As moisture or water is a factor limiting the quality of melon fruit, we investigated the effect of relative humidity and growing medium moisture on growth and fruit quality of melon. The experiment was conducted in the nylon net greenhouse of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok from March to June 2017. It was laid out in 2×3 factorial in completely randomized design with 10 replications. Factor A was 2 levels of relative humidity (RH) (normal condition and misted). Factor B was 3 levels of field capacity (FC) of the growing medium (100, 130 or 160%). Moisture content of the growing medium was maintained throughout the experiment using a wet sensor. Melons were grown in plastic bags filled with a mixture of coconut coir, rice hull and sand in the ratio of 2:1:1 by volume. Mist treatment had a significant positive influence on plant growth and fruit quality of melon. Plant height, leaf greenness and leaf area of melons grown under mist were (107.41 cm, 30.66 SPAD unit and 112.02 cm2). They were significantly less than those under normal condition (112.54 cm, 40.78 SPAD unit and 119.70 cm2). Fruit weight and total soluble solids of fruit grown under mist (655.02 g and 11.61 °Brix) were significantly less than those from normal condition (709.11 g and 12.61 °Brix). Moisture content of the growing medium did not affect growth and fruit quality of melons. However, there was an interaction between relative humidity and moisture content of growing medium on leaf area. The mist treatment with 130-160% FC moisture of growing medium led to leaf area reduction. Therefore, the optimum conditions for melon production should be normal condition with 100% FC moisture maintained in growing medium.


: Twelve parents of children with genetic diseases (Klinefelter syndrome, trisomy 21, lactase deficiency, phenylketonemia, Noonan syndrome, ichthyosis, Prader-Willi syndrome, and trisomy 13) were tested with the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale prior to and immediately after genetic counseling. Total Positive Score, indicative of self-esteem level, changed significantly. The score increased due to positive changes in the subjects' family, social, moral, physical and psychologic identity, and affect and behavior. This change is interpreted as an improvement in self-concept. Two other changes were only marginally insignificant, however. The Total Conflict decreased and that is a sign of improvement; but the NDS increased. Of the two scores, the NDS is the more powerful indicator and an increase in it is a signal for caution. Self-concept improvement with genetic counseling of parents whose progeny had one of the described diseases has, therefore, been documented. Carefully designed investigations of the future will verify factors which induce psychologic change and effect the management of disease.


A decentralized architecture is proposed for autonomous establishment and maintenance of satellite formations. Such an architecture does not require a central supervisor, as the spacecraft can cooperatively track planned maneuvers and trajectories in the face of disturbances and uncertainties, while processing only local measurement information. If the planned maneuvers and trajectories are themselves optimal, the decentralized framework generates a neighbouring optimal control. Use of such a controller simplifies and improves the robustness of formation operations, since it distributes an autonomous capability for orbit determination and relative navigation, formation maintenance, and maneuver trim among all of the spacecraft. In an example formation flying scenario, the decentralized approach successfully maintains the formation in the face of uncertainties and nonlinear perturbations, and produces identical results to those of a corresponding centralized controller. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


While the study of the psychological effects of abortion has received increased research attention over the past few decades, scholarship devoted to the topic of post-abortion partner relationship quality has been minimal. In this report, existing empirical work on abortion and intimate relationships is analyzed in the context of related research and theory. Evidence indicating possible adverse effects of abortion on the quality of relationships is initially reviewed. Then several logical intrapersonal mediators of associations between abortion experience and relationship outcomes are explored. Finally, adult attachment dynamics are described as a theoretically plausible moderator of associations between abortion experiences and relationship difficulties. Throughout the paper, the most salient gaps in the literature on abortion and relationship quality are highlighted with suggestions for future research provided.


Polluted stormwater runoff from industrial facilities, together with construction stormwater runoff and municipal runoff, present the greatest threat to water quality in Georgia. Yet, the agency charged with protecting our water quality and regulating stormwater pollution is critically underfunded, and lacks the personnel needed to implement these programs. Maybe it is time for Georgia to reconsider its funding priorities.


Using LEOs data communications technology of Orbcomm, the data communications machine which can realize point to point data or messaging transmit between satellite and control center has been developed. Then the paper describes a marine salvage assistant management information system that base on Microsoft .NET technology and Google Earth. The system consists of serval modules, such as satellite data communications module, GPS location module, embedded subsystem and Internet communication module, the system can provide effective services that include ocean-going ships command and dispatch, emergency communications, disaster information reporting and information sharing.


TiO2 - xNx nanoparticles were prepared by employing the direct amination of 6−10-nm-sized titania particles. Doping on the nanometer scale led to an enhanced nitrogen concentration of up to 8%, compared to ≤2% in thin films and micrometer-scale TiO2 powders. The synthesized TiO2 - xNx nanocrystals are catalytically active and absorb well into the visible region up to 600 nm, thus exemplifying the use of a nanostructure-based synthesis as a means of producing novel photocatalytic materials.


How to moderate ship the damages caused by the underwater explosion (UNDEX) is of great interest to the modern ship designers. A new type of rubber sandwich with periodic honeycomb core was developed to mitigate the ship shock due to UNDEX. A ship with or without the rubber coat was tested under "near combat conditions" by igniting a 8 kg charge of TNT underwater at varying standoff distances from the ship. The effects of the shocks to ship systems were observed and the responses of the ship were monitored and recorded for each shot. The pressures in the water around the ship were also recorded to explore the fluid-structure interaction and UNDEX shock wave reflection with different targets. Acceleration and strain records indicate that the rubber coat is capable of moderating the high-frequency response excited by shock wave efficiently. Pressure records show that the core crushing and water cavitation promote superior energy absorption that yields an increased resistance to UNDEX.


The aggregation of phytoplankton into marine snow provides a mechanism by which smaller particles can coagulate to form larger particles, which can be consumed at various depths or readily transported to the deep ocean and sequestered from the atmosphere on time scales of a thousand years or more. Zooplankton interacting with these large carbon-rich aggregates can obtain nutrition in environments where the phytoplankton size spectrum is small and not directly available, enhancing the possibility of obtaining adequate nutrition in environments dominated by small cells. In addition, interactions between zooplankton and marine snow can result in fragmentation, thus affecting the particle sinking rate and changing the export of carbon. Unfortunately, these interactions are understudied and poorly understood. This study focuses on how two factors – phytoplankton growth phase and species – affect copepod feeding on marine snow, providing insight into the role of this food source in planktonic trophic dynamics and export of carbon to depth. We conducted a series of grazing experiments using gut pigment and stable isotope methods to quantify the ingestion rate of the copepod, Calanus pacificus, on marine snow aggregates in comparison to their ingestion rate on individual phytoplankton. We also examined how the ingestion of copepods on marine snow was affected by the phytoplankton species and phytoplankton growth phase from which the aggregates were formed. Results demonstrate that marine snow represents a substantial food source for copepods, with ingestion rates comparable to those on individual phytoplankton as measured with both gut pigment and stable isotope analysis. We found that phytoplankton growth phase can significantly affect the ingestion of marine snow. Finally, ingestion of marine snow was affected by phytoplankton species, and while aggregates formed from Thalassiosira weissflogii resulted in consistent patterns of ingestion rate between experiments and methodologies, the same was not the case for aggregates formed from Skeletonema marinoi. These findings suggest that marine snow is likely an important source of nutrition for copepods, but that its role in planktonic food webs may differ depending on the phytoplankton community composition and the stage of phytoplankton blooms.


The most recent reactor technology to produce non-ionic surfactants via ethoxylation reaction is illustrated in the present work. The most advanced reactors are deeply illustrated for what concerns the working principle and the main performance. In detail, Venturi Loop Reactor (VLR), Spray Tower Loop Reactor (STLR) and Enhanced Loop Reactor (ELR) are depicted, and the related performance compared. ELR shows the highest flexibility, to reach the desired ethoxylation degree, and at the same time good performances comparable with the VLR. Moreover, ELR allows to reach high ethoxylation degree, as in this condition, a good mixing, in the case of high liquid expansion, is difficult to be achieved with the other reactors. Thus, it is possible to work at higher ethoxylation degree respecting safety issues. Finally, a comprehensive model was proposed to describe quantitatively the mentioned reactors. The model is characterized by a general validity and can be easily adapted to each specific reactor configuration.


We study algebraic neural networks (AlgNNs) with commutative algebras which unify diverse architectures such as Euclidean convolutional neural networks, graph neural networks, and group neural networks under the umbrella of algebraic signal processing. An AlgNN is a stacked layered information processing structure where each layer is conformed by an algebra, a vector space and a homomorphism between the algebra and the space of endomorphisms of the vector space. Signals are modeled as elements of the vector space and are processed by convolutional filters that are defined as the images of the elements of the algebra under the action of the homomorphism. We analyze stability of algebraic filters and AlgNNs to deformations of the homomorphism and derive conditions on filters that lead to Lipschitz stable operators. We conclude that stable algebraic filters have frequency responses – defined as eigenvalue domain representations – whose derivative is inversely proportional to the frequency – defined as eigenvalue magnitudes. It follows that for a given level of discriminability, AlgNNs are more stable than algebraic filters, thereby explaining their better empirical performance. This same phenomenon has been proven for Euclidean convolutional neural networks and graph neural networks. Our analysis shows that this is a deep algebraic property shared by a number of architectures.


I. IntroductionAhmed and Elias are both from The Gambia (Gambia), and they both had trouble finding work there.1 Ahmed heard that there were job openings in Denmark and decided to try to get one; however, he encountered many difficulties and ultimately was not allowed to go there, despite Denmark's need for labor.It is not easy being a foreigner in Denmark. Rules and requirements for foreigners who want to marry a Danish citizen are strict, including a requirement that foreigners must reach a minimum age of twenty-four to marry.2 Rules prohibit state-funded homeless shelters from accepting foreigners who do not have permanent resident status, leading to people freezing to death in the cold winters.3 European and international bodies have accused Denmark of violating human rights legislation with these strict immigration laws.4 Politically, an anti-immigrant party made gains in recent years,5 strengthening a culture that is already hostile to people from other countries.A change in leadership in Denmark in the latest election has helped the situation, and the new prime minister is working to roll back some of the strong anti-immigrant legislation.6 However, Denmark's international reputation concerning the human rights of immigrants remains on shaky ground.7Elias, on the other hand, decided to go to Spain to get a job. He was able to get a job in an industry in which Spain had a shortage of workers through a comprehensive migration agreement that Spain has with Gambia, known as a bilateral mobility partnership.8 This partnership allows Elias to work in Spain for a specified period of time and gain skills that he can bring back to Gambia.Like Spain, Denmark should show the international community that it is serious about changing its stance on immigration by entering into a bilateral mobility partnership with a third-world country. Doing so would also provide Denmark needed workers9 and may even change Denmark's culture and treatment of immigrants.Denmark is not alone in its struggle with migration-many countries face the same issues.10 The debate is often virulent, with both sides arguing strongly for their viewpoints and making little progress.11 Migration problems typically occur in both migrant-sending countries and migrant-receiving countries.12 The problem of irregular immigration13 has caused extreme conflict across the political spectrum.14 It affects human trafficking,15 national sovereignty, national security, and human rights, among other issues.16 For some individuals, this has created life or death situations.17This Note proposes that countries in the European Union engage in bilateral mobility partnerships with third world countries as a step toward solving the many problems with migration. Bilateral mobility partnerships allow countries to tailor their immigration policies to their specific security and labor needs, encourage cooperation with other countries, and cut back on irregular migration.18This Note begins by giving background information on bilateral mobility partnerships. It then proposes specific terms that should be included in these agreements. This Note uses Denmark as a case study, showing how a bilateral mobility partnership would work there and how it would be an improvement over Denmark's current immigration policies.II. BackgroundThis Part begins with a general definition of bilateral mobility partnerships, followed by a brief history of these types of agreements. Third, it explores the main aspects of the bilateral mobility partnerships that have already been entered into. Fourth, it addresses some arguments against bilateral mobility partnerships. Fifth, it looks at reasons for addressing the migration issue bilaterally. Finally, it gives a brief history of Denmark's recent immigration policies and controversy.A. Definition of a Bilateral Mobility PartnershipA bilateral mobility partnership is an agreement between two countries, an immigrant-receiving country (the host country) and an emigrant-sending country (the home country), seeking to facilitate the movement of persons between the two countries. …


Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) strategies for cardiac arrest have traditionally been centered on the use of vasoactive medications and high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, since the concept of ACLS was introduced, the field of cardiac resuscitation has attempted to elucidate the physiology of cardiac arrest and cardiac resuscitation in an effort to improve resuscitation outcomes. In this review, we describe the molecular, translational, and clinical concepts underlying traditional and contemporary approaches to physiology-guided resuscitation. We further describe emerging clinical interventions that are based on the above research and concepts.


This paper presents a very low-voltage low-power pipelined ADC with 0.9-V supply voltage in a 90 nm CMOS process. A novel switched-RC sampling MDAC is proposed to obtain high linearity under very low-voltage and low-power conditions without significant degradation in speed or causing any reliability problem. Moreover, by eliminating S/H stage, power consumption is reduced considerably. Pipelined stage scaling, dynamic comparator, and amplifier sharing are also utilized to reduce power more significantly. According to HSPICE simulation results, the 10-bit 100MSample/s ADC with 1-Vp-p,diff input signal in a 90 nm CMOS process and 0.9-V supply voltage achieves an SNDR of 59 dB and consumes 15.5 mW power.


Several models predict that persons ascribe opposite characteristics to self and ingroups on the one hand and outgroups on the other (outgroup contrast). However, only few studies have found this effect. This study explored its boundary conditions. Sixty-two students rated (a) characteristics of themselves, an ingroup (own study major), and an outgroup (other study major), (b) ingroup identification, and (c) perceived intergroup conflict. Participants who were relatively high in ingroup identification and who perceived relatively high levels of intergroup conflict displayed outgroup contrast, as indicated by negative correlations between trait ratings for self and ingroup and between trait ratings for ingroup and outgroup. The other participants showed weaker or no outgroup contrast. Thus, this study is one of the few empirical demonstrations of outgroup contrast and points to moderators that should be considered in future research on this effect. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The effect of different soapstocks (corn, sunflower, canola, and soybean) on productive performance and skin broiler pigmentation was investigated. Soapstock was added to reach 1.0% polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet. The addition of soybean soapstock significantly improved live body weight gain of the birds from 1 to 7 wk of age. A live body weight gain of 1,736 g/bird was calculated for broilers fed with the soybean soapstock diet. Feed conversion was significantly higher for broilers fed with the soybean soapstock diet, and no negative effect was observed. Compared to broilers fed with Pixtafil (100.0% pigmentation), those fed soybean soapstock (when added as a supplement of 1.0% polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet) reached 48.0% pigmentation, and those fed corn soapstock reached only 7.3%. When the diets were complemented with Pixtafil to reach 100% of calculated pigmentation, the soybean soapstock diet reached 100.8% pigmentation compared to a canola soapstock diet that reached 72.0% pigmentation. Acidified soybean soapstock could be a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and of xantophyl pigments in broiler feeding.


Mathematics of Bioinformatics: Theory, Methods, and Applicationsprovides acomprehensiveformat for connecting and integrating information derived from mathematical methods and applying it to the understanding of biological sequences, structures, and networks. Each chapter is divided into a number of sections based on the bioinformatics topics and related mathematical theory and methods. Each topic of the section is comprised of the following three parts: an introduction to the biological problems in bioinformatics;a presentation ofrelevant topics of mathematical theory and methods to the bioinformatics problems introduced in the first part; an integrative overview that draws the connections and interfaces between bioinformatics problems/issues and mathematical theory/methods/applications.


Published in an English and an Italian edition on the occasion of the Jubilee in the year 2000, this important work documents in detail the largest and most revered church in Christendom, illustrating both the exterior (the colonnade, the piazza, the facade, the external perimeter, the dome) and the interior, with the funerary monuments of the popes, the mosaics, the altars, the Baldequin by Bernini and the celebrated Pieta by Michelangelo.For the first time there is full coverage not only of the Sacred Grottoes but of many areas inaccessible to the public, such as the Hall of Benedictions, the Sacristy, and the Octagons above the corner-chapels. Texts by M. Beltramini, S. Benedetti, I. Buonazia, F. Caglioti, L. Capitani, M. Carta, C. Franzoni, A. Galli, M. Gani, M. L. Gualandi, M. Hirst, I. Jones, I. Lavin, E. Levy, L. Marcucci, A. Monciatti, T. Montanari, S. F. Ostrow, A. Pinelli, A. M. Riccomini, A. Roca De Amicis, C. Savettieri, M. Spagnolo, A. Sperandio, B. Torresi, M. Zalum, M. O. Zander and P. Zander. Photographs by A. Angeli, M. Falcioni, G. Marcucci and M. Napoli. "Mirabilia Italia" is a unique series. It owes its existence to an innovative and ambitious project: an atlas of the great monuments of Italy that will display them in all their details, from the best known to the least.This series represents a completely new way of documenting art. "Mirabilia Italia" provides a guided tour of each monument, fully and accurately explained. Each atlas contains hundreds of colour photographs, arranged in a precise topographical sequence and accompanied by diagrams showing the exact location of each detail. The atlas is complemented by a volume of texts edited by the premier scholars in the field, consisting of critical essays and descriptive notes. Essays examine the monument from the art-historical point of view, and record the alterations it has undergone over time. Descriptive notes analyse the content and significance of the images. Extensive cross-references link the essays and notes to the images, facilitating consultation of the work. The General Editor of "Mirabilia Italia" is Salvatore Settis, Director of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.


Background: Palliative care programs are rapidly evolving for patients with life-threatening illnesses. Increased and earlier access for facilities is a subject of growing importance in health services, policy, and research. Aim: This study was conducted to explain stakeholders' perceptions of the factors affecting the design of such a palliative care system and its policy analysis. Methodology: Semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted following purposive sampling of the participants. Twenty-two participants were included in the study. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative-directed content analysis based on "policy analysis triangle" framework. Results: The findings showed the impact of four categories, namely context (political, social, and structural feasibility), content (target setting), process (attracting stakeholder participation, the standardization of care, and education management), and actors (the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, health-care providers, and volunteers) in the analysis of the palliative care policies of Iran. Conclusion: In the past 6 years, attention to palliative care has increased significantly as a result of the National Cancer Research Network with the support of the Ministry of Health. The success of health system plan requires great attention to its aspects of social, political, and executive feasibility. Careful management by policymakers of different stakeholders is vital to ensure support for any national plan, but this is challenging to achieve.


An architecture for efficiently implementing linear and nonlinear Viterbi detectors for magnetic read channels is presented. By employing generalized noiseless target values for the Viterbi trellis, the detector is better able to adapt to the actual binary data storage channel and less equalization is needed, resulting in a significant reduction in the probability of error. An implementation example is presented for the case of a 16-state Viterbi detector having a capability of handling any noiseless target of up to five adjacent nonzero values. In a 0.6 /spl mu/m (drawn) 3.0 V CMOS process, the design has been implemented with a die area of 9 mm/sup 2/ consuming under 350 mW of power when operated at 110 MHz.


Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) causes changes in the right ventricle (RV), affecting RV size and function, ultimately leading to death. These changes have been evaluated by cardiac MRI (CMR) in adults with PAH, but not in children. Using CMR in pediatric patients with PAH, we examined how RV size and function (1) compare to normal data, (2) change over time, and (3) compare to similar studies in the adult population. Data from two institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects with PAH and a CMR were included. Baseline CMR variables (right and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes indexed for body surface area, and calculated stroke volume and ejection fraction) were compared to normative data and follow-up CMR data. Twenty-six subjects (15 female), age 2–16 (mean 11) years, with idiopathic PAH were included. All patients were on PAH medication, and 65% on prostacyclin therapy. The baseline 6-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD; 481 ± 137) was normal. RV volumes and ejection fraction were markedly abnormal compared to normal data (P < 0.001). Follow-up CMRs were analyzed in 15 patients. RV volumes and function and LV stroke volume showed no significant change over one year. Our pediatric patients with PAH have markedly abnormal right ventricles by CMR but have normal walk distances. The lack of change in CMR parameters over one year may represent a stable cohort and is different than similar studies in adults.


A Spring 2018 Course Guide: Social Welfare History & Public Policy. Assisting with social policy research, policy analysis and basic legal research.


Decades of research in control theory have shown that simple controllers, when provided with timely feedback, can control complex systems. Pushing is an example of a complex mechanical system that is difficult to model accurately due to unknown system parameters such as coefficients of friction and pressure distributions. In this paper, we explore the data-complexity required for controlling, rather than modeling, such a system. Results show that a model-based control approach, where the dynamical model is learned from data, is capable of performing complex pushing trajectories with a minimal amount of training data (10 data points). The dynamics of pushing interactions are modeled using a Gaussian process (GP) and are leveraged within a model predictive control approach that linearizes the GP and imposes actuator and task constraints for a planar manipulation task.


Imagine yourself as a maker of the arts during the time periods we have studied. Do not pretend to be an artist that has actually lived.


Understanding neural injury in hydrocephalus and how the brain changes during the course of the disease in-vivo remain unclear. This study describes brain deformation, microstructural and mechanical properties changes during obstructive hydrocephalus development in a rat model using multimodal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Hydrocephalus was induced in eight Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) by injecting a kaolin suspension into the cisterna magna. Six sham-injected rats were used as controls. MR imaging (9.4T, Bruker) was performed 1 day before, and at 3, 7 and 16 days post injection. T2-weighted MR images were collected to quantify brain deformation. MR elastography was used to measure brain stiffness, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was conducted to observe brain tissue microstructure. Results showed that the enlargement of the ventricular system was associated with a decrease in the cortical gray matter thickness and caudate-putamen cross-sectional area (P < 0.001, for both), an alteration of the corpus callosum and periventricular white matter microstructure (CC+PVWM) and rearrangement of the cortical gray matter microstructure (P < 0.001, for both), while compression without gross microstructural alteration was evident in the caudate-putamen and ventral internal capsule (P < 0.001, for both). During hydrocephalus development, increased space between the white matter tracts was observed in the CC+PVWM (P < 0.001), while a decrease in space was observed for the ventral internal capsule (P < 0.001). For the cortical gray matter, an increase in extracellular tissue water was significantly associated with a decrease in tissue stiffness (P = 0.001). To conclude, this study characterizes the temporal changes in tissue microstructure, water content and stiffness in different brain regions and their association with ventricular enlargement. In summary, whilst diffusion changes were larger and statistically significant for majority of the brain regions studied, the changes in mechanical properties were modest. Moreover, the effect of ventricular enlargement is not limited to the CC+PVWM and ventral internal capsule, the extent of microstructural changes vary between brain regions, and there is regional and temporal variation in brain tissue stiffness during hydrocephalus development.


Are viruses more biologically successful than cellular life? Here we examine many ways of gauging biological success, including numerical abundance, environmental tolerance, type biodiversity, reproductive potential, and widespread impact on other organisms. We especially focus on successful ability to evolutionarily adapt in the face of environmental change. Viruses are often challenged by dynamic environments, such as host immune function and evolved resistance as well as abiotic fluctuations in temperature, moisture, and other stressors that reduce virion stability. Despite these challenges, our experimental evolution studies show that viruses can often readily adapt, and novel virus emergence in humans and other hosts is increasingly problematic. We additionally consider whether viruses are advantaged in evolvability-the capacity to evolve-and in avoidance of extinction. On the basis of these different ways of gauging biological success, we conclude that viruses are the most successful inhabitants of the biosphere.


Environmental impact has increasingly become a "buzzword" and an important topic. This topic has been integrated into the agenda of many companies worldwide, and this dissertation focuses on the transportation and logistics industry. Environmental concerns have gained increased attention among many logistic service providers (LSPs) due to the environmental impact from their operations, and they have been identified of having a significant role in reducing the environmental burden in the supply chain. An environmental approach of the LSPs' business has also been identified as a way to achieve competitive advantage and provide market opportunities where the development and marketing of new products and services associated with green issues are suggested as important aspects for future growth. However, considering the scarcity of research regarding this topic, a study that reveals potential aspects in the development of green service offerings can bridge the knowledge gap and provide opportunities for further research within this field. The purpose of this dissertation is therefore to develop and explain a framework for LSPs' development of green service offerings. The purpose is addressed by first investigating LSPs' service development from a general perspective in order to, in a second stage, reach a better understanding of the implications when integrating green aspects in LSPs' service development efforts.Theoretically, this dissertation departed from service marketing literature or more specifically new service development (NSD) research. This resulted in a conceptual framework including key dimensions and aspects regarding a company's NSD efforts and activities. From this foundation, the theoretical framework was developed further based on research regarding LSPs' service development and innovation management. Finally the framework was extended with green logistics literature as well as research regarding LSPs' green development and influences on their service offerings.Empirically, this research is mainly based on qualitative data from an in-depth case study on a large LSP active on the Swedish market. In addition, empirical data from a multiple case study and a questionnaire survey conducted for the Licentiate thesis were used in order to enrich the analysis regarding the LSPs' development of green service offerings. The analysis followed a stepwise approach where literature and empirical data were analysed.One of the main results in this dissertation is the framework for LSPs' new service development, consisting of five dimensions: NSD culture, NSD strategy, NSD process focus, IT use and expertise and NSD knowledge and skills. The NSD framework presents a holistic view of the LSPs' NSD efforts by revealing different dimensions, their roles and relations to each other as well as the pre-requisites to take into consideration in the development of new services. Thus, the different NSD dimensions should not solely be viewed as isolated dimensions; instead, there is a need for LSPs to have a holistic view and understanding of the NSD activities' reciprocity.Another main result concerns the adaption of the NSD framework to green service development. The results reveal some pre-requisites relevant for LSPs to consider in their efforts to develop green service offerings and are summarised in the following main dimensions:Creating green awareness in the NSD culture – encourage participation regarding green initiatives within the organisation, defining a "common picture" in order to facilitate collaboration efforts and knowledge exchange concerning green expertise. The support from top management was also identified of having an influencing impact. Defining the strategic approach of green service offerings – integrate a green concern in the overall business strategy and to define the strategic role and incentives for developing green service offerings. The results also suggest LSPs to adapt green NSD efforts to different business contexts and market possibilities to match existing resources and skills with customers' green requirements, and to perform a segmentation of customers' environmental work and ambitions to increase the understanding of customers' green attitudes and requirements.Create processes and routines to facilitate spreading of green knowledge – highlights the relevance of a process focus for spreading green knowledge both from an external and internal perspective. It involves e.g. adoption of certifications, procedures for environmental calculations and documentation as well as routines to spread and integrate green knowledge among employees as well as identification of customers' green requirements.Improve green internal knowledge and build green collaborations – provide training and education to increase the level of green awareness and knowledge among employees as well as customers and strive for collaboration efforts both internally and externally to utilise each other's knowledge and resources towards the development of green service offerings.Increase transparency of green information both internally and externally – improve green information transparency to build both internal and external trust and increase possibilities to effectively use other actors' knowledge and resources to develop environmental improvements in the supply chain. Integration of IT expertise and synchronisations of IT systems to facilitate and support environmental work and development of green service offerings.


ABSTRACT This study analyzes spontaneous qualitative interviews with formerly homeless individuals living alone, on the importance of transportation in meeting everyday needs. Some participants identified that transportation subsidies were often haphazard, sometimes requiring tremendous effort to obtain, and discouraging use. Those who had access to transportation note the importance of access to healthcare, personal fitness needs, reduced food insecurity, increased access to health-care needs, and increased quality of life. This paper argues that piecemeal approaches to transportation denies the inherent needs of people living in extreme poverty, thereby increasing the chances of reentry into homelessness using principles of social exclusion.


Stiff person syndrome (SPS), stiff limb syndrome, jerking SPS and progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) are a family of rare, insidiously progressive diseases of the central nervous system. They all share the core clinical features of appendicular and axial rigidity caused by continuous involuntary motor unit activity, and superimposed stimulus-sensitive spasms. There is good evidence for a primary auto-immune aetiology. Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies, specifically to the GAD65 isoform, are present in serum or cerebrospinal fluid of 60-80% of patients with SPS and its variants. A paraneoplastic form of SPS is recognized in about 5%, associated with a different profile of auto-antibodies. Repeated intravenous immunoglobulin is the mainstay of disease-modifying therapy in SPS. Rigidity and spasms may be treated symptomatically with benzodiazepines, baclofen, tiagabine and levetiracetam. After an initial progressive phase, patients with SPS generally stabilize over a period of months to years. However, 10% will require prolongedadmission to intensive care at some stage during the disease. Sudden death has been reported in asmany as 10% of patients because of unexplained metabolic acidosis or autonomic crises. The prognosis in paraneoplastic SPS, jerking SPS and PERM, in terms of mortality, is generally worse than in primary SPS.


Background: The natural history of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) infections is largely unknown. The objective of the current study was to use sequential weekly vaginal samples and molecular techniques to describe the natural history of incident gonorrhea infections in adolescent women. Methods: A cohort of 387 adolescent women aged 14 to 17 were enrolled from urban, primary care clinics and followed longitudinally for a period of up to 8 years. Weekly vaginal swabs and daily diaries were provided during 12-week periods biannually, beginning and ending with a clinic visit, where all identified infections were treated. For this study, specimens and data from 16 women who became infected with GC during a weekly sampling period were analyzed. Results: GC organism load was highly variable between subjects. The number of organisms did not significantly differ across the first 6 weeks of infection (P = 0.59). Organism load did not differ among women with a previously documented GC infection at week 1 (P = 0.43) or across the first 6 weeks of infection (P = 0.67). The association of concurrent chlamydial infection on gonorrhea organism load was borderline significant over the first 6 weeks of infection (P = 0.06). Conclusions: Individual shedding patterns varied widely, and GC organism load did not decline in women for at least several weeks and were not associated with genitourinary symptoms. Chlamydia coinfection is associated with higher GC organism loads, potentially increasing chances of transmission. This study utilized a standardized quantification technique to assess GC organism load.


This thesis project investigated the means of making eHealth more relevant to low socioeconomic status (SES) communities. As with other information and communication technology (ICT) based initiatives, the uptake of eHealth is limited by access to technology. Online health information may be a means of providing increased access to health information. However, access to online health information and health information in general is disparate amongst sections of the populations. Middle and high SES communities, as well as the well-educated generally have high access to health information yet paradoxically they are less affected by modifiable/preventable diseases which can be influenced by effective health education. Therefore the challenge for health education and eHealth is how to reach those in low SES communities. This thesis employed three phases of research to answer this question. The first phase of the project investigated means of providing community based access to ICT in very low SES communities in India in order to provide data as to how such community based structures might deliver community oriented health information. The second phase investigated an online community portal to establish whether this would be a useful means of contextualising online health information and whether it could be the online counterpart to the community based ICT structures investigated in phase one. Phase three sought to determine what types of health information community members from various SES communities wanted and how their preferences as well as those of medical students might affect the design of a community eHealth approach. This thesis employed case study methodology to provide rich qualitative data in an area of research which is highly influenced by socioeconomic, socio-political and personal factors. The case studies which focused heavily on direct observation and key informant interviews as well as document analysis in turn informed the development of a series of community and medical student surveys which sought to provide a broader sample of opinions as well as quantitative data. The first phase investigated several community based ICT strategies – a hub and spokes telecentre model, a similar but less tightly structured model which employed a community portal, and a mobile community access point - to determine how they might be utilised to facilitate eHealth uptake in low SES communities. These field studies, based in India, found that a 'hub and spokes' model with peripheral field sites supported by a central knowledge hub would be a useful model to facilitate the delivery of appropriate health information. Information intermediaries at these peripheral sites could occupy a key role in delivering health information in an appropriate manner, as well as training individuals how to access appropriate health information independently. In addition, these studies identified a number of features necessary for a community based ICT access strategy employed for eHealth purposes. Making information relevant to the local context, as well as facilitating community access to health information, has been a challenge to the eHealth and wider health community. One means of achieving this employed by the UNITeS case study in phase one was an online community portal that delivers information relevant to a defined geographical area. The second phase of this project investigated the application of a non-health oriented community portal in a low SES community in South East Queensland, Australia, in order to determine how such a structure might be applied for eHealth purposes. This study demonstrated that there are significant problems associated with community members initiating and administering a community portal, especially regarding financial constraints and access to appropriate infrastructure. However, there are also a number of potential benefits of such a localising strategy being employed for eHealth. It is a useful means of contextualising information and providing access to practical information about local health resources; it may provide a recognisable contact point for health information seekers mediating their access to relevant and accurate online health information; and it provides greater proximity to community members and information seekers than a national health information portal. The third phase of research characterised the current health information environment in a low SES community and compared it to a mid-high socioeconomic SES community and to university students and staff. Through field work which included direct observation, key informant interviews, and surveys I explored the community demand for more health information, the current and preferred future use of health information sources, ascribed importance and trust of health information sources, the use of the local doctor as a source of health information, and the use of the internet for health information seeking. Results indicated a demand across all three communities for more health information, a remarkable concordance in the use of health information sources other than the internet, and that the local doctor is the most important and preferred source of health information. In addition, the research highlighted the importance of proxy health information seeking and the infrequent actual use of the doctor as a source of health information, despite community demand for more health information and stated preference for information from this source. The research also investigated the community's requirements for a community eHealth strategy through key informant interviews in a low SES community, as well as through the survey research described above. Results revealed that community members' requirements differed between the low and mid-high socioeconomic communities as well as from university students and staff. This was in part influenced by exposure to the internet as a source of health information, but also to the information needs of the various communities. This finding, not previously demonstrated in the eHealth literature, illustrates the need for a community specific approach. The survey results, thus, offer valuable guidance for the development of such an approach. Lastly, this project investigated the attitudes of medical students – the doctors of the future – to the current health education environment in which they are to practise, to the priority eHealth policies, and to potential components of a community oriented eHealth strategy. I found that most medical students believed that the current health system did not allow them to educate patients about their health issues, and that the principal constraint was inadequate time. Results indicated that the majority of students supported a patient information prescription system and community health portal to facilitate health information delivery, as well as delineating their attitudes to the various types of health information which should be provided by such a system. The final chapter presents a model for a community eHealth system which incorporates the findings of this research and addresses the needs identified through stakeholder consultation, as well as identifying areas for future research, including an action research project investigating a community oriented eHealth architecture. The model identified includes components for community based and hospital based delivery of health information; a means for keeping the clinician engaged with the health information process, fulfilling their role as coordinators of health care whilst allowing auxiliary health personnel to deliver basic health information; as well as an online means of coordinating the delivery of health information identified as important by community members. Specific, complex patient oriented health information should remain the domain of clinicians. This research has several limitations largely stemming from the fact that it is highly novel and covers a broad research area. As a result, a lot of the research is exploratory and raises many more questions than it answers. Nevertheless, it is a unique contribution to an internationally neglected area of research.


With the progress of our society, the consumer needs present a trend of individuation. Hence the manufacturing modes of many products change to individual character manufacturing mode, in which the producer should acquire the customer needs exactly and timely and translate them to high quality products. In this process, quality control plays a key role. This paper develops a quality control system, in which a synthetic process quality judging method against individual manufacturing is adopted. The method makes up the blemish of traditional SPC method and can work well even when it lacks enough data. The practical application of the system has proved its effectiveness and practicability.


Two closely related species of Anthocoridae, the minute pirate bugs Orius insidiosus (Say) and O. pumilio (Champion), were collected together from false Queen Anne's lace/ large bullwort ( Ammi majus ) planted on an organic farm in Gainesville, Alachua Co., FL., over a period of 5 successive weeks. The presumptive prey on the false Queen Anne's lace was a single species of thrips, Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan). In the first 4 weekly collections from the flower heads, the densities of O. insidiosus adults were 2.7-fold higher than those of O. pumilio . No eggs or nymphs of either species were observed on the plants. Sex ratios (males:females) of 2.7 and 1.0 were observed for O. insidiosus and O. pumilio , respectively. A colony of O. insidiosus was established from field-collected specimens. The sex ratio of the F 1 generation from this colony was 1.0, suggesting that the skewed field sex ratio was not a genetic phenomenon. These data demonstrate that these sympatric predators coexist at least temporarily, feeding on pests of the false Queen Anne's lace.


Abstract Phonological awareness is one type of phonological processing ability and is considered to be particularly important for early literacy development. Specific phonological awareness skills include syllable-level awareness, onset-rime awareness, and phonemic awareness. Children with speech sound disorders are at a high risk of difficulties with phonological awareness and literacy. There is a body of literature reporting both composite scores and task-specific phonological awareness scores from the assessment of children with typically developing speech and school-age children with speech sound disorders. In this study, we completed a systematic overview of the available literature regarding the assessment of phonological awareness in preschool-age children with speech sound disorders. A systematic search of literature databases yielded 777 articles which were screened. The full text of 30 articles was read and 12 articles met all specified criteria. Ten of the 12 articles reported composite scores for the phonological awareness of participants. The studies rarely reported the profile of specific phonological awareness skills. Of the final 12 articles, eight were case–control studies (Level III) and four were case-series or cross-sectional studies without a control reference (Level IV). There is a need for more research reporting task-specific phonological awareness abilities in preschool-age children with speech sound disorders in order to understand the relationship between specific skills and literacy development in this population.


American Evangelicals began invading Russia with the good news of the Gospel early in the 1990's. Often lost among the reports of successes were the great chasms in communication between Evangelicals and the Russian Orthodox Church – a church which has been in existence for over a thousand years. One central crisis was that the two confessions understand soteriology in very different ways. Although only a small fraction of Russians were active in Orthodox churches, the identity and tenets of Orthodoxy had at least some influence on almost all Russians. And, in spite of the fact that many Russians were reached for Christ by Evangelicals with no regard for Russian Orthodoxy, deep and lasting change to Russian religious thought was not likely to take place unless Evangelicals understood Russian Orthodoxy and communicated through word and deed in a way that would not be rejected outright by the Russian culture. Looking back with improved perspective on the actual results of Evangelical work in Russia for over 25 years, we can see that the chasm of communication was not crossed in any meaningful way. Given the periodic interest in Orthodoxy among Evangelicals in the USA due to conversions of former Evangelicals (and most recently Hank Hanegraaff), it is important to understand why such gaps exist. The purpose of this short paper is to briefly introduce the central aspects of this problem, and then offer a few perspectives on how the dangers can lead to opportunities for fruitful evangelistic work in Russia. I will first contrast Orthodox and Evangelical soteriology, then list what I perceive as the major dangers and opportunities that arise out of the battle between the contrasting confessions.


Before long, the fragmented, uncoordinated, and geographically dispersed paper records in which our medical information is currently recorded will be replaced by integrated, longitudinal, networked electronic health records ("EHRs"). Though nominally confidential, the information in EHRs, like other information collected about individuals in cyberspace, is as vulnerable as it is valuable. Health law, privacy, and intellectual property scholars have all suggested that the river of information created by EHRs and other data systems present a problem of "control," and many of these scholars have proposed that "property" might provide the control individuals want and need. These arguments for control rights in personal information test contemporary understandings of what property is and reveal fault lines in modern property theory. If property rights exist at all in dephysicalized, digitalized information, those rights are unlikely to be consolidated in a single person, to operate in rem, to grant owners significant powers to exclude, or to be standardized - all qualities that, in the eyes of some, are required of true "property" interests. Moreover, it is not clear that the rhetoric of property properly addresses the values at play with respect to medical and personal information, where the asset in question is some aspect of our very selves. Finally, if there is "property" in information, it may be a very unappealing kind of property - a claim derived from envy of the value that others have found in what we had ignored or thought worthless. The question of how power and control over information will be shared between individuals and others involves hard public policy choices. But because property theory is itself deeply divided over the extent to which property provides control, "property" itself cannot determine how these choices should be made.


We examine the problem of placing stationary monitors in a continuous space, with the goal of minimizing an adversary's maximum probability of traversing an origin-destination route without being detected. The problem arises, for instance, in defending against the transport of illicit material through some area of interest. In particular, we consider the deployment of monitors whose probability of detecting an intruder is a function of the distance between the monitor and the intruder. Under the assumption that the detection probabilities are mutually independent, we construct a two-stage mixedinteger nonlinear programming formulation for the problem. We first provide an algorithm that optimally locates monitors in a continuous space. Then, we examine this problem for the case in monitor locations are restricted to two different discretized subsets of continuous space. Our analysis provides optimization algorithms for each case, and derives bounds on the worst-case optimality gap between the restrictions and the initial (continuous-space) problem. Empirically, we show that we can obtain discretized solutions whose worst-case and actual optimality gaps are well within practical limits.


A BSTRACT : We have been developing a serializer application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) based on a commercial 0.25-μm silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) CMOS technology for the ATLAS liquid argon calorimeter front-end electronics upgrade. The first prototype, a 5 Gbps 16:1 serializer has been designed, fabricated, and tested in lab environment and in a 200 MeV proton beam. The test results indicate that the first prototype meets the design goals. The second prototype, a double-lane, 8 Gbps per lane serializer is under development. The post-layout simulation indicates that 8 Gbps is achievable. In this paper we present the design and the test results of the first prototype and the design and status of the second prototype.


ABSTRACT

Objective: It has been suggested that the perceived value of food packages may affect whether participants remain in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate preferences and values of WIC foods and packages and understand what factors may influence these preferences and values.

Design: Using a combined approach, surveys and individual in-depth interviews were conducted to measure and understand preferences for specific WIC foods, and how much WIC food packages are valued.

Setting: 8 WIC clinics across the state of Illinois.

Participants: Caregivers of infants enrolled in WIC for at least 3-6 months.

Phenomenon of Interest: preferences for WIC foods and perceived value for WIC food packages as well as concepts, and experiences that influence these categories at the social, cultural, and environmental levels.

Analysis: Frequencies were gathered to analyze survey data using SPSS. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Constant Comparative Analysis to identify emergent themes.

Results: Participants value the food packages in WIC, but value the infant packages more. The autonomous nature of the cash value fruit and vegetable voucher has increased the value of the program for many participants; however, restrictions on food choice preferences (e.g. type of milk) detracts value from the program. Multiple factors influenced perceived value including but not limited to the cost of infant formula, social support for breastfeeding, circumstances of poverty, other program use, clinic issues, shopping difficulties, and stigma. Participants' life-course experiences such as learning how to cook, taking responsibility for others, and circumstances of poverty impacted how they made food choices and valued WIC foods. Food preferences were determined early in life and negotiations of cost, health, convenience, and taste influenced the value of WIC foods. Time and autonomy over one's schedule impacted prioritization of WIC.

Conclusions and Implications: Many caregivers value WIC food packages, especially before the child turns one. Improvements are needed at the clinic, during shopping, and within the food packages themselves in order to increase perceived value. Providing more food choice would improve satisfaction with the program overall.


This paper introduces a dynamic work balancing algorithm, based on work stealing, for time-constrained parallel octree carving. The performance of the algorithm is proved and confirmed by experimental results where the algorithm is applied to a real-time 3D modeling from multiple video streams. Compared to classical work stealing, the proposed algorithm enforces a relaxed width first octree carving that enables to stop computations at anytime while ensuring a balanced carving.


This paper presents the results of an extensive field study on the comparative performance of alternative materials for snow and ice control of parking lots and sidewalks. Approximately 300 tests were conducted in a real-world environment, covering four alternative materials, and 21 snow events. Each of the alternatives is compared to regular rock salt in terms of snow melting performance - bare-pavement regain time. The study confirmed the relative advantage of these alternatives over the regular salt, but also showed that their performance varied largely depending on some external conditions. Performance models were calibrated and then used for developing application rate adjustment factors which can be applied by maintenance operations for determining the optimal application rates for specific weather events and pavement conditions.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. OBJECTIVES: To provide updated information on the burdens of sepsis during acute inpatient admissions for Medicare beneficiaries. DESIGN: Analysis of paid Medicare claims via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services DataLink Project. SETTING: All U.S. acute-care hospitals, excluding federally operated hospitals (Veterans Administration and Defense Health Agency). Patients: All Medicare beneficiaries, January 2012—February 2020, with an explicit sepsis diagnostic code assigned during an inpatient admission. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The count of Medicare Part A/B (fee-for-service) plus Medicare Advantage inpatient sepsis admissions rose from 981,027 (CY2012) to 1,700,433 (CY 2019). The proportion of total admissions with sepsis in the Medicare Advantage population rose from 21.43% to 35.39%, reflecting the increasing beneficiary proportion enrolled in Medicare Advantage. In CY2019, 6-month mortality rates in Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries for sepsis continued to decline, but remained high: 59.9% for septic shock, 35.5% for severe sepsis, 30.8% for sepsis attributed to a specific organism, and 26.5% for unspecified sepsis. Total fee-for-service-only inpatient hospital costs rose from $17.79B (CY2012) to $22.98B (CY2019). We estimated that the aggregate cost of sepsis hospital care for the entire U.S. population was at least $57.47B in 2019. Inclusion of 14 months' (January 2019—February 2020) newer data exposed new trends: the cost per patient, number of admissions, and fraction of patients with sepsis labeled as present on admission inflected around November 2015, coincident with the change to International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, and introduction of the Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) metric. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis among Medicare beneficiaries precoronavirus disease 2019 imposed immense burdens upon patients, their families, and the taxpayers.


System Setup We propose a non-intrusive eye tracking system intended for the use of everyday gaze typing using web cameras. We argue that high precision in gaze tracking is not needed for on-screen typing due to natural language redundancy. This facilitates the use of low-cost video components for advanced multi-modal interactions based on video tracking systems. Robust methods are needed to track the eyes us- ing web cameras due to the poor image quality. A real- time tracking scheme using a mean-shift color tracker and an Active Appearance Model of the eye is proposed. From this model, it is possible to infer the state of the eye such as eye comers and the pupil location under scale and rotational changes. We use a Gaussian Process interpolation method for gaze determination which facilitates stability feedback from the system. The use of a learning method for gaze es- timation gives more flexibility to the choice of camera and its position.


An appropriate scaffold, which provides structural support for transplanted cells and acts as a vehicle for the delivery of biologically active molecules, is critical for tissue engineering. We developed a fully interconnected globular porous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic scaffold by adopting a foaming method, and evaluated its efficiency as a bone substitute and a scaffold for bone tissue engineering by in vitro and in vivo biocompatible analysis and its osteogenic healing capacity in rat tibial bone defects. They have spherical pores averaging 400um in diameter and interconnecting interpores averaging 70um in diameter with average 85% porosity. They elicited no cytotoxicity and noxious effect on cellular proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation during the cell-scaffold construct formation. Also the bone defects grafted with fully interconnected globular porous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic blocks revealed excellent bone healing within 3 weeks. These findings suggest that the fully interconnected porous biphasic calcium phosphate scaffold formed by the foaming method can be a promising bone substitute and a scaffold for bone tissue engineering.


An extension of the parallel constraint logic programming language ElipSys is presented. This extension is directed towards the development of multi-agent systems which have to deal with large combinatorial problems that are distributed in nature. Problems of this kind, after being decomposed into subproblems, may be tackled efficiently by individual agents using ElipSys' powerful mechanisms, such as parallelism and constraint satisfaction techniques. The proposed extension supports the communication requirements of the agents, in order to have them cooperate and solve the original combinatorially intensive problem. The communication scheme among the agents is viewed as a three-layered model. The first layer is socket oriented, the second realizes a blackboard architecture and the third supports virtual point-topoint interaction among the agents.


Little is known about the replication of Karshi virus, a member of the mammalian tick-borne flavivirus group, in its rodent hosts. Therefore, we developed a quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay and measured the amount of viral RNA in selected tissues of infected Swiss Webster mice. Two-day-old mice were highly susceptible, with 100% fatality 9 to 12 days after infection, whereas infection in 9-day-old mice was less virulent, with death occurring only rarely. In nearly all cases, mice inoculated when 2 days old contained similar numbers of viral genome equivalents from blood and liver samples from any given mouse, with titers declining after day 7. In contrast, the amount of viral RNA in the brain began to rise rapidly 4 days after exposure, peaked at about 6 days after virus exposure (titer of > 10(13) genome equivalents/g), and remained at that level until euthanasia or death. Viral profiles were similar in needle-inoculated or tick-exposed mice.


OBJECTIVES
Osteitis condensans ilii (OCI) has become an important differential diagnosis for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The objective of this matched case-control study was to investigate demographic, clinical, laboratory and MRI characteristics of OCI as compared with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

METHODS
A total of 60 patients diagnosed with OCI were included in the final analysis. From 27 of these patients, MRIs of the sacroiliac joints were available. OCI patients were matched with a 1:1 ratio by back pain duration to patients with definite axSpA in order to compare clinical, laboratory and MRI characteristics.

RESULTS
The OCI patients were nearly all females (96.7 vs 46.7%), had a significantly lower prevalence of inflammatory back pain (39.5 vs 88.9%), a significantly lower percentage of HLA-B27 positives (35.2 vs 80.0%) and a lower prevalence of the majority of other SpA features as compared with axSpA patients. Interestingly, there was no difference in the prevalence of osteitis in the sacroiliac joints (92.6 vs 85.2% in OCI and axSpA, respectively, P = 0.44), but there was a difference in the prevalence of erosions (7.4 vs 66.7%, respectively, P = 0.0001). In addition, in OCI nearly all lesions were localized in the anterior part of the sacroiliac joints while in axSpA lesions were localized predominantly in the middle part of the joint (for osteitis: 96 vs 4% in OCI and 28.6 vs 71.4% in axSpA; P = 0.0002 for the inter-group difference).

CONCLUSION
Clinical and imaging features of OCI compared with axSpA are described that should help in differential diagnosis.


Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) calculations are used to characterize the electric field in the vicinity of a sharp silver or gold cone with an apex diameter of 10 nm. The simulations are utilized to predict the intensity and the distribution of the locally enhanced electric field in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). A side-by-side comparison of the enhanced electric field induced by a radially and a linearly polarized light in both gap-mode and conventional TERS setup is performed. For this purpose, a radially polarized source is introduced and integrated into the FDTD modeling. Additionally, the optical effect of a thin protective layer of alumina on the enhancement of the electric field is investigated.


Experts claim that some Indian drug manufacturers cut corners and make substandard drugs for markets with nonexistent, underdeveloped, or emerging regulatory oversight, notably Africa. This paper assesses the quality of 1,470 antibiotic and tuberculosis drug samples in solid oral form (tablet or capsule) that claim to be made in India and were sold in Africa, India, and five mid-income non-African countries. We find that 10.9 percent of those products fail a basic assessment of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and the majority of the failures are substandard (7 percent) as they contain some correct API but the amount of API is underdosed. The distribution of these substandard products is not random: they are more likely to be found as unregistered products in Africa than in India or non-African countries. Moreover, our finding is robust for manufacturer-drug fixed effects, and is unlikely to be explained by differences in storage conditions as the five Indian cities in our sample are on average more likely to have high temperatures, above 25°C or 30°C, than the other African or non-African cities. A more likely explanation is that Indian pharmaceutical firms and/or their export intermediaries differentiate drug quality according to the destination of consumption.


We investigated children's understanding of mental life by analyzing attributions of perceptual, cognitive, affective, and other capacities. 200 children (7-9y) and 200 adults evaluated the mental capacities of beetles or robots. By assessing which capacities traveled together when participants disagreed about these controversial "edge cases," we reconstructed the latent structure underlying mental capacity judgments from the bottom up—a novel approach to elucidating conceptual structure among children. For both children and adults, factor analyses revealed a distinction between social-emotional, physiological, and perceptual-cognitive capacities, hinting at three fundamental ways of explaining and predicting others' actions: as social partners, biological creatures, and goaldirected agents (each involving related forms of both "experience" and "agency"; Gray et al., 2007). Relative to adults, children attributed greater social-emotional capacities to beetles and robots, suggesting that intuitive ontologies of mental life could be critical for making sense of children's developing understanding of the social world.


This thesis is about the organization for action of a power
bloc of multinational and associated interests, their policy of
disruption of the Brazilian regime which took place from 1961 to
1964, and their subsequent take-over of the State. The thesis does
not attempt to present a historical reconstruction of the period.
Rather, it aims to bring new evidence to bear on the little known
activity of individuals and organizations which were crucial in
shaping the period in question and its aftermath.
Chapter I outlines the formation of the populist polity, since
the fall of the oligarchic state in 1930.
Chapter II describes the economic ascendancy gained by multinational
and associated interests throughout the 1950s under the
political aegis of an industrial-oligarchic populist polity.
Chapter III describes the corporate-political power structure
of multinational and associated interests. The chapter examines
the social and political agents who over a period of ten years
shaped an incipient bloc of modernizing-conservative interests.
The chapter also describes the different political means and administrative
channels whereby the multinational and associated bloc was
able to press its interests within the populist polity.
Chapter IV describes the crisis of populism brought about by
the political mobilization of the working classes and the militant
action of the multinational and associated interests through their
own political organizations.
Chapter V examines the recruitment pattern, decision-making
structure and organization for action of the organic elite of the
multinational and associated interests, organized in IPES/IBAD.
Chapter VI describes the ideological campaign of the organic
elite against the regime and the working classes, and its attempts
to indoctrinate the general public and in particular the dominant
classes and the military.
Chapter VII examines the political campaign of the organic
elite among students, the female population, the middle classes,
the peasantry, the industrial working classes, and the political
parties.
Chapter VIII describes the political campaign of the organic
elite among the military and focuses upon the civilian-military
movement which brought about the downfall of Goulart.
Chapter IX describes the occupation of the state's key agencies
of policy-formation and decision-making by the organic elite of
IPES/IBAD.
The thesis attempts to demonstrate how entrepreneurs and
techno-entrepreneurs representing multinational and associated
interests were an active force in Brazilian politics before and
after the downfall of Goulart in 1964.


In accelerated degradation test, it is essential to establish a suitable degradation path model of the component. In order to predict the life accurately, it is critical to determine the sensitive parameters. A degradation path modeling method based on time series analysis was proposed in this paper. The sensitive parameters were determined by time series stationary test, and a time series ARIMA model was established for the degradation of sensitive parameters. Taking TL431 as an example, the accelerated degradation tests were carried out to investigate the degradation of its performance parameters, and a degradation path model was established for the parameters. The results indicate that the proposed method is feasible for accelerated degradation test.


This thesis is concerned with the investigation of politeness in stretches of talk. and covers conversational components like adjacency pairs, sequences, topic, as well as turn internal features such as dispreference markers, and to some extent, mitigation techniques. Troubles-talk in naturally occurring Turkish conversations provides the necessary data.

Politeness has so far been studied methodically in single utterances, but its presence in longer stretches of talk has not received a similar interest, nor, to the best of our knowledge, has any methodical work in this area been carried out. To provide a systematic approach to lengthy pieces of conversation, a new framework is developed in Chapter 1 from the well-known notions of politeness like 'face' (Goffman, 1971, 1972) and 'Face Threatening Acts' (FFAs - Brown and Levinson, 1978, 1987), while a combination of extracts from the literature of Conversational Analysis is used to flesh out the discussion. 'With the inclusion of Face Boosting Acts, which are thought to be the opposite of FTAs, the framework shows that in situations where 'positive face' is threatened or boosted, the change in the face values creates Interactional Imbalance, always to the disadvantage of one speaker, and the subsequent turn is commonly designed to put the balance right. Where imbalance is created unwillingly to the disadvantage of the recipient, or has to be ignored, speech is marked with dispreferred turn markers.

Before looking for evidence of these points in responses to troubles-telling - a considerable threat to the teller's face - procedures of collection, selection and presentation of data are discussed in Chapter 2.

Chapter 3 starts with the topic initiating characteristics of troubles-telling and goes on to explore the acknowledgement types that it gets, differentiated in terms of their capacity to encourage or discourage further talk. Despite different consequences for topic, all acknowledgements are found to be face boosters, and preferred turns.

In comparison, Advice is explored in Chapter 4 as a dispreferred turn with further face damage for the teller. It is also found to extend the sequence on the one hand, but minimize the chances of having a proper closure for the talk, on the other.

Troubles-telling responses, incorporating a varying degree of' disagreement, are examined in Chapter 5, where it is decided that disagreement is a face booster as long as it follows the recognizable patterns in the culture.

The summary of these points in the Conclusion opens up the way to further theoretical issues like the relation of Interactional Imbalance to sequence types, Conditional Relevance, and topic, apart from pinpointing the predominance of face considerations in conversational practice in general.


Density Functional Theory (DFT) and its time-dependent extension (TDDFT) have become two of the most popular approaches for computer simulations of the electronic structure and response properties of quantum systems. A reasonable compromise between accuracy and computational cost allows to apply DFT to a wide range of systems from small molecules to biological complexes. Despite the in principle exact nature of DFT and TDDFT, practical calculations require the use of approximate DFT exchange-correlation (XC) functionals and TDDFT kernels and the accuracy of the obtained results is determined by the accuracy of the chosen XC description. These approximations inevitably introduce some limitations in the use of DFT-based methods.The inability of the local spin density approximation, generalized gradient approximations (GGA) and even some hybrid functionals to properly describe charge transfer (CT) excitations and predict intermolecular interaction energies of weakly bound complexes are two major drawbacks of current XC descriptions. This thesis is therefore devoted to the improvement of XC functionals for the special cases of weak interactions and charge-transfer excitations. Many original strategies have been suggested to cure DFT calculations from these failures. In particular, the Dispersion-Corrected Atom-Centered Potentials (DCACP) approach provides an accurate description of dispersion forces within generalized gradient approximations for the exchange-correlation functional. The DCACP method has been extensively used for the last seven years and has shown an excellent performance for a large class of applications. However, one of the drawbacks of the current implementation of DCACP is that the correct R-6 asymptotics of dispersion interaction is not reproduced. A first goal of this thesis was to enable DCACP to recover the R-6 asymptotic limit. To this end, we have designed a new 2-channel version of DCACP and carried out test calculations on both small molecules and large macromolecular complexes. The obtained results demonstrate the excellent performance and transferability of the DCACP approach. Moreover, for large macromolecular complexes, in which the binding energy is dominated by dispersion, [pi]-stacking, or hydrogen bonding, 2-channels DCACP were found to be the best method overall for correcting the popular BLYP functional. Our study clearly shows that account of R-6 asymptotics is crucial for the description of large complexes and that 2-channels DCACP are fully able to capture these effects. On the contrary, an account of R-6 asymptotics is of little importance for small molecules since the remaining errors of the underlying GGA functional are dominating. With the aim of deepening our understanding of the DCACP concept and the reasons for its excellent performance, we explored the properties of the two DCACP parameters and were able to establish some systematic trends. It turned out that variational tuning of the DCACP can be done in an analytical manner that enables the easy generation of DCACP potentials for the full periodic table. Furthermore, since DCACP have little but crucial impact on the electronic density, dispersion energies can be obtained from non-self-consistent electron densities. These empirical findings suggest that the high transferability of DCACP is due to their atom-centered form and the intrinsically weak nature of dispersion interactions. [...]


Chinese consumers employ Western brands to assert competing versions of Chinese national identity. These uses emerged from findings that Chinese form meanings of Western brands, drawing from select historical national narratives of East-West relations: the West as liberator and Western brands as instruments of democratization; the West as oppressor and Western brands as instruments of domination; the West as subjugated and Western brands, by their own subjugation, as symbolically erasing China's past humiliations; and the West as partner and Western brands as instruments of economic progress. Our emergent theory elaborates processes by which Western brands are shaped by macrolevel, sociohistorical forces to motivate consumers' responses to them as political action tied to nation making.


While the majority of the literature on secondary markets for tickets in the entertainment industry focuses on concerts and sporting events, this study aims to shed light specifically on the music festival resale market. Music festivals have risen in prominence in recent years, particularly among millennials, during the time that the internet has dramatically facilitated the resale of tickets through online marketplaces. With many of the top festivals selling out rapidly, a great deal of music fans turn to secondary markets for tickets. However, very little is known about the behavior of secondary markets for music festivals due to information not being readily available to the public. This study uses demand-side data including transaction prices and quantities acquired from one of the largest online secondary ticket marketplaces to examine market behavior. My findings show that on average, prices decline for music festivals as they approach, but that there are years for certain festivals where this isn't the case. Other results show that markets for festivals with multiple weekends operate differently and that special artist performances such as band reunions can have a significant positive effect on consumer demand. Lastly, the majority of all ticket sales are found to take place in the final 30 days before music festivals transpire.


From a game theoretic point of view, a social norm can sometimes be considered as a Nash equilibrium in a coordination game. Here we point out a psychological reason why such a social norm might erode, even if it is beneficial and agents have rational intentions. The reason is a well-established bias in interpersonal perception, the better-than-average effect. Psychological research on this bias has mainly focused on skills and personality attributes, rather than normative behavior. In a series of online surveys, we demonstrate that the better-than-average effect applies also to judgments of the likelihood to engage in petty corruption, a very important domain of social norms. We conclude that this psychological bias may be a factor that contributes to the difficulty of establishing noncorruption.


The digitization of health records due to technological developments has paved the way for patients to be collaboratively treated by different healthcare institutions. In collaborative ehealth systems, a patient's health data is stored remotely in the cloud for sharing with different healthcare service providers. However, the use of third parties for storage exposes the data to several privacy and security violation threats. Ciphertext policy attribute-based encryption (CP-ABE) which provides a fine-grained access control is a promising solution to privacy and security issues in the cloud environment and as a result, it has been widely studied for secure sharing of health data in cloud-based ehealth systems. Addressing the aspects of expressiveness, efficiency, user collusion resistance and attribute/user revocation in CP-ABE have been at the forefront of these studies. Thus, in this article, we proposed a novel expressive, efficient and collusion-resistant access control scheme with immediate attribute/user revocation for secure sharing of health data in collaborative ehealth systems. The proposed scheme additionally achieves forward and backward security. To realize these features, our access control is based on the ordered binary decision diagram (OBDD) access structure and it binds the user keys to the user identities. Security and performance analysis show that our proposed scheme is secure, expressive and efficient.


URLi is a novel ultra rapid formulation of insulin lispro that shows improved postprandial glucose control and similar compatibility with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) vs. Humalog. In this study URLi was evaluated for the first time in a hybrid closed-loop system using the Medtronic MiniMed 670G. Primary objective was to compare URLi to Humalog with respect to the percentage of time with glucose values within target range 70-180 mg/dL (%TIR). This double-blind, crossover study included two 4-week treatment periods with URLi or Humalog. After a 2-week lead-in on Humalog, 42 adults with type 1 diabetes using personal MiniMed 670G pumps were randomized to 1 of the 2 treatment sequences with boluses initiated 0-2 minutes before meals. Both treatments achieved good glycemic control with mean TIR >75% (Fig 1). Mean time above and below range met consensus recommendations for both treatments. The percentage of time in Auto Mode was similar between treatments: URLi 92.0%; Humalog 91.4%. Insulin doses and pump settings were generally similar between treatments. There were no serious adverse events or early discontinuations. Overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar between treatments. URLi demonstrated comparable glycemic control and a similar safety profile to Humalog with the MiniMed 670G system in patients with type 1 diabetes. Disclosure B.W. Bode: Advisory Panel; Self; InPen, Medtronic. Consultant; Self; ADOCIA, Eli Lilly and Company, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer Inc. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Diasome Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S, Provention Bio, Inc., Senseonics, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., InPen, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MannKind Corporation, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Sanofi, Senseonics, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Glytec. A.L. Carlson: Consultant; Self; Medtronic. Research Support; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, UnitedHealth Group. R. Liu: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Employee; Spouse/Partner; Eli Lilly and Company. T. Hardy: Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. J. Boyd: None. R.M. Bergenstal: Consultant; Self; Ascensia Diabetes Care, Johnson & Johnson. Other Relationship; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc., Hygieia, Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S, Onduo, Roche Diabetes Care, Sanofi, UnitedHealth Group. S. Morrett: Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. D.A. Ignaut: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Funding Eli Lilly and Company


This case describes a community-based healthcare clinic and the issues facing the management and board of directors. The issues raised are common problems faced by all types of nonprofit organizations: insufficient fundraising and marketing policies to guide board decision making, confusion over staff and board roles in decision making, poorly thought-out bylaws that contribute to the confusion over board and staff roles, the challenge of harnessing the diverse backgrounds and opinions of a community-based board of directors, and lack of sound financial planning.

The Whitney Clinic case identifies common pitfalls in board governance and includes a roleplay to help students understand the difficulties inherent in implementing the basics of good governance.


PurposeMilitary officials who become accustomed to the distinct culture of the military face a variety of challenges when attempting to transition into the civilian workforce as veterans. These hardships even pertain to short- and mid-term veterans (SMVs) who leave the military at early career stages to pursue alternative career options. In this study, the authors explored the career construction decisions made by South Korean SMVs who left their military careers and successfully transitioned into the civilian workforce.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a phenomenology approach and conducted a semi-structured interview with 19 SMVs to unpack their career transition experiences.FindingsThe authors identified the motivational factors that encourage SMVs to develop their four career adaptabilities and illustrated the necessity for such qualities pre- and post-transition. Furthermore, the authors characterized each individual experience by the theoretical constructs of career adaptability and highlighted the contextual characteristics that prompted the emergence of career adaptability.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the understanding of career mobility at early career stages and how career adaptability is developed and manifested in the context of transitioning from the military to civilian society.


Growth and Welfare in Advanced Capitalist Economies takes stock of the major economic challenges that advanced industrial democracies have faced since the early 1990s and the responses by governments to them. It has three goals: firstly, to further our understanding of how political economies have transformed over the past decades; secondly, to analyse the contribution of governments to these changes, by looking at their growth strategies and thirdly, to highlight and analyse the role of the reforms of welfare systems in this transformative change.

In a nutshell, this book maps and provides general understanding of the evolution of growth regimes in advanced capitalist countries. It identifies five main growth regimes in contemporary advanced capitalist economies (three export-led and two domestic demand-led ones). To do so the book combines a supply side approach to economic growth as advocated by the Varieties of Capitalism Literature (OUP, 2001) with a demand side perspective as the recent discussion on growth models has exemplified. It argues that all political economies consist of growth regimes, which are based on a set of institutions that shape the supply side of the economy as well as on demand drivers such as government spending and private consumption. Both supply and demand are heavily shaped by the welfare state which provides for skills through education systems and stimulates demand through high social spending and private pension funds. The book focuses on the analysis of welfare reforms as growth strategies pursued by governments in an era characterised by financialization and the rise of the knowledge economy.


This analysis is based on the human heat balance according to the bioclimatic
 man-environment heat exchange model created by Krzysztof Blazejczyk. The
 final result of the human heat balance model points to biothermal weather
 situations for the outdoor recreational needs. In this analysis, middles
 daily meteorological data (of climatological station of Novi Sad) were used
 for two extreme months, January and July. In this work, it is analyzed two
 periods, the first is for 1992-2010. and the second is for year 2010. The aim
 is to show how weather can be evaluated for recreational needs which the
 health resource of Novi Sad and to point out the shortcomings when it comes
 to multi-year analysis. The objective of this article has been to present a
 bioclimatic analysis of city Novi Sad and how weather variables come together
 in order to give a climate meaning on human organism.


This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use and to describe the demographic profile of female smokers in Paraná State, Brazil. The study used a cross-sectional population-based design with cluster sampling (n = 2,153) of women 18 years or older in seven cities. Prevalence of smoking was 13.4%, ranging from 10% in Cascavel to 19% in Irati. According to multivariate analysis, city of residence, marital status, and schooling were significantly associated with tobacco use. Women in Irati (OR = 2.08; 95%CI: 1.22-3.54) were more likely to smoke than those in Cambé. Married women and widows were less likely to smoke (OR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.30-0.73 and OR = 0.43; 95%CI: 0.22-0.87) than single women. Women living with a partner (but not married) were more likely to smoke than single women (OR = 2.49; 95%CI: 1.12-5.53), and women with university degrees were less likely to smoke than those with eight years of school or less (OR = 0.41; 95%CI: 0.22-0.87). The results confirm the need for tobacco control programs that take gender and regional differences into account.


The quality of many rivers today is affected by anthropogenic factors such as land
use conversions and industrial developments. These activities have altered the
pattern of runoff, increased the sediment loads delivered into river channels, and
inadvertently affect the quality of river water. This study was carried out to (a)
analyse the hydrology characteristics of Sungai Kinabatangan Catchment; (b)
determine the sediment yield in the Sungai Kinabatangan Catchment; (c) develop
baseline hydro-geometry data of Sungai Kinabatangan and its tributaries; and (d)
design flow duration curves (FOC) for ungauged rivers in the Sungai Kinabatangan
Catchment. The four objectives were determined by field measurements of river
geometries as well as analysis of long-term gauging station data. For the first
objective, this study found that the Sungai Kinabatangan Catchment portrays
hydrologic characteristics of a large catchment. It is mainly dominated by baseflow
and less responsive to rainfall. The second objective determined that the sediment
yield in the Sungai Kinabatangan Catchment averages about 250 to 1,250
tonjkm2fyear. The amount is deemed tolerable and the yield has been relatively the
same since previous studies carried out 20 years ago. Hydro-geometry
measurements (width and depth of a channel) were obtained for 17 tributaries
within the Sungai Kinabatangan Catchment as well as the main river stem itself.
These measurements are useful in establishing a baseline of hydro-geometry data
for Sungai Kinabatangan. For the final objective, the design FOC for all the
tributaries in the Sg. Kinabatangan basin was established based on the data from
five existing gauging stations in the basin. Flow regime for each tributary could be
extracted from the design FOC. This method is useful in the estimation of flow for
small tributaries within a big catchment. It is especially practical where numerous
high-order streams drain into the catchment and these streams are less accessible
or are without a gauging record.


During the thermal oxidation of polyolefins, exemplified by isotactic polypropylene, few observable physical and chemical changes occur until embrittlement or similar failure. The increasing oxidative and auto-oxidative behavior that accompanies oxidation can be measured as a reducing oxidation induction time using isothermal thermal analysis. Alternatively, dynamic thermal analysis (DSC or TGA) may be used more conveniently to record the shift to lower temperatures of the post-fusion, oxidative exotherm quantified as an onset (T o n ) temperature. This paper collates data from a number of previous and current studies on the oxidative behavior of oriented polypropylene tapes and filaments exposed at elevated (130°C) temperature in air. During exposure, T o n values decrease according to a power law dependence with time and these shifts may be used to assess degrees of oxidation present in aged specimens. The implications of these shifts are discussed in terms of monitoring in-service behavior of exposed polyolefins and their relationship to oxidative and auto-oxidative mechanisms are discussed.


Modern structures require more complex designs. There is an increased need for accurate approaches to assessing uncertainties in loads, geometry, material properties, and operational environments. However, information is scarce on the reliability of suspension roofs together with their joints. There is an urgent need for estimating stress-strain state and reliability of welded joints, so recommendations can be given based on the obtained data. In this paper, reliability of large-span suspension roofs was investigated and a fundamental approach is proposed for reliability determination of these joints at the design phase of suspension rod roofs. In this work, several joints were investigated: supporting joints between rigid threads and external/internal contours, intermediate joints of top /lower chords of supporting threads, as well as joints between vertical/horizontal links and supporting thread of a roof. To measure reliability of joints, logic and probabilistic methods were used conjointly with other methods based on mathematical statistics. The proposed approach can be applied to design of suspension roof systems and help to develop better designs for better safety, quality control and efficiency of these structures, providing economic and social benefits.


Content management applications typically depend on information stored in both relational database tables and operating system files. Often, content providers replicate all or parts of the available database data and associated files to increase application availability, address resource constraints and costs, or better support geographically dispersed and mobile users. This article presents a solution that addresses integrated and selective database and file replication in the context of an enterprise voice portal. The solution is transparent to existing applications and imposes minimal storage overhead.