Can parents identify leadership lessons in children's media and use them to teach their children leadership? Thirty participants were asked to answer questions about leadership in children's media before and after watching clips of a popular G-rated children's movie. The results from the questionnaire indicated that parents do recognize leadership behaviors in children's media and do feel that their children are learning from the media. As a result of this learning environment, children become more aware of leadership. Further, sixty-seven percent of the parents claimed to reinforce the positive messages in the media, and seventy percent claimed to teach their children about leadership. In two participant groups, results varied by gender and education level. The study recommends ways for parents and media producers to emphasize leadership messages so as to foster leadership development in children.


Mechanical properties of polyurethane coating were improved by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) via in situ polymerization and blending polymerization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurement was employed to assess the influence of acid treatment on MWNTs. Mechanical properties analysis of polyurethane coatings including tensile strength, elastic modulus, hardness, flexibility, impact resistance were employed to assess the improvement of mechanical properties of polyurethane coating by MWNTs. The results indicated that MWNTs could improve the mechanical properties of polyurethane coatings, and the improvement of polyurethane coatings by MWNTs via in situ polymerization were better than via blending polymerization, and the improvement of polyurethane coatings by acid-treated MWNTs were better than by raw MWNTs.


Abstract Alternative splicing (AS), a mechanism by which different forms of mature messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are generated from the same gene, widely occurs in the metazoan genomes. Knowledge about isoform variants and abundance is crucial for understanding the functional context in the molecular diversity of the species. With increasing transcriptome data of model and non-model species, a database for visualization and comparison of AS events with up-to-date information is needed for further research. IsoPlot is a publicly available database with visualization tools for exploration of AS events, including three major species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the model insect species. IsoPlot includes not only 88,663 annotated transcripts but also 17,037 newly predicted transcripts from massive transcriptome data at different developmental stages of mosquitoes. The web interface enables users to explore the patterns and abundance of isoforms in different experimental conditions as well as cross-species sequence comparison of orthologous transcripts. IsoPlot provides a platform for researchers to access comprehensive information about AS events in mosquitoes and fruit fly. Our database is available on the web via an interactive user interface with an intuitive graphical design, which is applicable for the comparison of complex isoforms within or between species. Database URL: http://isoplot.iis.sinica.edu.tw/


Background: Palliative care encompasses supportive health care for patients at any stage of illness aimed at relieving symptoms, controlling pain, managing stress, offering respite for caregivers, and optimizing the quality of life. Objective: To explore strategies for increasing access to palliative care among individuals living in remote/rural communities, a rapid review was conducted on studies that explored the use of telehealth applications with this population. Methods: From December 2019 to February 2020, the PRISMA methodology was used to gather peer-reviewed studies published in the English language. MedLine, Google Scholar, and EBSCO were searched; no date limitations were set. Given the diversity of study methodologies and outcomes, the findings were synthesized narratively. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias was also employed. Lastly, the studies were mapped to clinical guidelines for the various aspects of quality palliative care. Results: The 18 studies found, published between 2004 and 2019, were conducted in seven countries and on five continents. Aims included evaluating feasibility, efficacy, and user satisfaction. Insights draw from a combined pool of 3,313 patients and 250 providers. Most studies involved oncology patients and employed videoconferencing or a web platform/online software with videoconferencing. Three themes emerged: delivery of care, symptom management and quality of life, and patient/caregiver/provider satisfaction levels. Telehealth proved effective for patient and medication monitoring, provider and specialist appointments, and palliative care consultations. Operational benefits included clinician time saved, shorter appointment wait times, and reduced no show rates; implementation challenges also emerged. Statistical improvements in quality of life and symptom management were reported. Nearly two-thirds of the studies reported positive experiences among patients, caregivers, and providers; about half included an interprofessional team. The studies primarily focused on the structure/process and physical aspects of quality palliative care, there was a paucity of insights on the spiritual, cultural, end of life, and ethical/legal aspects of care. Two-thirds (12/18) of the studies employed a descriptive design. Risk for selection, performance, detection, and reporting biases emerged for all the studies; for example, only four of the studies included control groups and less than 20% (3/18) reported on attrition of study participants. Additional limitations include the rapid review methodology which relied heavily on the lead author's decisions and the restriction of studies published only in the English language. Conclusion: More rigorous research is required to confirm the viability of clinical care delivery and establish best practices for quality, virtual palliative care to remote/rural areas.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the value creation mechanisms of open-standard inter-organizational information system (OSIOS), which is a key technology to achieve Industry 4.0. Specifically, this study investigates how the internal assimilation and external diffusion of OSIOS help manufactures facilitate process adaptability and alignment in supply chain network.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey instrument was designed and administrated to collect data for this research. Using three-stage least squares estimation, the authors empirically tested a number of hypothesized relationships based on a sample of 308 manufacturing firms in China.

Findings
The results of the study show that OSIOS can perform as value creation mechanisms to enable process adaptability and alignment. In addition, the impact of OSIOS internal assimilation is inversely U-shaped where the positive effect on process adaptability will become negative after an extremum point is reached.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights on how OSIOS can improve supply chain integration and thus promote the achievement of industry 4.0. By revealing a U-shaped relationship between OSIOS assimilation and process adaptability, this study fills previous research gap by advancing the understanding on the value creation mechanisms of information systems deployment.


We explicitly solve and analyze a series of deterministic continent-island models to delimit the effects of pollen and seed migration on cytonuclear frequencies and disequilibria in random-mating, mixed-mating and self-fertilized populations. Given the critical assumption of maternal cytoplasmic inheritance, five major findings are (i) nonzero cytonuclear disequilibria will be maintained in the island population if and only if at least some migration occurs each generation through seeds with nonrandom cytonuclear associations; (ii) immigrant seeds with no cytonuclear disequilibria can strongly affect the genetic structure of the island population by generating significant and long-lasting transient associations; (iii) with all else being equal, substantially greater admixture disequilibria are generally found with higher rates of seed migration into, or higher levels of self-fertilization within, the island population (with the possible exception of the heterozygote disequilibrium); (iv) pollen migration can either enhance or reduce the cytonuclear disequilibria caused by seed migration, or that due to mixed-mating in the absence of seed migration, but the effect is usually small and appears primarily to make a noticeable difference in predominantly outcrossing populations; and (v) pollen migration alone cannot generate even transient disequilibria de novo in populations with completely random associations. This same basic behavior is exhibited as long as there is some random outcrossing in the island population. Self-fertilized populations represent a special case, however, in that they are necessarily closed to pollen migration, and nonzero disequilibria can be maintained even in the absence of seed migration. All of these general results hold whether the population is censused as adults or as seeds, but the ability to detect nonrandom cytonuclear associations can depend strongly on the life stage censused in populations with a significant level of random outcrossing. We suggest how these models might be used for the estimation of seed and pollen migration.


Dynamic detuning methods have been used in inductive contactless power transfer (ICPT) systems for power flow control. However, the highly variable switching frequency involved in the detuning operation will contribute to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and power losses. It is difficult to determine the detuning frequency precisely due to nonlinear features of power pick-ups. Uncertainty in the operating frequency can result in difficulties in designing filters with suitable bandwidths and choosing suitable switching devices. Based on detailed analytical analysis in four segments of the detuning process, a numerical method is developed in this paper to determine the boundaries of the switching frequencies. An iterative algorithm is presented using a flow chart to illustrate the process taken in the numerical analysis. Simulation and practical experiments are conducted to verify the algorithm so as to ensure the calculated results are sufficiently accurate for designing EMI filters and choosing suitable switching devices.


The concept of smart cities is becoming another mantra for both developing and developed cities. For instance, Indian government in 2015 announced its objective to build one hundred smart cities all over the country. They clearly stated that they are choosing smart development as the underlying concept for their future growth as a way to foster economic development in smart way to avoid the paths of rapid industrialization and pollution of cities as it took place in Europe and United States. The first of these smart cities, Dholera, is already under construction and it attracts journalists and urban planners from all over the world. The aim of this paper is to critically discuss the theoretical backgrounds and the practices of smart cities and examine the ways the concept is implemented. The paper is based on thorough study of literature and examining the two case studies of Dholera (India) and Songdo (South Korea). Smart city is a contested concept without a unified definition. It stems from the idea of digital and information city promoted using information and communication technologies (ICT) to develop cities. By installation of ICT municipalities obtain large sets of data which are then transformed into effective urban policies. One of the pilot projects of this kind was Rio de Janeiro and building the Center of Operations by IBM Company. City made a great investment into the smart information system before two huge events took place – FIFA World Cup in 2014 and Olympic Games in 2016. The project raised many questions including whether and how it improved the life of its citizens and in what way it made the city smart. The other definition of smart city is the idea of smartness in city development in broader sense. It focuses on smart use of resources, smart and effective management and smart social inclusion. Within this view, the ICTs are one component of the concept, by no means its bread and butter. Technologies can be used in a variety of ways. Problem occurs when smart city is viewed as means to make investments from city budgets by any price, by promoting use of smart technologies as the only way forward, as necessity. Many companies, including technological giants IBM and CISCO already participate on many smart city projects supplying technologies for smart city projects. In this study, we are looking into two case studies, the city of Dholera in India and city of Songdo in South Korea, both pompous large scale projects. Smart City technologies are growing market which is projected to be annually worth 20 billion dollars by 2020 [19], with IBM participating in 2000 projects accounting for 3 billion dollars [19]. There are many concerns about these developments, among them the issue of equity, whose purposes the projects are serving, how these initiatives are developing cities and the general idea of smartness in urban context. The research concludes that the ambiguity of smart city definition allowing multiple interpretations is frequently bent and used to promote the lobbying of strong players in cities and in private sector.


Urinary concentrations of nicotine and its major metabolite cotinine were measured in volunteers whose smoking habits were known to test the reliability of the measurements as indicators of current smoking. In the non-smokers detectable concentrations were always below the confidence limits set for the method, while in smokers the concentrations were always above these limits. After subjects stopped smoking cotinine appeared in the urine for longer than nicotine and was still detectable at least 36 hours after the last cigarette had been smoked. When this method was used to verify the smoking histories given by patients attending an infarction clinic it was estimated that 46-53% of previous smokers had actually stopped smoking compared with the 63% who said that they had done so. It is suggested that simultaneous assays of urinary nicotine and cotinine may be a useful means of verifying patients' current smoking habits.


Methodology The paper employs both primary and secondary data and information from a related university course, library materials, and internet resources to describe and analyze the topic of "Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Et al: A Survey of Emergent Grassroots Protests & Public Perceptions of Justice." Introduction This past January 19, 2015, the United States, once again, celebrated an annual federal holiday by which the nation celebrates the birthday and legacy of the great Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated in 1968. This federal holiday, which is held on the third Monday of January each year, was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. But this year's celebration took place against the backdrop of a spate of regressive incidents, across the country, which seemed to run counter to the letter and spirit of the civil and voting rights legislative reforms that symbolize a new era of de jure and substantial de facto racial integration in American social life, which was brought about by the Civil Rights Movement of the second half of the 20th century that was ably captained by the late Dr. King, among others. To this writer, King's federal holiday is not a day for a self-righteous vilification of any particular community or group, nor a day for praise-singing any community or group. Rather, it's a day for somber stock-taking--a day for us, as a community that shares one national space, to self-critically ask ourselves how far we have gone in our various collective, institutional and even individual efforts to narrow the gap between where we are in our race relations and where we would like to be. What is Justice? The late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is pleasantly remembered not just for his moral vision and advocacy for social justice but also for his spectacular oratorical elegance and philosophical profundity. One of his most erudite declarations is that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (1963, p. 1). In his April, 1963 famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Dr. King also instructed us on why injustice anywhere must be of concern to all of us. In his words: "I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states ... We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly" (p. 1). From time immemorial, legal practitioners, scholars, philosophers, public officials, religious leaders, national, international and global institutions have written and talked at length about the concept of justice. Ancient Egyptian philosophy posited justice as one of seven cardinal virtues, including truth, propriety, harmony, balance, reciprocity and order (Karenga, 2010, p. 203). Justice is a universally-applicable concept though it does not seem to hold the same meaning for everyone or for every community. Dictionary's Definition of Justice But what is justice? Well, as I prepared this article, I decided to take a look at how Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines justice. I found that the dictionary conveys several notions of justice. The first notion is justice as "the maintenance or administration of what is just, especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments," second, justice as "the administration of law; especially: the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity," third, there is a notion of justice as "the quality of being just, impartial, or fair," fourth, the dictionary defines justice as "the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action," "conformity to this principle or ideal," or "the quality of conforming to law," and finally, it defines justice as "conformity to truth, fact, or reason" ("Full Definition of Justice," 2014). However, my further search for the meaning of justice led me to a more concrete insight credited to William Penn, described as "an early champion of democracy and a prominent Quaker" who lived between the year 1644 and 1718. …


Using a unique dataset from a commercial microfinance institution in Madagascar, this paper investigates how the provision of microfinance loans with (in)flexible repayment schedules affects loan delinquencies of agricultural borrowers. We estimate different repayment functions to compare loan delinquencies of agricultural and non-agricultural borrowers and apply a quasi-experimental approach to investigate whether introducing flexible repayment schedules affects loan delinquencies of seasonal agricultural borrowers. In this attempt, three different delinquency categories reflecting different levels of credit risk are assessed. Our results reveal that loan delinquencies of non-seasonal agricultural borrowers without grace periods are not significantly different from those of non-farmers. Furthermore, we find that seasonal agricultural borrowers with grace periods show significantly higher delinquencies than non-farmers. Within the group of agricultural borrowers we find that introducing grace periods increases delinquency levels only in the lowest delinquency category, while we find no significant effect in the higher delinquency categories.


Data science teams often collaboratively analyze datasets, generating dataset versions at each stage of iterative exploration and analysis. There is a pressing need for a system that can support dataset versioning, enabling such teams to efficiently store, track, and query across dataset versions. We introduce OrpheusDB, a dataset version control system that "bolts on" versioning capabilities to a traditional relational database system, thereby gaining the analytics capabilities of the database "for free". We develop and evaluate multiple data models for representing versioned data, as well as a light-weight partitioning scheme, LyreSplit, to further optimize the models for reduced query latencies. With LyreSplit, OrpheusDB is on average 103× faster in finding effective (and better) partitionings than competing approaches, while also reducing the latency of version retrieval by up to 20× relative to schemes without partitioning. LyreSplit can be applied in an online fashion as new versions are added, alongside an intelligent migration scheme that reduces migration time by 10× on average.


This article addresses the issue of a trauma informed approach from a multidisciplinary perspective and global and systemic taking charge. The work is defined in the current pandemic background, with particular reference to the most fragile persons, in every phase of existence, especially when the fragility is due to deficit and disability. The guiding principles of trauma-informed organisations consist in creating a safe and reliable environment, allowing peer support and self-help, implementing personal empowerment, voice and choice. The TI approach aims to reduce exposure to adversity by implementing collective capacities for support, assistance, education and guidance. Trauma informed approach is a border territory to Special Pedagogy: the second part of the work outlines the role of Special Pedagogy in trauma and the issues highlighted by the COVID 19 pandemic, with the possible collective traumatic effect it can cause. The importance of recognizing, evaluating and dealing with stress due to trauma is highlighted in promoting collaboration with families and social networking, shaping policies and cultures to manage emergencies in relation to everyone's needs, especially the most exposed people such as people with disabilities.


Troponin is essential for the regulation of cardiac contraction. Troponin is a sarcomeric molecular switch, directly regulating the contractile event in concert with intracellular calcium signals. Troponin isoform switching, missense mutations, proteolytic cleavage, and posttranslational modifications are known to directly affect sarcomeric regulation. This review focuses on physiologically relevant covalent and noncovalent modifications in troponin as part of a thematic series on cardiac thin filament function in health and disease. (Circ Res. 2004;94:146-158.)


: The FRACGP examination assesses a candidate's performance in five behavioural attributes--knowledge, interpretation, problem solving, affective behaviour and psychomotor skills. These attributes were used as the basis for comparing the performance of various groups of candidates in the examination.


This study investigated the effect of n-3 fatty acids on adhesion molecules and tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in diabetic mice with sepsis. Diabetes was induced by a streptozotocin injection. Mice with blood glucose levels exceeding 2000 mg/l were considered diabetic. Diabetic mice were assigned to two groups with a medium-fat (10 %, w/w) diet either provided by soyabean oil (SO, n 30) or fish oil (FO, n 30). n-3 fatty acids provided 4.3 % of the total energy and the n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio was 1:2 in the FO diet. After feeding the respective diet for 3 weeks, all mice had sepsis induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and were killed at 0, 6 or 24 h after CLP, with ten mice at each time-point. The result showed that compared with the SO group, FO group had lower PGE2 and TNF-alpha levels in peritoneal lavage fluid after CLP. Lymphocyte CD11a/CD18 expressions were higher at 6 h, whereas the percentage was lower at 24 h in the SO group than in the FO group. Neutrophil CD11b/CD18 expressions were significantly higher in the SO group than in the FO group at 0 h. The FO group had lower organ MPO activities at various time-points after CLP when compared with those of the SO group. The present findings suggest that compared with the diabetic mice fed SO, a low-dose n-3 fatty acid supplementation may attenuate leucocyte adhesion and infiltration into tissues in diabetic mice complicated with sepsis.


Fe3Si layer was prepared by pulse eletrodeposition of Si on the surface of non-oriented steel in molten salts. With an orthogonal test the optimal process parameters were determined: the formulation of salts was NaCl:KCl:NaF:SiO2=1:1:3:0.3(mole ratio), current density of 60 mA/ cm2, duty cycle of 30%, pulse period of 1000 s and a deposition time of 50 min, respectively. The compositional depth profile, the structure, the surface morphology and cross sectional micrograph of the layer were studied by glow discharge spectrometry (GDS), X ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscope (OM). The results showed that Si in the layer existed in the form of the gradient distribution. The phase structure of the layer was composed of the single-phase Fe3Si. The layer composed of equiaxed grains. The surface appeared smooth and dense, and with uniform thickness.


In this paper, the basic assumption is that the environment provides two different kinds of services. First, the environment may serve as an input to the production of conventional goods. For example, the exploitation of an oil source from which one firm extracts the oil which in turn is used as a fossil fuel for an industry. In the worst case, the use of the environment for industrial purposes will negatively affect the environment, e.g. the water quality of a paper mill along a river. Nevertheless, the possibility to pollute, i.e., to save abatement costs, lowers production costs. Hence, firms and consumers evaluate this service positively. Second, the environment itself-clean air, natural creeks and rivers instead of paper mills, hydro power plants, etc.-provides amenities and thus a second service that is different, because enjoying this service does not degrade environmental quality. As it is intuitively clear, the environment provides consumptive and non-consumptive uses. In renewable resources means, the environmental stock may be harvested and used as an input for conventional goods' production but provides simultaneously a positive externality. The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamics of pollution and the possibility of cycles and instability, while the major finding of this paper is the following: Taking the simplest pollution model with one state and one control variables and extending it into two state variables, equilibrium may change from the fixed point into a limit cycle equilibrium, i.e. the optimal emissions rate may be cyclical.


The strength properties of hybrid nylon-steel fibre-reinforced concrete were investigated in comparison to that of polypropylene-steel fibre-reinforced concrete, at the same volume fraction (0.5%). The content of the high performance macro structure steel fibres is at 0.4% volume fraction, and the content of micro nylon and polypropylene-fibres is at 0.1% volume fraction. The experimental results show that the compressive strength and splitting tensile strengths and modulus of rupture (MOR) properties of the nylon-steel fibre concrete improved by 3.2, 8.3 and 10.2%, respectively, over those of the polypropylene-steel fibre concrete. On the impact resistance, the first-crack and failure strengths, and the percentage increase in the post first-crack blows improved more for the nylon-steel-fibre concrete than for its polypropylene-steel fibre concrete counterpart. These two forms of fibres work complimentarily and there is a synergy effect in the hybrid fibres system. The aforementioned listed improvements of the hybrid nylon-steel fibers register a higher tensile strength, possibly due to its better dispersion of concrete, and they are bond with mixture as well.


Chromium rich, nickel based alloys Haynes 230 and Inconel 617 are candidate materials for the primary circuit and intermediate heat exchangers (IHX) of (Very)-High Temperature Reactors. The corrosion resistance of these alloys is strongly related to the reactivity of chromium in the reactor specific environment (high temperature, impure helium). At intermediate temperature – 900°C for Haynes 230 and 850°C for Inconel 617 – the alloys under investigation are likely to develop a chromium-rich surface oxide scale. This layer protects from the exchanges with the surrounding medium and thus prevents against intensive corrosion processes. However at higher temperatures, it was shown that the surface chromia can be reduced by reaction with the carbon from the alloy [1] and the bare material can quickly corrode. Chromium appears to be a key element in this surface scale reactivity. Then, quantitative assessment of the surface requires an accurate knowledge of the chromium activity in the temperature range close to the operating conditions (T ≈ 1273 K). High temperature mass spectrometry (HTMS) coupled to multiple effusion Knudsen cells was successfully used to measure the chromium activity in Inconel 617 and Haynes 230 in the 1423- 1548 K temperature range. Appropriate adjustments of the experimental parameters and in-situ calibration toward pure chromium allow to reach accuracy better than ± 5%. For both alloys, the chromium activities are determined. Our experimental results on Inconel 617 are in disagreement with the data published by Hilpert [2]. Possible explanations for the significant discrepancy are discussed.


We study a simple variant of the von Neumann model of an expanding economy, in which multiple producers produce goods according to their production function. The players trade their goods at the market and then use the bundles acquired as inputs for the production in the next round. We show that a simple decentralized dynamic, where players update their bids proportionally to how useful the investments were in the past round, leads to growth of the economy in the long term (whenever growth is possible) but also creates unbounded inequality, i.e. very rich and very poor players emerge. We analyze several other phenomena, such as how the relation of a player with others influences its development and the Gini index of the system.


ABSTRACT Semantic relativism maintains that the truth-value of some propositions is sensitive to a judge parameter, facilitating cases whereby a proposition can be true relative to one judge, but false relative to another. Most prominently, semantic relativism has been applied to predicates of personal tastes (PPTs). Recently, Lasersohn [2007. "Expressives, Perspective and Presupposition." Theoretical Linguistics 33 (2): 223–230; 2017. Subjectivity and Perspective in Truth-Theoretic Semantics. Oxford: Oxford University Press] has urged an extension of semantic relativism to terms traditionally construed as expressives including derogatory epithets (e.g. 'asshole') and, more tentatively, expressions like 'damn'. In this paper, we challenge Lasersohn's extension of relativism. Section 1 gives a background on semantic theories for expressives and on semantic relativism. In Section 2, we focus on Lasersohn's [2007. "Expressives, Perspective and Presupposition." Theoretical Linguistics 33 (2): 223–230] account where he attempts to apply relativism to a wider range of expressives. We argue that because PPTs and expressives have fundamentally different semantic functions, the prospects for a relativistic account are slim. Several problems are presented. Our focus is on the perspective sensitivity of expressive content and the phenomenon of projection failure, as both reveal a fundamental disparity between expressives and PPTs.


The publication of the 1990 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) was a seminal moment for international health.1 In a world characterized by what has been termed a "scandal of ignorance,"2 where most peoples' existence was never recorded, the authors undertook the heroic task of estimating not only how many people were dying and from what conditions but also how many were living with disability. By combining these measures to create the disability-adjusted life year, they changed the global health discourse forever. The task was enormous. They had to include all countries, including many that had attracted virtually no attention from health researchers and that lacked vital registration systems. They scoured the world for data, extracting information from dusty archives, and analyzed surveys that had been forgotten.

Article see p 1483 and p 1493

However, existing data only went so far; alternatives were needed. The authors created complex (although, for some, virtually incomprehensible) models that established relationships in countries with data for variables such as national income and patterns of disease and then extrapolated to countries and regions or for conditions where data were unavailable to fill the many gaps.3 They also developed ambitious methodologic and empiric approaches to understand associations between mortality and the much less well researched disability and to measure the contribution of different disease states to both.4

These efforts, in turn, have stimulated a massive increase in data collection, with expansions in vital registration systems, sentinel surveillance sites,5 and methodologic refinements of instruments such as verbal autopsy.6 As a result, the 2010 GBD took our understanding of the health of the world's population to a new level,7 although, as the accompanying articles in this issue of Circulation demonstrate, there are still many issues to be resolved.8,9 However, …


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This paper considers a specific application of Knowledge Management, the implications of sharing trade secrets or other proprietary information with marketing communication collaborators such as advertising agencies. The legal status of trade secrets, the role of collaborators and their employees in employing and protecting these secrets, and the likely impact of two recent cases involving these topics are explored. Keywords: Knowledge Management, Trade Secrets, Collaboration, Advertising Agencies, BACKGROUND Knowledge management (KM) is an increasingly important discipline. As organizations recognize that sustainable competitive advantage in the 21st century is based on the knowledge and abilities of employees as opposed to capital investments or generic information technology solutions, leveraging the unique knowledge of individuals within the firm becomes increasingly critical to establishing unique points of differentiation. This paper focuses on protecting the critical, unique knowledge of a firm. In particular, it looks at controlling knowledge that must be shared with collaborators if it is to be effectively employed. Integrated marketing communications (IMC) requires sharing deep knowledge with communication partners such as advertising agencies. In particular, marketing research, customer/consumer data, strategic plans, and marketing tactics must be passed on to collaborators if the latter are to communicate with targeted market segments. How does a core firm share such knowledge while still maintaining control of it? By definition, advertising agencies and other IMC partners are external to the central organization. Can the core firm take steps to better insure such knowledge remains proprietary even as it is spread throughout its collaborator network? This question is particularly important as advances in the web and information technology have made knowledge sharing not only easy but a matter of course. The key is distinguishing between different types of knowledge and information/data, then managing appropriately. In particular, a firm must designate knowledge as proprietary by the appropriate means, then take steps to keep it so if it intends to defend it. Given the need to both share and protect, this process is not necessarily easy. INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AND TRADE SECRETS Knowledge can fit a number of definitions. Intellectual property (characterized by patents, copyrights, trademarks) has been formally defined and is generally related to high technology. IF an invention, it must be novel, useful, and non-obvious, thus it is usually only true inventions that fit the definition. Intellectual capital (IC) is the term coined to include not only intellectual property but also "softer" knowledge assets of the firm that fail to fit the "harder" knowledge definition of intellectual property. IC can range from the tacit know-how of individual employees to designated trade secrets. Intellectual property is an easy topic (though actually defending such in court can be troublesome). You discover the new technology or new design, take the legal steps necessary to protect it, then remain vigilant for unauthorized usage or piracy. Intellectual capital is more difficult as the type of knowledge covered by statute is fuzzier as are the protection mechanisms. The problem becomes particularly sticky as issues such as electronic storage and distribution as well as sharing between organizations are brought into the picture. This paper focuses specifically on intellectual capital designated as trade secrets and aspects of sharing such knowledge assets with marketing collaborators such as advertising agencies. Trade secret law is a particularly interesting area in the United States in that is has traditionally been left to states to define and enforce. The variety of state statutes and interpretations, however, eventually led to the Universal Trade secrets Agreement (UTSA) to which the vast majority of states subscribed. …


The economic reforms initiated in the late eighties and early nineties in India have improved the overall investment environment through market oriented policies. India's regulatory framework has gradually become more enabling than restricting for investors. The once formidable administrative burden has been substantially reduced since the announcement of the New Industrial Policy in 1991.  With the implementation of various reforms, India has certainly emerged as an attractive destination for private investment, both foreign as well as domestic.  However, investment remains insufficient to meet India's massive needs. Certain factors as bureaucratic delays in business approvals, multiplicity of procedures, policy and legal constraints, structural constraints, etc. still exist which  prevent it from realizing its true potential. An investor still has to undergo a lot of time consuming and complex procedures that act as a disincentive for him. The paper will make a comprehensive review of the regulations and procedures required for an investment in India and draw out the lacuna of the present system. It will also suggest steps for improving its performance in problematic areas such that the ease of doing business in India can be enhanced.


This study is a protection analysis of foremost privacy enhanced technologies for biometrics including watermark embedding technique and fixed digit encryption. A biometric authentication system is vulnerable to a mixture of attacks. These attacks are anticipated to either evade the security afforded by the system or to discourage the usual functioning of the system. Here, we briefly review some of the known attacks that can be encountered by a biometric system and some corresponding protection techniques. We explicitly focus on threats designed to extract information about the original biometric data of an individual from the stored data as well as the entire authentication system. We offer a biometric authentication scheme which uses two separate biometric features combined by watermark embedding with fixed digit encryption to obtain a non-unique identifier of the individual, in order to address security and privacy concerns. Moreover, we provide experimental results presenting the performance of the authentication system. In the client-server environment the transformed features and templates travel through insecure communication line like the internet or intranet. Our proposed technique causes security against eavesdropping and replay attacks on the internet or intranet, because the transmitted feature information and the templates are different every time.


In this study, high-quality ZnO thin films were grown on sapphire substrates by atomic layer deposition (ALD), followed by high-temperature postdeposition annealing. A thin Al2O3 layer was subsequently deposited by ALD on the ZnO surface to reduce detrimental surface states. Photoluminescence measurements conducted in a backscattering configuration at room temperature show that the ZnO film exhibited stimulated emission with a low threshold intensity of 35.1 kW/ cm2. This may be attributed to the high-quality ZnO film and Al2O3 surface passivation layer grown by ALD, as well as the Al doping effect caused by the thermal diffusion of Al from the sapphire into the ZnO. Results show that ZnO films grown by the ALD technique are applicable to next-generation short-wavelength photonic devices.


In this paper we derive delay and transition time macromodels for GaAs DCFL logic gates. The macromodels are derived by a systematic application of dimensional analysis aimed at finding suitable minimal functional forms that capture the effects of all relevant parameters. The process is illustrated through a detailed step-by-step account of the macromodel development for DCFL inverters. Based on different modeling approximations, one- and two-argument macromodel functions are derived and compared. The inverter macromodel is then used as a basis for developing timing macromodels for superbuffers and NOR gates. The NOR gate macromodels account for the simultaneous and near-simultaneous switching of two inputs, with an extension to multiple inputs. >


The water content in the soil regulates exchanges between soil and atmosphere, impacts plant livelihood, and determines the antecedent condition for several natural hazards. Accurate soil moisture estimates are key to applications such as natural hazard prediction, agriculture, and water management. We explore how to best predict soil moisture at a high resolution in the context of a changing climate. Physics-based hydrological models are promising as they provide distributed soil moisture estimates and allow prediction outside the range of prior observations. This is particularly important considering that the climate is changing, and the available historical records are often too short to capture extreme events. Unfortunately, these models are extremely computationally expensive, which makes their use challenging, especially when dealing with strong uncertainties. These characteristics make them complementary to machine learning approaches, which rely on training data quality/quantity but are typically computationally efficient. We first demonstrate the ability of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to reproduce soil moisture fields simulated by the hydrological model ParFlow-CLM. Then, we show how these two approaches can be successfully combined to predict future droughts not seen in the historical timeseries. We do this by generating additional ParFlow-CLM simulations with altered forcing mimicking future drought scenarios. Comparing the performance of CNN models trained on historical forcing and CNN models trained also on simulations with altered forcing reveals the potential of combining these two approaches. The CNN can not only reproduce the moisture response to a given forcing but also learn and predict the impact of altered forcing. Given the uncertainties in projected climate change, we can create a limited number of representative ParFlow-CLM simulations (ca. 25 min/water year on 9 CPUs for our case study), train our CNNs, and use them to efficiently (seconds/water-year on 1 CPU) predict additional water years/scenarios and improve our understanding of future drought potential. This framework allows users to explore scenarios beyond past observation and tailor the training data to their application of interest (e.g., wet conditions for flooding, dry conditions for drought, etc…). With the trained ML model they can rely on high resolution soil moisture estimates and explore the impact of uncertainties.


Today serious games, i.e. software applications developed with game technology and design principles for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment, include games used for educational, persuasive, pedagogical, political, or health and training purposes. This paper describes the work-in-progress development of an interactive 3D training application generated using components of the Unreal game engine that facilitate the learning of various fundamental coaching methods via the interactive completion of a variety of interrelated tasks. Apart from highlighting the contribution and innovation of this approach, a synopsis of the coach training content of the serious game and its purpose is also presented here, as well as an architecture overview of the implementation of the prototype application. Finally, future directions for the completion and evaluation of this serious game are also discussed.


This paper describes the improvements realised through the application of lean production methods in the off-site manufacturing of integrated mechanical services modules and proposes off-site manufacturing as a step forward in the integration of lean theory into construction. Using the manufacturing case study as a model the techniques implemented and the lessons learned are described and the significant components of process improvement identified. The paper highlights some of the principal failures in current construction practice and argues these form major constraints in the drive for lean project delivery. The final portion of the paper links lean enterprise with lean construction and argues that the definition and realisation of benefit is the only driver for change.


Background: - Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex structure composed of several components including glenoid fossa of the temporal bone, the condylar head of the mandible, articular disk, as well as several ligaments and associated muscles. Its ankylosis causes distressing conditions including, both functional and aesthetic problems. An anesthetic management is challenging and surgery of TMJ ankylosis falls into the category of difficult airway as direct vocal cord visualization is difficult due to an inability to open the mouth. Fiberoptic intubation is considered as a safest approach and gold standard in TMJ ankylosis surgery as means of airway securing.Objectives: - The aim of this study was to assess method of airway securing in patients treated for temporomandibular joint ankylosis at Addis Ababa University Oral and Maxillofacial surgery affiliate Hospitals. Materials and Methods: - A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted in 22 patients (n=14 male and n=11 female) with mean age of 21.7(ranged 6-50) diagnosed with temporomandibular joint ankylosis at Addis Ababa University, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery affiliate Hospitals both Yekatit 12 Hospital medical college and St. Peter specialized Hospital. Data was collected from patients' medical records registered in a period of 3 years from January 2017 to December 2019. EPI- INFO 7 computer software was used for data analysis. Results: - The highest incidence of ankylosis was reported between the age of 11 and 20 (40.91%). Unilateral ankylosis was reported in (59.09%) and (68.18%) was bony ankylosis based on tissue involved. In majority 17 (77%) of patients tracheostomy was used as intubation technique and securing the airway and fibroptic technique is used only in 2(9%) patients. Conclusion: - The findings of this study tracheostomy was the most commonly used intubation technique, due unavailability of fibroptic and skilled professional in practice of other intubation techniques. Institutional capacity building of facilities, increasing service availability and experts for practice of fiberoptic and bland nasal intubation technique is recommended.


Rationale: Allergic inflammation has been linked to increased susceptibility to viral illnesses, but it is unclear whether this association is causal. Objectives: To test whether omalizumab treatment to reduce IgE would shorten the frequency and duration of rhinovirus (RV) illnesses in children with allergic asthma. Methods: In the PROSE (Preventative Omalizumab or Step‐up Therapy for Severe Fall Exacerbations) study, we examined children with allergic asthma (aged 6‐17 yr; n = 478) from low‐income census tracts in eight U.S. cities, and we analyzed virology for the groups randomized to treatment with guidelines‐based asthma care (n = 89) or add‐on omalizumab (n = 259). Weekly nasal mucus samples were analyzed for RVs, and respiratory symptoms and asthma exacerbations were recorded over a 90‐day period during the fall seasons of 2012 or 2013. Adjusted illness rates (illnesses per sample) by treatment arm were calculated using Poisson regression. Measurements and Main Results: RVs were detected in 97 (57%) of 171 exacerbation samples and 2,150 (36%) of 5,959 nonexacerbation samples (OR, 2.32; P < 0.001). Exacerbations were significantly associated with detection of rhinovirus C (OR, 2.85; P < 0.001) and rhinovirus A (OR, 2.92; P < 0.001), as well as, to a lesser extent, rhinovirus B (OR, 1.98; P = 0.019). Omalizumab decreased the duration of RV infection (11.2 d vs. 12.4 d; P = 0.03) and reduced peak RV shedding by 0.4 log units (95% confidence interval, −0.77 to −0.02; P = 0.04). Finally, omalizumab decreased the frequency of RV illnesses (risk ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.49‐0.84). Conclusions: In children with allergic asthma, treatment with omalizumab decreased the duration of RV infections, viral shedding, and the risk of RV illnesses. These findings provide direct evidence that blocking IgE decreases susceptibility to RV infections and illness. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01430403).


DESIGN GUIDE TO ORBITAL FLIGHT. Jensen, Townsend, Kraft and Kork. McGraw-Hill, 1962. 896 pp. £6 15s. 6d. The law of gravity has been with us for at least three centuries, and at last a comprehensive set of tables and graphs has been prepared, enabling any property of a particular orbit to be read off directly, to about one per cent accuracy. Of course, no book can state categorically which orbit will best suit a given set of requirements, but at least this gives a rapid method of determining how any suggested orbit will perform. This book is reproduced in unjustified typing by photolitho, on a huge American quarto page size (11 in. X 8 | in.), and in consequence the pages of text appear untidy. However, about two-thirds of the book consists of graphs, making this point of less importance. (The mere list of illustrations takes up 34 pages alone.) The four authors all work for the Martin Marietta Corporation, Aerospace Division, and the book is well co-ordinated in consequence. The main chapter headings are: Orbit mechanics; Physical data; Orbit perturbations; Satellite lifetimes; Ascent to orbit; Maneuvers; Satellite rendezvous; Recovery; Re-entry; Orbit computation; Guidance and control requirements; Mission requirements. There are also six appendices and an index. The text goes into the theoretical derivation of the working formulae very well. There are 155 forms of the equation to an ellipse, and a further 83 forms of the time-dependent variables for an ellipse. It would seem that any possible combination of variables is covered, without the need to cast about with algebraic manipulations, only to prove 0=0 at the end! The more one studies this and similar American books, the more one realises that the American has surpassed the German in his love of detailed analysis of a particular type of problem, such as that presented here. It seems unlikely that anyone could think of a form of presentation of results which the authors have omitted from this book. In conclusion it may be stated that this book is a must for those, engineers concerned with placing satellites into or out of orbit, and that it is not likely to age very rapidly, due to subsequent discoveries.—w. F. HILTON.


The United Nations' Special Initiative for Africa (UNSIA) focuses on selected low- enrollment African countries in an effort to help them find pragmatic, sustainable solutions to the problems that have depressed primary school enrollments for so long. As part of this process, a four-country study was conducted between November 1998 and May 1999 in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Mauritania. The study specially focused on identifying and understanding the practices likely to promote female school participation in a significant way. One of the study's main assumptions is that the body of knowledge on girls' education and the interest accorded to it in the last ten years in Africa should already have resulted in improved parents' and communities' attitudes, school policies, and classroom management approaches. These improvements should in turn lead to change in girls' behavior and performance in school, and thus greater female survival, confidence, achievement and retention. Moreover, this particular study will help identify ways of improving what we do to advance girls' schooling.


Abstract: Rapid growth of urban population and consequential increasing traffic, construction of buildings, roads, industrial areas, affects urban soils as well as urban environment in general. Urban soils differ from the natural soils by their disturbed structure resulting from waste disposal, construction sites, pollution from atmospheric deposition, traffic and industrial activities. Mismanagement of urban environment can cause severe contamination of green areas in cities, with serious health risk for urban population. To prevail those issues and improve the sustainability of urban green areas, innovative and nature based solutions (NBS) should gain more attention, particularly those easily applied such as tree-based phytoremediation. Unlike traditional remediation techniques that are expensive, very demanding and can cause secondary pollution, tree-based phytoremediation is NBS with wide spectrum of application. It is low-cost technique, based on urban green infrastructure (parks, alleys, community gardens) and has numerous benefits reflected throught sustainable management of urban soils and improvement of general environmental, health, social and economic conditions for urban population. Primarly, urban green infrastructure consist of different tree species capable to mitigate soil contamination, especially contamination with toxic heavy metals (HMs). Regeneration of urban ecosystems based on the role of tree species is connected to ability of trees to retain, uptake and decompose pollutants (including HMs) from contaminated urban soils, enabling their re-use process and turning them into green and environmental friendly areas. Taking into account advantages of phytoremediation technique, the aim of this paper is to present concentration of some HMs (cadmium, lead and zinc) in urban soils of cities accross Bosnia and Herzegovina and look into phytoremediation potential of common urban tree species: horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) and planetree (Platanus × acerifolia (Aiton) Willd.). Results showed high phytoremediation potential of above mentioned tree species, which opens space for further research and introduction of this NBS for remediation of many severely polluted urban soils, drawing attention to better-understood urban sustainability and importance of application of phytoremediation as NBS on local level.

Key words: nature-based solutions, phytoremediation, urban soil, trees, heavy metals


AIM To describe a simple technique of angular adjustment of cerebral angiographic views that makes them similar to the surgical field under the operation microscope. METHODS The technique of angular adjustment consists of three steps: 1. Upside-down 180-degree rotation of the standard angiographic anterior-posterior view, 2. Adjustment of the course of the angiographic internal carotid artery according to the actual internal carotid artery seen in surgery under the operating microscope, and 3. A final and more accurate angular adjustment by rotating the angiographic view in its final position, as soon as parent arteries to aneurysm, such as the internal carotid, anterior cerebral, and middle cerebral arteries, are seen in surgery. RESULTS The use of the technique provided a fair approximation of a rotated angiographic view and the actual surgical point of view. The technique is simple, and no sophisticated technology is needed. CONCLUSIONS The angiographic data adjusted angularly to the surgeon's point of view at surgery, very similar to the actual directions of arteries and the fundus of the aneurysm, is likely helpful to the microneurosurgeon for safely exploring aneurysms in conjunction with proximal and distal arteries.


Health sciences librarians established a statewide medical information network in South Dakota to provide rural physicians with database access and rapid document delivery. A private grant funded equipment for interactive simultaneous remote searching (ISRS) and telefacsimile transmission, as well as for a coordinator for training and follow-up support. In less than one year, telefacsimile technology has become an integral part of library information transfer among sixteen network sites, and ISRS is gaining acceptance among physicians who lack local access to online databases.


Our objective was to construct a recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine (rBCG) that secretes human interferon-alpha 2b (IFNα-2b) and to study its immunogenicity and in vitro antitumor activity against human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and T5637. The signal sequence BCG Ag85B and the gene IFNα-2b were amplified from the genome of BCG and human peripheral blood, respectively, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The two genes were cloned in Escherichia coli-BCG shuttle-vector pMV261 to obtain a new recombinant plasmid pMV261-Ag85B-IFNα-2b. BCG was transformed with the recombinant plasmid by electroporation and designated rBCG-IFNα-2b. Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood (PBMCs) and stimulated with rBCG-IFNα-2b or wild type BCG for 3 d, and then cultured with human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and T5637. Their cytotoxicities were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. BCG was successfully transformed with the recombinant plasmid pMV261-Ag85B-IFNα-2b by electroporation and the recombinant BCG (rBCG-IFNα-2b) was capable of synthesizing and secreting cytokine IFNα-2b. PBMC proliferation was enhanced significantly by rBCG-IFNα-2b, and the cytotoxicity of PBMCs stimulated by rBCG-IFNα-2b to T24 and T5627 was significantly stronger in comparison to wild type BCG. A recombinant BCG, secreting human IFNα-2b (rBCG-IFNα-2b), was constructed successfully and was superior to control wild type BCG in inducing immune responses and enhancing cytotoxicity to human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and T5637. This suggests that rBCG-IFNα-2b could be a promising agent for bladder cancer patients in terms of possible reductions in both clinical dosage and side effects of BCG immunotherapy.


The remote areas in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) doesn't have access to the electricity grid, therefore the standalone hybrid power system uses to provide the electrical power required to meet the demand in these areas. The components of the hybrid system were selected and optimized for this area instead of bringing the gird to this area based on the load profile for the appliance household in the area. Thousands of simulation trials were performed using HOMER Pro to achieve the best renewable fraction and Levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The LCOE was found 0.34 $/kWh after including the capital, recourses, operation and maintenance, and replacement cost for the lifetime of the project which is 25 years. The unmet electrical load and shortage capacity were 0.0102 % and 0.0912 %, respectively. Furthermore, the environmental impact of the system was compared with the diesel energy system based on the carbon footprint and emission as in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, unburn hydrocarbon, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. The carbon footprint was 90.1 which equivalent to 1000 saving diesel gallons.


The journal of the Econometric Society, Econometrica, was established in 1933 and edited by Ragnar Frisch for the first 22 years. As a new journal Econometrica had three key characteristics. First, it was devoted to a research program stated in few but significant words in the constitution of the Econometric Society and for many years printed in every issue of the journal. Second, it was the first international journal in economics. Third, it was the journal of association (Econometric Society) with members committed to a serious interest in econometrics. The paper gives a brief account of the circumstances around the establishment of the journal and of the relationship between Frisch and Alfred Cowles 3rd who in various capacities played a major role in launching the journal and keeping it going. It furthermore conveys observations and comments related to the editing of the first seven volumes of Econometrica, i.e. 1933-39. The main aim of the paper is to shed light on how the editor and a small core group of econometrician attempted to promote econometrics via Econometrica. The paper is overwhelmingly based on unpublished material from Frisch's editorial files. Editorial principles, controversies, and style are illuminated through excerpts from the editorial correspondence. The paper was presented at ESEM-67, University of Gothenburg, 26-30 August, 2013.


The extensive use of solid-state power electronics technology in industrial, commercial and residential equipment causes degradation of quality of electric power with the deterioration of the supply voltage. The disturbances result in degradation of the efficiency, decaying the life span of the equipment, increase in the losses, electromagnetic interference, the malfunctions of equipment and other harmful fallout. Generally, the power quality is the measurement of an ideal power supply. More over the power quality is the continuity and characteristics of the supply voltage in terms of frequency, magnitude and symmetry. The mitigation of power quality (PQ) disturbances requires detection of the source and causes of disturbances. The MODWT is a suitable method for forecasting of further occurrence of disturbance. However proper and quick detection and localization of the disturbances plays a crucial role in the power quality environment. Hence, in this thesis, a fast detection technique has been proposed along with the MODWT in order to provide time-scale representation of the signals by removing the drawback of the traditional methods like DWT and ST. Comparative analysis shows that SGWT is a best technique for localization and detection of distortions than the conventional methods. During the course of the research, it is found that suitable algorithms are required for the characterization of the disturbances for smooth mitigation of the distortions. So, data mining based classifier has been proposed for discrimination of both single and multiple disturbances. Further, the suitable features are needed for efficient characterization of the disturbances. Hence, the suitable features are extracted in order to ii reduce the number of raw data. The data normalization also plays a crucial role for efficient classification. These classification techniques are fast and able to analyze large number of disturbances. In this thesis, large numbers of signals are synthesized both in noisy and noise free environment. In the real time environment, these techniques have been performed satisfactorily. This leads to increase in the overall efficiency of the combination of the detection and classification method. In recent times, with the advancement of renewable source requires better quality of power. The important issue of the today's distributed generation based interconnected power system is the islanding detection. Non detection zone is a good and reliable measurement of the islanding. However, failure to detect islanding situation sometimes leads to number of serious problem both for the utility and the customers. Hence, this thesis also provides a comparative analysis of the benefits and the drawbacks of aforementioned detection methods which are applied in power quality environment. The voltage signal at the PCC of the renewable distributed generation embedded with IEEE−14 bus system is captured and given as input to the analysis methods in order to extract features from the output of the analysis. The proposed SGWT properly discriminates power quality disturbances from the islanding events by introducing threshold selection. The data mining classifiers are implemented for classification of power quality as well as islanding events captured from IEEE bus system. Similar to the previous cases, the signals of same length are given to all the detection methods in ordered to compare the time of operation of each these methods. Moreover, the proposed techniques have been applied in noise free and noisy environment, bus system embedded with renewable source, real time environment etc. The overall findings of the thesis could be useful for the industrial and domestic applications. Since the detection methods are simple and faster, they could be useful for power industry and other applications such as medical science etc. Similarly, the classification can be used for application such as stock exchange, medical science etc.


Purpose: To quantify the doseperturbation behind implanted metallic appliances and fiducials in protonradiotherapy.Method and Materials:Doseperturbations from stainless steel spheres of 6.4–15.9 mm diameter were investigated in proton therapy beams. Passive lateral spreading was combined with collimation to produce 17.8‐cm diameter fields. Penetration ranges were varied between 40 and 160 mm. Dose profiles were measured in planes perpendicular to the proton beam axis, at distances of 0–150 mm behind the implants, using radiographic film exposed to 0.4–0.5 mGy. The experiments were modeled in detail with Monte Carlo simulations that included hadron and electron transport physics. 120×106proton histories were simulated, corresponding to 8% or less statistical uncertainty. Results: Edge effects are most prominent at the highest proton beam energies and produce concentric perturbations of +/−10–40% for the implants considered here. Thick implants (w.r.t. the beam range) may stop the protons, leaving a zero dose shadow behind it. For thin and intermediate implants, the range loss in the implant produces a cone of dose enhancement of up to 20% directly behind the implant due to in increase in the stopping power values. In an air cavity, shadows reduce the dose by up to 60% at 15 cm distance downstream from the implant. The Monte Carlo simulations agree with the measurements to better than 8% in all cases and typically to within 4%. Additional simulations will be presented for implants of gold and tantalum, ranging in size from 0.8 to 3 mm. Conclusion: We have identified several representative cases in which implants produce significant doseperturbations. In such cases, a treatment plan should include suitable simulations or measurements to ensure that the implants do not result in cold spots in the tumor or hot spots in normal tissue.


It is appropriate for the IS field to examine the suitability of its practices in light of the complexity of developing electronic business systems. Research shows that planning and developing business-tobusiness electronic trading systems (ETS) is fraught with difficulties concerning the priorities and power of individual organisations. This paper evaluates the usefulness of Triple Loop Learning in managing the diversity associated with planning such systems. The study concludes that approaches associated with Triple Loop Learning can offer insight for managing inter-organisational complexities. The authors propose that such approaches could enhance planning methods for electronic trading systems.


We present a neuro-symbolic visual question answering (VQA) approach for the CLEVR dataset that is based on the combination of deep neural networks and answer-set program- ming (ASP), a logic-based paradigm for declarative problem solving. We provide a translation mechanism for the questions included in CLEVR to ASP programs. By exploiting choice rules, we consider deterministic and non-deterministic scene encodings. In addition, we introduce a confidence-based interface between the ASP module and the neural network which allows us to restrict the non-determinism to objects classified by the network with high confidence. Our experiments show that the non-deterministic scene encoding achieves good results even if the neural networks are trained rather poorly in comparison with the deterministic approach. This is important for building robust VQA systems if network predictions are less-than perfect.


In this special issue, we highlight recent human and rodent psychopharmacology research in a series of original reports and reviews on cannabis and cannabis derivatives. This work represents a broad cross-section of current cannabis related research; however, more work in this area is needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


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This is a color poster promoting the 1996 mock convention. The illustration, by Vic Cantone, features an elephant, in front of the Colonnade, with various candidates posed on and around it. Text includes the title and: Washington & Lee University, March 1st and 2nd, 1996, Newt Gingrich, Bill Bennett, Dan Quayle.


Functional dilatory response in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was investigated using thoracic aortas, isolated hearts, and mesenteric beds. Dose-response curves to the PGI2 analogue iloprost on phenylephrine-preconstricted rings of diabetic rats and controls were comparable. In contrast, decreased vasodilation in diabetic rats was observed when dose-response curves to iloprost were performed in hearts and on phenylephrine-preconstricted mesenteric beds. Dose-response curves to forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, performed with hearts and phenylephrine-preconstricted aortic rings and isolated mesenteric beds of diabetic rats and controls were comparable. However, a decreased vasodilation to the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP)) activator lemakalim was observed in diabetic hearts, but not in aortic rings and mesenteric beds. In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, diabetes mellitus affects the vasodilation to iloprost in both coronary and mesenteric beds, but not in the aorta. In the heart, this modification of vascular reactivity may be due to a decrease in K(ATP) channel mediated response and not to a decreased activity of adenylyl cyclase. At this time, in the isolated mesenteric bed, the mechanism of this modification in vascular reactivity remains unknown.


The paper analyzes the possibility of a diachronic approach to the study of the processes of socialization and social-psychological adjustment. In article offers a description of the unit of analysis, the determinants and criteria diachrony and synchrony in the adaptation of the individual and environment interactions. The article examines the role and the ratio of processes of unbalance and coordination in the system person – environment.


The excited-state symmetry and molecular reorientation of perylene, 1,7-diazaperylene, and 2,5,8,11-tetra- tert-butylperylene have been studied by different fluorescence depolarization experiments. The first excited electronic singlet state was reached through one-photon excitation (OPE) and two-photon excitation (TPE). A 400 and 800 nm femtosecond laser pulse was used for this purpose, and data were collected by means of the time-correlated single-photon counting technique. It is found that the rotational correlation times for each perylene derivative are very similar in the OPE and TPE depolarization experiments. For the determination of the two-photon absorption tensor, a recently described theoretical model has been applied (Ryderfors et al. J. Phys. Chem. A 2007, 111, 11531). It was found that the two-photon process can be described by a 2 x 2 absorption tensor for which the components are solvent dependent and exhibit mixed vibronic character. In the dipole approximation this is compatible with a parity-forbidden two-photon absorption into the first excited singlet state.


Considers the problem of estimating parameters of multispectral random field (RF) image models using maximum likelihood (ML) methods. For images with an assumed Gaussian distribution, analytical results are developed for multispectral simultaneous autoregressive (MSAR) and Markov random field (MMRF) models which lead to practical procedures for calculating ML estimates. Although previous work has provided least squares methods for parameter estimation, the superiority of the ML method is evidenced by experimental results provided in this work. The effectiveness of multispectral RF models using ML estimates in modeling color texture images is also demonstrated.


Going far beyond being just a mega sport event, the Olympic Games are, and have been in the past, important settings for tourism and cultural change. Hosting the Olympic Games presents a unique opportunity for countries to promote, regenerate, and develop cities and regions, and to firmly locate them within an increasingly competitive global tourism marketplace. From Athens to Rio de Janeiro, Olympic landmark buildings, 'districts', and 'parks' have permanently transformed cities and regions, and gained tremendous material and symbolic value as tourist attractions. On another level, the Olympic Games produce a kaleidoscopic range of intangible and quasi-religious engagements with place and spectacle. They have a tremendous impact on the image of the host country, while invoking collective memories and touching on emotions such as suspense, compassion, togetherness, and pride. Tourism has also become a major watchword in ongoing debates on the 'legacy' of the Olympic Games, and it deeply penetrates discourses on social justice and cultural change on a local, national and global scale. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change.


Although the new generation of atypical antipsychotic agents could some day eliminate concerns about tardive dyskinesia (TD), this disorder remains a significant clinical problem for both patients and physicians. Fortunately, many, if not most, cases of TD are mild. For patients with mild to moderate TD, therapeutic efforts are primarily directed at minimizing neuroleptic exposure or, when possible, changing to atypical agents. Most cases of TD do not seem to progress, suggesting that the risk of remaining on typical neurolep-Hcs is probably small. Patients with moderate to severe forms of TD present greater challenges. These patients frequently require medication to suppress their dyskinesias. A variety of suppressive agents have been tried with limited success. No treatment strategy has emerged that is clearly superior or even successful in most patients. Increasing doses of typical neuroleptics may be useful for short-term suppression; however, the long-term efficacy and risk of this strategy have not been studied carefully. Data on atypical neuroleptics are scant. Clozapine's short-term suppressive effects seem, at best, weak, but patients may improve with long-term treatment Medications with relatively few side effects that may have suppressive efficacy for some patients include calcium channel blockers, adrenergic antagonists, and vitamin E. Gamma-amino-butyric acid agonists agents and dopamine depleters are frequently useful, but have troubling side effects of their own. A variety of other medications have been employed, but are not well studied. For patients with tardive dystonia, anticholinergic agents or botulinum toxin has been particularly effective. Efforts to understand the neurobiology of TD may shed light on this persistent clinical conundrum.


During the exhibition Sarah Lucas: Ordinary Things our programme of lectures addresses the sculptural concerns of Lucas' artistic practice. Many exhibitions and discussions of Lucas' work have focused on her as a central player within British art in the 1990s. This programme of academic talks and the exhibition Ordinary Things, together with the accompanying publication, offers a counter position of the sculptural rather than the sensational.

In 1999 when Sarah Lucas was invited to give a lecture at the University of Leeds in a series of public lectures called 'Objects of Sculpture: Contemporary Views of Women and Sculpture' she opened her presentation with a demonstration of her belief in truth to materials. She has also referred to Englishness as her muse. This talk will explore the idea that British Modernism and English sculpture in the 1930s is the guiding spirit of the work exhibited under the heading Penetralia at Sadie Coles HQ in 2008, and considers what this might tell us about Lucas's position as a sculptor in the first decade of the twenty-first century.


Peritonitis as a complication of scarlet fever is rare, in fact it is not mentioned in most standard textbooks. We saw one case last year in the New Haven Hospital. REPORT OF CASE A white girl, 5 years of age, was admitted Sept. 24, 1919, complaining of abdominal pain and vomiting. Family History. —Unimportant. Past History. —Negative, except that the child had developed scarlet fever two weeks previously and at the time of the onset of the present illness was convalescent, having been afebrile ten days. Present Illness. —Developed twenty-four hours before admission. The onset was very acute with pain in the abdomen and vomiting, and these symptoms persisted. Physical Examination. —The temperature was 102 F.; pulse, 160; respirations, 28. The child was prostrated, very pale and irritable. She was lying on her back with her knees drawn up. The tongue was heavily coated, the tonsils were enlarged but not


In low-voltage operating DRAMs, one of the most serious problems is how to maintain sufficient charge stored in the memory cell, which is concerned with the operating margin and soft error immunity. An array architecture called the cell-plate line connecting complementary bit-line (C/sup 3/) architecture, which realizes a large signal voltage on the bit-line pair and low soft error rate (SER) without degrading the reliability of the memory cell capacitor dielectric film, is proposed. This architecture requires no unique process technology and no additional chip area. With the test device using the 16-Mb DRAM process, a 130-mV signal voltage is observed at 1.5-V power supply with 1.6- mu m*3.2- mu m cell size. This architecture should open the path for the future battery-backup and/or battery-operated high-density DRAMs. >


To establish a more appropriate animal recipient for xenotransplantation, NOD/SCID/gamma(c)(null) mice double homozygous for the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mutation and interleukin-2Rgamma (IL-2Rgamma) allelic mutation (gamma(c)(null)) were generated by 8 backcross matings of C57BL/6J-gamma(c)(null) mice and NOD/Shi-scid mice. When human CD34+ cells from umbilical cord blood were transplanted into this strain, the engraftment rate in the peripheral circulation, spleen, and bone marrow were significantly higher than that in NOD/Shi-scid mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 antibody or in the beta2-microglobulin-deficient NOD/LtSz-scid (NOD/SCID/beta2m(null)) mice, which were as completely defective in NK cell activity as NOD/SCID/gamma(c)(null) mice. The same high engraftment rate of human mature cells was observed in ascites when peripheral blood mononuclear cells were intraperitoneally transferred. In addition to the high engraftment rate, multilineage cell differentiation was also observed. Further, even 1 x 10(2) CD34+ cells could grow and differentiate in this strain. These results suggest that NOD/SCID/gamma(c)(null) mice were superior animal recipients for xenotransplantation and were especially valuable for human stem cell assay. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in the superior engraftment rate in NOD/SCID/gamma(c)(null) mice, cytokine production of spleen cells stimulated with Listeria monocytogenes antigens was compared among these 3 strains of mice. The interferon-gamma production from dendritic cells from the NOD/SCID/gamma(c)(null) mouse spleen was significantly suppressed in comparison with findings in 2 other strains of mice. It is suggested that multiple immunological dysfunctions, including cytokine production capability, in addition to functional incompetence of T, B, and NK cells, may lead to the high engraftment levels of xenograft in NOD/SCID/gamma(c)(null) mice.


The dynamics and stability of divertor detachment in N 2 seeded, type-I, ELMy H-mode plasmas with dominant NBI heating in the JET ITER-like wall device is studied by means of an integrated analysis of diagnostic data from several systems, classifying data relative to the ELM times. It is thereby possible to study the response of the detachment evolution to the control parameters (SOL input power, upstream density and impurity fraction) prevailing during the inter-ELM periods and the effect of ELMs on the detached divertor. A relatively comprehensive overview is achieved, including the interaction with the targets at various stages of the ELM cycle, the role of ELMs in affecting the detachment process and the overall performance of the scenario. The results are consistent with previous studies in devices with an ITER-like, metal wall, with the important advance of distinguishing data from intra- and inter-ELM periods. Operation without significant degradation of the core confinement can be sustained in the presence of strong radiation from the x-point region (MARFE).


We assessed the irrigation performance of the automated irrigation controller. In the study, a drip irrigation system automatically governed irrigation in accordance with water consumption of the substrate-plant system. Data acquisition was performed by an electronic circuit, which processed data and then sent the data to the microcontroller (programmable integrated circuit-pic16f84). The pic16f84 functioned as a controller, which decided when and how much water to apply; hence, the pumps ran and stopped according to the irrigation strategy defined by the microcontroller. The required time to pump water according to the irrigation programs corresponded to the time to increase soil moisture up to field capacity in the full treatment whenever 30% of the available water in the substrate was depleted by the pepper plant ( Capsicum annuum L.) in the experiment. Therefore, once defined, the microcontroller utilized the data and controlled the relays connected to the pumps. Soil moisture content was monitored by only one sensor installed in a representative pot throughout the experiment. The automated system applied four different water applications; one treatment was full and the other three were deficit treatments. These were compared with the control treatment. The automated system maintained the soil moisture level at the desired level for the full treatment and took over irrigation events, started and stopped the irrigations throughout the entire growing season. Even though yield value was high in treatment I1.0, the best quality parameters were obtained from I0.75. In the deficit treatments I0.50 and I0.25, yield and quality parameters decreased since plants in those treatments were under stress. The performance of the automated system can be increased as the time in the software is adjusted according to full irrigation application. Key Words: automated irrigation, irrigation controller, soil moisture sensor


Recombinant mouse interleukin 22 (mIL-22) and its variants encoding four muteins (Y51A, N54A, R55A and E117A) were expressed in Escherichia coli, refolded and purified to homogeneity as monomeric proteins by one-step ion-exchange chromatography. The binding of IL-22 and its four muteins to immobilized mIL-22 receptor α1 extracellular domain (mIL-22 Rα1-ECD) exhibited similar affinity, indicating that the single-amino-acid mutations do not affect its binding properties. Similarly, no differences were found in binding to IL-22 binding protein expressed on the surface of yeast cells, although the affinity of all five proteins to the binding protein was higher than that to IL-22 Rα1-ECD. In an in vitro bioassay, recombinant mIL-22 stimulated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 phosphorylation in HepG2 cells, whereas the four muteins were completely (Y51A) or almost completely (N54A, R55A and E117A) devoid of this agonistic activity. Furthermore, the agonistic activity of mIL-22 could be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the four muteins with almost identical efficiency. mIL-22 and its Y51A mutein were pegylated by methoxy polyethylene glycol-propionylaldehyde-20 kDa, yielding a mixture of mono (75-80%) and double (20-25%) pegylated proteins. The pegylated proteins showed lower affinity (50 and 25%) toward immobilized mIL-22 Rα1-ECD than their non-pegylated analogs. Wild-type pegylated IL-22 exhibited 5- to 10-fold lower activity in the HepG2 bioassay than its non-pegylated counterpart. Preparation of recombinant mIL-22 antagonists provides new tools for the study of IL-22 activity and of eventual therapeutic means for attenuating its negative effects.


It is commonly accepted that there is a two-way relationship between land use and transport in urban areas. Land use affects transport, conditioning travel demand. Conversely, transport affects land use, conditioning spatial distribution of activities and land market. The problem of simulating mutual interactions between land use and transport has been tackled by so-called Land Use Transport Interaction (LUTI) models. Different modelling approaches are present in literature, which are generally grouped into three main categories: spatial micro-economic, spatial interaction and spatial accounting models. The paper presents a spatial accounting LUTI model, which relies on Multi-Regional-Input-Output (MRIO) framework. The model has two main interacting components: an activity model and a transport model, which allow to endogenously estimating activities generation and location, land prices, travel demand and transport accessibility. The proposed LUTI model has been specified and applied in an urban area, more particularly to the town of Reggio Calabria (Italy). The objective of the application is the estimation of long-term impacts on land use and passenger travel demand patterns when interventions on transport facilities and services are planned at a strategic scale. The results confirm that MRIO framework offers the potentialities to bring activity location, land use in line within travel demand modelling.


a building with maximum utilization of daylight and use of energy efficient luminaires will reduce the cost of energy use. In the present study, by means of computer simulations using RELUX software, the interaction between natural and artificial light and the related illumination conditions expected in a commercial office building in Mumbai, India have been simulated and analysed. In this way, it was possible to evaluate the relevant loads for artificial illumination that has been considered not as the principal but a complementary light source. The main goal of this study is to show the potential of drastically reducing the electrical energy consumptions for illumination, by adopting day lighting harvesting solutions. Comparison were done using two different lighting schemes one with Fluorescent Luminaires and without daylight harvesting and other one with LED fixtures with daylight harvesting using combined occupancy and daylight dimming sensors. With the latter scheme a saving of 80% can be achieved on energy and operating costs for a period over 25 years.


Abstract:  We describe a new species of glass frog (Vitreorana) from Fazenda Novo Pau Brasil, in the Atlantic Forest habitat of northeastern Brazil. Previous to this work, Vitreorana baliomma sp. nov. was misidentified as V. eurygnatha, from which it can be distinguished by the iris pattern flecked with star-shape melanophores; rudimentary nuptial excrescences formed by glands on the dorsomedial surface of Finger I, with some accessorial glands along its periphery; parietal, urinary bladder, kidneys, and testes peritonea translucent; visceral peritoneum with iridophores covering the pericardium, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. We also provide a brief discussion on its morphological similarities with other Vitreorana species.


Significance: Metalloporphyrins, characterized by a redox-active transitional metal (Mn or Fe) coordinated to a cyclic porphyrin core ligand, mitigate oxidative/nitrosative stress in biological systems. Side-chain substitutions tune redox properties of metalloporphyrins to act as potent superoxide dismutase mimics, peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts, and redox regulators of transcription factor function. With oxidative/nitrosative stress central to pathogenesis of CNS injury, metalloporphyrins offer unique pharmacologic activity to improve the course of disease. Recent Advances: Metalloporphyrins are efficacious in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, opioid tolerance, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke and have proved to be useful tools in defining roles of superoxide, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite in disease progression. The most substantive recent advance has been the synthesis of lipophilic metalloporphyrins offering improved blood–brain barrier penetration to allow intravenous, subcutaneous, or oral treatment. Critical Issues: Insufficient preclinical data have accumulated to enable clinical development of metalloporphyrins for any single indication. An improved definition of mechanisms of action will facilitate preclinical modeling to define and validate optimal dosing strategies to enable appropriate clinical trial design. Due to previous failures of ''antioxidants'' in clinical trials, with most having markedly less biologic activity and bioavailability than current-generation metalloporphyrins, a stigma against antioxidants has discouraged the development of metalloporphyrins as CNS therapeutics, despite the consistent definition of efficacy in a wide array of CNS disorders. Future Directions: Further definition of the metalloporphyrin mechanism of action, side-by-side comparison with ''failed'' antioxidants, and intense effort to optimize therapeutic dosing strategies are required to inform and encourage clinical trial design. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000–000.


Oxidative stress has an important role in the pathophysiology of many occupational diseases. In this controlled exposure study, the intensity of oxidative stress biomarkers was assessed in the workers of natural sweet and sour gas refineries (SwGR and SoGR, respectively) and compared with controls. In addition, the role of gluthatione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1)-null and GSTT1-null polymorphisms on the intensity of oxidative stress and liver function tests (LFTs) was investigated. Blood samples were taken and measured for lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total thiol molecules (TTMs). GSTM1- and GSTT1-null genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction. LPO was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the workers of SoGR. TAC was significantly lower in SwGR subjects (p < 0.001). TTMs were significantly lower in SoGR and SwGR subjects. Among LFTs, activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase but not alkaline phosphatase were elevated significantly (p < 0.001) in SoGR subjects. Multivariate linear regression revealed no association between studied polymorphisms, oxidative stress biomarkers, and LFTs. These results indicate that working in the SoGR and SwGR can lead to oxidative stress and abnormal LFTs. Continuous monitoring of natural gas workers for probable ongoing problems is therefore suggested.


As Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic continues to spread the information-produced chronicling the epidemic continues to grow. Since this far no cure for HIV/AIDS has been found, the importance of this information cannot be underestimated as it forms the basis of education and strategy for survival for both the affected and infected. The purpose of this study was to carry out an investigation of information requirements of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAS) in Kenya. The main objectives, were: to assess the quality (accuracy, adequacy and relevance) of the available information on HIV/AIDS, to discuss the inhibiting factors to it's accessibility, to assess the convenience of using this information and to establish the existing gaps in the current HIV/AIDS information service. This study established that indeed quality was lacking in the available information on HIV/AIDS, this was mainly due to lack of adequate information to address varied needs, irrelevance and inaccuracy was prevalent in the available sources. A number of inhibiting factors to accessibility of this information were also identified including: language barriers cost of information, and attitude of information providers among others. Convenience of using the available information was also lacking according to this study, this was mainly due to unfriendly information formats and also the language of presentation. This study also established that the current information service on HIV/AIDS does not address all the requirements of individuals living with HIV/AIDS and therefore there exist information gaps in the current HIV/AIDS information service in Kenya. Some of the recommendations made include: the need to have an ongoing process of assessing and evaluating the information requirements of PLWHAS, development of an information policy on HIV/AIDS, repackaging of information into more user friendly formats and availing this information into a variety of local languages.


Objective. To determine and describe the nature and extent of medication adherence education in US colleges and schools of pharmacy. Methods. A mixed-methods research study was conducted that included a national survey of pharmacy faculty members, a national survey of pharmacy students, and phone interviews of 3 faculty members and 6 preceptors. Results. The majority of faculty members and students agreed that background concepts in medication adherence are well covered in pharmacy curricula. Approximately 40% to 65% of the students sampled were not familiar with several adherence interventions. The 6 preceptors who were interviewed felt they were not well-informed on adherence interventions, unclear on what students knew about adherence, and challenged to provide adherence-related activities for students during practice experiences because of practice time constraints. Conclusions. Intermediate and advanced concepts in medication adherence, such as conducting interventions, are not adequately covered in pharmacy curriculums; therefore stakeholders in pharmacy education must develop national standards and tools to ensure consistent and adequate medication adherence education.


Because of its 80-year history of heavy pollution and re-colonization, Lake Orta provides a good opportunity for investigating the response of zooplankton organisms to heavy metals and acidification as well as the mechanisms involved. After the recent establishment of Daphnia galeata Sars, and the detection of an extremely low clonal diversity of Lake Orta population, we carried out a study to investigate the lethal tolerance to ionic copper, as well as to acidity, and the impact of newborn Daphnia exposure to sublethal concentrations of copper for their later development and reproduction. We conducted acute toxicity tests to estimate the EC50 for ionic copper and tolerance to low pH, as well as life table experiments. Tolerance to ionic copper was high, three times that reported in literature. An increased mortality soon after exposure to low pH confirmed a high sensitivity to acidity and explained the success of the species in Lake Orta only after pH recovery. An analysis of reproductive and demographic parameters revealed that D. galeata Sars was stressed at concentrations of ionic copper only twice higher than those presently recorded in the lake (i.e., ca 3 µg L -1 ). An increased cumulative number of eggs produced by each female were in fact counterbalanced by an increasing abortion rate, which resulted in an unaltered or lower intrinsic rate of population increase. Our results are likely due to the strong selective pressure, more than physiological processes (acclimation), in a polluted area in which only specific adapted clones are able to grow, confirming the results previously obtained on Lake Orta's D. obtusa Kurz population. The reproductive response and the relatively low within treatment variability suggest that clone specificity, rather than physiological acclimation, was the driving force. The low variability confirmed results previously obtained from life tables experiments on Lake Orta's D. obtusa clone. Overall, our results suggest that, despite the chemical recovery, Lake Orta may be regarded as highly vulnerable to biodiversity loss.