Neutron-star magnetospheres are structured by very intense magnetic fields extending from 100 to 10 5 km traveled by very energetic electrons and positrons with Lorentz factors up to ∼ 10 7. In this context, particles are forced to travel almost along the magnetic field with very small gyro-motion, potentially reaching the quantified regime. We describe the state of Dirac particles in a locally uniform, constant and curved magnetic field in the approximation that the Larmor radius is very small compared to the radius of curvature of the magnetic field lines. We obtain a result that admits the usual relativistic Landau states as a limit of null curvature. We will describe the radiation of these states, that we call quantum curvature or synchro-curvature radiation, in an upcoming paper.


IntroductionBORN Ontario is collaborating with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to enhance the surveillance of congenital anomalies (CA) in Ontario and participate in the national CA Surveillance Enhancement Initiative. Since 2013, BORN has provided Ontario CA cases and the birth population data to the PHAC annually.
Objectives and ApproachThe objectives include a description of CA data linkage methodology and a data quality assessment. Suspected and confirmed fetal anomalies were ascertained from regional sites entering data in the BORN Information System's (BIS) Antenatal Specialty (AS) and the Prenatal Screening Follow-up (PSFU) encounters. Newborn anomalies are identified from aggregate infant data ascertained from the Birth Child, Postpartum Child and Neonatal Care encounters. Both fetal and newborn anomalies are collected in the BIS using an extensive pick list, allowing for precise and accurate ascertainment. Once entered, pick list values are converted to ICD-10-CA codes or ranges using a lookup table.
ResultsA few pick list values for minor congenital anomalies are not mapped to ICD-10-CA codes in the BIS. In this year's cohort (CY 2016), 13 pick list values did not map to ICD-10-CA codes. This impacted 127 of 5,346 records (2.4%, one infant may have multiple records). In these cases, the CA chosen from the pick list did not have a corresponding ICD-10-CA code. Among 447 PSFU fetal anomaly records for singletons (one fetus may have multiple records), 16 records did not have a corresponding ICD-10 code. Of the AS fetal anomaly records for singletons, 109 of 3,302 records (3.3%, one fetus may have multiple records) had fetal anomalies identified in the pick list that did not have a corresponding ICD-10-CA code.
Conclusion/ImplicationsBORN's CA pick list values were developed and enhanced by clinical experts. There is a discrepancy between clinical diagnosis and the ICD-10-CA classification for certain sub-types of CA posing a challenge for mapping. To enhance data quality, BORN will continue to improve matching of pick list values with ICD-10-CA classification.


Most histories of nineteenth-century Afghanistan argue that the country remained immune to the colonialism emanating from British India because, militarily, Afghan defenders were successful in keeping out British imperial invaders. However, despite these military victories, colonial influences still made their way into Afghanistan. Looking closely at commerce in and between Kabul, Peshawar, and Qandahar, this book reveals how local Afghan nomads and Indian bankers responded to state policies on trade. British colonial political emphasis on Kabul had significant commercial consequences both for the city itself and for the cities it displaced to become the capital of the emerging Afghan state. Focused on routing between three key markets, Connecting Histories in Afghanistan challenges the overtly political tone and Orientalist bias that characterize classic colonialism and much contemporary discussion of Afghanistan.


A 52-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with lower abdominal pain, bleeding per-vaginum and a mass protruding per-vaginum of 1-week duration. A clinical diagnosis of non-puerperal uterine inversion due to fundal leiomyoma was made. Non-puerperal uterine inversion is a rare clinical condition and usually follows a benign or malignant mass attached to the fundus of uterus. Surgical procedures described in the literature use different techniques to first reposition the uterus followed by hysterectomy. However, repositioning the uterus is not always successful. Surgery for inverted uterus is technically difficult due to close proximity of the ureters to the ovarian and uterine vessels due to traction on the vascular pedicles, difficulty in repositioning the uterus and constraints of mobilising the bladder down due to the inverted uterus. This paper illustrates the salient steps of surgery to safely accomplish abdominal hysterectomy without repositioning the uterus to treat this rare condition.


Typically, renewable-power-generation forecasting using machine learning involves creating separate models for each photovoltaic or wind park, known as single-task learning models. However, transfer learning has gained popularity in recent years, as it allows for the transfer of knowledge from source parks to target parks. Nevertheless, determining the most similar source park(s) for transfer learning can be challenging, particularly when the target park has limited or no historical data samples. To address this issue, we propose a multi-task learning architecture that employs a Unified Autoencoder (UAE) to initially learn a common representation of input weather features among tasks and then utilizes a Task-Embedding layer in a Neural Network (TENN) to learn task-specific information. This proposed UAE-TENN architecture can be easily extended to new parks with or without historical data. We evaluate the performance of our proposed architecture and compare it to single-task learning models on six photovoltaic and wind farm datasets consisting of a total of 529 parks. Our results show that the UAE-TENN architecture significantly improves power-forecasting performance by 10 to 19% for photovoltaic parks and 5 to 15% for wind parks compared to baseline models. We also demonstrate that UAE-TENN improves forecast accuracy for a new park by 19% for photovoltaic parks, even in a zero-shot learning scenario where there is no historical data. Additionally, we propose variants of the Unified Autoencoder with convolutional and LSTM layers, compare their performance, and provide a comparison among architectures with different numbers of task-embedding dimensions. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of trained task embeddings for interpretation and visualization purposes.


Abstract : The office of the Chief Information Officer is still new within public sector organizations. Further, the office of the CIO was hastily created by Federal laws that provide only broad direction for its implementation and practice while at the same time limiting each office's power and reach within Federal agencies. Presently, because of broadly defined scope and the newness of the office in the public sector, Federal CIOs now face many challenges and critical technologies in managing their agency's information resources. Private sector organizations have a valuable knowledge base from their CIO office implementation efforts and subsequent operations. This private sector knowledge could offer public sector CIOs invaluable insight into successful information resource management practices. However, public and private managers must take great care in deciphering which IRM prescriptions are relevant to their organizational situation. The goal of this research is to discover if public and private sector CIOs are faced with the same challenges and view the same technologies as critical for their organization's operations .The results of an annual survey of public sector CIOs and senior IRM managers are compared with data collected from FORTUNE 1000 CIOs using the same instrument. Findings from this study provide evidence that public and private sector CIOs do perceive to be faced with many of the same challenges and also view many of the same technologies as critical to their organization's operations.


A series of back-coated cotton fabrics comprising varying molar ratios of chlorine, bromine and antimony has been studied using a simulated match ignition test, LOI and thermal analysis (TGA and DTA). Results show that the presence of chlorine alone and in combination with bro mine increases LOI and carbonaceous char values at optimum halogen :anti mony molar ratios of 2.5-3.6:1 and bromine:chlorine molar ratios within the range 0.31-0.42. Only back-coated samples containing bromine pass the simu lated match test although at Br:Sb molar ratios above 4:1, LOI and char residual values decrease. It is evident that condensed and vapour phase flame retardant mechanisms are operating with efficiencies determined by halogen : Sb and Br/Cl molar ratios. Partial and whole replacement of halogen and antimony by phosphorus-containing and other flame retardants in the back-coating formulation that do not function in the vapour phase may be used to pass the simulated match test.


OBJECTIVE: To present the changes in the size of the skin, according to security parameters for the stored energy in laser lipolysis procedures in several anatomical regions, using diode laser device, with dual wavelength. METHOD: A prospective, cross-sectional case series included 41 patients undergoing laser lipolysis of deformities of the body contour, between June 2008 and July 2010. The laser lipolysis was performed with diode laser device, accessory to the Aspire platform, brand Slim-Lipo® (Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc), with two independently controlled wavelength, one operating at 924 nm and another at 975nm, using tips in three sizes, according suitability for small, medium or large areas of adipose tissue treated. Measurements were compared the Wilcoxon test at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: All patients had significant retraction of the skin independent of the surgical site (face, breast adiposity, arm or waist), in the absence of complications. CONCLUSION: The laser diode proved capable to promote progressive and persistent skin retraction, complying with the proposed security parameter.


Dietary energy restriction (DER) reduces risk of spontaneous mammary cancer in rodents. In humans, DER in premenopausal years seems to reduce risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Markers of DER are required to develop acceptable DER regimens for breast cancer prevention. We therefore examined markers of DER in the breast, adipose tissue, and serum. Nineteen overweight or obese women at moderately increased risk of breast cancer (lifetime risk, 1 in 6 to 1 in 3) ages between 35 and 45 were randomly allocated to DER [liquid diet, 3,656 kJ/d (864 kcal/d); n = 10] or asked to continue their normal eating patterns (n = 9) for one menstrual cycle. Biopsies of the breast and abdominal fat were taken before and after the intervention. RNA was extracted from whole tissues and breast epithelium (by laser capture microdissection) and hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChips. Longitudinal plasma and urine samples were collected before and after intervention, and metabolic profiles were generated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. DER was associated with significant reductions in weight [−7.0 (±2.3) kg] and in alterations of serum biomarkers of breast cancer risk (insulin, leptin, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides). In both abdominal and breast tissues, as well as isolated breast epithelial cells, genes involved in glycolytic and lipid synthesis pathways (including stearoyl-CoA desaturase, fatty acid desaturase, and aldolase C) were significantly down-regulated. We conclude that reduced expressions of genes in the lipid metabolism and glycolytic pathways are detectable in breast tissue following DER, and these may represent targets for DER mimetics as effective chemoprophylactic agents.


Purpose: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is associated with very poor prognosis. The aims of this study are (a) to prospectively identify differential gene expression patterns associated with IBC and (b) to confirm these pathways using tissue arrays. Experimental Design: For gene expression analysis, IBC (n = 14) was clinically defined as rapid-onset cancer associated with erythema and skin changes, whereas non-IBC patients (n = 20) had stage III breast cancers, and cDNA analysis was carried out using the Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA) HG-U133A microarrays. Tissue arrays were constructed from paraffin-embedded material, and the molecular phenotype of 75 IBC was compared with results from >2,000 non-IBC. Results: Gene expression analyses indicated that IBC has higher expression of genes associated with increased metabolic rate, lipid signaling, and cell turnover relative to non-IBC tumors. Consistent with the expression analysis, IBC had statistically higher Ki-67 (93% versus 11%; P < 0.001). BAX expression, reflecting increased apoptosis and cell turnover, was significantly uniformly higher in almost all IBC (98% versus 66%; P < 0.05), whereas the expression of Bcl-2 was not significantly different. IBC tumors were more likely to be steroid hormone receptor negative (estrogen receptor, 49% versus 30%; P = 0.002; progesterone receptor, 68% versus 42%; P = 0.001). The expression of tyrosine kinases was not significantly different. E-cadherin was found to be expressed in 87% of IBC, whereas the expression p53 was not significantly different. Conclusion: This study is one of the largest molecular analyses of IBC. Both IBC and non-IBC are genetically heterogeneous with consistent differences in the molecular phenotype of IBC.


Two experiments examined kindergartners', first graders', and second graders' numerical estimation, the internal representations that gave rise to the estimates, and the general hypothesis that developmental sequences within a domain tend to repeat themselves in new contexts. Development of estimation in this age range on 0-to-100 number lines followed the pattern observed previously with older children on 0-to-1,000 lines. Between kindergarten and second grade (6 and 8 years), patterns of estimates progressed from consistently logarithmic to a mixture of logarithmic and linear to a primarily linear pattern. Individual differences in number-line estimation correlated strongly with math achievement test scores, improved estimation accuracy proved attributable to increased linearity of estimates, and exposure to relevant experience tended to improve estimation accuracy.


This paper details the design, implementation, and experimental verification of a minimum weight input series output parallel structured dual active bridge (DAB) converter for an airborne wind turbine system. The main power components of the DAB converter, particularly the bridge circuits, the actively cooled high-frequency transformer and inductor, and the cooling system, which largely contribute to the total system weight, are designed and realized based on multiobjective considerations, i.e., with respect to weight and efficiency. Furthermore, the design includes all necessary considerations to realize a fully functional prototype, i.e., it also considers the auxiliary supply, the control for a stable operation of the system, which also comprises an input filter, over the specified operating range, and the start-up and shut down procedures. These considerations show the complex interactions of the various system parts and reveal that a comprehensive conceptualization is necessary to arrive at a reliable minimum weight design. Experimental results validate the proposed design procedure for a realized lightweight DAB hardware prototype with a rated power of 6.25 kW. The prototype weighs 1.46 kg, i.e., features a power-to-weight ratio of 4.28 kW/kg (1.94 kW/lb), and achieves a maximum full-load efficiency of 97.5%.


Hamel functions of a spray play an important role in the study of the projective metrizability of the concerned spray, and Funk functions are special Hamel functions. A Finsler metric is a special Hamel function of the spray induced by the metric itself and a Funk metric is a special Funk function of a Minkowski spray. In this paper, we study sprays on a Hamel or Funk function model. Firstly, we give some basic properties of a Hamel or Funk function of a spray and some curvature properties of a Hamel or Funk function in projective relations. We use the Funk metric to construct a family of sprays and obtain some of their curvature properties and their metrizability conditions. Secondly, we consider the existence of Funk functions on certain spray manifold. We prove that there exist local Funk functions on a R-flat spray manifold, and on certain projectively flat Berwald spray manifolds, we construct a multitude of nonzero Funk functions. Finally, we introduce a new class of sprays called Hamel or Funk sprays associated to given sprays and Hamel or Funk functions. We obtain some special properties of a Hamel or Funk spray of scalar curvature, especially on its metrizability and a special form of its Riemann curvature.


Snowmelt is a crucial source of water for many shallow subarctic lakes, but climate models predict that snowfall will decrease in some regions, with profound ecological consequences. Here we use lake water isotope data across gradients of terrestrial vegetation cover (open tundra to closed forest) and topographic relief to identify lakes that are vulnerable to desiccation under conditions of low snowmelt runoff in two subarctic landscapes—Old Crow Flats, Yukon, and Hudson Bay Lowlands, Manitoba (Canada). Lakes located in low‐relief, open tundra catchments in both landscapes displayed a systematic, positive offset between directly measured lake water δ18O over multiple sampling campaigns and lake water δ18O inferred from cellulose in recently deposited surface sediments. We attribute this offset to a strong evaporative 18O‐enrichment response to lower‐than‐average snowmelt runoff in recent years. Notably, some lakes underwent near‐complete desiccation during midsummer 2010 following a winter of very low snowfall. Based on the paleolimnological record of one such lake, the extremely dry conditions in 2010 may be unprecedented in the past ~200 years. Findings fuel concerns that a decrease in snowmelt runoff will lead to widespread desiccation of shallow lakes in these landscapes.


Triplet supercurrents in multilayer ferromagnetic Josephson junctions with misaligned magnetization survive longer barrier thicknesses when compared with singlet supercurrents. The distinctive feature of triplet supercurrents is the scaling of the characteristic voltage of the junction with increasing ferromagnetic barrier thickness - an algebraic decay in contrast to an exponential decay for singlet supercurrents. Although the static properties of these junctions have been extensively studied, the dynamic characteristics remain largely unexplored. Here we report a comprehensive electrodynamic characterization of multilayer ferromagnetic Josephson junctions composed of Co and Ho. By measuring the temperature-dependent current-voltage characteristics and the switching current distributions down to 0.3 K, we show that phase dynamics of junctions with triplet supercurrents exhibits long (in terms of proximity) junction behavior and moderately damped dynamics with renormalized capacitance and resistance. This unconventional behavior possibly provides a different way to dynamically detect triplets. Our results show that new theoretical models are required to fully understand the phase dynamics of triplet Josephson junctions for applications in superconducting spintronics.


AI models and services are used in a growing number of high-stakes areas, resulting in a need for increased transparency. Consistent with this, several proposals for higher quality and more consistent documentation of AI data, models, and systems have emerged. Little is known, however, about the needs of those who would produce or consume these new forms of documentation. Through semi-structured developer interviews, and two document-creation exercises, we have assembled a clearer picture of these needs and the various challenges faced in creating accurate and useful AI documentation. Based on the observations from this work, supplemented by feedback received during multiple design explorations and stakeholder conversations, we make recommendations for easing the collection and flexible presentation of AI facts to promote transparency.


The relationship between poetry and cognition appears, at first glance, as hardly compelling as that of art and science, of feeling and thinking, or even of intuition and analysis. For this reason, its analysis is fundamentally concerned with questions from philosophical and literary criticism perspectives: Which forms of "cognition" are possible in poetry? In what way and in what forms can poetry also be a medium of generation and/or mediation of cognition, experience or even knowledge and truth? And which processes, matters, or "information" are thereby privileged? Are there subgenres of poetry, for example historical poetry, reflective poetry or didactic poetry, that are especially relevant as regards cognitive functions? And can cognition also be mediated through aura, Stimmung or experience?


Adaptive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (AOFDM) modulation is a promising technique for achieving high data rates required for wireless multimedia services. To accomplish efficient adaptive channel loading, the channel state information (CSI) needs to be fed back to the transmitter. Since the fading channel varies rapidly for fast vehicle speeds, long range fading prediction (LRP) is required for mobile radio AOFDM to insure reliable adaptation. We use past channel observations to predict future CSI and perform adaptive bit and power allocation for the OFDM system. We derive the minimum mean-square-error (MMSE) long-range channel prediction that utilizes the time and frequency domain correlation functions of the Rayleigh fading channel. Since the channel statistics are usually unknown, robust prediction methods that do not require the knowledge of the correlation functions are developed. A statistical model of the prediction error is created and used in the design of reliable adaptive modulation. In addition, several methods that significantly reduce the feedback load for mobile radio AOFDM systems are developed and compared. We use a standard sum-of-sinusoids model and a novel physical model to test our algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate reliable performance and robustness of the proposed techniques, thus validating the feasibility of AOFDM for rapidly varying mobile radio channels.


This paper considers the concept and practice of entrepreneurial leadership in the academe. After a small introduction to the research in the emerging field of entrepreneurial leadership, we note many substantial differences between academic entrepreneurs and the general class of entrepreneurs so as to motivate our focus on the academic community. We then provide a brief narrative on some strands of literature on entrepreneurial leadership and give preliminary hints of the difficulties associated with application of the concept and the related research to the academe. That is followed by a more direct consideration of the applicability to the academic community of the concepts, definitions, and research agendas articulated in the existing literature on entrepreneurial leadership. In particular, we note the potential inapplicability of several items in the agenda proposed by Harrison et al. (2015) for "gendered research" on entrepreneurial leadership. In that context, we propose an agenda for research on entrepreneurial leadership in the academic community. The agenda broadly takes the concepts, definitions and practice outlined in the existing research on entrepreneurial leadership and suggests that the applicability, and possible modifications, of these to the academic community be considered in the future research. It is possible that much of the conceptualization and practice of entrepreneurial leadership discussed in the literature has limited applicability to the academe for which new paradigms might be needed.


ABSTRACT In the Salado Formation, a thick evaporite sequence in the Permian Delaware Basin of southeastern New Mexico, primary detrital silicates such as feldspars, quartz and clay minerals have undergone significant diagenetic alteration. Seventy-five samples were collected from argillaceous partings in the lower Salado Formation halite facies, at the stratigraphic level of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). These were compared with twenty-eight samples from cores of the Vaca Triste member of the Salado, a thin clastic unit at the top of the McNutt potash zone, and with a clay-rich sample from the lower contact of the Culebra Dolomite (in the overlying Rustler Formation). The purpose of this comparison was to evaluate the influence of brine chemistry (i.e., halite and potash facies, norm l to hypersaline marine conditions) and sediment composition (clays, sandy silt, dolomitized limestone) on diagenetic processes. X-ray diffraction analyses and electron microscopy identified a clay similar to corrensite from all three stratigraphic horizons. Authigenic quartz and potassium feldspar were found in both Vaca Triste samples and in those from the WIPP. The feldspar occurred in greater abundance in the Vaca Triste samples than in those from the WIPP horizon. Fluid inclusion compositions from halite in the Vaca Triste were compared with those from the WIPP repository horizon. The solution speciation/mineral solubility code EQ3NR was used to calculate ionic activities of relevant species in WIPP and Vaca Triste brines. For these high ionic strength Salado Formation brines, the activity coefficients calculated by this code must be qualified. However, the assumed pH and the computed activities of K+ /SUP> and Mg+2 correctly predict a mineralogy that is consistent with our observations of mixed-layer, Mg-rich, corrensite-like clays and microcline. EQ3NR predicts that the WIPP horizon fluid compositions are at or above saturation with respect to minerals characteristic of the halite facies: halite, aragonite, dolomite, magnesite, and huntite. Application of EQ3NR to the Vaca Triste fluid inclusions indicates saturation or supersaturation for these phases plus those typical of potash-facies mineralization (including kainite, sylvite, carnallite, syngenite, and polyhalite). We propose that the original, detrital clays reacted with magnesium-rich brines to produce a suite of Mg-rich, mixed-layer species and another brine depleted in Mg relative to K. By-products of these reactions were authigenic quartz and K-feldspar. The dissolution of plagioclase, kaolinite, and fine-grained, detrital illite probably contributed components precipitated in the authigenic phases. To summarize, a generalized reaction is suggested: brine1 + detrital silicates brine2 ± Mg-clays ± K-spar ± quartz where the K:Mg ratio in brine2 is greater than K:Mg in brine1.


Recently Facebook confirmed that it has disabled a group called "I Hate Muslims in Oz." Barry Schnitt explained: "We disabled the 'I Hate Muslims in Oz' group…because it contained an explicit statement of hate. Where Holocaust-denial groups have done this and been reported, we've taken the same action". Facebook distinguishes between "explicit statement of hate" and Holocaust denial. Its directors believe that Holocaust denial is not hateful per se and does not therefore contravene the company's terms of service. The terms of service say: "You will not post content that is hateful, threatening, pornographic, or that contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence". Schnitt said: "We're always discussing and evaluating our policies on reported content, but have no plans to change this policy at this time. In addition to discussing it internally, we continue to engage with third-party experts on the issue". In this short piece I wish to take issue with the assertion that Holocaust denial is not hateful per se. My aim is to show that it is, and therefore that Facebook should reconsider its position. All Internet providers and web-hosting companies whose terms of service disallow hateful messages on their servers should not host or provide forums for such hate-mongering. This is of urgent need as Holocaust denial is prevalent in Europe, the United States, and across the Arab and Muslim parts of the world. Iran's regime, under the disputed leadership of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has made questioning the Holocaust one of the centerpieces of its radical ideology, brazenly proclaiming falsehoods about one of the most thoroughly documented periods in history. In December 2006, he convened an "International Conference Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision" designed to address the "need" to establish whether the Holocaust actually happened. Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial is accompanied by outrageous statements, such as Israel should be "wiped out from the map", and by controversial nuclear policy. Hateful words are part of a calculated strategy to denounce Israel and bring about a "World without Zionism".


This cross‐country study documents policies and practices designed to increase women entrepreneurs' access to financial capital in Canada, Germany, Ireland, Norway, and the United States. Drawing on feminist theory, we examine assumptions of policy alongside the eligibility criteria, rules and regulations of practices. Our findings reveal that four of the five country policies examined were predicated on a neo‐liberal perspective that positions women entrepreneurs as economic assets. We offer insights into opportunities for modernizing policies and practices in ways that will enhance the legitimacy of a more diverse array of women entrepreneurs and increase their access to financial capital.


This case-study describes the development and delivery of a pre-sessional course for international students which goes beyond the more usual English for Academic Purposes (EAP) concerns of register, genres, and study skills, by adding overt exploration of the underpinning beliefs of UK academics (in this case in a Business School) concerning what constitutes learning and how knowledge should be constructed. It is based on an assumption that teaching how to do things (e.g. seminar presentations or literature reviews) without addressing why these language behaviours take the forms they do, is to teach obedience rather than understanding


Cognitive causal mapping is a method that aims to elicit those attributes that people believe to be inherently core to a brand. The technique aims to elicit the causal relations that people perceive to exist between a brand's attributes. A causal map shows how and to what extent consumers perceive other attributes to flow from core attributes. The method demonstrates how people view those attributes that make a brand more authentic than attributes that have a less central position in their cognitive causal map. These central attributes may be identified as unique for a specific brand. The technique has been used successfully in eliciting the essence of brands (e.g. van Rekom et al., 2009; van Rekom et al., 2006; Ahn, 1998). This study aims to develop and validate cognitive causal mapping by offering respondents a full range of causal options at once, rather than one-at-a-time, aiming to reduce interview length such that it is practicable to employ intercept sampling.
Two different procedures for causal mapping were compared in a demonstration study aiming to build the brand of The Fens, a naturally marshy region in eastern England. Most of the area was drained several centuries ago, resulting in a flat, damp, low-lying agricultural region. The Fens are a fertile arable region for grains and vegetables, containing around half of the grade 1 agricultural land in England. Despite years of promotion, the Fens are still to develop a positive destination brand and the economic impact of tourism is low. Of 34 visitor attractions in the Fens, only four have attendances over 60,000 per year. The study examined the attributes of the Fens that form its essence in tourists' 'eyes', which will facilitate the positioning of the proposed area as a destination.
A pre-study was conducted in which twenty respondents (a convenience sample drawn from visitors selected by intercept sampling at two major visitor destinations: Springfield Shopping Centre, Spalding, in the heart of the Fens; and in Lincoln, a popular tourist destination at the northern edge of the Fens) were asked which attributes come to mind when thinking of "The Fens" as a destination. These served as input for the questionnaires for the main study, which assessed the relations among the attributes.
A self-completion questionnaire was distributed via face-to-face interviews to visitors of the two areas by employing intercept sampling (n = 400 total; 200 at each). Following a pilot survey, the final questionnaire included 26 questions structured in two alternative layouts. Both questionnaires measured the perceived (by the respondents) causal status of each of the 10 attributes. The first layout listed the 10 attributes twice in random order in two columns on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side of a page. The participants were asked to draw an arrow from each of the attributes on the left-hand side to those attributes on the right-hand side that they thought has caused and respectively prevented the attribute on the right-hand side. This layout was used in a total of 200 cases, 100 at each of the specific locations in Spalding and Lincoln.
The second layout listed the 10 features in a circular order, with the questioning feature on top. The participants were asked to select the features which cause and prevent the feature on the top and draw an arrow ending to the feature on top from the remaining nine attributes. The feature on the top was rotated in different versions of this layout of the questionnaire. In order to reduce the overall length of the questionnaire and increase the response rate, only one feature was questioned in this layout at a time. Hence, nine different designs, each with one of questioning feature on top (one attribute, 'cathedrals' was dropped as not making sense as being caused by the other attributes), were created. This layout was also used 200 times, 100 times in Spalding and 100 times in Lincoln, although each specific attribute was on top in only one-ninth of the total questionnaires (rather than the planned one-tenth as 'Cathedrals' had been dropped). The questionnaires also included questions measuring the perceived necessity of each attribute for the essence of the Fens brand.
The findings were mainly consistent between the two methods. The main attributes identified by participants as most characteristic of the Fens are: agriculture, countryside, big skies and flatland. The participants like most the features countryside, big skies, flatland, relaxed and friendly whereas they do not like a boring atmosphere. The causal relations that achieved a statistically-significant net proportion of agreement were plotted on a cognitive causal map. The most significant include:
• The Fens are not boring because they are friendly and have shopping and cathedrals
• The Fens have big skies because they have countryside and flatland
• The Fens are relaxed because they have countryside and big skies.
The cognitive causal maps can facilitate the design of campaigns to attract more visitors in the area. For example, the feature 'boring', which is not liked by visitors, can be mitigated by marketing communications indicating that the Fens are not boring because they are friendly and have shopping and cathedrals.
Marketing communications can be designed to emphasise the most characteristic features of the Fens that are most liked, for example demonstrating that the Fens have big skies because they have countryside and flatland; and are relaxed because they have countryside and big skies.
In conclusion, both questionnaire types can be applied via intercept sampling to distil the essence of a service brand, with useful managerial implications. In a departure from the traditional delivery method, where respondents consider only one caused attribute at a time, equivalent results can be obtained by presenting all causal options at the same time. This is important, as in our trial, 200 'all options' completed questionnaires were obtained in approximately the same amount of time as needed to obtain 20 responses using the traditional 'restricted options' approach. This demonstrates that the cognitive causal modeling technique can be successfully adapted for intercept sampling use.


Mediterranean diet has long been associated with human health. However, its relationship with breast cancer remains not well understood and appreciated. The aim of this work was to evaluate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and its inherent constituents, with breast-cancer. Two-hundred-and-fifty consecutive, newly diagnosed breast-cancer female patients (56 ± 12 yr) and 250, 1-to-1 age-matched with the patients, controls, were studied. A standardized, validated questionnaire assessing various sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, and dietary characteristics, was applied through face-to-face interviews. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the 11-components MedDietScore (theoretical range 0–55). Multiple logistic regression was applied to test the research hypothesis, whereas discriminant analysis was used to explore the strength of each component in relation to the outcome. One unit increase in the MedDietScore (i.e., greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet) was associated with 9% lower likelihood of having breast cancer (odds ratio = 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.86, 0.97). Decomposition of the MedDietScore revealed that the most important components and with beneficial effect were nonrefined cereals, vegetables, fruits, and alcohol, followed by red meat, but with unfavorable effect. A dietary recommendation for healthy eating, close to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, seems promising for breast cancer prevention.


The risk for youth obesity is higher during the summer than any other time of year. Summer day camps can be ideal settings for preventing obesity through reducing youth summer sedentary behaviors. However, little-to-no research has examined the role of camps for promoting youth physical activity (PA) and other healthy behaviors. This study begins to address the gap in research by conducting systematic observations of 4 summer day camps (2 highly- resourced and 2 low-resourced) to determine: 1) the degree to which camps engage youth in moderate-to-vigorous PA, and; 2) to what extent camps provide important physical and social-motivational features for promoting PA. Results indicate camps provide opportunities for youth to meet national recommendations of daily MVPA. However, there were differences in PA and motivational features by level of camp resources. This study helps inform practice and policy through identifying strengths and needs of camps for promoting PA.


In their article "Problem-based Variations in Teaching Stephen Dobyns's 'Kansas' in China" Tao Zou and Hong Zeng discuss the multiple variations in their experience of teaching foreign literature in China, with the teaching of Stephen Dobyns's short story "Kansas" as an example and the positive results of their approach. Variations in a broad sense occur with the differences in the choice of literary text, translation, interpretation, and canonization. All these variations can be used to reflect on and resolve major current issues in teaching foreign literature, and to stage cross-cultural communication and creativity through foreign literature pedagogy. Tao Zou and Hong Zeng, "Problem-based Variations in Teaching Stephen Dobyns's 'Kansas' in China" page 2 of 10 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 19.5 (2017): http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb/vol19/iss5/4 Special Issue Against the "Death" of the Discipline of Comparative Literature. Ed. Shunqing Cao Tao ZOU and Hong ZENG Problem-based Variations in Teaching Stephen Dobyns's "Kansas" in China In the field of comparative literature, while the traditional French school looks for "sameness," some other famous scholars, such as François Jullien, emphasize "otherness." Unlike either of them, the Variation theory proposed by Shunqing Cao aims to achieve a "harmony of both" (Variation Theory 232). Hence the following questions: How to realize such harmony? Can one provide, or create a speculative case to demonstrate such harmony? For the writers of this article variation is always a dynamic interaction between the involved sides, rather than the dominance of one side over the other. The traditional French School emphasizes the influence of one culture upon another, the US-American School aims to find the universal through analogy, while variation theory attempts to reach a state synthesizing dominant influence and universal analogy, similar to that depicted by the Chinese Taiji, within which two forces Yin and Yang interact constantly. Figure 1. The image of Taiji As teachers of foreign literature, we try to reach such harmony between foreign culture and local culture in our teaching practice. we realize that in our teaching, variations occur in different aspects. Variation here mainly refers to the adaptation and domestication in the reception of a foreign text. Firstly, the list of works we choose for students to discuss is quite different from those provided by foreign authoritative or canonical course books. The criterion for our choice of a literary work is that it can be applied to the contemporary Chinese context. In other words, we mainly choose those works which can cast special insight into essential problems confronting contemporary Chinese students. These problems may be moral, political, psychological, epistemological, existential, or aesthetic. From our teaching experiences, we have learned that many students regard a foreign literature course as a kind of dessert, something they can easily do without in their lives. For such students, only by illustrating that a foreign literary work can have deep connection with the essential problems in their own lives, and can cast profound insight into them, a teacher can foster their strong interest in reading foreign literature. Therefore, our teaching plan is problem-based. We start by sorting out the key problems confronting our students' lives, and then select works most powerfully addressing these problems. Secondly, variations are brought about through the process of Chinese translation. Since the majority of students struggle to read the original texts, they prefer to read the translation, which may lead to drastically different understanding, even misunderstanding. Thirdly, the most important variation happens in the interpretation of the literary works. We do not provide any background information before students read the literary texts, trying to make these works open texts for the students that allow for individual interpretation without intervention. Although this kind of interpretation strategy seems to be very similar to the close reading method espoused by New Criticism, they have contrastingly different orientations. While the close reading of New Criticism is text-oriented, the interpretations we want the students to produce is problem-based. In the classroom discussion, we often ask the students a series of questions which may lead to some answers to the key problems we sorted out in the first step. Students' interpretations are likely to be quite different from those of the readers in the texts' original context, and/or from the purpose of the implied author, due to conspicuous cultural differences and the difference of personal experiences. Then we try to explore the causes for such difference in interpretations, and make comparisons between students' interpretations and those provided by the author and foreign readers. The students' cultural schemata and personal experiences inform their individual reading. At the same time the texts' heterogeneous elements and artistic expressions can expand or reshape the readers' existent knowledge and beliefs. In this process of interaction between the students and the texts, the heterogeneous elements gradually begin to surface and are recognized and respected, as well utilized to work out possible solutions to the major concerns of the Chinese readers. Such a teaching approach, Tao Zou and Hong Zeng, "Problem-based Variations in Teaching Stephen Dobyns's 'Kansas' in China" page 3 of 10 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 19.5 (2017): http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb/vol19/iss5/4 Special Issue Against the "Death" of the Discipline of Comparative Literature. Ed. Shunqing Cao in our view, can be regarded as an effective endeavor to harmonize sameness and otherness in crosscultural study. Fourthly, the above three kinds of variation are likely to bring about variation in the canonization of foreign literature. Since the texts are used to address major concerns in contemporary China, they may gain popularity in Chinese discussion platforms. Furthermore, if the interpretations of these texts are put into Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) or other web-based formats, they may become instantly popular and earn a notable place in the study of world literature. In the following sections, we will take our teaching of Stephen Dobyns's short story "Kansas" as an example to illustrate the above-mentioned variations, and to show the exciting results produced by such variations. Among the primary problems listed for discussions in my classes of "Selected Readings of Foreign Literature," moral crisis is of the most central and enduring concern. In China, the recent ten years witnessed an obvious moral regression which aroused great anxiety in the public conscience, as well as empathy. Among a series of notorious moral events, the "Peng Yu Case" in 2006 is generally regarded as the first one which caused the biggest national controversy and in fact has caused people to hesitate before offering aid to the elderly. At a Nanjing bus station on 20 November 2006, a young man named Peng Yu and a retiree Mrs. Xu Shoulan accidentally collided with each other. As a result, Mrs. Xu fell down and sustained a bone fracture. Peng Yu helped her up and accompanied Mrs. Xu to a hospital with her family members. On 12 January 2007, Mrs. Xu sued Peng Yu for knocking her down and asked for 136,000 RMB for compensation. In the first trial the court decided that Peng Yu should pay 45,000 RMB to Mrs. Xu. This verdict dissatisfied both sides. Peng Yu asked help from social media while related news coverage and discussions proliferated across the internet in China. The majority of news reports depicted Peng Yu as a wronged hero, a victim of other people's intrigues, and blamed Mrs. Xu and her family for their supposed ingratitude and greed (Gong, "Reconciliation" 2008). Such blame on Mrs. Xu and sympathy for Peng Yu gave rise to the dangerous public opinion that one should not help injured people, for fear of retaliation and lawsuits. In the wake of the "Peng Yu Case," a lot of similar events were reported, which exacerbated the moral crisis, and intensified people's anxiety over doing good for fear of unjust retribution. Many people and organizations in China expressed great concern for such moral crisis and hoped to find ways out of the moral dilemma. A lot of measures, both privately and officially, have been taken to restore confidence in human being's inner goodness and to protect the heroes' interest. The negative impact upon people's mutual trust caused by similar events as that of "Peng Yu Case," however, still lingers in public memory. The short story "Kansas," written by contemporary American writer Stephen Dobyns, presents a good opportunity for exploring the varied dimensions of such moral crises. "Kansas" was included in The Best American Short Stories 1999 (Tan and Kenison 48-54) and some widely-used textbooks, such as Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing (Kirszner and Mandell 95-100). Although "Kansas" gained critical acclaim as soon as it was published, few Chinese readers know it. It is a story about the protagonist's reaction and possible choices in a dangerous situation and the consequences of such choices. "Kansas" illustrates Dobyns's capability to create with his writing a mirror for us to reflect "the dark within us all" (Vogel and Tilley, "Modern Poetry" 47) and then pushes us towards purgation. The story can be divided into two parts. The first part was set in the early 1930s, during the period of the Great Depression in the United States. The protagonist, at the age of nineteen, on the backcountry Kansas road, was looking to hitchhike to a summer school. He had waited for three hours before a Plymouth coupe passed him by, with a man and a woman laughing in the car. Half an hour later a farmer driving a Ford pickup stopped for him. The boy climbed into t


The authors describe the profiles of a series of acute phase plasma proteins induced by vaccination (VAC) for cholera, typhoid, yellow fever and combinations of these with DTP. Cholera and typhoid VAC as single vaccinations induce the strongest reaction, yellow fever the weakest. The reaction pattern depends also on the kind of vaccination: DTP, especially, raises haptoglobin levels. Great individual variability in reaction exists. The authors also investigated the relation between the levels of these acute phase proteins, including alpha 2-macroglobulin, and the amount of inflammatory oedema that developed at the vaccination site. It was found that the pre-vaccination levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin and haptoglobin were correlated negatively with the oedema developed 24 hrs later, while fibrinogen showed a positive relationship. The acute phase reaction of these proteins did not alter these correlations. The other acute phase proteins had no influence on the oedema in this model. It is concluded that the existing substantial individual differences in plasma levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin, fibrinogen and haptoglobin in part govern the degree of oedema developing after a vaccination; they are to be regarded as factors of the so called 'innate immunity'.


As a response to the challenge set out in the Bologna Declaration , since 2001 over 175 Euro-pean Universities had worked intensively to create the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This project is not only European. In 2004, when the Latin American Tuning Project was created, many latinamerican universities joined this deep reflexion about higher education guided by commom interests such as (a) promoting the compatibility, comparability and competitiveness in higher education, and (b) tailoring programs to the needs of society at both local and global levels (Beneitone, Esquetini, Gonzalez, Maleta, Siufi and Wagenaar, 2007). Within this context, here we describes an innovative experience in the effort to adapt mathematics education training for prospective primary school teachers to the new directives proposed, within the current Spanish legal framework. We explain the adaptation process and the results obtained within a pilot experience developed in the Department of Mathematics Education at the University of Granada.


We present an investigation of the fundamental physical processes involved in deep water wave breaking. Our motivation is to identify the underlying reason causing the deficiency of the eddy viscosity breaking model (EVBM) in predicting surface elevation for strongly nonlinear waves. Owing to the limitation of experimental methods in the provision of high-resolution flow information, we propose a numerical methodology by developing an EVBM enclosed standalone fully-nonlinear quasi-potential (FNP) flow model and a coupled FNP plus Navier-Stokes flow model. The numerical models were firstly verified with a wave train subject to modulational instability, then used to simulate a series of broad-banded focusing wave trains under non-, moderate- and strong-breaking conditions. A systematic analysis was carried out to investigate the discrepancies of numerical solutions produced by the two models in surface elevation and other important physical properties. It is found that EVBM predicts accurately the energy dissipated by breaking and the amplitude spectrum of free waves in terms of magnitude, but fails to capture accurately breaking induced phase shifting. The shift of phase grows with breaking intensity and is especially strong for high wavenumber components. This is identified as a cause of the upshift of wave dispersion relation, which increases the frequencies of large wavenumber components. Such a variation drives large-wavenumber components to propagate at nearly the same speed, which is significantly higher than the linear dispersion levels. This suppresses the instant dispersive spreading of harmonics after the focal point, prolonging the lifespan of focused waves and expanding their propagation space.


The optical anisotropy properties of rhenium disulphide (ReS2) and Au-doped rhenium disulphide (ReS2:Au) have been investigated by polarization-dependent photoluminescence (PL). Because the excitonic transitions show strong polarization dependences in the near-infrared region, we used polarization-dependent PL measurements in the range between 0° and 180° to characterize the unique polarization property of ReS2 and ReS2:Au, and identify the origin of the excitonic transitions. It was observed that the variation in the amplitude of PL excitonic transitions with different polarization characteristics follows the Malus rule. In comparison with the undoped ReS2, the PL spectra of Au-doped sample show not only the main excitonic transitions near the direct band edge but also some extra transitions owing to the doping effects.


A major obstacle in selecting for increased soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed protein concentration lies in the negative genetic correlation between seed yield and protein. The plant introduction PI 416937 has extensive fibrous root surface area that contributes to increased nitrogen fixation. PI 416937 also exhibits drought tolerance. It may be an important breeding line in the Southeast region of the USA, which is vulnerable to drought stress during soybean development. The development of breeding lines with superior root systems may be an effective way of stabilizing soybean production in drought-prone regions. The objectives of this study were to estimate the heritability of phenotypic root score and genotypic correlations between root score and seed yield, seed protein concentration, seed oil concentration, and seed weight. A peanut inverter was used to excavate F 2 plants of a population from the cross 'Lee 74' x PI 416937. The root systems were scored visually, based on the percentage of fibrous root area. F 2:3 and F 2:4 rows were grown at two locations, Clayton and Kinston, NC, in 1992 and 1993. Ten plants per plot were evaluated for root score at the R7 stage of development. Heritability estimates for root score were 0.39 on an entry-mean basis from testing in 2 yr and two locations, and 0.24 from a realized heritability estimate. The genotypic correlation between root score and seed protein concentration was positive (r G = 0.42). This is encouraging and suggests that PI 416937 is a valuable germplasm resource for developing high protein, high yielding breeding lines.


INTRODUCTION AND GOALS Cystic fibrosis is the most frequent recessive disease. There are various hepato-biliary alterations, of which the most important is the development of biliary obstruction and periportal fibrosis. The goal is to assess the influence of liver disease on the nutritional status, the progress of the disease and the associated risk factors. SCOPE Nutrition Unit of the Gastroenterology Department at La Paz Children's Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prospective longitudinal study with 53 patients assessed on three occasions over 3 years: at inclusion, after 1 year and after 3 years. Only 37 of them were followed-up for 3 years. A total of 111 measurements were taken, including analysis of body composition, energy expenditure, intake and energy losses as well as nitrogen balance. Simultaneously, respiratory function tests were performed and the presence of repeated acute respiratory problems was evaluated. RESULTS 37 patients, 19 females and 18 males (mean age 13.04 years +/- 3.28). Twelve (32.43%) were diagnosed as having liver disease (mean age 12.16% +/- 3.86 SD, 11 males, 1 female), of whom 1 presented meconial ileum, 5 were homozygotic, 5 heterozygotic and the other two presented other mutations. Those with liver disease presented anthropometric parameters that were better than or similar to the patients without liver involvement (p NS). Mean Waterlow index in liver disease sufferers: 93.62% +/- 7.87 SD; without liver disease: 93.06% +/- 10.97 SD (p NS). Mean of LVEF in liver disease sufferers: 88.81 +/- 27.32 SD; without liver disease: 75.21 +/- 27.92 SD (p < 0.05). Mean FVC in liver disease sufferers: 95.38 +/- 22.92 SD; without liver disease: 83 +/- 23.7 SD (p < 0.05). Mean energy expenditure at rest/lean body mass in liver disease sufferers: 38.81 kcal +/- 7.26 SD; without liver disease: 42.36 kcal +/- f 6.91 SD (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of chronic liver disease in patients with cystic fibrosis increases with age and is more frequent in males. Liver disease sufferers present a better evolution in pulmonary function and present less energy expenditure.


: The abundance and species composition of marine foundation species is changing due to range expansion or contraction, with potentially important ecosystem-level consequences. In Chesapeake Bay, USA, warming is likely to favor the more heat and stress-tolerant Ruppia maritima (widgeongrass) over Zostera marina (eelgrass). Because of the key role of seagrasses in providing habitat and trophic support, it is important to determine whether the more stress-tolerant seagrass provides similar ecological functions to the species it may replace. We addressed how trophic control differs between communities associated with the 2 seagrass species in a mesocosm experiment. Grazing of epiphytic algae can benefit seagrasses over competing algae, and crustacean mesograzers are an important link for higher trophic levels. We manipulated seagrass density, species identity, and presence of grazers and predators, and examined the resulting communities of recruiting algae and invertebrates. Overall, predation was higher in Ruppia than in Zostera , although mesograzer species individually differed in their susceptibility to predation and response to seagrass species. The presence of grazers and predators had a greater overall effect on multivariate metrics of fouling community development than did seagrass species identity. Initial densities of seagrass and grazer species had interactive effects on some recruiting microalgae and tunicates. Differences in grazer composition and predation between seagrass species could have consequences for higher trophic levels that rely on fauna in seagrass beds. However, given the considerable effects of manipulated seagrass and mesograzer density on trophic interactions and the fouling community, it may be most important to consider the overall density and distribution of seagrass present, rather than seagrass species identity. Our results highlight the importance of testing redundancy in ecological functions among habitat-forming species.


Pancreatic islet β-cells undergo structural changes in rats which are given daily 45 mg./kg. oral doses of cyproheptadine. The ultrastructural features of this lesion were studied after 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14 days of treatment. There was progressive degranulation of β-cells which was largely complete at two days, although a few granules were still evident at fourteen days. The rough endoplasmic reticulum underwent sequential changes of cisternal dilation, vesiculation, vesicle fusion, and vacuole formation. No normal appearing rough endoplasmic reticulum remained in β-cells of seven- and fourteen-day-treated rats. Ribosomes were lost from much of the surface of the vacuoles and vesicles which appeared to be derived from rough endoplasmic reticulum in these cells. Other cytoplasmic organelles of β-cells retained generally normal structure. Autophagy and necrosis were absent. Alteration in the glucose tolerance test was observed after two daily doses of cyproheptadine. Alpha and delta cells of islets and acinar cells appeared to be unaffected.


Interictal focal EEG features were frequently observed in generalized, epilepsies, but there is limited information about interictal, epileptiform/nonepileptiform generalized paroxysms in focal epilepsies. We aimed to report the frequency and associated factors of generalized EEG discharges in focal epilepsy with unknown cause (FEUC) and mesial, temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). A total of 200 patients (FEUC in 90 patients; MTLE-HS in 110 patients) were included. Generalized epileptiform (spike/sharp waves simultaneously in all regions) and nonspecific generalized discharges (paroxysmal slow waves) were investigated. All clinical and laboratory findings of 2 groups were compared with each other and with remaining control group, without generalized paroxysms, statistically. Generalized EEG features were present in 22 (11%; 4 males) patients; 9 in the FEUC group (10%; 2) and 13 in the MTLE-HS group (11.8%). Female gender (P < .021), febrile seizure (P < .034), precipitant factors (P < .025), and parental consanguinity (P < .033) were significantly higher in the group with generalized EEG findings. Monotherapy rates were lower in the MTLE-HS group (P < .05). The relationship of generalized EEG features with female gender and parental consanguinity may point out to a genetic property among focal epilepsies, while the relationship with febrile seizures and precipitant factors may be a clue about mechanisms with more extensive involvement of the neuronal networks.


Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of multispot laser and conventional laser in the treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with clinically significant macular oedema (CSME) in relation to the visual outcome, central macular thickness (CMT) using optical coherence tomography, and presence of adverse events. Patients and methods This prospective randomized study included a total of 50 eyes from the research institute of ophthalmology in 2015 that were divided into two groups of 25 patients each. Group A patients underwent focal or modified grid macular laser photocoagulation using green laser 532 nm. Group B patients underwent focal or modified grid macular laser photocoagulation using multispot laser photocoagulation Valon TT. Inclusion criteria were as follows: type II diabetes and clinically significant macular edema. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography readings, intraocular pressure (IOP), and adverse events were recorded preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Results The mean preoperative BCVA in conventional laser was 0.294 ± 0.17 decimal and that in multispot laser was 0.30 ± 0.21. The mean BCVA 3 months after laser in group A was 0.4820 ± 0.244 decimal (P = 0.001) and that in group B was 0.50 ± 0.20 (P = 0.001). The mean preoperative CMT in group A was 375.92 ± 65.69 μm and that in group B was 361.0 ± 50.400 μm. The mean CMT 3 months after laser in group A was 314.44 ± 85.94 μm (P = 0.001) um and that in group B was 0322.67 ± 57.50 μm (P = 0.001). The multispot system parameters used a higher power of 155 ± 90.1 mW (P = 0.001) compared with the conventional laser to produce the same therapeutic visible effect. Conclusion Multispot system was safe, rapid, and effective in the treatment of clinically significant macular edema in short-term follow-up periods and had a short exposure time. Although the short pulse duration of the multispot system necessitated the use of a higher power, it was not associated with adverse effects.


In this paper, we demonstrate the prototype of a new stethoscope using laser technology to make the heart-beat signal "visible". This heartbeat detection technique could overcome the limitation of the acoustic stethoscope brought by the poor ability of human ear to hear low frequency heart sounds. This is important, as valuable information from sub-audio sounds is present at frequencies below the range of human hearing. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of the acoustic stethoscope is also very sensitive to noise from immediate environment. In the prototype of laser-based stethoscope, the heartbeat signal is correlated to the optical spot of a laser beam reflected from a thin mirror attached to the patient's chest skin. The motion of the mirror with the chest skin is generated by the heart sounds. A linear optical sensor is applied to detect and record the motion of the optical spot, from which the heartbeat signal in time-domain is extracted. The heartbeat signal is then transformed to frequency domain through digital signal processing. Both time-domain and frequency-domain signals are analyzed in order to classify different type of heart murmurs. In the prototype of the laser-based stethoscope, we use a heart-sound box to simulate the chest of a human being. The heart-sounds collected from real patients are applied to activate the vibration of the heart-sound box. We also analyze different heart murmur patterns based on the time-domain and frequency-domain heartbeat signals acquired from the optical system.


In this thesis, a rabbit coronary artery ligation model was used to study the cardiac mechanical performance, Ca2+ handling and ventricular activation/repolarisation in heart failure. Significant cardiac dilatation and contractile dysfunction were demonstrated in vivo on echocardiography 7 weeks after the initial myocardial infarct resulting from the coronary artery ligation procedure. In addition, liver, lung and heart weights were increased indicating significant organ congestion, cardiac remodelling and hypertrophy as seen in the human clinical syndrome of heart failure. Impaired mechanical performance was also demonstrated in vitro in the isolated failing hearts both in the working heart configuration and during Langendorff perfusion, with significant systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The Frank-Starling relationship was attenuated in the failing hearts and there was also a blunted slow response to step increase in pre-load, which may partly explain the findings of the Frank-Starling relationship in the failing hearts. Epicardial Ca2+ transients measured from the isolated failing hearts were found to have a prolonged time course. Impaired relaxation was shown to be associated with the prolonged Ca2+ transient durations in the failing hearts and there was an increased variation of Ca2+ transient durations over the left ventricular epicardial surface in the failing hearts. Monophasic Action Potentials (MAPs) measured from the left ventricular epicardial surface of failing hearts also had a prolonged time course and there was also an increased variation of MAP durations. The prolonged Ca2+ transient durations appeared to be associated with prolonged MAP durations in the failing hearts. Finally, delayed ventricular activation with impaired intraventricular conduction was demonstrated in the failing hearts, which may be an additional contributory factor in the mechanical dysfunction in heart failure.


Electrically conducting, robust fibres comprised of both an alginate (Alg) biopolymer and a polypyrrole (PPy) component have been produced using reactive wet-spinning. Using this approach polypyrrole–biopolymer fibres were also produced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), added to provide additional strength and conductivity. SEM images of the PPy–Alg composite fibres clearly show the tubular multifilament form of the alginate fibre impregnated with PPy nanoparticles. The fibres produced containing CNTs show a 78% increase in ultimate stress and 25% increase in elongation to break compared to PPy–alginate fibre. Young's modulus obtained for the PPy–Alg–CNT fibres showed a 30% increase compared to the PPy–alginate fibre. The fibres produced were electrochemically active and capable of electromechanical actuation with a strain of 0.7% produced at a scan rate of 100 mV s−1 of the potential.


Before immunotherapy became part of the management of metastatic bladder cancer (mBC), systemic anti-cancer treatment comprised primarily of platinum-based chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics, the initial management, overall survival (OS) and hospitalisations of patients with mBC before 2018 when immunotherapy for mBC was introduced in Norway.  Material and methods: It is a nationwide population-based study of primary mBC patients (diagnosed 2008-16). Descriptive statistics were applied and stratified for four initial management options (≤150 days after BC diagnosis): chemotherapy, major local treatment (cystectomy/pelvic radiotherapy), multimodal treatment (chemotherapy and local) and no anti-cancer treatment beyond transurethral resection of bladder tumour (untreated). Group differences were evaluated by Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis test; OS was estimated with Kaplan-Meier. Results: Of the 305 patients included, 76 (25%) patients had chemotherapy, 46 (15%) patients had major local treatment, 21 (7%) patients had multimodal treatment and 162 (53%) patients were untreated.  Median OS ranged from 2.3 months (untreated) to 9.8 months (chemotherapy). Patients who received treatment had a higher rate of hospitalisation, with a median stay of three to four times that of untreated patients. Conclusion: Before immunotherapy, more than 50% of patients with primary mBC did not receive any initial anti-cancer therapy and had a poor survival. Patients treated with chemotherapy had inferior median OS compared to those treated with comparable systemic strategies in contemporary trials. Our results provide a basis for future research on treatment and survival after the introduction of immunotherapy for mBC, aiming to improve the care and outcome of patients with mBC.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of anesthetic information on preoperative state anxiety, plasma glucose, cortisol and epinephrine for patients under tonsillectomy and to provide generic data with anesthetic nursing intervention. Method: Data were collected from 60 patients who had tonsillectomy from November 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004. The group were divided into experimental group and control group: an experiment group of 30 patients was provided with an anesthetic information prepared by the researchers; a control group of another 30 patients was provided with general information. Data were analyzed through chi-squared test, t-test, repeated measure ANOVA using SPSS Program (version 12.0). Result: There were no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in pre-operative state anxiety, glucose and cortisol. However, there were statistically significant difference between the above two groups in pre-operative pre-operative blood pressure (p=.001), heart beat (p=.000), and epinephrine (p=.035). Conclusion: The authors, with the results of this study, concluded that the preoperative anesthetic information for patients under tonsillectomy had direct effect on lessening pre-operative anxiety.


Objectives: Obesity is a significant contributor to metabolic complications. However, such complications are not uniform in people with similar body-size. The existence of normal-weight individuals with and obese individuals without metabolic complications has been described in the general population and is important in the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This has not been investigated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. This study aims to identify the prevalence and predictors of body-size phenotypes in RA and investigate their associations with CVD risk. Methods: Body mass index (BMI: kg/m2), body fat (BF) and fat free mass (FFM), RA characteristics and CVD risk factors were assessed in 363 (262 females) volunteers with RA. Abnormal cardiometabolic status was defined as the presence of >1 of the following: hypertension, increased triglycerides or increased Low or reduced High Density Lipoprotein, high glucose, insulin resistance. Results: Among normal-weight, overweight, and obese participants 25%, 45.8%, 57.1% respectively were metabolically abnormal. Old age (B= 1.032, err=0.011; p= 0.005), waist circumference (B= 1.057, err= 0.011; p= 0.000), and smoking cessation (B= 1.425, err= 0.169; p=0.036) were significant predictors for metabolic abnormality. Conclusions: A significant number of RA patients present with different body-size and metabolic phenotypes. BMI alone is not a sufficient indicator of cardiometabolic risk in RA; this may have significant implications in their CVD risk evaluation. Body fat distribution seems to be a significant contributor to such abnormalities. Further research is needed, focusing on the metabolic properties of specific adipose depots of RA patients


We have detected weak soft X-ray emission from the pulsar wind nebula trailing the high-velocity star PSR 2224+65 (the "Guitar Nebula"). This X-ray flux gives evidence of γ ~ 107 eV particles in the pulsar wind and constrains the properties of the postshock flow. The X-ray emission is most easily understood if the shocked pulsar wind is partly confined in the nebula and if magnetic fields in this zone can grow to near-equipartition values.


Opera uses all the visual and performing arts to create extraordinary worlds of passion and sensibility. It is rightly recognised as a great achievement of European culture. And yet a form that once inspired social and artistic revolutions is often seen as the staid preserve of the elite. With rising inequality and social exclusion, many see opera—if they think of it at all—as symbolic of what is wrong in Europe today. This paper presents the technological and scientific approach of the European H2020 TRACTION project that aims to use opera as a path for social and cultural inclusion, making it once again a force for radical transformation. TRACTION wants to define new forms of artistic creation through which the most marginalised groups (e.g. migrants, the rural poor, young offenders and others) can work with artists to tell the stories that matter now. By combining best practices in participatory art with media technology's innovations of language, form and process, the project is defining new approaches to co-creation and innovation, exploring novel audiovisual formats based in European cultural heritage, such as opera.


Suicide has been reported as the second or third most common cause of death in children and adolescents all over the world. The aim of the study was to investigate the general properties of suicide in childhood and adolescents, and to evaluate the results in the light of literature. Reports of autopsies performed between 2001 and 2005 in the Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul (n = 16853) were examined retrospectively. Deaths between 0–18 years of age doubtlessly considered as suicide were included in the study. Childhood and adolescent (0–18 years) deaths comprised 10.4% (n = 1761) of all medico-legal autopsy cases. 136 cases of suicidal origin were evaluated in terms of age, gender, and method of suicide. The ages ranged between 7 and 18, with a mean of 15.54 ± 2.691(SD). The most common method of suicide was hanging (59.2%) in both genders. Older adolescents (16–18 age group) constituted the overwhelming number (63.2%, n = 86) of all cases. Seven cases of 10 years of age and below were determined, and hanging was the method of suicide in five of these cases. In order to prevent childhood suicides, families and society should be aware of their responsibilities.


We examine the role of thermal conduction and magnetic fields in cores of galaxy clusters through global simulations of the intracluster medium (ICM). In particular, we study the influence of thermal conduction, both isotropic and anisotropic, on the condensation of multiphase gas in cluster cores. Previous hydrodynamic simulations have shown that cold gas condenses out of the hot ICM in thermal balance only when the ratio of the cooling time ($t_{\rm cool}$) and the free-fall time ($t_{\rm ff}$) is less than $\approx 10$. Since thermal conduction is significant in the ICM and it suppresses local cooling at small scales, it is imperative to include thermal conduction in such studies. We find that anisotropic (along local magnetic field lines) thermal conduction does not influence the condensation criterion for a general magnetic geometry, even if thermal conductivity is large. However, with isotropic thermal conduction cold gas condenses only if conduction is suppressed (by a factor $\lesssim 0.3$) with respect to the Spitzer value.


From the legal point of view, there is nothing at all new or unfamiliar in the idea of "animal rights;" on the contrary, it is entirely clear that animals have legal rights. Indeed, the rise of legal rights for animals has been one of the most distinctive features of the last thirty years of federal statutory law. An investigation of the question of standing helps show that the real issues involve problems of enforcement and scope. Human beings often do and should have standing to protect animal rights; animals lack such standing, but only because Congress has failed to give them standing. Animal welfare statutes should be amended to grant a private cause of action, to human beings and animals alike, against those who violate them, so as to allow private claimants to supplement agency enforcement efforts. This modest step could do a great deal to prevent the unjustified suffering of animals.


In this study, we elaborate the procedure of designing a supervisory controller for the Autonomous Transit on Demand Vehicle (ATODV) system. Reinforcement learning is implemented to reduce the mean waiting time of the passengers, and a cost function is introduced to penalize the energy consumption of the electric vehicles. A stochastic simulation environment for an ATODV pilot project is coded in the Python environment to train the autonomous cart decision process as agents with artificial intelligence. Passenger group behavior, get-on and get-off times, destinations are modeled as random variables. A single Deep Q-Learning Network is trained subject to multi-agent settings. The ATODV system's independent decision making for the carts to reduce the passenger's waiting time while constraining the energy consumption and empty vehicle motion is evaluated.


The author describes a personal-computer software package recently incorporated in the power engineering program at Northeastern University. The package includes a set of computer programs which can be utilized to support classroom instruction and student design projects. The programs cover matrix operations, symmetrical components, line constant, steady-state operation of transmission lines, power flow (100 buses), symmetrical short circuits (100 buses), short circuits (100 buses), transmission-line transients, and transient stability. The computer programs, the way they are utilized, and initial student reaction are discussed. It is concluded that the availability of the power system analysis and design software package has extended classroom capabilities and enhanced student interest in power engineering courses. The reaction of students to the software has been positive, and it has allowed them to work on more difficult and realistic problems and make it an innovative tool in the learning process. >


In order to improve classification accuracy different image representations are usually combined. This can be done by using two different fusing schemes. In feature level fusion schemes, image representations are combined before the classification process. In classifier fusion, the decisions taken separately based on individual representations are fused to make a decision. In this paper the main methods derived for both strategies are evaluated. Our experimental results show that classifier fusion performs better. Specifically Bayes belief integration is the best performing strategy for image classification task.


WHEN aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta are resected the aorta must be cross-clamped. The clamp usually is applied just distal to the left carotid artery with a separate clamp on the left subclavian artery. During the period of aortic occlusion the blood supply to the lower part of the body must be maintained to prevent ischemic injury to the spinal cord and distal organs and to avoid acute left heart failure. An external shunt which does not require systemic heparinization has been employed in 11 patients during resection of descending thoracic aneurysms and in two patients after acute traumatic rupture of the descending thoracic aorta in the past two years. We have found this technique simpler and safer in our hands than previously used methods. Surgical Technique A left posterolateral thoracotomy is performed through the fourth intercostal space. Polyethylene catheters are placed around the aortic arch just distal to


Within the wide family of shape memory alloys (SMAs), TiNi-based alloys are characterized by unique characteristics, with good workability in the martensite phase and good resistance to corrosion and fatigue. In the nearest future, TiNi-based SMAs are expected the second birth to begin regarding their practical application, especially in creating a new material generation showing enhanced characteristics for clinical goals. Such a kind of expectations is naturally supposed to make a search among alloying elements for TiNi-based SMAs, as well as studies of adjacent effects in order to improve material properties. The objective of the work is to investigate the effect of heat treatment on the structure and properties of the quaternary Ti50Ni47.7Mo0.3V2 SMA, as potentially promising for medical devices. Specimens were prepared and annealed at 723, 923, 1123 K for 1 h. It was found that the studied alloy was in a multiphase state: TiNi-based intermetallic in three crystallographic modifications (austenite B2-phase and martensitic Rand B19structures) and secondary Ti2Ni(V) phase. The increase of the annealing temperature doesn't affect the martensite transformation (MT) sequence B2RB19′, but leads to a growth in lattice parameter of the parent phase. The most remarkable effect on the studied alloy was at 723 K. Volume fraction of Ti2Ni(V) precipitates in the structure was also maximum. It owes their presence to the shift of the MT points toward the lower temperature range. The temperature vs resistivity (T) curves show a characteristic shape, which is typical for TiNi-based SMAs with a two-step nature of the B2RB19′ MT. Copyright © 2016 VBRI Press.


Objectives. Previous studies have reported higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women compared to women of other races. However, race misclassification hampers accurate determinations of rates among AI/AN women. Observed disparities in incidence rates of cervical cancer between AI/AN and white populations increased after efforts were made to ensure that members of AI/AN populations were properly identified, which increased the number of AI/AN cases and corresponding rates. The purpose of this analysis is to describe the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer among AI/AN women from 1999-2009, using techniques to minimize the effect of race misclassification in surveillance data, and to compare rates of cervical cancer among these women to rates among white women living in the same areas. Methods. Data on cervical cancer deaths and incidence were linked with Indian Health Service records in order to improve identification of AI/AN populations. Analyses focused on deaths of AI/AN residents in IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA) counties in 35 states. Linked data were used to produce age-adjusted incidence and death rates for 1999 to 2009. Data for both white and AI/AN populations were limited to non-Hispanics only. Results: Mortality. AI/AN women had a cervical cancer death rate of 3.3 per 100,000, which was higher than the rate of 2.2 for white women (RR 1.54). For CHSDA areas only, the death rate from cervical cancer for AI/AN women was 4.2 per 100,000, which was nearly twice the corresponding rate among white women in CHSDA areas (rate 2.0 per 100,000; RR 2.11). Cervical cancer mortality among AI/AN women in CHSDA areas was highest in the Northern Plains region and correspondingly higher than white women in Northern Plains (RR 4.15), Southern Plains (RR 1.58), and the Southwest (RR 2.05). Cervical cancer mortality in CHSDA areas declined during 1990-2009 among both AI/AN women and white women. Major declines for AI/AN women occurred primarily during 1990-1993 (APC -25.8, p Results: Incidence. AI/AN women had an incidence rate of cervical cancer of 8.7 per 100,000, compared to a rate of 7.5 for white women. However, when limiting to CHSDA areas, the rate for AI/AN women was 11.0 per 100,000, which was higher than for white women in CHSDA areas (rate 7.1 per 100,000). Cervical cancer incidence among AI/AN women in CHSDA areas was highest in the Southern Plains region (rate 15.1 per 100,000) and was higher than incidence for White women in Northern Plains (RR 1.97), Alaska (RR 1.94), Southern Plains (RR 1.64), Southwest (RR 1.19), and Pacific Coast (RR 1.36). Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that AI/AN women suffer disproportionately from cervical cancer incidence and mortality, compared to white women in the same areas. However, both incidence and mortality have decreased over time, documenting improvements in identifying and treating cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Most cervical cancers can be avoided or diagnosed early through screening and treatment. We noted steep declines in cervical cancer deaths among AI/AN women in the early 19909s. We believe that these are likely due to screening and treatment programs aimed specifically at AI/AN women. However, our data also underscore the need for further efforts as noted in CHSDA areas, where identification of AI/AN women is likely to be highest, because AI/AN women still die from cervical cancer at twice the rate of white women. Citation Format: Meg Watson, Vicki Benard, Cheryll Thomas, Annie Brayboy, Roberta Paisano, Thomas Becker. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality disparities among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1999-2009. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B55. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-B55


Over the last 2 decades great concern about the possible association between ovarian cancer and ovulation induction has been raised. Between the first reported case in 1982 and the end of year 2000, there have been 44 cases of ovarian carcinoma reported to occur in women previously treated with ovulation induction drugs. Most of these tumors were of the serous type with low malignant potential. In the present case, the patient had secondary anovulatory infertility and previous left cystoophorectomy for ovarian endometrioma. She was treated with human menopausal gonadotrophin alone or in combination with clomiphene citrate for 13 cycles prior to presentation. Screening ultrasound revealed multicystic right ovarian mass (15 x 9 x 6 cm). Hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy were carried out. Intraoperative and histological examinations showed stage 1A endometrioid ovarian cancer and well-differentiated endometrial adenoacanthoma with minimal myometrial invasion. A brief but critical review of published literature regarding the association of ovulation induction and increased risk of ovarian cancer is presented.


This article presents an account of research based on individual in-depth interviews. It emphasizes the aspects of the functioning of people with impairments which are difficult to capture by carrying out quantitative analysis. This paper is aimed to describe selected factors that determine the activity of disabled people, in particular those which could be used in further, more precise studies of disability.


People of all ages hold aging-related attitudes. Even very young children recognize age differences and evidence attitudes that appear to be generation-specific. Since attitudes presumably affect behavior and since long life has recently become the rule rather than the exception, interaction with old persons and personal attitudes toward growing old may well be influenced by one's general aging-related attitudes. The availability, accessibility, adequacy, and acceptability of human services intended for use by old persons are also influenced by the attitudes of younger persons. The aging-related attitudes of decision-makers, services personnel, and tax-payers are particularly important in this regard. Much of the U.S. research literature on aging-related attitudes will be reviewed here. Only the highlights of individual articles will be presented, however. Therefore, this paper might best be regarded as a reference to the literature rather than as a restatement of it.


In cases of spontaneously occurring patellar pain, there is generally some slight damage to the nerve roots and anterior horn cells of segments L3 and L4. Divergent patellar movement can be measured roentgenologically. When the quadriceps is contracted the patella normally medialward in varus joints, and lateralward in valgus joints and when the leg position is axially correct. In peripatellar pain syndrome, however, lateral movement can be demonstrated in varus joints. Additionally, there is a tendency for the rotation of the patella to depend on the innervation disorder. The discrepancy between the muscular guidance of the patella and the performed guide bed may be one of the factors causing patellar pain. Etiologically, axial malpositions of the leg appear to be important predisposing factors and innervation disorders of the quadriceps muscle realization factors.


OBJECTIVE
Identifying developmental trajectories of alcohol use is fundamental in building theories of alcoholism etiology and course. The purpose of this study was to replicate and generalize our previous finding that had been based on a twin sample drawn from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry. In this study, we made use of a nontwin sample of Vietnam veterans drawn from the Vietnam Era Study--a 25-year follow-up of the Vietnam Drug User Returns project that assessed the long-term medical and psychiatric consequences of substance abuse or dependence in Vietnam.

METHOD
Alcohol-related behaviors and psychiatric status were assessed in a sample of 839 individuals that comprised 323 veterans who tested positive for drugs (i.e., opiates, barbiturates, or amphetamines) on discharge from Vietnam, 319 veterans who tested negative for drugs at that time, and a nonveteran control sample (n = 197). Individuals with a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol dependence (n = 293) were selected for further analysis. Using detailed life history charts, in-person structured interviews were conducted, which entailed retrospective reports covering the 25 years since the 1972 survey. Measures of alcohol and drug use as well as psychiatric symptoms were obtained by assessing each year of the follow-up interval, beginning with 1972.

RESULTS
Using latent growth mixture modeling, a four-class model was identified with trajectories that were parallel to those identified in our previous studies based on the Vietnam Era Twin Registry: severe chronic alcoholics, severe nonchronic alcoholics, late-onset alcoholics, and young-adult alcoholics.

CONCLUSIONS
Present findings provide additional support for the replicability and generalizability of meaningful differences in the course of alcoholism from early adulthood to midlife.


An important question in development is how far can the contemporary global context create industrial development opportunities for the South, particularly for Low Income Countries? In an important sense, this can only be answered in non-abstract terms, since the institutional conditions facing particular industries at particular times are highly specific. In this research, a configuration of four regimes- the structural regime on production and trade in apparel, the labour regime, the neo-statist European Union regime on production and trade in apparel and the neo-statist United States regime on production and trade in apparel- creates a window of opportunity for a Kenyan export oriented apparel industry. However, we must ask whether this industry is autonomous from these regimes to the extent that its gains can be sustainably embedded within Kenya, notably in terms of product and labour upgrading, or is it, rather, subservient to them?
My theoretical discussion shows that the Global Value Chain (GVC) approach presents lead firms as the primary governors in GVCs, while International Relations theory presents regimes as the primary governors in issue areas. The discussion gives a Dependency interpretation of regimes, subsuming the GVC approach in that interpretation, and arguing that, as far as issue areas are concerned, 'external' control-emergent regime governance of the GVC overrides 'internal' control lead firm governance. My empirical discussion shows that the upgrading of the Kenyan apparel industry has been insignificant, and that the governance of regimes on production and trade in apparel, while not a necessary condition, was a sufficient condition to undermine it. Nonetheless, the Kenyan Government and social movements can exploit systemic weaknesses, the former by negotiating for a single transformation of fabric and promoting export of folklore/ hand loomed/handmade products, the latter by demanding for the full implementation of minimum labour conditions.


Software design issues can severely impede software development and maintenance. Thus, it is important for the success of software projects that developers are aware of bad smells in code artifacts and improve their skills to reduce these issues via refactoring. However, software refactoring is a complex activity and involves multiple tasks and aspects. Therefore, imparting competences for identifying bad smells and refactoring code efficiently is challenging for software engineering education and training. The approaches proposed for teaching software refactoring in recent years mostly concentrate on small and artificial tasks and fall short in terms of higher level competences, such as analysis and evaluation. In this paper, we investigate the possibilities and challenges of designing serious games for software refactoring on real-world code artifacts. In particular, we propose a game design, where students can compete either against a predefined benchmark (technical debt) or against each other. In addition, we describe a lightweight architecture as the technical foundation for the game design that integrates pre-existing analysis tools such as test frameworks and software-quality analyzers. Finally, we provide an exemplary game scenario to illustrate the application of serious games in a learning setting.


Introduction: Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer of the genitourinary tract. The transitional cell carcinoma accounts for nearly 90% of all primary tumors of the bladder. Although the majority of patients have superficial tumors, 20% or 40% have invasive disease develops. The pathologist plays a crucial role in determining the histological type, as well as determining factors for a histoprognostic proper care of patients.
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide an epidemiological overview of bladder cancer and to find an association between tumor grade and other histoprognostic factors.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 156 bladder tumor listed in the laboratory of pathology of CHU Hassan II Fez over a period of 6 years from 2009 to 2014.
Results: Median age was 62 years with a sex ratio M/F=8.7. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) was the most common histological type (87.8%). 36.8% of TCC were classified as low grade and 63.2% in high grade according to WHO in 2004. The tumor was superficial in 23.7%. It has been classified as pT1 in 22.4%, 36.2% in pT2, pT3 in 9.9% and 7.2% in pT4. In this series, 64.4% of patients over age 50 had high-grade tumors compared with 45% of patients younger than 50 years (p=0.08). We found a significant association between sex and grade of the tumor. In fact, 85.7% of women had a high-grade tumor (p=0.05). 85.6% of TCC were in localized stage, compared to 58% in other histological types (p=0.01). This study showed a significant association between the grade and stage of the tumor (p=0.006). It was also noted a significant association between tumor grade and the presence of vascular emboli (p=0.002).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the presence of a high-grade tumor is strongly associated with factors of poor prognosis, such as advanced tumor stage and vascular emboli. Urothelial tumors of the bladder are far more common in men than in women buthey are more aggressive in women than in men.