In this paper, we propose a Spatio-temporal Attributed Parse Graph (ST-APG) to integrate semantic attributes with trajectories for cross-view people tracking. Given videos from multiple cameras with overlapping field of view (FOV), our goal is to parse the videos and organize the trajectories of all targets into a scene-centered representation. We leverage rich semantic attributes of human, e.g., facing directions, postures and actions, to enhance cross-view tracklet associations, besides frequently used appearance and geometry features in the literature.In particular, the facing direction of a human in 3D, once detected, often coincides with his/her moving direction or trajectory. Similarly, the actions of humans, once recognized, provide strong cues for distinguishing one subject from the others. The inference is solved by iteratively grouping tracklets with cluster sampling and estimating people semantic attributes by dynamic programming.In experiments, we validate our method on one public dataset and create another new dataset that records people's daily life in public, e.g., food court, office reception and plaza, each of which includes 3-4 cameras. We evaluate the proposed method on these challenging videos and achieve promising multi-view tracking results.


Introduction Ferritin is an intracellular iron storage protein and reflects total body iron levels. As an acute phase protein, HF also occurs in pro-inflammatory states and metabolic disorders. Thus, further investigations are required to confirm iron overload. Approximately 10% of Caucasians with HF will have an underlying disease leading to iron overload. Early diagnosis and treatment is key to the prevention of end-organ damage. Method A retrospective analysis of laboratory biochemistry data from between January and November 2015 was undertaken. During this period, a total of 890 individual patient results indicated significant HF (serum ferritin >500 µg/L). A sample of 200 patients was randomly selected from this group for further analysis. 17 patients were excluded due to duplication, death or relocation within 6 months of the index test. In the study group (n=183), the following data were analysed: patient demographics, historical and repeat ferritin levels, iron studies, liver function tests, full blood count, inflammatory markers, and HbA1c or glucose. Results From the study group (n=183, ages 25–102 years), there were 70 females (38%) and 113 males (62%). An index ferritin level between 500–1000 ug/L was present in 79.2% of patients (moderate HF group, n=145) and >1000 ug/L in 20.8% patients (severe HF group, n=38). No iron studies were requested in 110/183 patients (60.1%) within 15 months of the index ferritin, or historically (63.5% vs 47.4% in the moderate and severe HF groups respectively). In 17/110 patients (15.5%), HF (>500 ug/L) had previously been identified but historical iron studies had been requested in only 5/17 (29.4%). Repeat ferritin levels following the index case were requested in 100/183 patients (52.4% and 63.2% moderate and severe HF respectively). 66/183 (36.1%) had no iron studies, at any time, or a repeat ferritin requested (39.3% and 23.7% in the moderate and severe HF groups respectively). In patients with requested iron studies (73/183, 39.9%), iron overload (transferrin saturations>45% for women and >50% for men) was identified in 7.1% (n=13/183, 4.8% and 15.8% of the moderate and severe HF groups respectively). Conclusion This study has identified that significant HF is often inadequately investigated in the primary care setting. In our study group, no attempt was made to exclude iron overload in 54.6% of cases (n=100); either historically or within 15 months of finding HF. We believe that this study highlights the need for further education regarding the investigation of HF in primary care in order to reduce the risk of irreversible end-organ damage in patients with iron overload. Reference . EASL. Clinical practice guidelines for HFE hemochromatosis. Journal of Hepatology2010;53:3–22 Disclosure of Interest None Declared


In this book, a new procedure to analyze lithium-ion cells is introduced. The cells are disassembled to analyze their components in experimental cell housings. Then, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, time domain measurements and the Distribution function of Relaxation Times are applied to obtain a deep understanding of the relevant loss processes. This procedure yields a notable surplus of information about the electrode contributions to the overall internal resistance of the cell.


Scirrhous carcinoma is characterized by remarkable amount of collagen fibrils, mainly Type I and Type III collagens. The origin of the collagens is still under debate. cDNA fragments of Type I and Type III procollagens were subcloned into Gemini pGEM vectors to synthesize the 35S-labeled cRNA probes. By in situ hybridization, we have found the fibroblasts surrounding the tumor cells and cords contained abundant Type I and Type III procollagen mRNAs which decreased with the distance of fibroblasts from the tumor cells. In all freshly prepared tissues, the tumor cells also contained significant pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 1(III) mRNAs, but no or little pro alpha 2(I) mRNA. The results indicated that Type I and Type III collagens in human scirrhous carcinoma of breast are mainly produced by fibroblasts. Tumor cells also participate in the disposition of collagen fibrils, probably Type I trimer and Type III collagens in accordance with what was observed in biochemical analysis and cell culture studies.


A dynamic model of pulsed laser pumped distributed-feedback (DFB) waveguided dye laser based on a coupled-wave theory is described. Due to the periodical distribution of the intensities of pump source and stimulated emission along the waveguide, the rate equations of the population densities are turned into the equations of the Fourier coefficients. Coupled-wave equations of optical fields are used to simulate the laser oscillation. Besides the temporal evolution of the output intensity, the spectra can also be obtained by the Fourier transform of the optical fields. Two different configurations of the waveguided dye laser, prefabricated DFB (mainly index coupling), first- and second-order holographic DFB (dynamic gain-coupling), are considered in the model. The simulation shows that: 1) the temporal waveforms of the holographic DFB consist of sharp spikes; 2) the broadened spectral widths resulted from the possible nonuniformities in propagation constant or grating period are less than 50 pm except for the second-order holographic DFB; and 3) strong parasitic oscillations can be observed in the second-order holographic DFB with terminal reflection. These results and the comparisons of some of them to the experiments are reported.


Photo-DSC and UV-visible spectroscopy were used to study the photo-curing kinetics and mechanism of the photopolymerization of dimethacrylates using three-component initiation systems consisting of 1-chloro-4-propoxy-9H-thioxanthen-9-one (CPXTO), diphenyl iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Ph2IPF6), and the aromatic N,N,3,5-tetramethyl aniline (TMA) or the aromatic-like N,N-dimethylbenzylamine or aliphatic triethylamine. The effect of monomers with different backbone flexibilities on the curing kinetics were also investigated, using aliphatic triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), aliphatic nona-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and aromatic diethoxylated bisphenol-A dimethacrylate. Photo-DSC cure kinetics studies showed that the fastest polymerization occurred when all three components were present for CPTXO/amine/Ph2IPF6 systems, and the maximum polymerization rate followed the trend: CPTXO/amine/Ph2IPF6 ≫ CPTXO/Ph2IPF6 ≥ CPTXO/amine, irrespective of the monomer or amine used. UV-visible spectroscopy studies revealed that for the TEGDMA/CPTXO/TMA, TEGDMA/CPTXO/Ph2IPF6, and TEGDMA/CPTXO/TMA/Ph2IPF6 systems, the CPTXO was rapidly photobleached at its absorption maximum (near 385 nm) during the photo-DSC timescale with photobleaching rates which followed the trend: CPTXO/TMA ≫ CPTXO/Ph2IPF6 ≈ CPTXO/TMA/Ph2IPF6. At the same time, a new absorption at 500 nm appeared for the systems containing CPTXO and Ph2IPF6, and the rate of this photodarkening behavior was greater for the CPTXO/Ph2IPF6 system compared with CPTXO/TMA/Ph2IPF6, – no photodarkening at 500 nm was found for the CPTXO/TMA system. Based on the curing kinetics, photobleaching studies and the thermodynamic feasibility it is proposed that for the three-component CPTXO/amine/Ph2IPF6 system, the reaction involves two main pathways. The first is the irreversible oxidation of the excited CPTXO molecule by Ph2IPF6 with the formation of a thioxanthone radical cation and a phenyl radical by an electron-transfer mechanism, followed by H-transfer between a thioxanthone radical cation and amine (or monomer) to form an aminoalkyl radical and to also regenerate CPTXO. The second pathway involves the reduction of the excited CPTXO molecule by the amine to form ketyl and aminoalkyl radicals, followed by the irreversible oxidation of the amine and the ketyl radicals by the iodonium salt, to form an initiating radical and also to regenerate CPTXO. Due to the non-reversible oxidation of the CPTXO and amine radicals by the iodonium salt (which prevents the back-electron transfer of amine to the excited CPTXO), due to the CPTXO regeneration reactions and due to the removal of the potentially terminating CPTXO radical, the efficiency of the CPTXO/TMA/Ph2IPF6 photoinitiating system is dramatically enhanced.


PURPOSE
To evaluate the short-term test/retest variability in visually normal subjects and patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and to assess the effect of stimulus intensity and baseline amplitude on electroretinogram (ERG) variability.

METHODS
Eighteen patients with RP and nine visually normal subjects had a series of three unilateral ERGs, with an inter-visit interval of no less than 2 days and no more than 2 weeks. Responses to dark-adapted and both light-adapted single flash and 32 Hz flicker stimuli were recorded from a dilated eye over a range of stimulus intensities. B-wave amplitudes were compared to baseline amplitudes recorded at initial visit, and the resulting inter-visit percent difference was compared between stimulus intensities. Inter-visit variability was determined by one-way repeated measures analysis of variance using a 95% confidence interval to calculate threshold criteria for significant change. Analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni test for pairwise comparison was used to test for differences in inter-visit variability between two RP patient subgroups (higher versus lower baseline amplitudes) and visually normal subjects. The effect of stimulus intensity on amplitude reproducibility was also assessed.

RESULTS
Threshold for significant increase or decrease in inter-visit ERG amplitudes at a 95% confidence level for patients with RP and visually normal subjects was often at or above 25% and not infrequently at or above 40% for certain stimuli and test conditions. While no statistical difference in inter-visit variability was demonstrated between visually normal subjects and patients with RP who were arbitrarily categorized as having relatively higher baseline amplitudes, there was a difference between each of these two groups and a smaller group of patients with RP categorized as having lower baseline amplitudes. Although the authors could not demonstrate that percent inter-visit differences varied with stimulus intensity in either controls or patients with RP, the 32 Hz flicker stimulus generally produced less amplitude variability than either dark- or light-adapted single flash stimuli in patients with RP.

CONCLUSIONS
When using ERG amplitude for monitoring either the natural history of functional loss in retinal disease or as an outcome measure during a therapeutic trial, it becomes vital to define inter-visit variability of ERG amplitudes. These findings suggest that a percentage of patients with RP with appreciably lower baseline ERG amplitudes may manifest greater inter-visit ERG amplitude variability than patients with RP with higher baseline amplitudes or controls. Stimulus intensity had no clinically significant effect on inter-visit amplitude variability.


The nature of eolian-dune reservoirs is strongly influenced by stratification types (in decreasing order of quality: grain-flow, grain-fall, wind-ripple deposits) and their packaging by internal bounding surfaces. These are, in turn, a function of dune surface processes and migration behavior, allowing for predictive models of reservoir behavior. Migrating, simple crescentic dunes produce tabular bodies consisting mainly of grain-flow cross-strata, and form the best, most predictable reservoirs. Reservoir character improves as both original dune height and preserved set thickness increase, because fewer grain-fall deposits and a lower percentage of dune-apron deposits occur in the cross-strata, respectively. It is probable that many linear and star dunes migrate laterally leaving a blanket of packages of wind ripple laminae reflecting deposition of broad, shifting aprons. This is distinct from models generated by "freezing" large portions of these dunes in place. Trailing margins of linear and star dunes are prone to reworking by sand-sheet processes that decrease potential reservoir quality. The occurrence of parabolic dunes isolated on vegetated sand sheets results in a core of grain-flow and grain-fall deposits surrounded by less permeable and porous deposits. Compound crescentic dunes, perhaps the most preservable dune type, may yield laterally (1) single sets of cross-strata, (2) compound sets derived from superimposed simple dunes, or (3) a complex of diverse sets derived from superimposed transverse and linear elements. End_of_Article - Last_Page 274------------


BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine whether the use of visual freeze indicators on vaccines would assist health care providers in identifying vaccines that may have been exposed to potentially damaging temperatures. MethodsTwenty-seven sites in Connecticut involved in the Vaccine for Children Program participated. In addition to standard procedures, visual freeze indicators (FREEZEmarker® L; Temptime Corporation, Morris Plains, NJ) were affixed to each box of vaccine that required refrigeration but must not be frozen. Temperatures were monitored twice daily. ResultsDuring the 24 weeks, all 27 sites experienced triggered visual freeze indicator events in 40 of the 45 refrigerators. A total of 66 triggered freeze indicator events occurred in all 4 types of refrigerators used. Only 1 of the freeze events was identified by a temperature-monitoring device. Temperatures recorded on vaccine data logs before freeze indicator events were within the 35°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) range in all but 1 instance. A total of 46,954 doses of freeze-sensitive vaccine were stored at the time of a visual freeze indicator event. Triggered visual freeze indicators were found on boxes containing 6566 doses (14.0% of total doses). Of all doses stored, 14,323 doses (30.5%) were of highly freeze-sensitive vaccine; 1789 of these doses (12.5%) had triggered indicators on the boxes. ConclusionsVisual freeze indicators are useful in the early identification of freeze events involving vaccines. Consideration should be given to including these devices as a component of the temperature-monitoring system for vaccines.


Background Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) injection is an alternative to surgery for patients with Dupuytren disease (DD) of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. The success of surgical and nonsurgical treatment modalities for DD is reported to vary widely between 25% and 80% (J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1985;67:1439–1443; Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;120:44e–54e; J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89:189–198; J Hand Surg Am. 2011:36:936–942; J Hand Surg Am. 1990;15:755–761; J Hand Surg Br. 1996;21:797–800; J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2000;82:90–94; Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005;115:802–810; Ann Plast Surg. 2006;57:13–17). This study presents the outcomes of patients with DD contractures treated with CCH injections at a single institution. Methods An institutional review board–approved retrospective study was conducted of patients with DD of the hand treated with CCH injections in a single institution from February 2010 to April 2015. All patients received the recommended dose of 0.58 mg of CCH and returned for joint manipulation the following day. Data for follow-up at 7 and 30 days postoperatively and up to 5 years for patients who returned seeking further therapy for recurrent symptoms were reviewed. Results One hundred thirteen patients with a total of 146 affected joints (72 MCP; 74 PIP) were treated with CCH injections (95 males; 18 females; age, 40–92 y). Successful CCH therapy occurred in 75% of injected joints (109/146 joints; 59 MCP; 50 PIP), as defined by less than 5 degrees of contracture after treatment. Twenty-three percent of treated joints had partial correction (34/146 joints; 13 MCP; 21 PIP), as defined by between 5 and 30 degrees of residual contracture after treatment. Three patients (2%) had a failure of treatment, as defined by unchanged or worsened contracture from pretreatment baseline measurements. Fifteen patients (13%) returned to the clinic seeking additional therapy for recurrent joint contracture symptoms in 17 joints over a span of 1.5 months to 4 years after initial successful or partially successful treatment (17/143, 12%; 5 MCP; 12 PIP). Recurrence was defined as patients who sought treatment for a return of symptoms or greater than 20 degrees contracture in the setting of a palpable cord after initial full or partial contracture correction. Discussions Our 5-year outcome of CCH injections for DD contractures revealed full correction in 75% and partial correction in 23% of treated joints, with failure of treatment seen in only 2% of patients. Thirteen percent of the patients returned for additional treatment because of symptoms resulting from contracture recurrence in 12% of initially corrected or partially corrected joints. These positive outcomes are comparable with current surgical treatment modalities (J Hand Surg Am. 1990;15:755–761; J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1962;44B:602–613; J Clin Epidemiol. 2000;53:291–296). The use of CCH injections is an important nonsurgical treatment alternative for DD contractures of the MCP and PIP joints.


With the advent of advanced deep sea mining technology, seafloor mining is poised to begin on a global scale. For the success of any mining operation, it is crucial that both the operators and regulatory bodies possess detailed information of the resource and surrounding environment during all stages of the mining process. We propose that synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) is a key emerging technology that can be used by all relevant parties at only a minimal increase in cost. This technology, originally designed for military and offshore oil and gas industry applications, can be readily applied to scientific seafloor mapping. The fine resolution of this technique allows for deposit mapping of active and inactive seafloor massive sulfide deposits. By clearly distinguishing between volcanic and hydrothermal landscapes based on features finer than the resolution of conventional multibeam systems, SAS enables an entirely new level of hydrothermal deposit survey. This technology was employed during a detailed survey of shallow hydrothermal systems on the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge system. Here we present preliminary results from a newly discovered venting area adjacent to the Troll Wall field, southern Mohns Ridge. This area has extensive high and low temperature hydrothermal accumulations with variable surface morphology, which appear in SAS imagery to be distinct from adjacent volcanic and tectonic structures. SAS images, when coupled with assays from ROV rock samples, will enable rapid deposit estimation for this novel Arctic hydrothermal mineral resource.


Background : Growth problem, such as stunting is still a major issue in the world. The prevalence of stunting in Indonesia increases throughout the years. Chronic undernutrition in adolescent with stunting, low socioeconomic, and education levels in a family can contribute to low iron intake. Low iron intake leads to low hemoglobin level. This study aimed to compare iron intake and hemoglobin level between stunting and non-stunting adolescent. Methods : This study was conducted to 59 respondents aged 11–14 years old from a Junior High School in Jatinangor, West Java from September to October 2014. Those respondents were divided into two groups: stunting and non-stunting group. This study was an analytic comparative study using cross-sectional method. Data were collected through body height measurement, hemoglobin level examination, and interviews of iron-containing food intake. The collected data were analyzed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results : Twenty eight of 59 subjects were stunting and 31 were normal. The mean of hemoglobin level was 12.95 (0.95) in stunting adolescent and 13.66 (1.35) in non-stunting adolescent. The mean iron intake was 23.9 (24.39) mg/day in stunting adolescent and 23 (22.6) mg/day in non-stunting adolescent. There was a difference of hemoglobin between those groups, but not in iron intake. Conclusions : Stunting adolescent has lower hemoglobin levels compared to non-stunting adolescent. There is no difference of iron intake levels between stunting and non-stunting adolescent. [AMJ.2016;3(2):175–80] DOI:  10.15850/amj.v3n2.782


Quantitative and qualitative research suggests that urban disadvantaged environments may be highly stressful to their inhabitants. Social disorganization may be deleterious to both physical and mental health. The relationships among perceptions of one's neighborhood, measures of social support and social integration, and level of subsequent depressive symptoms was examined with a community sample of 818 individuals screened for an HIV prevention intervention, most of whom were current or former drug users. After adjusting for baseline levels of depressive symptoms, perceptions of neighborhood characteristics (vandalism, litter or trash, vacant housing, teenagers hanging out, burglary, drug selling, and robbery) predicted depressive symptoms at a 9-month follow-up interview. Measures of social support and social integration, entered as interactions with neighborhood perceptions, did not buffer the effect of neighborhood perceptions. However, CES-D scores at follow-up for frequent church attendees were lower. The data support theories of social disorganization and social stress and suggest the need for structural intervention.


Thermophilic propionate-oxidizing, proton-reducing bacteria were enriched from the granular methanogenic sludge of a bench-scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor operated at 55°C with a mixture of volatile fatty acids as feed. Thermophilic hydrogenotrophic methanogens had a high decay rate. Therefore, stable, thermophilic propionate-oxidizing cultures could not be obtained by using the usual enrichment procedures. Stable and reproducible cultivation was possible by enrichment in hydrogen-pregrown cultures of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum ΔH which were embedded in precipitates of FeS, achieved by addition of FeCl2 to the media. The propionate-oxidizing bacteria formed spores which resisted pasteurization for 30 min at 90°C or 10 min at 100°C. Highly purified cultures were obtained with either M. thermoautotrophicum ΔH or Methanobacterium thermoformicicum Z245 as the syntrophic partner organism. The optimum temperature for the two cultures was 55°C. Maximum specific growth rates of cultures with M. thermoautotrophicum ΔH were somewhat lower than those of cultures with M. thermoformicicum Z245 (0.15 and 0.19 day-1, respectively). Growth rates were even higher (0.32 day-1) when aceticlastic methanogens were present as well. M. thermoautotrophicum ΔH is an obligately hydrogen-utilizing methanogen, showing that interspecies hydrogen transfer is the mechanism by which reducing equivalents are channelled from the acetogens to this methanogen. Boundaries of hydrogen partial pressures at which propionate oxidation occurred were between 6 and 34 Pa. Formate had a strong inhibitory effect on propionate oxidation in cultures with M. thermoautotrophicum. Inhibition by formate was neutralized by addition of the formate-utilizing methanogen or by addition of fumarate. Results indicate that formate inhibited succinate oxidation to fumarate, an intermediate step in the biochemical pathway of propionate oxidation.


Background Many studies have explored the role of "classic" sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in determining the pattern of HIV epidemics. However, the many different STDs may contribute in different ways, at different magnitudes. Goal To review available studies on the bidirectional interactions of HIV and STDs to explore the extent of current knowledge on the different influences of the varied STDs in heterosexual HIV epidemics. Methods Longitudinal studies on susceptibility and controlled studies on infectiousness and duration of disease identified on electronic databases through reference lists and citation indices up to the end of 1999 were systematically reviewed, including meta-analyses assessing the influence of STDs on susceptibility to HIV. Results Studies have a clear publication bias with a significant result that hinders robust interpretation. However, genital ulcerative disease appears to have a greater impact than nonulcerative disease, and men are more affected than women by the effects of STDs on susceptibility to HIV. There is evidence that STDs increase the infectiousness of HIV from men to women, whereas the evidence is more equivocal for the infectiousness of women. Few studies identify the impact of different STDs, and there is a marked lack of studies investigating the impact of HIV infection on the transmission of other STDs. Conclusions A large body of work has measured the association between STDs and HIV. However, publication bias and gaps in the focus of studies mean that a detailed, quantitative understanding of the interaction requires much more attention.


Abstract. Thaw of subsea permafrost across the Arctic Ocean shelves might promote the degradation of organic matter to CO2 and CH4, but also create conduits for transfer of deeper CH4 pools to the atmosphere and thereby amplify global warming. In this study, we describe sedimentary characteristics of three subsea permafrost cores of 21–56 m length drilled near the current delta of the Lena River in the Buor–Khaya Bay on the East Siberian Arctic Shelf, including content, origin and degradation state of organic matter around the current thaw front. Grain size distribution and optically stimulated luminescence dating suggest the alternating deposition of aeolian silt and fluvial sand over the past 160 000 years. Organic matter in 3 m sections across the current permafrost table was characterized by low organic carbon contents (average 0.7 ± 0.2 %) as well as enriched δ13C values and low concentrations of the terrestrial plant biomarker lignin compared to other recent and Pleistocene deposits in the study region. The lignin phenol composition further suggests contribution of both tundra and boreal forest vegetation, at least the latter likely deposited by rivers. Our findings indicate high variability in organic matter composition of subsea permafrost even within a small study area, reflecting its development in a heterogeneous and dynamic landscape. Even with this relatively low organic carbon content, the high rates of observed subsea permafrost thaw in this area yield a thaw-out of 1.6 kg OC m−2 year−1, emphasizing the need to constrain the fate of the poorly described and thawing subsea permafrost organic carbon pool.


Abstract We develop and evaluate a large-scale dynamic vegetation model, TEM-LPJ, which considers interactions among water, light and nitrogen in simulating ecosystem function and structure. We parameterized the model for three plant functional types (PFTs): a temperate deciduous forest, a temperate coniferous forest, and a temperate C3 grassland. Model parameters were determined using data from forest stands at the Harvard Forest in Massachusetts. Applications of the model reasonably simulated stand development over 120 yr for Populus tremuloides in Wisconsin and for Pinus elliottii in Florida. Our evaluation of tree-grass interactions simulated by the model indicated that competition for light led to dominance by the deciduous forest PFT in moist regions of eastern United States and that water competition led to dominance by the grass PFT in dry regions of the central United States. Along a moisture transect at 41.5° N in the eastern United States, simulations by TEM-LPJ reproduced the composition of potential temperate deciduous forest, temperate savanna, and C3 grassland located along the transect. Abbreviations: DGVM = Dynamic global vegetation models; LPJ = Lund-Potsdam-Jena; TEM = Terrestrial Ecosystem Model; VEMAP = Vegetation Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Project; WBM = Water Balance Model.


Prefiltering a given discrete signal has been shown to be an essential and necessary step in applications using unbal- anced multiwavelets. In this paper, we develop two methods to obtain optimal second-order approximation preserving prefilters for a given orthogonal multiwavelet basis. These procedures use the prefilter construction introduced in part I of this paper (5). The first prefilter optimization scheme exploits the Taylor series expansion of the prefilter combined with the multiwavelet. The second one is achieved by minimizing the energy compaction ratio (ECR) of the wavelet coefficients for an experimentally determined average input spectrum. We use both methods to find prefilters for the cases of the DGHM and Chui-Lian (CL) multiwavelets. We then compare experimental results using these filters in an image compression scheme. Additionally, using the DGHM multiwavelet with the optimal prefilters from the first scheme, we find that quadratic input signals are annihilated by the high-pass portion of filter bank at the first level of decomposition.


Abstract Growers of glyphosate-resistant crops apply micronutrients tank-mixed with glyphosate to save time and production costs. Therefore, effect of zinc (Zn), as Zn sulfate, on absorption, translocation, and efficacy of glyphosate on yellow nutsedge was investigated. Glyphosate at 850 g ae ha−1 provided 90% yellow nutsedge control at 5 wk after treatment (WAT). Presence of Zn at 1,000 ppmw in the glyphosate spray solution reduced yellow nutsedge control to 24 and 8%, 3 and 5 WAT, respectively. Yellow nutsedge control decreased with increasing Zn level (500 to 2,000 ppmw) in the spray solution. Yellow nutsedge treated with higher rates of Zn tank-mixed with glyphosate produced more tubers and tillers per plant than untreated plants. An abrupt decrease in absorption and translocation of 14C–glyphosate occurred between 500 and 1,000 ppmw Zn. The antagonistic effect of Zn on glyphosate depended mainly on reduced absorption and translocation of 14C–glyphosate within treated tissues. Less than 10% of applied 14C–glyphosate was absorbed when glyphosate was mixed with 1,000, 2,000, or 4,000 ppmw Zn as compared with 85% absorption for glyphosate alone. These treatments inhibited > 90% of 14C–glyphosate translocation out of the treated leaf and > 50% of tuber translocation relative to glyphosate alone. Results indicate that micronutrients containing Zn are not suitable for tank-mixing with glyphosate. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. CYPES


Anatoliacodium gen. nov. (Halimedaceae, Green algae) from the Ilerdian-Cuisian in the Eskişehir region (Western Central Turkey) A new genus Anatoliacodium (Halimedaceae, Green algae) is described from the Ilerdian-Cuisian shallow-water sediments of Eskişehir region, central-western Turkey. These sequences consist of limestones, clayey limestones, sandy limestones and claystones. Anatoliacodium gen. nov. is characterized by erected calcareous segments with well differentiated inner structure: prevailing with large medulla of more or less densely set parallel filaments and cortical zone of prevailing horizontal to subhorizontal cortical filaments, once branching and without constriction. It is supposed that poorly and rarely preserved noncalcareous structures on the skeleton surface could be reproductive structures. The type species of the new genus is Anatoliacodium xinanmui gen. nov. sp. nov. A further new species is also described: Anatoliacodium merici gen. nov. sp. nov. Finally Gymnocodium nummuliticum Pfender, 1966 is emended and transferred to the genus Anatoliacodium.


The distinction often made between active and passive restoration approaches is a false dichotomy that persists in much research, policy and financial structures today. We explore the contradictions imposed by this terminology, and the merits of replacing this dichotomy with a continuum-based intervention framework. In practice, the main distinction between "passive" and "active" restoration lies primarily in the timing and extent of human interventions. We apply the intervention continuum framework to forest, grassland, stream, and peatland ecosystems, emphasizing that a range of restoration approaches within the scope of ecological or ecosystem restoration are typically employed in most projects, and all can contribute to the recovery of native ecosystems and prevention of further degradation. As restoration is fundamentally about the recovery of ecosystems, eliminating human sources of degradation is essential to enable ecosystem recovery processes, regardless of subsequent interventions that may be needed to assist recovery. Our review of restoration practices involving different levels of intervention highlights the benefits of recognizing a broader suite of restoration interventions in the financial and policy frameworks that currently underpin restoration activity. Effective restoration interventions emerge from an understanding of nature's intrinsic recovery potential and overcoming specific obstacles that limit this potential.


Extreme-scale simulations and high-resolution instruments have been generating an increasing amount of data, which poses significant challenges to not only data storage during the run, but also post-processing where data will be repeatedly retrieved and analyzed for a long period of time. The challenges in satisfying a wide range of post-hoc analysis needs while minimizing the I/O overhead caused by inappropriate and/or excessive data retrieval should never be left unmanaged. In this paper, we propose a data refactoring, compressing, and retrieval framework capable of 1) fine-grained data refactoring with regard to precision; 2) incrementally retrieving and recomposing the data in terms of various error bounds; and 3) adaptively retrieving data in multi-precision and multi-resolution with respect to different analysis. With the progressive data re-composition and the adaptable retrieval algorithms, our framework significantly reduces the amount of data retrieved when multiple incremental precision are requested and/or the downstream analysis time when coarse resolution is used. Experiments show that the amount of data retrieved under the same progressively requested error bound using our framework is 64% less than that using state-of-the-art single-error-bounded approaches. Parallel experiments with up to 1, 024 cores and $\sim\ 600$ GB data in total show that our approach yields $1.36\times$ and $2.52\times$ performance over existing approaches in writing to and reading from persistent storage systems, respectively.


A 46-year-old man presented to our institution with inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shock delivery. The ICD (single chamber, dual shock coils) was implanted for sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia with unstable hemodynamics and underlying systolic left ventricular dysfunction. ICD interrogation revealed recurrent episodes of ICD shock due to noise sensing and increased impedance of right ventricular (RV)-lead. With the impression of lead fracture, ICD lead extraction was performed. The fractured ICD lead was completely removed by traction of locking stylet and counter-traction of polypropylene dilator sheath. A new lead was inserted and the patient was discharged without complications after 2 days. To our knowledge, this is the first report on ICD lead extraction by conventional traction and counter-traction technique in Korea.


The aim of the book is to highlight the law and economics issues confronting civil law countries. The following questions are addressed in this volume: to what extent have the existing codes in civil law countries been designed to incorporate economic considerations? Can the modifications made to codified rules over time be explained by a will to react to new economic constraints? Which economic problems are at the root of the revision of codes? And, given that the code is not the only source of law in civil law countries, the volume also explores the relationship between law and economics in the context of both the legislature and the courts.


This project furthered my ongoing investigation into the utopian commune and its current forms. The research developed from an international group exhibition that I curated for Cell Project Space, London (2007): Hope & Despair included work by artists from Germany, Denmark, France, Britain and USA and examined the relationship between artistic practice and the philosophy and practice of certain closed utopian communities in Europe and the USA.

The understandings from that exhibition fed directly into my studio research and the work presented in this project. The two solo exhibitions, Face Yourself (2008) and Garden Ruin (2009), focus on four independent communes: The Center for Experimental Culture Design (ZEGG), near Berlin, 'Black Bear Ranch', California, 'Okotop' in Dusseldorf and Freetown Christiania, Denmark. The exhibitions, in London and San Francisco, provided the opportunity to link these communities together in a series of works examining the outcomes and artefacts generated within self-contained utopian communities. The research included extended visits to these sites, working directly with the communities and their archives, as well as creating my own documentation.
The main objectives of this project were to reveal the hidden cultural developments within a closed community and to identify what role art plays outside the mainstream system. The artworks I made in response to the research were in part reflecting the function and form of 'communal artworks', which included garden design, as well as drawing from the larger visual 'melting pot' that springs from collectives. For this project I used material appropriated from direct source and continued my interest in observing art and craft production within the closed community.

The broader political context of these communities, and their use of and relationship to the landscape, are key aspects of my current research. This has led to my 2011 residency in the 'Garden City' of Singapore.


One hundred seven patients were treated with either piperacillin (56) or carbenicillin (51) in an open randomized trial of hospitalized patients with pleuropulmonary (40), urinary tract (26), gynecologic (21), skin and soft-tissue (eight), joint (five), bone (three), and miscellaneous other infections (four). Patients with urinary tract infections were given 150 mg/kg/day of piperacillin sodium or 200 mg/kg/day or carbenicillin sodium in divided doses every six hours intravenously. Patients with other infections were given 250 mg/kg/day of piperacillin sodium and 450 mg/kg/day of carbenicillin sodium; 53/56 (95%) patients treated with piperacillin and 45/51 (88%) patients treated with carbenicillin were cured clinically. In general, the drugs were well tolerated. There were, however, more adverse experiences in the groups taking carbenicillin. Of special interest was the finding of liver function test abnormalities in 17/78 (21%) carbenicillin recipients (evaluative and nonevaluative cases). We concluded that piperacillin was effective and safe. It has potential for use in a great variety of infections.


The shear stress ? that can be sustained by the rock mass in the environs of a mining-induced earthquake controls the near-fault peak ground velocity v of that event according to v?0.25(i?½/G)?, where i?½ is the shear wave speed and G is the modulus of rigidity. To estimate ? at mining depths, I review the results of four studies involving Witwatersrand tremors that relate to the bulk shear strength. The first and most general analysis uses the common assumptions that the seismogenic crust is pervasively faulted, has hydrostatic pore pressure before mining, and an extensional stress state that is close to failure. Mining operations reduce the pore pressure to zero within the mine and redistribute the stresses such that, in localized regions, the state of stress is again at the point of failure. Laboratory friction experiments can be used to estimate t in the zero-pore-pressure regime. Second, model calculations of states of stress in the vicinity of mining at about 3 km depth indicated the shear stress available to cause faulting near the centre of a distribution of induced earthquakes. Third, laboratory experiments combined with microscopic analyses of fault gouge from the rupture zone of a mining-induced event provided an estimate of the average shear stress acting on the fault to cause this earthquake at a depth of 2 km. Fourth, moment tensors determined for mining-induced earthquakes usually show substantial implosive components, from which it is straightforward to estimate ?. These four different analyses yield estimates of ? that fall in the range 30 to 61 MPa which implies that near-fault particle velocities could be as high as about 1.5 m/s. To the extent that the causative fault ruptures previously intact rock, both ? and ?, in localized regions, could be several times higher than 61 MPa and 1.5 m/s.


Introduction: Chondrosarcomas are the most common primary bone malignancy in adults within the United States. Low-grade chondrosarcomas of the long bones, now referred to as atypical cartilaginous tumors (ACTs), have undergone considerable changes in recommended management over the past 20 years, although controversy remains. Diagnostic needle biopsy is recommended only in ambiguous lesions that cannot be clinically diagnosed with a multidisciplinary team. Local excision is preferred due to better functional and equivalent oncologic outcomes. We sought to determine whether these changes are reflected in reported management of ACTs. Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) 2004 to 2016 was queried for ACTs of the long bones. Reported patient demographics and tumor clinicopathologic findings were extracted and compared between patients who underwent local excision versus wide resection. Results: We identified 1174 ACT patients in the NCDB. Of these, 586 underwent local excision and 588 underwent wide resection. No significant differences were found in patient demographics. No significant change was found in the reported percentage of diagnostic biopsies or wide resections performed over time. After multivariate regression, the single greatest predictor of performing wide resection on an ACTs was presenting tumor size. Discussion: Evaluation of the NCDB demonstrated that despite changes in the recommended management of ACTs, there has not been a significant change in surgical treatment over time. Surgeons have been performing diagnostic biopsies and wide resections at similar to historical rates. Persistency of these practices may be due to presenting tumor size, complex anatomic location, uncertainty of underlying tumor grade, or patient choice as part of clinical shared decision making. The authors anticipate that the rate of biopsies and wide resections performed will decrease over time as a result of improvements in advanced imaging and the implementation of recently updated clinical practice guidelines.


The decision-making process regarding the optimal infertility treatment strategy is influenced by several factors. In addition to the underlying cause of infertility, the process of decision making is also influenced by other factors. These factors are mainly (1) the duration of infertility, (2) patient's age, and (3) the number of previously performed treatment cycles of intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). The duration of infertility influences diagnostic steps as well as therapeutic options. With an infertility of at least 5 years the benefit of intrauterine insemination is limited and couples should be counseled to go forward with IVF. Patients age (cid:1) 40 years should be treated with IVF, whereas patients age (cid:1) 43 years should be counseled about their very limited chance to conceive even through IVF. The number of insemination cycles should be limited to four. Couples who have undergone at least six IVF cycles should be counseled to discontinue therapy. The treatment program should be as individualized as possible, with individual counseling that is adapted after each single treatment cycle.


The trade-offs between farm system production and profitability, adaptation to climate change
and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are associated with complex interactions. The GHG
mitigation consequences of effective adaptations should be taken into account when including them in
mitigation policies. In this paper, we present the results of 2 modelling studies of climate change adaptation x
mitigation interactions in southern Australian broadacre livestock production: (a) case studies of adapting to
climate change by increasing soil fertility at 2 locations that examine the effects on farm-level GHG
balances, and (b) an examination how systematic combinations of adaptations (grassland management and
animal genetic improvement) might affect future methane (CH4) emissions across the whole of southern
Australia (33.25 Mha). We used the AusFarm model to simulate the effects of climate change under the
SRES A2 scenario in 2030.
Merino ewe grazing systems were modelled at 2 locations (Lake Grace, WA and Wellington, NSW) under
historical climate and climates projected for 2030. The effects of adapting to climate change by increasing
soil fertility by adding phosphorus (P) on system productivity, profitability, N2O emissions, enteric CH4
emissions, and changes in soil carbon stocks were estimated. The negative impacts of climate change on
productivity were reduced by achieving higher soil fertility, so increasing profitability at 2030. CH4
emissions declined under 2030 climate owing to lower sustainable stocking rates, but the reduction was
smaller when soil fertility was increased. Soil C stocks were predicted to decrease under 2030 climate due to
a decrease in net primary productivity of the pasture. Increasing soil fertility was predicted to cause little
change in soil carbon stocks, because its main effect was to increase NPP consumed by livestock instead of
NPP left to be incorporated into the soil. An increase in N2O emissions under 2030 climate can be related to
changes in rainfall regime. Increased soil fertility by P could slightly reduce this increase. Higher soil P
fertility decreased N2O emissions compared with no adaptation by 7% at Lake Grace and 25% at Wellington.
CH4 is the second most important anthropogenic GHG. Ruminants (2.4 Gt CO2-eq yr-1) are the largest source
of CH4 emissions. By modelling 5 livestock enterprises at 25 representative locations, we estimated an areaaverage
ruminant CH4 emission rate of 70 kg ha-1 yr-1 during the historical period, which is consistent with
previous estimates. By decreasing optimal sustainable stocking rates (OSSR), climate change impacts were
projected to decrease ruminant CH4 emissions to 55, 51, and 42 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2030, 2050, and 2070,
respectively. Ruminant CH4 emissions under the most profitable systemic adaptation were estimated to vary
among sites, depending mainly on OSSR. If the most profitable adaptations were fully adopted, average
ruminant CH4 emissions were estimated to increase to 84 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2030, 83 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2050, and 75
kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2070.
Across regions and averaging among enterprises, a linear relationship was found between CH4 emissions (kg
ha-1) and profit (A$ ha-1). A linear relationship was predicted between CH4 emission and meat production. In
2050, the most profitable combination of adaptations will result in CH4 emission changes that range between
factors of -0.82 and +1.08 relative to the reference period. In addition, CH4 emissions will reach an intensity
of 0.26 kg ha-1 yr-1 (6.5 CO2-eq kg ha-1 yr-1) for each A$1 of profit and 0.99 kg ha-1 yr-1 (24.9 CO2-eq kg ha-1
yr-1) for 1 kg of meat production. Across regions and averaging among enterprises, changes in the CH4
emissions for the most profitable combinations had a logarithmic relationship with changes in profitability
(e.g. for 2050: ΔCH4= 0.207ln (Δprofit)-0.326, R2=0.63).
Ruminant CH4 emissions will depend on animal numbers (i.e. stocking rates) that, in turn, will be controlled
by adaptation intensity. Greater intensification and ruminant CH4 emission are likely to occur, because
increasing demand of meat has been projected for the future and there is capacity for higher and profitable
production to respond this demand. Future food market projections have shown such a great demand even
under price effects.


This paper presents evidence to identify the appropriate investment criterion (IRR vs NPV) with emphasis on the controversial reinvestment assumption, multiple, negative, zero and no IRR, mutually exclusive investment and independent projects. The analysis is based on the estimated return of capital (ROC), return on invested capital (ROIC), capital amortization schedule (CAS) and the modified CAS (MCAS). The salient findings are:
a. There is no reinvestment of intermediate income in normal net cash flow (NCF) investments. Incidences of reinvestment is evident in some of the non-normal NCF (NNCF) investments where the opening balance (OB) in the CAS is positive. The generalized assertion of reinvestment at IRR or at hurdle rate with IRR and NPV, respectively, is not valid except in the case of some NNCF.
b. The problem of multiple IRR is caused by reinvestment of intermediate income in some non-normal NCF (NNCF) investments. MCAS method eliminates the reinvestment income from the NNCF data and resolves the problem of multiple IRR and leads to unique IRR.
c. There is no IRR when there is no investment in zero year or investment year or there is no negative cash flow and no sign change. Negative IRR is common when the sum of NNCF is negative that and reveals capital loss (ROC not fully recovered). When the sum of NNCF is zero, the IRR will be zero. Zero IRR indicates that the NNCF is sufficient to recover the capital cost (ROC) and ROIC not recovered.
d. In the case of mutually exclusive projects, selecting projects based on NPV at hurdle rate is misleading. A project selected based on higher NPV at hurdle rate ends-up with negative NPV when discounted by the higher IRR achieved by the counterpart project (with lower NPV). In the case of counterpart project, the NPV is not negative but zero at that higher IRR as the discount rate. This weakness of NPV is not exposed as NPV is a static point estimate (at hurdle rate). The NPV is not an appropriate criterion.
e. Among a range of discount rates tried, IRR is the only rate that indicates the full utilization of the NCF (makes the NPV zero) and the maximum feasible ROIC (=IRR). IRR therefore performs better than the NPV to select or rank independent or mutually exclusive projects. NPV is the unutilized NCF and a static point estimate. NPV therefore provides incomplete information at hurdle rate. It fails to indicate the full ROIC that the Net cash flow (NCF) could support. NPV at hurdle rate can at best indicate whether the NCF is fully utilized (NPV = 0) or not fully utilized (positive NPV) or not adequate to cover the cost of capital (negative NPV), respectively. IRR, in contrast, explicitly indicates that the NCF is fully utilized (NPV and the closing balance (CB) in CAS are '0') and the ROIC plus ROC are fully recovered.
f. The modified IRR (MIRR) is not a solution to the problem of multiple IRR. MIRR assumes and includes reinvestment income without any evidence of reinvestment and therefore MIRR is a spurious estimate. The problem of reinvestment and the resultant multiple IRR is resolved by eliminating the reinvestment income under MCAS method and therefore IRR is unique.
These results consistently support the conclusion that IRR is the best criterion to accept or reject or rank mutually exclusive projects as well as independent projects. NPV will still be useful in other areas to estimate the present value. Authors of finance and economic textbooks and other publications may wish to review and consider appropriately update the sections on CBA or capital investment or capital budgeting.


Honey is highly nutritious, it has traces of minera ls and vitamins not to mention the antioxidants which destroy free radicals and de lay ageing. In short, it is a safe and wholesome food for old, children and adults. Althou gh not an herb, honey is a plant by-product and used medicinally around the world. Honey is als o an energizer, helping workers and athletes overcome fatigue and regain energy. Children, young and old can alike take honey, without worrying any side effects. Honey is a multivitamin tonic, has antibacterial properties and has antioxidants. Nausea, cough, cold etc can be treate d by taking honey with a tsp of tulsi (basil) leaf juice. Asthmatic persons can also benefit from taking honey everyday. Ayurveda acknowledges honey as a wonder medicine capable of providing longevity. Osteoporosis is another condition, which can be prevented by taking honey regularly. Modern researches have underpinned the wonderful effects of honey, proving honey to be effective against advanced cases of stomach and bone cancer. Taking one tables poon honey with one tsp cinnamon powder three times a day and cancer symptoms receded in on e month. Honey has several antioxidants, effective against cancer growth. You can take honey alone or with milk or water, with or without a pinch of cinnamon powder. Make honey a habit; it will keep you healthy, strong and fruitful. Honey is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal , and all of these properties make it ideal for healing wounds. It also dries out wounds effectivel y because of its low water content while its high sugar content keeps microorganisms from growin g. Honey also contains an enzyme that produces the disinfectant hydrogen peroxide when it touches a damp surface like a wound.


Original photographic negative donated by Donald L. Crews, former professor emeritus of the Department of Forest Sciences, College of Natural Resources, at Colorado State University.


• case. They are also of opinion that in cases of doubtful diagnosis these determinations may also prove useful. That a standardized method of recording the vital capacity may serve as a reliable guide to the prognosis of a tubercular infection seems quite probable. Whether Professor Dreyer's method is sufficiently delicate remains to be proved by experience. 'Ve certainly need convincing proof before this method can be accepted as a guide to prognosis, efficacy of treatment and diagnosis. •


BackgroundThe current treatment of many cases of acute myocardial infarction involves the use of thrombolytic agents. Evaluation of this therapy requires determination of the success of reperfusion and assessment of the presence and extent of infarction in the reperfused territory. The present study was designed to simulate in rat models several possible outcomes of reperfusion therapy: (1) successful reperfusion and absence of myocardial infarction, (2) successful reperfu-sion and presence of myocardial infarction, and (3) unsuccess-ful reperfusion. The usefulness of contrast-enhanced fast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in defining the success of reperfusion was investigated. The dynamic effects were examined of low and high doses of gadolinium-BOPTA/dimeglu-mine (Gd-BOPTA/dimeg) on myocardial signal using MR inversion recovery echo planar imaging (IR-EPI) and gradient recalled echo planar imaging (GR-EPI), respectively. Methods and ResultsRats were subjected to one of the following regimens: reperfused reversible myocardial injury (n=9), reperfused irreversible myocardial injury (n=9), and occlusive infarction (n=9). MR echo planar images were acquired every 1 or 2 seconds before, during, and after administration of Gd-BOPTA/dimeg. In all groups, normal myocardial signal was sharply increased on IR-EPI and decreased on GR-EPI at the peak of the bolus, followed by a gradual decline to baseline. In animals subjected to reperfused reversible myocardial injury, normal and previously ischemic regions were indistinguishable during and after the passage of Gd-BOPTA/dimeg. On the other hand, enhancement of reperfused irreversibly injured myocardium was delayed but increased steadily to a higher level than normal myocardium on IR-EPI. The reperfused irreversibly injured myocardium was identified on IR-EPI as a zone of high signal (hot spot). On GR-EPI, signal loss in reperfused irreversibly injured myocardium was significantly less compared with normally perfused myocardium. In animals with occlusive infarctions, there was no change in signal intensity over the ischemic region on either IR-EPI or GR-EPI. Occlusive infarction was identified as zones of either low (cold spot) or high (hot spot) signal compared with normal myocardium, depending on MR pulse sequence and dose of the contrast medium. ConclusionsThe transit of Gd-BOPTA/dimeg monitored by fast MR imaging techniques can be used to distinguish between reperfused reversibly and reperfused irreversibly injured myocardium and between occlusive and reperfused infarctions.


The EU Customs Union was one of the first and most significant steps toward economic integration on the continent of Europe. Following the decision of voters in the United Kingdom to leave the EU, the UK government has indicated that it also intends to leave the customs union. This decision poses a number of challenges for the economy of Northern Ireland given the land border with the Republic of Ireland and for the economy of the Republic of Ireland itself given the level of trade with both Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The role of the Customs Union and subsequently the Single Market in removing barriers to trade among EU member states has been crucial to the establishment of an 'all-island economy' on the Island of Ireland. A Comprehensive Free Trade Deal between the UK and the EU could maintain some of these gains, but the nature of the Customs Union means that a significant level of disruption may be unavoidable. This paper looks at the impacts of the UK leaving the Custom Union for trade on the Island of Ireland and looks at what post-Brexit policy options are available to avoid such disruption. The Brexit process is likely to culminate in identifying the least worst option which is politically acceptable to all involved. This version: 4 August 2017 *The author gratefully acknowledges helpful feedback from a number of reviewers. The usual disclaimer applies. All correspondence to email@example.com


This paper sets out to challenge assumptions about both normative practice and alternative practice. A historical case study of alternative practice is used to re-read the nature of architectural production since the modern period, and a contemporary mode of alternative practice is proposed which operates within the established profession but is informed by this alternative reading [1, 2]. This proposal seeks to remain fully engaged with the production of the built environment, using to its advantage rather than resisting the mechanisms of the profession.


Abstract A significant proportion of construction projects are failing to achieve their deadline finish dates. This advocate for solutions that could address the root causes of time impacting risks, leading to the use of 4D building information modeling (BIM) for project planning. This study investigates the impacts of 4D BIM on construction projects. An exploratory sequential mixed method research was conducted to initially explore the topic via interviews and literature review, and, subsequently, the themes derived were put into questionnaires to elicit expert knowledge on a wider industry scale. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, reliability analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test and factor analysis. Across the objectives around the impacts of 4D BIM on project reliability, monitoring and diagnosis, the findings presented eight key ways the 4D BIM support project performance. Examples of component factors that were raised was planning efficiency to enhance planner output, assessment and directive with a better comparison of planned and actual progress, and thorough/comprehensive risk reflection to cover wide ranges of issues. Upon further reflection, the finding highlighted the issues of the lack of shared responsibility outside of the planner and BIM coordinator, severe lack of understanding and training regarding 4D BIM and complexity of carrying out the process effectively.


The application of direct torque control (DTC) to brushless ac drives has been investigated extensively. This paper describes its application to brushless dc drives, and highlights the essential differences in its implementation, as regards torque estimation and the representation of the inverter voltage space vectors. Simulated and experimental results are presented, and it is shown that, compared with conventional current control, DTC results in reduced torque ripple and a faster dynamic response.


We extend real options analysis of timberland investments to examine a combination of financial and biophysical risk effects on optimal investment strategies in the southeastern United States. Results show that, despite a slight downward drift in price, expected returns for loblolly pine management fall between entry and exit thresholds, indicating an optimal "hold" strategy. This is explained by an offsetting upward trend in biophysical productivity associated with climate changes across a range of modeled futures. Monte Carlo analysis indicates a small positive difference between entry and exit outcomes consistent with observed rates of expansion in timberland investments in the region. (JEL D81, Q23)


Abstract Particle segregation is common in natural and industrial processes involving flowing granular materials. Complex, and seemingly contradictory, segregation phenomena have been observed for different boundary conditions and forcing. Using discrete element method simulations, we show that segregation of a single particle intruder can be described in a unified manner across different flow configurations. A scaling relation for the net segregation force is obtained by measuring forces on an intruder particle in controlled-velocity flows where gravity and flow kinematics are varied independently. The scaling law consists of two additive terms: a buoyancy-like gravity-induced pressure gradient term and a shear rate gradient term, both of which depend on the particle size ratio. The shear rate gradient term reflects a kinematics-driven mechanism whereby larger (smaller) intruders are pushed toward higher (lower) shear rate regions. The scaling is validated, without refitting, in wall-driven flows, inclined wall-driven flows, vertical silo flows, and free-surface flows down inclines. Comparing the segregation force with the intruder weight results in predictions of the segregation direction that match experimental and computational results for various flow configurations.


Conceptual works on tourism destination competitiveness affirm the central importance of planning the process of value creation within destination. Italy is an emblematic case of why and how a leading tourism destination may lose competitiveness along the years. Up to the 1980s Italy was in fact the top international tourism destination, but then such ranking gradually decreased, because of more complexity of sector and, over all, because of marginality of tourism in the government agenda and more in general of the country. After years of strategic myopia, Italy finally has a tool that formalizes its vision and indicates the key factors that can be leveraged in order to regain ground. In 2013, Italy adopted a National Strategic Plan. Therefore, this paper aims to describe an important turning point in tourism policies for the economic and cultural development of Italy. The research highlights the problematic areas of Italy's tourism industry and explains how a new approach should make the Italian destination able to successfully compete on the international tourism market.


Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is common complication in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The causative organisms of VAP are diverse and many times multidrug resistant. An early, appropriate antibiotic therapy depending on the likely pathogens is a key to VAP management. The present study aims at finding the incidence of VAP and identifying prevalent microbial pathogens associated with VAP in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Endotracheal aspirates from clinically suspected VAP patients were subjected to microbiological analysis. Isolated pathogens were identified by standard microbiological techniques. Results: A total of 330 patients received mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours with a total of 1490 ventilator days. 78 (23.63%) patients were clinically suspected to have VAP. The rate of VAP was 52.34 cases per 1000 ventilator days. With microbiological analysis, significant pathogens were isolated from 74 patients, with predominance of Gram negative bacteria. The most prevalent organism isolated was Klebsiella species from 29 patients (39.18%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter species, Citrobacter species, Proteus species, E. coli and S. aureus in that order. Conclusion: Knowledge of prevalent organisms causing VAP (e.g. Gram negative organisms in our study) is useful to formulate an effective empirical antibiotic policy, to reduce the morbidity, hospital stay and cost of the treatment of these patients.


Large mammalian carnivores are threatened by anthropogenic environmental impacts, particularly through habitat loss which often cause population declines. Understanding the extent of suitable habitat is therefore of great importance for carnivore conservation. The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a widespread and relatively common large carnivore, but the species is declining in large parts of its range. Using maximum entropy‐based habitat models, we estimated the extent of suitable leopard habitat in South Africa, what variables that are associated with suitable leopard habitats, the extent of habitat that has been negatively impacted by human activity and the effectiveness of protected areas to capture suitable habitat. Suitable leopard habitat was highly fragmented. Although vegetation and physical variables were the most influential variables for habitat suitability, livestock farming primarily seem to underlie fragmentation. We suggest that the sustainability of the South African leopard population depends on maintaining dispersal routes between areas with suitable habitat. This will require mitigation of human–carnivore conflict in habitat corridors, particularly mitigation strategies targeting conflict between carnivores and livestock farmers. Because most suitable habitat occurred outside of protected areas, we also recommend that leopard conservation efforts should focus on areas that are not legally protected.


Recently, the concept of Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) has been proposed to offload the resource requirements in
computational capabilities, storage and security from mobile devices into the cloud. Internet video applications such as
real-time streaming are expected to be ubiquitously deployed and supported over the cloud for mobile users, who
typically encounter a range of wireless networks of diverse radio access technologies during their roaming. However,
real-time video streaming for mobile cloud users across heterogeneous wireless networks presents multiple challenges.
The network-layer quality of service (QoS) provision to support high-quality mobile video delivery in this demanding
scenario remains an open research question, and this in turn affects the application-level visual quality and impedes
mobile users' perceived quality of experience (QoE).
In this paper, we devise a framework to support real-time video streaming in this new mobile video networking paradigm
and evaluate the performance of the proposed framework empirically through a lab-based yet realistic testing platform.
One particular issue we focus on is the effect of users' mobility on the QoS of video streaming over the cloud. We design
and implement a hybrid platform comprising of a test-bed and an emulator, on which our concept of mobile cloud
computing, video streaming and heterogeneous wireless networks are implemented and integrated to allow the testing of
our framework. As representative heterogeneous wireless networks, the popular WLAN (Wi-Fi) and MAN (WiMAX)
networks are incorporated in order to evaluate effects of handovers between these different radio access technologies.
The H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding) standard is employed for real-time video streaming from a server to mobile
users (client nodes) in the networks. Mobility support is introduced to enable continuous streaming experience for a
mobile user across the heterogeneous wireless network. Real-time video stream packets are captured for analytical
purposes on the mobile user node. Experimental results are obtained and analysed. Future work is identified towards
further improvement of the current design and implementation.
With this new mobile video networking concept and paradigm implemented and evaluated, results and observations
obtained from this study would form the basis of a more in-depth, comprehensive understanding of various challenges
and opportunities in supporting high-quality real-time video streaming in mobile cloud over heterogeneous wireless
networks.


BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with unclear etiology that may show functioning or non-functioning features. Primary tumor localization often requires integrated imaging. The European Neuroendocrine Tumors Society (ENETS) guidelines proposed wireless-capsule endoscopy (WCE) as a possible diagnostic tool for NETs, if intestinal origin is suspected. However, its impact on therapeutic management is debated. We aimed to evaluate the yield of WCE in detecting intestinal primary tumors in patients showing liver NET metastases when first-line investigations are inconclusive.

METHOD
Twenty-four patients with a histological diagnosis of metastatic NET from liver biopsy and no evidence of primary lesions at first-line investigations were prospectively studied in an ENETS-certified tertiary care center. Wireless-capsule endoscopy was requested before explorative laparotomy and intra-operative ultrasound. The diagnostic yield of WCE was compared to the surgical exploration.

RESULTS
Sixteen subjects underwent surgery; 11/16 had positive WCE identifying 16 bulging lesions. Mini-laparotomy found 13 NETs in 11/16 patients (9 small bowel, 3 pancreas, 1 bile ducts). Agreement between WCE and laparotomy was recorded in 9 patients (Sensitivity=75%; Specificity=37.5%; PPV=55%; NPV=60%). Correspondence assessed per-lesions produced similar results (Sensitivity=70%; Specificity=25%; PPV=44%; NPV=50%). No capsule retentions were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS
Wireless-capsule endoscopy is not indicated as second-line investigation for patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic NETs. In the setting of a referral center, it might provide additional information when conventional investigations are inconclusive about the primary site.


Importance
Obesity and internalizing mental illness begin in childhood, have common risk factors, and are leading causes of disease burden.

Objectives
To examine the comorbidity, codevelopment, and temporal precedence in body mass index (BMI) and internalizing symptoms from early childhood to midadolescence and to investigate the sex differences and socioeconomic confounding in their association.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This longitudinal study used data on individuals from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative, prospective birth cohort study in the United Kingdom of more than 19 000 individuals born from September 1, 2000, to January 11, 2002, who were assessed to date at the ages of 9 months and 3, 5, 7, 11, and 14 years. Data from 17 215 participants (88.21% of full cohort sample) with socioeconomic information in early childhood and BMI or internalizing symptoms during at least 1 assessment from 3 to 14 years of age were included in the present study. Data analysis was performed from May to November 2018.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Outcomes were BMI estimated from objectively measured height and weight and internalizing symptoms assessed using parental reports. Three measures of socioeconomic position were controlled for: parent educational level, occupational status, and equivalized family income.

Results
Among the 17 215 participants (8394 [48.8%] female), obesity and internalizing problems were not more likely to co-occur in early childhood (odds ratio [OR] at 3 years, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.69-1.50), whereas at 11 and 14 years of age, they were more likely to co-occur (OR at 11 years, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.38-2.05; OR at 14 years, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.22-1.83). Piecewise latent growth models revealed no codevelopment of BMI and internalizing symptoms from 3 to 7 years of age (r = 0.01), whereas their slopes were associated between 7 and 14 years of age (r = 0.23). Initial level and rate of change in each domain in early childhood was not associated with rate of change in the other domain at older ages. Cross-lagged models indicated no cross-domain pathways before 7 years of age, with some weak cross-domain pathways emerging between 7 and 14 years of age. Socioeconomic position attenuated some of these associations, leaving a BMI-to-internalizing symptoms pathway in later childhood and an internalizing symptoms-to-BMI pathway in early adolescence.

Conclusions and Relevance
The findings suggest that BMI and internalizing symptoms become more associated and reciprocal as children get older and that some of their temporal associations can be attributed to socioeconomic factors. The emergence of cross-domain temporal pathways in middle childhood suggests that social, physiologic, and psychological processes begin to play an increasingly important role in these health outcomes. Prevention and early intervention efforts may benefit from targeting both health outcomes in childhood.


There has been a striking upsurge of non-profit organizations all around the world and Sweden is not an exception. Non-profit organizations play an important role in our society and are gaining more and more space and attention. Numerous studies have been conducted on for-profit organizations, while studies on non-profit organizations are fewer. Further studies on, in particular, voluntary leaders are even fewer; hence we want to contribute to studies in the non-profit sector.The purpose with our thesis is to provide an understanding of the volunteer leadership by performing a case study on the successful and up-to-date Swedish non-profit organization "Ung Cancer". We want to further broaden our knowledge by addressing the alleged importance of voluntary leaders, learn how they involve the members, and last by not least, examine if the voluntary leaders experience a lack of clarity in what their leadership role should involve. Our results are based on interviews from, and observations of, different voluntary leaders within "Ung Cancer" in order to receive a better understanding about their self-perceived leadership. Material from voluntary workers has also been added.Our completed study shows the importance of voluntary leaders within non-profit organizations, this due to, first and foremost, that the voluntary leaders understand the volunteers better, since they are there by the same premises. We have come to understand that there is a challenge to lead in a NPO due to the aspect of voluntary participation and; therefore, personal qualities are more important than the position of being a leader. A voluntary leader can, by setting a good example, influence the volunteers so that they perform what is expected of them without, for that sake, feel the need to point out that they actually hold the position of a leader. We have concluded that the winning concept for this type of NPO is the combination of employed and voluntary leaders, where the employed leaders think result and numbers, whereas the voluntary leaders emphasizes on the personal level; however, this study does not reveal if voluntary leaders are crucial or essential for a non-profit organization, and if a non-profit organization might work just as good without them.


Golden age is a period of inspiration and phenomenal throughout the history of Islamic civilization. A period capable of emerging and growing rapidly in the mid of the complexity of the problems at Abbasids'era as the ruler of that period. The strengthening of the academic atmosphere marked by the number of educational institutions and the quality of scientists and the resulting quantity of science is an indicator of golden age recorded clearly in the long journey of Islamic civilization. The phenomenon is of course still inspire Muslims to bring back the golden age in the present context. Such efforts require examination of the core values of golden age, a soft component that has a significant impact on the development of the world community. Learning wherever, whenever and with anyone by the Muslim scientist of the day - is a tradition and even to the point of need - is a very urgent soft component to reach the top position. The actualization of a learning culture exemplified by scientists as a phenomenal legacy of Islamic civilization still requires concrete congregation and congregational action. This context will be discussed in detail in this paper.


Multiphase converters have been applied to an increasing number of industrial applications in recent years. On the other hand, multilevel converters have become a mature technology mainly in medium- and high-power applications. One of the problems of multilevel converters is the dc voltage unbalance of the dc bus. Depending on the loading conditions and the number of levels of the converter, oscillations appear in the dc voltages of the dc link. This paper presents a feedforward modulation technique for multilevel multiphase converters that reduces the distortion under balanced or unbalanced dc conditions. The proposed modulation method can be applied to any multilevel-converter topology with any number of levels and phases. Experimental results are shown in order to validate the proposed feedforward modulation technique.


OBJECTIVES
Geographic variability in reported prevalences of asthma worldwide could in part relate to interpretation of symptoms and diagnostic biases. Bronchial responsiveness measurements provide objective evidence of a common physiologic characteristic of asthma. We measured bronchial responsiveness using the standardized protocol of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) in six sites in Canada, and compared prevalences across Canada with international sites.

DESIGN
Samples of 3,000 to 4,000 adults aged 20 to 44 years were randomly selected in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Montreal, Halifax, and Prince Edward Island, and a mail questionnaire was completed by 18,616 individuals (86.5%). Preselected random subsamples (n = 2,962) attended a research laboratory for examination including more detailed questionnaires, lung function testing including methacholine challenge, and skin testing with 14 allergens.

RESULTS
Prevalences of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, measured as cumulative dose of methacholine required to produce a 20% fall from the post-saline solution FEV1 < or = 1 mg, ranged from 4.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6 to 8.5) in Halifax to 22.0% (95% CI, 18.1 to 26.0) in Hamilton (median, 10.7%). In all Canadian sites, bronchial hyperresponsiveness was more prevalent in women than in men. Neither the geographic nor gender differences were accounted for by differences in age, smoking, skin test reactivity, or baseline FEV1. Geographic- and gender-related variability changed little when only bronchial hyperresponsiveness associated with asthma-like symptoms was considered.

CONCLUSIONS
A wide variability in bronchial responsiveness can occur within one country, almost as wide as the range found across all international sites participating in the ECRHS study and not explained by differences in gender, smoking, skin test reactivity, and FEV1. While gender variability in the prevalence of bronchial responsiveness is likely due to hormonal and immunologic factors, geographic variability is likely to result from environmental factors.


Bob Dylan's approach to folk music initially appeared compatible with the political outlook of the older left‐wing sponsors of Sing Out! and Broadside magazines. However, with pre‐World War II attitudes, such sponsors generally viewed folk music as a way to understand or promote the common beliefs and aspirations of entire social groups. Dylan, by contrast, often used songs to focus on the feelings of unique individuals. He also challenged accepted beliefs, and he used symbolism and themes drawn from nature. In all these respects, Dylan's early lyrics and writings reflected an intellectual tradition of American idealism established by Ralph Waldo Emerson and passed down to Dylan primarily through John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie.


Abstract Background: The gut feelings questionnaire (GFQ) is the only tool developed to assess the presence of a 'sense of alarm' or a 'sense of reassurance' in the diagnostic process of general practitioners (GPs). It was created in Dutch and English and has validated versions in French, German and Polish. Objectives: To obtain a cross-cultural translation of the GFQ into Spanish and Catalan and to assess the structural properties of the translated versions. Methods: A six-step procedure including forward and backward translations, consensus, and cultural and linguistic validation was performed for both languages. Internal consistency, factor structure, and content validity were assessed. Results: Internal consistency was high for both questionnaires (Cronbach's alpha for GFQ-Spa = 0.94 and GFQ-Cat = 0.95). The principal component analysis identified one factor with the sense of alarm and the sense of reassurance as two opposites, explaining 76% of the total variance for the GFQ-Spa, and 77% for the GFQ-Cat. Conclusion: Spanish and Catalan versions of the GFQ were obtained. Both have been cross-culturally adapted and showed good structural properties.


 Abstract — Fake news and false information are big challenges of all types of media, especially social media. There is a lot of false information, fake likes, views and duplicated accounts as big social networks such as Facebook and Twitter admitted. Most information appearing on social media is doubtful and in some cases misleading. They need to be detected as soon as possible to avoid a negative impact on society. The dimensions of the fake news datasets are growing rapidly, so to obtain a better result of detecting false information with less computation time and complexity, the dimensions need to be reduced. One of the best techniques of reducing data size is using feature selection method. The aim of this technique is to choose a feature subset from the original set to improve the classification performance. In this paper, a feature selection method is proposed with the integration of K-means clustering and Support Vector Machine (SVM) approaches which work in four steps. First, the similarities between all features are calculated. Then, features are divided into several clusters. Next, the final feature set is selected from all clusters, and finally, fake news is classified based on the final feature subset using the SVM method. The proposed method was evaluated by comparing its performance with other state-of-the-art methods on several specific benchmark datasets and the outcome showed a better classification of false information for our work. The detection performance was improved in two aspects. On the one hand, the detection runtime process decreased, and on the other hand, the classification accuracy increased because of the elimination of redundant features and the reduction of datasets dimensions.


Investors and investment advisors strive to make the best investment decisions when forming a stock portfolio. However, at the Nairobi securities exchange in Kenya, most investors are not optimizing the return of their stock portfolios because they do not consider relevant factors when investing in stocks. In particular, they do not consider equity risk factors when forming stock portfolios. In the United States of America, Dimensional fund advisors have shown that if active investors tilt their stock portfolio towards equity risk factors such as value risk and size risk, the return of the stock portfolio formed is better than that of the market portfolio. Capital asset pricing model has been the generally accepted model for explaining the relationship between risk and stock portfolio return variations. However, the restrictive assumption of employing the market risk as the only source of risk in capital asset pricing model led to the introduction of multiple factors models that attempt to identify other sources of risks that are disregarded by the capital asset pricing model. Available empirical evidence suggest that much of the variation in stock returns related to size risk, value risk, momentum risk, profitability risk and investment risk is left unexplained by Capital asset pricing model. This motivated the researcher to examine a model that adds the five risk factors to capital asset pricing model. As a result, a six factors model was developed and used to determine the ability of the combined six equity risk factors in explaining the variation of stock returns at the Nairobi securities exchange in Kenya. The general objective of this study was to establish the effect of equity risk factors on the return of stock portfolios of companies listed at the Nairobi securities exchange in Kenya between 2009 and 2014. The study adopted the explanatory research design and the target population was 45 companies that were listed at the Nairobi securities exchange by January 2009 (after excluding companies that were not trading consistently and those that were delisted). A census of 45 companies was used to construct stock portfolios between 2009 and 2014. Data was analyzed using a modified Fama and French (1996) multivariate time series regression methodology. The study found out that market risk, size risk, value risk and investment risk have a significant effect while profitability risk and momentum risk have a weak positive effect on the return of stock portfolios at the Nairobi securities exchange. This study recommends a framework for enhancing factor investing strategies, introducing exchange traded funds index and reviewing policies on price determination of listed stocks. The study availed to investors, investment advisors and academia the equity risks that are worth considering when constructing a stock portfolio at the Nairobi securities exchange for optimal stock returns. Keywords : Stock Portfolio, Equity risk factors, Stock Portfolio Return, Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya.


Background : In view of recent catastrophe in disaster prone Uttarakhand, it's poor preparedness and severe outcome in terms of destruction and loss of human lives & property, a study was designed to look into other 'not too visible' areas loss in terms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Health related Quality of Life (H-QOL) of the disaster victims and estimate this burden. Objectives: To estimate magnitude/prevalence of PTSD and assess Health related QOL with potential relationship between variables of PTSD & Health related QOL among the disaster victims of Sub Himalayan Uttarakhand state of India. Methods:  2667 disaster victims were sampled by multi stage probability sampling ina cross sectional study with key respondents being 'head of the family', 'next to head of the family', 'any individual directly injured during disaster,aged ≥14 years and non-alcoholic'. Study instruments used were WHO endorsed PTSD-S and WHOQOL- BREF tools besides a structured, pre-tested instrument to elicit socio- demographic data. Results: More than half (51%) of the disaster victims were diagnosed with PTSD. Keysocio-demographic and other variables, namelygender, education, occupation, family income, marital status, kind of disaster exposed to, frequency of disaster, type of loss and type of exposure significantly affected development of PTSD. Also,Health related QOL was found to be negatively correlated with PTSD among the disaster victims. Conclusion: Sensitization and capacity building of both providers & community to proactively take appropriate measures in minimizing/mitigating PTSDs and thereby ensure desired QOL are of paramount importance. Keywords : Disaster Victims, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Quality of Life.


In this article, an online collaborative exploration and coverage method is proposed for the unknown complex environment with multiple agents. The exploration and coverage is based on Boustrophedon motion, while the detection conditions for backtracking points have been modified based on mission requirements, the battery charge level of each agent is considered to reduce agent loss, and collision free paths are generated. The proposed method is evaluated in simulation, where complex environment with multiple branches is explored by multiple agents.


This manuscript describes the synthesis and optical properties of a series of anthracenyl-o-carborane dyads exhibiting highly-efficient luminescence with various types of substituent groups at the adjacent carbon atom of o-carborane. The restricted rotational motion of the anthracene moiety and the ideal orientation for intramolecular charge transfer from the anthracene moiety to the carborane cluster resulted in yellow and orange emissions (λem = 563 nm and 604 nm) with approximately 100% absolute fluorescence quantum efficiencies in the crystalline state of the methyl- and trimethylsilyl (TMS)-substituted dyads, respectively. In additional, clear thermochromic luminescence properties were also observed. Computer calculations were carried out to investigate the influence of the substituent effect on emission efficiency.


As a child, there are constantly people trying to pick you up, hug you, or tickle you. Sometimes, though, children fall victims to people who try to touch them inappropriately. But how do you tell someone, most likely an adult, that you don't want to be touched? Or, if it has already happened, how do you tell an adult you trust about what happened? You're only a child, and they're the adults. Why would they believe you? My Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My Toes is an educational tool to help instill confidence in children when it comes to their bodies. The narrative of the story is led by a girl named Clara, who encourages kids to say "no" if they are uncomfortable with physical contact. The narrator gives readers tips about what they can say or do to avoid unwanted physical contact, or how to tell the right people in the event it has already occurred. My Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My Toes is an invaluable resource that gives children a voice in uncomfortable situations.


The current plans to reform the NHS have, with some justification, been described as the biggest shake up of the service since its creation. Abolishing primary care trusts and transferring responsibility for 65% of the budget to clinical commissioning groups (or so called senates) represents a bold move. Ultimately this promises to transform the architecture of the NHS into a more diverse and market based system. The move away from the standard state monopoly of the current NHS, it is claimed, will also deliver substantial cost savings, cut red tape, and empower clinicians (read doctors) to run the service. Over the next five years the changes are predicted to save £5.1bn (€5.7bn; $8.2bn), including £3.9bn from commissioning.1

Perhaps not surprisingly these claims are hotly contested. Critics point to the very substantial costs of transition and to massive disruption of services. The think tank Civitas, for example, predicts an absolute drop in performance of "quality of service" and "use of resources" lasting at least one year in primary care trusts that are merged.2 Following the so called listening exercise in April even the government now acknowledges that the original 2013 deadline for the completion of the reforms should be relaxed.3

Others have raised even more fundamental questions about the unintended consequences of an open market for health. Kieran Walshe, professor of health policy and management at Manchester Business School, described the reforms as "a huge distraction from the real mission of the …


Sierra Negra is the most voluminous of the western Galapagos shields and exhibits many unusual morphologic features: extensive lower flank apron, steep upper flanks, a broad summit plateau, a large complex caldera, ubiquitous occurrence of aa, and radial and circumferential fissures. A field-based investigation of the volcano was conducted in order to establish the distribution and characteristics of eruptive zones and associated flow fields and to construct a volcano-wide surface flow stratigraphy. Geochronologic data were used to determine the age of the units and, combined with flow-volume calculations, to estimate both the historic and total volcano eruption rates. Ninety-one kilometers of radial and circumferential fissures were mapped and grouped into four eruptive zones which form a volcano-wide east-northeast–trending rift system that deflects around the caldera. The eruptive zones are restricted spatially and temporally and document long-term changes in the volcano's development. Long, fluid lava flows are broadly distributed among five ages, resulting in a subdued flank profile by the development of an extensive lower flank apron around the volcano. Ten historical eruptions have occurred, with eruption rates of 44 to 248 m3/s and an average growth rate of 12 × 106 m3/yr. Age determinations of lava flows by 14C and cosmogenic 3He range from 400 to 6900 yr. The total volcano growth rate is estimated to be 1 × 106 m3/yr. These results confirm the young age of Sierra Negra lavas and the validity of the relative ages determined from stratigraphic study. In total, the volcano has undergone over 90% resurfacing in the past 4500 yr.

The summit of Sierra Negra is entirely occupied by a shallow, elliptical (7 × 10 km) caldera. Near-vertical ring faults circumscribe the summit and expose 100 to 140 m of lava flows. Subparallel sets of caldera growth faults cut the western and southern caldera walls and are not associated with eruptive activity. The inclination of remnant magnetism and the attitudes of the flows exposed in the caldera walls indicate that the lavas have not been appreciably deformed nor have they been intruded by dikes or sills. The caldera interior is structurally complex and contains a 14-km-long, C-shaped sinuous ridge, composed of a complex set of normally faulted blocks with inward dipping (20°–60°) flow tops. The sinuous ridge is interpreted to have formed gradually as the caldera floor pivoted in a trap door fashion, jammed its western edge, and then fractured in several places, concomitant with the long-term vertical and lateral growth of the volcano.

A regional tectonic stress field superimposed upon the Galapagos platform appears to have exerted primary control on the location of Sierra Negra, including the early development of the east-northeast rift system. Intervolcano stresses have controlled the distribution of eruptive zones only where significant subaerial overlap of adjacent volcanoes occurs. Large volume, high discharge rate eruptions from fissures along the east-northeast rift system are responsible for the development of an extensive coastal apron, flow stacking at mid-flank elevations, and generally subdued slopes in comparison to other western Galapagos volcanoes. The summit caldera and underlying magma chamber are subordinate in influencing the distribution of lower flank stress but dominate the development of the summit stress field and orientation of eruptive fissures. The absence of summit deformation, together with the ubiquitous occurrence of short stubby summit flows, indicates that the steep upper flanks are constructional in origin.