The Legal Philosophies of Religious Zionism 1937-1967 Alexander Kaye This dissertation is an attempt to recover abandoned pathways in religious Zionist thought. It identifies a fundamental shift in the legal philosophy of religious Zionists, demonstrating that around the time of the establishment of the State of Israel, religious Zionists developed a new way of thinking about the relationship between law and the state. Before this shift took place, religious Zionist thinkers affiliated with a variety of legal and constitutional philosophies. As shown in chapter 1, the leaders of the religious kibbutz movement advocated a revolutionary, almost anarchic, approach to law. They (in theory, at least,) only accepted rules that emerged spontaneously from the spirit of their religious and national life, even if that meant departing from traditional halakha. Others had a more positive attitude towards law but, as chapter 2 shows, differed widely regarding the role of halakha in the constitution of the Jewish state. They covered a spectrum from, at one extreme, the call for a complete separation between religion and state to, on the other, the call a rabbinic oversight of all legislation. They all, however, were legal pluralists; they agreed that a single polity may have within it a plurality of legitimate sources of legal authority and that, even in a Jewish state, other kinds of legislation may hold authority alongside halakha. In the late 1940s, this wide variety of legal pluralisms in the religious Zionist camp was replaced by a new legal philosophy: legal centralism. This doctrine maintained that all legal authority in the state must derive from a single source of authority, in this case halakha. As chapters 3 and 4 demonstrate, this shift was associated strongly with the first Ashkenazic chief rabbi of Israel, Isaac Herzog, whose scholarly life had been dedicated in large part to portraying the sources of Jewish law according to the image of state-centered jurisprudence that was valorized by modern legal scholars in Britain and in Palestine. Chapters 5 and 6 make clear that Herzog was not the only figure to adopt this position. It became so influential among religious Zionist leaders that it molded their constitutional fantasies, determined the way they represented themselves to the state and guided the construction of the new system of rabbinical courts. As well as identifying the shift from legal pluralism to legal centralism, this dissertation attempts to uncover its origins. Through a close reading of rabbinical court records, constitutional pamphlets, speeches, journal articles and halakhic decisions, it traces trends in religious Zionist legal philosophy to modern European jurisprudence. In particular, it demonstrates the influence of British and German jurisprudence on the thinking of religious Zionists. It also places religious Zionist jurisprudence in the context of the legal philosophy of other twentieth-century nationalisms. In so doing, it sheds new light on the conflicts between religious and secular Zionism and on the way that religious Zionists throughout the history of Israel have understood their relationship to the law and politics of the Jewish state.


The present work is focused on the conceptual development and numerical assessment of various new heat recuperation system configurations, specifically designed and optimized for a state-of-the-art turbofan application developed by MTU Aero Engines AG. The optimization efforts were performed through CFD computations, experimental measurements and aero engine thermodynamic cycle analysis. A critical part of the optimization phase was conducted using a customizable numerical tool modelling the recuperation system heat transfer and pressure loss characteristics and including the effect of important heat exchanger design decisions. The numerical tool was based on an advanced porosity model approach in which the heat exchangers macroscopic behaviour was included through the integration of predefined heat transfer and pressure loss correlations, calibrated through CFD computations and experimental measurements. The optimization led to two new recuperation configurations with significant improvements regarding the aero engine fuel consumption and pollutant emissions reduction providing direct environmental and economic benefits.


Hyperkalemia is a regularly encountered electrolyte abnormality. Less commonly recognized is pseudohyperkalemia. In vitro clotting results in the release of potassium from the formed elements of blood; this falsely elevates the serum potassium concentration. Usually attributed to thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, or hemolysis it is rarely reported in the postsplenectomy trauma patient. A 49-year-old man underwent splenectomy for a grade IV splenic injury. He developed an elevated serum potassium on postoperative day 16. His renal function remained normal, and an active search for causes of hyperkalemia failed to delineate a source for his elevated potassium. Pseudohyperkalemia was proposed as an etiology and confirmed by analyzing simultaneous serum (5.9 mEq/L) and plasma potassium levels (3.9 mEq/L). The serum potassium showed a concomitant rise with the evolution of the patient's postsplenectomy thrombocytosis. This is a case report of our patient and a literature review of this rarely reported and underestimated cause of a potentially serious electrolyte abnormality. We found through our patient that pseudohyperkalemia does occur in the postsplenectomy population and that this should be included in the differential diagnosis of any patient with an elevated serum potassium level and thrombocytosis.


Regional monetary and financial cooperation among the monetary authorities of Asian countries have been further strengthening through the recent global financial crisis in 2007-2008. Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the ASEAN Members States, People's Republic of China (PRC), Japan and Korea (ASEAN plus three) and the monetary authority of Hong Kong, China announced that the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) agreement came into effect on March 24, 2010. They also reached agreement on establishing a surveillance office, which is called an ASEAN plus three Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) and would ensure technical details of regional surveillance. The regional monetary cooperation in Asia has been discussed for years. For example, Ogawa and Shimizu (2005) proposed both an Asian Monetary Unit (AMU), which is a common currency basket computed as a weighted average of the thirteen ASEAN plus three currencies, and AMU Deviation Indicators (AMU DIs), which indicates deviation of each Asian currency in terms of the AMU compared with the benchmark rate. The AMU and the AMU DIs are considered as both surveillance measures under the Chiang Mai Initiative and coordinated exchange rate policies among Asian countries. In this paper, we show that monitoring the AMU and the AMU DIs plays an important role in the regional surveillance process under the CMIM. By using daily and monthly data of AMU and AMU DIs in the period between January 2000 to June 2010, which are available in a website of the Research Institute of Economy, Trade, and Industry (RIETI), we examine their usefulness as a surveillance indicator. Our studies of AMU and AMU DIs confirm as follows: First, an AMU peg system stabilizes Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) of each Asian country. Second, the AMU and the AMU DIs could warn overvaluation or undervaluation for each of Asia currencies. Third, trade imbalances within the region have been growing as the AMU DIs have been widening. Forth, the AMU DIs could predict huge capital inflows and outflows for the Asian country. The above fact-findings support usefulness of using the AMU and the AMU DIs as surveillance indicators for monetary cooperation in Asia.


Type I diabetes has the ability to promote change in the family. In truth, although the child with diabetes is the diagnosed patient, the whole family has diabetes. While the challenges that families have to face are many, families seem to have the ability to "bounce back" (i.e., they have resilience). Research on the construct of resilience, and more specifically, family resilience has surged in recent times. However, South African research on family resilience is limited. This study aimed to explore and describe the factors that facilitate adjustment and adaptation in families that include a child living with Type I diabetes. The Resiliency Model of Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation, developed by McCubbin and McCubbin (2001) served as a framework to conceptualise the families' adjustment and adaptation process. Non-probability purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed. Sixteen families participated in this study, providing a total of 31 participants. Participants consisted of the caregivers of a family living with a child between the ages of four and 12 with Type I diabetes. The study was triangular in nature, with an exploratory, descriptive approach. A biographical questionnaire with an open-ended question was used in conjunction with seven other questionnaires to gather data. These questionnaires were: The Family Hardiness Index (FHI), the Family Time and Routine Index (FTRI), the Social Support Index (SSI), the Family Problem-Solving Communication (FPSC) Index, the Family Crises-Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), the Relative and Friend Support Index, and the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8 (FACI8). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the biographical information. Quantitative data were analysed by means of correlation and regression analysis, and a content analysis was conducted to analyse the qualitative data. The results of the quantitative analysis indicated three significant positive correlations with the FACI8. These variables were family hardiness (measured by the FHI), family problem-solving communication (measured by the FPSC), and family time and routines (measured by the FTRI). The results of the qualitative analysis revealed that social support, the caregivers' acceptance of the condition, and spirituality and religion were the most important strength factors that contributed to the families' adjustment and adaptation. Although the study had a small sample and many limitations, the study could be used as a stepping-stone for future research on resilience in families living with chronic medical conditions and will contribute to family resilience research in the South African context. Key concepts: Type I diabetes, family resilience, Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation


In highly competitive markets, building brand equity has become one of the first priorities for
many organizations as it brings several benefits and reputation for them. Past researches have
acknowledged that consumers look for brands which provide them with differential values through innovative product and service features. However, despite the importance of product innovation in determining an organization's success, very limited studies have intended to examine its effect on brand equity.In the present study, we aim to examine the effect of product innovation on brand equity in Malaysian automotive market. The data were collected from 287 passenger cars owners through self-administered questionnaire at several shopping malls in northern Malaysia.The findings revealed that product innovation had significant positive effect on overall brand equity and its dimensions namely; brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand image, and brand leadership.Based on the results of this study, several implications are
discussed to enlighten our knowledge on important innovation activities that could develop favorable brand equity. Finally, limitations and future research suggestions are highlighted to gain better insights on brand equity development.


In contrast to linear business models, circular business models (CBMs) assign the product value and its lifecycle responsibility to a manufacturer or service provider where customers get access to functionality and performance during multiple use cycles. A CBM requires (due to the increased business risk for product obsolescence) suitable products designed for long service life, changes in service content, repair, upgrades and remanufacturing. This paper illustrates drivers that can make three categories of vehicles obsolete in a circular business model. We propose a conceptual framework where drivers for obsolescence are used as enablers for future adaptable design, exemplified with industry cases. Future adaptable vehicles have the potential to be both profitable and energy and resource efficient during use and in end of life in a CBM. However, it will challenge today´s business models with a design logic that rewards longer and more flexible product life. Current barriers are legislation, standards and certification, and consumer acceptance. Besides organizations barriers and a general reluctance to changes.


Aim: To evaluate the association of impairment of attention with other symptoms of delirium. Methodology: Eighty-six patients with delirium as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Revision seen in the consultation-liaison psychiatry setup of a tertiary care hospital were cross-sectionally assessed on the short informant questionnaire on cognitive decline in the elderly (Retrospective), montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), and delirium rating scale revised-98 (DRS-R98) version. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 46.6 (standard deviation [SD] – 16.4) years. All the patients had impairment in attention with the altered sleepwake cycle, acute onset of illness, with the fluctuating course and underlying physical disease. In terms of severity, the severity score was the highest for the item of sleep-wake cycle disturbances, followed by motor agitation. The mean noncognitive symptoms domain of the DRS-R98 domain were more than the mean score of the cognitive symptom domain of DRS-R98. The mean total score on MoCA was 11.9 (SD: 7.5). Higher attention impairment was associated with more severe noncognitive and cognitive symptoms and higher delirium severity as assessed by DRS-R98. Higher severity of attention deficit was also associated with higher impairment in other domains of cognition of MoCA. Cognitive symptoms, as evaluated by DRS-R98, had more significant correlations with various domains of MoCA except for language and abstraction. Conclusion: Attention deficits are the core symptom of delirium and have a significant impact on other cognitive and noncognitive symptoms of delirium.


Objective To report the efficacy, patient-reported, radiographic and safety outcomes of 4 years' certolizumab pegol (CZP) treatment in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods RAPID-PsA (NCT01087788) was double-blind and placebo-controlled to Week 24, dose-blind to Week 48 and open-label (OL) to Week 216. Patients were randomised 1:1:1 to either placebo or CZP 200 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) or 400 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) (following 400 mg at Weeks 0/2/4). Patients randomised to CZP continued their assigned dose in the OL period. Patients randomised to placebo were re-randomised to CZP 200 mg Q2W or 400 mg Q4W (post-loading dose) at Week 16 (early escape) or after the double-blind phase. We present observed and imputed data; missing values were imputed using non-responder imputation (NRI) for categorical and last observation carried forward (LOCF) for continuous measures. Results 409 patients were randomised; 20% (54/273) of Week 0 patients randomised to CZP had prior anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) exposure; 67% (183/273) completed 216 weeks. By Week 48, 60.4% of patients achieved Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis low disease activity or remission, which was maintained; 66.3% achieved these outcomes at Week 216 (NRI). At Weeks 48 and 216, 39.2% of patients achieved minimal disease activity (NRI). 75% reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index responses were 65% and 52% at Weeks 48 and 216 (NRI). Total resolution rates for enthesitis, dactylitis and nail psoriasis, at 4 years, were 71%, 81% and 65%, respectively (LOCF). Structural damage progression was low over 4 years' treatment. No new safety signals were identified after Week 96. Conclusions CZP efficacy in treating PsA was maintained over 4 years, in patients both with and without prior anti-TNF exposure, with no new safety signals identified.


Abstract Objective The Mediterranean diet has been related to a lower risk of some chronic diseases, including cancer. We aim to gain insight into the effects of the main source of fat of this diet on breast cancer, the most common type of malignancy in women. Design Data from sixteen experimental series analysing the effects of dietary lipids on mammary carcinogenesis in an animal model, in the context of the international literature on the Mediterranean diet, olive oil and breast cancer risk. Setting Experimental and human data on the effects of olive oil and Mediterranean diet on breast cancer. Subjects An animal model of induced breast cancer and other human and experimental studies in the literature. Results Diets rich in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) exert a negative modulatory effect on experimental breast cancer to a weak promoting effect, much lower than that obtained with a high-corn oil diet. EVOO confers to the mammary adenocarcinomas a clinical behaviour and morphological features compatible with low tumour aggressiveness. This differential effect, in relation to other dietary lipids, may be related to a lower effect on body weight and sexual maturation. In addition, EVOO induced different molecular changes in tumours, such as in the composition of cell membranes, activity of signalling proteins and gene expression. All these modifications could induce lower proliferation, higher apoptosis and lower DNA damage. These results, together with the favourable effect of olive oil reported in the literature when it is consumed in moderate quantities, suggest a beneficial influence of EVOO on breast cancer risk. Conclusions Consumption of EVOO in moderate quantities and throughout the lifetime appears to be a healthy choice and may favourably influence breast cancer risk.


In this work, silver nanoparticles have been successfully synthesised with a simple, cost effective and reproducible green synthesis method. Honey was chosen as the eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agent replacing most reported reducing agents like highly reactive chemicals, cause a biological risk to the society and environment. The nanoparticles have been characterized by UV-Vis absorption spectrum exhibits an intense absorption peak around 423 nm and TEM image shows the spherical silver nanoparticles having an average particle size of ~14nm. Thermal diffusivity of silver nanofluid was measured using dual beam thermal lens set up. The thermal diffusivity increases with an increase in nanofluid concentration.


The Zancleidae is a hydrozoan family that currently comprises three genera and 42 nominal species. The validity of numerous taxa in this family still needs to be assessed with integrative analyses and complete life cycle descriptions. The vast majority of its species live symbiotically with other organisms, among which cheilostomate bryozoans are the most common hosts. These bryozoan-associated zancleids are host-specific and encompass all species of the genera Halocoryne and Zanclella, as well as several species in the genus Zanclea. Zancleids show variable morphologies, including highly reduced polyps and medusae. Their phylogenetic history is uncertain due to the often intergrading morphologies and the shortage of molecular data. In the present study, two species of Zanclea from the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea are analysed, using morphological and DNA-based approaches. Morphological analyses of the polyp and medusa stages show that, despite a general resemblance with each other and with Zanclella diabolica, the two species differ in some characters, and this is supported also by molecular investigations. The DNA analyses show that the two species are monophyletic and closely related, but divergent from other Zanclea lineages. This newly recovered clade may correspond with the genus Zanclella or with a cryptic genus. The lack of both morphological and molecular data for several zancleid species did not allow to address this issue. Additionally, the single-and multi-locus phylogeny reconstructions reveal that both the family Zancleidae and the genus Zanclea are polyphyletic taxa, since they are composed of at least three divergent lineages. Most zancleid species have polyps and medusae similar to other closely related taxa, and this conserved general morphology poses a challenge in the delimitation of species, genera and even families in this group. Consequently, further conjunct morphological and molecular efforts are strongly needed to clarify the diversity and evolution of the family Zancleida as a whole.


Plastic marine debris represents a global threat for the marine environment, having serious consequences for the ocean, the wildlife and the human health. While the plastics distribution, fate, persistence and toxicity mechanisms for the marine fauna have been more studied in the last decade, small efforts have been devoted to identify and characterize marine microbes that colonize plastic and microplastic debris in the ocean, and their potential to degrade plastics. Here we review the knowledge on the microbial biodiversity and degradation mechanisms of marine plastic debris, and present data, based on metagenomic analyses, on the distribution patterns of genes potentially involved in microbially-mediated plastic degradation in coastal locations across the global ocean. Most studies on plastic-colonizing microbes have focused on seawater rather than sediment, with most studies underlining striking differences in composition between assemblages attached to plastic particles and those in the surrounding environment. The diversity of microbes attached to plastic is high, and the core epiplastic microbial assemblages include often hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, as well as prokaryotic and eukaryotic phototrophs. Several marine microbes have shown to be able to degrade or deteriorate plastic in the laboratory, or to grow on plastic as the only source of carbon, while indirect evidences suggest that microbially-mediated degradation of recalcitrant plastics also occur in the ocean, though at very low rates. Metagenomic analyses show that plastic degradation-related genes are present in microbial assemblages in several coastal ocean sites, with relative abundance related to the magnitude of plastic pollution at each site. Further research is required to study microbial plastic-degraders in the marine ecosystem, to decipher and exploit the potential of microbial consortia to degrade or mineralize plastic compounds, and to better understand the fate and residence times of plastic waste in the ocean.


Since the birth of Bitcoin in 2009, digital currencies have grown exponentially, spurring debate over their legitimacy. Despite their controversy, they are now impacting the way start-up companies raise capital to finance their initial operations. Called Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), these funding vehicles raised over $4 billion in 2017. In this article, the author explores the economics of ICOs, and consider their risks and regulatory implications, and their placement within the capital structure of start-up companies.


Millennial scale warm-cold oscillations in air temperature over Greenland and rapid sea surface temperature changes were recorded in ice cores and North Atlantic sediments for the last glaciation. These events must have been associated with profound environmental changes in Europe, and indeed, millennial scale oscillations in grain size records have been found in loess deposits of Europe and Asia. Unfortunately, the timing of these events are still unresolved due to chronological uncertainties on the order of thousands of years. Major problems are the low precision of luminescence ages and the general lack of materials that can reliably be dated using 14 C. As demonstrated by 24 OSL/IRSL ages, the Dunaszekcső loess-palaeosol sequence is an archive of climate and environmental changes of the last glacial-interglacial cycles. For the upper part of the section (<33 cal yr BP), the chronology is further refined based on charcoal and mollusc shell radiocarbon ages. Here we show that AMS 14 C ages of some mollusc species having small shells (<10 mm) seem to yield reliable ages in a comparison with charcoal 14 C ages. These radiocarbon ages are consistent, have low variability and define age-depth models with sufficient precision to examine the timing of paleoenvironmental changes in the context of North Atlantic climatic variations.


We describe our latest investigation of stars in NGC 6397, as an update to Korn et al. There, effects of atomic diffusion were found to significantly affect surface abundances of lithium, as well as iron and magnesium. In this updated analysis, we have adopted a new, hotter, temperature scale. Additionally, we now analyze lithium in NLTE, have added chromium in NLTE to the analysis, and corrected magnesium abundances for effects of cluster-internal pollution. We determine abundances in six chemical elements. Significant evolutionary variations on the 3σ level are still identified in the iron abundances. Variations in all six elements match model predictions only if atomic diffusion processes are moderated by turbulent mixing of moderate efficiency. We infer an intial cluster lithium abundance log ε(Li) = 2.57 ± 0.10, which agrees with WMAP-calibrated BBN predictions, log ε(Li) = 2.71 ± 0.06.


Critics of entrepreneurial capitalism have argued that entrepreneurship creates dysfunction in individuals, families, communities, and society because entrepreneurs neglect social and environmental dimensions of value in favour of financial value creation. By way of contrast, hybrid organizations, such as Benefit Corporations, are created explicitly to address social and environmental objectives in addition to their financial objective. Therefore, in this paper we explore the consequences of a world of blended value in which every new venture is required to be a hybrid organization. In doing so, we reveal the boundary conditions of current social criticism levied against entrepreneurship and suggest that blended value may best be relegated to the role of ideal or guideline as opposed to normative or legal obligation.


As a critical infrastructure, the electric power grid is vulnerable with respect to malicious physical and cyber attacks. Indeed, the importance of physical and cyber security for smart grids has been highlighted by recent intrusion incidents worldwide. Various types of sensors, instrumentation, information and communications technology (ICT), computational methodologies, and security controls have been developed to enhance the physical and cyber security of the smart grid. In this paper, critical vulnerabilities of a smart grid that can be exploited for physical and cyber intrusions are discussed. A comprehensive survey is conducted on the state‐of‐the‐art research to enhance the physical and cyber security in a smart grid environment. Furthermore, the interdependency of physical and cyber security is illustrated with an intrusion scenario. The emphasis is on the physical and cyber security of power substations. Computer simulation results for a case study are presented. WIREs Energy Environ 2016, 5:519–542. doi: 10.1002/wene.202


Background: Disadvantaged youth in the United States are disproportionately likely to be more sedentary and obese and experience more stress than their counterparts with higher socioeconomic status. Yoga and breathing and relaxation techniques have positive effects on stress levels, physical activity levels, and behavior of school-aged children. Aims: Using social cognitive theory to examine behavioral, personal, and environmental factors, the purpose of this pilot study was to examine the multilevel influences of a yoga-based classroom intervention on urban youth. Methods: Using a mixed methodological quasi-experimental design, this pilot study included the third grade students (n = 40) at one urban elementary school. A survey contained stress, yoga behavior, and aggression scales. In addition, individual student interviews, a teacher interview, and classroom observations were conducted. Results: Paired and independent sample t-tests showed pre/post differences in yoga participation both in and out of school for the intervention participants (P < 0.01). Qualitative analysis revealed three main themes: (1) increased use and enjoyment of yoga techniques, (2) behavioral changes both in/out of school, and (3) impact on personal factors. Conclusions: Findings suggest that urban classrooms should include yoga and mindfulness training as it contributes to daily student PA and also can be stress relieving, fun, calming, and easy to perform outside of school.


Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of mortality and neurological disability worldwide and varies according to its cause, pathogenesis, severity and clinical outcome. This review summarizes a significant aspect of diffuse brain injuries – traumatic axonal injury – important cause of severe disability and vegetative state. Traumatic axonal injury is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by blunt head trauma. It is defined both clinically (immediate and prolonged unconsciousness, characteristically in the absence of space-occupying lesions) and pathologically (widespread and diffuse damage of axons). Following traumatic brain injury, progressive axonal degeneration starts with disruption of axonal transport, axonal swelling, secondary axonal disconnection and Wallerian degeneration, respectively. However, traumatic axonal injury is difficult to define clinically, it should be considered in patients with Glasgow coma score < 8 for more than six hours after trauma and diffuse tensor imaging and sensitivity-weighted imaging MRI sequences are highly sensitive in its diagnosis. Glasgow coma score at the time of presentation, location and severity of axonal damage are prognostic factors for clinical outcome.


This paper analyzes the background modeling mechanism using Gaussian mixture model and the stability /plasticity dilemma in parameters estimation of GMM background model. To solve the slow convergence problem of Gaussian mean and covariance update formula given by Stauffer, a new updating strategy is proposed, which weighs the model adaptability and motion segmentation accuracy. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm improves the accuracy of modal learning and speed of covariance convergence.


Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated transcription is an important mediator for cellular responses to DNA damage. Genotoxic agents trigger a 'nuclear-to-cytoplasmic' NF-κB activation signaling pathway; however, the early nuclear signaling cascade linking DNA damage and NF-κB activation is poorly understood. Here we report that Src-associated-substrate-during-mitosis-of-68kDa/KH domain containing, RNA binding, signal transduction associated 1 (Sam68/KHDRBS1) is a key NF-κB regulator in genotoxic stress-initiated signaling pathway. Sam68 deficiency abolishes DNA damage-stimulated polymers of ADP-ribose (PAR) production and the PAR-dependent NF-κB transactivation of anti-apoptotic genes. Sam68 deleted cells are hypersensitive to genotoxicity caused by DNA damaging agents. Upregulated Sam68 coincides with elevated PAR production and NF-κB-mediated anti-apoptotic transcription in human and mouse colon cancer. Knockdown of Sam68 sensitizes human colon cancer cells to genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis and genetic deletion of Sam68 dampens colon tumor burden in mice. Together our data reveal a novel function of Sam68 in the genotoxic stress-initiated nuclear signaling, which is crucial for colon tumorigenesis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.15018.001


The dynamic of a large class of power systems can be represented by parameter dependent differential-algebraic models of the form x/spl dot/ = f (x, y, p) and 0 = g(x, y, p). When the parameter p of the system (such as load of the system) changes, the stable equilibrium points may lose their dynamic stability at local bifurcation points. The systems will lose its stability at the feasibility boundary, which is caused by one of three different local bifurcations: the singularity induced bifurcation, saddle-node and Hopf bifurcation. In this paper, the dynamic voltage stability of a power system is introduced and analyzed. Both the reduced and unreduced Jacobian matrix of the system are studied and compared. It is shown that the unreduced Jacobian matrix, whose eigenstructure matches well with the reduced one; and thus can be used for bifurcation analysis. In addition, the analysis avoids the singularity induced infinity problem, which may happen at reduced Jacobian matrix analysis, and is more computationally attractive.


According to Quantum FFF Theory, stable Polarized propeller shaped Fermions (Nuclear Quarks) are supposed to be the origin of non accelerated motion through the resistive oscillating vacuum (Axion) Higgs field. Recent observations in the LHC do support the idea of Fermion polarization into a constant specific space based direction, which could support the idea of a constant battle between a resistive vacuum and polarized spinning propeller shaped Fermions pushed forward by the same vacuum at the same time to compensate the resistance. Even a so called Lorentz Fitzgerald contraction seem to be the logic result, which was described by John Bell in his essay: "How to Teach Special Relativity" The recently observed Axial symmetric pear shaped atom Barium nuclei ( LHC) are an extra support for the atomic interaction with a new massless oscillating Axion-Higgs vacuum reference frame postulated by Quantum FFF Theory. John S. Bell was Right: "How to Teach Special Relativity" and atomic pear shaped contraction


Automated Exposure Notification (AEN) was implemented in 2020 to supplement traditional contact tracing for COVID-19 by estimating "too close for too long" proximities of people using the service. AEN uses Bluetooth messages to privately label and recall proximity events, so that persons who were likely exposed to SARS-CoV-2 can take the appropriate steps recommended by their health care authority. This paper describes an agent-based model that estimates the effects of AEN deployment on COVID-19 caseloads and public health workloads in the context of other critical public health measures available during the COVID-19 pandemic. We selected simulation variables pertinent to AEN deployment options, varied them in accord with the system dynamics available in 2020-2021, and calculated the outcomes of key metrics across repeated runs of the stochastic multi-week simulation. SimAEN's parameters were set to ranges of observed values in consultation with public health professionals and the rapidly accumulating literature on COVID-19 transmission; the model was validated against available population-level disease metrics. Estimates from SimAEN can help public health officials determine what AEN deployment decisions (e.g., configuration, workflow integration, and targeted adoption levels) can be most effective in their jurisdiction, in combination with other COVID-19 interventions (e.g., mask use, vaccination, quarantine and isolation peri-ods). ABSTRACT Automated Exposure Notication (AEN) was implemented in 2020 to supplement traditional contact tracing for COVID-19 by estimating "too close for too long" proximities of people using the service. AEN uses Bluetooth messages to privately label and recall proximity events, so that persons who were likely exposed to SARS-CoV-2 can take the appropriate steps recommended by their health care authority. This paper describes an agent-based model that estimates the effects of AEN deployment on COVID-19 caseloads and public health workloads in the context of other critical public health measures available during the COVID-19 pandemic. We selected simulation variables pertinent to AEN deployment options, varied them in accord with the system dynamics available in 2020-2021, and calculated the outcomes of key metrics across repeated runs of the stochastic multi-week simulation. SimAEN's parameters were set to ranges of observed values in consultation with public health professionals and the rapidly accumulating literature on COVID-19 transmission; the model was validated against available population-level disease metrics. Estimates from SimAEN can help public health ocials determine what AEN deployment decisions (e.g., conguration, workflow integration, and targeted adoption levels) can be most effective in their jurisdiction, in combination with other COVID-19 interventions (e.g., mask use, vaccination, quarantine and isolation periods).


Automatic defects detection in MR images is very important in many diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Because of high quantity data in MR images and blurred boundaries, tumour segmentation and classification is very hard. This work has introduced one automatic brain tumour detection method to increase the accuracy and yield and decrease the diagnosis time. The goal is classifying the tissues to three classes of normal, begin and malignant. . In MR images, the amount of data is too much for manual interpretation and analysis. During past few years, brain tumor segmentation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an emergent research area in the field of medical imaging system. Accurate detection of size and location of brain tumor plays a vital role in the diagnosis of tumor. The diagnosis method consists of four stages, pre-processing of MR images, feature extraction, and classification. After histogram equalization of image, the features are extracted based on Dual-Tree Complex wavelet transformation (DTCWT). In the last stage, Back Propagation Neural Network (BPN) are employed to classify the Normal and abnormal brain. An efficient algorithm is proposed for tumor detection based on the Spatial Fuzzy C-Means


Abstract. Public security incidents have been increasingly challenging to address with their new features, including large-scale mobility, multi-stage dynamic evolution, spatio-temporal concurrency and uncertainty in the complex urban environment, which require spatio-temporal association analysis among multiple regional video data for global cognition. However, the existing video data organizational methods that view video as a property of the spatial object or position in space dissever the spatio-temporal relationship of scattered video shots captured from multiple video channels, limit the query functions on interactive retrieval between a camera and its video clips and hinder the comprehensive management of event-related scattered video shots. GeoVideo, which maps video frames onto a geographic space, is a new approach to represent the geographic world, promote security monitoring in a spatial perspective and provide a highly feasible solution to this problem. This paper analyzes the large-scale personnel mobility in public safety events and proposes a multi-level, event-related organization method with massive GeoVideo data by spatio-temporal trajectory. This paper designs a unified object identify(ID) structure to implicitly store the spatio-temporal relationship of scattered video clips and support the distributed storage management of massive cases. Finally, the validity and feasibility of this method are demonstrated through suspect tracking experiments.


An analysis is presented of the diffraction by a hydraulically induced crack of time-harmonic signals emitted by a point source. Both diffraction by an empty crack and diffraction by a fluid-filled crack are considered. It is assumed that the crack is plane and of circular shape. The analysis is based on elastodynamic ray theory, which yields relatively simple approximations to the diffracted fields if ..omega..a/c/sub L/ is sufficiently larger than unity, where ..omega.. is the circular frequency of the incident waves, a is the radius of the crack, and c/sub L/ is the velocity of longitudinal waves. The diffracted fields include direct diffractions from the crack edges as well as diffraction of signals which travel via the crack faces. The relative magnitudes of these various contributions have been plotted. For three positions of the point of observation, numerical results for the three displacement components have been displayed in graphs.


Novel types of cyclodextrin derivatives are easily synthesized by the insertion of an aromatic dicarbonyl spacer into the skeleton of permethylated α-cyclodextrin, and the isophthaloyl-inserted one shows almost the same complexing ability toward p-nitrophenol as permethylated β-cyclodextrin.


Background and Aim To date, clinically relevant selection criteria have not been established for the use of the gluteal fold flap after oncological vulvoperineal resection. We prospectively assessed the surgical risk factors of this reconstructive technique in a large series. Methodology From April of 2000 through December of 2015, 114 gluteal fold flaps were used for vulvoperineal reconstruction after excision of (pre)malignant skin disorders in 75 women. The possible influence of 10 patient-related and 6 procedure-related risk factors on flap-related postoperative complications was statistically analyzed. Results We observed a major complication in 13 flaps (11%) and a minor complication in 19 flaps (17%). Previous radiotherapy (P = 0.01) was associated with significantly more complications, and a rotation flap design rather than VY advancement (P = 0.02) was associated with major complications. Recurrent disease, multifocal tumor localization, incomplete removal of tumor, and bilateral flap procedure were found to be clinically relevant risk factors, but not significantly so. The same applied to recurrence of disease during postoperative follow-up. Conclusions We identified surgical risk factors for gluteal fold flap use after oncological vulvoperineal resection. These observations may potentially allow for more favorable future surgical outcomes by adaption of selection of patients or procedure.


An attempt was made to define a subject's state of acclimatization in terms of the reactions of several physiological variables (sweat rate, core temperature, heart rate) to a heat stress test. For this purpose, four subjects performed work in a warm environment (34·C. 30% RH) both before and after an acclimation procedure to heat (40·C.20% RH). The overall effect of acclimation was similar to results described in the literature: lower heart rate. higher sweat sensitivity. lower core temperature. Individual effects, however, were more difficult to interprete. Qualitatively, they all showed the above mentioned changes, but comparing their individual physiological reactions. differences could be observed. Ranking orders for their acclimatization state, based on their heart rate response, were different from those based on core temperature and sweat rate-core temperature relation responses. It appears that the heart rate core temperature and sweat rate-core temperature relations are correlated to the acclimatization state, whereas the heart-rate response is also strongly influenced by a subjects fitness level. However, these relations, as well as the influence of % body fat etc., need further study, using a larger number of subjects.


Fallacies of relevance, a major category of informal fallacies, include two that could be called pure fallacies of relevance-the wrong conclusion (ignoratio elenchi, wrong conclusion, missing the point) fallacy and the red herring digression, diversion) fallacy. The problem is how to classify examples of these fallacies so that they clearly fall into the one category or the other, on some rational system of classification. In this paper, the argument diagramming software system, Araucaria. is used to analyze the argumentation in some selected textbook examples of pure fallacies of relevance. A system of classification of these fallacies is proposed, and criteria for determining whether an example should be classified as wrong conclusion or red herring are formulated. A key difference cited is that in a case where the red herring fallacy has been committed, even if the argument may go to a wrong conclusion, there is evidence of the use ofa deceptive tactic of diversion. Textual evidence must indicate that the arguer deliberately interjects a distracting controversy to lead the respondent away from the real issue to be disputed.


Background The Netherlands is one of the frontrunners of eHealth in Europe. Many general practices offer Internet services, which can be used by patients to communicate with their general practice. In promoting and implementing such services, it is important to gain insight into patients' actual use and intention toward using. Objective The objective of the study is to investigate the actual use and intention toward using Internet services to communicate with the general practice by the general practice population. The secondary objective is to study the factors and characteristics that influence their intention to use such services. Methods There were 1500 members of the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel, age over 18 years, that were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. People who had contacted their general practitioner at least once in the past year were included. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the following services: Internet appointment planning, asking questions on the Internet, email reminders about appointments, Internet prescription refill requests, Internet access to medical data, and Internet video consultation. Participants indicated whether they had used these services in the past year, they would like to use them, and whether they thought their general practice had these services. For the first two services, participants rated items based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology complemented with additional constructs. These items were divided into six subscales: effort expectancy, performance expectancy, trust, attitude, facilitating conditions, and social influence. Results There were 546 participants that were included in the analyses out of 593 who met the inclusion criteria. The participants had a mean age of 53 years (SD 15.4), 43.6% (n=238) were male, and 66.8% (n=365) had at least one chronic illness. Actual use of the services varied between 0% (n=0, video consultation) and 10.4% (n=57, requesting prescription refill by Internet). The proportion of participants with a positive intention to use the service varied between 14.7% (n=80, video consultation) and 48.7% (n=266, Internet access to medical data). For each service, approximately half indicated that they did not know whether the service was available. Univariate logistic regression analyses revealed that all the constructs as well as age, level of education, and Internet usage had a significant association with intention toward using Internet appointment planning and asking questions by Internet. Conclusions Internet communication services to contact the general practice are not yet frequently used by this population. Although a substantial number of persons have a positive intention toward using such services, not all people who receive primary care seem willing to use them. The lack of awareness of the availability and functionality of such services might play an important role.


A feature-based model explanation denotes how much each input feature contributes to a model's output for a given data point. As the number of proposed explanation functions grows, we lack quantitative evaluation criteria to help practitioners know when to use which explanation function. This paper proposes quantitative evaluation criteria for feature-based explanations: low sensitivity, high faithfulness, and low complexity. We devise a framework for aggregating explanation functions. We develop a procedure for learning an aggregate explanation function with lower complexity and then derive a new aggregate Shapley value explanation function that minimizes sensitivity.


Medication review aims at optimizing the impact of medications while
minimizing their related problems. Drug-related problems have never been
properly addressed in Egyptian hospitals. The purpose of this paper is to record
and compare the prevalence and types of medication related problems, the
interventions provided by the clinical pharmacists and how physicians responded
along with making recommendations for error prevention. This prospective study
was conducted between June 2012 and December 2012, at an Egyptian general
hospital. Five trained pharmacists recorded patient-specific medication related
recommendations and completed quality-of-care interventions. The average number
of audited doses was 81% of those prescribed. The most prevalent medication
problem was prescribing errors followed by administration errors. A total of 20
patients experienced adverse drug events. The greatest error rates across the
seven months were observed in the ICU and cardiology units. Numbers of interventions
offered by the pharmacists ranged from 241, to 519 per month. Nurses accepted
all the interventions introduced by the pharmacists aimed at reducing
administration errors while physicians' resistance rates had an average of 21%.
This study showed a positive influence of the pharmacist-led medication review
in reducing potential drug-related problems
in an Egyptian secondary care where the hospital under study implemented
new measures to minimize drug related problems according to the findings of the
trained pharmacists.


ABSTRACT Pressing new (and old) challenges has put systems of governance and public administration under pressure around the globe. In this era, there is an ever greater need to globalize academic knowledge and learn from divergent systems. China has traditionally been held up as a suis generis exemplar of a particular mode of governance. An updated understanding of modern China and Chinese research on public administration stands to enrich the discipline by challenging old myths and assumptions – or by empirically demonstrating some enduring features. Given China's size and geopolitical significance, it is also an important focus of study. This article outlines the key features of the Chinese system of government, governance and public administration. It maps the contours of the evolution of the study of public administration in China from the start of the twentieth century to a more mature and globally connected discipline in the present day. It also summarizes articles in this volume which shed new light on power, governance and public administration in modern China. They also provide new insights into governance and public administration theory. The volume shows that China has seen some localization and decentralization, alongside experiments with collaboration and networked-based policy making. However, the system of governance and public administration remains innately top-down and centralized with the center holding strong policy levers and control over society. As the pandemic revealed, this statist approach provided both governing opportunities and disadvantages.


Germplasm collections worldwide are increasing in both size and quality, but quantitative data on user needs and their perceptions of collection management are limited. Such information would enable more effective planning and management by collection curators. In 1991, we surveyed and analyzed the opinions of 47 scientists working with crucifer crops, including oilseed Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L., vegetable coles [B. oleracea subsp. italica (broccoli), B. oleracea subsp. capitata L. (cabbage), B. rapa subsp. pekinensis Lour. (Chinese cabbage), etc.], and wild and weedy relatives. Survey respondents were located in 19 countries and represented a broad range of institutional affiliations, professional interests, educational backgrounds, and research programs. Significant differences occurred among respondents' opinions on various activities (acquisition, preservation and distribution, documentation, and research). Respondents utilized genetic resources from all gene pool categories, obtained them from an array of sources, and expected to increase their use about 30% by 1994. Nearly 80% of respondents maintained a germplasm collection for their own use. They estimated ex situ genebanks held <50% of total genetic diversity of crucifers and were dissatisfied with collection documentation. About 80% used biotechnological techniques and projected an increased use of gene pools comprising F 1 fertile relatives, F 1 semi-sterile and sterile related species, and genetic stocks. Respondents felt that research that focused on identification and transfer of new and useful traits would enhance crucifer germplasm collections. Our survey results provided a current, systematic assessment of germplasm users' expectations, but curators must have the scientific and managerial skills to reconcile those expectations with limited resources.


Maize domestication is one of the greatest feats of artificial selection and evolution, wherein a weedy plant in Central Mexico was converted through human-mediated selection into the most productive crop in the world. In fact, the changes were so astounding that it took much of the last century to identify modern maize's true ancestor. Through modern genetic studies, the molecular basis of this evolution is being unraveled. Maize's new morphology and adaptation to diverse environments required selection at thousands of loci, and we are beginning to understand the magnitude and rates of these genetic changes. Most of the known major genes have experienced strong selection, but only small regions surrounding the selected genes exhibit substantially reduced genetic diversity. Here, we report the discovery of a large region on chromosome 10 involved in adaptation or domestication that has been the target of strong selection during maize domestication. Unlike previously described regions in the maize genome, 1.1 Mb and >15 genes lost genetic diversity during selection at this region. Finally, the prospects of a detailed understanding of maize evolution are discussed with consideration of both top-down and bottom-up approaches.


This thesis considers how leaders of smaller firms attach meanings to internationalization. This is examined by the means of a survey questionnaire of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises [SME] operating in the clothing industry of Parana State in Brazil, and 58 qualitative interviews with the leaders of these firms. The thesis argues that existing theories of internationalization overlook the question of what international involvement means to relevant actors and in so doing have produced a body of knowledge characterized by deterministic, rationalist and individualist assumptions of organizational action that seriously understate the role of choice, interpretation and the collective dynamics of meaningful action. Drawing on Weber's (1964; 1978) argument that social action is meaningful the thesis advances an integrative view of internationalization as a meaningful action characterized by the interplay of choice, rationality and interpretation. The thesis presents evidence sufficient to show that meanings regarding the criteria and parameters informing rational choice in internationalization vary with decision makers' interpretations. In addition, it demonstrates that such meanings do not always accord with available theories. The thesis discusses why a recognition that internationalization is meaningful, and therefore implies choice and interpretation in addition to rationality, is critical for further theorizing. Finally, it considers the contributions of the findings and arguments for policymaking and managerial practice in smaller businesses.


Myofibroblastoma (MFB) is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor which usually occurs in the breast parenchyma of both females and males. Although this tumor is typically composed of bland-looking spindle-shaped cells arranged in short fascicles interrupted by keloidal-like collagen fibers, several variations on this basic morphological theme do exist. With the advent of mammographic screening, an increased number of mammary MFBs are being detected and pathologists should be aware of the wide morphological and immunohistochemical spectrum exhibited by this unusual tumor. This review focuses on the most diagnostically challenging variants of mammary MFB, which could represent potential diagnostic pitfalls of malignancy, especially when evaluating needle core biopsies. In this regard the following variants of MFB, including the most recently recognized, will be presented: myxoid MFB, lipomatous MFB, epithelioid cell MFB, deciduoid cell MFB, epithelioid cell MFB with multinodular growth pattern, palisaded/schwannian-like MFB and MFB with extensive myxo-edematous stromal changes. Histological illustrations along with differential diagnostic problems for each single variant of MFB will be provided to offer helpful suggestions for a correct diagnostic approach in daily practice.


The test of Sigma-Delta Analogue-to-Digital Converters (?? ADCs) is a difficult task due to the high resolution and the large number of samples required. By integrating an additional test circuitry in the chip and by taking advantage of the resources already existing in a ?? ADC, it is possible to perform a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) technique to make the converter auto-testable. In this paper we present an approach for both the on-chip test signal generation and the on-chip output response analysis. The method, mostly digital, is based on the application of a binary stream which encodes a sinusoidal signal. This stimulus is chosen to have a very high quality in the bandwidth of interest of the converter with the quantization error laying out of the analogue modulator bandwidth. In order to analyse the output response, we need a very precise sinusoidal signal. This reference signal can be also obtained from the same input stimulus, by passing it directly to the digital filter existing in the converter. Simulations results show the capability of this technique to obtain measures of the SNDR (Signal-to-Noise-plus-Distortion Ratio) for a 16-bit audio ?? ADC.


Author(s): Koh, Kisik | Advisor(s): Lin, Liwei | Abstract: The size and performance of integrated circuits have been following Moore's law to continuously shrink and progress over the past decades while on-chip inductors have seen little advancements. This work proposes several unique approaches in the integrated magnetic cores for high frequency micro inductor developments, including: (1) spherical-shape, anti-oxidizing magnetic nanoparticle composites; (2) sputtered magnetic thin films with magnetization-induced anisotropy; and (3) rectangular-shape magnetic particles with geometry-induced anisotropy. Theoretical and simulation studies have been conducted with experimental demonstrations to validate these concepts.Chemical syntheses of spherical-shape magnetic FeNi3 particles of 100 nm in diameter, with and without a thin passivation SiO2 coating have been investigated. After the integration with micro inductors by a CMOS-compatible process, it is found that the inductance values have increased 20-45% up to 2 GHz for micro inductors after adding the magnetic nanoparticle composites. The quality factors have degraded slightly mainly due to the magnetic losses from large coercivity at about 100 Oe despite of the reduction of eddy current losses in the magnetic nanoparticle composites. The control of magnetization-induced anisotropy of magnetic thin films by using different magnitudes of sputtering deposition power under an external magnetic field has been studied and characterized. By reducing the sputtering power from 1000 to 150 Watts, the sputtered CoZrTaB thin films have smaller grain size and higher in-plane anisotropy and higher FMR frequency from 1.48 to 2.17 GHz. After the integration the magnetic thin films with stripline inductors, 2.5-3.5 times higher inductances and 2.5-3 times higher Q-factors than those of air-core inductors have been accomplished. Magnetically aligned, rectangular plate-like structures have been demonstrated for geometry-induced nano magnets in micro inductors. These magnets have been analyzed in theories and simulations with experimental validations to have advantages of particles in low eddy current losses and thin films in magnetic anisotropy for high FMR. After the integration with micro inductors under an external magnetic field, the roll-off frequencies in inductance of micro inductors have reached 4.2 GHz with 10% increase in inductance.


In this paper, a two stage hybrid interference cancellation and equalization framework is proposed for interference cancellation in the uplink of multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) systems. The first stage uses time domain equalization to suppress cochannel interference, mitigate asynchronism, and shorten the postequalization channel response to be no longer than the length of the cyclic prefix. The second stage performs low-complexity single tap equalization and detection in the frequency domain. The framework is developed specifically for spatial multiplexing and is applied to multiuser MIMO-OFDM systems with asynchronism between users as well as to single-user MIMO-OFDM systems. Various equalizer design methods are proposed that determine the coefficients directly from the training data and are compared with methods based on channel estimates. The equalizer coefficients and postequalization channel response are found by solving a joint optimization that maximizes the signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) in the frequency domain. Simulations compare various training-based methods and show the proposed methods provide good bit error rate (BER) and SINR performance in a variety of interference scenarios.


The legacy nitrate–nitrogen (NO3−−N) in the soils is a long‐term threat to groundwater in regions with thick unsaturated zones, and it is thus important to investigate the amounts and sources of NO3−−N for effective environmental management. Given the substantial conversions of arable farmlands to non‐fertilizer land uses for the restoration of degraded land, the legacy effects of NO3−−N in thick loessial unsaturated zones in China remain uncertain. We collected soil samples from loess profiles >13‐m deep under arable farmland and grassland, apricot, pine, peashrub, willow, and poplar converted from arable farmland over 15–35 years. We determined their nitrate content and isotope compositions to quantify the accumulation and sources of the former and its potential threat to groundwater. The seven NO3−−N profiles exhibited a parabolic shape with peak depths at 2.6–9.2 m. Greater peak depths corresponded to greater NO3−−N values, and the peak nitrate level varied from 0 to 10 m. The total NO3−−N accumulation ranged 3,181–9,018 kg N ha−1, and the non‐fertilizer profiles accounted for 35–73% of the arable farmland. The nitrate sources varied with depths. According to the isotope mass balance, the nitrate above, near, and below the peak depths mainly originated from atmospheric NO3− (25–34%), synthetic N fertilizer (49–68%), and soil organic N and manure (50–73%). The estimated residence time of nitrate in the soil ranged from 270 to 620 years. As such, the nitrate legacy effects should be given considerable attention for the protection of the soil and groundwater environment.


People who are anxiously attached, distrustful and jealous of their partners, and suspect infidelity are more likely to use psychological dating violence. Is this also true for cyber dating abuse perpetration (CDAP)? This study investigated the prevalence of and gender differences in self-reported CDAP and whether trust, anticipated partner infidelity, and jealousy serially mediated the association between anxious attachment and CDAP in a sample of Turkish college students. College students (N = 390) completed the Cyber Dating Violence Inventory, Anxious Attachment subscale of the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-Short Form, Dyadic Trust Scale, Cognitive Jealousy subscale of the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale, Partners' Intentions Towards Infidelity Scale, and a Demographic Information Form. A total of 67% of the sample used at least one cyber abusive behavior with their partner over the last 6 months. A multiple serial mediation model indicated that greater anxious attachment was related to more dyadic distrust, the anticipation of partner infidelity, and jealousy, and, in turn, to the use of cyber dating abuse. Overall, results show that the prevalence of CDAP is high and that attachment theory offers a promising framework for identifying predictors of CDAP in emerging adults. These findings have implications for research, intervention, and prevention of CDAP by identifying potential risk factors for perpetrating cyber abuse.


The binary feature vector is one of the most common representations of patterns and measuring similarity and distance measures play a critical role in many problems such as clustering, classification, etc. Ever since Jaccard proposed a similarity measure to classify ecological species in 1901, numerous binary similarity and distance measures have been proposed in various fields. Applying appropriate measures results in more accurate data analysis. Notwithstanding, few comprehensive surveys on binary measures have been conducted. Hence we collected 76 binary similarity and distance measures used over the last century and reveal their correlations through the hierarchical clustering technique.


This article investigates the feasibility of reusing wastewater from striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) pond culture as nutrient input for integrated rice–Nile tilapia–green bean farming systems, and to what extent this could contribute to decreasing the environmental impacts on water quality from the striped catfish industry in the Mekong Delta. Four treatments in triplicates were used to investigate the growth of rice and green bean varieties under different combinations of inorganic fertilizer and water from the river and a striped catfish pond culture. The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was cultured at low density without feeding in a canal adjacent to the rice field. Rice yields ranged from 3,514 to 4,023 kg ha−1 with no significant differences between treatments (p > 0.05). The yield of green bean ranged from 2,671 to 3,282 kg ha−1 (p < 0.05), with the highest yields for beans only receiving water from the striped catfish pond. The water quality concentrations decreased significantly when passing through the rice plots for almost all treatments (p < 0.05). Total phosphorus and nitrogen levels in the outflowing water were reduced by almost 50% compared to the inflowing water from the striped catfish pond. Overall, the results indicated that an integrated system generates both economic and environmental benefits as compared to monocultures.


Abstract In many cases medical diagnosis is based on information obtained through a process involving the emission of different forms of ionizing radiation. The safety of the medical staff and patients exposed to ionizing radiation is highly dependent on the proper design of the shielding used in the laboratory. Therefore, the authors propose a multi-platform application supporting such a design through the computation of the critical parameters of shielding. The specific requirements for shielding are defined by government authorities so the algorithm must comply with all the written standards. The application was implemented using Xamarin. Forms for cross-platform development. The results obtained with the use of the developed tool were compared with those calculated manually for the design of stationary shields developed, deployed, and validated by local inspection.


This paper aims to look at the form, content and effectiveness of Arabic informative discourse in the advertisements of Indonesian female workers circulating on the Internet. The topic of Indonesian female workers working in Arabia is addressed in this paper as it has always been a hot topic among Arabs and Indonesians. Advertisements in Arabic on the Internet is used as a research corpus in this paper. The method used in this research is analytical descriptive method by collecting, recording, describing, and analyzing the data related to the research topic. From the results of the study, it was found that some consist of a line only and some have many lines, some consist of black and white text while some use colorful photographs or cartoons, some are in the form of a poem and some are exposition, some display simple information and others have more complete information. Overall, it can be concluded that from the perspective of advertising theories, there are advertisements that are still not in accordance with the general criteria of advertising while some are already appropriate. However, it seems that this kind of advertising exists only in Arab countries


Although scholarly interest in the field of emblematics has increased greatly over the
last decade, there is still much to be done, particularly in the area of religious
emblems. The emblem form has been considered from the perspective of individual
author, geographical factors and theological background but there have been few
comparative studies with respect to religious emblems. This study will compare
Protestant and Catholic emblems produced during the Reformation and Counter-
Reformation, drawing on specific examples from, in particular, France, but also
Germany and England.
Emblems played a huge role in early-modern life. They expressed contemporary
thought and also became part of the physical environment, being etched into stone, or
wood, or sewn into cloth as decoration. In a period of such political, civil, and
religious unrest, it would, therefore, seem likely that the Catholic and Protestant
emblem would be quite distinct types either expressing theologically opposed notions,
or manipulating the text/image relationship in quite different ways. Understanding
how these emblems functioned, therefore, necessitates close reading, indeed, reading
in the way the emblems were intended to be read. This study, therefore, will address
the question of differences through detailed analysis of specific examples.
This study begins with an introduction which gives a brief history of emblem
literature and a review of relevant secondary material. Key terms and definitions
regarding emblems are also explained here. This chapter also introduces the authors
of the emblems analysed in later chapters.
The first part of this thesis examines the emblem form in the wider context of the
Reformation. From an initial overview of some of the key issues of the Reformation
in chapter one, chapters two and three move on to analyse closely a wide corpus of
Catholic and Protestant emblems. In these chapters the emblem is broken down into
its component parts of verse and picture. Chapter two examines the religious emblem
from the perspective of motif while chapter three approaches the emblem from a
thematic angle.
The second part of this study adopts a different approach presenting case studies of
three authors. Chapter four explores the importance of the visual element in the
emblems of Protestant author Rollenhagen. Chapter five investigates the Jesuit
influences which shape the emblems of Catholic Berthod. While chapters four and
five offer an insight into the work of prototypical Protestant and Catholic authors
chapter six demonstrates the successful fusion of both Protestant and Catholic
influences in the emblems of Wither.
Indeed, this study suggests that the differences between Protestant and Catholic at this
time are largely exaggerated with respect to emblems. Protestant and Catholic
emblems are not, this study maintains, in essence all that different. It argues that, in
fact, Protestant and Catholic emblems were often very close in terms of content and
that the real difference is in the way they manipulate the text/image relationship.


1. Abundance trends provide key guidance when setting conservation priorities, whether indicating population decline, stability or recovery. Knowledge of the power of surveys to detect trends is essential, as the consequences of not detecting a real trend can be profound. 2. Unfortunately, some surveys have been established with no assessment of power, and others are used to study species that were not their original focus. The latter is common in the marine environment, where rare fish are monitored using catch data from surveys that target more abundant commercially fished species. 3. We calculated the power of a large-scale annual monitoring survey (the English North Sea bottom trawl survey) to detect decline and recovery of species that are vulnerable to fishing. As fisheries exploitation invariably precedes scientific investigation, the survey began after many vulnerable species had already been depleted. 4. The power of the survey to detect declines in the abundance of vulnerable species on time scales of < 10 years was low and the survey often failed to detect declines that would lead to listings under the IUCN A1 Red List criteria. Thus conservation prioritization based solely on survey data may fail to identify species at risk of regional extinction. 5. If conservation measures were effective, and vulnerable populations recovered at the maximum potential rate, 5-10 years of monitoring would often be required to detect recovery. 6. Power to detect trends in abundance was increased by developing a composite indicator that reflected trends in abundance of several vulnerable species. This indicator provided an overview of their conservation status. 7. Synthesis and applications. Consistent with the precautionary principle, conservation prioritization and management action should not depend on the statistical significance of recent abundance trends when low power is a consequence of historical depletion. If the conservation prioritization and management of rare and/or vulnerable species have to be predicated on evidence of significant declines, then higher type 1 error rates (falsely detecting a decline) should be acceptable. This is because the costs of type 1 errors are lower than those of type 2 (failure to detect a real decline).


Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients harbour important impairments in both their cellular- and humoral-mediated immunity, which accounts for their notorious susceptibility to a multitude of infections and various autoimmune cytopenias. It has also been shown that the rate of second cancers is increased in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Objective: The aim of this study was to review the immune alterations in untreated and treated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and define their impact for clinical practice. Methods: The author gives a comprehensive review of the most relevant preclinical and clinical studies pertaining to various immune abnormalities and infectious complications in both untreated and treated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Landmark clinical trials involving the contemporary chronic lymphocytic leukaemia chemo- and immunotherapies, alone or in combination, as well as the main epidemiological studies establishing the increased rate of second cancers in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia are also discussed. Results/conclusions: Iatrogenic immunosuppression in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia alters the pattern of opportunistic infections, can cause autoimmune cytopenias and might further increase the rate of second malignancies in patients whose disease already places them at a greater risk. Careful consideration of existing risk factors in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia could establish the optimal screening and follow-up schedule for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients as its therapeutics evolves.


The scientific article describes the concept and essence of forensic support of criminal proceedings, defines the levels, directions and forms of its implementation. It is substantiated that forensic support is realized during the investigation and prevention of criminal offenses, as well as the judicial review of criminal proceedings (cases) using forensic means, methods, techniques according to certain levels, directions and forms. The levels of forensic support of criminal proceedings are distinguished, namely: local; regional; state; international. Considering the established system of forensics, according to which the development of theoretical foundations and practical recommendations of forensic support is based on the provisions of the general theory of forensic science, forensic techniques, tactics and methods, three main areas of forensic crime are defined: forensic. In this case, the general theory of forensic science is of methodological importance for the formation of their scientific foundations. According to the mentioned directions, the main forms of forensic support of criminal proceedings are distinguished: – in the direction of technical and forensic support: the use of technical means and methods of detecting, fixing, collecting, investigating the traces of crime, other forensically relevant information, including through the use of special knowledge, involving specialists in investigative (investigative) actions; fixing the course and results of investigative (investigative), court actions; maintaining criminal registration and forensic records systems; involvement of experts and carrying out of expertise; – in the direction of tactical and criminalistic support: improvement of existing and development of new tactical techniques and their complexes; formation of tactics of investigative (search) actions; – in the direction of methodological and forensic support: development of new methods of investigation of criminal offenses (according to the criminal law and forensic classification); formulating recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the method of investigation of certain types (groups) of criminal offenses. These levels, directions and forms of forensic support should be considered in the scientific and practical aspect, which consists in creating the scientific basis of the tools, methods and techniques used the formation of practical recommendations for their application. The unity of theory and practice ensures effective achievement of the set goals in the system of forensic support of criminal proceedings.


Zinc is essential for life, but toxic in excess. Thus all cells must control their internal zinc concentration. We used a systems approach, alternating rounds of experiments and models, to further elucidate the zinc control systems in Escherichia coli. We measured the response to zinc of the main specific zinc import and export systems in the wild-type, and a series of deletion mutant strains. We interpreted these data with a detailed mathematical model and Bayesian model fitting routines. There are three key findings: first, that alternate, non-inducible importers and exporters are important. Second, that an internal zinc reservoir is essential for maintaining the internal zinc concentration. Third, our data fitting led us to propose that the cells mount a heterogeneous response to zinc: some respond effectively, while others die or stop growing. In a further round of experiments, we demonstrated lower viable cell counts in the mutant strain tested exposed to excess zinc, consistent with this hypothesis. A stochastic model simulation demonstrated considerable fluctuations in the cellular levels of the ZntA exporter protein, reinforcing this proposal. We hypothesize that maintaining population heterogeneity could be a bet-hedging response allowing a population of cells to survive in varied and fluctuating environments.


Background Peripheral auditory deafferentation and central compensation have been regarded as the main culprits of tinnitus generation. However, patient-to-patient discrepancy in the range of the percentage of daytime in which tinnitus is perceived (tinnitus awareness percentage, 0 – 100%), is not fully explicable only by peripheral deafferentation, considering that the deafferentation is a stable persisting phenomenon but tinnitus is intermittently perceived in most patients. Consequently, the involvement of a dysfunctional noise cancellation mechanism has recently been suggested with regard to the individual differences in reported tinnitus awareness. By correlating the tinnitus awareness percentage with resting-state source-localized electroencephalography findings, we may be able to retrieve the cortical area that is negatively correlated with tinnitus awareness percentage, and then the area may be regarded as the core of the noise cancelling system that is defective in patients with tinnitus. Methods and Findings Using resting-state cortical oscillation, we investigated 80 tinnitus patients by correlating the tinnitus awareness percentage with their source-localized cortical oscillatory activity and functional connectivity. The activity of bilateral rostral anterior cingulate cortices (ACCs), left dorsal- and pregenual ACCs for the delta band, bilateral rostral/pregenual/subgenual ACCs for the theta band, and left rostral/pregenual ACC for the beta 1 band displayed significantly negative correlations with tinnitus awareness percentage. Also, the connectivity between the left primary auditory cortex (A1) and the rostral ACC, as well as between the left A1 and the subgenual ACC for the beta 1 band, were negatively correlated with tinnitus awareness percentage. Conclusions These results may designate the role of the rostral ACC as the core of the descending noise cancellation system, and thus dysfunction of the rostral ACC may result in perception of tinnitus. The present study also opens a possibility of tinnitus modulation by neuromodulatory approaches targeting the rostral ACC.


Much of the experimental software developed by CREWES is implemented within the MATLAB environment because of the sophistication of the MATLAB mathematical structure and the large library of functions and algorithms available. For testing programs in a production seismic environment, however, using many data sets of varying sizes and characteristics, it is often preferable to use an established standard seismic processing package such as ProMAX to apply a new algorithm. While several more mature CREWES algorithms have been embodied in their own ProMAX modules, it is timeconsuming and often tedious to write a complete new module to test each new idea, particularly if the idea is relatively simple, or the concept being tested is speculative. Hence, we have created two new ProMAX modules intended to apply computations of virtually any kind to the data samples in a 2D array (trace ensemble). We introduce these modules here and demonstrate their currently available functions. We expect that they will find value as research tools as we continually add new test functions to their menus.


In the present work, the self-assembly of Co 2+ and Fe 3+ doped SnO2 nanoparticles (Co and Fe = 5 mol% each) into nanorods by co-doping of Ce 3+ (4 mol%) ions is studied. The nanorods are prepared by a chemical route using polyvinyl alcohol as surfactant with the composition Sn0.91Co0.05Ce0.04O2 (SCC54) and Sn0.91Fe0.05Ce0.04O2 (SFC54). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), magnetic and electrical measurements are used to characterize these nanorods. The XRD pattern show the tetragonal rutile and polycrystalline nature of SnO2 nanorods which is also confirmed by TEM. The TEM images exhibit that the diameter of SCC54 nanorods lie in the range of 15-20 nm, length~100-200 nm whereas for SFC54 specimen, diameter ~5-15 nm and length ~50-100 nm. In our previous work, we fabricated Co and Fe (3 and 5 mol% each) doped SnO2 nanoparticles which exhibited high ferromagnetism. It is observed that on Ce 3+ co-doping, nanoparticles assembled themselves into rod like structures and the values of saturation magnetization and dielectric properties have further enhanced. Thus the nature and the concentration of dopants are found to play crucial role in tuning the morphology, magnetic and electrical properties of nanostructures. The values of saturated magnetization (Ms) are 1.14 and 0.14 emu/g and coercive field are 112 and 42 Oe, in SCC54 and SFC54 specimen, respectively, at room temperature. The variation in dielectric behavior is attributed due to the interface polarization. However, in lower frequency regime, the decreasing trend of dielectric permittivity with increasing frequency is explained by the Maxwell-Wagner theory and Koops' model, whereas, in higher frequency region, the resonant behavior is observed due to nano size effect. Copyright © 2012 VBRI Press.


Numerical analysis of forming and crash processes is usually carried out deterministically. However, the variations of the parameters describing materials and processes cause significant deviations in the prediction quality. This observation becomes more important if the failure prediction in process chains like forming to crash is considered. Usually, the material and process parameters are identified by means of an inverse or a direct identification procedure using experimental data. Nevertheless, the identification process itself contains uncertainty, as mean values are usually utilized for this purpose. It is therefore not known whether the process simulated with the identified parameters is robust and how the variation of parameters influences the quality of failure prediction. Stochastic analysis, replacing the parameters with stochastic distributions, can be performed to find out the variation of outputs due to the variation of input parameters. Since the computational cost of such an analysis would be too high to carry out using only FE simulations, it is performed on metamodels generated with relatively few FE simulations. Assuming the generated metamodel is accurate enough, reliable sensitivity information can also be obtained through methods such as Anova and Sobol Indices. The optimization and probabilistic analysis software LS-Opt serves as an efficient tool to conduct such study. In this paper, parameters of a high strength steel grade, used mainly in the automotive industry, are replaced with distribution functions reflecting the real deviations of material and process parameters. A suitable sampling algorithm for the selected metamodeling technique is then used to generate parameter sets for the FE simulations. In order to keep the computational cost as low as possible, some simplifications and assumptions have been made concerning the hardening and strain rate dependency. The statistics of the desired outputs and the influence of the material and process parameters are computed by means of the metamodel. The results show that the variation of modeling parameters such as fracture curve, hardening, and plasticity, causes higher amount of variation on the failure prediction indicators like displacement up to fracture. Furthermore, it has also been found that the standard deviation of results increases with the increasing element size pointing out the importance of reducing uncertainty in the methods used for defining model parameters if coarser meshes are to be used.


Objective: We investigated whether intelligent advanced warnings of the end of green traffic signals help drivers negotiate the dilemma zone (DZ) at signalized intersections and sought to identify behavioral mechanisms for any warning-related benefits. Background: Prior research suggested that warnings of end of green can increase slowing and stopping frequency given the DZ, but drivers may sometimes respond to warnings by speeding up. Method: In two simulator studies, we compared six types of roadway or in-vehicle warnings with a no-warning control condition. Using multilevel modeling, we tested mediation models of the behavioral mechanisms underlying the effects of warnings. Results: In both studies, warnings led to more stopping at DZ intersections and milder decelerations when stopping compared with no warning. Drivers' predominant response to warnings was anticipatory slowing on approaching the intersection, not speeding up. The increased stopping with warning was mediated by increased slowing. In Study 1, anticipatory slowing given warnings generalized to greenlight intersections where no warning was given. In Study 2, we found that lane-specific warnings (e.g., LED lights embedded in each lane) sometimes led to fewer unsafe emergency stops than did non-lane-specific roadside warnings. Conclusion: End-ofgreen warnings led to safer behavior in the DZ and on the early approach to intersections. The main mechanism for the benefits of warnings was drivers' increased anticipatory slowing on approaching an intersection. Lane-specific warnings may have some benefits over roadside warnings. Application: Applications include performance models of how drivers use end-of-green warnings, control algorithms and warning displays for intelligent intersections, and statistical methodology in human factors research.


The case of the electromechanical vibrator, as a technology associated with women's sexuality, involves issues of acceptability rather than legality. The vibrator and its predecessor technologies, including the dildo, are associated with masturbation, a socially prohibited activity until well into the second half of this century. Devices for mechanically-assisted female masturbation, mainly vibrators and dildoes, were marketed in the popular press from the late nineteenth century through the early thirties in similarly camouflaged advertising. A history of the electromechanical vibrator is presented. The electromechanical vibrator emerged in the 1880s as a medical instrument designed to mechanize massage techniques used by physicians since antiquity. Among these was vulvular massage to orgasm as a treatment for hysteria in women. The sexual character of the therapy was camouflaged in medical rhetoric which characterized female arousal as a pathological syndrome from which relief was obtained in the 'hysterical paroxysm'. Manual massage was fatiguing and slow, however, and water and steam-powered methods capital-intensive; when portable vibrators powered by line electricity became available at the turn of the century they quickly became dominant medical massage technology until the appearance of vibrators in erotic films in the 1920s eroded the instrument's social camouflage.<<ETX>>


Muscle synergy assessments are often employed to evaluate the modular organization of the spinal cord during a locomotion task. While they provide valuable insights into the pattern formation of the a-motoneurons at the spinal cord, by construction they cannot capture control from supra-spinal layers. We examined how locomotor muscle synergies are represented in the sensorimotor cortex, with particular focus on the cortico-synergy coherence as a measure of coupling along the cortico-spinal tract. Non-negative matrix factorization served to decompose multivariate electromyographic signals into muscle synergies. Their representations were localized in the cortex using coherence-based beamforming. Overall, the cortico-synergy coherence was maximal in sensorimotor areas especially in the beta-frequency band. However, only for the synergies timed to heel strike, that are related to the double support phases, the coherence was significant. These coherences were closely related to the timing of the activation patterns of the synergies, suggesting sensorimotor cortex to be strongly involved in emergence and control of these synergies.


In most cases today when a specific person's whereabouts is monitored through video surveillance it is done manually and his or her location when not seen is based on assumptions on how fast he or she can move. Since humans are good at recognizing people this can be done accurately, given good video data, but the time needed to go through all data is extensive and therefore expensive. Because of the rapid technical development computers are getting cheaper to use and therefore more interesting to use for tedious work.This thesis is a part of a larger project that aims to see to what extent it is possible to estimate a person of interest's time dependent 3D position, when seen in surveillance videos. The surveillance videos are recorded with non overlapping monocular cameras. Furthermore the project aims to see if the person of interest's movement, when position data is unavailable, could be predicted. The outcome of the project is a software capable of following a person of interest's movement with an error estimate visualized as an area indicating where the person of interest might be at a specific time.This thesis main focus is to implement and evaluate a people detector meant to be used in the project, reduce noise in position measurement, predict the position when the person of interest's location is unknown, and to evaluate the complete project.The project combines known methods in computer vision and signal processing and the outcome is a software that can be used on a normal PC running on a Windows operating system. The software implemented in the thesis use a Hough transform based people detector and a Kalman filter for one step ahead prediction. The detector is evaluated with known methods such as Miss-rate vs. False Positives per Window or Image (FPPW and FPPI respectively) and Recall vs. 1-Precision.The results indicate that it is possible to estimate a person of interest's 3D position with single monocular cameras. It is also possible to follow the movement, to some extent, were position data are unavailable. However the software needs more work in order to be robust enough to handle the diversity that may appear in different environments and to handle large scale sensor networks.


Rationality seems to be the meeting point of sociology and philosophy. "Rationality" is a controversial concept. Historically, the problems of rationality, normativity, social action, and meaning-adequacy in sociology have its closest relationships with epistemology. The aim of this essay is to articulate and explicate the parallel "problems of rationality" in sociology and philosophy. This is done in two parts. The first looks at sociologists' attempts to articulate conceptually the relation between rationality and normativity. The problem of the relationship of rationality and normativity in sociology appears early in a classical and modern sociology but appears consequently in many more hidden ways in connection with epistemological naturalism. The article argues that the radical critique of epistemology and philosophy in contemporary neopraxiological empiricism is misdirected due to a misconception about the relationship between rationality and a priori.


The main ophiolite nappes emplacement and overthrust events in the SE-Aegean region resulted the regional uplifting during the Oligocene period. The Oligocene molasse-type inter montane basins developed generally at the southern and eastern part of the uplifting mountain belts within the SE-Aegean district. The molasse-type Oligocene sediments in the northern part of Denizli and Honaz Dag region were described as Caykavustu formation by the earlier workers. The thickness of these unit reaches up to 1200 m. The Oligocene Caykavustu formation rests concordantly on the Eocene turbiditic sediments. On the other hand, the allocthonous and para-autochthonous Mesozoic carbonate rocks of the Honaz Dag masif overthrusts on the Caykavustu sedimentary sequence. The Caykavustu formation in the eastern of Denizli consists dominantly of medium to poor-sorted alluvial-fan and fluvial clastic sediments which are derived from Honaz Dag region. Locally, mudy and blocky debris-flow intercalations and the coarsening-upward sedimentary cycles occurred in the Oligocene sequence. The sedimentary cycles within the Caykavustu sequence related with regional thrusting tectonism. Each coarsening-upward cycles indicate the main regional uplifting and erosional phases during the Oligocene period.


We consider the {n, k, d, l) secure exact-repair regenerating code problem, which generalizes the {n, k, d) exact-repair regenerating code problem with the additional constraint that the stored file needs to be kept information-theoretically secure against an eavesdropper, who can access the data transmitted to regenerate a total of l different failed nodes. For all known results on this problem, the achievable tradeoff regions between the normalized storage capacity and repair bandwidth have a single corner point, achieved by a scheme proposed by Shah, Rashmi and Kumar (the SRK point). Since the achievable tradeoff regions of the exact-repair regenerating code problem without any secrecy constraints are known to have multiple corner points in general, these existing results suggest a phase-change-like behavior, i.e., enforcing a secrecy constraint (l ≥ 1) immediately reduces the tradeoff region to one with a single corner point. In this work, we first show that when the secrecy parameter l is sufficiently large, the SRK point is indeed the only corner point of the tradeoff region. However, when £ is small, we show that the tradeoff region can in fact have multiple corner points. In particular, we establish a precise characterization of the tradeoff region for the (7, 6, 6,1) problem, which has exactly two corner points. Thus, a smooth transition, instead of a phase-change-type of transition, should be expected as the secrecy constraint is gradually strengthened.