The company

Stork IMM is located in Hengelo, the Netherlands. The company builds plastic injection moulding machines. About 100 machines are built annually. Several standard design machines are available with clamping forces ranging from 1500 to 20.000 kN clamping force. Customers can choose from several options to the standard design or can request "customer wishes" which are engineered specifically for the customer. The engineering department consists of 15 men some with over 25 years of experience at the company and some young people with fresh ideas. There is a lot of pride in the machines that are built.

The assignment

The injection moulding machines have a clamping mechanism that hold the two halves of the moulds together when the mould is being filled. Most clamps are driven by a large hydraulic cylinder. Since 10 years an optional electric driven clamp can be chosen by the customer. The electric drive can regenerate electricity when braking, making it much more energy efficient. However, it is much more expensive than the simple hydraulic driven clamp.
This electric option was designed by simply taking of the hydraulic cylinder and replacing it with a rack and pinion drive and gearbox. The first step in the assignment was to analyse the process and the current clamp system and also to look at the solutions from competitors. The second step was to look at improvements that could be done to the current system to make it more efficient and less costly and to look at completely different concepts for actuating the clamp.

The internship

The first week of the internship was spent in the assembly hall helping to build the machines to get to know the machines and the people that build the machines. Thereafter the rest of the internship was spent at the engineering department.
There was a lot of freedom in implementing my own methods and ideas, and enough guidance where needed. My work was taken serious and valued by the colleagues. There was a nice working atmosphere.


Background The Thinking Styles Inventory—developed by Sternberg and Wagner based on Sternberg's (1988, 1997) earlier theory of mental self-government—was selected for the research in order to assess thinking styles of student teachers. Another reason is that the theoretical constructs, as well as the inventory generated from the theory, have proved to be valuable to assess thinking styles of people in several studies. For example, previous research reported that students differed in their thinking styles depending on their personal characteristics (e.g., Sternberg & Grigorenko, 1995; Zhang, 1999, 2002b, 2001e). However, research found no distinct patterns between thinking styles and personal characteristics of students (e.g., Grigorenko & Sternberg, 1997; Zhang, 2002a). Little research has focused on the study of non-Western students' thinking styles. Thus, it is reasonable to expect that the thinking styles could also be identified among student teachers in Turkey since the styles are differentiated within a different country and culture. Objectives of Study (1) What is the validity and reliability of the Thinking Styles Inventory (TSI) in assessing thinking styles (TS) among Turkish student teachers? (2) Is the structure of a factor analysis of the TSI consistent with the five dimensions postulated by the theory of mental self-government in a Turkish sample? (3) Are TS of student teachers differentiated based on such socialization variables as gender, age, educational level, type of university attended, and field of study followed? Research Design The study reported here used quantitative methods with a survey sampling design. Subjects The research subjects were comprised of 402 student teachers enrolled in English, mathematics, and science teaching programs at Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey. Results The results of factor analysis for construct validity of the inventory addressed 13 sub-scales under the five dimensional constructs with 104 items. Moreover, the total internal reliability of scale was a .92 reliability coefficient. Findings demonstrated that the 13 subscales had internal consistency reliabilities; Cronbach's alphas of the 13 subscales for these subjects ranged from .61 to .91, as well as item-scale correlation that ranged from .37 to .88. Test re-test reliability for external reliability of subscales was between .63 to .78. When the ANOVA findings of the research is evaluated as a whole, it might be said that the student teachers' particular thinking styles were differentiated by the socialized variables of gender, age, type of university attended, as well as field of study followed. Conclusions/Recommendations In order to measure thinking styles of students based on a model of broad intellectual styles, the inventory might be used as an efficient instrument. Moreover, the results of this study demonstrated a diversity of thinking styles among the participants. However, further research is needed to clarify the nature of thinking styles as assessed by the inventory at different educational levels and culture to facilitate a better understanding of the thinking styles of students.


Most previous animal studies reporting improved epithelialisation and healing of burn wounds under hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) did not include the conventional treatment with topical antibiotics as part of the protocol, and did not compare the effectiveness of HBO therapy with that of normobaric 100% oxygen (NO). The purpose of our study was to compare the results of combined treatment with HBO + silver sulfadiazine (SS) and those of treatment with NO + SS or SS alone. Deep second degree burns were produced on the depilated backs of 54 guinea pigs using a validated burn protocol. The animals were assigned to three treatment groups: HBO + SS, NO + SS, and SS. Dressings were changed daily. HBO was administered at 2 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 90 min BID, and NO for 90 min BID. The parameters compared among the groups were laser Doppler flowmetry, and burn wound contracture and re-epithelialisation data derived from computerised planimetry of photographs of the wound. No differences in laser Doppler flowmetry results or the magnitude of contracture were found between the groups. Significantly increased re-epithelialisation was observed under NO + SS starting 10 days after the burn (P = 0.02, ANOVA). This significance stems from the difference between the HBO + SS and NO + SS groups (Tukey test). These data indicate that excessively high levels of tissue PO2 might compromise burn healing, and explain our results. A further study comparing combined treatment using a milder HBO protocol + SS and NO + SS is indicated in the search for the optimal HBO regimen.


The behaviour of black hole X-ray binaries can be classified into five spectral states which are defined in terms of the X-ray spectral and timing properties of the source. These states show distinct and observable characteristics and transitions from one state to another often take place.

Perhaps the most interesting of the five is the low/hard state; in theis state the X-ray emission appears to be confined to a Comptonising corona surrounding the black hole, the optical and infrared emission comes from a cold accretion disc with a large inner disc radius and a weak continuious jet is emitted from the central regions of the disc.

In this thesis I study three black hole candidates which show low/hard state behaviour either most of the time (Cygnus X-1), quasi-periodically (LMC X-3) or intermittently (GS 1351-64). Observations were taken at X-ray, radio and optical wavelengths in order to study the preoperties of the low/hard state and the relationship between the accretion disc and the jet.


Redistribution and bumping of a high I/O device has been successfully achieved at Motorola's Interconnect Prototype Lab using a combination of photosensitive benzocyclobutene (BCB), electroless nickel underbump metallurgy, and photoresist defined solder printing technique. To take full advantage of flip chip packaging technology, redistribution is necessary to rewire bondpads to an area array. BCB was chosen as the interlayer dielectric between the redistributed metal traces and device circuitry. Advantages of BCB include high level of planarization, low moisture uptake, rapid thermal curing, high thermal stability, high solvent resistance, and a low dielectric constant. We successfully optimized many steps in the process flow to redistribute the bondpads. The BCB residue in vias was cleaned with a plasma descum comprised of an Ar/SF/sub 6/ mixture. BCB to BCB adhesion was improved by optimizing the curing time. The shear strength of the bumps was increased 80% by sputter-roughening of the BCB/Al interface. Sematech ATC04-2 functional wafers with 1004 bumps/die and a minimum pitch of 8 mils were successfully redistributed to a 10 mil and 16 mil mixed array pitch and solder bumped using a photodefined squeegee bump technology.


We report photonic RF fractional Hilbert transformers and filters based on a 49GHz soliton crystal micro-comb source. By employing up to 80 wavelengths and controlling the channel weights, diverse transfer functions are achieved.


The onshore and offshore parts of the East Greenland Basin are important areas for petroleum exploration at the North Pole. Although assessments by the US Geological Survey suggest a substantial petroleum potential in this area, their estimates carry a high risk because of uncertainties in the exploration data. This paper compares the reservoir-forming conditions based on data from the East Greenland Basin and the North Sea Basin. The petroleum resources of the East Greenland Basin were assessed by geochemical and analogy methods. The East Greenland Basin was a rift basin in the late Paleozoic–Mesozoic. Its basement is metamorphic rock formed by the Caledonian Orogeny in the Archean to Late Ordovician. In the basin, Devonian–Paleogene strata were deposited on the basement. Lacustrine source rock formed in the late Paleozoic and marine source rocks in the Late Jurassic. Shallow-marine sandstone reservoirs formed in the Middle Jurassic and deep-marine turbiditic sandstone reservoirs formed in the Cretaceous. The trap types are structure traps, horst and fault-block traps, salt structure traps, and stratigraphic traps. The East Greenland Basin possesses superior reservoir-forming conditions, favorable petroleum potential and preferable exploration prospects. Because of the lack of exploration data, further evaluation of the favorable types of traps, essential amount of source rock, petroleum-generation conditions and appropriate burial histories in the East Greenland Basin are required. Citation: Li Bin, Liu C L, Zhao Y, et al. Petroleum resource assessment of the East Greenland Basin. Adv Polar Sci, 2017, 28(4): 297-310, doi:10.13679/j.advps.2017.4.00297


Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cells accounting for around 10% of all hematologic cancers. MM is an incurable heterogeneous malignancy which impacts the response rate due to complex nature of the disease. Although with standard of care treatment, including proteasome inhibitors (PI), a significant response and remission is achieved, the majority of patients still develops resistance. There is no precise method for determining the pathways which govern the acquired resistance to PI. Computational biology modelling (CBM), which uses genomics for creating the MM specific disease characteristics, can be used for deciphering the dominance of signaling changes in acquired resistance and accordingly select right treatment combination. Predicting a priori treatment response based on disease characteristics would enable optimal treatment selection and potentially reduce the trial and error approach that impacts outcome and health care costs.
 Aim: The objective of the study was to predict response to proteasome inhibitor Carfilzomib (CFZ) in AMO1 MM disease model and its resistant counterparts using CBM, to determine mechanism of resistance to CFZ and identify customized therapy options for CFZ resistant AMO1 (AMO-CFZ) cells.
 Methods: AMO-CFZ resistant cells were derived by long-term exposure of the cells to increasing doses of CFZ. AMO1 PI-sensitive and AMO-CFZ were analyzed using cytogenetics and mutations (profiled by next-generation sequencing; NGS). At the same time quantitative proteomic analysis was done to find proteins which were upregulated as well as downregulated in the resistant cells. Genomic and proteomic data was input to generate disease-specific protein network maps, biomarkers and pathway characteristics unique to AMO1 and AMO-CFZ cells respectively. Digital drug models of CFZ and other targeted-FDA approved drugs are simulated on the disease models individually and in combination at varying doses. Drug impact was assessed by quantitatively measuring the effect on a cell growth score, which is a composite of cell proliferation, viability and apoptosis. Unique therapy combinations identified in AMO-CFZ cells will be prospectively experimentally validated; at the same time key signaling changes were deciphered in AMO-CFZ resistance with respect to AMO1 PI-sensitive MM model.
 Results: Genomic analysis using CBM showed that AMO1 MM model harbored amplification of MYC, POU2AF1, POU2F1, TXNIP and knock down (KD) of proteasome subunit PSMA6 which lead to Carfilzomib sensitivity. The predictions in AMO-CFZ identified loss of PSMA6 and upregulation of proteasomal subunits PSMB5/7/2/1 which reduced ER stress and ATF4. Predictions in AMO-CFZ cells identified higher glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway resulting in higher glutathione levels compared to AMO1 PI-sensitive cells. The anti-oxidant proteins NQO1, TXN, PRDX1/4/5 were higher in AMO-CFZ-resistant cells, in addition to PRDX6 overexpression (OE), which was common with PI-sensitive cells that reduced oxidative stress. Carfilzomib drug exporter ABCB1 was overexpressed in CFZ-resistant cells and Nelfinavir increased sensitivity of the cells towards Carfilzomib. CBM identified novel therapeutic targets CDK5 and NFE2L2 that can be used to overcome CFZ-resistance. Moreover, Venetoclax was more cytotoxic in AMO-CFZ cells than in AMO-1 PI-sensitive, because BCL2 was higher in CFZ-resistant version than the sensitive one due to its overexpression and TP53 knockdown.
 CBM predicted novel therapeutics for investigation which include: GEMCITABINE plus MELPHALAN; GEMCITABINE plus OLAPARIB; MELPHALAN plus OLAPARIB. DNA damage is high in AMO-CFZ due to knockdown of CHEK1, ERCC3, FANCB/G, LIG4, XRCC6 and loss of function of FANCD2, ATM.
 Conclusions: Using genomics and proteomics, CBM identified the resistance mechanisms of AMO-CFZ and new treatment strategies. These were validated showcasing a methodology for a clinically relevant workflow using NGS information.

 Cogle: Celgene: Other: Steering Committee Member of Connect MDS/AML Registry. Vali:Cell Works Group Inc.: Employment. Abbasi:Cell Works Group Inc.: Employment. Singh:Cellworks Research India Private Limited: Employment. Gupta:Cellworks Research India Private Limited: Employment. Kushwaha:Cellworks Research India Private Limited: Employment. Kumari:Cellworks Research India Private Limited: Employment. Raju:Cellworks Research India Private Limited: Employment. Naga:Cellworks Research India Private Limited: Employment. Basu:Cellworks Research India Private Limited: Employment.


Modern industrial automatic machines and robotic cells are equipped with highly complex human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that often prevent human operators from an effective use of the automatic systems. In particular, this applies to vulnerable users, such as those with low experience or education level, the elderly and the disabled. To tackle this issue, it becomes necessary to design user-oriented HMIs, which adapt to the capabilities and skills of users, thus compensating their limitations and taking full advantage of their knowledge. In this paper, we propose a methodological approach to the design of complex adaptive human-machine systems that might be inclusive of all users, in particular the vulnerable ones. The proposed approach takes into account both the technical requirements and the requirements for ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) for the design of automatic systems. The technical requirements derive from a thorough analysis of three use cases taken from the European project INCLUSIVE. To achieve the ELSI requirements, the MEESTAR approach is combined with the specific legal issues for occupational systems and requirements of the target users.


The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the local use of estradiol after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) artificial ligament graft could promote graft-bone healing. A total of 45 New Zealand white rabbits underwent ACL reconstruction with a PET ligament graft. The experimental groups were administered a local estradiol injection at either a low dose after surgery or a high dose after surgery, and the control group did not receive an injection. Computed tomography (CT) scans and blood sample collection were routinely performed in all three groups. Over time, the serum estradiol levels increased in both experimental groups, and the CT images revealed a trend of a shrinking bone tunnel area in all three groups. The rabbits were randomly sacrificed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. The load to failure and stiffness of the experimental groups were significantly higher than those of the control group at 4 and 8 weeks. The histological study identified more bone mineralization in the experimental groups at 4 weeks after surgery compared to the control group. This study showed that the use of estradiol is a promising approach in promoting graft-bone healing in rabbits undergoing ACL reconstruction with a PET ligament graft.


This paper discusses the deviant labels (immigrant, anti-Western, British hostile, 'enemy within' and terrorist) commonly used in surveillance strategies within the 'war on terror' context. Particular attention is paid to those who are profiled based on the use of ethnic (i.e. racial, national and religious) markers, where there is an assumed correlation between ethnic background and status of risk in relation to terrorist behaviour. Here, those perceived to be of South Asian, middle-Eastern or Arabic Muslim background, are especially viewed as dangerous others, whose presence is not only a security concern, but as a whole is morally problematic. This paper begins by questioning the use of ethnic profiling in anti-terror surveillance strategies, and considers the awareness levels and impact that its use has on those who are targeted. To do this the findings of a pilot study (undertaken in early 2011) are drawn on. In presenting interview narratives of a sample of respondents who had experienced increased surveillance, data is presented on their perceptions about the use of ethnic profiling in anti-terror work. The impact that these surveillance strategies had on their identity and behaviour, as well as their responses to this surveillance, are also considered. In doing so, the paper asks whether ethnically marked stigmatised groups, located within contemporary panics about terrorism, are able to successfully challenge, overcome or resist the negative labels they are assigned.


This is the twenty-first in the annual series assessing major development issues. This report acknowledges that knowledge, not capital, is the key to sustained economic growth and improvements in human well-being. It distinguishes between two sorts of knowledge: knowledge about technology, called technical knowledge or simply know-how, and knowledge about attributes, that is, knowledge about products, processes, or institutions. The report focuses on the relationship between the unequal distribution in know-how (knowledge gaps) across and within countries and the difficulties posed by having incomplete knowledge of attributes (information problems). In the first of three parts, the report discusses the importance of knowledge to development, and the risks and opportunities that the information revolution poses for developing countries. It then examines three critical steps that developing countries must take to narrow knowledge gaps: acquiring knowledge, absorbing knowledge, and communicating knowledge. Part 2 discusses the nature and extent of information problems, specific information problems, and three areas where information problems are most severe, namely in financial information, in environmental research, and in listening to the poor. Part 3 summarizes what knowledge and information requirements mean for developing government and international institution policies.


Body sensor networks (BSNs) is a challenging research area that have attracted many researchers in recent times. Examples of BSN applications include those that are used to detect vital signs of the human body. As these body sensor devices are typically powered by batteries that are difficult to replace, energy efficient MAC protocols play an important role in BSNs. In this paper, we propose a novel TDMA-based energy efficient MAC protocol for in-vivo communications between mobile nodes in BSNs using an uplink/downlink asymmetric network architecture. A TDMA scheduling scheme and changeable frame formats are also proposed. An adaptive power control scheme is designed especially for the mobile sensor scenarios presented. Simulation results based on the random mobility pattern show that the power consumption of the proposed MAC protocol is much lesser than that of the star topology TDMA. Furthermore, it is also shown that the latency performance can be improved by reducing the data slot duration.


From Rumer Godden, one of the foremost authors of the 20th century, and illustrated by two-time Caldecott Honor recipient Tasha Tudor, comes a heartwarming tale filled with imagination and creativity that is ideal for any girl who has ever loved a doll so much that it has become real to her. For Tottie Plantaganet, a little wooden doll, belonging to Emily and Charlotte Dane is wonderful. The only thing missing is a dollhouse that Tottie and her family could call their very own. But when the dollhouse finally does arrive, Tottie's problems really begin. That dreadful doll Marchpane comes to live with them, disrupting the harmony of the Plantaganet family with her lies and conceited way. Will Tottie ever be able to call the dollhouse home? An ALA Notable Book "For little girls who love dolls, women who remember dollhouse days, and literary critics who can recognize a masterpiece."--"The New York Times" Rumer Godden is the author of numerous books for children and adults, including "The Story of Holly and Ivy," illustrated by Barbara Cooney, and the bestseller "The Black Narcissus." Tasha Tudor has written and illustrated many books for children, including "1 is One" and" Mother Goose," both Caldecott Honor books.


Temporal databases facilitate the support of historical information by providing functions for indicating the intervals during which a tuple was applicable (along one or more temporal dimensions). Because data are never deleted, only superceded, temporal databases are inherently append-only resulting, over time, in a large historical sequence of database states. Data vacuuming in temporal databases allows for this sequence to be shortened by strategically, and irrevocably, deleting obsolete data. Schema versioning allows users to maintain a history of database schemata without compromising the semantics of the data or the ability to view data through historical schemata. While the techniques required for data vacuuming in temporal databases have been relatively well covered, the associated area of vacuuming schemata has received less attention. This paper discusses this issue and proposes a mechanism that fits well with existing methods for data vacuuming and schema versioning.


The advent of new chemical genetic tools and high-throughput screening technologies and platforms have already led and will continue to lead in accessing the natural product diversity of microorganisms. This paper represents a continuation of the work on the investigation into means of making better use of the advantages of new technologies and approaches in drug discovery that the Atta-ur-Rahman Research Institute of Natural Product Discovery (RiND) at MARA University of Technology has engaged in. MECSUS (Microtiter plate, Elicitors, Combination, Solid phase extraction, UHPLC, Statistical analysis) is a protocol for microbial metabolites studies that involves miniaturized parallel fermentations in 96-well microtiter plate with up to ninety six different media, parallel extraction and data analysis.The aforementioned protocol introduces elements of incremental novelty in the natural product screening program by means of combining and harnessing existing ideas, techniques, and technologies into a protocol for the implementation of the OSMAC (one strain many compounds) approach at micro-scale. Its main advantage is the decrease of the scale of operation with the use of the 96-well microtiter plates. It's benefits include the possibility of overcoming few issues such as processing time and human resources that have somewhat hampered the implementation of the OSMAC approach and/or the systematic study of a large library of microorganisms.


Objectives: the purpose of this study was to assess the dental tooth decay profile of an elderly population from Northern Portugal. Material and Methods: t his is a descriptive, cross-sectional study where a questionnaire, intended to assess the institutionalized elders oral health condition, was applied with the purpose of quantifying certain oral conditions. Tooth decay was assessed using the DMFT Index for the crown's tooth and the individual radicular caries index (RCIi) for the root's condition assessment. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistical regressions were performed (p < 0.05) using the IBM© SPSS© Statistics vs.19.0. Results: three hundred and seventy-two elderly participants were assessed with an average age of 78.8 years, of which 260 were women (69.9%). Of the sample 30.4% had no literacy and 18.3% were dependent on their daily oral hygiene care, 30.9% (95%CI:26.2%-35.6%) were edentulous and 84.9% (95%CI:81.3%-88.5%) had less than 20 teeth. The average number of teeth was 8.9 (±8.7) and the DMFT was 25.6 (± 7.3). The RCIi for men was 44.3% (±  30.4%) and 39.4% (± 31.2%) for women. Using multivariate logistical regression model the outcome RCIi≥20% was shown to be significantly and positively associated with the use of removable partial dentures (metal partial dentures: OR=5.348 (95%CI:1.176-24,329; p = 0.030) as well as with daily tooth brushing (no toothbrushing: OR = 2.802 (95%CI:1.445-5.433); p = 0.002). Conclusion: the prevalence of tooth decay in this elder institutionalized population of Northern Portugal is high, mostly due to bad oral hygiene habits associated to the use of metal removable partial dentures. Institutionalized elderly need protocols tailored to their oral health needs and integrated efforts in the institutions are needed to effectively answer the demands related to the elderly cognitive and motor skills (ageing deterioration) decline of physiological functions. KEYWORDS Elderly; Oral health; Prosthesis; Root caries.


A small infectious micro-organism that able to replicate only inside the living cells is named as viruses, which are also the most abundant life form on the earth. These subcellular organisms can be classified into four groups ; animal, plant, archaea and bacteria viruses. Among them, bacteria viruses or also known as bacteriophages have the highest numbers with the  total estimation of 10 31 .  The fact is that, until today only ~ 6,000 types of phages have been discovered since 1959 (ICTV report, 2011). Therefore, there are lots of new phages waiting to be discovered. Partial genomic studies have been conducted on a potential new bacteriophage isolated from goat faeces. Thus, to fulfil the objective of this study genomic characterization was carried out to discover more genomic details in order to reveal the true identity of the newly isolated phage . As first part of the analysis, phage genome was extracted to identify the phage's genome type and to estimate the genome size. Along with that, the extracted genome was used to proceed with the genome profiling and also for  partial genome sequencing analysis. Based on the genomic analysis, the results showed the isolated phage carries DNA as it genetic material with the size of genome around 30-40kbp. Besides that, this phage produced different genomic profile in comparison with other known phages such as Lambda, T4 and T7 phages when digest with the same restriction enzymes. Besides that, based on partial genome sequencing and results run against NCBI database, this newly isolated phage might be related with another newly isolated phage known as Sodalis phage SO-1. As far as the genomic data collected, an assumption can be made that this isolated phage could be a new addition to the list of viruses in International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) database.


Magneto-rheologiacal Fluid (MRF), suspensions of polarizable micron size particles, is synthesized from suspensions of iron particles (micron and nano size) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The iron particles have been surface coated using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with various polymers, such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly(NIPAAm)), and poly(acrylamide) (poly(AAm)). The surface grafted polymer has been characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and properties of resulting fluid have been measured using a rheometer.A mathematical model is developed to explore the force induced by the particles on the neighboring tissue under externally applied magnetic field. This force results in the damage of the tumor cell lines and trigger the immune system response.The effect of MRF on primary and metastasized tumor growth were evaluated by using an orthotopic murine breast cancer model (4T1). Tumors were evaluated by growth measurements and histological changes following injection of MRF or carrier fluid alone into the tumor and the effects of subsequent application of a magnetic field to the site. Results indicate slowed tumor growth and increased dendritic cell activation with this therapy and they are encouraging.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


Abstract. The effects of inbreeding level on service period (SP) and pregnancy length (PL) were monitored in Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh after the first calving. The levels of inbreeding (FX) ranged from 1.25 to 25 %. SP and PL of inbred cows were compared with their outbred equals – half-sisters, sharing the same sire (n = 1824) and their first calving happened in the same farm and at the same time (± 3 month). Database with the number of 631 810 animals (year of calving 1985–2004) was used for analyses. Inbred cows were grouped according to Fx coefficient (1.5-2.3 %; 3.0-5.0 %; 8.0-12.5 %; 25 %). The GLM with fixed effects (the breed, breeding value of the sire and monitored individual for milk production, year of calving, age at first calving) was applied to all data. The effect of inbreeding depression on SP was more pronounced at higher levels of inbreeding (+2.81; +3.35; +4.53; +8.23 d, respectively according to above mentioned Fx groups) but non-significant. Differences in PL (+0.3; +0.32; -0.08 and 1.68 d) were not significant either. Average value of PL for inbred animals was 0.43 d higher. The correlation coefficient was +0.023 for SP and +0.0658 for PL. The Fx coefficient increasing by 1 % extends the SP by 0.22 day and PL by 0.063 day. There was a higher variability of SP and PL in inbred cows. The length of calving interval between the first and second lactation is affected more by SP than PL.


Based on the Xiangjiaba Hydro Project, dynamic characteristics of large high-rise structure under El_Centro seismic wave were investigated in this paper. 8-node hexahedral isoparametric elements[1] are used to the solid element in the 3-D finite element model. In order to increase the efficiency of the calculation, the Newmark- [2] method is implemented. By means of seismic waves, the displacement responses of the Xiangjiaba Hydro Project are analyzed in detail. The results, which are obtained for displacement responses of tower columns of ship lift, show that calculated dynamic results of the tower column can meet the design requirements.


Soleus muscle strips from Wistar rats were preincubated with palmitate in vitro before the determination of insulin-mediated glucose metabolism in fatty acid-free medium. Palmitate decreased insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis to 51% of control in a time- (0-6 h) and concentration-dependent (0-2 mM) manner. Basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport/phosphorylation also decreased with time, but the decrease occurred after the effect on glycogen synthesis. Preincubation with 1 mM palmitate, oleate, linoleate, or linolenate for 4 h impaired glycogen synthesis stimulated with a submaximal physiological insulin concentration (300 microU/ml) to 50-60% of the control response, and this reduction was associated with impaired insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB). Preincubation with different fatty acids (all 1 mM for 4 h) had varying effects on insulin-stimulated glucose transport/phosphorylation, which was decreased by oleate and linoleate, whereas palmitate and linolenate had little effect. Across groups, the rates of glucose transport/phosphorylation correlated with the intramuscular long-chain acyl-CoA content. The similar effects of individual fatty acids on glycogen synthesis but different effects on insulin-stimulated glucose transport/phosphorylation provide evidence that lipids may interact with these two pathways via different mechanisms.


Food security has long been a component of the global development project. Over time, extensive definitions and conceptual frameworks for food security have emerged. This thesis explores food security policy discourse in middle income, non-crisis contexts in the Global South. Taking as its research site the Southeast Asian state of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the thesis explores how food security is defined as a policy problem, and what solutions are proposed. Using an interpretive analytical approach, the research analyzes authored policy documents and constructed policy texts drawn from interviews conducted between 2011-2013 with 25 international experts to identify narratives emerging from the praxis of formal policy documents, institutional mandates and policy-in practice. The role of international expertise in shaping the national level discourse is explored in detail. Four policy narratives are identified: food security as modernization/economic growth, the smallholder narrative, the nutrition narrative, and food security as development. Particular attention is paid to the totemic status of rice in the discourse. For each narrative, a matrix of problem statements, proposed solutions, key indicators, and supporting institutions is presented. A metanarrative analysis of how these narratives intersect suggests that one of the characteristics of food security conceptually is its inclusiveness, giving it a remit across a range of sectors. This research presents food security as a valence issue, which, by virtue of its expansiveness, provides a platform on which multiple, divergent policy agenda coexist. Despite recognition among experts of serious shortcomings in both the conceptual framework and applied use in policy, this fluidity ensures that food security remains in consistent use, as both a component of national policy and as an artefact of global development discourse at the national level. Because of its continued focus on undernutrition in rural areas, the omission of issues such as overnutrition, urban food systems, and environmental degradation from the discourse, narratives in food security policy are presented as hewing to pre-existing problem statements and solutions. This renders food security an incomplete fit within the policy context of rapidly developing nations in 21st Century Southeast Asia.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assessthe probable influence of some of the emotional costs and returns expected by owners on their family business sale decision; and examine if the perceived economic environment during the economic and financial crisis of 2008 had an impact on the intention to sell their family business.

Design/methodology/approach
The research is based on a sample of 69 family businesses responding to a postal questionnaire survey. The empirical study is made up of a descriptive analysis of the factors influencing the intention of a family business sale and an explanatory analysis of the sale intention.

Findings
The desire for family business renewal through family generational succession is the main emotional factor lying behind the decision to continue/sell the business. Furthermore, the financial and economic crisis does not seem to be a factor that accentuates the intention to sell the family business even if firms' financial performance has declined.

Research limitations/implications
Future research could implement a direct measure of owners' performance thresholds and explicitly integrate the moderating role of "Perceived economic environment."

Practical implications
By showing that continuity is a key concern for family business owners, the research invites them to effectively prepare their succession instead of postponing this strategic process given its significance in guaranteeing the survivability of the family business.

Originality/value
Executives who perceived economic conditions as very poor are less likely to consider the sale of the business in the horizon of two years than executives perceiving them as "normal." The study confirms that in family-owned businesses, for the owner-managers and the active and serene family shareholders, the sale price does not compensate for their emotional regret evaluated through the loss of the family business' emotional value.


The built environment accounts for a significant share of energy consumption and energy efficiency in this sector is important for the Swedish environmental objectives. Only a limited share of the total new construction of multifamily houses are constructed as low-energy buildings. Current building regulations lay down requirements for energy efficiency for new construction, and these will be tightened further in the future. Public housing companies often aim to be at the forefront, and the public housing sector has now built half of Sweden's low-energy blocks of flats. Many public housing companies have tried, but it is uncertain if they will, or have, the possibilities to construct low-energy buildings on a large scale. Twenty public housing companies around Sweden have been interviewed with the aim of identifying obstacles and possibilities to be forerunners and build better than required by the building regulations. The study shows that the public housing companies build better than the law demands and intend to continue doing so. Low-energy buildings are particularly suitable in central locations where land is attractive and the required returns lower. The driving motivation is to be at the forefront and to build green. The new pressure to increase house building can lead to a risk of energy and quality issues being passed over. For the increase in the construction of low-energy buildings to continue, extended, shared and comparable decision making support for the public housing companies is needed.


Background Tobacco tax policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) assumes a gradual annual increase in specific excise taxes on cigarettes. However, it is insufficient to reduce significantly consumption. This paper examines effects of the increase in cigarette prices and disposable income on cigarette demand in B&H by different income consumer groups. Methods Based on the Household Budget Surveys and microdata from 2007, 2011 and 2015, we employed logit model to estimate prevalence and Deaton's model to estimate intensity elasticity of cigarette demand for the sample of 21 424 households (9953 are smoking households) by different income groups. We used obtained elasticities and estimated the impact of tax increase on cigarette consumption and government revenue in three tax increase scenarios. Results Ten per cent price increase would reduce the consumption of low-income households by 14%, as opposed to 9.9% for middle-income and 7% for high-income households. Low-income households would significantly increase the demand for cigarettes compared with high-income households if income increased. Increase in the specific excise tax by 25% would reduce cigarette consumption and increase government revenue, while the low-income group would experience a reduction in tax burden. Conclusions Changes in prices have different impacts on tobacco prevalence and consumption of low-income compared with middle-income and high-income socioeconomic groups. Low-income households are most responsive to changes in prices and income. Thus, the poor in B&H would benefit from an increase in tobacco excise taxes and price.


This thesis examines how six contemporary novels variously intervene in the current crisis of climate change. Through close readings of J G Ballard's The Drowned World (1962) and Hello America (1981); Cormac McCarthy's The Road (2006); Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle (1963) and Galapagos (1985); and Ian McEwan's Solar (2010), the thesis aims to identify how the narrative and generic resources of contemporary fiction might help readers to think through and beyond the consequences of anthropocentric ways of thinking about the biosphere. Drawing upon the concept of the Anthropocene – and in particular the account of this concept provided by the historian Dipesh Chakrabarty – the thesis suggests that these novels raise profound questions about how climate change is represented and understood. If accounts of the human history of modernity have until recently overlooked the complex ways in which both the human species and its contemporary fossil fuel cultures are intertwined with the geologic history of the planet, how has contemporary fiction attended to this oversight? What light can imaginative apocalyptic future histories of the biosphere, such as those presented in the fiction of Ballard, Vonnegut and McCarthy, shed on predominant understandings of climate change? How has fiction highlighted the ways in which the insights offered by the Anthropocene complicate the promises of scientific 'reason' to explain and provide solutions to anthropogenic climate change? How do fictions such as those of Vonnegut and McEwan contribute to a more nuanced account of the limits of such reasoning? To address these questions, the thesis draws upon Martin Heidegger's account of the anthropocentric enframing of nature through technology, and suggests a re-thinking of Louis Althusser's account of ideology through which we can begin to understand how anthropocentric perspectives are naturalised in ways that illuminate some of the difficulties identified by Chakrabarty. By bringing these three perspectives together, the thesis seeks to develop a distinct critical approach to reading the responses of these literary fictions to climate change. The first section of the thesis examines how the generic resources of apocalyptic fiction defamiliarise assumed relationships between the human subjects and societies of industrial modernity and the biosphere. Chapter 1 suggests that J G Ballard's novel The Drowned World (1962) imaginatively connects geologic and human history in order to disrupt key anthropocentric assumptions concerning the relationship between humanity and the biosphere, whilst his later novel Hello America (1981) foregrounds the anthropocentric inscription of industrial modernity through a self-consciously hallucinatory re-imagining of American history. Chapter 2 examines Cormac McCarthy's recent novel The Road (2006), and suggests that the text presents a particular form of apocalyptic narrative that complicates the anthropocentric sub-text of traditional apocalyptic narratives. The second section of the thesis examines how the fictional representation of science and scientists can help to illuminate the ways in which an anthropocentric faith in the technoscientific promise of human power over nature serves to legitimate an illusion of human mastery over the biosphere. Chapter 3 considers how Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle (1963) offers a counterpoint to this faith by ironically depicting scientist characters whose assumptions of beneficial technoscientific progress are undermined by complex interconnections between individuals and the biosphere – connections that have apocalyptic consequences. Such complex interactions are also a feature of the insights offered by ecology and evolutionary science. Reading Vonnegut's fiction after the Anthropocene underlines the ways in which Vonnegut's literary techniques can help readers to think through and beyond the complex connections between natural and human history that these scientific disciplines begin to elucidate. As chapter 3 suggests, Vonnegut's later novel Galapagos (1985) provides a particularly imaginative account of this complexity through its fictional narrative of an evolutionary future history across the longue duree of geologic time. Building on the insights developed in chapter 3, chapter 4 considers the significance of Ian McEwan's ironic depiction of a fictional scientist who is unable to restrain his own overconsumption of resources in his novel Solar (2010). In my reading, McEwan's scientist figure functions as an allegory for the paradoxes of a technoscientific culture that seems unable to apply scientific reason in meaningful responses to the dangers of the Anthropocene. In so doing, the chapter illustrates how the use of allegorical codes and irony in Solar draw attention to the ways in which a faith in technoscientific reason to provide solutions to anthropogenic climate change is misplaced. This misplaced faith also naturalises the on-going enframing of nature as a resource, with potentially apocalyptic consequences. The apocalyptic narratives of the Ballard and McCarthy novels can be understood as quasi-scientific literary speculations, which disrupt anthropocentric assumptions through the experimental futures they depict. Similarly, the ironic depictions of scientists and scientific thinking in the Vonnegut and McEwan novels draw attention to the anthropocentric limitations of conventional scientific thinking for fully understanding and productively responding to the apocalyptic implications of climate change. In bringing these readings together, the thesis attempts to provide valuable and timely insights into the techniques through which the literary fiction of Ballard, Vonnegut, McCarthy and McEwan can help readers to think differently about the complex relationship between human life and the biosphere. These readings also trace how such fiction can draw attention to the ways in which anthropocentric patterns of thought contribute to the catastrophic climatic implications of technoscientific culture.


Time Motion Studies (TMS) have proved to be the gold standard method to measure and quantify clinical workflow, and have been widely used to assess the impact of health information systems implementation. Although there are tools available to conduct TMS, they provide different approaches for multitasking, interruptions, inter-observer reliability assessment and task taxonomy, making results across studies not comparable. We postulate that a significant contributing factor towards the standardization and spread of TMS would be the availability and spread of an accessible, scalable and dynamic tool. We present the development of a comprehensive Time Capture Tool (TimeCaT): a web application developed to support data capture for TMS. Ongoing and continuous development of TimeCaT includes the development and validation of a realistic inter-observer reliability scoring algorithm, the creation of an online clinical tasks ontology, and a novel quantitative workflow comparison method.


The semantic knowledge of Wikipedia has proved to be useful for many tasks, for example, named entity disambiguation. Among these applications, the task of identifying the word sense based on Wikipedia is a crucial component because the output of this component is often used in subsequent tasks. In this article, we present a two-stage framework (called TSDW) for word sense disambiguation using knowledge latent in Wikipedia. The disambiguation of a given phrase is applied through a two-stage disambiguation process: (a) The first-stage disambiguation explores the contextual semantic information, where the noisy information is pruned for better effectiveness and efficiency; and (b) the second-stage disambiguation explores the disambiguated phrases of high confidence from the first stage to achieve better redisambiguation decisions for the phrases that are difficult to disambiguate in the first stage. Moreover, existing studies have addressed the disambiguation problem for English text only. Considering the popular usage of Wikipedia in different languages, we study the performance of TSDW and the existing state-of-the-art approaches over both English and Traditional Chinese articles. The experimental results show that TSDW generalizes well to different semantic relatedness measures and text in different languages. More important, TSDW significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches with both better effectiveness and efficiency.


Court reporters are certified at either 95% or 98% accuracy, depending on their certifying organization; however, the measure of accuracy is not one that evaluates their ability to transcribe nonstandard dialects. Here, we demonstrate that Philadelphia court reporters consistently fail to meet this level of transcription accuracy when confronted with mundane examples of spoken African American English (AAE). Furthermore, we show that they often cannot demonstrate understanding of what is being said. We show that the different morphosyntax of AAE, the different phonological patterns of AAE, and the different accents in Philadelphia related to residential segregation all conspire to produce transcriptions that not only are inaccurate, but also change the official record of who performed what actions under which circumstances, with potentially dramatic legal repercussions for everyday speakers of AAE.*


3.6 g./100 ml.). Protein electrophoresis showed an increase in all the globulin fractions with mild decrease of the albumin fraction. The most likely abnormality was therefore an increase in capillary fragility, although a qualitative defect could not be outruled. The pupura gradually faded; and on discharge four weeks later the tourniquet test, though still positive, was less marked. During her hospitalization she was transferred from insulin to chlorpropamide (Diabinese) 500 mg. daily, with good control of her diabetes and no deterioration in her purpura. She was readmitted three weeks later with right hemiparesis due to cerebral thrombosis. Chlordiazepoxide 10 mg. was given on admission. The following morning the tourniquet test was negative and the platelet count was 200,000/ cu. mm. The blood urea was 44 mg./100 ml., and urinalysis showed 60 mg./100 ml. protein only. Five days after admission she was noted to be depressed, and chlordiazepoxide 10 mg. t.i.d. was prescribed. Within 48 hours the purpura reappeared and the tourniquet test was strongly positive. The platelet count was 190,000/cu. mm. The chlordiazepoxide was discontinued; the purpura gradually faded, and the tourniquet test became steadily weaker. Nine weeks later it was negative and the platelet count was 162,000/cu. mm. It was found difficult to control her diabetes with chlorpropamide and insulin therapy was recommenced, with good control and no recurrence of the purpura. She was discharged with residual hemiparesis, has remained well, and has had no further episodes of purpura.


Mechanically generated surface waves and their influence on oxygen transfer were investigated. The experiments were conducted in a reaeration column (Reynolds number from 125–937). The water surface was set in oscillatory motion to simulate periodic surface level fluctuation. The wave frequency used ranged from 0.125 Hz to 0.425 Hz for various wave heights ranging from 0.15 cm to 1.5 cm. After bleeding the water column with nitrogen, dissolved oxygen concentration was measured over time below the water surface. A modified surface renewal model was proposed and found to describe the oxygen transfer phenomenon well. In addition, it was found that the mean film thickness δD, may be used as the characteristic length to describe the reaeration process under the influence of small perturbation and surface water waves. The proposed model was also extended to include the reaeration process under larger waves reported by other researchers. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 4839–4845, 2013


Fusarium culmorum is a pathogen of economically important grain crops. In this work, Rep-PCR was used to identify genetic diversity in F. culmorum isolates which have been collected from wheat fields in Turkey. Reproducible genomic fingerprints were amplified in each strain by PCRs of prokaryotic repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) and BOX sequences. Totally 104 molecular markers were evaluated and similarity comparisons were shown as a dendrogram. The average genetic diversity was 52.3% ranging from 15.8% to 88.7% according to the Rep-PCR data. Cluster analysis showed agreement with the distance of sampling locations. The highest genetic similarity (84.2%) was determined between two F. culmorum isolates (F1 and F2) originated from the same agro-ecological region. Our results showed that Rep-PCR is convenient and rapid for genetic diversity analyses and strain differentiation in F. culmorum.


Cornichon homolog-3 (CNIH3) is an AMPA receptor (AMPAR) auxiliary protein that traffics AMPARs to the postsynaptic membrane and potentiates AMPAR signaling. AMPARs are key components of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory formation, however the role of CNIH3 in memory has yet to be elucidated. To study the role of CNIH3 on mouse behavior, we bred and characterized a line of Cnih3-/- mice from C57BL/6 Cnih3tm1a(KOMP)Wtsi mice obtained from the Knockout Mouse Project (KOMP). In agreement with previous studies of CNIH3 in the brain, we observed concentrated expression of Cnih3 in the dorsal hippocampus, a region associated with spatial learning and memory. Therefore, we tested Cnih3+/+, Cnih3+/-, and Cnih3-/- mice in the Barnes maze paradigm to measure spatial memory. We observed no change in spatial memory in male Cnih3+/- and Cnih3-/- mice compared to male Cnih3+/+ controls, however, Cnih3-/- female mice made significantly more primary errors, had a higher primary latency, and took less efficient routes to the target in the maze compared to Cnih3+/+ female mice. Next, to investigate an enhancement of spatial memory by Cnih3 overexpression, specifically in the dorsal hippocampus, we developed an AAV5 viral construct to express wild-type Cnih3 in excitatory neurons. Female mice overexpressing Cnih3 made significantly fewer errors, had a lower primary latency to the target, and took more efficient routes to the maze target compared to YFP expressing control females. No change in spatial memory was observed in male Cnih3 overexpression mice. This study, the first to identify sex-specific effects of the AMPAR auxiliary protein CNIH3 on spatial memory, provides the groundwork for future studies investigating the role of CNIH3 on sexually dimorphic AMPAR-dependent behavior and hippocampal synaptic plasticity.


Herbs annual or perennial, sometimes woody at base. Stems with prominent nodes and internodes. Leaves alternate, distichous or spirally arranged, sessile or petiolate; leaf sheath prominent, open or closed; leaf blade simple, entire. Inflorescence usually of cincinni in panicles or solitary, sometimes shortened into heads, sometimes sessile with flowers fascicled, sometimes axillary and penetrating enveloping leaf sheath, rarely flowers solitary and terminal or axillary. Flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Sepals 3, free or connate only at base, often boat-shaped or carinate, sometimes galeate at apex. Petals (2 or)3, free, sometimes connate and tubular at middle and free at 2 ends (Cyanotis), sometimes clawed. Stamens 6, free, all or only 2 or 3 fertile; filaments glabrous or torulose villous; anthers parallel or slightly divergent, longitudinally dehiscent, rarely dehiscent by apical pores; staminodes 1–3; antherodes 4-lobed and butterflylike, 3-sect, 2-lobed and dumbbell-shaped, or entire. Ovary 3-loculed, or reduced to 2-loculed; ovules 1 to several per locule, orthotropous. Fruit a loculicidal, 2or 3-valved capsule, rarely baccate and indehiscent. Seeds few, large; endosperm copious; hilum orbicular or linear.


Glossy is a flooding-based communication primitive for low-power wireless networks that leverages constructive interference to achieve high reliability. The Low-power Wireless Bus (LWB) uses Glossy to abstract an entire wireless network into a shared bus like topology. As Glossy is not designed as a secure communication protocol, Glossy and hence LWB are vulnerable to unauthorised eavesdropping and packet injection attacks. In this paper, we propose several security mechanisms to protect Glossy and LWB communication and evaluate their effectiveness in real-world settings. The evaluation of the proposed security mechanisms shows that we can confine the effect of the packet injection attacks on Glossy networks into single hop nodes from the attacker.


BACKGROUND
Exercise training (ET) can reduce blood pressure (BP) and prevent functional disability. However, the effects of low volumes of training have been poorly studied, especially in elderly hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the effects of a multi-component ET program (aerobic training, strength, flexibility, and balance) on BP, physical fitness, and functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients.

METHODS
Thirty-six elderly hypertensive patients with optimal clinical treatment underwent a multi-component ET program: two 60-minute sessions a week for 12 weeks at a Basic Health Unit.

RESULTS
Compared to pre-training values, systolic and diastolic BP were reduced by 3.6% and 1.2%, respectively (p<0.001), body mass index was reduced by 1.1% (p<0.001), and peripheral blood glucose was reduced by 2.5% (p=0.002). There were improvements in all physical fitness domains: muscle strength (chair-stand test and elbow flexor test; p<0.001), static balance test (unipedal stance test; p<0.029), aerobic capacity (stationary gait test; p<0.001), except for flexibility (sit and reach test). Moreover, there was a reduction in the time required to perform two functional ability tests: "put on sock" and "sit down, stand up, and move around the house" (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Lower volumes of ET improved BP, metabolic parameters, and physical fitness and reflected in the functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. Trial Registration RBR-2xgjh3.


The difficulty of building large data centers in dense metro areas is pushing big cloud providers towards a different approach to scaling: multiple smaller data centers within tens of kilometers of each other, comprising a "region". We show that networking this small number of nearby sites with each other is a surprisingly challenging and multi-faceted problem. We draw out the operational goals and constraints of such networks, and highlight the design trade-offs involved using data from Microsoft Azure's regions. Our analysis of the design space shows that network topologies that achieve lower latency and allow greater flexibility in data center placement are, unfortunately, encumbered by their much greater cost and complexity. We thus present and demonstrate a novel optical-circuit-switched architecture, Iris, that lowers these cost and complexity barriers, making a richer topology design space more accessible to operators of regional networks. With Iris, topologies which, in comparison to a simple hub-and-spoke topology can increase the area in which a new DC can be placed by 2-5x, can be implemented at a cost within 1.1x of the simple hub-and-spoke topology, and 7x cheaper than a natural packet-switched network.


Introduction and Objectives People with severe COPD have a long-recognised burden of disabling physical symptoms compounded by co-morbidity, psychological distress and social isolation. We aimed to review the effectiveness of interventions designed to deliver holistic care compared to usual care for people with severe COPD. Methods We searched 11 international electronic databases, three trial repositories and contacted a panel of international experts to locate published, unpublished and in-progress randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) that investigated holistic interventions designed to support patients with severe COPD in any healthcare context. Date range January 1990–March 2012; no language or geographical restrictions. Quality assessment and data extraction followed the Cochrane Collaboration method. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was the primary outcome. We used a piloted data extraction sheet and undertook narrative synthesis. Results From 2,866 potentially relevant papers, three trials met our inclusion criteria: two RCTs (from United States and Australia), and one CCT (from Thailand) studying a total of 216 patients. Critical appraisal identified a moderate (one RCT and the CCT) or high (one RCT) risk of bias. All interventions were led by nurses acting in a co-ordinating role (e.g. facilitating community support in Thailand, providing case-management in the US, or co-ordinating inpatient care in Australia). The community-based intervention in Thailand significantly improved HRQoL at three months compared to (limited) usual care (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire: intervention: 30.3±19.4 vs control 52.4±21.3 p<0.001). Significant effects in the US trial were confined to 'Physical functioning' and 'General health' sub-domains of Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36 at three but not six-months. There were no significant changes in the Australian trial. Conclusions Some 15 years after reports first highlighted the substantial unmet needs of people with severe COPD, we have been unable to find robust trial evidence about interventions to address those needs. There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate interventions to deliver or enhance holistic care and improve the quality of life of people with severe COPD. Funding Dunhill Medical Trust. HP is supported by a PCRCA Fellowship (CSO, Scottish Government).


Telomerase is an essential enzyme that maintains telomeres on eukaryotic chromosomes. In mammals, telomerase is required for the lifelong proliferative capacity of normal regenerative and reproductive tissues and for sustained growth in a dedifferentiated state. Although the importance of telomeres was first elucidated in plants 60 years ago, little is known about the role of telomeres and telomerase in plant growth and development. Here we report the cloning and characterization of the Arabidopsis telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, AtTERT. AtTERT is predicted to encode a highly basic protein of 131 kDa that harbors the reverse transcriptase and telomerase-specific motifs common to all known TERT proteins. AtTERT mRNA is 10-20 times more abundant in callus, which has high levels of telomerase activity, versus leaves, which contain no detectable telomerase. Plants homozygous for a transfer DNA insertion into the AtTERT gene lack telomerase activity, confirming the identity and function of this gene. Because telomeres in wild-type Arabidopsis are short, the discovery that telomerase-null plants are viable for at least two generations was unexpected. In the absence of telomerase, telomeres decline by approximately 500 bp per generation, a rate 10 times slower than seen in telomerase-deficient mice. This gradual loss of telomeric DNA may reflect a reduced rate of nucleotide depletion per round of DNA replication, or the requirement for fewer cell divisions per organismal generation. Nevertheless, progressive telomere shortening in the mutants, however slow, ultimately should be lethal.


Abstract In the period of market globalisation, global trade has changed immensely. Country-of – origin play a significant role in global marketing as it has created huge market opportunities for both firm and countries around the globe. Many companies are venturing in overseas market as they would benefit from a larger market share and lower cost of the goods and hence, these companies have to mention about the country-of-origin on the label of their products so that consumers can know where the goods originate from. This research will enable entrepreneurs and businesses who are in the commercial industry to have a better insight on the perception of consumers about the country-of-origin effects in the context of brands of mobile phones. The study further highlighted about the impact of a country's image on the consumers' purchase intentions. For this study, both qualitative and quantitative approach were used and both primary and secondary data were captured with the usage of convenience sampling technique. With evolutions in technology and mobile phones sectors, it was imperative to investigate on the above topic so as to reveal insightful details about country-of-origin effect on consumer buying behaviours as well as on country-of-manufacture and country-of-assembly.


Sensitization to psychostimulants is strongly influenced by the environmental context in which the drug is administered and little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate this process. Chronic treatment with psychostimulants has been shown to upregulate the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in the striatum, as a downstream target gene of ΔFosB. This study was therefore designed to analyze neurochemical changes underlying the expression of amphetamine-induced sensitization. To this end, periadolescent rats were given saline or 4 mg/kg amphetamine in a NOVEL or a HOME environment. After 1 day, subjects were challenged with vehicle or 2 mg/kg amphetamine in the same context in which they received the first administration of the drug. Locomotor activity and the expression levels of p35 and Cdk5 activity in synaptosomes of the dorsal striatum were analyzed. The expression of behavioral sensitization was observed only in the NOVEL condition. Furthermore, only animals trained and tested in the NOVEL condition showed increased p35 protein levels and Cdk5 activity. Our findings provide clear behavioral and neurochemical evidence of a specific association between increased p35 and Cdk5 activity in the dorsal striatum and the expression of amphetamine-behavioral sensitization, allowing us to propose p35 as a biochemical marker of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine.


This paper addresses the timely issues of modeling, and defining selection criteria for, a solidstate fault isolation device (FID) intended for use in power electronics-based distribution systems (PEDS). The paper subsequently derives the FID parameters in the PEDS envisioned under a new multi-university Engineering Research Center funded by the US National Science Foundation. When conventional circuit breakers are used in distribution systems, they have relatively long clearing times, causing feeder voltages to be reduced for a significant amount of time. Although acceptable in convention systems, this relatively long clearing time would cause significantly long, complete voltage collapses in a PEDS. Sensitive loads such as computers would fail even if the voltage returns within a few seconds. However, if a semiconductor circuit breaker were to be used instead of the conventional system, it would be able to switch fast enough to keep the time of voltage disturbances within acceptable limits. This paper discusses the management of the overvoltage resulting from very fast circuit breaker operation through the use of passive clamping devices and di/dt control during turn-off. The paper includes experimental results at medium voltage from a developed hardware prototype. In addition, a validated simulation model of a medium voltage FID was developed for future studies. Simulation results are presented.


LATE is the acronym for Learning And Teaching Environment, a concept that pulls together a number of developments in a uniquely integrated way to provide for the rst time in the history of computing an approach to computer assisted learning and teaching that o ers a realistic alternative to more traditional methods. Above claim may sound exaggerated. However, the reader is asked to reserve judgement until having looked at the details of this paper. LATE is not just one other concept in the area of computer assisted instructional technologies an area rich in projects with high-expectations but few real success stories. LATE is more: it is based on much experience with earlier undertakings, both negative and positive, and is positioned to be a de nitive answer to educational needs as they can be provided by networked multimedia systems now and in the forseeable future. LATE is positioned as concept that can be turned into a fully functional and applicable system, open-ended to incorporate further modules, improvements and future computer and network technology. In this sense LATE can be aptly described by the longer acronym: IS THE LATEST, standing for Integrating Systematically Technologies Helping to Establish Learning And Teaching Environment Strategies. It has been over 30 years that computer-based solutions for educational purposes have been investigated and experimented with. Results have been consistently exasperating modest. Indeed some frustrated researchers and developers have started to seriously consider the possibility that the educational process being highly oriented towards individual needs may not be computerizeable at all to a large extent. The LATE concept as put forward in this paper will show that above mentioned pessimism is fortunately not justi ed. Rather: it has taken a long time to e ectively introduce computers into the educational process, but the LATE concept, once implemented, provides the ultimate answer. Hence our pun: LATE is better than never! And hence our request to all European funding agencies, and the European Commission in particular, to provide the nancial assistance to turn LATE from a concept into a reality. LATE is not a new attempt at developing a computer assisted instruction (CAI) or computer based learning (CBL) system; it is not a system providing modern lecturing techniques; it is not another attempt to implement digital libraries; it should not be seen as a novel authoring environment, a distance teaching system, a networked help system, discussion forum, computer supported collaborative environment or a networked model of modern computer based decision rooms. LATE must not be understood as any of the above: LATE is the rich symbiosis of all of the above resulting in an environment of breadth and dimensions sofar unheard of. If this sounds too good to be true: do continue reading; above is not intended to give a project description, but to \whet the appetite" for reading what follows. There we will show that and how the symbiosis of the diversity of areas is indeed feasable when a modern WWW system with much extended functionality is used as a basis.


In operations for bleeding ulcers a situation often occurs in which the surgeon has to restrict the operation to a small intervention. The danger of a recurrent hemorrhage is the main shortcoming of the existing palliative operations. Excision of the ulcer and subsequent closure of the defect is the only measure after which the bleeding will not recur. However, in penetrating ulcers of the posterior wall or its adjacent areas, this operation cannot be carried out practically. At the same time, it is just these ulcer that are the most common sources of bleeding. The author suggests the following method for such cases: without performing anterior gastroduodenotomy, the upper and lateral borders of the ulcer are excised, the bleeding vessel is ligated, and the separated duodenal wall is sutured to the inferior border of the ulcer and peritotration is conducted. The suggested method makes it possible to exclude the ulcer from the gastrointestinal lumen, which ensures reliable hemostasis. Good results were produced in 3 cases in which the method was applied. A description of the method had not been encountered in the available literature.


In recent years, pesticides were used heavily in Palestine, which led to the contamination of soil and water and causing many diseases. Many studies focused on the impact of pollutants such as pesticides and oil on soil, humans, animals, plants and the environment in general. Using column study the amount of glyphosate in soil decreases with increasing depth of soil, where it is for 0-30cm(11ppm) > 30-60cm(6ppm) > 60-100cm(2ppm) due to organic content and metal oxides founded in soil that can form stable complexes with glyphosate. When we increased the concentration of glyphosate, the amount of glyphosate (contaminant) in leachate where found to be 25x (15.96ppm) >15x (3.91) > 5x (3ppm) column. The behavior of glyphosate leachate fits the first order reaction and the isotherm is in according with the Freundlich adsorption equation with R 2 value 0.98, k value 6.4 and n value 1.07 which indicates good adsorption to soil.


Never in the history of mankind has the global scientific and medical community been subjected to such a testing time as in the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic triggered off by the novel RNA severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus of 125 nm size. Despite the concerted efforts of the entire world, we do not seem to be making progress in being able to confidently recommend evidence-based pharmacological interventions in affected patients or advise governments on immunological interventions to avoid mass fatalities that are already in very significant numbers throughout the developed and the developing world including unfortunately in India. This has been a wake-up call for researchers, virologists, and immunologists to undertake more critical research into the deficiencies of our knowledge base that has been exposed by the current pandemic. The shift of recent research since the last HIV scare in the early 1980s has been toward noncommunicable diseases and drug development has also followed the same trend. There has been considerable progress on antibiotic resistance although antiviral therapies have not made progress in line with potential emergence of novel viruses as has been cruelly demonstrated in this current pandemic. The immunological responses that have been so varied to the current pathogen in individuals are again a matter of further research and understanding of human immunology and its complex response to cancers, autoimmune diseases, and external pathogens—further research is necessary here. The long-term impact of COVID-19 illness spectrum remains to be seen as clinicians and basic scientists put their heads together to evaluate the clinical profile of the illness spectrum from case records of recovered patients and those who succumbed and evidence-based treatment approaches need to be available instead of the best guess treatments that we are practicing presently to save lives. Immunologists, virologists, clinical trial experts, and pharmacologists are now tasked to develop evidence-based pharmacological therapies and efficient vaccines to rebuild the confidence of the population and governments globally who have always relied upon and respected healthcare stakeholders to protect global health. We live in uncertain times filled with anxiety and disruption of normal human lifestyle habits. Never has the tolerance, patience, and fortitude of the global village, we live in and of the economic fallouts arising been tested to the hilt as much as we have seen in these last six months. Hopefully, we should be able to see the light at the end of the "COVID-19" tunnel soon. Going forward, we hope we emerge as a stronger human civilization being able to collaborate, cooperate, and cohabit this beautiful planet and together we become masters of our destiny so that future generations will be grateful to us for having taken responsible decisions during times of crisis that threatened our civilization and brought all of us proverbially to our knees.


Atrial septal restriction is estimated to occur in up to 22% of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and is associated with poor prognosis postnatally. Atrial septal aneurysms are known to be more prevalent in patients with congenital heart disease and atrial septal restriction due to elevated atrial pressures in fetal life. We report the case of a newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, restrictive interatrial communication, and atrial septal aneurysm. The latter led to formation of a large intralimbic hematoma within it, which resulted in complete obstruction of the interatrial communication after birth, which led to death. We suggest that in addition to the known associated problems encountered in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and restrictive interatrial communication, aneurysmal formation of the interatrial septum should alert the fetal and postnatal echocardiographer further, and careful assessment and follow-up is recommended.


Cancer cells are remarkably resilient to therapies aimed at their elimination. The exploration of pathways that sustain cancer cells and that allow cancer cells to become resistant has revealed new avenues for chemotherapeutic development, as well as rational approaches to combination therapies based on existing treatment options. Several signaling pathways, such as Wnt, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and Ras-Raf-MEK, constitute integrated networks that work together to maintain cellular homeostasis under basal conditions and to drive cell-mass accumulation and cell cycle progression in the presence of appropriate mitogenic stimuli. During cancer development, these path‐ ways are corrupted in malignant cells to maintain viability and proliferative activity under environmentally stressful conditions such as limited growth factors, oxygen, and nutrients that drive normal cells into quiescence or death. Importantly, dysfunction within any one of these pathways results in compensatory responses from the other networks. Thus, biological research is gradually shifting toward more general approaches that target entire pathways rather than isolated components and integrate those pathways into biologi‐ cal networks. can promote the autophagy in an NF-kB-dependent manner.


ABSTRACT Low soil fertility remains a major reason for rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. In light of the need to set priorities and formulate development policies, this study investigates efforts by farmers in central Uganda to maintain soil fertility, factors affecting their capacity to act and impacts on soil fertility parameters. Using questionnaire-based interviews and soil chemical analyses, information from 60 randomly selected farms was collected in four subcounties. Farmers use traditional conservation methods like legumes, crop rotation, cover crops, fallow and agroforestry in addition to applying manure, ash, mineral fertilizers and concoctions to improve soil fertility. Most farmers construct some soil bunds. Limited access to supplies, markets, credit and extension service, labor and organic materials are limitations to their ability to maintain soil fertility. Present application of fertility measures are clearly insufficient and are not reflected in soil fertility parameters.


Vedic had a restricted tone system which can also be assumed for Proto-Indo-European. Various proposed rules generating the characteristic lateral mobility of Balto-Slavic accentuation are superfluous if one starts from a strict comparative analysis of the Indo-European nominal flexion. There is an essential difference between Baltic and Slavic accentual mobility: Baltic mobility is between the root and the ending of a word form whereas Slavic mobility is between the initial and the final syllables of a phrase, including clitics. The rise of distinctive tone in Slavic was more recent than the generalization of accentual mobility in the masculine o‑ stems without an acute root vowel. Linguistic contact with speakers of a language with fixed initial accent gave rise to an initial High tone which either replaced the original High tone under certain conditions or yielded doubly accented word forms with two High tones. It never yielded "unaccented" word forms with Low tones only, which originated in Vedic under certain syntactic conditions and arose in Kyōto Japanese as a result of an accent retraction. The latter development may be compared with the rise of "unaccented" word forms in Slavic.


We are surrounded by a world, which makes sense, only because we make sense of it. At every instant in our waking life we estimate the state of the world based on sensory data, then we reshape the world to meet our goals. How are these sensations encoded, goals represented and action computed? To answer these questions we dissect the biological circuitry in our brains that seamlessly performs these computations. To study the dynamics of neural circuits, we specifically focus on the role inhibition in shaping signal processing. This work examines how inhibitory circuits process increasingly complex forms of afferent input. First, we characterize and model local circuit responses to brief impulses of afferent activity. We find that local circuits generate feedforward inhibition in the first few milliseconds after an afferent impulse. This inhibition adjusts the excitability of the local population normalizing it to the afferent excitation level. Then, in the next few milliseconds, as individual local pyramidal cells spike they immediately recruit a distinct recurrent inhibitory circuit. This feedback circuit is extremely sensitive responding with negative feedback when even a single local pyramidal cell is active. By modeling the circuit dynamics during these stages in cortical processing we quantitatively demonstrate that the feedforward and feedback inhibitory circuits are tuned to be both sensitive to sparse activity and yet maintain fidelity with which a cortical circuit represents inputs at high activity levels. Next, the role inhibition during spontaneous rhythmic activity is dissected. Our results demonstrate that by rapidly balancing excitation with inhibition, cortical networks can swiftly modulate rhythms over a wide band of frequencies. Finally, we investigate the role of a distinct type of inhibitory interneuron during the first stage of cortical visual processing. Using optogenetics to either enhance or suppress parvalbumin positive interneurons spiking, we demonstrate that these neurons play a key role in modulating the selectivity of responses in primary visual cortex. Together, these results demonstrate the multifaceted role inhibitory circuits play in signal processing and shaping cortical computation; adding to our communal effort to develop a complete picture of how neural circuitry performs computations and encodes sensation


The pressure stability of microfluidic glass chips was tested experimentally, with a special focus on the inserts for glued capillary connections. Destructive high-pressure experiments with demineralized water conducted at room temperature showed a difference in mean fracture pressure between the two tested glass types BF33 and D263T, with values of 192  ±  25 and 159  ±  25 bar, respectively. For BF33, hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching of the powder blasted (abrasive jet machined) chip insert increased the mean fracture pressure with 43  ±  9 bar, whilst for D263T a decrease of  −22  ±  8 bar resulted. Contrary to the expected surface smoothening of the HF treatment, a rougher surface was obtained, particularly for the case of D263T, which is thought to be due to the opening of median (radial) cracks caused by the powder impact during the blasting process. The roughness obscures the effect of the tapering of the insert, preventing that factor from having a statistically significant effect on the mean fracture pressure. Nevertheless, a decrease in the mean fracture pressure and a decrease in the variance of the mean fracture pressure was observed when a taper is introduced, whereas the fracture location tends to move away from the insert-microchannel intersection towards the glue meniscus. A practical solution for cases where a high-pressure stability is required is found in applying a metal clamp around the capillary insert section. This significantly increased the fracture pressure of the chip insert section with 50  ±  21 bar, by preventing bond release.


Low-temperature aging (280 to 300°C) of duplex (austenite-ferrite) stainless steels and their resulting long-term loss of toughness is a well-known problem in the energy-producing as well as in other industrial sectors. In order to analyze the problem, the phenomenon was assumed to be thermally activated, accelerated aging at higher temperatures (350 to 400°C) was planned, and the activation energy was estimated. Assuming that the cause of brittleness is the ferrite's spinodal decomposition into the α and α' phases, the present work analyzes the aging kinetics at three temperatures (280, 350, and 400°C) by means of microhardness measurements of the ferritic phase taken in three different duplex stainless steels named after their ferrite content, 12F, 18F and 22F. In view of the microhardness results, an exponential law is proposed to represent the temporal evolution for each of the steels, with three parameters, of which one varies with aging temperature. It should be noted that there is no unique value for the activation energy in all the 280 to 400°C range. This should be divided into smaller subranges for more precision, and here it is shown that in all cases the extrapolation to the service temperature (280°C) of the results obtained in the 350 to 400°C range produces non-conservative results. These results are discussed considering the effect of the G-phase precipitation on the spinodal decomposition kinetics. For assessment applications a mathematical law is proposed that represents the aging kinetics of these steels and that provides reliable results for their service temperature (280°C).


Corporations and government agencies worldwide seek to ensure that their networks are safe from cyber-attacks, and startups are being launched to take advantage of this expanded market for cybersecurity products, services, and solutions. The cybersecurity market is inherently global; therefore, cybersecurity startups must globalize to survive. With this article, we fill a gap in the literature by identifying the factors that make a technology startup valuable to specific stakeholders (e.g., investors, customers, employees) and by providing a tool and illustrating a process to describe, design, challenge, and invent the actions that should be performed to globalize a cybersecurity startup early and rapidly for the purpose of increasing its value. The development of the tool builds on recent advances in the resource-based literature, the review of the literature on born-global firms and business model discovery processes, and the experience gained operating the Lead to Win ecosystem. This article will be of interest to entrepreneurs and their venture teams, investors, business development agencies, advisors, and mentors of cybersecurity startups as well as researchers who develop tools and approaches that are relevant to technology entrepreneurs.


Abstract: Domestic violence is a public health problem, but little is known about contributors to domestic violence in refugee families. Participatory action research (PAR) was the method used when partnering with a Sudanese refugee community to explore experiences of resettlement, gender and role relationship changes, family conflict, domestic violence ana the U.S. legal system. This iterative research process led to family education about domestic violence, community advocacy by and for refugees, and relationship building with a metropolitan police department. Ethical and cultural challenges encountered in PAR are discussed.Key Words: Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, Refugee, Participatory Action ResearchWhile domestic violence is recognized as a global public health problem, and is the single greatest cause of injury to women in the United States, few studies focus on the contributors to or the extent of domestic violence in immigrant, refugee families (Agosin, 2001; Yoshihama, 2009). Legally defined domestic violence in the U.S. may involve culturally sanctioned behaviors in the countries of refugee origin. However, immigrant refugees living in this country are subject to the United States' federal and state legal sanctions regarding behaviors that are considered "domestic violence," including intimate partner violence (IPV).The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) identify intimate partner violence as violence that "occurs between two people in a close relationship" (http: / / www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/ pdf / lPV_factsheet-a.pdf, accessed July 21,2010). Violence is often considered criminal and may include physical assault (such as hitting, pushing, or shoving), sexual abuse, and stalking (Wallace, 2004). The purpose of this study was to address, with members of the Sudanese refugee community, the issue of "traditional discipline" as a form of domestic and intimate partner violence.The type and extent of family violence experienced by Sudanese living in the United States is not well known (Holtzman, 2008; UNHCR, 2008). Health and social work professionals, church authorities, and the police are aware of domestic violence, particularly targeted at women, within the Sudanese refugee community. Holtzman, writing of Nuer traditional family life, reports that "men ana women are socialized to understand marriage as a context of conflict in which they exercise their differing opinions in a variety of ways, including domestic violence" (p. 91). At home, in Sudan, the husband has a right to nit his wife, but the wife may not hit the husband; in cases of extreme abuse the kinship network, mainly elders, may be accessed for resolving marital conflict (Holtzman). In this participatory action research we collaborated with members of a Sudanese refugee community to address the difference in cultural understandings and the legal constraints regarding interactions between adult, intimate partners. The following vignette introduces the beginning of our collaboration to support community ana family integrity and reduce domestic violence as it is legally defined in the United States."No, our women nave no need to see that video " said the leader of the Sudanese refugee community association. V.l., MSW, knew we needed his support oefore watching and talking about 'Sophie's Closet'with members of the Sudanese refugee women's group she had organized. She felt this viaeo about violence within families might open up discussion about stories she heard women tell. The leader's disapproval meant that she would not show the video that week, but V.l. 's resolve to approach this issue sharpened. Later that morning she received a call from M., a member of the refugee women's group.M. said "the world is turned upside down -1 don't know nothing anymore." The day started in a way M. had never imagined. Her husband, C., was taken by the police early in the morning after their neighbors called in a complaint of suspected domestic violence. …


Massive stars shape the surrounding interstellar matter (ISM) by emitting ionizing photons and ejecting material through stellar winds. To study the impact of the momentum from the wind of a massive star on the surrounding neutral or ionized material, we implemented a new HEALPix-based momentum-conserving wind scheme in the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) code SEREN. A qualitative study of the impact of the feedback from an O7.5-like star on a self-gravitating sphere shows that on its own, the transfer of momentum from a wind onto cold surrounding gas has both a compressing and dispersing effect. It mostly affects gas at low and intermediate densities. When combined with a stellar source's ionizing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, we find the momentum-driven wind to have little direct effect on the gas. We conclude that during a massive star's main sequence, the UV ionizing radiation is the main feedback mechanism shaping and compressing the cold gas. Overall, the wind's effects on the dense gas dynamics and on the triggering of star formation are very modest. The structures formed in the ionization-only simulation and in the combined feedback simulation are remarkably similar. However, in the combined feedback case, different SPH particles end up being compressed. This indicates that the microphysics of gas mixing differ between the two feedback simulations and that the winds can contribute to the localized redistribution and reshuffling of gas.


Angiogenesis as therapeutic target has emerged since early works by Judah Folkman, yet his "holy grail" was inhibiting vascular growth to block tumor nutrition. However, in modern biomedicine, "therapeutic angiogenesis" became a large field focusing on stimulation of blood vessel growth for ischemia relief to reduce its detrimental effects in the tissues. In this review, we introduce basic principles of tissue vascularization in response to ischemia exploited in this field. An overview of recent status in therapeutic angiogenesis is given with introduction to emerging technologies, including gene therapy, genetic modification of cells ex vivo and tissue engineering.


OBJECTIVE
To review each therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) component listed in the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) cholesterol guidelines and discuss how the guidelines can be used by pharmacists in the treatment of patients with dyslipidemias.

DATA SOURCES
Published guidelines and abstracts identified through PubMed (May 1987-March 2004), Medline (January 1966-March 2004), using the search terms cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, diet, saturated fats, unsaturated fats, trans-fatty acids, overweight, obese, exercise, physical activity, program adherence, and guidelines; as well as the NCEP ATP III guidelines, the 2004 ATP III update, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Obesity Guidelines, and Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.

STUDY SELECTION
Performed manually by author.

DATA EXTRACTION
Performed manually by author.

DATA SYNTHESIS
TLC components are recommended in the NCEP ATP III guidelines for treatment of patients with dyslipidemias independent of medication use. Dietary modifications are the primary focus of TLC therapy. Saturated fat intake should be limited to less than 7% of total caloric intake and trans-fatty acid intake should be low for patients with dyslipidemias. Persons who are overweight or obese with dyslipidemias should reduce body weight through a combination of physical activity, total calorie reduction, and behavior therapy modifications.

CONCLUSION
Pharmacists, given the proper training, can be effective at offering preventive pharmaceutical care for decreasing high blood cholesterol and the risk for coronary heart disease through patient counseling on TLC components as well as drug therapy in patients with dyslipidemias.


We explore the impact the internationalization of production is having on child labour at the sector level, using data for 26 low- and middle-income countries. We find that sectors with stronger participation in foreign markets exhibit less child labour. Similarly, sectors that participate in global value chains by providing inputs to exporting firms in third countries (forward linkages) have fewer cases of child labour. On the other hand, sectors in which a large share of exports have foreign imported inputs embedded in them (backward linkages) experience higher incidences of child labour. Unlike the existing empirical literature on trade and child labour at the aggregate (country) level, which does not control for income effects, our results, at the sector level, do control for them.


We present a reinforcement learning game player that can interact with a General Game Playing system and transfer knowledge learned in one game to expedite learning in many other games. We use the technique of value-function transfer where general features are extracted from the state space of a previous game and matched with the completely different state space of a new game. To capture the underlying similarity of vastly disparate state spaces arising from different games, we use a game-tree lookahead structure for features. We show that such feature-based value function transfer learns superior policies faster than a reinforcement learning agent that does not use knowledge transfer. Furthermore, knowledge transfer using lookahead features can capture opponent-specific value-functions, i.e. can exploit an opponent's weaknesses to learn faster than a reinforcement learner that uses lookahead with minimax (pessimistic) search against the same opponent.


We present an analytical model of the cell actin cytoskeleton as a finite droplet of polar active matter. Using hydrodynamic theory, we calculate the steady state flows that result from a splayed polarisation of the actin filaments. We relate this to a spherical cell embedded in a 3D environment by imposing a viscous friction at the fixed droplet boundary. We show that the droplet has non-zero force dipole and quadrupole moments, the latter of which is essential for self-propelled motion of the droplet at low Reynolds' number. Therefore, our model describes a simple mechanism for cell motility in a 3D environment. Our analytical results predict how the system depends on various parameters such as the effective friction coefficient, the phenomenological activity parameter and the splay of the imposed polarisation.