energy and converts assimilated organic C into COz. Two decades of research have given us a good understanding of the magnitude and regulation of bacterial production in pelagic ecosystems, but much less is known about bacterial respiration. Bacterial growth efficiency [BGE = BP/(BP + BR)] relates measurements of bactenal production and respiration. Recent reviews demonstrate a large range in BGE among and within systems; the regulation of this variance is not well understood. We made direct measurements of both BP and BR over a full seasonal cycle in the Hudson River, New York, and in a series of manipulative experiments. BGE was well correlated with BP and ranged from 0.04 to 0.66, with a majority (69%) between 0.2 and 0.5. BR and BP were correlated (r = 0.65; p < 0.0001) but BR was less variable than BP. Thus, much of the variation in BGE could be explained by the vanation in BP. The relationship (based on 24 h bioassays) between BP and BGE fit a rectdinear hyperbola [BGE = 0.10 + 0.68BP(5.21 + BP)] and explained 70% of the variation in BGE (p < 0.001). During the relatively long incubation (24 h) r equred to measure BR, conditions diverge from ambient. BP, BR and BGE all increase during this incubation period. We used the relationships between BGE and BP and BR (above) to calculate realistic ambient estimates of BGE from short-term measurements ( < l h) of BP. Based on this approach, modeled BGE for the Hudson averaged 0.16 2 0.05 (range = 0.07 to 0.23), about 50% lower than the values based on 24 h bioassays. Using thls relationship we estimate pelagic BR in the tidal, freshwater Hudson River to be between 176 and 229 g C m-' yr-'.


Pilot studies were conducted at Liu-Du water treatment located in Keelung, Taiwan. Raw water was first treated by conventional coagulation- sedimentation-filtration (CSF) processes, and then pumped into the pilot plants. For the pilot plants, both ozone/GAC and ozone/UF processes were operated simultaneously for NOM removal comparisons. Both systems were controlled at the same operating conditions with ozone dosing of 4.5, 6.0 and 9.0 mg/L. The results demonstrate that both ozone/UF and ozone/GAC processes can enhance NOM removal after the CSF process. More NOM was removed by the Ozone/GAC process because ozone broke the large molecules into smaller molecules, which increases the GAC adsorption potential. However, the ozone/UF process provides higher removal capacity in turbidity. In both processes, ozone dosing was not proportional to NOM removal of each process and 6.0 mg/L is found to be the optimal dosing. Owing to increasing adsorbability by ozonation, the ozone/GAC process is a very competitive process in NOM removal when associated with the CSF process.


To build electronic musical instruments, a mapping between the real-time audio processing software and the physical controllers is required. Different strategies of mapping were developed and discussed within the NIME community to improve musical expression in live performances. This paper discusses an interface focussed instrument design approach, which starts from the physical controller and its functionality. From this definition, the required, underlying software instrument is derived. A proof of concept is implemented as a framework for effect instruments. This framework comprises a library of real-time effects for Csound, a proposition for a JSON-based mapping format, and a mapping-to-instrument converter that outputs Csound instrument files. Advantages, limitations and possible future extensions are discussed.


The ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR)-checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) axis is the major signaling pathway activated in response to replication stress and is essential for the intra-S checkpoint. ATR phosphorylates and activates a number of molecules to coordinate cell cycle progression. Chk1 is the major effector downstream from ATR and plays a critical role in intra-S checkpoint on replication stress. Activation of Chk1 kinase also requires its association with Claspin, an adaptor protein essential for Chk1 protein stability, recruitment and ATR-dependent Chk1 phosphorylation. We have previously reported that, on replication stress, the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) is rapidly phosphorylated by ATR at the stalled replication forks and is required for cellular resistance to replication stresses although the impact of DNA-PKcs onto the ATR signaling pathway remains elusive. Here we report that ATR-dependent Chk1 phosphorylation and Chk1 signaling are compromised in the absence of DNA-PKcs. Our investigation reveals that DNA-PKcs is required to maintain Chk1–Claspin complex stability and transcriptional regulation of Claspin expression. The impaired Chk1 activity results in a defective intra-S checkpoint response in DNA-PKcs–deficient cells. Taken together, these results suggest that DNA-PKcs, in addition to its direct role in DNA damage repair, facilitates ATR-Chk1 signaling pathway in response to replication stress.


Results: The gestation at delivery was later by 3.5 days for the GDM group (P = 0.0005) with no difference in birth weights. The one perinatal mortality was a fetus terminated at 20+6 weeks for trisomy 13. There were fewer caesarean deliveries in those women with diet controlled GDM than in women taking insulin (34% vs. 48% P = 0.005), fewer instrumental deliveries (9 vs. 22 P = 0.028) and fewer admissions to SCN (1 vs. 16 P < 0.001). There were no differences in birth weight, shoulder dystocia, admissions to NICU or 5 minute Apgar scores ≤ 7. The majority of women in both groups delivered without needing induction of labour (70% and 56%). Conclusions: Our approach in the management of diabetes in pregnancy was associated with good outcomes for a cohort of 390 women managed in our unit over a 2-year period. The majority of women in both groups delivered before the need for induction of labour.


This paper describes a strategy for evolving a whole systems modeling capability, a key enabler of whole systems architecting and engineering. The strategy responds to a presumed need for "100,000 exemplars, world-wide, by 2015, performing whole systems modeling at ten-fold better productivity and innovation than the norm today." A strategy for evolving to his capability was formulated and evaluated by fifteen senior systems engineering practitioners. They identified impediments to serving the need, nominated opportunities and resources for coping with the impediments, then estimated the likelihood that the foreseen opportunities and resources would be sufficient. Additionally, the group reflected on the possible errors in their findings. A more comprehensive engagement to validate the intent then refine the strategy is recommended.


Abstract Objectives: To assess the rates of co-occurring putative 'behavioural addictions' in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Twenty-three international centres specialising in the treatment of OCD were invited to participate in a survey of the rates of behavioural addictions and other relevant comorbidity within their samples. Results: Sixteen of 23 (69.6%) invited centres from 13 countries had sufficient data to participate in the survey. The use of validated diagnostic tools was discrepant, with most centres relying on a 'clinical diagnosis' to diagnose behavioural addictions. The final sample comprised of 6916 patients with a primary diagnosis of OCD. The reported rates of behavioural addictions were as follows: 8.7% for problematic internet use, 6.8% for compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, 6.4% for compulsive buying, 4.1% for gambling disorder and 3.4% for internet gaming disorder. Conclusions: Behavioural addictions should be better assessed for patients with OCD. The absence of diagnostic scales developed specifically for behavioural addictions and overlapping obsessive-compulsive phenomena such as compulsive checking of information on the internet may explain the relatively high rate of problematic internet use in this sample. The study encourages better efforts to assess and to conceptualise the relatedness of behavioural addictions to obsessive-compulsive 'spectrum' disorders.


The performance of energy detection under multipath fading is analyzed and compared with locally optimal detection using Pitman's asymptotic relative efficiency. Under the L-tap finite impulse response channel model with zero-mean independent and identically distributed tap coefficients, it is shown that the average performance loss of energy detection is no greater than 50% in sample size for the same performance compared with locally optimal detection exploiting signal correlation. Also, an algorithm exploiting signal correlation and improving the detection performance is proposed based on the estimation of signal correlation. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithm almost achieves the performance of locally optimal detection.


These stimuli were modeled on the Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 (NU-6; Tillman & Carhart, 1966). A set of 200 target words were spoken in the carrier phrase "Say the word _____" by two actresses (aged 26 and 64 years) and recordings were made of the set portraying each of seven emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, pleasant surprise, sadness, and neutral). There are 2800 stimuli in total. The two actresses were recruited from the Toronto area. Both actresses speak English as their first language, are university educated, and have musical training. Audiometric testing indicated that both actresses have thresholds within the normal range.


There is no common strategy for the determination of sleep stages in the childhood. In the first year of life, the differentiation in active and quiet sleep has been established. But there are several opinions about necessary parameters for the characterization of sleep states in this period of life. Therefore, the results of these evaluations are quite different. Our presented concept of sleep staging reflects neurophysiological, vegetative as well as behavioral parameters. The concept divides the sleep into light sleep, deep sleep and REM-periods. The determination of sleep states is possible by this concept both in infants and in children of different age, because it considers developmental changes of used physiological criteria.


This essay reconceptualizes the relationship of mental-act, mental-state, and speech-act verbs. It shows that 'believe' can be used as a mental-activity, quasi-performative verb and not just a mental-state verb, illustrates the explanatory value of distinguishing performative from quasi-performative verbs, and draws the implications of the new taxonomy of verbs for Moore's Paradox. Quasi-performative, mental activity verbs can express (manifest) or create mental-states just as performative speech-act forms like 'I promise' can create obligations. The arguments employ methods first used by Jerrold Sadock (1974) in his classic work Toward a Linguistic Theory of Speech Acts . I adapt his syntactical arguments that appeal to the properties of expositive adverbials in sentences with verbs of communication to the case, which Sadock did not discuss, of the mental-state verb 'believe' and show that 'believe' has more than mental-state uses; it is also a mental-activity verb that has properties that, following Hunter (1990), I call 'quasi-performative'. I also use the adverbial for the last time to distinguish 'believe' from a performative verb. Likewise I extend Sadock's arguments for the case of performative communication verbs embedded in factive sentences, e.g. in 'regret' sentences, to show that 'believe' has performative-like uses. I also employ Sadock's observations on the relation between stative-verb sentences and related pseudo-cleft sentences to show that 'believe' and 'regret' have non-stative uses. I discuss the views of Donald Davidson and Zeno Vendler on the difference between mental state-verbs and mental event-verbs. And I conclude with the implications of this new characterization of 'believe' for the classic problem of Moore's Paradox.


Virtualization has recently drawn attraction in smart consumer electronics as a way of completely isolating the main applications, which are in charge of the primary functionality of a device, from untrusted third-party applications. In a virtualized embedded device, flexible memory management is required to run multiple VMs efficiently on resource-constrained hardware. This paper presents an in-memory compressed swap device (CSW) for the virtualized consumer electronics environment. It swaps out only the memory of third-party applications in response to memory pressure on the main applications, to ensure its quality of service. To this end, CSW collaborates with memory ballooning, which is a scheme for dynamic memory partitioning between VMs. By compressing the swapped out memory pages, CSW can effectively provide memory to the main applications while preserving the availability of thirdparty applications. We implemented our scheme in a Xenbased virtualized system that has limited resources similar to conventional consumer electronics devices. The evaluation results show that CSW successfully provides memory to the main VM with a reasonable cost, while the third-party applications are not killed.


This study shows that the well-known triple stub circuit topology can also be used for controlling the insertion phase and amplitude of a given signal simultaneously, as well as preserving its impedance transformation ability. The triple stub circuit topology, which is nothing but an extension of the conventional double stub loaded-line phase shifter, results in one more degree of freedom to its solution when it is solved for its insertion phase. This additional degree of freedom not only brings the impedance transformation ability, but also allows tuning the circuit into a resonator at the frequency of interest whose quality factor can also be adjusted. This result is employed for controlling the amplitude of the output signal to any desired level, which is achieved using only low-loss transmission lines and shown to be true for any non-zero transmission line losses. The measurements of the fabricated sample circuits verify that it is possible to control simultaneously the insertion phase between 0 and 360° and the amplitude from −0.8 to <−15 dB, whereas the input return loss is always kept better than −15 dB as an example of their impedance transformation capabilities.


A high resolution nested flow model for the coastal, shelf and open sea areas of the Cyprus Basin, NE Levantine, eastern Mediterranean Sea is implemented to fulfil the objectives of the Mediterranean Forecasting System Pilot Project, funded by the EU. The Cyprus coastal ocean model is nested entirely within a coarse regional grid model of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, using the MODB climatology for initialisation and the ECMWF perpetual year surface forcing. The nested simulations of the Cyprus model were able to reproduce, with greater detail, flow features similar to those of the coarse grid regional model. The project results show the feasibility of the approach for the development of an operational forecasting system in the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the Cyprus coastal/shelf sea area. Key words. Oceanography: general (descriptive and regional oceanography; numerical modelling) Oceanography: physical (general circulation)


Abstract—As enterprise computing becomes more and more complex, the costs and technical challenges of IT system maintenance and support are increasing rapidly. One popular approach to managing IT system maintenance is to prepare and use a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) system to manage and reuse systems knowledge. Such a FAQ system can help reduce the resolution time for each service incident ticket. However, there is a major problem where over time the knowledge in such FAQs tends to become outdated. Much of the knowledge captured in the FAQ requires periodic updates in response to new insights or new trends in the problems addressed in order to maintain its usefulness for problem resolution. These updates require a systematic approach to define the exact portion of the FAQ and its content. Therefore, we are working on a novel method to hierarchically structure the FAQ and automate the updates of its structure and content. We use structured information and the unstructured text information with the timelines of the information in the service incident tickets. We cluster the tickets by structured category information, by keywords, and by keyword modifiers for the unstructured text information. We also calculate an urgency score based on trends, resolution times, and priorities. We carefully studied the tickets of one of our projects over a 2.5-year time period. After the first 6 months we started to create FAQs and confirmed they improved the resolution times. We continued observing over the next 2 years to assess the ongoing effectiveness of our method for the automatic FAQ updates. We improved the ratio of tickets covered by the FAQ from 32.3% to 68.9% during this time. Also, the average time reduction of ticket resolution was between 31.6% and 43.9%. Subjective analysis showed more than 75% reported that the FAQ system was useful in reducing ticket resolution times.


Beginning in the 1970s, "corporatism" became a major focus of research on Latin America, a focus readily embraced by scholars who analyzed the authoritarian political relationships emerging during that period. The concept provided a valuable alternative to earlier pluralist models and offered a useful optic for examining state control of interest group politics. This article explores the trajectory of corporatism as a concept in the study of Latin America. As the literature evolved, it was marked by: (a) convergence around similar, core definitions of corporatism; and (b) a shared understanding that within the domain of group politics, corporatism was a specific form or type in relation to the overarching concept of interest intermediation. Important conceptual innovations in this literature included: (c) revision of the overarching concept to accommodate potentially overlapping or conflicting meanings; and (d) introduction of both classical subtypes, which consist of corporatism plus some further differentiating attribute, and radial subtypes, in which a core attribute of corporatism is lacking. This use of the concept to characterize group politics stood in notable contrast with a much broader usage that posited an Iberic-Latin historical tradition of hierarchal, statist authority relations. This latter perspective has been sharply criticized because it groups together such heterogeneous phenomena under a single concept, and because it yields explanatory claims so sweeping as to be implausible. Yet some caution must be exercised in evaluating these criticisms.


The mRNA levels of P53gene, as well as NPM1, Kras, c-Myc, p14(ARF) genes, which, according to the published data, code for the proteins regulating the p53 activity, were studied using RT-PCR method in blood cells of patients with different localization of tumor process (prostate cancer, breast cancer and head and neck cancer) before and after application of radiation therapy. Changes in gene expression of cancer patients were compared with the control group of healthy donors. We have established that all patients had a decreased level of the Kras gene expression even before radiotherapy; moreover, the group of patients with prostate cancer had a low content of mRNA in NPM1 and p14(ARF), and the group of patients with head and neck cancerhad a reliably reduced mRNA in P53, NPM1 and p14(ARF). The radiation therapy did not cause essential changes in the expression of these genes of cancer patients, ecpect for the Kras gene, whose the mRNA level in the group of patients with head and neck cancer was reliably lower than the mRNA level prior to beginning of radiation therapy. The correlations of P53, NPM1, Kras, p14(ARF) gene expression were studied. We have shown that p14(ARF) mRNA level negatively correlates with Kras mRNA (R = -0.6, p = 0.002) and P53 mRNA levels (R = -0.49, p = 0.013) in the control group of healthy donors. A positive correlation was observed between P53 mRNA and NPM1 mRNA (R = 0.54, p = 0.006). Similar correlations between mRNA levels of these genes in blood cells were absent in the cancer patients before radiotherapy. After radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer, p14(ARF) mRNA level positively correlated with NPM1 mRNA (R = 0.7, p = 0.001) and negatively with Kras mRNA (R = - 0.5, p = 0.03). Our results provide evidence that expression P53, NPM1, Kras and p14(ARF) genes may be coordinated in blood cells of healthy donors. The low expression levels of the studied genes in patients can contribute to the increase in the mutation changes in blood cells of the examined subjects after the action of genotoxic factors.


Inspection is an effective but also expensive quality assurance activity to find defects early during software development. The defect detection process, team size, and staff hours invested can have a considerable impact on the defect detection effectiveness and cost-benefit of an inspection. In this paper, we use empirical data and a probabilistic model to estimate this impact for nominal (noncommunicating) inspection teams in an experiment context. Further, the analysis investigates how cutting off the inspection after a certain time frame would influence inspection performance. Main findings of the investigation are: 1) Using combinations of different reading techniques in a team is considerably more effective than using the best single technique only (regardless of the observed level of effort). 2) For optimizing the inspection performance, determining the optimal process mix in a team is more important than adding an inspector (above a certain team size) in our model. 3) A high level of defect detection effectiveness is much more costly to achieve than a moderate level since the average cost for the defects found by the inspector last added to a team increases more than linearly with growing effort investment. The work provides an initial baseline of inspection performance with regard to process diversity and effort in inspection teams. We encourage further studies on the topic of time usage with defect detection techniques and its effect on inspection effectiveness in a variety of inspection contexts to support inspection planning with limited resources.