I. INTRODUCTION On October 2, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments ("EFOIAA").(1) EFOIAA clarifies the status of electronic records under public access law and encourages federal agencies to adopt electronic formats and electronic methods of dissemination. EFOIAA implements several administrative reforms, including permissive multitracking, "notify-and-negotiate" requester requirements, affirmative publication of frequently requested FOIA information, and expedited processing of "compelling need" requests. EFOIAA doubles the allowable agency response time, but also limits agency recourse to the courts under the "exceptional circumstances" exception to statutory time periods. This Note explains the important provisions of EFOIAA and argues that the amendments are an incremental reform which provide mere technological gap-fillers for handling electronic records. EFOIAA includes permissive and mandatory administrative procedures which are likely to increase agency costs and the potential for litigation between agencies and requesters. EFOIAA fails to address the need for Congressional funding of agency compliance costs, either by direct allocation or FOIA fee revenue-sharing, and compounds this oversight by significantly increasing agency obligations. Finally, EFOIAA avoids reformulating public access policy in light of advancing information technologies, and instead chooses to extend the current access regime despite the danger of technological obsolescence. II. BACKGROUND The Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA")(2) requires mandatory disclosure of public information, subject to certain exemptions and housekeeping concerns. FOIA,'s primary goal is to ensure open government by providing citizens with access to the inner workings of the executive branch. "The basic purpose of the FOIA is to ensure an informed citizenry, vital to the functioning of a democratic society, needed to check against corruption and to hold governors accountable to the governed."(3) President Lyndon B. Johnson underscored the essentially democratic nature of the statute by signing FOIA into law in a July 4th ceremony, declaring that "[t]his legislation springs from one of our most essential principles: a democracy works best when the people have all the information that the security of the nation permits."(4) FOIA requires executive branch agencies to publish their final opinions, statements of policy, and administrative staff materials.(5) Other records require a written request(6) from the public, which must conform to rules published by the agency in the Federal Register.(7) FOIA includes nine categories of information that are exempt from mandatory disclosure,(8) although with respect to eight of the exemptions, agencies still retain the discretionary power to disclose the information.(9) The exemptions are substantial.(10) Under FOIA, any requester seeking information not included in the category of final opinions, statements of policy, or administrative staff manuals, must submit a written request to the agency holding the information.(11) The request must reasonably describe the desired records, and must be in conformity with the agency's published rules regarding such requests.(12) There may also be applicable fees, usually "reasonable standard charges," for agency expenses such as searching, reviewing, and copying the requested material.(13) Agencies have ten business days to decide whether to disclose the information, but the time limit may be extended another ten days if the agency can demonstrate "unusual circumstances" in its attempt to fulfill the request.(14) "Unusual circumstances" can include the need to search for and retrieve records outside the agency's immediate control, e.g., in a field office;(15) the need to search, collect, and examine a large volume of records in order to complete the request;(16) or the need to consult with other agencies which may have an interest in the requested material. …


Western Europe is typically prone to extreme weather events during the winter months, which typically take the form of windstorms or flooding. The storm Desmond brought strong winds and heavy rain to Ireland, northern England and Scotland in December 2015, resulting in an estimated $500 million worth of damage and extensive flooding, particularly in the region of Cumbria. Accurate modelling of such extreme weather events is necessary to ensure that the societal and infrastructural risk associated with these phenomena is minimised. In statistical modelling, extreme value analysis is typically used to model the rate and size of extreme weather events. Typically, practitioners can use the outputs of such an analysis to design flood defences to a standard such that there is only a small probability that defences are breached in a given year. These models can be applied at individual sites or adapted to address questions related to the spatial extent of an event, which is important for policy makers eager to reduce the economic and societal impacts associated with extreme weather. One aim of this thesis is to improve inference with regarding to existing extreme value methodology. First, we propose a reparameterisation of the likelihood corresponding to the Poisson process model for excesses above a high threshold, which improves mixing in a Bayesian framework and ensures more rapid convergence of the parameter chains in a Markov Chain Monte Carlo routine. The Poisson process model is often preferred for modelling extremes of non-stationary processes as the parameters are invariant to the choice of threshold; our approach may increase the possibility of this model being used more widely. Second, we propose an adjustment to the likelihood when implementing a spatial hierarchical model for extremes, which accounts for the dependence in the data when estimating model uncertainty. In both cases, the improvement in inference should increase confidence among practitioners of the outputs obtained from extreme value models. The main influence of extreme weather events in winter is from the passage of low-pressure extratropical cyclones from the North Atlantic. The second aim of this thesis is to quantify the risk associated with extreme wind speed events, which we call windstorms, arising from an extratropical cyclone system. First, we develop a model capturing the spatial variation of the track associated with the cyclone, from which we can simulate synthetic tracks with the same statistical characteristics of the observed record. Second, we describe an approach for modelling the spatial extent and severity of windstorms relative to the storm track, from which we can provide improved estimates of risk associated with windstorms at individual sites and jointly over a spatial domain. The methods described in this thesis can be used to address multiple questions related to windstorm risk, that is not available using current methodology.


Background Providing the appropriate amount of nutrients at every stage of life is a key element determining the proper development and functioning of the body. Objective Because of the nutritional value and resulting position of milk and milk products in the daily diet, this study was undertaken to assess the consumption of milk and milk products among the inhabitants of the Upper Silesian agglomeration. Design The survey covered 600 people, including 339 women (56.5%) and 261 men (43.5%) aged 18–78 years. To assess the consumption of milk and milk products, as a research tool an original survey with the closed-ended and open-ended questions was used. The questions concerned the characteristics of the surveyed group and various aspects of the consumption of milk and milk products. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistica 10.0 program with a chi-square test for quality features. Results The level of consumption of milk and milk products among the Upper Silesian agglomeration inhabitants is insufficient in relation to nutrition recommendations. However, despite many controversies surrounding milk, the respondents also claimed that it played an important role in their daily diet. Conclusions The most frequently consumed type of milk in the surveyed group is ultra heat treated (UHT) milk with average fat content.


The biosynthesis of Fe-S clusters is a vital process involving the delivery of elemental iron and sulfur to scaffold proteins via molecular interactions that are still poorly defined. We reconstituted a stable, functional complex consisting of the iron donor, Yfh1 (yeast frataxin homologue 1), and the Fe-S cluster scaffold, Isu1, with 1:1 stoichiometry, [Yfh1]24·[Isu1]24. Using negative staining transmission EM and single particle analysis, we obtained a three-dimensional reconstruction of this complex at a resolution of ∼17 Å. In addition, via chemical cross-linking, limited proteolysis, and mass spectrometry, we identified protein-protein interaction surfaces within the complex. The data together reveal that [Yfh1]24·[Isu1]24 is a roughly cubic macromolecule consisting of one symmetric Isu1 trimer binding on top of one symmetric Yfh1 trimer at each of its eight vertices. Furthermore, molecular modeling suggests that two subunits of the cysteine desulfurase, Nfs1, may bind symmetrically on top of two adjacent Isu1 trimers in a manner that creates two putative [2Fe-2S] cluster assembly centers. In each center, conserved amino acids known to be involved in sulfur and iron donation by Nfs1 and Yfh1, respectively, are in close proximity to the Fe-S cluster-coordinating residues of Isu1. We suggest that this architecture is suitable to ensure concerted and protected transfer of potentially toxic iron and sulfur atoms to Isu1 during Fe-S cluster assembly.


We report the results of experiments with ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) of MgO using in-situ monitoring with Reflected High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED). Strips of polished Haynes 242 and Inconel 625 nickel-based super-alloys have been used as substrates for these experiments. The in-plane texture of the MgO, as measured by X-ray /spl phi/ scan, resulted in FWHM values between 11 and 15/spl deg/. Using pulsed-laser deposition, the IBAD MgO template films were then overcoated with buffer layer films and a final superconducting film of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta//. The best superconducting transport properties measured on these YBCO films were: an Ic (75 K, self-field, 1 cm wide) of 41.6 A, and a narrow-bridge J/sub c/ (1.35 /spl mu/m thick film) of 0.46 MA/cm/sup 2/.


ABSTRACT Nephrotoxicity is the primary adverse effect of the polymyxins. The relative rates of toxicity of polymyxin B and colistin have not been fully elucidated, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). A retrospective cohort study of adults treated with polymyxin B or colistin for at least 48 h was conducted. The primary endpoint was the incidence of kidney injury assessed by RIFLE (i.e., risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage renal disease) criteria. Risk factors for kidney injury were evaluated using multivariate Cox regression. A total of 414 patients were evaluated, 220 of whom had CF. In patients without CF, there was no difference in kidney injury with polymyxin B and colistin (42.9% versus 50.3%, P = 0.46). Loop diuretic exposure was a risk factor for kidney injury (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 2.83) in this population. In patients with CF, polymyxin B and colistin were associated with similar rates of kidney injury (34.5% versus 29.8%, P = 0.77). Diabetes (aHR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.01 to 7.11), loop diuretics (aHR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.36 to 6.73), and progressive care unit admission (aHR, 8.21; 95% CI, 2.55 to 26.46) were risk factors for kidney injury, while higher baseline serum creatinine levels (per 1 mg/dl) were protective (aHR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.48). Total unadjusted kidney injury in polymyxin-treated patients was less frequent in those who had CF (30.5% versus 48.5%, P < 0.001). Polymyxin B and colistin are associated with a high incidence of kidney injury; cystic fibrosis may be protective against polymyxin nephrotoxicity, but further investigation is needed to confirm this conjecture.


A patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was successfully treated with icotinib. The tumor relapsed after a partial response and the patient was retreated with icotinib after temporary cessation. Surprisingly we found that the tumor responded to icotinib again. The exact mechanism of this phenomenon is still unclear. A better understanding of the biological basis of involved events will help us to improve treatment of advanced NSCLC.


This paper introduces the active mental entities approach to the design of intelligent autonomous agents. In this approach, mental attitudes are conceived as active computational entities and the overall mental activity of an agent results from their independent operation and interaction. In order to provide a formal support to this approach, we propose argumentation theory as a basis for the definition of interaction mechanisms among active mental entities. To this purpose, a novel distributed argumentation algorithm is devised. Finally, we give some operation examples in the context of a robotic application.


In this paper an automatic and intelligent mechanical part library design framework is proposed by utilizing network resources through real-time collaborative design. The proposed framework is based on the client/server network environment, where Web-based scripting language is used for parametric drive design. On the server side, according to the characteristics of parts and data structures, an extensible library of mechanical parts is established for users to use. Graphics data compression algorithms used in the collaborative design are also put on the system's server-side. The proposed framework provides an effective way with information sharing and flexibility for modern mechanical product design.


The drilling operation cost represents 25% of the total oilfield exploitation cost. Drilling fluids represent 15 to 18% of the total cost of well petroleum drilling operations. The main drilling fluids problem is the loss into fractures and vugs. Mitigation of severe lost circulation is a main challenge while drilling in fractured formations where conventional lost circulation materials (LCM) will not cure these losses. Therefore, specialized fracture seal material (FSM) is required when drilling fractured formations. In this study, a promising FSM made from shredded waste car tyres was tested at laboratory for its ability to seal artificially fractured cores under High Temperature High Pressure (HT-HP) conditions similar to wellbore conditions. For this purpose, the conventional 500 ml HT-HP filtration cell was modified to accommodate a fractured core plug of length and diameter equal to 38.1 mm (1.5 inches) instead of the ceramic disc. Moreover, the cell outlet channel located below the fractured plug was increased from 1.0 mm diameter to 5.0 mm to easily allow the passage of the FSM in none effective fracture seal tests. Using the modified HT-HP filtration cell shredded waste car tyres proved its ability to perfectly seal the artificially made fracture in the test core samples at overbalance pressures up to 900 psi and temperatures up to 80°C. The optimum mud composition was fresh water, 7% by weight bentonite, 7% shredded waste car tyres (a mixture ranging between 2.3 mm and less than 0.45 mm granule sizes) in weight bases. In addition to its great ability to seal fractured formation, the shredded waste car tyres material is cheap and locally available in commercial quantities. Additionally, the utilization of waste car tyres in drilling operations and other industrial applications can protect the environment from many hazards.


The lac insect genus Tachardiella Cockerell is reviewed and 17 species are recognized, including one new species. The adult female of Tachardiella palobrea Kondo & Gullan sp. n. is described and illustrated based on material collected in Argentina on 'brea', Parkinsonia praecox (Fabaceae). The adult female of Tachardiella argentina (Dominguez) is redescribed and a lectotype is designated based on newly discovered syntype material in the Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis (BME). Diagnoses and notes are provided for the other species of Tachardiella studied and a lectotype is designated for Tachardiella ferrisi Chamberlin. A taxonomic key to separate all known species of lac insects in the New World is provided.


Background: Peptic oesophageal stricture (PES) is a serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in childhood. The treatment of PES is still controversial, ranging from simple oesophageal dilations to resection/anastomosis of the stenotic portion of the oesophagus. In this study, we want to share our experience with 11 children with GERD and PES. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of clinical data obtained from children who underwent dilation and antireflux surgery for PES was performed. Results: A total of 11 patients were diagnosed with PES. The clinical picture was dominated by dysphagia. Barium swallow showed hiatal hernia in nine cases (82%). Oesophageal strictures were located most commonly in the lower third of the oesophagus (91%). Three Children (27%) with PES had a neurologic impairment and patients had a mean duration of symptoms of 20 months (range, 3 month to 6.2 years) before intervention. Children received a median of four dilations (range, 1-21 dilations) for PES. Time to first dilation from age of diagnosis was a mean of 4.5 months (range, 2-14 months). Antireflux surgery was performed in all patients. Post-operatively, seven patients required repeat oesophageal dilation. Patients were followed with serial dilation for a median of 6 years (range, 1-9 years) and only one patient has a continued requirement of oesophageal dilation for PES. Conclusion: GERD complicated by PES is an important condition affecting a significant number of children. Early and effective treatment of both stricture and GERD is required to improve the prognosis of this serious condition.


Taking the perspective of political culture theory, this paper focuses on findings on child and family well-being in 13 states using information from the National Survey of America's Families reported by Child Trends and the Urban Institute. The four states on which this discussion focuses are California, Florida, Minnesota, and New York. These states, with the exception of Minnesota, represent states with mixed political cultures. The present discussion is based on the assumption that just as states' political culture can be a source of variation in states' policy approaches to families; it also can be a source of state variation in child and family well-being. Political culture appears to have some bearing on family well-being. At the very least, the data suggest the need for social work practice and research that contextualize family functioning and well-being in terms of states' political cultures. Because most states represent a mix of political cultures, social workers are likely to find the most support for their efforts among like-minded groups in states with a strong moralistic strain. In other states, they will require the help and support of their national organizations to counter state and local tendencies that are likely to compromise the well-being of children and families as well as social work's goals and values.


Early career experience can play a significant part in lifelong professional capability and the support and knowledge gained during the early years of graduate employment can influence future career direction and success. Whilst there are prescribed models of graduate development relative to the surveying professions, for example, those relating to the APC utilised by the RICS, there has been little evaluation in terms of their relative contribution to career success. Through the use of a questionnaire survey, the issue of learning and development for new graduates in their early career, the extent to which new graduates perceive themselves to be competent in various major quantity surveying activities and, the range of graduate training provided by the employer were explored. The main conclusions drawn from the study are that: new graduates exhibit a high level of self-doubt in professional competence; task competence is influenced by frequency of application, years of postgraduate experience and the mode of study taken by graduates in entering the QS profession. There is a difference between training received by graduates working for consultant and contracting employers. Graduates from full time study mode tend to receive more training from their employers compared to part time graduates.


Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) are effective tools for education. However, developing them is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process. A major share of the effort is devoted to acquiring the domain knowledge that underlies the system's intelligence. The goal of this research is to reduce this knowledge acquisition bottleneck and better enable domain experts with no programming and knowledge engineering expertise to build the domain models required for ITS. In pursuit of this goal we developed an authoring system capable of producing a domain model with the assistance of a domain expert. Unlike previous authoring systems, the Constraint Authoring System (CAS) has the ability to acquire knowledge for both procedural and non-procedural tasks. CAS was developed to generate the knowledge required for constraint-based tutoring systems, reducing both effort and the amount of knowledge engineering and programming expertise required: the domain expert only has to model a domain ontology and provide example problems (with solutions). We developed novel machine learning algorithms to reason about this information and thus generate a domain model. A series of evaluation studies have produced promising results. The initial evaluation revealed that the task of composing the domain ontology aids the manual composition of a domain model. The second study showed that CAS is effective in generating constraints for non procedural database modelling and the procedural data normalisation. The final study demonstrated that CAS is also effective in generating constraints when assisted by only novice ITS authors; under these conditions it still produced constraint sets that were over 90% complete.


In this paper, we consider the problem of black box continuous submodular maximization where we only have access to the function values and no information about the derivatives is provided. For a monotone and continuous DR-submodular function, and subject to a bounded convex body constraint, we propose Black-box Continuous Greedy, a derivative-free algorithm that provably achieves the tight $[(1-1/e)OPT-\epsilon]$ approximation guarantee with $O(d/\epsilon^3)$ function evaluations. We then extend our result to the stochastic setting where function values are subject to stochastic zero-mean noise. It is through this stochastic generalization that we revisit the discrete submodular maximization problem and use the multi-linear extension as a bridge between discrete and continuous settings. Finally, we extensively evaluate the performance of our algorithm on continuous and discrete submodular objective functions using both synthetic and real data.


Abstract Objective.—To explore the use of helmets in skiers and snowboarders injured at ski runs and terrain parks in Colorado and the northeast United States and to examine differences in head injury severity in terrain parks as compared to ski runs. Methods.—This was a retrospective cohort study. We reviewed emergency department medical records of injured skiers at 9 medical facilities in Colorado, New York, and Vermont to examine the frequency of helmet use, type of terrain on which injuries occurred, and effect of injury event type and helmet use on change in mental status. Injuries that occurred from July 2002 to July 2004 were included. Eligible patients were skiers and snowboarders who sustained a head injury as defined by International Classification of Diseases-9 codes for acute head injuries. Data elements included event location, mechanism of injury, helmet use, loss of consciousness, neurologic findings, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and initial outcome. Data were entered into SPSS for analysis. Results.—Of 1013 patients, 52.6% were skiing, 46.7% were snowboarding, and the remainder engaged in other activities such as sledding or using a sit ski. Most (78.7%) were using a ski run, whereas 19.1% were at a terrain park when their injuries occurred, and 37.1% were wearing helmets. Most injuries (74.1%) occurred when the victim hit his/her head on the snow; 10.0% and 13.1% occurred in collisions with other skiers and fixed objects, respectively. There were significantly fewer instances of loss of consciousness in fall events in the Colorado group (χ2: 4.127; P < .05), a significantly lower incidence of loss of consciousness in helmet users who struck a fixed object (χ2: 5.800; P < .05), and a significantly higher incidence of skiers colliding with fixed objects in the Northeast (χ2: 14.05; P < .005). There were significantly more documented head injuries in terrain parks, even when controlling for helmet use (χ2: 5.800; P < .05). Conclusion.—There is an increased risk of head injury, regardless of helmet use, at terrain parks as compared to ski runs, and helmets were notably protective in collisions with fixed objects. Regional differences in injury events were noted in that there were more fall-related head injuries and a higher incidence of collisions with fixed objects in the Northeast compared to Colorado.


This paper is concerned with introducing a simple system of pattern construction developed in an educational context and subsequently used by groups of design students. The system proposed owes its origin to various assignments aimed at developing awareness among students of pattern construction techniques. A brief explanation is given of the stages in the development of a collection of surface pattern designs. A design brief aimed at groups of design students is included, and examples of the outcome to this brief are presented.


In both multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the C-C chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) is critical for pathogenic T helper 17 (Th17) cell migration to the central nervous system (CNS). Whereas many cytokines and their receptors are potently regulated via post-transcriptional mechanisms in response to various stimuli, how CCR6 expression is post-transcriptionally regulated in Th17 cells is unknown. Here, using RNA-binding protein HuR conditional knock-out (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice, we present evidence that HuR post-transcriptionally regulates CCR6 expression by binding to and stabilizing Ccr6 mRNA and by promoting CCR6 translation. We also found that HuR down-regulates several microRNA expressions, which could target the 3′-UTR of Ccr6 mRNA for decay. Accordingly, knock-out of HuR reduced CCR6 expression on Th17 cells and impaired their migration to CNS compared with the response of WT Th17 cells and thereby ameliorated EAE. Together, these findings highlight how HuR contributes to Th17 cell-mediated autoimmune neuroinflammation and support the notion that targeting HuR might be a potential therapeutic intervention for managing autoimmune disorders of the CNS.


Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been successfully synthesized by using a relatively simple method, known as modified Wolff-Kishner reduction process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has shown the as-prepared MWCNTs possess straight morphologies with average inner and outer diameters, between 2 to 7 nm and 5 to 15 nm, respectively. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption measurement has been conducted for the first time. The correlation between energy of the π plasmon absorbance (Eπ) and nanotube diameter (dCNT) for the as-prepared MWCNTs shows contradiction to the empirical relationship as Eπ = 4.8 + 0.7 / (dCNT)2. Other optical characteristics like transmittance, reflectance and refraction index also have been studied. This work explores the optical property of the as-prepared MWCNTs and thus provides better understanding about the feasibility of this synthesis technique.


Using models incorporating a thermal relaxation time (hyperbolic models), we study the properties of spatially periodic thermoelastic waves propagating in an infinite rod. Analyzing the Lord-Schulman and Green-Lindsay linear models, we reveal dependencies of decay rates and frequency shifts of temperature and displacement upon the wave number for the case of weak thermoelastic coupling. We explore numerically a general nonlinear hyperbolic model, describing the time evolution of initially sinusoidal distributions of displacement and temperature. Mechanisms of nonlinear interaction between thermal and mechanical fields are qualitatively analyzed. It is demonstrated that larger relaxation times may provide smoother temperature profiles at an intermediate stage of the dynamics.


BACKGROUND
Considerable data are available on the individual effects of dietary factors on nonheme-iron absorption, but their combined effect when they are present in the same meal is not known.

OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to predict the bioavailability of iron from complex meals that are consumed commonly in the United States on the basis of the contents of factors that are known to promote or inhibit food iron absorption.

DESIGN
Radioisotopic measurements of nonheme-iron absorption from 25 meals were made in 86 volunteer subjects by using extrinsic radioiron labeling. The meal contents of nonheme iron, calcium, ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and phytic acid were determined by biochemical analysis; energy and protein contents were estimated from food-composition tables. Animal tissue content was based on weight or was obtained from the manufacturer.

RESULTS
After adjusting iron absorption for differences in iron status, the significant biochemical predictors of iron absorption as determined by multiple regression analysis were the contents of animal tissue (P = 0.0001), phytic acid (P = 0.0001), and ascorbic acid (P = 0. 0441). Collectively, these 3 variables accounted for 16.4% of the variation in absorption. On the basis of the multiple regression analysis, we developed the following equation to estimate iron absorption: Ln absorption, % (adjusted to serum ferritin concentration of 30 microg/L) = 1.9786 + (0.0123 x animal tissue in g) - (0.0034 x phytic acid in mg) + (0.0065 x ascorbic acid in mg).

CONCLUSION
For the 25 meals evaluated, only the contents of animal tissue, phytic acid, and ascorbic acid were useful for estimating nonheme-iron absorption.


How and why has the concept of responsibility come to pervade the fabric of American public and private life? How are ideas of responsibility instantiated in, and constituted by, the workings of social and political institutions? What place do liberal discourses of responsibility, based on the individual, have in today's biopolitical world, where responsibility is so often a matter of risk assessment, founded in statistical probabilities? Bringing together the work of scholars in anthropology, law, literary studies, philosophy, and political theory, the essays in this volume show how state and private bureaucracies play crucial roles in fashioning forms of responsibility, which they then enjoin on populations. How do government and market constitute subjects of responsibility in a culture so enamored of individuality? In what ways can those entities-centrally, in modern culture, those engaged in insuring individuals against loss or harm-themselves be held responsible, and by whom? What kinds of subjectivities are created in this process? Can such subjects be said to be truly responsible, and in what sense?


In this case study, Mathematical Literacy teachers were interviewed and observed in the classroom in order to provide insight into the way this subject, relatively new in South African schools, is handled. The focus of this research was the instructional practice of these teachers specifically in terms of their mathematical knowledge regarding the subject and its learners. The idea that this subject is inferior to other subjects in general, but to mathematics in particular, was alluded to by some participants, alongside of the notion that it was infra dig to teach it. The study revealed that a working knowledge of mathematics as well as teaching-and-learning skills are necessary for this subject to achieve what it was meant to do when it was introduced into South African high schools in 2006.


ABSTRACTOne-year field campaign was conducted from July 2013 to August 2014 at the site of East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) in urban Shanghai, and mass concentrations and chemical compositions of PM2.5 were measured. Gaseous pollutants (SO2, NO2) and meteorological parameters (wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature and relative humidity) were simultaneously obtained. In this study, PM2.5 mass balances on haze and non-haze days were reconstructed and the sum of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA) and organic matter (OM) accounted for over 80%. The fraction of nitrate in SIA was much higher on haze days than that on non-haze days, while the corresponding fraction of ammonium was lower, implying that the variations of the sources and formation processes of SIA on haze days. In theory, sulfate and nitrate might be almost fully neutralized by ammonium. Moreover, the sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) values were much higher than the nitrogen oxidation ratio (NOR) values, indicating the greater oxidation capacity of SO2 would occur. On haze days, the high NOR values could be explained by the relatively low temperature, the high NO2 concentration and the potential dominant gas-phase reaction. As for secondary organic aerosol (SOA), the formation processes were usually associated with nitrate formation. In winter, haze pollution episodes occurred more frequently than those in other seasons, associated with the different features of wind speed, wind direction and 72-h backward trajectory. In addition, one case from 17 November 2013 to 4 January 2014 was selected to investigate the formation mechanism of haze pollution episodes. The key factors that affected the haze formation might be the local stable synoptic conditions including weak surface wind, surface temperature inversion and high relative humidity, the long-range transportations from the Northwest and the large amounts of emissions from local sources.


Support for baby signing (BS) with hearing infants tends to converge toward three camps or positions. Those who advocate BS to advance infant language, literacy, behavioral, and cognitive development rely heavily on anecdotal evidence and social media to support their claims. Those who advocate BS as an introduction to another language, such as American Sign Language (ASL), advocate early bilingual language learning. A third group warns against BS, emphasizing that it competes for attention with, and thereby potentially delays, spoken language acquisition in hearing infants. Empirical evidence to support any of these camps has been scarce.In this retrospective investigation we analyzed videotapes of sixteen infants from 9 through 18 months of age; eight had been exposed to BS, and eight had not been exposed to signing (NS). We compared their manual activity and found no differences in the quantity of manual activity accompanying vocal activity and no qualitative differences in the handshapes used during manual and vocal activity. More babies in the BS group reached the 4-, 10-, and 25-word milestones than babies in the NS group, but the differences were not statistically significant. In addition, monthly lexical growth from 12 to 18 months did not reveal signing to have a statistical impact on vocabulary acquisition.Discussion of these findings points to a tight relationship between manual and vocal activity in all sixteen babies, a relationship that aligns with previous theories and research on gestural and vocal development. Failure to find a statistical difference between the two groups' development of words, however, calls for temperance in claiming that baby signing facilitates early word learning and cautions against claims that baby signing interferes with word learning.


Investment decisions are inherently forward-looking. The payoff of acquiring capital goods, particularly long-lived capital goods, is governed almost exclusively by events in the far future. Because the timing of the investment itself does not affect future payoffs, there are strong incentives to delay or accelerate investment to take advantage of predictable intertemporal variations in cost. For sufficiently long-lived capital goods, these incentives are so strong that the intertemporal elasticity of investment demand is nearly infinite. As a consequence, for a temporary tax change, the shadow price of long-lived capital goods must reflect the full tax subsidy regardless of the elasticity of investment supply. While price data provide no information on the elasticity of supply, they can reveal the extent to which adjustment costs are internal or external to the firm. In contrast, the elasticity of investment supply can be inferred from quantity data alone. The bonus depreciation allowance passed in 2002 and increased in 2003 presents an opportunity to test the sharp predictions of neoclassical investment theory. In the law, certain types of long-lived capital goods qualify for substantial tax subsides while others do not. The data show that investment in qualified properties was substantially higher than for unqualified property. The estimated elasticity of investment supply is high--between 10 and 20. Market prices do not react to the subsidy as the theory dictates. This suggests either that internal (unmeasured) adjustment costs play a significant role or that measurement problems in the price data effectively conceal the price changes. While the policy noticeably increased investment in types of capital that benefited substantially from bonus depreciation, the aggregate effects of the policy were modest. The analysis suggests that the policy may have increased output by roughly 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent and increased employment by roughly 100,000 to 200,000 jobs.


▪ Abstract Since mathematical sociology was firmly established in the 1960s, it has grown tremendously. Today it has an impressive scope and deals with topical problems of social structure and social change. A distinctive feature of today's use of mathematics in sociology is the movement toward a synthesis between process, structure, and action. In combination with an increased attention to social mechanisms and the problems of causality and temporality, this synthesis can add to its relevance for sociology in general. The article presents recent advances and major sociological research streams in contemporary sociology that involve the application of mathematics, logic, and computer modeling.


First discovered in the sensory epithelium of the visual and olfactory systems, cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channels have now been found in tissues throughout the body. Native rod CNG channels are tetramers composed of homologous, but distinct, alpha- and beta-subunits. The goal of this study was to develop a novel method for targeting covalent attachment of cGMP to individual subunit types. Toward this goal, we have found that treatment of membrane patches expressing rod alpha-subunit channels with sulfhydryl-reactive derivatives of cGMP resulted in irreversible activation. The persistent currents were sensitive to block by both Mg(2+) and tetracaine. Pretreatment of the patch with the sulfhydryl-blocking reagents N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and bis-dithionitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) prevented covalent activation; the effect of DTNB was reversed by reduction with DTT. Furthermore, the process of covalent activation was dramatically slowed by the presence of an excess of 8-Br-cGMP. These results suggested that covalent activation resulted from the tethering of cGMP near the channel's ligand-binding sites by reaction with an endogenous cysteine. The alpha-subunit of the rod channel contains seven cysteine residues, and we set out to determine the site of attachment by site-directed mutagenesis. Surprisingly, irreversible activation was not abolished by elimination of all seven cysteine residues. This result suggests that the site of attachment is on a tightly associated protein, rather than on the channel protein itself. To further investigate these results, we treated patches containing irreversibly activated channels with 100 microg/mL trypsin and discovered two modes of covalent activation. One type developed rapidly and was removed by trypsin treatment, and the second developed slowly and was resistant to trypsin treatment. Both types of covalent activation were present in all mutants tested and were also present when CNG channels were expressed in HEK-293 cells. These results suggest that CNG channel subunits may associate with endogenous proteins when they are expressed in heterologous systems.


Background mHealth and uHealth apps are available for children with asthma and their caregivers. However, previous studies on mHealth apps for children older than 7 years old with asthma are limited, and most studies on asthma apps do not consider interactions involving communication between children and caregivers. Therefore, a prototype mHealth child asthma app was developed for children and their caregivers, with features of tailored feedback messages in continuing self-management and interactions between children and caregivers. Objective The aim of this study was to identify the beneficial features of a prototype mHealth app developed for children with asthma and their caregivers. Methods Children diagnosed with persistent asthma by allergy specialists at the National Center for Child Health and Development were recruited. The features of a prototype mHealth app for children with asthma and their caregivers were investigated using semistructured interviews after they tried the app. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Content-characteristic words were named and grouped together as categories to explore themes. Results We recruited 27 children with asthma aged 2 to 12 years and 26 their caregivers. Findings on the good aspects of the app for children older than 7 years old and caregivers suggested 4 themes (confirmation of asthma knowledge, child-caregiver interaction, design of the app, and child's interest), and 6 categories were identified. Findings on the good aspects of app for children 7 to 12 years old and caregivers suggested 5 themes (new knowledge, manga as a Japanese-style comic, child's interest, trigger of self-management, and design and operability), and 11 categories were identified. Findings on the beneficial features of app suggested 6 themes (asthma knowledge, elements for continuous, universal design, notification, monitoring, and functions), and 12 categories were identified. Conclusions Children with asthma and their caregivers perceived that the good aspects of the app were learning asthma knowledge with fun, including manga; interaction between child and caregiver; and easy-to-read design, such as colors. They wanted not only the asthma knowledge but also the universal design and enhanced elements, monitoring, and notification functions of the app.


One of the most intriguing problems in understanding the recording behavior of thin metallic surfaces is to determine the extent to which this behavior depends on and correlates with the magnetic properties of the surface. From the point of view of demagnetization it is obvious that the recording surface with the best high density resolution is one that has zero moment; unfortunately, this surface also has zero signal. It is apparent from this limiting case that there exists at any given composition-subject to a minimum acceptable signal-to-noise ratio-an optimum moment for any particular recording density. Furthermore, the coercivity and the steepness of the sides of the hysteresis loop are also implicated in determining the ability of the surface to resist demagnetization and to match the writing transducer field gradient.


In this paper, we proposed and investigated the optimal successive interference cancellation (SIC) strategy designed for lattice-reduction aided multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detectors. For the sake of generating the optimal MIMO symbol estimate at each SIC detection stage, we model the so-called effective symbols generated with the aid of lattice-reduction as joint Gaussian distributed random variables. However, after lattice-reduction, the effective symbols become correlated and exhibit a non-zero mean. Hence, we derive the optimal minimum-mean-squared-error (MMSE) SIC detector, which updates the mean and variance of the effective symbols at each SIC detection stage. As a result, the proposed detector achieves an approximately 3 dB Eb /N0 gain and performs close to the maximum likelihood detector


Our paper aims at exploring the link between market maturity and patent renewal decisions in the wind power sector. We use micro-level data on patent legal status and patent metrics from the Patstat database, as well as data on installed capacities. We estimate a micro-level model of renewal decisions that control for both patent metrics and market maturity. Our results show that renewal decisions are sensitive to market maturity. More specifically, market maturity positively affects the initial rent but increases the depreciation of the rent. JEL Codes: O3, O3, Q55


A variable MEMS capacitor with piezoresistive feedback is presented. The capacitor is fabricated in a commercial 0.35 µm CMOS process with MEMS post-processing. The work presented demonstrates a piezoresistive sensing scheme capable of controlling hysteresis effects in a CMOS-MEMS variable capacitor. Potential applications of the sensing scheme include closed-loop control of variable capacitors and detection of dielectic charging.


Background SSc is characterized by diffuse microangiopathy leading digital ulcers (DU) in almost 50% of patients. The treatment of non-healing DU is often very difficult. It includes both systemic (prostanoids, bosentan) and local (wound care) therapies. In clinical practice, therapy of DU should be tailored mainly on clinical symptoms and according to specific clinician's experience. At the moment, no guidelines for the use iloprost, a stable prostacyclin-analogue used for the management of DU in SSc, are not yet available. Objectives We report the therapeutical effects of our regimen for the use of iloprost in a cohort of SSc patients during a long-lasting follow-up period. Methods Fifty consecutive SSc patients recruited at two Rheumatology Units since January 2003, who received iloprost infusions for a time period >2 years were included in the analysis. Patients' features were: males/females ratio 7/43; mean age at SSc diagnosis 43.5±12.7SD years; median disease duration at the beginning of therapy 2 years (range 0–18); mean follow-up with iloprost treatment 10±4.2SD years; diffuse SSc cutaneous subset in 13/50 (30%) patients; anti-Scl70 and anticentromere autoantibodies in 25 (50%), and 14 (28%) subjects, respectively. For all patients epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and instrumental data were available for the study period. Iloprost schedule consisted in monthly i.v. infusion at 0.8–1 ng/kg body weight/min with average cumulative dosage per each session of 25 μg, according to patients' tolerance. At the beginning of the treatment and in the presence of recent onset, severe and/or multiple DU at high risk of gangrene, patients were hospitalized for continuous infusion of iloprost (3 days, average 0.2 mg). Results 31/50 (62%) patients showed DU at the beginning of iloprost therapy: among them, 22 (71%) resolved during the follow-up, while the other 9 presented recurrent or chronic DU, despite the treatment. With regards the 19/50 patients without DU at baseline, only one developed skin lesions at the end of very long follow-up (8 years), when a general deterioration of clinical conditions, in particular severe pulmonary hypertension, lead to exitus. Considering the 31 SSc patients with DU at baseline, a diffuse skin subset was present in 3 out of 22 patients with healed DU, and in 5 out of 9 who did not (13.6% vs 55.5%, Fisher's p=0.027); no other significant correlations were observed as regards visceral organ involvement and serological alterations. Finally, the concomitant administration of other vasoactive therapies seems to be scarcely relevant on the DU outcome. Conclusions Our data suggest that long term administration of iloprost seems to be effective for DU healing in SSc. Comparative studies with different treatment regimens are warranted to reach a consensus on standardized guidelines for the use of Iloprost for DU healing in SSc. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Stick-slip vibrations decrease the performance, reliability, and fail safety of drilling systems. The aim of this paper is to design a robust output-feedback control approach to eliminate torsional stick-slip vibrations in drilling systems. Current industrial controllers regularly fail to eliminate stick-slip vibrations, especially when multiple torsional flexibility modes play a role in the onset of stick-slip vibrations. As a basis for controller synthesis, a multimodal model of the torsional dynamics for a real drill-string system is employed. The proposed controller design strategy is based on skewed- $\mu$  DK iteration and aims at optimizing the robustness with respect to uncertainty in the nonlinear bit–rock interaction. Moreover, a closed-loop stability analysis for the nonlinear drill-string model is provided. This controller design strategy offers several benefits compared with existing controllers. First, only surface measurements are employed, therewith avoiding the need for down-hole measurements. Second, multimodal drill-string dynamics are effectively dealt with in ways inaccessible to state-of-practice controllers. Third, robustness with respect to uncertainties in the bit–rock interaction is explicitly provided and closed-loop performance specifications are included in the controller design. Case study results confirm that stick-slip vibrations are indeed eliminated in realistic drilling scenarios using the designed controller in which state-of-practice controllers fail to achieve this.


The development of drought tolerant maize has been limited by the suggested complexity of the environment on drought phenotypic traits. However, some simple sequence repeats (SSRs) molecular markers linked to drought tolerance via quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified in maize but their use requires validation on newly developed elite maize inbred lines. This study therefore aims to validate 19 selected SSR markers linked to maize drought tolerance and determine the genetic diversity of sixty-eight elite maize inbred lines. Genomic DNA was extracted with a CTAB method and the PCR products were separated on agarose gel with auto radiograms visually scored for polymorphic bands to establish a data matrix. Assessment of the genetic links among the inbred lines was carried out using cluster analysis. The 68 maize inbred lines were clustered based on a matrix of genetic similarity Jaccard using the UPGMA algorithm. Some of the markers that were informative included P-bnlg238, Phi037, P-bnlg1179 and Umc2214 and these showed significant group differentiation among the inbred lines. Marker Umc1447, Umc1432 and Umc2359 were among the markers with monomorphic bands, while Phi034, Bnlg1074 and P-umc1542 showed no characterized bands. The polymorphism information content (PIC) value of the informative markers ranged from 0.13 (Bnlg434) to 0.76 (P-bnlg238). The cluster analysis classified the maize inbred lines into four groups based on the SSR data. The exploitation of information of genetic diversity among the inbred maize lines to develop drought tolerant hybrids is hereby discussed.


Methylphenylethyl hydantoin ("mesantoin"), one of the most recent clinically tested anticonvulsant drugs, has been credited with considerable effectiveness in the reduction and control of grand mal seizures. It appears to be somewhat less effective in the control of psychomotor attacks and seldom effective in petit mal. Most writers have attributed one or more side effects to the use of this drug. One of these discussed was the appearance in some patients of a cutaneous rash, a reaction which is also elicited with phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin sodium ("dilantin") and trimethadione ("tridione"), the three most commonly used anticonvulsants. Eruptions due to drugs are usually pinkish or reddish, macular and of symmetric distribution, with more or less itching and burning, and may simulate any condition or disorder. 1 Because this reaction is encountered with the use of phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin sodium and trimethadione, it is interesting to study the relationship of their chemical formulas to


Background: Thoracic and lumbar spine injuries may require surgical management, particularly AO Spine types B and C injuries. Open reduction and fixation using pedicle screws, with or without fusion and/or decompression, is the gold standard surgical treatment for unstable injuries. Recent advances in instrumentation design have resulted in less-invasive surgeries. However, the literature is sparse about the effectiveness of these procedures for types B and C injuries. The objective is to compare the outcomes of conventional open surgery versus minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) for the treatment of AO Spine types B and C thoracolumbar injuries. Methods: A systematic review of published literature in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed to identify studies comparing outcomes achieved with open versus minimally invasive surgery in AO Spine types B and C thoracolumbar injury patients. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used. Results: Five retrospective case-control studies and 3 prospective studies met selection criteria. In general, most of the studies demonstrated that minimally invasive spine surgery is feasible for types B and C injuries, and associated with potential advantages like reduced blood loss, postoperative pain, and muscle injury, and shorter hospital stays. However, no differences were detected in major outcomes, like neurological status or disability. Conclusions: Published literature currently suggests that minimally invasive spine surgery is a valid alternative for treating types B and C thoracolumbar injuries. However, further comparative prospective randomized clinical trials are necessary to establish the superiority of one approach over the other.


Contemporary digital architectural design is characterized by an understanding of geometry as logico-algebraic text out of which architectural form emerges through the manipulation of data. Such formalistic and operative utilization of geometry is ignoring the perceptive dimension of geometry. By looking at the etymological roots of mathematics another non-technical reading of geometry can be uncovered that relates geometry back to bodily experience and the question of spatial orientation. This opens up the question of orientation within computational geometry and re-introduces the body into contemporary discourse of architecture.


With increasing reports on negative side effects of chemical insecticides, there is a greater need to further develop a malaria vector control technic that is environmentally friendly. Several different biological agents and also environmental management could potentially be developed for vector control although their operational use are still limited. Some of these agents already in use at the Health Ecology Research Centre of NIHRD are : Poecilia reticulata fish, Baccillus thuringiensis H-14 and Bacillus sphaericus bacteria, while Romanomermis iyengari nematode/round worm is still under investigation. P. reticulata and Cyprinus carpio fisher cultivation in rice fields is able to reduce malaria vector Anopheles aconitus population up to 99.7 % and decreases malaria SPR 98.8 %. Six days after B. thuringiensis H-14 spray in Singaraja, Bali, no Anopheles sundaicus larvae larvae were found. Effectivity trial in the laboratory using B. thuringiensis H-14 2,5 lb/acre (0,28 gr/m 2 ) against Anopheles barbirostris resulted in 80 - 100 % deaths. The Vector Research Centre is able to isolate 92 - 100 % B. thuringiensis from An. aconitus in a 24 hours pathogenicity trial. B. sphaericus is able to reduce An. sundaicus larvae density up to 90.81 % when used in water (Cilacap, C. Java) and in a laboratory trial for LC50 it needed a concentration of 0.59 mg/l while for LC90 it required 2.14 mg/l. R. iyengari , a nematode parasite of mosquito larvae has great potential for malaria vector control, whithparasitemicidal effect 36 -100 % against An. aconitus and An. farauti when tried in the laboratory. Beside using biological agents there are other methods of environmental management. In this case periodical drying of rice fields. Four months rice fields drying in Tingkir village, Semarang regency, is able to reduce mosquito population density from 0.61 mosquitoes/m 2 to 0.00 mosquito/m .


It has been proposed that probiotics can favorably influence the course of critically ill patients. To address this question, a limited systematic review was undertaken (MEDLINE search for articles published in English) to identify randomized, controlled trials that compared a group of critically ill patients taking probiotics with a group that did not. Ten such trials, mostly with high risks of methodologic bias, were identified. When the data were combined, the probiotics did not appear to influence mortality or duration of hospitalization. However, the recipients of the probiotics had fewer infectious episodes (absolute risk difference-21%). This effect was seen particularly in trials employing one combination of probiotic agents (Pediococcus pentosaceus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum). Unfortunately, this effect may be overly optimistic, as methodologic shortcomings could have introduced biases into the trials. Three trials of patients with severe acute pancreatitis were not included in this primary analysis because not all of the patients were in the intensive care unit. The largest of these, and the one with the lowest risk of bias, demonstrated that probiotics increased mortality, in part because of the precipitation of ischemic bowel disease (in patients who were also receiving postpyloric enteral nutrition infusions). Probiotics also appeared to reduce the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in hospitalized patients, although these trials did not specifically focus only on those who were critically ill. In summary, it is not clear that probiotics are beneficial (and they may even be harmful) in the critically ill patient group.


The on-the-run term structure is generally estimated from yields on securities that sell at or near their par values. These yields can be obtained either from market data or from published estimates of par yields, known as constant-maturity Treasury yields. The authors compare the use of constant-maturity yields as an alternative to actual yields observed in the Treasury market. For a sample of month-end data covering the period January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1997, they find that constant-maturity Treasury yields produce a significantly greater pricing errors in term structure estimation than market Treasury yields both in-sample and out-of-sample. The results also suggest that the Treasury Department can improve its estimation of constant-maturity yields by using a continuous bootstrapping methodology based on an assumed functional form.


SUMMARY OF THESIS This thesis critically examines what is often described as 'betterment' when damages are sought for repair or replacement cost in tort and contract claims involving damage or destruction to property. The predicament as to when betterment should or should not be accounted for when assessing the plaintiff's damages remains a contentious issue. In addition to the betterment predicament, the court needs to address a number of other important issues in disputes concerning betterment, including the following: how betterment should be identified and defined; how betterment should be appropriately valued in monetary terms; and how evidential and proof-related matters concerning betterment should be dealt with and allocated between parties to the action. The legal principles to be applied to these matters are in need of clarification. In relation to the betterment predicament this thesis argues and proposes for a general approach to account for betterment, subject to reasoned exceptions. This approach will ensure more just and reasoned outcomes in the assessment of damages for damage or destruction to property. This thesis provides an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the law relating to betterment and proposals for changes and reform, in an area of law where currently there is a lack of comprehensive scholarly attention. By contributing to a theoretical and practical understanding of the law relating to betterment this thesis will benefit the general legal community. It will also, in particular, benefit and assist litigating parties and counsel faced with betterment disputes, as they will generally be in a better position to address and resolves these disputes more effectively and expeditiously.


The presence of a large quantity of unlabeled documents on the web increases, and organizing related heterogeneous XML documents by using their structural and conceptual properties into clusters become a great need. In this paper, we consider the pre-processing step as a key step to improve clustering quality, we propose a new pre-processing method which is based on combining Hapax words and path-based descriptors. A constrained agglomerative clustering method is used, and a comparison between different document representations is performed. The effectiveness of the method is evaluated on the INEX corpus, and clustering quality is measured by using micro and macro average purity measures.


Partial Least Squares (PLS) is a popular technique with extensive adoption within the Information Systems research community. However, the statistical performance of PLS has not been extensively studied, and recent research has questioned some of its purported advantages. The simulation study reported here analyzed the performance of PLS with regards to the recovery and estimation accuracy of both structural and measurement parameters. Somewhat surprisingly, the effects of estimation bias on the latter and their implications for the evaluation of measurement models have not been the focus of past research. Results show the existence of an important degree of bias in both sets of estimates, and the conflicting effect of increased sample size with additional indicators per composite variable.


Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is genetically heterogeneous and pathogenic mutations have been identified in the OPA1 and OPA3 genes, both encoding for mitochondrial proteins. We characterized clinical and laboratory features in a large OPA1-negative family with complicated DOA. Search for mitochondrial dysfunction was performed by studying muscle biopsies, fibroblasts, platelets and magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. Genetic investigations included mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis, linkage analysis, copy number variation (CNV) analysis and candidate gene screening. Optic neuropathy was undistinguishable from that in OPA1-DOA and frequently associated with late-onset sensorineural hearing loss, increases of central conduction times at somato-sensory evoked potentials and various cardiac abnormalities. Serum lactic acid after exercise, platelet respiratory complex activities, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in fibroblasts and muscle phosphorus MR spectroscopy all failed to reveal a mitochondrial dysfunction. However, muscle biopsies and their mtDNA analysis showed increased mitochondrial biogenesis. Furthermore, patient's fibroblasts grown in the galactose medium were unable to increase ATP content compared with controls, and exhibited abnormally high rate of fusion activity. Genome-wide linkage revealed a locus on chromosome 16q21-q22 with a maximum two-point LOD score of 8.84 for the marker D16S752 and a non-recombinant interval of ∼ 6.96 cM. Genomic screening of 45 genes in this interval including several likely candidate genes (CALB2, CYB5B, TK2, DHODH, PLEKHG4) revealed no mutation. Moreover, we excluded the presence of CNVs using array-based comparative genome hybridization. The identification of a new OPA locus (OPA8) in this pedigree demonstrates further genetic heterogeneity in DOA, and our results indicate that the pathogenesis may still involve mitochondria.


Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in known and undiagnosed diabetes, HbA1c levels, and other cardio-metabolic risk factors in the general population as well as treatment target achievement among those with diabetes. Design and setting: Repeated cross-sectional surveys in the population-based Tromso Study. Methods: We used age-adjusted generalized estimating equation models to study trends in self-reported and undiagnosed (HbA1c [≥]6.5%) diabetes, cardio-metabolic risk factors and the metabolic syndrome in 27281 women and men aged 40-84 years examined in up to four surveys of the Tromso Study between 1994 and 2016. Further, we analyzed trends in diabetes treatment target achievement. Results: During 1994-2016 diabetes prevalence increased in women (2.3% to 3.9%) and men (2.4% to 5.3%) and in all age-groups, while the proportion of undiagnosed diabetes in women (33% to 20%) and men (37% to 27%) decreased. Blood pressure and total cholesterol decreased, while waist circumference increased in participants with and without diabetes, leading to a relatively stable prevalence of the metabolic syndrome throughout the study period. There was a marginal increase in HbA1c levels among participants without diabetes. Only half of those with diabetes achieved the treatment target of HbA1c [≤]7.0%. Conclusion: In the last two decades diabetes prevalence increased, while the proportion of undiagnosed diabetes declined. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome remained stable throughout, driven by opposing trends with an increase in obesity and a decrease in other cardio-metabolic risk factors. HbA1c treatment target achievement did not improve.


Introduction: An azygos lobe is a rare anomaly of the lung.Its incidence rangesbetween 0.2% and 1.2% of the population. Anatomical knowledge of morphological variations of lobes and fissures are essential for Cardiothoracic surgeons in identifying bronchopulmonary segments and for performing lobectomies and surgical resection of individual segments and for Radiologists interpreting X – rays, CT & MRI scans. Materials and Methods: The study material comprised of 22 human cadavers , in the Department of Anatomy, Osmania medical college, Koti, Hyderabad over a period of two years. During routine dissection of thorax for undergraduate MBBS 1st Year students, a rare case of Azygos lobe in the apex of right lung was noticed in an elderly male cadaver. Left lung was normal. Results: In the present study, a case of Azygos lobe of right lung was found.Out of 44 specimens,1 specimen showed an azygos lobe in the right lung in apical region. The findings being laterally displaced azygos vein which created a deep pleural fissure into the apical segment of the right upper lobe due to invagination of the azygos vein and pleura, azygos vein crossing from left to right side in posterior mediastinum, in situ lobe was placed postero-medially. Left lung was normal. Conclusion: Clinically, the knowledge of azygos lobe anatomy is essential to know the prevalence, morphology, and location of the azygos lobe for diagnostic and surgical procedures of the lungs related to mediastinal pathologies, especially to minimize intraoperative vascular injuries, shock, possible thoracotomy, and sometimes the possibility of pulmonary torsion.


Human platelet antibodies are often implicated in some disease conditions, such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and platelet refractoriness. There is paucity of information on the development and relevance of this antibody in pregnant black women, especially in Nigeria. This study was therefore designed to determine the occurrence of antiplatelet antibody in pregnant women. Eightynine (89) pregnant women attending a tertiary health facility in Osogbo participated in the study. Platelet count and human platelet antigens (HPA) were investigated using standard protocols of automation and ELISA respectively. Thirty-two(34%)of the women were thrombocytopenic and antiplatelet antibody was detected in 17(53%) of this sub-set. The antibody was of higher frequency in multiparous women and more prevalent within the age group of 26-30, especially those with history of previous blood transfusion. The study shows the imperativeness of including the platelet quantitative and functional assays as part of routine antenatal testing and monitoring.


Objectives: This study aimed to measure (1) quality of life (QOL) and utility in diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 patients (2) factors associated the quality of life and (3) factors associated the glycemic control. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. Samples were DM type 2 patients who attended diabetic outpatient clinic at Sangkha Hospital, Surin province between November 2017 and January 2018. QOL was prospectively assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Data was analyzed by descriptive and binary logistic regression. Results: The DM type 2 patients (n=158) were included in this study. The participants had an average QOL score in a high level. There were no factors associated with QOL. The factors associated with glycemic control were education level (OR=2.85; 95%CI: 1.17 – 6.98) and insulin therapy (OR=3.04; 95%CI: 1.10 – 8.35). Conclusion: There were no factors associated with QOL. Only education level and insulin therapy factors were associated with glycemic control. Key words: Diabetes Mellitus, Quality of life, Glycemic control, Factors, EQ-5D-5L.


A prime vehicle of the Bush Administration's implementing its public land policies: a series of sweetheart settlements with extractive industries. The pattern resembled a Trojan Horse: the government would invite litigation from the industry; then, once a case was filed in a forum picked by the industry, the government would agree to a settlement that would give the industry all that it could have hoped for in the litigation, undermining environmental protection in the process. All this was accomplished behind closed doors, without public review. Indeed, the government opposed environmental group participation (not always successfully). The sweetheart settlement policy was accompanied in one of the examples the paper studies by a closely related policy of virtually failing to defend Clinton Administration policies at all. In this manner, the Bush Administration revolutionized public land policy without having to seek legislation or public comment. This paper evaluates four policy initiatives: 1) the unwillingness to defend the Clinton Administration's roadless rule and ensuing exemptions from it; 2) the elimination of wilderness study areas and the pursuit of measures to recognize roads that would disqualify areas from wilderness consideration; 3) the rollback of species protections at the heart of the Northwest Forest Plan, the nation's first large-scale experiment with ecosystem management; and 4) the well-publicized effort to overturn a Clinton Administration phase-out of snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park, which produced apparently inconsistent results from two different federal district courts. All of the initiatives involved sweetheart settlements, although the principal means to undermine the roadless road involved a failure to litigate, followed by opposition to environmental groups which wanted to defend the rule. The depth of the Bush Administration's dismantling of the Clinton Administration's public land policies is, as this study illustrates, fairly stunning - involving not only both abandonment of positions embraced by both Republican and Democratic Administrations and the pressing of novel interpretations never before advanced. The paper concludes by suggesting that what all the Bush Administration initiatives have in common is an unstated assumption that the public in public land policy is the local business constituency using public lands for commercial purposes. That may be the hallmark of the Bush Administration's public land policies.


Buyer´s requirements oblige private and public agents to take quality control measures, in order to be competitive in the export markets. Labor performance and final product quality require introduction of control methods, particularly among temporary workers who require training to become highly productive in short time. Evidence compiled in this research show the existence of significant differences in knowledge of variables related to hygienic food manipulation, before and after training; and, differences between firms that explicitly apply regulations and others that do not. Mc Nemar´s statistical methods and attribute graphics are utilized for determining failures in standard control process. Both tests are applied to temporary fruit export packing workers. The conclusions have practical consequences leading to adoption of control practices related to quality.


An eclectic form of psychodynamic psychotherapy is presented to address the emotional problems of exceptionally and profoundly gifted adolescents and adults. The approach includes cognitive/behavioral techniques as well as psychologically informed mentoring, coaching, and advising. Once a psychodynamic formulation was established, it was used to guide all subsequent therapeutic interventions. Three phases of psychotherapy can be recognized. In the first phase, patients addressed their guilt about being exceptionally endowed. They elaborated and organized a personal vision for their giftedness and found an appropriate venue for its expression. In the second phase, patients modulated their need for complete autonomy so they could collaborate more effectively with the therapist and others. In the third phase, patients were able to integrate their extracognitive abilities with their superior intellect. They learned more mature methods of conflict resolution and were able to employ all aspects of their gifted endowment more effectively.


Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia is a rare benign reactive lesion usually found in thrombosed subcutaneous blood vessels. The lesion resembles malignant angiosarcoma clinically and histopathologically, and must be diagnosed correctly to avoid inappropriate treatment. The following is a case presentation involving the foot.


Internet is filled with opportunities for learning, communicating, and sharing information. It is a valuable resource for children and adults alike. However, the online world presents some underlying risks, especially for children. Parents need to be aware of some of the potential problems their children could encounter, and try to take adequate measures to protect their children from injury. In this paper, research tried to explore the relationship between parent' s information literary, the confidence in child' s ability of self-defense on the internet, and adequate measures to promote child using the internet more effectively. Association rule, a kind of data mining strategy, was the main tool to manipulate the dataset.


Recent resolving power measurements by Burtt & Catton give high values and demand the re-examination of insect vision theories. Their results can be explained by the formation of Fourier images of the Cowley & Moodie type. Integral images are unsuitable, but very sharp intermediate images have been discovered, which are satisfactory. A much simplified explanation of Fourier images is given. The whole question is examined using partial coherence. An entirely new method of imaging a small monochromatic source is proposed and has been achieved. A general relationship between partial coherence and resolving power is stated.


We compare the performance of averaged regularized estimators. We show that the improvement in performance that can be achieved by averaging depends critically on the degree of regularization which is used in training the individual estimators. We compare four different averaging approaches: simple averaging, bagging, variance-based weighting, and variance-based bagging. In any of the averaging methods, the greatest degree of improvementif compared to the individual estimatorsis achieved if no or only a small degree of regularization is used. Here, variance-based weighting and variance-based bagging are superior to simple averaging or bagging. Our experiments indicate that better performance for both individual estimators and for averaging is achieved in combination with regularization. With increasing degrees of regularization, the two bagging-based approaches (bagging and variance-based bagging) outperform the individual estimators, simple averaging, and variance-based weighting. Bagging and variance-based bagging seem to be the overall best combining methods over a wide range of degrees of regularization.


When considering a hypervisor, cloud providers must balance conflicting requirements for simple, secure code bases with more complex, feature-filled offerings. This paper introduces Dichotomy, a new two-layer cloud architecture in which the roles of the hypervisor are split. The cloud provider runs a lean hyperplexor that has the sole task of multiplexing hardware and running more substantial hypervisors (called featurevisors) that implement features. Cloud users choose featurevisors from a selection of lightly-modified hypervisors potentially offered by third-parties in an "as-a-service" model for each VM. Rather than running the featurevisor directly on the hyperplexor using nested virtualization, Dichotomy uses a new virtualization technique called eemeral virtualization which efficiently (and repeatedly) transfers control of a VM between the hyperplexor and featurevisor using memory mapping techniques. Nesting overhead is only incurred when the VM is accessed by the featurevisor. We have implemented Dichotomy in KVM/QEMU and demonstrate average switching times of 80 ms, two to three orders of magnitude faster than live VM migration. We show that, for the featurevisor applications we evaluated, VMs hosted in Dichotomy deliver up to 12% better performance than those hosted on nested hypervisors, and continue to show benefit even when the featurevisor applications run as often as every 2.5~seconds.


This paper is a study on dynamic behavior of a snake robot, called Serpentine robot, 2nd version (SR#2). The SR#2 is the latest version of snake robots developed at FIBO as a research platform for studying serpentine gaits. The gait is in form of sinusoidal curve, considered one of the most effectiveness crawling pattern in the natural world. The Active Cord Mechanism (ACM) assumption, initiated by Hirose, is implemented. The robot motion results from different joint torques and frictional reacting forces in each wheel. In this study, we proposed a modified serpeniod function with steering command to control the robot's direction. We also performed dynamic analysis using Kane's method. Holonomic constraints under frictional forces and nonholonomic constraints unders velocities were considered. We verified our algorithm for directional control on this Serpentine robot both simulation and experiment.


The distributions of angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptors have been mapped by in vitro autoradiography throughout most tissues of many mammals, including humans. In addition to confirming that AT1 receptors occur in sites known to be targets for the physiologic actions of angiotensin, such as the adrenal cortex and medulla, renal glomeruli and proximal tubules, vascular and cardiac muscle, and brain circumventricular organs, many new sites of action have been demonstrated. In the kidney, AT1 receptors occur in high density in renal medullary interstitial cells. The function of these cells, which span the interstitial space between the tubules and the vasa rectae, remains to be determined. Renal medullary interstitial cells possess receptors for a number of vasoactive hormones in addition to AT1 receptors and this, in concert with their anatomical location, suggest that they may be important for the regulation of fluid reabsorption or renal medullary blood flow. In the heart, the highest densities of AT1 receptors occur in association with the conduction system and vagal ganglia. In the central nervous system, high AT1 receptor densities occur in many regions behind the blood-brain barrier, supporting a role for neurally derived angiotensin as a neuromodulator. The physiologic role of angiotensin in many of these brain sites remains to be determined. The AT2 receptor also has a characteristic distribution in several tissues including the adrenal gland, heart, and brain. The role of this receptor in physiology is being elucidated, but it appears to participate in development. Thus, receptor binding studies, localizing the distribution of AT1 and AT2 receptors, outline a number of regions where the actions of angiotensin are known but also provide many insights into novel physiologic roles of this peptide.


Data from the 1987–1988 National Survey of Families and Households are used to provide national estimates of cohabitation trends and levels. The rapid increase since around 1970 is documented over both birth cohorts and marriage cohorts. Almost half of the persons in their early 30s and half of the recently married have cohabited. Changes in the proportion ever married are compared with changes in the proportion who have either married or cohabited. Much of the decline in marriage has been offset by increased living together without being married. The stability of unions of various types is compared. Cohabitations end very quickly in either marriage or disruption. About 60 percent of all first cohabitations result in marriage. Cohabiting unions and marriages preceded by cohabitation are much more likely to break up than are unions initiated by marriage. Multivariate analysis reveals higher rates of cohabitation among women, whites, persons who did not complete high school, and those from families who received welfare or who lived in a single-parent family while growing up.


Industrial biotechnology involves the use of enzymes and microorganisms to produce value‐added chemicals from renewable sources. Because of its association with reduced energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation, industrial biotechnology is a rapidly growing field. Here we highlight a variety of important tools for industrial biotechnology, including protein engineering, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, systems biology, and downstream processing. In addition, we show how these tools have been successfully applied in several case studies, including the production of 1, 3‐propanediol, lactic acid, and biofuels. It is expected that industrial biotechnology will be increasingly adopted by chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural industries.


Objectives: Indigenous medicines are widely used throughout Africa, despite a lack of scientific evidence for their safety or efficacy. The aims of this study were: (a) to conduct a pilot study of the safety of a common indigenous South African phytotherapy, Lessertia frutescens (Sutherlandia), in healthy adults; and (b) to contribute to establishing procedures for ethical and scientifically rigorous clinical trials of African indigenous medicines. Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Sutherlandia leaf powder in healthy adults. Setting: Tiervlei Trial Centre, Karl Bremer Hospital, Bellville, South Africa. Participants: 25 adults who provided informed consent and had no known significant diseases or allergic conditions nor clinically abnormal laboratory blood profiles during screening. Intervention: 12 participants randomized to a treatment arm consumed 400 mg capsules of Sutherlandia leaf powder twice daily (800 mg/d). 13 individuals randomized to the control arm consumed a placebo capsule. Each participant received 180 capsules for the trial duration of 3 mo. Outcome Measures: The primary endpoint was frequency of adverse events; secondary endpoints were changes in physical, vital, blood, and biomarker indices. Results: There were no significant differences in general adverse events or physical, vital, blood, and biomarker indices between the treatment and placebo groups (p > 0.05). However, participants consuming Sutherlandia reported improved appetite compared to those in the placebo group (p = 0.01). Although the treatment group exhibited a lower respiration rate (p < 0.04) and higher platelet count (p = 0.03), MCH (p = 0.01), MCHC (p = 0.02), total protein (p = 0.03), and albumin (p = 0.03), than the placebo group, these differences remained within the normal physiological range, and were not clinically relevant. The Sutherlandia biomarker canavanine was undetectable in participant plasma. Conclusion: Consumption of 800 mg/d Sutherlandia leaf powder capsules for 3 mo was tolerated by healthy adults.


This paper presents a sequential research works on visual information acquirement and intelligent control of arc weld pool dynamics and seam formation during pulsed GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) in robotic welding process. The visual information acquirement methods are focused in computer vision sensing, image processing and characteristic extraction of the weld pool surface from the single-item pool images by particular algorithms for robotic welding process. Based on acquired visual characteristics of weld pool and established neural network and knowledge models for predicting dynamical characteristics of weld pool during robotic welding, corresponding control methods, such adaptive control, self-learning and other composite intelligent control strategies are developed to control welding pool dynamics during pulsed GTAW by welding robot. Some experiments and applications of intelligent control methods in welding robot systems are shown in the paper.


In order to determine if cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate- (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase has a role in the expression of chemically induced differentiation of HL-60 cells, levels and subcellular distribution of this enzyme were studied during this process. Cyclic AMP binding protein and stimulated kinase activities increased moderately in cytosol and more markedly in nucleosol and nonhistone chromatin-associated protein fractions of cells induced to differentiate with dimethyl sulfoxide or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Retinoic acid induced similar cytosolic changes but less marked intranuclear increases. Nuclear increases did not occur in the differentiation-resistant subline, HL-60 Blast II, treated with dimethyl sulfoxide. DEAE-cellulose chromatography, as well as photoaffinity labeling and gel electrophoresis, disclosed higher ratios of type I to type II kinase in cytosol than in intranuclear fractions. Differences of the qualitative binding protein patterns between cytosol and nucleosol were enhanced following chemically induced differentiation. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased cytoplasmic and nuclear binding protein levels when given alone or in combination with retinoic acid or dimethyl sulfoxide, and it enhanced differentiation. These results suggest that intranuclear cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is associated with the expression of the differentiative program in HL-60 cells.


ADvanced Artefact Management System (ADAMS) is an artefact-based process support system for the management of human resources, projects, and software artefacts. This system puts great emphasis on the artefact life cycle by associating software engineers with the different operations that can be performed on a given artefact. Managing the quality of software artefacts is considered one of the main issues. To this end, ADAMS integrates WAIT (Web-based Artefact Inspection Tool), a web based system implementing a distributed inspection process. A case study has been accomplished to evaluate both the integration of WAIT in ADAMS and the provided quality management support. The main result of this empirical investigation is that the integrated system provides an effective support for the management of the quality of software artefacts.


A new species of the Macrobiotus hufelandi group is described from Poland. An integrative taxonomic approach was applied by combining morphological and morphometric analysis imaging under phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy with molecular analysis (four molecular markers) to unambiguously support the establishment of the new species. The specimens of Macrobiotus hannae sp. nov. are similar to three taxa of the Macrobiotus hufelandi complex: Macrobiotus hufelandi C.A.S. Schultze, 1834; M. punctillus Pilato, Binda & Azzaro, 1990; and M. joannae Pilato & Binda, 1983. Nevertheless, the new species differs from the first two species by the absence of cuticular bars under claws on legs I?III, better developed oral cavity armature (large, with all three bands of teeth always well visible), the presence of a subterminal constriction in the second macroplacoid, some fine peculiarities in egg ornamentation morphology, and differences in a number of morphometric characters. The new species is most similar to M. joannae but it can be distinguished from it by the presence of a much finer granulation on the dorsal and lateral cuticle of the body that, in contrast to M. joannae , is not visible in light microscopy. Our study suggests that European records of M. joannae are most likely invalid and they represent M. hannae or an unknown similar species.


Networks are ubiquitous. We as individuals are part of various social networks and each of us depends on multiple communication, traffic and supply networks in our everyday life. We are, however, still far from completely understanding and controlling those networks. Network motifs, few nodes (un)directed subgraphs, are a well-defined intermediate scale for characterizing the local structure of networks beyond the scope of single nodes. Motifs have so far been used only as a statistical measure. Their over- or under-representation in various networks has been related to specific topological function within those networks. This work investigates a so far unexplored perspective on complex networks. Namely, the relation between their motif content and the dynamic processes taking place on top of those networks. For this purpose, we project the dynamic output of a network back onto its topology and investigate weighted motifs while keeping the network topology intact. This approach is unique to this work and reveals a direct relation between the motif content and the output pattern of complex networks. We engage network motifs in two distinct ways. On the one side, as an analytical tool to examine already emerged networks. On the other side, as an active mechanism to adapt and improve human-made systems. A strong interplay is found between the local structures, the motif content, within a network and the dynamic performance of that network. Those new insights are used to develop a series of novel distributed topology control mechanisms. First, we use networks motifs as an analytical tool on a subclass of complex networks with large and easily accessible data sets: co-authorship networks. We address the question: Is there a relation between the citation frequencies of publications and the motifs they are involved in? Our analysis reveals a collaboration pattern much more successful than other collaboration patterns: the box motif, a closed chain of four authors. The box motif has the highest success measured as the average citation frequency per motif edge. Our findings are confirmed on two large data sets and on data snapshots over the past 20 years. Segregation seems to be the key to success: separation in time, rank and discipline are the major factors for the success of the box motif. An analytical generative model for co-authorship networks is introduced that can reproduce our findings and shreds light into the social factors shaping co-authorship networks. The revealed interplay between the motif content of complex networks and the dynamic processes taking place on those networks motivates a new perspective on distributed communication networks. We address the question: Instead to use network motifs just as a static analytical tool, is it possible to engage them in online decision rules to improve human-made systems? As a result we develop a novel topology control approach for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks. Each peer steers its local motif content to a desired state. Consequently, the overall network properties of the P2P overlay shifts towards a desired property. Fair load balancing in the demonstrated cases. Our evaluation shows that the new approach highly improves the network while causing negligible messaging overhead. Motivated by our results, we address a more general question: Are network motifs indeed also suitable for topology control within heterogeneous networks, where nodes play different roles? We extend our distributed topology control mechanism to heterogeneous P2P overlays. A novel approach for constructing highly resilient P2P live streaming networks is introduced. The peers choose from a set of rules how to adapt their motif content. The new approach induces resilience comparable to the state of the art methods. However, the topology of the constructed networks is better balanced than those of existing methods, making the new approach better performant under normal circumstances. Most importantly, the new approach requires no network knowledge. Consequently, the new method is not only much faster, but it also provides much higher privacy to the participating peers. Attacks by malicious parties are practically impossible. No peer can determine neither its position, nor the position of any other peer within the network. In that sense, the new proposed approach clearly outperforms the state of the art. Our findings so far clearly show that one can understand or even actively change the dynamic performance of networks by looking at their local topology. It is natural to investigate the opposite perspective: Is it possible to deploy suitable dynamic processes on a network with no global network knowledge, in order to reveal its topology? Consequently, we impose a dynamic process on top of a network in order to determine critical topological constellations within the network. By deploying an extended gossiping protocol, we show how one can detect communication bottlenecks in distributed manner. Our novel approach clearly outperforms state of the art methods with respect to both, the precision of its results and its performance. Last but no least, it has a guarding mechanism against malicious peers trying to skew the network protocol. So far we have shown that specific local structures lead to specific network properties and performance. Finally, we argue that random graphs and their random local structures also have unexploited potential. They have become notorious in the recent years for being poor null models of real world networks. Nevertheless, they have topological properties highly desirable within any P2P overlay. We introduce a novel P2P overlay based on random graphs. This new overlay is the first one to support exhaustive search queries and exact key-value lookups within the same overlay. Our overlay is both, highly scalable and efficient, and performs at least as good as already established P2P overlays. Throughout this work we repeatedly show that analyzing networks on intermediate scale opens so far unexplored and very fruitful perspectives on complex networks. The introduced new methodology for distributed topology control, advocated through this work, is just one of those perspectives.


Relying heavily on Ryder's (1965) argument concerning the central role of cohorts in social change and on Elder's (1978) work on life cycles, this paper integrates the disparate threads of the current marital disruption literature and provides an integrated framework for subsequent analysis. We focus on the study of intracohort life cycle development and comparative cohort careers. Our framework incorporates both elements simultaneously. Using 1980 Current Population Survey data and conditional logit analysis, this framework allows us to make refined statements about which marriage cohorts are most affected by given variables and where within the cohort's life cycle they act. For instance, we show that both the timing of the marriage and maritally conceived births affect the likelihood of disruption in all cohorts and at all marital durations observed. In contrast, the wife's level of education and a premarital birth affect the likelihood of marital disruption only at early marital durations. Such variable patterns of effects along the temporal dimensions of cohort and duration provide important clues to the mechanisms by which these variables influence marital disruption.


It is necessary to identify and analyze the unique psychosocial stressors that may be impacting on a person with post-polio syndrome to facilitate their incorporation of medical and rehabilitation recommendations. It is hoped that the information presented will be used to increase the awareness of the range of emotional responses that people with late effects of polio may have to enable staff to establish sequential presentation of information and guidelines for changes in energy output and life-style patterns. The suggested interventions are given with the aim of facilitating more rapid integration of treatment regimens that will lead to a better quality of life.