The objectives of this thesis are to understand the electronic structures of oxides and oxynitrides for photocatalytic water splitting, examine the Casimir interaction between oxides, and explore possible approach to bridge the Casimir force and material properties for advanced material research. The studies were performed in the framework of the density functional theory, many-body perturbation theory, i.e, the GW approximation and Bethe-Salpeter equation, as well as the Casimir-Lifshitz approach.The thesis consists of two sets of results. In the first part (papers I-VI), the electronic structures of oxynitrides, i.e., ZnO-GaN and ZnO-InN, with different compositions and local structures have been studied. The oxynitrides reduce the band-gap energies significantly compared to the binary counterparts, enabling the oxynitrides to act as visible light active photocatalysts. Formation of cluster--like structures further reduces the band-gap and delocalizes the valence bands, benefiting higher optical absorption. Furthermore, the energy levels between oxynitride and water were aligned using a surface model adapted from semiconductor heterostructure.In the second part (papers V-IX), the electronic structures of oxides as well as the Casimir interactions have been examined. In particular, we investigated the differences of optical and electronic properties between SnO2 and TiO2 polymorphs in terms of band-edge characters and electron-phonon coupling. In addition, we synthesized a mesoporous material possessing two types of pore structures (one is hexagonal ordered with pore diameter of 2.60 nm and the other is disordered with pore diameter of 3.85 nm). The pore framework contains four-coordinated titanium and oxygen vacancies, verified by both experimental measurements and density-functional theory calculations. Utilizing the predicted properties of the materials, we studied the Casimir interactions. A stable equilibrium of Casimir force is achieved in planar geometry containing a thin film and porous substrates. Both the force and equilibrium distance are tuned through modification of the material properties, for instance, optical properties and porosity. Furthermore, we adapted this concept to study the interactions between gas bubbles and porous SiO2 in water. A transition from repulsion to attraction is predicted, which highlights that the bubbles may interact differently at different surface regions.


Abstract Research on individual multilingualism and third language acquisition has expanded greatly in recent years. A theoretical correlate of this is the recognition of the fact that humans are potentially multilingual by nature, that multilingualism is the default state of language competence, and that this in turn has implications for an adequate theory of language competence, use and acquisition. Traditional second language acquisition (SLA) research usually treats all non-first language learners as second language (L2) learners. The recent focus on third language (L3) acquisition means that one has begun taking the complexity of multilingual learners' language background into account. This gives raise to reflection about some of the currently used basic terminology in the field, in particular how the concepts first, second and third language are understood. These terms are used variably in the literature. One approach, the common practice of labelling a multilingual's languages along a linear chronological scale as L1, L2, L3, L4 etc., is shown here to be untenable, being based on an inadequate conception of multilingualism. A different and arguably more satisfactory approach is based on the conventional dichotomy of L1 (established during infancy) versus L2 (added after infancy) and relates the notion of L3 to the presence of a more complex language background. The limitation to a three-order hierarchy involving the distinction between the concepts of L1, L2 and L3 is discussed and adopted as a working hypothesis, awaiting further research on this issue. Finally, the problems with the expressions first, second and third language have become more apparent with the emergence of research on L3 acquisition. Maybe the time is ripe to work for a change of these established terms? As possible replacements, primary, secondary and tertiary language are put forward for discussion. The paper stresses the need for reconsideration and clarification of the concepts L1, L2 and L3 from the point of view of multilingual language users and learners.


Lipid profile in cardiac patients (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, ischaemic heart disease), diabetic patients and normal humans was investigated. Total serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, blood glucose, calcium, potassium and sodium were determined, employing established methods and procedures. Higher level of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride were found in both cardiac and diabetic patients, however, cardiac patients had much lower level of HDL-C as compared to normal humans. Age wise comparison revealed that level of total cholesterol; triglyceride and LDL-C were elevating while the level of HDL-C were decreasing with the age in cardiac and diabetic patients. Sex wise comparison showed that females had higher HDL-C level than males and therefore had fewer incidences of heart diseases. The level of Ca++, K+ and Na+ were similar in all age groups and sexes. No significant elevation in the level of these electrolytes was discovered.


ABSTRACT
Background: The delay in gastric emptying is the second most frequent complication after duodenopancreatectomy with pyloric preservation, that increases hospitalization time and hospital costs.
Aim: To identify factors that contribute to the appearance the delay in this surgical procedure.
Method: Ninety-five patients were submitted to duodenopancreatectomy with pyloric preservation. After retrospective analysis of the medical records, it was observed that 60 had prolonged hospitalization due to complications. Thus, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze predictors of delayed gastric emptying.
Results: Delay was present in 65% (n=39) and pancreatic fistula in 38.3% (n=23). Univariate analysis revealed that the presence of pancreatic complications (pancreatic fistula, p=0.01), other intracavitary complications with the appearance of abdominal collections (p=0.03) and hypoalbuminemia (p=0.06) were responsible, also confirmed by the multivariate analysis. In those who presented delay without a determined cause, it was observed that high levels of total bilirubin (p=0.01) and direct bilirubin (p=0.01) could be related to it.
Conclusion: The delay in gastric emptying in patients undergoing duodenopancreatectomy with pyloric preservation is due to intracavitary complications.


A randomized controlled trial of four interventions was conducted using tubewells (n=2,486), liquid sodium hypochlorite ('Clorin') distributed with an improved water vessel (n=2,305), hygiene promotion (n=1,877), and a combination of the three (n=2,040) to create an evidence-base for water policy in Afghanistan. A fifth group served as a control (n=2,377). Interventions were randomized across 32 villages in Wardak province. Outcomes were measured through two household surveys separated by one year and twice-weekly household surveillance conducted over 16 months. The households receiving all three interventions showed reduction in diarrhoea compared with the control group, through both longitudinal surveillance data (IRR [95% CI]=0.61 [0.47-0.81]) and cross-sectional survey data (AOR [95% CI]=0.53 [0.30-0.93]). This reduction was significant when all household members were included, but did not reach significance when only children under five were considered. These results suggest multi-barrier methods are necessary where there are many opportunities for water contamination. Surveillance data suggested a greater impact of interventions on reducing diarrhoeal diseases than data from the surveys. Higher economic status as measured through household assets was associated with lower rates of diarrhoea and greater intervention uptake, excepting Clorin. Use of soap was also associated with lower prevalence of diarrhoea.


Abstract. We study equilibrium states of the Smoluchowski equation for rigid, rod-like polymer ensembles. We start with several cases in the three dimensional space: a) nematic polymers where the only intermolecular interaction is the excluded volume effect, modeled using the Maier-Saupe potential, b) dipolar nematic polymers where the intermolecular interaction consists of the dipoledipole potential and the Maier-Saupe potential, c) dipolar nematic polymers in the presence of a stretching elongational flow, and d) nematic polymers in higher dimensional space. For each of the cases a), b) and c), it has been established separately with various mathematical manipulations that all stable equilibrium states have rotational symmetry. In this study, we present a unified view of the rotational symmetry of cases a), b) and c). Specifically, in cases a), b) and c), the rotational symmetry is determined by a key inequality. The inequality, once established for case a), is extended elegantly to cases b) and c). Furthermore, this inequality is used in case d) to establish the rotational symmetry of equilibrium states of nematic polymers in higher dimensional space. In three dimensional space, rotational symmetry simply means axisymmetry. In higher dimensional space, rotational symmetry is more complex in structure. For example, in four dimensional space, rotational symmetry may be around a one dimensional sub-space (i.e., axisymmetry) or it may be around a two dimensional sub-space. Nevertheless, the rotational symmetry significantly simplifies the classification of equilibrium states. We calculate and present phase diagrams of nematic polymers in higher dimensional spaces.


During the last ten years, the adverse health effects in upper respiratory system and irritation symptoms have become increasingly evident in residents living in moisture damaged houses with dampness and mould growth. In the mid of 1995, Finnish environmental health authorities faced the problem with an increasing demand for investigations to verify the microbial growth in suspected buildings and thereby taking appropriate control measures to protect the health of occupants. As an extension of an earlier relatively onerous method for quantification of microbial growth on surfaces, the Food Laboratory in Porvoo developed an applied direct streak method (DSM) aiming at a facilitation of the method verifying the presence of mould growth. The method was established in close collaboration with health inspectors. The DSM was compared to the original culture method (CM) and repeatability and reproducibility were good or very good. The DSM is a semi-quantitative method and enables the health inspectors to take surface samples without breaking the building structures and without being restricted to stiff surfaces. The results can demonstrate that the material is damaged by active viable mould growth. The DSM provides a powerful and useful tool for health inspectors to verify mould growth in buildings and it supports them to make decisions that are needed to protect the health of occupants. The cost of DSM is about one fourth of that of the more elaborate CM. The DSM is being increasingly used in Finland.


Oxford, the home of lost causes, the epitome of the world of medieval and renaissance learning in Britain, has always fascinated at a variety of levels: social, institutional, cultural. Its rival, Cambridge, was long dominated by mathematics, while Oxford's leading study was Classics. In this pioneering book, 16 leading authorities explore a variety of aspects of Oxford Classics in the last two hundred years: curriculum, teaching and learning, scholarly style, publishing, gender and social exclusion and the impact of German scholarship. Greats (Literae Humaniores) is the most celebrated classical course in the world: here its early days in the mid-19th century and its reform in the late 20th are discussed, in the latter case by those intimately involved with the reforms. An opening chapter sets the scene by comparing Oxford with Cambridge Classics, and several old favourites are revisited, including such familiar Oxford products as Liddell and Scott's "Greek-English Lexicon", the "Oxford Classical Texts", and Zimmern's "Greek Commonwealth". The book as a whole offers a pioneering, wide-ranging survey of Classics in Oxford.


In this qualitative study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 sets of parents who have children with cancer . Measures were used to assess how schools may or may not have supported these families during this time. For the case studies, data were collected using parent demographic surveys, parent interviews, child interviews, and principal and educator surveys. Likert scales were included in surveys given to parents and teachers. When appropriate, information from one data source was used to substantiate and expand upon information provided by another. In this study, the research data was examined using two complementing models, Bronfenbrenner's (Bronfenbrenner, 1994) bioecological model and McCubbin and Patterson's (1983) Double ABCX model. Both models examine the effects of over an extended period of time (Bronfenbrenner, 2001). The bioecological model emphasizes family interactions amongst themselves and other systems, including schools . It examines the interplay between three systems, the family , hospital, and school and how these interactions affect the family and the child with cancer . McCubbin and Patterson's (1983) Double ABCX model of families examines the impact of the original stressor on a family according to a pile up of stressors, the family's perception of resources, and their management of these resources and stressors. The philosophy of moral pedagogy, where the virtues relative to the process of teaching are congruent with the personal values of the teacher, further serves to assess the relationship between the school and the family (Sockett, 1993). Noddings'(1992) ethic of care is taken into consideration when examining the school-parent relationship in terms of moral pedagogy. Noddings defines caring as a connection or encounter between two human beings. Within the school setting, the student and his/her family have had experiences which may or may not include moral pedagogy. The major goal of this study was to assess whether schools are a stressor or resource for families using the Double ABCX and the bioecological models. .Results generated ideas about how the educational system can work more effectively with families.


We discuss the approach we have taken to applying diagnostic modeling and associated reasoning techniques to the problem of diagnosing and prognosing faults. as part of vehicle health, management systems. We present a brief background of diagnostic fault modeling based on lessons learned from ongoing research as part of the NASA/FAA Aviation Safety Program. We discuss the application of these techniques and possible implementation scenarios to commercial aircraft health management. We identify information sources available on a typical commercial transport and discuss methods for evaluating them, either singly or in combination, to establish knowledge of the current or predicted health state of the aircraft.


Abstract The United Nations' report on the State of the World Population 2000 (United Nations, 2000b) and studies conducted by the World Health Organization (2000a) and Amnesty International (2004) all indicate that violence against women is rampant in Africa and is increasing in some areas. The following study is an effort to highlight some of the reasons why violence against women is particularly problematic in African. The study reveals that violence against women in Africa is mainly due to the existence of discriminatory laws, prejudicial and harmful customs, traditions, beliefs and practices, and partly due to non-enforcement of gender-sensitive laws and constitutional provisions that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. Based on these findings the author argues that a review of such discriminatory laws, enforcement of existing legislations and constitutional provisions coupled with public awareness campaigns on the part of African governments to inform the public about the ills of certain customs, traditions, beliefs and practices will help stem the tide of violence against women in Africa. Background: In a statement to the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in September 1995, the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali said that violence against women is a universal problem that must be universally condemned (United Nations, 1996). He made the statement in reaction to the rising incidence of various types of violence against women in both developed and developing nations. Especially troubling are high incidences of rape, domestic violence, "honor" killings, human trafficking, prostitution, forced servitude, forced and early marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, 2000). The Platform for Action-the core document for the Beijing Conference-noted that violence against women constituted a violation of women's basic human rights and is an obstacle to the achievement of gender equality and development and peace around the world (Ganny, 1996; Nosike, 1996; United Nations, 2000a). Although the United Nations has been concerned with the issue of the advancement of women's rights since its founding, but, the alarming global dimensions of female-targeted violence was not made a top priority of the international community until December 1993 (following the June 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna which laid the groundwork for eliminating violence against women), when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Women's International Network, 2002). The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (DEVAW) defines violence against women as "any act of genderbased violence that results in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life" (World Health Organization, 2000a). DEVAW notwithstanding, female-targeted violence is still a major problem in the world today (Amnesty International, 2004). The United Nations' report on: The State of the World Population, 2000, noted that gender-based violence still constitutes a life-long threat to hundreds of millions of women and girls across the globe (United Nations, 2000b). Also, in the year 2000, the World Health Organization stated that in every country where reliable studies have been done, results indicate that between 10% and 50% of the women have been physically abused in their life time and that between 12% and 25% have experienced attempted or completed rape (World Health Organization, 2000a). Both reports noted that violence against women is particularly rampant in Africa. Further, Amnesty International (2004), adds that because the human rights situation across Africa is characterized by widespread armed-conflict, political repression, poverty and social inequality, persecution of human rights defenders, and violence against women, women in Africa are at risk of violence whatever their circumstance. …


Colleges and universities have been playing an increasingly important role in regional innovation-driven development. Based on panel data (1999-2016) of 287 cities in China, this study conducted an empirical analysis of the influences of the new campuses which were built for the expanded college enrollment on the city's patentable inventions and innovations. The Time-varying DID model was adopted in the analysis. The regression results demonstrate that newly built campuses have boosted inventions and innovations in their cities, benefiting various innovators including individuals and firms; that the impact of newly built campuses increases over time; the newly built campuses of vocational colleges have mainly influenced innovation actors like businesses, while those of regular colleges and universities have impacted both individuals and organizations; that the new campus built in the different city from its headquarter exerts greater promoting effects on the innovation of the city than the campus relocated in the original city and the campus of a newly established university; that the indirect effect of newly built campuses on the invention of all innovation actors is more significant than the impact of their direct collaboration with the latter; that a newly built campus have a more prominent effect on regional innovation when it is situated in an area with a high concentration of universities; and that the existence of the old campus of a university amplifies the promoting effect of its newly built campus on local innovation and the amplifying function strengthens over time.


This paper provides a new method of producing molten weld metal for use in joining two aluminum containing pieces by using the reaction of aluminum and calcium sulfate. First we confected SHS aluminum welding powder including Al, CaSO4, KF, KClO3, Cu and Si, then ignited it and obtained the cast aluminum. Afterwards, we observed the samples of the cast aluminum under a metallographic microscope and tested their hardness with a micro hardness tester. The experimental results demonstrate that aluminum and calcium sulfate can react to get cast aluminum and the microstructure and property of the cast aluminum substantially meet the need to weld aluminum and its alloy.


One of the ultimate miniaturizations in nanotechnology is molecular electronics, where devices will consist of individual molecules. There are many complications associated with the use of molecules in electronic devices, such as the electronic perturbations in the molecule associated with being bonded to an electrode, how electrons traverse the metal-molecule junction, and the difficulty of macroscopically addressing single to very few molecules. Whether fabricating a test structure or a usable device, the use of self-assembly is fundamental to the fabrication of molecular electronic devices. We will discuss how to fabricate self-assembled monolayers into test assemblies and how to use intermolecular interactions to direct molecules into desired positions to create nanostructures and to connect functional molecules to the outside world. These assemblies serve as test structures for measurements on single or bundled molecules. The development of several experimental techniques, including various scanning probes, mercury drop junctions, break junctions, nanopores, crossed wires, and other techniques using nanoparticles have enabled the ability to test these structures and make reproducible measurements on single molecules. Many of these methods have been developed to test molecules with potential for integration into devices such as oligo (phenylene-ethynylene) molecules and other /spl pi/-conjugated molecules, in ensemble or single-molecule measurements.


The present article is concerned with the study of marketing development prospects for tourism organizations and healthcare and wellness tourism (HCWT) companies as a means for creating their competitive advantages at different management levels. The directions for the intensification of HCWT development in Kazakhstan sanitarium-resort facilities have been substantiated. The review and collation of national and foreign scientists' works have made it possible to determine the main peculiarities of HCWT development. The definitions of tourist activities in the area under consideration have been classified. Based on the research carried out on the people, consuming healthcare and wellness services provided by the sanatorium Rakhmanovskiye Kluchi, the preferences of Kazakhstan HCWT consumers have been analyzed. Moreover, marketing development measures, both for a specific company and tourism organizations and companies of healthcare and wellness area as a whole, have been suggested.


The origin of this work can be found in the project 'Effects and Control of Anthropogenic Noise in Marine Ecosystems' in the part relative to legal initiatives. In the first phase of the Report on this Project (December 2008) it was concluded that the level of complexity of marine issues, united by the fact that wide scientific gaps and difficulties still need to be covered and resolved, counseled against the immediate drawing up of legal projects concerning underwater acoustic pollution. Nevertheless, it was suggested that a document of 'Best Practices' be elaborated to focus on the 'state of the art' of this issue, and that it be used by public administrations and promoters of projects that will cause acoustic pollution, as much within the framework of environmental impact assessments as in management development plans in protected marine areas. It is of vital importance that activities, which generate acoustic
pollution in the oceans, be monitored. Accordingly, this document could derive, in the short term, a Protocol of Applications which will in its own time open the way for the preparation of, if necessary, legislative initiatives within their own right.


In this paper, we study the single item capacitated multi-mode lot sizing problem with periodic carbon emission constraints where the carbon emission constraints define an upper bound for the average emission per product produced in any period. The uncapacitated version of this problem was introduced in Absi et al. (2013) and solved in polynomial time. We show that this generalization of the problem is NP-Hard, in general, and present important properties for the optimal solutions of the problem. We propose algorithms to construct the piecewise linear total production cost functions for each period when the number of modes is fixed. This enables us to solve the problem using the dynamic programming algorithms developed for the lot sizing problem with piecewise concave production cost functions. We also consider an extension of the problem where at most two resources can be used at any period, and develop a polynomial time algorithm to solve it when the number of resources, the cost and emission parameters, and the capacities of the resources are time-invariant.


The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of bleeding, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and superchilling on freshness deterioration and sensory shelf life of redfish (Sebastes marinus) deskinned fillets. Changes in psychrotrophic microorganisms (TVC), specific spoilage organisms (SSO), their metabolites (TMA, TVB-N), pH, drip loss, headspace gas composition, and sensory characteristics (Torry freshness score and texture) were analysed. The pre-trial conducted involved four gas mixtures as well as vacuum packaging (VP) and air (A) storage at -0.4°C to select the most effective packaging method. The VP fish deteriorated fastest, followed by A treatment. All MAP treatments showed a similar inhibitive effect towards the SSO investigated. The lower (40%) concentration of CO2 was sufficient to delay SSO growth but the gas to fish ratio of 2.2-2.5 caused some textural problems. The initial quality of the fillets obtained for the pre-trial varied in redness and bruises, affecting the sensory assessment, and resulted in some differences within treatments. For the shelf study, unbled deskinned fillets stored in air were compared to two MAP treatments and to bled air-stored (AB) fillets during storage for 6 days at -1°C and +2°C, thereafter mimicking distribution via sea freight to European markets. Bleeding of the whole fish resulted in fillets with slightly slower TVB-N and TMA formation due to slower growth of Photobacterium phosphoreum, an important spoilage bacterium in cold water marine fish. Low pH in MAP fillets resulted in higher drip loss but a lower gas to fish ratio reduced texture problems. P. phosphoreum and pseudomonads were the main SSO in MAP and air storage respectively. MAP led to an extension of freshness and shelf life by few days.


This thesis consists of a summary and four appended papers on conflicts in inter-related goals in Swedish environmental policies and projects.

Paper I analyses conflicts between two of these goals Reduced Climate Impact and Sustainable Forests or, more precisely, the conflict between conserving forests and supplying forest fuel. This is done with the help of a forest sector model including four actors: forest owners, sawmills, the pulp industry and the heating industry. The parameters of the model are estimated, and then used to simulate effects of additional forest conservation actions on forest fuel supplies. According to the results, protection of an additional four percent of forest land would lead to a decrease in the supply of forest fuel, and can lead to an increase in Swedish emissions of carbon dioxide from non-renewable sources by about 0.9 percent.

Paper II examines another goal conflict, between the two Swedish environmental goals maintaining A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life and Increasing Use of Renewable Energy Resources or, more precisely, effects of stump harvests on forest fuel supplies and the abundance of saproxylic beetles in northern Sweden. The analysis uses a model similar to the one described and applied in Paper I, but parameter estimates are derived from regional data. According to the results, large-scale implementation of stump harvests would result in a 3% increase in the use of renewable energy sources in heating plants, but a 5% reduction in abundance of saproxylic beetles on future clear cuts, compared to a scenario with no stump harvests.

Paper III describes the wind power park on Smola, Norway, and examines the conflict between clean energy generation and protection of the island's white-tailed eagle (WTE) population. The paper presents a Resource Equivalence Analysis (REA) addressing the required compensation for damage done to the WTE population. It also contains some general remarks on the practical implementation of REAs.

Paper IV considers eutrophication, and the two interconnected sub-goals of nitrogen and phosphorus reduction. The paper maps the set of possible outcomes that a policy maker could choose from, and discusses how their choice could be informed by an environmental index (EI). The paper also discusses the benefits of formulating a priori the eutrophication goal in terms of an EI instead of, as today, in terms of separate nitrogen and phosphorus reduction goals. Finally, it suggests an eutrophication index and discusses how the presented results could have practical value although they are based on very crude data.


A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine seroprevalence and correlates of coinfections of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein-Bar virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus including type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in China. A total of 1,110 HIV/AIDS patients from Shanxi (Central area, n = 287), Zhejiang (Eastern area, n = 163), Yunnan (Southwestern area, n = 300) and Xinjiang (Northwestern area, n = 360) provinces were analyzed. The overall seroprevalence was 6.3% for HBsAg, 59.0% for anti-HCV IgG, 96.6% for anti-EBV IgG, 91.5% for anti-HSV-1 IgG, and 34.1% for anti-HSV-2 IgG. Eleven (1.0%) HIV/AIDS patients were coinfected with all five viruses, 177 (15.9%) with four viruses, 611 (55.0%) with three viruses, 288 (25.9%) with two viruses, 23 (2.1%) with single virus, and 1 (0.1%) with none of the five viruses. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that neither HBV, nor EBV and HSV-1 coinfection was associated with sociodemographic characteristics and HIV transmission mode, but HCV coinfection was associated with geographic region, age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, and HIV transmission mode, whereas HSV-2 coinfection was associated with geographic region, ethnicity and HIV transmission mode. This study suggests that HIV/AIDS patients with different regional and sociodemographic backgrounds and HIV transmission mode in China have different profiles of viral coinfections and should be subject to differential considerations in related health care programs.


Cities are increasingly controlled and domesticated (Atkinson 2003, Raco 2003) as a result of the gentrification
of the city and symptom of what Smith (1996) terms the 'revanchist city'. Given the current moral panic in the UK around
young people and anti-social behaviour, large groups of teenagers are not part of plans for the regenerating city. This paper
will examine young people's experience of urban public space and the exclusions (Sibley 1995) they encounter there. This
will be achieved via secondary analysis of questionnaire data collected by young people themselves. Mitchell (2003) argues
that certain groups have the 'right to the city' and as such are seen as legitimate users of urban spaces. Other groups are
perceived as having less legitimacy in public space and are therefore viewed as problematic. Whilst Mitchell (2003) focuses
on homeless populations this study will concentrate on another group marginalised from the city, namely teenagers. How
teenagers gain legitimacy in the city is an important question here. This will be illustrated by using a case study of
Cathedral Gardens, a newly regenerated public space in Manchester city centre, UK. As a solution to the 'problem' of large
numbers of young people gathering in the gardens at weekends and during school holidays and with the threat of a citywide
dispersal order aimed at groups of teenagers, local youth workers and a charity group set up a peer youth work scheme.
This involves groups of young people being advised and in effect 'policed' by their peers. Using data gathered from interviews
with peer youth workers the paper will explore how these young people gained legitimacy in the space and 'the right' to be
present there.


Why do some employees bring their own information technology (IT) to work? This behavior occurs in firms that provide considerable IT for employee use and in firms that have policies and governance that discourage employees from using consumer IT as corporate IT. In the theory of the firm, IT policy and governance are means for a firm to maximize value from its IT and to ensure employees do what they are supposed to do under their contracts. However, IT governance generally assumes that the only IT that is relevant to the firm is the IT that the firm owns. Employees can create value for the firm using their personal IT in conjunction with the firm's. Actions like these are consistent with entrepreneurship, if the employees invest in their own IT in expectation of return. Entrepreneurship theory, however, tends to focus on founders and not employees of established firms. This paper proposes a link between the theory of the firm and entrepreneurship theory. This link is significant because it advances the notion that employees of established firms can be entrepreneurial when they use their own consumer IT as corporate IT. This link is also significant because it suggests that managing employee entrepreneurship requires tolerance of value creation that is emergent and that can occur widely within a firm, including anywhere where IT is used.


Inverse relationships between seed protein and both seed yield and seed oil have limited progress in developing economically profitable high protein soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars. This study evaluated changes in and limitations to seed protein concentration, associated changes in seed oil concentration, and variability for these traits during eight cycles of recurrent selection for seed protein. Seed of a line with 483 g kg⁻¹ protein was blended with seed of two F₂ populations segregating for male sterility (ms2ms2). So plants from randomatings in the population were evaluated in each cycle for plant maturity and for seed protein and oil concentration. The 20% of plants with highest seed protein in Cycles 0 through 3 and the 10% of plants with highest seed protein in Cycles 4 through 7 were randomly intermated to initiate the next cycle. Plant maturity was not consistently associated with either seed protein or oil in the eight cycles of selection. Recurrent selection increased mean seed protein 5.8 g kg⁻¹ and decreased mean seed oil 2.3 g kg⁻¹ per cycle. A stronger inverse relationship between seed protein and oil was observed in later than in earlier cycles as indicated by steeper slopes of and decreased variability around regression lines in later cycles. Most of the alleles for this trait were accumulated in the high protein selections by Cycle 5. An average of 53% of the plants in Cycles 6 through 8 had 480 g kg⁻¹ or greater seed protein. Progenies of these plants would be excellent sources of phenotypes that combine high seed protein with good agronomic traits. Journal Paper no. 15587 of the Purdue Univ. Agric. Res. Programs.


Connected vehicles (CVs) have the potential to collect and share information that, if appropriately processed, can be employed for advanced traffic control strategies, rendering infrastructure-based sensing obsolete. However, before we reach a fully connected environment, where all vehicles are CVs, we have to deal with the challenge of incomplete data. In this paper, we develop data-driven methods for the estimation of vehicles approaching a signalised intersection, based on the availability of partial information stemming from an unknown penetration rate of CVs. In particular, we build machine learning models with the aim of capturing the nonlinear relations between the inputs (CV data) and the output (number of non-connected vehicles), which are characterised by highly complex interactions and may be affected by a large number of factors. We show that, in order to train these models, we may use data that can be easily collected with modern technologies. Moreover, we demonstrate that, if the available real data is not deemed sufficient, training can be performed using synthetic data, produced via microscopic simulations calibrated with real data, without a significant loss of performance. Numerical experiments, where the estimation methods are tested using real vehicle data simulating the presence of various penetration rates of CVs, show very good performance of the estimators, making them promising candidates for applications in the near future.


Aggregation clauses used in insurance contracts play important roles to limit the insurers' liability by capping the deductible to be borne by the assured and the financial ceiling of the policy. This paper evaluates the inconsistent interpretation of an increasingly important group of aggregation wordings, namely, "series of related" by the courts of England and Wales and some Commonwealth jurisdiction so far. The author also submits four interplayed elements which need to be given greater consideration by the courts to facilitate a more certain and predictable basis of aggregation by "series of related events".


Roni Horn's art engages a variety of media to elicit uplifting minimalist effects from sober materials, to scrutinize identities in the passage of time across a person's face, to make poetical effects in language and to track minute alterations in nature. These investigations often assume serial or paired formats. Among Horn's best-loved works are the "Library of Water," for which she photographed water from a number of glaciers in Iceland, and her stick casts of lines from poems by Emily Dickinson. Published for Horn's major exhibition at the Kunsthaus Bregenz in Austria, and designed in collaboration with the artist, "Roni Horn: Well and Truly" gathers the artist's major works of recent years, from artist's books to drawings, photographs and sculptures, and supplies a broad overview of her career.


BACKGROUND
Poor sleep and anxiety disorders are highly comorbid in youth, and each predicts altered ventral striatum (VS) response to rewards, which may impact mental health risk. Contrasting evidence suggests previously reported negative associations between sleep health and VS response may be stronger or weaker in youth with anxiety, indicating sensitivity to win/loss information or blunted reward processing, respectively. We cross-sectionally examined the role of sleep in VS response to rewards among youth with anxiety versus a no-psychiatric-diagnosis comparison (ND) group. We expected a group*sleep interaction on VS response to rewards but did not hypothesize directionality.

METHODS
As part of the pretreatment battery for a randomized clinical trial, 74 youth with anxiety and 31 ND youth (ages 9-14 years; n = 55 female) completed a monetary reward task during fMRI. During the same pretreatment window, actigraphy and diary-estimated sleep were collected over 5 days, and participants and their parents each reported participants' total sleep problems. We examined group*sleep interactions on VS response to monetary rewards versus losses via three mixed linear models corresponding to actigraphy, diary, and questionnaires, respectively.

RESULTS
Each model indicated group*sleep interactions on VS response to rewards. Actigraphy and diary-estimated time awake after sleep onset predicted reduced VS response in youth with anxiety but not ND youth. Parent-reported sleep problems similarly interacted with group, but simple slopes were nonsignificant.

CONCLUSIONS
Wake after sleep onset was associated with blunted reward response in youth with anxiety. These data suggest a potential pathway through which sleep could contribute to perturbed reward function and reward-related psychopathology (e.g., depression) in youth with anxiety.


The study was conducted to identify the effects of bacterial bio-fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of three species Bromus Tomentellus,
Onobrychis sativa and Avena sativa under drought stress. The experimental design was factorial in a completely randomized design under greenhouse condition
(University of Zabol). The treatments were comprised the following levels: Azote barvar1, Phosphorus barvar2, combination of Azote barvar1 and Phosphorus barvar2
and control. Water stress was applied at three levels of field capacity, 0.7 field capacity and 0.4 field capacity, with three replications. Quantitative parameters such
as germination rate, germination percentage, root and shoot dry weight, root and shoot height, photosynthesis pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and
carotenoids), percentage of macro and micro-nutrients in the plant were measured. Results showed that impact of bio-fertilizer and interaction between different levels of
drought stress were significantly difference with the exception of germination percentage B. Tomentellus, the roots of O. sativa and Mg in A. sativa (P≥0.01).Results
revealed that bio-fertilizer Barvar 1 increased, germination rate, shoot length, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc in A. sativa, However, dry weight of
shoots and roots, chlorophyll and phosphorus decreased Data obtained for B. tomentellus showed that bio-fertilizer Barvar 1 increased germination rate, fresh weight
of shoot, dry weight of roots, potassium, zinc and manganese. The fertilizer increased the germination percentage of O. sativa root length, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron however, it depresed shoot's fresh weight, iron in the shoot and potassium in the roots. Phosphorus barvar2 increased the germination rate and percentage of B. Tomentellus and O. sativa, the fertilizer produced the high amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in B. Tomentellus and A. sativa and, dry and fresh weight of shoots of A. sativa. The
combined application of bio-fertilizers increased photosynthesis pigments in A. sativa. In addition, there were an increase in fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root in O. sativa, and reduction in elements such as phosphorus, manganese and iron. Data obtained for the drought stress showed that 0.7FC increased the study characteristics of A. sativa and O. sativa while, 0.4FC decreased plants yield and amount of micro and macro nutrients In B .Tomentellus, FC level increased germination rate, shoot and root length, shoot fresh weight, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. While, photosynthesis pigments and some elements also led to decline. In this species, 0.7FC and 0.4FC had the highest effect on plant nutrients respectively. In general, Results of the study showed that use of bio-fertilizers 1 and 2 could increase the germination and growth of the plants. Also, according to these results, it seems that the fertilizers had
positive impacts on the plants in 0.7FC and FC conditions and, they have no significant role to mitigating the effects of drought. The results of the study showed
that application of bio-fertilizers on B. Tomentellus, O. sativa and A. sativa could be useful for restoration and improvement of rangelands.


Non-receptor tyrosine kinases Src family plays an important role in signal transduction induced by diverse extracellular stimulus, including cytokine, and growth factors. Overactivity or overexpression of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src is involved in the growth, development and progression of various human cancers and their inhibitors are under intensive investigations as novel anti-cancer agents. Therefore, we studied receptor-based molecular docking of src against natural compounds. Each Selected compounds docked with the X-ray crystal structure of Src (PDB; 3EL7). The best-docked compounds have been elected for target by optimal energy value, types of interactions, and conformations. STOCK1N-75795, STOCK1N-80087, STOCK1N-72227, STOCK1N79428, STOCK1N-72232, STOCK1N-72129, and STOCK1N-72552 compound have a better binding energy as well as binding conformation against src. Foremost, STOCK1N-80087, STOCK1N-72227, and STOCK1N-72232 are their excellent QPlogPo/w, CIQPlogS, QPlog HERG K + channels, QPPCaco, QPlogBB, QPPMDCK, QPlogKP, QPlogKhsa and percentage of human oral absorption values which satisfy the Lipinski's Rule of Five. This molecular docking study recapitulates docking free energy, protein ligands interaction profile, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic parameter of lead molecules, which are tremendously helpful to improve activity of natural compounds against src.


In the temperate forests of the southern Andes, Nothofagus pumilio, the dominant species of the most extensive forest type, experiences severe defoliation caused by caterpillars of the Ormiscodes genus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). This study uses tree rings to reconstruct the history of Ormiscodes outbreaks for the 1850–2005 period and examines relationships between outbreaks and climate variability. We used local climate records to compare outbreak–climate relationships in the northern Patagonian Andes (c. 41°S) and the cooler southern Patagonian Andes (c. 49°S). We also examined relationships between outbreak events and regional climate variability driven by variability in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation. Although relationships between Ormiscodes outbreaks and climate proved to be complex, in northern Patagonia defoliation events are associated with drier and warmer than average growing seasons. Warming and drying trends in Patagonia during the latter part of the 20th century have been linked to a positive trend in SAM. During the post‐1976 period of accelerated warming in Patagonia, widespread defoliation outbreaks have occurred in both northern and southern Patagonia but the increase in frequency of events has been greater in the south. In southern Patagonia the increases in frequency of outbreaks in the late 20th century appear to be unprecedented over the c. 150 year tree‐ring record of reconstructed outbreaks. These results are consistent with the greater magnitude of recent warming in southern Patagonia, and suggest that under predicted warmer and drier climates in the 21st century, defoliator outbreaks may continue to increase in frequency. This study is the first systematic reconstruction of past insect outbreaks in South America and provides a preliminary understanding of how climate variability affects defoliator outbreaks in Patagonian Nothofagus forests.


This study examines a particular form of cooperative wildlife management on Aboriginal land in the tropical savanna of the Northern Territory of Australia, in the context of broader questions about governance. It asks how governance at the local or community level can be designed to ensure sustainable development and real economic benefit for the region's long-term indigenous residents. It is argued here that sustainable development will require hybrid institutions that accommodate and value the principles and practices of indigenous resource management, while also recognising the benefits of broader regional resource governance. Emerging best practice in wildlife harvesting that is founded on careful scientific assessments of sustainability is identified, and an approach to northern development based on sustainability and locally controlled commercialisation is canvassed. Future challenges to the proposed approach include convincing governments and state agencies of its national as well as regional benefits. Reform of governance to facilitate its rapid implementation is desirable, in the context of the relative poverty currently experienced by many indigenous people in tropical north Australia.


LCL filters are widely used in distributed power-generation systems to attenuate high-frequency harmonics caused by pulse-width modulation switching of grid-connected inverters. A resonance occurs due to the series-connected reactive components. In order to damp resonance effects, active and passive damping methods are used. Lower switching frequencies are typically preferred to decrease switching power losses with high-power applications. Thus, control bandwidth of the system is limited and implementation of active damping gets harder. As a result, passive damping methods are commonly used in high-power applications. In this study, performances of two most commonly used passive damping methods which are series R damped and shunt R-C damped are analysed and compared in terms of resonance damping, grid current attenuation at high frequencies, and power losses on damping circuits.


Educators are increasingly using games as a method for enabling engagement and learning in students, but research has suggested potentially inconsistent outcomes for the use of these digital tools. One explanation for these mixed findings may be different preferred playstyles of game players, such as Bartle's (1996) player taxonomies. This research uses latent class analysis (LCA) as a means of examining similarities across student play interactions, using log data obtained from student actions in a game environment. Our research identified at least three groups of players who play the educational physics game Physics Playground – achievers, who obtain a higher number of awards in the game; explorers, who focused on constructing and tinkering with elaborate machines and contraptions; and disengaged players, who seemed to find little content in the game that attracted their attention. Improvements to the existing research methodology and future directions for research are discussed.


Background Annexin A7 (ANXA7) is a member of the multifunctional calcium or phospholipid-binding annexin gene family. While low levels of ANXA7 are associated with aggressive types of cancer, the clinical impact of ANXA7 in prostate cancer remains unclear. Tissue microarrays (TMA) have revealed several new molecular markers in human tumors. Herein, we have identified the prognostic impact of ANXA7 in a prostate cancer using a tissue microarray containing 637 different specimens. Methods The patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer and long-term follow-up information on progression (median 5.3 years), tumor-specific and overall survival data (median 5.9 years) were available. Expression of Ki67, Bcl-2, p53, CD-10 (neutral endopeptidase), syndecan-1 (CD-138) and ANXA7 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results A bimodal distribution of ANXA7 was observed. Tumors expressing either high or no ANXA7 were found to be associated with poor prognosis. However, ANXA7 at an optimal level, in between high and no ANXA7 expression, had a better prognosis. This correlated with low Ki67, Bcl-2, p53 and high syndecan-1 which are known predictors of early recurrence. At Gleason grade 3, ANXA7 is an independent predictor of poor overall survival with a p-value of 0.003. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, which is known to be associated with overexpression of Bcl-2 and inhibition of Ki67 LI and CD-10, was found to be associated with under-expression of ANXA7. Conclusions The results of this TMA study identified ANXA7 as a new prognostic factor and indicates a bimodal correlation to tumor progression.


This research explores the relationship between architectural space and the abstract expressionist art of Mark Rothko. Rothko's large format, post-1950's paintings employing his signature 'color-field' style instigated much discourse relating the works to ideas of spatiality: particularly those of atmosphere, emotional intensity, and the abstract presentation of space. This thesis begins with the observation that there is a certain 'authenticity' lacking in reproductions of Rothko's art, where the full effect of the 'original' is lost or betrayed in the process of its reproduction. From this premise within art, it finds an analogical relationship between architecture and its reproduction, particularly in photographed space and in the conventions of architectural representation. In both these cases, the full effect of the 'space' they describe (their 'original') is argued to be in some way lost. To explore this analogy, this thesis firstly develops a relationship between the artist and space: that 'within' the artwork, and that between this art and physical spaces (the artist's studios and spaces of exhibition). Secondly, this thesis develops a shift of the artist's spatial thinking toward architecture, with particular reference to Walter Benjamin's concept of the 'Aura' of the original work of art. As read through his essay, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction [1936], the Aura is interpreted as the essential 'authenticity' of the Original work that is lost within the act of reproduction. The argument concerning Rothko and spatiality is therefore furthered through specifically focussed readings of how this Aura might manifest metaphysically (i.e. experientially, as opposed to physically), through a parallel discussion of Rothko's art and several 'thematically' related architectural case studies. In doing so, it explores the way Auratic architectural experiences can be invoked within the perception of an embodied presence. In both the applied aspect of this research by design thesis, and in its conclusion, there is a relationship highlighted between architectural convention (as reproduction), abstraction, and the immediacy, authenticity or Aura of a spatial encounter. It is concluded that from this singular study of an abstract painter, architects can learn something of the direct exchange or translation between the users of architecture and the transcendental realm of the ideas of architecture or space.


Abstract
The study of pairings can be considered in so many di�erent ways that it
may not be useless to state in a few words the plan which has been adopted,
and the chief objects at which it has aimed. This is not an attempt to write
the whole history of the pairings in cryptology, or to detail every discovery,
but rather a general presentation motivated by the two main requirements
in cryptology; e�ciency and security.
Starting from the basic underlying mathematics, pairing maps are con-
structed and a major security issue related to the question of the minimal
embedding �eld [12]1 is resolved. This is followed by an exposition on how
to compute e�ciently the �nal exponentiation occurring in the calculation
of a pairing [124]2 and a thorough survey on the security of the discrete log-
arithm problem from both theoretical and implementational perspectives.
These two crucial cryptologic requirements being ful�lled an identity based
encryption scheme taking advantage of pairings [24]3 is introduced. Then,
perceiving the need to hash identities to points on a pairing-friendly elliptic
curve in the more general context of identity based cryptography, a new
technique to efficiently solve this practical issue is exhibited.
Unveiling pairings in cryptology involves a good understanding of both
mathematical and cryptologic principles. Therefore, although �rst pre-
sented from an abstract mathematical viewpoint, pairings are then studied
from a more practical perspective, slowly drifting away toward cryptologic
applications.


The DIW is the largest and oldest economics institute in Germany and conducts research in many fields of economic analysis. In this contribution to the conference celebrating the 80th birthday of this important institution I feel stimulated to address a few analytical issues, raising questions rather than providing answers, and without necessarily limiting the reasoning to predefined frameworks. The conduct of monetary policy faces challenges which are quite similar to those of economic forecasting, with some additional complications. As Niels Bohr, a Nobel laureate in Physics, used to say: "Making predictions is very difficult, especially about the future." I would add: "Not only about the future". Forecasting the direction in which the economy is going is essential for monetary policy, but not sufficient as knowledge about the starting position, and possibly even the past trajectory is required. This is less simple than one would think, because some key variables are not observable. My contribution is organised as follows. I will first try to explain why forecasts are so important for central banks. I will also make a digression on some (unanswered) questions in monetary policy making. I will then examine how forecast errors may affect the monetary policy decision making and how the assessment of risks is at least as important as the central scenario of the forecast. The DIW is the largest and oldest economics institute in Germany and conducts research in many fields of economic analysis. In this contribution to the conference celebrating the 80th birthday of this important institution I feel stimulated to address a few analytical issues, raising questions rather than providing answers, and without necessarily limiting the reasoning to predefined frameworks. The conduct of monetary policy faces challenges which are quite similar to those of economic forecasting, with some additional complications. As Niels Bohr, a Nobel laureate in Physics, used to say: "Making predictions is very difficult, especially about the future." I would add: "Not only about the future". Forecasting the direction in which the economy is going is essential for monetary policy, but not sufficient as knowledge about the starting position, and possibly even the past trajectory is required. This is less simple than one would think, because some key variables are not observable. My contribution is organised as follows. I will first try to explain why forecasts are so important for central banks. I will also make a digression on some (unanswered) questions in monetary policy making. I will then examine how forecast errors may affect the monetary policy decision making and how the assessment of risks is at least as important as the central scenario of the forecast.


We develop and compare two non-parametric Bayesian approaches for modeling individual differences in cognitive processes. These approaches both allow major discrete differences between groups of people to be modeled, without making strong prior assumptions about how many groups are required. Instead, the number of groups can naturally grow as more information about the behavior of people becomes available. One of our models extends previous work by allowing continuous differences between people within the same group to be modeled. We demonstrate both approaches in a case study using a classic heuristic model of human decisionmaking on bandit problems, applied to previously reported behavioral data from 451 participants. We conclude that the ability to model both discrete and continuous aspects of individual differences in cognition is important, and that non-parametric approaches are well suited for inferring these types of differences from empirical data.


Background: Liver abscesses are common in the Emergency Department. A cross-sectional study conducted in Qatar showed pyogenic liver abscesses were more common than amebic abscesses. Spontaneous rupture of pyogenic liver abscess is a rare entity with serious complications. A rupture resulting in peritonitis requires urgent surgical intervention whereas localized abscesses are managed with surgical or image-guided percutaneous drainage in addition to appropriate antibiotics. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of liver abscess presented to our Emergency Department that mimicked perforated hollow viscus. Methods/Case presentation: A 58-year-old male patient presented with fever, generalized weakness, anorexia, and abdominal discomfort for 2 weeks. The patient had a history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and taking oral hypoglycemics. His initial vital signs revealed a temperature of 38.2°C, heart rate of 104 beats per minute, blood pressure of 150/74 mmHg, respiratory rate of 26 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation of 96% on room air. He appeared sick and dehydrated. Pertinent findings on abdominal examination were epigastric and right upper quadrant tenderness. The laboratory report showed leucocytosis and elevated transaminase. A chest X-ray was ordered and revealed air under the diaphragm .
 Point of care ultrasound showed a right liver lobe hypoechoic lesion with internal echoes and surrounding free fluid.
 A computed tomography of the abdomen showed a large hepatic lesion (11.5 x 8.5 x 9 cm), subcapsular in location, containing gas with dependent fluid, suggesting a gas-forming hepatic abscess, with the possibility of rupture and pneumoperitoneum. Results/Findings/Recommendations: The patient was admitted and underwent ultrasound guided drainage of the abscess. His blood and pus culture showed Klebsiella pneumonia and he received Ceftriaxone and Metronidazole intravenously (IV) for 14 days. He was discharged after 15 days with a favorable outcome. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, spontaneous liver abscess rupture resulting in pneumoperitoneum is rare. Chest X-ray findings may mimic perforated hollow viscus.


Abstract Glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) plays a crucial role in regulating extracellular glycine concentrations and might thereby constitute a new drug target for the modulation of glycinergic inhibition in pain signaling. Consistent with this view, inhibition of GlyT1 has been found to induce antinociceptive effects in various animal pain models. We have shown previously that the lidocaine metabolite N-ethylglycine (EG) reduces GlyT1-dependent glycine uptake by functioning as an artificial substrate for this transporter. Here, we show that EG is specific for GlyT1 and that in rodent models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, systemic treatment with EG results in an efficient amelioration of hyperalgesia and allodynia without affecting acute pain. There was no effect on motor coordination or the development of inflammatory edema. No adverse neurological effects were observed after repeated high-dose application of EG. EG concentrations both in blood and spinal fluid correlated with an increase of glycine concentration in spinal fluid. The time courses of the EG and glycine concentrations corresponded well with the antinociceptive effect. Additionally, we found that EG reduced the increase in neuronal firing of wide-dynamic-range neurons caused by inflammatory pain induction. These findings suggest that systemically applied lidocaine exerts antihyperalgesic effects through its metabolite EG in vivo, by enhancing spinal inhibition of pain processing through GlyT1 modulation and subsequent increase of glycine concentrations at glycinergic inhibitory synapses. EG and other substrates of GlyT1, therefore, may be a useful therapeutic agent in chronic pain states involving spinal disinhibition.


In Cultus 6 David Crystal said "I don't expect my translator to be a mind-reader [...] knowing about the presuppositions and intentions underlying the utterances made by the participants". Issue 7 will focus on this very point. Who should translate, and who is translating the presuppositions and intentions underlying the utterances made by the participants in the real world? A term for this process is "transcreation", which has been used in the Arts (in particular poetry and drama) to talk about transposition into a different language or into a different medium (a poem is transcreated into an art form or onto the stage). Transcreation has also been closely linked with localisation, but differs in that a transcreator is expected to take much more account of the original language/culture/context than a localiser who will be 100% client or end-user oriented. As interculturalists should we agree or disagree with Crystal? Why should (or should not) the translator or interpreter be a transcreator? We would like contributions that focus on these issues, and in particular on these other (non) professionals such as crowd-sourced volunteer translators, fansubbers, international journalists, subject specialists with some foreign language understanding, cultural mediators, community interpreters and child interpreters. How important are they, and what sort of job are they doing? Also what, if any difference is there between these transcreators and translators/interpreters; and what should the profession be doing about accounting for the unsaid, for the presuppositions and intentions underlying the utterances?


OBJECTIVES
We used community-based ethnography and public health risk assessment to assess beliefs about pesticide exposure risks among farmworkers in the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington State.

METHODS
We used unstructured and semistructured interviews, work-site observation, and detailed field notes to gather data on pesticide exposure risks from 99 farmworkers.

RESULTS
Farmworkers' pesticide-relevant beliefs and attitudes could be grouped into 5 major themes: (1) dry pesticides are often perceived as a virtually harmless powder, (2) farmworkers who identify themselves as allergic to pesticides are more acutely affected by exposure, (3) the effect of pesticide exposure is more severe for those perceived as physically weak, (4) protective equipment is used selectively in response to financial pressure to work rapidly, and (5) some farmworkers delay decontamination until they find water deemed an appropriate temperature for handwashing.

CONCLUSIONS
We elucidated farmworkers' pesticide-relevant beliefs regarding perceived danger and susceptibility to pesticides, the need to put safety second to financial considerations, and reasons for delaying decontamination. Researchers and policymakers should incorporate these data in study designs and legislation concerned with farmworker exposure to pesticides.


Introduction Women with Chagas disease receiving treatment with nifurtimox are discouraged from breast feeding. Many patients who would receive treatment with nifurtimox live in extreme poverty, have limited access to resources such as clean water and baby formula and may not have safe alternatives to breast milk. Aim We aimed to estimate, using limited available pharmacokinetics data, potential infant exposure to nifurtimox through breast milk. Methods Original nifurtimox plasma concentrations were obtained from published studies. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non-linear mixed-effect modelling with NONMEM V.VI. A total of 1000 nifurtimox plasma–concentration profiles were simulated and used to calculate the amount of drug that an infant would be exposed to, if breast fed 150 ml/kg/day. Results Breast milk concentrations on the basis of peak plasma levels (1361 ng/ml) and milk–plasma ratio were estimated. We calculated infant nifurtimox exposure of a breastfed infant of a mother treated with this drug to be below 10% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose, even if milk–plasma ratio were overestimated. Simulation led to similar estimates. Discussion Risk for significant infant exposure to nifurtimox through breast milk seems small and below the level of exposure of infants with Chagas disease receiving nifurtimox treatment. This potential degree of exposure may not justify discontinuation of breast feeding.


Objective: The present study was aimed to enhance the solubility of poorly water soluble drug Ibuprofen using solid dispersion technique and to develop sustained release tablets containing solid dispersion granules of the optimized batch. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties Methods: Solid dispersions of Ibuprofen were prepared by using PEG 20000 and Poloxamer 407 in different weight ratios by fusion and solvent evaporation method. Drug-carrier physical mixtures were also prepared. Solid dispersions were characterized by saturation solubility, drug content, in vitro dissolution, FTIR and DSC analysis. Solid dispersion formulation, SDF9 (PEG 20000 and Poloxamer 407, 1:3:3) prepared by solvent evaporation method was considered as the optimized batch. Sustained release tablets containing the solid dispersion granules of the optimized batch were prepared by direct compression method using HPMC K100M at three concentrations (10%, 14%, 18% w/w). The prepared formulations were evaluated for hardness, thickness, weight variation, friability, in vitro dissolution studies and release kinetics modelling. Results: Solid dispersion formulation, SDF9showed 95.09% drug release in 60 min and considered as the optimized batch. Tablet formulation, FT3 (HPMC K100M 18% w/w) showed 96% drug release for 12 h. Conclusion: Solid dispersions of ibuprofen using a combination of PEG 20000 and poloxamer 407 by solvent evaporation method may result in higher aqueous solubility of the drug. Also sustained release tablets containing solid dispersion granules of ibuprofen, using HPMC K100M may be a promising approach to extend the release rate of the drug from the solid dispersion for 12 h.


Workforce diversity is a reality of the modern times for every organization and managing it effectively can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the management of diversity at one of the most admired companies in America, and one of the 100 best companies to work for, Starbucks. We will discuss how managers lead diverse employees in a global environment and what makes this company so unique. Effective management of diversity is not only employing diverse employees, but learning to appreciate, respect and respond to the needs, values, and beliefs of diverse people and provide a positive work environment. Therefore, we will analyze the general environment and task forces that affect the diversity, as well as the challenges faced by Starbucks managers when managing diverse employees. Furthermore, the impact of diversity on the company performance will be subject of analysis through a value driven perspective. Finally, we will identify some of the best practices for effectively managing diversity and propose some recommendations.


We measure the rate of D 0 - (cid:1) D 0 mixing with the observable y CP ¼ ð (cid:1) K(cid:2) =(cid:1) KK Þ (cid:1) 1 , where (cid:1) KK and (cid:1) K(cid:2) are, respectively, the mean lifetimes of CP -even D 0 ! K þ K (cid:1) and CP -mixed D 0 ! K (cid:1) (cid:2) þ decays, using a data sample of 384 fb (cid:1) 1 collected by the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory. From a sample of D 0 and (cid:1) D 0 decays where the initial flavor of the decaying meson is not determined, we obtain y CP ¼ ½ 1 : 12 (cid:2) 0 : 26 ð stat Þ (cid:2) 0 : 22 ð syst Þ(cid:3) % , which excludes the no-mixing hypothesis at 3 : 3 (cid:3) , including both statistical and systematic uncertainties. This result is in good agreement with a previous BABAR measurement of y CP obtained from a sample of D (cid:4)þ ! D 0 (cid:2) þ events, where the D 0 decays to K (cid:1) (cid:2) þ , K þ K (cid:1) , and (cid:2) þ (cid:2) (cid:1) , which is disjoint with the untagged D 0 events used here. Combining the two results taking into account statistical and systematic uncertainties, where the systematic uncertainties are assumed to be 100% correlated, we find y CP ¼ ½ 1 : 16 (cid:2) 0 : 22 ð stat Þ (cid:2) 0 : 18 ð syst Þ(cid:3) % , which excludes the no-mixing hypothesis at 4 : 1 (cid:3)


We investigate the potential role of haptics in climate visualization. In existing approaches to climate visualization, different dimensions of climate data such as temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and cloud water are typically represented using different visual markers and dimensions such as color, size, intensity, and orientation. Since the number of dimensions in climate data is large and climate data needs to be represented in connection with the topography, purely visual representations overwhelm users. Rather than overloading the visual channel, we investigate an alternative approach in which some of the climate information is displayed through the haptic channel in order to alleviate the perceptual and cognitive load of the user. In this approach, haptic feedback is further used to provide guidance while exploring climate data in order to enable natural and intuitive learning of cause and effect relationships between climate variables. Our experiments with 33 human subjects show that haptic feedback significantly improves the understanding of climate data and the cause and effect relations between climate variables as well as the interpretation of the variations in climate due to changes in terrain.


The designed project was intended to give Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) a reliable fixed microwave link design from Crossing, Calamba to Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The study would provide link from PLDT Crossing, Calamba, to Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, with the use of microwave for the implementation of Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution. The link is designed to have a reliability of 99.9998% in view of all the probable attenuations. The study meant to create a microwave link design that includes the requirements of a reliable taking into account the requirements given by the National Telecommunications Commissions and other standards in relation to microwave propagation. Descriptive type of research was used in this study in order to describe the specification of a reliable microwave. The design consists of a single hop microwave design with a PL4-65-P7A/F, 1.2 meter antenna, vertically polarized, 6.425-7.11 GHz, gray antenna; EWP63S super premium elliptical waveguide, and the Harris Truepoint 6500 microwave radio. Economic study was conducted to determine the cost effectiveness of the system. The estimated total investment cost is Php. 9,541,317.44 with a Php. 59,429,444.44 as the project's annual income. The total outlay has a rate of return of 309.599% which can be acquired after four months and three days of function.


Jumping the species barrier is responsible for a large part of emerging and re-emerging diseases around the world; however, the mechanisms involved in restricting an agent to a given host are currently not fully understood, nor what is necessary to leap the species barrier to invade a new host. These leaps to new species are usually manifest by high rates of morbidity and mortality in the new species, leading to severe economic losses and sometimes causing loss of human life. On the other hand, exotic species both in homes and zoos have become one of the major risk factors for the emergence and re-emergence of disease in human and animal populations and it has thus become necessary to assess infections which may be able to make the so-called "jump" and have serious consequences for human and animal populations. This article seeks to raise awareness regarding the risk of a leap over the species barrier using the equine herpesvirus-9 as an example and its possible implications.


[1] The rates and spatial distribution of active deformation provide critical constraints on the geodynamics of deforming lithosphere, yet such data are often difficult to acquire in eroding landscapes where poor preservation of geomorphic or stratigraphic markers hinders strain reconstruction. Recent advances in understanding of the relationship between bedrock channel profile form and erosion rate have led to their use as an index of rock uplift rate in steady state landscapes. Here we extend this analysis to landscapes experiencing a transient increase in erosion rate using an example from the Marin County region of northern California. We characterize channel and hillslope gradients in a series of small watersheds along a monolithologic portion of the Franciscan terrane in Marin County. Channel steepness indices vary strongly from north to south along the ridge and correspond with the progressive development of relief on threshold hillslopes along valley walls. These patterns argue that recent channel incision has engendered a transient adjustment of hillslope gradient, as incision outpaces soil production rates. These differences in landscape form and inferred incision rate are explained by differential rock uplift within the region east of the San Andreas fault. Relationships between channel gradient and incision rate suggest a threefold to fivefold difference in incision rate across the region and place a minimum bound on differential rock uplift rates. Our study highlights how landscape analysis can place bounds on the distribution of Earth deformation in both space and time and thus lends insight into the processes driving that deformation.


Abstract Distribution of surface and the bulk temperature was recorded during fibre laser surface treatment of ZrO2 engineering ceramic. The experimental readings were then compared with a finite element model which showed the flow and distribution of the laser induced heat as a result of the fibre laser surface treatment. Moreover, thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry was used to collect data with respect to physical changes during heating and cooling of the ZrO2 engineering ceramic. The thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry data and the finite element model predictions were then used to map the phase transitions within the ZrO2 engineering ceramic resulting from fibre laser surface treatment. The mapping revealed that the fibre laser surface treatment had generally resulted in a phase transformation of the ZrO2 engineering ceramic from the monoclinic (M) state to a mixture of tetragonal and cubic (T+C) followed by partially formed liquid (L) phase during fibre laser surface treatment and from L to T+C then T, followed by the M state during solidification.


Abstract The present article identifies the characteristics of a good textbook, it analyses and describes some of the concepts used in the structure of the Musical Education textbook for the second grade in the Republic of Moldova. Some units of the textbook are classified and characterised in relation to the requirements of modern education. Also, the article describes working techniques with some of the contents: theme title, the interface text, the informative text, pictographic images.


Currently, the development of big cities has been characterized by a great number of constructions, the total paving of streets and beyond the priority given to the automobile as opposed to the human being. Those factors contribute to the impermeability of the soil, thus influencing directly on the water route. As a mitigating measure, there is a possibility to insert elements which may help pluvial drainage, besides enhancing the beauty of the urban landscape. Those elements are known as typologies of spaces which are treated landscape projects and are applied as part of a green infrastructure network. Facing the need to present new proposals which provide greater support to sustainability, this paper aims to evaluate the typology of Rain Garden , which contribute to the removal pollutants, with the infiltration and retention of water volumes precipitated in the city of Santos. That city was chosen because for the past few years it has been affected by the construction of a large number of buildings, as well as permeable areas. As the region usually has a considerable pluviometric index, flooding is likely to occur in certain spots. For this study we have performed an experiment simulation, using a plastic box with a perforated base, with an area of 0,104 m², containing the background a geotextile blanket and substrates of sand and organic soil. The results showed that in the worst storm conditions (150 L/m²/h); it is possible to obtain system water retention of about 20%. These numbers allow the indication of planting 10 native plant species compatible with requirements. Keywords: green infrastructure. rain garden. native species. urban ecology. sustainable garden;


Quantum technology is poised to enable a step change in human capability for computing, communications and sensing. Photons are indispensable as carriers of quantum information—they travel at the fastest possible speed and readily protected from decoherence. However, the system requires thousands of near-transparent components with ultra-low-latency control. To be implemented, a new paradigm photonic system is required: one with in-built coherence, stability, the ability to define arbitrary circuits, and a path to manufacturability. Silicon photonics has unparalleled density and component performance, which, with CMOS compatible fabrication, place it in a strong position for a scalable quantum photonics platform. This paper is a progress report on silicon quantum photonics, focused on developments in the past five years. We provide an introduction on silicon quantum photonic component and the challenges in the field, summarise the current state-of-the-art and identify outstanding technical challenges, as well as promising avenues of future research. We also resolve a conflict in the definition of Hong-Ou-Mandel interference visibility in integrated quantum photonic experiments, needed for fair comparison of photon quality across different platforms. Our aim is the development of scalability on the platform, to which end we point the way to ever-closer integration, toward silicon quantum photonic systems-on-a-chip.


Altering the genetic composition of a population can alter several aspects of its numerical dynamics. Whether natural populations routinely contain the genetic variation capable of affecting the stability of those dynamics is less clear. Here we report a study of experimental populations of mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), designed to examine this issue. The experiment examined the numerical effects of varying the initial relative frequency of a rare male genotype. A higher relative frequency of the rare, melanic genotype produced higher mortality rates in melanic males, higher mortality rates in females, higher juvenile abundance, and fewer fluctuations in the numbers of females across time. This work demonstrates that a natural population can harbour genetic variants in a single gender that are capable of inducing qualitative differences in the numerical dynamics of the opposite gender, through the effects of negative frequency–dependent selection.


Although impressive strides have been made toward achieving precise polymer architectures, the pursuit of monomers with diverse structures and functions remains a critical challenge for polymer design. Herein we disclose the first polymers constructed from cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs), a family of strained, pi-rich macrocycles. Poly-CPPs were prepared via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of benzonorbornene-embedded CPPs. The distinctive size-dependent properties of CPPs, including fluorescence and host-guest chemistry, are preserved in poly-CPPs, offering a means to capitalize on these properties in polymeric materials. Moreover, copolymerizing CPPs of two different diameters results in polymers with emergent photophysical and supramolecular properties not achievable with small molecule CPP units. This work sets the stage for CPP derivatives to serve as molecular building blocks for the next generation of functional polymers.


Mitochondrial heat shock protein 70 (mt-Hsp70) has been shown to play an important role in facilitating import into, as well as folding and assembly of nuclear-encoded proteins in the mitochondrial matrix. Here, we describe a role for mt-Hsp70 in chaperoning proteins encoded by mitochondrial DNA and synthesized within mitochondria. The availability of mt-Hsp70 function influences the pattern of proteins synthesized in mitochondria of yeast both in vivo and in vitro. In particular, we show that mt-Hsp70 acts in maintaining the var1 protein, the only mitochondrially encoded subunit of mitochondrial ribosomes, in an assembly competent state, especially under heat stress conditions. Furthermore, mt-Hsp70 helps to facilitate assembly of mitochondrially encoded subunits of the ATP synthase complex. By interacting with the ATP-ase 9 oligomer, mt-Hsp70 promotes assembly of ATP-ase 6, and thereby protects the latter protein from proteolytic degradation. Thus mt-Hsp70 by acting as a chaperone for proteins encoded by the mitochondrial DNA, has a critical role in the assembly of supra- molecular complexes.


This article examines whether China may modify its no-first-use nuclear policy in the future. It suggests that due to the ascendance of Taiwan as the central security challenge for China and its inability to use conventional deterrence to prevent American military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, there are increasing Chinese discussions on the role of nuclear deterrence in this context. This article suggests that for political and strategic reasons China is unlikely to formally renounce the no-first-use policy. However, this does not rule out the possibility of China threatening first use of nuclear weapons when a real crisis in the strait makes American military intervention inevitable or imminent. Indeed, recent evidence suggests that some of China's nuclear experts are promoting a flexible approach to the no-first-use Policy. Thus, the article suggests the U.S. must prepare for the contingency of Chinese nuclear deterrence in the Taiwan Strait and examine how this scenario may impact American security strategies in the Pacific.


Uterine fibroids, the most common benign tumor in women of childbearing age, may cause symptoms including pelvic pain, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, pressure, urinary symptoms, and infertility. Various approaches are available to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids. Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) represents a recently introduced noninvasive safe and effective technique that can be performed without general anesthesia, in an outpatient setting. We review the principles of MRgFUS, describing patient selection criteria for the treatments performed at our center and we present a series of five selected patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids treated with this not yet widely known technique, showing its efficacy in symptom improvement and fibroid volume reduction.


Adding an ability for a system to learn inherently adds uncertainty into the system. Given the rising popularity of incorporating machine learning into systems, we wondered how the addition alters software development practices. We performed a mixture of qualitative and quantitative studies with 14 interviewees and 342 survey respondents from 26 countries across four continents to elicit significant differences between the development of machine learning systems and the development of non-machine-learning systems. Our study uncovers significant differences in various aspects of software engineering (e.g., requirements, design, testing, and process) and work characteristics (e.g., skill variety, problem solving and task identity). Based on our findings, we highlight future research directions and provide recommendations for practitioners.


The design of bioelectrochemical interfaces (BEI) is an interesting topic that recently demands attention. The synergy between biomolecules and chemical components is necessary to achieve high molecular selectivity and sensitivity for the development of biosensors, synthesis of different compounds, or catalytic processes. For most BEI, the charge transfer process occurs in environments with particular chemical conditions; modeling these environments is a challenging task and requires multidisciplinary efforts. These interfaces can be composed of biomolecules, such as proteins, DNA, or more complex systems like microorganisms. Oxidoreductases enzymes are good candidates, among others, due to their catalytic activities and structural characteristics. In BEI, enzymes are immobilized on conductive surfaces to improve charge transfer processes. Covalent immobilization is the most common method to prolong lifetime or modulate the detection process. However, it is necessary to implement new methodologies that allow the selection of the best candidates for a more efficient design. Homology modeling of oxidoreductases combined with Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation methods are alternative and already routinely used tools to investigate the structure, dynamics, and thermodynamics of biological molecules. Our motivation is to show different techniques of molecular modeling (Homology Modeling, Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics, directed adaptive molecular dynamics and electrostatic surface calculations), and using horseradish peroxidase as a model to understand the interactions between biomolecules and gold nanoclusters (as current collector). Additionally, we present our previous studies considering molecular simulations and we discuss recent advances in biomolecular simulations aimed at biosensor design.


A complete process technology is introduced, allowing the integrated fabrication of micro coils in transformer configurations for micro sensors. The technology makes use of UV-depth lithography, electroplating of coil conductors and soft magnetic core structures, and SU8-dielectric for embedding and planarization. The technology's applicability is demonstrated on inductively coupled transformer sensors for distance and magnetoelastic force and torque measurements.


Abstract: Background and Objectives. The number of US allopathic medical school graduates choosing a residency in family medicine has fallen from 13.4% in 1999 to 10.5% in 2002. Concern about declining numbers has led to the development of programs to provide medical students exposure to family medicine outside the clerkship. This paper reports on the development and longitudinal achievements of a clinical summer externship program 1993 to 1999. Methods. The program description, practice settings, students' experiences, and department commitment are described. The purpose of this prospective study is to determine the percentage of family medicine summer externship participants (n=115) who match into family medicine. Results. During the six years studied, 49 (43.4%) of the participants matched into family medicine. Program participants viewed the program favorably, mean = 5.82 out of 6. Conclusions. The Ohio State University Department of Family Medicine Medical Student Summer Externship Program demonstrates an effective educational experience that can increase and/or attain the proportion of students going into family medicine at the time of graduation.


A variety of legal and ethical issues surround any decision about the treatment of patients with psychosis. These issues have come to the forefront with the introduction of the atypical antipsychotic agents. The law defines the minimum expected level of conduct for a health care professional, and where the law ends, ethics begin. Adverse drug reactions are a leading cause of death in the United States, and medication error is a common reason for liability claims against health care professionals. Patients alleging negligence must prove that the health care professional owed a duty to the patient. that the duty was breached, that the patient was injured, and that the breach of duty was the legal cause of the injury. Professional ethics are governed by various models for ethical decision making. The principles model, which can be readily applied to the patient with mental illness, is based on the ethical principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, utility, and justice.


In civil conflicts around the world, unarmed civilians take enormous risks to protect themselves and confront heavily armed combatants. This is not just counterintuitive - it is extraordinary. In this book, Oliver Kaplan explores cases from Colombia, with extensions to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and the Philippines, to show how and why civilians influence armed actors and limit violence. Based on fieldwork and statistical analysis, the book explains how local social organization and cohesion enable both covert and overt nonviolent strategies, including avoidance, cultures of peace, dispute resolution, deception, protest, and negotiation. These 'autonomy' strategies help civilians retain their agency and avoid becoming helpless victims by limiting the inroads of armed groups.


The increasing individualization of products assigns manufacturing companies to new tasks like manufacturing various products in a more efficient way. This progression in the market leads on the one hand to a new product design and on the other hand to an improved production process. Both are necessary to reduce assembly, service and recycling costs. Hence the joining technology is and will become more and more important. The conventional joining technologies like welding, bonding, bolting or clamping have their own disadvantages especially in the field of flexibility. In order to reduce the effort for assembling and disassembling by retaining the requirements of the connection a new innovative joining technology is needed. In this study a new joining technology is introduced to become faster and more flexible in assembling and disassembling. The basic idea of this manufacturing technology comes from a "metal hook and loop fastener". A hook and loop fastener consisting of metal has a lot of advantages for the fields of industrial assembly, service and recycling. Similar to the synthetic hook and loop fastener a metal one is characterized by easy closing and opening without special tools. And in comparison to the synthetic hook and loop fastener the transmissible forces are very high. An additional benefit can be gained for instance in shock absorbing or resistance against chemical and thermal influence. Two solutions are followed up to invent the "metal hook and loop fastener". A one-to-one copy of the conventional hook and loop fastener is constructed in metal and specific solutions for the use of metal are tested. A conventional finite element program was used in order to optimize the construction of a metal cocklebur and the results show a good agreement with the experiment.


The recently published 'Standards for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)' have the aim of achieving safe high-quality services for the management of STIs in the UK.1 But these standards may well have benefits beyond the UK because of the relative lack of other similar high-quality documents. They are particularly significant in that they come from a country with one of the largest networks of coordinated sexual-health services (termed genitourinary medicine clinics (GUM)) that has a strong established international reputation. They will complement some existing documents such as those available at the CDC site in the USA that are particularly valuable to those setting up or running sexual-health services.2

Setting standards to which health services can adhere and can be measured against, is an important element of high-quality and safe healthcare.3 Unfortunately, healthcare has lagged significantly behind other industries such as the much-quoted airline industry, where a focus on quality has led to a more than 90-fold reduction in fatal airline accidents over the last 50 years.4

This document provides nine standards for the management …


Within the deep transformation experienced by the HR function, the impact of internet technology is viewed as a critical lever of change. Starting with a short description of the France Telecom's HR function reengineering example using e-HR, this article builds upon a review of the HRM-strategy literature and points out the importance for HRM of the resource-based view framework (Barney, 1991,1997 ; Wernefelt, 1984). The process of value-creation is then analyzed with the key role played by corporate governance and, more recently, by the sustainable development approach (Ferone et al. 2001) that broadens the value creation perspective. The impact of HRM on value creation is then discussed on the basis of the Amit & Belcourt (1979)'s model emphasizing the role of HRM processes that possess some critical characteristics to create value: tacitness, robustness, complementary, rare and non substitutable. As an applied case, the impact of the e-HR on value creation is analyzed in the third part of the article. The research reviewed is either normative or mainly anecdotal. The rare empirical data (Watson Wyatt, 2002) are not really conclusive. Therefore, more rigorous research is needed in this field of HRM research that may become prominent in the future.